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We need your donations. + + +Title: The Antiquities of the Jews + +Author: Flavius Josephus + +Translator: William Whiston + +Release Date: October 1, 2001 [EBook #2848] +[Date last updated: September 8, 2006] +[Most recently updated on August 1, 2007] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + + +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Antiquities of the Jews*** +******This file should be named taofj11.txt or taofj11.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, taofj12.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, taofj10a.txt + + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + + + + +The Antiquities of the Jews (1) + +by Flavius Josephus + + + + +Translated by William Whiston + + + + +PREFACE. + + +1. Those who undertake to write histories, do not, I perceive, +take that trouble on one and the same account, but for many +reasons, and those such as are very different one from another. +For some of them apply themselves to this part of learning to +show their skill in composition, and that they may therein +acquire a reputation for speaking finely: others of them there +are, who write histories in order to gratify those that happen to +be concerned in them, and on that account have spared no pains, +but rather gone beyond their own abilities in the performance: +but others there are, who, of necessity and by force, are driven +to write history, because they are concerned in the facts, and so +cannot excuse themselves from committing them to writing, for the +advantage of posterity; nay, there are not a few who are induced +to draw their historical facts out of darkness into light, and to +produce them for the benefit of the public, on account of the +great importance of the facts themselves with which they have +been concerned. Now of these several reasons for writing history, +I must profess the two last were my own reasons also; for since I +was myself interested in that war which we Jews had with the +Romans, and knew myself its particular actions, and what +conclusion it had, I was forced to give the history of it, +because I saw that others perverted the truth of those actions in +their writings. + +2. Now I have undertaken the present work, as thinking it will +appear to all the Greeks (2) worthy of their study; for it will +contain all our antiquities, and the constitution of our +government, as interpreted out of the Hebrew Scriptures. And +indeed I did formerly intend, when I wrote of the war, (3) to +explain who the Jews originally were, - what fortunes they had +been subject to, - and by what legislature they had been +instructed in piety, and the exercise of other virtues, - what +wars also they had made in remote ages, till they were +unwillingly engaged in this last with the Romans: but because +this work would take up a great compass, I separated it into a +set treatise by itself, with a beginning of its own, and its own +conclusion; but in process of time, as usually happens to such as +undertake great things, I grew weary and went on slowly, it being +a large subject, and a difficult thing to translate our history +into a foreign, and to us unaccustomed language. However, some +persons there were who desired to know our history, and so +exhorted me to go on with it; and, above all the rest, +Epaphroditus, (4) a man who is a lover of all kind of learning, +but is principally delighted with the knowledge of history, and +this on account of his having been himself concerned in great +affairs, and many turns of fortune, and having shown a wonderful +rigor of an excellent nature, and an immovable virtuous +resolution in them all. I yielded to this man's persuasions, who +always excites such as have abilities in what is useful and +acceptable, to join their endeavors with his. I was also ashamed +myself to permit any laziness of disposition to have a greater +influence upon me, than the delight of taking pains in such +studies as were very useful: I thereupon stirred up myself, and +went on with my work more cheerfully. Besides the foregoing +motives, I had others which I greatly reflected on; and these +were, that our forefathers were willing to communicate such +things to others; and that some of the Greeks took considerable +pains to know the affairs of our nation. + +3. I found, therefore, that the second of the Ptolemies was a +king who was extraordinarily diligent in what concerned learning, +and the collection of books; that he was also peculiarly +ambitious to procure a translation of our law, and of the +constitution of our government therein contained, into the Greek +tongue. Now Eleazar the high priest, one not inferior to any +other of that dignity among us, did not envy the forenamed king +the participation of that advantage, which otherwise he would for +certain have denied him, but that he knew the custom of our +nation was, to hinder nothing of what we esteemed ourselves from +being communicated to others. Accordingly, I thought it became me +both to imitate the generosity of our high priest, and to suppose +there might even now be many lovers of learning like the king; +for he did not obtain all our writings at that time; but those +who were sent to Alexandria as interpreters, gave him only the +books of the law, while there were a vast number of other matters +in our sacred books. They, indeed, contain in them the history of +five thousand years; in which time happened many strange +accidents, many chances of war, and great actions of the +commanders, and mutations of the form of our government. Upon the +whole, a man that will peruse this history, may principally learn +from it, that all events succeed well, even to an incredible +degree, and the reward of felicity is proposed by God; but then +it is to those that follow his will, and do not venture to break +his excellent laws: and that so far as men any way apostatize +from the accurate observation of them, what was practical before +becomes impracticable (5) and whatsoever they set about as a good +thing, is converted into an incurable calamity. And now I exhort +all those that peruse these books, to apply their minds to God; +and to examine the mind of our legislator, whether he hath not +understood his nature in a manner worthy of him; and hath not +ever ascribed to him such operations as become his power, and +hath not preserved his writings from those indecent fables which +others have framed, although, by the great distance of time when +he lived, he might have securely forged such lies; for he lived +two thousand years ago; at which vast distance of ages the poets +themselves have not been so hardy as to fix even the generations +of their gods, much less the actions of their men, or their own +laws. As I proceed, therefore, I shall accurately describe what +is contained in our records, in the order of time that belongs to +them; for I have already promised so to do throughout this +undertaking; and this without adding any thing to what is therein +contained, or taking away any thing therefrom. + +4. But because almost all our constitution depends on the wisdom +of Moses, our legislator, I cannot avoid saying somewhat +concerning him beforehand, though I shall do it briefly; I mean, +because otherwise those that read my book may wonder how it comes +to pass, that my discourse, which promises an account of laws and +historical facts, contains so much of philosophy. The reader is +therefore to know, that Moses deemed it exceeding necessary, that +he who would conduct his own life well, and give laws to others, +in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon +the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the +best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature +to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the +legislator himself have a right mind without such a +contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the +promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught +first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, and +sees all things, and that thence he bestows a happy life upon +those that follow him; but plunges such as do not walk in the +paths of virtue into inevitable miseries. Now when Moses was +desirous to teach this lesson to his countrymen, he did not begin +the establishment of his laws after the same manner that other +legislators did; I mean, upon contracts and other rights between +one man and another, but by raising their minds upwards to regard +God, and his creation of the world; and by persuading them, that +we men are the most excellent of the creatures of God upon earth. +Now when once he had brought them to submit to religion, he +easily persuaded them to submit in all other things: for as to +other legislators, they followed fables, and by their discourses +transferred the most reproachful of human vices unto the gods, +and afforded wicked men the most plausible excuses for their +crimes; but as for our legislator, when he had once demonstrated +that God was possessed of perfect virtue, he supposed that men +also ought to strive after the participation of it; and on those +who did not so think, and so believe, he inflicted the severest +punishments. I exhort, therefore, my readers to examine this +whole undertaking in that view; for thereby it will appear to +them, that there is nothing therein disagreeable either to the +majesty of God, or to his love to mankind; for all things have +here a reference to the nature of the universe; while our +legislator speaks some things wisely, but enigmatically, and +others under a decent allegory, but still explains such things as +required a direct explication plainly and expressly. However, +those that have a mind to know the reasons of every thing, may +find here a very curious philosophical theory, which I now indeed +shall wave the explication of; but if God afford me time for it, +I will set about writing it (6) after I have finished the present +work. I shall now betake myself to the history before me, after I +have first mentioned what Moses says of the creation of the +world, which I find described in the sacred books after the +manner following. + + + + +BOOK I. + +Containing The Interval Of Three Thousand Eight Hundred And +Thirty-Three Years. + +From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac. + +CHAPTER 1. + +The Constitution Of The World And The Disposition Of The +Elements. + + +1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. But +when the earth did not come into sight, but was covered with +thick darkness, and a wind moved upon its surface, God commanded +that there should be light: and when that was made, he considered +the whole mass, and separated the light and the darkness; and the +name he gave to one was Night, and the other he called Day: and +he named the beginning of light, and the time of rest, The +Evening and The Morning, and this was indeed the first day. But +Moses said it was one day; the cause of which I am able to give +even now; but because I have promised to give such reasons for +all things in a treatise by itself, I shall put off its +exposition till that time. After this, on the second day, he +placed the heaven over the whole world, and separated it from the +other parts, and he determined it should stand by itself. He also +placed a crystalline [firmament] round it, and put it together in +a manner agreeable to the earth, and fitted it for giving +moisture and rain, and for affording the advantage of dews. On +the third day he appointed the dry land to appear, with the sea +itself round about it; and on the very same day he made the +plants and the seeds to spring out of the earth. On the fourth +day he adorned the heaven with the sun, the moon, and the other +stars, and appointed them their motions and courses, that the +vicissitudes of the seasons might be clearly signified. And on +the fifth day he produced the living creatures, both those that +swim, and those that fly; the former in the sea, the latter in +the air: he also sorted them as to society and mixture, for +procreation, and that their kinds might increase and multiply. On +the sixth day he created the four-footed beasts, and made them +male and female: on the same day he also formed man. Accordingly +Moses says, That in just six days the world, and all that is +therein, was made. And that the seventh day was a rest, and a +release from the labor of such operations; whence it is that we +Celebrate a rest from our labors on that day, and call it the +Sabbath, which word denotes rest in the Hebrew tongue. + +2. Moreover, Moses, after the seventh day was over(1) begins to +talk philosophically; and concerning the formation of man, says +thus: That God took dust from the ground, and formed man, and +inserted in him a spirit and a soul.(2) This man was called Adam, +which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red, because he +was formed out of red earth, compounded together; for of that +kind is virgin and true earth. God also presented the living +creatures, when he had made them, according to their kinds, both +male and female, to Adam, who gave them those names by which they +are still called. But when he saw that Adam had no female +companion, no society, for there was no such created, and that he +wondered at the other animals which were male and female, he laid +him asleep, and took away one of his ribs, and out of it formed +the woman; whereupon Adam knew her when she was brought to him, +and acknowledged that she was made out of himself. Now a woman is +called in the Hebrew tongue Issa; but the name of this woman was +Eve, which signifies the mother of all living. + +3. Moses says further, that God planted a paradise in the east, +flourishing with all sorts of trees; and that among them was the +tree of life, and another of knowledge, whereby was to be known +what was good and evil; and that when he brought Adam and his +wife into this garden, he commanded them to take care of the +plants. Now the garden was watered by one river,(3) which ran +round about the whole earth, and was parted into four parts. And +Phison, which denotes a multitude, running into India, makes its +exit into the sea, and is by the Greeks called Ganges. Euphrates +also, as well as Tigris, goes down into the Red Sea.(4) Now the +name Euphrates, or Phrath, denotes either a dispersion, or a +flower: by Tiris, or Diglath, is signified what is swift, with +narrowness; and Geon runs through Egypt, and denotes what arises +from the east, which the Greeks call Nile. + +4. God therefore commanded that Adam and his wife should eat of +all the rest of the plants, but to abstain from the tree of +knowledge; and foretold to them, that if they touched it, it +would prove their destruction. But while all the living creatures +had one language, (5) at that time the serpent, which then lived +together with Adam and his wife, shewed an envious disposition, +at his supposal of their living happily, and in obedience to the +commands of God; and imagining, that when they disobeyed them, +they would fall into calamities, he persuaded the woman, out of a +malicious intention, to taste of the tree of knowledge, telling +them, that in that tree was the knowledge of good and evil; which +knowledge, when they should obtain, they would lead a happy life; +nay, a life not inferior to that of a god: by which means he +overcame the woman, and persuaded her to despise the command of +God. Now when she had tasted of that tree, and was pleased with +its fruit, she persuaded Adam to make use of it also. Upon this +they perceived that they were become naked to one another; and +being ashamed thus to appear abroad, they invented somewhat to +cover them; for the tree sharpened their understanding; and they +covered themselves with fig-leaves; and tying these before them, +out of modesty, they thought they were happier than they were +before, as they had discovered what they were in want of. But +when God came into the garden, Adam, who was wont before to come +and converse with him, being conscious of his wicked behavior, +went out of the way. This behavior surprised God; and he asked +what was the cause of this his procedure; and why he, that before +delighted in that conversation, did now fly from it, and avoid +it. When he made no reply, as conscious to himself that he had +transgressed the command of God, God said, "I had before +determined about you both, how you might lead a happy life, +without any affliction, and care, and vexation of soul; and that +all things which might contribute to your enjoyment and pleasure +should grow up by my providence, of their own accord, without +your own labor and pains-taking; which state of labor and +pains-taking would soon bring on old age, and death would not be +at any remote distance: but now thou hast abused this my +good-will, and hast disobeyed my commands; for thy silence is not +the sign of thy virtue, but of thy evil conscience." However, +Adam excused his sin, and entreated God not to be angry at him, +and laid the blame of what was done upon his wife; and said that +he was deceived by her, and thence became an offender; while she +again accused the serpent. But God allotted him punishment, +because he weakly submitted to the counsel of his wife; and said +the ground should not henceforth yield its fruits of its own +accord, but that when it should be harassed by their labor, it +should bring forth some of its fruits, and refuse to bring forth +others. He also made Eve liable to the inconveniency of breeding, +and the sharp pains of bringing forth children; and this because +she persuaded Adam with the same arguments wherewith the serpent +had persuaded her, and had thereby brought him into a calamitous +condition. He also deprived the serpent of speech, out of +indignation at his malicious disposition towards Adam. Besides +this, he inserted poison under his tongue, and made him an enemy +to men; and suggested to them, that they should direct their +strokes against his head, that being the place wherein lay his +mischievous designs towards men, and it being easiest to take +vengeance on him, that way. And when he had deprived him of the +use of his feet, he made him to go rolling all along, and +dragging himself upon the ground. And when God had appointed +these penalties for them, he removed Adam and Eve out of the +garden into another place. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +Concerning The Posterity Of Adam, And The Ten Generations From +Him To The Deluge. + + +1. Adam and Eve had two sons: the elder of them was named Cain; +which name, when it is interpreted, signifies a possession: the +younger was Abel, which signifies sorrow. They had also +daughters. Now the two brethren were pleased with different +courses of life: for Abel, the younger, was a lover of +righteousness; and believing that God was present at all his +actions, he excelled in virtue; and his employment was that of a +shepherd. But Cain was not only very wicked in other respects, +but was wholly intent upon getting; and he first contrived to +plough the ground. He slew his brother on the occasion following:-- +They had resolved to sacrifice to God. Now Cain brought the +fruits of the earth, and of his husbandry; but Abel brought milk, +and the first-fruits of his flocks: but God was more delighted +with the latter oblation,(6) when he was honored with what grew +naturally of its own accord, than he was with what was the +invention of a covetous man, and gotten by forcing the ground; +whence it was that Cain was very angry that Abel was preferred by +God before him; and he slew his brother, and hid his dead body, +thinking to escape discovery. But God, knowing what had been +done, came to Cain, and asked him what was become of his brother, +because he had not seen him of many days; whereas he used to +observe them conversing together at other times. But Cain was in +doubt with himself, and knew not what answer to give to God. At +first he said that he was himself at a loss about his brother's +disappearing; but when he was provoked by God, who pressed him +vehemently, as resolving to know what the matter was, he replied, +he was not his brother's guardian or keeper, nor was he an +observer of what he did. But, in return, God convicted Cain, as +having been the murderer of his brother; and said, "I wonder at +thee, that thou knowest not what is become of a man whom thou +thyself hast destroyed." God therefore did not inflict the +punishment [of death] upon him, on account of his offering +sacrifice, and thereby making supplication to him not to be +extreme in his wrath to him; but he made him accursed, and +threatened his posterity in the seventh generation. He also cast +him, together with his wife, out of that land. And when he was +afraid that in wandering about he should fall among Wild beasts, +and by that means perish, God bid him not to entertain such a +melancholy suspicion, and to go over all the earth without fear +of what mischief he might suffer from wild beasts; and setting a +mark upon him, that he might be known, he commanded him to +depart. + +2. And when Cain had traveled over many countries, he, with his +wife, built a city, named Nod, which is a place so called, and +there he settled his abode; where also he had children. However, +he did not accept of his punishment in order to amendment, but to +increase his wickedness; for he only aimed to procure every thing +that was for his own bodily pleasure, though it obliged him to be +injurious to his neighbors. He augmented his household substance +with much wealth, by rapine and violence; he excited his +acquaintance to procure pleasures and spoils by robbery, and +became a great leader of men into wicked courses. He also +introduced a change in that way of simplicity wherein men lived +before; and was the author of measures and weights. And whereas +they lived innocently and generously while they knew nothing of +such arts, he changed the world into cunning craftiness. He first +of all set boundaries about lands: he built a city, and fortified +it with walls, and he compelled his family to come together to +it; and called that city Enoch, after the name of his eldest son +Enoch. Now Jared was the son of Enoch; whose son was Malaliel; +whose son was Mathusela; whose son was Lamech; who had +seventy-seven children by two wives, Silla and Ada. Of those +children by Ada, one was Jabal: he erected tents, and loved the +life of a shepherd. But Jubal, who was born of the same mother +with him, exercised himself in music;(7) and invented the +psaltery and the harp. But Tubal, one of his children by the +other wife, exceeded all men in strength, and was very expert and +famous in martial performances. He procured what tended to the +pleasures of the body by that method; and first of all invented +the art of making brass. Lamech was also the father of a +daughter, whose name was Naamah. And because he was so skillful +in matters of divine revelation, that he knew he was to be +punished for Cain's murder of his brother, he made that known to +his wives. Nay, even while Adam was alive, it came to pass that +the posterity of Cain became exceeding wicked, every one +successively dying, one after another, more wicked than the +former. They were intolerable in war, and vehement in robberies; +and if any one were slow to murder people, yet was he bold in his +profligate behavior, in acting unjustly, and doing injuries for +gain. + +3. Now Adam, who was the first man, and made out of the earth, +(for our discourse must now be about him,) after Abel was slain, +and Cain fled away, on account of his murder, was solicitous for +posterity, and had a vehement desire of children, he being two +hundred and thirty years old; after which time he lived other +seven hundred, and then died. He had indeed many other +children,(8) but Seth in particular. As for the rest, it would be +tedious to name them; I will therefore only endeavor to give an +account of those that proceeded from Seth. Now this Seth, when he +was brought up, and came to those years in which he could discern +what was good, became a virtuous man; and as he was himself of an +excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who +imitated his virtues.(9) All these proved to be of good +dispositions. They also inhabited the same country without +dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes +falling upon them, till they died. They also were the inventors +of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the +heavenly bodies, and their order. And that their inventions might +not be lost before they were sufficiently known, upon Adam's +prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the +force of fire, and at another time by the violence and quantity +of water, they made two pillars, (10) the one of brick, the other +of stone: they inscribed their discoveries on them both, that in +case the pillar of brick should be destroyed by the flood, the +pillar of stone might remain, and exhibit those discoveries to +mankind; and also inform them that there was another pillar of +brick erected by them. Now this remains in the land of Siriad to +this day. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +Concerning The Flood; And After What Manner Noah Was Saved In An +Ark, With His Kindred, And Afterwards Dwelt In The Plain Of +Shinar. + + +1. Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord +of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for +seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, +and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither +pay those honors to God which were appointed them, nor had they +any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of +zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their +actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to +be their enemy. For many angels(11) of God accompanied with +women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all +that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own +strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled +the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants. But Noah was +very uneasy at what they did; and being displeased at their +conduct, persuaded them to change their dispositions and their +acts for the better: but seeing they did not yield to him, but +were slaves to their wicked pleasures, he was afraid they would +kill him, together with his wife and children, and those they had +married; so he departed out of that land. + +2. Now God loved this man for his righteousness: yet he not only +condemned those other men for their wickedness, but determined to +destroy the whole race of mankind, and to make another race that +should be pure from wickedness; and cutting short their lives, +and making their years not so many as they formerly lived, but +one hundred and twenty only,(12) he turned the dry land into sea; +and thus were all these men destroyed: but Noah alone was saved; +for God suggested to him the following contrivance and way of +escape:-- That he should make an ark of four stories high, three +hundred cubits(13) long, fifty cubits broad, and thirty cubits +high. Accordingly he entered into that ark, and his wife, and +sons, and their wives, and put into it not only other provisions, +to support their wants there, but also sent in with the rest all +sorts of living creatures, the male and his female, for the +preservation of their kinds; and others of them by sevens. Now +this ark had firm walls, and a roof, and was braced with cross +beams, so that it could not be any way drowned or overborne by +the violence of the water. And thus was Noah, with his family, +preserved. Now he was the tenth from Adam, as being the son of +Lamech, whose father was Mathusela; he was the son of Enoch, the +son of Jared; and Jared was the son of Malaleel, who, with many +of his sisters, were the children of Cainan, the son of Enos. Now +Enos was the son of Seth, the son of Adam. + +3. This calamity happened in the six hundredth year of Noah's +government, [age,] in the second month, (14) called by the +Macedonians Dius, but by the Hebrews Marchesuan: for so did they +order their year in Egypt. But Moses appointed that ú Nisan, +which is the same with Xanthicus, should be the first month for +their festivals, because he brought them out of Egypt in that +month: so that this month began the year as to all the +solemnities they observed to the honor of God, although he +preserved the original order of the months as to selling and +buying, and other ordinary affairs. Now he says that this flood +began on the twenty-seventh [seventeenth] day of the +forementioned month; and this was two thousand six hundred and +fifty-six [one thousand six hundred and fifty-six] years from +Adam, the first man; and the time is written down in our sacred +books, those who then lived having noted down,(15) with great +accuracy, both the births and deaths of illustrious men. + +4. For indeed Seth was born when Adam was in his two hundred and +thirtieth year, who lived nine hundred and thirty years. Seth +begat Enos in his two hundred and fifth year; who, when he had +lived nine hundred and twelve years, delivered the government to +Cainan his son, whom he had in his hundred and ninetieth year. He +lived nine hundred and five years. Cainan, when he had lived nine +hundred and ten years, had his son Malaleel, who was born in his +hundred and seventieth year. This Malaleel, having lived eight +hundred and ninety-five years, died, leaving his son Jared, whom +he begat when he was in his hundred and sixty-fifth year. He +lived nine hundred and sixty-two years; and then his son Enoch +succeeded him, who was born when his father was one hundred and +sixty-two years old. Now he, when he had lived three hundred and +sixty-five years, departed and went to God; whence it is that +they have not written down his death. Now Mathusela, the son of +Enoch, who was born to him when he was one hundred and sixty-five +years old, had Lamech for his son when he was one hundred and +eighty-seven years of age; to whom he delivered the government, +when he had retained it nine hundred and sixty-nine years. Now +Lamech, when he had governed seven hundred and seventy-seven +years, appointed Noah, his son, to be ruler of the people, who +was born to Lamech when he was one hundred and eighty-two years +old, and retained the government nine hundred and fifty years. +These years collected together make up the sum before set down. +But let no one inquire into the deaths of these men; for they +extended their lives along together with their children and +grandchildren; but let him have regard to their births only. + +5. When God gave the signal, and it began to rain, the water +poured down forty entire days, till it became fifteen cubits +higher than the earth; which was the reason why there was no +greater number preserved, since they had no place to fly to. When +the rain ceased, the water did but just begin to abate after one +hundred and fifty days, (that is, on the seventeenth day of the +seventh month,) it then ceasing to subside for a little while. +After this, the ark rested on the top of a certain mountain in +Armenia; which, when Noah understood, he opened it; and seeing a +small piece of land about it, he continued quiet, and conceived +some cheerful hopes of deliverance. But a few days afterward, +when the water was decreased to a greater degree, he sent out a +raven, as desirous to learn whether any other part of the earth +were left dry by the water, and whether he might go out of the +ark with safety; but the raven, finding all the land still +overflowed, returned to Noah again. And after seven days he sent +out a dove, to know the state of the ground; which came back to +him covered with mud, and bringing an olive branch: hereby Noah +learned that the earth was become clear of the flood. So after he +had staid seven more days, he sent the living creatures out of +the ark; and both he and his family went out, when he also +sacrificed to God, and feasted with his companions. However, the +Armenians call this place, (GREEK) (16) The Place of Descent; for +the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shown there by +the inhabitants to this day. + +6. Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of +this flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berosus the Chaldean. +For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes +on thus: "It is said there is still some part of this ship in +Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaeans; and that some people +carry off pieces of the bitumen, which they take away, and use +chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs." Hieronymus the +Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities, and Mnaseas, +and a great many more, make mention of the same. Nay, Nicolaus of +Damascus, in his ninety-sixth book, hath a particular relation +about them; where he speaks thus: "There is a great mountain in +Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon which it is reported +that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved; and that +one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it; +and that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved. +This might be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews +wrote." + +7. But as for Noah, he was afraid, since God had determined to +destroy mankind, lest he should drown the earth every year; so he +offered burnt-offerings, and besought God that nature might +hereafter go on in its former orderly course, and that he would +not bring on so great a judgment any more, by which the whole +race of creatures might be in danger of destruction: but that, +having now punished the wicked, he would of his goodness spare +the remainder, and such as he had hitherto judged fit to be +delivered from so severe a calamity; for that otherwise these +last must be more miserable than the first, and that they must be +condemned to a worse condition than the others, unless they be +suffered to escape entirely; that is, if they be reserved for +another deluge; while they must be afflicted with the terror and +sight of the first deluge, and must also be destroyed by a +second. He also entreated God to accept of his sacrifice, and to +grant that the earth might never again undergo the like effects +of 'his wrath; that men might be permitted to go on cheerfully in +cultivating the same; to build cities, and live happily in them; +and that they might not be deprived of any of those good things +which they enjoyed before the Flood; but might attain to the like +length of days, and old age, which the ancient people had arrived +at before. + +8. When Noah had made these supplications, God, who loved the man +for his righteousness, granted entire success to his prayers, and +said, that it was not he who brought the destruction on a +polluted world, but that they underwent that vengeance on account +of their own wickedness; and that he had not brought men into the +world if he had himself determined to destroy them, it being an +instance of greater wisdom not to have granted them life at all, +than, after it was granted, to procure their destruction; "But +the injuries," said he, "they offered to my holiness and virtue, +forced me to bring this punishment upon them. But I will leave +off for the time to come to require such punishments, the effects +of so great wrath, for their future wicked actions, and +especially on account of thy prayers. But if I shall at any time +send tempests of rain, in an extraordinary manner, be not +affrighted at the largeness of the showers; for the water shall +no more overspread the earth. However, I require you to abstain +from shedding the blood of men, and to keep yourselves pure from +murder; and to punish those that commit any such thing. I permit +you to make use of all the other living creatures at your +pleasure, and as your appetites lead you; for I have made you +lords of them all, both of those that walk on the land, and those +that swim in the waters, and of those that fly in the regions of +the air on high, excepting their blood, for therein is the life. +But I will give you a sign that I have left off my anger by my +bow [whereby is meant the rainbow, for they determined that the +rainbow was the bow of God]. And when God had said and promised +thus, he went away. + +9. Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after +the Flood, and that all that time happily, he died, having lived +the number of nine hundred and fifty years. But let no one, upon +comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the +few years which we now live, think that what we have said of them +is false; or make the shortness of our lives at present an +argument, that neither did they attain to so long a duration of +life, for those ancients were beloved of God, and [lately] made +by God himself; and because their food was then fitter for the +prolongation of life, might well live so great a number of years: +and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on account +of their virtue, and the good use they made of it in astronomical +and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded the +time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had +lived six hundred years; for the great year is completed in that +interval. Now I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those +that have written Antiquities, both among the Greeks and +barbarians; for even Manetho, who wrote the Egyptian History, and +Berosus, who collected the Chaldean Monuments, and Mochus, and +Hestieus, and, besides these, Hieronymus the Egyptian, and those +who composed the Phoenician History, agree to what I here say: +Hesiod also, and Hecatseus, Hellanicus, and Acusilaus; and, +besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients +lived a thousand years. But as to these matters, let every one +look upon them as he thinks fit. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +Concerning The Tower Of Babylon, And The Confusion Of Tongues. + + +1. Now the sons of Noah were three, - Shem, Japhet, and Ham, born +one hundred years before the Deluge. These first of all descended +from the mountains into the plains, and fixed their habitation +there; and persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower +grounds on account of the flood, and so were very loath to come +down from the higher places, to venture to follow their examples. +Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar. God +also commanded them to send colonies abroad, for the thorough +peopling of the earth, that they might not raise seditions among +themselves, but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and +enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner. But they were so ill +instructed that they did not obey God; for which reason they fell +into calamities, and were made sensible, by experience, of what +sin they had been guilty: for when they flourished with a +numerous youth, God admonished them again to send out colonies; +but they, imagining the prosperity they enjoyed was not derived +from the favor of God, but supposing that their own power was the +proper cause of the plentiful condition they were in, did not +obey him. Nay, they added to this their disobedience to the +Divine will, the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to +send out separate colonies, that, being divided asunder, they +might the more easily be Oppressed. + +2. Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and +contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a +bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to +ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were +happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which +procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government +into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of +God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. +He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a +mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower +too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would +avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers! + +3. Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination +of Nimrod, and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to +God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being +in any degree negligent about the work: and, by reason of the +multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than +any one could expect; but the thickness of it was so great, and +it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, +upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of +burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen, that +it might not be liable to admit water. When God saw that they +acted so madly, he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since +they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former +sinners; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them +divers languages, and causing that, through the multitude of +those languages, they should not be able to understand one +another. The place wherein they built the tower is now called +Babylon, because of the confusion of that language which they +readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word +Babel, confusion. The Sibyl also makes mention of this tower, and +of the confusion of the language, when she says thus: "When all +men were of one language, some of them built a high tower, as if +they would thereby ascend up to heaven, but the gods sent storms +of wind and overthrew the tower, and gave every one his peculiar +language; and for this reason it was that the city was called +Babylon." But as to the plan of Shinar, in the country of +Babylonia, Hestiaeus mentions it, when he says thus: "Such of the +priests as were saved, took the sacred vessels of Jupiter +Enyalius, and came to Shinar of Babylonia." + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +After What Manner The Posterity Of Noah Sent Out Colonies, And +Inhabited The Whole Earth. + + +1. After this they were dispersed abroad, on account of their +languages, and went out by colonies every where; and each colony +took possession of that land which they light upon, and unto +which God led them; so that the whole continent was filled with +them, both the inland and the maritime countries. There were some +also who passed over the sea in ships, and inhabited the islands: +and some of those nations do still retain the denominations which +were given them by their first founders; but some have lost them +also, and some have only admitted certain changes in them, that +they might be the more intelligible to the inhabitants. And they +were the Greeks who became the authors of such mutations. For +when in after-ages they grew potent, they claimed to themselves +the glory of antiquity; giving names to the nations that sounded +well (in Greek) that they might be better understood among +themselves; and setting agreeable forms of government over them, +as if they were a people derived from themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Every Nation Was Denominated From Their +First Inhabitants. + + +1. Now they were the grandchildren of Noah, in honor of whom +names were imposed on the nations by those that first seized upon +them. Japhet, the son of Noah, had seven sons: they inhabited so, +that, beginning at the mountains Taurus and Amanus, they +proceeded along Asia, as far as the river Tansis, and along +Europe to Cadiz; and settling themselves on the lands which they +light upon, which none had inhabited before, they called the +nations by their own names. For Gomer founded those whom the +Greeks now call Galatians, [Galls,] but were then called +Gomerites. Magog founded those that from him were named +Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians. Now as to +Javan and Madai, the sons of Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans, +who are called Medes, by the Greeks; but from Javan, Ionia, and +all the Grecians, are derived. Thobel founded the Thobelites, who +are now called Iberes; and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch; +now they are Cappadocians. There is also a mark of their ancient +denomination still to be shown; for there is even now among them +a city called Mazaca, which may inform those that are able to +understand, that so was the entire nation once called. Thiras +also called those whom he ruled over Thirasians; but the Greeks +changed the name into Thracians. And so many were the countries +that had the children of Japhet for their inhabitants. Of the +three sons of Gomer, Aschanax founded the Aschanaxians, who are +now called by the Greeks Rheginians. So did Riphath found the +Ripheans, now called Paphlagonians; and Thrugramma the +Thrugrammeans, who, as the Greeks resolved, were named Phrygians. +Of the three sons of Javan also, the son of Japhet, Elisa gave +name to the Eliseans, who were his subjects; they are now the +Aeolians. Tharsus to the Tharsians, for so was Cilicia of old +called; the sign of which is this, that the noblest city they +have, and a metropolis also, is Tarsus, the tau being by change +put for the theta. Cethimus possessed the island Cethima: it is +now called Cyprus; and from that it is that all islands, and the +greatest part of the sea-coasts, are named Cethim by the Hebrews: +and one city there is in Cyprus that has been able to preserve +its denomination; it has been called Citius by those who use the +language of the Greeks, and has not, by the use of that dialect, +escaped the name of Cethim. And so many nations have the children +and grandchildren of Japhet possessed. Now when I have premised +somewhat, which perhaps the Greeks do not know, I will return and +explain what I have omitted; for such names are pronounced here +after the manner of the Greeks, to please my readers; for our own +country language does not so pronounce them: but the names in all +cases are of one and the same ending; for the name we here +pronounce Noeas, is there Noah, and in every case retains the +same termination. + +2. The children of Ham possessed the land from Syria and Amanus, +and the mountains of Libanus; seizing upon all that was on its +sea-coasts, and as far as the ocean, and keeping it as their own. +Some indeed of its names are utterly vanished away; others of +them being changed, and another sound given them, are hardly to +be discovered; yet a few there are which have kept their +denominations entire. For of the four sons of Ham, time has not +at all hurt the name of Chus; for the Ethiopians, over whom he +reigned, are even at this day, both by themselves and by all men +in Asia, called Chusites. The memory also of the Mesraites is +preserved in their name; for all we who inhabit this country [of +Judea] called Egypt Mestre, and the Egyptians Mestreans. Phut +also was the founder of Libya, and called the inhabitants +Phutites, from himself: there is also a river in the country of +Moors which bears that name; whence it is that we may see the +greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river +and the adjoining country by the apellation of Phut: but the +name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons +of Mesraim, who was called Lybyos. We will inform you presently +what has been the occasion why it has been called Africa also. +Canaan, the fourth son of Ham, inhabited the country now called +Judea, and called it from his own name Canaan. The children of +these [four] were these: Sabas, who founded the Sabeans; Evilas, +who founded the Evileans, who are called Getuli; Sabathes founded +the Sabathens, they are now called by the Greeks Astaborans; +Sabactas settled the Sabactens; and Ragmus the Ragmeans; and he +had two sons, the one of whom, Judadas, settled the Judadeans, a +nation of the western Ethiopians, and left them his name; as did +Sabas to the Sabeans: but Nimrod, the son of Chus, staid and +tyrannized at Babylon, as we have already informed you. Now all +the children of Mesraim, being eight in number, possessed the +country from Gaza to Egypt, though it retained the name of one +only, the Philistim; for the Greeks call part of that country +Palestine. As for the rest, Ludieim, and Enemim, and Labim, who +alone inhabited in Libya, and called the country from himself, +Nedim, and Phethrosim, and Chesloim, and Cephthorim, we know +nothing of them besides their names; for the Ethiopic war(17) +which we shall describe hereafter, was the cause that those +cities were overthrown. The sons of Canaan were these: Sidonius, +who also built a city of the same name; it is called by the +Greeks Sidon +Amathus inhabited in Amathine, which is even now called Amathe by +the inhabitants, although the Macedonians named it Epiphania, +from one of his posterity: Arudeus possessed the island Aradus: +Arucas possessed Arce, which is in Libanus. But for the seven +others, [Eueus,] Chetteus, Jebuseus, Amorreus, Gergesus, Eudeus, +Sineus, Samareus, we have nothing in the sacred books but their +names, for the Hebrews overthrew their cities; and their +calamities came upon them on the occasion following. + +3. Noah, when, after the deluge, the earth was resettled in its +former condition, set about its cultivation; and when he had +planted it with vines, and when the fruit was ripe, and he had +gathered the grapes in their season, and the wine was ready for +use, he offered sacrifice, and feasted, and, being drunk, he fell +asleep, and lay naked in an unseemly manner. When his youngest +son saw this, he came laughing, and showed him to his brethren; +but they covered their father's nakedness. And when Noah was made +sensible of what had been done, he prayed for prosperity to his +other sons; but for Ham, he did not curse him, by reason of his +nearness in blood, but cursed his prosperity: and when the rest +of them escaped that curse, God inflicted it on the children of +Canaan. But as to these matters, we shall speak more hereafter. + +4. Shem, the third son of Noah, had five sons, who inhabited the +land that began at Euphrates, and reached to the Indian Ocean. +For Elam left behind him the Elamites, the ancestors of the +Persians. Ashur lived at the city Nineve; and named his subjects +Assyrians, who became the most fortunate nation, beyond others. +Arphaxad named the Arphaxadites, who are now called Chaldeans. +Aram had the Aramites, which the Greeks called Syrians; as Laud +founded the Laudites, which are now called Lydians. Of the four +sons of Aram, Uz founded Trachonitis and Damascus: this country +lies between Palestine and Celesyria. Ul founded Armenia; and +Gather the Bactrians; and Mesa the Mesaneans; it is now called +Charax Spasini. Sala was the son of Arphaxad; and his son was +Heber, from whom they originally called the Jews Hebrews. (18) +Heber begat Joetan and Phaleg: he was called Phaleg, because he +was born at the dispersion of the nations to their several +countries; for Phaleg among the Hebrews signifies division. Now +Joctan, one of the sons of Heber, had these sons, Elmodad, +Saleph, Asermoth, Jera, Adoram, Aizel, Decla, Ebal, Abimael, +Sabeus, Ophir, Euilat, and Jobab. These inhabited from Cophen, an +Indian river, and in part of Asia adjoining to it. And this shall +suffice concerning the sons of Shem. + +5. I will now treat of the Hebrews. The son of Phaleg, whose +father Was Heber, was Ragau; whose son was Serug, to whom was +born Nahor; his son was Terah, who was the father of Abraham, who +accordingly was the tenth from Noah, and was born in the two +hundred and ninety-second year after the deluge; for Terah begat +Abram in his seventieth year. Nahor begat Haran when he was one +hundred and twenty years old; Nahor was born to Serug in his +hundred and thirty-second year; Ragau had Serug at one hundred +and thirty; at the same age also Phaleg had Ragau; Heber begat +Phaleg in his hundred and thirty-fourth year; he himself being +begotten by Sala when he was a hundred and thirty years old, whom +Arphaxad had for his son at the hundred and thirty-fifth year of +his age. Arphaxad was the son of Shem, and born twelve years +after the deluge. Now Abram had two brethren, Nahor and Haran: of +these Haran left a son, Lot; as also Sarai and Milcha his +daughters; and died among the Chaldeans, in a city of the +Chaldeans, called Ur; and his monument is shown to this day. +These married their nieces. Nabor married Milcha, and Abram +married Sarai. Now Terah hating Chaldea, on account of his +mourning for Ilaran, they all removed to Haran of Mesopotamia, +where Terah died, and was buried, when he had lived to be two +hundred and five years old; for the life of man was already, by +degrees, diminished, and became shorter than before, till the +birth of Moses; after whom the term of human life was one hundred +and twenty years, God determining it to the length that Moses +happened to live. Now Nahor had eight sons by Milcha; Uz and Buz, +Kemuel, Chesed, Azau, Pheldas, Jadelph, and Bethuel. These were +all the genuine sons of Nahor; for Teba, and Gaam, and Tachas, +and Maaca, were born of Reuma his concubine: but Bethuel had a +daughter, Rebecca, and a son, Laban. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Abram Our Forefather Went Out Of The Land Of The Chaldeans, +And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But Now Judea. + + +1. Now Abram, having no son of his own, adopted Lot, his brother +Haran's son, and his wife Sarai's brother; and he left the land +of Chaldea when he was seventy-five years old, and at the command +of God went into Canaan, and therein he dwelt himself, and left +it to his posterity. He was a person of great sagacity, both for +understanding all things and persuading his hearers, and not +mistaken in his opinions; for which reason he began to have +higher notions of virtue than others had, and he determined to +renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have +concerning God; for he was the first that ventured to publish +this notion, That there was but one God, the Creator of the +universe; and that, as to other [gods], if they contributed any +thing to the happiness of men, that each of them afforded it only +according to his appointment, and not by their own power. This +his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were +visible both at land and sea, as well as those that happen to the +sun, and moon, and all the heavenly bodies, thus:-- "If [said he] +these bodies had power of their own, they would certainly take +care of their own regular motions; but since they do not preserve +such regularity, they make it plain, that in so far as they +co-operate to our advantage, they do it not of their own +abilities, but as they are subservient to Him that commands them, +to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and +thanksgiving." For which doctrines, when the Chaldeans, and other +people of Mesopotamia, raised a tumult against him, he thought +fit to leave that country; and at the command and by the +assistance of God, he came and lived in the land of Canaan. And +when he was there settled, he built an altar, and performed a +sacrifice to God. + +2. Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him, when he +says thus: "In the tenth generation after the Flood, there was +among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great, and skillful in +the celestial science." But Hecatseus does more than barely +mention him; for he composed, and left behind him, a book +concerning him. And Nicolaus of Damascus, in the fourth book of +his History, says thus: "Abram reigned at Damascus, being a +foreigner, who came with an army out of the land above Babylon, +called the land of the Chaldeans: but, after a long time, he got +him up, and removed from that country also, with his people, and +went into the land then called the land of Canaan, but now the +land of Judea, and this when his posterity were become a +multitude; as to which posterity of his, we relate their history +in another work. Now the name of Abram is even still famous in +the country of Damascus; and there is shown a village named from +him, The Habitation of Abram." + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +That When There Was A Famine In Canaan, Abram Went Thence Into +Egypt; And After He Had Continued There A While He Returned Back +Again. + + +1. Now, after this, when a famine had invaded the land of Canaan, +and Abram had discovered that the Egyptians were in a flourishing +condition, he was disposed to go down to them, both to partake of +the plenty they enjoyed, and to become an auditor of their +priests, and to know what they said concerning the gods; +designing either to follow them, if they had better notions than +he, or to convert them into a better way, if his own notions +proved the truest. Now, seeing he was to take Sarai with him, and +was afraid of the madness of the Egyptians with regard to women, +lest the king should kill him on occasion of his wife's great +beauty, he contrived this device:-- he pretended to be her +brother, and directed her in a dissembling way to pretend the +same, for he said it would be for their benefit. Now, as soon as +he came into Egypt, it happened to Abram as he supposed it would; +for the fame of his wife's beauty was greatly talked of; for +which reason Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, would not be satisfied +with what was reported of her, but would needs see her himself, +and was preparing to enjoy her; but God put a stop to his unjust +inclinations, by sending upon him a distemper, and a sedition +against his government. And when he inquired of the priests how +he might be freed from these calamities, they told him that this +his miserable condition was derived from the wrath of God, upon +account of his inclinations to abuse the stranger's wife. He +then, out of fear, asked Sarai who she was, and who it was that +she brought along with her. And when he had found out the truth, +he excused himself to Abram, that supposing the woman to be his +sister, and not his wife, he set his affections on her, as +desiring an affinity with him by marrying her, but not as incited +by lust to abuse her. He also made him a large present in money, +and gave him leave to enter into conversation with the most +learned among the Egyptians; from which conversation his virtue +and his reputation became more conspicuous than they had been +before. + +2. For whereas the Egyptians were formerly addicted to different +customs, and despised one another's sacred and accustomed rites, +and were very angry one with another on that account, Abram +conferred with each of them, and, confuting the reasonings they +made use of, every one for their own practices, demonstrated that +such reasonings were vain and void of truth: whereupon he was +admired by them in those conferences as a very wise man, and one +of great sagacity, when he discoursed on any subject he +undertook; and this not only in understanding it, but in +persuading other men also to assent to him. He communicated to +them arithmetic, and delivered to them the science of astronomy; +for before Abram came into Egypt they were unacquainted with +those parts of learning; for that science came from the Chaldeans +into Egypt, and from thence to the Greeks also. + +3. As soon as Abram was come back into Canaan, he parted the land +between him and Lot, upon account of the tumultuous behavior of +their shepherds, concerning the pastures wherein they should feed +their flocks. However, he gave Lot his option, or leave, to +choose which lands he would take; and he took himself what the +other left, which were the lower grounds at the foot of the +mountains; and he himself dwelt in Hebron, which is a city seven +years more ancient than Tunis of Egypt. But Lot possessed the +land of the plain, and the river Jordan, not far from the city of +Sodom, which was then a fine city, but is now destroyed, by the +will and wrath of God, the cause of which I shall show in its +proper place hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +The Destruction Of The Sodomites By The Assyrian Wall. + + +At this time, when the Assyrians had the dominion over Asia, the +people of Sodom were in a flourishing condition, both as to +riches and the number of their youth. There were five kings that +managed the affairs of this county: Ballas, Barsas, Senabar, and +Sumobor, with the king of Bela; and each king led on his own +troops: and the Assyrians made war upon them; and, dividing their +army into four parts, fought against them. Now every part of the +army had its own commander; and when the battle was joined, the +Assyrians were conquerors, and imposed a tribute on the kings of +the Sodomites, who submitted to this slavery twelve years; and so +long they continued to pay their tribute: but on the thirteenth +year they rebelled, and then the army of the Assyrians came upon +them, under their commanders Amraphel, Arioch, Chodorlaomer, and +Tidal. These kings had laid waste all Syria, and overthrown the +offspring of the giants. And when they were come over against +Sodom, they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime Pits, +for at that time there were pits in that place; but now, upon the +destruction of the city of Sodom, that vale became the Lake +Asphaltites, as it is called. However, concerning this lake we +shall speak more presently. Now when the Sodomites joined battle +with the Assyrians, and the fight was very obstinate, many of +them were killed, and the rest were carried captive; among which +captives was Lot, who had come to assist the Sodomites. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Abram Fought With The Assyrians, And Overcame Them, And Saved +The Sodomite Prisoners, And Took From The Assyrians The Prey They +Had Gotten. + + +1. When, Abram heard of their calamity, he was at once afraid for +Lot his kinsman, and pitied the Sodomites, his friends and +neighbors; and thinking it proper to afford them assistance, he +did not delay it, but marched hastily, and the fifth night fell +upon the Assyrians, near Dan, for that is the name of the other +spring of Jordan; and before they could arm themselves, he slew +some as they were in their beds, before they could suspect any +harm; and others, who were not yet gone to sleep, but were so +drunk they could not fight, ran away. Abram pursued after them, +till, on the second day, he drove them in a body unto Hoba, a +place belonging to Damascus; and thereby demonstrated that +victory does not depend on multitude and the number of hands, but +the alacrity and courage of soldiers overcome the most numerous +bodies of men, while he got the victory over so great an army +with no more than three hundred and eighteen of his servants, and +three of his friends: but all those that fled returned home +ingloriously. + +2. So Abram, when he had saved the captive Sodomites, who had +been taken by the Assyrians, and Lot also, his kinsman, returned +home in peace. Now the king of Sodom met him at a certain place, +which they called The King's Dale, where Melchisedec, king of the +city Salem, received him. That name signifies, the righteous +king: and such he was, without dispute, insomuch that, on this +account, he was made the priest of God: however, they afterward +called Salem Jerusalem. Now this Melchisedec supplied Abram's +army in an hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in +abundance; and as they were feasting, he began to praise him, and +to bless God for subduing his enemies under him. And when Abram +gave him the tenth part of his prey, he accepted of the gift: but +the king of Sodom desired Abram to take the prey, but entreated +that he might have those men restored to him whom Abram had saved +from the Assyrians, because they belonged to him. But Abram would +not do so; nor would make any other advantage of that prey than +what his servants had eaten; but still insisted that he should +afford a part to his friends that had assisted him in the battle. +The first of them was called Eschol, and then Enner, and Mambre. + +3. And God commended his virtue, and said, Thou shalt not however +lose the rewards thou hast deserved to receive by such thy +glorious actions. He answered, And what advantage will it be to +me to have such rewards, when I have none to enjoy them after me? +- for he was hitherto childless. And God promised that he should +have a son, and that his posterity should be very numerous; +insomuch that their number should be like the stars. When he +heard that, he offered a sacrifice to God, as he commanded him. +The manner of the sacrifice was this:-- He took an heifer of +three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram in +like manner of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a pigeon +(19) and as he was enjoined, he divided the three former, but the +birds he did not divide. After which, before he built his altar, +where the birds of prey flew about, as desirous of blood, a +Divine voice came to him, declaring that their neighbors would be +grievous to his posterity, when they should be in Egypt, for four +hundred years; (20) during which time they should be afflicted, +but afterwards should overcome their enemies, should conquer the +Canaanites in war, and possess themselves of their land, and of +their cities. + +4. Now Abram dwelt near the oak called Ogyges,--the place belongs +to Canaan, not far from the city of Hebron. But being uneasy at +his wife's barrenness, he entreated God to grant that he might +have male issue; and God required of him to be of good courage, +and said that he would add to all the rest of the benefits that +he had bestowed upon him, ever since he led him out of +Mesopotamia, the gift of children. Accordingly Sarai, at God's +command, brought to his bed one of her handmaidens, a woman of +Egyptian descent, in order to obtain children by her; and when +this handmaid was with child, she triumphed, and ventured to +affront Sarai, as if the dominion were to come to a son to be +born of her. But when Abram resigned her into the hand of Sarai, +to punish her, she contrived to fly away, as not able to bear the +instances of Sarai's severity to her; and she entreated God to +have compassion on her. Now a Divine Angel met her, as she was +going forward in the wilderness, and bid her return to her master +and mistress, for if she would submit to that wise advice, she +would live better hereafter; for that the reason of her being in +such a miserable case was this, that she had been ungrateful and +arrogant towards her mistress. He also told her, that if she +disobeyed God, and went on still in her way, she should perish; +but if she would return back, she should become the mother of a +son who should reign over that country. These admonitions she +obeyed, and returned to her master and mistress, and obtained +forgiveness. A little while afterwards, she bare Ismael; which +may be interpreted Heard of God, because God had heard his +mother's prayer. + +5. The forementioned son was born to Abram when he was eighty-six +years old: but when he was ninety-nine, God appeared to him, and +promised him that he Should have a son by Sarai, and commanded +that his name should be Isaac; and showed him, that from this son +should spring great nations and kings, and that they should +obtain all the land of Canaan by war, from Sidon to Egypt. But he +charged him, in order to keep his posterity unmixed with others, +that they should be circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin, +and that this should be done on the eighth day after they were +born: the reason of which circumcision I will explain in another +place. And Abram inquiring also concerning Ismael, whether he +should live or not, God signified to him that he should live to +be very old, and should be the father of great nations. Abram +therefore gave thanks to God for these blessings; and then he, +and all his family, and his son Ismael, were circumcised +immediately; the son being that day thirteen years of age, and he +ninety-nine. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How God Overthrew The Nation Of The Sodomites, Out Of His Wrath +Against Them For Their Sins. + + +1. About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their +riches and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and +impious towards God, insomuch that they did not call to mind the +advantages they received from him: they hated strangers, and +abused themselves with Sodomitical practices. God was therefore +much displeased at them, and determined to punish them for their +pride, and to overthrow their city, and to lay waste their +country, until there should neither plant nor fruit grow out of +it. + +2. When God had thus resolved concerning the Sodomites, Abraham, +as he sat by the oak of Mambre, at the door of his tent, saw +three angels; and thinking them to be strangers, he rose up, and +saluted them, and desired they would accept of an entertainment, +and abide with him; to which, when they agreed, he ordered cakes +of meal to be made presently; and when he had slain a calf, he +roasted it, and brought it to them, as they sat under the oak. +Now they made a show of eating; and besides, they asked him about +his wife Sarah, where she was; and when he said she was within, +they said they would come again hereafter, and find her become a +mother. Upon which the woman laughed, and said that it was +impossible she should bear children, since she was ninety years +of age, and her husband was a hundred. Then they concealed +themselves no longer, but declared that they were angels of God; +and that one of them was sent to inform them about the child, and +two of the overthrow of Sodom. + +3. When Abraham heard this, he was grieved for the Sodomites; and +he rose up, and besought God for them, and entreated him that he +would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. And when God had +replied that there was no good man among the Sodomites; for if +there were but ten such man among them, he would not punish any +of them for their sins, Abraham held his peace. And the angels +came to the city of the Sodomites, and Lot entreated them to +accept of a lodging with him; for he was a very generous and +hospitable man, and one that had learned to imitate the goodness +of Abraham. Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of +beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and +that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved +themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; +and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any +thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their +lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations +could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their +lust, instead of these strangers; neither thus were they made +ashamed. + +4. But God was much displeased at their impudent behavior, so +that he both smote those men with blindness, and condemned the +Sodomites to universal destruction. But Lot, upon God's informing +him of the future destruction of the Sodomites, went away, taking +with him his wife and daughters, who were two, and still virgins; +for those that were betrothed (21) to them were above the +thoughts of going, and deemed that Lot's words were trifling. God +then cast a thunderbolt upon the city, and set it on fire, with +its inhabitants; and laid waste the country with the like +burning, as I formerly said when I wrote the Jewish War. (22) But +Lot's wife continually turning back to view the city as she went +from it, and being too nicely inquisitive what would become of +it, although God had forbidden her so to do, was changed into a +pillar of salt;(23) for I have seen it, and it remains at this +day. Now he and his daughters fled to a certain small place, +encompassed with the fire, and settled in it: it is to this day +called Zoar, for that is the word which the Hebrews use for a +small thing. There it was that he lived a miserable life, on +account of his having no company, and his want of provisions. + +5. But his daughters, thinking that all mankind were destroyed, +approached to their father, (24) though taking care not to be +perceived. This they did, that human kind might not utterly fail: +and they bare sons; the son of the elder was named Moab, Which +denotes one derived from his father; the younger bare Ammon, +which name denotes one derived from a kinsman. The former of whom +was the father of the Moabites, which is even still a great +nation; the latter was the father of the Ammonites; and both of +them are inhabitants of Celesyria. And such was the departure of +Lot from among the Sodomites. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +Concerning Abimelech; And Concerning Ismael The Son Of Abraham; +And Concerning The Arabians, Who Were His Posterity. + + +1. Abraham now removed to Gerar of Palestine, leading Sarah along +with him, under the notion of his sister, using the like +dissimulation that he had used before, and this out of fear: for +he was afraid of Abimelech, the king of that country, who did +also himself fall in love with Sarah, and was disposed to corrupt +her; but he was restrained from satisfying his lust by a +dangerous distemper which befell him from God. Now when his +physicians despaired of curing him, he fell asleep, and saw a +dream, warning him not to abuse the stranger's wife; and when he +recovered, he told his friends that God had inflicted that +disease upon him, by way of punishment, for his injury to the +stranger; and in order to preserve the chastity of his wife, for +that she did not accompany him as his sister, but as his +legitimate wife; and that God had promised to be gracious to him +for the time to come, if this person be once secure of his wife's +chastity. When he had said this, by the advice of his friends, he +sent for Abraham, and bid him not to be concerned about his wife, +or fear the corruption of her chastity; for that God took care of +him, and that it was by his providence that he received his wife +again, without her suffering any abuse. And he appealed to God, +and to his wife's conscience; and said that he had not any +inclination at first to enjoy her, if he had known she was his +wife; but since, said he, thou leddest her about as thy sister, I +was guilty of no offense. He also entreated him to be at peace +with him, and to make God propitious to him; and that if he +thought fit to continue with him, he should have what he wanted +in abundance; but that if he designed to go away, he should be +honorably conducted, and have whatsoever supply he wanted when he +came thither. Upon his saying this, Abraham told him that his +pretense of kindred to his wife was no lie, because she was his +brother's daughter; and that he did not think himself safe in his +travels abroad, without this sort of dissimulation; and that he +was not the cause of his distemper, but was only solicitous for +his own safety: he said also, that he was ready to stay with him. +Whereupon Abimelech assigned him land and money; and they +coventanted to live together without guile, and took an oath at a +certain well called Beersheba, which may be interpreted, The Well +of the Oath: and so it is named by the people of the country unto +this day. + +2. Now in a little time Abraham had a son by Sarah, as God had +foretold to him, whom he named Isaac, which signifies Laughter. +And indeed they so called him, because Sarah laughed when God +(25) said that she should bear a son, she not expecting such a +thing, as being past the age of child-bearing, for she was ninety +years old, and Abraham a hundred; so that this son was born to +them both in the last year of each of those decimal numbers. And +they circumcised him upon the eighth day and from that time the +Jews continue the custom of circumcising their sons within that +number of days. But as for the Arabians, they circumcise after +the thirteenth year, because Ismael, the founder of their nation, +who was born to Abraham of the concubine, was circumcised at that +age; concerning whom I will presently give a particular account, +with great exactness. + +3. As for Sarah, she at first loved Ismael, who was born of her +own handmaid Hagar, with an affection not inferior to that of her +own son, for he was brought up in order to succeed in the +government; but when she herself had borne Isaac, she was not +willing that Ismael should be brought up with him, as being too +old for him, and able to do him injuries when their father should +be dead; she therefore persuaded Abraham to send him and his +mother to some distant country. Now, at the first, he did not +agree to what Sarah was so zealous for, and thought it an +instance of the greatest barbarity, to send away a young child +(26) and a woman unprovided of necessaries; but at length he +agreed to it, because God was pleased with what Sarah had +determined: so he delivered Ismael to his mother, as not yet able +to go by himself; and commanded her to take a bottle of water, +and a loaf of bread, and so to depart, and to take Necessity for +her guide. But as soon as her necessary provisions failed, she +found herself in an evil case; and when the water was almost +spent, she laid the young child, who was ready to expire, under a +fig-tree, and went on further, that so he might die while she was +absent. But a Divine Angel came to her, and told her of a +fountain hard by, and bid her take care, and bring up the child, +because she should be very happy by the preservation of Ismael. +She then took courage, upon the prospect of what was promised +her, and, meeting with some shepherds, by their care she got +clear of the distresses she had been in. + +4. When the lad was grown up, he married a wife, by birth an +Egyptian, from whence the mother was herself derived originally. +Of this wife were born to Ismael twelve sons; Nabaioth, Kedar, +Abdeel, Mabsam, Idumas, Masmaos, Masaos, Chodad, Theman, Jetur, +Naphesus, Cadmas. These inhabited all the country from Euphrates +to the Red Sea, and called it Nabatene. They are an Arabian +nation, and name their tribes from these, both because of their +own virtue, and because of the dignity of Abraham their father. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +Concerning Isaac The Legitimate Son Of Abraham. + + +1. Now Abraham greatly loved Isaac, as being his only begotten +(27) and given to him at the borders of old age, by the favor of +God. The child also endeared himself to his parents still more, +by the exercise of every virtue, and adhering to his duty to his +parents, and being zealous in the worship of God. Abraham also +placed his own happiness in this prospect, that, when he should +die, he should leave this his son in a safe and secure condition; +which accordingly he obtained by the will of God: who being +desirous to make an experiment of Abraham's religious disposition +towards himself, appeared to him, and enumerated all the +blessings he had bestowed on him; how he had made him superior to +his enemies; and that his son Isaac, who was the principal part +of his present happiness, was derived from him; and he said that +he required this son of his as a sacrifice and holy oblation. +Accordingly he commanded him to carry him to the mountain Moriah, +and to build an altar, and offer him for a burnt-offering upon it +for that this would best manifest his religious disposition +towards him, if he preferred what was pleasing to God, before the +preservation of his own son. + +2. Now Abraham thought that it was not right to disobey God in +any thing, but that he was obliged to serve him in every +circumstance of life, since all creatures that live enjoy their +life by his providence, and the kindness he bestows on them. +Accordingly he concealed this command of God, and his own +intentions about the slaughter of his son, from his wife, as also +from every one of his servants, otherwise he should have been +hindered from his obedience to God; and he took Isaac, together +with two of his servants, and laying what things were necessary +for a sacrifice upon an ass, he went away to the mountain. Now +the two servants went along with him two days; but on the third +day, as soon as he saw the mountain, he left those servants that +were with him till then in the plain, and, having his son alone +with him, he came to the mountain. It was that mountain upon +which king David afterwards built the temple. (28) Now they had +brought with them every thing necessary for a sacrifice, +excepting the animal that was to be offered only. Now Isaac was +twenty-five years old. And as he was building the altar, he asked +his father what he was about to offer, since there was no animal +there for an oblation:-- to which it was answered, "That God +would provide himself an oblation, he being able to make a +plentiful provision for men out of what they have not, and to +deprive others of what they already have, when they put too much +trust therein; that therefore, if God pleased to be present and +propitious at this sacrifice, he would provide himself an +oblation." + +3. As soon as the altar was prepared, and Abraham had laid on the +wood, and all things were entirely ready, he said to his son, "O +son, I poured out a vast number of prayers that I might have thee +for my son; when thou wast come into the world, there was nothing +that could contribute to thy support for which I was not greatly +solicitous, nor any thing wherein I thought myself happier than +to see thee grown up to man's estate, and that I might leave thee +at my death the successor to my dominion; but since it was by +God's will that I became thy father, and it is now his will that +I relinquish thee, bear this consecration to God with a generous +mind; for I resign thee up to God who has thought fit now to +require this testimony of honor to himself, on account of the +favors he hath conferred on me, in being to me a supporter and +defender. Accordingly thou, my son, wilt now die, not in any +common way of going out of the world, but sent to God, the Father +of all men, beforehand, by thy own father, in the nature of a +sacrifice. I suppose he thinks thee worthy to get clear of this +world neither by disease, neither by war, nor by any other severe +way, by which death usually comes upon men, but so that he will +receive thy soul with prayers and holy offices of religion, and +will place thee near to himself, and thou wilt there be to me a +succorer and supporter in my old age; on which account I +principally brought thee up, and thou wilt thereby procure me God +for my Comforter instead of thyself." + +4. Now Isaac was of such a generous disposition as became the son +of such a father, and was pleased with this discourse; and said, +"That he was not worthy to be born at first, if he should reject +the determination of God and of his father, and should not resign +himself up readily to both their pleasures; since it would have +been unjust if he had not obeyed, even if his father alone had so +resolved." So he went immediately to the altar to be sacrificed. +And the deed had been done if God had not opposed it; for he +called loudly to Abraham by his name, and forbade him to slay his +son; and said, "It was not out of a desire of human blood that he +was commanded to slay his son, nor was he willing that he should +be taken away from him whom he had made his father, but to try +the temper of his mind, whether he would be obedient to such a +command. Since therefore he now was satisfied as to that his +alacrity, and the surprising readiness he showed in this his +piety, he was delighted in having bestowed such blessings upon +him; and that he would not be wanting in all sort of concern +about him, and in bestowing other children upon him; and that his +son should live to a very great age; that he should live a happy +life, and bequeath a large principality to his children, who +should be good and legitimate." He foretold also, that his family +should increase into many nations (29) and that those patriarchs +should leave behind them an everlasting name; that they should +obtain the possession of the land of Canaan, and be envied by all +men. When God had said this, he produced to them a ram, which did +not appear before, for the sacrifice. So Abraham and Isaac +receiving each other unexpectedly, and having obtained the +promises of such great blessings, embraced one another; and when +they had sacrificed, they returned to Sarah, and lived happily +together, God affording them his assistance in all things they +desired. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +Concerning Sarah Abraham's Wife; And How She +Ended Her Days. + + +Now Sarah died a little while after, having lived one hundred and +twenty-seven years. They buried her in Hebron; the Canaanites +publicly allowing them a burying-place; which piece of ground +Abraham bought for four hundred shekels, of Ephron, an inhabitant +of Hebron. And both Abraham and his descendants built themselves +sepulchers in that place. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +How The Nation Of The Troglodytes Were Derived From Abraham By +Keturah. + + +Abraham after this married Keturah, by whom six sons were born to +him, men of courage, and of sagacious minds: Zambran, and Jazar, +and Madan, and Madian, and Josabak, and Sous. Now the sons of +Sous were Sabathan and Dadan. The sons of Dadan were Latusim, and +Assur, and Luom. The sons of Madiau were Ephas, and Ophren, and +Anoch, and Ebidas, and Eldas. Now, for all these sons and +grandsons, Abraham contrived to settle them in colonies; and they +took possession of Troglodytis, and the country of Arabia the +Happy, as far as it reaches to the Red Sea. It is related of this +Ophren, that he made war against Libya, and took it, and that his +grandchildren, when they inhabited it, called it (from his name) +Africa. And indeed Alexander Polyhistor gives his attestation to +what I here say; who speaks thus: "Cleodemus the prophet, who was +also called Malchus, who wrote a History of the Jews, in +agreement with the History of Moses, their legislator, relates, +that there were many sons born to Abraham by Keturah: nay, he +names three of them, Apher, and Surim, and Japhran. That from +Surim was the land of Assyria denominated; and that from the +other two (Apher and Japbran) the country of Africa took its +name, because these men were auxiliaries to Hercules, when he +fought against Libya and Antaeus; and that Hercules married +Aphra's daughter, and of her he begat a son, Diodorus; and that +Sophon was his son, from whom that barbarous people called +Sophacians were denominated." + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + +How Isaac Took Rebeka To Wife. + + +1. Now when Abraham, the father of Isaac, had resolved to take +Rebeka, who was grand-daughter to his brother Nahor, for a wife +to his son Isaac, who was then about forty years old, he sent the +ancientest of his servants to betroth her, after he had obliged +him to give him the strongest assurances of his fidelity; which +assurances were given after the manner following:-- They put +each other's hands under each other's thighs; then they called +upon God as the witness of what was to be done. He also sent such +presents to those that were there as were in esteem, on account +that that they either rarely or never were seen in that country, +The servant got thither not under a considerable time; for it +requires much time to pass through Meopotamia, in which it is +tedious traveling, both in the winter for the depth of the clay, +and in summer for want of water; and, besides this, for the +robberies there committed, which are not to be avoided by +travelers but by caution beforehand. However, the servant came to +Haran; and when he was in the suburbs, he met a considerable +number of maidens going to the water; he therefore prayed to God +that Rebeka might be found among them, or her whom Abraham sent +him as his servant to espouse to his son, in case his will were +that this marriage should be consummated, and that she might be +made known to him by the sign, That while others denied him water +to drink, she might give it him. + +2. With this intention he went to the well, and desired the +maidens to give him some water to drink: but while the others +refused, on pretense that they wanted it all at home, and could +spare none for him, one only of the company rebuked them for +their peevish behavior towards the stranger; and said, What is +there that you will ever communicate to anybody, who have not so +much as given the man some water? She then offered him water in +an obliging manner. And now he began to hope that his grand +affair would succeed; but desiring still to know the truth, he +commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did +not scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted +it, though it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were +her parents, and wished them joy of such a daughter. "And mayst +thou be espoused," said he, "to their satisfaction, into the +family of an agreeable husband, and bring him legitimate +children." Nor did she disdain to satisfy his inquiries, but told +him her family. "They," says she, "call me Rebeka; my father was +Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother; and, together +with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is the +guardian of my virginity." When the servant heard this, he was +very glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as +perceiving that God had thus plainly directed his journey; and +producing his bracelets, and some other ornaments which it was +esteemed decent for virgins to wear, he gave them to the damsel, +by way of acknowledgment, and as a reward for her kindness in +giving him water to drink; saying, it was but just that she +should have them, because she was so much more obliging than any +of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with +them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to +proceed farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women, +he said he desired to trust them to none more safely than to such +as she had shown herself to be; and that he believed he might +guess at the humanity of her mother and brother, that they would +not be displeased, from the virtue he found in her; for he would +not be burdensome, but would pay the hire for his entertainment, +and spend his own money. To which she replied, that he guessed +right as to the humanity of her parents; but complained that he +should think them so parsimonious as to take money, for that he +should have all on free cost. But she said she would first inform +her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct +him in. + +3. As soon then as this was over, she introduced the stranger; +and for the camels, the servants of Laban brought them in, and +took care of them; and he was himself brought in to supper by +Laban. And, after supper, he says to him, and to the mother of +the damsel, addressing himself to her, "Abraham is the son of +Terah, and a kinsman of yours; for Nahor, the grandfather of +these children, was the brother of Abraham, by both father and +mother; upon which account he hath sent me to you, being desirous +to take this damsel for his son to wife. He is his legitimate +son, and is brought up as his only heir. He could indeed have had +the most happy of all the women in that country for him, but he +would not have his son marry any of them; but, out of regard to +his own relations, he desired him to match here, whose affection +and inclination I would not have you despise; for it was by the +good pleasure of God that other accidents fell out in my journey, +and that thereby I lighted upon your daughter and your house; for +when I was near to the city, I saw a great many maidens coming to +a well, and I prayed that I might meet with this damsel, which +has come to pass accordingly. Do you therefore confirm that +marriage, whose espousals have been already made by a Divine +appearance; and show the respect you have for Abraham, who hath +sent me with so much solicitude, in giving your consent to the +marriage of this damsel." Upon this they understood it to be the +will of God, and greatly approved of the offer, and sent their +daughter, as was desired. Accordingly Isaac married her, the +inheritance being now come to him; for the children by Keturah +were gone to their own remote habitations. + + + + +CHAPTER 17. + +Concerning The Death Of Abraham. + + +A Little while after this Abraham died. He was a man of +incomparable virtue, and honored by God in a manner agreeable to +his piety towards him. The whole time of his life was one hundred +seventy and five years, and he was buried in Hebron, with his +wife Sarah, by their sons Isaac and Ismael. + + + + +CHAPTER 18. + +Concerning The Sons Of Isaac, Esau And Jacob; Of Their Nativity +And Education. + + +1. Now Isaac's wife proved with child, after the death of +Abraham; (30) and when her belly was greatly burdened, Isaac was +very anxious, and inquired of God; who answered, that Rebeka +should bear twins; and that two nations should take the names of +those sons; and that he who appeared the second should excel the +elder. Accordingly she, in a little time, as God had foretold, +bare twins; the elder of whom, from his head to his feet, was +very rough and hairy; but the younger took hold of his heel as +they were in the birth. Now the father loved the elder, who was +called Esau, a name agreeable to his roughness, for the Hebrews +call such a hairy roughness [Esau, (31) or] Seir; but Jacob the +younger was best beloved by his mother. + +2. When there was a famine in the land, Isaac resolved to go into +Egypt, the land there being good; but he went to Gerar, as God +commanded him. Here Abimelech the king received him, because +Abraham had formerly lived with him, and had been his friend. And +as in the beginning he treated him exceeding kindly, so he was +hindered from continuing in the same disposition to the end, by +his envy at him; for when he saw that God was with Isaac, and +took such great care of him, he drove him away from him. But +Isaac, when he saw how envy had changed the temper of Abimelech +retired to a place called the Valley, not far from Gerar: and as +he was digging a well, the shepherds fell upon him, and began to +fight, in order to hinder the work; and because he did not desire +to contend, the shepherds seemed to get the him, so he still +retired, and dug another and when certain other shepherds of +Abimelech began to offer him violence, he left that also, still +retired, thus purchasing security to himself a rational and +prudent conduct. At length the gave him leave to dig a well +without disturbance. He named this well Rehoboth, which denotes a +large space; but of the former wells, one was called Escon, which +denotes strife, the other Sitenna, name signifies enmity. + +3. It was now that Isaac's affairs increased, and in a flourishing +condition; and this his great riches. But Abimelech, thinking in +opposition to him, while their living made them suspicious of each +other, and retiring showing a secret enmity also, he afraid that his +former friendship with Isaac would not secure him, if Isaac should +endeavor the injuries he had formerly offered him; he therefore +renewed his friendship with him, Philoc, one of his generals. And +when he had obtained every thing he desired, by reason of Isaac's +good nature, who preferred the earlier friendship Abimelech had +shown to himself and his father to his later wrath against him, he +returned home. + +4. Now when Esau, one of the sons of Isaac, whom the father +principally loved, was now come to the age of forty years, he +married Adah, the daughter of Helon, and Aholibamah, the daughter +of Esebeon; which Helon and Esebeon were great lords among the +Canaanites: thereby taking upon himself the authority, and +pretending to have dominion over his own marriages, without so +much as asking the advice of his father; for had Isaac been the +arbitrator, he had not given him leave to marry thus, for he was +not pleased with contracting any alliance with the people of that +country; but not caring to be uneasy to his son by commanding him +to put away these wives, he resolved to be silent. + +5. But when he was old, and could not see at all, he called Esau +to him, and told him, that besides his blindness, and the +disorder of his eyes, his very old age hindered him from his +worship of God [by sacrifice]; he bid him therefore to go out a +hunting, and when he had caught as much venison as he could, to +prepare him a supper (32) that after this he might make +supplication to God, to be to him a supporter and an assister +during the whole time of his life; saying, that it was uncertain +when he should die, and that he was desirous, by prayers for him, +to procure, beforehand, God to be merciful to him. + +6. Accordingly, Esau went out a hunting. But Rebeka (33) thinking +it proper to have the supplication made for obtaining the favor +of God to Jacob, and that without the consent of Isaac, bid him +kill kids of the goats, and prepare a supper. So Jacob obeyed his +mother, according to all her instructions. Now when the supper +was got ready, he took a goat's skin, and put it about his arm, +that by reason of its hairy roughness, he might by his father be +believed to be Esau; for they being twins, and in all things else +alike, differed only in this thing. This was done out of his +fear, that before his father had made his supplications, he +should be caught in his evil practice, and lest he should, on the +contrary, provoke his father to curse him. So he brought in the +supper to his father. Isaac perceivest to be Esau." So suspecting +no deceit, he ate the supper, and betook himself to his prayers +and intercessions with God; and said, "O Lord of all ages, and +Creator of all substance; for it was thou that didst propose to +my father great plenty of good things, and hast vouchsafed to +bestow on me what I have; and hast promised to my posterity to be +their kind supporter, and to bestow on them still greater +blessings; do thou therefore confirm these thy promises, and do +not overlook me, because of my present weak condition, on account +of which I most earnestly pray to thee. Be gracious to this my +son; and preserve him and keep him from every thing that is evil. +Give him a happy life, and the possession of as many good things +as thy power is able to bestow. Make him terrible to his enemies, +and honorable and beloved among his friends." + +7. Thus did Isaac pray to God, thinking his prayers had been made +for Esau. He had but just finished them, when Esau came in from +hunting. And when Isaac perceived his mistake, he was silent: but +Esau required that he might be made partaker of the like blessing +from his father that his brother had partook of; but his father +refused it, because all his prayers had been spent upon Jacob: so +Esau lamented the mistake. However, his father being grieved at +his weeping, said, that "he should excel in hunting and strength +of body, in arms, and all such sorts of work; and should obtain +glory for ever on those accounts, he and his posterity after him; +but still should serve his brother." + +8. Now the mother delivered Jacob, when she was afraid that his +brother would inflict some punishment upon him because of the +mistake about the prayers of Isaac; for she persuaded her husband +to take a wife for Jacob out of Mesopotamia, of her own kindred, +Esau having married already Basemmath, the daughter of Ismael, +without his father's consent; for Isaac did not like the +Canaanites, so that he disapproved of Esau's former marriages, +which made him take Basemmath to wife, in order to please him; +and indeed he had a great affection for her. + + + + +CHAPTER 19. + +Concerning Jacob's Flight Into Mesopotamia, By Reason Of The Fear +He Was In Of His Brother. + + +1. Now Jacob was sent by his mother to Mesopotamia, in order to +marry Laban her brother's daughter (which marriage was permitted +by Isaac, on account of his obsequiousness to the desires of his +wife); and he accordingly journeyed through the land of Canaan; +and because he hated the people of that country, he would not +lodge with any of them, but took up his lodging in the open air, +and laid his head on a heap of stones that he had gathered +together. At which time he saw in his sleep such a vision +standing by him:-- he seemed to see a ladder that reached from +the earth unto heaven, and persons descending upon the ladder +that seemed more excellent than human; and at last God himself +stood above it, and was plainly visible to him, who, calling him +by his name, spake to him in these words:-- + +2. "O Jacob, it is not fit for thee, who art the son of a good +father, and grandson of one who had obtained a great reputation +for his eminent virtue, to be dejected at thy present +circumstances, but to hope for better times, for thou shalt have +great abundance of all good things, by my assistance: for I +brought Abraham hither, out of Mesopotamia, when he was driven +away by his kinsmen, and I made thy father a happy man, nor will +I bestow a lesser degree of happiness on thyself: be of good +courage, therefore, and under my conduct proceed on this thy +journey, for the marriage thou goest so zealously about shall be +consummated. And thou shalt have children of good characters, but +their multitude shall be innumerable; and they shall leave what +they have to a still more numerous posterity, to whom, and to +whose posterity, I give the dominion of all the land, and their +posterity shall fill the entire earth and sea, so far as the sun +beholds them: but do not thou fear any danger, nor be afraid of +the many labors thou must undergo, for by my providence I will +direct thee what thou art to do in the time present, and still +much more in the time to come." + +3. Such were the predictions which God made to Jacob; whereupon +he became very joyful at what he had seen and heard; and he +poured oil on the stones, because on them the prediction of such +great benefits was made. He also vowed a vow, that he would offer +sacrifices upon them, if he lived and returned safe; and if he +came again in such a condition, he would give the tithe of what +he had gotten to God. He also judged the place to be honorable +and gave it the name of Bethel, which, in the Greek, is +interpreted, The House of God. + +4. So he proceeded on his journey to Mesopotamia, and at length +came to Haran; and meeting with shepherds in the suburbs, with +boys grown up, and maidens sitting about a certain well, he staid +with them, as wanting water to drink; and beginning to discourse +with them, he asked them whether they knew such a one as Laban, +and whether he was still alive. Now they all said they knew him, +for he was not so inconsiderable a person as to be unknown to any +of them; and that his daughter fed her father's flock together +with them; and that indeed they wondered that she was not yet +come, for by her means thou mightest learn more exactly whatever +thou desirest to know about that family. While they were saying +this the damsel came, and the other shepherds that came down +along with her. Then they showed her Jacob, and told her that he +was a stranger, who came to inquire about her father's affairs. +But she, as pleased, after the custom of children, with Jacob's +coming, asked him who he was, and whence he came to them, and +what it was he lacked that he came thither. She also wished it +might be in their power to supply the wants he came about. + +5. But Jacob was quite overcome, not so much by their kindred, +nor by that affection which might arise thence, as by his love to +the damsel, and his surprise at her beauty, which was so +flourishing, as few of the women of that age could vie with. He +said then, "There is a relation between thee and me, elder than +either thy or my birth, if thou be the daughter of Laban; for +Abraham was the son of Terah, as well as Haran and Nahor. Of the +last of whom (Nahor) Bethuel thy grandfather was the son. Isaac +my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah, who was the +daughter of Haran. But there is a nearer and later cement of +mutual kindred which we bear to one another, for my mother Rebeka +was sister to Laban thy father, both by the same father and +mother; I therefore and thou are cousin-germans. And I am now +come to salute you, and to renew that affinity which is proper +between us." Upon this the damsel, at the mention of Rebeka, as +usually happens to young persons, wept, and that out of the +kindness she had for her father, and embraced Jacob, she having +learned an account of Rebeka from her father, and knew that her +parents loved to hear her named; and when she had saluted him, +she said that "he brought the most desirable and greatest +pleasures to her father, with all their family, who was always +mentioning his mother, and always thinking of her, and her alone; +and that this will make thee equal in his eyes to any +advantageous circumstances whatsoever." Then she bid him go to +her father, and follow her while she conducted him to him; and +not to deprive him of such a pleasure, by staying any longer away +from him. + +6. When she had said thus, she brought him to Laban; and being +owned by his uncle, he was secure himself, as being among his +friends; and he brought a great deal of pleasure to them by his +unexpected coning. But a little while afterward, Laban told him +that he could not express in words the joy he had at his coming; +but still he inquired of him the occasion of his coming, and why +he left his aged mother and father, when they wanted to be taken +care of by him; and that he would afford him all the assistance +he wanted. Then Jacob gave him an account of the whole occasion +of his journey, and told him, "that Isaac had two sons that were +twins, himself and Esau; who, because he failed of his father's +prayers, which by his mother's wisdom were put up for him, sought +to kill him, as deprived of the kingdom (34) which was to be +given him of God, and of the blessings for which their father +prayed; and that this was the occasion of his coming hither, as +his mother had commanded him to do: for we are all (says he) +brethren one to another; but our mother esteems an alliance with +your family more than she does one with the families of the +country; so I look upon yourself and God to be the supporters of +my travels, and think myself safe in my present circumstances." + +7. Now Laban promised to treat him with great humanity, both on +account of his ancestors, and particularly for the sake of his +mother, towards whom, he said, he would show his kindness, even +though she were absent, by taking care of him; for he assured him +he would make him the head shepherd of his flock, and give him +authority sufficient for that purpose; and when he should have a +mind to return to his parents, he would send him back with +presents, and this in as honorable a manner as the nearness of +their relation should require. This Jacob heard gladly; and said +he would willingly, and with pleasure, undergo any sort of pains +while he tarried with him, but desired Rachel to wife, as the +reward of those pains, who was not only on other accounts +esteemed by him, but also because she was the means of his coming +to him; for he said he was forced by the love of the damsel to +make this proposal. Laban was well pleased with this agreement, +and consented to give the damsel to him, as not desirous to meet +with any better son-in-law; and said he would do this, if he +would stay with him some time, for he was not willing to send his +daughter to be among the Canaanites, for he repented of the +alliance he had made already by marrying his sister there. And +when Jacob had given his consent to this, he agreed to stay seven +years; for so many years he had resolved to serve his +father-in-law, that, having given a specimen of his virtue, it +might be better known what sort of a man he was. And Jacob, +accepting of his terms, after the time was over, he made the +wedding-feast; and when it was night, without Jacob's perceiving +it, he put his other daughter into bed to him, who was both elder +than Rachel, and of no comely countenance: Jacob lay with her +that night, as being both in drink and in the dark. However, when +it was day, he knew what had been done to him; and he reproached +Laban for his unfair proceeding with him; who asked pardon for +that necessity which forced him to do what he did; for he did not +give him Lea out of any ill design, but as overcome by another +greater necessity: that, notwithstanding this, nothing should +hinder him from marrying Rachel; but that when he had served +another seven years, he would give him her whom he loved. Jacob +submitted to this condition, for his love to the damsel did not +permit him to do otherwise; and when another seven years were +gone, he took Rachel to wife. + +8. Now each of these had handmaids, by their father's donation. +Zilpha was handmaid to Lea, and Bilha to Rachel; by no means +slaves, (35) but however subject to their mistresses. Now Lea was +sorely troubled at her husband's love to her sister; and she +expected she should be better esteemed if she bare him children: +so she entreated God perpetually; and when she had borne a son, +and her husband was on that account better reconciled to her, she +named her son Reubel, because God had had mercy upon her, in +giving her a son, for that is the signification of this name. +After some time she bare three more sons; Simeon, which +name signifies that God had hearkened to her prayer. Then she +bare Levi, the confirmer of their friendship. After him was born +Judah, which denotes thanksgiving. But Rachel, fearing lest the +fruitfulness of her sister should make herself enjoy a lesser +share of Jacob's affections, put to bed to him her handmaid +Bilha; by whom Jacob had Dan: one may interpret that name into +the Greek tongue, a divine judgment. And after him Nephthalim, as +it were, unconquerable in stratagems, since Rachel tried to +conquer the fruitfulness of her sister by this stratagem. +Accordingly, Lea took the same method, and used a +counter-stratagem to that of her sister; for she put to bed to +him her own handmaid. Jacob therefore had by Zilpha a son, whose +name was Gad, which may be interpreted fortune; and after him +Asher, which may be called a happy man, because he added glory to +Lea. Now Reubel, the eldest son of Lea, brought apples of +mandrakes (36) to his mother. When Rachel saw them, she desired +that she would give her the apples, for she longed to eat them; +but when she refused, and bid her be content that she had +deprived her of the benevolence she ought to have had from her +husband, Rachel, in order to mitigate her sister's anger, said +she would yield her husband to her; and he should lie with her +that evening. She accepted of the favor, and Jacob slept with +Lea, by the favor of Rachel. She bare then these sons: Issachar, +denoting one born by hire: and Zabulon, one born as a pledge of +benevolence towards her; and a daughter, Dina. After some time +Rachel had a son, named Joseph, which signified there should be +another added to him. + +9. Now Jacob fed the flocks of Laban his father-in-law all this +time, being twenty years, after which he desired leave of his +father-in-law to take his wives and go home; but when his +father-in-law would not give him leave, he contrived to do it +secretly. He made trial therefore of the disposition of his wives +what they thought of this journey; - when they appeared glad, and +approved of it. Rachel took along with her the images of the +gods, which, according to their laws, they used to worship in +their own country, and ran away together with her sister. The +children also of them both, and the handmaids, and what +possessions they had, went along with them. Jacob also drove away +half the cattle, without letting Laban know of it beforehand But +the reason why Rachel took the images of the gods, although Jacob +had taught her to despise such worship of those gods, was this, +That in case they were pursued, and taken by her father, she +might have recourse to these images, in order obtain his pardon. + +10. But Laban, after one day's time, being acquainted with +Jacob's and his daughters' departure, was much troubled, and +pursued after them, leading a band of men with him; and on the +seventh day overtook them, and found them resting on a certain +hill; and then indeed he did not meddle with them, for it was +even-tide; but God stood by him in a dream, and warned him to +receive his son-in-law and his daughters in a peaceable manner; +and not to venture upon any thing rashly, or in wrath to but to +make a league with Jacob. And he him, that if he despised their +small number, attacked them in a hostile manner, he would assist +them. When Laban had been thus forewarned by God, he called Jacob +to him the next day, in order to treat with him, and showed him +what dream he had; in dependence whereupon he came confidently to +him, and began to accuse him, alleging that he had entertained +him when he was poor, and in want of all things, and had given +him plenty of all things which he had. "For," said he, "I have +joined my daughters to thee in marriage, and supposed that thy +kindness to me be greater than before; but thou hast had no +regard to either thy mother's relations to me, nor to the +affinity now newly contracted between us; nor to those wives whom +thou hast married; nor to those children, of whom I am the +grandfather. Thou hast treated me as an enemy, driving away my +cattle, and by persuading my daughters to run away from their +father; and by carrying home those sacred paternal images which +were worshipped by my forefathers, and have been honored with the +like worship which they paid them by myself. In short, thou hast +done this whilst thou art my kinsman, and my sister's son, and +the husband of my daughters, and was hospiably treated by me, and +didst eat at my table." When Laban had said this, Jacob made his +defense - That he was not the only person in whom God had +implanted the love of his native country, but that he had made it +natural to all men; and that therefore it was but reasonable +that, after so long time, he should go back to it. "But as to the +prey, of whose driving away thou accusest me, if any other person +were the arbitrator, thou wouldst be found in the wrong; for +instead of those thanks I ought to have had from thee, for both +keeping thy cattle, and increasing them, how is it that thou art +unjustly angry at me because I have taken, and have with me, a +small portion of them? But then, as to thy daughters, take +notice, that it is not through any evil practices of mine that +they follow me in my return home, but from that just affection +which wives naturally have to their husbands. They follow +therefore not so properly myself as their own children." And thus +far of his apology was made, in order to clear himself of having +acted unjustly. To which he added his own complaint and +accusation of Laban; saying, "While I was thy sister's son, and +thou hadst given me thy daughters in marriage, thou hast worn me +out with thy harsh commands, and detained me twenty years under +them. That indeed which was required in order to my marrying thy +daughters, hard as it was, I own to have been tolerable; but as +to those that were put upon me after those marriages, they were +worse, and such indeed as an enemy would have avoided." For +certainly Laban had used Jacob very ill; for when he saw that God +was assisting to Jacob in all that he desired, he promised him, +that of the young cattle which should be born, he should have +sometimes what was of a white color, and sometimes what should be +of a black color; but when those that came to Jacob's share +proved numerous, he did not keep his faith with him, but said he +would give them to him the next year, because of his envying him +the multitude of his possessions. He promised him as before, +because he thought such an increase was not to be expected; but +when it appeared to be fact, he deceived him. + +11. But then, as to the sacred images, he bid him search for +them; and when Laban accepted of the offer, Rachel, being +informed of it, put those images into that camel's saddle on +which she rode, and sat upon it; and said, that her natural +purgation hindered her rising up: so Laban left off searching any +further, not supposing that his daughter in such circumstances +would approach to those images. So he made a league with Jacob, +and bound it by oaths, that he would not bear him any malice on +account of what had happened; and Jacob made the like league, and +promised to love Laban's daughters. And these leagues they +confirmed with oaths also, which the made upon certain as whereon +they erected a pillar, in the form of an altar: whence that hill +is called Gilead; and from thence they call that land the Land of +Gilead at this day. Now when they had feasted, after the making +of the league, Laban returned home. + + + + +CHAPTER 20. + +Concerning The Meeting Of Jacob And Esau. + + +1. Now as Jacob was proceeding on his journey to the land of +Canaan, angels appeared to him, and suggested to him good hope of +his future condition; and that place he named the Camp of God. +And being desirous of knowing what his brother's intentions were +to him, he sent messengers, to give him an exact account of every +thing, as being afraid, on account of the enmities between them. +He charged those that were sent, to say to Esau, "Jacob had +thought it wrong to live together with him while he was in anger +against him, and so had gone out of the country; and that he now, +thinking the length of time of his absence must have made up +their differences, was returning; that he brought with him his +wives, and his children, with what possessions he had gotten; and +delivered himself, with what was most dear to him, into his +hands; and should think it his greatest happiness to partake +together with his brother of what God had bestowed upon him." So +these messengers told him this message. Upon which Esau was very +glad, and met his brother with four hundred men. And Jacob, when +he heard that he was coming to meet him with such a number of +men, was greatly afraid: however, he committed his hope of +deliverance to God; and considered how, in his present +circumstances, he might preserve himself and those that were with +him, and overcome his enemies if they attacked him injuriously. +He therefore distributed his company into parts; some he sent +before the rest, and the others he ordered to come close behind, +that so, if the first were overpowered when his brother attacked +them, they might have those that followed as a refuge to fly +unto. And when he had put his company in this order, he sent some +of them to carry presents to his brother. The presents were made +up of cattle, and a great number of four-footed beasts, of many +kinds, such as would be very acceptable to those that received +them, on account of their rarity. Those who were sent went at +certain intervals of space asunder, that, by following thick, one +after another, they might appear to be more numerous, that Esau +might remit of his anger on account of these presents, if he were +still in a passion. Instructions were also given to those that +were sent to speak gently to him. + +2. When Jacob had made these appointments all the day, and night +came on, he moved on with his company; and, as they were gone +over a certain river called Jabboc, Jacob was left behind; and +meeting with an angel, he wrestled with him, the angel beginning +the struggle: but he prevailed over the angel, who used a voice, +and spake to him in words, exhorting him to be pleased with what +had happened to him, and not to suppose that his victory was a +small one, but that he had overcome a divine angel, and to esteem +the victory as a sign of great blessings that should come to him, +and that his offspring should never fall, and that no man should +be too hard for his power. He also commanded him to be called +Israel, which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that struggled +with the divine angel. (37) These promises were made at the +prayer of Jacob; for when he perceived him to be the angel of +God, he desired he would signify to him what should befall him +hereafter. And when the angel had said what is before related, he +disappeared; but Jacob was pleased with these things, and named +the place Phanuel, which signifies, the face of God. Now when he +felt pain, by this struggling, upon his broad sinew, he abstained +from eating that sinew himself afterward; and for his sake it is +still not eaten by us. + +3. When Jacob understood that his brother was near, he ordered +his wives to go before, each by herself, with the handmaids, that +they might see the actions of the men as they were fighting, if +Esau were so disposed. He then went up to his brother Esau, and +bowed down to him, who had no evil design upon him, but saluted +him; and asked him about the company of the children and of the +women; and desired, when he had understood all he wanted to know +about them, that he would go along with him to their father; but +Jacob pretending that the cattle were weary, Esau returned to +Seir, for there was his place of habitation, he having named the +place Roughness, from his own hairy roughness. + + + + +CHAPTER 21. + +Concerning The Violation Of Dina's Chastity. + + +1. Hereupon Jacob came to the place, till this day called Tents +(Succoth); from whence he went to Shechem, which is a city of the +Canaanites. Now as the Shechemites were keeping a festival Dina, +who was the only daughter of Jacob, went into the city to see the +finery of the women of that country. But when Shechem, the son of +Hamor the king, saw her, he defiled her by violence; and being +greatly in love with her, desired of his father that he would +procure the damsel to him for a wife. To which desire he +condescended, and came to Jacob, desiring him to give leave that +his son Shechem might, according to law, marry Dina. But Jacob, +not knowing how to deny the desire of one of such great dignity, +and yet not thinking it lawful to marry his daughter to a +stranger, entreated him to give him leave to have a consultation +about what he desired him to do. So the king went away, in hopes +that Jacob would grant him this marriage. But Jacob informed his +sons of the defilement of their sister, and of the address of +Hamor; and desired them to give their advice what they should do. +Upon fills, the greatest part said nothing, not knowing what +advice to give. But Simeon and Levi, the brethren of the damsel +by the same mother, agreed between themselves upon the action +following: It being now the time of a festival, when the +Shechemites were employed in ease and feasting, they fell upon +the watch when they were asleep, and, coming into the city, slew +all the males (38) as also the king, and his son, with them; but +spared the women. And when they had done this without their +father's consent, they brought away their sister. + +2. Now while Jacob was astonished at the greatness of this act, +and was severely blaming his sons for it, God stood by him, and +bid him be of good courage; but to purify his tents, and to offer +those sacrifices which he had vowed to offer when he went first +into Mesopotamia, and saw his vision. As he was therefore +purifying his followers, he lighted upon the gods of Laban; (for +he did not before know they were stolen by Rachel;) and he hid +them in the earth, under an oak, in Shechem. And departing +thence, he offered sacrifice at Bethel, the place where he saw +his dream, when he went first into Mesopotamia. + +3. And when he was gone thence, and was come over against +Ephrata, he there buried Rachel, who died in child-bed: she was +the only one of Jacob's kindred that had not the honor of burial +at Hebron. And when he had mourned for her a great while, he +called the son that was born of her Benjamin, (39) because of the +sorrow the mother had with him. These are all the children of +Jacob, twelve males and one female. - Of them eight were +legitimate, - viz. six of Lea, and two of Rachel; and four were +of the handmaids, two of each; all whose names have been set down +already. + + + + +CHAPTER 22. + +How Isaac Died, And Was Buried In Hebron. + + +From thence Jacob came to Hebron, a city situate among the +Canaanites; and there it was that Isaac lived: and so they lived +together for a little while; for as to Rebeka, Jacob did not find +her alive. Isaac also died not long after the coming of his son; +and was buried by his sons, with his wife, in Hebron, where they +had a monument belonging to them from their forefathers. Now +Isaac was a man who was beloved of God, and was vouchsafed great +instances of providence by God, after Abraham his father, and +lived to be exceeding old; for when he had lived virtuously one +hundred and eighty-five years, he then died. + + + + +BOOK II. + +Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Twenty Years. + +From The Death Of Isaac To The Exodus Out Of Egypt. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Esau And Jacob, Isaac's Sons Divided Their Habitation; And +Esau Possessed Idumea And Jacob Canaan. + + +1. After the death of Isaac, his sons divided their habitations +respectively; nor did they retain what they had before; but Esau +departed from the city of Hebron, and left it to his brother, and +dwelt in Seir, and ruled over Idumea. He called the country by +that name from himself, for he was named Adom; which appellation +he got on the following occasion:-- One day returning from the +toil of hunting very hungry, (it was when he was a child in age,) +he lighted on his brother when he was getting ready +lentile-pottage for his dinner, which was of a very red color; on +which account he the more earnestly longed for it, and desired +him to give him some of it to eat: but he made advantage of his +brother's hunger, and forced him to resign up to him his +birthright; and he, being pinched with famine, resigned it up to +him, under an oath. Whence it came, that, on account of the +redness of this pottage, he was, in way of jest, by his +contemporaries, called Adom, for the Hebrews call what is red +Adom; and this was the name given to the country; but the Greeks +gave it a more agreeable pronunciation, and named it Idumea. + +2. He became the father of five sons; of whom Jaus, and Jalomus, +and Coreus, were by one wife, whose name was Alibama; but of the +rest, Aliphaz was born to him by Ada, and Raguel by Basemmath: +and these were the sons of Esau. Aliphaz had five legitimate +sons; Theman, Omer, Saphus, Gotham, and Kanaz; for Amalek was not +legitimate, but by a concubine, whose name was Thamna. These +dwelt in that part of Idumea which is called Gebalitis, and that +denominated from Amalek, Amalekitis; for Idumea was a large +country, and did then preserve the name of the whole, while in +its several parts it kept the names of its peculiar inhabitants. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Joseph, The Youngest Of Jacob's Sons, Was Envied By His +Brethren, When Certain Dreams Had Foreshown His Future Happiness. + + +1. It happened that Jacob came to so great happiness as rarely +any other person had arrived at. He was richer than the rest of +the inhabitants of that country; and was at once envied and +admired for such virtuous sons, for they were deficient in +nothing, but were of great souls, both for laboring with their +hands and enduring of toil; and shrewd also in understanding. And +God exercised such a providence over him, and such a care of his +happiness, as to bring him the greatest blessings, even out of +what appeared to be the most sorrowful condition; and to make him +the cause of our forefathers' departure out of Egypt, him and his +posterity. The occasion was this:-- When Jacob had his son +Joseph born to him by Rachel, his father loved him above the rest +of his sons, both because of the beauty of his body, and the +virtues of his mind, for he excelled the rest in prudence. This +affection of his father excited the envy and the hatred of his +brethren; as did also his dreams which he saw, and related to his +father, and to them, which foretold his future happiness, it +being usual with mankind to envy their very nearest relations +such their prosperity. Now the visions which Joseph saw in his +sleep were these:-- + +2. When they were in the middle of harvest, and Joseph was sent +by his father, with his brethren, to gather the fruits of the +earth, he saw a vision in a dream, but greatly exceeding the +customary appearances that come when we are asleep; which, when +he was got up, he told his brethren, that they might judge what +it portended. He said, he saw the last night, that his +wheat-sheaf stood still in the place where he set it, but that +their sheaves ran to bow down to it, as servants bow down to +their masters. But as soon as they perceived the vision foretold +that he should obtain power and great wealth, and that his power +should be in opposition to them, they gave no interpretation of +it to Joseph, as if the dream were not by them undestood: but +they prayed that no part of what they suspected to be its meaning +might come to pass; and they bare a still greater hatred to him +on that account. + +3. But God, in opposition to their envy, sent a second vision to +Joseph, which was much more wonderful than the former; for it +seemed to him that the sun took with him the moon, and the rest +of the stars, and came down to the earth, and bowed down to him. +He told the vision to his father, and that, as suspecting nothing +of ill-will from his brethren, when they were there also, and +desired him to interpret what it should signify. Now Jacob was +pleased with the dream: for, considering the prediction in his +mind, and shrewdly and wisely guessing at its meaning, he +rejoiced at the great things thereby signified, because it +declared the future happiness of his son; and that, by the +blessing of God, the time would come when he should be honored, +and thought worthy of worship by his parents and brethren, as +guessing that the moon and sun were like his mother and father; +the former, as she that gave increase and nourishment to all +things; and the latter, he that gave form and other powers to +them; and that the stars were like his brethren, since they were +eleven in number, as were the stars that receive their power from +the sun and moon. + +4. And thus did Jacob make a judgment of this vision, and that a +shrewd one also. But these interpretations caused very great +grief to Joseph's brethren; and they were affected to him +hereupon as if he were a certain stranger, that was to those good +things which were signified by the dreams and not as one that was +a brother, with whom it was probable they should be +joint-partakers; and as they had been partners in the same +parentage, so should they be of the same happiness. They also +resolved to kill the lad; and having fully ratified that +intention of theirs, as soon as their collection of the fruits +was over, they went to Shechem, which is a country good for +feeding of cattle, and for pasturage; there they fed their +flocks, without acquainting their father with their removal +thither; whereupon he had melancholy suspicions about them, as +being ignorant of his sons' condition, and receiving no messenger +from the flocks that could inform him of the true state they were +in; so, because he was in great fear about them, he sent Joseph +to the flocks, to learn the circumstances his brethren were in, +and to bring him word how they did. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Joseph Was Thus Sold By His Brethren Into Egypt, By Reason Of +Their Hatred To Him; And How He There Grew Famous And Illustrious +And Had His Brethren Under His Power. + + +1. Now these brethren rejoiced as soon as they saw their brother +coming to them, not indeed as at the presence of a near relation, +or as at the presence of one sent by their father, but as at the +presence of an enemy, and one that by Divine Providence was +delivered into their hands; and they already resolved to kill +him, and not let slip the opportunity that lay before them. But +when Reubel, the eldest of them, saw them thus disposed, and that +they had agreed together to execute their purpose, he tried to +restrain them, showing them the heinous enterprise they were +going about, and the horrid nature of it; that this action would +appear wicked in the sight of God, and impious before men, even +though they should kill one not related to them; but much more +flagitious and detestable to appear to have slain their own +brother, by which act the father must be treated unjustly in the +son's slaughter, and the mother (1) also be in perplexity while +she laments that her son is taken away from her, and this not in +a natural way neither. So he entreated them to have a regard to +their own consciences, and wisely to consider what mischief would +betide them upon the death of so good a child, and their youngest +brother; that they would also fear God, who was already both a +spectator and a witness of the designs they had against their +brother; that he would love them if they abstained from this act, +and yielded to repentance and amendment; but in case they +proceeded to do the fact, all sorts of punishments would overtake +them from God for this murder of their brother, since they +polluted his providence, which was every where present, and which +did not overlook what was done, either in deserts or in cities; +for wheresoever a man is, there ought he to suppose that God is +also. He told them further, that their consciences would be their +enemies, if they attempted to go through so wicked an enterprise, +which they can never avoid, whether it be a good conscience; or +whether it be such a one as they will have within them when once +they have killed their brother. He also added this besides to +what he had before said, that it was not a righteous thing to +kill a brother, though he had injured them; that it is a good +thing to forget the actions of such near friends, even in things +wherein they might seem to have offended; but that they were +going to kill Joseph, who had been guilty of nothing that was ill +towards them, in whose case the infirmity of his small age should +rather procure him mercy, and move them to unite together in the +care of his preservation. That the cause of killing him made the +act itself much worse, while they determined to take him off out +of envy at his future prosperity, an equal share of which they +would naturally partake while he enjoyed it, since they were to +him not strangers, but the nearest relations, for they might +reckon upon what God bestowed upon Joseph as their own; and that +it was fit for them to believe, that the anger of God would for +this cause be more severe upon them, if they slew him who was +judged by God to be worthy of that prosperity which was to be +hoped for; and while, by murdering him, they made it impossible +for God to bestow it upon him. + +2. Reubel said these and many other things, and used entreaties +to them, and thereby endeavored to divert them from the murder of +their brother. But when he saw that his discourse had not +mollified them at all, and that they made haste to do the fact, +he advised them to alleviate the wickedness they were going +about, in the manner of taking Joseph off; for as he had exhorted +them first, when they were going to revenge themselves, to be +dissuaded from doing it; so, since the sentence for killing their +brother had prevailed, he said that they would not, however, be +so grossly guilty, if they would be persuaded to follow his +present advice, which would include what they were so eager +about, but was not so very bad, but, in the distress they were +in, of a lighter nature. He begged of them, therefore, not to +kill their brother with their own hands, but to cast him into the +pit that was hard by, and so to let him die; by which they would +gain so much, that they would not defile their own hands with his +blood. To this the young men readily agreed; so Reubel took the +lad and tied him to a cord, and let him down gently into the pit, +for it had no water at all in it; who, when he had done this, +went his way to seek for such pasturage as was fit for feeding +his flocks. + +3. But Judas, being one of Jacob's sons also, seeing some +Arabians, of the posterity of Ismael, carrying spices and Syrian +wares out of the land of Gilead to the Egyptians, after Rubel was +gone, advised his brethren to draw Joseph out of the pit, and +sell him to the Arabians; for if he should die among strangers a +great way off, they should be freed from this barbarous action. +This, therefore, was resolved on; so they drew Joseph up out of +the pit, and sold him to the merchants for twenty pounds (2) He +was now seventeen years old. But Reubel, coming in the night-time +to the pit, resolved to save Joseph, without the privity of his +brethren; and when, upon his calling to him, he made no answer, +he was afraid that they had destroyed him after he was gone; of +which he complained to his brethren; but when they had told him +what they had done, Reubel left off his mourning. + +4. When Joseph's brethren had done thus to him, they considered +what they should do to escape the suspicions of their father. Now +they had taken away from Joseph the coat which he had on when he +came to them at the time they let him down into the pit; so they +thought proper to tear that coat to pieces, and to dip it into +goats' blood, and then to carry it and show it to their father, +that he might believe he was destroyed by wild beasts. And when +they had so done, they came to the old man, but this not till +what had happened to his son had already come to his knowledge. +Then they said that they had not seen Joseph, nor knew what +mishap had befallen him; but that they had found his coat bloody +and torn to pieces, whence they had a suspicion that he had +fallen among wild beasts, and so perished, if that was the coat +he had on when he came from home. Now Jacob had before some +better hopes that his son was only made a captive; but now he +laid aside that notion, and supposed that this coat was an +evident argument that he was dead, for he well remembered that +this was the coat he had on when he sent him to his brethren; so +he hereafter lamented the lad as now dead, and as if he had been +the father of no more than one, without taking any comfort in the +rest; and so he was also affected with his misfortune before he +met with Joseph's brethren, when he also conjectured that Joseph +was destroyed by wild beasts. He sat down also clothed in +sackcloth and in heavy affliction, insomuch that he found no ease +when his sons comforted him, neither did his pains remit by +length of time. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +Concerning The Signal Chastity Of Joseph. + + +1. Now Potiphar, an Egyptian, who was chief cook to king Pharaoh, +bought Joseph of the merchants, who sold him to him. He had him +in the greatest honor, and taught him the learning that became a +free man, and gave him leave to make use of a diet better than +was allotted to slaves. He intrusted also the care of his house +to him. So he enjoyed these advantages, yet did not he leave that +virtue which he had before, upon such a change of his condition; +but he demonstrated that wisdom was able to govern the uneasy +passions of life, in such as have it in reality, and do not only +put it on for a show, under a present state of prosperity. + +2. For when his master's wife was fallen in love with him, both +on account of his beauty of body, and his dexterous management of +affairs; and supposed, that if she should make it known to him, +she could easily persuade him to come and lie with her, and that +he would look upon it as a piece of happy fortune that his +mistress should entreat him, as regarding that state of slavery +he was in, and not his moral character, which continued after his +condition was changed. So she made known her naughty +inclinations, and spake to him about lying with her. However, he +rejected her entreaties, not thinking it agreeable to religion to +yield so far to her, as to do what would tend to the affront and +injury of him that purchased him, and had vouchsafed him so great +honors. He, on the contrary, exhorted her to govern that passion; +and laid before her the impossibility of her obtaining her +desires, which he thought might be conquered, if she had no hope +of succeeding; and he said, that as to himself, he would endure +any thing whatever before he would be persuaded to it; for +although it was fit for a slave, as he was, to do nothing +contrary to his mistress, he might well be excused in a case +where the contradiction was to such sort of commands only. But +this opposition of Joseph, when she did not expect it, made her +still more violent in her love to him; and as she was sorely +beset with this naughty passion, so she resolved to compass her +design by a second attempt. + +3. When, therefore, there was a public festival coming on, in +which it was the custom for women to come to the public +solemnity; she pretended to her husband that she was sick, as +contriving an opportunity for solitude and leisure, that she +might entreat Joseph again. Which opportunity being obtained, she +used more kind words to him than before; and said that it had +been good for him to have yielded to her first solicitation, and +to have given her no repulse, both because of the reverence he +ought to bear to her dignity who solicited him, and because of +the vehemence of her passion, by which she was forced though she +were his mistress to condescend beneath her dignity; but that he +may now, by taking more prudent advice, wipe off the imputation +of his former folly; for whether it were that he expected the +repetition of her solicitations she had now made, and that with +greater earnestness than before, for that she had pretended +sickness on this very account, and had preferred his conversation +before the festival and its solemnity; or whether he opposed her +former discourses, as not believing she could be in earnest; she +now gave him sufficient security, by thus repeating her +application, that she meant not in the least by fraud to impose +upon him; and assured him, that if he complied with her +affections, he might expect the enjoyment of the advantages he +already had; and if he were submissive to her, he should have +still greater advantages; but that he must look for revenge and +hatred from her, in case he rejected her desires, and preferred +the reputation of chastity before his mistress; for that he would +gain nothing by such procedure, because she would then become his +accuser, and would falsely pretend to her husband, that he had +attempted her chastity; and that Potiphar would hearken to her +words rather than to his, let his be ever so agreeable to the +truth. + +4. When the woman had said thus, and even with tears in her eyes, +neither did pity dissuade Joseph from his chastity, nor did fear +compel him to a compliance with her; but he opposed her +solicitations, and did not yield to her threatenings, and was +afraid to do an ill thing, and chose to undergo the sharpest +punishment rather than to enjoy his present advantages, by doing +what his own conscience knew would justly deserve that he should +die for it. He also put her in mind that she was a married woman, +and that she ought to cohabit with her husband only; and desired +her to suffer these considerations to have more weight with her +than the short pleasure of lustful dalliance, which would bring +her to repentance afterwards, would cause trouble to her, and yet +would not amend what had been done amiss. He also suggested to +her the fear she would be in lest they should be caught; and that +the advantage of concealment was uncertain, and that only while +the wickedness was not known [would there be any quiet for them]; +but that she might have the enjoyment of her husband's company +without any danger. And he told her, that in the company of her +husband she might have great boldness from a good conscience, +both before God and before men. Nay, that she would act better +like his mistress, and make use of her authority over him better +while she persisted in her chastity, than when they were both +ashamed for what wickedness they had been guilty of; and that it +is much better to a life, well and known to have been so, than +upon the hopes of the concealment of evil practices. + +5. Joseph, by saying this, and more, tried to restrain the +violent passion of the woman, and to reduce her affections within +the rules of reason; but she grew more ungovernable and earnest +in the matter; and since she despaired of persuading him, she +laid her hands upon him, and had a mind to force him. But as soon +as Joseph had got away from her anger, leaving also his garment +with her, for he left that to her, and leaped out of her chamber, +she was greatly afraid lest he should discover her lewdness to +her husband, and greatly troubled at the affront he had offered +her; so she resolved to be beforehand with him, and to accuse +Joseph falsely to Potiphar, and by that means to revenge herself +on him for his pride and contempt of her; and she thought it a +wise thing in itself, and also becoming a woman, thus to prevent +his accusation. Accordingly she sat sorrowful and in confusion, +framing herself so hypocritically and angrily, that the sorrow, +which was really for her being disappointed of her lust, might +appear to be for the attempt upon her chastity; so that when her +husband came home, and was disturbed at the sight of her and +inquired what was the cause of the disorder she was in, she began +to accuse Joseph: and, "O husband," said she, "mayst thou not +live a day longer if thou dost not punish the wicked slave who +has desired to defile thy bed; who has neither minded who he was +when he came to our house, so as to behave himself with modesty; +nor has he been mindful of what favors he had received from thy +bounty (as he must be an ungrateful man indeed, unless he, in +every respect, carry himself in a manner agreeable to us): this +man, I say, laid a private design to abuse thy wife, and this at +the time of a festival, observing when thou wouldst be absent. So +that it now is clear that his modesty, as it appeared to be +formerly, was only because of the restraint he was in out of fear +of thee, but that he was not really of a good disposition. This +has been occasioned by his being advanced to honor beyond what he +deserved, and what he hoped for; insomuch that he concluded, that +he who was deemed fit to be trusted with thy estate and the +government of thy family, and was preferred above thy eldest +servants, might be allowed to touch thy wife also." Thus when she +had ended her discourse, she showed him his garment, as if he +then left it with her when he attempted to force her. But +Potiphar not being able to disbelieve what his wife's tears +showed, and what his wife said, and what he saw himself, and +being seduced by his love to his wife, did not set himself about +the examination of the truth; but taking it for granted that his +wife was a modest woman, and condemning Joseph as a wicked man, +he threw him into the malefactors' prison; and had a still higher +opinion of his wife, and bare her witness that she was a woman of +a becoming modesty and chastity. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +What Things Befell Joseph In Prison. + + +1. Now Joseph, commending all his affairs to God, did not betake +himself to make his defense, nor to give an account of the exact +circumstances of the fact, but silently underwent the bonds and +the distress he was in, firmly believing that God, who knew the +cause of his affliction, and the truth of the fact, would be more +powerful than those that inflicted the punishments upon him:-- a +proof of whose providence he quickly received; for the keeper of +the prison taking notice of his care and fidelity in the affairs +he had set him about, and the dignity of his countenance, relaxed +his bonds, and thereby made his heavy calamity lighter, and more +supportable to him. He also permitted him to make use of a diet +better than that of the rest of the prisoners. Now, as his fellow +prisoners, when their hard labors were over, fell to discoursing +one among another, as is usual in such as are equal sufferers, +and to inquire one of another what were the occasions of their +being condemned to a prison: among them the king's cupbearer, and +one that had been respected by him, was put in bonds, upon the +king's anger at him. This man was under the same bonds with +Joseph, and grew more familiar with him; and upon his observing +that Joseph had a better understanding than the rest had, he told +him of a dream he had, and desired he would interpret its +meaning, complaining that, besides the afflictions he underwent +from the king, God did also add to him trouble from his dreams. + +2. He therefore said, that in his sleep he saw three clusters of +grapes hanging upon three branches of a vine, large already, and +ripe for gathering; and that he squeezed them into a cup which +the king held in his hand; and when he had strained the wine, he +gave it to the king to drink, and that he received it from him +with a pleasant countenance. This, he said, was what he saw; and +he desired Joseph, that if he had any portion of understanding in +such matters, he would tell him what this vision foretold. Who +bid him be of good cheer, and expect to be loosed from his bonds +in three days' time, because the king desired his service, and +was about to restore him to it again; for he let him know that +God bestows the fruit of the vine upon men for good; which wine +is poured out to him, and is the pledge of fidelity and mutual +confidence among men; and puts an end to their quarrels, takes +away passion and grief out of the minds of them that use it, and +makes them cheerful. "Thou sayest that thou didst squeeze this +wine from three clusters of grapes with thine hands, and that the +king received it: know, therefore, that this vision is for thy +good, and foretells a release from thy present distress within +the same number of days as the branches had whence thou +gatheredst thy grapes in thy sleep. However, remember what +prosperity I have foretold thee when thou hast found it true by +experience; and when thou art in authority, do not overlook us in +this prison, wherein thou wilt leave us when thou art gone to the +place we have foretold; for we are not in prison for any crime; +but for the sake of our virtue and sobriety are we condemned to +suffer the penalty of malefactors, and because we are not willing +to injure him that has thus distressed us, though it were for our +own pleasure." The cupbearer, therefore, as was natural to do, +rejoiced to hear such an interpretation of his dream, and waited +the completion of what had been thus shown him beforehand. + +3. But another servant there was of the king, who had been chief +baker, and was now bound in prison with the cupbearer; he also +was in good hope, upon Joseph's interpretation of the other's +vision, for he had seen a dream also; so he desired that Joseph +would tell him what the visions he had seen the night before +might mean. They were these that follow:-- "Methought," says he, +"I carried three baskets upon my head; two were full of loaves, +and the third full of sweetmeats and other eatables, such as are +prepared for kings; but that the fowls came flying, and eat them +all up, and had no regard to my attempt to drive them away." And +he expected a prediction like to that of the cupbearer. But +Joseph, considering and reasoning about the dream, said to him, +that he would willingly be an interpreter of good events to him, +and not of such as his dream denounced to him; but he told him +that he had only three days in all to live, for that the [three] +baskets signify, that on the third day he should be crucified, +and devoured by fowls, while he was not able to help himself. Now +both these dreams had the same several events that Joseph +foretold they should have, and this to both the parties; for on +the third day before mentioned, when the king solemnized his +birth-day, he crucified the chief baker, but set the butler free +from his bonds, and restored him to his former ministration. + +4. But God freed Joseph from his confinement, after he had +endured his bonds two years, and had received no assistance from +the cupbearer, who did not remember what he had said to him +formerly; and God contrived this method of deliverance for him. +Pharaoh the king had seen in his sleep the same evening two +visions; and after them had the interpretations of them both +given him. He had forgotten the latter, but retained the dreams +themselves. Being therefore troubled at what he had seen, for it +seemed to him to be all of a melancholy nature, the next day he +called together the wisest men among the Egyptians, desiring to +learn from them the interpretation of his dreams. But when they +hesitated about them, the king was so much the more disturbed. +And now it was that the memory of Joseph, and his skill in +dreams, came into the mind of the king's cupbearer, when he saw +the confusion that Pharaoh was in; so he came and mentioned +Joseph to him, as also the vision he had seen in prison, and how +the event proved as he had said; as also that the chief baker was +crucified on the very same day; and that this also happened to +him according to the interpretation of Joseph. That Joseph +himself was laid in bonds by Potiphar, who was his head cook, as +a slave; but, he said, he was one of the noblest of the stock of +the Hebrews; and said further, his father lived in great +splendor. "If, therefore, thou wilt send for him, and not despise +him on the score of his misfortunes, thou wilt learn what thy +dreams signify." So the king commanded that they should bring +Joseph into his presence; and those who received the command came +and brought him with them, having taken care of his habit, that +it might be decent, as the king had enjoined them to do. + +5. But the king took him by the hand; and, "O young man," says +he, "for my servant bears witness that thou art at present the +best and most skillful person I can consult with; vouchsafe me +the same favors which thou bestowedst on this servant of mine, +and tell me what events they are which the visions of my dreams +foreshow; and I desire thee to suppress nothing out of fear, nor +to flatter me with lying words, or with what may please me, +although the truth should be of a melancholy nature. For it +seemed to me that, as I walked by the river, I saw kine fat and +very large, seven in number, going from the river to the marshes; +and other kine of the same number like them, met them out of the +marshes, exceeding lean and ill-favored, which ate up the fat and +the large kine, and yet were no better than before, and not less +miserably pinched with famine. After I had seen this vision, I +awaked out of my sleep; and being in disorder, and considering +with myself what this appearance should be, I fell asleep again, +and saw another dream, much more wonderful than the foregoing, +which still did more affright and disturb me:-- I saw seven ears +of corn growing out of one root, having their heads borne down by +the weight of the grains, and bending down with the fruit, which +was now ripe and fit for reaping; and near these I saw seven +other ears of corn, meager and weak, for want of rain, which fell +to eating and consuming those that were fit for reaping, and put +me into great astonishment." + +6. To which Joseph replied:-- "This dream," said he, "O king, +although seen under two forms, signifies one and the same event +of things; for when thou sawest the fat kine, which is an animal +made for the plough and for labor, devoured by the worser kine, +and the ears of corn eaten up by the smaller ears, they foretell +a famine, and want of the fruits of the earth for the same number +of years, and equal with those when Egypt was in a happy state; +and this so far, that the plenty of these years will be spent in +the same number of years of scarcity, and that scarcity of +necessary provisions will be very difficult to be corrected; as a +sign whereof, the ill-favored kine, when they had devoured the +better sort, could not be satisfied. But still God foreshows what +is to come upon men, not to grieve them, but that, when they know +it beforehand, they may by prudence make the actual experience of +what is foretold the more tolerable. If thou, therefore, +carefully dispose of the plentiful crops which will come in the +former years, thou wilt procure that the future calamity will not +be felt by the Egyptians." + +7. Hereupon the king wondered at the discretion and wisdom of +Joseph; and asked him by what means he might so dispense the +foregoing plentiful crops in the happy years, as to make the +miserable crops more tolerable. Joseph then added this his +advice: To spare the good crops, and not permit the Egyptians to +spend them luxuriously, but to reserve what they would have spent +in luxury beyond their necessity against the time of want. He +also exhorted him to take the corn of the husbandmen, and give +them only so much as will be sufficient for their food. +Accordingly Pharaoh being surprised at Joseph, not only for his +interpretation of the dream, but for the counsel he had given +him, intrusted him with dispensing the corn; with power to do +what he thought would be for the benefit of the people of Egypt, +and for the benefit of the king, as believing that he who first +discovered this method of acting, would prove the best overseer +of it. But Joseph having this power given him by the king, with +leave to make use of his seal, and to wear purple, drove in his +chariot through all the land of Egypt, and took the corn of the +husbandmen, (3) allotting as much to every one as would be +sufficient for seed, and for food, but without discovering to any +one the reason why he did so. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Joseph When He Was Become Famous In Egypt, Had His Brethren +In Subjection. + + +1. Joseph was now grown up to thirty years of age, and enjoyed +great honors from the king, who called him Psothom Phanech, out +of regard to his prodigious degree of wisdom; for that name +denotes the revealer of secrets. He also married a wife of very +high quality; for he married the daughter of Petephres, (4) one +of the priests of Heliopolis; she was a virgin, and her name was +Asenath. By her he had children before the scarcity came on; +Manasseh, the elder, which signifies forgetful, because his +present happiness made him forget his former misfortunes; and +Ephraim, the younger, which signifies restored, because he was +restored to the freedom of his forefathers. Now after Egypt had +happily passed over seven years, according to Joseph's +interpretation of the dreams, the famine came upon them in the +eighth year; and because this misfortune fell upon them when they +had no sense of it beforehand, (5) they were all sorely afflicted +by it, and came running to the king's gates; and he called upon +Joseph, who sold the corn to them, being become confessedly a +savior to the whole multitude of the Egyptians. Nor did he open +this market of corn for the people of that country only, but +strangers had liberty to buy also; Joseph being willing that all +men, who are naturally akin to one another, should have +assistance from those that lived in happiness. + +2. Now Jacob also, when he understood that foreigners might come, +sent all his sons into Egypt to buy corn, for the land of Canaan +was grievously afflicted with the famine; and this great misery +touched the whole continent. He only retained Benjamin, who was +born to him by Rachel, and was of the same mother with Joseph. +These sons of Jacob then came into Egypt, and applied themselves +to Joseph, wanting to buy corn; for nothing of this kind was done +without his approbation, since even then only was the honor that +was paid the king himself advantageous to the persons that paid +it, when they took care to honor Joseph also. Now when he well +knew his brethren, they thought nothing of him; for he was but a +youth when he left them, and was now come to an age so much +greater, that the lineaments of his face were changed, and he was +not known by them: besides this, the greatness of the dignity +wherein he appeared, suffered them not so much as to suspect it +was he. He now made trial what sentiments they had about affairs +of the greatest consequence; for he refused to sell them corn, +and said they were come as spies of the king's affairs; and that +they came from several countries, and joined themselves together, +and pretended that they were of kin, it not being possible that a +private man should breed up so many sons, and those of so great +beauty of countenance as they were, such an education of so many +children being not easily obtained by kings themselves. Now this +he did in order to discover what concerned his father, and what +happened to him after his own departure from him, and as desiring +to know what was become of Benjamin his brother; for he was +afraid that they had ventured on the like wicked enterprise +against him that they had done to himself, and had taken him off +also. + +3. Now these brethren of his were under distraction and terror, +and thought that very great danger hung over them; yet not at all +reflecting upon their brother Joseph, and standing firm under the +accusations laid against them, they made their defense by Reubel, +the eldest of them, who now became their spokesman: "We come not +hither," said he, "with any unjust design, nor in order to bring +any harm to the king's affairs; we only want to be preserved, as +supposing your humanity might be a refuge for us from the +miseries which our country labors under, we having heard that you +proposed to sell corn, not only to your own countrymen, but to +strangers also, and that you determined to allow that corn, in +order to preserve all that want it; but that we are brethren, and +of the same common blood, the peculiar lineaments of our faces, +and those not so much different from one another, plainly show. +Our father's name is Jacob, an Hebrew man, who had twelve of us +for his sons by four wives; which twelve of us, while we were all +alive, were a happy family; but when one of our brethren, whose +name was Joseph, died, our affairs changed for the worse, for our +father could not forbear to make a long lamentation for him; and +we are in affliction, both by the calamity of the death of our +brother, and the miserable state of our aged father. We are now, +therefore, come to buy corn, having intrusted the care of our +father, and the provision for our family, to Benjamin, our +youngest brother; and if thou sendest to our house, thou mayst +learn whether we are guilty of the least falsehood in what we +say." + +4. And thus did Reubel endeavor to persuade Joseph to have a +better opinion of them. But when he had learned from them that +Jacob was alive, and that his brother was not destroyed by them, +he for the present put them in prison, as intending to examine +more into their affairs when he should be at leisure. But on the +third day he brought them out, and said to them, "Since you +constantly affirm that you are not come to do any harm to the +king's affairs; that you are brethren, and the sons of the father +whom you named; you will satisfy me of the truth of what you say, +if you leave one of your company with me, who shall suffer no +injury here; and if, when ye have carried corn to your father, +you will come to me again, and bring your brother, whom you say +you left there, along with you, for this shall be by me esteemed +an assurance of the truth of what you have told me." Hereupon +they were in greater grief than before; they wept, and +perpetually deplored one among another the calamity of Joseph; +and said, "They were fallen into this misery as a punishment +inflicted by God for what evil contrivances they had against +him." And Reubel was large in his reproaches of them for their +too late repentance, whence no profit arose to Joseph; and +earnestly exhorted them to bear with patience whatever they +suffered, since it was done by God in way of punishment, on his +account. Thus they spake to one another, not imagining that +Joseph understood their language. A general sadness also seized +on them at Reubel's words, and a repentance for what they had +done; and they condemned the wickedness they had perpetrated, for +which they judged they were justly punished by God. Now when +Joseph saw that they were in this distress, he was so affected at +it that he fell into tears, and not being willing that they +should take notice of him, he retired; and after a while came to +them again, and taking Symeon (6) in order to his being a pledge +for his brethren's return, he bid them take the corn they had +bought, and go their way. He also commanded his steward privily +to put the money which they had brought with them for the +purchase of corn into their sacks, and to dismiss them therewith; +who did what he was commanded to do. + +5. Now when Jacob's sons were come into the land of Canaan, they +told their father what had happened to them in Egypt, and that +they were taken to have come thither as spies upon the king; and +how they said they were brethren, and had left their eleventh +brother with their father, but were not believed; and how they +had left Symeon with the governor, until Benjamin should go +thither, and be a testimonial of the truth of what they had said: +and they begged of their father to fear nothing, but to send the +lad along with them. But Jacob was not pleased with any thing his +sons had done; and he took the detention of Symeon heinously, and +thence thought it a foolish thing to give up Benjamin also. +Neither did he yield to Reubel's persuasion, though he begged it +of him, and gave leave that the grandfather might, in way of +requital, kill his own sons, in case any harm came to Benjamin in +the journey. So they were distressed, and knew not what to do; +nay, there was another accident that still disturbed them more, - +the money that was found hidden in their sacks of corn. Yet when +the corn they had brought failed them, and when the famine still +afflicted them, and necessity forced them, Jacob did (7) [not] +still resolve to send Benjamin with his brethren, although there +was no returning into Egypt unless they came with what they had +promised. Now the misery growing every day worse, and his sons +begging it of him, he had no other course to take in his present +circumstances. And Judas, who was of a bold temper on other +occasions, spake his mind very freely to him: "That it did not +become him to be afraid on account of his son, nor to suspect the +worst, as he did; for nothing could be done to his son but by the +appointment of God, which must also for certain come to pass, +though he were at home with him; that he ought not to condemn +them to such manifest destruction; nor deprive them of that +plenty of food they might have from Pharaoh, by his unreasonable +fear about his son Benjamin, but ought to take care of the +preservation of Symeon, lest, by attempting to hinder Benjamin's +journey, Symeon should perish. He exhorted him to trust God for +him; and said he would either bring his son back to him safe, or, +together with his, lose his own life." So that Jacob was at +length persuaded, and delivered Benjamin to them, with the price +of the corn doubled; he also sent presents to Joseph of the +fruits of the land of Canaan, balsam and rosin, as also +turpentine and honey. (8) Now their father shed many tears at the +departure of his sons, as well as themselves. His concern was, +that he might receive them back again safe after their journey; +and their concern was, that they might find their father well, +and no way afflicted with grief for them. And this lamentation +lasted a whole day; so that the old man was at last tired with +grief, and staid behind; but they went on their way for Egypt, +endeavoring to mitigate their grief for their present +misfortunes, with the hopes of better success hereafter. + +6. As soon as they came into Egypt, they were brought down to +Joseph: but here no small fear disturbed them, lest they should +be accused about the price of the corn, as if they had cheated +Joseph. They then made a long apology to Joseph's steward; and +told him, that when they came home they found the money in their +sacks, and that they had now brought it along with them. He said +he did not know what they meant: so they were delivered from that +fear. And when he had loosed Symeon, and put him into a handsome +habit, he suffered him to be with his brethren; at which time +Joseph came from his attendance on the king. So they offered him +their presents; and upon his putting the question to them about +their father, they answered that they found him well. He also, +upon his discovery that Benjamin was alive, asked whether this +was their younger brother; for he had seen him. Whereupon they +said he was: he replied, that the God over all was his protector. +But when his affection to him made him shed tears, he retired, +desiring he might not be seen in that plight by his brethren. +Then Joseph took them to supper, and they were set down in the +same order as they used to sit at their father's table. And +although Joseph treated them all kindly, yet did he send a mess +to Benjamin that was double to what the rest of the guests had +for their shares. + +7. Now when after supper they had composed themselves to sleep, +Joseph commanded his steward both to give them their measures of +corn, and to hide its price again in their sacks; and that withal +they should put into Benjamin's sack the golden cup, out of which +he loved himself to drink. - which things he did, in order to +make trial of his brethren, whether they would stand by Benjamin +when he should be accused of having stolen the cup, and should +appear to be in danger; or whether they would leave him, and, +depending on their own innocency, go to their father without him. +When the servant had done as he was bidden, the sons of Jacob, +knowing nothing of all this, went their way, and took Symeon +along with them, and had a double cause of joy, both because they +had received him again, and because they took back Benjamin to +their father, as they had promised. But presently a troop of +horsemen encompassed them, and brought with them Joseph's +servant, who had put the cup into Benjamin's sack. Upon which +unexpected attack of the horsemen they were much disturbed, and +asked what the reason was that they came thus upon men, who a +little before had been by their lord thought worthy of an +honorable and hospitable reception? They replied, by calling them +wicked wretches, who had forgot that very hospitable and kind +treatment which Joseph had given them, and did not scruple to be +injurious to him, and to carry off that cup out of which he had, +in so friendly a manner, drank to them, and not regarding their +friendship with Joseph, no more than the danger they should be in +if they were taken, in comparison of the unjust gain. Hereupon he +threatened that they should be punished; for though they had +escaped the knowledge of him who was but a servant, yet had they +not escaped the knowledge of God, nor had gone off with what they +had stolen; and, after all, asked why we come upon them, as if +they knew nothing of the matter: and he told them that they +should immediately know it by their punishment. This, and more of +the same nature, did the servant say, in way of reproach to them: +but they being wholly ignorant of any thing here that concerned +them, laughed at what he said, and wondered at the abusive +language which the servant gave them, when he was so hardy as to +accuse those who did not before so much as retain the price of +their corn, which was found in their sacks, but brought it again, +though nobody else knew of any such thing, - so far were they +from offering any injury to Joseph voluntarily. But still, +supposing that a search would be a more sure justification of +themselves than their own denial of the fact, they bid him search +them, and that if any of them had been guilty of the theft, to +punish them all; for being no way conscious to themselves of any +crime, they spake with assurance, and, as they thought, without +any danger to themselves also. The servants desired there might +be a search made; but they said the punishment should extend to +him alone who should be found guilty of the theft. So they made +the search; and, having searched all the rest, they came last of +all to Benjamin, as knowing it was Benjamin's sack in which they +had hidden the cup, they having indeed searched the rest only for +a show of accuracy: so the rest were out of fear for themselves, +and were now only concerned about Benjamin, but still were well +assured that he would also be found innocent; and they reproached +those that came after them for their hindering them, while they +might, in the mean while, have gotten a good way on their +journey. But as soon as they had searched Benjamin's sack, they +found the cup, and took it from him; and all was changed into +mourning and lamentation. They rent their garments, and wept for +the punishment which their brother was to undergo for his theft, +and for the delusion they had put on their father, when they +promised they would bring Benjamin safe to him. What added to +their misery was, that this melancholy accident came +unfortunately at a time when they thought they had been gotten +off clear; but they confessed that this misfortune of their +brother, as well as the grief of their father for him, was owing +to themselves, since it was they that forced their father to send +him with them, when he was averse to it. + +8. The horsemen therefore took Benjamin and brought him to +Joseph, his brethren also following him; who, when he saw him in +custody, and them in the habit of mourners, said, "How came you, +vile wretches as you are, to have such a strange notion of my +kindness to you, and of God's providence, as impudently to do +thus to your benefactor, who in such an hospitable manner had +entertained you?" Whereupon they gave up themselves to be +punished, in order to save Benjamin; and called to mind what a +wicked enterprise they had been guilty of against Joseph. They +also pronounced him more happy than themselves, if he were dead, +in being freed from the miseries of this life; and if he were +alive, that he enjoyed the pleasure of seeing God's vengeance +upon them. They said further; that they were the plague of their +father, since they should now add to his former affliction for +Joseph, this other affliction for Benjamin. Reubel also was large +in cutting them upon this occasion. But Joseph dismissed them; +for he said they had been guilty of no offense, and that he would +content himself with the lad's punishment; for he said it was not +a fit thing to let him go free, for the sake of those who had not +offended; nor was it a fit thing to punish them together with him +who had been guilty of stealing. And when he promised to give +them leave to go away in safety, the rest of them were under +great consternation, and were able to say nothing on this sad +occasion. But Judas, who had persuaded their father to send the +lad from him, being otherwise also a very bold and active man, +determined to hazard himself for the preservation of his brother. +"It is true," (9) said he, "O governor, that we have been very +wicked with regard to thee, and on that account deserved +punishment; even all of us may justly be punished, although the +theft were not committed by all, but only by one of us, and he +the youngest also; but yet there remains some hope for us, who +otherwise must be under despair on his account, and this from thy +goodness, which promises us a deliverance out of our present +danger. And now I beg thou wilt not look at us, or at that great +crime we have been guilty of, but at thy own excellent nature, +and take advice of thine own virtue, instead of that wrath thou +hast against us; which passion those that otherwise are of lower +character indulge, as they do their strength, and that not only +on great, but also on very trifling occasions. Overcome, sir, +that passion, and be not subdued by it, nor suffer it to slay +those that do not otherwise presume upon their own safety, but +are desirous to accept of it from thee; for this is not the first +time that thou wilt bestow it on us, but before, when we came to +buy corn, thou affordedst us great plenty of food, and gavest us +leave to carry so much home to our family as has preserved them +from perishing by famine. Nor is there any difference between not +overlooking men that were perishing for want of necessaries, and +not punishing those that seem to be offenders, and have been so +unfortunate as to lose the advantage of that glorious benefaction +which they received from thee. This will be an instance of equal +favor, though bestowed after a different manner; for thou wilt +save those this way whom thou didst feed the other; and thou wilt +hereby preserve alive, by thy own bounty, those souls which thou +didst not suffer to be distressed by famine, it being indeed at +once a wonderful and a great thing to sustain our lives by corn, +and to bestow on us that pardon, whereby, now we are distressed, +we may continue those lives. And I am ready to suppose that God +is willing to afford thee this opportunity of showing thy +virtuous disposition, by bringing us into this calamity, that it +may appear thou canst forgive the injuries that are done to +thyself, and mayst be esteemed kind to others, besides those who, +on other accounts, stand in need of thy assistance; since it is +indeed a right thing to do well to those who are in distress for +want of food, but still a more glorious thing to save those who +deserve to be punished, when it is on account of heinous offenses +against thyself; for if it be a thing deserving commendation to +forgive such as have been guilty of small offenses, that tend to +a person's loss, and this be praiseworthy in him that overlooks +such offenses, to restrain a man's passion as to crimes which are +capital to the guilty, is to be like the most excellent nature of +God himself. And truly, as for myself, had it not been that we +had a father, who had discovered, on occasion of the death of +Joseph, how miserably he is always afflicted at the loss of his +sons, I had not made any words on account of the saving of our +own lives; I mean, any further than as that would be an excellent +character for thyself, to preserve even those that would have +nobody to lament them when they were dead, but we would have +yielded ourselves up to suffer whatsoever thou pleasedst; but now +(for we do not plead for mercy to ourselves, though indeed, if we +die, it will be while we are young, and before we have had the +enjoyment of life) have regard to our father, and take pity of +his old age, on whose account it is that we make these +supplications to thee. We beg thou wilt give us those lives which +this wickedness of ours has rendered obnoxious to thy punishment; +and this for his sake who is not himself wicked, nor does his +being our father make us wicked. He is a good man, and not worthy +to have such trials of his patience; and now, we are absent, he +is afflicted with care for us. But if he hear of our deaths, and +what was the cause of it, he will on that account die an immature +death; and the reproachful manner of our ruin will hasten his +end, and will directly kill him; nay, will bring him to a +miserable death, while he will make haste to rid himself out of +the world, and bring himself to a state of insensibility, before +the sad story of our end come abroad into the rest of the world. +Consider these things in this manner, although our wickedness +does now provoke thee with a just desire of punishing that +wickedness, and forgive it for our father's sake; and let thy +commiseration of him weigh more with thee than our wickedness. +Have regard to the old age of our father, who, if we perish, will +be very lonely while he lives, and will soon die himself also. +Grant this boon to the name of fathers, for thereby thou wilt +honor him that begat thee, and will grant it to thyself also, who +enjoyest already that denomination; thou wilt then, by that +denomination, be preserved of God, the Father of all, - by +showing a pious regard to which, in the case of our father, thou +wilt appear to honor him who is styled by the same name; I mean, +if thou wilt have this pity on our father, upon this +consideration, how miserable he will be if he be deprived of his +sons! It is thy part therefore to bestow on us what God has given +us, when it is in thy power to take it away, and so to resemble +him entirely in charity; for it is good to use that power, which +can either give or take away, on the merciful side; and when it +is in thy power to destroy, to forget that thou ever hadst that +power, and to look on thyself as only allowed power for +preservation; and that the more any one extends this power, the +greater reputation does he gain to himself. Now, by forgiving our +brother what he has unhappily committed, thou wilt preserve us +all; for we cannot think of living if he be put to death, since +we dare not show ourselves alive to our father without our +brother, but here must we partake of one and the same catastrophe +of his life. And so far we beg of thee, O governor, that if thou +condemnest our brother to die, thou wilt punish us together with +him, as partners of his crime, - for we shall not think it +reasonable to be reserved to kill ourselves for grief of our +brother's death, but so to die rather as equally guilty with him +of this crime. I will only leave with thee this one +consideration, and then will say no more, viz. that our brother +committed this fault when he was young, and not yet of confirmed +wisdom in his conduct; and that men naturally forgive such young +persons. I end here, without adding what more I have to say, that +in case thou condemnest us, that omission may be supposed to have +hurt us, and permitted thee to take the severer side. But in case +thou settest us free, that this may be ascribed to thy own +goodness, of which thou art inwardly conscious, that thou freest +us from condemnation; and that not by barely preserving us, but +by granting us such a favor as will make us appear more righteous +than we really are, and by representing to thyself more motives +for our deliverance than we are able to produce ourselves. If, +therefore, thou resolvest to slay him, I desire thou wilt slay me +in his stead, and send him back to his father; or if thou +pleasest to retain him with thee as a slave, I am fitter to labor +for thy advantage in that capacity, and, as thou seest, am better +prepared for either of those sufferings." So Judas, being very +willing to undergo any thing whatever for the deliverance of his +brother, cast himself down at Joseph's feet, and earnestly +labored to assuage and pacify his anger. All his brethren also +fell down before him, weeping and delivering themselves up to +destruction for the preservation of the life of Benjamin. + +10. But Joseph, as overcome now with his affections, and no +longer able to personate an angry man, commanded all that were +present to depart, that he might make himself known to his +brethren when they were alone; and when the rest were gone out, +he made himself known to his brethren; and said, "I commend you +for your virtue, and your kindness to our brother: I find you +better men than I could have expected from what you contrived +about me. Indeed, I did all this to try your love to your +brother; so I believe you were not wicked by nature in what you +did in my case, but that all has happened according to God's +will, who has hereby procured our enjoyment of what good things +we have; and, if he continue in a favorable disposition, of what +we hope for hereafter. Since, therefore, I know that our father +is safe and well, beyond expectation, and I see you so well +disposed to your brother, I will no longer remember what guilt +you seem to have had about me, but will leave off to hate you for +that your wickedness; and do rather return you my thanks, that +you have concurred with the intentions of God to bring things to +their present state. I would have you also rather to forget the +same, since that imprudence of yours is come to such a happy +conclusion, than to be uneasy and blush at those your offenses. +Do not, therefore, let your evil intentions, when you condemned +me, and that bitter remorse which might follow, be a grief to you +now, because those intentions were frustrated. Go, therefore, +your way, rejoicing in what has happened by the Divine +Providence, and inform your father of it, lest he should be spent +with cares for you, and deprive me of the most agreeable part of +my felicity; I mean, lest he should die before he comes into my +sight, and enjoys the good things that we now have. Bring, +therefore, with you our father, and your wives and children, and +all your kindred, and remove your habitations hither; for it is +not proper that the persons dearest to me should live remote from +me, now my affairs are so prosperous, especially when they must +endure five more years of famine." When Joseph had said this, he +embraced his brethren, who were in tears and sorrow; but the +generous kindness of their brother seemed to leave among them no +room for fear, lest they should be punished on account of what +they had consulted and acted against him; and they were then +feasting. Now the king, as soon as he heard that Joseph's +brethren were come to him, was exceeding glad of it, as if it had +been a part of his own good fortune; and gave them wagons full of +corn and gold and silver, to be conveyed to his father. Now when +they had received more of their brother part to be carried to +their father, and part as free gifts to every one of themselves, +Benjamin having still more than the rest, they departed. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +The Removal Of Joseph's Father With All His Family, +To Him, On Account Of The Famine. + + +1. As soon as Jacob came to know, by his sons returning home, in +what state Joseph was, that he had not only escaped death, for +which yet he lived all along in mourning, but that he lived in +splendor and happiness, and ruled over Egypt, jointly with the +king, and had intrusted to his care almost all his affairs, he +did not think any thing he was told to be incredible, considering +the greatness of the works of God, and his kindness to him, +although that kindness had, for some late times, been +intermitted; so he immediately and zealously set out upon his +journey to him. + +2. When he came to the Well of the Oath, (Beersheba,) he offered +sacrifice to God; and being afraid that the happiness there was +in Egypt might tempt his posterity to fall in love with it, and +settle in it, and no more think of removing into the land of +Canaan, and possessing it, as God had promised them; as also +being afraid, lest, if this descent into Egypt were made without +the will of God, his family might be destroyed there; out of +fear, withal, lest he should depart this life before he came to +the sight of Joseph; he fell asleep, revolving these doubts in +his mind. + +3. But God stood by him, and called him twice by his name; and +when he asked who he was, God said, "No, sure; it is not just +that thou, Jacob, shouldst be unacquainted with that God who has +been ever a protector and a helper to thy forefathers, and after +them to thyself: for when thy father would have deprived thee of +the dominion, I gave it thee; and by my kindness it was that, +when thou wast sent into Mesopotamia all alone, thou obtainedst +good wives, and returnedst with many children, and much wealth. +Thy whole family also has been preserved by my providence; and it +was I who conducted Joseph, thy son, whom thou gavest up for +lost, to the enjoyment of great prosperity. I also made him lord +of Egypt, so that he differs but little from a king. Accordingly, +I come now as a guide to thee in this journey; and foretell to +thee, that thou shalt die in the arms of Joseph: and I inform +thee, that thy posterity shall be many ages in authority and +glory, and that I will settle them in the land which I have +promised them." + +4. Jacob, encouraged by this dream, went on more cheerfully for +Egypt with his sons, and all belonging to them. Now they were in +all seventy. I once, indeed, thought it best not to set down the +names of this family, especially because of their difficult +pronunciation [by the Greeks]; but, upon the whole, I think it +necessary to mention those names, that I may disprove such as +believe that we came not originally from Mesopotamia, but are +Egyptians. Now Jacob had twelve sons; of these Joseph was come +thither before. We will therefore set down the names of Jacob's +children and grandchildren. Reuben had four sons - Anoch, Phallu, +Assaron, Charmi. Simeon had six - Jamuel, Jamin, Avod, Jachin, +Soar, Saul. Levi had three sons - Gersom, Caath, Merari. Judas +had three sons - Sala, Phares, Zerah; and by Phares two +grandchildren, Esrom and Amar. Issachar had four sons - Thola, +Phua, Jasob, Samaron. Zabulon had with him three sons - Sarad, +Helon, Jalel. So far is the posterity of Lea; with whom went her +daughter Dinah. These are thirty-three. Rachel had two sons, the +one of whom, Joseph, had two sons also, Manasses and Ephraim. The +other, Benjamin, had ten sons - Bolau, Bacchar, Asabel, Geras, +Naaman, Jes, Ros, Momphis, Opphis, Arad. These fourteen added to +the thirty-three before enumerated, amount to the number +forty-seven. And this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob. He +had besides by Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, Dan and +Nephtliali; which last had four sons that followed him - Jesel, +Guni, Issari, and Sellim. Dan had an only begotten son, Usi. If +these be added to those before mentioned, they complete the +number fifty-four. Gad and Aser were the sons of Zilpha, who was +the handmaid of Lea. These had with them, Gad seven - Saphoniah, +Augis, Sunis, Azabon, Aerin, Erocd, Ariel. Aser had a daughter, +Sarah, and six male children, whose names were Jomne, Isus, +Isoui, Baris, Abar and Melchiel. If we add these, which are +sixteen, to the fifty-four, the forementioned number [70] is +completed (11) Jacob not being himself included in that number. + +5. When Joseph understood that his father was coming, for Judas +his brother was come before him, and informed him of his +approach, he went out to meet him; and they met together at +Heroopolis. But Jacob almost fainted away at this unexpected and +great joy; however, Joseph revived him, being yet not himself +able to contain from being affected in the same manner, at the +pleasure he now had; yet was he not wholly overcome with his +passion, as his father was. After this, he desired Jacob to +travel on slowly; but he himself took five of his brethren with +him, and made haste to the king, to tell him that Jacob and his +family were come; which was a joyful hearing to him. He also bid +Joseph tell him what sort of life his brethren loved to lead, +that he might give them leave to follow the same, who told him +they were good shepherds, and had been used to follow no other +employment but this alone. Whereby he provided for them, that +they should not be separated, but live in the same place, and +take care of their father; as also hereby he provided, that they +might be acceptable to the Egyptians, by doing nothing that would +be common to them with the Egyptians; for the Egyptians are +prohibited to meddle with feeding of sheep. (12) + +6. When Jacob was come to the king, and saluted him, and wished +all prosperity to his government, Pharaoh asked him how old he +now was; upon whose answer, that he was a hundred and thirty +years old, he admired Jacob on account of the length of his life. +And when he had added, that still he had not lived so long as his +forefathers, he gave him leave to live with his children in +Heliopolis; for in that city the king's shepherds had their +pasturage. + +7. However, the famine increased among the Egyptians, and this +heavy judgment grew more oppressive to them, because neither did +the river overflow the ground, for it did not rise to its former +height, nor did God send rain upon it; (13) nor did they indeed +make the least provision for themselves, so ignorant were they +what was to be done; but Joseph sold them corn for their money. +But when their money failed them, they bought corn with their +cattle and their slaves; and if any of them had a small piece of +land, they gave up that to purchase them food, by which means the +king became the owner of all their substance; and they were +removed, some to one place, and some to another, that so the +possession of their country might be firmly assured to the king, +excepting the lands of the priests, for their country continued +still in their own possession. And indeed this sore famine made +their minds, as well as their bodies, slaves; and at length +compelled them to procure a sufficiency of food by such +dishonorable means. But when this misery ceased, and the river +overflowed the ground, and the ground brought forth its fruits +plentifully, Joseph came to every city, and gathered the people +thereto belonging together, and gave them back entirely the land +which, by their own consent, the king might have possessed alone, +and alone enjoyed the fruits of it. He also exhorted them to look +on it as every one's own possession, and to fall to their +husbandry with cheerfulness, and to pay as a tribute to the king, +the fifth part (14) of the fruits for the land which the king, +when it was his own, restored to them. These men rejoiced upon +their becoming unexpectedly owners of their lands, and diligently +observed what was enjoined them; and by this means Joseph +procured to himself a greater authority among the Egyptians, and +greater love to the king from them. Now this law, that they +should pay the fifth part of their fruits as tribute, continued +until their later kings. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Of The Death Of Jacob And Joseph. + + +1. Now when Jacob had lived seventeen years in Egypt, he fell +into a disease, and died in the presence of his sons; but not +till he made his prayers for their enjoying prosperity, and till +he had foretold to them prophetically how every one of them was +to dwell in the land of Canaan. But this happened many years +afterward. He also enlarged upon the praises of Joseph (15) how +he had not remembered the evil doings of his brethren to their +disadvantage; nay, on the contrary, was kind to them, bestowing +upon them so many benefits, as seldom are bestowed on men's own +benefactors. He then commanded his own sons that they should +admit Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasses, into their number, and +divide the land of Canaan in common with them; concerning whom we +shall treat hereafter. However, he made it his request that he +might be buried at Hebron. So he died, when he had lived full a +hundred and fifty years, three only abated, having not been +behind any of his ancestors in piety towards God, and having such +a recompense for it, as it was fit those should have who were so +good as these were. But Joseph, by the king's permission, carried +his father's dead body to Hebron, and there buried it, at a great +expense. Now his brethren were at first unwilling to return back +with him, because they were afraid lest, now their father was +dead, he should punish them for their secret practices against +him; since he was now gone, for whose sake he had been so +gracious to them. But he persuaded them to fear no harm, and to +entertain no suspicions of him: so he brought them along with +him, and gave them great possessions, and never left off his +particular concern for them. + +2. Joseph also died when he had lived a hundred and ten years; +having been a man of admirable virtue, and conducting all his +affairs by the rules of reason; and used his authority with +moderation, which was the cause of his so great felicity among +the Egyptians, even when he came from another country, and that +in such ill circumstances also, as we have already described. At +length his brethren died, after they had lived happily in Egypt. +Now the posterity and sons of these men, after some time, carried +their bodies, and buried them at Hebron: but as to the bones of +Joseph, they carried them into the land of Canaan afterward, when +the Hebrews went out of Egypt, for so had Joseph made them +promise him upon oath. But what became of every one of these men, +and by what toils they got the possession of the land of Canaan, +shall be shown hereafter, when I have first explained upon what +account it was that they left Egypt. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning The Afflictions That Befell The Hebrews In Egypt, +During Four Hundred Years. (16) + + +1. Now it happened that the Egyptians grew delicate and lazy, as +to pains-taking, and gave themselves up to other pleasures, and +in particular to the love of gain. They also became very +ill-affected towards the Hebrews, as touched with envy at their +prosperity; for when they saw how the nation of the Israelites +flourished, and were become eminent already in plenty of wealth, +which they had acquired by their virtue and natural love of +labor, they thought their increase was to their own detriment. +And having, in length of time, forgotten the benefits they had +received from Joseph, particularly the crown being now come into +another family, they became very abusive to the Israelites, and +contrived many ways of afflicting them; for they enjoined them to +cut a great number of channels for the river, and to build walls +for their cities and ramparts, that they might restrain the +river, and hinder its waters from stagnating, upon its running +over its own banks: they set them also to build pyramids, (17) +and by all this wore them out; and forced them to learn all sorts +of mechanical arts, and to accustom themselves to hard labor. And +four hundred years did they spend under these afflictions; for +they strove one against the other which should get the mastery, +the Egyptians desiring to destroy the Israelites by these labors, +and the Israelites desiring to hold out to the end under them. + +2. While the affairs of the Hebrews were in this condition, there +was this occasion offered itself to the Egyptians, which made +them more solicitous for the extinction of our nation. One of +those sacred scribes, (18) who are very sagacious in foretelling +future events truly, told the king, that about this time there +would a child be born to the Israelites, who, if he were reared, +would bring the Egyptian dominion low, and would raise the +Israelites; that he would excel all men in virtue, and obtain a +glory that would be remembered through all ages. Which thing was +so feared by the king, that, according to this man's opinion, he +commanded that they should cast every male child, which was born +to the Israelites, into the river, and destroy it; that besides +this, the Egyptian midwives (19) should watch the labors of the +Hebrew women, and observe what is born, for those were the women +who were enjoined to do the office of midwives to them; and by +reason of their relation to the king, would not transgress his +commands. He enjoined also, that if any parents should disobey +him, and venture to save their male children alive, (20) they and +their families should be destroyed. This was a severe affliction +indeed to those that suffered it, not only as they were deprived +of their sons, and while they were the parents themselves, they +were obliged to be subservient to the destruction of their own +children, but as it was to be supposed to tend to the extirpation +of their nation, while upon the destruction of their children, +and their own gradual dissolution, the calamity would become very +hard and inconsolable to them. And this was the ill state they +were in. But no one can be too hard for the purpose of God, +though he contrive ten thousand subtle devices for that end; for +this child, whom the sacred scribe foretold, was brought up and +concealed from the observers appointed by the king; and he that +foretold him did not mistake in the consequences of his +preservation, which were brought to pass after the manner +following:-- + +3. A man whose name was Amram, one of the nobler sort of the +Hebrews, was afraid for his whole nation, lest it should fail, by +the want of young men to be brought up hereafter, and was very +uneasy at it, his wife being then with child, and he knew not +what to do. Hereupon he betook himself to prayer to God; and +entreated him to have compassion on those men who had nowise +transgressed the laws of his worship, and to afford them +deliverance from the miseries they at that time endured, and to +render abortive their enemies' hopes of the destruction of their +nation. Accordingly God had mercy on him, and was moved by his +supplication. He stood by him in his sleep, and exhorted him not +to despair of his future favors. He said further, that he did not +forget their piety towards him, and would always reward them for +it, as he had formerly granted his favor to their forefathers, +and made them increase from a few to so great a multitude. He put +him in mind, that when Abraham was come alone out of Mesopotamia +into Canaan, he had been made happy, not only in other respects, +but that when his wife was at first barren, she was afterwards by +him enabled to conceive seed, and bare him sons. That he left to +Ismael and to his posterity the country of Arabia; as also to his +sons by Ketura, Troglodytis; and to Isaac, Canaan. That by my +assistance, said he, he did great exploits in war, which, unless +you be yourselves impious, you must still remember. As for Jacob, +he became well known to strangers also, by the greatness of that +prosperity in which he lived, and left to his sons, who came into +Egypt with no more than seventy souls, while you are now become +above six hundred thousand. Know therefore that I shall provide +for you all in common what is for your good, and particularly for +thyself what shall make thee famous; for that child, out of dread +of whose nativity the Egyptians have doomed the Israelite +children to destruction, shall be this child of thine, and shall +be concealed from those who watch to destroy him: and when he is +brought up in a surprising way, he shall deliver the Hebrew +nation from the distress they are under from the Egyptians. His +memory shall be famous while the world lasts; and this not only +among the Hebrews, but foreigners also:-- all which shall be the +effect of my favor to thee, and to thy posterity. He shall also +have such a brother, that he shall himself obtain my priesthood, +and his posterity shall have it after him to the end of the +world. + +4. When the vision had informed him of these things, Amram awaked +and told it to Jochebed who was his wife. And now the fear +increased upon them on account of the prediction in Amram's +dream; for they were under concern, not only for the child, but +on account of the great happiness that was to come to him also. +However, the mother's labor was such as afforded a confirmation +to what was foretold by God; for it was not known to those that +watched her, by the easiness of her pains, and because the throes +of her delivery did not fall upon her with violence. And now they +nourished the child at home privately for three months; but after +that time Amram, fearing he should be discovered, and, by falling +under the king's displeasure, both he and his child should +perish, and so he should make the promise of God of none effect, +he determined rather to trust the safety and care of the child to +God, than to depend on his own concealment of him, which he +looked upon as a thing uncertain, and whereby both the child, so +privately to be nourished, and himself should be in imminent +danger; but he believed that God would some way for certain +procure the safety of the child, in order to secure the truth of +his own predictions. When they had thus determined, they made an +ark of bulrushes, after the manner of a cradle, and of a bigness +sufficient for an infant to be laid in, without being too +straitened: they then daubed it over with slime, which would +naturally keep out the water from entering between the bulrushes, +and put the infant into it, and setting it afloat upon the river, +they left its preservation to God; so the river received the +child, and carried him along. But Miriam, the child's sister, +passed along upon the bank over against him, as her mother had +bid her, to see whither the ark would be carried, where God +demonstrated that human wisdom was nothing, but that the Supreme +Being is able to do whatsoever he pleases: that those who, in +order to their own security, condemn others to destruction, and +use great endeavors about it, fail of their purpose; but that +others are in a surprising manner preserved, and obtain a +prosperous condition almost from the very midst of their +calamities; those, I mean, whose dangers arise by the appointment +of God. And, indeed, such a providence was exercised in the case +of this child, as showed the power of God. + +5. Thermuthis was the king's daughter. She was now diverting +herself by the banks of the river; and seeing a cradle borne +along by the current, she sent some that could swim, and bid them +bring the cradle to her. When those that were sent on this errand +came to her with the cradle, and she saw the little child, she +was greatly in love with it, on account of its largeness and +beauty; for God had taken such great care in the formation of +Moses, that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up, +and providing for, by all those that had taken the most fatal +resolutions, on account of the dread of his nativity, for the +destruction of the rest of the Hebrew nation. Thermuthis bid them +bring her a woman that might afford her breast to the child; yet +would not the child admit of her breast, but turned away from it, +and did the like to many other women. Now Miriam was by when this +happened, not to appear to be there on purpose, but only as +staying to see the child; and she said, "It is in vain that thou, +O queen, callest for these women for the nourishing of the child, +who are no way of kin to it; but still, if thou wilt order one of +the Hebrew women to be brought, perhaps it may admit the breast +of one of its own nation." Now since she seemed to speak well, +Thermuthis bid her procure such a one, and to bring one of those +Hebrew women that gave suck. So when she had such authority given +her, she came back and brought the mother, who was known to +nobody there. And now the child gladly admitted the breast, and +seemed to stick close to it; and so it was, that, at the queen's +desire, the nursing of the child was entirely intrusted to the +mother. + +6. Hereupon it was that Thermuthis imposed this name Mouses upon +him, from what had happened when he was put into the river; for +the Egyptians call water by the name of Mo, and such as are saved +out of it, by the name of Uses: so by putting these two words +together, they imposed this name upon him. And he was, by the +confession of all, according to God's prediction, as well for his +greatness of mind as for his contempt of difficulties, the best +of all the Hebrews, for Abraham was his ancestor of the seventh +generation. For Moses was the son of Amram, who was the son of +Caath, whose father Levi was the son of Jacob, who was the son of +Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. Now Moses's understanding +became superior to his age, nay, far beyond that standard; and +when he was taught, he discovered greater quickness of +apprehension than was usual at his age, and his actions at that +time promised greater, when he should come to the age of a man. +God did also give him that tallness, when he was but three years +old, as was wonderful. And as for his beauty, there was nobody so +unpolite as, when they saw Moses, they were not greatly surprised +at the beauty of his countenance; nay, it happened frequently, +that those that met him as he was carried along the road, were +obliged to turn again upon seeing the child; that they left what +they were about, and stood still a great while to look on him; +for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him +on many accounts, that it detained the spectators, and made them +stay longer to look upon him. + +7. Thermuthis therefore perceiving him to be so remarkable a +child, adopted him for her son, having no child of her own. And +when one time had carried Moses to her father, she showed him to +him, and said she thought to make him her successor, if it should +please God she should have no legitimate child of her own; and to +him, "I have brought up a child who is of a divine form, (21) and +of a generous mind; and as I have received him from the bounty of +the river, in, I thought proper to adopt him my son, and the +heir of thy kingdom." And she had said this, she put the infant +into her father's hands: so he took him, and hugged him to his +breast; and on his daughter's account, in a pleasant way, put his +diadem upon his head; but Moses threw it down to the ground, and, +in a puerile mood, he wreathed it round, and trod upon his feet, +which seemed to bring along with evil presage concerning the +kingdom of Egypt. But when the sacred scribe saw this, (he was +the person who foretold that his nativity would the dominion of +that kingdom low,) he made a violent attempt to kill him; and +crying out in a frightful manner, he said, "This, O king! this +child is he of whom God foretold, that if we kill him we shall be +in no danger; he himself affords an attestation to the prediction +of the same thing, by his trampling upon thy government, and +treading upon thy diadem. Take him, therefore, out of the way, +and deliver the Egyptians from the fear they are in about him; +and deprive the Hebrews of the hope they have of being encouraged +by him." But Thermuthis prevented him, and snatched the child +away. And the king was not hasty to slay him, God himself, whose +providence protected Moses, inclining the king to spare him. He +was, therefore, educated with great care. So the Hebrews depended +on him, and were of good hopes great things would be done by him; +but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his +education. Yet because, if Moses had been slain, there was no +one, either akin or adopted, that had any oracle on his side for +pretending to the crown of Egypt, and likely to be of greater +advantage to them, they abstained from killing him. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians. + + +1. Moses, therefore, when he was born, and brought up in the +foregoing manner, and came to the age of maturity, made his +virtue manifest to the Egyptians; and showed that he was born for +the bringing them down, and raising the Israelites. And the +occasion he laid hold of was this:-- The Ethiopians, who are next +neighbors to the Egyptians, made an inroad into their country, +which they seized upon, and carried off the effects of the +Egyptians, who, in their rage, fought against them, and revenged +the affronts they had received from them; but being overcome in +battle, some of them were slain, and the rest ran away in a +shameful manner, and by that means saved themselves; whereupon +the Ethiopians followed after them in the pursuit, and thinking +that it would be a mark of cowardice if they did not subdue all +Egypt, they went on to subdue the rest with greater vehemence; +and when they had tasted the sweets of the country, they never +left off the prosecution of the war: and as the nearest parts had +not courage enough at first to fight with them, they proceeded as +far as Memphis, and the sea itself, while not one of the cities +was able to oppose them. The Egyptians, under this sad +oppression, betook themselves to their oracles and prophecies; +and when God had given them this counsel, to make use of Moses +the Hebrew, and take his assistance, the king commanded his +daughter to produce him, that he might be the general (22) of +their army. Upon which, when she had made him swear he would do +him no harm, she delivered him to the king, and supposed his +assistance would be of great advantage to them. She withal +reproached the priest, who, when they had before admonished the +Egyptians to kill him, was not ashamed now to own their want of +his help. + +2. So Moses, at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king +himself, cheerfully undertook the business: and the sacred +scribes of both nations were glad; those of the Egyptians, that +they should at once overcome their enemies by his valor, and that +by the same piece of management Moses would be slain; but those +of the Hebrews, that they should escape from the Egyptians, +because Moses was to be their general. But Moses prevented the +enemies, and took and led his army before those enemies were +apprized of his attacking them; for he did not march by the +river, but by land, where he gave a wonderful demonstration of +his sagacity; for when the ground was difficult to be passed +over, because of the multitude of serpents, (which it produces in +vast numbers, and, indeed, is singular in some of those +productions, which other countries do not breed, and yet such as +are worse than others in power and mischief, and an unusual +fierceness of sight, some of which ascend out of the ground +unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at +unawares, and do them a mischief,) Moses invented a wonderful +stratagem to preserve the army safe, and without hurt; for he +made baskets, like unto arks, of sedge, and filled them with +ibes, (23) and carried them along with them; which animal is the +greatest enemy to serpents imaginable, for they fly from them +when they come near them; and as they fly they are caught and +devoured by them, as if it were done by the harts; but the ibes +are tame creatures, and only enemies to the serpentine kind: but +about these ibes I say no more at present, since the Greeks +themselves are not unacquainted with this sort of bird. As soon, +therefore, as Moses was come to the land which was the breeder of +these serpents, he let loose the ibes, and by their means +repelled the serpentine kind, and used them for his assistants +before the army came upon that ground. When he had therefore +proceeded thus on his journey, he came upon the Ethiopians before +they expected him; and, joining battle with them, he beat them, +and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the +Egyptians, and went on in overthrowing their cities, and indeed +made a great slaughter of these Ethiopians. Now when the Egyptian +army had once tasted of this prosperous success, by the means of +Moses, they did not slacken their diligence, insomuch that the +Ethiopians were in danger of being reduced to slavery, and all +sorts of destruction; and at length they retired to Saba, which +was a royal city of Ethiopia, which Cambyses afterwards named +Mero, after the name of his own sister. The place was to be +besieged with very great difficulty, since it was both +encompassed by the Nile quite round, and the other rivers, +Astapus and Astaboras, made it a very difficult thing for such as +attempted to pass over them; for the city was situate in a +retired place, and was inhabited after the manner of an island, +being encompassed with a strong wall, and having the rivers to +guard them from their enemies, and having great ramparts between +the wall and the rivers, insomuch, that when the waters come with +the greatest violence, it can never be drowned; which ramparts +make it next to impossible for even such as are gotten over the +rivers to take the city. However, while Moses was uneasy at the +army's lying idle, (for the enemies durst not come to a battle,) +this accident happened:-- Tharbis was the daughter of the king of +the Ethiopians: she happened to see Moses as he led the army near +the walls, and fought with great courage; and admiring the +subtility of his undertakings, and believing him to be the author +of the Egyptians' success, when they had before despaired of +recovering their liberty, and to be the occasion of the great +danger the Ethiopians were in, when they had before boasted of +their great achievements, she fell deeply in love with him; and +upon the prevalency of that passion, sent to him the most +faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their +marriage. He thereupon accepted the offer, on condition she would +procure the delivering up of the city; and gave her the assurance +of an oath to take her to his wife; and that when he had once +taken possession of the city, he would not break his oath to her. +No sooner was the agreement made, but it took effect immediately; +and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians, he gave thanks to God, +and consummated his marriage, and led the Egyptians back to their +own land. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How Moses Fled Out Of Egypt Into Midian. + + +1. Now the Egyptians, after they had been preserved by Moses, +entertained a hatred to him, and were very eager in compassing +their designs against him, as suspecting that he would take +occasion, from his good success, to raise a sedition, and bring +innovations into Egypt; and told the king he ought to be slain. +The king had also some intentions of himself to the same purpose, +and this as well out of envy at his glorious expedition at the +head of his army, as out of fear of being brought low by him and +being instigated by the sacred scribes, he was ready to undertake +to kill Moses: but when he had learned beforehand what plots +there were against him, he went away privately; and because the +public roads were watched, he took his flight through the +deserts, and where his enemies could not suspect he would travel; +and, though he was destitute of food, he went on, and despised +that difficulty courageously; and when he came to the city +Midian, which lay upon the Red Sea, and was so denominated from +one of Abraham's sons by Keturah, he sat upon a certain well, and +rested himself there after his laborious journey, and the +affliction he had been in. It was not far from the city, and the +time of the day was noon, where he had an occasion offered him by +the custom of the country of doing what recommended his virtue, +and afforded him an opportunity of bettering his circumstances. + +2. For that country having but little water, the shepherds used +to seize on the wells before others came, lest their flocks +should want water, and lest it should be spent by others before +they came. There were now come, therefore, to this well seven +sisters that were virgins, the daughters of Raguel, a priest, and +one thought worthy by the people of the country of great honor. +These virgins, who took care of their father's flocks, which sort +of work it was customary and very familiar for women to do in the +country of the Troglodytes, they came first of all, and drew +water out of the well in a quantity sufficient for their flocks, +into troughs, which were made for the reception of that water; +but when the shepherds came upon the maidens, and drove them +away, that they might have the command of the water themselves, +Moses, thinking it would be a terrible reproach upon him if he +overlooked the young women under unjust oppression, and should +suffer the violence of the men to prevail over the right of the +maidens, he drove away the men, who had a mind to more than their +share, and afforded a proper assistance to the women; who, when +they had received such a benefit from him, came to their father, +and told him how they had been affronted by the shepherds, and +assisted by a stranger, and entreated that he would not let this +generous action be done in vain, nor go without a reward. Now the +father took it well from his daughters that they were so desirous +to reward their benefactor; and bid them bring Moses into his +presence, that he might be rewarded as he deserved. And when +Moses came, he told him what testimony his daughters bare to him, +that he had assisted them; and that, as he admired him for his +virtue, he said that Moses had bestowed such his assistance on +persons not insensible of benefits, but where they were both able +and willing to return the kindness, and even to exceed the +measure of his generosity. So he made him his son, and gave him +one of his daughters in marriage; and appointed him to be the +guardian and superintendent over his cattle; for of old, all the +wealth of the barbarians was in those cattle. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +Concerning The Burning Bush And The Rod Of Moses. + + +1. Now Moses, when he had obtained the favor of Jethro, for that +was one of the names of Raguel, staid there and fed his flock; +but some time afterward, taking his station at the mountain +called Sinai, he drove his flocks thither to feed them. Now this +is the highest of all the mountains thereabout, and the best for +pasturage, the herbage being there good; and it had not been +before fed upon, because of the opinion men had that God dwelt +there, the shepherds not daring to ascend up to it; and here it +was that a wonderful prodigy happened to Moses; for a fire fed +upon a thorn bush, yet did the green leaves and the flowers +continue untouched, and the fire did not at all consume the fruit +branches, although the flame was great and fierce. Moses was +aftrighted at this strange sight, as it was to him; but he was +still more astonished when the fire uttered a voice, and called +to him by name, and spake words to him, by which it signified how +bold he had been in venturing to come into a place whither no man +had ever come before, because the place was divine; and advised +him to remove a great way off from the flame, and to be contented +with what he had seen; and though he were himself a good man, and +the offspring of great men, yet that he should not pry any +further; and he foretold to him, that he should have glory and +honor among men, by the blessing of God upon him. He also +commanded him to go away thence with confidence to Egypt, in +order to his being the commander and conductor of the body of the +Hebrews, and to his delivering his own people from the injuries +they suffered there: "For," said God, "they shall inhabit this +happy land which your forefather Abraham inhabited, and shall +have the enjoyment of all good things." But still he enjoined +them, when he brought the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt, to +come to that place, and to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving +there, Such were the divine oracles which were delivered out of +the fire. + +2. But Moses was astonished at what he saw, and much more at what +he heard; and he said, "I think it would be an instance of too +great madness, O Lord, for one of that regard I bear to thee, to +distrust thy power, since I myself adore it, and know that it has +been made manifest to my progenitors: but I am still in doubt how +I, who am a private man, and one of no abilities, should either +persuade my own countrymen to leave the country they now inhabit, +and to follow me to a land whither I lead them; or, if they +should be persuaded, how can I force Pharaoh to permit them to +depart, since they augment their own wealth and prosperity by the +labors and works they put upon them?" + +3. But God persuaded him to be courageous on all occasions, and +promised to be with him, and to assist him in his words, when he +was to persuade men; and in his deeds, when he was to perform +wonders. He bid him also to take a signal of the truth of what he +said, by throwing his rod upon the ground, which, when he had +done, it crept along, and was become a serpent, and rolled itself +round in its folds, and erected its head, as ready to revenge +itself on such as should assault it; after which it become a rod +again as it was before. After this God bid Moses to put his right +hand into his bosom: he obeyed, and when he took it out it was +white, and in color like to chalk, but afterward it returned to +its wonted color again. He also, upon God's command, took some of +the water that was near him, and poured it upon the ground, and +saw the color was that of blood. Upon the wonder that Moses +showed at these signs, God exhorted him to be of good courage, +and to be assured that he would be the greatest support to him; +and bid him make use of those signs, in order to obtain belief +among all men, that "thou art sent by me, and dost all things +according to my commands. Accordingly I enjoin thee to make no +more delays, but to make haste to Egypt, and to travel night and +day, and not to draw out the time, and so make the slavery of the +Hebrews and their sufferings to last the longer." + +4. Moses having now seen and heard these wonders that assured him +of the truth of these promises of God, had no room left him to +disbelieve them: he entreated him to grant him that power when he +should be in Egypt; and besought him to vouchsafe him the +knowledge of his own name; and since he had heard and seen him, +that he would also tell him his name, that when he offered +sacrifice he might invoke him by such his name in his oblations. +Whereupon God declared to him his holy name, which had never been +discovered to men before; concerning which it is not lawful for +me to say any more (24) Now these signs accompanied Moses, not +then only, but always when he prayed for them: of all which signs +he attributed the firmest assent to the fire in the bush; and +believing that God would be a gracious supporter to him, he hoped +he should be able to deliver his own nation, and bring calamities +on the Egyptians. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh. + + +1. So Moses, when he understood that the Pharaoh, in whose reign +he fled away, was dead, asked leave of Raguel to go to Egypt, for +the benefit of his own people. And he took with him Zipporah, the +daughter of Raguel, whom he had married, and the children he had +by her, Gersom and Eleazer, and made haste into Egypt. Now the +former of those names, Gersom, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies +that he was in a strange land; and Eleazer, that, by the +assistance of the God of his fathers, he had escaped from the +Egyptians. Now when they were near the borders, Aaron his +brother, by the command of God, met him, to whom he declared what +had befallen him at the mountain, and the commands that God had +given him. But as they were going forward, the chief men among +the Hebrews, having learned that they were coming, met them: to +whom Moses declared the signs he had seen; and while they could +not believe them, he made them see them, So they took courage at +these surprising and unexpected sights, and hoped well of their +entire deliverance, as believing now that God took care of their +preservation. + +2. Since then Moses found that the Hebrews would be obedient to +whatsoever he should direct, as they promised to be, and were in +love with liberty, he came to the king, who had indeed but lately +received the government, and told him how much he had done for +the good of the Egyptians, when they were despised by the +Ethiopians, and their country laid waste by them; and how he had +been the commander of their forces, and had labored for them, as +if they had been his own people and he informed him in what +danger he had been during that expedition, without having any +proper returns made him as he had deserved. He also informed him +distinctly what things happened to him at Mount Sinai; and what +God said to him; and the signs that were done by God, in order to +assure him of the authority of those commands which he had given +him. He also exhorted him not to disbelieve what he told him, nor +to oppose the will of God. + +3. But when the king derided Moses; he made him in earnest see +the signs that were done at Mount Sinai. Yet was the king very +angry with him and called him an ill man, who had formerly run +away from his Egyptian slavery, and came now back with deceitful +tricks, and wonders, and magical arts, to astonish him. And when +he had said this, he commanded the priests to let him see the +same wonderful sights; as knowing that the Egyptians were +skillful in this kind of learning, and that he was not the only +person who knew them, and pretended them to be divine; as also he +told him, that when he brought such wonderful sights before him, +he would only be believed by the unlearned. Now when the priests +threw down their rods, they became serpents. But Moses was not +daunted at it; and said, "O king, I do not myself despise the +wisdom of the Egyptians, but I say that what I do is so much +superior to what these do by magic arts and tricks, as Divine +power exceeds the power of man: but I will demonstrate that what +I do is not done by craft, or counterfeiting what is not really +true, but that they appear by the providence and power of God." +And when he had said this, he cast his rod down upon the ground, +and commanded it to turn itself into a serpent. It obeyed him, +and went all round, and devoured the rods of the Egyptians, which +seemed to be dragons, until it had consumed them all. It then +returned to its own form, and Moses took it into his hand again. + +4. However, the king was no more moved when was done than before; +and being very angry, he said that he should gain nothing by this +his cunning and shrewdness against the Egyptians; - and he +commanded him that was the chief taskmaster over the Hebrews, to +give them no relaxation from their labors, but to compel them to +submit to greater oppressions than before; and though he allowed +them chaff before for making their bricks, he would allow it them +no longer, but he made them to work hard at brick-making in the +day-time, and to gather chaff in the night. Now when their labor +was thus doubled upon them, they laid the blame upon Moses, +because their labor and their misery were on his account become +more severe to them. But Moses did not let his courage sink for +the king's threatenings; nor did he abate of his zeal on account +of the Hebrews' complaints; but he supported himself, and set his +soul resolutely against them both, and used his own utmost +diligence to procure liberty to his countrymen. So he went to the +king, and persuaded him to let the Hebrews go to Mount Sinai, and +there to sacrifice to God, because God had enjoined them so to +do. He persuaded him also not to counterwork the designs of God, +but to esteem his favor above all things, and to permit them to +depart, lest, before he be aware, he lay an obstruction in the +way of the Divine commands, and so occasion his own suffering +such punishments as it was probable any one that counterworked +the Divine commands should undergo, since the severest +afflictions arise from every object to those that provoke the +Divine wrath against them; for such as these have neither the +earth nor the air for their friends; nor are the fruits of the +womb according to nature, but every thing is unfriendly and +adverse towards them. He said further, that the Egyptians should +know this by sad experience; and that besides, the Hebrew people +should go out of their country without their consent. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +Concerning The Ten Plagues Which Came Upon The Egyptians. + + +1. But when the king despised the words of Moses, and had no +regard at all to them, grievous plagues seized the Egyptians; +every one of which I will describe, both because no such plagues +did ever happen to any other nation as the Egyptians now felt, +and because I would demonstrate that Moses did not fail in any +one thing that he foretold them; and because it is for the good +of mankind, that they may learn this caution - Not to do anything +that may displease God, lest he be provoked to wrath, and avenge +their iniquities upon them. For the Egyptian river ran with +bloody water at the command of God, insomuch that it could not be +drunk, and they had no other spring of water neither; for the +water was not only of the color of blood, but it brought upon +those that ventured to drink of it, great pains and bitter +torment. Such was the river to the Egyptians; but it was sweet +and fit for drinking to the Hebrews, and no way different from +what it naturally used to be. As the king therefore knew not what +to do in these surprising circumstances, and was in fear for the +Egyptians, he gave the Hebrews leave to go away; but when the +plague ceased, he changed his mind again, end would not suffer +them to go. + +2. But when God saw that he was ungrateful, and upon the ceasing +of this calamity would not grow wiser, he sent another plague +upon the Egyptians:-- An innumerable multitude of frogs consumed +the fruit of the ground; the river was also full of them, +insomuch that those who drew water had it spoiled by the blood of +these animals, as they died in, and were destroyed by, the water; +and the country was full of filthy slime, as they were born, and +as they died: they also spoiled their vessels in their houses +which they used, and were found among what they eat and what they +drank, and came in great numbers upon their beds. There was also +an ungrateful smell, and a stink arose from them, as they were +born, and as they died therein. Now, when the Egyptians were +under the oppression of these miseries, the king ordered Moses to +take the Hebrews with him, and be gone. Upon which the whole +multitude of the frogs vanished away; and both the land and the +river returned to their former natures. But as soon as Pharaoh +saw the land freed from this plague, he forgot the cause of it, +and retained the Hebrews; and, as though he had a mind to try the +nature of more such judgments, he would not yet suffer Moses and +his people to depart, having granted that liberty rather out of +fear than out of any good consideration. (35) + +3. Accordingly, God punished his falseness with another plague, +added to the former; for there arose out of the bodies of the +Egyptians an innumerable quantity of lice, by which, wicked as +they were, they miserably perished, as not able to destroy this +sort of vermin either with washes or with ointments. At which +terrible judgment the king of Egypt was in disorder, upon the +fear into which he reasoned himself, lest his people should be +destroyed, and that the manner of this death was also +reproachful, so that he was forced in part to recover himself +from his wicked temper to a sounder mind, for he gave leave for +the Hebrews themselves to depart. But when the plague thereupon +ceased, he thought it proper to require that they should leave +their children and wives behind them, as pledges of their return; +whereby he provoked God to be more vehemently angry at him, as if +he thought to impose on his providence, and as if it were only +Moses, and not God, who punished the Egyptians for the sake of +the Hebrews: for he filled that country full of various sorts of +pestilential creatures, with their various properties, such +indeed as had never come into the sight of men before, by whose +means the men perished themselves, and the land was destitute of +husbandmen for its cultivation; but if any thing escaped +destruction from them, it was killed by a distemper which the men +underwent also. + +4. But when Pharaoh did not even then yield to the will of God, +but, while he gave leave to the husbands to take their wives with +them, yet insisted that the children should be left behind, God +presently resolved to punish his wickedness with several sorts of +calamities, and those worse than the foregoing, which yet had so +generally afflicted them; for their bodies had terrible boils, +breaking forth with blains, while they were already inwardly +consumed; and a great part of the Egyptians perished in this +manner. But when the king was not brought to reason by this +plague, hail was sent down from heaven; and such hail it was, as +the climate of Egypt had never suffered before, nor was it like +to that which falls in other climates in winter time, (26) but +was larger than that which falls in the middle of spring to those +that dwell in the northern and north-western regions. This hail +broke down their boughs laden with fruit. After this a tribe of +locusts consumed the seed which was not hurt by the hail; so that +to the Egyptians all hopes of the future fruits of the ground +were entirely lost. + +5. One would think the forementioned calamities might have been +sufficient for one that was only foolish, without wickedness, to +make him wise, and to make him Sensible what was for his +advantage. But Pharaoh, led not so much by his folly as by his +wickedness, even when he saw the cause of his miseries, he still +contested with God, and willfully deserted the cause of virtue; +so he bid Moses take the Hebrews away, with their wives and +children, to leave their cattle behind, since their own cattle +were destroyed. But when Moses said that what he desired was +unjust, since they were obliged to offer sacrifices to God of +those cattle, and the time being prolonged on this account, a +thick darkness, without the least light, spread itself over the +Egyptians, whereby their sight being obstructed, and their +breathing hindered by the thickness of the air, they died +miserably, and under a terror lest they should be swallowed up by +the dark cloud. Besides this, when the darkness, after three days +and as many nights, was dissipated, and when Pharaoh did not +still repent and let the Hebrews go, Moses came to him and said, +"How long wilt thou be disobedient to the command of God? for he +enjoins thee to let the Hebrews go; nor is there any other way of +being freed from the calamities are under, unless you do so." But +the king angry at what he said, and threatened to cut off his +head if he came any more to trouble him these matters. Hereupon +Moses said he not speak to him any more about them, for he +himself, together with the principal men among the Egyptians, +should desire the Hebrews away. So when Moses had said this, he +his way. + +6. But when God had signified, that with one plague he would +compel the Egyptians to let Hebrews go, he commanded Moses to +tell the people that they should have a sacrifice ready, and they +should prepare themselves on the tenth day of the month +Xanthicus, against the fourteenth, (which month is called by the +Egyptians Pharmuth, Nisan by the Hebrews; but the Macedonians +call it Xanthicus,) and that he should carry the Hebrews with all +they had. Accordingly, he having got the Hebrews ready for their +departure, and having sorted the people into tribes, he kept them +together in one place: but when the fourteenth day was come, and +all were ready to depart they offered the sacrifice, and purified +their houses with the blood, using bunches of hyssop for that +purpose; and when they had supped, they burnt the remainder of +the flesh, as just ready to depart. Whence it is that we do still +offer this sacrifice in like manner to this day, and call this +festival Pascha which signifies the feast of the passover; +because on that day God passed us over, and sent the plague upon +the Egyptians; for the destruction of the first-born came upon +the Egyptians that night, so that many of the Egyptians who lived +near the king's palace, persuaded Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. +Accordingly he called for Moses, and bid them be gone; as +supposing, that if once the Hebrews were gone out of the country, +Egypt should be freed from its miseries. They also honored the +Hebrews with gifts; (27) some, in order to get them to depart +quickly, and others on account of their neighborhood, and the +friendship they had with them. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +How The Hebrews Under The Conduct Of Moses Left Egypt. + + +1. So the Hebrews went out of Egypt, while the Egyptians wept, +and repented that they had treated them so hardly. - Now they +took their journey by Letopolis, a place at that time deserted, +but where Babylon was built afterwards, when Cambyses laid Egypt +waste: but as they went away hastily, on the third day they came +to a place called Beelzephon, on the Red Sea; and when they had +no food out of the land, because it was a desert, they eat of +loaves kneaded of flour, only warmed by a gentle heat; and this +food they made use of for thirty days; for what they brought with +them out of Egypt would not suffice them any longer time; and +this only while they dispensed it to each person, to use so much +only as would serve for necessity, but not for satiety. Whence it +is that, in memory of the want we were then in, we keep a feast +for eight days, which is called the feast of unleavened bread. +Now the entire multitude of those that went out, including the +women and children, was not easy to be numbered, but those that +were of an age fit for war, were six hundred thousand. + +2. They left Egypt in the month Xanthicus, on the fifteenth day +of the lunar month; four hundred and thirty years after our +forefather Abraham came into Canaan, but two hundred and fifteen +years only after Jacob removed into Egypt. (28) It was the +eightieth year of the age of Moses, and of that of Aaron three +more. They also carried out the bones of Joesph with them, as he +had charged his sons to do. + +3. But the Egyptians soon repented that the Hebrews were gone; +and the king also was mightily concerned that this had been +procured by the magic arts of Moses; so they resolved to go after +them. Accordingly they took their weapons, and other warlike +furniture, and pursued after them, in order to bring them back, +if once they overtook them, because they would now have no +pretense to pray to God against them, since they had already been +permitted to go out; and they thought they should easily overcome +them, as they had no armor, and would be weary with their +journey; so they made haste in their pursuit, and asked of every +one they met which way they were gone. And indeed that land was +difficult to be traveled over, not only by armies, but by single +persons. Now Moses led the Hebrews this way, that in case the +Egyptians should repent and be desirous to pursue after them, +they might undergo the punishment of their wickedness, and of the +breach of those promises they had made to them. As also he led +them this way on account of the Philistines, who had quarreled +with them, and hated them of old, that by all means they might +not know of their departure, for their country is near to that of +Egypt; and thence it was that Moses led them not along the road +that tended to the land of the Philistines, but he was desirous +that they should go through the desert, that so after a long +journey, and after many afflictions, they might enter upon the +land of Canaan. Another reason of this was, that God commanded +him to bring the people to Mount Sinai, that there they might +offer him sacrifices. Now when the Egyptians had overtaken the +Hebrews, they prepared to fight them, and by their multitude they +drove them into a narrow place; for the number that pursued after +them was six hundred chariots, with fifty thousand horsemen, and +two hundred thousand foot-men, all armed. They also seized on the +passages by which they imagined the Hebrews might fly, shutting +them up (29) between inaccessible precipices and the sea; for +there was [on each side] a [ridge of] mountains that terminated +at the sea, which were impassable by reason of their roughness, +and obstructed their flight; wherefore they there pressed upon +the Hebrews with their army, where [the ridges of] the mountains +were closed with the sea; which army they placed at the chops of +the mountains, that so they might deprive them of any passage +into the plain. + +4. When the Hebrews, therefore, were neither able to bear up, +being thus, as it were, besieged, because they wanted provisions, +nor saw any possible way of escaping; and if they should have +thought of fighting, they had no weapons; they expected a +universal destruction, unless they delivered themselves up to the +Egyptians. So they laid the blame on Moses, and forgot all the +signs that had been wrought by God for the recovery of their +freedom; and this so far, that their incredulity prompted them to +throw stones at the prophet, while he encouraged them and +promised them deliverance; and they resolved that they would +deliver themselves up to the Egyptians. So there was sorrow and +lamentation among the women and children, who had nothing but +destruction before their eyes, while they were encompassed with +mountains, the sea, and their enemies, and discerned no way of +flying from them. + +5. But Moses, though the multitude looked fiercely at him, did +not, however, give over the care of them, but despised all +dangers, out of his trust in God, who, as he had afforded them +the several steps already taken for the recovery of their +liberty, which he had foretold them, would not now suffer them to +be subdued by their enemies, to be either made slaves or be slain +by them; and, standing in midst of them, he said, "It is not just +of us to distrust even men, when they have hitherto well managed +our affairs, as if they would not be the same hereafter; but it +is no better than madness, at this time to despair of the +providence of God, by whose power all those things have been +performed he promised, when you expected no such things: I mean +all that I have been concerned in for deliverance and escape from +slavery. Nay, when we are in the utmost distress, as you see we +ought rather to hope that God will succor us, by whose operation +it is that we are now this narrow place, that he may out of such +difficulties as are otherwise insurmountable and out of which +neither you nor your enemies expect you can be delivered, and may +at once demonstrate his own power and his providence over us. Nor +does God use to give his help in small difficulties to those whom +he favors, but in such cases where no one can see how any hope in +man can better their condition. Depend, therefore, upon such a +Protector as is able to make small things great, and to show that +this mighty force against you is nothing but weakness, and be not +affrighted at the Egyptian army, nor do you despair of being +preserved, because the sea before, and the mountains behind, +afford you no opportunity for flying, for even these mountains, +if God so please, may be made plain ground for you, and the sea +become dry land." + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + +How The Sea Was Divided Asunder For The Hebrews, When They Were +Pursued By The Egyptians, And So Gave Them An Opportunity Of +Escaping From Them. + + +1. When Moses had said this, he led them to the sea, while the +Egyptians looked on; for they were within sight. Now these were +so distressed by the toil of their pursuit, that they thought +proper to put off fighting till the next day. But when Moses was +come to the sea-shore, he took his rod, and made supplication to +God, and called upon him to be their helper and assistant; and +said "Thou art not ignorant, O Lord, that it is beyond human +strength and human contrivance to avoid the difficulties we are +now under; but it must be thy work altogether to procure +deliverance to this army, which has left Egypt at thy +appointment. We despair of any other assistance or contrivance, +and have recourse only to that hope we have in thee; and if there +be any method that can promise us an escape by thy providence, we +look up to thee for it. And let it come quickly, and manifest thy +power to us; and do thou raise up this people unto good courage +and hope of deliverance, who are deeply sunk into a disconsolate +state of mind. We are in a helpless place, but still it is a +place that thou possessest; still the sea is thine, the mountains +also that enclose us are thine; so that these mountains will open +themselves if thou commandest them, and the sea also, if thou +commandest it, will become dry land. Nay, we might escape by a +flight through the air, if thou shouldst determine we should have +that way of salvation." + +2. When Moses had thus addressed himself to God, he smote the sea +with his rod, which parted asunder at the stroke, and receiving +those waters into itself, left the ground dry, as a road and a +place of flight for the Hebrews. Now when Moses saw this +appearance of God, and that the sea went out of its own place, +and left dry land, he went first of all into it, and bid the +Hebrews to follow him along that divine road, and to rejoice at +the danger their enemies that followed them were in; and gave +thanks to God for this so surprising a deliverance which appeared +from him. + +3. Now, while these Hebrews made no stay, but went on earnestly, +as led by God's presence with them, the Egyptians supposed first +that they were distracted, and were going rashly upon manifest +destruction. But when they saw that they were going a great way +without any harm, and that no obstacle or difficulty fell in +their journey, they made haste to pursue them, hoping that the +sea would be calm for them also. They put their horse foremost, +and went down themselves into the sea. Now the Hebrews, while +these were putting on their armor, and therein spending their +time, were beforehand with them, and escaped them, and got first +over to the land on the other side without any hurt. Whence the +others were encouraged, and more courageously pursued them, as +hoping no harm would come to them neither: but the Egyptians were +not aware that they went into a road made for the Hebrews, and +not for others; that this road was made for the deliverance of +those in danger, but not for those that were earnest to make use +of it for the others' destruction. As soon, therefore, as ever +the whole Egyptian army was within it, the sea flowed to its own +place, and came down with a torrent raised by storms of wind, +(30) and encompassed the Egyptians. Showers of rain also came +down from the sky, and dreadful thunders and lightning, with +flashes of fire. Thunderbolts also were darted upon them. Nor was +there any thing which used to be sent by God upon men, as +indications of his wrath, which did not happen at this time, for +a dark and dismal night oppressed them. And thus did all these +men perish, so that there was not one man left to be a messenger +of this calamity to the rest of the Egyptians. + +4. But the Hebrews were not able to contain themselves for joy at +their wonderful deliverance, and destruction of their enemies; +now indeed supposing themselves firmly delivered, when those that +would have forced them into slavery were destroyed, and when they +found they had God so evidently for their protector. And now +these Hebrews having escaped the danger they were in, after this +manner, and besides that, seeing their enemies punished in such a +way as is never recorded of any other men whomsoever, were all +the night employed in singing of hymns, and in mirth. (31) Moses +also composed a song unto God, containing his praises, and a +thanksgiving for his kindness, in hexameter verse. (32) + +5. As for myself, I have delivered every part of this history as +I found it in the sacred books; nor let any one wonder at the +strangeness of the narration if a way were discovered to those +men of old time, who were free from the wickedness of the modern +ages, whether it happened by the will of God or whether it +happened of its own accord; - while, for the sake of those that +accompanied Alexander, king of Macedonia, who yet lived, +comparatively but a little while ago, the Pamphylian Sea retired +and afforded them a passage (33) through itself, had no other way +to go; I mean, when it was the will of God to destroy the +monarchy of the Persians: and this is confessed to be true by all +that have written about the actions of Alexander. But as to these +events, let every one determine as he pleases. + +6. On the next day Moses gathered together the weapons of the +Egyptians, which were brought to the camp of the Hebrews by the +current of the sea, and the force of the winds resisting it; and +he conjectured that this also happened by Divine Providence, that +so they might not be destitute of weapons. So when he had ordered +the Hebrews to arm themselves with them, he led them to Mount +Sinai, in order to offer sacrifice to God, and to render +oblations for the salvation of the multitude, as he was charged +to do beforehand. + + + + +BOOK III. + +Containing The Interval Of Two Years. + +From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To The Rejection Of That +Generation. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Moses When He Had Brought The People Out Of Egypt Led Them To +Mount Sinai; But Not Till They Had Suffered Much In Their +Journey. + + +1. When the Hebrews had obtained such a wonderful deliverance, +the country was a great trouble to them, for it was entirely a +desert, and without +sustenance for them; and also had exceeding little water, so that +it not only was not at all sufficient for the men, but not enough +to feed any of the cattle, for it was parched up, and had no +moisture that might afford nutriment to the vegetables; so they +were forced to travel over this country, as having no other +country but this to travel in. They had indeed carried water +along with them from the land over which they had traveled +before, as their conductor had bidden them; but when that was +spent, they were obliged to draw water out of wells, with pain, +by reason of the hardness of the soil. Moreover, what water they +found was bitter, and not fit for drinking, and this in small +quantities also; and as they thus traveled, they came late in the +evening to a place called Marah, (1) which had that name from the +badness of its water, for Mar denotes bitterness. Thither they +came afflicted both by the tediousness of their journey, and by +their want of food, for it entirely failed them at that time. Now +here was a well, which made them choose to stay in the place, +which, although it were not sufficient to satisfy so great an +army, did yet afford them some comfort, as found in such desert +places; for they heard from those who had been to search, that +there was nothing to be found, if they traveled on farther. Yet +was this water bitter, and not fit for men to drink; and not only +so, but it was intolerable even to the cattle themselves. + +2. When Moses saw how much the people were cast down, and that +the occasion of it could not be contradicted, for the people were +not in the nature of a complete army of men, who might oppose a +manly fortitude to the necessity that distressed them; the +multitude of the children, and of the women also, being of too +weak capacities to be persuaded by reason, blunted the courage of +the men themselves, - he was therefore in great difficulties, and +made everybody's calamity his own; for they ran all of them to +him, and begged of him; the women begged for their infants, and +the men for the women, that he would not overlook them, but +procure some way or other for their deliverance. He therefore +betook himself to prayer to God, that he would change the water +from its present badness, and make it fit for drinking. And when +God had granted him that favor, he took the top of a stick that +lay down at his feet, and divided it in the middle, and made the +section lengthways. He then let it down into the well, and +persuaded the Hebrews that God had hearkened to his prayers, and +had promised to render the water such as they desired it to be, +in case they would be subservient to him in what he should enjoin +them to do, and this not after a remiss or negligent manner. And +when they asked what they were to do in order to have the water +changed for the better, he bid the strongest men among them that +stood there, to draw up water (2) and told them, that when the +greatest part was drawn up, the remainder would be fit to drink. +So they labored at it till the water was so agitated and purged +as to be fit to drink. + +3. And now removing from thence they came to Elim; which place +looked well at a distance, for there was a grove of palm-trees; +but when they came near to it, it appeared to be a bad place, for +the palm-trees were no more than seventy; and they were ill-grown +and creeping trees, by the want of water, for the country about +was all parched, and no moisture sufficient to water them, and +make them hopeful and useful, was derived to them from the +fountains, which were in number twelve: they were rather a few +moist places than springs, which not breaking out of the ground, +nor running over, could not sufficiently water the trees. And +when they dug into the sand, they met with no water; and if they +took a few drops of it into their hands, they found it to be +useless, on account of its mud. The trees were too weak to bear +fruit, for want of being sufficiently cherished and enlivened by +the water. So they laid the blame on their conductor, and made +heavy complaints against him; and said that this their miserable +state, and the experience they had of adversity, were owing to +him; for that they had then journeyed an entire thirty days, and +had spent all the provisions they had brought with them; and +meeting with no relief, they were in a very desponding condition. +And by fixing their attention upon nothing but their present +misfortunes, they were hindered from remembering what +deliverances they had received from God, and those by the virtue +and wisdom of Moses also; so they were very angry at their +conductor, and were zealous in their attempt to stone him, as the +direct occasion of their present miseries. + +4. But as for Moses himself, while the multitude were irritated +and bitterly set against him, he cheerfully relied upon God, and +upon his consciousness of the care he had taken of these his own +people; and he came into the midst of them, even while they +clamored against him, and had stones in their hands in order to +despatch him. Now he was of an agreeable presence, and very able +to persuade the people by his speeches; accordingly he began to +mitigate their anger, and exhorted them not to be over-mindful of +their present adversities, lest they should thereby suffer the +benefits that had formerly been bestowed on them to slip out of +their memories; and he desired them by no means, on account of +their present uneasiness, to cast those great and wonderful +favors and gifts, which they had obtained of God, out of their +minds, but to expect deliverance out of those their present +troubles which they could not free themselves from, and this by +the means of that Divine Providence which watched over them. +Seeing it is probable that God tries their virtue, and exercises +their patience by these adversities, that it may appear what +fortitude they have, and what memory they retain of his former +wonderful works in their favor, and whether they will not think +of them upon occasion of the miseries they now feel. He told +them, it appeared they were not really good men, either in +patience, or in remembering what had been successfully done for +them, sometimes by contemning God and his commands, when by those +commands they left the land of Egypt; and sometimes by behaving +themselves ill towards him who was the servant of God, and this +when he had never deceived them, either in what he said, or had +ordered them to do by God's command. He also put them in mind of +all that had passed; how the Egyptians were destroyed when they +attempted to detain them, contrary to the command of God; and +after what manner the very same river was to the others bloody, +and not fit for drinking, but was to them sweet, and fit for +drinking; and how they went a new road through the sea, which +fled a long way from them, by which very means they were +themselves preserved, but saw their enemies destroyed; and that +when they were in want of weapons, God gave them plenty of them; +- and so he recounted all the particular instances, how when they +were, in appearance, just going to be destroyed, God had saved +them in a surprising manner; and that he had still the same +power; and that they ought not even now to despair of his +providence over them; and accordingly he exhorted them to +continue quiet, and to consider that help would not come too +late, though it come not immediately, if it be present with them +before they suffer any great misfortune; that they ought to +reason thus: that God delays to assist them, not because he has +no regard to them, but because he will first try their fortitude, +and the pleasure they take in their freedom, that he may learn +whether you have souls great enough to bear want of food, and +scarcity of water, on its account; or whether you rather love to +be slaves, as cattle are slaves to such as own them, and feed +them liberally, but only in order to make them more useful in +their service. That as for himself, he shall not be so much +concerned for his own preservation; for if he die unjustly, he +shall not reckon it any affliction, but that he is concerned for +them, lest, by casting stones at him, they should be thought to +condemn God himself. + +5. By this means Moses pacified the people, and restrained them +from stoning him, and brought them to repent of what they were +going to do. And because he thought the necessity they were under +made their passion less unjustifiable, he thought he ought to +apply himself to God by prayer and supplication; and going up to +an eminence, he requested of God for some succor for the people, +and some way of deliverance from the want they were in, because +in him, and in him alone, was their hope of salvation; and he +desired that he would forgive what necessity had forced the +people to do, since such was the nature of mankind, hard to +please, and very complaining under adversities. Accordingly God +promised he would take care of them, and afford them the succor +they were desirous of. Now when Moses had heard this from God, he +came down to the multitude. But as soon as they saw him joyful at +the promises he had received from God, they changed their sad +countenances into gladness. So he placed himself in the midst of +them, and told them he came to bring them from God a deliverance +from their present distresses. Accordingly a little after came a +vast number of quails, which is a bird more plentiful in this +Arabian Gulf than any where else, flying over the sea, and +hovered over them, till wearied with their laborious flight, and, +indeed, as usual, flying very near to the earth, they fell down +upon the Hebrews, who caught them, and satisfied their hunger +with them, and supposed that this was the method whereby God +meant to supply them with food. Upon which Moses returned thanks +to God for affording them his assistance so suddenly, and sooner +than he had promised them. + +6. But presently after this first supply of food, he sent them a +second; for as Moses was lifting up his hands in prayer, a dew +fell down; and Moses, when he found it stick to his hands, +supposed this was also come for food from God to them. He tasted +it; and perceiving that the people knew not what it was, and +thought it snowed, and that it was what usually fell at that time +of the year, he informed them that this dew did not fall from +heaven after the manner they imagined, but came for their +preservation and sustenance. So he tasted it, and gave them some +of it, that they might be satisfied about what he told them. They +also imitated their conductor, and were pleased with the food, +for it was like honey in sweetness and pleasant taste, but like +in its body to bdellium, one of the sweet spices, and in bigness +equal to coriander seed. And very earnest they were in gathering +it; but they were enjoined to gather it equally (3) - the measure +of an omer for each one every day, because this food should not +come in too small a quantity, lest the weaker might not be able +to get their share, by reason of the overbearing of the strong in +collecting it. However, these strong men, when they had gathered +more than the measure appointed for them, had no more than +others, but only tired themselves more in gathering it, for they +found no more than an omer apiece; and the advantage they got by +what was superfluous was none at all, it corrupting, both by the +worms breeding in it, and by its bitterness. So divine and +wonderful a food was this! It also supplied the want of other +sorts of food to those that fed on it. And even now, in all that +place, this manna comes down in rain, (4) according to what Moses +then obtained of God, to send it to the people for their +sustenance. Now the Hebrews call this food manna: for the +particle man, in our language, is the asking of a question. What +is this? So the Hebrews were very joyful at what was sent them +from heaven. Now they made use of this food for forty years, or +as long as they were in the wilderness. + +7. As soon as they were removed thence, they came to Rephidim, +being distressed to the last degree by thirst; and while in the +foregoing days they had lit on a few small fountains, but now +found the earth entirely destitute of water, they were in an evil +case. They again turned their anger against Moses; but he at +first avoided the fury of the multitude, and then betook himself +to prayer to God, beseeching him, that as he had given them food +when they were in the greatest want of it, so he would give them +drink, since the favor of giving them food was of no value to +them while they had nothing to drink. And God did not long delay +to give it them, but promised Moses that he would procure them a +fountain, and plenty of water, from a place they did not expect +any. So he commanded him to smite the rock which they saw lying +there, (5) with his rod, and out of it to receive plenty of what +they wanted; for he had taken care that drink should come to them +without any labor or pains-taking. When Moses had received this +command from God, he came to the people, who waited for him, and +looked upon him, for they saw already that he was coming apace +from his eminence. As soon as he was come, he told them that God +would deliver them from their present distress, and had granted +them an unexpected favor; and informed them, that a river should +run for their sakes out of the rock. But they were amazed at that +hearing, supposing they were of necessity to cut the rock in +pieces, now they were distressed by their thirst and by their +journey; while Moses only smiting the rock with his rod, opened a +passage, and out of it burst water, and that in great abundance, +and very clear. But they were astonished at this wonderful +effect; and, as it were, quenched their thirst by the very sight +of it. So they drank this pleasant, this sweet water; and such it +seemed to be, as might well be expected where God was the donor. +They were also in admiration how Moses was honored by God; and +they made grateful returns of sacrifices to God for his +providence towards them. Now that Scripture, which is laid up in +the temple, (6) informs us, how God foretold to Moses, that water +timid in this manner be derived out of the rock.' + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How The Amalekites And The Neighbouring Nations, Made War With +The Hebrews And Were Beaten And Lost A Great Part Of Their Army. + + +1. The name of the Hebrews began already to be every where +renowned, and rumors about them ran abroad. This made the +inhabitants of those countries to be in no small fear. +Accordingly they sent ambassadors to one another, and exhorted +one another to defend themselves, and to endeavor to destroy +these men. Those that induced the rest to do so, were such as +inhabited Gobolitis and Petra. They were called Amalekites, and +were the most warlike of the nations that lived thereabout; and +whose kings exhorted one another, and their neighbors, to go to +this war against the Hebrews; telling them that an army of +strangers, and such a one as had run away from slavery under the +Egyptians, lay in wait to ruin them; which army they were not, in +common prudence and regard to their own safety, to overlook, but +to crush them before they gather strength, and come to be in +prosperity: and perhaps attack them first in a hostile manner, as +presuming upon our indolence in not attacking them before; and +that we ought to avenge ourselves of them for what they have done +in the wilderness, but that this cannot be so well done when they +have once laid their hands on our cities and our goods: that +those who endeavor to crush a power in its first rise, are wiser +than those that endeavor to put a stop to its progress when it is +become formidable; for these last seem to be angry only at the +flourishing of others, but the former do not leave any room for +their enemies to become troublesome to them. After they had sent +such embassages to the neighboring nations, and among one +another, they resolved to attack the Hebrews in battle. + +2. These proceedings of the people of those countries occasioned +perplexity and trouble to Moses, who expected no such warlike +preparations. And when these nations were ready to fight, and the +multitude of the Hebrews were obliged to try the fortune of war, +they were in a mighty disorder, and in want of all necessaries, +and yet were to make war with men who were thoroughly well +prepared for it. Then therefore it was that Moses began to +encourage them, and to exhort them to have a good heart, and rely +on God's assistance by which they had been state of freedom and +to hope for victory over those who were ready to fight with them, +in order to deprive them of that blessing: that they were to +suppose their own army to be numerous, wanting nothing, neither +weapons, nor money, nor provisions, nor such other conveniences +as, when men are in possession of, they fight undauntedly; and +that they are to judge themselves to have all these advantages in +the Divine assistance. They are also to suppose the enemy's army +to be small, unarmed, weak, and such as want those conveniences +which they know must be wanted, when it is God's will that they +shall be beaten; and how valuable God's assistance is, they had +experienced in abundance of trials; and those such as were more +terrible than war, for that is only against men; but these were +against famine and thirst, things indeed that are in their own +nature insuperable; as also against mountains, and that sea which +afforded them no way for escaping; yet had all these difficulties +been conquered by God's gracious kindness to them. So he exhorted +them to be courageous at this time, and to look upon their entire +prosperity to depend on the present conquest of their enemies. + +3. And with these words did Moses encourage the multitude, who +then called together the princes of their tribes, and their chief +men, both separately and conjointly. The young men he charged to +obey their elders, and the elders to hearken to their leader. So +the people were elevated in their minds, and ready to try their +fortune in battle, and hoped to be thereby at length delivered +from all their miseries: nay, they desired that Moses would +immediately lead them against their enemies without the least +delay, that no backwardness might be a hindrance to their present +resolution. So Moses sorted all that were fit for war into +different troops, and set Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of +Ephraim, over them; one that was of great courage, and patient to +undergo labors; of great abilities to understand, and to speak +what was proper; and very serious in the worship of God; and +indeed made like another Moses, a teacher of piety towards God. +He also appointed a small party of the armed men to be near the +water, and to take care of the children, and the women, and of +the entire camp. So that whole night they prepared themselves for +the battle; they took their weapons, if any of them had such as +were well made, and attended to their commanders as ready to rush +forth to the battle as soon as Moses should give the word of +command. Moses also kept awake, teaching Joshua after what manner +he should order his camp. But when the day began, Moses called +for Joshua again, and exhorted him to approve himself in deeds +such a one as a his reputation made men expect from him; and to +gain glory by the present expedition, in the opinion of those +under him, for his exploits in this battle. He also gave a +particular exhortation to the principal men of the Hebrews, and +encouraged the whole army as it stood armed before him. And when +he had thus animated the army, both by his words and works, and +prepared every thing, he retired to a mountain, and committed the +army to God and to Joshua. + +4. So the armies joined battle; and it came to a close fight, +hand to hand, both sides showing great alacrity, and encouraging +one another. And indeed while Moses stretched out his hand +towards heaven (7) the Hebrews were too hard for the Amalekites: +but Moses not being able to sustain his hands thus stretched out, +(for as often as he let down his hands, so often were his own +people worsted,) he bade his brother Aaron, and Hur their sister +Miriam's husband, to stand on each side of him, and take hold of +his hands, and not permit his weariness to prevent it, but to +assist him in the extension of his hands. When this was done, the +Hebrews conquered the Amalekites by main force; and indeed they +had all perished, unless the approach of the night had obliged +the Hebrews to desist from killing any more. So our forefathers +obtained a most signal and most seasonable victory; for they not +only overcame those that fought against them, but terrified also +the neighboring nations, and got great and splendid advantages, +which they obtained of their enemies by their hard pains in this +battle: for when they had taken the enemy's camp, they got ready +booty for the public, and for their own private families, whereas +till then they had not any sort of plenty, of even necessary +food. The forementioned battle, when they had once got it, was +also the occasion of their prosperity, not only for the present, +but for the future ages also; for they not only made slaves of +the bodies of their enemies, but subdued their minds also, and +after this battle, became terrible to all that dwelt round about +them. Moreover, they acquired a vast quantity of riches; for a +great deal of silver and gold was left in the enemy's camp; as +also brazen vessels, which they made common use of in their +families; many utensils also that were embroidered there were of +both sorts, that is, of what were weaved, and what were the +ornaments of their armor, and other things that served for use in +the family, and for the furniture of their rooms; they got also +the prey of their cattle, and of whatsoever uses to follow camps, +when they remove from one place to another. So the Hebrews now +valued themselves upon their courage, and claimed great merit for +their valor; and they perpetually inured themselves to take +pains, by which they deemed every difficulty might be surmounted. +Such were the consequences of this battle. + +5. On the next day, Moses stripped the dead bodies of their +enemies, and gathered together the armor of those that were fled, +and gave rewards to such as had signalized themselves in the +action; and highly commended Joshua, their general, who was +attested to by all the army, on account of the great actions he +had done. Nor was any one of the Hebrews slain; but the slain of +the enemy's army were too many to be enumerated. So Moses offered +sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, and built an altar, which he +named The Lord the Conqueror. He also foretold that the +Amalekites should utterly be destroyed; and that hereafter none +of them should remain, because they fought against the Hebrews, +and this when they were in the wilderness, and in their distress +also. Moreover, he refreshed the army with feasting. And thus did +they fight this first battle with those that ventured to oppose +them, after they were gone out of Egypt. But when Moses had +celebrated this festival for the victory, he permitted the +Hebrews to rest for a few days, and then he brought them out +after the fight, in order of battle; for they had now many +soldiers in light armor. And going gradually on, he came to Mount +Sinai, in three months' time after they were removed out of +Egypt; at which mountain, as we have before related, the vision +of the bush, and the other wonderful appearances, had happened. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +That Moses Kindly Received-His Father-In-Law, Jethro, When He +Came To Him To Mount Sinai. + + +Now when Raguel, Moses's father-in-law, understood in what a +prosperous condition his affairs were, he willingly came to meet +him. And Moses and his children, and pleased himself with his +coming. And when he had offered sacrifice, he made a feast for +the multitude, near the Bush he had formerly seen; which +multitude, every one according to their families, partook of the +feast. But Aaron and his family took Raguel, and sung hymns to +God, as to Him who had been the author procurer of their +deliverance and their freedom. They also praised their conductor, +as him by whose virtue it was that all things had succeeded with +them. Raguel also, in his eucharistical oration to Moses, made +great encomiums upon the whole multitude; and he could not but +admire Moses for his fortitude, and that humanity he had shewn in +the delivery of his friends. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Raguel Suggested To Moses To Set His People In Order, Under +Their Rulers Of Thousands, And Rulers Of Hundreds, Who Lived +Without Order Before; And How Moses Complied In All Things With +His Father-In-Law's Admonition. + + +1. The next day, as Raguel saw Moses in the of a crowd of +business for he determined the differences of those that referred +them to him, every one still going to him, and supposing that +they should then only obtain justice, if he were the arbitrator; +and those that lost their causes thought it no harm, while they +thought they lost them justly, and not by partiality. Raguel +however said nothing to him at that time, as not desirous to be +any hinderance to such as had a mind to make use of the virtue of +their conductor. But afterward he took him to himself, and when +he had him alone, he instructed him in what he ought to do; and +advised him to leave the trouble of lesser causes to others, but +himself to take care of the greater, and of the people's safety, +for that certain others of the Hebrews might be found that were +fit to determine causes, but that nobody but a Moses could take +of the safety of so many ten thousands. "Be therefore," says he, +"insensible of thine own virtue, and what thou hast done by +ministering under God to the people's preservation. Permit, +therefore, the determination of common causes to be done by +others, but do thou reserve thyself to the attendance on God +only, and look out for methods of preserving the multitude from +their present distress. Make use of the method I suggest to you, +as to human affairs; and take a review of the army, and appoint +chosen rulers over tens of thousands, and then over thousands; +then divide them into five hundreds, and again into hundreds, and +into fifties; and set rulers over each of them, who may +distinguish them into thirties, and keep them in order; and at +last number them by twenties and by tens: and let there be one +commander over each number, to be denominated from the number of +those over whom they are rulers, but such as the whole multitude +have tried, and do approve of, as being good and righteous men; +(8) and let those rulers decide the controversies they have one +with another. But if any great cause arise, let them bring the +cognizance of it before the rulers of a higher dignity; but if +any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their +determination, let them send it to thee. By these means two +advantages will be gained; the Hebrews will have justice done +them, and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on God, and +procure him to be more favorable to the people." + +2. This was the admonition of Raguel; and Moses received his +advice very kindly, and acted according to his suggestion. Nor +did he conceal the invention of this method, nor pretend to it +himself, but informed the multitude who it was that invented it: +nay, he has named Raguel in the books he wrote, as the person who +invented this ordering of the people, as thinking it right to +give a true testimony to worthy persons, although he might have +gotten reputation by ascribing to himself the inventions of other +men; whence we may learn the virtuous disposition of Moses: but +of such his disposition, we shall have proper occasion to speak +in other places of these books. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Moses Ascended Up To Mount Sinai, And Received Laws From God, +And Delivered Them To The Hebrews. + + +1. Now Moses called the multitude together, and told them that he +was going from them unto mount Sinai to converse with God; to +receive from him, and to bring back with him, a certain oracle; +but he enjoined them to pitch their tents near the mountain, and +prefer the habitation that was nearest to God, before one more +remote. When he had said this, he ascended up to Mount Sinai, +which is the highest of all the mountains that are in that +country (9) and is not only very difficult to be ascended by men, +on account of its vast altitude, but because of the sharpness of +its precipices also; nay, indeed, it cannot be looked at without +pain of the eyes: and besides this, it was terrible and +inaccessible, on account of the rumor that passed about, that God +dwelt there. But the Hebrews removed their tents as Moses had +bidden them, and took possession of the lowest parts of the +mountain; and were elevated in their minds, in expectation that +Moses would return from God with promises of the good things he +had proposed to them. So they feasted and waited for their +conductor, and kept themselves pure as in other respects, and not +accompanying with their wives for three days, as he had before +ordered them to do. And they prayed to God that he would +favorably receive Moses in his conversing with him, and bestow +some such gift upon them by which they might live well. They also +lived more plentifully as to their diet; and put on their wives +and children more ornamental and decent clothing than they +usually wore. + +2. So they passed two days in this way of feasting; but on the +third day, before the sun was up, a cloud spread itself over the +whole camp of the Hebrews, such a one as none had before seen, +and encompassed the place where they had pitched their tents; and +while all the rest of the air was clear, there came strong winds, +that raised up large showers of rain, which became a mighty +tempest. There was also such lightning, as was terrible to those +that saw it; and thunder, with its thunderbolts, were sent down, +and declared God to be there present in a gracious way to such as +Moses desired he should be gracious. Now, as to these matters, +every one of my readers may think as he pleases; but I am under a +necessity of relating this history as it is described in the +sacred books. This sight, and the amazing sound that came to +their ears, disturbed the Hebrews to a prodigious degree, for +they were not such as they were accustomed to; and then the rumor +that was spread abroad, how God frequented that mountain, greatly +astonished their minds, so they sorrowfully contained themselves +within their tents, as both supposing Moses to be destroyed by +the Divine wrath, and expecting the like destruction for +themselves. + +3. When they were under these apprehensions, Moses appeared as +joyful and greatly exalted. When they saw him, they were freed +from their fear, and admitted of more comfortable hopes as to +what was to come. The air also was become clear and pure of its +former disorders, upon the appearance of Moses; whereupon he +called together the people to a congregation, in order to their +hearing what God would say to them: and when they were gathered +together, he stood on an eminence whence they might all hear him, +and said, "God has received me graciously, O Hebrews, as he has +formerly done; and has suggested a happy method of living for +you, and an order of political government, and is now present in +the camp: I therefore charge you, for his sake and the sake of +his works, and what we have done by his means, that you do not +put a low value on what I am going to say, because the commands +have been given by me that now deliver them to you, nor because +it is the tongue of a man that delivers them to you; but if you +have a due regard to the great importance of the things +themselves, you will understand the greatness of Him whose +institutions they are, and who has not disdained to communicate +them to me for our common advantage; for it is not to be supposed +that the author of these institutions is barely Moses, the son of +Amram and Jochebed, but He who obliged the Nile to run bloody for +your sakes, and tamed the haughtiness of the Egyptians by various +sorts of judgments; he who provided a way through the sea for us; +he who contrived a method of sending us food from heaven, when we +were distressed for want of it; he who made the water to issue +out of a rock, when we had very little of it before; he by whose +means Adam was made to partake of the fruits both of the land and +of the sea; he by whose means Noah escaped the deluge; he by +whose means our forefather Abraham, of a wandering pilgrim, was +made the heir of the land of Canaan; he by whose means Isaac was +born of parents that were very old; he by whose means Jacob was +adorned with twelve virtuous sons; he by whose means Joseph +became a potent lord over the Egyptians; he it is who conveys +these instructions to you by me as his interpreter. And let them +be to you venerable, and contended for more earnestly by you than +your own children and your own wives; for if you will follow +them, you will lead a happy life you will enjoy the land +fruitful, the sea calm, and the fruit of the womb born complete, +as nature requires; you will be also terrible to your enemies for +I have been admitted into the presence of God and been made a +hearer of his incorruptible voice so great is his concern for +your nation, and its duration." + +4. When he had said this, he brought the people, with their wives +and children, so near the mountain, that they might hear God +himself speaking to them about the precepts which they were to +practice; that the energy of what should be spoken might not be +hurt by its utterance by that tongue of a man, which could but +imperfectly deliver it to their understanding. And they all heard +a voice that came to all of them from above, insomuch that no one +of these words escaped them, which Moses wrote on two tables; +which it is not lawful for us to set down directly, but their +import we will declare (10) + +5. The first commandment teaches us that there is but one God, +and that we ought to worship him only. The second commands us not +to make the image of any living creature to worship it. The +third, that we must not swear by God in a false matter. The +fourth, that we must keep the seventh day, by resting from all +sorts of work. The fifth, that we must honor our parents. The +sixth that we must abstain from murder. The seventh that we must +not commit adultery. The eighth, that we must not be guilty of +theft. The ninth, that we must not bear false witness. The tenth, +that we must not admit of the desire of any thing that is +another's. + +6. Now when the multitude had heard God himself giving those +precepts which Moses had discoursed of, they rejoiced at what was +said; and the congregation was dissolved: but on the following +days they came to his tent, and desired him to bring them, +besides, other laws from God. Accordingly he appointed such laws, +and afterwards informed them in what manner they should act in +all cases; which laws I shall make mention of in their proper +time; but I shall reserve most of those laws for another work, +(11) and make there a distinct explication of them. + +7. When matters were brought to this state, Moses went up again +to Mount Sinai, of which he had told them beforehand. He made his +ascent in their sight; and while he staid there so long a time, +(for he was absent from them forty days,) fear seized upon the +Hebrews, lest Moses should have come to any harm; nor was there +any thing else so sad, and that so much troubled them, as this +supposal that Moses was perished. Now there was a variety in +their sentiments about it; some saying that he was fallen among +wild beasts; and those that were of this opinion were chiefly +such as were ill-disposed to him; but others said that he was +departed, and gone to God; but the wiser sort were led by their +reason to embrace neither of those opinions with any +satisfaction, thinking, that as it was a thing that sometimes +happens to men to fall among wild beasts and perish that way, so +it was probable enough that he might depart and go to God, on +account of his virtue; they therefore were quiet, and expected +the event: yet were they exceeding sorry upon the supposal that +they were deprived of a governor and a protector, such a one +indeed as they could never recover again; nor would this +suspicion give them leave to expect any comfortable event about +this man, nor could they prevent their trouble and melancholy +upon this occasion. However, the camp durst not remove all this +while, because Moses had bidden them afore to stay there. + +8. But when the forty days, and as many nights, were over, Moses +came down, having tasted nothing of food usually appointed for +the nourishment of men. His appearance filled the army with +gladness, and he declared to them what care God had of them, and +by what manner of conduct of their lives they might live happily; +telling them, that during these days of his absence he had +suggested to him also that he would have a tabernacle built for +him, into which he would descend when he came to them, and how we +should carry it about with us when we remove from this place; and +that there would be no longer any occasion for going up to Mount +Sinai, but that he would himself come and pitch his tabernacle +amongst us, and be present at our prayers; as also, that the +tabernacle should be of such measures and construction as he had +shown him, and that you are to fall to the work, and prosecute it +diligently. When he had said this, he showed them the two tables, +with the ten commandments engraven upon them, five upon each +table; and the writing was by the hand of God. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +Concerning The Tabernacle Which Moses Built In The Wilderness For +The Honor Of God And Which Seemed To Be A Temple. + + +1. Hereupon the Israelites rejoiced at what they had seen and +heard of their conductor, and were not wanting in diligence +according to their ability; for they brought silver, and gold, +and brass, and of the best sorts of wood, and such as would not +at all decay by putrefaction; camels' hair also, and sheep-skins, +some of them dyed of a blue color, and some of a scarlet; some +brought the flower for the purple color, and others for white, +with wool dyed by the flowers aforementioned; and fine linen and +precious stones, which those that use costly ornaments set in +ouches of gold; they brought also a great quantity of spices; for +of these materials did Moses build the tabernacle, which did not +at all differ from a movable and ambulatory temple. Now when +these things were brought together with great diligence, (for +every one was ambitious to further the work even beyond their +ability,) he set architects over the works, and this by the +command of God; and indeed the very same which the people +themselves would have chosen, had the election been allowed to +them. Now their names are set down in writing in the sacred +books; and they were these: Besaleel, the son of Uri, of the +tribe of Judah, the grandson of Miriam, the sister of their +conductor and Aholiab, file son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of +Dan. Now the people went on with what they had undertaken with so +great alacrity, that Moses was obliged to restrain them, by +making proclamation, that what had been brought was sufficient, +as the artificers had informed him; so they fell to work upon the +building of the tabernacle. Moses also informed them, according +to the direction of God, both what the measures were to be, and +its largeness; and how many vessels it ought to contain for the +use of the sacrifices. The women also were ambitious to do their +parts, about the garments of the priests, and about other things +that would be wanted in this work, both for ornament and for the +divine service itself. + +2. Now when all things were prepared, the gold, and the silver, +and the brass, and what was woven, Moses, when he had appointed +beforehand that there should be a festival, and that sacrifices +should be offered according to every one's ability, reared up the +tabernacle (12) and when he had measured the open court, fifty +cubits broad and a hundred long, he set up brazen pillars, five +cubits high, twenty on each of the longer sides, and ten pillars +for the breadth behind; every one of the pillars also had a ring. +Their chapiters were of silver, but their bases were of brass: +they resembled the sharp ends of spears, and were of brass, fixed +into the ground. Cords were also put through the rings, and were +tied at their farther ends to brass nails of a cubit long, which, +at every pillar, were driven into the floor, and would keep the +tabernacle from being shaken by the violence of winds; but a +curtain of fine soft linen went round all the pillars, and hung +down in a flowing and loose manner from their chapiters, and +enclosed the whole space, and seemed not at all unlike to a wall +about it. And this was the structure of three of the sides of +this enclosure; but as for the fourth side, which was fifty +cubits in extent, and was the front of the whole, twenty cubits +of it were for the opening of the gates, wherein stood two +pillars on each side, after the resemblance of open gates. These +were made wholly of silver, and polished, and that all over, +excepting the bases, which were of brass. Now on each side of the +gates there stood three pillars, which were inserted into the +concave bases of the gates, and were suited to them; and round +them was drawn a curtain of fine linen; but to the gates +themselves, which were twenty cubits in extent, and five in +height, the curtain was composed of purple, and scarlet, and +blue, and fine linen, and embroidered with many and divers sorts +of figures, excepting the figures of animals. Within these gates +was the brazen laver for purification, having a basin beneath of +the like matter, whence the priests might wash their hands and +sprinkle their feet; and this was the ornamental construction of +the enclosure about the court of the tabernacle, which was +exposed to the open air. + +3. As to the tabernacle itself, Moses placed it in the middle of +that court, with its front to the east, that, when the sun arose, +it might send its first rays upon it. Its length, when it was set +up, was thirty cubits, and its breadth was twelve [ten] cubits. +The one of its walls was on the south, and the other was exposed +to the north, and on the back part of it remained the west. It +was necessary that its height should be equal to its breadth [ten +cubits]. There were also pillars made of wood, twenty on each +side; they were wrought into a quadrangular figure, in breadth a +cubit and a half, but the thickness was four fingers: they had +thin plates of gold affixed to them on both sides, inwardly and +outwardly: they had each of them two tenons belonging to them, +inserted into their bases, and these were of silver, in each of +which bases there was a socket to receive the tenon; but the +pillars on the west wall were six. Now all these tenons and +sockets accurately fitted one another, insomuch that the joints +were invisible, and both seemed to be one entire and united wall. +It was also covered with gold, both within and without. The +number of pillars was equal on the opposite sides, and there were +on each part twenty, and every one of them had the third part of +a span in thickness; so that the number of thirty cubits were +fully made up between them; but as to the wall behind, where the +six pillars made up together only nine cubits, they made two +other pillars, and cut them out of one cubit, which they placed +in the corners, and made them equally fine with the other. Now +every one of the pillars had rings of gold affixed to their +fronts outward, as if they had taken root in the pillars, and +stood one row over against another round about, through which +were inserted bars gilt over with gold, each of them five cubits +long, and these bound together the pillars, the head of one bar +running into another, after the nature of one tenon inserted into +another; but for the wall behind, there was but one row of bars +that went through all the pillars, into which row ran the ends of +the bars on each side of the longer walls; the male with its +female being so fastened in their joints, that they held the +whole firmly together; and for this reason was all this joined so +fast together, that the tabernacle might not be shaken, either by +the winds, or by any other means, but that it might preserve +itself quiet and immovable continually. + +4. As for the inside, Moses parted its length into three +partitions. At the distance of ten cubits from the most secret +end, Moses placed four pillars, the workmanship of which was the +very same with that of the rest; and they stood upon the like +bases with them, each a small matter distant from his fellow. Now +the room within those pillars was the most holy place; but the +rest of the room was the tabernacle, which was open for the +priests. However, this proportion of the measures of the +tabernacle proved to be an imitation of the system of the world; +for that third part thereof which was within the four pillars, to +which the priests were not admitted, is, as it were, a heaven +peculiar to God. But the space of the twenty cubits, is, as it +were, sea and land, on which men live, and so this part is +peculiar to the priests only. But at the front, where the +entrance was made, they placed pillars of gold, that stood on +bases of brass, in number seven; but then they spread over the +tabernacle veils of fine linen and purple, and blue, and scarlet +colors, embroidered. The first veil was ten cubits every way, and +this they spread over the pillars which parted the temple, and +kept the most holy place concealed within; and this veil was that +which made this part not visible to any. Now the whole temple was +called The Holy Place: but that part which was within the four +pillars, and to which none were admitted, was called The Holy of +Holies. This veil was very ornamental, and embroidered with all +sorts of flowers which the earth produces; and there were +interwoven into it all sorts of variety that might be an +ornament, excepting the forms of animals. Another veil there was +which covered the five pillars that were at the entrance. It was +like the former in its magnitude, and texture, and color; and at +the corner of every pillar a ring retained it from the top +downwards half the depth of the pillars, the other half affording +an entrance for the priests, who crept under it. Over this there +was a veil of linen, of the same largeness with the former: it +was to be drawn this way or that way by cords, the rings of +which, fixed to the texture of the veil, and to the cords also, +were subservient to the drawing and undrawing of the veil, and to +the fastening it at the corner, that then it might be no +hinderance to the view of the sanctuary, especially on solemn +days; but that on other days, and especially when the weather was +inclined to snow, it might be expanded, and afford a covering to +the veil of divers colors. Whence that custom of ours is derived, +of having a fine linen veil, after the temple has been built, to +be drawn over the entrances. But the ten other curtains were four +cubits in breadth, and twenty-eight in length; and had golden +clasps, in order to join the one curtain to the other, which was +done so exactly that they seemed to be one entire curtain. These +were spread over the temple, and covered all the top and parts of +the walls, on the sides and behind, so far as within one cubit of +the ground. There were other curtains of the same breadth with +these, but one more in number, and longer, for they were thirty +cubits long; but these were woven of hair, with the like subtilty +as those of wool were made, and were extended loosely down to the +ground, appearing like a triangular front and elevation at the +gates, the eleventh curtain being used for this very purpose. +There were also other curtains made of skins above these, which +afforded covering and protection to those that were woven both in +hot weather and when it rained. And great was the surprise of +those who viewed these curtains at a distance, for they seemed +not at all to differ from the color of the sky. But those that +were made of hair and of skins, reached down in the same manner +as did the veil at the gates, and kept off the heat of the sun, +and what injury the rains might do. And after this manner was the +tabernacle reared. + +5. There was also an ark made, sacred to God, of wood that was +naturally strong, and could not be corrupted. This was called +Eron in our own language. Its construction was thus: its length +was five spans, but its breadth and height was each of them three +spans. It was covered all over with gold, both within and +without, so that the wooden part was not seen. It had also a +cover united to it, by golden hinges, after a wonderful manner; +which cover was every way evenly fitted to it, and had no +eminences to hinder its exact conjunction. There were also two +golden rings belonging to each of the longer boards, and passing +through the entire wood, and through them gilt bars passed along +each board, that it might thereby be moved and carried about, as +occasion should require; for it was not drawn in a cart by beasts +of burden, but borne on the shoulders of the priests. Upon this +its cover were two images, which the Hebrews call Cherubims; they +are flying creatures, but their form is not like to that of any +of the creatures which men have seen, though Moses said he had +seen such beings near the throne of God. In this ark he put the +two tables whereon the ten commandments were written, five upon +each table, and two and a half upon each side of them; and this +ark he placed in the most holy place. + +6. But in the holy place he placed a table, like those at Delphi. +Its length was two cubits, and its breadth one cubit, and its +height three spans. It had feet also, the lower half of which +were complete feet, resembling those which the Dorians put to +their bedsteads; but the upper parts towards the table were +wrought into a square form. The table had a hollow towards every +side, having a ledge of four fingers' depth, that went round +about like a spiral, both on the upper and lower part of the body +of the work. Upon every one of the feet was there also inserted a +ring, not far from the cover, through which went bars of wood +beneath, but gilded, to be taken out upon occasion, there being a +cavity where it was joined to the rings; for they were not entire +rings; but before they came quite round they ended in acute +points, the one of which was inserted into the prominent part of +the table, and the other into the foot; and by these it was +carried when they journeyed: Upon this table, which was placed on +the north side of the temple, not far from the most holy place, +were laid twelve unleavened loaves of bread, six upon each heap, +one above another: they were made of two tenth-deals of the +purest flour, which tenth-deal [an omer] is a measure of the +Hebrews, containing seven Athenian cotyloe; and above those +loaves were put two vials full of frankincense. Now after seven +days other loaves were brought in their stead, on the day which +is by us called the Sabbath; for we call the seventh day the +Sabbath. But for the occasion of this intention of placing loaves +here, we will speak to it in another place. + +7. Over against this table, near the southern wall, was set a +candlestick of cast gold, hollow within, being of the weight of +one hundred pounds, which the Hebrews call Chinchares, if it be +turned into the Greek language, it denotes a talent. It was made +with its knops, and lilies, and pomegranates, and bowls (which +ornaments amounted to seventy in all); by which means the shaft +elevated itself on high from a single base, and spread itself +into as many branches as there are planets, including the sun +among them. It terminated in seven heads, in one row, all +standing parallel to one another; and these branches carried +seven lamps, one by one, in imitation of the number of the +planets. These lamps looked to the east and to the south, the +candlestick being situate obliquely. + +8. Now between this candlestick and the table, which, as we said, +were within the sanctuary, was the altar of incense, made of wood +indeed, but of the same wood of which the foregoing vessels were +made, such as was not liable to corruption; it was entirely +crusted over with a golden plate. Its breadth on each side was a +cubit, but the altitude double. Upon it was a grate of gold, that +was extant above the altar, which had a golden crown encompassing +it round about, whereto belonged rings and bars, by which the +priests carried it when they journeyed. Before this tabernacle +there was reared a brazen altar, but it was within made of wood, +five cubits by measure on each side, but its height was but +three, in like manner adorned with brass plates as bright as +gold. It had also a brazen hearth of network; for the ground +underneath received the fire from the hearth, because it had no +basis to receive it. Hard by this altar lay the basins, and the +vials, and the censers, and the caldrons, made of gold; but the +other vessels, made for the use of the sacrifices, were all of +brass. And such was the construction of the tabernacle; and these +were the vessels thereto belonging. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +Concerning The Garments Of The Priests, And Of The High Priest. + + +1. There were peculiar garments appointed for the priests, and +for all the rest, which they call Cohanoeoe [-priestly] garments, +as also for the high priests, which they call Cahanoeoe Rabbae, +and denote the high priest's garments. Such was therefore the +habit of the rest. But when the priest approaches the sacrifices, +he purifies himself with the purification which the law +prescribes; and, in the first place, he puts on that which is +called Machanase, which means somewhat that is fast tied. It is a +girdle, composed of fine twined linen, and is put about the privy +parts, the feet being to be inserted into them in the nature of +breeches, but above half of it is cut off, and it ends at the +thighs, and is there tied fast. + +2. Over this he wore a linen vestment, made of fine flax doubled: +it is called Chethone, and denotes linen, for we call linen by +the name of Chethone. This vestment reaches down to the feet, and +sits close to the body; and has sleeves that are tied fast to the +arms: it is girded to the breast a little above the elbows, by a +girdle often going round, four fingers broad, but so loosely +woven, that you would think it were the skin of a serpent. It is +embroidered with flowers of scarlet, and purple, and blue, and +fine twined linen, but the warp was nothing but fine linen. The +beginning of its circumvolution is at the breast; and when it has +gone often round, it is there tied, and hangs loosely there down +to the ankles: I mean this, all the time the priest is not about +any laborious service, for in this position it appears in the +most agreeable manner to the spectators; but when he is obliged +to assist at the offering sacrifices, and to do the appointed +service, that he may not be hindered in his operations by its +motion, he throws it to the left, and bears it on his shoulder. +Moses indeed calls this belt Albaneth; but we have learned from +the Babylonians to call it Emia, for so it is by them called. +This vestment has no loose or hollow parts any where in it, but +only a narrow aperture about the neck; and it is tied with +certain strings hanging down from the edge over the breast and +back, and is fastened above each shoulder: it is called +Massabazanes. + +3. Upon his head he wears a cap, not brought to a conic form nor +encircling the whole head, but still covering more than the half +of it, which is called Masnaemphthes; and its make is such that +it seems to be a crown, being made of thick swathes, but the +contexture is of linen; and it is doubled round many times, and +sewed together; besides which, a piece of fine linen covers the +whole cap from the upper part, and reaches down to the forehead, +and hides the seams of the swathes, which would otherwise appear +indecently: this adheres closely upon the solid part of the head, +and is thereto so firmly fixed, that it may not fall off during +the sacred service about the sacrifices. So we have now shown you +what is the habit of the generality of the priests. + +4. The high priest is indeed adorned with the same garments that +we have described, without abating one; only over these he puts +on a vestment of a blue color. This also is a long robe, reaching +to his feet, [in our language it is called Meeir,] and is tied +round with a girdle, embroidered with the same colors and flowers +as the former, with a mixture of gold interwoven. To the bottom +of which garment are hung fringes, in color like pomegranates, +with golden bells (13) by a curious and beautiful contrivance; so +that between two bells hangs a pomegranate, and between two +pomegranates a bell. Now this vesture was not composed of two +pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and the +sides, but it was one long vestment so woven as to have an +aperture for the neck; not an oblique one, but parted all along +the breast and the back. A border also was sewed to it, lest the +aperture should look too indecently: it was also parted where the +hands were to come out. + +5. Besides these, the high priest put on a third garment, which +was called the Ephod, which resembles the Epomis of the Greeks. +Its make was after this manner: it was woven to the depth of a +cubit, of several colors, with gold intermixed, and embroidered, +but it left the middle of the breast uncovered: it was made with +sleeves also; nor did it appear to be at all differently made +from a short coat. But in the void place of this garment there +was inserted a piece of the bigness of a span, embroidered with +gold, and the other colors of the ephod, and was called Essen, +[the breastplate,] which in the Greek language signifies the +Oracle. This piece exactly filled up the void space in the ephod. +It was united to it by golden rings at every corner, the like +rings being annexed to the ephod, and a blue riband was made use +of to tie them together by those rings; and that the space +between the rings might not appear empty, they contrived to fill +it up with stitches of blue ribands. There were also two +sardonyxes upon the ephod, at the shoulders, to fasten it in the +nature of buttons, having each end running to the sardonyxes of +gold, that they might be buttoned by them. On these were engraven +the names of the sons of Jacob, in our own country letters, and +in our own tongue, six on each of the stones, on either side; and +the elder sons' names were on the right shoulder. Twelve stones +also there were upon the breast-plate, extraordinary in largeness +and beauty; and they were an ornament not to be purchased by men, +because of their immense value. These stones, however, stood in +three rows, by four in a row, and were inserted into the +breastplate itself, and they were set in ouches of gold, that +were themselves inserted in the breastplate, and were so made +that they might not fall out low the first three stones were a +sardonyx, a topaz, and an emerald. The second row contained a +carbuncle, a jasper, and a sapphire. The first of the third row +was a ligure, then an amethyst, and the third an agate, being the +ninth of the whole number. The first of the fourth row was a +chrysolite, the next was an onyx, and then a beryl, which was the +last of all. Now the names of all those sons of Jacob were +engraven in these stones, whom we esteem the heads of our tribes, +each stone having the honor of a name, in the order according to +which they were born. And whereas the rings were too weak of +themselves to bear the weight of the stones, they made two other +rings of a larger size, at the edge of that part of the +breastplate which reached to the neck, and inserted into the very +texture of the breastplate, to receive chains finely wrought, +which connected them with golden bands to the tops of the +shoulders, whose extremity turned backwards, and went into the +ring, on the prominent back part of the ephod; and this was for +the security of the breastplate, that it might not fall out of +its place. There was also a girdle sewed to the breastplate, +which was of the forementioned colors, with gold intermixed, +which, when it had gone once round, was tied again upon the seam, +and hung down. There were also golden loops that admitted its +fringes at each extremity of the girdle, and included them +entirely. + +6. The high priest's mitre was the same that we described before, +and was wrought like that of all the other priests; above which +there was another, with swathes of blue embroidered, and round it +was a golden crown polished, of three rows, one above another; +out of which arose a cup of gold, which resembled the herb which +we call Saccharus; but those Greeks that are skillful in botany +call it Hyoscyamus. Now, lest any one that has seen this herb, +but has not been taught its name, and is unacquainted with its +nature, or, having known its name, knows not the herb when he +sees it, I shall give such as these are a description of it. +This herb is oftentimes in tallness above three spans, but its +root is like that of a turnip (for he that should compare it +thereto would not be mistaken); but its leaves are like the +leaves of mint. Out of its branches it sends out a calyx, +cleaving to the branch; and a coat encompasses it, which it +naturally puts off when it is changing, in order to produce its +fruit. This calyx is of the bigness of the bone of the little +finger, but in the compass of its aperture is like a cup. This I +will further describe, for the use of those that are unacquainted +with it. Suppose a sphere be divided into two parts, round at the +bottom, but having another segment that grows up to a +circumference from that bottom; suppose it become narrower by +degrees, and that the cavity of that part grow decently smaller, +and then gradually grow wider again at the brim, such as we see +in the navel of a pomegranate, with its notches. And indeed such +a coat grows over this plant as renders it a hemisphere, and +that, as one may say, turned accurately in a lathe, and having +its notches extant above it, which, as I said, grow like a +pomegranate, only that they are sharp, and end in nothing but +prickles. Now the fruit is preserved by this coat of the calyx, +which fruit is like the seed of the herb Sideritis: it sends out +a flower that may seem to resemble that of poppy. Of this was a +crown made, as far from the hinder part of the head to each of +the temples; but this Ephielis, for so this calyx may be called, +did not cover the forehead, but it was covered with a golden +plate, (14) which had inscribed upon it the name of God in sacred +characters. And such were the ornaments of the high priest. + +7. Now here one may wonder at the ill-will which men bear to us, +and which they profess to bear on account of our despising that +Deity which they pretend to honor; for if any one do but consider +the fabric of the tabernacle, and take a view of the garments of +the high priest, and of those vessels which we make use of in our +sacred ministration, he will find that our legislator was a +divine man, and that we are unjustly reproached by others; for if +any one do without prejudice, and with judgment, look upon these +things, he will find they were every one made in way of imitation +and representation of the universe. When Moses distinguished the +tabernacle into three parts, (15) and allowed two of them to the +priests, as a place accessible and common, he denoted the land +and the sea, these being of general access to all; but he set +apart the third division for God, because heaven is inaccessible +to men. And when he ordered twelve loaves to be set on the table, +he denoted the year, as distinguished into so many months. By +branching out the candlestick into seventy parts, he secretly +intimated the Decani, or seventy divisions of the planets; and as +to the seven lamps upon the candlesticks, they referred to the +course of the planets, of which that is the number. The veils, +too, which were composed of four things, they declared the four +elements; for the fine linen was proper to signify the earth, +because the flax grows out of the earth; the purple signified the +sea, because that color is dyed by the blood of a sea shell-fish; +the blue is fit to signify the air; and the scarlet will +naturally be an indication of fire. Now the vestment of the high +priest being made of linen, signified the earth; the blue denoted +the sky, being like lightning in its pomegranates, and in the +noise of the bells resembling thunder. And for the ephod, it +showed that God had made the universe of four elements; and as +for the gold interwoven, I suppose it related to the splendor by +which all things are enlightened. He also appointed the +breastplate to be placed in the middle of the ephod, to resemble +the earth, for that has the very middle place of the world. And +the girdle which encompassed the high priest round, signified the +ocean, for that goes round about and includes the universe. Each +of the sardonyxes declares to us the sun and the moon; those, I +mean, that were in the nature of buttons on the high priest's +shoulders. And for the twelve stones, whether we understand by +them the months, or whether we understand the like number of the +signs of that circle which the Greeks call the Zodiac, we shall +not be mistaken in their meaning. And for the mitre, which was of +a blue color, it seems to me to mean heaven; for how otherwise +could the name of God be inscribed upon it? That it was also +illustrated with a crown, and that of gold also, is because of +that splendor with which God is pleased. Let this explication +(16) suffice at present, since the course of my narration will +often, and on many occasions, afford me the opportunity of +enlarging upon the virtue of our legislator. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Of The Priesthood Of Aaron. + + +1. When what has been described was brought to a conclusion, +gifts not being yet presented, God appeared to Moses, and +enjoined him to bestow the high priesthood upon Aaron his +brother, as upon him that best of them all deserved to obtain +that honor, on account of his virtue. And when he had gathered +the multitude together, he gave them an account of Aaron's +virtue, and of his good-will to them, and of the dangers he had +undergone for their sakes. Upon which, when they had given +testimony to him in all respects, and showed their readiness to +receive him, Moses said to them, "O you Israelites, this work is +already brought to a conclusion, in a manner most acceptable to +God, and according to our abilities. And now since you see that +he is received into this tabernacle, we shall first of all stand +in need of one that may officiate for us, and may minister to the +sacrifices, and to the prayers that are to be put up for us. And +indeed had the inquiry after such a person been left to me, I +should have thought myself worthy of this honor, both because all +men are naturally fond of themselves, and because I am conscious +to myself that I have taken a great deal of pains for your +deliverance; but now God himself has determined that Aaron is +worthy of this honor, and has chosen him for his priest, as +knowing him to be the most righteous person among you. So that he +is to put on the vestments which are consecrated to God; he is to +have the care of the altars, and to make provision for the +sacrifices; and he it is that must put up prayers for you to God, +who will readily hear them, not only because he is himself +solicitous for your nation, but also because he will receive them +as offered by one that he hath himself chosen to this office." +The Hebrews were pleased with what was said, and they gave their +approbation to him whom God had ordained; for Aaron was of them +all the most deserving of this honor, on account of his own stock +and gift of prophecy, and his brother's virtue. He had at that +time four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. + +2. Now Moses commanded them to make use of all the utensils which +were more than were necessary to the structure of the tabernacle, +for covering the tabernacle itself, the candlestick, and altar of +incense, and the other vessels, that they might not be at all +hurt when they journeyed, either by the rain, or by the rising of +the dust. And when he had gathered the multitude together again, +he ordained that they should offer half a shekel for every man, +as an oblation to God; which shekel is a piece among the Hebrews, +and is equal to four Athenian drachmae. (18) Whereupon they +readily obeyed what Moses had commanded; and the number of the +offerers was six hundred and five thousand five hundred and +fifty. Now this money that was brought by the men that were free, +was given by such as were about twenty years old, but under +fifty; and what was collected was spent in the uses of the +tabernacle. + +3. Moses now purified the tabernacle and the priests; which +purification was performed after the following manner:-- He +commanded them to take five hundred shekels of choice myrrh, an +equal quantity of cassia, and half the foregoing weight of +cinnamon and calamus (this last is a sort of sweet spice); to +beat them small, and wet them with an bin of oil of olives (an +hin is our own country measure, and contains two Athenian choas, +or congiuses); then mix them together, and boil them, and prepare +them after the art of the apothecary, and make them into a very +sweet ointment; and afterward to take it to anoint and to purify +the priests themselves, and all the tabernacle, as also the +sacrifices. There were also many, and those of various kinds, of +sweet spices, that belonged to the tabernacle, and such as were +of very great price, and were brought to the golden altar of +incense; the nature of which I do not now describe, lest it +should be troublesome to my readers; but incense (19) was to be +offered twice a-day, both before sun-rising and at sun-setting. +They were also to keep oil already purified for the lamps; three +of which were to give light all day long, (20) upon the sacred +candlestick, before God, and the rest were to be lighted at the +evening. + +4. Now all was finished. Besaleel and Aholiab appeared to be the +most skillful of the workmen; for they invented finer works than +what others had done before them, and were of great abilities to +gain notions of what they were formerly ignorant of; and of +these, Besaleel was judged to be the best. Now the whole time +they were about this work was the interval of seven months; and +after this it was that was ended the first year since their +departure out of Egypt. But at the beginning of the second year, +on the month Xanthicus, as the Macedonians call it, but on the +month Nisan, as the Hebrews call it, on the new moon, they +consecrated the tabernacle, and all its vessels, which I have +already described. + +5. Now God showed himself pleased with the work of the Hebrews, +and did not permit their labors to be in vain; nor did he disdain +to make use of what they had made, but he came and sojourned with +them, and pitched his tabernacle in the holy house. And in the +following manner did he come to it:-- The sky was clear, but +there was a mist over the tabernacle only, encompassing it, but +not with such a very deep and thick cloud as is seen in the +winter season, nor yet in so thin a one as men might be able to +discern any thing through it, but from it there dropped a sweet +dew, and such a one as showed the presence of God to those that +desired and believed it. + +6. Now when Moses had bestowed such honorary presents on the +workmen, as it was fit they should receive, who had wrought so +well, he offered sacrifices in the open court of the tabernacle, +as God commanded him; a bull, a ram, and a kid of the goats, for +a sin-offering. Now I shall speak of what we do in our sacred +offices in my discourse about sacrifices; and therein shall +inform men in what cases Moses bid us offer a whole +burnt-offering, and in what cases the law permits us to partake +of them as of food. And when Moses had sprinkled Aaron's +vestments, himself, and his sons, with the blood of the beasts +that were slain, and had purified them with spring waters and +ointment, they became God's priests. After this manner did he +consecrate them and their garments for seven days together. The +same he did to the tabernacle, and the vessels thereto belonging, +both with oil first incensed, as I said, and with the blood of +bulls and of rams, slain day by day one, according to its kind. +But on the eighth day he appointed a feast for the people, and +commanded them to offer sacrifice according to their ability. +Accordingly they contended one with another, and were ambitious +to exceed each other in the sacrifices which they brought, and so +fulfilled Moses's injunctions. But as the sacrifices lay upon the +altar, a sudden fire was kindled from among them of its own +accord, and appeared to the sight like fire from a flash of +lightning, and consumed whatsoever was upon the altar. + +7. Hereupon an affliction befell Aaron, considered as a man and a +father, but was undergone by him with true fortitude; for he had +indeed a firmness of soul in such accidents, and he thought this +calamity came upon him according to God's will: for whereas he +had four sons, as I said before, the two elder of them, Nadab and +Abihu, did not bring those sacrifices which Moses bade them +bring, but which they used to offer formerly, and were burnt to +death. Now when the fire rushed upon them, and began to burn +them, nobody could quench it. Accordingly they died in this +manner. And Moses bid their father and their brethren to take up +their bodies, to carry them out of the camp, and to bury them +magnificently. Now the multitude lamented them, and were deeply +affected at this their death, which so unexpectedly befell them. +But Moses entreated their brethren and their father not to be +troubled for them, and to prefer the honor of God before their +grief about them; for Aaron had already put on his sacred +garments. + +8. But Moses refused all that honor which he saw the multitude +ready to bestow upon him, and attended to nothing else but the +service of God. He went no more up to Mount Sinai; but he went +into the tabernacle, and brought back answers from God for what +he prayed for. His habit was also that of a private man, and in +all other circumstances he behaved himself like one of the common +people, and was desirous to appear without distinguishing himself +from the multitude, but would have it known that he did nothing +else but take care of them. He also set down in writing the form +of their government, and those laws by obedience whereto they +would lead their lives so as to please God, and so as to have no +quarrels one among another. However, the laws he ordained were +such as God suggested to him; so I shall now discourse concerning +that form of government, and those laws. + +9. I will now treat of what I before omitted, the garment of the +high priest: for he [Moses] left no room for the evil practices +of [false] prophets; but if some of that sort should attempt to +abuse the Divine authority, he left it to God to be present at +his sacrifices when he pleased, and when he pleased to be absent. +(21) And he was willing this should be known, not to the Hebrews +only, but to those foreigners also who were there. For as to +those stones, (22) which we told you before, the high priest bare +on his shoulders, which were sardonyxes, (and I think it needless +to describe their nature, they being known to every body,) the +one of them shined out when God was present at their sacrifices; +I mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right +shoulder, bright rays darting out thence, and being seen even by +those that were most remote; which splendor yet was not before +natural to the stone. This has appeared a wonderful thing to such +as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy, as to +despise Divine revelation. Yet will I mention what is still more +wonderful than this: for God declared beforehand, by those twelve +stones which the high priest bare on his breast, and which were +inserted into his breastplate, when they should be victorious in +battle; for so great a splendor shone forth from them before the +army began to march, that all the people were sensible of God's +being present for their assistance. Whence it came to pass that +those Greeks, who had a veneration for our laws, because they +could not possibly contradict this, called that breastplate the +Oracle. Now this breastplate, and this sardonyx, left off shining +two hundred years before I composed this book, God having been +displeased at the transgressions of his laws. Of which things we +shall further discourse on a fitter opportunity; but I will now +go on with my proposed narration. + +10. The tabernacle being now consecrated, and a regular order +being settled for the priests, the multitude judged that God now +dwelt among them, and betook themselves to sacrifices and praises +to God as being now delivered from all expectation of evils and +as entertaining a hopeful prospect of better times hereafter. +They offered also gifts to God some as common to the whole +nation, and others as peculiar to themselves, and these tribe by +tribe; for the heads of the tribes combined together, two by two, +and brought a waggon and a yoke of oxen. These amounted to six, +and they carried the tabernacle when they journeyed. Besides +which, each head of a tribe brought a bowl, and a charger, and a +spoon, of ten darics, full of incense. Now the charger and the +bowl were of silver, and together they weighed two hundred +shekels, but the bowl cost no more than seventy shekels; and +these were full of fine flour mingled with oil, such as they used +on the altar about the sacrifices. They brought also a young +bullock, and a ram, with a lamb of a year old, for a whole +burnt-offering, as also a goat for the forgiveness of sins. Every +one of the heads of the tribes brought also other sacrifices, +called peace-offerings, for every day two bulls, and five rams, +with lambs of a year old, and kids of the goats. These heads of +tribes were twelve days in sacrificing, one sacrificing every +day. Now Moses went no longer up to Mount Sinai, but went into +the tabernacle, and learned of God what they were to do, and what +laws should be made; which laws were preferable to what have been +devised by human understanding, and proved to be firmly observed +for all time to come, as being believed to be the gift of God, +insomuch that the Hebrews did not transgress any of those laws, +either as tempted in times of peace by luxury, or in times of war +by distress of affairs. But I say no more here concerning them, +because I have resolved to compose another work concerning our +laws. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +The Manner Of Our Offering Sacrifices. + + +1. I Will now, however, make mention of a few of our laws which +belong to purifications, and the like sacred offices, since I am +accidentally come to this matter of sacrifices. These sacrifices +were of two sorts; of those sorts one was offered for private +persons, and the other for the people in general; and they are +done in two different ways. In the one case, what is slain is +burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that name is given to +it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for +feasting those that sacrifice. I will speak of the former. +Suppose a private man offer a burnt-offering, he must slay either +a bull, a lamb, or a kid of the goats, and the two latter of the +first year, though of bulls he is permitted to sacrifice those of +a greater age; but all burnt-offerings are to be of males. When +they are slain, the priests sprinkle the blood round about the +altar; they then cleanse the bodies, and divide them into parts, +and salt them with salt, and lay them upon the altar, while the +pieces of wood are piled one upon another, and the fire is +burning; they next cleanse the feet of the sacrifices, and the +inwards, in an accurate manner and so lay them to the rest to be +purged by the fire, while the priests receive the hides. This is +the way of offering a burnt-offering. + +2. But those that offer thank-offerings do indeed sacrifice the +same creatures, but such as are unblemished, and above a year +old; however, they may take either males or females. They also +sprinkle the altar with their blood; but they lay upon the altar +the kidneys and the caul, and all the fat, and the lobe of the +liver, together with the rump of the lamb; then, giving the +breast and the right shoulder to the priests, the offerers feast +upon the remainder of the flesh for two days; and what remains +they burn. + +3. The sacrifices for sins are offered in the same manner as is +the thank-offering. But those who are unable to purchase complete +sacrifices, offer two pigeons, or turtle doves; the one of which +is made a burnt-offering to God, the other they give as food to +the priests. But we shall treat more accurately about the +oblation of these creatures in our discourse concerning +sacrifices. But if a person fall into sin by ignorance, he offers +an ewe lamb, or a female kid of the goats, of the same age; and +the priests sprinkle the blood at the altar, not after the former +manner, but at the corners of it. They also bring the kidneys and +the rest of the fat, together with the lobe of the liver, to the +altar, while the priests bear away the hides and the flesh, and +spend it in the holy place, on the same day; (23) for the law +does not permit them to leave of it until the morning. But if any +one sin, and is conscious of it himself, but hath nobody that can +prove it upon him, he offers a ram, the law enjoining him so to +do; the flesh of which the priests eat, as before, in the holy +place, on the same day. And if the rulers offer sacrifices for +their sins, they bring the same oblations that private men do; +only they so far differ, that they are to bring for sacrifices a +bull or a kid of the goats, both males. + +4. Now the law requires, both in private and public sacrifices, +that the finest flour be also brought; for a lamb the measure of +one tenth deal, - for a ram two, - and for a bull three. This +they consecrate upon the altar, when it is mingled with oil; for +oil is also brought by those that sacrifice; for a bull the half +of an hin, and for a ram the third part of the same measure, and +one quarter of it for a lamb. This hin is an ancient Hebrew +measure, and is equivalent to two Athenian choas (or congiuses). +They bring the same quantity of oil which they do of wine, and +they pour the wine about the altar; but if any one does not offer +a complete sacrifice of animals, but brings fine flour only for a +vow, he throws a handful upon the altar as its first-fruits, +while the priests take the rest for their food, either boiled or +mingled with oil, but made into cakes of bread. But whatsoever it +be that a priest himself offers, it must of necessity be all +burnt. Now the law forbids us to sacrifice any animal at the same +time with its dam; and, in other cases, not till the eighth day +after its birth. Other sacrifices there are also appointed for +escaping distempers, or for other occasions, in which +meat-offerings are consumed, together with the animals that are +sacrificed; of which it is not lawful to leave any part till the +next day, only the priests are to take their own share. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Concerning The Festivals; And How Each Day Of Such Festival Is To +Be Observed. + + +1. The law requires, that out of the public expenses a lamb of +the first year be killed every day, at the beginning and at the +ending of the day; but on the seventh day, which is called the +Sabbath, they kill two, and sacrifice them in the same manner. At +the new moon, they both perform the daily sacrifices, and slay +two bulls, with seven lambs of the first year, and a kid of the +goats also, for the expiation of sins; that is, if they have +sinned through ignorance. + +2. But on the seventh month, which the Macedonians call +Hyperberetaeus, they make an addition to those already mentioned, +and sacrifice a bull, a ram, and seven lambs, and a kid of the +goats, for sins. + +3. On the tenth day of the same lunar month, they fast till the +evening; and this day they sacrifice a bull, and two rams, and +seven lambs, and a kid of the goats, for sins. And, besides +these, they bring two kids of the goats; the one of which is sent +alive out of the limits of the camp into the wilderness for the +scapegoat, and to be an expiation for the sins of the whole +multitude; but the other is brought into a place of great +cleanness, within the limits of the camp, and is there burnt, +with its skin, without any sort of cleansing. With this goat was +burnt a bull, not brought by the people, but by the high priest, +at his own charges; which, when it was slain, he brought of the +blood into the holy place, together with the blood of the kid of +the goats, and sprinkled the ceiling with his finger seven times, +as also its pavement, and again as often toward the most holy +place, and about the golden altar: he also at last brings it into +the open court, and sprinkles it about the great altar. Besides +this, they set the extremities, and the kidneys, and the fat, +with the lobe of the liver, upon the altar. The high priest +likewise presents a ram to God as a burnt-offering. + +4. Upon the fifteenth day of the same month, when the season of +the year is changing for winter, the law enjoins us to pitch +tabernacles in every one of our houses, so that we preserve +ourselves from the cold of that time of the year; as also that +when we should arrive at our own country, and come to that city +which we should have then for our metropolis, because of the +temple therein to be built, and keep a festival for eight days, +and offer burnt-offerings, and sacrifice thank-offerings, that we +should then carry in our hands a branch of myrtle, and willow, +and a bough of the palm-tree, with the addition of the pome +citron: That the burnt-offering on the first of those days was to +be a sacrifice of thirteen bulls, and fourteen lambs, and fifteen +rams, with the addition of a kid of the goats, as an expiation +for sins; and on the following days the same number of lambs, and +of rams, with the kids of the goats; but abating one of the bulls +every day till they amounted to seven only. On the eighth day all +work was laid aside, and then, as we said before, they sacrificed +to God a bullock, a ram, and seven lambs, with a kid of the +goats, for an expiation of sins. And this is the accustomed +solemnity of the Hebrews, when they pitch their tabernacles. + +5. In the month of Xanthicus, which is by us called Nisan, and is +the beginning of our year, on the fourteenth day of the lunar +month, when the sun is in Aries, (for in this month it was that +we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians,) the law +ordained that we should every year slay that sacrifice which I +before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt, and which was +called the Passover; and so we do celebrate this passover in +companies, leaving nothing of what we sacrifice till the day +following. The feast of unleavened bread succeeds that of the +passover, and falls on the fifteenth day of the month, and +continues seven days, wherein they feed on unleavened bread; on +every one of which days two bulls are killed, and one ram, and +seven lambs. Now these lambs are entirely burnt, besides the kid +of the goats which is added to all the rest, for sins; for it is +intended as a feast for the priest on every one of those days. +But on the second day of unleavened bread, which is the sixteenth +day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the earth, +for before that day they do not touch them. And while they +suppose it proper to honor God, from whom they obtain this +plentiful provision, in the first place, they offer the +first-fruits of their barley, and that in the manner following: +They take a handful of the ears, and dry them, then beat them +small, and purge the barley from the bran; they then bring one +tenth deal to the altar, to God; and, casting one handful of it +upon the fire, they leave the rest for the use of the priest. And +after this it is that they may publicly or privately reap their +harvest. They also at this participation of the first-fruits of +the earth, sacrifice a lamb, as a burnt-offering to God. + +6. When a week of weeks has passed over after this sacrifice, +(which weeks contain forty and nine days,) on the fiftieth day, +which is Pentecost, but is called by the Hebrews Asartha, which +signifies Pentecost, they bring to God a loaf, made of wheat +flour, of two tenth deals, with leaven; and for sacrifices they +bring two lambs; and when they have only presented them to God, +they are made ready for supper for the priests; nor is it +permitted to leave any thing of them till the day following. They +also slay three bullocks for a burnt-offering, and two rams; and +fourteen lambs, with two kids of the goats, for sins; nor is +there anyone of the festivals but in it they offer +burnt-offerings; they also allow themselves to rest on every one +of them. Accordingly, the law prescribes in them all what kinds +they are to sacrifice, and how they are to rest entirely, and +must slay sacrifices, in order to feast upon them. + +7. However, out of the common charges, baked bread [was set on +the table of shew-bread], without leaven, of twenty-four tenth +deals of flour, for so much is spent upon this bread; two heaps +of these were baked, they were baked the day before the sabbath, +but were brought into the holy place on the morning of the +sabbath, and set upon the holy table, six on a heap, one loaf +still standing over against another; where two golden cups full +of frankincense were also set upon them, and there they remained +till another sabbath, and then other loaves were brought in their +stead, while the loaves were given to the priests for their food, +and the frankincense was burnt in that sacred fire wherein all +their offerings were burnt also; and so other frankincense was +set upon the loaves instead of what was there before. The [high +priest also, of his own charges, offered a sacrifice, and that +twice every day. It was made of flour mingled with oil, and +gently baked by the fire; the quantity was one tenth deal of +flour; he brought the half of it to the fire in the morning, and +the other half at night. The account of these sacrifices I shall +give more accurately hereafter; but I think I have premised what +for the present may be sufficient concerning them. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +Of The Purifications. + + +1. Moses took out the tribe of Levi from communicating with the +rest of the people, and set them apart to be a holy tribe; and +purified them by water taken from perpetual springs, and with +such sacrifices as were usually offered to God on the like +occasions. He delivered to them also the tabernacle, and the +sacred vessels, and the other curtains, which were made for +covering the tabernacle, that they might minister under the +conduct of the priests, who had been already consecrated to God. + +2. He also determined concerning animals; which of them might be +used for food, and which they were obliged to abstain from; which +matters, when this work shall give me occasion, shall be further +explained; and the causes shall be added by which he was moved to +allot some of them to be our food, and enjoined us to abstain +from others. However, he entirely forbade us the use of blood for +food, and esteemed it to contain the soul and spirit. He also +forbade us to eat the flesh of an animal that died of itself, as +also the caul, and the fat of goats, and sheep, and bulls. + +3. He also ordered that those whose bodies were afflicted with +leprosy, and that had a gonorrhea, should not come into the city; +nay, he removed the women, when they had their natural +purgations, till the seventh day; after which he looked on them +as pure, and permitted them to come in again. The law permits +those also who have taken care of funerals to come in after the +same manner, when this number of days is over; but if any +continued longer than that number of days in a state of +pollution, the law appointed the offering two lambs for a +sacrifice; the one of which they are to purge by fire, and for +the other, the priests take it for themselves. In the same manner +do those sacrifice who have had the gonorrhea. But he that sheds +his seed in his sleep, if he go down into cold water, has the +same privilege with those that have lawfully accompanied with +their wives. And for the lepers, he suffered them not to come +into the city at all, nor to live with any others, as if they +were in effect dead persons; but if any one had obtained by +prayer to God, the recovery from that distemper, and had gained a +healthful complexion again, such a one returned thanks to God, +with several sorts of sacrifices; concerning which we will speak +hereafter. + +4. Whence one cannot but smile at those who say that Moses was +himself afflicted with the leprosy when he fled out of Egypt, and +that he became the conductor of those who on that account left +that country, and led them into the land of Canaan; for had this +been true, Moses would not have made these laws to his own +dishonor, which indeed it was more likely he would have opposed, +if others had endeavored to introduce them; and this the rather, +because there are lepers in many nations, who yet are in honor, +and not only free from reproach and avoidance, but who have been +great captains of armies, and been intrusted with high offices in +the commonwealth, and have had the privilege of entering into +holy places and temples; so that nothing hindered, but if either +Moses himself, or the multitude that was with him, had been +liable to such a misfortune in the color of his skin, he might +have made laws about them for their credit and advantage, and +have laid no manner of difficulty upon them. Accordingly, it is a +plain case, that it is out of violent prejudice only that they +report these things about us. But Moses was pure from any such +distemper, and lived with countrymen who were pure of it also, +and thence made the laws which concerned others that had the +distemper. He did this for the honor of God. But as to these +matters, let every one consider them after what manner he +pleases. + +5. As to the women, when they have born a child, Moses forbade +them to come into the temple, or touch the sacrifices, before +forty days were over, supposing it to be a boy; but if she hath +born a girl, the law is that she cannot be admitted before twice +that number of days be over. And when after the before-mentioned +time appointed for them, they perform their sacrifices, the +priests distribute them before God. + +6. But if any one suspect that his wife has been guilty of +adultery, he was to bring a tenth deal of barley flour; they then +cast one handful to God and gave the rest of it to the priests +for food. One of the priests set the woman at the gates that are +turned towards the temple, and took the veil from her head, and +wrote the name of God on parchment, and enjoined her to swear +that she had not at all injured her husband; and to wish that, if +she had violated her chastity, her right thigh might be put out +of joint; that her belly might swell; and that she might die +thus: but that if her husband, by the violence of his affection, +and of the jealousy which arose from it, had been rashly moved to +this suspicion, that she might bear a male child in the tenth +month. Now when these oaths were over, the priest wiped the name +of God out of the parchment, and wrung the water into a vial. He +also took some dust out of the temple, if any happened to be +there, and put a little of it into the vial, and gave it her to +drink; whereupon the woman, if she were unjustly accused, +conceived with child, and brought it to perfection in her womb: +but if she had broken her faith of wedlock to her husband, and +had sworn falsely before God, she died in a reproachful manner; +her thigh fell off from her, and her belly swelled with a dropsy. +And these are the ceremonies about sacrifices, and about the +purifications thereto belonging, which Moses provided for his +countrymen. He also prescribed the following laws to them:-- + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +Several Laws. + + +1. As for adultery, Moses forbade it entirely, as esteeming it a +happy thing that men should be wise in the affairs of wedlock; +and that it was profitable both to cities and families that +children should be known to be genuine. He also abhorred men's +lying with their mothers, as one of the greatest crimes; and the +like for lying with the father's wife, and with aunts, and +sisters, and sons' wives, as all instances of abominable +wickedness. He also forbade a man to lie with his wife when she +was defiled by her natural purgation: and not to come near brute +beasts; nor to approve of the lying with a male, which was to +hunt after unlawful pleasures on account of beauty. To those who +were guilty of such insolent behavior, he ordained death for +their punishment. + +2. As for the priests, he prescribed to them a double degree of +purity (25) for he restrained them in the instances above, and +moreover forbade them to marry harlots. He also forbade them to +marry a slave, or a captive, and such as got their living by +cheating trades, and by keeping inns; as also a woman parted from +her husband, on any account whatsoever. Nay, he did not think it +proper for the high priest to marry even the widow of one that +was dead, though he allowed that to the priests; but he permitted +him only to marry a virgin, and to retain her. Whence it is that +the high priest is not to come near to one that is dead, although +the rest are not prohibited from coming near to their brethren, +or parents, or children, when they are dead; but they are to be +unblemished in all respects. He ordered that the priest who had +any blemish, should have his portion indeed among the priests, +but he forbade him to ascend the altar, or to enter into the holy +house. He also enjoined them, not only to observe purity in their +sacred ministrations, but in their daily conversation, that it +might be unblamable also. And on this account it is that those +who wear the sacerdotal garments are without spot, and eminent +for their purity and sobriety: nor are they permitted to drink +wine so long as they wear those garments. (26) Moreover, they +offer sacrifices that are entire, and have no defect whatsoever. + +3. And truly Moses gave them all these precepts, being such as +were observed during his own lifetime; but though he lived now in +the wilderness, yet did he make provision how they might observe +the same laws when they should have taken the land of Canaan. He +gave them rest to the land from ploughing and planting every +seventh year, as he had prescribed to them to rest from working +every seventh day; and ordered, that then what grew of its own +accord out of the earth should in common belong to all that +pleased to use it, making no distinction in that respect between +their own countrymen and foreigners: and he ordained, that they +should do the same after seven times seven years, which in all +are fifty years; and that fiftieth year is called by the Hebrews +The Jubilee, wherein debtors are freed from their debts, and +slaves are set at liberty; which slaves became such, though they +were of the same stock, by transgressing some of those laws the +punishment of which was not capital, but they were punished by +this method of slavery. This year also restores the land to its +former possessors in the manner following:-- When the Jubilee is +come, which name denotes liberty, he that sold the land, and he +that bought it, meet together, and make an estimate, on one hand, +of the fruits gathered; and, on the other hand, of the expenses +laid out upon it. If the fruits gathered come to more than the +expenses laid out, he that sold it takes the land again; but if +the expenses prove more than the fruits, the present possessor +receives of the former owner the difference that was wanting, and +leaves the land to him; and if the fruits received, and the +expenses laid out, prove equal to one another, the present +possessor relinquishes it to the former owners. Moses would have +the same law obtain as to those houses also which were sold in +villages; but he made a different law for such as were sold in a +city; for if he that sold it tendered the purchaser his money +again within a year, he was forced to restore it; but in case a +whole year had intervened, the purchaser was to enjoy what he had +bought. This was the constitution of the laws which Moses learned +of God when the camp lay under Mount Sinai, and this he delivered +in writing to the Hebrews. + +4. Now when this settlement of laws seemed to be well over, Moses +thought fit at length to take a review of the host, as thinking +it proper to settle the affairs of war. So he charged the heads +of the tribes, excepting the tribe of Levi, to take an exact +account of the number of those that were able to go to war; for +as to the Levites, they were holy, and free from all such +burdens. Now when the people had been numbered, there were found +six hundred thousand that were able to go to war, from twenty to +fifty years of age, besides three thousand six hundred and fifty. +Instead of Levi, Moses took Manasseh, the son of Joseph, among +the heads of tribes; and Ephraim instead of Joseph. It was indeed +the desire of Jacob himself to Joseph, that he would give him his +sons to be his own by adoption, as I have before related. + +5. When they set up the tabernacle, they received it into the +midst of their camp, three of the tribes pitching their tents on +each side of it; and roads were cut through the midst of these +tents. It was like a well-appointed market; and every thing was +there ready for sale in due order; and all sorts of artificers +were in the shops; and it resembled nothing so much as a city +that sometimes was movable, and sometimes fixed. The priests had +the first places about the tabernacle; then the Levites, who, +because their whole multitude was reckoned from thirty days old, +were twenty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty males; and +during the time that the cloud stood over the tabernacle, they +thought proper to stay in the same place, as supposing that God +there inhabited among them; but when that removed, they journeyed +also. + +6. Moreover, Moses was the inventor of the form of their trumpet, +which was made of silver. Its description is this:-- In length it +was little less than a cubit. It was composed of a narrow tube, +somewhat thicker than a flute, but with so much breadth as was +sufficient for admission of the breath of a man's mouth: it ended +in the form of a bell, like common trumpets. Its sound was called +in the Hebrew tongue Asosra. Two of these being made, one of them +was sounded when they required the multitude to come together to +congregations. When the first of them gave a signal, the heads of +the tribes were to assemble, and consult about the affairs to +them properly belonging; but when they gave the signal by both of +them, they called the multitude together. Whenever the tabernacle +was removed, it was done in this solemn order:-- At the first +alarm of the trumpet, those whose tents were on the east quarter +prepared to remove; when the second signal was given, those that +were on the south quarter did the like; in the next place, the +tabernacle was taken to pieces, and was carried in the midst of +six tribes that went before, and of six that followed, all the +Levites assisting about the tabernacle; when the third signal was +given, that part which had their tents towards the west put +themselves in motion; and at the fourth signal those on the north +did so likewise. They also made use of these trumpets in their +sacred ministrations, when they were bringing their sacrifices to +the altar as well on the Sabbaths as on the rest of the +[festival] days; and now it was that Moses offered that sacrifice +which was called the Passover in the Wilderness, as the first he +had offered after the departure out of Egypt. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +Moses Removed From Mount Sinai, And Conducted The People To The +Borders Of The Canaanites. + + +A Little while afterwards he rose up, and went from Mount Sinai; +and, having passed through several mansions, of which we will +speak he came to a place called Hazeroth, where the multitude +began again to be mutinous, and to Moses for the misfortunes they +had suffered their travels; and that when he had persuaded to +leave a good land, they at once had lost land, and instead of +that happy state he had them, they were still wandering in their +miserable condition, being already in want water; and if the +manna should happen to fail, must then utterly perish. Yet while +they spake many and sore things against the there was one of them +who exhorted them to be unmindful of Moses, and of what great +pains he had been at about their common safety; not to despair of +assistance from God. The multitude thereupon became still more +unruly, and mutinous against Moses than before. Hereupon Moses, +although he was so basely abused by them encouraged them in their +despairing conditioned and promised that he would procure them a +quantity of flesh-meat, and that not for a few days only, but for +many days. This they were not to believe; and when one of them +asked, whence he could obtain such vast plenty of what he +promised, he replied, "Neither God nor I, we hear such +opprobrious language from will leave off our labors for you; and +this soon appear also." As soon as ever he had this, the whole +camp was filled with quails, they stood round about them, and +gathered great numbers. However, it was not long ere God punished +the Hebrews for their insolence, those reproaches they had used +towards him, no small number of them died; and still to this day +the place retains the memory of this destruction and is named +Kibrothhattaavah, which is, Graves of Lust. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +How Moses Sent Some Persons To Search Out The Land Of The +Canaanites, And The Largeness Of Their Cities; And Further That +When Those Who Were Sent Were Returned, After Forty Days And +Reported That They Should Not Be A Match For Them, And Extolled +The Strengh Of The Canaanites The Multitude Were Disturbed And +Fell Into Despair; And Were Resolved To Stone Moses, And To +Return Back Again Into Egypt, And Serve The Egyptians. + + +1. When Moses had led the Hebrews away from thence to a place +called Paran, which was near to the borders of the Canaanites, +and a place difficult to be continued in, he gathered the +multitude together to a congregation; and standing in the midst +of them, he said, "Of the two things that God determined to +bestow upon us, liberty, and the possession of a Happy Country, +the one of them ye already are partakers of, by the gift of God, +and the other you will quickly obtain; for we now have our abode +near the borders of the Canaanites, and nothing can hinder the +acquisition of it, when we now at last are fallen upon it: I say, +not only no king nor city, but neither the whole race of mankind, +if they were all gathered together, could do it. Let us therefore +prepare ourselves for the work, for the Canaanites will not +resign up their land to us without fighting, but it must be +wrested from them by great struggles in war. Let us then send +spies, who may take a view of the goodness of the land, and what +strength it is of; but, above all things, let us be of one mind, +and let us honor God, who above all is our helper and assister." + +2. When Moses had said thus, the multitude requited him with +marks of respect; and chose twelve spies, of the most eminent +men, one out of each tribe, who, passing over all the land of +Canaan, from the borders of Egypt, came to the city Hamath, and +to Mount Lebanon; and having learned the nature of the land, and +of its inhabitants, they came home, having spent forty days in +the whole work. They also brought with them of the fruits which +the land bare; they also showed them the excellency of those +fruits, and gave an account of the great quantity of the good +things that land afforded, which were motives to the multitude to +go to war. But then they terrified them again with the great +difficulty there was in obtaining it; that the rivers were so +large and deep that they could not be passed over; and that the +hills were so high that they could not travel along for them; +that the cities were strong with walls, and their firm +fortifications round about them. They told them also, that they +found at Hebron the posterity of the giants. Accordingly these +spies, who had seen the land of Canaan, when they perceived that +all these difficulties were greater there than they had met with +since they came out of Egypt, they were aftrighted at them +themselves, and endeavored to affright the multitude also. + +3. So they supposed, from what they had heard, that it was +impossible to get the possession of the country. And when the +congregation was dissolved, they, their wives and children, +continued their lamentation, as if God would not indeed assist +them, but only promised them fair. They also again blamed Moses, +and made a clamor against him and his brother Aaron, the high +priest. Accordingly they passed that night very ill, and with +contumelious language against them; but in the morning they ran +to a congregation, intending to stone Moses and Aaron, and so to +return back into Egypt. + +4. But of the spies, there were Joshua the son of Nun, of the +tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb of the tribe of Judah, that were +afraid of the consequence, and came into the midst of them, and +stilled the multitude, and desired them to be of good courage; +and neither to condemn God, as having told them lies, nor to +hearken to those who had aftrighted them, by telling them what +was not true concerning the Canaanites, but to those that +encouraged them to hope for good success; and that they should +gain possession of the happiness promised them, because neither +the height of mountains, nor the depth of rivers, could hinder +men of true courage from attempting them, especially while God +would take care of them beforehand, and be assistant to them. +"Let us then go," said they, "against our enemies, and have no +suspicion of ill success, trusting in God to conduct us, and +following those that are to be our leaders." Thus did these two +exhort them, and endeavor to pacify the rage they were in. But +Moses and Aaron fell on the ground, and besought God, not for +their own deliverance, but that he would put a stop to what the +people were unwarily doing, and would bring their minds to a +quiet temper, which were now disordered by their present passion. +The cloud also did now appear, and stood over the tabernacle, and +declared to them the presence of God to be there. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +How Moses Was Displeased At This, And Foretold That God Was Angry +And That They Should Continue In The Wilderness For Forty Years +And Not, During That Time, Either Return Into Egypt Or Take +Possession Of Canaan. + + +1. Moses came now boldly to the multitude, and informed them that +God was moved at their abuse of him, and would inflict punishment +upon them, not indeed such as they deserved for their sins, but +such as parents inflict on their children, in order to their +correction. For, he said, that when he was in the tabernacle, and +was bewailing with ears that destruction which was coming upon +them God put him in mind what things he had done for them, and +what benefits they had received from him, and yet how ungrateful +they had been to him that just now they had been induced, through +the timorousness of the spies, to think that their words were +truer than his own promise to them; and that on this account, +though he would not indeed destroy them all, nor utterly +exterminate their nation, which he had honored more than any +other part of mankind, yet he would not permit them to take +possession of the land of Canaan, nor enjoy its happiness; but +would make them wander in the wilderness, and live without a +fixed habitation, and without a city, for forty years together, +as a punishment for this their transgression; but that he had +promised to give that land to our children, and that he would +make them the possessors of those good things which, by your +ungoverned passions, you have deprived yourselves of. + +2. When Moses had discoursed thus to them according to the +direction of God, the multitude, grieved, and were in affliction; +and entreated Most to procure their reconciliation to God, and to +permit them no longer to wander in the wilderness, but bestow +cities upon them. But he replied, that God would not admit of any +such trial, for that God was not moved to this determination from +any human levity or anger, but that he had judicially condemned +them to that punishment. Now we are not to disbelieve that Moses, +who was but a single person, pacified so many ten thousands when +they werre in anger, and converted them to a mildness temper; for +God was with him, and prepared way to his persuasions of the +multitude; and as they had often been disobedient, they were now +sensible that such disobedience was disadvantageous to them and +that they had still thereby fallen into calamities. + +3. But this man was admirable for his virtue, and powerful in +making men give credit to what he delivered, not only during the +time of his natural life, but even there is still no one of the +Hebrews who does not act even now as if Moses were present, and +ready to punish him if he should do any thing that is indecent; +nay, there is no one but is obedient to what laws he ordained, +although they might be concealed in their transgressions. There +are also many other demonstrations that his power was more than +human, for still some there have been, who have come from the +parts beyond Euphrates, a journey of four months, through many +dangers, and at great expenses, in honor of our temple; and yet, +when they had offered their oblations, could not partake of their +own sacrifices, because Moses had forbidden it, by somewhat in +the law that did not permit them, or somewhat that had befallen +them, which our ancient customs made inconsistent therewith; some +of these did not sacrifice at all, and others left their +sacrifices in an imperfect condition; many were not able, even at +first, so much as to enter the temple, but went their ways in +this as preferring a submission to the laws of Moses before the +fulfilling of their own inclinations, they had no fear upon them +that anybody could convict them, but only out of a reverence to +their own conscience. Thus this legislation, which appeared to be +divine, made this man to be esteemed as one superior to his own +nature. Nay, further, a little before the beginning of this war, +when Claudius was emperor of the Romans, and Ismael was our high +priest, and when so great a famine (27) was come upon us, that +one tenth deal [of wheat] was sold for four drachmae, and when no +less than seventy cori of flour were brought into the temple, at +the feast of unleavened bread, (these cori are thirty-one +Sicilian, but forty-one Athenian medimni,) not one of the priests +was so hardy as to eat one crumb of it, even while so great a +distress was upon the land; and this out of a dread of the law, +and of that wrath which God retains against acts of wickedness, +even when no one can accuse the actors. Whence we are not to +wonder at what was then done, while to this very day the writings +left by Moses have so great a force, that even those that hate us +do confess, that he who established this settlement was God, and +that it was by the means of Moses, and of his virtue; but as to +these matters, let every one take them as he thinks fit. + + + + +BOOK IV. + +Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Eight Years. + +From The Rejection Of That Generation To The Death Of Moses. + +CHAPTER 1. + +Fight Of The Hebrews With The Canaanites Without The Consent Of +Moses; And Their Defeat. + + +1. Now this life of the Hebrews in the wilderness was so +disagreeable and troublesome to them, and they were so uneasy at +it, that although God had forbidden them to meddle with the +Canaanites, yet could they not be persuaded to be obedient to the +words of Moses, and to be quiet; but supposing they should be +able to beat their enemies, without his approbation, they accused +him, and suspected that he made it his business to keep in a +distressed condition, that they might always stand in need of his +assistance. Accordingly they resolved to fight with the +Canaanites, and said that God gave them his assistance, not out +of regard to Moses's intercessions, but because he took care of +their entire nation, on account of their forefathers, whose +affairs he took under his own conduct; as also, that it was on +account of their own virtue that he had formerly procured them +their liberty, and would be assisting to them, now they were +willing to take pains for it. They also said that they were +possessed of abilities sufficient for the conquest of their +enemies, although Moses should have a mind to alienate God from +them; that, however, it was for their advantage to be their own +masters, and not so far to rejoice in their deliverance from the +indignities they endured under the Egyptians, as to bear the +tyranny of Moses over them, and to suffer themselves to be +deluded, and live according to his pleasure, as though God did +only foretell what concerns us out of his kindness to him, as if +they were not all the posterity of Abraham; that God made him +alone the author of all the knowledge we have, and we must still +learn it from him; that it would be a piece of prudence to oppose +his arrogant pretenses, and to put their confidence in God, and +to resolve to take possession of that land which he had promised +them, and not to give ear to him, who on this account, and under +the pretense of Divine authority, forbade them so to do. +Considering, therefore, the distressed state they were in at +present, and that in those desert places they were still to +expect things would be worse with them, they resolved to fight +with the Canaanites, as submitting only to God, their supreme +Commander, and not waiting for any assistance from their +legislator. + +2. When, therefore, they had come to this resolution, as being +best for them, they went against their enemies; but those enemies +were not dismayed either at the attack itself, or at the great +multitude that made it, and received them with great courage. +Many of the Hebrews were slain; and the remainder of the army, +upon the disorder of their troops, were pursued, and fled, after +a shameful manner, to their camp. Whereupon this unexpected +misfortune made them quite despond; and they hoped for nothing +that was good; as gathering from it, that this affliction came +from the wrath of God, because they rashly went out to war +without his approbation. + +3. But when Moses saw how deeply they were affected with this +defeat, and being afraid lest the enemies should grow insolent +upon this victory, and should be desirous of gaining still +greater glory, and should attack them, he resolved that it was +proper to withdraw the army into the wilderness to a further +distance from the Canaanites: so the multitude gave themselves up +again to his conduct, for they were sensible that, without his +care for them, their affairs could not be in a good condition; +and he caused the host to remove, and he went further into the +wilderness, as intending there to let them rest, and not to +permit them to fight the Canaanites before God should afford them +a more favorable opportunity. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +The Sedition Of Corah And Of The Multitude Against Moses, And +Against His Brother, Concerning The Priesthood. + + +1. That which is usually the case of great armies, and especially +upon ill success, to be hard to be pleased, and governed with +difficulty, did now befall the Jews; for they being in number six +hundred thousand, and by reason of their great multitude not +readily subject to their governors, even in prosperity, they at +this time were more than usually angry, both against one another +and against their leader, because of the distress they were in, +and the calamities they then endured. Such a sedition overtook +them, as we have not the like example either among the Greeks or +the Barbarians, by which they were in danger of being all +destroyed, but were notwithstanding saved by Moses, who would not +remember that he had been almost stoned to death by them. Nor did +God neglect to prevent their ruin; but, notwithstanding the +indignities they had offered their legislator and the laws, and +disobedience to the commandments which he had sent them by Moses, +he delivered them from those terrible calamities which, without +his providential care, had been brought upon them by this +sedition. So I will first explain the cause whence this sedition +arose, and then will give an account of the sedition itself; as +also of what settlements made for their government after it was +over. + +2. Corah, a Hebrew of principal account, both by his family and +by his wealth, one that was also able to speak well, and one that +could easily persuade the people by his speeches, saw that Moses +was in an exceeding great dignity, and was at it, and envied him +on that account, (he of the same tribe with Moses, and of kin to +him,) was particularly grieved, because he thought he better +deserved that honorable post on account of great riches, and not +inferior to him in his birth. So he raised a clamor against him +among the Levites, who were of the same tribe, and among his +kindred, saying, "That it was a very sad thing that they should +overlook Moses, while hunted after and paved the way to glory for +himself, and by ill arts should obtain it, under the pretense of +God's command, while, contrary to laws, he had given the +priesthood to Aaron, the common suffrage of the multitude, but by +his own vote, as bestowing dignities in a way on whom he +pleased." He added, "That this concealed way of imposing on them +was harder to be borne than if it had been done by an open force +upon them, because he did now not only their power without their +consent, but even they were unapprised of his contrivances +against them; for whosoever is conscious to himself that he +deserves any dignity, aims to get it by persuasion, and not by an +arrogant method of violence; those that believe it impossible to +obtain honors justly, make a show of goodness, and do not +introduce force, but by cunning tricks grow wickedly powerful. +That it was proper for the multitude to punish such men, even +while they think themselves concealed in their designs, and not +suffer them to gain strength till they have them for their open +enemies. For what account," added he, "is Moses able to give, why +he has bestowed the priesthood on Aaron and his sons? for if God +had determined to bestow that honor on one of the tribe of Levi, +I am more worthy of it than he is; I myself being equal to Moses +by my family, and superior to him both in riches and in age: but +if God had determined to bestow it on the eldest be, that of +Reuben might have it most justly; and then Dathan, and Abiram, +and [On, the son of] Peleth, would have it; for these are the +oldest men of that tribe, and potent on account of their great +wealth also." + +3. Now Corah, when he said this, had a mind to appear to take +care of the public welfare, but in reality he was endeavoring to +procure to have that dignity transferred by the multitude to +himself. Thus did he, out of a malignant design, but with +discourse to those of his own tribe; when these words did +gradually spread to more people, and when the hearers still added +to what tended to the scandals that were cast upon the whole army +was full of them. Now of those that conspired with Corah, there +were two hundred and fifty, and those of the principal men also, +who were eager to have the priesthood taken away from Moses's +brother, and to bring him into disgrace: nay, the multitude +themselves were provoked to be seditious, and attempted to stone +Moses, wad gathered themselves together after an indecent manner, +with confusion and disorder. And now all were, in a tumultuous +manner, raising a before the tabernacle of God, to prosecute the +tyrant, and to relieve the multitude from their slavery under him +who, under color of the Divine laid violent injunctions upon +them; for had it been God who chose one that was to the office of +a priest, he would have raised person to that dignity, and would +not produced such a one as was inferior to many others nor have +given him that office; and that in he had judged it fit to bestow +it on Aaron, he would have permitted it to the multitude to +bestow it, and not have left it to be bestowed by his own +brother. + +4. Now although Moses had a great while ago foreseen this calumny +of Corah, and had seen the people were irritated, yet was he not +affrighted at it; but being of good courage, because given them +right advice about their affairs, and knowing that his brother +had been made partaker of the priesthood at the command of God, +and not by his own favor to him, he came to the assembly; and as +for the multitude, he said not a word to them, but spake as loud +to Corah as he could; and being very skillful in making speeches, +and having this natural talent, among others, that he could +greatly move the multitude with his discourses, he said, "O +Corah, both thou and all these with thee (pointing to the two +hundred and fifty men) seem to be worthy of this honor; nor do I +pretend but that this whole company may be worthy of the like +dignity, although they may not be so rich or so great as you are: +nor have I taken and given this office to my brother because he +excelled others in riches, for thou exceedest us both in the +greatness of thy wealth; (1) nor indeed because he was of an +eminent family, for God, by giving us the same common ancestor, +has made our families equal: nay, nor was it out of brotherly +affection, which another might yet have justly done; for +certainly, unless I had bestowed this honor out of regard to God, +and to his laws, I had not passed by myself, and given it to +another, as being nearer of kin to myself than to my brother, and +having a closer intimacy with myself than I have with him; for +surely it would not be a wise thing for me to expose myself to +the dangers of offending, and to bestow the happy employment on +this account upon another. But I am above such base practices: +nor would God have overlooked this matter, and seen himself thus +despised; nor would he have suffered you to be ignorant of what +you were to do, in order to please him; but he hath himself +chosen one that is to perform that sacred office to him, and +thereby freed us from that care. So that it was not a thing that +I pretend to give, but only according to the determination of +God; I therefore propose it still to be contended for by such as +please to put in for it, only desiring that he who has been +already preferred, and has already obtained it, may be allowed +now also to offer himself for a candidate. He prefers your peace, +and your living without sedition, to this honorable employment, +although in truth it was with your approbation that he obtained +it; for though God were the donor, yet do we not offend when we +think fit to accept it with your good-will; yet would it have +been an instance of impiety not to have taken that honorable +employment when he offered it; nay, it had been exceedingly +unreasonable, when God had thought fit any one should have it for +all time to come, and had made it secure and firm to him, to have +refused it. However, he himself will judge again who it shall be +whom he would have to offer sacrifices to him, and to have the +direction of matters of religion; for it is absurd that Corah, +who is ambitious of this honor, should deprive God of the power +of giving it to whom he pleases. Put an end, therefore, to your +sedition and disturbance on this account; and tomorrow morning do +every one of you that desire the priesthood bring a censer from +home, and come hither with incense and fire: and do thou, O +Corah, leave the judgment to God, and await to see on which side +he will give his determination upon this occasion, but do not +thou make thyself greater than God. Do thou also come, that this +contest about this honorable employment may receive +determination. And I suppose we may admit Aaron without offense, +to offer himself to this scrutiny, since he is of the same +lineage with thyself, and has done nothing in his priesthood that +can be liable to exception. Come ye therefore together, and offer +your incense in public before all the people; and when you offer +it, he whose sacrifice God shall accept shall be ordained to the +priesthood, and shall be clear of the present calumny on Aaron, +as if I had granted him that favor because he was my brother." + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Those That Stirred Up This Sedition Were Destroyed, According +To The Will Of God; And How Aaron, Moses's Brother Both He And +His Posterity, Retained The Priesthood. + + +1. When Moses had said this, the multitude left off the turbulent +behavior they had indulged, and the suspicion they had of Moses, +and commended what he had said; for those proposals were good, +and were so esteemed of the people. At that time therefore they +dissolved the assembly. But on the next day they came to the +congregation, in order to be present at the sacrifice, and at the +determination that was to be made between the candidates for the +priesthood. Now this congregation proved a turbulent one, and the +multitude were in great suspense in expectation of what was to be +done; for some of them would have been pleased if Moses had been +convicted of evil practices, but the wiser sort desired that they +might be delivered from the present disorder and disturbance; for +they were afraid, that if this sedition went on, the good order +of their settlement would rather be destroyed; but the whole body +of the people do naturally delight in clamors against their +governors, and, by changing their opinions upon the harangues of +every speaker, disturb the public tranquillity. And now Moses +sent messengers for Abiram and Dathan, and ordered them to come +to the assembly, and wait there for the holy offices that were to +be performed. But they answered the messenger, that they would +not obey his summons; nay, would not overlook Moses's behavior, +who was growing too great for them by evil practices. Now when +Moses heard of this their answer, he desired the heads of the +people to follow him, and he went to the faction of Dathan, not +thinking it any frightful thing at all to go to these insolent +people; so they made no opposition, but went along with him. But +Dathan, and his associates, when they understood that Moses and +the principal of the people were coming to them, came out, with +their wives and children, and stood before their tents, and +looked to see what Moses would do. They had also their servants +about them to defend themselves, in case Moses should use force +against them. + +2. But he came near, and lifted up his hands to heaven, and cried +out with a loud voice, in order to be heard by the whole +multitude, and said, "O Lord of the creatures that are in the +heaven, in the earth, and in the sea; for thou art the most +authentic witness to what I have done, that it has all been done +by thy appointment, and that it was thou that affordedst us +assistance when we attempted any thing, and showedst mercy on the +Hebrews in all their distresses; do thou come now, and hear all +that I say, for no action or thought escapes thy knowledge; so +that thou wilt not disdain to speak what is true, for my +vindication, without any regard to the ungrateful imputations of +these men. As for what was done before I was born, thou knowest +best, as not learning them by report, but seeing them, and being +present with them when they were done; but for what has been done +of late, and which these men, although they know them well +enough, unjustly pretend to suspect, be thou my witness. When I +lived a private quiet life, I left those good things which, by my +own diligence, and by thy counsel, I enjoyed with Raguel my +father-in-law; and I gave myself up to this people, and underwent +many miseries on their account. I also bore great labors at +first, in order to obtain liberty for them, and now in order to +their preservation; and have always showed myself ready to assist +them in every distress of theirs. Now, therefore, since I am +suspected by those very men whose being is owing to my labors, +come thou, as it is reasonable to hope thou wilt; thou, I say, +who showedst me that fire at mount Sinai, and madest me to hear +its voice, and to see the several wonders which that place +afforded thou who commandedst me to go to Egypt, and declare thy +will to this people; thou who disturbest the happy estate of the +Egyptians, and gavest us the opportunity of flying away from our +under them, and madest the dominion of Pharaoh inferior to my +dominion; thou who didst make the sea dry land for us, when we +knew not whither to go, and didst overwhelm the Egyptians with +those destructive waves which had been divided for us; thou who +didst bestow upon us the security of weapons when we were naked; +thou who didst make the fountains that were corrupted to flow, so +as to be fit for drinking, and didst furnish us with water that +came out of the rocks, when we were in want of it; thou who didst +preserve our lives with [quails, which was] food from the sea, +when the fruits of the ground failed us; thou didst send us such +food from heaven as had never been seen before; thou who didst +suggest to us the knowledge of thy laws, and appoint to us a of +government, - come thou, I say, O Lord of the whole world, and +that as such a Judge and a Witness to me as cannot be bribed, and +show how I never admitted of any gift against justice from any of +the Hebrews; and have never condemned a man that ought to have +been acquitted, on account of one that was rich; and have never +attempted to hurt this commonwealth. I am now and am suspected of +a thing the remotest from my intentions, as if I had given the +preisthood to Aaron, not at thy command, but out own favor to +him; do thou at this time demonstrate that all things are +administered by thy providence and that nothing happens by +chance, but is governed by thy will, and thereby attains its end: +as also demonstrate that thou takest care that have done good to +the Hebrews; demonstrate this, I say, by the punishment of Abiram +and Dathan, who condemn thee as an insensible Being, and one +overcome by my contrivances. This thou do by inflicting such an +open punishment on these men who so madly fly in the face of thy +glory, as will take them out of the world, not in an manner, but +so that it may appear they do die after the manner of other men: +let that ground which they tread upon open about them and consume +them, with their families and goods. This will be a demonstration +of thy power to all and this method of their sufferings will be +an instruction of wisdom for those that entertain profane +sentiments of thee. By this means I shall be a good servant, in +the precepts thou hast given by me. But if the calumnies they +have raised against me be true, mayst thou preserve these men +from every evil accident, and bring all that destruction on me +which I have imprecated upon them. And when thou hast inflicted +punishment on those that have endeavored to deal unjustly with +this people, bestow upon them concord and peace. Save this +multitude that follow thy commandments, and preserve them free +from harm, and let them not partake of the punishment of those +that have sinned; for thou knowest thyself it is not just, that +for the wickedness of those men the whole body of the Israelites +should suffer punishment." + +3. When Moses had said this, with tears in his eyes, the ground +was moved on a sudden; and the agitation that set it in motion +was like that which the wind produces in waves of the sea. The +people were all aftrighted; and the ground that was about their +tents sunk down at the great noise, with a terrible sound, and +carried whatsoever was dear to the seditious into itself, who so +entirely perished, that there was not the least appearance that +any man had ever been seen there, the earth that had opened +itself about them, closing again, and becoming entire as it was +before, insomuch that such as saw it afterward did not perceive +that any such accident had happened to it. Thus did these men +perish, and become a demonstration of the power of God. And +truly, any one would lament them, not only on account of this +calamity that befell them, which yet deserves our commiseration, +but also because their kindred were pleased with their +sufferings; for they forgot the relation they bare to them, and +at the sight of this sad accident approved of the judgment given +against them; and because they looked upon the people about +Dathan as pestilent men, they thought they perished as such, and +did not grieve for them. + +4. And now Moses called for those that contended about the +priesthood, that trial might be made who should be priest, and +that he whose sacrifice God was best pleased with might be +ordained to that function. There attended two hundred and fifty +men, who indeed were honored by the people, not only on account +of the power of their ancestors, but also on account of their +own, in which they excelled the others: Aaron also and Corah came +forth, and they all offered incense, in those censers of theirs +which they brought with them, before the tabernacle. Hereupon so +great a fire shone out as no one ever saw in any that is made by +the hand of man, neither in those eruptions out of the earth that +are caused by subterraneous burn-rags, nor in such fires as arise +of their own accord in the woods, when the agitation is caused by +the trees rubbing one against another: but this fire was very +bright, and had a terrible flame, such as is kindled at the +command of God; by whose irruption on them, all the company, and +Corah himself, were destroyed, (2) and this so entirely, that +their very bodies left no remains behind them. Aaron alone was +preserved, and not at all hurt by the fire, because it was God +that sent the fire to burn those only who ought to be burned. +Hereupon Moses, after these men were destroyed, was desirous that +the memory of this judgment might be delivered down to posterity, +and that future ages might be acquainted with it; and so he +commanded Eleazar, the son of Aaron, to put their censers near +the brazen altar, that they might be a memorial to posterity of +what these men suffered, for supposing that the power of God +might be eluded. And thus Aaron was now no longer esteemed to +have the priesthood by the favor of Moses, but by the public +judgment of God; and thus he and his children peaceably enjoyed +that honor afterward. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +What Happened To The Hebrews During Thirty-Eight Years In The +Wilderness. + + +1. However, this sedition was so far from ceasing upon this +destruction, that it grew much stronger, and became more +intolerable. And the occasion of its growing worse was of that +nature, as made it likely the calamity would never cease, but +last for a long time; for the men, believing already that nothing +is done without the providence of God, would have it that these +things came thus to pass not without God's favor to Moses; they +therefore laid the blame upon him that God was so angry, and that +this happened not so much because of the wickedness of those that +were punished, as because Moses procured the punishment; and that +these men had been destroyed without any sin of theirs, only +because they were zealous about the Divine worship; as also, that +he who had been the cause of this diminution of the people, by +destroying so many men, and those the most excellent of them all, +besides his escaping any punishment himself, had now given the +priesthood to his brother so firmly, that nobody could any longer +dispute it with him; for no one else, to be sure, could now put +in for it, since he must have seen those that first did so to +have miserably perished. Nay, besides this, the kindred of those +that were destroyed made great entreaties to the multitude to +abate the arrogance of Moses, because it would be safest for them +so to do. + +2. Now Moses, upon his hearing for a good while that the people +were tumultuous, was afraid that they would attempt some other +innovation, and that some great and sad calamity would be the +consequence. He called the multitude to a congregation, and +patiently heard what apology they had to make for themselves, +without opposing them, and this lest he should imbitter the +multitude: he only desired the heads of the tribes to bring their +rods, (3) with the names of their tribes inscribed upon them, and +that he should receive the priesthood in whose rod God should +give a sign. This was agreed to. So the rest brought their rods, +as did Aaron also, who had written the tribe of Levi on his rod. +These rods Moses laid up in the tabernacle of God. On the next +day he brought out the rods, which were known from one another by +those who brought them, they having distinctly noted them, as had +the multitude also; and as to the rest, in the same form Moses +had received them, in that they saw them still; but they also saw +buds and branches grown out of Aaron's rod, with ripe fruits upon +them; they were almonds, the rod having been cut out of that +tree. The people were so amazed at this strange sight, that +though Moses and Aaron were before under some degree of hatred, +they now laid that hatred aside, and began to admire the judgment +of God concerning them; so that hereafter they applauded what God +had decreed, and permitted Aaron to enjoy the priesthood +peaceably. And thus God ordained him priest three several times, +and he retained that honor without further disturbance. And +hereby this sedition of the Hebrews, which had been a great one, +and had lasted a great while, was at last composed. + +3. And now Moses, because the tribe of Levi was made free from +war and warlike expeditions, and was set apart for the Divine +worship, lest they should want and seek after the necessaries of +life, and so neglect the temple, commanded the Hebrews, according +to the will of God, that when they should gain the possession of +the land of Canaan, they should assign forty-eight good and fair +cities to the Levites; and permit them to enjoy their suburbs, as +far as the limit of two thousand cubits would extend from the +walls of the city. And besides this, he appointed that the people +should pay the tithe of their annual fruits of the earth, both to +the Levites and to the priests. And this is what that tribe +receives of the multitude; but I think it necessary to set down +what is paid by all, peculiarly to the priests. + +4. Accordingly he commanded the Levites to yield up to the +priests thirteen of their forty-eight cities, and to set apart +for them the tenth part of the tithes which they every year +receive of the people; as also, that it was but just to offer to +God the first-fruits of the entire product of the ground; and +that they should offer the first-born of those four-footed beasts +that are appointed for sacrifices, if it be a male, to the +priests, to be slain, that they and their entire families may eat +them in the holy city; but that the owners of those first-born +which are not appointed for sacrifices in the laws of our +country, should bring a shekel and a half in their stead: but for +the first-born of a man, five shekels: that they should also have +the first-fruits out of the shearing of the sheep; and that when +any baked bread corn, and made loaves of it, they should give +somewhat of what they had baked to them. Moreover, when any have +made a sacred vow, I mean those that are called Nazarites, that +suffer their hair to grow long, and use no wine, when they +consecrate their hair, (4) and offer it for a sacrifice, they are +to allot that hair for the priests [to be thrown into the fire]. +Such also as dedicate themselves to God, as a corban, which +denotes what the Greeks call a gift, when they are desirous of +being freed from that ministration, are to lay down money for the +priests; thirty shekels if it be a woman, and fifty if it be a +man; but if any be too poor to pay the appointed sum, it shall be +lawful for the priests to determine that sum as they think fit. +And if any slay beasts at home for a private festival, but not +for a religious one, they are obliged to bring the maw and the +cheek, [or breast,] and the right shoulder of the sacrifice, to +the priests. With these Moses contrived that the priests should +be plentifully maintained, besides what they had out of those +offerings for sins which the people gave them, as I have set it +down in the foregoing book. He also ordered, that out of every +thing allotted for the priests, their servants, [their sons,] +their daughters, and their wives, should partake, as well as +themselves, excepting what came to them out of the sacrifices +that were offered for sins; for of those none but the males of +the family of the priests might eat, and this in the temple also, +and that the same day they were offered. + +5. When Moses had made these constitutions, after the sedition +was over, he removed, together with the whole army, and came to +the borders of Idumea. He then sent ambassadors to the king of +the Idumeans, and desired him to give him a passage through his +country; and agreed to send him what hostages he should desire, +to secure him from an injury. He desired him also, that he would +allow his army liberty to buy provisions; and, if he insisted +upon it, he would pay down a price for the very water they should +drink. But the king was not pleased with this embassage from +Moses: nor did he allow a passage for the army, but brought his +people armed to meet Moses, and to hinder them, in case they +should endeavor to force their passage. Upon which Moses +consulted God by the oracle, who would not have him begin the war +first; and so he withdrew his forces, and traveled round about +through the wilderness. + +6. Then it was that Miriam, the sister of Moses, came to her end, +having completed her fortieth year (5) since she left Egypt, on +the first (6) day of the lunar month Xanthicus. They then made a +public funeral for her, at a great expense. She was buried upon a +certain mountain, which they call Sin: and when they had mourned +for her thirty days, Moses purified the people after this manner: +He brought a heifer that had never been used to the plough or to +husbandry, that was complete in all its parts, and entirely of a +red color, at a little distance from the camp, into a place +perfectly clean. This heifer was slain by the high priest, and +her blood sprinkled with his finger seven times before the +tabernacle of God; after this, the entire heifer was burnt in +that state, together with its skin and entrails; and they threw +cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet wool, into the midst of the +fire; then a clean man gathered all her ashes together, and laid +them in a place perfectly clean. When therefore any persons were +defiled by a dead body, they put a little of these ashes into +spring water, with hyssop, and, dipping part of these ashes in +it, they sprinkled them with it, both on the third day, and on +the seventh, and after that they were clean. This he enjoined +them to do also when the tribes should come into their own land. + +7. Now when this purification, which their leader made upon the +mourning for his sister, as it has been now described, was over, +he caused the army to remove and to march through the wilderness +and through Arabia; and when he came to a place which the +Arabians esteem their metropolis, which was formerly called Arce, +but has now the name of Petra, at this place, which was +encompassed with high mountains, Aaron went up one of them in the +sight of the whole army, Moses having before told him that he was +to die, for this place was over against them. He put off his +pontifical garments, and delivered them to Eleazar his son, to +whom the high priesthood belonged, because he was the elder +brother; and died while the multitude looked upon him. He died in +the same year wherein he lost his sister, having lived in all a +hundred twenty and three years. He died on the first day of that +lunar month which is called by the Athenians Hecatombaeon, by the +Macedonians Lous, but by the Hebrews Abba. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Moses Conquered Sihon And Og Kings Of The Amorites, And +Destroyed Their Whole Army And Then Divided Their Land By Lot To +Two Tribes And A Half Of The Hebrews. + + +1. The people mourned for Aaron thirty days, and when this +mourning was over, Moses removed the army from that place, and +came to the river Arnon, which, issuing out of the mountains of +Arabia, and running through all that wilderness, falls into the +lake Asphaltitis, and becomes the limit between the land of the +Moabites and the land of the Amorites. This land is fruitful, and +sufficient to maintain a great number of men, with the good +things it produces. Moses therefore sent messengers to Sihon, the +king of this country, desiring that he would grant his army a +passage, upon what security he should please to require; he +promised that he should be no way injured, neither as to that +country which Sihon governed, nor as to its inhabitants; and that +he would buy his provisions at such a price as should be to their +advantage, even though he should desire to sell them their very +water. But Sihon refused his offer, and put his army into battle +array, and was preparing every thing in order to hinder their +passing over Arnon. + +2. When Moses saw that the Amorite king was disposed to enter +upon hostilities with them, he thought he ought not to bear that +insult; and, determining to wean the Hebrews from their indolent +temper, and prevent the disorders which arose thence, which had +been the occasion of their former sedition, (nor indeed were they +now thoroughly easy in their minds,) he inquired of God, whether +he would give him leave to fight? which when he had done, and God +also promised him the victory, he was himself very courageous, +and ready to proceed to fighting. Accordingly he encouraged the +soldiers; and he desired of them that they would take the +pleasure of fighting, now God gave them leave so to do. They +then, upon the receipt of this permission, which they so much +longed for, put on their whole armor, and set about the work +without delay. But the Amorite king was not now like to himself +when the Hebrews were ready to attack him; but both he himself +was affrighted at the Hebrews, and his army, which before had +showed themselves to be of good courage, were then found to be +timorous: so they could not sustain the first onset, nor bear up +against the Hebrews, but fled away, as thinking this would afford +them a more likely way for their escape than fighting, for they +depended upon their cities, which were strong, from which yet +they reaped no advantage when they were forced to fly to them; +for as soon as the Hebrews saw them giving ground, they +immediately pursued them close; and when they had broken their +ranks, they greatly terrified them, and some of them broke off +from the rest, and ran away to the cities. Now the Hebrews +pursued them briskly, and obstinately persevered in the labors +they had already undergone; and being very skillful in slinging, +and very dexterous in throwing of darts, or any thing else of +that kind, and also having nothing but light armor, which made +them quick in the pursuit, they overtook their enemies; and for +those that were most remote, and could not be overtaken, they +reached them by their slings and their bows, so that many were +slain; and those that escaped the slaughter were sorely wounded, +and these were more distressed with thirst than with any of those +that fought against them, for it was the summer season; and when +the greatest number of them were brought down to the river out of +a desire to drink, as also when others fled away by troops, the +Hebrews came round them, and shot at them; so that, what with +darts and what with arrows, they made a slaughter of them all. +Sihon their king was also slain. So the Hebrews spoiled the dead +bodies, and took their prey. The land also which they took was +full of abundance of fruits, and the army went all over it +without fear, and fed their cattle upon it; and they took the +enemies prisoners, for they could no way put a stop to them, +since all the fighting men were destroyed. Such was the +destruction which overtook the Amorites, who were neither +sagacious in counsel, nor courageous in action. Hereupon the +Hebrews took possession of their land, which is a country situate +between three rivers, and naturally resembled an island: the +river Arnon being its southern; the river Jabbok determining its +northern side, which running into Jordan loses its own name, and +takes the other; while Jordan itself runs along by it, on its +western coast. + +3. When matters were come to this state, Og, the king of Gilead +and Gaulanitis, fell upon the Israelites. He brought an army with +him, and in haste to the assistance of his friend Sihon: but +though he found him already slain, yet did he resolve still to +come and fight the Hebrews, supposing he should be too hard for +them, and being desirous to try their valor; but failing of his +hope, he was both himself slain in the battle, and all his army +was destroyed. So Moses passed over the river Jabbok, and overran +the kingdom of Og. He overthrew their cities, and slew all their +inhabitants, who yet exceeded in riches all the men in that part +of the continent, on account of the goodness of the soil, and the +great quantity of their wealth. Now Og had very few equals, +either in the largeness of his body, or handsomeness of his +appearance. He was also a man of great activity in the use of his +hands, so that his actions were not unequal to the vast largeness +and handsome appearance of his body. And men could easily guess +at his strength and magnitude when they took his bed at Rabbath, +the royal city of the Ammonites; its structure was of iron, its +breadth four cubits, and its length a cubit more than double +thereto. However, his fall did not only improve the circumstances +of the Hebrews for the present, but by his death he was the +occasion of further good success to them; for they presently took +those sixty cities, which were encompassed with excellent walls, +and had been subject to him, and all got both in general and in +particular a great prey. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +Concerning Balaam The Prophet And What Kind Of Man He Was. + + +1. Now Moses, when he had brought his army to Jordan; pitched his +camp in the great plain over against Jericho. This city is a very +happy situation, and very fit for producing palm-trees and +balsam. And now the Israelites began to be very proud of +themselves, and were very eager for fighting. Moses then, after +he had offered for a few days sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, +and feasted the people, sent a party of armed men to lay waste +the country of the Midianites, and to take their cities. Now the +occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that +follows:-- + +2. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, who had from his +ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites, saw how +great the Israelites were grown, he was much affrighted on +account of his own and his kingdom's danger; for he was not +acquainted with this, that the Hebrews would not meddle with any +other country, but were to be contented with the possession of +the land of Canaan, God having forbidden them to go any farther +(7) So he, with more haste than wisdom, resolved to make an +attempt upon them by words; but he did not judge it prudent to +fight against them, after they had such prosperous successes, and +even became out of ill successes more happy than before, but he +thought to hinder them, if he could, from growing greater, and so +he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them. Now +these Midianites knowing there was one Balaam, who lived by +Euphrates, and was the greatest of the prophets at that time, and +one that was in friendship with them, sent some of their +honorable princes along with the ambassadors of Balak, to entreat +the prophet to come to them, that he might imprecate curses to +the destruction of the Israelites. So Balsam received the +ambassadors, and treated them very kindly; and when he had +supped, he inquired what was God's will, and what this matter was +for which the Midianites entreated him to come to them. But when +God opposed his going, he came to the ambassadors, and told them +that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with +their request, but informed them that God was opposite to his +intentions, even that God who had raised him to great reputation +on account of the truth of his predictions; for that this army, +which they entreated him to come and curse, was in the favor of +God; on which account he advised them to go home again, and not +to persist in their enmity against the Israelites; and when he +had given them that answer, he dismissed the ambassadors. + +3. Now the Midianites, at the earnest request and fervent +entreaties of Balak, sent other ambassadors to Balaam, who, +desiring to gratify the men, inquired again of God; but he was +displeased at [second] trial (8) and bid him by no means to +contradict the ambassadors. Now Balsam did not imagine that God +gave this injunction in order to deceive him, so he went along +with the ambassadors; but when the divine angel met him in the +way, when he was in a narrow passage, and hedged in with a wall +on both sides, the ass on which Balaam rode understood that it +was a divine spirit that met him, and thrust Balaam to one of the +walls, without regard to the stripes which Balaam, when he was +hurt by the wall, gave her; but when the ass, upon the angel's +continuing to distress her, and upon the stripes which were given +her, fell down, by the will of God, she made use of the voice of +a man, and complained of Balaam as acting unjustly to her; that +whereas he had no fault find with her in her former service to +him, he now inflicted stripes upon her, as not understanding that +she was hindered from serving him in what he was now going about, +by the providence of God. And when he was disturbed by reason of +the voice of the ass, which was that of a man, the angel plainly +appeared to him, and blamed him for the stripes he had given his +ass; and informed him that the brute creature was not in fault, +but that he was himself come to obstruct his journey, as being +contrary to the will of God. Upon which Balaam was afraid, and +was preparing to return back again: yet did God excite him to go +on his intended journey, but added this injunction, that he +should declare nothing but what he himself should suggest to his +mind. + +4. When God had given him this charge, he came to Balak; and when +the king had entertained him in a magnificent manner, he desired +him to go to one of the mountains to take a view of the state of +the camp of the Hebrews. Balak himself also came to the mountain, +and brought the prophet along with him, with a royal attendance. +This mountain lay over their heads, and was distant sixty +furlongs from the camp. Now when he saw them, he desired the king +to build him seven altars, and to bring him as many bulls and +rams; to which desire the king did presently conform. He then +slew the sacrifices, and offered them as burnt-offerings, that he +might observe some signal of the flight of the Hebrews. Then said +he, "Happy is this people, on whom God bestows the possession of +innumerable good things, and grants them his own providence to be +their assistant and their guide; so that there is not any nation +among mankind but you will be esteemed superior to them in +virtue, and in the earnest prosecution of the best rules of life, +and of such as are pure from wickedness, and will leave those +rules to your excellent children; and this out of the regard that +God bears to you, and the provision of such things for you as may +render you happier than any other people under the sun. You shall +retain that land to which he hath sent you, and it shall ever be +under the command of your children; and both all the earth, as +well as the seas, shall be filled with your glory: and you shall +be sufficiently numerous to supply the world in general, and +every region of it in particular, with inhabitants out of your +stock. However, O blessed army! wonder that you are become so +many from one father: and truly, the land of Canaan can now hold +you, as being yet comparatively few; but know ye that the whole +world is proposed to be your place of habitation for ever. The +multitude of your posterity also shall live as well in the +islands as on the continent, and that more in number than are the +stars of heaven. And when you are become so many, God will not +relinquish the care of you, but will afford you an abundance of +all good things in times of peace, with victory and dominion in +times of war. May the children of your enemies have an +inclination to fight against you; and may they be so hardy as to +come to arms, and to assault you in battle, for they will not +return with victory, nor will their return be agreeable to their +children and wives. To so great a degree of valor will you be +raised by the providence of God, who is able to diminish the +affluence of some, and to supply the wants of others." + +5. Thus did Balaam speak by inspiration, as not being in his own +power, but moved to say what he did by the Divine Spirit. But +then Balak was displeased, and said he had broken the contract he +had made, whereby he was to come, as he and his confederates had +invited him, by the promise of great presents: for whereas he +came to curse their enemies, he had made an encomium upon them, +and had declared that they were the happiest of men. To which +Balaam replied, "O Balak, if thou rightly considerest this whole +matter, canst thou suppose that it is in our power to be silent, +or to say any thing, when the Spirit of God seizes upon us? - for +he puts such words as he pleases in our mouths, and such +discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of. I well remember +by what entreaties both you and the Midianites so joyfully +brought me hither, and on that account I took this journey. It +was my prayer, that I might not put any affront upon you, as to +what you desired of me; but God is more powerful than the +purposes I had made to serve you; for those that take upon them +to foretell the affairs of mankind, as from their own abilities, +are entirely unable to do it, or to forbear to utter what God +suggests to them, or to offer violence to his will; for when he +prevents us and enters into us, nothing that we say is our own. I +then did not intend to praise this army, nor to go over the +several good things which God intended to do to their race; but +since he was so favorable to them, and so ready to bestow upon +them a happy life and eternal glory, he suggested the declaration +of those things to me: but now, because it is my desire to oblige +thee thyself, as well as the Midianites, whose entreaties it is +not decent for me to reject, go to, let us again rear other +altars, and offer the like sacrifices that we did before, that I +may see whether I can persuade God to permit me to bind these men +with curses." Which, when Balak had agreed to, God would not, +even upon second sacrifices, consent to his cursing the +Israelites. (9) Then fell Balaam upon his face, and foretold what +calamities would befall the several kings of the nations, and the +most eminent cities, some of which of old were not so much as +inhabited; which events have come to pass among the several +people concerned, both in the foregoing ages, and in this, till +my own memory, both by sea and by land. From which completion of +all these predictions that he made, one may easily guess that the +rest will have their completion in time to come. + +6. But Balak being very angry that the Israelites were not +cursed, sent away Balaam without thinking him worthy of any +honor. Whereupon, when he was just upon his journey, in order to +pass the Euphrates, he sent for Balak, and for the princes of the +Midianites, and spake thus to them:-- "O Balak, and you +Midianites that are here present, (for I am obliged even without +the will of God to gratify you,) it is true no entire destruction +can seize upon the nation of the Hebrews, neither by war, nor by +plague, nor by scarcity of the fruits of the earth, nor can any +other unexpected accident be their entire ruin; for the +providence of God is concerned to preserve them from such a +misfortune; nor will it permit any such calamity to come upon +them whereby they may all perish; but some small misfortunes, and +those for a short time, whereby they may appear to be brought +low, may still befall them; but after that they will flourish +again, to the terror of those that brought those mischiefs upon +them. So that if you have a mind to gain a victory over them for +a short space of time, you will obtain it by following my +directions:-- Do you therefore set out the handsomest of such of +your daughters as are most eminent for beauty, (10) and proper to +force and conquer the modesty of those that behold them, and +these decked and trimmed to the highest degree able. Then do you +send them to be near camp, and give them in charge, that the +young men of the Hebrews desire their allow it them; and when +they see they are enamored of them, let them take leaves; and if +they entreat them to stay, let give their consent till they have +persuaded leave off their obedience to their own laws, the +worship of that God who established them to worship the gods of +the Midianites and for by this means God will be angry at them +(11). Accordingly, when Balaam had suggested counsel to them, he +went his way. + +7. So when the Midianites had sent their daughters, as Balaam had +exhorted them, the Hebrew men were allured by their beauty, and +came with them, and besought them not to grudge them the +enjoyment of their beauty, nor to deny them their conversation. +These daughters of Midianites received their words gladly, and +consented to it, and staid with them; but when they brought them +to be enamored of them, and their inclinations to them were grown +to ripeness, they began to think of departing from them: then it +was that these men became greatly disconsolate at the women's +departure, and they were urgent with them not to leave them, but +begged they would continue there, and become their wives; and +they promised them they should be owned as mistresses all they +had. This they said with an oath, and called God for the +arbitrator of what they promised; and this with tears in their +eyes, and all such marks of concern, as might shew how miserable +they thought themselves without them, and so might move their +compassion for them. So the women, as soon as they perceived they +had made their slaves, and had caught them with their +conservation began to speak thus to them:-- + +8. "O you illustrious young men! we have of our own at home, and +great plenty of good things there, together with the natural, +affectionate parents and friends; nor is it out of our want of +any such things that we came to discourse with you; nor did we +admit of your invitation with design to prostitute the beauty of +our bodies for gain; but taking you for brave and worthy men, we +agreed to your request, that we might treat you with such honors +as hospitality required: and now seeing you say that you have a +great affection for us, and are troubled when you think we are +departing, we are not averse to your entreaties; and if we may +receive such assurance of your good-will as we think can be alone +sufficient, we will be glad to lead our lives with you as your +wives; but we are afraid that you will in time be weary of our +company, and will then abuse us, and send us back to our parents, +after an ignominious manner." And they desired that they would +excuse them in their guarding against that danger. But the young +men professed they would give them any assurance they should +desire; nor did they at all contradict what they requested, so +great was the passion they had for them. "If then," said they, +"this be your resolution, since you make use of such customs and +conduct of life as are entirely different from all other men, +(12) insomuch that your kinds of food are peculiar to yourselves, +and your kinds of drink not common to others, it will be +absolutely necessary, if you would have us for your wives, that +you do withal worship our gods. Nor can there be any other +demonstration of the kindness which you say you already have, and +promise to have hereafter to us, than this, that you worship the +same gods that we do. For has any one reason to complain, that +now you are come into this country, you should worship the proper +gods of the same country? especially while our gods are common to +all men, and yours such as belong to nobody else but yourselves." +So they said they must either come into such methods of divine +worship as all others came into, or else they must look out for +another world, wherein they may live by themselves, according to +their own laws. + +9. Now the young men were induced by the fondness they had for +these women to think they spake very well; so they gave +themselves up to what they persuaded them, and transgressed their +own laws, and supposing there were many gods, and resolving that +they would sacrifice to them according to the laws of that +country which ordained them, they both were delighted with their +strange food, and went on to do every thing that the women would +have them do, though in contradiction to their own laws; so far +indeed that this transgression was already gone through the whole +army of the young men, and they fell into a sedition that was +much worse than the former, and into danger of the entire +abolition of their own institutions; for when once the youth had +tasted of these strange customs, they went with insatiable +inclinations into them; and even where some of the principal men +were illustrious on account of the virtues of their fathers, they +also were corrupted together with the rest. + +10. Even Zimri, the head of the tribe of Simeon accompanied with +Cozbi, a Midianitish women, who was the daughter of Sur, a man of +authority in that country; and being desired by his wife to +disregard the laws of Moses, and to follow those she was used to, +he complied with her, and this both by sacrificing after a manner +different from his own, and by taking a stranger to wife. When +things were thus, Moses was afraid that matters should grow +worse, and called the people to a congregation, but then accused +nobody by name, as unwilling to drive those into despair who, by +lying concealed, might come to repentance; but he said that they +did not do what was either worthy of themselves, or of their +fathers, by preferring pleasure to God, and to the living +according to his will; that it was fit they should change their +courses while their affairs were still in a good state, and think +that to be true fortitude which offers not violence to their +laws, but that which resists their lusts. And besides that, he +said it was not a reasonable thing, when they had lived soberly +in the wilderness, to act madly now when they were in prosperity; +and that they ought not to lose, now they have abundance, what +they had gained when they had little:-- and so did he endeavor, +by saying this, to correct the young inert, and to bring them to +repentance for what they had done. + +11. But Zimri arose up after him, and said, "Yes, indeed, Moses, +thou art at liberty to make use of such laws as thou art so fond +of, and hast, by accustoming thyself to them, made them firm; +otherwise, if things had not been thus, thou hadst often been +punished before now, and hadst known that the Hebrews are not +easily put upon; but thou shalt not have me one of thy followers +in thy tyrannical commands, for thou dost nothing else hitherto, +but, under pretense of laws, and of God, wickedly impose on us +slavery, and gain dominion to thyself, while thou deprivest us of +the sweetness of life, which consists in acting according to our +own wills, and is the right of free-men, and of those that have +no lord over them. Nay, indeed, this man is harder upon the +Hebrews then were the Egyptians themselves, as pretending to +punish, according to his laws, every one's acting what is most +agreeable to himself; but thou thyself better deservest to suffer +punishment, who presumest to abolish what every one acknowledges +to be what is good for him, and aimest to make thy single opinion +to have more force than that of all the rest; and what I now do, +and think to be right, I shall not hereafter deny to be according +to my own sentiments. I have married, as thou sayest rightly, a +strange woman, and thou hearest what I do from myself as from one +that is free, for truly I did not intend to conceal myself. I +also own that I sacrificed to those gods to whom you do not think +it fit to sacrifice; and I think it right to come at truth by +inquiring of many people, and not like one that lives under +tyranny, to suffer the whole hope of my life to depend upon one +man; nor shall any one find cause to rejoice who declares himself +to have more authority over my actions than myself." + +12. Now when Zimri had said these things, about what he and some +others had wickedly done, the people held their peace, both out +of fear of what might come upon them, and because they saw that +their legislator was not willing to bring his insolence before +the public any further, or openly to contend with him; for he +avoided that, lest many should imitate the impudence of his +language, and thereby disturb the multitude. Upon this the +assembly was dissolved. However, the mischievous attempt had +proceeded further, if Zimri had not been first slain, which came +to pass on the following occasion:-- Phineas, a man in other +respects better than the rest of the young men, and also one that +surpassed his contemporaries in the dignity of his father, (for +he was the son of Eleazar the high priest, and the grandson of +[Aaron] Moses's brother,) who was greatly troubled at what was +done by Zimri, he resolved in earnest to inflict punishment on +him, before his unworthy behavior should grow stronger by +impunity, and in order to prevent this transgression from +proceeding further, which would happen if the ringleaders were +not punished. He was of so great magnanimity, both in strength of +mind and body, that when he undertook any very dangerous attempt, +he did not leave it off till he overcame it, and got an entire +victory. So he came into Zimri's tent, and slew him with his +javelin, and with it he slew Cozbi also, Upon which all those +young men that had a regard to virtue, and aimed to do a glorious +action, imitated Phineas's boldness, and slew those that were +found to be guilty of the same crime with Zimri. Accordingly many +of those that had transgressed perished by the magnanimous valor +of these young men; and the rest all perished by a plague, which +distemper God himself inflicted upon them; so that all those +their kindred, who, instead of hindering them from such wicked +actions, as they ought to have done, had persuaded them to go on, +were esteemed by God as partners in their wickedness, and died. +Accordingly there perished out of the army no fewer than fourteen +(13) [twenty-four] thousand at this time. + +13. This was the cause why Moses was provoked to send an army to +destroy the Midianites, concerning which expedition we shall +speak presently, when we have first related what we have omitted; +for it is but just not to pass over our legislator's due +encomium, on account of his conduct here, because, although this +Balaam, who was sent for by the Midianites to curse the Hebrews, +and when he was hindered from doing it by Divine Providence, did +still suggest that advice to them, by making use of which our +enemies had well nigh corrupted the whole multitude of the +Hebrews with their wiles, till some of them were deeply infected +with their opinions; yet did he do him great honor, by setting +down his prophecies in writing. And while it was in his power to +claim this glory to himself, and make men believe they were his +own predictions, there being no one that could be a witness +against him, and accuse him for so doing, he still gave his +attestation to him, and did him the honor to make mention of him +on this account. But let every one think of these matters as he +pleases. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How The Hebrews Fought With The Midianites, And Overcame Them. + + +1. Now Moses sent an army against the land of Midian, for the causes +forementioned, in all twelve thousand, taking an equal number out of +every tribe, and appointed Phineas for their commander; of which +Phineas we made mention a little before, as he that had guarded +the laws of the Hebrews, and had inflicted punishment on Zimri +when he had transgressed them. Now the Midianites perceived +beforehand how the Hebrews were coming, and would suddenly be +upon them: so they assembled their army together, and fortified +the entrances into their country, and there awaited the enemy's +coming. When they were come, and they had joined battle with +them, an immense multitude of the Midianites fell; nor could they +be numbered, they were so very many: and among them fell all +their kings, five in number, viz. Evi, Zur, Reba, Hur, and Rekem, +who was of the same name with a city, the chief and capital of +all Arabia, which is still now so called by the whole Arabian +nation, Arecem, from the name of the king that built it; but is +by the Greeks called - Petra. Now when the enemies were +discomfited, the Hebrews spoiled their country, and took a great +prey, and destroyed the men that were its inhabitants, together +with the women; only they let the virgins alone, as Moses had +commanded Phineas to do, who indeed came back, bringing with him +an army that had received no harm, and a great deal of prey; +fifty-two thousand beeves, seventy-five thousand six hundred +sheep, sixty thousand asses, with an immense quantity of gold and +silver furniture, which the Midianites made use of in their +houses; for they were so wealthy, that they were very luxurious. +There were also led captive about thirty-two thousand virgins. +(14) So Moses parted the prey into parts, and gave one fiftieth +part to Eleazar and the two priests, and another fiftieth part to +the Levites; and distributed the rest of the prey among the +people. After which they lived happily, as having obtained an +abundance of good things by their valor, and there being no +misfortune that attended them, or hindered their enjoyment of +that happiness. + +2. But Moses was now grown old, and appointed Joshua for his +successor, both to receive directions from God as a prophet, and +for a commander of the army, if they should at any time stand in +need of such a one; and this was done by the command of God, that +to him the care of the public should be committed. Now Joshua had +been instructed in all those kinds of learning which concerned +the laws and God himself, and Moses had been his instructor. + +3. At this time it was that the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and +the half tribe of Manasseh, abounded in a multitude of cattle, as +well as in all other kinds of prosperity; whence they had a +meeting, and in a body came and besought Moses to give them, as +their peculiar portion, that land of the Amorites which they had +taken by right of war, because it was fruitful, and good for +feeding of cattle; but Moses, supposing that they were afraid of +fighting with the Canaanites, and invented this provision for +their cattle as a handsome excuse for avoiding that war, he +called them arrant cowards, and said they had only contrived a +decent excuse for that cowardice; and that they had a mind to +live in luxury and ease, while all the rest were laboring with +great pains to obtain the land they were desirous to have; and +that they were not willing to march along, and undergo the +remaining hard service, whereby they were, under the Divine +promise, to pass over Jordan, and overcome those our enemies +which God had shown them, and so obtain their land. But these +tribes, when they saw that Moses was angry with them, and when +they could not deny but he had a just cause to be displeased at +their petition, made an apology for themselves; and said, that it +was not on account of their fear of dangers, nor on account of +their laziness, that they made this request to him, but that they +might leave the prey they had gotten in places of safety, and +thereby might be more expedite, and ready to undergo +difficulties, and to fight battles. They added this also, that +when they had built cities, wherein they might preserve their +children, and wives, and possessions, if he would bestow them +upon them, they would go along with the rest of the army. +Hereupon Moses was pleased with what they said; so he called for +Eleazar the high priest, and Joshua, and the chief of the tribes, +and permitted these tribes to possess the land of the Amorites; +but upon this condition, that they should join with their kinsmen +in the war until all things were settled. Upon which condition +they took possession of the country, and built them strong +cities, and put into them their children and their wives, and +whatsoever else they had that might be an impediment to the +labors of their future marches. + +4. Moses also now built those ten cities which were to be of the +number of the forty-eight [for the Levites;]; three of which he +allotted to those that slew any person involuntarily, and fled to +them; and he assigned the same time for their banishment with +that of the life of that high priest under whom the slaughter and +flight happened; after which death of the high priest he +permitted the slayer to return home. During the time of his +exile, the relations of him that was slain may, by this law, kill +the manslayer, if they caught him without the bounds of the city +to which he fled, though this permission was not granted to any +other person. Now the cities which were set apart for this flight +were these: Bezer, at the borders of Arabia; Ramoth, of the land +of Gilead; and Golan, in the land of Bashan. There were to be +also, by Moses's command, three other cities allotted for the +habitation of these fugitives out of the cities of the Levites, +but not till after they should be in possession of the land of +Canaan. + +5. At this time the chief men of the tribe of Manasseh came to +Moses, and informed him that there was an eminent man of their +tribe dead, whose name was Zelophehad, who left no male children, +but left daughters; and asked him whether these daughters might +inherit his land or not. He made this answer, That if they shall +marry into their own tribe, they shall carry their estate along +with them; but if they dispose of themselves in marriage to men +of another tribe, they shall leave their inheritance in their +father's tribe. And then it was that Moses ordained, that every +one's inheritance should continue in his own tribe. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +The Polity Settled By Moses; And How He Disappeared From Among +Mankind. + + +1. When forty years were completed, within thirty days, Moses +gathered the congregation together near Jordan, where the city +Abila now stands, a place full of palm-trees; and all the people +being come together, he spake thus to them:-- + +2. "O you Israelites and fellow soldiers, who have been partners +with me in this long and uneasy journey; since it is now the will +of God, and the course of old age, at a hundred and twenty, +requires it that I should depart out of this life; and since God +has forbidden me to be a patron or an assistant to you in what +remains to be done beyond Jordan; I thought it reasonable not to +leave off my endeavors even now for your happiness, but to do my +utmost to procure for you the eternal enjoyment of good things, +and a memorial for myself, when you shall be in the fruition of +great plenty and prosperity. Come, therefore, let me suggest to +you by what means you may be happy, and may leave an eternal +prosperous possession thereof to your children after you, and +then let me thus go out of the world; and I cannot but deserve to +be believed by you, both on account of the great things I have +already done for you, and because, when souls are about to leave +the body, they speak with the sincerest freedom. O children of +Israel! there is but one source of happiness for all mankind, the +favor of God (15) for he alone is able to give good things to +those that deserve them, and to deprive those of them that sin +against him; towards whom, if you behave yourselves according to +his will, and according to what I, who well understand his mind, +do exhort you to, you will both be esteemed blessed, and will be +admired by all men; and will never come into misfortunes, nor +cease to be happy: you will then preserve the possession of the +good things you already have, and will quickly obtain those that +you are at present in want of, - only do you be obedient to those +whom God would have you to follow. Nor do you prefer any other +constitution of government before the laws now given you; neither +do you disregard that way of Divine worship which you now have, +nor change it for any other form: and if you do this, you will be +the most courageous of all men, in undergoing the fatigues of +war, and will not be easily conquered by any of your enemies; for +while God is present with you to assist you, it is to be expected +that you will be able to despise the opposition of all mankind; +and great rewards of virtue are proposed for you, if you preserve +that virtue through your whole lives. Virtue itself is indeed the +principal and the first reward, and after that it bestows +abundance of others; so that your exercise of virtue towards +other men will make your own lives happy, and render you more +glorious than foreigners can be, and procure you an undisputed +reputation with posterity. These blessings you will be able to +obtain, in case you hearken to and observe those laws which, by +Divine revelation, I have ordained for you; that is, in case you +withal meditate upon the wisdom that is in them. I am going from +you myself, rejoicing in the good things you enjoy; and I +recommend you to the wise conduct of your law, to the becoming +order of your polity, and to the virtues of your commanders, who +will take care of what is for your advantage. And that God, who +has been till now your Leader, and by whose goodwill I have +myself been useful to you, will not put a period now to his +providence over you, but as long as you desire to have him your +Protector in your pursuits after virtue, so long will you enjoy +his care over you. Your high priest also Eleazar, as well as +Joshua, with the senate, and chief of your tribes, will go before +you, and suggest the best advices to you; by following which +advices you will continue to be happy: to whom do you give ear +without reluctance, as sensible that all such as know well how to +be governed, will also know how to govern, if they be promoted to +that authority themselves. And do not you esteem liberty to +consist in opposing such directions as your governors think fit +to give you for your practice, - as at present indeed you place +your liberty in nothing else but abusing your benefactors; which +error if you can avoid for the time to come, your affairs will be +in a better condition than they have hitherto been. Nor do you +ever indulge such a degree of passion in these matters, as you +have oftentimes done when you have been very angry at me; for you +know that I have been oftener in danger of death from you than +from our enemies. What I now put you in mind of, is not done in +order to reproach you; for I do not think it proper, now I am +going out of the world, to bring this to your remembrance, in +order to leave you offended at me, since, at the time when I +underwent those hardships from you, I was not angry at you; but I +do it in order to make you wiser hereafter, and to teach you that +this will be for your security; I mean, that you never be +injurious to those that preside over you, even when you are +become rich, as you will be to a great degree when you have +passed over Jordan, and are in possession of the land of Canaan. +Since, when you shall have once proceeded so far by your wealth, +as to a contempt and disregard of virtue, you will also forfeit +the favor of God; and when you have made him your enemy, you will +be beaten in war, and will have the land which you possess taken +away again from you by your enemies, and this with great +reproaches upon your conduct. You will be scattered over the +whole world, and will, as slaves, entirely fill both sea and +land; and when once you have had the experience of what I now +say, you will repent, and remember the laws you have broken, when +it is too late. Whence I would advise you, if you intend to +preserve these laws, to leave none of your enemies alive when you +have conquered them, but to look upon it as for your advantage to +destroy them all, lest, if you permit them to live, you taste of +their manners, and thereby corrupt your own proper institutions. +I also do further exhort you, to overthrow their altars, and +their groves, and whatsoever temples they have among them, and to +burn all such, their nation, and their very memory with fire; for +by this means alone the safety of your own happy constitution can +be firmly secured to you. And in order to prevent your ignorance +of virtue, and the degeneracy of your nature into vice, I have +also ordained you laws, by Divine suggestion, and a form of +government, which are so good, that if you regularly observe +them, you will be esteemed of all men the most happy." + +3. When he had spoken thus, he gave them the laws and the +constitution of government written in a book. Upon which the +people fell into tears, and appeared already touched with the +sense that they should have a great want of their conductor, +because they remembered what a number of dangers he had passed +through, and what care he had taken of their preservation: they +desponded about what would come upon them after he was dead, and +thought they should never have another governor like him; and +feared that God would then take less care of them when Moses was +gone, who used to intercede for them. They also repented of what +they had said to him in the wilderness when they were angry, and +were in grief on those accounts, insomuch that the whole body of +the people fell into tears with such bitterness, that it was past +the power of words to comfort them in their affliction. However, +Moses gave them some consolation; and by calling them off the +thought how worthy he was of their weeping for him, he exhorted +them to keep to that form of government he had given them; and +then the congregation was dissolved at that time. + +4. Accordingly, I shall now first describe this form of +government which was agreeable to the dignity and virtue of +Moses; and shall thereby inform those that read these +Antiquities, what our original settlements were, and shall then +proceed to the remaining histories. Now those settlements are all +still in writing, as he left them; and we shall add nothing by +way of ornament, nor any thing besides what Moses left us; only +we shall so far innovate, as to digest the several kinds of laws +into a regular system; for they were by him left in writing as +they were accidentally scattered in their delivery, and as he +upon inquiry had learned them of God. On which account I have +thought it necessary to premise this observation beforehand, lest +any of my own countrymen should blame me, as having been guilty +of an offense herein. Now part of our constitution will include +the laws that belong to our political state. As for those laws +which Moses left concerning our common conversation and +intercourse one with another, I have reserved that for a +discourse concerning our manner of life, and the occasions of +those laws; which I propose to myself, with God's assistance, to +write, after I have finished the work I am now upon. + +5. When you have possessed yourselves of the land of Canaan, and +have leisure to enjoy the good things of it, and when you have +afterward determined to build cities, if you will do what is +pleasing to God, you will have a secure state of happiness. Let +there be then one city of the land of Canaan, and this situate in +the most agreeable place for its goodness, and very eminent in +itself, and let it be that which God shall choose for himself by +prophetic revelation. Let there also be one temple therein, and +one altar, not reared of hewn stones, but of such as you gather +together at random; which stones, when they are whited over with +mortar, will have a handsome appearance, and be beautiful to the +sight. Let the ascent to it be not by steps (16) but by an +acclivity of raised earth. And let there be neither an altar nor +a temple in any other city; for God is but one, and the nation of +the Hebrews is but one. + +6. He that blasphemeth God, let him be stoned; and let him hang +upon a tree all that day, and then let him be buried in an +ignominious and obscure manner. + +7. Let those that live as remote as the bounds of the land which +the Hebrews shall possess, come to that city where the temple +shall be, and this three times in a year, that they may give +thanks to God for his former benefits, and may entreat him for +those they shall want hereafter; and let them, by this means, +maintain a friendly correspondence with one another by such +meetings and feastings together, for it is a good thing for those +that are of the same stock, and under the same institution of +laws, not to be unacquainted with each other; which acquaintance +will be maintained by thus conversing together, and by seeing and +talking with one another, and so renewing the memorials of this +union; for if they do not thus converse together continually, +they will appear like mere strangers to one another. + +8. Let there be taken out of your fruits a tenth, besides that +which you have allotted to give to the priests and Levites. This +you may indeed sell in the country, but it is to be used in those +feasts and sacrifices that are to be celebrated in the holy city; +for it is fit that you should enjoy those fruits of the earth +which God gives you to possess, so as may be to the honor of the +donor. + +9. You are not to offer sacrifices out of the hire of a woman who +is a harlot (17) for the Deity is not pleased with any thing that +arises from such abuses of nature; of which sort none can be +worse than this prostitution of the body. In like manner no one +may take the price of the covering of a bitch, either of one that +is used in hunting, or in keeping of sheep, and thence sacrifice +to God. + +10. Let no one blaspheme those gods which other cities esteem +such; (18) nor may any one steal what belongs to strange temples, +nor take away the gifts that are dedicated to any god. + +11. Let not any one of you wear a garment made of woolen and +linen, for that is appointed to be for the priests alone. + +12. When the multitude are assembled together unto the holy city +for sacrificing every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, +let the high priest stand upon a high desk, whence he may be +heard, and let him read the laws to all the people; and let +neither the women nor the children be hindered from hearing, no, +nor the servants neither; for it is a good thing that those laws +should be engraven in their souls, and preserved in their +memories, that so it may not be possible to blot them out; for by +this means they will not be guilty of sin, when they cannot plead +ignorance of what the laws have enjoined them. The laws also will +have a greater authority among them, as foretelling what they +will suffer if they break them; and imprinting in their souls by +this hearing what they command them to do, that so there may +always be within their minds that intention of the laws which +they have despised and broken, and have thereby been the causes +of their own mischief. Let the children also learn the laws, as +the first thing they are taught, which will be the best thing +they can be taught, and will be the cause of their future +felicity. + +13. Let every one commemorate before God the benefits which he +bestowed upon them at their deliverance out of the land of Egypt, +and this twice every day, both when the day begins and when the +hour of sleep comes on, gratitude being in its own nature a just +thing, and serving not only by way of return for past, but also +by way of invitation of future favors. They are also to inscribe +the principal blessings they have received from God upon their +doors, and show the same remembrance of them upon their arms; as +also they are to bear on their forehead and their arm those +wonders which declare the power of God, and his good-will towards +them, that God's readiness to bless them may appear every where +conspicuous about them. (19) + +14. Let there be seven men to judge in every city, (20) and these +such as have been before most zealous in the exercise of virtue +and righteousness. Let every judge have two officers allotted him +out of the tribe of Levi. Let those that are chosen to judge in +the several cities be had in great honor; and let none be +permitted to revile any others when these are present, nor to +carry themselves in an insolent manner to them; it being natural +that reverence towards those in high offices among men should +procure men's fear and reverence towards God. Let those that +judge be permitted to determine according as they think to be +right, unless any one can show that they have taken bribes, to +the perversion of justice, or can allege any other accusation +against them, whereby it may appear that they have passed an +unjust sentence; for it is not fit that causes should be openly +determined out of regard to gain, or to the dignity of the +suitors, but that the judges should esteem what is right before +all other things, otherwise God will by that means be despised, +and esteemed inferior to those, the dread of whose power has +occasioned the unjust sentence; for justice is the power of God. +He therefore that gratifies those in great dignity, supposes them +more potent than God himself. But if these judges be unable to +give a just sentence about the causes that come before them, +(which case is not unfrequent in human affairs,) let them send +the cause undetermined to the holy city, and there let the high +priest, the prophet, and the sanhedrim, determine as it shall +seem good to them. + +15. But let not a single witness be credited, but three, or two +at the least, and those such whose testimony is confirmed by +their good lives. But let not the testimony of women be admitted, +on account of the levity and boldness of their sex (21) Nor let +servants be admitted to give testimony, on account of the +ignobility of their soul; since it is probable that they may not +speak truth, either out of hope of gain, or fear of punishment. +But if any one be believed to have borne false witness, let him, +when he is convicted, suffer all the very same punishments which +he against whom he bore witness was to have suffered. + +16. If a murder be committed in any place, and he that did it be +not found, nor is there any suspicion upon one as if he had hated +the man, and so had killed him, let there be a very diligent +inquiry made after the man, and rewards proposed to any one who +will discover him; but if still no information can be procured, +let the magistrates and senate of those cities that lie near the +place in which the murder was committed, assemble together, and +measure the distance from the place where the dead body lies; +then let the magistrates of the nearest city thereto purchase a +heifer, and bring it to a valley, and to a place therein where +there is no land ploughed or trees planted, and let them cut the +sinews of the heifer; then the priests and Levites, and the +senate of that city, shall take water and wash their hands over +the head of the heifer; and they shall openly declare that their +hands are innocent of this murder, and that they have neither +done it themselves, nor been assisting to any that did it. They +shall also beseech God to be merciful to them, that no such +horrid act may any more be done in that land. + +17. Aristocracy, and the way of living under it, is the best +constitution: and may you never have any inclination to any other +form of government; and may you always love that form, and have +the laws for your governors, and govern all your actions +according to them; for you need no supreme governor but God. But +if you shall desire a king, let him be one of your own nation; +let him be always careful of justice and other virtues +perpetually; let him submit to the laws, and esteem God's +commands to be his highest wisdom; but let him do nothing without +the high priest and the votes of the senators: let him not have a +great number of wives, nor pursue after abundance of riches, nor +a multitude of horses, whereby he may grow too proud to submit to +the laws. And if he affect any such things, let him be +restrained, lest he become so potent that his state be +inconsistent with your welfare. + +18. Let it not be esteemed lawful to remove boundaries, neither +our own, nor of those with whom we are at peace. Have a care you +do not take those landmarks away which are, as it were, a divine +and unshaken limitation of rights made by God himself, to last +for ever; since this going beyond limits, and gaining ground upon +others, is the occasion of wars and seditions; for those that +remove boundaries are not far off an attempt to subvert the laws. + +19. He that plants a piece of land, the trees of which produce +fruits before the fourth year, is not to bring thence any +first-fruits to God, nor is he to make use of that fruit himself, +for it is not produced in its proper season; for when nature has +a force put upon her at an unseasonable time, the fruit is not +proper for God, nor for the master's use; but let the owner +gather all that is grown on the fourth year, for then it is in its +proper season. And let him that has gathered it carry it to the +holy city, and spend that, together with the tithe of his other +fruits, in feasting with his friends, with the orphans, and the +widows. But on the fifth year the fruit is his own, and he may +use it as he pleases. + +20. You are not to sow with seed a piece of land which is planted +with vines, for it is enough that it supply nourishment to that +plant, and be not harassed by ploughing also. You are to plough +your land with oxen, and not to oblige other animals to come +under the same yoke with them; but to till your land with those +beasts that are of the same kind with each other. The seeds are +also to be pure, and without mixture, and not to be compounded of +two or three sorts, since nature does not rejoice in the union of +things that are not in their own nature alike; nor are you to +permit beasts of different kinds to gender together, for there is +reason to fear that this unnatural abuse may extend from beasts +of different kinds to men, though it takes its first rise from +evil practices about such smaller things. Nor is any thing to be +allowed, by imitation whereof any degree of subversion may creep +into the constitution. Nor do the laws neglect small matters, but +provide that even those may be managed after an unblamable +manner. + +21. Let not those that reap, and gather in the corn that is +reaped, gather in the gleanings also; but let them rather leave +some handfuls for those that are in want of the necessaries of +life, that it may be a support and a supply to them, in order to +their subsistence. In like manner when they gather their grapes, +let them leave some smaller bunches for the poor, and let them +pass over some of the fruits of the olive-trees, when they gather +them, and leave them to be partaken of by those that have none of +their own; for the advantage arising from the exact collection of +all, will not be so considerable to the owners as will arise from +the gratitude of the poor. And God will provide that the land +shall more willingly produce what shall be for the nourishment of +its fruits, in case you do not merely take care of your own +advantage, but have regard to the support of others also. Nor are +you to muzzle the mouths of the oxen when they tread the ears of +corn in the thrashing-floor; for it is not just to restrain our +fellow-laboring animals, and those that work in order to its +production, of this fruit of their labors. Nor are you to +prohibit those that pass by at the time when your fruits are ripe +to touch them, but to give them leave to fill themselves full of +what you have; and this whether they be of your own country or +strangers, - as being glad of the opportunity of giving them some +part of your fruits when they are ripe; but let it not be +esteemed lawful for them to carry any away. Nor let those that +gather the grapes, and carry them to the wine-presses, restrain +those whom they meet from eating of them; for it is unjust, out +of envy, to hinder those that desire it, to partake of the good +things that come into the world according to God's will, and this +while the season is at the height, and is hastening away as it +pleases God. Nay, if some, out of bashfulness, are unwilling to +touch these fruits, let them be encouraged to take of them (I +mean, those that are Israelites) as if they were themselves the +owners and lords, on account of the kindred there is between +them. Nay, let them desire men that come from other countries, to +partake of these tokens of friendship which God has given in +their proper season; for that is not to be deemed as idly spent, +which any one out of kindness communicates to another, since God +bestows plenty of good things on men, not only for themselves to +reap the advantage, but also to give to others in a way of +generosity; and he is desirous, by this means, to make known to +others his peculiar kindness to the people of Israel, and how +freely he communicates happiness to them, while they abundantly +communicate out of their great superfluities to even these +foreigners also. But for him that acts contrary to this law, let +him be beaten with forty stripes save one (22) by the public +executioner; let him undergo this punishment, which is a most +ignominious one for a free-man, and this because he was such a +slave to gain as to lay a blot upon his dignity; for it is proper +for you who have had the experience of the afflictions in Egypt, +and of those in the wilderness, to make provision for those that +are in the like circumstances; and while you have now obtained +plenty yourselves, through the mercy and providence of God, to +distribute of the same plenty, by the like sympathy, to such as +stand in need of it. + +22. Besides those two tithes, which I have already said you are +to pay every year, the one for the Levites, the other for the +festivals, you are to bring every third year a third tithe to be +distributed to those that want; (23) to women also that are +widows, and to children that are orphans. But as to the ripe +fruits, let them carry that which is ripe first of all into the +temple; and when they have blessed God for that land which bare +them, and which he had given them for a possession, when they +have also offered those sacrifices which the law has commanded +them to bring, let them give the first-fruits to the priests. But +when any one hath done this, and hath brought the tithe of all +that he hath, together with those first-fruits that are for the +Levites, and for the festivals, and when he is about to go home, +let him stand before the holy house, and return thanks to God, +that he hath delivered them from the injurious treatment they had +in Egypt, and hath given them a good land, and a large, and lets +them enjoy the fruits thereof; and when he hath openly testified +that he hath fully paid the tithes [and other dues] according to +the laws of Moses, let him entreat God that he will be ever +merciful and gracious to him, and continue so to be to all the +Hebrews, both by preserving the good things which he hath already +given them, and by adding what it is still in his power to bestow +upon them. + +23. Let the Hebrews marry, at the age fit for it, virgins that +are free, and born of good parents. And he that does not marry a +virgin, let him not corrupt another man's wife, and marry her, +nor grieve her former husband. Nor let free men marry slaves, +although their affections should strongly bias any of them so to +do; for it is decent, and for the dignity of the persons +themselves, to govern those their affections. And further, no one +ought to marry a harlot, whose matrimonial oblations, arising +from the prostitution of her body, God will not receive; for by +these means the dispositions of the children will be liberal and +virtuous; I mean, when they are not born of base parents, and of +the lustful conjunction of such as marry women that are not free. +If any one has been espoused to a woman as to a virgin, and does +not afterward find her so to be, let him bring his action, and +accuse her, and let him make use of such indications (24) to +prove his accusation as he is furnished withal; and let the +father or the brother of the damsel, or some one that is after +them nearest of kin to her, defend her If the damsel obtain a +sentence in her favor, that she had not been guilty, let her live +with her husband that accused her; and let him not have any +further power at all to put her away, unless she give him very +great occasions of suspicion, and such as can be no way +contradicted. But for him that brings an accusation and calumny +against his wife in an impudent and rash manner, let him be +punished by receiving forty stripes save one, and let him pay +fifty shekels to her father: but if the damsel be convicted, as +having been corrupted, and is one of the common people, let her +be stoned, because she did not preserve her virginity till she +were lawfully married; but if she were the daughter of a priest, +let her be burnt alive. If any one has two wives, and if he +greatly respect and be kind to one of them, either out of his +affection to her, or for her beauty, or for some other reason, +while the other is of less esteem with him; and if the son of her +that is beloved be the younger by birth than another born of the +other wife, but endeavors to obtain the right of primogeniture +from his father's kindness to his mother, and would thereby +obtain a double portion of his father's substance, for that +double portion is what I have allotted him in the laws, - let not +this be permitted; for it is unjust that he who is the elder by +birth should be deprived of what is due to him, on the father's +disposition of his estate, because his mother was not equally +regarded by him. He that hath corrupted a damsel espoused to +another man, in case he had her consent, let both him and her be +put to death, for they are both equally guilty; the man, because +he persuaded the woman willingly to submit to a most impure +action, and to prefer it to lawful wedlock; the woman, because +she was persuaded to yield herself to be corrupted, either for +pleasure or for gain. However, if a man light on a woman when she +is alone, and forces her, where nobody was present to come to her +assistance, let him only be put to death. Let him that hath +corrupted a virgin not yet espoused marry her; but if the father +of the damsel be not willing that she should be his wife, let him +pay fifty shekels as the price of her prostitution. He that +desires to be divorced from his wife for any cause (25) +whatsoever, (and many such causes happen among men,) let him in +writing give assurance that he will never use her as his wife any +more; for by this means she may be at liberty to marry another +husband, although before this bill of divorce be given, she is +not to be permitted so to do: but if she be misused by him also, +or if, when he is dead, her first husband would marry her again, +it shall not be lawful for her to return to him. If a woman's +husband die, and leave her without children, let his brother +marry her, and let him call the son that is born to him by his +brother's name, and educate him as the heir of his inheritance, +for this procedure will be for the benefit of the public, because +thereby families will not fail, and the estate will continue +among the kindred; and this will be for the solace of wives under +their affliction, that they are to be married to the next +relation of their former husbands. But if the brother will not +marry her, let the woman come before the senate, and protest +openly that this brother will not admit her for his wife, but +will injure the memory of his deceased brother, while she is +willing to continue in the family, and to hear him children. And +when the senate have inquired of him for what reason it is that +he is averse to this marriage, whether he gives a bad or a good +reason, the matter must come to this issue, That the woman shall +loose the sandals of the brother, and shall spit in his face, and +say, He deserves this reproachful treatment from her, as having +injured the memory of the deceased. And then let him go away out +of the senate, and bear this reproach upon him all his life long; +and let her marry to whom she pleases, of such as seek her in +marriage. But now, if any man take captive, either a virgin, or +one that hath been married, (26) and has a mind to marry her, let +him not be allowed to bring her to bed to him, or to live with +her as his wife, before she hath her head shaven, and hath put on +her mourning habit, and lamented her relations and friends that +were slain in the battle, that by this means she may give vent to +her sorrow for them, and after that may betake herself to +feasting and matrimony; for it is good for him that takes a +woman, in order to have children by her, to be complaisant to her +inclinations, and not merely to pursue his own pleasure, while he +hath no regard to what is agreeable to her. But when thirty days +are past, as the time of mourning, for so many are sufficient to +prudent persons for lamenting the dearest friends, then let them +proceed to the marriage; but in case when he hath satisfied his +lust, he be too proud to retain her for his wife, let him not +have it in his power to make her a slave, but let her go away +whither she pleases, and have that privilege of a free woman. + +24. As to those young men that despise their parents, and do not +pay them honor, but offer them affronts, either because they are +ashamed of them or think themselves wiser than they, - in the +first place, let their parents admonish them in words, (for they +are by nature of authority sufficient for becoming their judges,) +and let them say thus to them:-- That they cohabited together, +not for the sake of pleasure, nor for the augmentation of their +riches, by joining both their stocks together, but that they +might have children to take care of them in their old age, and +might by them have what they then should want. And say further to +him, "That when thou wast born, we took thee up with gladness, +and gave God the greatest thanks for thee, and brought time up +with great care, and spared for nothing that appeared useful for +thy preservation, and for thy instruction in what was most +excellent. And now, since it is reasonable to forgive the sins of +those that are young, let it suffice thee to have given so many +indications Of thy contempt of us; reform thyself, and act more +wisely for the time to come; considering that God is displeased +with those that are insolent towards their parents, because he is +himself the Father of the whole race of mankind, and seems to +bear part of that dishonor which falls upon those that have the +same name, when they do not meet with dire returns from their +children. And on such the law inflicts inexorable punishment; of +which punishment mayst thou never have the experience." Now if +the insolence of young men be thus cured, let them escape the +reproach which their former errors deserved; for by this means +the lawgiver will appear to be good, and parents happy, while +they never behold either a son or a daughter brought to +punishment. But if it happen that these words and instructions, +conveyed by them in order to reclaim the man, appear to be +useless, then the offender renders the laws implacable enemies to +the insolence he has offered his parents; let him therefore be +brought forth (27) by these very parents out of the city, with a +multitude following him, and there let him be stoned; and when he +has continued there for one whole day, that all the people may +see him, let him be buried in the night. And thus it is that we +bury all whom the laws condemn to die, upon any account +whatsoever. Let our enemies that fall in battle be also buried; +nor let any one dead body lie above the ground, or suffer a +punishment beyond what justice requires. + +25. Let no one lend to any one of the Hebrews upon usury, neither +usury of what is eaten or what is drunken, for it is not just to +make advantage of the misfortunes of one of thy own countrymen; +but when thou hast been assistant to his necessities, think it +thy gain if thou obtainest their gratitude to thee; and withal +that reward which will come to thee from God, for thy humanity +towards him. + +26. Those who have borrowed either silver or any sort of fruits, +whether dry or wet, (I mean this, when the Jewish affairs shall, +by the blessing of God, be to their own mind,) let the borrowers +bring them again, and restore them with pleasure to those who +lent them, laying them up, as it were, in their own treasuries, +and justly expecting to receive them thence, if they shall want +them again. But if they be without shame, and do not restore it, +let not the lender go to the borrower's house, and take a pledge +himself, before judgment be given concerning it; but let him +require the pledge, and let the debtor bring it of himself, +without the least opposition to him that comes upon him under the +protection of the law. And if he that gave the pledge be rich, +let the creditor retain it till what he lent be paid him again; +but if he be poor, let him that takes it return it before the +going down of the sun, especially if the pledge be a garment, +that the debtor may have it for a covering in his sleep, God +himself naturally showing mercy to the poor. It is also not +lawful to take a millstone, nor any utensil thereto belonging, +for a pledge, that the debtor, may not be deprived of instruments +to get their food withal, and lest they be undone by their +necessity. + +27. Let death be the punishment for stealing a man; but he that +hath purloined gold or silver, let him pay double. If any one +kill a man that is stealing something out of his house, let him +be esteemed guiltless, although the man were only breaking in at +the wall. Let him that hath stolen cattle pay fourfold what is +lost, excepting the case of an ox, for which let the thief pay +fivefold. Let him that is so poor that he cannot pay what mulet +is laid upon him, be his servant to whom he was adjudged to pay +it. + +28. If any one be sold to one of his own nation, let him serve +him six years, and on the seventh let him go free. But if he have +a son by a woman servant in his purchaser's house, and if, on +account of his good-will to his master, and his natural affection +to his wife and children, he will be his servant still, let him +be set free only at the coming of the year of jubilee, which is +the fiftieth year, and let him then take away with him his +children and wife, and let them be free also. + +29. If any one find gold or silver on the road, let him inquire +after him that lost it, and make proclamation of the place where +he found it, and then restore it to him again, as not thinking it +right to make his own profit by the loss of another. And the same +rule is to be observed in cattle found to have wandered away into +a lonely place. If the owner be not presently discovered, let him +that is the finder keep it with himself, and appeal to God that +he has not purloined what belongs to another. + +30. It is not lawful to pass by any beast that is in distress, +when in a storm it is fallen down in the mire, but to endeavor to +preserve it, as having a sympathy with it in its pain. + +31. It is also a duty to show the roads to those who do not know +them, and not to esteem it a matter for sport, when we hinder +others' advantages, by setting them in a wrong way. + +32. In like manner, let no one revile a person blind or dumb. + +33. If men strive together, and there be no instrument of iron, +let him that is smitten be avenged immediately, by inflicting the +same punishment on him that smote him: but if when he is carried +home he lie sick many days, and then die, let him that smote him +not escape punishment; but if he that is smitten escape death, +and yet be at great expense for his cure, the smiter shall pay +for all that has been expended during the time of his sickness, +and for all that he has paid the physician. He that kicks a woman +with child, so that the woman miscarry, (28) let him pay a fine +in money, as the judges shall determine, as having diminished the +multitude by the destruction of what was in her womb; and let +money also be given the woman's husband by him that kicked her; +but if she die of the stroke, let him also be put to death, the +law judging it equitable that life should go for life. + +34. Let no one of the Israelites keep any poison (29) that may +cause death, or any other harm; but if he be caught with it, let +him be put to death, and suffer the very same mischief that he +would have brought upon them for whom the poison was prepared. + +35. He that maimeth any one, let him undergo the like himself, +and be deprived of the same member of which he hath deprived the +other, unless he that is maimed will accept of money instead of +it (30) for the law makes the sufferer the judge of the value of +what he hath suffered, and permits him to estimate it, unless he +will be more severe. + +36. Let him that is the owner of an ox which pusheth with his +horn, kill him: but if he pushes and gores any one in the +thrashing-floor, let him be put to death by stoning, and let him +not be thought fit for food: but if his owner be convicted as +having known what his nature was, and hath not kept him up, let +him also be put to death, as being the occasion of the ox's +having killed a man. But if the ox have killed a man-servant, or +a maid-servant, let him be stoned; and let the owner of the ox +pay thirty shekels (31) to the master of him that was slain; but +if it be an ox that is thus smitten and killed, let both the +oxen, that which smote the other and that which was killed, be +sold, and let the owners of them divide their price between them. + +37. Let those that dig a well or a pit be careful to lay planks +over them, and so keep them shut up, not in order to hinder any +persons from drawing water, but that there may be no danger of +falling into them. But if any one's beast fall into such a well +or pit thus digged, and not shut up, and perish, let the owner +pay its price to the owner of the beast. Let there be a +battlement round the tops of your houses instead of a wall, that +may prevent any persons from rolling down and perishing. + +38. Let him that has received any thing in trust for another, +take care to keep it as a sacred and divine thing; and let no one +invent any contrivance whereby to deprive him that hath intrusted +it with him of the same, and this whether he be a man or a woman; +no, not although he or she were to gain an immense sum of gold, +and this where he cannot be convicted of it by any body; for it +is fit that a man's own conscience, which knows what he hath, +should in all cases oblige him to do well. Let this conscience be +his witness, and make him always act so as may procure him +commendation from others; but let him chiefly have regard to God, +from whom no wicked man can lie concealed: but if he in whom the +trust was reposed, without any deceit of his own, lose what he +was intrusted withal, let him come before the seven judges, and +swear by God that nothing hath been lost willingly, or with a +wicked intention, and that he hath not made use of any part +thereof, and so let him depart without blame; but if he hath made +use of the least part of what was committed to him, and it be +lost, let him be condemned to repay all that he had received. +After the same manner as in these trusts it is to be, if any one +defraud those that undergo bodily labor for him. And let it be +always remembered, that we are not to defraud a poor man of his +wages, as being sensible that God has allotted these wages to him +instead of land and other possessions; nay, this payment is not +at all to be delayed, but to be made that very day, since God is +not willing to deprive the laborer of the immediate use of what +he hath labored for. + +39. You are not to punish children for the faults of their +parents, but on account of their own virtue rather to vouchsafe +them commiseration, because they were born of wicked parents, +than hatred, because they were born of bad ones. Nor indeed ought +we to impute the sin of children to their fathers, while young +persons indulge themselves in many practices different from what +they have been instructed in, and this by their proud refusal of +such instruction. + +40. Let those that have made themselves eunuchs be had in +detestation; and do you avoid any conversation with them who have +deprived themselves of their manhood, and of that fruit of +generation which God has given to men for the increase of their +kind: let such be driven away, as if they had killed their +children, since they beforehand have lost what should procure +them; for evident it is, that while their soul is become +effeminate, they have withal transfused that effeminacy to their +body also. In like manner do you treat all that is of a monstrous +nature when it is looked on; nor is it lawful to geld men or any +other animals. (32) + +41. Let this be the constitution of your political laws in time +of peace, and God will be so merciful as to preserve this +excellent settlement free from disturbance: and may that time +never come which may innovate any thing, and change it for the +contrary. But since it must needs happen that mankind fall into +troubles and dangers, either undesignedly or intentionally, come +let us make a few constitutions concerning them, that so being +apprised beforehand what ought to be done, you may have salutary +counsels ready when you want them, and may not then be obliged to +go to seek what is to be done, and so be unprovided, and fall +into dangerous circumstances. May you be a laborious people, and +exercise your souls in virtuous actions, and thereby possess and +inherit the land without wars; while neither any foreigners make +war upon it, and so afflict you, nor any internal sedition seize +upon it, whereby you may do things that are contrary to your +fathers, and so lose the laws which they have established. And +may you continue in the observation of those laws which God hath +approved of, and hath delivered to you. Let all sort of warlike +operations, whether they befall you now in your own time, or +hereafter in the times of your posterity, be done out of your own +borders: but when you are about to go to war, send embassages and +heralds to those who are your voluntary enemies, for it is a +right thing to make use of words to them before you come to your +weapons of war; and assure them thereby, that although you have a +numerous army, with horses and weapons, and, above these, a God +merciful to you, and ready to assist you, you do however desire +them not to compel you to fight against them, nor to take from +them what they have, which will indeed be our gain, but what they +will have no reason to wish we should take to ourselves. And if +they hearken to you, it will be proper for you to keep peace with +them; but if they trust in their own strength, as superior to +yours, and will not do you justice, lead your army against them, +making use of God as your supreme Commander, but ordaining for a +lieutenant under him one that is of the greatest courage among +you; for these different commanders, besides their being an +obstacle to actions that are to be done on the sudden, are a +disadvantage to those that make use of them. Lead an army pure, +and of chosen men, composed of all such as have extraordinary +strength of body and hardiness of soul; but do you send away the +timorous part, lest they run away in the time of action, and so +afford an advantage to your enemies. Do you also give leave to +those that have lately built them houses, and have not yet lived +in them a year's time; and to those that have planted them +vineyards, and have not yet been partakers of their fruits, - to +continue in their own country; as well as those also who have +betrothed, or lately married them wives, lest they have such an +affection for these things that they be too sparing of their +lives, and, by reserving themselves for these enjoyments, they +become voluntary cowards, on account of their wives. + +42. When you have pitched your camp, take care that you do +nothing that is cruel. And when you are engaged in a siege; and +want timber for the making of warlike engines, do not you render +the land naked by cutting down trees that bear fruit, but spare +them, as considering that they were made for the benefit of men; +and that if they could speak, they would have a just plea against +you, because, though they are not occasions of the war, they are +unjustly treated, and suffer in it, and would, if they were able, +remove themselves into another land. When you have beaten your +enemies in battle, slay those that have fought against you; but +preserve the others alive, that they may pay you tribute, +excepting the nation of the Canaanites; for as to that people, +you must entirely destroy them. + +43, Take care, especially in your battles, that no woman use the +habit of a man, nor man the garment of a woman. + +44. This was the form of political government which was left us +by Moses. Moreover, he had already delivered laws in writing (33) +in the fortieth year [after they came out of Egypt], concerning +which we will discourse in another book. But now on the following +days (for he called them to assemble continually) he delivered +blessings to them, and curses upon those that should not live +according to the laws, but should transgress the duties that were +determined for them to observe. After this, he read to them a +poetic song, which was composed in hexameter verse, and left it +to them in the holy book: it contained a prediction of what was +to come to pass afterward; agreeably whereto all things have +happened all along, and do still happen to us; and wherein he has +not at all deviated from the truth. Accordingly, he delivered +these books to the priest, (34) with the ark; into which he also +put the ten commandments, written on two tables. He delivered to +them the tabernacle also, and exhorted the people, that when they +had conquered the land, and were settled in it, they should not +forget the injuries of the Amalekites, but make war against them, +and inflict punishment upon them for what mischief they did them +when they were in the wilderness; and that when they had got +possession of the land of the Canaanites, and when they had +destroyed the whole multitude of its inhabitants, as they ought +to do, they should erect an altar that should face the rising +sun, not far from the city of Shechem, between the two mountains, +that of Gerizzim, situate on the right hand, and that called +Ebal, on the left; and that the army should be so divided, that +six tribes should stand upon each of the two mountains, and with +them the Levites and the priests. And that first, those that were +upon Mount Gerizzim should pray for the best blessings upon those +who were diligent about the worship of God, and the observation +of his laws, and who did not reject what Moses had said to them; +while the other wished them all manner of happiness also; and +when these last put up the like prayers, the former praised them. +After this, curses were denounced upon those that should +transgress those laws, they, answering one another alternately, +by way of confirmation of what had been said. Moses also wrote +their blessings and their curses, that they might learn them so +thoroughly, that they might never be forgotten by length of time. +And when he was ready to die, he wrote these blessings and curses +upon the altar, on each side of it; where he says also the people +stood, and then sacrificed and offered burnt-offerings, though +after that day they never offered upon it any other sacrifice, +for it was not lawful so to do. These are the constitutions of +Moses; and the Hebrew nation still live according to them. + +45. On the next day, Moses called the people together, with the +women and children, to a congregation, so as the very slaves were +present also, that they might engage themselves to the +observation of these laws by oath; and that, duly considering the +meaning of God in them, they might not, either for favor of their +kindred, or out of fear of any one, or indeed for any motive +whatsoever, think any thing ought to be preferred to these laws, +and so might transgress them. That in case any one of their own +blood, or any city, should attempt to confound or dissolve their +constitution of government, they should take vengeance upon them, +both all in general, and each person in particular; and when they +had conquered them, should overturn their city to the very +foundations, and, if possible, should not leave the least +footsteps of such madness: but that if they were not able to take +such vengeance, they should still demonstrate that what was done +was contrary to their wills. So the multitude bound themselves by +oath so to do. + +46. Moses taught them also by what means their sacrifices might +be the most acceptable to God; and how they should go forth to +war, making use of the stones (in the high priest's breastplate) +for their direction, (35) as I have before signified. Joshua also +prophesied while Moses was present. And when Moses had +recapitulated whatsoever he had done for the preservation of the +people, both in their wars and in peace, and had composed them a +body of laws, and procured them an excellent form of government, +he foretold, as God had declared to him "That if they +transgressed that institution for the worship of God, they should +experience the following miseries:-- Their land should be full of +weapons of war from their enemies, and their cities should be +overthrown, and their temple should be burnt that they should be +sold for slaves, to such men as would have no pity on them in +their afflictions; that they would then repent, when that +repentance would no way profit them under their sufferings. +"Yet," said he, "will that God who founded your nation, restore +your cities to your citizens, with their temple also; and you +shall lose these advantages not once only, but often." + +47. Now when Moses had encouraged Joshua to lead out the army +against the Canaanites, by telling him that God would assist him +in all his undertakings, and had blessed the whole multitude, he +said, "Since I am going to my forefathers, and God has determined +that this should be the day of my departure to them, I return him +thanks while I am still alive and present with you, for that +providence he hath exercised over you, which hath not only +delivered us from the miseries we lay under, but hath bestowed a +state of prosperity upon us; as also, that he hath assisted me in +the pains I took, and in all the contrivances I had in my care +about you, in order to better your condition, and hath on all +occasions showed himself favorable to us; or rather he it was who +first conducted our affairs, and brought them to a happy +conclusion, by making use of me as a vicarious general under him, +and as a minister in those matters wherein he was willing to do +you good: on which account I think it proper to bless that Divine +Power which will take care of you for the time to come, and this +in order to repay that debt which I owe him, and to leave behind +me a memorial that we are obliged to worship and honor him, and +to keep those laws which are the most excellent gift of all those +he hath already bestowed upon us, or which, if he continue +favorable to us, he will bestow upon us hereafter. Certainly a +human legislator is a terrible enemy when his laws are affronted, +and are made to no purpose. And may you never experience that +displeasure of God which will be the consequence of the neglect +of these his laws, which he, who is your Creator, hath given +you." + +48. When Moses had spoken thus at the end of his life, and had +foretold what would befall to every one of their tribes (36) +afterward, with the addition of a blessing to them, the multitude +fell into tears, insomuch that even the women, by beating their +breasts, made manifest the deep concern they had when he was +about to die. The children also lamented still more, as not able +to contain their grief; and thereby declared, that even at their +age they were sensible of his virtue and mighty deeds; and truly +there seemed to be a strife betwixt the young and the old who +should most grieve for him. The old grieved because they knew +what a careful protector they were to be deprived of, and so +lamented their future state; but the young grieved, not only for +that, but also because it so happened that they were to be left +by him before they had well tasted of his virtue. Now one may +make a guess at the excess of this sorrow and lamentation of the +multitude, from what happened to the legislator himself; for +although he was always persuaded that he ought not to be cast +down at the approach of death, since the undergoing it was +agreeable to the will of God and the law of nature, yet what the +people did so overbore him, that he wept himself. Now as he went +thence to the place where he was to vanish out of their sight, +they all followed after him weeping; but Moses beckoned with his +hand to those that were remote from him, and bade them stay +behind in quiet, while he exhorted those that were near to him +that they would not render his departure so lamentable. Whereupon +they thought they ought to grant him that favor, to let him +depart according as he himself desired; so they restrained +themselves, though weeping still towards one another. All those +who accompanied him were the senate, and Eleazar the high priest, +and Joshua their commander. Now as soon as they were come to the +mountain called Abarim, (which is a very high mountain, situate +over against Jericho, and one that affords, to such as are upon +it, a prospect of the greatest part of the excellent land of +Canaan,) he dismissed the senate; and as he was going to embrace +Eleazar and Joshua, and was still discoursing with them, a cloud +stood over him on the sudden, and he disappeared in a certain +valley, although he wrote in the holy books that he died, which +was done out of fear, lest they should venture to say that, +because of his extraordinary virtue, he went to God. + +49. Now Moses lived in all one hundred and twenty years; a third +part of which time, abating one month, he was the people's ruler; +and he died on the last month of the year, which is called by the +Macedonians Dystrus, but by us Adar, on the first day of the +month. He was one that exceeded all men that ever were in +understanding, and made the best use of what that understanding +suggested to him. He had a very graceful way of speaking and +addressing himself to the multitude; and as to his other +qualifications, he had such a full command of his passions, as if +he hardly had any such in his soul, and only knew them by their +names, as rather perceiving them in other men than in himself. He +was also such a general of an army as is seldom seen, as well as +such a prophet as was never known, and this to such a degree, +that whatsoever he pronounced, you would think you heard the +voice of God himself. So the people mourned for him thirty days: +nor did ever any grief so deeply affect the Hebrews as did this +upon the death of Moses: nor were those that had experienced his +conduct the only persons that desired him, but those also that +perused the laws he left behind him had a strong desire after +him, and by them gathered the extraordinary virtue he was master +of. And this shall suffice for the declaration of the manner of +the death of Moses. + + + + +BOOK V. + +Containing The Interval Of Four Hundred And Seventy-Six Years. + +From The Death Of Moses To The Death Of Eli. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Joshua, The Commander Of The Hebrews, Made War With The +Canaanites, And Overcame Them, And Destroyed Them, And Divided +Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel. + + +1. When Moses was taken away from among men, in the manner +already described, and when all the solemnities belonging to the +mourning for him were finished, and the sorrow for him was over, +Joshua commanded the multitude to get themselves ready for an +expedition. He also sent spies to Jericho to discover what forces +they had, and what were their intentions; but he put his camp in +order, as intending soon to pass over Jordan at a proper season. +And calling to him the rulers of the tribe of Reuben, and the +governors of the tribe of Gad, and [the half tribe of] Manasseh, +for half of this tribe had been permitted to have their +habitation in the country of the Amorites, which was the seventh +part of the land of Canaan, (1) he put them in mind what they had +promised Moses; and he exhorted them that, for the sake of the +care that Moses had taken of them who had never been weary of +taking pains for them no, not when he was dying, and for the sake +of the public welfare, they would prepare themselves, and readily +perform what they had promised; so he took fifty thousand of them +who followed him, and he marched from Abila to Jordan, sixty +furlongs. + +2. Now when he had pitched his camp, the spies came to him +immediately, well acquainted with the whole state of the +Canaanites; for at first, before they were at all discovered, +they took a full view of the city of Jericho without disturbance, +and saw which parts of the walls were strong, and which parts +were otherwise, and indeed insecure, and which of the gates were +so weak as might afford an entrance to their army. Now those that +met them took no notice of them when they saw them, and supposed +they were only strangers, who used to be very curious in +observing everything in the city, and did not take them for +enemies; but at even they retired to a certain inn that was near +to the wall, whither they went to eat their supper; which supper +when they had done, and were considering how to get away, +information was given to the king as he was at supper, that there +were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp to view the city as +spies, and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab, and were very +solicitous that they might not be discovered. So he sent +immediately some to them, and commanded to catch them, and bring +them to him, that he might examine them by torture, and learn +what their business was there. As soon as Rahab understood that +these messengers were coming, she hid the spies under stalks of +flax, which were laid to dry on the top of her house; and said to +the messengers that were sent by the king, that certain unknown +strangers had supped with her a little before sun-setting, and +were gone away, who might easily be taken, if they were any +terror to the city, or likely to bring any danger to the king. So +these messengers being thus deluded by the woman, (2) and +suspecting no imposition, went their ways, without so much as +searching the inn; but they immediately pursued them along those +roads which they most probably supposed them to have gone, and +those particularly which led to the river, but could hear no +tidings of them; so they left off the pains of any further +pursuit. But when the tumult was over, Rahab brought the men +down, and desired them as soon as they should have obtained +possession of the land of Canaan, when it would be in their power +to make her amends for her preservation of them, to remember what +danger she had undergone for their sakes; for that if she had +been caught concealing them, she could not have escaped a +terrible destruction, she and all her family with her, and so bid +them go home; and desired them to swear to her to preserve her +and her family when they should take the city, and destroy all +its inhabitants, as they had decreed to do; for so far she said +she had been assured by those Divine miracles of which she had +been informed. So these spies acknowledged that they owed her +thanks for what she had done already, and withal swore to requite +her kindness, not only in words, but in deeds. But they gave her +this advice, That when she should perceive that the city was +about to be taken, she should put her goods, and all her family, +by way of security, in her inn, and to hang out scarlet threads +before her doors, [or windows,] that the commander of the Hebrews +might know her house, and take care to do her no harm; for, said +they, we will inform him of this matter, because of the concern +thou hast had to preserve us: but if any one of thy family fall +in the battle, do not thou blame us; and we beseech that God, by +whom we have sworn, not then to be displeased with us, as though +we had broken our oaths. So these men, when they had made this +agreement, went away, letting themselves down by a rope from the +wall, and escaped, and came and told their own people whatsoever +they had done in their journey to this city. Joshua also told +Eleazar the high priest, and the senate, what the spies had sworn +to Rahab, who continued what had been sworn. + +3. Now while Joshua, the commander, was in fear about their +passing over Jordan, for the river ran with a strong current, and +could not be passed over with bridges, for there never had been +bridges laid over it hitherto; and while he suspected, that if he +should attempt to make a bridge, that their enemies would not +afford him thee to perfect it, and for ferry-boats they had none, +- God promised so to dispose of the river, that they might pass +over it, and that by taking away the main part of its waters. So +Joshua, after two days, caused the army and the whole multitude +to pass over in the manner following:-- The priests went first of +all, having the ark with them; then went the Levites bearing the +tabernacle and the vessels which belonged to the sacrifices; +after which the entire multitude followed, according to their +tribes, having their children and their wives in the midst of +them, as being afraid for them, lest they should be borne away by +the stream. But as soon as the priests had entered the river +first, it appeared fordable, the depth of the water being +restrained and the sand appearing at the bottom, because the +current was neither so strong nor so swift as to carry it away by +its force; so they all passed over the river without fear, +finding it to be in the very same state as God had foretold he +would put it in; but the priests stood still in the midst of the +river till the multitude should be passed over, and should get to +the shore in safety; and when all were gone over, the priests +came out also, and permitted the current to run freely as it used +to do before. Accordingly the river, as soon as the Hebrews were +come out of it, arose again presently, and came to its own +proper magnitude as before. + +4. So the Hebrews went on farther fifty furlongs, and pitched +their camp at the distance of ten furlongs from Jericho; but +Joshua built an altar of those stones which all the heads of the +tribes, at the command of the prophets, had taken out of the +deep, to be afterwards a memorial of the division of the stream +of this river, and upon it offered sacrifice to God; and in that +place celebrated the passover, and had great plenty of all the +things which they wanted hitherto; for they reaped the corn of +the Canaanites, which was now ripe, and took other things as +prey; for then it was that their former food, which was manna, +and of which they had eaten forty years, failed them. + +5. Now while the Israelites did this, and the Canaanites did not +attack them, but kept themselves quiet within their own walls, +Joshua resolved to besiege them; so on the first day of the feast +[of the passover], the priests carried the ark round about, with +some part of the armed men to be a guard to it. These priests +went forward, blowing with their seven trumpets; and exhorted the +army to be of good courage, and went round about the city, with +the senate following them; and when the priests had only blown +with the trumpets, for they did nothing more at all, they +returned to the camp. And when they had done this for six days, +on the seventh Joshua gathered the armed men and all the people +together, and told them these good tidings, That the city should +now be taken, since God would on that day give it them, by the +falling down of the walls, and this of their own accord, and +without their labor. However, he charged them to kill every one +they should take, and not to abstain from the slaughter of their +enemies, either for weariness or for pity, and not to fall on the +spoil, and be thereby diverted from pursuing their enemies as +they ran away; but to destroy all the animals, and to take +nothing for their own peculiar advantage. He commanded them also +to bring together all the silver and gold, that it might be set +apart as first-fruits unto God out of this glorious exploit, as +having gotten them from the city they first took; only that they +should save Rahab and her kindred alive, because of the oath +which the spies had sworn to her. + +6. When he had said this, and had set his army in order, he +brought it against the city: so they went round the city again, +the ark going before them, and the priests encouraging the people +to be zealous in the work; and when they had gone round it seven +times, and had stood still a little, the wall fell down, while no +instruments of war, nor any other force, was applied to it by the +Hebrews. + +7. So they entered into Jericho, and slew all the men that were +therein, while they were aftrighted at the surprising overthrow +of the walls, and their courage was become useless, and they were +not able to defend themselves; so they were slain, and their +throats cut, some in the ways, and others as caught in their +houses; nothing afforded them assistance, but they all perished, +even to the women and the children; and the city was filled with +dead bodies, and not one person escaped. They also burnt the +whole city, and the country about it; but they saved alive Rahab, +with her family, who had fled to her inn. And when she was +brought to him, Joshua owned to her that they owed her thanks for +her preservation of the spies: so he said he would not appear to +be behind her in his benefaction to her; whereupon he gave her +certain lands immediately, and had her in great esteem ever +afterwards. + +8. And if any part of the city escaped the fire, he overthrew it +from the foundation; and he denounced a curse (3)against its +inhabitants, if any should desire to rebuild it; how, upon his +laying the foundation of the walls, he should be deprived of his +eldest son; and upon finishing it, he should lose his youngest +son. But what happened hereupon we shall speak of hereafter. + +9. Now there was an immense quantity of silver and gold, and +besides those of brass also, that was heaped together out of the +city when it was taken, no one transgressing the decree, nor +purloining for their own peculiar advantage; which spoils Joshua +delivered to the priests, to be laid up among their treasures. +And thus did Jericho perish. + +10. But there was one Achar, (4) the son [of Charmi, the son] of +Zebedias, of the tribe of Judah, who finding a royal garment +woven entirely of gold, and a piece of gold that weighed two +hundred shekels; (5) and thinking it a very hard case, that what +spoils he, by running some hazard, had found, he must give away, +and offer it to God, who stood in no need of it, while he that +wanted it must go without it, - made a deep ditch in his own +tent, and laid them up therein, as supposing he should not only +be concealed from his fellow soldiers, but from God himself also. + +11. Now the place where Joshua pitched his camp was called +Gilgal, which denotes liberty; (6) for since now they had passed +over Jordan, they looked on themselves as freed from the miseries +which they had undergone from the Egyptians, and in the +wilderness. + +12. Now, a few days after the calamity that befell Jericho, +Joshua sent three thousand armed men to take Ai, a city situate +above Jericho; but, upon the sight of the people of Ai, with them +they were driven back, and lost thirty-six of their men. When +this was told the Israelites, it made them very sad, and +exceeding disconsolate, not so much because of the relation the +men that were destroyed bare to them, though those that were +destroyed were all good men, and deserved their esteem, as by the +despair it occasioned; for while they believed that they were +already, in effect, in possession of the land, and should bring +back the army out of the battles without loss, as God had +promised beforehand, they now saw unexpectedly their enemies bold +with success; so they put sackcloth over their garments, and +continued in tears and lamentation all the day, without the least +inquiry after food, but laid what had happened greatly to heart. + +13. When Joshua saw the army so much afflicted, and possessed +with forebodings of evil as to their whole expedition, he used +freedom with God, and said, "We are not come thus far out of any +rashness of our own, as though we thought ourselves able to +subdue this land with our own weapons, but at the instigation of +Moses thy servant for this purpose, because thou hast promised +us, by many signs, that thou wouldst give us this land for a +possession, and that thou wouldst make our army always superior +in war to our enemies, and accordingly some success has already +attended upon us agreeably to thy promises; but because we have +now unexpectedly been foiled, and have lost some men out of our +army, we are grieved at it, as fearing what thou hast promised +us, and what Moses foretold us, cannot be depended on by us; and +our future expectation troubles us the more, because we have met +with such a disaster in this our first attempt. But do thou, O +Lord, free us from these suspicions, for thou art able to find a +cure for these disorders, by giving us victory, which will both +take away the grief we are in at present, and prevent our +distrust as to what is to come." + +14. These intercessions Joshua put up to God, as he lay prostrate +on his face: whereupon God answered him, That he should rise up, +and purify his host from the pollution that had got into it; that +"things consecrated to me have been impudently stolen from me," +and that "this has been the occasion why this defeat had happened +to them;" and that when they should search out and punish the +offender, he would ever take care they should have the victory +over their enemies. This Joshua told the people; and calling for +Eleazar the high priest, and the men in authority, he cast lots, +tribe by tribe; and when the lot showed that this wicked action +was done by one of the tribe of Judah, he then again proposed the +lot to the several families thereto belonging; so the truth of +this wicked action was found to belong to the family of Zachar; +and when the inquiry was made man by man, they took Achar, who, +upon God's reducing him to a terrible extremity, could not deny +the fact: so he confessed the theft, and produced what he had +taken in the midst of them, whereupon he was immediately put to +death; and attained no more than to be buried in the night in a +disgraceful manner, and such as was suitable to a condemned +malefactor. + +15. When Joshua had thus purified the host, he led them against +Ai: and having by night laid an ambush round about the city, he +attacked the enemies as soon as it was day; but as they advanced +boldly against the Israelites, because of their former victory, +he made them believe he retired, and by that means drew them a +great way from the city, they still supposing that they were +pursuing their enemies, and despised them, as though the case had +been the same with that in the former battle; after which Joshua +ordered his forces to turn about, and placed them against their +front. He then made the signals agreed upon to those that lay in +ambush, and so excited them to fight; so they ran suddenly into +the city, the inhabitants being upon the walls, nay, others of +them being in perplexity, and coming to see those that were +without the gates. Accordingly, these men took the city, and slew +all that they met with; but Joshua forced those that came against +him to come to a close fight, and discomfited them, and made them +run away; and when they were driven towards the city, and thought +it had not been touched, as soon as they saw it was taken, and +perceived it was burnt, with their wives and children, they +wandered about in the fields in a scattered condition, and were +no way able to defend themselves, because they had none to +support them. Now when this calamity was come upon the men of Ai, +there were a great number of children, and women, and servants, +and an immense quantity of other furniture. The Hebrews also took +herds of cattle, and a great deal of money, for this was a rich +country. So when Joshua came to Gilgal, he divided all these +spoils among the soldiers. + +16. But the Gibeonites, who inhabited very near to Jerusalem, +when they saw what miseries had happened to the inhabitants of +Jericho; and to those of Ai, and suspected that the like sore +calamity would come as far as themselves, they did not think fit +to ask for mercy of Joshua; for they supposed they should find +little mercy from him, who made war that he might entirely +destroy the nation of the Canaanites; but they invited the people +of Cephirah and Kiriathjearim, who were their neighbors, to join +in league with them; and told them that neither could they +themselves avoid the danger they were all in, if the Israelites +should prevent them, and seize upon them: so when they had +persuaded them, they resolved to endeavor to escape the forces of +the Israelites. Accordingly, upon their agreement to what they +proposed, they sent ambassadors to Joshua to make a league of +friendship with him, and those such of the citizens as were best +approved of, and most capable of doing what was most advantageous +to the multitude. Now these ambassadors thought it dangerous to +confess themselves to be Canaanites, but thought they might by +this contrivance avoid the danger, namely, by saying that they +bare no relation to the Canaanites at all, but dwelt at a very +great distance from them: and they said further, that they came a +long way, on account of the reputation he had gained for his +virtue; and as a mark of the truth of what they said, they showed +him the habit they were in, for that their clothes were new when +they came out, but were greatly worn by the length of thee they +had been on their journey; for indeed they took torn garments, on +purpose that they might make him believe so. So they stood in the +midst of the people, and said that they were sent by the people +of Gibeon, and of the circumjacent cities, which were very remote +from the land where they now were, to make such a league of +friendship with them, and this on such conditions as were +customary among their forefathers; for when they understood that, +by the favor of God, and his gift to them, they were to have the +possession of the land of Canaan bestowed upon them, they said +that they were very glad to hear it, and desired to be admitted +into the number of their citizens. Thus did these ambassadors +speak; and showing them the marks of their long journey, they +entreated the Hebrews to make a league of friendship with them. +Accordingly Joshua, believing what they said, that they were not +of the nation of the Canaanites, entered into friendship with +them; and Eleazar the high priest, with the senate, sware to them +that they would esteem them their friends and associates, and +would attempt nothing that should be unfair against them, the +multitude also assenting to the oaths that were made to them. So +these men, having obtained what they desired, by deceiving the +Israelites, went home: but when Joshua led his army to the +country at the bottom of the mountains of this part of Canaan, he +understood that the Gibeonites dwelt not far from Jerusalem, and +that they were of the stock of the Canaanites; so he sent for +their governors, and reproached them with the cheat they had put +upon him; but they alleged, on their own behalf, that they had no +other way to save themselves but that, and were therefore forced +to have recourse to it. So he called for Eleazar the high priest, +and for the senate, who thought it right to make them public +servants, that they might not break the oath they had made to +them; and they ordained them to be so. And this was the method by +which these men found safety and security under the calamity +that was ready to overtake them. + +17. But the king of Jerusalem took it to heart that the +Gibeonites had gone over to Joshua; so he called upon the kings +of the neighboring nations to join together, and make war against +them. Now when the Gibeonites saw these kings, which were four, +besides the king of Jerusalem, and perceived that they had +pitched their camp at a certain fountain not far from their city, +and were getting ready for the siege of it, they called upon +Joshua to assist them; for such was their case, as to expect to +be destroyed by these Canaanites, but to suppose they should be +saved by those that came for the destruction of the Canaanites, +because of the league of friendship that was between them. +Accordingly, Joshua made haste with his whole army to assist +them, and marching day and night, in the morning he fell upon the +enemies as they were going up to the siege; and when he had +discomfited them, he followed them, and pursued them down the +descent of the hills. The place is called Bethhoron; where he +also understood that God assisted him, which he declared by +thunder and thunderbolts, as also by the falling of hail larger +than usual. Moreover, it happened that the day was lengthened (7) +that the night might not come on too soon, and be an obstruction +to the zeal of the Hebrews in pursuing their enemies; insomuch +that Joshua took the kings, who were hidden in a certain cave at +Makkedah, and put them to death. Now, that the day was lengthened +at this thee, and was longer than ordinary, is expressed in the +books laid up in the temple. (8) + +18. These kings which made war with, and were ready to fight the +Gibeonites, being thus overthrown, Joshua returned again to the +mountainous parts of Canaan; and when he had made a great +slaughter of the people there, and took their prey, he came to +the camp at Gilgal. And now there went a great fame abroad among +the neighboring people of the courage of the Hebrews; and those +that heard what a number of men were destroyed, were greatly +aftrighted at it: so the kings that lived about Mount Libanus, +who were Canaanites, and those Canaanites that dwelt in the plain +country, with auxiliaries out of the land of the Philistines, +pitched their camp at Beroth, a city of the Upper Galilee, not +far from Cadesh, which is itself also a place in Galilee. Now the +number of the whole army was three hundred thousand armed +footmen, and ten thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand chariots; +so that the multitude of the enemies aftrighted both Joshua +himself and the Israelites; and they, instead of being full of +hopes of good success, were superstitiously timorous, with the +great terror with which they were stricken. Whereupon God +upbraided them with the fear they were in, and asked them whether +they desired a greater help than he could afford them; and +promised them that they should overcome their enemies; and withal +charged them to make their enemies' horses useless, and to burn +their chariots. So Joshua became full of courage upon these +promises of God, and went out suddenly against the enemies; and +after five days' march he came upon them, and joined battle with +them, and there was a terrible fight, and such a number were +slain as could not be believed by those that heard it. He also +went on in the pursuit a great way, and destroyed the entire army +of the enemies, few only excepted, and all the kings fell in the +battle; insomuch, that when there wanted men to be killed, Joshua +slew their horses, and burnt their chariots and passed all over +their country without opposition, no one daring to meet him in +battle; but he still went on, taking their cities by siege, and +again killing whatever he took. + +19. The fifth year was now past, and there was not one of the +Canaanites remained any longer, excepting some that had retired +to places of great strength. So Joshua removed his camp to the +mountainous country, and placed the tabernacle in the city of +Shiloh, for that seemed a fit place for it, because of the beauty +of its situation, until such thee as their affairs would permit +them to build a temple; and from thence he went to Shechem, +together with all the people, and raised an altar where Moses had +beforehand directed; then did he divide the army, and placed one +half of them on Mount Gerizzim, and the other half on Mount Ebal, +on which mountain the altar was; he also placed there the tribe +of Levi, and the priests. And when they had sacrificed, and +denounced the [blessings and the] curses, and had left them +engraven upon the altar, they returned to Shiloh. + +20. And now Joshua was old, and saw that the cities of the +Canaanites were not easily to be taken, not only because they +were situate in such strong places, but because of the strength +of the walls themselves, which being built round about, the +natural strength of the places on which the cities stood, seemed +capable of repelling their enemies from besieging them, and of +making those enemies despair of taking them; for when the +Canaanites had learned that the Israelites came out of Egypt in +order to destroy them, they were busy all that time in making +their cities strong. So he gathered the people together to a +congregation at Shiloh; and when they, with great zeal and haste, +were come thither, he observed to them what prosperous successes +they had already had, and what glorious things had been done, and +those such as were worthy of that God who enabled them to do +those things, and worthy of the virtue of those laws which they +followed. He took notice also, that thirty-one of those kings +that ventured to give them battle were overcome, and every army, +how great soever it were, that confided in their own power, and +fought with them, was utterly destroyed; so that not so much as +any of their posterity remained. And as for the cities, since +some of them were taken, but the others must be taken in length +of thee, by long sieges, both on account of the strength of their +walls, and of the confidence the inhabitants had in them thereby, +he thought it reasonable that those tribes that came along with +them from beyond Jordan, and had partaken of the dangers they had +undergone, being their own kindred, should now be dismissed and +sent home, and should have thanks for the pains they had taken +together with them. As also, he thought it reasonable that they +should send one man out of every tribe, and he such as had the +testimony of extraordinary virtue, who should measure the land +faithfully, and without any fallacy or deceit should inform them +of its real magnitude. + +21. Now Joshua, when he had thus spoken to them, found that the +multitude approved of his proposal. So he sent men to measure +their country, and sent with them some geometricians, who could +not easily fail of knowing the truth, on account of their skill +in that art. He also gave them a charge to estimate the measure +of that part of the land that was most fruitful, and what was not +so good: for such is the nature of the land of Canaan, that one +may see large plains, and such as are exceeding fit to produce +fruit, which yet, if they were compared to other parts of the +country, might be reckoned exceedingly fruitful; yet, if it be +compared with the fields about Jericho, and to those that belong +to Jerusalem, will appear to be of no account at all; and +although it so falls out that these people have but a very little +of this sort of land, and that it is, for the main, mountainous +also, yet does it not come behind other parts, on account of its +exceeding goodness and beauty; for which reason Joshua thought +the land for the tribes should be divided by estimation of its +goodness, rather than the largeness of its measure, it often +happening that one acre of some sort of land was equivalent to a +thousand other acres. Now the men that were sent, which were in +number ten, traveled all about, and made an estimation of the +land, and in the seventh month came to him to the city of Shiloh, +where they had set up the tabernacle. + +22. So Joshua took both Eleazar and the senate, and with them the +heads of the tribes, and distributed the land to the nine tribes, +and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, appointing the dimensions to +be according to the largeness of each tribe. So when he had cast +lots, Judah had assigned him by lot the upper part of Judea, +reaching as far as Jerusalem, and its breadth extended to the +Lake of Sodom. Now in the lot of this tribe there were the cities +of Askelon and Gaza. The lot of Simeon, which was the second, +included that part of Idumea which bordered upon Egypt and +Arabia. As to the Benjamites, their lot fell so, that its length +reached from the river Jordan to the sea, but in breadth it was +bounded by Jerusalem and Bethel; and this lot was the narrowest +of all, by reason of the goodness of the land, for it included +Jericho and the city of Jerusalem. The tribe of Ephraim had by +lot the land that extended in length from the river Jordan to +Gezer; but in breadth as far as from Bethel, till it ended at the +Great Plain. The half-tribe of Manasseh had the land from Jordan +to the city of Dora; but its breadth was at Bethsham, which is +now called Scythopolis. And after these was Issachar, which had +its limits in length, Mount Carmel and the river, but its limit +in breadth was Mount Tabor. The tribe of Zebulon's lot included +the land which lay as far as the Lake of Genesareth, and that +which belonged to Carmel and the sea. The tribe of Aser had that +part which was called the Valley, for such it was, and all that +part which lay over-against Sidon. The city Arce belonged to +their share, which is also named Actipus. The Naphthalites +received the eastern parts, as far as the city of Damascus and +the Upper Galilee, unto Mount Libanus, and the Fountains of +Jordan, which rise out of that mountain; that is, out of that +part of it whose limits belong to the neighboring city of Arce. +The Danites' lot included all that part of the valley which +respects the sun-setting, and were bounded by Azotus and Dora; as +also they had all Jamnia and Gath, from Ekron to that mountain +where the tribe of Judah begins. + +23. After this manner did Joshua divide the six nations that bear +the name of the sons of Canaan, with their land, to be possessed +by the nine tribes and a half; for Moses had prevented him, and +had already distributed the land of the Amorites, which itself +was so called also from one of the sons of Canaan, to the two +tribes and a half, as we have shown already. But the parts about +Sidon, as also those that belonged to the Arkites, and the +Amathites, and the Aradians, were not yet regularly disposed of. + +24. But now was Joshua hindered by his age from executing what he +intended to do (as did those that succeeded him in the +government, take little care of what was for the advantage of the +public); so he gave it in charge to every tribe to leave no +remainder of the race of the Canaanites in the land that had been +divided to them by lot; that Moses had assured them beforehand, +and they might rest fully satisfied about it, that their own +security and their observation of their own laws depended wholly +upon it. Moreover, he enjoined them to give thirty-eight cities +to the Levites, for they had already received ten in the country +of the Amorites; and three of these he assigned to those that +fled from the man-slayers, who were to inhabit there; for he was +very solicitous that nothing should be neglected which Moses had +ordained. These cities were, of the tribe of Judah, Hebron; of +that of Ephraim, Shechem; and of that of Naphthali, Cadesh, which +is a place of the Upper Galilee. He also distributed among them +the rest of the prey not yet distributed, which was very great; +whereby they had an affluence of great riches, both all in +general, and every one in particular; and this of gold and of +vestments, and of other furniture, besides a multitude of cattle, +whose number could not be told. + +25. After this was over, he gathered the army together to a +congregation, and spake thus to those tribes that had their +settlement in the land of the Amorites beyond Jordan, - for fifty +thousand of them had armed themselves, and had gone to the war +along with them:-- "Since that God, who is the Father and Lord of +the Hebrew nation, has now given us this land for a possession, +and promised to preserve us in the enjoyment of it as our own for +ever; and since you have with alacrity offered yourselves to +assist us when we wanted that assistance on all occasions, +according to his command; it is but just, now all our +difficulties are over, that you should be permitted to enjoy +rest, and that we should trespass on your alacrity to help us no +longer; that so, if we should again stand in need of it, we may +readily have it on any future emergency, and not tire you out so +much now as may make you slower in assisting us another thee. We, +therefore, return you our thanks for the dangers you have +undergone with us, and we do it not at this thee only, but we +shall always be thus disposed; and be so good as to remember our +friends, and to preserve in mind what advantages we have had from +them; and how you have put off the enjoyments of your own +happiness for our sakes, and have labored for what we have now, +by the goodwill of God, obtained, and resolved not to enjoy your +own prosperity till you had afforded us that assistance. However, +you have, by joining your labor with ours, gotten great plenty of +riches, and will carry home with you much prey, with gold and +silver, and, what is more than all these, our good-will towards +you, and a mind willingly disposed to make a requital of your +kindness to us, in what case soever you shall desire it, for you +have not omitted any thing which Moses beforehand required of +you, nor have you despised him because he was dead and gone from +you, so that there is nothing to diminish that gratitude which we +owe to you. We therefore dismiss you joyful to your own +inheritances; and we entreat you to suppose, that there is no +limit to be set to the intimate relation that is between us; and +that you will not imagine, because this river is interposed +between us, that you are of a different race from us, and not +Hebrews; for we are all the posterity of Abraham, both we that +inhabit here, and you that inhabit there; and it is the same God +that brought our forefathers and yours into the world, whose +worship and form of government we are to take care of, which he +has ordained, and are most carefully to observe; because while +you continue in those laws, God will also show himself merciful +and assisting to you; but if you imitate the other nations, and +forsake those laws, he will reject your nation." When Joshua had +spoken thus, and saluted them all, both those in authority one by +one, and the whole multitude in common, he himself staid where he +was; but the people conducted those tribes on their journey, and +that not without tears in their eyes; and indeed they hardly knew +how to part one from the other. + +26. Now when the tribe of Reuben, and that of Gad, and as many of +the Manassites as followed them, were passed over the river, they +built an altar on the banks of Jordan, as a monument to +posterity, and a sign of their relation to those that should +inhabit on the other side. But when those on the other side heard +that those who had been dismissed had built an altar, but did not +hear with what intention they built it, but supposed it to be by +way of innovation, and for the introduction of strange gods, they +did not incline to disbelieve it; but thinking this defamatory +report, as if it were built for divine worship, was credible, +they appeared in arms, as though they would avenge themselves on +those that built the altar; and they were about to pass over the +river, and to punish them for their subversion of the laws of +their country; for they did not think it fit to regard them on +account of their kindred or the dignity of those that had given +the occasion, but to regard the will of God, and the manner +wherein he desired to be worshipped; so these men put themselves +in array for war. But Joshua, and Eleazar the high priest, and +the senate, restrained them; and persuaded them first to make +trial by words of their intention, and afterwards, if they found +that their intention was evil, then only to proceed to make war +upon them. Accordingly, they sent as ambassadors to them Phineas +the son of Eleazar, and ten more persons that were in esteem +among the Hebrews, to learn of them what was in their mind, when, +upon passing over the river, they had built an altar upon its +banks. And as soon as these ambassadors were passed over, and +were come to them, and a congregation was assembled, Phineas +stood up and said, That the offense they had been guilty of was +of too heinous a nature to be punished by words alone, or by them +only to be amended for the future; yet that they did not so look +at the heinousness of their transgression as to have recourse to +arms, and to a battle for their punishment immediately, but that, +on account of their kindred, and the probability there was that +they might be reclaimed, they took this method of sending an +ambassage to them: "That when we have learned the true reasons by +which you have been moved to build this altar, we may neither +seem to have been too rash in assaulting you by our weapons of +war, if it prove that you made the altar for justifiable reasons, +and may then justly punish you if the accusation prove true; for +we can hardly +hardly suppose that you, have been acquainted with the will of +God and have been hearers of those laws which he himself hath +given us, now you are separated from us, and gone to that +patrimony of yours, which you, through the grace of God, and that +providence which he exercises over you, have obtained by lot, can +forget him, and can leave that ark and that altar which is +peculiar to us, and can introduce strange gods, and imitate the +wicked practices of the Canaanites. Now this will appear to have +been a small crime if you repent now, and proceed no further in +your madness, but pay a due reverence to, and keep in mind the +laws of your country; but if you persist in your sins, we will +not grudge our pains to preserve our laws; but we will pass over +Jordan and defend them, and defend God also, and shall esteem of +you as of men no way differing from the Canaanites, but shall +destroy you in the like manner as we destroyed them; for do not +you imagine that, because you are got over the river, you are got +out of the reach of God's power; you are every where in places +that belong to him, and impossible it is to overrun his power, +and the punishment he will bring on men thereby: but if you think +that your settlement here will be any obstruction to your +conversion to what is good, nothing need hinder us from dividing +the land anew, and leaving this old land to be for the feeding of +sheep; but you will do well to return to your duty, and to leave +off these new crimes; and we beseech you, by your children and +wives, not to force us to punish you. Take therefore such +measures in this assembly, as supposing that your own safety, and +the safety of those that are dearest to you, is therein +concerned, and believe that it is better for you to be conquered +by words, than to continue in your purpose, and to experience +deeds and war therefore." + +27. When Phineas had discoursed thus, the governors of the +assembly, and the whole multitude, began to make an apology for +themselves, concerning what they were accused of; and they said, +That they neither would depart from the relation they bare to +them, nor had they built the altar by way of innovation; that +they owned one and the same common God with all the Hebrews, and +that brazen altar which was before the tabernacle, on which they +would offer their sacrifices; that as to the altar they had +raised, on account of which they were thus suspected, it was not +built for worship, "but that it might be a sign and a monument of +our relation to you for ever, and a necessary caution to us to +act wisely, and to continue in the laws of our country, but not a +handle for transgressing them, as you suspect: and let God be our +authentic witness, that this was the occasion of our building +this altar: whence we beg you will have a better opinion of us, +and do not impute such a thing to us as would render any of the +posterity of Abraham well worthy of perdition, in case they +attempt to bring in new rites, and such as are different from our +usual practices." + +28. When they had made this answer, and Phineas had commended +them for it, he came to Joshua, and explained before the people +what answer they had received. Now Joshua was glad that he was +under no necessity of setting them in array, or of leading them +to shed blood, and make war against men of their own kindred; and +accordingly he offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for the +same. So Joshua after that dissolved this great assembly of the +people, and sent them to their own inheritances, while he himself +lived in Shechem. But in the twentieth year after this, when he +was very old, he sent for those of the greatest dignity in the +several cities, with those in authority, and the senate, and as +many of the common people as could be present; and when they were +come, he put them in mind of all the benefits God had bestowed on +them, which could not but be a great many, since from a low +estate they were advanced to so great a degree of glory and +plenty; and exhorted them to take notice of the intentions of +God, which had been so gracious towards them; and told them that +the Deity would continue their friend by nothing else but their +piety; and that it was proper for him, now that he was about to +depart out of this life, to leave such an admonition to them; and +he desired that they would keep in memory this his exhortation to +them. + +29. So Joshua, when he had thus discoursed to them, died, having +lived a hundred and ten years; forty of which he lived with +Moses, in order to learn what might be for his advantage +afterwards. He also became their commander after his death for +twenty-five years. He was a man that wanted not wisdom nor +eloquence to declare his intentions to the people, but very +eminent on both accounts. He was of great courage and magnanimity +in action and in dangers, and very sagacious in procuring the +peace of the people, and of great virtue at all proper seasons. +He was buried in the city of Timnab, of the tribe of Ephraim (9) +About the same time died Eleazar the high priest, leaving the +high priesthood to his son Phineas. His monument also, and +sepulcher, are in the city of Gabatha. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How, After The Death Of Joshua Their Commander, The Israelites +Transgressed The Laws Of Their Country, And Experienced Great +Afflictions; And When There Was A Sedition Arisen, The Tribe Of +Benjamin Was Destroyed Excepting Only Six Hundred Men. + + +1. After the death of Joshua and Eleazar, Phineas prophesied, +(10) that according to God's will they should commit the +government to the tribe of Judah, and that this tribe should +destroy the race of the Canaanites; for then the people were +concerned to learn what was the will of God. They also took to +their assistance the tribe of Simeon; but upon this condition, +that when those that had been tributary to the tribe of Judah +should be slain, they should do the like for the tribe of Simeon. + +2. But the affairs of the Canaanites were at this thee in a +flourishing condition, and they expected the Israelites with a +great army at the city Bezek, having put the government into the +hands of Adonibezek, which name denotes the Lord of Bezek, for +Adoni in the Hebrew tongue signifies Lord. Now they hoped to have +been too hard for the Israelites, because Joshua was dead; but +when the Israelites had joined battle with them, I mean the two +tribes before mentioned, they fought gloriously, and slew above +ten thousand of them, and put the rest to flight; and in the +pursuit they took Adonibezek, who, when his fingers and toes were +cut off by them, said, "Nay, indeed, I was not always to lie +concealed from God, as I find by what I now endure, while I have +not been ashamed to do the same to seventy-two kings." (11) So +they carried him alive as far as Jerusalem; and when he was dead, +they buried him in the earth, and went on still in taking the +cities: and when they had taken the greatest part of them, they +besieged Jerusalem; and when they had taken the lower city, which +was not under a considerable time, they slew all the inhabitants; +but the upper city was not to be taken without great difficulty, +through the strength of its walls, and the nature of the place. + +3. For which reason they removed their camp to Hebron; and when +they had taken it, they slew all the inhabitants. There were till +then left the race of giants, who had bodies so large, and +countenances so entirely different from other men, that they were +surprising to the sight, and terrible to the hearing. The bones +of these men are still shown to this very day, unlike to any +credible relations of other men. Now they gave this city to the +Levites as an extraordinary reward, with the suburbs of two +thousand cities; but the land thereto belonging they gave as a +free gift to Caleb, according to the injunctions of Moses. This +Caleb was one of the spies which Moses sent into the land of +Canaan. They also gave land for habitation to the posterity of +Jethro, the Midianite, who was the father-in-law to Moses; for +they had left their own country, and followed them, and +accompanied them in the wilderness. + +4. Now the tribes of Judah and Simeon took the cities which were +in the mountainous part of Canaan, as also Askelon and Ashdod, of +those that lay near the sea; but Gaza and Ekron escaped them, for +they, lying in a flat country, and having a great number of +chariots, sorely galled those that attacked them. So these +tribes, when they were grown very rich by this war, retired to +their own cities, and laid aside their weapons of war. + +5. But the Benjamites, to whom belonged Jerusalem, permitted its +inhabitants to pay tribute. So they all left off, the one to +kill, and the other to expose themselves to danger, and had time +to cultivate the ground. The rest of the tribes imitated that of +Benjamin, and did the same; and, contenting themselves with the +tributes that were paid them, permitted the Canaanites to live in +peace. + +6. However, the tribe of Ephraim, when they besieged Bethel, made +no advance, nor performed any thing worthy of the time they +spent, and of the pains they took about that siege; yet did they +persist in it, still sitting down before the city, though they +endured great trouble thereby: but, after some time, they caught +one of the citizens that came to them to get necessaries, and +they gave him some assurances that, if he would deliver up the +city to them, they would preserve him and his kindred; so he +aware that, upon those terms, he would put the city into their +hands. Accordingly, he that, thus betrayed the city was preserved +with his family; and the Israelites slew all the inhabitants, and +retained the city for themselves. + +7. After this, the Israelites grew effeminate as to fighting any +more against their enemies, but applied themselves to the +cultivation of the land, which producing them great plenty and +riches, they neglected the regular disposition of their +settlement, and indulged themselves in luxury and pleasures; nor +were they any longer careful to hear the laws that belonged to +their political government: whereupon God was provoked to anger, +and put them in mind, first, how, contrary to his directions, +they had spared the Canaanites; and, after that, how those +Canaanites, as opportunity served, used them very barbarously. +But the Israelites, though they were in heaviness at these +admonitions from God, yet were they still very unwilling to go to +war; and since they got large tributes from the Canaanites, and +were indisposed for taking pains by their luxury, they suffered +their aristocracy to be corrupted also, and did not ordain +themselves a senate, nor any other such magistrates as their laws +had formerly required, but they were very much given to +cultivating their fields, in order to get wealth; which great +indolence of theirs brought a terrible sedition upon them, and +they proceeded so far as to fight one against another, from the +following occasion:-- + +8. There was a Levite (12) a man of a vulgar family, that +belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, and dwelt therein: this man +married a wife from Bethlehem, which is a place belonging to the +tribe of Judah. Now he was very fond of his wife, and overcome +with her beauty; but he was unhappy in this, that he did not meet +with the like return of affection from her, for she was averse to +him, which did more inflame his passion for her, so that they +quarreled one with another perpetually; and at last the woman was +so disgusted at these quarrels, that she left her husband, and +went to her parents in the fourth month. The husband being very +uneasy at this her departure, and that out of his fondness for +her, came to his father and mother-in-law, and made up their +quarrels, and was reconciled to her, and lived with them there +four days, as being kindly treated by her parents. On the fifth +day he resolved to go home, and went away in the evening; for his +wife's parents were loath to part with their daughter, and +delayed the time till the day was gone. Now they had one servant +that followed them, and an ass on which the woman rode; and when +they were near Jerusalem, having gone already thirty furlongs, +the servant advised them to take up their lodgings some where, +lest some misfortune should befall them if they traveled in the +night, especially since they were not far off enemies, that +season often giving reason for suspicion of dangers from even +such as are friends; but the husband was not pleased with this +advice, nor was he willing to take up his lodging among +strangers, for the city belonged to the Canaanites, but desired +rather to go twenty furlongs farther, and so to take their +lodgings in some Israelite city. Accordingly, he obtained his +purpose, and came to Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, +when it was just dark; and while no one that lived in the +market-place invited him to lodge with him, there came an old man +out of the field, one that was indeed of the tribe of Ephraim, +but resided in Gibeah, and met him, and asked him who he was, and +for what reason he came thither so late, and why he was looking +out for provisions for supper when it was dark? To which he +replied, that he was a Levite, and was bringing his wife from her +parents, and was going home; but he told him his habitation was +in the tribe of Ephraim: so the old man, as well because of their +kindred as because they lived in the same tribe, and also because +they had thus accidentally met together, took him in to lodge +with him. Now certain young men of the inhabitants of Gibeah, +having seen the woman in the market-place, and admiring her +beauty, when they understood that she lodged with the old man, +came to the doors, as contemning the weakness and fewness of the +old man's family; and when the old man desired them to go away, +and not to offer any violence or abuse there, they desired him to +yield them up the strange woman, and then he should have no harm +done to him: and when the old man alleged that the Levite was of +his kindred, and that they would be guilty of horrid wickedness +if they suffered themselves to be overcome by their pleasures, +and so offend against their laws, they despised his righteous +admonition, and laughed him to scorn. They also threatened to +kill him if he became an obstacle to their inclinations; +whereupon, when he found himself in great distress, and yet was +not willing to overlook his guests, and see them abused, he +produced his own daughter to them; and told them that it was a +smaller breach of the law to satisfy their lust upon her, than to +abuse his guests, supposing that he himself should by this means +prevent any injury to be done to those guests. When they no way +abated of their earnestness for the strange woman, but insisted +absolutely on their desires to have her, he entreated them not to +perpetrate any such act of injustice; but they proceeded to take +her away by force, and indulging still more the violence of their +inclinations, they took the woman away to their house, and when +they had satisfied their lust upon her the whole night, they let +her go about daybreak. So she came to the place where she had +been entertained, under great affliction at what had happened; +and was very sorrowful upon occasion of what she had suffered, +and durst not look her husband in the face for shame, for she +concluded that he would never forgive her for what she had done; +so she fell down, and gave up the ghost: but her husband supposed +that his wife was only fast asleep, and, thinking nothing of a +more melancholy nature had happened, endeavored to raise her up, +resolving to speak comfortably to her, since she did not +voluntarily expose herself to these men's lust, but was forced +away to their house; but as soon as he perceived she was dead, he +acted as prudently as the greatness of his misfortunes would +admit, and laid his dead wife upon the beast, and carried her +home; and cutting her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, he sent +them to every tribe, and gave it in charge to those that carried +them, to inform the tribes of those that were the causes of his +wife's death, and of the violence they had offered to her. + +9. Upon this the people were greatly disturbed at what they saw, +and at what they heard, as never having had the experience of +such a thing before; so they gathered themselves to Shiloh, out +of a prodigious and a just anger, and assembling in a great +congregation before the tabernacle, they immediately resolved to +take arms, and to treat the inhabitants of Gibeah as enemies; but +the senate restrained them from doing so, and persuaded them, +that they ought not so hastily to make war upon people of the +same nation with them, before they discoursed them by words +concerning the accusation laid against them; it being part of +their law, that they should not bring an army against foreigners +themselves, when they appear to have been injurious, without +sending an ambassage first, and trying thereby whether they will +repent or not: and accordingly they exhorted them to do what they +ought to do in obedience to their laws, that is, to send to the +inhabitants of Gibeah, to know whether they would deliver up the +offenders to them, and if they deliver them up, to rest satisfied +with the punishment of those offenders; but if they despised the +message that was sent them, to punish them by taking, up arms +against them. Accordingly they sent to the inhabitants of Gibeah, +and accused the young men of the crimes committed in the affair +of the Levite's wife, and required of them those that had done +what was contrary to the law, that they might be punished, as +having justly deserved to die for what they had done; but the +inhabitants of Gibeah would not deliver up the young men, and +thought it too reproachful to them, out of fear of war, to submit +to other men's demands upon them; vaunting themselves to be no +way inferior to any in war, neither in their number nor in +courage. The rest of their tribe were also making great +preparation for war, for they were so insolently mad as also to +resolve to repel force by force. + +10. When it was related to the Israelites what the inhabitants of +Gibeah had resolved upon, they took their oath that no one of +them would give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite, but make +war with greater fury against them than we have learned our +forefathers made war against the Canaanites; and sent out +presently an army of four hundred thousand against them, while +the Benjamites' army-was twenty-five thousand and six hundred; +five hundred of whom were excellent at slinging stones with their +left hands, insomuch that when the battle was joined at Gibeah +the Benjamites beat the Israelites, and of them there fell two +thousand men; and probably more had been destroyed had not the +night came on and prevented it, and broken off the fight; so the +Benjamites returned to the city with joy, and the Israelites +returned to their camp in a great fright at what had happened. On +the next day, when they fought again, the Benjamites beat them; +and eighteen thousand of the Israelites were slain, and the rest +deserted their camp out of fear of a greater slaughter. So they +came to Bethel, (13) a city that was near their camp, and fasted +on the next day; and besought God, by Phineas the high priest, +that his wrath against them might cease, and that he would be +satisfied with these two defeats, and give them the victory and +power over their enemies. Accordingly God promised them so to do, +by the prophesying of Phineas. + +11. When therefore they had divided the army into two parts, they +laid the one half of them in ambush about the city Gibeah by +night, while the other half attacked the Benjamites, who retiring +upon the assault, the Benjamites pursued them, while the Hebrews +retired by slow degrees, as very desirous to draw them entirely +from the city; and the other followed them as they retired, till +both the old men and the young men that were left in the city, as +too weak to fight, came running out together with them, as +willing to bring their enemies under. However, when they were a +great way from the city the Hebrews ran away no longer, but +turned back to fight them, and lifted up the signal they had +agreed on to those that lay in ambush, who rose up, and with a +great noise fell upon the enemy. Now, as soon as ever they +perceived themselves to be deceived, they knew not what to do; +and when they were driven into a certain hollow place which was +in a valley, they were shot at by those that encompassed them, +till they were all destroyed, excepting six hundred, which formed +themselves into a close body of men, and forced their passage +through the midst of their enemies, and fled to the neighboring +mountains, and, seizing upon them, remained there; but the rest +of them, being about twenty-five thousand, were slain. Then did +the Israelites burn Gibeah, and slew the women, and the males +that were under age; and did the same also to the other cities of +the Benjamites; and, indeed, they were enraged to that degree, +that they sent twelve thousand men out of the army, and gave them +orders to destroy Jabesh Gilead, because it did not join with +them in fighting against the Benjamites. Accordingly, those that +were sent slew the men of war, with their children and wives, +excepting four hundred virgins. To such a degree had they +proceeded in their anger, because they not only had the suffering +of the Levite's wife to avenge, but the slaughter of their own +soldiers. + +12. However, they afterward were sorry for the calamity they had +brought upon the Benjamites, and appointed a fast on that +account, although they supposed those men had suffered justly for +their offense against the laws; so they recalled by their +ambassadors those six hundred which had escaped. These had seated +themselves on a certain rock called Rimmon, which was in the +wilderness. So the ambassadors lamented not only the disaster +that had befallen the Benjamites, but themselves also, by this +destruction of their kindred; and persuaded them to take it +patiently; and to come and unite with them, and not, so far as in +them lay, to give their suffrage to the utter destruction of the +tribe of Benjamin; and said to them, "We give you leave to take +the whole land of Benjamin to yourselves, and as much prey as you +are able to carry away with you." So these men with sorrow +confessed, that what had been done was according to the decree of +God, and had happened for their own wickedness; and assented to +those that invited them, and came down to their own tribe. The +Israelites also gave them the four hundred virgins of Jabesh +Gilead for wives; but as to the remaining two hundred, they +deliberated about it how they might compass wives enough for +them, and that they might have children by them; and whereas they +had, before the war began, taken an oath, that no one would give +his daughter to wife to a Benjamite, some advised them to have no +regard to what they had sworn, because the oath had not been +taken advisedly and judiciously, but in a passion, and thought +that they should do nothing against God, if they were able to +save a whole tribe which was in danger of perishing; and that +perjury was then a sad and dangerous thing, not when it is done +out of necessity, but when it is done with a wicked intention. +But when the senate were affrighted at the very name of perjury, +a certain person told them that he could show them a way whereby +they might procure the Benjamites wives enough, and yet keep +their oath. They asked him what his proposal was. He said, "That +three times in a year, when we meet in Shiloh, our wives and our +daughters accompany us: let then the Benjamites be allowed to +steal away, and marry such women as they can catch, while we will +neither incite them nor forbid them; and when their parents take +it ill, and desire us to inflict punishment upon them, we will +tell them, that they were themselves the cause of what had +happened, by neglecting to guard their daughters, and that they +ought not to be over angry at the Benjamites, since that anger +was permitted to rise too high already." So the Israelites were +persuaded to follow this advice, and decreed, That the Benjamites +should be allowed thus to steal themselves wives. So when the +festival was coming on, these two hundred Benjamites lay in +ambush before the city, by two and three together, and waited for +the coming of the virgins, in the vineyards and other places +where they could lie concealed. Accordingly the virgins came +along playing, and suspected nothing of what was coming upon +them, and walked after an unguarded manner, so those that laid +scattered in the road, rose up, and caught hold of them: by this +means these Benjamites got them wives, and fell to agriculture, +and took good care to recover their former happy state. And thus +was this tribe of the Benjamites, after they had been in danger +of entirely perishing, saved in the manner forementioned, by the +wisdom of the Israelites; and accordingly it presently +flourished, and soon increased to be a multitude, and came to +enjoy all other degrees of happiness. And such was the conclusion +of this war. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How The Israelites After This Misfortune Grew Wicked And Served +The Assyrians; And How God Delivered Them By Othniel, Who Ruled +Over The Forty Years. + + +1. Now it happened that the tribe of Dan suffered in like manner +with the tribe of Benjamin; and it came to do so on the occasion +following:-- When the Israelites had already left off the +exercise of their arms for war, and were intent upon their +husbandry, the Canaanites despised them, and brought together an +army, not because they expected to suffer by them, but because +they had a mind to have a sure prospect of treating the Hebrews +ill when they pleased, and might thereby for the time to come +dwell in their own cities the more securely; they prepared +therefore their chariots, and gathered their soldiery together, +their cities also combined together, and drew over to them +Askelon and Ekron, which were within the tribe of Judah, and many +more of those that lay in the plain. They also forced the Danites +to fly into the mountainous country, and left them not the least +portion of the plain country to set their foot on. Since then +these Danites were not able to fight them, and had not land +enough to sustain them, they sent five of their men into the +midland country, to seek for a land to which they might remove +their habitation. So these men went as far as the neighborhood of +Mount Libanus, and the fountains of the Lesser Jordan, at the +great plain of Sidon, a day's journey from the city; and when +they had taken a view of the land, and found it to be good and +exceeding fruitful, they acquainted their tribe with it, +whereupon they made an expedition with the army, and built there +the city Dan, of the same name with the son of Jacob, and of the +same name with their own tribe. + +2. The Israelites grew so indolent, and unready of taking pains, +that misfortunes came heavier upon them, which also proceeded in +part from their contempt of the Divine worship; for when they had +once fallen off from the regularity of their political +government, they indulged themselves further in living according +to their own pleasure, and according to their own will, till they +were full of the evil doings that were common among the +Canaanites. God therefore was angry with them, and they lost that +their happy state which they had obtained by innumerable labors, +by their luxury; for when Chushan, king of the Assyrians, had +made war against them, they lost many of their soldiers in the +battle, and when they were besieged, they were taken by force; +nay, there were some who, out of fear, voluntarily submitted to +him, and though the tribute laid upon them was more than they +could bear, yet did they pay it, and underwent all sort of +oppression for eight years; after which thee they were freed from +them in the following manner:-- + +3. There was one whose name was Othniel, the son of Kenaz, of the +tribe of Judah, an active man and of great courage. He had an +admonition from God not to overlook the Israelites in such a +distress as they were now in, but to endeavor boldly to gain them +their liberty; so when he had procured some to assist him in this +dangerous undertaking, (and few they were, who, either out of +shame at their present circumstances, or out of a desire of +changing them, could be prevailed on to assist him,) he first of +all destroyed that garrison which Chushan had set over them; but +when it was perceived that he had not failed in his first +attempt, more of the people came to his assistance; so they +joined battle with the Assyrians, and drove them entirely before +them, and compelled them to pass over Euphrates. Hereupon +Othniel, who had given such proofs of his valor, received from +the multitude authority tojudge the people; and when he had ruled +over them forty years, he died. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Our People Served The Moabites Eighteen Years, And Were Then +Delivered From Slavery By One Ehud Who Retained The Dominion +Eighty Years. + + +1. When Othniel was dead, the affairs of the Israelites fell +again into disorder: and while they neither paid to God the honor +due to him, nor were obedient to the laws, their afflictions +increased, till Eglon, king of the Moabites, did so greatly +despise them on account of the disorders of their political +government, that he made war upon them, and overcame them in +several battles, and made the most courageous to submit, and +entirely subdued their army, and ordered them to pay him tribute. +And when he had built him a royal palace at Jericho, (14) he +omitted no method whereby he might distress them; and indeed he +reduced them to poverty for eighteen years. But when God had once +taken pity of the Israelites, on account of their afflictions, +and was moved to compassion by their supplications put up to him, +he freed them from the hard usage they had met with under the +Moabites. This liberty he procured for them in the following +manner; - + +2. There was a young man of the tribe of Benjamin, whose name was +Ehud, the son of Gera, a man of very great courage in bold +undertakings, and of a very strong body, fit for hard labor, but +best skilled in using his left hand, in which was his whole +strength; and he also dwelt at Jericho. Now this man became +familiar with Eglon, and that by means of presents, with which he +obtained his favor, and insinuated himself into his good opinion; +whereby he was also beloved of those that were about the king. +Now, when on a time he was bringing presents to the king, and had +two servants with him, he put a dagger on his right thigh +secretly, and went in to him: it was then summer thee, and the +middle of the day, when the guards were not strictly on their +watch, both because of the heat, and because they were gone to +dinner. So the young man, when he had offered his presents to the +king, who then resided in a small parlor that stood conveniently +to avoid the heat, fell into discourse with him, for they were +now alone, the king having bid his servants that attended him to +go their ways, because he had a mind to talk with Ehud. He was +now sitting on his throne; and fear seized upon Ehud lest he +should miss his stroke, and not give him a deadly wound; so he +raised himself up, and said he had a dream to impart to him by +the command of God; upon which the king leaped out of his throne +for joy of the dream; so Ehud smote him to the heart, and leaving +his dagger in his body, he went out and shut the door after him. +Now the king's servants were very still, as supposing that the +king had composed himself to sleep. + +3. Hereupon Ehud informed the people of Jericho privately of what +he had done, and exhorted them to recover their liberty; who +heard him gladly, and went to their arms, and sent messengers +over the country, that should sound trumpets of rams' horns; for +it was our custom to call the people together by them. Now the +attendants of Eglon were ignorant of what misfortune had befallen +him for a great while; but, towards the evening, fearing some +uncommon accident had happened, they entered into his parlor, and +when they found him dead, they were in great disorder, and knew +not what to do; and before the guards could be got together, the +multitude of the Israelites came upon them, so that some of them +were slain immediately, and some were put to flight, and ran away +toward the country of Moab, in order to save themselves. Their +number was above ten thousand. The Israelites seized upon the +ford of Jordan, and pursued them, and slew them, and many of them +they killed at the ford, nor did one of them escape out of their +hands; and by this means it was that the Hebrews freed themselves +from slavery under the Moabites. Ehud also was on this account +dignified with the government over all the multitude, and died +after he had held the government eighty years (15) He was a man +worthy of commendation, even besides what he deserved for the +forementioned act of his. After him Shamgat, the son of Anath, +was elected for their governor, but died in the first year of his +government. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How The Canaanites Brought The Israelites Under Slavery For +Twenty Years; After Which They Were Delivered By Barak And +Deborah, Who Ruled Over Them For Forty Years. + + +1. And now it was that the Israelites, taking no warning by their +former misfortunes to amend their manners, and neither +worshipping God nor submitting to the laws, were brought under +slavery by Jabin, the king of the Canaanites, and that before +they had a short breathing time after the slavery under the +Moabites; for this Jabin out of Hazor, a city that was situate +over the Semechonitis, and had in pay three hundred footmen, and +ten thousand horsemen, with fewer than three thousand chariots. +Sisera was commander of all his army, and was the principal +person in the king's favor. He so sorely beat the Israelites when +they fought with him, that he ordered them to pay tribute. + +2. So they continued to that hardship for twenty years, as not +good enough of themselves to grow wise by their misfortunes. God +was willing also hereby the more to subdue their obstinacy and +ingratitude towards himself: so when at length they were become +penitent, and were so wise as to learn that their calamities +arose from their contempt of the laws, they besought Deborah, a +certain prophetess among them, (which name in the Hebrew tongue +signifies a Bee,) to pray to God to take pity on them, and not to +overlook them, now they were ruined by the Canaanites. So God +granted them deliverance, and chose them a general, Barak, one +that was of the tribe of Naphtali. Now Barak, in the Hebrew +tongue, signifies Lightning. + +3. So Deborah sent for Barak, and bade him choose out ten +thousand young men to go against the enemy, because God had said +that that number was sufficient, and promised them victory. But +when Barak said that he would not be the general unless she would +also go as a general with him, she had indignation at what he +said 'Thou, O Barak, deliverest up meanly that authority which +God hath given thee into the hand of a woman, and I do not reject +it!" So they collected ten thousand men, and pitched their camp +at Mount Tabor, where, at the king's command, Sisera met them, +and pitched his camp not far from the enemy; whereupon the +Israelites, and Barak himself, were so aftrighted at the +multitude of those enemies, that they were resolved to march off, +had not Deborah retained them, and commanded them to fight the +enemy that very day, for that they should conquer them, and God +would be their assistance. + +4. So the battle began; and when they were come to a close fight, +there came down from heaven a great storm, with a vast quantity +of rain and hail, and the wind blew the rain in the face of the +Canaanites, and so darkened their eyes, that their arrows and +slings were of no advantage to them, nor would the coldness of +the air permit the soldiers to make use of their swords; while +this storm did not so much incommode the Israelites, because it +came in their backs. They also took such courage, upon the +apprehension that God was assisting them, that they fell upon the +very midst of their enemies, and slew a great number of them; so +that some of them fell by the Israelites, some fell by their own +horses, which were put into disorder, and not a few were killed +by their own chariots. At last Sisera, as soon as he saw himself +beaten, fled away, and came to a woman whose name was Jael, a +Kenite, who received him, when he desired to be concealed; and +when he asked for somewhat to drink, she gave him sour milk, of +which he drank so unmeasurably that he fell asleep; but when he +was asleep, Jael took an iron nail, and with a hammer drove it +through his temples into the floor; and when Barak came a little +afterward, she showed Sisera nailed to the ground: and thus was +this victory gained by a woman, as Deborah had foretold. Barak +also fought with Jabin at Hazor; and when he met with him, he +slew him: and when the general was fallen, Barak overthrew the +city to the foundation, and was the commander of the Israelites +for forty years. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How The Midianites And Other Nations Fought Against The +Israelites And Beat Them, And Afflicted Their Country For Seven +Years, How They Were Delivered By Gideon, Who Ruled Over The +Multitude For Forty Years. + + +1. Now when Barak and Deborah were dead, whose deaths happened +about the same time, afterwards the Midianites called the +Amalekites and Arabians to their assistance, and made war against +the Israelites, and were too hard for those that fought against +them; and when they had burnt the fruits of the earth, they +carried off the prey. Now when they had done this for three +years, the multitude of the Israelites retired to the mountains, +and forsook the plain country. They also made themselves hollows +under ground, and caverns, and preserved therein whatsoever had +escaped their enemies; for the Midianites made expeditions in +harvest-time, but permitted them to plough the land in winter, +that so, when the others had taken the pains, they might have +fruits for them to carry away. Indeed, there ensued a famine and +a scarcity of food; upon which they betook themselves to their +supplications to God, and besought him to save them. + +2. Gideon also, the son of Joash, one of the principal persons of +the tribe of Manasseh, brought his sheaves of corn privately, and +thrashed them at the wine-press; for he was too fearful of their +enemies to thrash them openly in the thrashing-floor. At this +time somewhat appeared to him in the shape of a young man, and +told him that he was a happy man, and beloved of God. To which he +immediately replied, "A mighty indication of God's favor to me, +that I am forced to use this wine-press instead of a +thrashing-floor!" But the appearance exhorted him to be of good +courage, and to make an attempt for the recovery of their +liberty. He answered, that it was impossible for him to recover +it, because the tribe to which he belonged was by no means +numerous; and because he was but young himself, and too +inconsiderable to think of such great actions. But the other +promised him, that God would supply what he was defective in, and +would afford the Israelites victory under his conduct. + +3. Now, therefore, as Gideon was relating this to some young men, +they believed him, and immediately there was an army of ten +thousand men got ready for fighting. But God stood by Gideon in +his sleep, and told him that mankind were too fond of themselves, +and were enemies to such as excelled in virtue. Now that they +might not pass God over, but ascribe the victory to him, and +might not fancy it obtained by their own power, because they were +a great many, and able of themselves to fight their enemies, but +might confess that it was owing to his assistance, he advised him +to bring his army about noon, in the violence of the heat, to the +river, and to esteem those that bent down on their knees, and so +drank, to be men of courage; but for all those that drank +tumultuously, that he should esteem them to do it out of fear, +and as in dread of their enemies. And when Gideon had done as God +had suggested to him, there were found three hundred men that +took water with their hands tumultuously; so God bid him take +these men, and attack the enemy. Accordingly they pitched their +camp at the river Jordan, as ready the next day to pass over it. + +4. But Gideon was in great fear, for God had told him beforehand +that he should set upon his enemies in the night-time; but God, +being willing to free him from his fear, bid him take one of his +soldiers, and go near to the Midianites' tents, for that he +should from that very place have his courage raised, and grow +bold. So he obeyed, and went and took his servant Phurah with +him; and as he came near to one of the tents, he discovered that +those that were in it were awake, and that one of them was +telling to his fellow soldier a dream of his own, and that so +plainly that Gideon could hear him. The dream was this:-- He +thought he saw a barley-cake, such a one as could hardly be eaten +by men, it was so vile, rolling through the camp, and +overthrowing the royal tent, and the tents of all the soldiers. +Now the other soldier explained this vision to mean the +destruction of the army; and told them what his reason was which +made him so conjecture, viz. That the seed called barley was all +of it allowed to be of the vilest sort of seed, and that the +Israelites were known to be the vilest of all the people of Asia, +agreeably to the seed of barley, and that what seemed to look big +among the Israelites was this Gideon and the army that was with +him; "and since thou sayest thou didst see the cake overturning +our tents, I am afraid lest God hath granted the victory over us +to Gideon." + +5. When Gideon had heard this dream, good hope and courage came +upon him; and he commanded his soldiers to arm themselves, and +told them of this vision of their enemies. They also took courage +at what was told them, and were ready to perform what he should +enjoin them. So Gideon divided his army into three parts, and +brought it out about the fourth watch of the night, each part +containing a hundred men: they all bare empty pitchers and +lighted lamps in their hands, that their onset might not be +discovered by their enemies. They had also each of them a ram's +horn in his right hand, which he used instead of a trumpet. The +enemy's camp took up a large space of ground, for it happened +that they had a great many camels; and as they were divided into +different nations, so they were all contained in one circle. Now +when the Hebrews did as they were ordered beforehand, upon their +approach to their enemies, and, on the signal given, sounded with +their rams' horns, and brake their pitchers, and set upon their +enemies with their lamps, and a great shout, and cried, "Victory +to Gideon, by God's assistance," a disorder and a fright seized +upon the other men while they were half asleep, for it was +night-time, as God would have it; so that a few of them were +slain by their enemies, but the greatest part by their own +soldiers, on account of the diversity of their language; and when +they were once put into disorder, they killed all that they met +with, as thinking them to be enemies also. Thus there was a great +slaughter made. And as the report of Gideon's victory came to the +Israelites, they took their weapons and pursued their enemies, +and overtook them in a certain valley encompassed with torrents, +a place which these could not get over; so they encompassed them, +and slew them all, with their kings, Oreb and Zeeb. But the +remaining captains led those soldiers that were left, which were +about eighteen thousand, and pitched their camp a great way off +the Israelites. However, Gideon did not grudge his pains, but +pursued them with all his army, and joining battle with them, cut +off the whole enemies' army, and took the other leaders, Zeba and +Zalmuna, and made them captives. Now there were slain in this +battle of the Midianites, and of their auxiliaries the Arabians, +about a hundred and twenty thousand; and the Hebrews took a great +prey, gold, and silver, and garments, and camels, and asses. And +when Gideon was come to his own country of Ophrah, he slew the +kings of the Midianites. + +6. However, the tribe of Ephraim was so displeased at the good +success of Gideon, that they resolved to make war against him, +accusing him because he did not tell them of his expedition +against their enemies. But Gideon, as a man of temper, and that +excelled in every virtue, pleaded, that it was not the result of +his own authority or reasoning, that made him attack the enemy +without them; but that it was the command of God, and still the +victory belonged to them as well as those in the army. And by +this method of cooling their passions, he brought more advantage +to the Hebrews, than by the success he had against these enemies, +for he thereby delivered them from a sedition which was arising +among them; yet did this tribe afterwards suffer the punishment +of this their injurious treatment of Gideon, of which we will +give an account in due time. + +7. Hereupon Gideon would have laid down the government, but was +over-persuaded to take it, which he enjoyed forty years, and +distributed justice to them, as the people came to him in their +differences; and what he determined was esteemed valid by all. +And when he died, he was buried in his own country of Ophrah. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +That The Judges Who Succeeded Gideon Made War With The Adjoining +Nations For A Long Time. + + +1. Now Gideon had seventy sons that were legitimate, for he had +many wives; but he had also one that was spurious, by his +concubine Drumah, whose name was Abimelech, who, after his +father's death, retired to Shecbem to his mother's relations, for +they were of that place: and when he had got money of such of +them as were eminent for many instances of injustice, he came +with them to his father's house, and slew all his brethren, +except Jotham, for he had the good fortune to escape and be +preserved; but Abimelech made the government tyrannical, and +constituted himself a lord, to do what he pleased, instead of +obeying the laws; and he acted most rigidly against those that +were the patrons of justice. + +2. Now when, on a certain time, there was a public festival at +Shechem, and all the multitude was there gathered together, +Jotham his brother, whose escape we before related, went up to +Mount Gerizzim, which hangs over the city Shechem, and cried out +so as to be heard by the multitude, who were attentive to him. He +desired they would consider what he was going to say to them: so +when silence was made, he said, That when the trees had a human +voice, and there was an assembly of them gathered together, they +desired that the fig-tree would rule over them; but when that +tree refused so to do, because it was contented to enjoy that +honor which belonged peculiarly to the fruit it bare, and not +that which should be derived to it from abroad, the trees did not +leave off their intentions to have a ruler, so they thought +proper to make the offer of that honor to the vine; but when the +vine was chosen, it made use of the same words which the fig-tree +had used before, and excused itself from accepting the +government: and when the olive-tree had done the same, the brier, +whom the trees had desired to take the kingdom, (it is a sort of +wood good for firing,) it promised to take the government, and to +be zealous in the exercise of it; but that then they must sit +down under its shadow, and if they should plot against it to +destroy it, the principle of fire that was in it should destroy +them. He told them, that what he had said was no laughing matter; +for that when they had experienced many blessings from Gideon, +they overlooked Abimelech, when he overruled all, and had joined +with him in slaying his brethren; and that he was no better than +a fire himself. So when he had said this, he went away, and lived +privately in the mountains for three years, out of fear of +Abimelech. + +3. A little while after this festival, the Shechemites, who had +now repented themselves of having slain the sons of Gideon, drove +Abimelech away, both from their city and their tribe; whereupon +he contrived how he might distress their city. Now at the season +of vintage, the people were afraid to go out and gather their +fruits, for fear Abimelech should do them some mischief. Now it +happened that there had come to them a man of authority, one +Gaal, that sojourned with them, having his armed men and his +kinsmen with him; so the Shechemites desired that he would allow +them a guard during their vintage; whereupon he accepted of their +desires, and so the people went out, and Gaal with them at the +head of his soldiery. So they gathered their fruit with safety; +and when they were at supper in several companies, they then +ventured to curse Abimelech openly; and the magistrates laid +ambushes in places about the city, and caught many of Abimelech's +followers, and destroyed them. + +4. Now there was one Zebul, a magistrate of the Shechemites, that +had entertained Abimelech. He sent messengers, and informed him +how much Gaal had irritated the people against him, and excited +him to lay ambushes before the city, for that he would persuade +Gaal to go out against him, which would leave it in his power to +be revenged on him; and when that was once done, he would bring +him to be reconciled to the city. So Abimelech laid ambushes, and +himself lay with them. Now Gaal abode in the suburbs, taking +little care of himself; and Zebul was with him. Now as Gaal saw +the armed men coming on, he said to Zebul, That some armed men +were coming; but the other replied, They were only shadows of +huge stones: and when they were come nearer, Gaal perceived what +was the reality, and said, They were not shadows, but men lying +in ambush. Then said Zebul, "Didst not thou reproach Abimelech +for cowardice? why dost thou not then show how very courageous +thou art thyself, and go and fight him?" So Gaal, being in +disorder, joined battle with Abimelech, and some of his men fell; +whereupon he fled into the city, and took his men with him. But +Zebul managed his matters so in the city, that he procured them +to expel Gaal out of the city, and this by accusing him of +cowardice in this action with the soldiers of Ahimelech. But +Abimelech, when he had learned that the Shechemites were again +coming out to gather their grapes, placed ambushes before the +city, and when they were coming out, the third part of his army +took possession of the gates, to hinder the citizens from +returning in again, while the rest pursued those that were +scattered abroad, and so there was slaughter every where; and +when he had overthrown the city to the very foundations, for it +was not able to bear a siege, and had sown its ruins with salt, +he proceeded on with his army till all the Shechemites were +slain. As for those that were scattered about the country, and so +escaped the danger, they were gathered together unto a certain +strong rock, and settled themselves upon it, and prepared to +build a wall about it: and when Abimelech knew their intentions, +he prevented them, and came upon them with his forces, and laid +faggots of dry wood round the place, he himself bringing some of +them, and by his example encouraging the soldiers to do the same. +And when the rock was encompassed round about with these faggots, +they set them on fire, and threw in whatsoever by nature caught +fire the most easily: so a mighty flame was raised, and nobody +could fly away from the rock, but every man perished, with their +wives and children, in all about fifteen hundred men, and the +rest were a great number also. And such was the calamity which +fell upon the Shechemites; and men's grief on their account had +been greater than it was, had they not brought so much mischief +on a person who had so well deserved of them, and had they not +themselves esteemed this as a punishment for the same. + +5. Now Abimelech, when he had aftrighted the Israelites with the +miseries he had brought upon the Shechemites, seemed openly to +affect greater authority than he now had, and appeared to set no +bounds to his violence, unless it were with the destruction of +all. Accordingly he marched to Thebes, and took the city on the +sudden; and there being a great tower therein, whereunto the +whole multitude fled, he made preparation to besiege it. Now as +he was rushing with violence near the gates, a woman threw a +piece of a millstone upon his head, upon which Abimelech fell +down, and desired his armor-bearer to kill him lest his death +should be thought to be the work of a woman:-- who did what he +was bid to do. So he underwent this death as a punishment for the +wickedness he had perpetrated against his brethren, and his +insolent barbarity to the Shechemites. Now the calamity that +happened to those Shechemites was according to the prediction of +Jotham, However, the army that was with Abimelech, upon his fall, +was scattered abroad, and went to their own homes. + +6. Now it was that Jair the Gileadite, (16) of the tribe of +Manasseh, took the government. He was a man happy in other +respects also, but particularly in his children, who were of a +good character. They were thirty in number, and very skillful in +riding on horses, and were intrusted with the government of the +cities of Gilead. He kept the government twenty-two years, and +died an old man; and he was buried in Camon, a city of Gilead. + +7. And now all the affairs of the Hebrews were managed +uncertainly, and tended to disorder, and to the contempt of God +and of the laws. So the Ammonites and Philistines had them in +contempt, and laid waste the country with a great army; and when +they had taken all Perea, they were so insolent as to attempt to +gain the possession of all the rest. But the Hebrews, being now +amended by the calamities they had undergone, betook themselves +to supplications to God; and brought sacrifices to him, +beseeching him not to be too severe upon them, but to be moved by +their prayers to leave off his anger against them. So God became +more merciful to them, and was ready to assist them. + +8. When the Ammonites had made an expedition into the land of +Gilead, the inhabitants of the country met them at a certain +mountain, but wanted a commander. Now there was one whose name +was Jephtha, who, both on account of his father's virtue, and on +account of that army which he maintained at his own expenses, was +a potent man: the Israelites therefore sent to him, and entreated +him to come to their assistance, and promised him the dominion +over them all his lifetime. But he did not admit of their +entreaty; and accused them, that they did not come to his +assistance when he was unjustly treated, and this in an open +manner by his brethren; for they cast him off, as not having the +same mother with the rest, but born of a strange mother, that was +introduced among them by his father's fondness; and this they did +out of a contempt of his inability [to vindicate himself]. So he +dwelt in the country of Gilead, as it is called, and received all +that came to him, let them come from what place soever, and paid +them wages. However, when they pressed him to accept the +dominion, and sware they would grant him the government over them +all his life, he led them to the war. + +9. And when Jephtha had taken immediate care of their affairs, he +placed his army at the city Mizpeh, and sent a message to the +Ammonite [king], complaining of his unjust possession of their +land. But that king sent a contrary message; and complained of +the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt, and desired him to go +out of the land of the Amorites, and yield it up to him, as at +first his paternal inheritance. But Jephtha returned this answer: +That he did not justly complain of his ancestors about the land +of the Amorites, and ought rather to thank them that they left +the land of the Ammonites to them, since Moses could have taken +it also; and that neither would he recede from that land of their +own, which God had obtained for them, and they had now inhabited +[above] three hundred years, but would fight with them about it. + +10. And when he had given them this answer, he sent the +ambassadors away. And when he had prayed for victory, and had +vowed to perform sacred offices, and if he came home in safety, +to offer in sacrifice what living creature soever should first +meet him, (17) he joined battle with the enemy, and gained a +great victory, and in his pursuit slew the enemies all along as +far as the city of Minnith. He then passed over to the land of +the Ammonites, and overthrew many of their cities, and took their +prey, and freed his own people from that slavery which they had +undergone for eighteen years. But as he came back, he fell into a +calamity no way correspondent to the great actions he had done; +for it was his daughter that came to meet him; she was also an +only child and a virgin: upon this Jephtha heavily lamented the +greatness of his affliction, and blamed his daughter for being so +forward in meeting him, for he had vowed to sacrifice her to God. +However, this action that was to befall her was not ungrateful to +her, since she should die upon occasion of her father's victory, +and the liberty of her fellow citizens: she only desired her +father to give her leave, for two months, to bewail her youth +with her fellow citizens; and then she agreed, that at the +forementioned thee he might do with her according to his vow. +Accordingly, when that time was over, he sacrificed his daughter +as a burnt-offering, offering such an oblation as was neither +conformable to the law nor acceptable to God, not weighing with +himself what opinion the hearers would have of such a practice. + +11. Now the tribe of Ephraim fought against him, because he did +not take them along with him in his expedition against the +Ammonites, but because he alone had the prey, and the glory of +what was done to himself. As to which he said, first, that they +were not ignorant how his kindred had fought against him, and +that when they were invited, they did not come to his assistance, +whereas they ought to have come quickly, even before they were +invited. And in the next place, that they were going to act +unjustly; for while they had not courage enough to fight their +enemies, they came hastily against their own kindred: and he +threatened them that, with God's assistance, he would inflict a +punishment upon them, unless they would grow wiser. But when he +could not persuade them, he fought with them with those forces +which he sent for out of Gilead, and he made a great slaughter +among them; and when they were beaten, he pursued them, and +seized on the passages of Jordan by a part of his army which he +had sent before, and slew about forty-two thousand of them. + +12. So when Jephtha had ruled six years, he died, and was buried +in his own country, Sebee, which is a place in the land of +Gilead. + +13. Now when Jephtha was dead, Ibzan took the government, being +of the tribe of Judah, and of the city of Bethlehem. He had sixty +children, thirty of them sons, and the rest daughters; all whom +he left alive behind him, giving the daughters in marriage to +husbands, and taking wives for his sons. He did nothing in the +seven years of his administration that was worth recording, or +deserved a memorial. So he died an old man, and was buried in his +own country. + +14. When Ibzan was dead after this manner, neither did Helon, who +succeeded him in the government, and kept it ten years, do any +thing remarkable: he was of the tribe of Zebulon. + +15. Abdon also, the son of Hilel, of the tribe of Ephraim, and +born at the city Pyrathon, was ordained their supreme governor +after Helon. He is only recorded to have been happy in his +children; for the public affairs were then so peaceable, and in +such security, that neither did he perform any glorious action. +He had forty sons, and by them left thirty grandchildren; and he +marched in state with these seventy, who were all very skillful +in riding horses; and he left them all alive after him. He died +an old man, and obtained a magnificent burial in Pyrathon. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Concerning The Fortitude Of Samson, And What Mischiefs He Brought +Upon The Philistines. + + +1. After Abdon was dead, the Philistines overcame the Israelites, +and received tribute of them for forty years; from which distress +they were delivered after this manner:-- + +2. There was one Manoah, a person of such great virtue, that he +had few men his equals, and without dispute the principal person +of his country. He had a wife celebrated for her beauty, and +excelling her contemporaries. He had no children; and, being +uneasy at his want of posterity, he entreated God to give them +seed of their own bodies to succeed them; and with that intent he +came constantly into the suburbs (18) together with his wife; +which suburbs were in the Great Plain. Now he was fond of his +wife to a degree of madness, and on that account was unmeasurably +jealous of her. Now, when his wife was once alone, an apparition +was seen by her: it was an angel of God, and resembled a young +man beautiful and tall, and brought her the good news that she +should have a son, born by God's providence, that should be a +goodly child, of great strength; by whom, when he was grown up to +man's estate, the Philistines should be afflicted. He exhorted +her also not to poll his hair, and that he should avoid all other +kinds of drink, (for so had God commanded,) and be entirely +contented with water. So the angel, when he had delivered that +message, went his way, his coming having been by the will of God. + +3. Now the wife informed her husband when he came home of what +the angel had said, who showed so great an admiration of the +beauty and tallness of the young man that had appeared to her, +that her husband was astonished, and out of himself for jealousy, +and such suspicions as are excited by that passion: but she was +desirous of having her husband's unreasonable sorrow taken away; +accordingly she entreated God to send the angel again, that he +might be seen by her husband. So the angel came again by the +favor of God, while they were in the suburbs, and appeared to her +when she was alone without her husband. She desired the angel to +stay so long till she might bring her husband; and that request +being granted, she goes to call Manoah. When he saw the angel he +was not yet free from suspicion, and he desired him to inform him +of all that he had told his wife; but when he said it was +sufficient that she alone knew what he had said, he then +requested of him to tell who he was, that when the child was born +they might return him thanks, and give him a present. He replied +that he did not want any present, for that he did not bring them +the good news of the birth of a son out of the want of any thing. +And when Manoah had entreated him to stay, and partake of his +hospitality, he did not give his consent. However he was +persuaded, at the earnest request of Manoah to stay so long as +while he brought him one mark of his hospitality; so he slew a +kid of the goats, and bid his wife boil it. When all was ready, +the angel enjoined him to set the loaves and the flesh, but +without the vessels, upon the rock; which when they had done, he +touched the flesh with the rod which he had in his hand, which, +upon the breaking out of a flame, was consumed, together with the +loaves; and the angel ascended openly, in their sight, up to +heaven, by means of the smoke, as by a vehicle. Now Manoah was +afraid that some danger would come to them from this sight of +God; but his wife bade him be of good courage, for that God +appeared to them for their benefit. + +4. So the woman proved with child, and was careful to observe the +injunctions that were given her; and they called the child, when +he was born, Samson, which name signifies one that is strong. So +the child grew apace; and it appeared evidently that he would be +a prophet, (19) both by the moderation of his diet, and the +permission of his hair to grow. + +5. Now when he once came with his parents to Timhath, a city of +the Philistines, when there was a great festival, he fell in love +with a maid of that country, and he desired of his parents that +they would procure him the damsel for his wife: but they refused +so to do, because she was not of the stock of Israel; yet because +this marriage was of God, who intended to convert it to the +benefit of the Hebrews, he over-persuaded them to procure her to +be espoused to him. And as he was continually coming to her +parents, he met a lion, and though he was naked, he received his +onset, and strangled him with his hands, and cast the wild beast +into a woody piece of ground on the inside of the road. + +6. And when he was going another time to the damsel, he lit upon +a swarm of bees making their combs in the breast of that lion; +and taking three honey-combs away, he gave them, together with +the rest of his presents, to the damsel. Now the people of +Timhath, out of a dread of the young man's strength, gave him +during the time of the wedding-feast (for he then feasted them +all) thirty of the most stout of their youth, in pretense to be +his companions, but in reality to be a guard upon him, that he +might not attempt to give them any disturbance. Now as they were +drinking merrily and playing, Samson said, as was usual at such +times, Come, if I propose you a riddle, and you can expound it in +these seven days' thee, I will give you every one a linen shirt +and a garment, as the reward of your wisdom." So they being very +ambitious to obtain the glory of wisdom, together with the gains, +desired him to propose his riddle. He, "That a devourer produced +sweet food out of itself, though itself were very disagreeable." +And when they were not able, in three days' time, to find out the +meaning of the riddle, they desired the damsel to discover it by +the means of her husband, and tell it them; and they threatened +to burn her if she did not tell it them. So when the damsel +entreated Samson to tell it her, he at first refused to do it; +but when she lay hard at him, and fell into tears, and made his +refusal to tell it a sign of his unkindness to her, he informed +her of his slaughter of a lion, and how he found bees in his +breast, and carried away three honey-combs, and brought them to +her. Thus he, suspecting nothing of deceit, informed her of all, +and she revealed it to those that desired to know it. Then on the +seventh day, whereon they were to expound the riddle proposed to +them, they met together before sun-setting, and said, "Nothing is +more disagreeable than a lion to those that light on it, and +nothing is sweeter than honey to those that make use of it." To +which Samson made this rejoinder: "Nothing is more deceitful than +a woman for such was the person that discovered my interpretation +to you." Accordingly he gave them the presents he had promised +them, making such Askelonites as met him upon the road his prey, +who were themselves Philistines also. But he divorced this his +wife; and the girl despised his anger, and was married to his +companion, who made the former match between them. + +7. At this injurious treatment Samson was so provoked, that he +resolved to punish all the Philistines, as well as her: so it +being then summer-time, and the fruits of the land being almost +ripe enough for reaping, he caught three hundred foxes, and +joining lighted torches to their tails, he sent them into the +fields of the Philistines, by which means the fruits of the +fields perished. Now when the Philistines knew that this was +Samson's doing, and knew also for what cause he did it, they sent +their rulers to Timhath, and burnt his former wife, and her +relations, who had been the occasion of their misfortunes. + +8. Now when Samson had slain many of the Philistines in the plain +country, he dwelt at Etam, which is a strong rock of the tribe of +Judah; for the Philistines at that time made an expedition +against that tribe: but the people of Judah said that they did +not act justly with them, in inflicting punishments upon them +while they paid their tribute, and this only on account of +Samson's offenses. They answered, that in case they would not be +blamed themselves, they must deliver up Samson, and put him into +their power. So they being desirous not to be blamed themselves, +came to the rock with three thousand armed men, and complained to +Samson of the bold insults he had made upon the Philistines, who +were men able to bring calamity upon the whole nation of the +Hebrews; and they told him they were come to take him, and to +deliver him up to them, and put him into their power; so they +desired him to bear this willingly. Accordingly, when he had +received assurance from them upon oath, that they would do him no +other harm than only to deliver him into his enemies' hands, he +came down from the rock, and put himself into the power of his +countrymen. Then did they bind him with two cords, and lead him +on, in order to deliver him to the Philistines; and when they +came to a certain place, which is now called the Jaw-bone, on +account of the great action there performed by Samson, though of +old it had no particular name at all, the Philistines, who had +pitched their camp not far off, came to meet them with joy and +shouting, as having done a great thing, and gained what they +desired; but Samson broke his bonds asunder, and catching up the +jaw-bone of an ass that lay down at his feet, fell upon his +enemies, and smiting them with his jaw-bone, slew a thousand of +them, and put the rest to flight and into great disorder. + +9. Upon this slaughter Samson was too proud of what he had +performed, and said that this did not come to pass by the +assistance of God, but that his success was to be ascribed to his +own courage; and vaunted himself, that it was out of a dread of +him that some of his enemies fell and the rest ran away upon his +use of the jaw-bone; but when a great thirst came upon him, he +considered that human courage is nothing, and bare his testimony +that all is to be ascribed to God, and besought him that he would +not be angry at any thing he had said, nor give him up into the +hands of his enemies, but afford him help under his affliction, +and deliver him from the misfortune he was under. Accordingly God +was moved with his entreaties, and raised him up a plentiful +fountain of sweet water at a certain rock whence it was that +Samson called the place the Jaw-bone, (20) and so it is called to +this day. + +10. After this fight Samson held the Philistines in contempt, and +came to Gaza, and took up his lodgings in a certain inn. When the +rulers of Gaza were informed of his coming thither, they seized +upon the gates, and placed men in ambush about them, that he +might not escape without being perceived; but Samson, who was +acquainted with their contrivances against him, arose about +midnight, and ran by force upon the gates, with their posts and +beams, and the rest of their wooden furniture, and carried them +away on his shoulders, and bare them to the mountain that is over +Hebron, and there laid them down. + +11. However, he at length (21) transgressed the laws of his +country, and altered his own regular way of living, and imitated +the strange customs of foreigners, which thing was the beginning +of his miseries; for he fell in love with a woman that was a +harlot among the Philistines: her name was Delilah, and he lived +with her. So those that administered the public affairs of the +Philistines came to her, and, with promises, induced her to get +out of Samson what was the cause of that his strength, by which +he became unconquerable to his enemies. Accordingly, when they +were drinking, and had the like conversation together, she +pretended to admire the actions he had done, and contrived to get +out of him by subtlety, by what means he so much excelled others +in strength. Samson, in order to delude Delilah, for he had not +yet lost his senses, replied, that if he were bound with seven +such green withs of a vine as might still be wreathed, he should +be weaker than any other man. The woman said no more then, but +told this to the rulers of the Philistines, and hid certain of +the soldiers in ambush within the house; and when he was +disordered in drink and asleep, she bound him as fast as possible +with the withs; and then upon her awakening him, she told him +some of the people were upon him; but he broke the withs, and +endeavored to defend himself, as though some of the people were +upon him. Now this woman, in the constant conversation Samson had +with her, pretended that she took it very ill that he had such +little confidence in her affections to him, that he would not +tell her what she desired, as if she would not conceal what she +knew it was for his interest to have concealed. However, he +deluded her again, and told her, that if they bound him with +seven cords, he should lose his strength. And when, upon doing +this, she gained nothing, he told her the third thee, that his +hair should be woven into a web; but when, upon doing this, the +truth was not yet discovered, at length Samson, upon Delilah's +prayer, (for he was doomed to fall into some affliction,) was +desirous to please her, and told her that God took care of him, +and that he was born by his providence, and that "thence it is +that I suffer my hair to grow, God having charged me never to +poll my head, and thence my strength is according to the increase +and continuance of my hair." When she had learned thus much, and +had deprived him of his hair, she delivered him up to his +enemies, when he was not strong enough to defend himself from +their attempts upon him; so they put out his eyes, and bound him, +and had him led about among them. + +12. But in process of time Samson's hair grew again. And there +was a public festival among the Philistines, when the rulers, and +those of the most eminent character, were feasting together; (now +the room wherein they were had its roof supported by two pillars;) +so they sent for Samson, and he was brought to their feast, +that they might insult him in their cups. Hereupon he, thinking +it one of the greatest misfortunes, if he should not be able to +revenge himself when he was thus insulted, persuaded the boy that +led him by the hand, that he was weary and wanted to rest +himself, and desired he would bring him near the pillars; and as +soon as he came to them, he rushed with force against them, and +overthrew the house, by overthrowing its pillars, with three +thousand men in it, who were all slain, and Samson with them. And +such was the end of this man, when he had ruled over the +Israelites twenty years. And indeed this man deserves to be +admired for his courage and strength, and magnanimity at his +death, and that his wrath against his enemies went so far as to +die himself with them. But as for his being ensnared by a woman, +that is to be ascribed to human nature, which is too weak to +resist the temptations to that sin; but we ought to bear him +witness, that in all other respects he was one of extraordinary +virtue. But his kindred took away his body, and buried it in +Sarasat his own country, with the rest of his family. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How Under Eli's Government Of The Israelites Booz Married Ruth, +From Whom Came Obed The Grandfather Of David. + + +1. Now after the death of Samson, Eli the high priest was +governor of the Israelites. Under him, when the country was +afflicted with a famine, Elimelech of Bethlehem, which is a city +of the tribe of Judah, being not able to support his family under +so sore a distress, took with him Naomi his wife, and the +children that were born to him by her, Chillon and Mahlon, and +removed his habitation into the land of Moab; and upon the happy +prosperity of his affairs there, he took for his sons wives of +the Moabites, Orpah for Chillon, and Ruth for Mahlon. But in the +compass of ten years, both Elimelech, and a little while after +him, the sons, died; and Naomi being very uneasy at these +accidents, and not being able to bear her lonesome condition, now +those that were dearest to her were dead, on whose account it was +that she had gone away from her own country, she returned to it +again, for she had been informed it was now in a flourishing +condition. However, her daughters-in-law were not able to think +of parting with her; and when they had a mind to go out of the +country with her, she could not dissuade them from it; but when +they insisted upon it, she wished them a more happy wedlock than +they had with her sons, and that they might have prosperity in +other respects also; and seeing her own affairs were so low, she +exhorted them to stay where they were, and not to think of +leaving their own country, and partaking with her of that +uncertainty under which she must return. Accordingly Orpah staid +behind; but she took Ruth along with her, as not to be persuaded +to stay behind her, but would take her fortune with her, +whatsoever it should prove. + +2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz, +who was near of kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when Naomi +was so called by her fellow citizens, according to her true name, +she said, "You might more truly call me Mara." Now Naomi +signifies in the Hebrew tongue happiness, and Mara, sorrow. It +was now reaping thee; and Ruth, by the leave of her +mother-in-law, went out to glean, that they might get a stock of +corn for their food. Now it happened that she came into Booz's +field; and after some thee Booz came thither, and when he saw the +damsel, he inquired of his servant that was set over the reapers +concerning the girl. The servant had a little before inquired +about all her circumstances, and told them to his master, who +kindly embraced her, both on account of her affection to her +mother-in-law, and her remembrance of that son of hers to whom +she had been married, and wished that she might experience a +prosperous condition; so he desired her not to glean, but to reap +what she was able, and gave her leave to carry it home. He also +gave it in charge to that servant who was over the reapers, not +to hinder her when she took it away, and bade him give her her +dinner, and make her drink when he did the like to the reapers. +Now what corn Ruth received of him she kept for her +mother-in-law, and came to her in the evening, and brought the +ears of corn with her; and Naomi had kept for her a part of such +food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon her. Ruth +also told her mother-in-law what Booz had said to her; and when +the other had informed her that he was near of kin to them, and +perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision for them, +she went out again on the days following, to gather the gleanings +with Booz's maidservants. + +3. It was not many days before Booz, after the barley was +winnowed, slept in his thrashing-floor. When Naomi was informed +of this circumstance she contrived it so that Ruth should lie +down by him, for she thought it might be for their advantage that +he should discourse with the girl. Accordingly she sent the +damsel to sleep at his feet; who went as she bade her, for she +did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any +command of her mother-in-law. And at first she lay concealed from +Booz, as he was fast asleep; but when he awaked about midnight, +and perceived a woman lying by him, he asked who she was; - and +when she told him her name, and desired that he whom she owned +for her lord would excuse her, he then said no more; but in the +morning, before the servants began to set about their work, he +awaked her, and bid her take as much barley as she was able to +carry, and go to her mother-in-law before any body there should +see that she had lain down by him, because it was but prudent to +avoid any reproach that might arise on that account, especially +when there had been nothing done that was ill. But as to the main +point she aimed at, the matter should rest here, - "He that is +nearer of kin than I am, shall be asked whether he wants to take +thee to wife: if he says he does, thou shalt follow him; but if +he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law." + +4. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were +very glad of it, out of the hope they had that Booz would make +provision for them. Now about noon Booz went down into the city, +and gathered the senate together, and when he had sent for Ruth, +he called for her kinsman also; and when he was come, he said, +"Dost not thou retain the inheritance of Elimelech and his sons?" +He confessed that he did retain it, and that he did as he was +permitted to do by the laws, because he was their nearest +kinsman. Then said Booz, "Thou must not remember the laws by +halves, but do every thing according to them; for the wife of +Mahlon is come hither, whom thou must marry, according to the +law, in case thou wilt retain their fields." So the man yielded +up both the field and the wife to Booz, who was himself of kin to +those that were dead, as alleging that he had a wife already, and +children also; so Booz called the senate to witness, and bid the +woman to loose his shoe, and spit in his face, according to the +law; and when this was done, Booz married Ruth, and they had a +son within a year's time. Naomi was herself a nurse to this +child; and by the advice of the women, called him Obed, as being +to be brought up in order to be subservient to her in her old +age, for Obed in the Hebrew dialect signifies a servant. The son +of Obed was Jesse, and David was his son, who was king, and left +his dominions to his sons for one and twenty generations. I was +therefore obliged to relate this history of Ruth, because I had a +mind to demonstrate the power of God, who, without difficulty, +can raise those that are of ordinary parentage to dignity and +splendor, to which he advanced David, though he were born of such +mean parents. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Concerning The Birth Of Samuel; And How He Foretold The Calamity +That Befell The Sons Of Eli. + + +1. And now upon the ill state of the affairs of the Hebrews, they +made war again upon the Philistines. The occasion was this: Eli, +the high priest, had two sons, Hophni and Phineas. These sons of +Eli were guilty of injustice towards men, and of impiety towards +God, and abstained from no sort of wickedness. Some of their +gifts they carried off, as belonging to the honorable employment +they had; others of them they took away by violence. They also +were guilty of impurity with the women that came to worship God +at the tabernacle, obliging some to submit to their lust by +force, and enticing others by bribes; nay, the whole course of +their lives was no better than tyranny. Their father therefore +was angry at them for such their wickedness, and expected that +God would suddenly inflict his punishments upon them for what +they had done. The multitude took it heinously also. And as soon +as God had foretold what calamity would befall Eli's sons, which +he did both to Eli himself and to Samuel the prophet, who was yet +but a child, he openly showed his sorrow for his sons' +destruction. + +2. I will first despatch what I have to say about the prophet +Samuel, and after that will proceed to speak of the sons of Eli, +and the miseries they brought on the whole people of the Hebrews. +Elcanah, a Levite, one of a middle condition among his fellow +citizens, and one that dwelt at Ramathaim, a city of the tribe of +Ephraim, married two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. He had children +by the latter; but he loved the other best, although she was +barren. Now Elcanah came with his wives to the city Shiloh to +sacrifice, for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed, +as we have formerly said. Now when, after he had sacrificed, he +distributed at that festival portions of the flesh to his wives +and children, and when Hannah saw the other wife's children +sitting round about their mother, she fell into tears, and +lamented herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness; +and suffering her grief to prevail over her husband's +consolations to her, she went to the tabernacle to beseech God to +give her seed, and to make her a mother; and to vow to consecrate +the first son she should bear to the service of God, and this in +such a way, that his manner of living should not be like that of +ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a long time, +Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid +her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when +she said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of +children, and was beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good +cheer, and told her that God would send her children. + +3. So she came to her husband full of hope, and ate her meal with +gladness. And when they had returned to their own country she +found herself with child, and they had a son born to them, to +whom they gave the name of Samuel, which may be styled one that +was asked of God. They therefore came to the tabernacle to offer +sacrifice for the birth of the child, and brought their tithes +with them; but the woman remembered the vows she had made +concerning her son, and delivered him to Eli, dedicating him to +God, that he might become a prophet. Accordingly his hair was +suffered to grow long, and his drink was water. So Samuel dwelt +and was brought up in the temple. But Elcanah had other sons by +Hannah, and three daughters. + +4. Now when Samuel was twelve years old, he began to prophesy: +and once when he was asleep, God called to him by his name; and +he, supposing he had been called by the high priest, came to him: +but when the high priest said he did not call him, God did so +thrice. Eli was then so far illuminated, that he said to him, +"Indeed, Samuel, I was silent now as well as before: it is God +that calls thee; do thou therefore signify it to him, and say, I +am here ready." So when he heard God speak again, he desired him +to speak, and to deliver what oracles he pleased to him, for he +would not fail to perform any ministration whatsoever he should +make use of him in; - to which God replied, "Since thou art here +ready, learn what miseries are coming upon the Israelites, - such +indeed as words cannot declare, nor faith believe; for the sons +of Eli shall die on one day, and the priesthood shall be +transferred into the family of Eleazar; for Eli hath loved his +sons more than he hath loved my worship, and to such a degree as +is not for their advantage." Which message Eli obliged the +prophet by oath to tell him, for otherwise he had no inclination +to afflict him by telling it. And now Eli had a far more sure +expectation of the perdition of his sons; but the glory of Samuel +increased more and more, it being found by experience that +whatsoever he prophesied came to pass accordingly. (22) + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +Herein Is Declared What Befell The Sons Of Eli, The Ark, And The +People And How Eli Himself Died Miserably. + + +1. About this time it was that the Philistines made war against +the Israelites, and pitched their camp at the city Aphek. Now +when the Israelites had expected them a little while, the very +next day they joined battle, and the Philistines were conquerors, +and slew above four thousand of the Hebrews, and pursued the rest +of their multitude to their camp. + +2. So the Hebrews being afraid of the worst, sent to the senate, +and to the high priest, and desired that they would bring the ark +of God, that by putting themselves in array, when it was present +with them, they might be too hard for their enemies, as not +reflecting that he who had condemned them to endure these +calamities was greater than the ark, and for whose sake it was +that this ark came to be honored. So the ark came, and the sons +of the high priest with it, having received a charge from their +father, that if they pretended to survive the taking of the ark, +they should come no more into his presence, for Phineas +officiated already as high priest, his father having resigned his +office to him, by reason of his great age. So the Hebrews were +full of courage, as supposing that, by the coming of the ark, +they should be too hard for their enemies: their enemies also +were greatly concerned, and were afraid of the ark's coming to +the Israelites: however, the upshot did not prove agreeable to +the expectation of both sides, but when the battle was joined, +that victory which the Hebrews expected was gained by the +Philistines, and that defeat the Philistines were afraid of fell +to the lot of the Israelites, and thereby they found that they +had put their trust in the ark in vain, for they were presently +beaten as soon as they came to a close fight with their enemies, +and lost about thirty thousand men, among whom were the sons of +the high priest; but the ark was carried away by the enemies. + +3. When the news of this defeat came to Shiloh, with that of the +captivity of the ark, (for a certain young man, a Benjamite, who +was in the action, came as a messenger thither,) the whole city +was full of lamentations. And Eli, the high priest, who sat upon +a high throne at one of the gates, heard their mournful cries, +and supposed that some strange thing had befallen his family. So +he sent for the young man; and when he understood what had +happened in the battle, he was not much uneasy as to his sons, or +what was told him withal about the army, as having beforehand +known by Divine revelation that those things would happen, and +having himself declared them beforehand, - for what sad things +come unexpectedly they distress men the most; but as soon as [he +heard] the ark was carried captive by their enemies, he was very +much grieved at it, because it fell out quite differently from +what he expected; so he fell down from his throne and died, +having in all lived ninety-eight years, and of them retained the +government forty. + +4. On the same day his son Phineas's wife died also, as not able +to survive the misfortune of her husband; for they told her of +her husband's death as she was in labor. However, she bare a son +at seven months, who lived, and to whom they gave the name of +Icabod, which name signifies disgrace, - and this because the +army received a disgrace at this thee. + +5. Now Eli was the first of the family of Ithamar, the other son +of Aaron, that had the government; for the family of Eleazar +officiated as high priest at first, the son still receiving that +honor from the father which Eleazar bequeathed to his son +Phineas; after whom Abiezer his son took the honor, and delivered +it to his son, whose name was Bukki, from whom his son Ozi +received it; after whom Eli, of whom we have been speaking, had +the priesthood, and so he and his posterity until the thee of +Solomon's reign; but then the posterity of Eleazar reassumed it. + + + + +BOOK VI. + +Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years. + +From The Death Of Eli To The Death Of Saul. + +CHAPTER 1. + +The Destruction That Came Upon The Philistines, And Upon Their +Land, By The Wrath Of Go On Account Of Their Having Carried The +Ark Away Captive; And After What Manner They Sent It Back To The +Hebrews. + + +1. When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive, +as I said a little before, they carried it to the city of Ashdod, +and put it by their own god, who was called Dagon, (1) as one of +their spoils; but when they went into his temple the next morning +to worship their god, they found him paying the same worship to +the ark, for he lay along, as having fallen down from the basis +whereon he had stood: so they took him up, and set him on his +basis again, and were much troubled at what had happened; and as +they frequently came to Dagon and found him still lying along, in +a posture of adoration to the ark, they were in very great +distress and confusion. At length God sent a very destructive +disease upon the city and country of Ashdod, for they died of the +dysentery or flux, a sore distemper, that brought death upon them +very suddenly; for before the soul could, as usual in easy +deaths, be well loosed from the body, they brought up their +entrails, and vomited up what they had eaten, and what was +entirely corrupted by the disease. And as to the fruits of their +country, a great multitude of mice arose out of the earth and +hurt them, and spared neither the plants nor the fruits. Now +while the people of Ashdod were under these misfortunes, and were +not able to support themselves under their calamities, they +perceived that they suffered thus because of the ark, and that +the victory they had gotten, and their having taken the ark +captive, had not happened for their good; they therefore sent to +the people of Askelon, and desired that they would receive the +ark among them. This desire of the people of Ashdod was not +disagreeable to those of Askelon, so they granted them that +favor. But when they had gotten the ark, they were in the same +miserable condition; for the ark carried along with it the +disasters that the people of Ashdod had suffered, to those who +received it from them. Those of Askelon also sent it away from +themselves to others: nor did it stay among those others neither; +for since they were pursued by the same disasters, they still +sent it to the neighboring cities; so that the ark went round, +after this manner, to the five cities of the Philistines, as +though it exacted these disasters as a tribute to be paid it for +its coming among them. + +2. When those that had experienced these miseries were tired out +with them, and when those that heard of them were taught thereby +not to admit the ark among them, since they paid so dear a +tribute for it, at length they sought for some contrivance and +method how they might get free from it: so the governors of the +five cities, Gath, and Ekron, and Askelon, as also of Gaza, and +Ashclod, met together, and considered what was fit to be done; +and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its own +people, as allowing that God had avenged its cause; that the +miseries they had undergone came along with it, and that these +were sent on their cities upon its account, and together with it. +However, there were those that said they should not do so, nor +suffer themselves to be deluded, as ascribing the cause of their +miseries to it, because it could not have such power and force +upon them; for, had God had such a regard to it, it would not +have been delivered into the hands of men. So they exhorted them +to be quiet, and to take patiently what had befallen them, and to +suppose there was no other cause of it but nature, which, at +certain revolutions of time, produces such mutations in the +bodies of men, in the earth, in plants, and in all things that +grow out of the earth. But the counsel that prevailed over those +already described, was that of certain men, who were believed to +have distinguished themselves in former times for their +understanding and prudence, and who, in their present +circumstances, seemed above all the rest to speak properly. These +men said it was not right either to send the ark away, or to +retain it, but to dedicate five golden images, one for every +city, as a thank-offering to God, on account of his having taken +care of their preservation, and having kept them alive when their +lives were likely to be taken away by such distempers as they +were not able to bear up against. They also would have them make +five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their +country (2) to put them in a bag, and lay them upon the ark; to +make them a new cart also for it, and to yoke milch kine to it +(3) but to shut up their calves, and keep them from them, lest, +by following after them, they should prove a hinderance to their +dams, and that the dams might return the faster out of a desire +of those calves; then to drive these milch kine that carried the +ark, and leave it at a place where three ways met, and So leave +it to the kine to go along which of those ways they pleased; that +in case they went the way to the Hebrews, and ascended to their +country, they should suppose that the ark was the cause of their +misfortunes; but if they turned into another road, they said, "We +will pursue after it, and conclude that it has no such force in +it." + +3. So they determined that these men spake well; and they +immediately confirmed their opinion by doing accordingly. And +when they had done as has been already described, they brought +the cart to a place where three ways met, and left it there and +went their ways; but the kine went the right way, and as if some +persons had driven them, while the rulers of the Philistines +followed after them, as desirous to know where they would stand +still, and to whom they would go. Now there was a certain village +of the tribe of Judah, the name of which was Bethshemesh, and to +that village did the kine go; and though there was a great and +good plain before them to proceed in, they went no farther, but +stopped the cart there. This was a sight to those of that +village, and they were very glad; for it being then summer-time, +and all the inhabitants being then in the fields gathering in +their fruits, they left off the labors of their hands for joy, as +soon as they saw the ark, and ran to the cart, and taking the ark +down, and the vessel that had the images in it, and the mice, +they set them upon a certain rock which was in the plain; and +when they had offered a splendid sacrifice to God, and feasted, +they offered the cart and the kine as a burnt-offering: and when +the lords of the Philistines saw this, they returned back. + +4. But now it was that the wrath of God overtook them, and struck +seventy persons of the village of Bethshemesh dead, who, not +being priests, and so not worthy to touch the ark, had approached +to it. Those of that village wept for these that had thus +suffered, and made such a lamentation as was naturally to be +expected on so great a misfortune that was sent from God; and +every one mourned for his own relation. And since they +acknowledged themselves unworthy of the ark's abode with them, +they sent to the public senate of the Israelites, and informed +them that the ark was restored by the Philistines; which when +they knew, they brought it away to Kirjathjearim, a city in the +neighborhood of Bethshemesh. In this city lived one Abinadab, by +birth a Levite, and who was greatly commended for his righteous +and religious course of life; so they brought the ark to his +house, as to a place fit for God himself to abide in, since +therein did inhabit a righteous man. His sons also ministered to +the Divine service at the ark, and were the principal curators of +it for twenty years; for so many years it continued in +Kirjathjearim, having been but four months with the Philistines. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The Hebrews And The +Hebrews' Victory Under The Conduct Of Samuel The Prophet, Who Was +Their General. + + +1. Now while the city of Kirjathjearim had the ark with them, the +whole body of the people betook themselves all that time to offer +prayers and sacrifices to God, and appeared greatly concerned and +zealous about his worship. So Samuel the prophet, seeing how +ready they were to do their duty, thought this a proper time to +speak to them, while they were in this good disposition, about +the recovery of their liberty, and of the blessings that +accompanied the same. Accordingly he used such words to them as +he thought were most likely to excite that inclination, and to +persuade them to attempt it: "O you Israelites," said he, "to +whom the Philistines are still grievous enemies, but to whom God +begins to be gracious, it behooves you not only to be desirous of +liberty, but to take the proper methods to obtain it. Nor are you +to be contented with an inclination to get clear of your lords +and masters, while you still do what will procure your +continuance under them. Be righteous then, and cast wickedness +out of your souls, and by your worship supplicate the Divine +Majesty with all your hearts, and persevere in the honor you pay +to him; for if you act thus, you will enjoy prosperity; you will +be freed from your slavery, and will get the victory over your +enemies: which blessings it is not possible you should attain, +either by weapons of war, or by the strength of your bodies, or +by the multitude of your assistants; for God has not promised to +grant these blessings by those means, but by being good and +righteous men; and if you will be such, I will be security to you +for the performance of God's promises." When Samuel had said +thus, the multitude applauded his discourse, and were pleased +with his exhortation to them, and gave their consent to resign +themselves up to do what was pleasing to God. So Samuel gathered +them together to a certain city called Mizpeh, which, in the +Hebrew tongue, signifies a watch-tower; there they drew water, +and poured it out to God, and fasted all day, and betook +themselves to their prayers. + +2. This their assembly did not escape the notice of the +Philistines: so when they had learned that so large a company had +met together, they fell upon the Hebrews with a great army and +mighty forces, as hoping to assault them when they did not expect +it, nor were prepared for it. This thing affrighted the Hebrews, +and put them into disorder and terror; so they came running to +Samuel, and said that their souls were sunk by their fears, and +by the former defeat they had received, and "that thence it was +that we lay still, lest we should excite the power of our enemies +against us. Now while thou hast brought us hither to offer up our +prayers and sacrifices, and take oaths [to be obedient], our +enemies are making an expedition against us, while we are naked +and unarmed; wherefore we have no other hope of deliverance but +that by thy means, and by the assistance God shall afford us upon +thy prayers to him, we shall obtain deliverance from the +Philistines." Hereupon Samuel bade them be of good cheer, and +promised them that God would assist them; and taking a sucking +lamb, he sacrificed it for the multitude, and besought God to +hold his protecting hand over them when they should fight with +the Philistines, and not to overlook them, nor suffer them to +come under a second misfortune. Accordingly God hearkened to his +prayers, and accepting their sacrifice with a gracious intention, +and such as was disposed to assist them, he granted them victory +and power over their enemies. Now while the altar had the +sacrifice of God upon it, and had not yet consumed it wholly by +its sacred fire, the enemy's army marched out of their camp, and +was put in order of battle, and this in hope that they should be +conquerors, since the Jews (5) were caught in distressed +circumstances, as neither having their weapons with them, nor +being assembled there in order to fight. But things so fell out, +that they would hardly have been credited though they had been +foretold by anybody: for, in the first place, God disturbed their +enemies with an earthquake, and moved the ground under them to +such a degree, that he caused it to tremble, and made them to +shake, insomuch that by its trembling, he made some unable to +keep their feet, and made them fall down, and by opening its +chasms, he caused that others should be hurried down into them; +after which he caused such a noise of thunder to come among them, +and made fiery lightning shine so terribly round about them, that +it was ready to burn their faces; and he so suddenly shook their +weapons out of their hands, that he made them fly and return home +naked. So Samuel with the multitude pursued them to Bethcar, a +place so called; and there he set up a stone as a boundary of +their victory and their enemies' flight, and called it the Stone +of Power, as a signal of that power God had given them against +their enemies. + +3. So the Philistines, after this stroke, made no more +expeditions against the Israelites, but lay still out of fear, +and out of remembrance of what had befallen them; and what +courage the Philistines had formerly against the Hebrews, that, +after this victory, was transferred to the Hebrews. Samuel also +made an expedition against the Philistines, and slew many of +them, and entirely humbled their proud hearts, and took from them +that country, which, when they were formerly conquerors in +battle, they had cut off from the Jews, which was the country +that extended from the borders of Gath to the city of Ekron: but +the remains of the Canaanites were at this time in friendship +with the Israelites. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Samuel When He Was So Infirm With Old Age That He Could Not +Take Care Of The Public Affairs Intrusted Them To His Sons; And +How Upon The Evil Administration Of The Government By Them The +Multitude Were So Angry, That They Required To Have A King To +Govern Them, Although Samuel Was Much Displeased Thereat. + + +1. But Samuel the prophet, when he had ordered the affairs of the +people after a convenient manner, and had appointed a city for +every district of them, he commanded them to come to such cities, +to have the controversies that they had one with another +determined in them, he himself going over those cities twice in a +year, and doing them justice; and by that means he kept them in +very good order for a long time. + +2. But afterwards he found himself oppressed with old age, and +not able to do what he used to do, so he committed the government +and the care of the multitude to his sons, - the elder of whom +was called Joel, and the name of the younger was Abiah. He also +enjoined them to reside and judge the people, the one at the city +of Bethel, and the other at Beersheba, and divided the people +into districts that should be under the jurisdiction of each of +them. Now these men afford us an evident example and +demonstration how some children are not of the like dispositions +with their parents; but sometimes perhaps good and moderate, +though born of wicked parents; and sometimes showing themselves +to be wicked, though born of good parents: for these men turning +aside from their father's good courses, and taking a course that +was contrary to them, perverted justice for the 'filthy lucre of +gifts and bribes, and made their determinations not according to +truth, but according to bribery, and turned aside to luxury, and +a costly way of living; so that as, in the first place, they +practiced what was contrary to the will of God, so did they, in +the second place, what was contrary to the will of the prophet +their father, who had taken a great deal of care, and made a very +careful provision that the multitude should be righteous. + +3. But the people, upon these injuries offered to their former +constitution and government by the prophet's sons, were very +uneasy at their actions, and came running to the prophet, who +then lived at the city Ramah, and informed him of the +transgressions of his sons; and said, That as he was himself old +already, and too infirm by that age of his to oversee their +affairs in the manner he used to do, so they begged of him, and +entreated him, to appoint some person to be king over them, who +might rule over the nation, and avenge them of the Philistines, +who ought to be punished for their former oppressions. These +words greatly afflicted Samuel, on account of his innate love of +justice, and his hatred to kingly government, for he was very +fond of an aristocracy, as what made the men that used it of a +divine and happy disposition; nor could he either think of eating +or sleeping, out of his concern and torment of mind at what they +had said, but all the night long did he continue awake and +revolved these notions in his mind. + +4. While he was thus disposed, God appeared to him, and comforted +him, saying, That he ought not to be uneasy at what the multitude +desired, because it was not he, but Himself whom they so +insolently despised, and would not have to be alone their king; +that they had been contriving these things from the very day that +they came out of Egypt; that however in no long time they would +sorely repent of what they did, which repentance yet could not +undo what was thus done for futurity; that they would be +sufficiently rebuked for their contempt, and the ungrateful +conduct they have used towards me, and towards thy prophetic +office. "So I command thee to ordain them such a one as I shall +name beforehand to be their king, when thou hast first described +what mischiefs kingly government will bring upon them, and openly +testified before them into what a great change of affairs they +are hasting." + +5. When Samuel had heard this, he called the Jews early in the +morning, and confessed to them that he was to ordain them a king; +but he said that he was first to describe to them what would +follow, what treatment they would receive from their kings, and +with how many mischiefs they must struggle. "For know ye," said +he, "that, in the first place, they will take your sons away from +you, and they will command some of them to be drivers of their +chariots, and some to be their horsemen, and the guards of their +body, and others of them to be runners before them, and captains +of thousands, and captains of hundreds; they will also make them +their artificers, makers of armor, and of chariots, and of +instruments; they will make them their husbandmen also, and the +curators of their own fields, and the diggers of their own +vineyards; nor will there be any thing which they will not do at +their commands, as if they were slaves bought with money. They +will also appoint your daughters to be confectioners, and cooks, +and bakers; and these will be obliged to do all sorts of work +which women slaves, that are in fear of stripes and torments, +submit to. They will, besides this, take away your possessions, +and bestow them upon their eunuchs, and the guards of their +bodies, and will give the herds of your cattle to their own +servants: and to say briefly all at once, you, and all that is +yours, will be servants to your king, and will become no way +superior to his slaves; and when you suffer thus, you will +thereby be put in mind of what I now say. And when you repent of +what you have done, you will beseech God to have mercy upon you, +and to grant you a quick deliverance from your kings; but he will +not accept your prayers, but will neglect you, and permit you to +suffer the punishment your evil conduct has deserved." + +6. But the multitude was still so foolish as to be deaf to these +predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish to suffer +a determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be +taken out of their mind; for they could not be turned from their +purpose, nor did they regard the words of Samuel, but +peremptorily insisted on their resolution, and desired him to +ordain them a king immediately, and not trouble himself with +fears of what would happen hereafter, for that it was necessary +they should have with them one to fight their battles, and to +avenge them of their enemies, and that it was no way absurd, when +their neighbors were under kingly government, that they should +have the same form of government also. So when Samuel saw that +what he had said had not diverted them from their purpose, but +that they continued resolute, he said, "Go you every one home for +the present; when it is fit I will send for you, as soon as I +shall have learned from God who it is that he will give you for +your king." + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +The Appointment Of A King Over The Israelites, Whose Name Was +Saul; And This By The Command Of God. + + +1. Ther was one of the tribe of Benjamin, a man of a good family, +and of a virtuous disposition; his name was Kish. He had a son, a +young man of a comely countenance, and of a tall body, but his +understanding and his mind were preferable to what was visible in +him: they called him Saul. Now this Kish had some fine she-asses +that were wandered out of the pasture wherein they fed, for he +was more delighted with these than with any other cattle he had; +so he sent out his son, and one servant with him, to search for +the beasts; but when he had gone over his own tribe in search +after the asses, he went to other tribes, and when he found them +not there neither, he determined to go his way home, lest he +should occasion any concern to his father about himself. But when +his servant that followed him told him as they were near the city +of Ramah, that there was a true prophet in that city, and advised +him to go to him, for that by him they should know the upshot of +the affair of their asses, he replied, That if they should go to +him, they had nothing to give him as a reward for his prophecy, +for their subsistence money was spent. The servant answered, that +he had still the fourth part of a shekel, and he would present +him with that; for they were mistaken out of ignorance, as not +knowing that the prophet received no such reward (6) So they went +to him; and when they were before the gates, they lit upon +certain maidens that were going to fetch water, and they asked +them which was the prophet's house. They showed them which it +was; and bid them make haste before he sat down to supper, for he +had invited many guests to a feast, and that he used to sit down +before those that were invited. Now Samuel had then gathered many +together to feast with him on this very account; for while he +every day prayed to God to tell him beforehand whom he would make +king, he had informed him of this man the day before, for that he +would send him a certain young man out of the tribe of Benjamin +about this hour of the day; and he sat on the top of the house in +expectation of that time's being come. And when the time was +completed, he came down and went to supper; so he met with Saul, +and God discovered to him that this was he who should rule over +them. Then Saul went up to Samuel and saluted him, and desired +him to inform him which was the prophet's house; for he said he +was a stranger and did not know it. When Samuel had told him that +he himself was the person, he led him in to supper, and assured +him that the asses were found which he had been to seek, and that +the greatest of good things were assured to him: he replied, "I +am too inconsiderable to hope for any such thing, and of a tribe +to small to have kings made out of it, and of a family smaller +than several other families; but thou tellest me this in jest, +and makest me an object of laughter, when thou discoursest with +me of greater matters than what I stand in need of." However, the +prophet led him in to the feast, and made him sit down, him and +his servant that followed him, above the other guests that were +invited, which were seventy in number (7) and he gave orders to +the servants to set the royal portion before Saul. And when the +time of going to bed was come, the rest rose up, and every one of +them went home; but Saul staid with the prophet, he and his +servant, and slept with him. + +2. Now as soon as it was day, Samuel raised up Saul out of his +bed, and conducted him homeward; and when he was out of the city, +he desired him to cause his servant to go before, but to stay +behind himself, for that he had somewhat to say to him when +nobody else was present. Accordingly, Saul sent away his servant +that followed him; then did the prophet take a vessel of oil, and +poured it upon the head of the young man, and kissed him, and +said, "Be thou a king, by the ordination of God, against the +Philistines, and for avenging the Hebrews for what they have +suffered by them; of this thou shalt have a sign, which I would +have thee take notice of:-- As soon as thou art departed hence, +thou will find three men upon the road, going to worship God at +Bethel; the first of whom thou wilt see carrying three loaves of +bread, the second carrying a kid of the goats, and the third will +follow them carrying a bottle of wine. These three men will +salute thee, and speak kindly to thee, and will give thee two of +their loaves, which thou shalt accept of. And thence thou shalt +come to a place called Rachel's Monument, where thou shalt meet +with those that will tell thee thy asses are found; after this, +when thou comest to Gabatha, thou shalt overtake a company of +prophets, and thou shalt be seized with the Divine Spirit, (8) +and prophesy along with them, till every one that sees thee shall +be astonished, and wonder, and say, Whence is it that the son of +Kish has arrived at this degree of happiness? And when these +signs have happened to thee, know that God is with thee; then do +thou salute thy father and thy kindred. Thou shalt also come when +I send for thee to Gilgal, that we may offer thank-offerings to +God for these blessings." When Samuel had said this, and foretold +these things, he sent the young man away. Now all things fell out +to Saul according to the prophecy of Samuel. + +3. But as soon as Saul came into the house of his kinsman Abner, +whom indeed he loved better than the rest of his relations, he +was asked by him concerning his journey, and what accidents +happened to him therein; and he concealed none of the other +things from him, no, not his coming to Samuel the prophet, nor +how he told him the asses were found; but he said nothing to him +about the kingdom, and what belonged thereto, which he thought +would procure him envy, and when such things are heard, they are +not easily believed; nor did he think it prudent to tell those +things to him, although he appeared very friendly to him, and one +whom he loved above the rest of his relations, considering, I +suppose, what human nature really is, that no one is a firm +friend, neither among our intimates, nor of our kindred; nor do +they preserve that kind disposition when God advances men to +great prosperity, but they are still ill-natured and envious at +those that are in eminent stations. + +4. Then Samuel called the people together to the city Mizpeh, and +spake to them in the words following, which he said he was to +speak by the command of God:-- That when he had granted them a +state of liberty, and brought their enemies into subjection, they +were become unmindful of his benefits, and rejected God that he +should not be their King, as not considering that it would be +most for their advantage to be presided over by the best of +beings, for God is the best of beings, and they chose to have a +man for their king; while kings will use their subjects as +beasts, according to the violence of their own wills and +inclinations, and other passions, as wholly carried away with the +lust of power, but will not endeavor so to preserve the race of +mankind as his own workmanship and creation, which, for that very +reason, God would take cake of. "But since you have come to a +fixed resolution, and this injurious treatment of God has quite +prevailed over you, dispose yourselves by your tribes and +scepters, and cast lots." + +5. When the Hebrews had so done, the lot fell upon the tribe of +Benjamin; and when the lot was cast for the families of this +tribe, that which was called Matri was taken; and when the lot +was cast for the single persons of that family, Saul, the son of +Kish, was taken for their king. When the young man knew this, he +prevented [their sending for him], and immediately went away and +hid himself. I suppose that it was because he would not have it +thought that he willingly took the government upon him; nay, he +showed such a degree of command over himself, and of modesty, +that while the greatest part are not able to contain their joy, +even in the gaining of small advantages, but presently show +themselves publicly to all men, this man did not only show +nothing of that nature, when he was appointed to be the lord of +so many and so great tribes, but crept away and concealed himself +out of the sight of those he was to reign over, and made them +seek him, and that with a good deal of trouble. So when the +people were at a loss, and solicitous, because Saul disappeared, +the prophet besought God to show where the young man was, and to +produce him before them. So when they had learned of God the +place where Saul was hidden, they sent men to bring him; and when +he was come, they set him in the midst of the multitude. Now he +was taller than any of them, and his stature was very majestic. + +6. Then said the prophet, God gives you this man to be your king: +see how he is higher than any of the people, and worthy of this +dominion." So as soon as the people had made acclamation, God +save the king, the prophet wrote down what would come to pass in +a book, and read it in the hearing of the king, and laid up the +book in the tabernacle of God, to be a witness to future +generations of what he had foretold. So when Samuel had finished +this matter, he dismissed the multitude, and came himself to the +city Rainah, for it was his own country. Saul also went away to +Gibeah, where he was born; and many good men there were who paid +him the respect that was due to him; but the greater part were +ill men, who despised him and derided the others, who neither did +bring him presents, nor did they in affection, or even in words, +regard to please him. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +Saul's Expedition Against The Nation Of The Ammonites And Victory +Over Them And The Spoils He Took From Them. + + +1. After one month, the war which Saul had with Nahash, the king +of the Ammonites, obtained him respect from all the people; for +this Nahash had done a great deal of mischief to the Jews that +lived beyond Jordan by the expedition he had made against them +with a great and warlike army. He also reduced their cities into +slavery, and that not only by subduing them for the present, +which he did by force and violence, but by weakening them by +subtlety and cunning, that they might not be able afterward to +get clear of the slavery they were under to him; for he put out +the right eyes (9) of those that either delivered themselves to +him upon terms, or were taken by him in war; and this he did, +that when their left eyes were covered by their shields, they +might be wholly useless in war. Now when the king of the +Ammonites had served those beyond Jordan in this manner, he led +his army against those that were called Gileadites, and having +pitched his camp at the metropolis of his enemies, which was the +city of Jabesh, he sent ambassadors to them, commanding them +either to deliver themselves up, on condition to have their right +eyes plucked out, or to undergo a siege, and to have their cities +overthrown. He gave them their choice, whether they would cut off +a small member of their body, or universally perish. However, the +Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers, that they had not +courage to say any thing to either of them, neither that they +would deliver themselves up, nor that they would fight him. But +they desired that he would give them seven days' respite, that +they might send ambassadors to their countrymen, and entreat +their assistance; and if they came to assist them, they would +fight; but if that assistance were impossible to be obtained from +them, they said they would deliver themselves up to suffer +whatever he pleased to inflict upon them. + +2. So Nabash, contemning the multitude of the Gileadites and the +answer they gave, allowed them a respite, and gave them leave to +send to whomsoever they pleased for assistance. So they +immediately sent to the Israelites, city by city, and informed +them what Nabash had threatened to do to them, and what great +distress they were in. Now the people fell into tears and grief +at the hearing of what the ambassadors from Jabesh said; and the +terror they were in permitted them to do nothing more. But when +the messengers were come to the city of king Saul, and declared +the dangers in which the inhabitants of Jabesh were, the people +were in the same affliction as those in the other cities, for +they lamented the calamity of those related to them. And when +Saul was returned from his husbandry into the city, he found his +fellow citizens weeping; and when, upon inquiry, he had learned +the cause of the confusion and sadness they were in, he was +seized with a divine fury, and sent away the ambassadors from the +inhabitants of Jabesh, and promised them to come to their +assistance on the third day, and to beat their enemies before +sun-rising, that the sun upon its rising might see that they had +already conquered, and were freed from the fears they were under: +but he bid some of them stay to conduct them the right way to +Jabesh. + +3. So being desirous to turn the people to this war against the +Ammonites by fear of the losses they should otherwise undergo, +and that they might the more suddenly be gathered together, he +cut the sinews of his oxen, and threatened to do the same to all +such as did not come with their armor to Jordan the next day, and +follow him and Samuel the prophet whithersoever they should lead +them. So they came together, out of fear of the losses they were +threatened with, at the appointed time. And the multitude were +numbered at the city Bezek. And he found the number of those that +were gathered together, besides that of the tribe of Judah, to be +seven hundred thousand, while those of that tribe were seventy +thousand. So he passed over Jordan, and proceeded in marching all +that night, thirty furlongs, and came to Jabesh before +sun-rising. So he divided the army into three companies; and fell +upon their enemies on every side on the sudden, and when they +expected no such thing; and joining battle with them, they slew a +great many of the Ammonites, as also their king Nabash. This +glorious action was done by Saul, and was related with great +commendation of him to all the Hebrews; and he thence gained a +wonderful reputation for his valor: for although there were some +of them that contemned him before, they now changed their minds, +and honored him, and esteemed him as the best of men: for he did +not content himself with having saved the inhabitants of Jabesh +only, but he made an expedition into the country of the +Ammonites, and laid it all waste, and took a large prey, and so +returned to his own country most gloriously. So the people were +greatly pleased at these excellent performances of Saul, and +rejoiced that they had constituted him their king. They also made +a clamor against those that pretended he would be of no advantage +to their affairs; and they said, Where now are these men? - let +them be brought to punishment, with all the like things that +multitudes usually say when they are elevated with prosperity, +against those that lately had despised the authors of it. But +Saul, although he took the good-will and the affection of these +men very kindly, yet did he swear that he would not see any of +his countrymen slain that day, since it was absurd to mix this +victory, which God had given them, with the blood and slaughter +of those that were of the same lineage with themselves; and that +it was more agreeable to be men of a friendly disposition, and so +to betake themselves to feasting. + +4. And when Samuel had told them that he ought to confirm the +kingdom to Saul by a second ordination of him, they all came +together to the city of Gilgal, for thither did he command them +to come. So the prophet anointed Saul with the holy oil in the +sight of the multitude, and declared him to be king the second +time. And so the government of the Hebrews was changed into a +regal government; for in the days of Moses, and his disciple +Joshua, who was their general, they continued under an +aristocracy; but after the death of Joshua, for eighteen years in +all, the multitude had no settled form of government, but were in +an anarchy; after which they returned to their former government, +they then permitting themselves to be judged by him who appeared +to be the best warrior and most courageous, whence it was that +they called this interval of their government the Judges. + +5. Then did Samuel the prophet call another assembly also, and +said to them," I solemnly adjure you by God Almighty, who brought +those excellent brethren, I mean Moses and Aaron, into the world, +and delivered our fathers from the Egyptians, and from the +slavery they endured under them, that you will not speak what +you say to gratify me, nor suppress any thing out of fear of me, +nor be overborne by any other passion, but say, What have I ever +done that was cruel or unjust? or what have I done out of lucre +or covetousness, or to gratify others? Bear witness against me, +if I have taken an ox or a sheep, or any such thing, which yet +when they are taken to support men, it is esteemed blameless; or +have I taken an ass for mine own use of any one to his grief? - +lay some one such crime to my charge, now we are in your king's +presence." But they cried out, that no such thing had been done +by him, but that he had presided over the nation after a holy and +righteous manner. + +6. Hereupon Samuel, when such a testimony had been given him by +them all, said, "Since you grant that you are not able to lay any +ill thing to my charge hitherto, come on now, and do you hearken +while I speak with great freedom to you. You have been guilty of +great impiety against God, in asking you a king. It behoves you +to remember that our grandfather Jacob came down into Egypt, by +reason of a famine, with seventy souls only of our family, and +that their posterity multiplied there to many ten thousands, whom +the Egyptians brought into slavery and hard oppression; that God +himself, upon the prayers of our fathers, sent Moses and Aaron, +who were brethren, and gave them power to deliver the multitude +out of their distress, and this without a king. These brought us +into this very land which you now possess: and when you enjoyed +these advantages from God, you betrayed his worship and religion; +nay, moreover, when you were brought under the hands of your +enemies, he delivered you, first by rendering you superior to the +Assyrians and their forces, he then made you to overcome the +Ammonites and the Moabites, and last of all the Philistines; and +these things have been achieved under the conduct of Jephtha and +Gideon. What madness therefore possessed you to fly from God, and +to desire to be under a king? - yet have I ordained him for king +whom he chose for you. However, that I may make it plain to you +that God is angry and displeased at your choice of kingly +government, I will so dispose him that he shall declare this very +plainly to you by strange signals; for what none of you ever saw +here before, I mean a winter storm in the midst of harvest, (10) +I will entreat of God, and will make it visible to you." Now, as +soon as he had said this, God gave such great signals by thunder +and lightning, and the descent of hail, as attested the truth of +all that the prophet had said, insomuch that they were amazed and +terrified, and confessed they had sinned, and had fallen into +that sin through ignorance; and besought the prophet, as one that +was a tender and gentle father to them, to render God so merciful +as to forgive this their sin, which they had added to those other +offenses whereby they had affronted him and transgressed against +him. So he promised them that he would beseech God, and persuade +him to forgive them these their sins. However, he advised them to +be righteous, and to be good, and ever to remember the miseries +that had befallen them on account of their departure from virtue: +as also to remember the strange signs God had shown them, and the +body of laws that Moses had given them, if they had any desire of +being preserved and made happy with their king. But he said, that +if they should grow careless of these things, great judgments +would come from God upon them, and upon their king. And when +Samuel had thus prophesied to the Hebrews, he dismissed them to +their own homes, having confirmed the kingdom to Saul the second +time. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The Hebrews +And Were Beaten. + + +1. Now Saul chose out of the multitude about three thousand men, +and he took two thousand of them to be the guards of his own +body, and abode in the city Bethel, but he gave the rest of them +to Jonathan his son, to be the guards of his body; and sent him +to Gibeah, where he besieged and took a certain garrison of the +Philistines, not far from Gilgal; for the Philistines of Gibeah +had beaten the Jews, and taken their weapons away, and had put +garrisons into the strongest places of the country, and had +forbidden them to carry any instrument of iron, or at all to make +use of any iron in any case whatsoever. And on account of this +prohibition it was that the husbandmen, if they had occasion to +sharpen any of their tools, whether it were the coulter or the +spade, or any instrument of husbandry, they came to the +Philistines to do it. Now as soon as the Philistines heard of +this slaughter of their garrison, they were in a rage about it, +and, looking on this contempt as a terrible affront offered them, +they made war against the Jews, with three hundred thousand +footmen, and thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horses; +and they pitched their camp at the city Michmash. When Saul, the +king of the Hebrews, was informed of this, he went down to the +city Gilgal, and made proclamation over all the country, that +they should try to regain their liberty; and called them to the +war against the Philistines, diminishing their forces, and +despising them as not very considerable, and as not so great but +they might hazard a battle with them. But when the people about +Saul observed how numerous the Philistines were, they were under +a great consternation; and some of them hid themselves in caves +and in dens under ground, but the greater part fled into the land +beyond Jordan, which belonged to Gad and Reuben. + +2. But Saul sent to the prophet, and called him to consult with +him about the war and the public affairs; so he commanded him to +stay there for him, and to prepare sacrifices, for he would come +to him within seven days, that they might offer sacrifices on the +seventh day, and might then join battle with their enemies. So he +waited (11) as the prophet sent to him to do; yet did not he, +however, observe the command that was given him, but when he saw +that the prophet tarried longer than he expected, and that he was +deserted by the soldiers, he took the sacrifices and offered +them; and when he heard that Samuel was come, he went out to meet +him. But the prophet said he had not done well in disobeying the +injunctions he had sent to him, and had not staid till his +coming, which being appointed according to the will of God, he +had prevented him in offering up those prayers and those +sacrifices that he should have made for the multitude, and that +he therefore had performed Divine offices in an ill manner, and +had been rash in performing them. Hereupon Saul made an apology +for himself, and said that he had waited as many days as Samuel +had appointed him; that he had been so quick in offering his +sacrifices, upon account of the necessity he was in, and because +his soldiers were departing from him, out of their fear of the +enemy's camp at Michmash, the report being gone abroad that they +were coming down upon him of Gilgal. To which Samuel replied, +"Nay, certainly, if thou hadst been a righteous man, (12) and +hadst not disobeyed me, nor slighted the commands which God +suggested to me concerning the present state of affairs, and +hadst not acted more hastily than the present circumstances +required, thou wouldst have been permitted to reign a long time, +and thy posterity after thee." So Samuel, being grieved at what +happened, returned home; but Saul came to the city Gibeah, with +his son Jonathan, having only six hundred men with him; and of +these the greater part had no weapons, because of the scarcity of +iron in that country, as well as of those that could make such +weapons; for, as we showed a little before, the Philistines had +not suffered them to have such iron or such workmen. Now the +Philistines divided their army into three companies, and took as +many roads, and laid waste the country of the Hebrews, while king +Saul and his son Jonathan saw what was done, but were not able to +defend the land, having no more than six hundred men with them. +But as he, and his son, and Abiah the high priest, who was of the +posterity of Eli the high priest, were sitting upon a pretty high +hill, and seeing the land laid waste, they were mightily +disturbed at it. Now Saul's son agreed with his armor-bearer, +that they would go privately to the enemy's camp, and make a +tumult and a disturbance among them. And when the armor-bearer +had readily promised to follow him whithersoever he should lead +him, though he should be obliged to die in the attempt, Jonathan +made use of the young man's assistance, and descended from the +hill, and went to their enemies. Now the enemy's camp was upon a +precipice which had three tops, that ended in a small but sharp +and long extremity, while there was a rock that surrounded them, +like lines made to prevent the attacks of an enemy. There it so +happened, that the out-guards of the camp were neglected, because +of the security that here arose from the situation of the place, +and because they thought it altogether impossible, not only to +ascend up to the camp on that quarter, but so much as to come +near it. As soon, therefore, as they came to the camp, Jonathan +encouraged his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Let us attack our +enemies; and if, when they see us, they bid us come up to them, +take that for a signal of victory; but if they say nothing, as +not intending to invite us to come up, let us return back again." +So when they were approaching to the enemy's camp, just after +break of day, and the Philistines saw them, they said one to +another, "The Hebrews come out of their dens and caves:" and they +said to Jonathan and to his armor-bearer, "Come on, ascend up to +us, that we may inflict a just punishment upon you, for your rash +attempt upon us." So Saul's son accepted of that invitation, as +what signified to him victory, and he immediately came out of the +place whence they were seen by their enemies: so he changed his +place, and came to the rock, which had none to guard it, because +of its own strength; from thence they crept up with great labor +and difficulty, and so far overcame by force the nature of the +place, till they were able to fight with their enemies. So they +fell upon them as they were asleep, and slew about twenty of +them, and thereby filled them with disorder and surprise, +insomuch that some of them threw away their entire armor and +fled; but the greatest part, not knowing one another, because +they were of different nations, suspected one another to be +enemies, (for they did not imagine there were only two of the +Hebrews that came up,) and so they fought one against another; +and some of them died in the battle, and some, as they were +flying away, were thrown down from the rock headlong. + +3. Now Saul's watchmen told the king that the camp of the +Philistines was in confusion; then he inquired whether any body +was gone away from the army; and when he heard that his son, and +with him his armor-bearer, were absent, he bade the high priest +take the garments of his high priesthood, and prophesy to him +what success they should have; who said that they should get the +victory, and prevail against their enemies. So he went out after +the Philistines, and set upon them as they were slaying one +another. Those also who had fled to dens and caves, upon hearing +that Saul was gaining a victory, came running to him. When, +therefore, the number of the Hebrews that came to Saul amounted +to about ten thousand, he pursued the enemy, who were scattered +all over the country; but then he fell into an action, which was +a very unhappy one, and liable to be very much blamed; for, +whether out of ignorance or whether out of joy for a victory +gained so strangely, (for it frequently happens that persons so +fortunate are not then able to use their reason consistently,) as +he was desirous to avenge himself, and to exact a due punishment +of the Philistines, he denounced a curse (13) upon the Hebrews: +That if any one put a stop to his slaughter of the enemy, and +fell on eating, and left off the slaughter or the pursuit before +the night came on, and obliged them so to do, he should be +accursed. Now after Saul had denounced this curse, since they +were now in a wood belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, which was +thick and full of bees, Saul's son, who did not hear his father +denounce that curse, nor hear of the approbation the multitude +gave to it, broke off a piece of a honey-comb, and ate part of +it. But, in the mean time, he was informed with what a curse his +father had forbidden them to taste any thing before sun-setting: +so he left off eating, and said his father had not done well in +this prohibition, because, had they taken some food, they had +pursued the enemy with greater rigor and alacrity, and had both +taken and slain many more of their enemies. + +4. When, therefore, they had slain many ten thousands of the +Philistines, they fell upon spoiling the camp of the Philistines, +but not till late in the evening. They also took a great deal of +prey and cattle, and killed them, and ate them with their blood. +This was told to the king by the scribes, that the multitude were +sinning against God as they sacrificed, and were eating before +the blood was well washed away, and the flesh was made clean. +Then did Saul give order that a great stone should be rolled into +the midst of them, and he made proclamation that they should kill +their sacrifices upon it, and not feed upon the flesh with the +blood, for that was not acceptable to God. And when all the +people did as the king commanded them, Saul erected an altar +there, and offered burnt-offerings upon it to God (14) This was +the first altar that Saul built. + +5. So when Saul was desirous of leading his men to the enemy's +camp before it was day, in order to plunder it, and when the +soldiers were not unwilling to follow him, but indeed showed +great readiness to do as he commanded them, the king called +Ahitub the high priest, and enjoined him to know of God whether +he would grant them the favor and permission to go against the +enemy's camp, in order to destroy those that were in it. And when +the priest said that God did not give any answer, Saul replied, +"And not without some cause does God refuse to answer what we +inquire of him, while yet a little while ago he declared to us +all that we desired beforehand, and even prevented us in his +answer. To be sure there is some sin against him that is +concealed from us, which is the occasion of his silence. Now I +swear by him himself, that though he that hath committed this sin +should prove to be my own son Jonathan, I will slay him, and by +that means will appease the anger of God against us, and that in +the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger, and one +not at all related to me, for the same offense." So when the +multitude cried out to him so to do, he presently set all the +rest on one side, and he and his son stood on the other side, and +he sought to discover the offender by lot. Now the lot appeared +to fall upon Jonathan himself. So when he was asked by his father +what sin he had been guilty of, and what he was conscious of in +the course of his life that might be esteemed instances of guilt +or profaneness, his answer was this, "O father, I have done +nothing more than that yesterday, without knowing of the curse +and oath thou hadst denounced, while I was in pursuit of the +enemy, I tasted of a honey-comb." But Saul sware that he would +slay him, and prefer the observation of his oath before all the +ties of birth and of nature. And Jonathan was not dismayed at +this threatening of death, but, offering himself to it generously +and undauntedly, he said, "Nor do I desire you, father, to spare +me: death will be to me very acceptable, when it proceeds from +thy piety, and after a glorious victory; for it is the greatest +consolation to me that I leave the Hebrews victorious over the +Philistines." Hereupon all the people were very sorry, and +greatly afflicted for Jonathan; and they sware that they would +not overlook Jonathan, and see him die, who was the author of +their victory. By which means they snatched him out of the danger +he was in from his father's curse, while they made their prayers +to God also for the young man, that he would remit his sin. + +6. So Saul, having slain about sixty thousand of the enemy, +returned home to his own city, and reigned happily: and he also +fought against the neighboring nations, and subdued the +Ammonites, and Moabites, and Philistines, and Edomites, and +Amalekites, as also the king of Zobah. He had three male +children, Jonathan, and Isui, and Melchishua; with Merab and +Michal his daughters. He had also Abner, his uncle's son, for the +captain of his host: that uncle's name was Ner. Now Ner, and Kish +the father of Saul, were brothers. Saul had also a great many +chariots and horsemen, and against whomsoever he made war he +returned conqueror, and advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to a +great degree of success and prosperity, and made them superior to +other nations; and he made such of the young men as were +remarkable for tallness and comeliness the guards of his body. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +Saul's War With The Amalekites, And Conquest Of Them. + + +1. Now Samuel came unto Saul, and said to him, that he was sent +by God to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all +others, and ordained him king; that he therefore ought to be +obedient to him, and to submit to his authority, as considering, +that though he had the dominion over the other tribes, yet that +God had the dominion over him, and over all things. That +accordingly God said to him, that "because the Amalekites did the +Hebrews a great deal of mischief while they were in the +wilderness, and when, upon their coming out of Egypt, they were +making their way to that country which is now their own, I enjoin +thee to punish the Amalekites, by making war upon them; and when +thou hast subdued them, to leave none of them alive, but to +pursue them through every age, and to slay them, beginning with +the women and the infants, and to require this as a punishment to +be inflicted upon them for the mischief they did to our +forefathers; to spare nothing, neither asses nor other beasts, +nor to reserve any of them for your own advantage and possession, +but to devote them universally to God, and, in obedience to the +commands of Moses, to blot out the name of Amalek entirely." (15) + +2. So Saul promised to do what he was commanded; and supposing +that his obedience to God would be shown, not only in making war +against the Amalekites, but more fully in the readiness and +quickness of his proceedings, he made no delay, but immediately +gathered together all his forces; and when he had numbered them +in Gilgal, he found them to be about four hundred thousand of the +Israelites, besides the tribe of Judah, for that tribe contained +by itself thirty thousand. Accordingly, Saul made an irruption +into the country of the Amalekites, and set many men in several +parties in ambush at the river, that so he might not only do them +a mischief by open fighting, but might fall upon them +unexpectedly in the ways, and might thereby compass them round +about, and kill them. And when he had joined battle with the +enemy, he beat them; and pursuing them as they fled, he destroyed +them all. And when that undertaking had succeeded, according as +God had foretold, he set upon the cities of the Amalekites; he +besieged them, and took them by force, partly by warlike +machines, partly by mines dug under ground, and partly by +building walls on the outsides. Some they starved out with +famine, and some they gained by other methods; and after all, he +betook himself to slay the women and the children, and thought he +did not act therein either barbarously or inhumanly; first, +because they were enemies whom he thus treated, and, in the next +place, because it was done by the command of God, whom it was +dangerous not to obey. He also took Agag, the enemies' king, +captive, - the beauty and tallness of whose body he admired so +much, that he thought him worthy of preservation. Yet was not +this done however according to the will of God, but by giving way +to human passions, and suffering himself to be moved with an +unseasonable commiseration, in a point where it was not safe for +him to indulge it; for God hated the nation of the Amalekites to +such a degree, that he commanded Saul to have no pity on even +those infants which we by nature chiefly compassionate; but Saul +preserved their king and governor from the miseries which the +Hebrews brought on the people, as if he preferred the fine +appearance of the enemy to the memory of what God had sent him +about. The multitude were also guilty, together with Saul; for +they spared the herds and the flocks, and took them for a prey, +when God had commanded they should not spare them. They also +carried off with them the rest of their wealth and riches; but if +there were any thing that was not worthy of regard, that they +destroyed. + +3. But when Saul had conquered all these Amalekites that reached +from Pelusium of Egypt to the Red Sea, he laid waste all the rest +of the enemy's country: but for the nation of the Shechemites, he +did not touch them, although they dwelt in the very middle of the +country of Midian; for before the battle, Saul had sent to them, +and charged them to depart thence, lest they should be partakers +of the miseries of the Amalekites; for he had a just occasion for +saving them, since they were of the kindred of Raguel, Moses's +father-in-law. + +4. Hereupon Saul returned home with joy, for the glorious things +he had done, and for the conquest of his enemies, as though he +had not neglected any thing which the prophet had enjoined him to +do when he was going to make war with the Amalekites, and as +though he had exactly observed all that he ought to have done. +But God was grieved that the king of the Amalekites was preserved +alive, and that the multitude had seized on the cattle for a +prey, because these things were done without his permission; for +he thought it an intolerable thing that they should conquer and +overcome their enemies by that power which he gave them, and then +that he himself should be so grossly despised and disobeyed by +them, that a mere man that was a king would not bear it. He +therefore told Samuel the prophet, that he repented that he had +made Saul king, while he did nothing that he had commanded him, +but indulged his own inclinations. When Samuel heard that, he was +in confusion, and began to beseech God all that night to be +reconciled to Saul, and not to be angry with him; but he did not +grant that forgiveness to Saul which the prophet asked for, as +not deeming it a fit thing to grant forgiveness of [such] sins at +his entreaties, since injuries do not otherwise grow so great as +by the easy tempers of those that are injured; or while they hunt +after the glory of being thought gentle and good-natured, before +they are aware they produce other sins. As soon therefore as God +had rejected the intercession of the prophet, and it plainly +appeared he would not change his mind, at break of day Samuel +came to Saul at Gilgal. When the king saw him, he ran to him, and +embraced him, and said, "I return thanks to God, who hath given +me the victory, for I have performed every thing that he hath +commanded me." To which Samuel replied, "How is it then that I +hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the greater +cattle in the camp?" Saul made answer, That the people had +reserved them for sacrifices; but that, as to the nation of the +Amalekites, it was entirely destroyed, as he had received it in +command to see done, and that no one man was left; but that he +had saved alive the king alone, and brought him to him, +concerning whom, he said, they would advise together what should +be done with him." But the prophet said, "God is not delighted +with sacrifices, but with good and with righteous men, who are +such as follow his will and his laws, and never think that any +thing is well done by them but when they do it as God had +commanded them; that he then looks upon himself as affronted, not +when any one does not sacrifice, but when any one appears to be +disobedient to him. But that from those who do not obey him, nor +pay him that duty which is the alone true and acceptable worship, +he will not kindly accept their oblations, be those they offer +ever so many and so fat, and be the presents they make him ever +so ornamental, nay, though they were made of gold and silver +themselves, but he will reject them, and esteem them instances of +wickedness, and not of piety. And that he is delighted with those +that still bear in mind this one thing, and this only, how to do +that, whatsoever it be, which God pronounces or commands for them +to do, and to choose rather to die than to transgress any of +those commands; nor does he require so much as a sacrifice from +them. And when these do sacrifice, though it be a mean oblation, +he better accepts of it as the honor of poverty, than such +oblations as come from the richest men that offer them to him. +Wherefore take notice, that thou art under the wrath of God, for +thou hast despised and neglected what he commanded thee. How dost +thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice out of such +things as he hath doomed to destruction? unless perhaps thou dost +imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God +as to destroy it. Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will +be taken from thee, and that authority which thou hast abused by +such insolent behavior, as to neglect that God who bestowed it +upon thee." Then did Saul confess that he had acted unjustly, and +did not deny that he had sinned, because he had transgressed the +injunctions of the prophet; but he said that it was out of a +dread and fear of the soldiers, that he did not prohibit and +restrain them when they seized on the prey. "But forgive me," +said he, "and be merciful to me, for I will be cautious how I +offend for the time to come." He also entreated the prophet to go +back with him, that he might offer his thank-offerings to God; +but Samuel went home, because he saw that God would not be +reconciled to him. + +5. But then Saul was so desirous to retain Samuel, that he took +hold of his cloak, and because the vehemence of Samuel's +departure made the motion to be violent, the cloak was rent. Upon +which the prophet said, that after the same manner should the +kingdom be rent from him, and that a good and a just man should +take it; that God persevered in what he had decreed about him; +that to be mutable and changeable in what is determined, is +agreeable to human passions only, but is not agreeable to the +Divine Power. Hereupon Saul said that he had been wicked, but +that what was done could not be undone: he therefore desired him +to honor him so far, that the multitude might see that he would +accompany him in worshipping God. So Samuel granted him that +favor, and went with him and worshipped God. Agag also, the king +of the Amalekites, was brought to him; and when the king asked, +How bitter death was? Samuel said, "As thou hast made many of the +Hebrew mothers to lament and bewail the loss of their children, +so shalt thou, by thy death, cause thy mother to lament thee +also." Accordingly, he gave order to slay him immediately at +Gilgal, and then went away to the city Ramah. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How, Upon Saul's Transgression Of The Prophet's Commands, Samuel +Ordained Another Person To Be King Privately, Whose Name Was +David, As God Commanded Him. + + +1. Now Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had +brought himself into, and that he had made God to be his enemy, +he went up to his royal palace at Gibeah, which name denotes a +hill, and after that day he came no more into the presence of the +prophet. And when Samuel mourned for him, God bid him leave off +his concern for him, and to take the holy oil, and go to +Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed, and to anoint such of his +sons as he should show him for their future king. But Samuel +said, he was afraid lest Saul, when he came to know of it, should +kill him, either by some private method or even openly. But upon +God's suggesting to him a safe way of going thither, he came to +the forementioned city; and when they all saluted him, and asked +what was the occasion of his coming, he told them he came to +sacrifice to God. When, therefore, he had gotten the sacrifice +ready, he called Jesse and his sons to partake of those +sacrifices; and when he saw his eldest son to be a tall and +handsome man, he guessed by his comeliness that he was the person +who was to be their future king. But he was mistaken in judging +about God's providence; for when Samuel inquired of God whether +he should anoint this youth, whom he so admired, and esteemed +worthy of the kingdom, God said, "Men do not see as God seeth. +Thou indeed hast respect to the fine appearance of this youth, +and thence esteemest him worthy of the kingdom, while I propose +the kingdom as a reward, not of the beauty of bodies, but of the +virtue of souls, and I inquire after one that is perfectly comely +in that respect; I mean one who is beautiful in piety, and +righteousness, and fortitude, and obedience, for in them consists +the comeliness of the soul." When God had said this, Samuel bade +Jesse to show him all his sons. So he made five others of his +sons to come to him; of all of whom Eliab was the eldest, +Aminadab the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel the fourth, +Rael the fifth, and Asam the sixth. And when the prophet saw that +these were no way inferior to the eldest in their countenances, +he inquired of God which of them it was whom he chose for their +king. And when God said it was none of them, he asked Jesse +whether he had not some other sons besides these; and when he +said that he had one more, named David, but that he was a +shepherd, and took care of the flocks, Samuel bade them call him +immediately, for that till he was come they could not possibly +sit down to the feast. Now, as soon as his father had sent for +David, and he was come, he appeared to be of a yellow complexion, +of a sharp sight, and a comely person in other respects also. +This is he, said Samuel privately to himself, whom it pleases God +to make our king. So he sat down to the feast, and placed the +youth under him, and Jesse also, with his other sons; after which +he took oil in the presence of David, and anointed him, and +whispered him in the ear, and acquainted him that God chose him +to be their king; and exhorted him to be righteous, and obedient +to his commands, for that by this means his kingdom would +continue for a long time, and that his house should be of great +splendor, and celebrated in the world; that he should overthrow +the Philistines; and that against what nations soever he should +make war, he should be the conqueror, and survive the fight; and +that while he lived he should enjoy a glorious name, and leave +such a name to his posterity also. + +2. So Samuel, when he had given him these admonitions, went away. +But the Divine Power departed from Saul, and removed to David; +who, upon this removal of the Divine Spirit to him, began to +prophesy. But as for Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders +came upon him, and brought upon him such suffocations as were +ready to choke him; for which the physicians could find no other +remedy but this, That if any person could charm those passions by +singing, and playing upon the harp, they advised them to inquire +for such a one, and to observe when these demons came upon him +and disturbed him, and to take care that such a person might +stand over him, and play upon the harp, and recite hymns to him. +(16) Accordingly Saul did not delay, but commanded them to seek +out such a man. And when a certain stander-by said that he had +seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse, who was yet no more +than a child in age, but comely and beautiful, and in other +respects one that was deserving of great regard, who was skillful +in playing on the harp, and in singing of hymns, [and an +excellent soldier in war,] he sent to Jesse, and desired him to +take David away from the flocks, and send him to him, for he had +a mind to see him, as having heard an advantageous character of +his comeliness and his valor. So Jesse sent his son, and gave him +presents to carry to Saul. And when he was come, Saul was pleased +with him, and made him his armor-bearer, and had him in very +great esteem; for he charmed his passion, and was the only +physician against the trouble he had from the demons, whensoever +it was that it came upon him, and this by reciting of hymns, and +playing upon the harp, and bringing Saul to his right mind again. +However, he sent to Jesse, the father of the child, and desired +him to permit David to stay with him, for that he was delighted +with his sight and company; which stay, that he might not +contradict Saul, he granted. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The Hebrews +Under The Reign Of Saul; And How They Were Overcome By David's +Slaying Goliath In Single Combat. + + +1. Now the Philistines gathered themselves together again no very +long time afterward; and having gotten together a great army, +they made war against the Israelites; and having seized a place +between Shochoh and Azekah, they there pitched their camp. Saul +also drew out his army to oppose them; and by pitching his own +camp on a certain hill, he forced the Philistines to leave their +former camp, and to encamp themselves upon such another hill, +over-against that on which Saul's army lay, so that a valley, +which was between the two hills on which they lay, divided their +camps asunder. Now there came down a man out of the camp of the +Philistines, whose name was Goliath, of the city of Gath, a man +of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness, +and had about him weapons suitable to the largeness of his body, +for he had a breastplate on that weighed five thousand shekels: +he had also a helmet and greaves of brass, as large as you would +naturally suppose might cover the limbs of so vast a body. His +spear was also such as was not carried like a light thing in his +right hand, but he carried it as lying on his shoulders. He had +also a lance of six hundred shekels; and many followed him to +carry his armor. Wherefore this Goliath stood between the two +armies, as they were in battle array, and sent out aloud voice, +and said to Saul and the Hebrews, "I will free you from fighting +and from dangers; for what necessity is there that your army +should fall and be afflicted? Give me a man of you that will +fight with me, and he that conquers shall have the reward of the +conqueror and determine the war; for these shall serve those +others to whom the conqueror shall belong; and certainly it is +much better, and more prudent, to gain what you desire by the +hazard of one man than of all." When he had said this, he retired +to his own camp; but the next day he came again, and used the +same words, and did not leave off for forty days together, to +challenge the enemy in the same words, till Saul and his army +were therewith terrified, while they put themselves in array as +if they would fight, but did not come to a close battle. + +2. Now while this war between the Hebrews and the Philistines was +going on, Saul sent away David to his father Jesse, and contented +himself with those three sons of his whom he had sent to his +assistance, and to be partners in the dangers of the war: and at +first David returned to feed his sheep and his flocks; but after +no long time he came to the camp of the Hebrews, as sent by his +father, to carry provisions to his brethren, and to know what +they were doing. While Goliath came again, and challenged them, +and reproached them, that they had no man of valor among them +that durst come down to fight him; and as David was talking with +his brethren about the business for which his father had sent +him, he heard the Philistine reproaching and abusing the army, +and had indignation at it, and said to his brethren, "I am ready +to fight a single combat with this adversary." Whereupon Eliab, +his eldest brother, reproved him, and said that he spoke too +rashly and improperly for one of his age, and bid him go to his +flocks, and to his father. So he was abashed at his brother's +words, and went away, but still he spake to some of the soldiers +that he was willing to fight with him that challenged them. And +when they had informed Saul what was the resolution of the young +man, the king sent for him to come to him: and when the king +asked what he had to say, he replied, "O king, be not cast down, +nor afraid, for I will depress the insolence of this adversary, +and will go down and fight with him, and will bring him under me, +as tall and as great as he is, till he shall be sufficiently +laughed at, and thy army shall get great glory, when he shall be +slain by one that is not yet of man's estate, neither fit for +fighting, nor capable of being intrusted with the marshalling an +army, or ordering a battle, but by one that looks like a child, +and is really no elder in age than a child." + +3. Now Saul wondered at the boldness and alacrity of David, but +durst not presume on his ability, by reason of his age; but said +he must on that account be too weak to fight with one that was +skilled in the art of war. "I undertake this enterprise," said +David, "in dependence on God's being with me, for I have had +experience already of his assistance; for I once pursued after +and caught a lion that assaulted my flocks, and took away a lamb +from them; and I snatched the lamb out of the wild beast's mouth, +and when he leaped upon me with violence, I took him by the tail, +and dashed him against the ground. In the same manner did I +avenge myself on a bear also; and let this adversary of ours be +esteemed like one of these wild beasts, since he has a long while +reproached our army, and blasphemed our God, who yet will reduce +him under my power." + +4. However, Saul prayed that the end might be, by God's +assistance, not disagreeable to the alacrity and boldness of the +child; and said, "Go thy way to the fight." So he put about him +his breastplate, and girded on his sword, and fitted the helmet +to his head, and sent him away. But David was burdened with his +armor, for he had not been exercised to it, nor had he learned to +walk with it; so he said, "Let this armor be thine, O king, who +art able to bear it; but give me leave to fight as thy servant, +and as I myself desire." Accordingly he laid by the armor, and +taking his staff with him, and putting five stones out of the +brook into a shepherd's bag, and having a sling in his right +hand, he went towards Goliath. But the adversary seeing him come +in such a manner, disdained him, and jested upon him, as if he +had not such weapons with him as are usual when one man fights +against another, but such as are used in driving away and +avoiding of dogs; and said, "Dost thou take me not for a man, but +a dog?" To which he replied, "No, not for a dog, but for a +creature worse than a dog." This provoked Goliath to anger, who +thereupon cursed him by the name of God, and threatened to give +his flesh to the beasts of the earth, and to the fowls of the +air, to be torn in pieces by them. To whom David answered, Thou +comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a +breastplate; but I have God for my armor in coming against thee, +who will destroy thee and all thy army by my hands for I will +this day cut off thy head, and cast the other parts of thy body +to the dogs, and all men shall learn that God is the protector of +the Hebrews, and that our armor and our strength is in his +providence; and that without God's assistance, all other warlike +preparations and power are useless." So the Philistine being +retarded by the weight of his armor, when he attempted to meet +David in haste, came on but slowly, as despising him, and +depending upon it that he should slay him, who was both unarmed +and a child also, without any trouble at all. + +5. But the youth met his antagonist, being accompanied with an +invisible assistant, who was no other than God himself. And +taking one of the stones that he had out of the brook, and had +put into his shepherd's bag, and fitting it to his sling, he +slang it against the Philistine. This stone fell upon his +forehead, and sank into his brain, insomuch that Goliath was +stunned, and fell upon his face. So David ran, and stood upon his +adversary as he lay down, and cut off his head with his own +sword; for he had no sword himself. And upon the fall of Goliath +the Philistines were beaten, and fled; for when they saw their +champion prostrate on the ground, they were afraid of the entire +issue of their affairs, and resolved not to stay any longer, but +committed themselves to an ignominious and indecent flight, and +thereby endeavored to save themselves from the dangers they were +in. But Saul and the entire army of the Hebrews made a shout, and +rushed upon them, and slew a great number of them, and pursued +the rest to the borders of Garb, and to the gates of Ekron; so +that there were slain of the Philistines thirty thousand, and +twice as many wounded. But Saul returned to their camp, and +pulled their fortification to pieces, and burnt it; but David +carried the head of Goliath into his own tent, but dedicated his +sword to God [at the tabernacle]. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Saul Envies David For His Glorious Success, And Takes An Occasion +Of Entrapping Him, From The Promise He Made Him Of Giving Him His +Daughter In Marriage; But This Upon Condition Of His Bringing Him +Six Hundred Heads Of The Philistines. + + +1. Now the women were an occasion of Saul's envy and hatred to +David; for they came to meet their victorious army with cymbals, +and drums, and all demonstrations of joy, and sang thus: The +wives said, that "Saul had slain his many thousands of the +Philistines." The virgins replied, that "David had slain his ten +thousands." Now, when the king heard them singing thus, and that +he had himself the smallest share in their commendations, and the +greater number, the ten thousands, were ascribed to the young +man; and when he considered with himself that there was nothing +more wanting to David, after such a mighty applause, but the +kingdom; he began to be afraid and suspicious of David. +Accordingly he removed him from the station he was in before, for +he was his armor-bearer, which, out of fear, seemed to him much +too near a station for him; and so he made him captain over a +thousand, and bestowed on him a post better indeed in itself, +but, as he thought, more for his own security; for he had a mind +to send him against the enemy, and into battles, as hoping he +would be slain in such dangerous conflicts. + +2. But David had God going along with him whithersoever he went, +and accordingly he greatly prospered in his undertakings, and it +was visible that he had mighty success, insomuch that Saul's +daughter, who was still a virgin, fell in love with him; and her +affection so far prevailed over her, that it could not be +concealed, and her father became acquainted with it. Now Saul +heard this gladly, as intending to make use of it for a snare +against David, and he hoped that it would prove the cause of +destruction and of hazard to him; so he told those that informed +him of his daughter's affection, that he would willingly give +David the virgin in marriage, and said, "I engage myself to marry +my daughter to him if he will bring me six hundred heads of my +enemies (17) supposing that when a reward so ample was proposed +to him, and when he should aim to get him great glory, by +undertaking a thing so dangerous and incredible, he would +immediately set about it, and so perish by the Philistines; and +my designs about him will succeed finely to my mind, for I shall +be freed from him, and get him slain, not by myself, but by +another man." So he gave order to his servants to try how David +would relish this proposal of marrying the damsel. Accordingly, +they began to speak thus to him: That king Saul loved him, as +well as did all the people, and that he was desirous of his +affinity by the marriage of this damsel. To which he gave this +answer:-- "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be made the king's +son-in-law? It does not seem so to me, especially when I am one +of a family that is low, and without any glory or honor." Now +when Saul was informed by his servants what answer David had +made, he said, - "Tell him that I do not want any money nor dowry +from him, which would be rather to set my daughter to sale than +to give her in marriage; but I desire only such a son-in-law as +hath in him fortitude, and all other kinds of virtue," of which +he saw David was possessed, and that his desire was to receive of +him, on account of his marrying his daughter, neither gold nor +silver, nor that he should bring such wealth out of his father's +house, but only some revenge on the Philistines, and indeed six +hundred of their heads, than which a more desirable or a more +glorious present could not be brought him, and that he had much +rather obtain this, than any of the accustomed dowries for his +daughter, viz. that she should be married to a man of that +character, and to one who had a testimony as having conquered his +enemies. + +3. When these words of Saul were brought to David, he was pleased +with them, and supposed that Saul was really desirous of this +affinity with him; so that without bearing to deliberate any +longer, or casting about in his mind whether what was proposed +was possible, or was difficult or not, he and his companions +immediately set upon the enemy, and went about doing what was +proposed as the condition of the marriage. Accordingly, because +it was God who made all things easy and possible to David, he +slew many [of the Philistines], and cut off the heads of six +hundred of them, and came to the king, and by showing him these +heads of the Philistines, required that he might have his +daughter in marriage. Accordingly, Saul having no way of getting +off his engagements, as thinking it a base thing either to seem a +liar when he promised him this marriage, or to appear to have +acted treacherously by him, in putting him upon what was in a +manner impossible, in order to have him slain, he gave him his +daughter in marriage: her name was Michal. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How David, Upon Saul's Laying Snares For Him, Did Yet Escape The +Dangers He Was In By The Affection And Care Of Jonathan And The +Contrivances Of His Wife Michal: And How He Came To Samuel The +Prophet. + + +1. However, Saul was not disposed to persevere long in the state +wherein he was, for when he saw that David was in great esteem, +both with God and with the multitude, he was afraid; and being +not able to conceal his fear as concerning great things, his +kingdom and his life, to be deprived of either of which was a +very great calamity, he resolved to have David slain, and +commanded his son Jonathan and his most faithful servants to kill +him: but Jonathan wondered at his father's change with relation +to David, that it should be made to so great a degree, from +showing him no small good-will, to contrive how to have him +killed. Now, because he loved the young man, and reverenced him +for his virtue, he informed him of the secret charge his father +had given, and what his intentions were concerning him. However, +he advised him to take care and be absent the next day, for that +he would salute his father, and, if he met with a favorable +opportunity, he would discourse with him about him, and learn the +cause of his disgust, and show how little ground there was for +it, and that for it he ought not to kill a man that had done so +many good things to the multitude, and had been a benefactor to +himself, on account of which he ought in reason to obtain pardon, +had he been guilty of the greatest crimes; and "I will then +inform thee of my father's resolution." Accordingly David +complied with such an advantageous advice, and kept himself then +out of the king's sight. + +2. On the next day Jonathan came to Saul, as soon as he saw him +in a cheerful and joyful disposition, and began to introduce a +discourse about David: "What unjust action, O father, either +little or great, hast thou found so exceptionable in David, as to +induce thee to order us to slay a man who hath been of great +advantage to thy own preservation, and of still greater to the +punishment of the Philistines? A man who hath delivered the +people of the Hebrews from reproach and derision, which they +underwent for forty days together, when he alone had courage +enough to sustain the challenge of the adversary, and after that +brought as many heads of our enemies as he was appointed to +bring, and had, as a reward for the same, my sister in marriage; +insomuch that his death would be very sorrowful to us, not only +on account of his virtue, but on account of the nearness of our +relation; for thy daughter must be injured at the same time that +he is slain, and must be obliged to experience widowhood, before +she can come to enjoy any advantage from their mutual +conversation. Consider these things, and change your mind to a +more merciful temper, and do no mischief to a man, who, in the +first place, hath done us the greatest kindness of preserving +thee; for when an evil spirit and demons had seized upon thee, he +cast them out, and procured rest to thy soul from their +incursions: and, in the second place, hath avenged us of our +enemies; for it is a base thing to forget such benefits." So Saul +was pacified with these words, and sware to his son that he would +do David no harm, for a righteous discourse proved too hard for +the king's anger and fear. So Jonathan sent for David, and +brought him good news from his father, that he was to be +preserved. He also brought him to his father; and David continued +with the king as formerly. + +3. About this time it was that, upon the Philistines making a new +expedition against the Hebrews, Saul sent David with an army to +fight with them; and joining battle with them he slew many of +them, and after his victory he returned to the king. But his +reception by Saul was not as he expected upon such success, for +he was grieved at his prosperity, because he thought he would be +more dangerous to him by having acted so gloriously: but when the +demoniacal spirit came upon him, and put him into disorder, and +disturbed him, he called for David into his bed-chamber wherein +he lay, and having a spear in his hand, he ordered him to charm +him with playing on his harp, and with singing hymns; which when +David did at his command, he with great force threw the spear at +him; but David was aware of it before it came, and avoided it, +and fled to his own house, and abode there all that day. + +4. But at night the king sent officers, and commanded that he +should be watched till the morning, lest he should get quite +away, that he might come into the judgment-hall, and so might be +delivered up, and condemned and slain. But when Michal, David's +wife, the king's daughter, understood what her father designed, +she came to her husband, as having small hopes of his +deliverance, and as greatly concerned about her own life also, +for she could not bear to live in case she were deprived of him; +and she said, "Let not the sun find thee here when it rises, for +if it do, that will be the last time it will see thee: fly away +then while the night may afford thee opportunity, and may God +lengthen it for thy sake; for know this, that if my father find +thee, thou art a dead man." So she let him down by a cord out of +the window, and saved him: and after she had done so, she fitted +up a bed for him as if he were sick, and put under the +bed-clothes a goat's liver (18) and when her father, as soon as +it was day, sent to seize David, she said to those that were +there, That he had not been well that night, and showed them the +bed covered, and made them believe, by the leaping of the liver, +which caused the bed-clothes to move also, that David breathed +like one that was asthmatic. So when those that were sent told +Saul that David had not been well in the night he ordered him to +be brought in that condition, for he intended to kill him. Now +when they came and uncovered the bed, and found out the woman's +contrivance, they told it to the king; and when her father +complained of her that she had saved his enemy, and had put a +trick upon himself, she invented this plausible defense for +herself, and said, That when he had threatened to kill her, she +lent him her assistance for his preservation, out of fear; for +which her assistance she ought to be forgiven, because it was not +done of her own free choice, but out of necessity: "For," said +she, "I do not suppose that thou wast so zealous to kill thy +enemy, as thou wast that I should be saved." Accordingly Saul +forgave the damsel; but David, when he had escaped this danger, +came to the prophet Samuel to Ramah, and told him what snares the +king had laid for him, and how he was very near to death by +Saul's throwing a spear at him, although he had been no way +guilty with relation to him, nor had he been cowardly in his +battles with his enemies, but had succeeded well in them all, by +God's assistance; which thing was indeed the cause of Saul's +hatred to David. + +5. When the prophet was made acquainted with the unjust +proceedings of the king, he left the city Ramah, and took David +with him, to a certain place called Naioth, and there he abode +with him. But when it was told Saul that David was with the +prophet, he sent soldiers to him, and ordered them to take him, +and bring him to him: and when they came to Samuel, and found +there a congregation of prophets, they became partakers of the +Divine Spirit, and began to prophesy; which when Saul heard of, +he sent others to David, who prophesying in like manner as did +the first, he again sent others; which third sort prophesying +also, at last he was angry, and went thither in great haste +himself; and when he was just by the place, Samuel, before he saw +him, made him prophesy also. And when Saul came to him, he was +disordered in mind (19) and under the vehement agitation of a +spirit; and, putting off his garments, (20) he fell down, and lay +on the ground all that day and night, in the presence of Samuel +and David. + +6. And David went thence, and came to Jonathan, the son of Saul, +and lamented to him what snares were laid for him by his father; +and said, that though he had been guilty of no evil, nor had +offended against him, yet he was very zealous to get him killed. +Hereupon Jonathan exhorted him not to give credit to such his own +suspicions, nor to the calumnies of those that raised those +reports, if there were any that did so, but to depend on him, and +take courage; for that his father had no such intention, since he +would have acquainted him with that matter, and have taken his +advice, had it been so, as he used to consult with him in common +when he acted in other affairs. But David sware to him that so it +was; and he desired him rather to believe him, and to provide for +his safety, than to despise what he, with great sincerity, told +him: that he would believe what he said, when he should either +see him killed himself, or learn it upon inquiry from others: and +that the reason why his father did not tell him of these things, +was this, that he knew of the friendship and affection that he +bore towards him. + +7. Hereupon, when Jonathan found that this intention of Saul was +so well attested, he asked him what he would have him do for him. +To which David replied, "I am sensible that thou art willing to +gratify me in every thing, and procure me what I desire. Now +tomorrow is the new moon, and I was accustomed to sit down then +with the king at supper: now, if it seem good to thee, I will go +out of the city, and conceal myself privately there; and if Saul +inquire why I am absent, tell him that I am gone to my own city +Bethlehem, to keep a festival with my own tribe; and add this +also, that thou gavest me leave so to do. And if he say, as is +usually said in the case of friends that are gone abroad, It is +well that he went, then assure thyself that no latent mischief or +enmity may be feared at his hand; but if he answer otherwise, +that will be a sure sign that he hath some designs against me, +Accordingly thou shalt inform me of thy father's inclinations; +and that out of pity to my case and out of thy friendship for me, +as instances of which friendship thou hast vouchsafed to accept +of the assurances of my love to thee, and to give the like +assurances to me, that is, those of a master to his servant; but +if thou discoverest any wickedness in me, do thou prevent thy +father, and kill me thyself." + +8. But Jonathan heard these last words with indignation, and +promised to do what he desired of him, and to inform him if his +father's answers implied any thing of a melancholy nature, and +any enmity against him. And that he might the more firmly depend +upon him, he took him out into the open field, into the pure air, +and sware that he would neglect nothing that might tend to the +preservation of David; and he said, "I appeal to that God, who, +as thou seest, is diffused every where, and knoweth this +intention of mine, before I explain it in words, as the witness +of this my covenant with thee, that I will not leave off to make +frequent trims of the purpose of my father till I learn whether +there be any lurking distemper in the most secret parts of his +soul; and when I have learnt it, I will not conceal it from thee, +but will discover it to thee, whether he be gently or peevishly +disposed; for this God himself knows, that I pray he may always +be with thee, for he is with thee now, and will not forsake thee, +and will make thee superior to thine enemies, whether my father +be one of them, or whether I myself be such. Do thou only +remember what we now do; and if it fall out that I die, preserve +my children alive, and requite what kindness thou hast now +received to them." When he had thus sworn, he dismissed David, +bidding him go to a certain place of that plain wherein he used +to perform his exercises; for that, as soon as he knew the mind +of his father, he would come thither to him, with one servant +only; "and if," says he, "I shoot three darts at the mark, and +then bid my servant to carry these three darts away, for they are +before him, know thou that there is no mischief to be feared from +my father; but if thou hearest me say the contrary, expect the +contrary from the king. However, thou shalt gain security by my +means, and shalt by no means suffer any harm; but see thou dost +not forget what I have desired of thee in the time of thy +prosperity, and be serviceable to my children." Now David, when +he had received these assurances from Jonathan, went his way to +the place appointed. + +9. But on the next day, which was the new moon, the king, when he +had purified himself, as the custom was, came to supper; and when +there sat by him his son Jonathan on his right hand, and Abner, +the captain of his host, on the other hand, he saw David's seat +was empty, but said nothing, supposing that he had not purified +himself since he had accompanied with his wife, and so could not +be present; but when he saw that he was not there the second day +of the month neither, he inquired of his son Jonathan why the son +of Jesse did not come to the supper and the feast, neither the +day before nor that day. So Jonathan said, That he was gone, +according to the agreement between them, to his own city, where +his tribe kept a festival, and that by his permission: that he +also invited him to come to their sacrifice; "and," says +Jonathan, "if thou wilt give me leave, I Will go thither, for +thou knowest the good-will that I bear him." And then it was that +Jonathan understood his father's hatred to David, and plainly saw +his entire disposition; for Saul could not restrain his anger, +but reproached Jonathan, and called him the son of a runagate, +and an enemy; and said he was a partner with David, and his +assistant, and that by his behavior he showed he had no regard to +himself, or to his mother, and would not be persuaded of this, - +that while David is alive, their kingdom was not secure to them; +yet did he bid him send for him, that he might be punished. And +when Jonathan said, in answer, "What hath he done that thou wilt +punish him?" Saul no longer contented himself to express his +anger in bare words, but snatched up his spear, and leaped upon +him, and was desirous to kill him. He did not indeed do what he +intended, because he was hindered by his friends; but it appeared +plainly to his son that he hated David, and greatly desired to +despatch him, insomuch that he had almost slain his son with his +own hands on his account. + +10. And then it was that the king's son rose hastily from supper; +and being unable to admit any thing into his mouth for grief, he +wept all night, both because he had himself been near +destruction, and because the death of David was determined: but +as soon as it was day, he went out into the plain that was before +the city, as going to perform his exercises, but in reality to +inform his friend what disposition his father was in towards him, +as he had agreed with him to do; and when Jonathan had done what +had been thus agreed, he dismissed his servant that followed him, +to return to the city; but he himself went into the desert, and +came into his presence, and communed with him. So David appeared +and fell at Jonathan's feet, and bowed down to him, and called +him the preserver of his soul; but he lifted him up from the +earth, and they mutually embraced one another, and made a long +greeting, and that not without tears. They also lamented their +age, and that familiarity which envy would deprive them of, and +that separation which must now be expected, which seemed to them +no better than death itself. So recollecting themselves at length +from their lamentation, and exhorting one another to be mindful +of the oaths they had sworn to each other, they parted asunder. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +How David Fled To Ahimelech And Afterwards To The Kings Of The +Philistines And Of The Moabites, And How Saul Slew Ahimelech And +His Family. + + +1. But David fled from the king, and that death he was in danger +of by him, and came to the city Nob, to Ahimelech the priest, +who, when he saw him coming all alone, and neither a friend nor a +servant with him, he wondered at it, and desired to learn of him +the cause why there was nobody with him. To which David answered, +That the king had commanded him to do a certain thing that was to +be kept secret, to which, if he had a mind to know so much, he +had no occasion for any one to accompany him; "however, I have +ordered my servants to meet me at such and such a place." So he +desired him to let him have somewhat to eat; and that in case he +would supply him, he would act the part of a friend, and be +assisting to the business he was now about: and when he had +obtained what he desired, he also asked him whether he had any +weapons with him, either sword or spear. Now there was at Nob a +servant of Saul, by birth a Syrian, whose name was Doeg, one that +kept the king's mules. The high priest said that he had no such +weapons; but, he added, "Here is the sword of Goliath, which, +when thou hadst slain the Philistine, thou didst dedicate to +God." + +2. When David had received the sword, he fled out of the country +of the Hebrews into that of the Philistines, over which Achish +reigned; and when the king's servants knew him, and he was made +known to the king himself, the servants informing him that he was +that David who had killed many ten thousands of the Philistines, +David was afraid lest the king should put him to death, and that +he should experience that danger from him which he had escaped +from Saul; so he pretended to be distracted and mad, so that his +spittle ran out of his mouth; and he did other the like actions +before the king of Gath, which might make him believe that they +proceeded from such a distemper. Accordingly the king was very +angry at his servants that they had brought him a madman, and he +gave orders that they should eject David immediately [out of the +city]. + +3. So when David had escaped in this manner out of Gath, he came +to the tribe of Judah, and abode in a cave by the city of +Adullam. Then it was that he sent to his brethren, and informed +them where he was, who then came to him with all their kindred, +and as many others as were either in want or in fear of king +Saul, came and made a body together, and told him they were ready +to obey his orders; they were in all about four hundred. +Whereupon he took courage, now such a force and assistance was +come to him; so he removed thence and came to the king of the +Moabites, and desired him to entertain his parents in his +country, while the issue of his affairs were in such an uncertain +condition. The king granted him this favor, and paid great +respect to David's parents all the time they were with him. + +4. As for himself, upon the prophet's commanding him to leave the +desert, and to go into the portion of the tribe of Judah, and +abide there, he complied therewith; and coming to the city +Hareth, which was in that tribe, he remained there. Now when Saul +heard that David had been seen with a multitude about him, he +fell into no small disturbance and trouble; but as he knew that +David was a bold and courageous man, he suspected that somewhat +extraordinary would appear from him, and that openly also, which +would make him weep and put him into distress; so he called +together to him his friends, and his commanders, and the tribe +from which he was himself derived, to the hill where his palace +was; and sitting upon a place called Aroura, his courtiers that +were in dignities, and the guards of his body, being with him, he +spake thus to them:-- "You that are men of my own tribe, I +conclude that you remember the benefits that I have bestowed upon +you, and that I have made some of you owners of land, and made +you commanders, and bestowed posts of honor upon you, and set +some of you over the common people, and others over the soldiers; +I ask you, therefore, whether you expect greater and more +donations from the son of Jesse? for I know that you are all +inclinable to him; (even my own son Jonathan himself is of that +opinion, and persuades you to be of the same); for I am not +unacquainted with the oaths and the covenants that are between +him and David, and that Jonathan is a counselor and an assistant +to those that conspire against me, and none of you are concerned +about these things, but you keep silence and watch, to see what +will be the upshot of these things." When the king had made this +speech, not one of the rest of those that were present made any +answer; but Doeg the Syrian, who fed his mules, said, that he saw +David when he came to the city Nob to Ahimelech the high priest, +and that he learned future events by his prophesying; that he +received food from him, and the sword of Goliath, and was +conducted by him with security to such as he desired to go to. + +5. Saul therefore sent for the high priest, and for all his +kindred; and said to them, "What terrible or ungrateful tiring +hast thou suffered from me, that thou hast received the son of +Jesse, and hast bestowed on him both food and weapons, when he +was contriving to get the kingdom? And further, why didst thou +deliver oracles to him concerning futurities? For thou couldst +not be unacquainted that he was fled away from me, and that he +hated my family." But the high priest did not betake himself to +deny what he had done, but confessed boldly that he had supplied +him with these things, not to gratify David, but Saul himself: +and he said, "I did not know that he was thy adversary, but a +servant of thine, who was very faithful to thee, and a captain +over a thousand of thy soldiers, and, what is more than these, +thy son-in-law, and kinsman. Men do not choose to confer such +favors on their adversaries, but on those who are esteemed to +bear the highest good-will and respect to them. Nor is this the +first time that I prophesied for him, but I have done it often, +and at other times as well as now. And when he told me that he +was sent by thee in great haste to do somewhat, if I had +furnished him with nothing that he desired I should have thought +that it was rather in contradiction to thee than to him; +wherefore do not thou entertain any ill opinion of me, nor do +thou have a suspicion of what I then thought an act of humanity, +from what is now told thee of David's attempts against thee, for +I did then to him as to thy friend and son-in-law, and captain of +a thousand, and not as to thine adversary." + +6. When the high priest had spoken thus, he did not persuade +Saul, his fear was so prevalent, that he could not give credit to +an apology that was very just. So he commanded his armed men that +stood about him to kill him, and all his kindred; but as they +durst not touch the high priest, but were more afraid of +disobeying God than the king, he ordered Doeg the Syrian to kill +them. Accordingly, he took to his assistance such wicked men as +were like himself, and slew Ahimelech and all his family, who +were in all three hundred and eighty-five. Saul also sent to Nob, +(21) the city of the priests, and slew all that were there, +without sparing either women or children, or any other age, and +burnt it; only there was one son of Ahimelech, whose name was +Abiathar, who escaped. However, these things came to pass as God +had foretold to Eli the high priest, when he said that his +posterity should be destroyed, on account of the transgression of +his two sons. + +7. (22) Now this king Saul, by perpetrating so barbarous a crime, +and murdering the whole family of the high-priestly dignity, by +having no pity of the infants, nor reverence for the aged, and by +overthrowing the city which God had chosen for the property, and +for the support of the priests and prophets which were there, and +had ordained as the only city allotted for the education of such +men, gives all to understand and consider the disposition of men, +that while they are private persons, and in a low condition, +because it is not in their power to indulge nature, nor to +venture upon what they wish for, they are equitable and moderate, +and pursue nothing but what is just, and bend their whole minds +and labors that way; then it is that they have this belief about +God, that he is present to all the actions of their lives, and +that he does not only see the actions that are done, but clearly +knows those their thoughts also, whence those actions do arise. +But when once they are advanced into power and authority, then +they put off all such notions, and, as if they were no other than +actors upon a theater, they lay aside their disguised parts and +manners, and take up boldness, insolence, and a contempt of both +human and Divine laws, and this at a time when they especially +stand in need of piety and righteousness, because they are then +most of all exposed to envy, and all they think, and all they +say, are in the view of all men; then it is that they become so +insolent in their actions, as though God saw them no longer, or +were afraid of them because of their power: and whatsoever it is +that they either are afraid of by the rumors they hear, or they +hate by inclination, or they love without reason, these seem to +them to be authentic, and firm, and true, and pleasing both to +men and to God; but as to what will come hereafter, they have not +the least regard to it. They raise those to honor indeed who have +been at a great deal of pains for them, and after that honor they +envy them; and when they have brought them into high dignity, +they do not only deprive them of what they had obtained, but +also, on that very account, of their lives also, and that on +wicked accusations, and such as on account of their extravagant +nature, are incredible. They also punish men for their actions, +not such as deserve condemnation, but from calumnies and +accusations without examination; and this extends not only to +such as deserve to be punished, but to as many as they are able +to kill. This reflection is openly confirmed to us from the +example of Saul, the son of Kish, who was the first king who +reigned after our aristocracy and government under the judges +were over; and that by his slaughter of three hundred priests and +prophets, on occasion of his suspicion about Ahimelech, and by +the additional wickedness of the overthrow of their city, and +this is as he were endeavoring in some sort to render the temple +[tabernacle] destitute both of priests and prophets, which +endeavor he showed by slaying so many of them, and not suffering +the very city belonging to them to remain, that so others might +succeed them. + +8. But Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, who alone could be saved +out of the family of priests slain by Saul, fled to David, and +informed him of the calamity that had befallen their family, and +of the slaughter of his father; who hereupon said, He was not +unapprised of what would follow with relation to them when he saw +Doeg there; for he had then a suspicion that the high priest +would be falsely accused by him to the king, and he blamed +himself as having been the cause of this misfortune. But he +desired him to stay there, and abide with him, as in a place +where he might be better concealed than any where else. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How David, When He Had Twice The Opportunity Of Killing Saul Did +Not Kill Him. Also Concerning The Death Of Samuel And Nabal. + + +1. About this time it was that David heard how the Philistines +had made an inroad into the country of Keilah, and robbed it; so +he offered himself to fight against them, if God, when he should +be consulted by the prophet, would grant him the victory. And +when the prophet said that God gave a signal of victory, he made +a sudden onset upon the Philistines with his companions, and he +shed a great deal of their blood, and carried off their prey, and +staid with the inhabitants of Keilah till they had securely +gathered in their corn and their fruits. However, it was told +Saul the king that David was with the men of Keilah; for what had +been done and the great success that had attended him, were not +confined among the people where the things were done, but the +fame of it went all abroad, and came to the hearing of others, +and both the fact as it stood, and the author of the fact, were +carried to the king's ears. Then was Saul glad when he heard +David was in Keilah; and he said, "God hath now put him into my +hands, since he hath obliged him to come into a city that hath +walls, and gates, and bars." So he commanded all the people +suddenly, and when they had besieged and taken it to kill David. +But when David perceived this, and learned of God that if he +staid there the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, he +took his four hundred men and retired into a desert that was over +against a city called Engedi. So that when the king heard he was +fled away from the men of Keilah, he left off his expedition +against him. + +2. Then David removed thence, and came to a certain place called +the New Place, belonging to Ziph; where Jonathan, the son of +Saul, came to him, and saluted him, and exhorted him to be of +good courage, and to hope well as to his condition hereafter, and +not to despond at his present circumstances, for that he should +be king, and have all the forces of the Hebrews under him: he +told him that such happiness uses to come with great labor and +pains: they also took oaths, that they would, all their lives +long, continue in good-will and fidelity one to another; and he +called God to witness, as to what execrations he had made upon +himself if he should transgress his covenant, and should change +to a contrary behavior. So Jonathan left him there, having +rendered his cares and fears somewhat lighter, and returned home. +Now the men of Ziph, to gratify Saul, informed him that David +abode with them, and [assured him] that if he would come to them, +they would deliver him up, for that if the king would seize on +the Straits of Ziph, David would not escape to any other people. +So the king commended them, and confessed that he had reason to +thank them, because they had given him information of his enemy; +and he promised them, that it should not be long ere he would +requite their kindness. He also sent men to seek for David, and +to search the wilderness wherein he was; and he promised that he +himself would follow them. Accordingly they went before the king, +to hunt for and to catch David, and used endeavors, not only to +show their good-will to Saul, by informing him where his enemy +was, but to evidence the same more plainly by delivering him up +into his power. But these men failed of those their unjust and +wicked desires, who, while they underwent no hazard by not +discovering such an ambition of revealing this to Saul, yet did +they falsely accuse and promise to deliver up a man beloved of +God, and one that was unjustly sought after to be put to death, +and one that might otherwise have lain concealed, and this out of +flattery, and expectation of gain from the king; for when David +was apprized of the malignant intentions of the men of Ziph, and +the approach of Saul, he left the Straits of that country, and +fled to the great rock that was in the wilderness of Maon. + +3. Hereupon Saul made haste to pursue him thither; for, as he was +marching, he learned that David was gone away from the Straits of +Ziph, and Saul removed to the other side of the rock. But the +report that the Philistines had again made an incursion into the +country of the Hebrews, called Saul another way from the pursuit +of David, when he was ready to be caught; for he returned back +again to oppose those Philistines, who were naturally their +enemies, as judging it more necessary to avenge himself of them, +than to take a great deal of pains to catch an enemy of his own, +and to overlook the ravage that was made in the land. + +4. And by this means David unexpectedly escaped out of the danger +he was in, and came to the Straits of Engedi; and when Saul had +driven the Philistines out of the land, there came some +messengers, who told him that David abode within the bounds of +Engedi: so he took three thousand chosen men that were armed, and +made haste to him; and when he was not far from those places, he +saw a deep and hollow cave by the way-side; it was open to a +great length and breadth, and there it was that David with his +four hundred men were concealed. When therefore he had occasion +to ease nature, he entered into it by himself alone; and being +seen by one of David's companions, and he that saw him saying to +him, that he had now, by God's providence, an opportunity of +avenging himself of his adversary; and advising him to cut off +his head, and so deliver himself out of that tedious, wandering +condition, and the distress he was in; he rose up, and only cut +off the skirt of that garment which Saul had on: but he soon +repented of what he had done; and said it was not right to kill +him that was his master, and one whom God had thought worthy of +the kingdom; "for that although he were wickedly disposed towards +us, yet does it not behoove me to be so disposed towards him." +But when Saul had left the cave, David came near and cried out +aloud, and desired Saul to hear him; whereupon the king turned +his face back, and David, according to custom, fell down on his +face before the king, and bowed to him; and said, "O king, thou +oughtest not to hearken to wicked men, nor to such as forge +calumnies, nor to gratify them so far as to believe what they +say, nor to entertain suspicions of such as are your best +friends, but to judge of the dispositions of all men by their +actions; for calumny deludes men, but men's own actions are a +clear demonstration of their kindness. Words indeed, in their own +nature, may be either true or false, but men's actions expose +their intentions nakedly to our view. By these, therefore it will +be well for thee to believe me, as to my regard to thee and to +thy house, and not to believe those that frame such accusations +against me as never came into my mind, nor are possible to be +executed, and do this further by pursuing after my life, and have +no concern either day or night, but how to compass my life and to +murder me, which thing I think thou dost unjustly prosecute; for +how comes it about, that thou hast embraced this false opinion +about me, as if I had a desire to kill thee? Or how canst thou +escape the crime of impiety towards God, when thou wishest thou +couldst kill, and deemest thine adversary, a man who had it in +his power this day to avenge himself, and to punish thee, but +would not do it? nor make use of such an opportunity, which, if +it had fallen out to thee against me, thou hadst not let it slip, +for when I cut off the skirt of thy garment, I could have done +the same to thy head." So he showed him the piece of his garment, +and thereby made him agree to what he said to be true; and added, +"I, for certain, have abstained from taking a just revenge upon +thee, yet art thou not ashamed to prosecute me with unjust +hatred. (23) May God do justice, and determine about each of our +dispositions." - But Saul was amazed at the strange delivery he +had received; and being greatly affected with the moderation and +the disposition of the young man, he groaned; and when David had +done the same, the king answered that he had the justest occasion +to groan, "for thou hast been the author of good to me, as I have +been the author of calamity to thee; and thou hast demonstrated +this day, that thou possessest the righteousness of the ancients, +who determined that men ought to save their enemies, though they +caught them in a desert place. I am now persuaded that God +reserves the kingdom for thee, and that thou wilt obtain the +dominion over all the Hebrews. Give me then assurances upon oath, +That thou wilt not root out my family, nor, out of remembrance of +what evil I have done thee, destroy my posterity, but save and +preserve my house." So David sware as he desired, and sent back +Saul to his own kingdom; but he, and those that were with him, +went up the Straits of Mastheroth. + +5. About this time Samuel the prophet died. He was a man whom the +Hebrews honored in an extraordinary degree: for that lamentation +which the people made for him, and this during a long time, +manifested his virtue, and the affection which the people bore +for him; as also did the solemnity and concern that appeared +about his funeral, and about the complete observation of all his +funeral rites. They buried him in his own city of Ramah; and wept +for him a very great number of days, not looking on it as a +sorrow for the death of another man, but as that in which they +were every one themselves concerned. He was a righteous man, and +gentle in his nature; and on that account he was very dear to +God. Now he governed and presided over the people alone, after +the death of Eli the high priest, twelve years, and eighteen +years together with Saul the king. And thus we have finished the +history of Samuel. + +6. There was a man that was a Ziphite, of the city of Maon, who +was rich, and had a vast number of cattle; for he fed a flock of +three thousand sheep, and another flock of a thousand goats. Now +David had charged his associates to keep these flocks without +hurt and without damage, and to do them no mischief, neither out +of covetousness, nor because they were in want, nor because they +were in the wilderness, and so could not easily be discovered, +but to esteem freedom from injustice above all other motives, and +to look upon the touching of what belonged to another man as a +horrible crime, and contrary to the will of God. These were the +instructions he gave, thinking that the favors he granted this +man were granted to a good man, and one that deserved to have +such care taken of his affairs. This man was Nabal, for that was +his name, - a harsh man, and of a very wicked life, being like a +cynic in the course of his behavior, but still had obtained for +his wife a woman of a good character, wise and handsome. To this +Nabal, therefore, David sent ten men of his attendants at the +time when he sheared his sheep, and by them saluted him; and also +wished he might do what he now did for many years to come, but +desired him to make him a present of what he was able to give +him, since he had, to be sure, learned from his shepherds that we +had done them no injury, but had been their guardians a long time +together, while we continued in the wilderness; and he assured +him he should never repent of giving any thing to David. When the +messengers had carried this message to Nabal, he accosted them +after an inhuman and rough manner; for he asked them who David +was? and when he heard that he was the son of Jesse, he said, +"Now is the time that fugitives grow insolent, and make a figure, +and leave their masters." When they told David this, he was +wroth, and commanded four hundred armed men to follow him, and +left two hundred to take care of the stuff, (for he had already +six hundred, (24)) and went against Nabal: he also swore that he +would that night utterly destroy the whole house and possessions +of Nabal; for that he was grieved, not only that he had proved +ungrateful to them, without making any return for the humanity +they had shown him, but that he had also reproached them, and +used ill language to them, when he had received no cause of +disgust from them. + +7. Hereupon one of those that kept the flocks of Nabal, said to +his mistress, Nabal's wife, that when David sent to her husband +he had received no civil answer at all from him; but that her +husband had moreover added very reproachful language, while yet +David had taken extraordinary care to keep his flocks from harm, +and that what had passed would prove very pernicious to his +master. When the servant had said this, Abigail, for that was his +wife's name, saddled her asses, and loaded them with all sorts of +presents; and, without telling her husband any thing of what she +was about, (for he was not sensible on account of his +drunkenness,) she went to David. She was then met by David as she +was descending a hill, who was coming against Nabal with four +hundred men. When the woman saw David, she leaped down from her +ass, and fell on her face, and bowed down to the ground; and +entreated him not to bear in mind the words of Nabal, since he +knew that he resembled his name. Now Nabal, in the Hebrew tongue, +signifies folly. So she made her apology, that she did not see +the messengers whom he sent. "Forgive me, therefore," said she, +"and thank God, who hath hindered thee from shedding human blood; +for so long as thou keepest thyself innocent, he will avenge thee +of wicked men, (25) for what miseries await Nabal, they will fall +upon the heads of thine enemies. Be thou gracious to me, and +think me so far worthy as to accept of these presents from me; +and, out of regard to me, remit that wrath and that anger which +thou hast against my husband and his house, for mildness and +humanity become thee, especially as thou art to be our king." +Accordingly, David accepted her presents, and said, "Nay, but, O +woman, it was no other than God's mercy which brought thee to us +today, for, otherwise, thou hadst never seen another day, I +having sworn to destroy Nabal's house this very night, and to +leave alive not one of you who belonged to a man that was wicked +and ungrateful to me and my companions; but now hast thou +prevented me, and seasonably mollified my anger, as being thyself +under the care of God's providence: but as for Nabal, although +for thy sake he now escape punishment, he will not always avoid +justice; for his evil conduct, on some other occasion, will be +his ruin." + +8. When David had said this, he dismissed the woman. But when she +came home and found her husband feasting with a great company, +and oppressed with wine, she said nothing to him then about what +had happened; but on the next day, when he was sober, she told +him all the particulars, and made his whole body to appear like +that of a dead man by her words, and by that grief which arose +from them; so Nabal survived ten days, and no more, and then +died. And when David heard of his death, he said that God had +justly avenged him of this man, for that Nabal had died by his +own wickedness, and had suffered punishment on his account, while +he had kept his own hands clean. At which time he understood that +the wicked are prosecuted by God; that he does not overlook any +man, but bestows on the good what is suitable to them, and +inflicts a deserved punishment on the wicked. So he sent to +Nabal's wife, and invited her to come to him, to live with him, +and to be his wife. Whereupon she replied to those that came, +that she was not worthy to touch his feet; however, she came, +with all her servants, and became his wife, having received that +honor on account of her wise and righteous course of life. She +also obtained the same honor partly on account of her beauty. Now +David had a wife before, whom he married from the city Abesar; +for as to Michal, the daughter of king Saul, who had been David's +wife, her father had given her in marriage to Phalti, the son of +Laish, who was of the city of Gallim. + +9. After this came certain of the Ziphites, and told Saul that +David was come again into their country, and if he would afford +them his assistance, they could catch him. So he came to them +with three thousand armed men; and upon the approach of night, he +pitched his camp at a certain place called Hachilah. But when +David heard that Saul was coming against him, he sent spies, and +bid them let him know to what place of the country Saul was +already come; and when they told him that he was at Hachilah, he +concealed his going away from his companions, and came to Saul's +camp, having taken with him Abishai, his sister Zeruiah's son, +and Ahimelech the Hittite. Now Saul was asleep, and the armed +men, with Abner their commander, lay round about him in a circle. +Hereupon David entered into the king's tent; but he did neither +kill Saul, though he knew where he lay, by the spear that was +stuck down by him, nor did he give leave to Abishai, who would +have killed him, and was earnestly bent upon it so to do; for he +said it was a horrid crime to kill one that was ordained king by +God, although he was a wicked man; for that he who gave him the +dominion would in time inflict punishment upon him. So he +restrained his eagerness; but that it might appear to have been +in his power to have killed him when he refrained from it, he +took his spear, and the cruse of water which stood by Saul as he +lay asleep, without being perceived by any in the camp, who were +all asleep, and went securely away, having performed every thing +among the king's attendants that the opportunity afforded, and +his boldness encouraged him to do. So when he had passed over a +brook, and was gotten up to the top of a hill, whence he might be +sufficiently heard, he cried aloud to Saul's soldiers, and to +Abner their commander, and awaked them out of their sleep, and +called both to him and to the people. Hereupon the commander +heard him, and asked who it was that called him. To whom David +replied, "It is I, the son of Jesse, whom you make a vagabond. +But what is the matter? Dost thou, that art a man of so great +dignity, and of the first rank in the king's court, take so +little care of thy master's body? and is sleep of more +consequence to thee than his preservation, and thy care of him? +This negligence of yours deserves death, and punishment to be +inflicted on you, who never perceived when, a little while ago, +some of us entered into your camp, nay, as far as to the king +himself, and to all the rest of you. If thou look for the king's +spear and his cruse of water, thou wilt learn what a mighty +misfortune was ready to overtake you in your very camp without +your knowing it." Now when Saul knew David's voice, and +understood that when he had him in his power while he was asleep, +and his guards took no care of him, yet did not he kill him, but +spared him, when he might justly have cut him off, he said that +he owed him thanks for his preservation; and exhorted him to be +of good courage, and not be afraid of suffering any mischief from +him any more, and to return to his own home, for he was now +persuaded that he did not love himself so well as he was loved by +him: that he had driven away him that could guard him, and had +given many demonstrations of his good-will to him: that he had +forced him to live so long in a state of banishment, and in great +fears of his life, destitute of his friends and his kindred, +while still he was often saved by him, and frequently received +his life again when it was evidently in danger of perishing. So +David bade them send for the spear and the cruse of water, and +take them back; adding this withal, That God would be the judge +of both their dispositions, and of the actions that flowed from +the same, "who knows that then it was this day in my power to +have killed thee I abstained from it." + +10. Thus Saul having escaped the hands of David twice, he went +his way to his royal palace, and his own city: but David was +afraid, that if he staid there he should be caught by Saul; so he +thought it better to go up into the land of the Philistines, and +abide there. Accordingly, he came with the six hundred men that +were with him to Achish, the king of Gath, which was one of their +five cities. Now the king received both him and his men, and gave +them a place to inhabit in. He had with him also his two wives, +Ahinoam and Abigail, and he dwelt in Gath. But when Saul heard +this, he took no further care about sending to him, or going +after him, because he had been twice, in a manner, caught by him, +while he was himself endeavoring to catch him. However, David had +no mind to continue in the city of Gath, but desired the king, +that since he had received him with such humanity, that he would +grant him another favor, and bestow upon him some place of that +country for his habitation, for he was ashamed, by living in the +city, to be grievous and burdensome to him. So Achish gave him a +certain village called Ziklag; which place David and his sons +were fond of when he was king, and reckoned it to be their +peculiar inheritance. But about those matters we shall give the +reader further information elsewhere. Now the time that David +dwelt in Ziklag, in the land of the Philistines, was four months +and twenty days. And now he privately attacked those Geshurites +and Amalekites that were neighbors to the Philistines, and laid +waste their country, and took much prey of their beasts and +camels, and then returned home; but David abstained from the men, +as fearing they should discover him to king Achish; yet did he +send part of the prey to him as a free gift. And when the king +inquired whom they had attacked when they brought away the prey, +he said, those that lay to the south of the Jews, and inhabited +in the plain; whereby he persuaded Achish to approve of what he +had done, for he hoped that David had fought against his own +nation, and that now he should have him for his servant all his +life long, and that he would stay in his country. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +Now Saul Upon God's Not Answering Him Concerning The Fight With +The Philistines Desired A Necromantic Woman To Raise Up The Soul +Of Samuel To Him; And How He Died, With His Sons Upon The +Overthrow Of The Hebrews In Battle. + + +1. About the same time the Philistines resolved to make war +against the Israelites, and sent to all their confederates that +they would go along with them to the war to Reggan, [near the +city Shunem,] whence they might gather themselves together, and +suddenly attack the Hebrews. Then did Achish, the king of Gath, +desire David to assist them with his armed men against the +Hebrews. This he readily promised; and said that the time was now +come wherein he might requite him for his kindness and +hospitality. So the king promised to make him the keeper of his +body, after the victory, supposing that the battle with the enemy +succeeded to their mind; which promise of honor and confidence he +made on purpose to increase his zeal for his service. + +2. Now Saul, the king of the Hebrews, had cast out of the country +the fortune-tellers, and the necromancers, and all such as +exercised the like arts, excepting the prophets. But when he +heard that the Philistines were already come, and had pitched +their camp near the city Shunem, situate in the plain, he made +haste to oppose them with his forces; and when he was come to a +certain mountain called Gilboa, he pitched his camp over-against +the enemy; but when he saw the enemy's army he was greatly +troubled, because it appeared to him to be numerous, and superior +to his own; and he inquired of God by the prophets concerning the +battle, that he might know beforehand what would be the event of +it. And when God did not answer him, Saul was under a still +greater dread, and his courage fell, foreseeing, as was but +reasonable to suppose, that mischief would befall him, now God +was not there to assist him; yet did he bid his servants to +inquire out for him some woman that was a necromancer and called +up the souls of the dead, that So he might know whether his +affairs would succeed to his mind; for this sort of necromantic +women that bring up the souls of the dead, do by them foretell +future events to such as desire them. And one of his servants +told him that there was such a woman in the city Endor, but was +known to nobody in the camp; hereupon Saul put off his royal +apparel, and took two of those his servants with him, whom he +knew to be most faithful to him, and came to Endor to the woman, +and entreated her to act the part of a fortune-teller, and to +bring up such a soul to him as he should name to her. But when +the woman opposed his motion, and said she did not despise the +king, who had banished this sort of fortune-tellers, and that he +did not do well himself, when she had done him no harm, to +endeavor to lay a snare for her, and to discover that she +exercised a forbidden art, in order to procure her to be +punished, he sware that nobody should know what she did; and that +he would not tell any one else what she foretold, but that she +should incur no danger. As soon as he had induced her by this +oath to fear no harm, he bid her bring up to him the soul of +Samuel. She, not knowing who Samuel was, called him out of Hades. +When he appeared, and the woman saw one that was venerable, and +of a divine form, she was in disorder; and being astonished at +the sight, she said, "Art not thou king Saul?" for Samuel had +informed her who he was. When he had owned that to be true, and +had asked her whence her disorder arose, she said that she saw a +certain person ascend, who in his form was like to a god. And +when he bid her tell him what he resembled, in what habit he +appeared, and of what age he was, she told him he was an old man +already, and of a glorious personage, and had on a sacerdotal +mantle. So the king discovered by these signs that he was Samuel; +and he fell down upon the ground, and saluted and worshipped him. +And when the soul of Samuel asked him why he had disturbed him, +and caused him to be brought up, he lamented the necessity he was +under; for he said, that his enemies pressed heavily upon him; +that he was in distress what to do in his present circumstances; +that he was forsaken of God, and could obtain no prediction of +what was coming, neither by prophets nor by dreams; and that +"these were the reasons why I have recourse to time, who always +took great care of me." But (27) Samuel, seeing that the end of +Saul's life was come, said, "It is in vain for thee to desire to +learn of me any thing future, when God hath forsaken thee: +however, hear what I say, that David is to be king, and to finish +this war with good success; and thou art to lose thy dominion and +thy life, because thou didst not obey God in the war with the +Amalekites, and hast not kept his commandments, as I foretold +thee while I was alive. Know, therefore, that the people shall be +made subject to their enemies, and that thou, with thy sons, +shall fall in the battle tomorrow, and thou shalt then be with me +[in Hades]." + +3. When Saul heard this, he could not speak for grief, and fell +down on the floor, whether it were from the sorrow that arose +upon what Samuel had said, or from his emptiness, for he had +taken no food the foregoing day nor night, he easily fell quite +down: and when with difficulty he had recovered himself, the +woman would force him to eat, begging this of him as a favor on +account of her concern in that dangerous instance of +fortune-telling, which it was not lawful for her to have done, +because of the fear she was under of the king, while she knew not +who he was, yet did she undertake it, and go through with it; on +which account she entreated him to admit that a table and food +might be set before him, that he might recover his strength, and +so get safe to his own camp. And when he opposed her motion, and +entirely rejected it, by reason of his anxiety, she forced him, +and at last persuaded him to it. Now she had one calf that she +was very fond of, and one that she took a great deal of care of, +and fed it herself; for she was a woman that got her living by +the labor of her own hands, and had no other possession but that +one calf; this she killed, and made ready its flesh, and set it +before his servants and himself. So Saul came to the camp while +it was yet night. + +4. Now it is but just to recommend the generosity of this woman, +(28) because when the king had forbidden her to use that art +whence her circumstances were bettered and improved, and when she +had never seen the king before, she still did not remember to his +disadvantage that he had condemned her sort of learning, and did +not refuse him as a stranger, and one that she had had no +acquaintance with; but she had compassion upon him, and comforted +him, and exhorted him to do what he was greatly averse to, and +offered him the only creature she had, as a poor woman, and that +earnestly, and with great humanity, while she had no requital +made her for her kindness, nor hunted after any future favor from +him, for she knew he was to die; whereas men are naturally either +ambitious to please those that bestow benefits upon them, or are +very ready to serve those from whom +they may receive some advantage. It would be well therefore to +imitate the example and to do kindnesses to all such as are in +want and to think that nothing is better, nor more becoming +mankind, than such a general beneficence, nor what will sooner +render God favorable, and ready to bestow good things upon us. +And so far may suffice to have spoken concerning this woman. But +I shall speak further upon another subject, which will afford me +all opportunity of discoursing on what is for the advantage of +cities, and people, and nations, and suited to the taste of good +men, and will encourage them all in the prosecution of virtue; +and is capable of showing them the of acquiring glory, and an +everlasting fame; and of imprinting in the kings of nations, and +the rulers of cities, great inclination and diligence of doing +well; as also of encouraging them to undergo dangers, and to die +for their countries, and of instructing them how to despise all +the most terrible adversities: and I have a fair occasion offered +me to enter on such a discourse by Saul the king of the Hebrews; +for although he knew what was coming upon him, and that he was to +die immediately, by the prediction of the prophet, he did not +resolve to fly from death, nor so far to indulge the love of life +as to betray his own people to the enemy, or to bring a disgrace +on his royal dignity; but exposing himself, as well as all his +family and children, to dangers, he thought it a brave thing to +fall together with them, as he was fighting for his subjects, and +that it was better his sons should die thus, showing their +courage, than to leave them to their uncertain conduct afterward, +while, instead of succession and posterity, they gained +commendation and a lasting name. Such a one alone seems to me to +be a just, a courageous, and a prudent man; and when any one has +arrived at these dispositions, or shall hereafter arrive at them, +he is the man that ought to be by all honored with the testimony +of a virtuous or courageous man: for as to those that go out to +war with hopes of success, and that they shall return safe, +supposing they should have performed some glorious action, I +think those do not do well who call these valiant men, as so many +historians and other writers who treat of them are wont to do, +although I confess those do justly deserve some commendation +also; but those only may be styled courageous and bold in great +undertakings, and despisers of adversities, who imitate Saul: for +as for those that do not know what the event of war will be as to +themselves, and though they do not faint in it, but deliver +themselves up to uncertain futurity, and are tossed this way and +that way, this is not so very eminent an instance of a generous +mind, although they happen to perform many great exploits; but +when men's minds expect no good event, but they know beforehand +they must die, and that they must undergo that death in the +battle also, after this neither to be aftrighted, nor to be +astonished at the terrible fate that is coming, but to go +directly upon it, when they know it beforehand, this it is that I +esteem the character of a man truly courageous. Accordingly this +Saul did, and thereby demonstrated that all men who desire fame +after they are dead are so to act as they may obtain the same: +this especially concerns kings, who ought not to think it enough +in their high stations that they are not wicked in the government +of their subjects, but to be no more than moderately good to +them. I could say more than this about Saul and his courage, the +subject affording matter sufficient; but that I may not appear to +run out improperly in his commendation, I return again to that +history from which I made this digression. + +5. Now when the Philistines, as I said before, had pitched their +camp, and had taken an account of their forces, according to +their nations, and kingdoms, and governments, king Achish came +last of all with his own army; after whom came David with his six +hundred armed men. And when the commanders of the Philistines saw +him, they asked the king whence these Hebrews came, and at whose +invitation. He answered that it was David, who was fled away from +his master Saul, and that he had entertained him when he came to +him, and that now he was willing to make him this requital for +his favors, and to avenge himself upon Saul, and so was become +his confederate. The commanders complained of this, that he had +taken him for a confederate who was an enemy; and gave him +counsel to send him away, lest he should unawares do his friends +a great deal of mischief by entertaining him, for that he +afforded him an opportunity of being reconciled to his master by +doing a mischief to our army. They thereupon desired him, out of +a prudent foresight of this, to send him away, with his six +hundred armed men, to the place he had given him for his +habitation; for that this was that David whom the virgins +celebrated in their hymns, as having destroyed many ten thousands +of the Philistines. When the king of Gath heard this, he thought +they spake well; so he called David, and said to him, "As for +myself, I can bear witness that thou hast shown great diligence +and kindness about me, and on that account it was that I took +thee for my confederate; however, what I have done does not +please the commanders of the Philistines; go therefore within a +day's time to the place I have given thee, without suspecting any +harm, and there keep my country, lest any of our enemies should +make an incursion upon it, which will be one part of that +assistance which I expect from thee." So David came to Ziklag, as +the king of Gath bade him; but it happened, that while he was +gone to the assistance of the Philistines, the Amalekites had +made an incursion, and taken Ziklag before, and had burnt it; and +when they had taken a great deal of other prey out of that place, +and out of the other parts of the Philistines' country, they +departed. + +6. Now when David found that Ziklag was laid waste, and that it +was all spoiled, and that as well his own wives, who were two, as +the wives of his companions, with their children, were made +captives, he presently rent his clothes, weeping and lamenting, +together with his friends; and indeed he was so cast down with +these misfortunes, that at length tears themselves failed him. He +was also in danger of being stoned to death by his companions, +who were greatly afflicted at the captivity of their wives and +children, for they laid the blame upon him of what had happened. +But when he had recovered himself out of his grief, and had +raised up his mind to God, he desired the high priest Abiathar to +put on his sacerdotal garments, and to inquire of God, and to +prophesy to him, whether God would grant; that if he pursued +after the Amalekites, he should overtake them, and save their +wives and their children, and avenge himself on the enemies. And +when the high priest bade him to pursue after them, he marched +apace, with his four hundred men, after the enemy; and when he +was come to a certain brook called Besor, and had lighted upon +one that was wandering about, an Egyptian by birth, who was +almost dead with want and famine, (for he had continued wandering +about without food in the wilderness three days,) he first of all +gave him sustenance, both meat and drink, and thereby refreshed +him. He then asked him to whom he belonged, and whence he came. +Whereupon the man told him he was an Egyptian by birth, and was +left behind by his master, because he was so sick and weak that +he could not follow him. He also informed him that he was one of +those who had burnt and plundered, not only other parts of Judea, +but Ziklag itself also. So David made use of him as a guide to +find oat the Amalekites; and when he had overtaken them, as they +lay scattered about on the ground, some at dinner, some +disordered, and entirely drunk with wine, and in the fruition of +their spoils and their prey, he fell upon them on the sudden, and +made a great slaughter among them; for they were naked, and +expected no such thing, but had betaken themselves to drinking +and feasting; and so they were all easily destroyed. Now some of +them that were overtaken as they lay at the table were slain in +that posture, and their blood brought up with it their meat and +their drink. They slew others of them as they were drinking to +one another in their cups, and some of them when their full +bellies had made them fall asleep; and for so many as had time to +put on their armor, they slew them with the sword, with no less +case than they did those that were naked; and for the partisans +of David, they continued also the slaughter from the first hour +of the day to the evening, so that there were, not above four +hundred of the Amalekites left; and they only escaped by getting +upon their dromedaries and camels. Accordingly David recovered +not only all the other spoils which the enemy had carried away, +but his wives also, and the wives of his companions. But when +they were come to the place where they had left the two hundred +men, which were not able to follow them, but were left to take +care of the stuff, the four hundred men did not think fit to +divide among them any other parts of what they had gotten, or of +the prey, since they did not accompany them, but pretended to be +feeble, and did not follow them in pursuit of the enemy, but said +they should be contented to have safely recovered their wives; +yet did David pronounce that this opinion of theirs was evil and +unjust, and that when God had granted them such a favor, that +they had avenged themselves on their enemies, and had recovered +all that belonged to themselves, they should make an equal +distribution of what they had gotten to all, because the rest had +tarried behind to guard their stuff; and from that time this law +obtained among them, that those who guarded the stuff, should +receive an equal share with those that fought in the battle. Now +when David was come to Ziklag, he sent portions of the spoils to +all that had been familiar with him, and to his friends in the +tribe of Judah. And thus ended the affairs of the plundering of +Ziklag, and of the slaughter of the Amalekites. + +7. Now upon the Philistines joining battle, there followed a +sharp engagement, and the Philistine, became the conquerors, and +slew a great number of their enemies; but Saul the king of +Israel, and his sons, fought courageously, and with the utmost +alacrity, as knowing that their entire glory lay in nothing else +but dying honorably, and exposing themselves to the utmost danger +from the enemy (for they had nothing else to hope for); so they +brought upon themselves the whole power of the enemy, till they +were encompassed round and slain, but not before they had killed +many of the Philistines Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and +Abinadab, and Malchisua; and when these were slain the multitude +of the Hebrews were put to flight, and all was disorder, and +confusion, and slaughter, upon the Philistines pressing in upon +them. But Saul himself fled, having a strong body of soldiers +about him; and upon the Philistines sending after them those that +threw javelins and shot arrows, he lost all his company except a +few. As for himself, he fought with great bravery; and when he +had received so many wounds, that he was not able to bear up nor +to oppose any longer, and yet was not able to kill himself, he +bade his armor-bearer draw his sword, and run him through, before +the enemy should take him alive. But his armor-bearer not daring +to kill his master, he drew his own sword, and placing himself +over against its point, he threw himself upon it; and when he +could neither run it through him, nor, by leaning against it, +make the sword pass through him, he turned him round, and asked a +certain young man that stood by who he was; and when he +understood that he was an Amalekite, he desired him to force the +sword through him, because he was not able to do it with his own +hands, and thereby to procure him such a death as he desired. +This the young man did accordingly; and he took the golden +bracelet that was on Saul's arm, and his royal crown that was on +his head, and ran away. And when Saul's armor-bearer saw that he +was slain, he killed himself; nor did any of the king's guards +escape, but they all fell upon the mountain called Gilboa. But +when those Hebrews that dwelt in the valley beyond Jordan, and +those who had their cities in the plain, heard that Saul and his +sons were fallen, and that the multitude about them were +destroyed, they left their own cities, and fled to such as were +the best fortified and fenced; and the Philistines, finding those +cities deserted, came and dwelt in them. + +8. On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip their +enemies that were slain, they got the bodies of Saul and of his +sons, and stripped them, and cut off their heads; and they sent +messengers all about their country, to acquaint them that their +enemies were fallen; and they dedicated their armor in the temple +of Astarte, but hung their bodies on crosses at the walls of the +city Bethshun, which is now called Scythepolls. But when the +inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard that they had dismembered the +dead bodies of Saul and of his sons, they deemed it so horrid a +thing to overlook this barbarity, and to suffer them to be +without funeral rites, that the most courageous and hardy among +them (and indeed that city had in it men that were very stout +both in body and mind) journeyed all night, and came to Bethshun, +and approached to the enemy's wall, and taking down the bodies of +Saul and of his sons, they carried them to Jabesh, while the +enemy were not able enough nor bold enough to hinder them, +because of their great courage. So the people of Jabesh wept all +in general, and buried their bodies in the best place of their +country, which was named Areurn; and they observed a public +mourning for them seven days, with their wives and children, +beating their breasts, and lamenting the king and his sons, +without either tasting meat or drink (29) [till the evening.] + +9. To this his end did Saul come, according to the prophecy of +Samuel, because he disobeyed the commands of God about the +Amalekites, and on the account of his destroying the family of +Ahimelech the high priest, with Ahimelech himself, and the city +of the high priests. Now Saul, when he had reigned eighteen years +while Samuel was alive, and after his death two [and twenty], +ended his life in this manner. + + + + +BOOK VII. + +Containing The Interval Of Forty Years. + +From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How David Reigned Over One Tribe At Hebron While The Son Of Saul +Reigned Over The Rest Of The Multitude; And How, In The Civil War +Which Then Arose Asahel And Abner Were Slain. + + +1. This fight proved to be on the same day whereon David was come +back to Ziklag, after he had overcome the Amalekites. Now when he +had been already two days at Ziklag, there came to him the man +who slew Saul, which was the third day after the fight. He had +escaped out of the battle which the Israelites had with the +Philistines, and had his clothes rent, and ashes upon his head. +And when he made his obeisance to David, he inquired of him +whence he came. He replied, from the battle of the Israelites; +and he informed him that the end of it was unfortunate, many ten +thousands of the Israelites having been cut off, and Saul, +together with his sons, slain. He also said that he could well +give him this information, because he was present at the victory +gained over the Hebrews, and was with the king when he fled. Nor +did he deny that he had himself slain the king, when he was ready +to be taken by the enemy, and he himself exhorted him to do it, +because, when he was fallen on his sword, his great wounds had +made him so weak that he was not able to kill himself. He also +produced demonstrations that the king was slain, which were the +golden bracelets that had been on the king's arms, and his crown, +which he had taken away from Saul's dead body, and had brought +them to him. So David having no longer any room to call in +question the truth of what he said, but seeing most evident marks +that Saul was dead, he rent his garments, and continued all that +day with his companions in weeping and lamentation. This grief +was augmented by the consideration of Jonathan; the son of Saul, +who had been his most faithful friend, and the occasion of his +own deliverance. He also demonstrated himself to have such great +virtue, and such great kindness for Saul, as not only to take his +death to heart, though he had been frequently in danger of losing +his life by his means, but to punish him that slew him; for when +David had said to him that he was become his own accuser, as the +very man who had slain the king, and when he had understood that +he was the son of an Amalekite, he commanded him to be slain. He +also committed to writing some lamentations and funeral +commendations of Saul and Jonathan, which have continued to my +own age. + +2. Now when David had paid these honors to the king, he left off +his mourning, and inquired of God by the prophet which of the +cities of the tribe of Judah he would bestow upon him to dwell +in; who answered that he bestowed upon him Hebron. So he left +Ziklag, and came to Hebron, and took with him his wives, who were +in number two, and his armed men; whereupon all the people of the +forementioned tribe came to him, and ordained him their king. But +when he heard that the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead had buried +Saul and his sons [honorably], he sent to them and commended +them, and took what they had done kindly, and promised to make +them amends for their care of those that were dead; and at the +same time he informed them that the tribe of Judah had chosen him +for their king. + +3. But as soon as Abner, the son of Ner, who was general of +Saul's army, and a very active man, and good-natured, knew that +the king, and Jonathan, and his two other sons, were fallen in +the battle, he made haste into the camp; and taking away with him +the remaining son of Saul, whose name was Ishbosheth, he passed +over to the land beyond Jordan, and ordained him the king of the +whole multitude, excepting the tribe of Judah; and made his royal +seat in a place called in our own language Mahanaim, but in the +language of the Grecians, The Camps; from whence Abner made haste +with a select body of soldiers, to fight with such of the tribe +of Judah as were disposed to it, for he was angry that this tribe +had set up David for their king. But Joab, whose father was Suri, +and his mother Zeruiah, David's sister, who was general of +David's army, met him, according to David's appointment. He had +with him his brethren, Abistiai and Asahel, as also all David's +armed men. Now when he met Abner at a certain fountain, in the +city of Gibeon, he prepared to fight. And when Abner said to him, +that he had a mind to know which of them had the more valiant +soldiers, it was agreed between them that twelve soldiers of each +side should fight together. So those that were chosen out by both +the generals for this fight came between the two armies, and +throwing their lances one against the other, they drew their +swords, and catching one another by the head, they held one +another fast, and ran each other's swords into their sides and +groins, until they all, as it were by mutual agreement, perished +together. When these were fallen down dead, the rest of the army +came to a sore battle, and Abner's men were beaten; and when they +were beaten, Joab did not leave off pursuing them, but he pressed +upon them, and excited the soldiers to follow them close, and not +to grow weary of killing them. His brethren also pursued them +with great alacrity, especially the younger, Asahel, who was the +most eminent of them. He was very famous for his swiftness of +foot, for he could not only be too hard for men, but is reported +to have overrun a horse, when they had a race together. This +Asahel ran violently after Abner, and would not turn in the least +out of the straight way, either to the one side or to the other. +Hereupon Abner turned back, and attempted artfully to avoid his +violence. Sometimes he bade him leave off the pursuit, and take +the armor of one of his soldiers; and sometimes, when he could +not persuade him so to do, he exhorted him to restrain himself, +and not to pursue him any longer, lest he should force him to +kill him, and he should then not be able to look his brother in +the face: but when Asahel would not admit of any persuasions, but +still continued to pursue him, Abner smote him with his spear, as +he held it in his flight, and that by a back-stroke, and gave him +a deadly wound, so that he died immediately; but those that were +with him pursuing Abner, when they came to the place where Asahel +lay, they stood round about the dead body, and left off the +pursuit of the enemy. However, both Joab (1) himself, and his +brother Abishai, ran past the dead corpse, and making their anger +at the death of Asahel an occasion of greater zeal against Abner, +they went on with incredible haste and alacrity, and pursued +Abner to a certain place called Ammah: it was about sun-set. Then +did Joab ascend a certain hill, as he stood at that place, having +the tribe of Benjamin with him, whence he took a view of them, +and of Abner also. Hereupon Abner cried aloud, and said that it +was not fit that they should irritate men of the same nation to +fight so bitterly one against another; that as for Asahel his +brother, he was himself in the wrong, when he would not be +advised by him not to pursue him any farther, which was the +occasion of his wounding and death. So Joab consented to what he +said, and accepted these his words as an excuse [about Asahel], +and called the soldiers back with the sound of the trumpet, as a +signal for their retreat, and thereby put a stop to any further +pursuit. After which Joab pitched his camp there that night; but +Abner marched all that night, and passed over the river Jordan, +and came to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, to Mahanaim. On the next day +Joab counted the dead men, and took care of all their funerals. +Now there were slain of Abner's soldiers about three hundred and +sixty; but of those of David nineteen, and Asahel, whose body +Joab and Abishai carried to Bethlehem; and when they had buried +him in the sepulcher of their fathers, they came to David to +Hebron. From this time therefore there began an intestine war, +which lasted a great while, in which the followers of David grew +stronger in the dangers they underwent, and the servants and +subjects of Saul's sons did almost every day become weaker. + +4. About this time David was become the father of six sons, born +of as many mothers. The eldest was by Ahinoam, and he was called +Arenon; the second was Daniel, by his wife Abigail; the name of +the third was Absalom, by Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of +Geshur; the fourth he named Adonijah, by his wife Haggith; the +fifth was Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth he called Ithream, by +Eglah. Now while this intestine war went on, and the subjects of +the two kings came frequently to action and to fighting, it was +Abner, the general of the host of Saul's son, who, by his +prudence, and the great interest he had among the multitude, made +them all continue with Ishbosheth; and indeed it was a +considerable time that they continued of his party; but +afterwards Abner was blamed, and an accusation was laid against +him, that he went in unto Saul's concubine: her name was Rispah, +the daughter of Aiah. So when he was complained of by Ishbosheth, +he was very uneasy and angry at it, because he had not justice +done him by Ishbosheth, to whom he had shown the greatest +kindness; whereupon he threatened to transfer the kingdom to +David, and demonstrate that he did not rule over the people +beyond Jordan by his own abilities and wisdom, but by his warlike +conduct and fidelity in leading his army. So he sent ambassadors +to Hebron to David, and desired that he would give him security +upon oath that he would esteem him his companion and his friend, +upon condition that he should persuade the people to leave Saul's +son, and choose him king of the whole country; and when David had +made that league with Abner, for he was pleased with his message +to him, he desired that he would give this as the first mark of +performance of the present league, that he might have his wife +Michal restored to him, as her whom he had purchased with great +hazards, and with those six hundred heads of the Philistines +which he had brought to Saul her father. So Abner took Michal +from Phaltiel, who was then her husband, and sent her to David, +Ishbosheth himself affording him his assistance, for David had +written to him that of right he ought to have this his wife +restored to him. Abner also called together the elders of the +multitude, the commanders and captains of thousands, and spake +thus to them: That he had formerly dissuaded them from their own +resolution, when they were ready to forsake Ishbosheth, and to +join themselves to David; that, however, he now gave them leave +so to do, if they had a mind to it, for they knew that God had +appointed David to be king of all the Hebrews by Samuel the +prophet; and had foretold that he should punish the Philistines, +and overcome them, and bring them under. Now when the elders and +rulers heard this, and understood that Abner was come over to +those sentiments about the public affairs which they were of +before, they changed their measures, and came in to David. When +these men had agreed to Abner's proposal, he called together the +tribe of Benjamin, for all of that tribe were the guards of +Ishbosheth's body, and he spake to them to the same purpose. And +when he saw that they did not in the least oppose what he said, +but resigned themselves up to his opinion, he took about twenty +of his friends and came to David, in order to receive himself +security upon oath from him; for we may justly esteem those +things to be firmer which every one of us do by ourselves, than +those which we do by another. He also gave him an account of what +he had said to the rulers, and to the whole tribe of Benjamin; +and when David had received him in a courteous manner, and had +treated him with great hospitality for many days, Abner, when he +was dismissed, desired him to bring the multitude with him, that +he might deliver up the government to him, when David himself was +present, and a spectator of what was done. + +5. When David had sent Abner away, Joab, the of his army, came +immediately to Hebron; he had understood that Abner had been with +David, and had parted with him a little before under leagues and +agreements that the government should be delivered up to David, +he feared lest David should place Abner, who had assisted him to +gain the kingdom, in the first rank of dignity, especially since +he was a shrewd man in other respects, in understanding affairs, +and in managing them artfully, as proper seasons should require, +and that he should himself be put lower, and be deprived of the +command of the army; so he took a knavish and a wicked course. In +the first place, he endeavored to calumniate Abner to the king, +exhorting him to have a care of him, and not to give attention to +what he had engaged to do for him, because all he did tended to +confirm the government to Saul's son; that he came to him +deceitfully and with guile, and was gone away in hopes of gaining +his purpose by this management: but when he could not thus +persuade David, nor saw him at all exasperated, he betook himself +to a project bolder than the former:-- he determined to kill +Abner; and in order thereto, he sent some messengers after him, +to whom he gave in charge, that when they should overtake him +they should recall him in David's name, and tell him that he had +somewhat to say to him about his affairs, which he had not +remembered to speak of when he was with him. Now when Abner heard +what the messengers said, (for they overtook him in a certain +place called Besira, which was distant from Hebron twenty +furlongs,) he suspected none of the mischief which was befalling +him, and came back. Hereupon Joab met him in the gate, and +received him in the kindest manner, as if he were Abner's most +benevolent acquaintance and friend; for such as undertake the +vilest actions, in order to prevent the suspicion of any private +mischief intended, do frequently make the greatest pretenses to +what really good men sincerely do. So he took him aside from his +own followers, as if he would speak with him in private, and +brought him into a void place of the gate, having himself nobody +with him but his brother Abishai; then he drew his sword, and +smote him in the groin; upon which Abner died by this treachery +of Joab, which, as he said himself, was in the way of punishment +for his brother Asahel, whom Abner smote and slew as he was +pursuing after him in the battle of Hebron, but as the truth was, +out of his fear of losing his command of the army, and his +dignity with the king, and lest he should be deprived of those +advantages, and Abner should obtain the first rank in David's +court. By these examples any one may learn how many and how great +instances of wickedness men will venture upon for the sake of +getting money and authority, and that they may not fail of either +of them; for as when they are desirous of obtaining the same, +they acquire them by ten thousand evil practices; so when they +are afraid of losing them, they get them confirmed to them by +practices much worse than the former, as if no other calamity so +terrible could befall them as the failure of acquiring so exalted +an authority; and when they have acquired it, and by long custom +found the sweetness of it, the losing it again: and since this +last would be the heaviest of all afflictions they all of them +contrive and venture upon the most difficult actions, out of the +fear of losing the same. But let it suffice that I have made +these short reflections upon that subject. + +6. When David heard that Abner was slain, it grieved his soul; +and he called all men to witness, with stretching out his hands +to God, and crying out that he was not a partaker in the murder +of Abner, and that his death was not procured by his command or +approbation. He also wished the heaviest curses might light upon +him that slew him and upon his whole house; and he devoted those +that had assisted him in this murder to the same penalties on its +account; for he took care not to appear to have had any hand in +this murder, contrary to the assurances he had given and the +oaths he had taken to Abner. However, he commanded all the people +to weep and lament this man, and to honor his dead body with the +usual solemnities; that is, by rending their garments, and +putting on sackcloth, and that things should be the habit in +which they should go before the bier; after which he followed it +himself, with the elders and those that were rulers, lamenting +Abner, and by his tears demonstrating his good-will to him while +he was alive, and his sorrow for him now he was dead, and that he +was not taken off with his consent. So he buried him at Hebron in +a magnificent manner, and indited funeral elegies for him; he +also stood first over the monument weeping, and caused others to +do the same; nay, so deeply did the death of Abner disorder him, +that his companions could by no means force him to take any food, +but he affirmed with an oath that he would taste nothing till the +sun was set. This procedure gained him the good-will of the +multitude; for such as had an affection for Abner were mightily +satisfied with the respect he paid him when he was dead, and the +observation of that faith he had plighted to him, which was shown +in his vouchsafing him all the usual ceremonies, as if he had +been his kinsman and his friend, and not suffering him to be +neglected and injured with a dishonorable burial, as if he had +been his enemy; insomuch that the entire nation rejoiced at the +king's gentleness and mildness of disposition, every one being +ready to suppose that the king would have taken the same care of +them in the like circumstances, which they saw be showed in the +burial of the dead body of Abner. And indeed David principally +intended to gain a good reputation, and therefore he took care to +do what was proper in this case, whence none had any suspicion +that he was the author of Abner's death. He also said this to the +multitude, that he was greatly troubled at the death of so good a +man; and that the affairs of the Hebrews had suffered great +detriment by being deprived of him, who was of so great abilities +to preserve them by his excellent advice, and by the strength of +his hands in war. But he added, that "God, who hath a regard to +all men's actions, will not suffer this man [Joab] to go off +unrevenged; but know ye, that I am not able to do any thing to +these sons of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, who have more power than +I have; but God will requite their insolent attempts upon their +own heads." And this was the fatal conclusion of the life of +Abner. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +That Upon The Slaughter Of Ishbosheth By The Treachery Of His +Friends, David Received The Whole Kingdom. + + +1. When Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, had heard of the death of +Abner, he took it to heart to be deprived of a man that was of +his kindred, and had indeed given him the kingdom, but was +greatly afflicted, and Abner's death very much troubled him; nor +did he himself outlive any long time, but was treacherously set +upon by the sons of Rimmon, (Baanah and Rechab were their names,) +and was slain by them; for these being of a family of the +Benjamites, and of the first rank among them, thought that if +they should slay Ishbosheth, they should obtain large presents +from David, and be made commanders by him, or, however, should +have some other trust committed to them. So when they once found +him alone, and asleep at noon, in an upper room, when none of his +guards were there, and when the woman that kept the door was not +watching, but was fallen asleep also, partly on account of the +labor she had undergone, and partly on account of the heat of the +day, these men went into the room in which Ishbosheth, Saul's +son, lay asleep, and slew him; they also cut off his head, and +took their journey all that night, and the next day, as supposing +themselves flying away from those they had injured, to one that +would accept of this action as a favor, and would afford them +security. So they came to Hebron, and showed David the head of +Ishbosheth, and presented themselves to him as his well-wishers, +and such as had killed one that was his enemy and antagonist. Yet +David did not relish what they had done as they expected, but +said to them, "You vile wretches, you shall immediately receive +the punishment you deserve. Did not you know what vengeance I +executed on him that murdered Saul, and brought me his crown of +gold, and this while he who made this slaughter did it as a favor +to him, that he might not be caught by his enemies? Or do you +imagine that I am altered in my disposition, and suppose that I +am not the same man I then was, but am pleased with men that are +wicked doers, and esteem your vile actions, when you are become +murderers of your master, as grateful to me, when you have slain +a righteous man upon his bed, who never did evil to any body, and +treated you with great good-will and respect? Wherefore you shall +suffer the punishment due on his account, and the vengeance I +ought to inflict upon you for killing Ishbosheth, and for +supposing that I should take his death kindly at your hands; for +you could not lay a greater blot on my honor, than by making such +a supposal." When David had said this, he tormented them with all +sorts of torments, and then put them to death; and he bestowed +all accustomed rites on the burial of the head of Ishbosheth, and +laid it in the grave of Abner. + +2. When these things were brought to this conclusion, all the +principal men of the Hebrew people came to David to Hebron, with +the heads of thousands, and other rulers, and delivered +themselves up to him, putting him in mind of the good-will they +had borne to him in Saul's lifetime, and the respect they then +had not ceased to pay him when he was captain of a thousand, as +also that he was chosen of God by Samuel the prophet, he and his +sons; (2) and declaring besides, how God had given him power to +save the land of the Hebrews, and to overcome the Philistines. +Whereupon he received kindly this their alacrity on his account; +and exhorted them to continue in it, for that they should have no +reason to repent of being thus disposed to him. So when he had +feasted them, and treated them kindly, he sent them out to bring +all the people to him; upon which came to him about six thousand +and eight hundred armed men of the tribe of Judah, who bare +shields and spears for their weapons, for these had [till now] +continued with Saul's son, when the rest of the tribe of Judah +had ordained David for their king. There came also seven thousand +and one hundred out of the tribe of Simeon. Out of the tribe of +Levi came four thousand and seven hundred, having Jehoiada for +their leader. After these came Zadok the high priest, with +twenty-two captains of his kindred. Out of the tribe of Benjamin +the armed men were four thousand; but the rest of the tribe +continued, still expecting that some one of the house of Saul +should reign over them. Those of the tribe of Ephraim were twenty +thousand and eight hundred, and these mighty men of valor, and +eminent for their strength. Out of the half tribe of Manasseh +came eighteen thousand, of the most potent men. Out of the tribe +of Issachar came two hundred, who foreknew what was to come +hereafter, (3) but of armed men twenty thousand. Of the tribe of +Zebulon fifty thousand chosen men. This was the only tribe that +came universally in to David, and all these had the same weapons +with the tribe of Gad. Out of the tribe of Naphtali the eminent +men and rulers were one thousand, whose weapons were shields and +spears, and the tribe itself followed after, being (in a manner) +innumerable [thirty-seven thousand]. Out of the tribe of Dan +there were of chosen men twenty-seven thousand and six hundred. +Out of the tribe of Asher were forty thousand. Out of the two +tribes that were beyond Jordan, and the rest of the tribe of +Manasseh, such as used shields, and spears, and head-pieces, and +swords, were a hundred and twenty thousand. The rest of the +tribes also made use of swords. This multitude came together to +Hebron to David, with a great quantity of corn, and wine, and all +other sorts of food, and established David in his kingdom with +one consent. And when the people had rejoiced for three days in +Hebron, David and all the people removed and came to Jerusalem. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How David Laid Siege To Jerusalem; And When He Had Taken The +City, He Cast The Canaanites Out Of It, And Brought In The Jews +To Inhabit Therein. + + +1. Now the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and +were by extraction Canaanites, shut their gates, and placed the +blind, and the lame, and all their maimed persons, upon the wall, +in way of derision of the king, and said that the very lame +themselves would hinder his entrance into it. This they did out +of contempt of his power, and as depending on the strength of +their walls. David was hereby enraged, and began the siege of +Jerusalem, and employed his utmost diligence and alacrity +therein, as intending by the taking of this place to demonstrate +his power, and to intimidate all others that might be of the like +[evil] disposition towards him. So he took the lower city by +force, but the citadel held out still; (4) whence it was that the +king, knowing that the proposal of dignities and rewards would +encourage the soldiers to greater actions, promised that he who +should first go over the ditches that were beneath the citadel, +and should ascend to the citadel itself and take it, should have +the command of the entire people conferred upon him. So they all +were ambitious to ascend, and thought no pains too great in order +to ascend thither, out of their desire of the chief command. +However, Joab, the son of Zeruiah, prevented the rest; and as +soon as he was got up to the citadel, cried out to the king, and +claimed the chief command. + +2. When David had cast the Jebusites out of the citadel, he also +rebuilt Jerusalem, and named it The City of David, and abode +there all the time of his reign; but for the time that he reigned +over the tribe of Judah only in Hebron, it was seven years and +six months. Now when he had chosen Jerusalem to be his royal +city, his affairs did more and more prosper, by the providence of +God, who took care that they should improve and be augmented. +Hiram also, the king of the Tyrians, sent ambassadors to him, and +made a league of mutual friendship and assistance with him. He +also sent him presents, cedar-trees, and mechanics, and men +skillful in building and architecture, that they might build him +a royal palace at Jerusalem. Now David made buildings round about +the lower city: he also joined the citadel to it, and made it one +body; and when he had encompassed all with walls, he appointed +Joab to take care of them. It was David, therefore, who first +cast the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, and called it by his own +name, The City of David: for under our forefather Abraham it was +called (Salem, or) Solyma; (5) but after that time, some say that +Homer mentions it by that name of Solyma, [for he named the +temple Solyma, according to the Hebrew language, which denotes +security.] Now the whole time from the warfare under Joshua our +general against the Canaanites, and from that war in which he +overcame them, and distributed the land among the Hebrews, (nor +could the Israelites ever cast the Canaanites out of Jerusalem +until this time, when David took it by siege,) this whole time +was five hundred and fifteen years. + +3. I shall now make mention of Araunah, who was a wealthy man +among the Jebusites, but was not slain by David in the siege of +Jerusalem, because of the good-will he bore to the Hebrews, and a +particular benignity and affection which he had to the king +himself; which I shall take a more seasonable opportunity to +speak of a little afterwards. Now David married other wives over +and above those which he had before: he had also concubines. The +sons whom he had were in number eleven, whose names were Amnon, +Emnos, Eban, Nathan, Solomon, Jeban, Elien, Phalna, Ennaphen, +Jenae, Eliphale; and a daughter, Tamar. Nine of these were born +of legitimate wives, but the two last-named of concubines; and +Tamar had the same mother with Absalom. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +That When David Had Conquered The Philistines Who Made War +Against Him At Jerusalem, He Removed The Ark To Jerusalem And Had +A Mind To Build A Temple. + + +1. When the Philistines understood that David was made king of +the Hebrews, they made war against him at Jerusalem; and when +they had seized upon that valley which is called The Valley of +the Giants, and is a place not far from the city, they pitched +their camp therein; but the king of the Jews, who never permitted +himself to do any thing without prophecy, (6) and the command of +God and without depending on him as a security for the time to +come, bade the high priest to foretell to him what was the will +of God, and what would be the event of this battle. And when he +foretold that he should gain the victory and the dominion, he led +out his army against the Philistines; and when the battle was +joined, he came himself behind, and fell upon the enemy on the +sudden, and slew some of them, and put the rest to flight. And +let no one suppose that it was a small army of the Philistines +that came against the Hebrews, as guessing so from the suddenness +of their defeat, and from their having performed no great action, +or that was worth recording, from the slowness of their march, +and want of courage; but let him know that all Syria and +Phoenicia, with many other nations besides them, and those +warlike nations also, came to their assistance, and had a share +in this war, which thing was the only cause why, when they had +been so often conquered, and had lost so many ten thousands of +their men, they still came upon the Hebrews with greater armies; +nay, indeed, when they had so often failed of their purpose in +these battles, they came upon David with an army three times as +numerous as before, and pitched their camp on the same spot of +ground as before. The king of Israel therefore inquired of God +again concerning the event of the battle; and the high priest +prophesied to him, that he should keep his army in the groves, +called the Groves of Weeping, which were not far from the enemy's +camp, and that he should not move, nor begin to fight, till the +trees of the grove should be in motion without the wind's +blowing; but as soon as these trees moved, and the time foretold +to him by God was come, he should, without delay, go out to gain +what was an already prepared and evident victory; for the several +ranks of the enemy's army did not sustain him, but retreated at +the first onset, whom he closely followed, and slew them as he +went along, and pursued them to the city Gaza (which is the limit +of their country): after this he spoiled their camp, in which he +found great riches; and he destroyed their gods. + +2. When this had proved the event of the battle, David thought it +proper, upon a consultation with the elders, and rulers, and +captains of thousands, to send for those that were in the flower +of their age out of all his countrymen, and out of the whole +land, and withal for the priests and the Levites, in order to +their going to Kirjathjearim, to bring up the ark of God out of +that city, and to carry it to Jerusalem, and there to keep it, +and offer before it those sacrifices and those other honors with +which God used to be well-pleased; for had they done thus in the +reign of Saul, they had not undergone any great misfortunes at +all. So when the whole body of the people were come together, as +they had resolved to do, the king came to the ark, which the +priest brought out of the house of Aminadab, and laid it upon a +new cart, and permitted their brethren and their children to draw +it, together with the oxen. Before it went the king, and the +whole multitude of the people with him, singing hymns to God, and +making use of all sorts of songs usual among them, with variety +of the sounds of musical instruments, and with dancing and +singing of psalms, as also with the sounds of trumpets and of +cymbals, and so brought the ark to Jerusalem. But as they were +come to the threshing-floor of Chidon, a place so called, Uzzah +was slain by the anger of God; for as the oxen shook the ark, he +stretched out his hand, and would needs take hold of it. Now, +because he was not a priest (7) and yet touched the ark, God +struck him dead. Hereupon both the king and the people were +displeased at the death of Uzzah; and the place where he died is +still called the Breach of Uzzah unto this day. So David was +afraid; and supposing that if he received the ark to himself into +the city, he might suffer in the like manner as Uzzah had +suffered, who, upon his bare putting out his hand to the ark, +died in the manner already mentioned, he did not receive it to +himself into the city, but he took it aside unto a certain place +belonging to a righteous man, whose name was Obededom, who was by +his family a Levite, and deposited the ark with him; and it +remained there three entire months. This augmented the house of +Obededom, and conferred many blessings upon it. And when the king +heard what had befallen Obededom, how he was become, of a poor +man in a low estate, exceeding happy, and the object of envy to +all those that saw or inquired after his house, he took courage, +and, hoping that he should meet with no misfortune thereby, he +transferred the ark to his own house; the priests carrying it, +while seven companies of singers, who were set in that order by +the king, went before it, and while he himself played upon the +harp, and joined in the music, insomuch, that when his wife +Michel, the daughter of Saul, who was our first king, saw him so +doing, she laughed at him. But when they had brought in the ark, +they placed it under the tabernacle which David had pitched for +it, and he offered costly sacrifices and peace-offerings, and +treated the whole multitude, and dealt both to the women, and the +men, and the infants a loaf of bread and a cake, and another cake +baked in a pan, with the portion of the sacrifice. So when he had +thus feasted the people, he sent them away, and he himself +returned to his own house. + +3. But when Michal his wife, the daughter of Saul, came and stood +by him, she wished him all other happiness, and entreated that +whatsoever he should further desire, to the utmost possibility, +might be given him by God, and that he might be favorable to him; +yet did she blame him, that so great a king as he was should +dance after an unseemly manner, and in his dancing, uncover +himself among the servants and the handmaidens. But he replied, +that he was not ashamed to do what was acceptable to God, who had +preferred him before her father, and before all others; that he +would play frequently, and dance, without any regard to what the +handmaidens and she herself thought of it. So this Michal, who +was David's wife, had no children; however, when she was +afterward married to him to whom Saul her father had given her, +(for at this time David had taken her away from him, and had her +himself,) she bare five children. But concerning those matters I +shall discourse in a proper place. + +4. Now when the king saw that his affairs grew better almost +every day, by the will of God, he thought he should offend him, +if, while he himself continued in houses made of cedar, such as +were of a great height, and had the most curious works of +architecture in them, he should overlook the ark while it was +laid in a tabernacle, and was desirous to build a temple to God, +as Moses had predicted such a temple should be built. (8) And +when he had discoursed with Nathan the prophet about these +things, and had been encouraged by him to do whatsoever he had a +mind to do, as having God with him, and his helper in all things, +he was thereupon the more ready to set about that building. But +God appeared to Nathan that very night, and commanded him to say +to David, (9) that he took his purpose and his desires kindly, +since nobody had before now taken it into their head to build him +a temple, although upon his having such a notion he would not +permit him to build him that temple, because he had made many +wars, and was defiled with the slaughter of his enemies; that, +however, after his death, in his old age, and when he had lived a +long life, there should be a temple built by a son of his, who +should take the kingdom after him, and should be called Solomon, +whom he promised to provide for, as a father provides for his +son, by preserving the kingdom for his son's posterity, and +delivering it to them; but that he would still punish him, if he +sinned, with diseases and barrenness of land. When David +understood this from the prophet, and was overjoyful at this +knowledge of the sure continuance of the dominion to his +posterity, and that his house should be splendid, and very +famous, he came to the ark, and fell down on his face, and began +to adore God, and to return thanks to him for all his benefits, +as well for those that he had already bestowed upon him in +raising him from a low state, and from the employment of a +shepherd, to so great dignity of dominion and glory; as for those +also which he had promised to his posterity; and besides, for +that providence which he had exercised over the Hebrews in +procuring them the liberty they enjoyed. And when he had said +thus, and had sung a hymn of praise to God, he went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How David Brought Under The Philistines, And The Moabites, And +The Kings Of Sophene And Of Damascus, And Of The Syrians As Also +The Idumeans, In War; And How He Made A League With The King Of +Hamath; And Was Mindful Of The Friendship That Jonathan, The Son +Of Saul, Had Borne Him. + + +1. A Litlle while after this, he considered that he ought to make +war against the Philistines, and not to see any idleness or +laziness permitted in his management, that so it might prove, as +God had foretold to him, that when he had overthrown his enemies, +he should leave his posterity to reign in peace afterward: so he +called together his army again, and when he had charged them to +be ready and prepared for war, and when he thought that all +things in his army were in a good state, he removed from +Jerusalem, and came against the Philistines; and when he had +overcome them in battle, and had cut off a great part of their +country, and adjoined it to the country of the Hebrews, he +transferred the war to the Moabites; and when he had overcome two +parts of their army in battle, he took the remaining part +captive, and imposed tribute upon them, to be paid annually. He +then made war against Iadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of +Sophene; (10) and when he had joined battle with him at 'the +river Euphrates, he destroyed twenty thousand of his footmen, and +about seven thousand of his horsemen. He also took a thousand of +his chariots, and destroyed the greatest part of them, and +ordered that no more than one hundred should be kept. (11) + +2. Now when Hadad, king of Damascus and of Syria, heard that +David fought against Hadadezer, who was his friend, he came to +his assistance with a powerful army, in hopes to rescue him; and +when he had joined battle with David at the river Euphrates, he +failed of his purpose, and lost in the battle a great number of +his soldiers; for there were slain of the army of Hadad twenty +thousand, and all the rest fled. Nicelens also [of Damascus] +makes mention of this king in the fourth book of his histories; +where he speaks thus: "A great while after these things had +happened, there was one of that country whose name was Hadad, who +was become very potent; he reigned over Damascus, and, the other +parts of Syria, excepting Phoenicia. He made war against David, +the king of Judea, and tried his fortune in many battles, and +particularly in the last battle at Euphrates, wherein he was +beaten. He seemed to have been the most excellent of all their +kings in strength and manhood," Nay, besides this, he says of his +posterity, that "they succeeded one another in his kingdom, and +in his name;" where he thus speaks: "When Hadad was dead, his +posterity reigned for ten generations, each of his successors +receiving from his father that his dominion, and this his name; +as did the Ptolemies in Egypt. But the third was the most +powerful of them all, and was willing to avenge the defeat his +forefather had received; so he made an expedition against the +Jews, and laid waste the city which is now called Samaria." Nor +did he err from the truth; for this is that Hadad who made the +expedition against Samaria, in the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, +concerning whom we shall speak in due place hereafter. + +3. Now when David had made an expedition against Damascus, and +the other parts of Syria, and had brought it all into subjection, +and had placed garrisons in the country, and appointed that they +should pay tribute, he returned home. He also dedicated to God at +Jerusalem the golden quivers, the entire armor which the guards +of Hadad used to wear; which Shishak, the king of Egypt, took +away when he fought with David's grandson, Rehoboam, with a great +deal of other wealth which he carried out of Jerusalem. However, +these things will come to be explained in their proper places +hereafter. Now as for the king of the Hebrews, he was assisted by +God, who gave him great success in his wars, and he made all +expedition against the best cities of Hadadezer, Betah and +Machen; so he took them by force, and laid them waste. Therein +was found a very great quantity of gold and silver, besides that +sort of brass which is said to be more valuable than gold; of +which brass Solomon made that large vessel which was called The +[Brazen] Sea, and those most curious lavers, when he built the +temple for God. + +4. But when the king of Hamath was informed of the ill success of +Hadadezer, and had heard of the ruin of his army, he was afraid +on his own account, and resolved to make a league of friendship +and fidelity with David before he should come against him; so he +sent to him his son Joram, and professed that he owed him thanks +for fighting against Hadadezer, who was his enemy, and made a +league with him of mutual assistance and friendship. He also sent +him presents, vessels of ancient workmanship, both of gold, of +silver, and of brass. So when David had made this league of +mutual assistance with Toi, (for that was the name of the king of +Hamath,) and had received the presents he sent him, he dismissed +his son with that respect which was due on both sides; but then +David brought those presents that were sent by him, as also the +rest of the gold and silver which he had taken of the cities whom +he had conquered, and dedicated them to God. Nor did God give +victory and success to him only when he went to the battle +himself, and led his own army, but he gave victory to Abishai, +the brother of Joab, general of his forces, over the Idumeans, +(12) and by him to David, when he sent him with an army into +Idumea: for Abishai destroyed eighteen thousand of them in the +battle; whereupon the king [of Israel] placed garrisons through +all Idumea, and received the tribute of the country, and of every +head among them. Now David was in his nature just, and made his +determination with regard to truth. He had for the general of his +whole army Joab; and he made Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, +recorder. He also appointed Zadok, of the family of Phinehas, to +be high priest, together with Abiathar, for he was his friend. He +also made Seisan the scribe, and committed the command over the +guards of his body to Benaiah; the son of Jehoiada. His elder +sons were near his body, and had the care of it also. + +5. He also called to mind the covenants and the oaths he had made +with Jonathan, the son of Saul, and the friendship and affection +Jonathan had for him; for besides all the rest of his excellent +qualities with which he was endowed, he was also exceeding +mindful of such as had at other times bestowed benefits upon him. +He therefore gave order that inquiry should be made, whether any +of Jonathan's lineage were living, to whom he might make return +of that familiar acquaintance which Jonathan had had with him, +and for which he was still debtor. And when one of Saul's freed +men was brought to him, who was acquainted with those of his +family that were still living, he asked him whether he could tell +him of any one belonging to Jonathan that was now alive, and +capable of a requital of the benefits which he had received from +Jonathan. And he said, that a son of his was remaining, whose +name was Mephibosheth, but that he was lame of his feet; for that +when his nurse heard that the father and grandfather of the child +were fallen in the battle, she snatched him up, and fled away, +and let him fall from her shoulders, and his feet were lamed. So +when he had learned where and by whom he was brought up, he sent +messengers to Machir, to the city of Lodebar, for with him was +the son of Jonathan brought up, and sent for him to come to him. +So when Mephibosheth came to the king, he fell on his face and +worshipped him; but David encouraged him, bade him be of good +cheer, and expect better times. So he gave him his father's +house, and all the estate which his grandfather Saul was in +possession of, and bade him come and diet with him at his own +table, and never to be absent one day from that table. And when +the youth had worshipped him on account of his words and gifts +given to him, he called for Ziba, and told him that he had given +the youth his father's house, and all Saul's estate. He also +ordered that Ziba should cultivate his land, and take care of it, +and bring him the profits of all to Jerusalem. Accordingly, David +brought him to his table every day, and bestowed upon the youth, +Ziba and his sons, who were in number fifteen, and his servants, +who were in number twenty. When the king had made these +appointments, and Ziba had worshipped him, and promised to do all +that he had bidden him, he went his way; so that this son of +Jonathan dwelt at Jerusalem, and dieted at the king's table, and +had the same care that a son could claim taken of him. He also +had himself a son, whom he named Micha. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How The War Was Waged Against The Ammonites And Happily +Concluded. + + +1. This were the honors that such as were left of Saul's and +Jonathan's lineage received from David. About this time died +Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, who was a friend of David's; +and when his son had succeeded his father in the kingdom, David +sent ambassadors to him to comfort him; and exhorted him to take +his father's death patiently, and to expect that he would +continue the same kindness to himself which he had shown to his +father. But the princes of the Ammonites took this message in +evil part, and not as David's kind dispositions gave reason to +take it; and they excited the king to resent it; and said that +David had sent men to spy out the country, and what strength it +had, under the pretense of humanity and kindness. They further +advised him to have a care, and not to give heed to David's +words, lest he should be deluded by him, and so fall into an +inconsolable calamity. Accordingly Nahash's [son], the king of +the Ammonites, thought these princes spake what was more probable +than the truth would admit, and so abused the ambassadors after a +very harsh manner; for he shaved the one half of their beards, +and cut off one half of their garments, and sent his answer, not +in words, but in deeds. When the king of Israel saw this, he had +indignation at it, and showed openly that he would not overlook +this injurious and contumelious treatment, but would make war +with the Ammonites, and would avenge this wicked treatment of his +ambassadors on their king. So that king's intimate friends and +commanders, understanding that they had violated their league, +and were liable to be punished for the same, made preparations +for war; they also sent a thousand talents to the Syrian king of +Mesopotamia, and endeavored to prevail with him to assist them +for that pay, and Shobach. Now these kings had twenty thousand +footmen. They also hired the king of the country called Maacah, +and a fourth king, by name Ishtob; which last had twelve thousand +armed men. + +2. But David was under no consternation at this confederacy, nor +at the forces of the Ammonites; and putting his trust in God, +because he was going to war in a just cause, on account of the +injurious treatment he had met with, he immediately sent Joab, +the captain of his host, against them, and gave him the flower of +his army, who pitched his camp by Rabbah, the metropolis of the +Ammonites; whereupon the enemy came out, and set themselves in +array, not all of them together, but in two bodies; for the +auxiliaries were set in array in the plain by themselves, but the +army of the Ammonites at the gates over against the Hebrews. When +Joab saw this, he opposed one stratagem against another, and +chose out the most hardy part of his men, and set them in +opposition to the king of Syria, and the kings that were with +him, and gave the other part to his brother Abishai, and bid him +set them in opposition to the Ammonites; and said to him, that in +case he should see that the Syrians distressed him, and were too +hard for him, he should order his troops to turn about and assist +him; and he said that he himself would do the same to him, if he +saw him in the like distress from the Ammonites. So he sent his +brother before, and encouraged him to do every thing courageously +and with alacrity, which would teach them to be afraid of +disgrace, and to fight manfully; and so he dismissed him to fight +with the Ammonites, while he fell upon the Syrians. And though +they made a strong opposition for a while, Joab slew many of +them, but compelled the rest to betake themselves to flight; +which, when the Ammonites saw, and were withal afraid of Abishai +and his army, they staid no longer, but imitated their +auxiliaries, and fled to the city. So Joab, when he had thus +overcome the enemy, returned with great joy to Jerusalem to the +king. + +3. This defeat did not still induce the Ammonites to be quiet, +nor to own those that were superior to them to be so, and be +still, but they sent to Chalaman, the king of the Syrians, beyond +Euphrates, and hired him for an auxiliary. He had Shobach for the +captain of his host, with eighty thousand footmen, and ten +thousand horsemen. Now when the king of the Hebrews understood +that the Ammonites had again gathered so great an army together, +he determined to make war with them no longer by his generals, +but he passed over the river Jordan himself with all his army; +and when he met them he joined battle with them, and overcame +them, and slew forty thousand of their footmen, and seven +thousand of their horsemen. He also wounded Shobach, the general +of Chalaman's forces, who died of that stroke; but the people of +Mesopotamia, upon such a conclusion of the battle, delivered +themselves up to David, and sent him presents, who at winter time +returned to Jerusalem. But at the beginning of the spring he sent +Joab, the captain of his host, to fight against the Ammonites, +who overran all their country, and laid it waste, and shut them +up in their metropolis Rabbah, and besieged them therein. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How David Fell In Love With Bathsheba, And Slew Her Husband +Uriah, For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan. + + +1. But David fell now into a very grievous sin, though he were +otherwise naturally a righteous and a religious man, and one that +firmly observed the laws of our fathers; for when late in an +evening he took a view round him from the roof of his royal +palace, where he used to walk at that hour, he saw a woman +washing herself in her own house: she was one of extraordinary +beauty, and therein surpassed all other women; her name was +Bathsheba. So he was overcome by that woman's beauty, and was not +able to restrain his desires, but sent for her, and lay with her. +Hereupon she conceived with child, and sent to the king, that he +should contrive some way for concealing her sin (for, according +to the laws of their fathers, she who had been guilty of adultery +ought to be put to death). So the king sent for Joab's +armor-bearer from the siege, who was the woman's husband, and his +name was Uriah. And when he was come, the king inquired of him +about the army, and about the siege; and when he had made answer +that all their affairs went according to their wishes, the king +took some portions of meat from his supper, and gave them to him, +and bade him go home to his wife, and take his rest with her. +Uriah did not do so, but slept near the king with the rest of his +armor-bearers. When the king was informed of this, he asked him +why he did not go home to his house, and to his wife, after so +long an absence; which is the natural custom of all men, when +they come from a long journey. He replied, that it was not right, +while his fellow soldiers, and the general of the army, slept +upon the ground, in the camp, and in an enemy's country, that he +should go and take his rest, and solace himself with his wife. So +when he had thus replied, the king ordered him to stay there that +night, that he might dismiss him the next day to the general. So +the king invited Uriah to supper, and after a cunning and +dexterous manlier plied him with drink at supper, till he was +thereby disordered; yet did he nevertheless sleep at the king's +gates without any inclination to go to his wife. Upon this the +king was very angry at him; and wrote to Joab, and commanded him +to punish Uriah, for he told him that he had offended him; and he +suggested to him the manner in which he would have him punished, +that it might not be discovered that he was himself the author of +this his punishment; for he charged him to set him over against +that part of the enemy's army where the attack would be most +hazardous, and where he might be deserted, and be in the greatest +jeopardy, for he bade him order his fellow soldiers to retire out +of the fight. When he had written thus to him, and sealed the +letter with his own seal, he gave it to Uriah to carry to Joab. +When Joab had received it, and upon reading it understood the +king's purpose, he set Uriah in that place where he knew the +enemy would be most troublesome to them; and gave him for his +partners some of the best soldiers in the army; and said that he +would also come to their assistance with the whole army, that if +possible they might break down some part of the wall, and enter +the city. And he desired him to be glad of the opportunity of +exposing himself to such great pains, and not to be displeased at +it, since he was a valiant soldier, and had a great reputation +for his valor, both with the king and with his countrymen. And +when Uriah undertook the work he was set upon with alacrity, he +gave private orders to those who were to be his companions, that +when they saw the enemy make a sally, they should leave him. +When, therefore, the Hebrews made an attack upon the city, the +Ammonites were afraid that the enemy might prevent them, and get +up into the city, and this at the very place whither Uriah was +ordered; so they exposed their best soldiers to be in the +forefront, and opened their gates suddenly, and fell upon the +enemy with great vehemence, and ran violently upon them. When +those that were with Uriah saw this, they all retreated backward, +as Joab had directed them beforehand; but Uriah, as ashamed to +run away and leave his post, sustained the enemy, and receiving +the violence of their onset, he slew many of them; but being +encompassed round, and caught in the midst of them, he was slain, +and some other of his companions were slain with him. + +2. When this was done, Joab sent messengers to the king, and +ordered them to tell him that he did what he could to take the +city soon; but that, as they made an assault on the wall, they +had been forced to retire with great loss; and bade them, if they +saw the king was angry at it, to add this, that Uriah was slain +also. When the king had heard this of the messengers, he took it +heinously, and said that they did wrong when they assaulted the +wall, whereas they ought, by undermining and other stratagems of +war, to endeavor the taking of rite city, especially when they +had before their eyes the example of Abimelech, the son of +Gideon, who would needs take the tower in Thebes by force, and +was killed by a large stone thrown at him by an old woman; and +although he was a man of great prowess, he died ignominiously by +the dangerous manner of his assault: that they should remember +this accident, and not come near the enemy's wall, for that the +best method of making war with success was to call to mind the +accidents of former wars, and what good or bad success had +attended them in the like dangerous cases, that so they might +imitate the one, and avoid the other. But when the king was in +this disposition, the messenger told him that Uriah was slain +also; whereupon he was pacified. So he bade the messenger go back +to Joab and tell him that this misfortune is no other than what +is common among mankind, and that such is the nature, and such +the accidents of war, insomuch that sometimes the enemy will have +success therein, and sometimes others; but that he ordered him to +go on still in his care about the siege, that no ill accident +might befall him in it hereafter; that they should raise bulwarks +and use machines in besieging the city; and when they have gotten +it, to overturn its very foundations, and to destroy all those +that are in it. Accordingly the messenger carried the king's +message with which he was charged, and made haste to Joab. But +Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, when she was informed of the death +of her husband, mourned for his death many days; and when her +mourning was over, and the tears which she shed for Uriah were +dried up, the king took her to wife presently; and a son was born +to him by her. + +3. With this marriage God was not well pleased, but was thereupon +angry at David; and he appeared to Nathan the prophet in his +sleep, and complained of the king. Now Nathan was a fair and +prudent man; and considering that kings, when they fall into a +passion, are guided more by that passion than they are by +justice, he resolved to conceal the threatenings that proceeded +from God, and made a good-natured discourse to him, and this +after the manner following:-- He desired that the king would +give him his opinion in the following case:-- There were," said +he, "two men inhabiting the same city, the one of them was rich, +and [the other poor]. The rich man had a great many flocks of +cattle, of sheep, and of kine; but the poor man had but one ewe +lamb. This he brought up with his children, and let her eat her +food with them; and he had the same natural affection for her +which any one might have for a daughter. Now upon the coming of a +stranger to the rich man, he would not vouchsafe to kill any of +his own flocks, and thence feast his friend; but he sent for the +poor man's lamb, and took her away from him, and made her ready +for food, and thence feasted the stranger." This discourse +troubled the king exceedingly; and he denounced to Nathan, that +"this man was a wicked man who could dare to do such a thing; and +that it was but just that he should restore the lamb fourfold, +and be punished with death for it also." Upon this Nathan +immediately said that he was himself the man who ought to suffer +those punishments, and that by his own sentence; and that it was +he who had perpetrated this 'great and horrid crime. He also +revealed to him, and laid before him, the anger of God against +him, who had made him king over the army of the Hebrews, and lord +of all the nations, and those many and great nations round about +him; who had formerly delivered him out of the hands of Saul, and +had given him such wives as he had justly and legally married; +and now this God was despised by him, and affronted by his +impiety, when he had married, and now had, another man's wife; +and by exposing her husband to the enemy, had really slain him; +'that God would inflict punishments upon him on account of those +instances of wickedness; that his own wives should be forced by +one of his sons; and that he should be treacherously supplanted +by the same son; and that although he had perpetrated his +wickedness secretly, yet should that punishment which he was to +undergo be inflicted publicly upon him; "that, moreover," said +he, "the child which was born to thee of her shall soon die." +When the king was troubled at these messages, and sufficiently +confounded, and said with tears and sorrow that he had sinned, +(for he was without controversy a pious man, and guilty of no sin +at all in his whole life, excepting those in the matter of +Uriah,) God had compassion on him, and was reconciled to him, and +promised that he would preserve to him both his life and his +kingdom; for he said that, seeing he repented of the things he +had done, he was no longer displeased with him. So Nathan, when +he had delivered this prophecy to the king, returned home. + +4. However, God sent a dangerous distemper upon the child that +was born to David of the wife of Uriah, at which the king was +troubled, and did not take any food for seven days, although his +servants almost forced him to take it; but he clothed himself in +a black garment, and fell down, and lay upon the ground in +sackcloth, entrusting God for the recovery of the child, for he +vehemently loved the child's mother; but when, on the seventh +day, the child was dead, the king's servants durst not tell him +of it, as supposing that when he knew it, he would still less +admit of food, and other care of himself, by reason of his grief +at the death of his son, since when the child was only sick, he +so greatly afflicted himself, and grieved for him: but when the +king perceived that his servants were in disorder, and seemed to +be affected, as those who are very desirous to conceal something, +he understood that the child was dead; and when he had called one +of his servants to him, and discovered that so it was, he arose +up and washed himself, and took a white garment, and came into +the tabernacle of God. He also commanded them to set supper +before him, and thereby greatly surprised his kindred and +servants, while he did nothing of this when the child was sick, +but did it all when he was dead. Whereupon having first begged +leave to ask him a question, they besought him to tell them the +reason of this his conduct; he then called them unskillful +people, and instructed them how he had hopes of the recovery of +the child while it was alive, and accordingly did all that was +proper for him to do, as thinking by such means to render God +propitious to him; but that when the child was dead, there was no +longer any occasion for grief, which was then to no purpose. When +he had said this, they commended the king's wisdom and +understanding. He then went in unto Bathsheba his wife, and she +conceived and bare a son; and by the command of Nathan the +prophet called his name Solomon. + +5. But Joab sorely distressed the Ammonites in the siege, by +cutting off their waters, and depriving them of other means of +subsistence, till they were in the greatest want of meat and +drink, for they depended only on one small well of water, and +this they durst not drink of too freely, lest the fountain should +entirely fail them. So he wrote to the king, and informed him +thereof; and persuaded him to come himself to take the city, that +he might have the honor of the victory. Upon this letter of +Joab's, the king accepted of his good-will and fidelity, and took +with him his army, and came to the destruction of Rabbah; and +when he had taken it by force, he gave it to his soldiers to +plunder it; but he himself took the king of the Ammonites' crown, +whose weight was a talent of gold; (13) and it had in its middle +a precious stone called a sardonyx; which crown David ever after +wore on his own head. He also found many other vessels in the +city, and those both splendid and of great price; but as for the +men, he tormented them, (14) and then destroyed them; and when he +had taken the other cities of the Ammonites by force, he treated +them after the same manner. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How Absalom Murdered Amnon, Who Had Forced His Own Sister; And +How He Was Banished And Afterwards Recalled By David. + + +1. When the king was returned to Jerusalem, a sad misfortune +befell his house, on the occasion following: He had a daughter, +who was yet a virgin, and very handsome, insomuch that she +surpassed all the most beautiful women; her name was Tamar; she +had the same mother with Absalom. Now Amnon, David's eldest son, +fell in love with her, and being not able to obtain his desires, +on account of her virginity, and the custody she was under, was +so much out of order, nay, his grief so eat up his body, that he +grew lean, and his color was changed. Now there was one Jenadab, +a kinsman and friend of his, who discovered this his passion, for +he was an extraordinary wise man, and of great sagacity of mind. +When, therefore, he saw that every morning Amnon was not in body +as he ought to be, he came to him, and desired him to tell him +what was the cause of it: however, he said that he guessed that +it arose from the passion of love. Amnon confessed his passion, +that he was in love with a sister of his, who had the same father +with himself. So Jenadab suggested to him by what method and +contrivance he might obtain his desires; for he persuaded him to +pretend sickness, and bade him, when his father should come to +him, to beg of him that his sister might come and minister to +him; for if that were done, he should be better, and should +quickly recover from his distemper. So Amnon lay down on his bed, +and pretended to be sick, as Jonadab had suggested. When his +father came, and inquired how he did, he begged of him to send +his sister to him. Accordingly, he presently ordered her to be +brought to him; and when she was come, Amnon bade her make cakes +for him, and fry them in a pan, and do it all with her own hands, +because he should take them better from her hand [than from any +one's else]. So she kneaded the flour in the sight of her +brother, and made him cakes, and baked them in a pan, and brought +them to him; but at that time he would not taste them, but gave +order to his servants to send all that were there out of his +chamber, because he had a mind to repose himself, free from +tumult and disturbance. As soon as what he had commanded was +done, he desired his sister to bring his supper to him into the +inner parlor; which, when the damsel had done, he took hold of +her, and endeavored to persuade her to lie with him. Whereupon +the damsel cried out, and said, "Nay, brother, do not force me, +nor be so wicked as to transgress the laws, and bring upon +thyself the utmost confusion. Curb this thy unrighteous and +impure lust, from which our house will get nothing but reproach +and disgrace." She also advised him to speak to his father about +this affair; for he would permit him [to marry her]. This she +said, as desirous to avoid her brother's violent passion at +present. But he would not yield to her; but, inflamed with love +and blinded with the vehemency of his passion, he forced his +sister: but as soon as Amnon had satisfied his lust, he hated her +immediately, and giving her reproachful words, bade her rise up +and be gone. And when she said that this was a more injurious +treatment than the former, if, now he had forced her, he would +not let her stay with him till the evening, but bid her go away +in the day-time, and while it was light, that she might meet with +people that would be witnesses of her shame, - he commanded his +servant to turn her out of his house. Whereupon she was sorely +grieved at the injury and violence that had been offered to her, +and rent her loose coat, (for the virgins of old time wore such +loose coats tied at the hands, and let down to the ankles, that +the inner coats might not be seen,) and sprinkled ashes on her +head; and went up the middle of the city, crying out and +lamenting for the violence that had been offered her. Now +Absalom, her brother, happened to meet her, and asked her what +sad thing had befallen her, that she was in that plight; and when +she had told him what injury had been offered her, he comforted +her, and desired her to be quiet, and take all patiently, and not +to esteem her being corrupted by her brother as an injury. So she +yielded to his advice, and left off her crying out, and +discovering the force offered her to the multitude; and she +continued as a widow with her brother Absalom a long time. + +2. When David his father knew this, he was grieved at the actions +of Amnon; but because he had an extraordinary affection for him, +for he was his eldest son, he was compelled not to afflict him; +but Absalom watched for a fit opportunity of revenging this crime +upon him, for he thoroughly hated him. Now the second year after +this wicked affair about his sister was over, and Absalom was +about to go to shear his own sheep at Baalhazor, which is a city +in the portion of Ephraim, he besought his father, as well as his +brethren, to come and feast with him: but when David excused +himself, as not being willing to be burdensome to him, Absalom +desired he would however send his brethren; whom he did send +accordingly. Then Absalom charged his own servants, that when +they should see Amnon disordered and drowsy with wine, and he +should give them a signal, they should fear nobody, but kill him. + +3. When they had done as they were commanded, the rest of his +brethren were astonished and disturbed, and were afraid for +themselves, so they immediately got on horseback, and rode away +to their father; but somebody there was who prevented them, and +told their father they were all slain by Absalom; whereupon he +was overcome with sorrow, as for so many of his sons that were +destroyed at once, and that by their brother also; and by this +consideration, that it was their brother that appeared to have +slain them, he aggravated his sorrow for them. So he neither +inquired what was the cause of this slaughter, nor staid to hear +any thing else, which yet it was but reasonable to have done, +when so very great, and by that greatness so incredible, a +misfortune was related to him: he rent his clothes and threw +himself upon the ground, and there lay lamenting the loss of all +his sons, both those who, as he was informed, were slain, and of +him who slew them. But Jonadab, the son of his brother Shemeah, +entreated him not to indulge his sorrow so far, for as to the +rest of his sons he did not believe that they were slain, for he +found no cause for such a suspicion; but he said it might deserve +inquiry as to Amnon, for it was not unlikely that Absalom might +venture to kill him on account of the injury he had offered to +Tamar. In the mean time, a great noise of horses, and a tumult of +some people that were coming, turned their attention to them; +they were the king's sons, who were fled away from the feast. So +their father met them as they were in their grief, and he himself +grieved with them; but it was more than he expected to see those +his sons again, whom he had a little before heard to have +perished. However, their were tears on both sides; they lamenting +their brother who was killed, and the king lamenting his son, who +was killed also; but Absalom fled to Geshur, to his grandfather +by his mother's side, who was king of that country, and he +remained with him three whole years. + +4. Now David had a design to send to Absalom, not that he should +come to be punished, but that he might be with him, for the +effects of his anger were abated by length of time. It was Joab, +the captain of his host, that chiefly persuaded him so to do; for +he suborned an ordinary woman, that was stricken in age, to go to +the king in mourning apparel, who said thus to him:-- That two of +her sons, in a coarse way, had some difference between them, and +that in the progress of that difference they came to an open +quarrel, and that one was smitten by the other, and was dead; and +she desired him to interpose in this case, and to do her the +favor to save this her son from her kindred, who were very +zealous to have him that had slain his brother put to death, that +so she might not be further deprived of the hopes she had of +being taken care of in her old age by him; and that if he would +hinder this slaughter of her son by those that wished for it, he +would do her a great favor, because the kindred would not be +restrained from their purpose by any thing else than by the fear +of him. And when the king had given his consent to what the woman +had begged of him, she made this reply to him:-- "I owe thee +thanks for thy benignity to me in pitying my old age, and +preventing the loss of my only remaining child; but in order to +assure me of this thy kindness, be first reconciled to thine own +son, and cease to be angry with him; for how shall I persuade +myself that thou hast really bestowed this favor upon me, while +thou thyself continuest after the like manner in thy wrath to +thine own son? for it is a foolish thing to add willfully another +to thy dead son, while the death of the other was brought about +without thy consent." And now the king perceived that this +pretended story was a subornation derived from Joab, and was of +his contrivance; and when, upon inquiry of the old woman, he +understood it to be so in reality, he called for Joab, and told +him he had obtained what he requested according to his own mind; +and he bid him bring Absalom back, for he was not now displeased, +but had already ceased to be angry with him. So Joab bowed +himself down to the king, and took his words kindly, and went +immediately to Geshur, and took Absalom with him, and came to +Jerusalem. + +5. However, the king sent a message to his son beforehand, as he +was coming, and commanded him to retire to his own house, for he +was not yet in such a disposition as to think fit at present to +see him. Accordingly, upon the father's command, he avoided +coming into his presence, and contented himself with the respects +paid him by his own family only. Now his beauty was not impaired, +either by the grief he had been under, or by the want of such +care as was proper to be taken of a king's son, for he still +surpassed and excelled all men in the tallness of his body, and +was more eminent [in a fine appearance] than those that dieted +the most luxuriously; and indeed such was the thickness of the +hair of his head, that it was with difficulty that he was polled +every eighth day; and his hair weighed two hundred shekels (15) +which are five pounds. However, he dwelt in Jerusalem two years, +and became the father of three sons, and one daughter; which +daughter was of very great beauty, and which Rehoboam, the son of +Solomon, took to wife afterward, and had by her a son named +Abijah. But Absalom sent to Joab, and desired him to pacify his +father entirely towards him; and to beseech him to give him leave +to come to him to see him, and speak with him. But when Joab +neglected so to do, he sent some of his own servants, and set +fire to the field adjoining to him; which, when Joab understood, +he came to Absalom, and accused him of what he had done; and +asked him the reason why he did so. To which Absalom replied, +that "I have found out this stratagem that might bring thee to +us, while thou hast taken no care to perform the injunction I +laid upon thee, which was this, to reconcile my father to me; and +I really beg it of thee, now thou art here, to pacify my father +as to me, since I esteem my coming hither to be more grievous +than my banishment, while my father's wrath against me +continues." Hereby Joab was persuaded, and pitied the distress +that Absalom was in, and became an intercessor with the king for +him. And when he had discoursed with his father, he soon brought +him to that amicable disposition towards Absalom, that he +presently sent for him to come to him; and when he had cast +himself down upon the ground, and had begged for the forgiveness +of his offenses, the king raised him up, and promised him to +forget what he had formerly done. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning The Insurrection Of Absalom Against David And +Concerning Ahithophel And Hushai; And Concerning Ziba And Shimei; +And How Ahithophel Hanged Himself. + + +1. Now Absalom, upon this his success with the king, procured to +himself a great many horses, and many chariots, and that in a +little time also. He had moreover fifty armor-bearers that were +about him; and he came early every day to the king's palace, and +spake what was agreeable to such as came for justice and lost +their causes, as if that happened for want of good counselors +about the king, or perhaps because the judges mistook in that +unjust sentence they gave; whereby he gained the good-will of +them all. He told them, that had he but such authority committed +to him, he would distribute justice to them in a most equitable +manner. When he had made himself so popular among the multitude, +he thought he had already the good-will of the people secured to +him; but when four years (16) had passed since his father's +reconciliation to him, he came to him, and besought him to give +him leave to go to Hebron, and pay a sacrifice to God, because he +vowed it to him when he fled out of the country. So when David +had granted his request, he went thither, and great multitudes +came running together to him, for he had sent to a great number +so to do. + +2. Among them came Ahithophel the Gilonite, a counsellor of +David's, and two hundred men out of Jerusalem itself, who knew +not his intentions, but were sent for as to a sacrifice. So he +was appointed king by all of them, which he obtained by this +stratagem. As soon as this news was brought to David, and he was +informed of what he did not expect from his son, he was +aftrighted at this his impious and bold undertaking, and wondered +that he was so far from remembering how his offense had been so +lately forgiven him, that he undertook much worse and more wicked +enterprises; first, to deprive him of that kingdom which was +given him of God; and secondly, to take away his own father's +life. He therefore resolved to fly to the parts beyond Jordan: so +he called his most intimate friends together, and communicated to +them all that he had heard of his son's madness. He committed +himself to God, to judge between them about all their actions; +and left the care of his royal palace to his ten concubines, and +went away from Jerusalem, being willingly accompanied by the rest +of the multitude, who went hastily away with him, and +particularly by those six hundred armed men, who had been with +him from his first flight in the days of Saul. But he persuaded +Abiathar and Zadok, the high priests, who had determined to go +away with him, as also all the Levites, who were with the ark, to +stay behind, as hoping that God would deliver him without its +removal; but he charged them to let him know privately how all +things went on; and he had their sons, Ahimmaz the son of Zadok, +and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, for faithful ministers in all +things; but Ittai the Gitrite went out with him whether David +would let him or not, for he would have persuaded him to stay, +and on that account he appeared the more friendly to him. But as +he was ascending the Mount of Olives barefooted, and all his +company were in tears, it was told him that Ahithophel was with +Absalom, and was of his side. This hearing augmented his grief; +and he besought God earnestly to alienate the mind of Absalom +from Ahithophel, for he was afraid that he should persuade him to +follow his pernicious counsel, for he was a prudent man, and very +sharp in seeing what was advantageous. When David was gotten upon +the top of the mountain, he took a view of the city; and prayed +to God with abundance of tears, as having already lost his +kingdom; and here it was that a faithful friend of his, whose +name was Hushai, met him. When David saw him with his clothes +rent, and having ashes all over his head, and in lamentation for +the great change of affairs, he comforted him, and exhorted him +to leave off grieving; nay, at length he besought him to go back +to Absalom, and appear as one of his party, and to fish out the +secretest counsels of his mind, and to contradict the counsels of +Ahithophel, for that he could not do him so much good by being +with him as he might by being with Absalom. So he was prevailed +on by David, and left him, and came to Jerusalem, whither Absalom +himself came also a little while afterward. + +3. When David was gone a little farther, there met him Ziba, the +servant of Mephibosheth, (whom he had sent to take care of the +possessions which had been given him, as the son of Jonathan, the +son of Saul,) with a couple of asses, loaden with provisions, and +desired him to take as much of them as he and his followers stood +in need of. And when the king asked him where he had left +Mephibosheth, he said he had left him in Jerusalem, expecting to +be chosen king in the present confusions, in remembrance of the +benefits Saul had conferred upon them. At this the king had great +indignation, and gave to Ziba all that he had formerly bestowed +on Mephibosheth; for he determined that it was much fitter that +he should have them than the other; at which Ziba greatly +rejoiced. + +4. When David was at Bahurim, a place so called, there came out a +kinsman of Saul's, whose name was Shimei, and threw stones at +him, and gave him reproachful words; and as his friends stood +about the king and protected him, he persevered still more in his +reproaches, and called him a bloody man, and the author of all +sorts of mischief. He bade him also go out of the land as an +impure and accursed wretch; and he thanked God for depriving him +of his kingdom, and causing him to be punished for what injuries +he had done to his master [Saul], and this by the means of his +own son. Now when they were all provoked against him, and angry +at bin;, and particularly Abishai, who had a mind to kill Shimei, +David restrained his anger. "Let us not," said he, "bring upon +ourselves another fresh misfortune to those we have already, for +truly I have not the least regard nor concern for this dog that +raves at me: I submit myself to God, by whose permission this man +treats me in such a wild manner; nor is it any wonder that I am +obliged to undergo these abuses from him, while I experience the +like from an impious son of my own; but perhaps God will have +some commiseration upon us; if it be his will we shall overcome +them." So he went on his way without troubling himself with +Shimei, who ran along the other side of the mountain, and threw +out his abusive language plentifully. But when David was come to +Jordan, he allowed those that were with him to refresh +themselves; for they were weary. + +5. But when Absalom, and Ahithophel his counselor, were come to +Jerusalem, with all the people, David's friend, Hushai, came to +them; and when he had worshipped Absalom, he withal wished that +his kingdom might last a long time, and continue for all ages. +But when Absalom said to him, "How comes this, that he who was so +intimate a friend of my father's, and appeared faithful to him in +all things, is not with him now, but hath left him, and is come +over to me?" Hushai's answer was very pertinent and prudent; for +he said, "We ought to follow God and the multitude of the people; +while these, therefore, my lord and master, are with thee, it is +fit that I should follow them, for thou hast received the kingdom +from God. I will therefore, if thou believest me to be thy +friend, show the same fidelity and kindness to thee, which thou +knowest I have shown to thy father; nor is there any reason to be +in the least dissatisfied with the present state of affairs, for +the kingdom is not transferred into another, but remains still in +the same family, by the son's receiving it after his father." +This speech persuaded Absalom, who before suspected Hushai. And +now he called Ahithophel, and consulted with him what he ought to +do: he persuaded him to go in unto his father's concubines; for +he said that "by this action the people would believe that thy +difference with thy father is irreconcilable, and will thence +fight with great alacrity against thy father, for hitherto they +are afraid of taking up open enmity against him, out of an +expectation that you will be reconciled again." Accordingly, +Absalom was prevailed on by this advice, and commanded his +servants to pitch him a tent upon the top of the royal palace, in +the sight of the multitude; and he went in and lay with his +father's concubines. Now this came to pass according to the +prediction of Nathan, when he prophesied and signified to him +that his son would rise up in rebellion against him. + +6. And when Absalom had done what he was advised to by +Ahithophel, he desired his advice, in the second place, about the +war against his father. Now Ahithophel only asked him to let him +have ten thousand chosen men, and he promised he would slay his +father, and bring the soldiers back again in safety; and he said +that then the kingdom would be firm to him when David was dead +[but not otherwise]. Absalom was pleased with this advice, and +called for Hushai, David's friend (for so did he style him); and +informing him of the opinion of Ahithophel, he asked, further, +what was his opinion concerning that matter. Now he was sensible +that if Ahithophel's counsel were followed, David would be in +danger of being seized on, and slain; so he attempted to +introduce a contrary opinion, and said, Thou art not +unacquainted, O king, with the valor of thy father, and of those +that are now with him; that he hath made many wars, and hath +always come off with victory, though probably he now abides in +the camp, for he is very skiliful in stratagems, and in +foreseeing the deceitful tricks of his enemies; yet will he leave +his own soldiers in the evening, and will either hide himself in +some valley, or will place an ambush at some rock; so that when +our army joins battle with him, his soldiers will retire for a +little while, but will come upon us again, as encouraged by the +king's being near them; and in the mean time your father will +show himself suddenly in the time of the battle, and will infuse +courage into his own people when they are in danger, but bring +consternation to thine. Consider, therefore, my advice, and +reason upon it, and if thou canst not but acknowledge it to be +the best, reject the opinion of Ahithophel. Send to the entire +country of the Hebrews, and order them to come and fight with thy +father; and do thou thyself take the army, and be thine own +general in this war, and do not trust its management to another; +then expect to conquer him with ease, when thou overtakest him +openly with his few partisans, but hast thyself many ten +thousands, who will be desirous to demonstrate to thee their +diligence and alacrity. And if thy father shall shut himself up +in some city, and bear a siege, we will overthrow that city with +machines of war, and by undermining it." When Hushai had said +this, he obtained his point against Ahithophel, for his opinion +was preferred by Absalom before the other's: however, it was no +other than God (17) who made the counsel of Hushai appear best to +the mind of Absalom. + +7. So Hushai made haste to the high priests, Zadok and Abiathar, +and told them the opinion of Ahithophel, and his own, and that +the resolution was taken to follow this latter advice. He +therefore bade them send to David, and tell him of it, and to +inform him of the counsels that had been taken; and to desire him +further to pass quickly over Jordan, lest his son should change +his mind, and make haste to pursue him, and so prevent him, and +seize upon him before he be in safety. Now the high priests had +their sons concealed in a proper place out of the city, that they +might carry news to David of what was transacted. Accordingly, +they sent a maid-servant, whom they could trust, to them, to +carry the news of Absalom's counsels, and ordered them to signify +the same to David with all speed. So they made no excuse nor +delay, but taking along with them their fathers' injunctions, +because pious and faithful ministers, and judging that quickness +and suddenness was the best mark of faithful service, they made +haste to meet with David. But certain horsemen saw them when they +were two furlongs from the city, and informed Absalom of them, +who immediately sent some to take them; but when the sons of the +high priest perceived this, they went out of the road, and betook +themselves to a certain village; that village was called Bahurim; +there they desired a certain woman to hide them, and afford them +security. Accordingly she let the young men down by a rope into a +well, and laid fleeces of wool over them; and when those that +pursued them came to her, and asked her whether she saw them, she +did not deny that she had seen them, for that they staid with her +some time, but she said they then went their ways; and she +foretold that, however, if they would follow them directly, they +would catch them; but when after a long pursuit they could not +catch them, they came back again; and when the woman saw those +men were returned, and that there was no longer any fear of the +young men's being caught by them, she drew them up by the rope, +and bade them go on their journey accordingly, they used great +diligence in the prosecution of that journey, and came to David, +and informed him accurately of all the counsels of Absalom. So he +commanded those that were with him to pass over Jordan while it +was night, and not to delay at all on that account. + +8. But Ahithophel, on rejection of his advice, got upon his ass, +and rode away to his own country, Gilon; and, calling his family +together, he told them distinctly what advice he had given +Absalom; and since he had not been persuaded by it, he said he +would evidently perish, and this in no long time, and that David +would overcome him, and return to his kingdom again; so he said +it was better that he should take his own life away with freedom +and magnanimity, than expose himself to be punished by David, in +opposition to whom he had acted entirely for Absalom. When he had +discoursed thus to them, he went into the inmost room of his +house, and hanged himself; and thus was the death of Ahithophel, +who was self-condemned; and when his relations had taken him down +from the halter, they took care of his funeral. Now, as for +David, he passed over Jordan, as we have said already, and came +to Mahanaim, every fine and very strong city; and all the chief +men of the country received him with great pleasure, both out of +the shame they had that he should be forced to flee away [from +Jerusalem], and out of the respect they bare him while he was in +his former prosperity. These were Barzillai the Gileadite, and +Siphar the ruler among the Ammonites, and Machir the principal +man of Gilead; and these furnished him with plentiful provisions +for himself and his followers, insomuch that they wanted no beds +nor blankets for them, nor loaves of bread, nor wine; nay, they +brought them a great many cattle for slaughter, and afforded them +what furniture they wanted for their refreshment when they were +weary, and for food, with plenty of other necessaries. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How, When Absalom Was Beaten, He Was Caught In A Tree By His Hair +And Was Slain + + +1. And this was the state of David and his followers: but Absalom +got together a vast army of the Hebrews to oppose his father, and +passed therewith over the river Jordan, and sat down not far off +Mahanaim, in the country of Gilead. He appointed Amasa to be +captain of all his host, instead of Joab his kinsman: his father +was Ithra and his mother Abigail: now she and Zeruiah, the mother +of Joab, were David's sisters. But when David had numbered his +followers, and found them to be about four thousand, he resolved +not to tarry till Absalom attacked him, but set over his men +captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and divided his +army into three parts; the one part he committed to Joab, the +next to Abishai, Joab's brother, and the third to Ittai, David's +companion and friend, but one that came from the city Gath; and +when he was desirous of fighting himself among them, his friends +would not let him: and this refusal of theirs was founded upon +very wise reasons: "For," said they, "if we be conquered when he +is with us, we have lost all good hopes of recovering ourselves; +but if we should be beaten in one part of our army, the other +parts may retire to him, and may thereby prepare a greater force, +while the enemy will naturally suppose that he hath another army +with him." So David was pleased with this their advice, and +resolved himself to tarry at Mahanaim; and as he sent his friends +and commanders to the battle, he desired them to show all +possible alacrity and fidelity, and to bear in mind what +advantages they had received from him, which, though they had not +been very great, yet had they not been quite inconsiderable; and +he begged of them to spare the young man Absalom, lest some +mischief should befall himself, if he should be killed; and thus +did he send out his army to the battle, and wished them victory +therein. + +2. Then did Joab put his army in battle-array over against the +enemy in the Great Plain, where he had a wood behind him. Absalom +also brought his army into the field to oppose him. Upon the +joining of the battle, both sides showed great actions with their +hands and their boldness; the one side exposing themselves to the +greatest hazards, and using their utmost alacrity, that David +might recover his kingdom; and the other being no way deficient, +either in doing or suffering, that Absalom might not be deprived +of that kingdom, and be brought to punishment by his father for +his impudent attempt against him. Those also that were the most +numerous were solicitous that they might not be conquered by +those few that were with Joab, and with the other commanders, +because that would be the greater disgrace to them; while David's +soldiers strove greatly to overcome so many ten thousands as the +enemy had with them. Now David's men were conquerors, as superior +in strength and skill in war; so they followed the others as they +fled away through the forests and valleys; some they took +prisoners, and many they slew, and more in the flight than in the +battle for there fell about twenty thousand that day. But all +David's men ran violently upon Absalom, for he was easily known +by his beauty and tallness. He was himself also afraid lest his +enemies should seize on him, so he got upon the king's mule, and +fled; but as he was carried with violence, and noise, and a great +motion, as being himself light, he entangled his hair greatly in +the large boughs of a knotty tree that spread a great way, and +there he hung, after a surprising manner; and as for the beast, +it went on farther, and that swiftly, as if his master had been +still upon his back; but he, hanging in the air upon the boughs, +was taken by his enemies. Now when one of David's soldiers saw +this, he informed Joab of it; and when the general said, that if +he had shot at and killed Absalom, he would have given him fifty +shekels, - he replied, "I would not have killed my master's son +if thou wouldst have given me a thousand shekels, especially when +he desired that the young man might be spared in the hearing of +us all." But Joab bade him show him where it was that he saw +Absalom hang; whereupon he shot him to the heart, and slew him, +and Joab's armor-bearers stood round the tree, and pulled down +his dead body, and cast it into a great chasm that was out of +sight, and laid a heap of stones upon him, till the cavity was +filled up, and had both the appearance and the bigness of a +grave. Then Joab sounded a retreat, and recalled his own soldiers +from pursuing the enemy's army, in order to spare their +countrymen. + +3. Now Absalom had erected for himself a marble pillar in the +king's dale, two furlongs distant from Jerusalem, which he named +Absalom's Hand, saying, that if his children were killed, his +name would remain by that pillar; for he had three sons and one +daughter, named Tamar, as we said before, who when she was +married to David's grandson, Rehoboam, bare a son, Abijah by +name, who succeeded his father in the kingdom; but of these we +shall speak in a part of our history which will be more proper. +After the death of Absalom, they returned every one to their own +homes respectively. + +4. But now Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the high priest, went to +Joab, and desired he would permit him to go and tell David of +this victory, and to bring him the good news that God had +afforded his assistance and his providence to him. However, he +did not grant his request, but said to him, "Wilt thou, who hast +always been the messenger of good news, now go and acquaint the +king that his son is dead?" So he desired him to desist. He then +called Cushi, and committed the business to him, that he should +tell the king what he had seen. But when Ahimaaz again desired +him to let him go as a messenger, and assured him that he would +only relate what concerned the victory, but not concerning the +death of Absalom, he gave him leave to go to David. Now he took a +nearer road than the former did, for nobody knew it but himself, +and he came before Cushi. Now as David was sitting between the +gates, (18) and waiting to see when somebody would come to him +from the battle, and tell him how it went, one of the watchmen +saw Ahimaaz running, and before he could discern who he was, he +told David that he saw somebody coming to him, who said he was a +good messenger. A little while after, he informed him that +another messenger followed him; whereupon the king said that he +also was a good messenger: but when the watchman saw Ahimaaz, and +that he was already very near, he gave the king notice that it +was the son of Zadok the high priest who came running. So David +was very glad, and said he was a messenger of good tidings, and +brought him some such news from the battle as he desired to hear. + +5. While the king was saying thus, Ahimaaz appeared, and +worshipped the king. And when the king inquired of him about the +battle, he said he brought him the good news of victory and +dominion. And when he inquired what he had to say concerning his +son, he said that he came away on the sudden as soon as the enemy +was defeated, but that he heard a great noise of those that +pursued Absalom, and that he could learn no more, because of the +haste he made when Joab sent him to inform him of the victory. +But when Cushi was come, and had worshipped him, and informed him +of the victory, he asked him about his son, who replied, "May the +like misfortune befall thine enemies as hath befallen Absalom." +That word did not permit either himself or his soldiers to +rejoice for the victory, though it was a very great one; but +David went up to the highest part of the city, (19) and wept for +his son, and beat his breast, tearing [the hair of] his head, +tormenting himself all manner of ways, and crying out, "O my son! +I wish that I had died myself, and ended my days with thee!" for +he was of a tender natural affection, and had extraordinary +compassion for this son in particular. But when the army and Joab +heard that the king mourned for his son, they were ashamed to +enter the city in the habit of conquerors, but they all came in +as cast down, and in tears, as if they had been beaten. Now while +the king covered himself, and grievously lamented his son, Joab +went in to him, and comforted him, and said, "O my lord the king, +thou art not aware that thou layest a blot on thyself by what +thou now doest; for thou seemest to hate those that love thee, +and undergo dangers for thee nay, to hate thyself and thy family, +and to love those that are thy bitter enemies, and to desire the +company of those that are no more, and who have been justly +slain; for had Absalom gotten the victory, and firmly settled +himself in the kingdom, there had been none of us left alive, but +all of us, beginning with thyself and thy children, had miserably +perished, while our enemies had not wept for his, but rejoiced +over us, and punished even those that pitied us in our +misfortunes; and thou art not ashamed to do this in the case of +one that has been thy bitter enemy, who, while he was thine own +son hath proved so wicked to thee. Leave off, therefore, thy +unreasonable grief, and come abroad and be seen of thy soldiers, +and return them thanks for the alacrity they showed in the fight; +for I myself will this day persuade the people to leave thee, and +to give the kingdom to another, if thou continuest to do thus; +and then I shall make thee to grieve bitterly and in earnest." +Upon Joab's speaking thus to him, he made the king leave off his +sorrow, and brought him to the consideration of his affairs. So +David changed his habit, and exposed himself in a manner fit to +be seen by the multitude, and sat at the gates; whereupon all the +people heard of it, +and ran together to him, and saluted him. And this was the +present state of David's affairs. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How David, When He Had Recovered His Kingdom, Was Reconciled To +Shimei, And To Ziba; And Showed A Great Affection To Barzillai; +And How, Upon The Rise Of A Sedition, He Made Amasa Captain Of +His Host, In Order To Pursue Seba; Which Amasa Was Slain By Joab. + + +1. Now those Hebrews that had been With Absalom, and had retired +out of the battle, when they were all returned home, sent +messengers to every city to put them in mind of what benefits +David had bestowed upon them, and of that liberty which he had +procured them, by delivering them from many and great wars. But +they complained, that whereas they had ejected him out of his +kingdom, and committed it to another governor, which other +governor, whom they had set up, was already dead, they did not +now beseech David to leave off his anger at them, and to become +friends with them, and, as he used to do, to resume the care of +their affairs, and take the kingdom again. This was often told to +David. And, this notwithstanding, David sent to Zadok and +Abiathar the high priests, that they should speak to the rulers +of the tribe of Judah after the manner following: That it would +be a reproach upon them to permit the other tribes to choose +David for their king before their tribe, "and this," said he, +"while you are akin to him, and of the same common blood." He +commanded them also to say the same to Amasa the captain of their +forces, That whereas he was his sister's son, he had not +persuaded the multitude to restore the kingdom to David; that he +might expect from him not only a reconciliation, for that was +already granted, but that supreme command of the army also which +Absalom had bestowed upon him. Accordingly the high priests, when +they had discoursed with the rulers of the tribe, and said what +the king had ordered them, persuaded Amasa to undertake the care +of his affairs. So he persuaded that tribe to send immediately +ambassadors to him, to beseech him to return to his own kingdom. +The same did all the Israelites, at the like persuasion of Amasa. + +2. When the ambassadors came to him, he came to Jerusalem; and +the tribe of Judah was the first that came to meet the king at +the river Jordan. And Shimei, the son of Gera, came with a +thousand men, which he brought with him out of the tribe of +Benjamin; and Ziba, the freed-man of Saul, with his sons, fifteen +in number, and with his twenty servants. All these, as well as +the tribe of Judah, laid a bridge [of boats] over the river, that +the king, and those that were with him, might with ease pass over +it. Now as soon as he was come to Jordan, the tribe of Judah +saluted him. Shimei also came upon the bridge, and took hold of +his feet, and prayed him to forgive him what he had offended, and +not to be too bitter against him, nor to think fit to make him +the first example of severity under his new authority; but to +consider that he had repented of his failure of duty, and had +taken care to come first of all to him. While he was thus +entreating the king, and moving him to compassion, Abishai, +Joab's brother, said, "And shall not this man die for this, that +he hath cursed that king whom God hath appointed to reign over +us?" But David turned himself to him, and said, "Will you never +leave off, ye sons of Zeruiah? Do not you, I pray, raise new +troubles and seditions among us, now the former are over; for I +would not have you ignorant that I this day begin my reign, and +therefore swear to remit to all offenders their punishments, and +not to animadvert on any one that has sinned. Be thou, +therefore," said he, "O Shimei, of good courage, and do not at +all fear being put to death." So he worshipped him, and went on +before him. + +3. Mephibosheth also, Saul's grandson, met David, clothed in a +sordid garment, and having his hair thick and neglected; for +after David was fled away, he was in such grief that he had not +polled his head, nor had he washed his clothes, as dooming +himself to undergo such hardships upon occasion of the change-of +the king's affairs. Now he had been unjustly calumniated to the +king by Ziba, his steward. When he had saluted the king, and +worshipped him, the king began to ask him why he did not go out +of Jerusalem with him, and accompany him during his flight. He +replied, that this piece of injustice was owing to Ziba; because, +when he was ordered to get things ready for his going out with +him, he took no care of it, but regarded him no more than if he +had been a slave; "and, indeed, had I had my feet sound and +strong, I had not deserted thee, for I could then have made use +of them in my flight: but this is not all the injury that Ziba +has done me, as to my duty to thee, my lord and master, but he +hath calumniated me besides, and told lies about me of his own +invention; but I know thy mind will not admit of such calumnies, +but is righteously disposed, and a lover of truth, which it is +also the will of God should prevail. For when thou wast in the +greatest danger of suffering by my grandfather, and when, on that +account, our whole family might justly have been destroyed, thou +wast moderate and merciful, and didst then especially forget all +those injuries, when, if thou hadst remembered them, thou hadst +the power of punishing us for them; but thou hast judged me to be +thy friend, and hast set me every day at thine own table; nor +have I wanted any thing which one of thine own kinsmen, of +greatest esteem with thee, could have expected." When he had said +this, David resolved neither to punish Mephibosheth, nor to +condemn Ziba, as having belied his master; but said to him, that +as he had [before] granted all his estate to Ziba, because he did +not come along with him, so he [now] promised to forgive him, and +ordered that the one half of his estate should be restored to +him. (20) Whereupon Mephibosheth said, "Nay, let Ziba take all; +it suffices me that thou hast recovered thy kingdom." + +4. But David desired Barzillai the Gileadite, that great and good +man, and one that had made a plentiful provision for him at +Mahanaim, and had conducted him as far as Jordan, to accompany +him to Jerusalem, for he promised to treat him in his old age +with all manner of respect - to take care of him, and provide for +him. But Barzillai was so desirous to live at home, that he +entreated him to excuse him from attendance on him; and said that +his age was too great to enjoy the pleasures [of a court,] since +he was fourscore years old, and was therefore making provision +for his death and burial: so he desired him to gratify him in +this request, and dismiss him; for he had no relish of his meat, +or his drink, by reason of his age; and that his ears were too +much shut up to hear the sound of pipes, or the melody of other +musical instruments, such as all those that live with kings +delight in. When he entreated for this so earnestly, the king +said, "I dismiss thee, but thou shalt grant me thy son Chimham, +and upon him I will bestow all sorts of good things." So +Barzillai left his son with him, and worshipped the king, and +wished him a prosperous conclusion of all his affairs according +to his own mind, and then returned home; but David came to +Gilgal, having about him half the people [of Israel], and the +[whole] tribe of Judah. + +5. Now the principal men of the country came to Gilgal to him +with a great multitude, and complained of the tribe of Judah, +that they had come to him in a private manner; whereas they ought +all conjointly, and with one and the same intention, to have +given him the meeting. But the rulers of the tribe of Judah +desired them not to be displeased, if they had been prevented by +them; for, said they, "We are David's kinsmen, and on that +account we the rather took care of him, and loved him, and so +came first to him;" yet had they not, by their early coming, +received any gifts from him, which might give them who came last +any uneasiness. When the rulers of the tribe of Judah had said +this, the rulers of the other tribes were not quiet, but said +further, "O brethren, we cannot but wonder at you when you call +the king your kinsman alone, whereas he that hath received from +God the power over all of us in common ought to be esteemed a +kinsman to us all; for which reason the whole people have eleven +parts in him, and you but one part (21) we are also elder than +you; wherefore you have not done justly in coming to the king in +this private and concealed manner." + +6. While these rulers were thus disputing one with another, a +certain wicked man, who took a pleasure in seditious practices, +(his name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, of the tribe of +Benjamin,) stood up in the midst of the multitude, and cried +aloud, and spake thus to them: "We have no part in David, nor +inheritance in the son of Jesse." And when he had used those +words, he blew with a trumpet, and declared war against the king; +and they all left David, and followed him; the tribe of Judah +alone staid with him, and settled him in his royal palace at +Jerusalem. But as for his concubines, with whom Absalom his son +had accompanied, truly he removed them to another house, and +ordered those that had the care of them to make a plentiful +provision for them, but he came not near them any more. He also +appointed Amass for the captain of his forces, and gave him the +same high office which Joab before had; and he commanded him to +gather together, out of the tribe of Judah, as great an army as +he could, and come to him within three days, that he might +deliver to him his entire army, and might send him to fight +against [Sheba] the son of Bichri. Now while Amass was gone out, +and made some delay in gathering the army together, and so was +not yet returned, on the third day the king said to Joab, "It is +not fit we should make any delay in this affair of Sheba, lest he +get a numerous army about him, and be the occasion of greater +mischief, and hurt our affairs more than did Absalom himself; do +not thou therefore wait any longer, but take such forces as thou +hast at hand, and that [old] body of six hundred men, and thy +brother Abishai, with thee, and pursue after our enemy, and +endeavor to fight him wheresoever thou canst overtake him. Make +haste to prevent him, lest he seize upon some fenced cities, and +cause us great labor and pains before we take him." + +7. So Joab resolved to make no delay, but taking with him his +brother, and those six hundred men, and giving orders that the +rest of the army which was at Jerusalem should follow him, he +marched with great speed against Sheba; and when he was come to +Gibeon, which is a village forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem, +Amasa brought a great army with him, and met Joab. Now Joab was +girded with a sword, and his breastplate on; and when Amasa came +near him to salute him, he took particular care that his sword +should fall out, as it were, of its own accord: so he took it up +from the ground, and while he approached Amasa, who was then near +him, as though he would kiss him, he took hold of Amasa's beard +with his other hand, and he smote him in his belly when he did +not foresee it, and slew him. This impious and altogether profane +action Joab did to a good young man, and his kinsman, and one +that had done him no injury, and this out of jealousy that he +would obtain the chief command of the army, and be in equal +dignity with himself about the king; and for the same cause it +was that he killed Abner. But as to that former wicked action, +the death of his brother Asahel, which he seemed to revenge, +afforded him a decent pretense, and made that crime a pardonable +one; but in this murder of Amasa there was no such covering for +it. Now when Joab had killed this general, he pursued after +Sheba, having left a man with the dead body, who was ordered to +proclaim aloud to the army, that Amasa was justly slain, and +deservedly punished. "But," said he, "if you be for the king, +follow Joab his general, and Abishai, Joab's brother:" but +because the body lay on the road, and all the multitude came +running to it, and, as is usual with the multitude, stood +wondering a great while at it, he that guarded it removed it +thence, and carried it to a certain place that was very remote +from the road, and there laid it, and covered it with his +garment. When this was done, all the people followed Joab. Now as +he pursued Sheba through all the country of Israel, one told him +that he was in a strong city, called Abelbeth-maachah. Hereupon +Joab went thither, and set about it with his army, and cast up a +bank round it, and ordered his soldiers to undermine the walls, +and to overthrow them; and since the people in the city did not +admit him, he was greatly displeased at them. + +8. Now there was a woman of small account, and yet both wise and +intelligent, who seeing her native city lying at the last +extremity, ascended upon the wall, and, by means of the armed +men, called for Joab; and when he came to her, she began to say, +That "God ordained kings and generals of armies, that they might +cut off the enemies of the Hebrews, and introduce a universal +peace among them; but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and +depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites, which hath been guilty +of no offense." But he replied, "God continue to be merciful unto +me: I am disposed to avoid killing any one of the people, much +less would I destroy such a city as this; and if they will +deliver me up Sheba, the son of Bichri, who hath rebelled against +the king, I will leave off the siege, and withdraw the army from +the place." Now as soon as the woman heard what Joab said, she +desired him to intermit the siege for a little while, for that he +should have the head of his enemy thrown out to him presently. So +she went down to the citizens, and said to them, "Will you be so +wicked as to perish miserably, with your children and wives, for +the sake of a vile fellow, and one whom nobody knows who he is? +And will you have him for your king instead of David, who hath +been so great a benefactor to you, and oppose your city alone to +such a mighty and strong army?" So she prevailed with them, and +they cut off the head of Sheba, and threw it into Joab's army. +When this was done, the king's general sounded a retreat, and +raised the siege. And when he was come to Jerusalem, he was again +appointed to be general of all the people. The king also +constituted Benaiah captain of the guards, and of the six hundred +men. He also set Adoram over the tribute, and Sabathes and +Achilaus over the records. He made Sheva the scribe, and +appointed Zadok and Abiathar the high priests. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +How The Hebrews Were Delivered From A Famine When The Gibeonites +Had Caused Punishment To Be Inflicted For Those Of Them That Had +Been Slain: As Also, What Great Actions Were Performed Against +The Philistines By David, And The Men Of Valor About Him. + + +1. After this, when the country was greatly afflicted with a +famine, David besought God to have mercy on the people, and to +discover to him what was the cause of it, and how a remedy might +be found for that distemper. And when the prophets answered, that +God would have the Gibeonites avenged whom Saul the king was so +wicked as to betray to slaughter, and had not observed the oath +which Joshua the general and the senate had sworn to them: If, +therefore, said God, the king would permit such vengeance to be +taken for those that were slain as the Gibeonites should desire, +he promised that he would be reconciled to them, and free the +multitude from their miseries. As soon therefore as the king +understood that this it was which God sought, he sent for the +Gibeonites, and asked them what it was they should have; and when +they desired to have seven sons of Saul delivered to them to be +punished, he delivered them up, but spared Mephibosheth the son +of Jonathan. So when the Gibeonites had received the men, they +punished them as they pleased; upon which God began to send rain, +and to recover the earth to bring forth its fruits as usual, and +to free it from the foregoing drought, so that the country of the +Hebrews flourished again. A little afterward the king made war +against the Philistines; and when he had joined battle with them, +and put them to flight, he was left alone, as he was in pursuit +of them; and when he was quite tired down, he was seen by one of +the enemy, his name was Achmon, the son of Araph, he was one of +the sons of the giants. He had a spear, the handle of which +weighed three hundred shekels, and a breastplate of chain-work, +and a sword. He turned back, and ran violently to slay [David] +their enemy's king, for he was quite tired out with labor; but +Abishai, Joab's brother, appeared on the sudden, and protected +the king with his shield, as he lay down, and slew the enemy. Now +the multitude were very uneasy at these dangers of the king, and +that he was very near to be slain; and the rulers made him swear +that he would no more go out with them to battle, lest he should +come to some great misfortune by his courage and boldness, and +thereby deprive the people of the benefits they now enjoyed by +his means, and of those that they might hereafter enjoy by his +living a long time among them. + +2. When the king heard that the Philistines were gathered +together at the city Gazara, he sent an army against them, when +Sibbechai the Hittite, one of David's most courageous men, +behaved himself so as to deserve great commendation, for he slew +many of those that bragged they were the posterity of the giants, +and vaunted themselves highly on that account, and thereby was +the occasion of victory to the Hebrews. After which defeat, the +Philistines made war again; and when David had sent an army +against them, Nephan his kinsman fought in a single combat with +the stoutest of all the Philistines, and slew him, and put the +rest to flight. Many of them also were slain in the fight. Now a +little while after this, the Philistines pitched their camp at a +city which lay not far off the bounds of the country of the +Hebrews. They had a man who was six cubits tall, and had on each +of his feet and hands one more toe and finger than men naturally +have. Now the person who was sent against them by David out of +his army was Jonathan, the son of Shimea, who fought this man in +a single combat, and slew him; and as he was the person who gave +the turn to the battle, he gained the greatest reputation for +courage therein. This man also vaunted himself to be of the sons +of the giants. But after this fight the Philistines made war no +more against the Israelites. + +3. And now David being freed from wars and dangers, and enjoying +for the future a profound peace, (22) composed songs and hymns to +God of several sorts of metre; some of those which he made were +trimeters, and some were pentameters. He also made instruments of +music, and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God, both on that +called the sabbath day, and on other festivals. Now the +construction of the instruments was thus: The viol was an +instrument of ten strings, it was played upon with a bow; the +psaltery had twelve musical notes, and was played upon by the +fingers; the cymbals were broad and large instruments, and were +made of brass. And so much shall suffice to be spoken by us about +these instruments, that the readers may not be wholly +unacquainted with their nature. + +4. Now all the men that were about David were men of courage. +Those that were most illustrious and famous of them for their +actions were thirty-eight; of five of whom I will only relate the +performances, for these will suffice to make manifest the virtues +of the others also; for these were powerful enough to subdue +countries, and conquer great nations. First, therefore, was +Jessai, the son of Achimaas, who frequently leaped upon the +troops of the enemy, and did not leave off fighting till he +overthrew nine hundred of them. After him was Eleazar, the son of +Dodo, who was with the king at Arasam. This man, when once the +Israelites were under a consternation at the multitude of the +Philistines, and were running away, stood alone, and fell upon +the enemy, and slew many of them, till his sword clung to his +hand by the blood he had shed, and till the Israelites, seeing +the Philistines retire by his means, came down from the mountains +and pursued them, and at that time won a surprising and a famous +victory, while Eleazar slew the men, and the multitude followed +and spoiled their dead bodies. The third was Sheba, the son of +Ilus. Now this man, when, in the wars against the Philistines, +they pitched their camp at a place called Lehi, and when the +Hebrews were again afraid of their army, and did not stay, he +stood still alone, as an army and a body of men; and some of them +he overthrew, and some who were not able to abide his strength +and force he pursued. These are the works of the hands, and of +fighting, which these three performed. Now at the time when the +king was once at Jerusalem, and the army of the Philistines came +upon him to fight him, David went up to the top of the citadel, +as we have already said, to inquire of God concerning the battle, +while the enemy's camp lay in the valley that extends to the city +Bethlehem, which is twenty furlongs distant from Jerusalem. Now +David said to his companions, "We have excellent water in my own +city, especially that which is in the pit near the gate," +wondering if any one would bring him some of it to drink; but he +said that he would rather have it than a great deal of money. +When these three men heard what he said, they ran away +immediately, and burst through the midst of their enemy's camp, +and came to Bethlehem; and when they had drawn the water, they +returned again through the enemy's camp to the king, insomuch +that the Philistines were so surprised at their boldness and +alacrity, that they were quiet, and did nothing against them, as +if they despised their small number. But when the water was +brought to the king, he would not drink it, saying, that it was +brought by the danger and the blood of men, and that it was not +proper on that account to drink it. But he poured it out to God, +and gave him thanks for the salvation of the men. Next to these +was Abishai, Joab's brother; for he in one day slew six hundred. +The fifth of these was Benaiah, by lineage a priest; for being +challenged by [two] eminent men in the country of Moab, he +overcame them by his valor, Moreover, there was a man, by nation +an Egyptian, who was of a vast bulk, and challenged him, yet did +he, when he was unarmed, kill him with his own spear, which he +threw at him; for he caught him by force, and took away his +weapons while he was alive and fighting, and slew him with his +own weapons. One may also add this to the forementioned actions +of the same man, either as the principal of them in alacrity, or +as resembling the rest. When God sent a snow, there was a lion +who slipped and fell into a certain pit, and because the pit's +mouth was narrow it was evident he would perish, being enclosed +with the snow; so when he saw no way to get out and save himself, +he roared. When Benaiah heard the wild beast, he went towards +him, and coming at the noise he made, he went down into the mouth +of the pit and smote him, as he struggled, with a stake that lay +there, and immediately slew him. The other thirty-three were like +these in valor also. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +That When David Had Numbered the People, They Were Punished; and +How the Divine Compassion Restrained That Punishment. + + +1. Now king David was desirous to know how many ten thousands +there were of the people, but forgot the commands of Moses, (23) +who told them beforehand, that if the multitude were numbered, +they should pay half a shekel to God for every head. Accordingly +the king commanded Joab, the captain of his host, to go and +number the whole multitude; but when he said there was no +necessity for such a numeration, he was not persuaded [to +countermand it], but he enjoined him to make no delay, but to go +about the numbering of the Hebrews immediately. So Joab took with +him the heads of the tribes, and the scribes, and went over the +country of the Israelites, and took notice how numerous the +multitude were, and returned to Jerusalem to the king, after nine +months and twenty days; and he gave in to the king the number of +the people, without the tribe of Benjamin, for he had not yet +numbered that tribe, no more than the tribe of Levi, for the king +repented of his having sinned against God. Now the number of the +rest of the Israelites was nine hundred thousand men, who were +able to bear arms and go to war; but the tribe of Judah, by +itself, was four hundred thousand men. + +2. Now when the prophets had signified to David that God was +angry at him, he began to entreat him, and to desire he would be +merciful to him, and forgive his sin. But God sent Nathan the +prophet to him, to propose to him the election of three things, +that he might choose which he liked best: Whether he would have +famine come upon the country for seven years, or would have a +war, and be subdued three months by his enemies? or, whether God +should send a pestilence and a distemper upon the Hebrews for +three days? But as he was fallen to a fatal choice of great +miseries, he was in trouble, and sorely confounded; and when the +prophet had said that he must of necessity make his choice, and +had ordered him to answer quickly, that he might declare what he +had chosen to God, the king reasoned with himself, that in case +he should ask for famine, he would appear to do it for others, +and without danger to himself, since he had a great deal of corn +hoarded up, but to the harm of others; that in case he should +choose to be overcome [by his enemies] for three months, he would +appear to have chosen war, because he had valiant men about him, +and strong holds, and that therefore he feared nothing therefrom: +so he chose that affliction which is common to kings and to their +subjects, and in which the fear was equal on all sides; and said +this beforehand, that it was much better to fall into the hands +of God, than into those of his enemies. + +3. When the prophet had heard this, he declared it to God; who +thereupon sent a pestilence and a mortality upon the Hebrews; nor +did they die after one and the same manner, nor so that it was +easy to know what the distemper was. Now the miserable disease +was one indeed, but it carried them off by ten thousand causes +and occasions, which those that were afflicted could not +understand; for one died upon the neck of another, and the +terrible malady seized them before they were aware, and brought +them to their end suddenly, some giving up the ghost immediately +with very great pains and bitter grief, and some were worn away +by their distempers, and had nothing remaining to be buried, but +as soon as ever they fell were entirely macerated; some were +choked, and greatly lamented their case, as being also stricken +with a sudden darkness; some there were who, as they were burying +a relation, fell down dead, without finishing the rites of the +funeral. Now there perished of this disease, which began with the +morning, and lasted till the hour of dinner, seventy thousand. +Nay, the angel stretched out his hand over Jerusalem, as sending +this terrible judgment upon it. But David had put on sackcloth, +and lay upon the ground, entreating God, and begging that the +distemper might now cease, and that he would be satisfied with +those that had already perished. And when the king looked up into +the air, and saw the angel carried along thereby into Jerusalem, +with his sword drawn, he said to God, that he might justly be +punished, who was their shepherd, but that the sheep ought to be +preserved, as not having sinned at all; and he implored God that +he would send his wrath upon him, and upon all his family, but +spare the people. + +4. When God heard his supplication, he caused the pestilence to +cease, and sent Gad the prophet to him, and commanded him to go +up immediately to the thrashing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, +and build an altar there to God, and offer sacrifices. When David +heard that, he did not neglect his duty, but made haste to the +place appointed him. Now Araunah was thrashing wheat; and when he +saw the king and all his servants coming to him, he ran before, +and came to him and worshipped him: he was by his lineage a +Jebusite, but a particular friend of David's; and for that cause +it was that, when he overthrew the city, he did him no harm, as +we informed the reader a little before. Now Araunah inquired, +"Wherefore is my lord come to his servant?" He answered, to buy +of him the thrashing-floor, that he might therein build an altar +to God, and offer a sacrifice. He replied, that he freely gave +him both the thrashing-floor and the ploughs and the oxen for a +burnt-offering; and he besought God graciously to accept his +sacrifice. But the king made answer, that he took his generosity +and magnanimity loudly, and accepted his good-will, but he +desired him to take the price of them all, for that it was not +just to offer a sacrifice that cost nothing. And when Araunah +said he would do as he pleased, he bought the thrashing-floor of +him for fifty shekels. And when he had built an altar, he +performed Divine service, and brought a burnt-offering, and +offered peace-offerings also. With these God was pacified, and +became gracious to them again. Now it happened that Abraham +(24)came and offered his son Isaac for a burnt-offering at that +very place; and when the youth was ready to have his throat cut, +a ram appeared on a sudden, standing by the altar, which Abraham +sacrificed in the stead of his son, as we have before related. +Now when king David saw that God had heard his prayer, and had +graciously accepted of his sacrifice, he resolved to call that +entire place The Altar of all the People, and to build a temple +to God there; which words he uttered very appositely to what was +to be done afterward; for God sent the prophet to him, and told +him that there should his son build him an altar, that son who +was to take the kingdom after him. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +That David Made Great Preparations For The House Of God; And +That, Upon Adonijah's Attempt To Gain The Kingdom, He Appointed +Solomon To Reign. + + +1. After the delivery of this prophecy, the king commanded the +strangers to be numbered; and they were found to be one hundred +and eighty thousand; of these he appointed fourscore thousand to +be hewers of stone, and the rest of the multitude to carry the +stones, and of them he set over the workmen three thousand and +five hundred. He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass +for the work, with many (and those exceeding large) cedar trees; +the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him, for he had sent to +them for a supply of those trees. And he told his friends that +these things were now prepared, that he might leave materials +ready for the building of the temple to his son, who was to reign +after him, and that he might not have them to seek then, when he +was very young, and by reason of his age unskillful in such +matters, but might have them lying by him, and so might the more +readily complete the work. + +2. So David called his son Solomon, and charged him, when he had +received the kingdom, to build a temple to God, and said, "I was +willing to build God a temple myself, but he prohibited me, +because I was polluted with blood and wars; but he hath foretold +that Solomon, my youngest son, should build him a temple, and +should be called by that name; over whom he hath promised to take +the like care as a father takes over his son; and that he would +make the country of the Hebrews happy under him, and that, not +only in other respects, but by giving it peace and freedom from +wars, and from internal seditions, which are the greatest of all +blessings. Since, therefore," says he, "thou wast ordained king +by God himself before thou wast born, endeavor to render thyself +worthy of this his providence, as in other instances, so +particularly in being religious, and righteous, and courageous. +Keep thou also his commands and his laws, which he hath given us +by Moses, and do not permit others to break them. Be zealous also +to dedicate to God a temple, which he hath chosen to be built +under thy reign; nor be thou aftrighted by the vastness of the +work, nor set about it timorously, for I will make all things +ready before I die: and take notice, that there are already ten +thousand talents of gold, and a hundred thousand talents of +silver (25) collected together. I have also laid together brass +and iron without number, and an immense quantity of timber and of +stones. Moreover, thou hast many ten thousand stone-cutters and +carpenters; and if thou shalt want any thing further, do thou add +somewhat of thine own. Wherefore, if thou performest this work, +thou wilt be acceptable to God, and have him for thy patron." +David also further exhorted the rulers of the people to assist +his son in this building, and to attend to the Divine service, +when they should be free from all their misfortunes, for that +they by this means should enjoy, instead of them, peace and a +happy settlement, with which blessings God rewards such men as +are religious and righteous. He also gave orders, that when the +temple should be once built, they should put the ark therein, +with the holy vessels; and he assured them that they ought to +have had a temple long ago, if their fathers had not been +negligent of God's commands, who had given it in charge, that +when they had got the possession of this land, they should build +him a temple. Thus did David discourse to the governors, and to +his son. + +3. David was now in years, and his body, by length of time, was +become cold, and benumbed, insomuch that he could get no heat by +covering himself with many clothes; and when the physicians came +together, they agreed to this advice, that a beautiful virgin, +chosen out of the whole country, should sleep by the king's side, +and that this damsel would communicate heat to him, and be a +remedy against his numbness. Now there was found in the city one +woman, of a superior beauty to all other women, (her name was +Abishag,) who, sleeping with the king, did no more than +communicate warmth to him, for he was so old that he could not +know her as a husband knows his wife. But of this woman we shall +speak more presently. + +4. Now the fourth son of David was a beautiful young man, and +tall, born to him of Haggith his wife. He was named Adonijah, and +was in his disposition like to Absalom; and exalted himself as +hoping to be king, and told his friends that he ought to take the +government upon him. He also prepared many chariots and horses, +and fifty men to run before him. When his father saw this, he did +not reprove him, nor restrain him from his purpose, nor did he go +so far as to ask wherefore he did so. Now Adonijah had for his +assistants Joab the captain of the army, and Abiathar the high +priest; and the only persons that opposed him were Zadok the high +priest, and the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, who was captain of +the guards, and Shimei, David's friend, with all the other most +mighty men. Now Adonijah had prepared a supper out of the city, +near the fountain that was in the king's paradise, and had +invited all his brethren except Solomon, and had taken with him +Joab the captain of the army, and: Abiathar, and the rulers of +the tribe of Judah, but had not invited to this feast either +Zadok the high priest, or Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah the +captain of the guards, nor any of those of the contrary party. +This matter was told by Nathan the prophet to Bathsheba, +Solomon's mother, that Adonijah was king, and that David knew +nothing of it; and he advised her to save herself and her son +Solomon, and to go by herself to David, and say to him, that he +had indeed sworn that Solomon should reign after him, but that in +the mean time Adonijah had already taken the kingdom. He said +that he, the prophet himself, would come after her, and when she +had spoken thus to the king, would confirm what she had said. +Accordingly Bathsheba agreed with Nathan, and went in to the king +and worshipped him, and when she had desired leave to speak with +him, she told him all things in the manner that Nathan had +suggested to her; and related what a supper Adonijah had made, +and who they were whom he had invited; Abiathar the and Joab the +general, and David's sons, excepting Solomon and his intimate +friends. She also said that all the people had their eyes upon +him, to know whom he would choose for their king. She desired him +also to consider how, after his departure, Adonijah, if he were +king, would slay her and her son Solomon. + +5. Now, as Bathsheba was speaking, the keeper of the king's +chambers told him that Nathan desired to see him. And when the +king had commanded that he should be admitted, he came in, and +asked him whether he had ordained Adonijah to be king, and +delivered the government to him, or not; for that he had made a +splendid supper, and invited all his sons, except Solomon; as +also that he had invited Joab, the captain of his host, [and +Abiathar the high priest,] who are feasting with applauses, and +many joyful sounds of instruments, and wish that his kingdom may +last for ever; but he hath not invited me, nor Zadok the high +priest, nor Benaiah the captain of the guards; and it is but fit +that all should know whether this be done by thy approbation or +not. When Nathan had said thus, the king commanded that they +should call Bathsheba to him, for she had gone out of the room +when the prophet came. And when Bathsheba was come, David said, +"I swear by Almighty God, that thy son Solomon shall certainly he +king, as I formerly swore; and that he shall sit upon my throne, +and that this very day also." So Bathsheba worshipped him, and +wished him a long life; and the king sent for Zadok the high +priest, and Benaiah the captain of the guards; and when they were +come, he ordered them to take with them Nathan the prophet, and +all the armed men about the palace, and to set his son Solomon +upon the king's mule, and to carry him out of the city to the +fountain called Gihon, and to anoint him there with the holy oil, +and to make him king. This he charged Zadok the high priest, and +Nathan the prophet, to do, and commanded them to follow Solomon +through the midst of the city, and to sound the trumpets, and +wish aloud that Solomon the king may sit upon the royal throne +for ever, that so all the people may know that he is ordained +king by his father. He also gave Solomon a charge concerning his +government, to rule the whole nation of the Hebrews, and +particularly the tribe of Judah, religiously and righteously. And +when Benaiah had prayed to God to be favorable to Solomon, +without any delay they set Solomon upon the mule, and brought him +out of the city to the fountain, and anointed him with oil, and +brought him into the city again, with acclamations and wishes +that his kingdom might continue a long time: and when they had +introduced him into the king's house, they set him upon the +throne; whereupon all the people betook themselves to make merry, +and to celebrate a festival, dancing and delighting themselves +with musical pipes, till both the earth and the air echoed with +the multitude of the instruments of music. + +6. Now when Adonijah and his guests perceived this noise, they +were in disorder; and Joab the captain of the host said he was +not pleased with these echoes, and the sound of these trumpets. +And when supper was set before them, nobody tasted of it, but +they were all very thoughtful what would be the matter. Then +Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the high priest, came running to +them; and when Adonijah saw the young man gladly, and said to him +that he was a good messenger, he declared to them the whole +matter about Solomon, and the determination of king David: +hereupon both Adonijah and all the guests rose hastily from the +feast, and every one fled to their own homes. Adonijah also, as +afraid of the king for what he had done, became a supplicant to +God, and took hold of the horns of the altar, which were +prominent. It was also told Solomon that he had so done; and that +he desired to receive assurances from him that he would not +remember the injury he had done, and not inflict any severe +punishment for it. Solomon answered very mildly and prudently, +that he forgave him this his offense; but said withal, that if he +were found out in any attempt for new innovations, that he would +be the author of his own punishment. So he sent to him, and +raised him up from the place of his supplication. And when he was +come to the king, and had worshipped him, the king bid him go +away to his own house, and have no suspicion of any harm; and +desired him to show himself a worthy man, as what would tend to +his own advantage. + +7. But David, being desirous of ordaining his son king of all the +people, called together their rulers to Jerusalem, with the +priests and the Levites; and having first numbered the Levites, +he found them to be thirty-eight thousand, from thirty years old +to fifty; out of which he appointed twenty-three thousand to take +care of the building of the temple, and out of the same, six +thousand to be judges of the people and scribes, four thousand +for porters to the house of God, and as many for singers, to sing +to the instruments which David had prepared, as we have said +already. He divided them also into courses: and when he had +separated the priests from them, he found of these priests +twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of Eleazar, and eight +of that of Ithamar; and he ordained that one course should +minister to God eight days, from sabbath to sabbath. And thus +were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, +and Zadok and Abiathar the high priests, and of all the rulers; +and that course which came up first was written down as the +first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the +twenty-fourth; and this partition hath remained to this day. He +also made twenty-four parts of the tribe of Levi; and when they +cast lots, they came up in the same manner for their courses of +eight days. He also honored the posterity of Moses, and made them +the keepers of the treasures of God, and of the donations which +the kings dedicated. He also ordained that all the tribe of Levi, +as well as the priests, should serve God night and day, as Moses +had enjoined them. + +8. After this he parted the entire army into twelve parts, with +their leaders [and captains of hundreds] and commanders. Now +every part had twenty-four thousand, which were ordered to wait +on Solomon, by thirty days at a time, from the first day till the +last, with the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. He +also set rulers over every part, such as he knew to be good and +righteous men. He set others also to take charge of the +treasures, and of the villages, and of the fields, and of the +beasts, whose names I do not think it necessary to mention. When +David had ordered all these officers after the manner before +mentioned, he called the rulers of the Hebrews, and their heads +of tribes, and the officers over the several divisions, and those +that were appointed over every work, and every possession; and +standing upon a high pulpit, he said to the multitude as follows: +"My brethren and my people, I would have you know that I intended +to build a house for God, and prepared a large quantity of gold, +and a hundred thousand talents of silver; but God prohibited me +by the prophet Nathan, because of the wars I had on your account, +and because my right hand was polluted with the slaughter of our +enemies; but he commanded that my son, who was to succeed me in +the kingdom, should build a temple for him. Now therefore, since +you know that of the twelve sons whom Jacob our forefather had +Judah was appointed to be king, and that I was preferred before +my six brethren, and received the government from God, and that +none of them were uneasy at it, so do I also desire that my sons +be not seditious one against another, now Solomon has received +the kingdom, but to bear him cheerfully for their lord, as +knowing that God hath chosen him; for it is not a grievous thing +to obey even a foreigner as a ruler, if it be God's will, but it +is fit to rejoice when a brother hath obtained that dignity, +since the rest partake of it with him. And I pray that the +promises of God may be fulfilled; and that this happiness which +he hath promised to bestow upon king Solomon, over all the +country, may continue therein for all time to come. And these +promises O son, will be firm, and come to a happy end, if thou +showest thyself to be a religious and a righteous man, and an +observer of the laws of thy country; but if not, expect adversity +upon thy disobedience to them." + +9. Now when the king had said this, he left off; but gave the +description and pattern of the building of the temple in the +sight of them all to Solomon: of the foundations and of the +chambers, inferior and superior; how many they were to be, and +how large in height and in breadth; as also he determined the +weight of the golden and silver vessels: moreover, he earnestly +excited them with his words to use the utmost alacrity about the +work; he exhorted the rulers also, and particularly the tribe of +Levi, to assist him, both because of his youth, and because God +had chosen him to take care of the building of the temple, and of +the government of the kingdom. He also declared to them that the +work would be easy, and not very laborious to them, because he +had prepared for it many talents of gold, and more of silver, +with timber, and a great many carpenters and stone-cutters, and a +large quantity of emeralds, and all sorts of precious stones; and +he said, that even now he would give of the proper goods of his +own dominion two hundred talents, and three hundred other talents +of pure gold, for the most holy place, and for the chariot of +God, the cherubim, which are to stand over and cover the ark. Now +when David had done speaking, there appeared great alacrity among +the rulers, and the priests, and the Levites, who now contributed +and made great and splendid promises for a future Contribution; +for they undertook to bring of gold five thousand talents, and +ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and many +ten thousand talents of iron; and if any one had a precious stone +he brought it, and bequeathed it to be put among the treasures; +of which Jachiel, one of the posterity of Moses, had the care. + +10. Upon this occasion all the people rejoiced, as in particular +did David, when he saw the zeal and forward ambition of the +rulers, and the priests, and of all the rest; and he began to +bless God with a loud voice, calling him the Father and Parent of +the universe, and the Author of human and divine things, with +which he had adorned Solomon, the patron and guardian of the +Hebrew nation, and of its happiness, and of that kingdom which he +hath given his son. Besides this, he prayed for happiness to all +the people; and to Solomon his son, a sound and a righteous mind, +and confirmed in all sorts of virtue; and then he commanded the +multitude to bless God; upon which they all fell down upon the +ground and worshipped him. They also gave thanks to David, on +account of all the blessings which they had received ever since +he had taken the kingdom. On the next day he presented sacrifices +to God, a thousand bullocks, and as many lambs, which they +offered for burnt-offerings. They also offered peace-offerings, +and slew many ten thousand sacrifices; and the king feasted all +day, together with all the people; and they anointed Solomon a +second time with the oil, and appointed him to be king, and Zadok +to be the high priest of the whole multitude. And when they had +brought Solomon to the royal palace, and had set him upon his +father's throne, they were obedient to him from that day. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +What Charge David Gave Tohis Son Solomon At The Approach Of His +Death, And How Many Things He Left Him For The Building Of The +Temple. + + +1. A Little afterward David also fell into a distemper, by reason +of his age; and perceiving that he was near to death, he called +his son Solomon, and discoursed to him thus: "I am now, O my son, +going to my grave, and to my fathers, which is the common way +which all men that now are, or shall be hereafter, must go; from +which way it is no longer possible to return, and to know any +thing that is done in this world. On which account I exhort thee, +while I am still alive, though already very near to death, in the +same manner as I have formerly said in my advice to thee, to be +righteous towards thy subjects, and religious towards God, that +hath given thee thy kingdom; to observe his commands and his +laws, which he hath sent us by Moses; and neither do thou out of +favor nor flattery allow any lust or other passion to weigh with +thee to disregard them; for if thou transgressest his laws, thou +wilt lose the favor of God, and thou wilt turn away his +providence from thee in all things; but if thou behave thyself so +as it behooves thee, and as I exhort thee, thou wilt preserve our +kingdom to our family, and no other house will bear rule over the +Hebrews but we ourselves for all ages. Be thou also mindful of +the transgressions of Joab, (26) the captain of the host, who +hath slain two generals out of envy, and those righteous and good +men, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether; whose +death do thou avenge as shall seem good to thee, since Joab hath +been too hard for me, and more potent than myself, and so hath +escaped punishment hitherto. I also commit to thee the son of +Barzillai the Gileadite, whom, in order to gratify me, thou shalt +have in great honor, and take great care of; for we have not done +good to him first, but we only repay that debt which we owe to +his father for what he did to me in my flight. There is also +Shimei the son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin, who, after he +had cast many reproaches upon me, when, in my flight, I was going +to Mahanaim, met me at Jordan, and received assurances that he +should then suffer nothing. Do thou now seek out for some just +occasion, and punish him." + +2. When David had given these admonitions to his son about public +affairs, and about his friends, and about those whom he knew to +deserve punishment, he died, having lived seventy years, and +reigned seven years and six months in Hebron over the tribe of +Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all the country. +This man was of an excellent character, and was endowed with all +virtues that were desirable in a king, and in one that had the +preservation of so many tribes committed to him; for he was a man +of valor in a very extraordinary degree, and went readily and +first of all into dangers, when he was to fight for his subjects, +as exciting the soldiers to action by his own labors, and +fighting for them, and not by commanding them in a despotic way. +He was also of very great abilities in understanding, and +apprehension of present and future circumstances, when he was to +manage any affairs. He was prudent and moderate, and kind to such +as were under any calamities; he was righteous and humane, which +are good qualities, peculiarly fit for kings; nor was he guilty +of any offense in the exercise of so great an authority, but in +the business of the wife of Uriah. He also left behind him +greater wealth than any other king, either of the Hebrews or, of +other nations, ever did. + +3. He was buried by his son Solomon, in Jerusalem, with great +magnificence, and with all the other funeral pomp which kings +used to be buried with; moreover, he had great and immense wealth +buried with him, the vastness of which may be easily conjectured +at by what I shall now say; for a thousand and three hundred +years afterward Hyrcanus the high priest, when he was besieged by +Antiochus, that was called the Pious, the son of Demetrius, and +was desirous of giving him money to get him to raise the siege +and draw off his army, and having no other method of compassing +the money, opened one room of David's sepulcher, and took out +three thousand talents, and gave part of that sum to Antiochus; +and by this means caused the siege to be raised, as we have +informed the reader elsewhere. Nay, after him, and that many +years, Herod the king opened another room, and took away a great +deal of money, and yet neither of them came at the coffins of the +kings themselves, for their bodies were buried under the earth so +artfully, that they did not appear to even those that entered +into their monuments. But so much shall suffice us to have said +concerning these matters. + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Sixty-Three Years. + +From The Death Of David To The Death Of Ahab. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Solomon, When He Had Received The Kingdom Took Off His +Enemies. + + +1. We have already treated of David, and his virtue, and of the +benefits he was the author of to his countrymen; of his wars also +and battles, which he managed with success, and then died an old +man, in the foregoing book. And when Solomon his son, who was but +a youth in age, had taken the kingdom, and whom David had +declared, while he was alive, the lord of that people, according +to God's will; when he sat upon the throne, the whole body of the +people made joyful acclamations to him, as is usual at the +beginning of a reign; and wished that all his affairs might come +to a blessed conclusion; and that he might arrive at a great age, +and at the most happy state of affairs possible. + +2. But Adonijah, who, while his father was living, attempted to +gain possession of the government, came to the king's mother +Bathsheba, and saluted her with great civility; and when she +asked him, whether he came to her as desiring her assistance in +any thing or not, and bade him tell her if that were the case, +for that she would cheerfully afford it him; he began to say, +that she knew herself that the kingdom was his, both on account +of his elder age, and of the disposition of the multitude, and +that yet it was transferred to Solomon her son, according to the +will of God. He also said that he was contented to be a servant +under him, and was pleased with the present settlement; but he +desired her to be a means of obtaining a favor from his brother +to him, and to persuade him to bestow on him in marriage Abishag, +who had indeed slept by his father, but, because his father was +too old, he did not lie with her, and she was still a virgin. So +Bathsheba promised him to afford him her assistance very +earnestly, and to bring this marriage about, because the king +would be willing to gratify him in such a thing, and because she +would press it to him very earnestly. Accordingly he went away in +hopes of succeeding in this match. So Solomon's mother went +presently to her son, to speak to him about what she had +promised, upon Adonijah's supplication to her. And when her son +came forward to meet her, and embraced her, and when he had +brought her into the house where his royal throne was set, he sat +thereon, and bid them set another throne on the right hand for +his mother. When Bathsheba was set down, she said, "O my son, +grant me one request that I desire of thee, and do not any thing +to me that is disagreeable or ungrateful, which thou wilt do if +thou deniest me." And when Solomon bid her to lay her commands +upon him, because it was agreeable to his duty to grant her every +thing she should ask, and complained that she did not at first +begin her discourse with a firm expectation of obtaining what she +desired, but had some suspicion of a denial, she entreated him to +grant that his brother Adonijah might marry Abishag. + +3. But the king was greatly offended at these words, and sent +away his mother, and said that Adonijah aimed at great things; +and that he wondered that she did not desire him to yield up the +kingdom to him, as to his elder brother, since she desired that +he might marry Abishag; and that he had potent friends, Joab the +captain of the host, and Abiathar the priest. So he called for +Benaiah, the captain of the guards, and ordered him to slay his +brother Adonijah. He also called for Abiathar the priest, and +said to him, "I will not put thee to death because of those other +hardships which thou hast endured with my father, and because of +the ark which thou hast borne along with him; but I inflict this +following punishment upon thee, because thou wast among +Adonijah's followers, and wast of his party. Do not thou continue +here, nor come any more into my sight, but go to thine own town, +and live on thy own fields, and there abide all thy life; for +thou hast offended so greatly, that it is not just that thou +shouldst retain thy dignity any longer." For the forementioned +cause, therefore, it was that the house of Ithamar was deprived +of the sacerdotal dignity, as God had foretold to Eli, the +grandfather of Abiathar. So it was transferred to the family of +Phineas, to Zadok. Now those that were of the family of Phineas, +but lived privately during the time that the high priesthood was +transferred to the house of Ithamar, (of which family Eli was the +first that received it,)were these that follow: Bukki, the son of +Abishua the high priest; his son was Joatham; Joatham's son was +Meraioth; Meraioth's son was Arophseus; Aropheus's son was +Ahitub; and Ahitub's son was Zadok, who was first made high +priest in the reign of David. + +4. Now when Joab the captain of the host heard of the slaughter +of Adonijah, he was greatly afraid, for he was a greater friend +to him than to Solomon; and suspecting, not without reason, that +he was in danger, on account of his favor to Adonijah, he fled to +the altar, and supposed he might procure safety thereby to +himself, because of the king's piety towards God. But when some +told the king what Joab's supposal was, he sent Benaiah, and +commanded him to raise him up from the altar, and bring him to +the judgment-seat, in order to make his defense. However, Joab +said he would not leave the altar, but would die there rather +than in another place. And when Benaiah had reported his answer +to the king, Solomon commanded him to cut off his head there (1) +and let him take that as a punishment for those two captains of +the host whom he had wickedly slain, and to bury his body, that +his sins might never leave his family, but that himself and his +father, by Joab's death, might be guiltless. And when Benaiah had +done what he was commanded to do, he was himself appointed to be +captain of the whole army. The king also made Zadok to be alone +the high priest, in the room of Abiathar, whom he had removed. + +5. But as to Shimei, Solomon commanded that he should build him a +house, and stay at Jerusalem, and attend upon him, and should not +have authority to go over the brook Cedron; and that if he +disobeyed that command, death should be his punishment. He also +threatened him so terribly, that he compelled him to take all +oath that he would obey. Accordingly Shimei said that he had +reason to thank Solomon for giving him such an injunction; and +added an oath, that he would do as he bade him; and leaving his +own country, he made his abode in Jerusalem. But three years +afterwards, when he heard that two of his servants were run away +from him, and were in Gath, he went for his servants in haste; +and when he was come back with them, the king perceived it, and +was much displeased that he had contemned his commands, and, what +was more, had no regard to the oaths he had sworn to God; so he +called him, and said to him, "Didst not thou swear never to leave +me, nor to go out of this city to another? Thou shalt not +therefore escape punishment for thy perjury, but I will punish +thee, thou wicked wretch, both for this crime, and for those +wherewith thou didst abuse my father when he was in his flight, +that thou mayst know that wicked men gain nothing at last, +although they be not punished immediately upon their unjust +practices; but that in all the time wherein they think themselves +secure, because they have yet suffered nothing, their punishment +increases, and is heavier upon them, and that to a greater degree +than if they had been punished immediately upon the commission of +their crimes." So Benaiah, on the king's command, slew Shimei. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +Concerning The Wife Of Solomon; Concerning His Wisdom And Riches; +And Concerning What He Obtained Of Hiram For The Building Of The +Temple. + + +1. Solomon having already settled himself firmly in his kingdom, +and having brought his enemies to punishment, he married the +daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and built the walls of +Jerusalem much larger and stronger than those that had been +before, (2) and thenceforward he managed public affairs very +peaceably. Nor was his youth any hinderance in the exercise of +justice, or in the observation of the laws, or in the remembrance +of what charges his father had given him at his death; but he +discharged every duty with great accuracy, that might have been +expected from such as are aged, and of the greatest prudence. He +now resolved to go to Hebron, and sacrifice to God upon the +brazen altar that was built by Moses. Accordingly he offered +there burnt-offerings, in number a thousand; and when he had done +this, he thought he had paid great honor to God; for as he was +asleep that very night God appeared to him, and commanded him to +ask of him some gifts which he was ready to give him as a reward +for his piety. So Solomon asked of God what was most excellent, +and of the greatest worth in itself, what God would bestow with +the greatest joy, and what it was most profitable for man to +receive; for he did not desire to have bestowed upon him either +gold or silver, or any other riches, as a man and a youth might +naturally have done, for these are the things that generally are +esteemed by most men, as alone of the greatest worth, and the +best gifts of God; but, said he, "Give me, O Lord, a sound mind, +and a good understanding, whereby I may speak and judge the +people according to truth and righteousness." With these +petitions God was well pleased; and promised to give him all +those things that he had not mentioned in his option, riches, +glory, victory over his enemies; and, in the first place, +understanding and wisdom, and this in such a degree as no other +mortal man, neither kings nor ordinary persons, ever had. He also +promised to preserve the kingdom to his posterity for a very long +time, if he continued righteous and obedient to him, and imitated +his father in those things wherein he excelled. When Solomon +heard this from God, he presently leaped out of his bed; and when +he had worshipped him, he returned to Jerusalem; and after he had +offered great sacrifices before the tabernacle, he feasted all +his own family. + +2. In these days a hard cause came before him in judgment, which +it was very difficult to find any end of; and I think it +necessary to explain the fact about which the contest was, that +such as light upon my writings may know what a difficult cause +Solomon was to determine, and those that are concerned in such +matters may take this sagacity of the king for a pattern, that +they may the more easily give sentence about such questions. +There were two women, who were harlots in the course of their +lives, that came to him; of whom she that seemed to be injured +began to speak first, and said, "O king, I and this other woman +dwell together in one room. Now it came to pass that we both bore +a son at the same hour of the same day; and on the third day this +woman overlaid her son, and killed it, and then took my son out +of my bosom, and removed him to herself, and as I was asleep she +laid her dead son in my arms. Now, when in the morning I was +desirous to give the breast to the child, I did not find my own, +but saw the woman's dead child lying by me; for I considered it +exactly, and found it so to be. Hence it was that I demanded my +son, and when I could not obtain him, I have recourse, my lord, +to thy assistance; for since we were alone, and there was nobody +there that could convict her, she cares for nothing, but +perseveres in the stout denial of the fact." When this woman had +told this her story, the king asked the other woman what she had +to say in contradiction to that story. But when she denied that +she had done what was charged upon her, and said that it was her +child that was living, and that it was her antagonist's child +that was dead, and when no one could devise what judgment could +be given, and the whole court were blind in their understanding, +and could not tell how to find out this riddle, the king alone +invented the following way how to discover it. He bade them bring +in both the dead child and the living child; and sent one of his +guards, and commanded him to fetch a sword, and draw it, and to +cut both the children into two pieces, that each of the women +might have half the living and half the dead child. Hereupon all +the people privately laughed at the king, as no more than a +youth. But, in the mean time, she that was the real mother of the +living child cried out that he should not do so, but deliver that +child to the other woman as her own, for she would be satisfied +with the life of the child, and with the sight of it, although it +were esteemed the other's child; but the other woman was ready to +see the child divided, and was desirous, moreover, that the first +woman should be tormented. When the king understood that both +their words proceeded from the truth of their passions, he +adjudged the child to her that cried out to save it, for that she +was the real mother of it; and he condemned the other as a wicked +woman, who had not only killed her own child, but was endeavoring +to see her friend's child destroyed also. Now the multitude +looked on this determination as a great sign and demonstration of +the king's sagacity and wisdom, and after that day attended to +him as to one that had a divine mind. + +3. Now the captains of his armies, and officers appointed over +the whole country, were these: over the lot of Ephraim was Ures; +over the toparchy of Bethlehem was Dioclerus; Abinadab, who +married Solomon's daughter, had the region of Dora and the +sea-coast under him; the Great Plain was under Benaiah, the son +of Achilus; he also governed all the country as far as Jordan; +Gabaris ruled over Gilead and Gaulanitis, and had under him the +sixty great and fenced cities [of Og]; Achinadab managed the +affairs of all Galilee as far as Sidon, and had himself also +married a daughter of Solomon's, whose name was Basima; Banacates +had the seacoast about Arce; as had Shaphat Mount Tabor, and +Carmel, and [the Lower] Galilee, as far as the river Jordan; one +man was appointed over all this country; Shimei was intrusted +with the lot of Benjamin; and Gabares had the country beyond +Jordan, over whom there was again one governor appointed. Now the +people of the Hebrews, and particularly the tribe of Judah, +received a wonderful increase when they betook themselves to +husbandry, and the cultivation of their grounds; for as they +enjoyed peace, and were not distracted with wars and troubles, +and having, besides, an abundant fruition of the most desirable +liberty, every one was busy in augmenting the product of their +own lands, and making them worth more than they had formerly +been. + +4. The king had also other rulers, who were over the land of +Syria and of the Philistines, which reached from the river +Euphrates to Egypt, and these collected his tributes of the +nations. Now these contributed to the king's table, and to his +supper every day (3) thirty cori of fine flour, and sixty of +meal; as also ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, +and a hundred fat lambs; all these were besides what were taken +by hunting harts and buffaloes, and birds and fishes, which were +brought to the king by foreigners day by day. Solomon had also so +great a number of chariots, that the stalls of his horses for +those chariots were forty thousand; and besides these he had +twelve thousand horsemen, the one half of which waited upon the +king in Jerusalem, and the rest were dispersed abroad, and dwelt +in the royal villages; but the same officer who provided for the +king's expenses supplied also the fodder for the horses, and +still carried it to the place where the king abode at that time. + +5. Now the sagacity and wisdom which God had bestowed on Solomon +was so great, that he exceeded the ancients; insomuch that he was +no way inferior to the Egyptians, who are said to have been +beyond all men in understanding; nay, indeed, it is evident that +their sagacity was very much inferior to that of the king's. He +also excelled and distinguished himself in wisdom above those who +were most eminent among the Hebrews at that time for shrewdness; +those I mean were Ethan, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the +sons of Mahol. He also composed books of odes and songs a +thousand and five, of parables and similitudes three thousand; +for he spake a parable upon every sort of tree, from the hyssop +to the cedar; and in like manner also about beasts, about all +sorts of living creatures, whether upon the earth, or in the +seas, or in the air; for he was not unacquainted with any of +their natures, nor omitted inquiries about them, but described +them all like a philosopher, and demonstrated his exquisite +knowledge of their several properties. God also enabled him to +learn that skill which expels demons, (4) which is a science +useful and sanative to men. He composed such incantations also by +which distempers are alleviated. And he left behind him the +manner of using exorcisms, by which they drive away demons, so +that they never return; and this method of cure is of great force +unto this day; for I have seen a certain man of my own country, +whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal in +the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his captains, and +the whole multitude of his soldiers. The manner of the cure was +this: He put a ring that had a Foot of one of those sorts +mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which +he drew out the demon through his nostrils; and when the man fell +down immediately, he abjured him to return into him no more, +making still mention of Solomon, and reciting the incantations +which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and +demonstrate to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a +little way off a cup or basin full of water, and commanded the +demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby to +let the spectators know that he had left the man; and when this +was done, the skill and wisdom of Solomon was shown very +manifestly: for which reason it is, that all men may know the +vastness of Solomon's abilities, and how he was beloved of God, +and that the extraordinary virtues of every kind with which this +king was endowed may not be unknown to any people under the sun +for this reason, I say, it is that we have proceeded to speak so +largely of these matters. + +6. Moreover Hiram, king of Tyre, when he had heard that Solonion +succeeded to his father's kingdom, was very glad of it, for he +was a friend of David's. So he sent ambassadors to him, and +saluted him, and congratulated him on the present happy state of +his affairs. Upon which Solomon sent him an epistle, the contents +of which here follow: + +Solomon To King Hiram. + +"(5)Know thou that my father would have built a temple to God, +but was hindered by wars, and continual expeditions; for he did +not leave off to overthrow his enemies till he made them all +subject to tribute. But I give thanks to God for the peace I at +present enjoy, and on that account I am at leisure, and design to +build a house to God, for God foretold to my father that such a +house should be built by me; wherefore I desire thee to send some +of thy subjects with mine to Mount Lebanon to cut down timber, +for the Sidonians are more skillful than our people in cutting of +wood. As for wages to the hewers of wood, I will pay whatsoever +price thou shalt determine." + +7. When Hiram had read this epistle, he was pleased with it; and +wrote back this answer to Solomon. + +Hiram To King Solomon. + +"It is fit to bless God that he hath committed thy father's +government to thee, who art a wise man, and endowed with all +virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, +and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me +about; for when by my subjects I have cut down many and large +trees of cedar and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and +will order my subjects to make floats of them, and to sail to +what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave +them there, after which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem. +But do thou take care to procure us corn for this timber, which +we stand in need of, because we inhabit in an island." + +8. The copies of these epistles remain at this day, and are +preserved not only in our books, but among the Tyrians also; +insomuch that if any one would know the certainty about them, he +may desire of the keepers of the public records of Tyre to show +him them, and he will find what is there set down to agree with +what we have said. I have said so much out of a desire that my +readers may know that we speak nothing but the truth, and do not +compose a history out of some plausible relations, which deceive +men and please them at the same time, nor attempt to avoid +examination, nor desire men to believe us immediately; nor are we +at liberty to depart from speaking truth, which is the proper +commendation of an historian, and yet be blameless: but we insist +upon no admission of what we say, unless we be able to manifest +its truth by demonstration, and the strongest vouchers. + +9. Now king Solomon, as soon as this epistle of the king of Tyre +was brought him, commended the readiness and good-will he +declared therein, and repaid him in what he desired, and sent him +yearly twenty thousand cori of wheat, and as many baths of oil: +now the bath is able to contain seventy-two sextaries. He also +sent him the same measure of wine. So the friendship between +Hiram and Solomon hereby increased more and more; and they swore +to continue it for ever. And the king appointed a tribute to be +laid on all the people, of thirty thousand laborers, whose work +he rendered easy to them by prudently dividing it among them; for +he made ten thousand cut timber in Mount Lebanon for one month; +and then to come home, and rest two months, until the time when +the other twenty thousand had finished their task at the +appointed time; and so afterward it came to pass that the first +ten thousand returned to their work every fourth month: and it +was Adoram who was over this tribute. There were also of the +strangers who were left by David, who were to carry the stones +and other materials, seventy thousand; and of those that cut the +stones, eighty thousand. Of these three thousand and three +hundred were rulers over the rest. He also enjoined them to cut +out large stones for the foundations of the temple, and that they +should fit them and unite them together in the mountain, and so +bring them to the city. This was done not only by our own country +workmen, but by those workmen whom Hiram sent also. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +Of The Building Of This Temple + + +1. Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his +reign, on the second month, which the Macedonians call +Artemisius, and the Hebrews Jur, five hundred and ninety-two +years after the Exodus out of Egypt; but one thousand and twenty +years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, and +after the deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years; and +from Adam, the first man who was created, until Solomon built the +temple, there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and +two years. Now that year on which the temple began to be built +was already the eleventh year of the reign of Hiram; but from the +building of Tyre to the building of the temple, there had passed +two hundred and forty years. + +2. Now, therefore, the king laid the foundations of the temple +very deep in the ground, and the materials were strong stones, +and such as would resist the force of time; these were to unite +themselves with the earth, and become a basis and a sure +foundation for that superstructure which was to be erected over +it; they were to be so strong, in order to sustain with ease +those vast superstructures and precious ornaments, whose own +weight was to be not less than the weight of those other high and +heavy buildings which the king designed to be very ornamental and +magnificent. They erected its entire body, quite up to the roof, +of white stone; its height was sixty cubits, and its length was +the same, and its breadth twenty. There was another building +erected over it, equal to it in its measures; so that the entire +altitude of the temple was a hundred and twenty cubits. Its front +was to the east. As to the porch, they built it before the +temple; its length was twenty cubits, and it was so ordered that +it might agree with the breadth of the house; and it had twelve +cubits in latitude, and its height was raised as high as a +hundred and twenty cubits. He also built round about the temple +thirty small rooms, which might include the whole temple, by +their closeness one to another, and by their number and outward +position round it. He also made passages through them, that they +might come into on through another. Every one of these rooms had +five cubits in breadth, (7) and the same in length, but in height +twenty. Above these there were other rooms, and others above +them, equal, both in their measures and number; so that these +reached to a height equal to the lower part of the house; for the +upper part had no buildings about it. The roof that was over the +house was of cedar; and truly every one of these rooms had a roof +of their own, that was not connected with the other rooms; but +for the other parts, there was a covered roof common to them all, +and built with very long beams, that passed through the rest, and +rough the whole building, that so the middle walls, being +strengthened by the same beams of timber, might be thereby made +firmer: but as for that part of the roof that was under the +beams, it was made of the same materials, and was all made +smooth, and had ornaments proper for roofs, and plates of gold +nailed upon them. And as he enclosed the walls with boards of +cedar, so he fixed on them plates of gold, which had sculptures +upon them; so that the whole temple shined, and dazzled the eyes +of such as entered, by the splendor of the gold that was on every +side of them, Now the whole structure of the temple was made with +great skill of polished stones, and those laid together so very +harmoniously and smoothly, that there appeared to the spectators +no sign of any hammer, or other instrument of architecture; but +as if, without any use of them, the entire materials had +naturally united themselves together, that the agreement of one +part with another seemed rather to have been natural, than to +have arisen from the force of tools upon them. The king also had +a fine contrivance for an ascent to the upper room over the +temple, and that was by steps in the thickness of its wall; for +it had no large door on the east end, as the lower house had, but +the entrances were by the sides, through very small doors. He +also overlaid the temple, both within and without, with boards of +cedar, that were kept close together by thick chains, so that +this contrivance was in the nature of a support and a strength to +the building. + +3. Now when the king had divided the temple into two parts, he +made the inner house of twenty cubits [every way], to be the most +secret chamber, but he appointed that of forty cubits to be the +sanctuary; and when he had cut a door-place out of the wall, he +put therein doors of Cedar, and overlaid them with a great deal +of gold, that had sculptures upon it. He also had veils of blue, +and purple, and scarlet, and the brightest and softest linen, +with the most curious flowers wrought upon them, which were to be +drawn before those doors. He also dedicated for the most secret +place, whose breadth was twenty cubits, and length the same, two +cherubims of solid gold; the height of each of them was five +cubits (8) they had each of them two wings stretched out as far +as five cubits; wherefore Solomon set them up not far from each +other, that with one wing they might touch the southern wall of +the secret place, and with another the northern: their other +wings, which joined to each other, were a covering to the ark, +which was set between them; but nobody can tell, or even +conjecture, what was the shape of these cherubims. He also laid +the floor of the temple with plates of gold; and he added doors +to the gate of the temple, agreeable to the measure of the height +of the wall, but in breadth twenty cubits, and on them he glued +gold plates. And, to say all in one word, he left no part of the +temple, neither internal nor external, but what was covered with +gold. He also had curtains drawn over these doors in like manner +as they were drawn over the inner doors of the most holy place; +but the porch of the temple had nothing of that sort. + +4. Now Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre, whose name was +Hiram; he was by birth of the tribe of Naphtali, on the mother's +side, (for she was of that tribe,) but his father was Ur, of the +stock of the Israelites. This man was skillful in all sorts of +work; but his chief skill lay in working in gold, and silver, and +brass; by whom were made all the mechanical works about the +temple, according to the will of Solomon. Moreover, this Hiram +made two [hollow] pillars, whose outsides were of brass, and the +thickness of the brass was four fingers' breadth, and the height +of the pillars was eighteen cubits and their circumference twelve +cubits; but there was cast with each of their chapiters lily-work +that stood upon the pillar, and it was elevated five cubits, +round about which there was net-work interwoven with small palms, +made of brass, and covered the lily-work. To this also were hung +two hundred pomegranates, in two rows. The one of these pillars +he set at the entrance of the porch on the right hand, and called +it Jachin (9) and the other at the left hand, and called it Booz. + +5. Solomon also cast a brazen sea, whose figure was that of a +hemisphere. This brazen vessel was called a sea for its +largeness, for the laver was ten feet in diameter, and cast of +the thickness of a palm. Its middle part rested on a short pillar +that had ten spirals round it, and that pillar was ten cubits in +diameter. There stood round about it twelve oxen, that looked to +the four winds of heaven, three to each wind, having their hinder +parts depressed, that so the hemispherical vessel might rest upon +them, which itself was also depressed round about inwardly. Now +this sea contained three thousand baths. + +6. He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers; +the length of every one of these bases was five cubits, and the +breadth four cubits, and the height six cubits. This vessel was +partly turned, and was thus contrived: There were four small +quadrangular pillars that stood one at each corner; these had the +sides of the base fitted to them on each quarter; they were +parted into three parts; every interval had a border fitted to +support [the laver]; upon which was engraven, in one place a +lion, and in another place a bull, and an eagle. The small +pillars had the same animals engraven that were engraven on the +sides. The whole work was elevated, and stood upon four wheels, +which were also cast, which had also naves and felloes, and were +a foot and a half in diameter. Any one who saw the spokes of the +wheels, how exactly they were turned, and united to the sides of +the bases, and with what harmony they agreed to the felloes, +would wonder at them. However, their structure was this: Certain +shoulders of hands stretched out held the corners above, upon +which rested a short spiral pillar, that lay under the hollow +part of the laver, resting upon the fore part of the eagle and +the lion, which were adapted to them, insomuch that those who +viewed them would think they were of one piece: between these +were engravings of palm trees. This was the construction of the +ten bases. He also made ten large round brass vessels, which were +the lavers themselves, each of which contained forty baths; (10) +for it had its height four cubits, and its edges were as much +distant from each other. He also placed these lavers upon the ten +bases that were called Mechonoth; and he set five of the lavers +on the left side of the temple (11) which was that side towards +the north wind, and as many on the right side, towards the south, +but looking towards the east; the same [eastern] way he also set +the sea Now he appointed the sea to be for washing the hands and +the feet of the priests, when they entered into the temple and +were to ascend the altar, but the lavers to cleanse the entrails +of the beasts that were to be burnt-offerings, with their feet +also. + +7. He also made a brazen altar, whose length was twenty cubits, +and its breadth the same, and its height ten, for the +burnt-offerings. He also made all its vessels of brass, the pots, +and the shovels, and the basons; and besides these, the snuffers +and the tongs, and all its other vessels, he made of brass, and +such brass as was in splendor and beauty like gold. The king also +dedicated a great number of tables, but one that was large and +made of gold, upon which they set the loaves of God; and he made +ten thousand more that resembled them, but were done after +another manner, upon which lay the vials and the cups; those of +gold were twenty thousand, those of silver were forty thousand. +He also made ten thousand candlesticks, according to the command +of Moses, one of which he dedicated for the temple, that it might +burn in the day time, according to the law; and one table with +loaves upon it, on the north side of the temple, over against the +candlestick; for this he set on the south side, but the golden +altar stood between them. All these vessels were contained in +that part of the holy house, which was forty cubits long, and +were before the veil of that most secret place wherein the ark +was to be set. + +8. The king also made pouring vessels, in number eighty thousand, +and a hundred thousand golden vials, and twice as many silver +vials: of golden dishes, in order therein to offer kneaded fine +flour at the altar, there were eighty thousand, and twice as many +of silver. Of large basons also, wherein they mixed fine flour +with oil, sixty thousand of gold, and twice as many of silver. Of +the measures like those which Moses called the Hin and the +Assaron, (a tenth deal,) there were twenty thousand of gold, and +twice as many of silver. The golden censers, in which they +carried the incense to the altar, were twenty thousand; the other +censers, in which they carried fire from the great altar to the +little altar, within the temple, were fifty thousand. The +sacerdotal garments which belonged to the high priest, with the +long robes, and the oracle, and the precious stones, were a +thousand. But the crown upon which Moses wrote [the name of +God],]was only one, and hath remained to this very day. He also +made ten thousand sacerdotal garments of fine linen, with purple +girdles for every priest; and two hundred thousand trumpets, +according to the command of Moses; also two hundred thousand +garments of fine linen for the singers, that were Levites. And he +made musical instruments, and such as were invented for singing +of hymns, called Nablee and Cindree, [psalteries and harps,] +which were made of electrum, [the finest brass,] forty thousand. + +9. Solomon made all these things for the honor of God, with great +variety and magnificence, sparing no cost, but using all possible +liberality in adorning the temple; and these things he dedicated +to the treasures of God. He also placed a partition round about +the temple, which in our tongue we call Gison, but it is called +Thrigcos by the Greeks, and he raised it up to the height of +three cubits; and it was for the exclusion of the multitude from +coming into the temple, and showing that it was a place that was +free and open only for the priests. He also built beyond this +court a temple, whose figure was that of a quadrangle, and +erected for it great and broad cloisters; this was entered into +by very high gates, each of which had its front exposed to one of +the [four] winds, and were shut by golden doors. Into this temple +all the people entered that were distinguished from the rest by +being pure and observant of the laws. But he made that temple +which was beyond this a wonderful one indeed, and such as exceeds +all description in words; nay, if I may so say, is hardly +believed upon sight; for when he had filled up great valleys with +earth, which, on account of their immense depth, could not be +looked on, when you bended down to see them, without pain, and +had elevated the ground four hundred cubits, he made it to be on +a level with the top of the mountain, on which the temple was +built, and by this means the outmost temple, which was exposed to +the air, was even with the temple itself. He encompassed this +also with a building of a double row of cloisters, which stood on +high upon pillars of native stone, while the roofs were of cedar, +and were polished in a manner proper for such high roofs; but he +made all the doors of this temple of silver. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Solomon Removed The Ark Into The Temple How He Made +Supplication To God, And Offered Public Sacrifices To Him. + + +1. When king Solomon had finished these works, these large and +beautiful buildings, and had laid up his donations in the temple, +and all this in the interval of seven years, and had given a +demonstration of his riches and alacrity therein, insomuch that +any one who saw it would have thought it must have been an +immense time ere it could have been finished; and would be +surprised that so much should be finished in so short a time; +short, I mean, if compared with the greatness of the work: he +also wrote to the rulers and elders of the Hebrews, and ordered +all the people to gather themselves together to Jerusalem, both +to see the temple which he had built, and to remove the ark of +God into it; and when this invitation of the whole body of the +people to come to Jerusalem was every where carried abroad, it +was the seventh month before they came together; which month is +by our countrymen called Thisri, but by the Macedonians +Hyperberetoets. The feast of tabernacles happened to fall at the +same time, which was celebrated by the Hebrews as a most holy and +most eminent feast. So they carried the ark and the tabernacle +which Moses had pitched, and all the vessels that were for +ministration, to the sacrifices of God, and removed them to the +temple. (13) The king himself, and all the people and the +Levites, went before, rendering the ground moist with sacrifices, +and drink-offerings, and the blood of a great number of +oblations, and burning an immense quantity of incense, and this +till the very air itself every where round about was so full of +these odors, that it met, in a most agreeable manner, persons at +a great distance, and was an indication of God's presence; and, +as men's opinion was, of his habitation with them in this newly +built and consecrated place, for they did not grow weary, either +of singing hymns or of dancing, until they came to the temple; +and in this manner did they carry the ark. But when they should +transfer it into the most secret place, the rest of the multitude +went away, and only those priests that carried it set it between +the two cherubims, which embracing it with their wings, (for so +were they framed by the artificer,) they covered it, as under a +tent, or a cupola. Now the ark contained nothing else but those +two tables of stone that preserved the ten commandments, which +God spake to Moses in Mount Sinai, and which were engraved upon +them; but they set the candlestick, and the table, and the golden +altar in the temple, before the most secret place, in the very +same places wherein they stood till that time in the tabernacle. +So they offered up the daily sacrifices; but for the brazen +altar, Solomon set it before the temple, over against the door, +that when the door was opened, it might be exposed to sight, and +the sacred solemnities, and the richness of the sacrifices, might +be thence seen; and all the rest of the vessels they gathered +together, and put them within the temple. + +2. Now as soon as the priests had put all things in order about +the ark, and were gone out, there cane down a thick cloud, and +stood there, and spread itself, after a gentle manner, into the +temple; such a cloud it was as was diffused and temperate, not +such a rough one as we see full of rain in the winter season. +This cloud so darkened the place, that one priest could not +discern another, but it afforded to the minds of all a visible +image and glorious appearance of God's having descended into this +temple, and of his having gladly pitched his tabernacle therein. +So these men were intent upon this thought. But Solomon rose up, +(for he was sitting before,) and used such words to God as he +thought agreeable to the Divine nature to receive, and fit for +him to give; for he said, "Thou hast an eternal house, O Lord, +and such a one as thou hast created for thyself out of thine own +works; we know it to be the heaven, and the air, and the earth, +and the sea, which thou pervadest, nor art thou contained within +their limits. I have indeed built this temple to thee, and thy +name, that from thence, when we sacrifice, and perform sacred +operations, we may send our prayers up into the air, and may +constantly believe that thou art present, and art not remote from +what is thine own; for neither when thou seest all things, and +hearest all things, nor now, when it pleases thee to dwell here, +dost thou leave the care of all men, but rather thou art very +near to them all, but especially thou art present to those that +address themselves to thee, whether by night or by day." When he +had thus solemnly addressed himself to God, he converted his +discourse to the multitude, and strongly represented the power +and providence of God to them; - how he had shown all things that +were come to pass to David his father, as many of those things +had already come to pass, and the rest would certainly come to +pass hereafter; and how he had given him his name, and told to +David what he should be called before he was born; and foretold, +that when he should be king after his father's death, he should +build him a temple, which since they saw accomplished, according +to his prediction, he required them to bless God, and by +believing him, from the sight of what they had seen accomplished, +never to despair of any thing that he had promised for the +future, in order to their happiness, or suspect that it would not +come to pass. + +3. When the king had thus discoursed to the multitude, he looked +again towards the temple, and lifting up his right hand to the +multitude, he said," It is not possible by what men can do to +return sufficient thanks to God for his benefits bestowed upon +them, for the Deity stands in need of nothing, and is above any +such requital; but so far as we have been made superior, O Lord, +to other animals by thee, it becomes us to bless thy Majesty, and +it is necessary for us to return thee thanks for what thou hast +bestowed upon our house, and on the Hebrew people; for with what +other instrument can we better appease thee when thou art angry +at us, or more properly preserve thy favor, than with our voice? +which, as we have it from the air, so do we know that by that air +it ascends upwards [towards thee]. I therefore ought myself to +return thee thanks thereby, in the first place, concerning my +father, whom thou hast raised from obscurity unto so great joy; +and, in the next place, concerning myself, since thou hast +performed all that thou hast promised unto this very day. And I +beseech thee for the time to come to afford us whatsoever thou, O +God, hast power to bestow on such as thou dost esteem; and to +augment our house for all ages, as thou hast promised to David my +father to do, both in his lifetime and at his death, that our +kingdom shall continue, and that his posterity should +successively receive it to ten thousand generations. Do not thou +therefore fail to give us these blessings, and to bestow on my +children that virtue in which thou delightest. And besides all +this, I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt let some portion of +thy Spirit come down and inhabit in this temple, that thou mayst +appear to be with us upon earth. As to thyself, the entire +heavens, and the immensity of the things that are therein, are +but a small habitation for thee, much more is this poor temple +so; but I entreat thee to keep it as thine own house, from being +destroyed by our enemies for ever, and to take care of it as +thine own possession: but if this people be found to have sinned, +and be thereupon afflicted by thee with any plague, because of +their sin, as with dearth or pestilence, or any other affliction +which thou usest to inflict on those that transgress any of thy +holy laws, and if they fly all of them to this temple, beseeching +thee, and begging of time to deliver them, then do thou hear +their prayers, as being within thine house, and have mercy upon +them, and deliver them from their afflictions. Nay, moreover, +this help is what I implore of thee, not for the Hebrews only, +when they are in distress, but when any shall come hither from +any ends of the world whatsoever, and shall return from their +sins and implore thy pardon, do thou then pardon them, and hear +their prayer. For hereby all shall learn that thou thyself wast +pleased with the building of this house for thee; and that we are +not ourselves of an unsociable nature, nor behave ourselves like +enemies to such as are not of our own people; but are willing +that thy assistance should be communicated by thee to all men in +common, and that they may have the enjoyment of thy benefits +bestowed upon them." + +4. When Solomon had said this, and had cast himself upon the +ground, and worshipped a long time, he rose up, and brought +sacrifices to the altar; and when he had filled it with +unblemished victims, he most evidently discovered that God had +with pleasure accepted of all that he had sacrificed to him, for +there came a fire running out of the air, and rushed with +violence upon the altar, in the sight of all, and caught hold of +and consumed the sacrifices. Now when this Divine appearance was +seen, the people supposed it to be a demonstration of God's abode +in the temple, and were pleased with it, and fell down upon the +ground and worshipped. Upon which the king began to bless God, +and exhorted the multitude to do the same, as now having +sufficient indications of God's favorable disposition to them; +and to pray that they might always have the like indications from +him, and that he would preserve in them a mind pure from all +wickedness, in righteousness and religious worship, and that they +might continue in the observation of those precepts which God had +given them by Moses, because by that means the Hebrew nation +would be happy, and indeed the most blessed of all nations among +all mankind. He exhorted them also to be mindful, that by what +methods they had attained their present good things, by the same +they must preserve them sure to themselves, and make them greater +and more than they were at present; for that it was not +sufficient for them to suppose they had received them on account +of their piety and righteousness, but that they had no other way +of preserving them for the time to come; for that it is not so +great a thing for men to acquire somewhat which they want, as to +preserve what they have acquired, and to be guilty of no sin +whereby it may be hurt. + +5. So when the king had spoken thus to the multitude, he +dissolved the congregation, but not till he had completed his +oblations, both for himself and for the Hebrews, insomuch that he +sacrificed twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty +thousand sheep; for then it was that the temple did first of all +taste of the victims, and all the Hebrews, with their wives and +children, feasted therein: nay, besides this, the king then +observed splendidly and magnificently the feast which is called +the Feast of Tabernacles, before the temple, for twice seven +days; and he then feasted together with all the people. + +6. When all these solemnities were abundantly satisfied, and +nothing was omitted that concerned the Divine worship, the king +dismissed them; and they every one went to their own homes, +giving thanks to the king for the care he had taken of them, and +the works he had done for them; and praying to God to preserve +Solomon to be their king for a long time. They also took their +journey home with rejoicing, and making merry, and singing hymns +to God. And indeed the pleasure they enjoyed took away the sense +of the pains they all underwent in their journey home. So when +they had brought the ark into the temple, and had seen its +greatness, and how fine it was, and had been partakers of the +many sacrifices that had been offered, and of the festivals that +had been solemnized, they every one returned to their own cities. +But a dream that appeared to the king in his sleep informed him +that God had heard his prayers; and that he would not only +preserve the temple, but would always abide in it; that is, in +case his posterity and the whole multitude would be righteous. +And for himself, it said, that if he continued according to the +admonitions of his father, he would advance him to an immense +degree of dignity and happiness, and that then his posterity +should be kings of that country, of the tribe of Judah, for ever; +but that still, if he should be found a betrayer of the +ordinances of the law, and forget them, and turn away to the +worship of strange gods, he would cut him off by the roots, and +would neither suffer any remainder of his family to continue, nor +would overlook the people of Israel, or preserve them any longer +from afflictions, but would utterly destroy them with ten +thousand wars and misfortunes; would cast them out of the land +which he had given their fathers, and make them sojourners in +strange lands; and deliver that temple which was now built to be +burnt and spoiled by their enemies, and that city to be utterly +overthrown by the hands of their enemies; and make their miseries +deserve to be a proverb, and such as should very hardly be +credited for their stupendous magnitude, till their neighbors, +when they should hear of them, should wonder at their calamities, +and very earnestly inquire for the occasion, why the Hebrews, who +had been so far advanced by God to such glory and wealth, should +be then so hated by him? and that the answer that should be made +by the remainder of the people should be, by confessing their +sins, and their transgression of the laws of their country. +Accordingly we have it transmitted to us in writing, that thus +did God speak to Solomon in his sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Solomon Built Himself A Royal Palace, Very Costly And +Splendid; And How He Solved The Riddles Which Were Sent Him By +Hiram. + + +1. After the building of the temple, which, as we have before +said, was finished in seven years, the king laid the foundation +of his palace, which he did not finish under thirteen years, for +he was not equally zealous in the building of this palace as he +had been about the temple; for as to that, though it was a great +work, and required wonderful and surprising application, yet God, +for whom it was made, so far co-operated therewith, that it was +finished in the forementioned number of years: but the palace, +which was a building much inferior in dignity to the temple, both +on account that its materials had not been so long beforehand +gotten ready, nor had been so zealously prepared, and on account +that this was only a habitation for kings, and not for God, it +was longer in finishing. However, this building was raised so +magnificently, as suited the happy state of the Hebrews, and of +the king thereof. But it is necessary that I describe the entire +structure and disposition of the parts, that so those that light +upon this book may thereby make a conjecture, and, as it were, +have a prospect of its magnitude. + +2. This house was a large and curious building, and was supported +by many pillars, which Solomon built to contain a multitnde for +hearing causes, and taking cognizance of suits. It was +sufficiently capacious to contain a great body of men, who would +come together to have their causes determined. It was a hundred +cubits long, and fifty broad, and thirty high, supported by +quadrangular pillars, which were all of cedar; but its roof was +according to the Corinthian order, (14) with folding doors, and +their adjoining pillars of equal magnitude, each fluted with +three cavities; which building as at once firm, and very +ornamental. There was also another house so ordered, that its +entire breadth was placed in the middle; it was quadrangular, and +its breadth was thirty cubits, having a temple over against it, +raised upon massy pillars; in which temple there was a large and +very glorious room, wherein the king sat in judgment. To this was +joined another house that was built for his queen. There were +other smaller edifices for diet, and for sleep, after public +matters were over; and these were all floored with boards of +cedar. Some of these Solomon built with stones of ten cubits, and +wainscoted the walls with other stones that were sawed, and were +of great value, such as are dug out of the earth for the +ornaments of temples, and to make fine prospects in royal +palaces, and which make the mines whence they are dug famous. Now +the contexture of the curious workmanship of these stones was in +three rows, but the fourth row would make one admire its +sculptures, whereby were represented trees, and all sorts of +plants; with the shades that arose from their branches, and +leaves that hung down from them. Those trees anti plants covered +the stone that was beneath them, and their leaves were wrought so +prodigious thin and subtile, that you would think they were in +motion; but the other part up to the roof, was plastered over, +and, as it were, embroidered with colors and pictures. He, +moreover, built other edifices for pleasure; as also very long +cloisters, and those situate in an agreeable place of the palace; +and among them a most glorious dining room, for feastings and +compotations, and full of gold, and such other furniture as so +fine a room ought to have for the conveniency of the guests, and +where all the vessels were made of gold. Now it is very hard to +reckon up the magnitude and the variety of the royal apartments; +how many rooms there were of the largest sort, how many of a +bigness inferior to those, and how many that were subterraneous +and invisible; the curiosity of those that enjoyed the fresh air; +and the groves for the most delightful prospect, for the avoiding +the heat, and covering of their bodies. And, to say all in brief, +Solomon made the whole building entirely of white stone, and +cedar wood, and gold, and silver. He also adorned the roofs and +walls with stones set in gold, and beautified them thereby in the +same manner as he had beautified the temple of God with the like +stones. He also made himself a throne of prodigious bigness, of +ivory, constructed as a seat of justice, and having six steps to +it; on every one of which stood, on each end of the step two +lions, two other lions standing above also; but at the sitting +place of the throne hands came out and received the king; and +when he sat backward, he rested on half a bullock, that looked +towards his back; but still all was fastened together with gold. + +3. When Solomon had completed all this in twenty years' time, +because Hiram king of Tyre had contributed a great deal of gold, +and more silver to these buildings, as also cedar wood and pine +wood, he also rewarded Hiram with rich presents; corn he sent him +also year by year, and wine and oil, which were the principal +things that he stood in need of, because he inhabited an island, +as we have already said. And besides these, he granted him +certain cities of Galilee, twenty in number, that lay not far +from Tyre; which, when Hiram went to, and viewed, and did not +like the gift, he sent word to Solomon that he did not want such +cities as they were; and after that time these cities were called +the land of Cabul; which name, if it be interpreted according to +the language of the Phoenicians, denotes what does not please. +Moreover, the king of Tyre sent sophisms and enigmatical sayings +to Solomon, and desired he would solve them, and free them from +the ambiguity that was in them. Now so sagacious and +understanding was Solomon, that none of these problems were too +hard for him; but he conquered them all by his reasonings, and +discovered their hidden meaning, and brought it to light. +Menander also, one who translated the Tyrian archives out of the +dialect of the Phoenicians into the Greek language, makes mention +of these two kings, where he says thus: "When Abibalus was dead,. +his son Hiram received the kingdom from him, who, when he had +lived fifty-three years, reigned thirty-four. He raised a bank in +the large place, and dedicated the golden pillar which is in +Jupiter's temple. He also went and cut down materials of timber +out of the mountain called Libanus, for the roof of temples; and +when he had pulled down the ancient temples, he both built the +temple of Hercules and that of Astarte; and he first set up the +temple of Hercules in the month Peritius; he also made an +expedition against the Euchii, or Titii, who did not pay their +tribute, and when he had subdued them to himself he returned. +Under this king there was Abdemon, a very youth in age, who +always conquered the difficult problems which Solomon, king of +Jerusalem, commanded him to explain. Dius also makes mention of +him, where he says thus: "When Abibalus was dead, his son Hiram +reigned. He raised the eastern parts of the city higher, and made +the city itself larger. He also joined the temple of Jupiter, +which before stood by itself, to the city, by raising a bank in +the middle between them; and he adorned it with donations of +gold. Moreover, he went up to Mount Libanus, and cut down +materials of wood for the building of the temples." He says also, +that Solomon, who was then king of Jerusalem, sent riddles to +Hiram, and desired to receive the like from him, but that he who +could not solve them should pay money to them that did solve +them, and that Hiram accepted the conditions; and when he was not +able to solve the riddles proposed by Solomon, he paid a great +deal of money for his fine; but that he afterward did solve the +proposed riddles by means of Abdemon, a man of Tyre; and that +Hiram proposed other riddles, which, when Solomon could not +solve, he paid back a great deal of money to Hiram." This it is +which Dius wrote. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Solomon Fortified The City Of Jerusalem, And Built Great +Cities; And How He Brought Some Of The Canaanites Into +Subjection, And Entertained The Queen Of Egypt And Of Ethiopia. + + +1. Now when the king saw that the walls of Jerusalem stood in +need of being better secured, and made stronger, (for he thought +the wails that encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the +dignity of the city,) he both repaired them, and made them +higher, with great towers upon them; he also built cities which +might be counted among the strongest, Hazor and Megiddo, and the +third Gezer, which had indeed belonged to the Philistines; but +Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had made an expedition against it, +and besieged it, and taken it by force; and when he had slain all +its inhabitants, he utterly overthrew it, and gave it as a +present to his daughter, who had been married to Solomon; for +which reason the king rebuilt it, as a city that was naturally +strong, and might be useful in wars, and the mutations of affairs +that sometimes happen. Moreover, he built two other cities not +far from it, Beth-horon was the name of one of them, and Baalath +of the other. He also built other cities that lay conveniently +for these, in order to the enjoyment of pleasures and delicacies +in them, such as were naturally of a good temperature of the air, +and agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper seasons, and well +watered with springs. Nay, Solomon went as far as the desert +above Syria, and possessed himself of it, and built there a very +great city, which was distant two days' journey from Upper Syria, +and one day's journey from Euphrates, and six long days' journey +from Babylon the Great. Now the reason why this city lay so +remote from the parts of Syria that are inhabited is this, that +below there is no water to be had, and that it is in that place +only that there are springs and pits of water. When he had +therefore built this city, and encompassed it with very strong +walls, he gave it the name of Tadmor, and that is the name it is +still called by at this day among the Syrians, but the Greeks +name it Palmyra. + +2. Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building +these cities. But if any inquire why all the kings of Egypt from +Menes, who built Memphis, and was many years earlier than our +forefather Abraham, until Solomon, where the interval was more +than one thousand three hundred years, were called Pharaohs, and +took it from one Pharaoh that lived after the kings of that +interval, I think it necessary to inform them of it, and this in +order to cure their ignorance, and to make the occasion of that +name manifest. Pharaoh, in the Egyptian tongue, signifies a king +(15) but I suppose they made use of other names from their +childhood; but when they were made kings, they changed them into +the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority; for +thus it was also that the kings of Alexandria, who were called +formerly by other names, when they took the kingdom, were named +Ptolemies, from their first king. The Roman emperors also were +from their nativity called by other names, but are styled +Caesars, their empire and their dignity imposing that name upon +them, and not suffering them to continue in those names which +their fathers gave them. I suppose also that Herodotus of +Halicarnassus, when he said there were three hundred and thirty +kings of Egypt after Menes, who built Memphis, did therefore not +tell us their names, because they were in common called Pharaohs; +for when after their death there was a queen reigned, he calls +her by her name Nicaule, as thereby declaring, that while the +kings were of the male line, and so admitted of the same nature, +while a woman did not admit the same, he did therefore set down +that her name, which she could not naturally have. As for myself, +I have discovered from our own books, that after Pharaoh, the +father-in-law of Solomon, no other king of Egypt did any longer +use that name; and that it was after that time when the forenamed +queen of Egypt and Ethiopia came to Solomon, concerning whom we +shall inform the reader presently; but I have now made mention of +these things, that I may prove that our books and those of the +Egyptians agree together in many things. + +3. But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the +Canaanites that had not before submitted to him; those I mean +that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, and as far as the city Hamath; and +ordered them to pay tribute. He also chose out of them every year +such as were to serve him in the meanest offices, and to do his +domestic works, and to follow husbandry; for none of the Hebrews +were servants [in such low employments]: nor was it reasonable, +that when God had brought so many nations under their power, they +should depress their own people to such mean offices of life, +rather than those nations; while all the Israelites were +concerned in warlike affairs, and were in armor; and were set +over the chariots and the horses, rather than leading the life of +slaves. He appointed also five hundred and fifty rulers over +those Canaanites who were reduced to such domestic slavery, who +received the entire care of them from the king, and instructed +them in those labors and operations wherein he wanted their +assistance. + +4. Moreover, the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the +Red Sea, in a certain place called Ezion-geber: it is now called +Berenice, and is not far from the city Eloth. This country +belonged formerly to the Jews, and became useful for shipping +from the donations of Hiram king of Tyre; for he sent a +sufficient number of men thither for pilots, and such as were +skillful in navigation, to whom Solomon gave this command: That +they should go along with his own stewards to the land that was +of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus, which belongs +to India, to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four +hundred talents together, they returned to the king again. + +5. There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; (16) she +was inquisitive into philosophy, and one that on other accounts +also was to be admired. When this queen heard of the virtue and +prudence of Solomon, she had a great mind to see him; and the +reports that went every day abroad induced her to come to him, +she being desirous to be satisfied by her own experience, and not +by a bare hearing; (for reports thus heard are likely enough to +comply with a false opinion, while they wholly depend on the +credit of the relators;) so she resolved to come to him, and that +especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom, while she +proposed questions of very great difficulty, and entreated that +he would solve their hidden meaning. Accordingly she came to +Jerusalem with great splendor and rich furniture; for she brought +with her camels laden with gold, with several sorts of sweet +spices, and with precious stones. Now, upon the king's kind +reception of her, he both showed a great desire to please her, +and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the curious +questions she propounded to him, he resolved them sooner than any +body could have expected. So she was amazed at the wisdom of +Solomon, and discovered that it was more excellent upon trial +than what she had heard by report beforehand; and especially she +was surprised at the fineness and largeness of his royal palace, +and not less so at the good order of the apartments, for she +observed that the king had therein shown great wisdom; but she +was beyond measure astonished at the house which was called the +Forest of Lebanon, as also at the magnificence of his daily +table, and the circumstances of its preparation and ministration, +with the apparel of his servants that waited, and the skillful +and decent management of their attendance: nor was she less +affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God, +and the careful management which the priests and Levites used +about them. When she saw this done every day, she was in the +greatest admiration imaginable, insomuch that she was not able to +contain the surprise she was in, but openly confessed how +wonderfully she was affected; for she proceeded to discourse with +the king, and thereby owned that she was overcome with admiration +at the things before related; and said, "All things indeed, O +king, that came to our knowledge by report, came with uncertainty +as to our belief of them; but as to those good things that to +thee appertain, both such as thou thyself possessest, I mean +wisdom and prudence, and the happiness thou hast from thy +kingdom, certainly the same that came to us was no falsity; it +was not only a true report, but it related thy happiness after a +much lower manner than I now see it to be before my eyes. For as +for the report, it only attempted to persuade our hearing, but +did not so make known the dignity of the things themselves as +does the sight of them, and being present among them. I indeed, +who did not believe what was reported, by reason of the multitude +and grandeur of the things I inquired about, do see them to be +much more numerous than they were reported to be. Accordingly I +esteem the Hebrew people, as well as thy servants and friends, to +be happy, who enjoy thy presence and hear thy wisdom every day +continually. One would therefore bless God, who hath so loved +this country, and those that inhabit therein, as to make thee +king over them." + +6. Now when the queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply +the king had affected her, her disposition was known by certain +presents, for she gave him twenty talents of gold, and an immense +quantity of spices and precious stones. (They say also that we +possess the root of that balsam which our country still bears by +this woman's gift.) (17) Solomon also repaid her with many good +things, and principally by bestowing upon her what she chose of +her own inclination, for there was nothing that she desired which +he denied her; and as he was very generous and liberal in his own +temper, so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on +her what she herself desired of him. So when this queen of +Ethiopia had obtained what we have already given an account of, +and had again communicated to the king what she brought with her, +she returned to her own kingdom. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Solomon Grew Rich, And Fell Desperately In Love With Women +And How God, Being Incensed At It, Raised Up Ader And Jeroboam +Against Him. Concerning The Death Of Solomon. + + +1. About the same time there were brought to the king from the +Aurea Chersonesus, a country so called, precious stones, and pine +trees, and these trees he made use of for supporting the temple +and the palace, as also for the materials of musical instruments, +the harps and the psalteries, that the Levites might make use of +them in their hymns to God. The wood which was brought to him at +this time was larger and finer than any that had ever been +brought before; but let no one imagine that these pine trees were +like those which are now so named, and which take that their +denomination from the merchants, who so call them, that they may +procure them to be admired by those that purchase them; for those +we speak of were to the sight like the wood of the fig tree, but +were whiter, and more shining. Now we have said thus much, that +nobody may be ignorant of the difference between these sorts of +wood, nor unacquainted with the nature of the genuine pine tree; +and we thought it both a seasonable and humane thing, when we +mentioned it, and the uses the king made of it, to explain this +difference so far as we have done. + +2. Now the weight of gold that was brought him was six hundred +and sixty-six talents, not including in that sum what was brought +by the merchants, nor what the toparchs and kings of Arabia gave +him in presents. He also cast two hundred targets of gold, each +of them weighing six hundred shekels. He also made three hundred +shields, every one weighing three pounds of gold, and he had them +carried and put into that house which was called The Forest of +Lebanon. He also made cups of gold, and of [precious] stones, for +the entertainment of his guests, and had them adorned in the most +artificial manner; and he contrived that all his other furniture +of vessels should be of gold, for there was nothing then to be +sold or bought for silver; for the king had many ships which lay +upon the sea of Tarsus, these he commanded to carry out all sorts +of merchandise unto the remotest nations, by the sale of which +silver and gold were brought to the king, and a great quantity of +ivory, and Ethiopians, and apes; and they finished their voyage, +going and returning, in three years' time. + +3. Accordingly there went a great fame all around the neighboring +countries, which proclaimed the virtue and wisdom of Solomon, +insomuch that all the kings every where were desirous to see him, +as not giving credit to what was reported, on account of its +being almost incredible: they also demonstrated the regard they +had for him by the presents they made him; for they sent him +vessels of gold, and silver, and purple garments, and many sorts +of spices, and horses, and chariots, and as many mules for his +carriages as they could find proper to please the king's eyes, by +their strength and beauty. This addition that he made to those +chariots and horses which he had before from those that were sent +him, augmented the number of his chariots by above four hundred, +for he had a thousand before, and augmented the number of his +horses by two thousand, for he had twenty thousand before. These +horses also were so much exercised, in order to their making a +fine appearance, and running swiftly, that no others could, upon +the comparison, appear either finer or swifter; but they were at +once the most beautiful of all others, and their swiftness was +incomparable also. Their riders also were a further ornament to +them, being, in the first place, young men in the most delightful +flower of their age, and being eminent for their largeness, and +far taller than other men. They had also very long heads of hair +hanging down, and were clothed in garments of Tyrian purple. They +had also dust of gold every day sprinkled on their hair, so that +their heads sparkled with the reflection of the sun-beams from +the gold. The king himself rode upon a chariot in the midst of +these men, who were still in armor, and had their bows fitted to +them. He had on a white garment, and used to take his progress +out of the city in the morning. There was a certain place about +fifty furlongs distant from Jerusalem, which is called Etham, +very pleasant it is in fine gardens, and abounding in rivulets of +water; (18) thither did he use to go out in the morning, sitting +on high [in his chariot.] + +4. Now Solomon had a divine sagacity in all things, and was very +diligent and studious to have things done after an elegant +manner; so he did not neglect the care of the ways, but he laid a +causeway of black stone along the roads that led to Jerusalem, +which was the royal city, both to render them easy for travelers, +and to manifest the grandeur of his riches and government. He +also parted his chariots, and set them in a regular order, that a +certain number of them should be in every city, still keeping a +few about him; and those cities he called the cities of his +chariots. And the king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as +stones in the street; and so multiplied cedar trees in the plains +of Judea, which did not grow there before, that they were like +the multitude of common sycamore trees. He also ordained the +Egyptian merchants that brought him their merchandise to sell him +a chariot, with a pair of horses, for six hundred drachmae of +silver, and he sent them to the kings of Syria, and to those +kings that were beyond Euphrates. + +5. But although Solomon was become the most glorious of kings, +and the best beloved by God, and had exceeded in wisdom and +riches those that had been rulers of the Hebrews before him, yet +did not he persevere in this happy state till he died. Nay, he +forsook the observation of the laws of his fathers, and came to +an end no way suitable to our foregoing history of him. He grew +mad in his love of women, and laid no restraint on himself in his +lusts; nor was he satisfied with the women of his country alone, +but he married many wives out of foreign nations; Sidontans, and +Tyrians, and Ammonites, and Edomites; and he transgressed the +laws of Moses, which forbade Jews to marry any but those that +were of their own people. He also began to worship their gods, +which he did in order to the gratification of his wives, and out +of his affection for them. This very thing our legislator +suspected, and so admonished us beforehand, that we should not +marry women of other countries, lest we should be entangled with +foreign customs, and apostatize from our own; lest we should +leave off to honor our own God, and should worship their gods. +But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures, and +regarded not those admonitions; for when he had married seven +hundred wives, (19) the daughters of princes and of eminent +persons, and three hundred concubines, and those besides the king +of Egypt's daughter, he soon was governed by them, till he came +to imitate their practices. He was forced to give them this +demonstration of his kindness and affection to them, to live +according to the laws of their countries. And as he grew into +years, and his reason became weaker by length of time, it was not +sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own +country; so he still more and more contemned his own God, and +continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced +nay, before this happened, he sinned, and fell into an error +about the observation of the laws, when he made the images of +brazen oxen that supported the brazen sea, (20) and the images of +lions about his own throne; for these he made, although it was +not agreeable to piety so to do; and this he did, notwithstanding +that he had his father as a most excellent and domestic pattern +of virtue, and knew what a glorious character he had left behind +him, because of his piety towards God. Nor did he imitate David, +although God had twice appeared to him in his sleep, and exhorted +him to imitate his father. So he died ingloriously. There came +therefore a prophet to him, who was sent by God, and told him +that his wicked actions were not concealed from God; and +threatened him that he should not long rejoice in what he had +done; that, indeed, the kingdom should not be taken from him +while he was alive, because God had promised to his father David +that he would make him his successor, but that he would take care +that this should befall his son when he was dead; not that he +would withdraw all the people from him, but that he would give +ten tribes to a servant of his, and leave only two tribes to +David's grandson for his sake, because he loved God, and for the +sake of the city of Jerusalem, wherein he should have a temple. + +6. When Solomon heard this he was grieved, and greatly +confounded, upon this change of almost all that happiness which +had made him to be admired, into so bad a state; nor had there +much time passed after the prophet had foretold what was coming +before God raised up an enemy against him, whose name was Ader, +who took the following occasion of his enmity to him. He was a +child of the stock of the Edomites, and of the blood royal; and +when Joab, the captain of David's host, laid waste the land of +Edom, and destroyed all that were men grown, and able to bear +arms, for six months' time, this Hadad fled away, and came to +Pharaoh the king of Egypt, who received him kindly, and assigned +him a house to dwell in, and a country to supply him with food; +and when he was grown up he loved him exceedingly, insomuch that +he gave him his wife's sister, whose name was Tahpenes, to wife, +by whom he had a son; who was brought up with the king's +children. When Hadad heard in Egypt that both David and Joab were +dead, he came to Pharaoh, and desired that he would permit him to +go to his own country; upon which the king asked what it was that +he wanted, and what hardship he had met with, that he was so +desirous to leave him. And when he was often troublesome to him, +and entreated him to dismiss him, he did not then do it; but at +the time when Solomon's affairs began to grow worse, on account +of his forementioned transgressions (21) and God's anger against +him for the same, Hadad, by Pharaoh's permission, came to Edom; +and when he was not able to make the people forsake Solomon, for +it was kept under by many garrisons, and an innovation was not to +be made with safety, he removed thence, and came into Syria; +there he lighted upon one Rezon, who had run away from Hadadezer, +king of Zobah, his master, and was become a robber in that +country, and joined friendship with him, who had already a band +of robbers about him. So he went up, and seized upon that part of +Syria, and was made king thereof. He also made incursions into +the land of Israel, and did it no small mischief, and spoiled it, +and that in the lifetime of Solomon. And this was the calamity +which the Hebrews suffered by Hadad. + +7. There was also one of Solomon's own nation that made an +attempt against him, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had an +expectation of rising, from a prophecy that had been made to him +long before. He was left a child by his father, and brought up by +his mother; and when Solomon saw that he was of an active and +bold disposition, he made him the curator of the walls which he +built round about Jerusalem; and he took such care of those +works, that the king approved of his behavior, and gave him, as a +reward for the same, the charge of the tribe of Joseph. And when +about that time Jeroboam was once going out of Jerusalem, a +prophet of the city Shilo, whose name was Ahijah, met him and +saluted him; and when he had taken him a little aside to a place +out of the way, where there was not one other person present, he +rent the garment he had on into twelve pieces, and bid Jeroboam +take ten of them; and told him beforehand, that "this is the will +of God; he will part the dominion of Solomon, and give one tribe, +with that which is next it, to his son, because of the promise +made to David for his succession, and will have ten tribes to +thee, because Solomon hath sinned against him, and delivered up +himself to women, and to their gods. Seeing therefore thou +knowest the cause for which God hath changed his mind, and is +alienated from Solomon, be thou + +8. So Jeroboam was elevated by these words of the prophet; and +being a young man, (22) of a warm temper, and ambitious of +greatness, he could not be quiet; and when he had so great a +charge in the government, and called to mind what had been +revealed to him by Ahijah, he endeavored to persuade the people +to forsake Solomon, to make a disturbance, and to bring the +government over to himself. But when Solomon understood his +intention and treachery, he sought to catch him and kill him; but +Jeroboam was informed of it beforehand, and fled to Shishak, the +king of Egypt, and there abode till the death of Solomon; by +which means he gained these two advantages to suffer no harm from +Solomon, and to be preserved for the kingdom. So Solomon died +when he was already an old man, having reigned eighty years, and +lived ninety-four. He was buried in Jerusalem, having been +superior to all other kings in happiness, and riches, and wisdom, +excepting that when he was growing into years he was deluded by +women, and transgressed the law; concerning which transgressions, +and the miseries which befell the Hebrews thereby, I think proper +to discourse at another opportunity. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How, Upon The Death Of Solomon The People Forsook His Son +Rehoboam, And Ordained Jeroboam King Over The Ten Tribes. + + +1. Now when Solomon was dead, and his son Rehoboam (who was born +of an Amntonite wife; whose name was Naamah) had succeeded him in +the kingdom, the rulers of the multitude sent immediately into +Egypt, and called back Jeroboam; and when he was come to them, to +the city Shethem, Rehoboam came to it also, for he had resolved +to declare himself king to the Israelites while they were there +gathered together. So the rulers of the people, as well as +Jeroboam, came to him, and besought him, and said that he ought +to relax, and to be gentler than his father, in the servitude he +had imposed on them, because they had borne a heavy yoke, and +that then they should be better affected to him, and be well +contented to serve him under his moderate government, and should +do it more out of love than fear. But Rehoboam told them they +should come to him again in three days' time, when he would give +an answer to their request. This delay gave occasion to a present +suspicion, since he had not given them a favorable answer to +their mind immediately; for they thought that he should have +given them a humane answer off-hand, especially since he was but +young. However, they thought that this consultation about it, and +that he did not presently give them a denial, afforded them some +good hope of success. + +2. Rehoboam now called his father's friends, and advised with +them what sort of answer he ought to give to the multitude; upon +which they gave him the advice which became friends, and those +that knew the temper of such a multitude. They advised him to +speak in a way more popular than suited the grandeur of a king, +because he would thereby oblige them to submit to him with +goodwill, it being most agreeable to subjects that their kings +should be almost upon the level with them. But Rehoboam rejected +this so good, and in general so profitable, advice, (it was such, +at least, at that time when he was to be made king,) God himself, +I suppose, causing what was most advantageous to be condemned by +him. So he called for the young men who were brought up with him, +and told them what advice the elders had given him, and bade them +speak what they thought he ought to do. They advised him to give +the following answer to the people (for neither their youth nor +God himself suffered them to discern what was best): That his +little finger should be thicker than his father's loins; and if +they had met with hard usage from his father, they should +experience much rougher treatment from him; and if his father had +chastised them with whips, they must expect that he would do it +with scorpions. (23) The king was pleased with this advice, and +thought it agreeable to the dignity of his government to give +them such an answer. Accordingly, when the multitude was come +together to hear his answer on the third day, all the people were +in great expectation, and very intent to hear what the king would +say to them, and supposed they should hear somewhat of a kind +nature; but he passed by his friends, and answered as the young +men had given him counsel. Now this was done according to the +will of God, that what Ahijah had foretold might come to pass. + +3. By these words the people were struck as it were by all iron +hammer, and were so grieved at the words, as if they had already +felt the effects of them; and they had great indignation at the +king; and all cried out aloud, and said, "We will have no longer +any relation to David or his posterity after this day." And they +said further, "We only leave to Rehoboam the temple which his +father built;" and they threatened to forsake him. Nay, they were +so bitter, and retained their wrath so long, that when he sent +Adoram, which was over the tribute, that he might pacify them, +and render them milder, and persuade them to forgive him, if he +had said any thing that was rash or grievous to them in his +youth, they would not hear it, but threw stones at him, and +killed him. When Rehoboam saw this, he thought himself aimed at +by those stones with which they had killed his servant, and +feared lest he should undergo the last of punishments in earnest; +so he got immediately into his chariot, and fled to Jerusalem, +where the tribe of Judah and that of Benjamin ordained him king; +but the rest of the multitude forsook the sons of David from that +day, and appointed Jeroboam to be the ruler of their public +affairs. Upon this Rehoboam, Solomon's son, assembled a great +congregation of those two tribes that submitted to him, and was +ready to take a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men out of the +army, to make an expedition against Jeroboam and his people, that +he might force them by war to be his servants; but he was +forbidden of God by the prophet [Shemaiah] to go to war, for that +it was not just that brethren of the same contry should fight one +against another. He also said that this defection of the +multitude was according to the purpose of God. So he did not +proceed in this expedition. And now I will relate first the +actions of Jeroboam the king of Israel, after which we will +relate what are therewith connected, the actions of Rehoboam, the +king of the two tribes; by this means we shall preserve the good +order of the history entire. + +4. When therefore Jeroboam had built him a palace in the city +Shechem, he dwelt there. He also built him another at Penuel, a +city so called. And now the feast of tabernacles was approaching +in a little time, Jeroboam considered, that if he should permit +the multitude to go to worship God at Jerusalem, and there to +celebrate the festival, they would probably repent of what they +had done, and be enticed by the temple, and by the worship of God +there performed, and would leave him, and return to their first +kings; and if so, he should run the risk of losing his own life; +so he invented this contrivance; He made two golden heifers, and +built two little temples for them, the one in the city Bethel, +and the other in Dan, which last was at the fountains of the +Lesser Jordan (24) and he put the heifers into both the little +temples, in the forementioned cities. And when he had called +those ten tribes together over whom he ruled, he made a speech to +the people in these words: "I suppose, my countrymen, that you +know this, that every place hath God in it; nor is there any one +determinate place in which he is, but he every where hears and +sees those that worship him; on which account I do not think it +right for you to go so long a journey to Jerusalem, which is an +enemy's city, to worship him. It was a man that built the temple: +I have also made two golden heifers, dedicated to the same God; +and the one of them I have consecrated in the city Bethel, and +the other in Dan, to the end that those of you that dwell nearest +those cities may go to them, and worship God there; and I will +ordain for you certain priests and Levites from among yourselves, +that you may have no want of the tribe of Levi, or of the sons of +Aaron; but let him that is desirous among you of being a priest, +bring to God a bullock and a ram, which they say Aaron the first +priest brought also." When Jeroboam had said this, he deluded the +people, and made them to revolt from the worship of their +forefathers, and to transgress their laws. This was the beginning +of miseries to the Hebrews, and the cause why they were overcome +in war by foreigners, and so fell into captivity. But we shall +relate those things in their proper places hereafter. + +5. When the feast [of tabernacles] was just approaching, Jeroboam +was desirous to celebrate it himself in Bethel, as did the two +tribes celebrate it in Jerusalem. Accordingly he built an altar +before the heifer, and undertook to be high priest himself. So he +went up to the altar, with his own priests about him; but when he +was going to offer the sacrifices and the burnt-offerings, in the +sight of all the people, a prophet, whose name was Jadon, was +sent by God, and came to him from Jerusalem, who stood in the +midst of the multitude, and in the 'hearing of' the king, and +directing his discourse to the altar, said thus: God foretells +that there shall be a certain man of the family of David, Josiah +by name, who shall slay upon thee those false priests that shall +live at that time, and upon thee shall burn the bones of those +deceivers of the people, those impostors' and wicked wretches. +However, that this people may believe that these things shall so +come to pass, I foretell a sign to them that shall also come to +pass. This altar shall be broken to pieces immediately, and all +the fat of the sacrifices that is upon it shall be poured upon +the ground." When the prophet had said this, Jeroboam fell into a +passion, and stretched out his hand, and bid them lay hold of +him; but that hand which he stretched out was enfeebled, and he +was not able to pull it in again to him, for it was become +withered, and hung down, as if it were a dead hand. The altar +also was broken to pieces, and all that was upon it was poured +out, as the prophet had foretold should come to pass. So the king +understood that he was a man of veracity, and had a Divine +foreknowledge; and entreated him to pray to God that he would +restore his right hand. Accordingly the prophet did pray to God +to grant him that request. So the king, having his hand recovered +to its natural state, rejoiced at it, and invited the prophet to +sup with him; but Jadon said that he could not endure to come +into his house, nor to taste of bread or water in this city, for +that was a thing God had forbidden him to do; as also to go back +by the same way which he came, but he said he was to return by +another way. So the king wondered at the abstinence of the man, +but was himself in fear, as suspecting a change of his affairs +for the worse, from what had been said to him. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How Jadon The Prophet Was Persuaded By Another Lying Prophet And +Returned [To Bethel,] And Was Afterwards Slain By A Lion. As Also +What Words The Wicked Prophet Made Use Of To Persuade The King, +And Thereby Alienated His Mind From God. + + +1. Now there was a certain wicked man in that city, who was a +false prophet, whom Jeroboam had in great esteem, but was +deceived by him and his flattering words. This man was bedrid, by +reason or the infirmities of old age: however, he was informed by +his sons concerning the prophet that was come from Jerusalem, and +concerning the signs done by him; and how, when Jeroboam's right +hand had been enfeebled, at the prophet's prayer he had it +revived again. Whereupon he was afraid that this stranger and +prophet should be in better esteem with the king than himself, +and obtain greater honor from him: and he gave orders to his sons +to saddle his ass presently, and make all ready that he might go +out. Accordingly they made haste to do what they were commanded, +and he got upon the ass and followed after the prophet.; and when +he had overtaken him, as he was resting himself under a very +large oak tree that was thick and shady, he at first saluted him, +but presently he complained of him, because he had not come into +his house, and partaken of his hospitality. And when the other +said that God had forbidden him to taste of any one's provision +in that city, he replied, that "for certain God had not forbidden +that I should set food before thee, for I am a prophet as thou +art, and worship God in the same manner that thou dost; and I am +now come as sent by him, in order to bring thee into my house, +and make thee my guest." Now Jadon gave credit to this lying +prophet, and returned back with him. But when they were at +dinner, and merry together, God appeared to Jadon, and said that +he should suffer punishment for transgressing his commands, - and +he told him what that punishment should be for he said that he +should meet with a lion as he was going on his way, by which lion +he should be torn in pieces, and be deprived of burial in the +sepulchers of his fathers; which things came to pass, as I +suppose, according to the will of God, that so Jeroboam might not +give heed to the words of Jadon as of one that had been convicted +of lying. However, as Jadon was again going to Jerusalem, a lion +assaulted him, and pulled him off the beast he rode on, and slew +him; yet did he not at all hurt the ass, but sat by him, and kept +him, as also the prophet's body. This continued till some +travelers that saw it came and told it in the city to the false +prophet, who sent his sons, and brought the body unto the city, +and made a funeral for him at great expense. He also charged his +sons to bury himself with him and said that all which he had +foretold against that city, and the altar, and priests, and false +prophets, would prove true; and that if he were buried with him, +he should receive no injurious treatment after his death, the +bones not being then to be distinguished asunder. But now, when +he had performed those funeral rites to the prophet, and had +given that charge to his sons, as he was a wicked and an impious +man, he goes to Jeroboam, and says to him, "And wherefore is it +now that thou art disturbed at the words of this silly fellow?" +And when the king had related to him what had happened about the +altar, and about his own hand, and gave him the names of divine +man, and an excellent prophet, he endeavored by a wicked trick to +weaken that his opinion; and by using plausible words concerning +what had happened, he aimed to injure the truth that was in them; +for he attempted to persuade him that his hand was enfeebled by +the labor it had undergone in supporting the sacrifices, and that +upon its resting awhile it returned to its former nature again; +and that as to the altar, it was but new, and had borne abundance +of sacrifices, and those large ones too, and was accordingly +broken to pieces, and fallen down by the weight of what had been +laid upon it. He also informed him of the death of him that had +foretold those things, and how he perished; [whence he concluded +that] he had not any thing in him of a prophet, nor spake any +thing like one. When he had thus spoken, he persuaded the king, +and entirely alienated his mind from God, and from doing works +that were righteous and holy, and encouraged him to go on in his +impious practices (25) and accordingly he was to that degree +injurious to God, and so great a transgressor, that he sought for +nothing else every day but how he might be guilty of some new +instances of wickedness, and such as should be more detestable +than what he had been so insolent as to do before. And so much +shall at present suffice to have said concerning Jeroboam. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Concerning Rehoboam, And How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him +For His Impiety By Shishak [King Of Egypt]. + + +1. Now Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who, as we said before, was +king of the two tribes, built strong and large cities, Bethlehem, +and Etare, and Tekoa, and Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, and +Ipan, and Maresha, and Ziph, and Adorlam, and Lachlsh, and +Azekah, and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron; these he built first +of all in the tribe of Judah. He also built other large cities in +the tribe of Benjamin, and walled them about, and put garrisons +in them all, and captains, and a great deal of corn, and wine, +and oil, and he furnished every one of them plentifully with +other provisions that were necessary for sustenance; moreover, he +put therein shields and spears for many ten thousand men. The +priests also that were in all Israel, and the Levites, and if +there were any of the multitude that were good and righteous men, +they gathered themselves together to him, having left their own +cities, that they might worship God in Jerusalem; for they were +not willing to be forced to worship the heifers which Jeroboam +had made; and they augmented the kingdom of Rehoboam for three +years. And after he had married a woman of his own kindred, and +had by her three children born to him, he married also another of +his own kindred, who was daughter of Absalom by Tamar, whose name +was Maachah, and by her he had a son, whom he named Abijah. He +had moreover many other children by other wives, but he loved +Maachah above them all. Now he had eighteen legitimate wives, and +thirty concubines; and he had born to him twenty-eight sons and +threescore daughters; but he appointed Abijah, whom he had by +Maachah, to be his successor in the kingdom, and intrusted him +already with the treasures and the strongest cities. + +2. Now I cannot but think that the greatness of a kingdom, and +its change into prosperity, often become the occasion of mischief +and of transgression to men; for when Rehoboam saw that his +kingdom was so much increased, he went out of the right way unto +unrighteous and irreligious practices, and he despised the +worship of God, till the people themselves imitated his wicked +actions: for so it usually happens, that the manners of subjects +are corrupted at the same time with those of their governors, +which subjects then lay aside their own sober way of living, as a +reproof of their governors' intemperate courses, and follow their +wickedness as if it were virtue; for it is not possible to show +that men approve of the actions of their kings, unless they do +the same actions with them. Agreeable whereto it now happened to +the subjects of Rehoboam; for when he was grown impious, and a +transgressor himself, they endeavored not to offend him by +resolving still to be righteous. But God sent Shishak, king of +Egypt, to punish them for their unjust behavior towards him, +concerning whom Herodotus was mistaken, and applied his actions +to Sesostris; for this Shishak, (26) in the fifth year of the +reign of Rehoboam, made an expedition [into Judea] with many ten +thousand men; for he had one thousand two hundred chariots in +number that followed him, and threescore thousand horsemen, and +four hundred thousand footmen. These he brought with him, and +they were the greatest part of them Libyans and Ethiopians. Now +therefore when he fell upon the country of the Hebrews, he took +the strongest cities of Rehoboam's kingdom without fighting; and +when he had put garrisons in them, he came last of all to +Jerusalem. + +3. Now when Rehoboam, and the multitude with him, were shut up in +Jerusalem by the means of the army of Shishak, and when they +besought God to give them victory and deliverance, they could not +persuade God to be on their side. But Shemaiah the prophet told +them, that God threatened to forsake them, as they had themselves +forsaken his worship. When they heard this, they were immediately +in a consternation of mind; and seeing no way of deliverance, +they all earnestly set themselves to confess that God might +justly overlook them, since they had been guilty of impiety +towards him, and had let his laws lie in confusion. So when God +saw them in that disposition, and that they acknowledge their +sins, he told the prophet that he would not destroy them, but +that he would, however, make them servants to the Egyptians, that +they may learn whether they will suffer less by serving men or +God. So when Shishak had taken the city without fighting, because +Rehoboam was afraid, and received him into it, yet did not +Shishak stand to the covenants he had made, but he spoiled the +temple, and emptied the treasures of God, and those of the king, +and carried off innumerable ten thousands of gold and silver, and +left nothing at all behind him. He also took away the bucklers of +gold, and the shields, which Solomon the king had made; nay, he +did not leave the golden quivers which David had taken from the +king of Zobah, and had dedicated to God; and when he had thus +done, he returned to his own kingdom. Now Herodotus of +Halicarnassus mentions this expedition, having only mistaken the +king's name; and [in saying that] he made war upon many other +nations also, and brought Syria of Palestine into subjection, and +took the men that were therein prisoners without fighting. Now it +is manifest that he intended to declare that our nation was +subdued by him; for he saith that he left behind him pillars in +the land of those that delivered themselves up to him without +fighting, and engraved upon them the secret parts of women. Now +our king Rehoboam delivered up our city without fighting. He says +withal (27) that the Ethiopians learned to circumcise their privy +parts from the Egyptians, with this addition, that the +Phoenicians and Syrians that live in Palestine confess that they +learned it of the Egyptians. Yet it is evident that no other of +the Syrians that live in Palestine, besides us alone, are +circumcised. But as to such matters, let every one speak what is +agreeable to his own opinion. + +4. When Shishak was gone away, king Rehoboam made bucklers and +shields of brass, instead of those of gold, and delivered the +same number of them to the keepers of the king's palace. So, +instead of warlike expeditions, and that glory which results from +those public actions, he reigned in great quietness, though not +without fear, as being always an enemy to Jeroboam, and he died +when he had lived fifty-seven years, and reigned seventeen. He +was in his disposition a proud and a foolish man, and lost [part +of his] dominions by not hearkening to his father's friends. He +was buried in Jerusalem, in the sepulchers of the kings; and his +son Abijah succeeded him in the kingdom, and this in the +eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign over the ten tribes; and this +was the conclusion of these affairs. It must be now our business +to relate the affairs of Jeroboam, and how he ended his life; for +he ceased not nor rested to be injurious to God, but every day +raised up altars upon high mountains, and went on making priests +out of the multitude. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +Concerning The Death Of A Son Of Jeroboam. How Jeroboam Was +Beaten By Abijah Who Died A Little Afterward And Was Succeeded In +His Kingdom By Asa. And Also How, After The Death Of Jeroboam +Baasha Destroyed His Son Nadab And All The House Of Jeroboam. + + +1. However, God was in no long time ready to return Jeroboam's +wicked actions, and the punishment they deserved, upon his own +head, and upon the heads of all his house. And whereas a soil of +his lay sick at that time, who was called Abijah, he enjoined his +wife to lay aside her robes, and to take the garments belonging +to a private person, and to go to Ahijah the prophet, for that he +was a wonderful man in foretelling futurities, it having been he +who told me that I should be king. He also enjoined her, when she +came to him, to inquire concerning the child, as if she were a +stranger, whether he should escape this distemper. So she did as +her husband bade her, and changed her habit, and came to the city +Shiloh, for there did Ahijah live. And as she was going into his +house, his eyes being then dim with age, God appeared to him, and +informed him of two things; that the wife of Jeroboam was come to +him, and what answer he should make to her inquiry. Accordingly, +as the woman was coming into the house like a private person and +a stranger, he cried out, "Come in, O thou wife of Jeroboam! Why +concealest thou thyself? Thou art not concealed from God, who +hath appeared to me, and informed me that thou wast coming, and +hath given me in command what I shall say to thee." So he said +that she should go away to her husband, and speak to him thus: +"Since I made thee a great man when thou wast little, or rather +wast nothing, and rent the kingdom from the house of David, and +gave it to thee, and thou hast been unmindful of these benefits, +hast left off my worship, hast made thee molten gods and honored +them, I will in like manner cast thee down again, and will +destroy all thy house, and make them food for the dogs and the +fowls; for a certain king is rising up, by appointment, over all +this people, who shall leave none of the family of Jeroboam +remaining. The multitude also shall themselves partake of the +same punishment, and shall be cast out of this good land, and +shall be scattered into the places beyond Euphrates, because they +have followed the wicked practices of their king, and have +worshipped the gods that he made, and forsaken my sacrifices. But +do thou, O woman, make haste back to thy husband, and tell him +this message; but thou shalt then find thy son dead, for as thou +enterest the city he shall depart this life; yet shall he be +buried with the lamentation of all the multitude, and honored +with a general mourning, for he was the only person of goodness +of Jeroboam's family." When the prophet had foretold these +events, the woman went hastily away with a disordered mind, and +greatly grieved at the death of the forenamed child. So she was +in lamentation as she went along the road, and mourned for the +death of her son, that was just at hand. She was indeed in a +miserable condition at the unavoidable misery of his death, and +went apace, but in circumstances very unfortunate, because of her +son: for the greater haste she made, she would the sooner see her +son dead, yet was she forced to make such haste on account of her +husband. Accordingly, when she was come back, she found that the +child had given up the ghost, as the prophet had said; and she +related all the circumstances to the king. + +2. Yet did not Jeroboam lay any of these things to heart, but he +brought together a very numerous army, and made a warlike +expedition against Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, who had succeeded +his father in the kingdom of the two tribes; for he despised him +because of his age. But when he heard of the expedition of +Jeroboam, he was not affrighted at it, but proved of a courageous +temper of mind, superior both to his youth and to the hopes of +his enemy; so he chose him an army out of the two tribes, and met +Jeroboam at a place called Mount Zemaraim, and pitched his camp +near the other, and prepared everything necessary for the fight. +His army consisted of four hundred thousand, but the army of +Jeroboam was double to it. Now as the armies stood in array, +ready for action and dangers, and were just going to fight, +Abijah stood upon an elevated place, and beckoning with his hand, +he desired the multitude and Jeroboam himself to hear first with +silence what he had to say. And when silence was made, he began +to speak, and told them, - "God had consented that David and his +posterity should be their rulers for all time to come, and this +you yourselves are not unacquainted with; but I cannot but wonder +how you should forsake my father, and join yourselves to his +servant Jeroboam, and are now here with him to fight against +those who, by God's own determination, are to reign, and to +deprive them of that dominion which they have still retained; for +as to the greater part of it, Jeroboam is unjustly in possession +of it. However, I do not suppose he will enjoy it any longer; but +when he hath suffered that punishment which God thinks due to him +for what is past, he will leave off the transgressions he hath +been guilty of, and the injuries he hath offered to him, and +which he hath still continued to offer and hath persuaded you to +do the same: yet when you were not any further unjustly treated +by my father, than that he did not speak to you so as to please +you, and this only in compliance with the advice of wicked men, +you in anger forsook him, as you pretended, but, in reality, you +withdrew yourselves from God, and from his laws, although it had +been right for you to have forgiven a man that was young in age, +and not used to govern people, not only some disagreeable words, +but if his youth and unskilfulness in affairs had led him into +some unfortunate actions, and that for the sake of his father +Solomon, and the benefits you received from him; for men ought to +excuse the sins of posterity on account of the benefactions of +parent; but you considered nothing of all this then, neither do +you consider it now, but come with so great an army against us. +And what is it you depend upon for victory? Is it upon these +golden heifers, and the altars that you have on high places, +which are demonstrations of your impiety, and not of religious +worship? Or is it the exceeding multitude of your army which +gives you such good hopes? Yet certainly there is no strength at +all in an army of many ten thousands, when the war is unjust; for +we ought to place our surest hopes of success against our enemies +in righteousness alone, and in piety towards God; which hope we +justly have, since we have kept the laws from the beginning, and +have worshipped our own God, who was not made by hands out of +corruptible matter; nor was he formed by a wicked king, in order +to deceive the multitude; but who is his own workmanship, (28) +and the beginning and end of all things. I therefore give you +counsel even now to repent, and to take better advice, and to +leave off the prosecution of the war; to call to mind the laws of +your country, and to reflect what it hath been that hath advanced +you to so happy a state as you are now in." + +3. This was the speech which Abijah made to the multitude. But +while he was still speaking Jeroboam sent some of his soldiers +privately to encompass Abijab round about, on certain parts of +the camp that were not taken notice of; and when he was thus +within the compass of the enemy, his army was affrighted, and +their courage failed them; but Abijah encouraged them, and +exhorted them to place their hopes on God, for that he was not +encompassed by the enemy. So they all at once implored the Divine +assistance, while the priests sounded with the trumpet, and they +made a shout, and fell upon their enemies, and God brake the +courage and cast down the force of their enemies, and made +Ahijah's army superior to them; for God vouchsafed to grant them +a wonderful and very famous victory; and such a slaughter was now +made of Jeroboam's army (29) as is never recorded to have +happened in any other war, whether it were of the Greeks or of +the Barbarians, for they overthrew [and slew] five hundred +thousand of their enemies, and they took their strongest cities +by force, and spoiled them; and besides those, they did the same +to Bethel and her towns, and Jeshanah and her towns. And after +this defeat Jeroboam never recovered himself during the life of +Abijah, who yet did not long survive, for he reigned but three +years, and was buried in Jerusalem in the sepulchers of his +forefathers. He left behind him twenty-two sons, and sixteen +daughters; and he had also those children by fourteen wives; and +Asa his son succeeded in the kingdom; and the young man's mother +was Michaiah. Under his reign the country of the Israelites +enjoyed peace for ten years. + +4. And so far concerning Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, the son of +Solomon, as his history hath come down to us. But Jeroboam, the +king of the ten tribes, died when he had governed them two and +twenty years; whose son Nadab succeeded him, in the second year +of the reign of Asa. Now Jeroboam's son governed two years, and +resembled his father in impiety and wickedness. In these two +years he made an expedition against Gibbethon, a city of the +Philistines, and continued the siege in order to take it; but he +was conspired against while he was there by a friend of his, +whose name was Baasha, the son of Ahijah, and was slain; which +Baasha took the kingdom after the other's death, and destroyed +the whole house of Jeroboam. It also came to pass, according as +God had foretold, that some of Jeroboam's kindred that died in +the city were torn to pieces and devoured by dogs, and that +others of them that died in the fields were torn and devoured by +the fowls. So the house of Jeroboam suffered the just punishment +of his impiety, and of his wicked actions. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +How Zerah, King Of The Ethiopians, Was Beaten By Asa; And How +Asa, Upon Baasha's Making War Against Him, Invited The King Of +The Damascens To Assist Him; And How, On The Destruction Of The +House Of Baasha Zimri Got The Kingdom As Did His Son Ahab After +Him. + + +1. Now Asa, the king of Jerusalem, was of an excellent character, +and had a regard to God, and neither did nor designed any thing +but what had relation to the observation of the laws. He made a +reformation of his kingdom, and cut off whatsoever was wicked +therein, and purified it from every impurity. Now he had an army +of chosen men that were armed with targets and spears; out of the +tribe of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of the tribe of +Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and fifty +thousand. But when he had already reigned ten years, Zerah, king +of Ethiopia, (30) made an expedition against him, with a great +army, of nine hundred thousand footmen, and one hundred thousand +horsemen, and three hundred chariots, and came as far as +Mareshah, a city that belonged to the tribe of Judah. Now when +Zerah had passed so far with his own army, Asa met him, and put +his army in array over against him, in a valley called Zephathah, +not far from the city; and when he saw the multitude of the +Ethiopians, he cried out, and besought God to give him the +victory, and that he might kill many ten thousands of the enemy: +"For," said he, (31) "I depend on nothing else but that +assistance which I expect from thee, which is able to make the +fewer superior to the more numerous, and the weaker to the +stronger; and thence it is alone that I venture to meet Zerah, +and fight him." + +2. While Asa was saying this, God gave him a signal of victory, +and joining battle cheerfully on account of what God had foretold +about it, he slew a great many of the Ethiopians; and when he had +put them to flight, he pursued them to the country of Gerar; and +when they left off killing their enemies, they betook themselves +to spoiling them, (for the city Gerar was already taken,) and to +spoiling their camp, so that they carried off much gold, and much +silver, and a great deal of [other] prey, and camels, and great +cattle, and flocks of sheep. Accordingly, when Asa and his army +had obtained such a victory, and such wealth from God, they +returned to Jerusalem. Now as they were coming, a prophet, whose +name was Azariah, met them on the road, and bade them stop their +journey a little; and began to say to them thus: That the reason +why they had obtained this victory from God was this, that they +had showed themselves righteous and religious men, and had done +every thing according to the will of God; that therefore, he +said, if they persevered therein, God would grant that they +should always overcome their enemies, and live happily; but that +if they left off his worship, all things shall fall out on the +contrary; and a time should come, wherein no true prophet shall +be left in your whole multitude, nor a priest who shall deliver +you a true answer from the oracle; but your cities shall be +overthrown, and your nation scattered over the whole earth, and +live the life of strangers and wanderers. So he advised them, +while they had time, to be good, and not to deprive themselves of +the favor of God. When the king and the people heard this, they +rejoiced; and all in common, and every one in particular, took +great care to behave themselves righteously. The king also sent +some to take care that those in the country should observe the +laws also. + +3. And this was the state of Asa, king of the two tribes. I now +return to Baasha, the king of the multitude of the Israelites, +who slew Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, and retained the government. +He dwelt in the city Tirzah, having made that his habitation, and +reigned twenty-four years. He became more wicked and impious than +Jeroboam or his son. He did a great deal of mischief to the +multitude, and was injurious to God, who sent the prophet Jehu, +and told him beforehand that his whole family should be +destroyed, and that he would bring the same miseries on his house +which had brought that of Jeroboam to ruin; because when he had +been made king by him, he had not requited his kindness, by +governing the multitude righteously and religiously; which +things, in the first place, tended to their own happiness, and, +in the next place, were pleasing to God: that he had imitated +this very wicked king Jeroboam; and although that man's soul had +perished, yet did he express to the life his wickedness; and he +said that he should therefore justly experience the like calamity +with him, since he had been guilty of the like wickedness. But +Baasha, though he heard beforehand what miseries would befall him +and his whole family for their insolent behavior, yet did not he +leave off his wicked practices for the time to come, nor did he +care to appear other than worse and worse till he died; nor did +he then repent of his past actions, nor endeavor to obtain pardon +of God for them, but did as those do who have rewards proposed to +them, when they have once in earnest set about their work, they +do not leave off their labors; for thus did Baasha, when the +prophet foretold to him what would come to pass, grow worse, as +if what were threatened, the perdition of his family, and the +destruction of his house, (which are really among the greatest of +evils,) were good things; and, as if he were a combatant for +wickedness, he every day took more and more pains for it: and at +last he took his army and assaulted a certain considerable city +called Ramah, which was forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem; +and when he had taken it, he fortified it, having determined +beforehand to leave a garrison in it, that they might thence make +excursions, and do mischief to the kingdom of Asa. + +4. Whereupon Asa was afraid of the attempts the enemy might make +upon him; and considering with himself how many mischiefs this +army that was left in Ramah might do to the country over which he +reigned, he sent ambassadors to the king of the Damascenes, with +gold and silver, desiring his assistance, and putting him in mind +that we have had a friendship together from the times of our +forefathers. So he gladly received that sum of money, and made a +league with him, and broke the friendship he had with Baasha, and +sent the commanders of his own forces unto the cities that were +under Baasha's dominion, and ordered them to do them mischief. So +they went and burnt some of them, and spoiled others; Ijon, and +Dan, and Abelmain (32) and many others. Now when the king of +Israel heard this, he left off building and fortifying Ramah, and +returned presently to assist his own people under the distresses +they were in; but Asa made use of the materials that were +prepared for building that city, for building in the same place +two strong cities, the one of which was called Geba, and the +other Mizpah; so that after this Baasha had no leisure to make +expeditions against Asa, for he was prevented by death, and was +buried in the city Tirzah; and Elah his son took the kingdom, +who, when he had reigned two years, died, being treacherously +slain by Zimri, the captain of half his army; for when he was at +Arza, his steward's house, he persuaded some of the horsemen that +were under him to assault Elah, and by that means he slew him +when he was without his armed men and his captains, for they were +all busied in the siege of Gibbethon, a city of the Philistines. + +5. When Zimri, the captain of the army, had killed Elah, he took +the kingdom himself, and, according to Jehu's prophecy, slew all +the house of Baasha; for it came to pass that Baasha's house +utterly perished, on account of his impiety, in the same manner +as we have already described the destruction of the house of +Jeroboam. But the army that was besieging. Gibbethon, when they +heard what had befallen the king, and that when Zimri had killed +him, he had gained the kingdom, they made Omri their general +king, who drew off his army from Gibbethon, and came to Tirzah, +where the royal palace was, and assaulted the city, and took it +by force. But when Zimri saw that the city had none to defend it, +he fled into the inmost part of the palace, and set it on fire, +and burnt himself with it, when he had reigned only seven days. +Upon which the people of Israel were presently divided, and part +of them would have Tibni to be king, and part Omri; but when +those that were for Omri's ruling had beaten Tibni, Omri reigned +over all the multitude. Now it was in the thirtieth year of the +reign of Asa that Omri reigned for twelve years; six of these +years he reigned in the city Tirzah, and the rest in the city +called Semareon, but named by the Greeks Samaria; but he himself +called it Semareon, from Semer, who sold him the mountain whereon +he built it. Now Omri was no way different from those kings that +reigned before him, but that he grew worse than they, for they +all sought how they might turn the people away from God by their +daily wicked practices; and oil that account it was that God made +one of them to be slain by another, and that no one person of +their families should remain. This Omri also died in Samaria and +Ahab his son succeeded him. + +6. Now by these events we may learn what concern God hath for the +affairs of mankind, and how he loves good men, and hates the +wicked, and destroys them root and branch; for many of these +kings of Israel, they and their families, were miserably +destroyed, and taken away one by another, in a short time, for +their transgression and wickedness; but Asa, who was king of +Jerusalem, and of the two tribes, attained, by God's blessing, a +long and a blessed old age, for his piety and righteousness, and +died happily, when he had reigned forty and one years; and when +he was dead, his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him in the government. +He was born of Asa's wife Azubah. And all men allowed that he +followed the works of David his forefather, and this both in +courage and piety; but we are not obliged now to speak any more +of the affairs of this king. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Ahab When He Had Taken Jezebel To Wife Became More Wicked +Than All The Kings That Had Been Before Him; Of The Actions Of +The Prophet Elijah, And What Befell Naboth. + + +1. Now Ahab the king of Israel dwelt in Samaria, and held the +government for twenty-two years; and made no alteration in the +conduct of the kings that were his predecessors, but only in such +things as were of his own invention for the worse, and in his +most gross wickedness. He imitated them in their wicked courses, +and in their injurious behavior towards God, and more especially +he imitated the transgression of Jeroboam; for he worshipped the +heifers that he had made; and he contrived other absurd objects +of worship besides those heifers: he also took to wife the +daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Tyrians and Sidonians, whose +name was Jezebel, of whom he learned to worship her own gods. +This woman was active and bold, and fell into so great a degree +of impurity and madness, that she built a temple to the god of +the Tyrians, Which they call Belus, and planted a grove of all +sorts of trees; she also appointed priests and false prophets to +this god. The king also himself had many such about him, and so +exceeded in madness and wickedness all [the kings] that went +before him. + +2. There was now a prophet of God Almighty, of Thesbon, a country +in Gilead, that came to Ahab, and said to him, that God foretold +he would not send rain nor dew in those years upon the country +but when he should appear. And when he had confirmed this by an +oath, he departed into the southern parts, and made his abode by +a brook, out of which he had water to drink; for as for his food, +ravens brought it to him every day: but when that river was dried +up for want of rain, he came to Zarephath, a city not far from +Sidon and Tyre, for it lay between them, and this at the command +of God, for [God told him] that he should there find a woman who +was a widow that should give him sustenance. So when he was not +far off the city, he saw a woman that labored with her own hands, +gathering of sticks: so God informed him that this was the woman +who was to give him sustenance. So he came and saluted her, and +desired her to bring him some water to drink; but as she was +going so to do, he called to her, and would have her to bring him +a loaf of bread also; whereupon she affirmed upon oath that she +had at home nothing more than one handful of meal, and a little +oil, and that she was going to gather some sticks, that she might +knead it, and make bread for herself and her son; after which, +she said, they must perish, and be consumed by the famine, for +they had nothing for themselves any longer. Hereupon he said, "Go +on with good courage, and hope for better things; and first of +all make me a little cake, and bring it to me, for I foretell to +thee that this vessel of meal and this cruse of oil shall not +fail until God send rain." When the prophet had said this, she +came to him, and made him the before-named cake; of which she had +part for herself, and gave the rest to her son, and to the +prophet also; nor did any thing of this fall until the drought +ceased. Now Menander mentions this drought in his account of the +acts of Ethbaal, king of the Tyrians; where he says thus: "Under +him there was a want of rain from the month Hyperberetmus till +the month Hyperberetmus of the year following; but when he made +supplications, there came great thunders. This Ethbaal built the +city Botrys in Phoenicia, and the city Auza in Libya." By these +words he designed the want of rain that was in the days of Ahab, +for at that time it was that Ethbaal also reigned over the +Tyrians, as Menander informs us. + +3. Now this woman, of whom we spake before, that sustained the +prophet, when her son was fallen into a distemper till he gave up +the ghost, and appeared to be dead, came to the prophet weeping, +and beating her breasts with her hands, and sending out such +expressions as her passions dictated to her, and complained to +him that he had come to her to reproach her for her sins, and +that on this account it was that her son was dead. But he bid her +be of good cheer, and deliver her son to him, for that he would +deliver him again to her alive. So when she had delivered her son +up to him, he carried him into an upper room, where he himself +lodged, and laid him down upon the bed, and cried unto God, and +said, that God had not done well, in rewarding the woman who had +entertained him and sustained him, by taking away her son; and he +prayed that he would send again the soul of the child into him, +and bring him to life again. Accordingly God took pity on the +mother, and was willing to gratify the prophet, that he might not +seem to have come to her to do her a mischief, and the child, +beyond all expectation, came to life again. So the mother +returned the prophet thanks, and said she was then clearly +satisfied that God did converse with him. + +4. After a little while Elijah came to king Ahab, according to +God's will, to inform him that rain was coming. Now the famine +had seized upon the whole country, and there was a great want of +what was necessary for sustenance, insomuch that it was after the +recovery of the widow's son of Sarepta, God sent not only men +that wanted it, but the earth itself also, which did not produce +enough for the horse and the other beasts of what was useful for +them to feed on, by reason of the drought. So the king called for +Obadiah, who was steward over his cattle, and said to him, that +he would have him go to the fountains of water, and to the +brooks, that if any herbs could be found for them, they might mow +it down, and reserve it for the beasts. And when he had sent +persons all over the habitable earth (33) to discover the prophet +Elijah, and they could not find him, he bade Obadiah accompany +him. So it was resolved they should make a progress, and divide +the ways between them; and Obadiah took one road, and the king +another. Now it happened that the same time when queen Jezebel +slew the prophets, that this Obadiah had hidden a hundred +prophets, and had fed them with nothing but bread and water. But +when Obadiah was alone, and absent from the king, the prophet +Elijah met him; and Obadiah asked him who he was; and when he had +learned it from him, he worshipped him. Elijah then bid him go to +the king, and tell him that I am here ready to wait on him. But +Obadiah replied, "What evil have I done to thee, that thou +sendest me to one who seeketh to kill thee, and hath sought over +all the earth for thee? Or was he so ignorant as not to know that +the king had left no place untouched unto which he had not sent +persons to bring him back, in order, if they could take him, to +have him put to death?" For he told him he was afraid lest God +should appear to him again, and he should go away into another +place; and that when the king should send him for Elijah, and he +should miss of him, and not be able to find him any where upon +earth, he should be put to death. He desired him therefore to +take care of his preservation; and told him how diligently he had +provided for those of his own profession, and had saved a hundred +prophets, when Jezebel slew the rest of them, and had kept them +concealed, and that they had been sustained by him. But Elijah +bade him fear nothing, but go to the king; and he assured him +upon oath that he would certainly show himself to Ahab that very +day. + +5. So when Obadiah had informed the king that Elijah was there, +Ahab met him, and asked him, in anger, if he were the man that +afflicted the people of the Hebrews, and was the occasion of the +drought they lay under? But Elijah, without any flattery, said +that he was himself the man, he and his house, which brought such +sad afflictions upon them, and that by introducing strange gods +into their country, and worshipping them, and by leaving their +own, who was the only true God, and having no manner of regard to +him. However, he bade him go his way, and gather together all the +people to him to Mount Carmel, with his own prophets, and those +of his wife, telling him how many there were of them, as also the +prophets of the groves, about four hundred in number. And as all +the men whom Ahab sent for ran away to the forenamed mountain, +the prophet Elijah stood in the midst of them, and said, "How +long will you live thus in uncertainty of mind and opinion?" He +also exhorted them, that in case they esteemed their own country +God to be the true and the only God, they would follow him and +his commandments; but in case they esteemed him to be nothing, +but had an opinion of the strange gods, and that they ought to +worship them, his counsel was, that they should follow them. And +when the multitude made no answer to what he said, Elijah desired +that, for a trial of the power of the strange gods, and of their +own God, he, who was his only prophet, while they had four +hundred, might take a heifer and kill it as a sacrifice, and lay +it upon pieces of wood, and not kindle any fire, and that they +should do the same things, and call upon their own gods to set +the wood on fire; for if that were done, they would thence learn +the nature of the true God. This proposal pleased the people. So +Elijah bade the prophets to choose out a heifer first, and kill +it, and to call on their gods. But when there appeared no effect +of the prayer or invocation of the prophets upon their sacrifice, +Elijah derided them, and bade them call upon their gods with a +loud voice, for they might either be on a journey, or asleep; and +when these prophets had done so from morning till noon, and cut +themselves with swords and lances, (34) according to the customs +of their country, and he was about to offer his sacrifice, he +bade [the prophets] go away, but bade [the people] come near and +observe what he did, lest he should privately hide fire among the +pieces of wood. So, upon the approach of the multitude, he took +twelve stones, one for each tribe of the people of the Hebrews, +and built an altar with them, and dug a very deep trench; and +when he had laid the pieces of wood upon the altar, and upon them +had laid the pieces of the sacrifices, he ordered them to fill +four barrels with the water of the fountain, and to pour it upon +the altar, till it ran over it, and till the trench was filled +with the water poured into it. When he had done this, he began to +pray to God, and to invocate him to make manifest his power to a +people that had already been in an error a long time; upon which +words a fire came on a sudden from heaven in the sight of the +multitude, and fell upon the altar, and consumed the sacrifice, +till the very water was set on fire, and the place was become +dry. + +6. Now when the Israelites saw this, they fell down upon the +ground, and worshipped one God, and called him The great and the +only true God; but they called the others mere names, framed by +the evil and vile opinions of men. So they caught their prophets, +and, at the command of Elijah, slew them. Elijah also said to the +king, that he should go to dinner without any further concern, +for that in a little time he would see God send them rain. +Accordingly Ahab went his way. But Elijah went up to the highest +top of Mount Carmel, and sat down upon the ground, and leaned his +head upon his knees, and bade his servant go up to a certain +elevated place, and look towards the sea, and when he should see +a cloud rising any where, he should give him notice of it, for +till that time the air had been clear. When the Servant had gone +up, and had said many times that he saw nothing, at the seventh +time of his going up, he said that he saw a small black thing in +the sky, not larger than a man's foot. When Elijah heard that, he +sent to Ahab, and desired him to go away to the city before the +rain came down. So he came to the city Jezreel; and in a little +time the air was all obscured, and covered with clouds, and a +vehement storm of wind came upon the earth, and with it a great +deal of rain; and the prophet was under a Divine fury, and ran +along with the king's chariot unto Jezreel a city of Izar (35) +[Issaachar]. + +7. When Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, understood what signs Elijah +had wrought, and how he had slain her prophets, she was angry, +and sent messengers to him, and by them threatened to kill him, +as he had destroyed her prophets. At this Elijah was affrighted, +and fled to the city called Beersheba, which is situate at the +utmost limits of the country belonging to the tribe of Judah, +towards the land of Edom; and there he left his servant, and went +away into the desert. He prayed also that he might die, for that +he was not better than his fathers, nor need he be very desirous +to live, when they were dead; and he lay and slept under a +certain tree; and when somebody awakened him, and he was risen +up, he found food set by him and water: so when he had eaten, and +recovered his strength by that his food, he came to that mountain +which is called Sinai, where it is related that Moses received +his laws from God; and finding there a certain hollow cave, he +entered into it, and continued to make his abode in it. But when +a certain voice came to him, but from whence he knew not, and +asked him, why he was come thither, and had left the city? he +said, that because he had slain the prophets of the foreign gods, +and had persuaded the people that he alone whom they had +worshipped from the beginning was God, he was sought for by the +king's wife to be punished for so doing. And when he had heard +another voice, telling him that he should come out the next day +into the open air, and should thereby know what he was to do, he +came out of the cave the next day accordingly, When he both heard +an earthquake, and saw the bright splendor of a fire; and after a +silence made, a Divine voice exhorted him not to be disturbed +with the circumstances he was in, for that none of his enemies +should have power over him. The voice also commanded him to +return home, and to ordain Jehu, the son of Nimshi, to be king +over their own multitude; and Hazael, of Damascus, to be over the +Syrians; and Elisha, of the city Abel, to be a prophet in his +stead; and that of the impious multitude, some should be slain by +Hazael, and others by Jehu. So Elijah, upon hearing this charge, +returned into the land of the Hebrews. And when he found Elisha, +the son of Shaphat, ploughing, and certain others with him, +driving twelve yoke of oxen, he came to him, and cast his own +garment upon him; upon which Elisha began to prophesy presently, +and leaving his oxen, he followed Elijah. And when he desired +leave to salute his parents, Elijah gave him leave so to do; and +when he had taken his leave of them, he followed him, and became +the disciple and the servant of Elijah all the days of his life. +And thus have I despatched the affairs in which this prophet was +concerned. + +8. Now there was one Naboth, of the city Izar, [Jezreel,] who had +a field adjoining to that of the king: the king would have +persuaded him to sell him that his field, which lay so near to +his own lands, at what price he pleased, that he might join them +together, and make them one farm; and if he would not accept of +money for it, he gave him leave to choose any of his other fields +in its stead. But Naboth said he would not do so, but would keep +the possession of that land of his own, which he had by +inheritance from his father. Upon this the king was grieved, as +if he had received an injury, when he could not get another man's +possession, and he would neither wash himself, nor take any food: +and when Jezebel asked him what it was that troubled him, and why +he would neither wash himself, nor eat either dinner or supper, +he related to her the perverseness of Naboth, and how, when he +had made use of gentle words to him, and such as were beneath the +royal authority, he had been affronted, and had not obtained what +he desired. However, she persuaded him not to be cast down at +this accident, but to leave off his grief, and return to the +usual care of his body, for that she would take care to have +Naboth punished; and she immediately sent letters to the rulers +of the Israelites [Jezreelites] in Ahab's name, and commanded +them to fast and to assemble a congregation, and to set Naboth at +the head of them, because he was of an illustrious family, and to +have three bold men ready to bear witness that he had blasphemed +God and the king, and then to stone him, and slay him in that +manner. Accordingly, when Naboth had been thus testified against, +as the queen had written to them, that he had blasphemed against +God and Ahab the king, she desired him to take possession of +Naboth's vineyard on free cost. So Ahab was glad at what had been +done, and rose up immediately from the bed whereon he lay to go +to see Naboth's vineyard; but God had great indignation at it, +and sent Elijah the prophet to the field of Naboth, to speak to +Ahab, and to say to him, that he had slain the true owner of that +field unjustly. And as soon as he came to him, and the king had +said that he might do with him what he pleased, (for he thought +it a reproach to him to be thus caught in his sin,) Elijah said, +that in that very place in which the dead body of Naboth was +eaten by dogs both his own blood and that of his wife's should be +shed, and that all his family should perish, because he had been +so insolently wicked, and had slain a citizen unjustly, and +contrary to the laws of his country. Hereupon Ahab began to be +sorry for the things he had done, and to repent of them; and he +put on sackcloth, and went barefoot (36) and would not touch any +food; he also confessed his sins, and endeavored thus to appease +God. But God said to the prophet, that while Ahab was living he +would put off the punishment of his family, because he repented +of those insolent crimes he had been guilty of, but that still he +would fulfill his threatening under Ahab's son; which message the +prophet delivered to the king. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +How Hadad King Of Damascus And Of Syria, Made Two Expeditions +Against Ahab And Was Beaten. + + +1. When the affairs of Ahab were thus, at that very time the son +of Hadad, [Benhadad,] who was king of the Syrians and of +Damascus, got together an army out of all his country, and +procured thirty-two kings beyond Euphrates to be his auxiliaries: +so he made an expedition against Ahab; but because Ahab's army +was not like that of Benhadad, he did not set it in array to +fight him, but having shut up every thing that was in the country +in the strongest cities he had, he abode in Samaria himself, for +the walls about it were very strong, and it appeared to be not +easily to be taken in other respects also. So the king of Syria +took his army with him, and came to Samaria, and placed his army +round about the city, and besieged it. He also sent a herald to +Ahab, and desired he would admit the ambassadors he would send +him, by whom he would let him know his pleasure. So, upon the +king of Israel's permission for him to send, those ambassador's +came, and by their king's command spake thus: That Ahab's riches, +and his children, and his wives were Benhadad's, and if he would +make an agreement, and give him leave to take as much of what he +had as he pleased, he would withdraw his army, and leave off the +siege. Upon this Ahab bade the ambassadors to go back, and tell +their king, that both he himself and all that he hath are his +possessions. And when these ambassadors had told this to +Berthadad, he sent to him again, and desired, since he confessed +that all he had was his, that he would admit those servants of +his which he should send the next day; and he commanded him to +deliver to those whom he should send whatsoever, upon their +searching his palace, and the houses of his friends and kindred, +they should find to be excellent in its kind, but that what did +not please them they should leave to him. At this second +embassage of the king of Syria, Ahab was surprised, and gathered +together the multitude to a congregation, and told them that, for +himself, he was ready, for their safety and peace, to give up his +own wives and children to the enemy, and to yield to him all his +own possessions, for that was what the Syrian king required at +his first embassage; but that now he desires to send his servants +to search all their houses, and in them to leave nothing that is +excellent in its kind, seeking an occasion of fighting against +him, "as knowing that I would not spare what is mine own for your +sakes, but taking a handle from the disagreeable terms he offers +concerning you to bring a war upon us; however, I will do what +you shall resolve is fit to be done." But the multitude advised +him to hearken to none of his proposals, but to despise him, and +be in readiness to fight him. Accordingly, when he had given the +ambassadors this answer to be reported, that he still continued +in the mind to comply with what terms he at first desired, for +the safety of the citizens; but as for his second desires, he +cannot submit to them, - he dismissed them. + +2. Now when Benhadad heard this, he had indignation, and sent +ambassadors to Ahab the third time, and threatened that his army +would raise a bank higher than those walls, in confidence of +whose strength he despised him, and that by only each man of his +army taking a handful of earth; hereby making a show of the great +number of his army, and aiming to affright him. Ahab answered, +that he ought not to vaunt himself when he had only put on his +armor, but when he should have conquered his enemies in the +battle. So the ambassadors came back, and found the king at +supper with his thirty-two kings, and informed him of Ahab's +answer; who then immediately gave order for proceeding thus: To +make lines round the city, and raise a bulwark, and to prosecute +the siege all manner of ways. Now, as this was doing, Ahab was in +a great agony, and all his people with him; but he took courage, +and was freed from his fears, upon a certain prophet coming to +him, and saying to him, that God had promised to subdue so many +ten thousands of his enemies under him. And when he inquired by +whose means the victory was to be obtained, he said," By the sons +of the princes; but under thy conduct as their leader, by reason +of their unskilfulness [in war]." Upon which he called for the +sons of the princes, and found them to be two hundred and +thirty-two persons. So when he was informed that the king of +Syria had betaken himself to feasting and repose, he opened the +gates, and sent out the princes' sons. Now when the sentinels +told Benhadad of it, he sent some to meet them, and commanded +them, that if these men were come out for fighting, they should +bind them, and bring them to him; and that if they came out +peaceably, they should do the same. Now Ahab had another army +ready within the walls, but the sons of the princes fell upon the +out-guard, and slew many of them, and pursued the rest of them to +the camp; and when the king of Israel saw that these had the +upper hand, he sent out all the rest of his army, which, falling +suddenly upon the Syrians, beat them, for they did not think they +would have come out; on which account it was that they assaulted +them when they were naked (37) and drunk, insomuch that they left +all their armor behind them when they fled out of the camp, and +the king himself escaped with difficulty, by fleeing away on +horseback. But Ahab went a great way in pursuit of the Syrians; +and when he had spoiled their camp, which contained a great deal +of wealth, and moreover a large quantity of gold and silver, he +took Benhadad's chariots and horses, and returned to the city; +but as the prophet told him he ought to have his army ready, +because the Syrian king would make another expedition against him +the next year, Ahab was busy in making provision for it +accordingly. + +3. Now Benhadad, when he had saved himself, and as much of his +army as he could, out of the battle, he consulted with his +friends how he might make another expedition against the +Israelites. Now those friends advised him not to fight with them +on the hills, because their God was potent in such places, and +thence it had come to pass that they had very lately been beaten; +but they said, that if they joined battle with them in the plain, +they should beat them. They also gave him this further advice, to +send home those kings whom he had brought as his auxiliaries, but +to retain their army, and to set captains over it instead of the +kings, and to raise an army out of their country, and let them be +in the place of the former who perished in the battle, together +with horses and chariots. So he judged their counsel to be good, +and acted according to it in the management of the army. + +4. At the beginning of the spring, Benhadad took his army with +him, and led it against the Hebrews; and when he was come to a +certain city which was called Aphek, he pitched his camp in the +great plain. Ahab also went to meet him with his army, and +pitched his camp over against him, although his army was a very +small one, if it were compared with the enemy's; but the prophet +came again to him, and told him, that God would give him the +victory, that he might demonstrate his own power to be, not only +on the mountains, but on the plains also; which it seems was +contrary to the opinion of the Syrians. So they lay quiet in +their camp seven days; but on the last of those days, when the +enemies came out of their camp, and put themselves in array in +order to fight, Ahab also brought out his own army; and when the +battle was joined, and they fought valiantly, he put the enemy to +flight, and pursued them, and pressed upon them, and slew them; +nay, they were destroyed by their own chariots, and by one +another; nor could any more than a few of them escape to their +own city Aphek, who were also killed by the walls falling upon +them, being in number twenty-seven thousand. (38) Now there were +slain in this battle a hundred thousand more; but Benhadad, the +king of the Syrians, fled away, with certain others of his most +faithful servants, and hid himself in a cellar under ground; and +when these told him that the kings of Israel were humane and +merciful men, and that they might make use of the usual manner of +supplication, and obtain deliverance from Ahab, in case he would +give them leave to go to him, he gave them leave accordingly. So +they came to Ahab, clothed in sackcloth, with ropes about their +heads, (for this was the ancient manner of supplication among the +Syrians,) (39) and said, that Benhadad desired he would save him, +and that he would ever be a servant to him for that favor. Ahab +replied he was glad that he was alive, and not hurt in the +battle; and he further promised him the same honor and kindness +that a man would show to his brother. So they received assurances +upon oath from him, that when he came to him he should receive no +harm from him, and then went and brought him out of the cellar +wherein he was hid, and brought him to Ahab as he sat in his +chariot. So Benhadad worshipped him; and Ahab gave him his hand, +and made him come up to him into his chariot, and kissed him, and +bid him be of good cheer, and not to expect that any mischief +should be done to him. So Berthadad returned him thanks, and +professed that he would remember his kindness to him all the days +of his life; and promised he would restore those cities of the +Israelites which the former kings had taken from them, and grant +that he should have leave to come to Damascus, as his forefathers +had to come to Samaria. So they confirmed their covenant by +oaths, and Ahab made him many presents, and sent him back to his +own kingdom. And this was the conclusion of the war that Benhadad +made against Ahab and the Israelites. + +5. But a certain prophet, whose name was Micaiah, (40) came to +one of the Israelites, and bid him smite him on the head, for by +so doing he would please God; but when he would not do so, he +foretold to him, that since he disobeyed the commands of God, he +should meet with a lion, and be destroyed by him. When that sad +accident had befallen the man, the prophet came again to another, +and gave him the same injunction; so he smote him, and wounded +his skull; upon which he bound up his head, and came to the king, +and told him that he had been a soldier of his, and had the +custody of one of the prisoners committed to him by an officer, +and that the prisoner being run away, he was in danger of losing +his own life by the means of that officer, who had threatened +him, that if the prisoner escaped he would kill him. And when +Ahab had said that he would justly die, he took off the binding +about his head, and was known by the king to be Micaiah the +prophet, who made use of this artifice as a prelude to his +following words; for he said that God would punish him who had +suffered Benhadad, a blasphemer against him, to escape +punishment; and that he would so bring it about, that he should +die by the other's means (41) and his people by the other's army. +Upon which Ahab was very angry at the prophet, and gave +commandment that he should be put in prison, and there kept; but +for himself, he was in confusion at the words of Micaiah, and +returned to his own house. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +Concerning Jehoshaphat The King Of Jerusalem And How Ahab Made An +Expedition Against The Syrians And Was Assisted Therein By +Jehoshaphat, But Was Himself Overcome In Battle And Perished +Therein. + + +1. And these were the circumstances in which Ahab was. But I now +return to Jehoshaphat, the king of Jerusalem, who, when he had +augmented his kingdom, had set garrisons in the cities of the +countries belonging to his subjects, and had put such garrisons +no less into those cities which were taken out of the tribe of +Ephraim by his grandfather Abijah, when Jeroboam reigned over the +ten tribes [than he did into the other]. But then he had God +favorable and assisting to him, as being both righteous and +religious, and seeking to do somewhat every day that should be +agreeable and acceptable to God. The kings also that were round +about him honored him with the presents they made him, till the +riches that he had acquired were immensely great, and the glory +he had gained was of a most exalted nature. + +2. Now, in the third year of this reign, he called together the +rulers of the country, and the priests, and commanded them to go +round the land, and teach all the people that were under him, +city by city, the laws of Moses, and to keep them, and to be +diligent in the worship of God. With this the whole multitude was +so pleased, that they were not so eagerly set upon or affected +with any thing so much as the observation of the laws. The +neighboring nations also continued to love Jehoshaphat, and to be +at peace with him. The Philistines paid their appointed tribute, +and the Arabians supplied him every year with three hundred and +sixty lambs, and as many kids of the goats. He also fortified the +great cities, which were many in number, and of great +consequence. He prepared also a mighty army of soldiers and +weapons against their enemies. Now the army of men that wore +their armor, was three hundred thousand of the tribe of Judah, of +whom Adnah was the chief; but John was chief of two hundred +thousand. The same man was chief of the tribe of Benjamin, and +had two hundred thousand archers under him. There was another +chief, whose name was Jehozabad, who had a hundred and fourscore +thousand armed men. This multitude was distributed to be ready +for the king's service, besides those whom he sent to the best +fortified cities. + +3. Jehoshaphat took for his son Jehoram to wife the daughter of +Ahab, the king of the ten tribes, whose name was Athaliah. And +when, after some time, he went to Samaria, Ahab received him +courteously, and treated the army that followed him in a splendid +manner, with great plenty of corn and wine, and of slain beasts; +and desired that he would join with him in his war against the +king of Syria, that he might recover from him the city Ramoth, in +Gilead; for though it had belonged to his father, yet had the +king of Syria's father taken it away from him; and upon +Jehoshaphat's promise to afford him his assistance, (for indeed +his army was not inferior to the other,) and his sending for his +army from Jerusalem to Samaria, the two kings went out of the +city, and each of them sat on his own throne, and each gave their +orders to their several armies. Now Jehoshaphat bid them call +some of the prophets, if there were any there, and inquire of +them concerning this expedition against the king of Syria, +whether they would give them counsel to make that expedition at +this time, for there was peace at that time between Ahab and the +king of Syria, which had lasted three years, from the time he had +taken him captive till that day. + +4. So Ahab called his own prophets, being in number about four +hundred, and bid them inquire of God whether he would grant him +the victory, if he made an expedition against Benhadad, and +enable him to overthrow that city, for whose sake it was that he +was going to war. Now these prophets gave their counsel for +making this expedition, and said that he would beat the king of +Syria, and, as formerly, would reduce him under his power. But +Jehoshaphat, understanding by their words that they were false +prophets, asked Ahab whether there were not some other prophet, +and he belonging to the true God, that we may have surer +information concerning futurities. Hereupon Ahab said there was +indeed such a one, but that he hated him, as having prophesied +evil to him, and having foretold that he should be overcome and +slain by the king of Syria, and that for this cause he had him +now in prison, and that his name was Micaiah, the son of Imlah. +But upon Jehoshaphat's desire that he might be produced, Ahab +sent a eunuch, who brought Micaiah to him. Now the eunuch had +informed him by the way, that all the other prophets had foretold +that the king should gain the victory; but he said, that it was +not lawful for him to lie against God, but that he must speak +what he should say to him about the king, whatsoever it were. +When he came to Ahab, and he had adjured him upon oath to speak +the truth to him, he said that God had shown to him the +Israelites running away, and pursued by the Syrians, and +dispersed upon the mountains by them, as flocks of sheep are +dispersed when their shepherd is slain. He said further, that God +signified to him, that those Israelites should return in peace +to their own home, and that he only should fall in the battle. +When Micalab had thus spoken, Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I told +thee a little while ago the disposition of the man with regard to +me, and that he uses to prophesy evil to me." Upon which Micaiah +replied, that he ought to hear all, whatsoever it be, that God +foretells; and that in particular, they were false prophets that +encouraged him to make this war in hope of victory, whereas he +must fight and be killed. Whereupon the king was in suspense with +himself: but Zedekiah, one of those false prophets, came near, +and exhorted him not to hearken to Micaiah, for he did not at all +speak truth; as a demonstration of which he instanced in what +Elijah had said, who was a better prophet in foretelling +futurities than Micaiah (42) for he foretold that the dogs should +lick his blood in the city of Jezreel, in the field of Naboth, as +they licked the blood of Naboth, who by his means was there +stoned to death by the multitude; that therefore it was plain +that this Micalab was a liar, as contradicting a greater prophet +than himself, and saying that he should be slain at three days' +journey distance: "and [said he] you shall soon know whether he +be a true prophet, and hath the power of the Divine Spirit; for I +will smite him, and let him then hurt my hand, as Jadon caused +the hand of Jeroboam the king to wither when he would have caught +him; for I suppose thou hast certainly heard of that accident." +So when, upon his smiting Micaiah, no harm happened to him, Ahab +took courage, and readily led his army against the king of Syria; +for, as I suppose, fate was too hard for him, and made him +believe that the false prophets spake truer than the true one, +that it might take an occasion of bringing him to his end. +However, Zedekiah made horns of iron, and said to Ahab, that God +made those horns signals, that by them he should overthrow all +Syria. But Micaiah replied, that Zedekiah, in a few days, should +go from one secret chamber to another to hide himself, that he +might escape the punishment of his lying. Then did the king give +orders that they should take Micaiah away, and guard him to Amon, +the governor of the city, and to give him nothing but bread and +water. + +5. Then did Ahab, and Jehoshaphat the king of Jerusalem, take +their forces, and marched to Ramoth a city of Gilead; and when +the king of Syria heard of this expedition, he brought out his +army to oppose them, and pitched his camp not far from Ramoth. +Now Ahalx and Jehoshaphat had agreed that Ahab should lay aside +his royal robes, but that the king of Jerusalem should put on his +[Ahab's] proper habit, and stand before the army, in order to +disprove, by this artifice, what Micaiah had foretold. (43) But +Ahab's fate found him out without his robes; for Benhadad, the +king of Assyria, had charged his army, by the means of their +commanders, to kill nobody else but only the king of Israel. So +when the Syrians, upon their joining battle with the Israelites, +saw Jehoshaphat stand before the army, and conjectured that he +was Ahab, they fell violently upon him, and encompassed him +round; but when they were near, and knew that it was not he, they +all returned back; and while the fight lasted from the morning +till late in the evening, and the Syrians were conquerors, they +killed nobody, as their king had commanded them. And when they +sought to kill Ahab alone, but could not find him, there was a +young nobleman belonging to king Benhadad, whose name was Naaman; +he drew his bow against the enemy, and wounded the king through +his breastplate, in his lungs. Upon this Ahab resolved not to +make his mischance known to his army, lest they should run away; +but he bid the driver of his chariot to turn it back, and carry +him out of the battle, because he was sorely and mortally +wounded. However, he sat in his chariot and endured the pain till +sunset, and then he fainted away and died. + +6. And now the Syrian army, upon the coming on of the night, +retired to their camp; and when the herald belonging to the camp +gave notice that Ahab was dead, they returned home; and they took +the dead body of Ahab to Samaria, and buried it there; but when +they had washed his chariot in the fountain of Jezreel, which was +bloody with the dead body of the king, they acknowledged that the +prophecy of Elijah was true, for the dogs licked his blood, and +the harlots continued afterwards to wash themselves in that +fountain; but still he died at Ramoth, as Micaiah had foretold. +And as what things were foretold should happen to Ahab by the two +prophets came to pass, we ought thence to have high notions of +God, and every where to honor and worship him, and never to +suppose that what is pleasant and agreeable is worthy of belief +before what is true, and to esteem nothing more advantageous than +the gift of prophecy (44) and that foreknowledge of future events +which is derived from it, since God shows men thereby what we +ought to avoid. We may also guess, from what happened to this +king, and have reason to consider the power of fate; that there +is no way of avoiding it, even when we know it. It creeps upon +human souls, and flatters them with pleasing hopes, till it leads +them about to the place where it will be too hard for them. +Accordingly Ahab appears to have been deceived thereby, till he +disbelieved those that foretold his defeat; but, by giving credit +to such as foretold what was grateful to him, was slain; and his +son Ahaziah succeeded him. + + + + +BOOK IX. + +Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Fifty-Seven Years. + +From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes. + +CHAPTER 1. + +Concerning Jehoshaphat Again; How He Constituted Judges And, By +God's Assistance Overcame His Enemies. + + +1. When Jehoshaphat the king was come to Jerusalem, from the +assistance he had afforded Ahab, the king of Israel, when he +fought with Benhadad, king of Syria, the prophet Jehu met him, +and accused him for assisting Ahab, a man both impious and +wicked; and said to him, that God was displeased with him for so +doing, but that he delivered him from the enemy, notwithstanding +he had sinned, because of his own proper disposition, which was +good. Whereupon the king betook himself to thanksgivings and +sacrifices to God; after which he presently went over all that +country which he ruled round about, and taught the people, as +well the laws which God gave them by Moses, as that religious +worship that was due to him. He also constituted judges in every +one of the cities of his kingdom; and charged them to have regard +to nothing so much in judging the multitude as to do justice, and +not to be moved by bribes, nor by the dignity of men eminent for +either their riches or their high birth, but to distribute +justice equally to all, as knowing that God is conscious of every +secret action of theirs. When he had himself instructed them +thus, and gone over every city of the two tribes, he returned to +Jerusalem. He there also constituted judges out of the priests +and the Levites, and principal persons of the multitude, and +admonished them to pass all their sentences with care and justice +(1) And that if any of the people of his country had differences +of great consequence, they should send them out of the other +cities to these judges, who would be obliged to give righteous +sentences concerning such causes; and this with the greater care, +because it is proper that the sentences which are given in that +city wherein the temple of God is, and wherein the king dwells, +be given with great care and the utmost justice. Now he set over +them Amariah the priest, and Zebadiah, [both] of the tribe of +Judah; and after this manner it was that the king ordered these +affairs. + +2. About the same time the Moabites and Ammonites made an +expedition against Jehoshaphat, and took with them a great body +of Arabians, and pitched their camp at Engedi, a city that is +situate at the lake Asphaltiris, and distant three hundred +furlongs from Jerusalem. In that place grows the best kind of +palm trees, and the opobalsamum. (2) Now Jehoshaphat heard that +the enemies had passed over the lake, and had made an irruption +into that country which belonged to his kingdom; at which news he +was aftrighted, and called the people of Jerusalem to a +congregation in the temple, and standing over against the temple +itself, he called upon God to afford him power and strength, so +as to inflict punishment on those that made this expedition +against them (for that those who built this his temple had +prayed, that he would protect that city, and take vengeance on +those that were so bold as to come against it); for they are come +to take from us that land which thou hast given us for a +possession. When he had prayed thus, he fell into tears; and the +whole multitude, together with their wives and children, made +their supplications also: upon which a certain prophet, Jahaziel +by name, came into the midst of the assembly, and cried out, and +spake both to the multitude and to the king, that God heard their +prayers, and promised to fight against their enemies. He also +gave order that the king should draw his forces out the next day, +for that he should find them between Jerusalem and the ascent of +Engedi, at a place called The Eminence, and that he should not +fight against them, but only stand still, and see how God would +fight against them. When the prophet had said this, both the king +and the multitude fell upon their faces, and gave thanks to God, +and worshipped him; and the Levites continued singing hymns to +God with their instruments of music. + +3. As soon as it was day, and the king was come into that +wilderness which is under the city of Tekoa, he said to the +multitude, "that they ought to give credit to what the prophet +had said, and not to set themselves in array for fighting; but to +set the priests with their trumpets, and the Levites with the +singers of hymns, to give thanks to God, as having already +delivered our country from our enemies." This opinion of the king +pleased [the people], and they did what he advised them to do. So +God caused a terror and a commotion to arise among the Ammonites, +who thought one another to be enemies, and slew one another, +insomuch that not one man out of so great an army escaped; and +when Jehoshaphat looked upon that valley wherein their enemies +had been encamped, and saw it full of dead men, he rejoiced at so +surprising an event, as was this assistance of God, while he +himself by his own power, and without their labor, had given them +the victory. He also gave his army leave to take the prey of the +enemy's camp, and to spoil their dead bodies; and indeed so they +did for three days together, till they were weary, so great was +the number of the slain; and on the fourth day, all the people +were gathered together unto a certain hollow place or valley, and +blessed God for his power and assistance, from which the place +had this name given it, the Valley of [Berachah, or] Blessing. + +4. And when the king had brought his army back to Jerusalem, he +betook himself to celebrate festivals, and offer sacrifices, and +this for many days. And indeed, after this destruction of their +enemies, and when it came to the ears of the foreign nations, +they were all greatly aftrighted, as supposing that God would +openly fight for him hereafter. So Jehoshaphat from that time +lived in great glory and splendor, on account of his +righteousness and his piety towards God. He was also in +friendship with Ahab's son, who was king of Israel; and he joined +with him in the building of ships that were to sail to Pontus, +and the traffic cities of Thrace (3) but he failed of his gains, +for the ships were destroyed by being so great [and unwieldy]; on +which account he was no longer concerned about shipping. And this +is the history of Jehoshaphat, the king of Jerusalem. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +Concerning Ahaziah; The King Of Israel; And Again Concerning The +Prophet Elijah. + + +1. And now Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, reigned over Israel, and +made his abode in Samaria. He was a wicked man, and in all +respects like to both his parents and to Jeroboam, who first of +all transgressed, and began to deceive the people. In the second +year of his reign, the king of Moab fell off from his obedience, +and left off paying those tributes which he before paid to his +father Ahab. Now it happened that Ahaziah, as he was coming down +from the top of his house, fell down from it, and in his sickness +sent to the Fly, which was the god of Ekron, for that was this +god's name, to inquire about his recovery (4) but the God of the +Hebrews appeared to Elijah the prophet, and commanded him to go +and meet the messengers that were sent, and to ask them, whether +the people of Israel had pot a God of their own, that the king +sent to a foreign god to inquire about his recovery? and to bid +them return and tell the king that he would not escape this +disease. And when Elijah had performed what God had commanded +him, and the messengers had heard what he said, they returned to +the king immediately; and when the king wondered how they could +return so soon, and asked them the reason of it, they said that a +certain man met them, and forbade them to go on any farther; but +to return and tell thee, from the command of the God of Israel, +that this disease will have a bad end. And when the king bid them +describe the man that said this to them, they replied that he was +a hairy man, and was girt about with a girdle of leather. So the +king understood by this that the man who was described by the +messengers was Elijah; whereupon he sent a captain to him, with +fifty soldiers, and commanded them to bring Elijah to him; and +when the captain that was sent found Elijah sitting upon the top +of a hill, he commanded him to come down, and to come to the +king, for so had he enjoined; but that in case he refused, they +would carry him by force. Elijah said to him, "That you may have +a trial whether I be a true prophet, I will pray that fire may +fall from heaven, and destroy both the soldiers and yourself." +(5) So he prayed, and a whirlwind of fire fell [from heaven], and +destroyed the captain, and those that were with him. And when the +king was informed of the destruction of these men, he was very +angry, and sent another captain with the like number of armed men +that were sent before. And when this captain also threatened the +prophet, that unless he came down of his own accord, he would +take him and carry him away, upon his prayer against him, the +fire [from heaven] slew this captain as well the other. And when, +upon inquiry, the king was informed of what happened to him, he +sent out a third captain. But when this captain, who was a wise +man, and of a mild disposition, came to the place where Elijah +happened to be, and spake civilly to him; and said that he knew +that it was without his own consent, and only in submission to +the king's command that he came to him; and that those that came +before did not come willingly, but on the same account; - he +therefore desired him to have pity on those armed men that were +with him, and that he would come down and follow him to the king. +So Elijah accepted of his discreet words and courteous behavior, +and came down and followed him. And when he came to the king, he +prophesied to him and told him that God said, "Since thou hast +despised him as not being God, and so unable to foretell the +truth about thy distemper, but hast sent to the god of Ekron to +inquire of him what will be the end of this thy distemper, know +this, that thou shalt die." + +2. Accordingly the king in a very little time died, as Elijah had +foretold; but Jehoram his brother succeeded him in the kingdom, +for he died without children: but for this Jehoram, he was like +his father Ahab in wickedness, and reigned twelve years, +indulging himself in all sorts of wickedness and impiety towards +God, for, leaving off his worship, he worshipped foreign gods; +but in other respects he was an active man. Now at this time it +was that Elijah disappeared from among men, and no one knows of +his death to this very day; but he left behind him his disciple +Elisha, as we have formerly declared. And indeed, as to Elijah, +and as to Enoch, who was before the deluge, it is written in the +sacred books that they disappeared, but so that nobody knew that +they died. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Joram And Jehoshaphat Made An Expedition Against The +Moabites; As Also Concerning The Wonders Of Elisha; And The Death +Of Jehoshaphat. + + +1. When Joram had taken upon him the kingdom, he determined to +make an expedition against the king of Moab, whose name was +Mesha; for, as we told you before, he was departed from his +obedience to his brother [Ahaziah], while he paid to his father +Ahab two hundred thousand sheep, with their fleeces of wool. When +therefore he had gathered his own army together, he sent also to +Jehoshaphat, and entreated him, that since he had from the +beginning been a friend to his father, he would assist him in the +war that he was entering into against the Moabites, who had +departed from their obedience, who not only himself promised to +assist him, but would also oblige the king of Edom, who was under +his authority, to make the same expedition also. When Joram had +received these assurances of assistance from Jehoshaphat, he took +his army with him, and came to Jerusalem; and when he had been +sumptuously entertained by the king of Jerusalem, it was resolved +upon by them to take their march against their enemies through +the wilderness of Edom. And when they had taken a compass of +seven days' journey, they were in distress for want of water for +the cattle, and for the army, from the mistake of their roads by +the guides that conducted them, insomuch that they were all in an +agony, especially Joram; and cried to God, by reason of their +sorrow, and [desired to know] what wickedness had been committed +by them that induced him to deliver three kings together, without +fighting, unto the king of Moab. But Jehoshaphat, who was a +righteous man, encouraged him, and bade him send to the camp, and +know whether any prophet of God was come along with them, that we +might by him learn from God what we should do. And when one of +the servants of Joram said that he had seen there Elisha, the son +of Shaphat, the disciple of Elijah, the three kings went to him, +at the entreaty of Jehoshaphat; and when they were come at the +prophet's tent, which tent was pitched out of the camp, they +asked him what would become of the army? and Joram was +particularly very pressing with him about it. And when he replied +to him, that he should not trouble him, but go to his father's +and mother's prophets, for they [to be sure] were true prophets, +he still desired him to prophesy, and to save them. So he swore +by God that he would not answer him, unless it were on account of +Jehoshaphat, who was a holy and righteous man; and when, at his +desire, they brought him a man that could play on the psaltery, +the Divine Spirit came upon him as the music played, and he +commanded them to dig many trenches in the valley; for, said he, +"though there appear neither cloud, nor wind, nor storm of rain, +ye shall see this river full of water, till the army and the +cattle be saved for you by drinking of it. Nor will this be all +the favor that you shall receive from God, but you shall also +overcome your enemies, and take the best and strongest cities of +the Moabites, and you shall cut down their fruit trees, (6) and +lay waste their country, and stop up their fountains and rivers." + +2. When the prophet had said this, the next day, before the +sun-rising, a great torrent ran strongly; for God had caused it +to rain very plentifully at the distance of three days' journey +into Edom, so that the army and the cattle found water to drink +in abundance. But when the Moabites heard that the three kings +were coming upon them, and made their approach through the +wilderness, the king of Moab gathered his army together +presently, and commanded them to pitch their camp upon the +mountains, that when the enemies should attempt to enter their +country, they might not be concealed from them. But when at the +rising of the sun they saw the water in the torrent, for it was +not far from the land of Moab, and that it was of the color of +blood, for at such a time the water especially looks red, by the +shining of the sun upon it, they formed a false notion of the +state of their enemies, as if they had slain one another for +thirst; and that the river ran with their blood. However, +supposing that this was the case, they desired their king would +send them out to spoil their enemies; whereupon they all went in +haste, as to an advantage already gained, and came to the enemy's +camp, as supposing them destroyed already. But their hope +deceived them; for as their enemies stood round about them, some +of them were cut to pieces, and others of them were dispersed, +and fled to their own country. And when the kings fell into the +land of Moab, they overthrew the cities that were in it, and +spoiled their fields, and marred them, filling them with stones +out of the brooks, and cut down the best of their trees, and +stopped up their fountains of water, and overthrew their walls to +their foundations. But the king of Moab, when he was pursued, +endured a siege; and seeing his city in danger of being +overthrown by force, made a sally, and went out with seven +hundred men, in order to break through the enemy's camp with his +horsemen, on that side where the watch seemed to be kept most +negligently; and when, upon trial, he could not get away, for he +lighted upon a place that was carefully watched, he returned into +the city, and did a thing that showed despair and the utmost +distress; for he took his eldest son, who was to reign after him, +and lifting him up upon the wall, that he might be visible to all +the enemies, he offered him as a whole burnt-offering to God, +whom, when the kings saw, they commiserated the distress that was +the occasion of it, and were so affected, in way of humanity and +pity, that they raised the siege, and every one returned to his +own house. So Jehoshaphat came to Jerusalem, and continued in +peace there, and outlived this expedition but a little time, and +then died, having lived in all sixty years, and of them reigned +twenty-five. He was buried in a magnificent manner in Jerusalem, +for he had imitated the actions of David. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat; How Joram, His Namesake, King Of +Israel, Fought With The Syrians; And What Wonders Were Done By The +Prophet Elisha. + + +1. Jehoshapat had a good number of children; but he appointed his +eldest son Jehoram to be his successor, who had the same name +with his mother's brother, that was king of Israel, and the son +of Ahab. Now when the king of Israel was come out of the land of +Moab to Samaria, he had with him Elisha the prophet, whose acts I +have a mind to go over particularly, for they were illustrious, +and worthy to be related, as we have them set down in the sacred +books. + +2. For they say that the widow of Obadiah (7) Ahab's steward, +came to him, and said, that he was not ignorant how her husband +had preserved the prophets that were to be slain by Jezebel, the +wife of Ahab; for she said that he hid a hundred of them, and had +borrowed money for their maintenance, and that, after her +husband's death, she and her children were carried away to be +made slaves by the creditors; and she desired of him to have +mercy upon her on account of what her husband did, and afford her +some assistance. And when he asked her what she had in the house, +she said, "Nothing but a very small quantity of oil in a cruse." +So the prophet bid her go away, and borrow a great many empty +vessels of her neighbors, and when she had shut her chamber door, +to pour the oil into them all; for that God would fill them full. +And when the woman had done what she was commanded to do, and +bade her children bring every one of the vessels, and all were +filled, and not one left empty, she came to the prophet, and told +him that they were all full; upon which he advised her to go +away, and sell the oil, and pay the creditors what was owing +them, for that there would be some surplus of the price of the +oil, which she might make use of for the maintenance of her +children. And thus did Elisha discharge the woman's debts, and +free her from the vexation of her creditors. + +3. Elisha also sent a hasty message to Joram, (8) and exhorted +him to take care of that place, for that therein were some +Syrians lying in ambush to kill him. So the king did as the +prophet exhorted him, and avoided his going a hunting. And when +Benhadad missed of the success of his lying in ambush, he was +wroth with his own servants, as if they had betrayed his +ambushment to Joram; and he sent for them, and said they were the +betrayers of his secret counsels; and he threatened that he would +put them to death, since such their practice was evident, because +he had intrusted this secret to none but them, and yet it was +made known to his enemy. And one that was present said that he +should not mistake himself, nor suspect that they had discovered +to his enemy his sending men to kill him, but that he ought to +know that it was Elisha the prophet who discovered all to him, +and laid open all his counsels. So he gave order that they should +send some to learn in what city Elisha dwelt. Accordingly those +that were sent brought word that he was in Dothan; wherefore +Benhadad sent to that city a great army, with horses and +chariots, to take Elisha: so they encompassed the city round +about by night, and kept him therein confined; but when the +prophet's servant in the morning perceived this, and that his +enemies sought to take Elisha, he came running, and crying out +after a disordered manner to him, and told him of it; but he +encouraged him, and bid him not be afraid, and to despise the +enemy, and trust in the assistance of God, and was himself +without fear; and he besought God to make manifest to his servant +his power and presence, so far as was possible, in order to the +inspiring him with hope and courage. Accordingly God heard the +prayer of the prophet, and made the servant see a multitude of +chariots and horses encompassing Elisha, till he laid aside his +fear, and his courage revived at the sight of what he supposed +was come to their assistance. After this Elisha did further +entreat God, that he would dim the eyes of their enemies, and +cast a mist before them, whereby they might not discern him. When +this was done, he went into the midst of his enemies, and asked +them who it was that they came to seek; and when they replied, +"The prophet Elisha," he promised he would deliver him to them, +if they would follow him to the city where he was. So these men +were so darkened by God in their sight and in their mind, that +they followed him very diligently; and when Elisha had brought +them to Samaria, he ordered Joram the king to shut the gates, and +to place his own army round about them; and prayed to God to +clear the eyes of these their enemies, and take the mist from +before them. Accordingly, when they were freed from the obscurity +they had been in, they saw themselves in the midst of their +enemies; and as the Syrians were strangely amazed and distressed, +as was but reasonable, at an action so Divine and surprising, and +as king Joram asked the prophet if he would give him leave to +shoot at them, Elisha forbade him so to do; and said, that "it is +just to kill those that are taken in battle, but that these men +had done the country no harm, but, without knowing it, were come +thither by the Divine Power:" - so that his counsel was to treat +them in a hospitable manner at his table, and then send them away +without hurting them. (9) Wherefore Joram obeyed the prophet; and +when he had feasted the Syrians in a splendid and magnificent +manner, he let them go to Benhadad their king. + +4. Now when these men were come back, and had showed Benhadad how +strange an accident had befallen them, and what an appearance and +power they had experienced of the God of Israel, he wondered at +it, as also at that prophet with whom God was so evidently +present; so he determined to make no more secret attempts upon +the king of Israel, out of fear of Elisha, but resolved to make +open war with them, as supposing he could be too hard for his +enemies by the multitude of his army and power. So he made an +expedition with a great army against Joram, who, not thinking +himself a match for him, shut himself up in Samaria, and depended +on the strength of its walls; but Benhadad supposed he should +take the city, if not by his engines of war, yet that he should +overcome the Samaritans by famine, and the want of necessaries, +and brought his army upon them, and besieged the city; and the +plenty of necessaries was brought so low with Joram, that from +the extremity of want an ass's head was sold in Samaria for +fourscore pieces of silver, and the Hebrews bought a sextary of +dore's dung, instead of salt, for five pieces of silver. Now +Joram was in fear lest somebody should betray the city to the +enemy, by reason of the famine, and went every day round the +walls and the guards to see whether any such were concealed among +them; and by being thus seen, and taking such care, he deprived +them of the opportunity of contriving any such thing; and if they +had a mind to do it, he, by this means, prevented them: but upon +a certain woman's crying out, "Have pity on me, my lord," while +he thought that she was about to ask for somewhat to eat, he +imprecated God's curse upon her, and said he had neither +thrashing-floor nor wine-press, whence he might give her any +thing at her petition. Upon which she said she did not desire his +aid in any such thing, nor trouble him about food, but desired +that he would do her justice as to another woman. And when he +bade her say on, and let him know what she desired, she said she +had made an agreement with the other woman who was her neighbor +and her friend, that because the famine and want was intolerable, +they should kill their children, each of them having a son of +their own, and we will live upon them ourselves for two days, the +one day upon one son, and the other day upon the other; and," +said she, I have killed my son the first day, and we lived upon +my son yesterday; but this other woman will not do the same +thing, but hath broken her agreement, and hath hid her son." This +story mightily grieved Joram when he heard it; so he rent his +garment, and cried out with a loud voice, and conceived great +wrath against Elisha the prophet, and set himself eagerly to have +him slain, because he did not pray to God to provide them some +exit and way of escape out of the miseries with which they were +surrounded; and sent one away immediately to cut off his head, +who made haste to kill the prophet. But Elisha was not +unacquainted with the wrath of the king against him; for as he +sat in his house by himself, with none but his disciples about +him, he told them that Joram, (10) who was the son of a murderer, +had sent one to take away his head; "but," said he, "when he that +is commanded to do this comes, take care that you do not let him +come in, but press the door against him, and hold him fast there, +for the king himself will follow him, and come to me, having +altered his mind." Accordingly, they did as they were bidden, +when he that was sent by the king to kill Elisha came. But Joram +repented of his wrath against the prophet; and for fear he that +was commanded to kill him should have done it before he came, he +made haste to hinder his slaughter, and to save the prophet: and +when he came to him, he accused him that he did not pray to God +for their deliverance from the miseries they now lay under, but +saw them so sadly destroyed by them. Hereupon Elisha promised, +that the very next day, at the very same hour in which the king +came to him, they should have great plenty of food, and that two +seahs of barley should be sold in the market for a shekel, and a +seah of fine flour should be sold for a shekel. This prediction +made Joram, and those that were present, very joyful, for they +did not scruple believing what the prophet said, on account of +the experience they had of the truth of his former predictions; +and the expectation of plenty made the want they were in that +day, with the uneasiness that accompanied it, appear a light +thing to them: but the captain of the third band, who was a +friend of the king, and on whose hand the king leaned, said, +"Thou talkest of incredible things, O prophet! for as it is +impossible for God to pour down torrents of barley, or fine +flour, out of heaven, so is it impossible that what thou sayest +should come to pass." To which the prophet made this reply," Thou +shalt see these things come to pass, but thou shalt not be in the +least a partaker of them." + +5. Now what Elisha had thus foretold came to pass in the manner +following: There was a law at Samaria (11) that those that had +the leprosy, and whose bodies were not cleansed from it, should +abide without the city: and there were four men that on this +account abode before the gates, while nobody gave them any food, +by reason of the extremity of the famine; and as they were +prohibited from entering into the city by the law, and they +considered that if they were permitted to enter, they should +miserably perish by the famine; as also, that if they staid where +they were, they should suffer in the same manner, - they resolved +to deliver themselves up to the enemy, that in case they should +spare them, they should live; but if they should be killed, that +would be an easy death. So when they had confirmed this their +resolution, they came by night to the enemy's camp. Now God had +begun to affright and disturb the Syrians, and to bring the noise +of chariots and armor to their ears, as though an army were +coming upon them, and had made them suspect that it was coming +nearer and nearer to them In short, they were in such a dread of +this army, that they left their tents, and ran together to +Benhadad, and said that Joram the king of Israel had hired for +auxiliaries both the king of Egypt and the king of the Islands, +and led them against them for they heard the noise of them as +they were coming. And Benhadad believed what they said (for there +came the same noise to his ears as well as it did to theirs); so +they fell into a mighty disorder and tumult, and left their +horses and beasts in their camp, with immense riches also, and +betook themselves to flight. And those lepers who had departed +from Samaria, and were gone to the camp of the Syrians, of whom +we made mention a little before, when they were in the camp, saw +nothing but great quietness and silence: accordingly they entered +into it, and went hastily into one of their tents; and when they +saw nobody there, they eat and drank, and carried garments, and a +great quantity of gold, and hid it out of the camp; after which +they went into another tent, and carried off what was in it, as +they did at the former, and this did they for several times, +without the least interruption from any body. So they gathered +thereby that the enemies were departed; whereupon they reproached +themselves that they did not inform Joram and the citizens of it. +So they came to the walls of Samaria, and called aloud to the +watchmen, and told them in what state the enemies were, as did +these tell the king's guards, by whose means Joram came to know +of it; who then sent for his friends, and the captains of his +host, and said to them, that he suspected that this departure of +the king of Syria was by way of ambush and treachery, and that +out of despair of ruining you by famine, when you imagine them to +be fled away, you may come out of the city to spoil their camp, +and he may then fall upon you on a sudden, and may both kill you, +and take the city without fighting; whence it is that I exhort +you to guard the city carefully, and by no means to go out of it, +or proudly to despise your enemies, as though they were really +gone away." And when a certain person said that he did very well +and wisely to admit such a suspicion, but that he still advised +him to send a couple of horsemen to search all the country as far +as Jordan, that "if they were seized by an ambush of the enemy, +they might be a security to your army, that they may not go out +as if they suspected nothing, nor undergo the like misfortune; +and," said he, "those horsemen may be numbered among those that +have died by the famine, supposing they be caught and destroyed +by the enemy." So the king was pleased with this opinion, and +sent such as might search out the truth, who performed their +journey over a road that was without any enemies, but found it +full of provisions, and of weapons, that they had therefore +thrown away, and left behind them, in order to their being light +and expeditious in their flight. When the king heard this, he +sent out the multitude to take the spoils of the camp; which +gains of theirs were not of things of small value, but they took +a great quantity of gold, and a great quantity of silver, and +flocks of all kinds of cattle. They also possessed themselves of +[so many] ten thousand measures of wheat and barley, as they +never in the least dreamed of; and were not only freed from their +former miseries, but had such plenty, that two seahs of barley +were bought for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, +according to the prophecy of Elisha. Now a seah is equal to an +Italian modius and a half. The captain of the third band was the +only man that received no benefit by this plenty; for as he was +appointed by the king to oversee the gate, that lm might prevent +the too great crowd of the multitude, and they might not endanger +one another to perish, by treading on one another in the press, +he suffered himself in that very way, and died in that very +manner, as Elisha had foretold such his death, when he alone of +them all disbelieved what he said concerning that plenty of +provisions which they should soon have. + +6. Hereupon, when Benhadad, the king of Syria, had escaped to +Damascus, and understood that it was God himself that cast all +his army into this fear and disorder, and that it did not arise +from the invasion of enemies, he was mightily cast down at his +having God so greatly for his enemy, and fell into a distemper. +Now it happened that Elisha the prophet, at that time, was gone +out of his own country to Damascus, of which Berthadad was +informed: he sent Hazael, the most faithful of all his servants, +to meet him, and to carry him presents, and bade him inquire of +him about his distemper, and whether he should escape the danger +that it threatened. So Hazael came to Elisha with forty camels, +that carried the best and most precious fruits that the country +of Damascus afforded, as well as those which the king's palace +supplied. He saluted him kindly, and said that he was sent to him +by king Berthadad, and brought presents with him, in order to +inquire concerning his distemper, whether he should recover from +it or not. Whereupon the prophet bid him tell the king no +melancholy news; but still he said he would die. So the king's +servant was troubled to hear it; and Elisha wept also, and his +tears ran down plenteously at his foresight of what miseries his +people would undergo after the death of Berthadad. And when +Hazael asked him what was the occasion of this confusion he was +in, he said that he wept out of his commiseration for the +multitude of the Israelites, and what terrible miseries they will +suffer by thee; "for thou wilt slay the strongest of them, and +wilt burn their strongest cities, and wilt destroy their +children, and dash them against the stones, and wilt rip up their +women with child." And when Hazael said, "How can it be that I +should have power enough to do such things?" the prophet +replied, that God had informed him that he should be king of +Syria. So when Hazael was come to Benhadad, he told him good news +concerning his distemper (12) but on the next day he spread a wet +cloth, in the nature of a net, over him, and strangled him, and +took his dominion. He was an active man, and had the good-will of +the Syrians, and of the people of Damascus, to a great degree; by +whom both Benhadad himself, and Hazael, who ruled after him, are +honored to this day as gods, by reason of their benefactions, and +their building them temples by which they adorned the city of the +Damascenes. They also every day do with great pomp pay their +worship to these kings, (13) and value themselves upon their +antiquity; nor do they know that these kings are much later than +they imagine, and that they are not yet eleven hundred years old. +Now when Joram, the king of Israel, heard that Berthadad was +dead, he recovered out of the terror and dread he had been in on +his account, and was very glad to live in peace. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +Concerning The Wickedness Of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; His Defeat +And Death. + + +1. Now Jehoram the king of Jerusalem, for we have said before +that he had the same name with the king of Israel, as soon as he +had taken the government upon him, betook himself to the +slaughter of his brethren, and his father's friends, who were +governors under him, and thence made a beginning and a +demonstration of his wickedness; nor was he at all better than +those kings of Israel who at first transgressed against the laws +of their country, and of the Hebrews, and against God's worship. +And it was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, whom he had married, +who taught him to be a bad man in other respects, and also to +worship foreign gods. Now God would not quite root out this +family, because of the promise he had made to David. However, +Jehoram did not leave off the introduction of new sorts of +customs to the propagation of impiety, and to the ruin of the +customs of his own country. And when the Edomites about that time +had revolted from him, and slain their former king, who was in +subjection to his father, and had set up one of their own +choosing, Jehoram fell upon the land of Edom, with the horsemen +that were about him, and the chariots, by night, and destroyed +those that lay near to his own kingdom, but did not proceed +further. However, this expedition did him no service, for they +all revolted from him, with those that dwelt in the country of +Libnah. He was indeed so mad as to compel the people to go up to +the high places of the mountains, and worship foreign gods. + +2. As he was doing this, and had entirely cast his own country +laws out of his mind, there was brought him an epistle from +Elijah the prophet (14) which declared that God would execute +great judgments upon him, because he had not imitated his own +fathers, but had followed the wicked courses of the kings of +Israel; and had compelled the tribe of Judah, and the citizens of +Jerusalem, to leave the holy worship of their own God, and to +worship idols, as Ahab had compelled the Israelites to do, and +because he had slain his brethren, and the men that were good and +righteous. And the prophet gave him notice in this epistle what +punishment he should undergo for these crimes, namely, the +destruction of his people, with the corruption of the king's own +wives and children; and that he should himself die of a distemper +in his bowels, with long torments, those his bowels falling out +by the violence of the inward rottenness of the parts, insomuch +that, though he see his own misery, he shall not be able at all +to help himself, but shall die in that manner. This it was which +Elijah denounced to him in that epistle. + +3. It was not long after this that an army of those Arabians that +lived near to Ethiopia, and of the Philistines, fell upon the +kingdom of Jehoram, and spoiled the country and the king's house. +Moreover, they slew his sons and his wives: one only of his sons +was left him, who escaped the enemy; his name was Ahaziah; after +which calamity, he himself fell into that disease which was +foretold by the prophet, and lasted a great while, (for God +inflicted this punishment upon him in his belly, out of his wrath +against him,) and so he died miserably, and saw his own bowels +fall out. The people also abused his dead body; I suppose it was +because they thought that such his death came upon him by the +wrath of God, and that therefore he was not worthy to partake of +such a funeral as became kings. Accordingly, they neither buried +him in the sepulchers of his fathers, nor vouchsafed him any +honors, but buried him like a private man, and this when he had +lived forty years, and reigned eight. And the people of Jerusalem +delivered the government to his son Ahaziah. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Jehu Was Anointed King, And Slew Both Joram And Ahaziah; As +Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. + + +1. Now Joram, the king of Israel, after the death of Benhadad, +hoped that he might now take Ramoth, a city of Gilead, from the +Syrians. Accordingly he made an expedition against it, with a +great army; but as he was besieging it, an arrow was shot at him +by one of the Syrians, but the wound was not mortal. So he +returned to have his wound healed in Jezreel, but left his whole +army in Ramorb, and Jehu, the son of Nimshi, for their general; +for he had already taken the city by force; and he proposed, +after he was healed,: to make war with the Syrians; but Elisha +the prophet sent one of his disciples to Ramoth, and gave him +holy oil to anoint Jehu, and to tell him that God had chosen him +to be their king. He also sent him to say other things to him, +and bid him to take his journey as if he fled, that when he came +away he might escape the knowledge of all men. So when he was +come to the city, he found Jehu sitting in the midst of the +captains of the army, as Elisha had foretold he should find him. +So he came up to him, and said that he desired to speak with him +about certain matters; and when he was arisen, and had followed +him into an inward chamber, the young man took the oil, and +poured it on his head, and said that God ordained him to be king, +in order to his destroying the house of Ahab, and that he might +revenge the blood of the prophets that were unjustly slain by +Jezebel, that so their house might utterly perish, as those of +Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and of Baasha, had perished for their +wickedness, and no seed might remain of Ahab's family. So when he +had said this, he went away hastily out of the chamber, and +endeavored not to be seen by any of the army. + +2. But Jehu came out, and went to the place where he before sat +with the captains; and when they asked him, and desired him to +tell them, wherefore it was that this young man came to him, and +added withal that he was mad, he replied, - "You guess right, for +the words he spake were the words of a madman;" and when they +were eager about the matter, and desired he would tell them, he +answered, that God had said he had chosen him to be king over the +multitude. When he had said this, every one of them put off his +garment, (15) and strewed it under him, and blew with trumpets, +and gave notice that Jehu was king. So when he had gotten the +army together, he was preparing to set out immediately against +Joram, at the city Jezreel, in which city, as we said before, he +was healing of the wound which he had received in the siege of +Ramoth. It happened also that Ahaziah, king of Jerusalem, was now +come to Joram, for he was his sister's son, as we have said +already, to see how he did after his wound, and this upon account +of their kindred; but as Jehu was desirous to fall upon Joram, +and those with him, on the sudden, he desired that none of the +soldiers might run away and tell to Joram what had happened, for +that this would be an evident demonstration of their kindness to +him, and would show that their real inclinations were to make him +king. + +3. So they were pleased with what he did, and guarded the roads, +lest somebody should privately tell the thing to those that were +at Jezreel. Now Jehu took his choice horsemen, and sat upon his +chariot, and went on for Jezreel; and when he was come near, the +watchman whom Joram had set there to spy out such as came to the +city, saw Jehu marching on, and told Joram that he saw a troop of +horsemen marching on. Upon which he immediately gave orders, that +one of his horsemen should be sent out to meet them, and to know +who it was that was coming. So when the horseman came up to Jehu, +he asked him in what condition the army was, for that the king +wanted to know it; but Jehu bid him not at all to meddle with +such matters, but to follow him. When the watchman saw this, he +told Joram that the horseman had mingled himself among the +company, and came along with them. And when the king had sent a +second messenger, Jehu commanded him to do as the former did; and +as soon as the watchman told this also to Joram, he at last got +upon his chariot himself, together with Ahaziah, the king of +Jerusalem; for, as we said before, he was there to see how Joram +did, after he had been wounded, as being his relation. So he went +out to meet Jehu, who marched slowly, (16) and in good order; and +when Joram met him in the field of Naboth, he asked him if all +things were well in the camp; but Jehu reproached him bitterly, +and ventured to call his mother a witch and a harlot. Upon this +the king, fearing what he intended, and suspecting he had no good +meaning, turned his chariot about as soon as he could, and said +to Ahaziah, "We are fought against by deceit and treachery." But +Jehu drew his bow, and smote him, the arrow going through his +heart: so Joram fell down immediately on his knee, and gave up +the ghost. Jehu also gave orders to Bidkar, the captain of the +third part of his army, to cast the dead body of Joram into the +field of Naboth, putting him in mind of the prophecy which Elijah +prophesied to Ahab his father, when he had slain Naboth, that +both he and his family should perish in that place; for that as +they sat behind Ahab's chariot, they heard the prophet say so, +and that it was now come to pass according to his prophecy. Upon +the fall of Joram, Ahaziah was afraid of his own life, and turned +his chariot into another road, supposing he should not be seen by +Jehu; but he followed after him, and overtook him at a certain +acclivity, and drew his bow, and wounded him; so he left his +chariot, and got upon his horse, and fled from Jehu to Megiddo; +and though he was under cure, in a little time he died of that +wound, and was carried to Jerusalem, and buried there, after he +had reigned one year, and had proved a wicked man, and worse than +his father. + +4. Now when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel adorned herself and +stood upon a tower, and said, he was a fine servant that had +killed his master! And when he looked up to her, he asked who she +was, and commanded her to come down to him. At last he ordered +the eunuchs to throw her down from the tower; and being thrown +down, she be-sprinkled the wall with her blood, and was trodden +upon by the horses, and so died. When this was done, Jehu came to +the palace with his friends, and took some refreshment after his +journey, both with other things, and by eating a meal. He also +bid his servants to take up Jezebel and bury her, because of the +nobility of her blood, for she was descended from kings; but +those that were appointed to bury her found nothing else +remaining but the extreme parts of her body, for all the rest +were eaten by dogs. When Jehu heard this, he admired the prophecy +of Elijah, for he foretold that she should perish in this manner +at Jezreel. + +5. Now Ahab had seventy sons brought up in Samaria. So Jehu sent +two epistles, the one to them that brought up the children, the +other to the rulers of Samaria, which said, that they should set +up the most valiant of Ahab's sons for king, for that they had +abundance of chariots, and horses, and armor, and a great army, +and fenced cities, and that by so doing they might avenge the +murder of Ahab. This he wrote to try the intentions of those of +Samaria. Now when the rulers, and those that had brought up the +children, had read the letter, they were afraid; and considering +that they were not at all able to oppose him, who had already +subdued two very great kings, they returned him this answer: That +they owned him for their lord, and would do whatsoever he bade +them. So he wrote back to them such a reply as enjoined them to +obey what he gave order for, and to cut off the heads of Ahab's +sons, and send them to him. Accordingly the rulers sent for those +that brought up the sons of Ahab, and commanded them to slay +them, to cut off their heads, and send them to Jehu. So they did +whatsoever they were commanded, without omitting any thing at +all, and put them up in wicker baskets, and sent them to Jezreel. +And when Jehu, as he was at supper with his friends, was informed +that the heads of Ahab's' sons were brought, he ordered them to +make two heaps of them, one before each of the gates; and in the +morning he went out to take a view of them, and when he saw them, +he began to say to the people that were present, that he did +himself make an expedition against his master [Joram], and slew +him, but that it was not he that slew all these; and he desired +them to take notice, that as to Ahab's family, all things had +come to pass according to God's prophecy, and his house was +perished, according as Elijah had foretold. And when he had +further destroyed all the kindred of Ahab that were found in +Jezreel, he went to Samaria; and as he was upon the road, he met +the relations of Ahaziah king of Jerusalem, and asked them +whither they were going? they replied, that they came to salute +Joram, and their own king Ahaziah, for they knew not that he had +slain them both. So Jehu gave orders that they should catch +these, and kill them, being in number forty-two persons. + +6. After these, there met him a good and a righteous man, whose +name was Jehonadab, and who had been his friend of old. He +saluted Jehu, and began to commend him, because he had done every +thing according to the will of God, in extirpating the house of +Ahab. So Jehu desired him to come up into his chariot, and make +his entry with him into Samaria; and told him that he would not +spare one wicked man, but would punish the false prophets, and +false priests, and those that deceived the multitude, and +persuaded them to leave the worship of God Almighty, and to +worship foreign gods; and that it was a most excellent and most +pleasing sight to a good and a righteous man to see the wicked +punished. So Jehonadab was persuaded by these arguments, and came +up into Jehu's chariot, and came to Samaria. And Jehu sought out +for all Ahab's kindred, and slew them. And being desirous that +none of the false prophets, nor the priests of Ahab's god, might +escape punishment, he caught them deceitfully by this wile; for +he gathered all the people together, and said that he would +worship twice as many gods as Ahab worshipped, and desired that +his priests, and prophets, and servants might be present, because +he would offer costly and great sacrifices to Ahab's god; and +that if any of his priests were wanting, they should be punished +with death. Now Ahab's god was called Baal; and when he had +appointed a day on which he would offer those sacrifices, he sent +messengers through all the country of the Israelites, that they +might bring the priests of Baal to him. So Jehu commanded to give +all the priests vestments; and when they had received them, he +went into the house [of Baal], with his friend Jehonadab, and +gave orders to make search whether there were not any foreigner +or stranger among them, for he would have no one of a different +religion to mix among their sacred offices. And when they said +that there was no stranger there, and they were beginning their +sacrifices, he set fourscore men without, they being such of his +soldiers as he knew to be most faithful to him, and bid them slay +the prophets, and now vindicate the laws of their country, which +had been a long time in disesteem. He also threatened, that if +any one of them escaped, their own lives should go for them. So +they slew them all with the sword, and burnt the house of Baal, +and by that means purged Samaria of foreign customs [idolatrous +worship]. Now this Baal was the god of the Tyrians; and Ahab, in +order to gratify his father-in-law, Ethbaal, who was the king of +Tyre and Sidon, built a temple for him in Samaria, and appointed +him prophets, and worshipped him with all sorts of worship, +although, when this god was demolished, Jehu permitted the +Israelites to worship the golden heifers. However, because he had +done thus, and taken care to punish the wicked, God foretold by +his prophet that his sons should reign over Israel for four +generations. And in this condition was Jehu at this time. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem For Five [Six] Years When +Jehoiada The High Priest Slew Her And Made Jehoash, The Son Of +Ahaziah, King. + + +1. Now when Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, heard of the death of +her brother Joram, and of her son Ahaziah, and of the royal +family, she endeavored that none of the house of David might be +left alive, but that the whole family might be exterminated, that +no king might arise out of it afterward; and, as she thought, she +had actually done it; but one of Ahaziah's sons was preserved, +who escaped death after the manner following: Ahaziah had a +sister by the same father, whose name was Jehosheba, and she was +married to the high priest Jehoiada. She went into the king's +palace, and found Jehoash, for that was the little child's name, +who was not above a year old, among those that were slain, but +concealed with his nurse; so she took him with her into a secret +bed-chamber, and shut him up there, and she and her husband +Jehoiada brought him up privately in the temple six years, during +which time Athaliah reigned over Jerusalem and the two tribes. + +2. Now, on the Seventh year, Jehoiada communicated the matter to +certain of the captains of hundreds, five in number, and +persuaded them to be assisting to what attempts he was making +against Athaliah, and to join with him in asserting the kingdom +to the child. He also received such oaths from them as are proper +to secure those that assist one another from the fear of +discovery; and he was then of good hope that they should depose +Athaliah. Now those men whom Jehoiada the priest had taken to be +his partners went into all the country, and gathered together the +priests and the Levites, and the heads of the tribes out of it, +and came and brought them to Jerusalem to the high priest. So he +demanded the security of an oath of them, to keep private +whatsoever he should discover to them, which required both their +silence and their assistance. So when they had taken the oath, +and had thereby made it safe for him to speak, he produced the +child that he had brought up of the family of David, and said to +them, "This is your king, of that house which you know God hath +foretold should reign over you for all time to come. I exhort you +therefore that one-third part of you guard him in the temple, and +that a fourth part keep watch at all the gates of the temple, and +that the next part of you keep guard at the gate which opens and +leads to the king's palace, and let the rest of the multitude be +unarmed in the temple, and let no armed person go into the +temple, but the priest only." He also gave them this order +besides, "That a part of the priests and the Levites should be +about the king himself, and be a guard to him, with their drawn +swords, and to kill that man immediately, whoever he be, that +should be so bold as to enter armed into the temple; and bid them +be afraid of nobody, but persevere in guarding the king." So +these men obeyed what the high priest advised them to, and +declared the reality of their resolution by their actions. +Jehoiada also opened that armory which David had made in the +temple, and distributed to the captains of hundreds, as also to +the priests and Levites, all the spears and quivers, and what +kind of weapons soever it contained, and set them armed in a +circle round about the temple, so as to touch one another's +hands, and by that means excluding those from entering that ought +not to enter. So they brought the child into the midst of them, +and put on him the royal crown, and Jehoiada anointed him with +the oil, and made him king; and the multitude rejoiced, and made +a noise, and cried, "God save the king!" + +3. When Athaliah unexpectedly heard the tumult and the +acclamations, she was greatly disturbed in her mind, and suddenly +issued out of the royal palace with her own army; and when she +was come to the temple, the priests received her; but as for +those that stood round about the temple, as they were ordered by +the high priest to do, they hindered the armed inert that +followed her from going in. But when Athaliah saw the child +standing upon a pillar, with the royal crown upon his head, she +rent her clothes, and cried out vehemently, and commanded [her +guards] to kill him that had laid snares for her, and endeavored +to deprive her of the government. But Jehoiada called for the +captains of hundreds, and commanded them to bring Athaliah to the +valley of Cedron, and slay her there, for he would not have the +temple defiled with the punishments of this pernicious woman; and +he gave order, that if any one came near to help her, he should +be slain also; wherefore those that had the charge of her +slaughter took hold of her, and led her to the gate of the king's +mules, and slew her there. + +4. Now as soon as what concerned Athaliah was by this stratagem, +after this manner, despatched, Jehoiada called together the +people and the armed men into the temple, and made them take an +oath that they would be obedient to the king, and take care of +his safety, and of the safety of his government; after which he +obliged the king to give security [upon oath] that he would +worship God, and not transgress the laws of Moses. They then ran +to the house of Baal, which Athaliah and her husband Jehoram had +built, to the dishonor of the God of their fathers, and to the +honor of Ahab, and demolished it, and slew Mattan, that had his +priesthood. But Jehoiada intrusted the care and custody of the +temple to the priests and Levites, according to the appointment +of king David, and enjoined them to bring their regular +burnt-offerings twice a day, and to offer incense according to +the law. He also ordained some of the Levites, with the porters, +to be a guard to the temple, that no one that was defiled might +come there. + +5. And when Jehoiada had set these things in order, he, with the +captains of hundreds, and the rulers, and all the people, took +Jehoash out of the temple into the king's palace; and when he had +set him upon the king's throne, the people shouted for joy, and +betook themselves to feasting, and kept a festival for many days; +but the city was quiet upon the death of Athaliah. Now Jehoash +was seven years old when he took the kingdom. His mother's name +was Zibiah, of the city Beersheba. And all the time that Jehoiada +lived Jehoash was careful that the laws should be kept, and very +zealous in the worship of God; and when he was of age, he married +two wives, who were given to him by the high priest, by whom were +born to him both sons and daughters. And thus much shall suffice +to have related concerning king Jehoash, how he escaped the +treachery of Athaliah, and how he received the kingdom. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Hazael Makes An Expedition Against The People Of Israel And The +Inhabitants Of Jerusalem. Jehu Dies, And Jehoahaz Succeeds In The +Government. Jehoash The King Of Jerusalem At First Is Careful +About The Worship Of God But Afterwards Becomes Impious And +Commands Zechariah To Be Stoned. When Jehoash [King Of Judah] Was +Dead, Amaziah Succeeds Him In The Kingdom. + + +1. Now Hazael, king of Syria, fought against the Israelites and +their king Jehu, and spoiled the eastern parts of the country +beyond Jordan, which belonged to the Reubenites and Gadites, and +to [the half tribe of] Manassites; as also Gilead and Bashan, +burning, and spoiling, and offering violence to all that he laid +his hands on, and this without impeachment from Jehu, who made no +haste to defend the country when it was under this distress; nay, +he was become a contemner of religion, and a despiser of +holiness, and of the laws, and died when he had reigned over the +Israelites twenty-seven years. He was buried in Samaria, and left +Jehoahaz his son his successor in the government. + +2. Now Jehoash, king of Jerusalem, had an inclination to repair +the temple of God; so he called Jehoiada, and bid him send the +Levites and priests through all the country, to require half a +shekel of silver for every head, towards the rebuilding and +repairing of the temple, which was brought to decay by Jehoram, +and Athaliah and her sons. But the high priest did not do this, +as concluding that no one would willingly pay that money; but in +the twenty-third year of Jehoash's reign, when the king sent for +him and the Levites, and complained that they had not obeyed what +he enjoined them, and still commanded them to take care of the +rebuilding the temple, he used this stratagem for collecting the +money, with which the multitude was pleased. He made a wooden +chest, and closed it up fast on all sides, but opened one hole in +it; he then set it in the temple beside the altar, and desired +every one to cast into it, through the hole, what he pleased, for +the repair of the temple. This contrivance was acceptable to the +people, and they strove one with another, and brought in jointly +large quantities of silver and gold; and when the scribe and the +priest that were over the treasuries had emptied the chest, and +counted the money in the king's presence, they then set it in its +former place, and thus did they every day. But when the multitude +appeared to have cast in as much as was wanted, the high priest +Jehoiada, and king Joash, sent to hire masons and carpenters, and +to buy large pieces of timber, and of the most curious sort; and +when they had repaired the temple, they made use of the remaining +gold and silver, which was not a little, for bowls, and basons, +and cups, and other vessels, and they went on to make the altar +every day fat with sacrifices of great value. And these things +were taken suitable care of as long as Jehoiada lived. + +3. But as soon as he was dead (which was when he had lived one +hundred and thirty years, having been a righteous, and in every +respect a very good man, and was buried in the king's sepulchers +at Jerusalem, because he had recovered the kingdom to the family +of David) king Jehoash betrayed his [want of] care about God. The +principal men of the people were corrupted also together with +him, and offended against their duty, and what their constitution +determined to be most for their good. Hereupon God was displeased +with the change that was made on the king, and on the rest of the +people, and sent prophets to testify to them what their actions +were, and to bring them to leave off their wickedness; but they +had gotten such a strong affection and so violent an inclination +to it, that neither could the examples of those that had offered +affronts to the laws, and had been so severely punished, they and +their entire families, nor could the fear of what the prophets +now foretold, bring them to repentance, and turn them back from +their course of transgression to their former duty. But the king +commanded that Zechariah, the son of the high priest Jehoiada, +should be stoned to death in the temple, and forgot the +kindnesses he had received from his father; for when God had +appointed him to prophesy, he stood in the midst of the +multitude, and gave this counsel to them and to the king: That +they should act righteously; and foretold to them, that if they +would not hearken to his admonitions, they should suffer a heavy +punishment. But as Zechariah was ready to die, he appealed to God +as a witness of what he suffered for the good counsel he had +given them, and how he perished after a most severe and violent +manner for the good deeds his father had done to Jehoash. + +4. However, it was not long before the king suffered punishment +for his transgression; for when Hazael, king of Syria, made an +irruption into his country, and when he had overthrown Gath, and +spoiled it, he made an expedition against Jerusalem; upon which +Jehoash was afraid, and emptied all the treasures of God and of +the kings [before him], and took down the gifts that had been +dedicated [in the temple], and sent them to the king of Syria, +and procured so much by them, that he was not besieged, nor his +kingdom quite endangered; but Hazael was induced by the greatness +of the sum of money not to bring his army against Jerusalem; yet +Jehoash fell into a severe distemper, and was set upon by his +friends, in order to revenge the death of Zechariah, the son of +Jehoiada. These laid snares for the king, and slew him. He was +indeed buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal sepulchers of +his forefathers, because of his impiety. He lived forty-seven +years, and Amaziah his son succeeded him in the kingdom. + +5. In the one and twentieth year of the reign of Jehoash, +Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, took the government of the Israelites +in Samaria, and held it seventeen years. He did not [properly] +imitate his father, but was guilty of as wicked practices as hose +that first had God in contempt: but the king of Syria brought him +low, and by an expedition against him did so greatly reduce his +forces, that there remained no more of so great an army than ten +thousand armed men, and fifty horsemen. He also took away from +him his great cities, and many of them also, and destroyed his +army. And these were the things that the people of Israel +suffered, according to the prophecy of Elisha, when he foretold +that Hazael should kill his master, and reign over the Syrians +and Damcenes. But when Jehoahaz was under such unavoidable +miseries, he had recourse to prayer and supplication to God, and +besought him to deliver him out of the hands of Hazael, and not +overlook him, and give him up into his hands. Accordingly God +accepted of his repentance instead of virtue; and being desirous +rather to admonish those that might repent, and not to determine +that they should be utterly destroyed, he granted him deliverance +from war and dangers. So the country having obtained peace, +returned again to its former condition, and flourished as before. + +6. Now after the death of Jehoahaz, his son Joash took the +kingdom, in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoash, the king of the +tribe of Judah. This Joash then took the kingdom of Israel in +Samaria, for he had the same name with the king of Jerusalem, and +he retained the kingdom sixteen years. He was a good man, (17) +and in his disposition was not at all like his father. Now at +this time it was that when Elisha the prophet, who was already +very old, and was now fallen into a disease, the king of Israel +came to visit him; and when he found him very near death, he +began to weep in his sight, and lament, to call him his father, +and his weapons, because it was by his means that he never made +use of his weapons against his enemies, but that he overcame his +own adversaries by his prophecies, without fighting; and that he +was now departing this life, and leaving him to the Syrians, that +were already armed, and to other enemies of his that were under +their power; so he said it was not safe for him to live any +longer, but that it would be well for him to hasten to his end, +and depart out of this life with him. As the king was thus +bemoaning himself, Elisha comforted him, and bid the king bend a +bow that was brought him; and when the king had fitted the bow +for shooting, Elisha took hold of his hands and bid him shoot; +and when he had shot three arrows, and then left off, Elisha +said, "If thou hadst shot more arrows, thou hadst cut the kingdom +of Syria up by the roots; but since thou hast been satisfied with +shooting three times only, thou shalt fight and beat the Syrians +no more times than three, that thou mayst recover that country +which they cut off from thy kingdom in the reign of thy father." +So when the king had heard that, he departed; and a little while +after the prophet died. He was a man celebrated for +righteousness, and in eminent favor with God. He also performed +wonderful and surprising works by prophecy, and such as were +gloriously preserved in memory by the Hebrews. He also obtained a +magnificent funeral, such a one indeed as it was fit a person so +beloved of God should have. It also happened, that at that time +certain robbers cast a man whom they had slain into Elisha's +grave, and upon his dead body coming close to Elisha's body, it +revived again. And thus far have we enlarged about the actions of +Elisha the prophet, both such as he did while he was alive, and +how he had a Divine power after his death also. + +7. Now, upon the death of Hazael, the king of Syria, that kingdom +came to Adad his son, with whom Joash, king of Israel, made war; +and when he had beaten him in three battles, he took from him all +that country, and all those cities and villages, which his father +Hazael had taken from the kingdom of Israel, which came to pass, +however, according to the prophecy of Elisha. But when Joash +happened to die, he was buried in Samaria, and the government +devolved on his son Jeroboam. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How Amaziah Made An Expedition Against The Edomites And +Amalekites And Conquered Them; But When He Afterwards Made War +Against Joash, He Was Beaten And Not Long After Was Slain, And +Uzziah Succeeded In The Government. + + +1. Now, in the second year of the reign of Joash over Israel, +Amaziah reigned over the tribe of Judah in Jerusalem. His +mother's name was Jehoaddan, who was born at Jerusalem. He was +exceeding careful of doing what was right, and this when he was +very young; but when he came to the management of affairs, and to +the government, he resolved that he ought first of all to avenge +his father Je-hoash, and to punish those his friends that had +laid violent hands upon him: so he seized upon them all, and put +them to death; yet did he execute no severity on their children, +but acted therein according to the laws of Moses, who did not +think it just to punish children for the sins of their fathers. +After this he chose him an army out of the tribe of Judah and +Benjamin, of such as were in the flower of their age, and about +twenty years old; and when he had collected about three hundred +thousand of them together, he set captains of hundreds over them. +He also sent to the king of Israel, and hired a hundred thousand +of his soldiers for a hundred talents of silver, for he had +resolved to make an expedition against the nations of the +Amatekites, and Edomites, and Gebalites: but as he was preparing +for his expedition, and ready to go out to the war, a prophet +gave him counsel to dismiss the army of the Israelites, because +they were bad men, and because God foretold that he should be +beaten, if he made use of them as auxiliaries; but that he should +overcome his enemies, though he had but a few soldiers, when it +so pleased God. And when the king grudged at his having already +paid the hire of the Israelites, the prophet exhorted him to do +what God would have him, because he should thereby obtain much +wealth from God. So he dismissed them, and said that he still +freely gave them their pay, and went himself with his own army, +and made war with the nations before mentioned; and when he had +beaten them in battle, he slew of them ten thousand, and took as +many prisoners alive, whom he brought to the great rock which is +in Arabia, and threw them down from it headlong. He also brought +away a great deal of prey and vast riches from those nations. But +while Amaziah was engaged in this expedition, those Israelites +whom he had hired, and then dismissed, were very uneasy at it, +and taking their dismission for an affront, (as supposing that +this would not have been done to them but out of contempt,) they +fell upon his kingdom, and proceeded to spoil the country as far +as Beth-horon, and took much cattle, and slew three thousand men. + +2. Now upon the victory which Amaziah had gotten, and the great +acts he had done, he was puffed up, and began to overlook God, +who had given him the victory, and proceeded to worship the gods +he had brought out of the country of the Amalekites. So a prophet +came to him, and said, that he wondered how he could esteem these +to be gods, who had been of no advantage to their own people who +paid them honors, nor had delivered them from his hands, but had +overlooked the destruction of many of them, and had suffered +themselves to be carried captive, for that they had been carried +to Jerusalem in the same manner as any one might have taken some +of the enemy alive, and led them thither. This reproof provoked +the king to anger, and he commanded the prophet to hold his +peace, and threatened to punish him if he meddled with his +conduct. So he replied, that he should indeed hold his peace; but +foretold withal, that God would not overlook his attempts for +innovation. But Amaziah was not able to contain himself under +that prosperity which God had given him, although he had +affronted God thereupon; but in a vein of insolence he wrote to +Joash, the king of Israel, and commanded that he and all his +people should be obedient to him, as they had formerly been +obedient to his progenitors, David and Solomon; and he let him +know, that if he would not be so wise as to do what he commanded +him, he must fight for his dominion. To which message Joash +returned this answer in writing: "King Joash to king Amaziah. +There was a vastly tall cypress tree in Mount Lebanon, as also a +thistle; this thistle sent to the cypress tree to give the +cypress tree's daughter in marriage to the thistle's son; but as +the thistle was saying this, there came a wild beast, and trod +down the thistle: and this may be a lesson to thee, not to be so +ambitious, and to have a care, lest upon thy good success in the +fight against the Amalekites thou growest so proud, as to bring +dangers upon thyself and upon thy kingdom." + +3. When Amaziah had read this letter, he was more eager upon this +expedition, which, I suppose, was by the impulse of God, that he +might be punished for his offense against him. But as soon as he +led out his army against Joash, and they were going to join +battle with him, there came such a fear and consternation upon +the army of Amaziah, as God, when he is displeased, sends upon +men, and discomfited them, even before they came to a close +fight. Now it happened, that as they were scattered about by the +terror that was upon them, Amaziah was left alone, and was taken +prisoner by the enemy; whereupon Joash threatened to kill him, +unless he would persuade the people of Jerusalem to open their +gates to him, and receive him and his army into the city. +Accordingly Amaziah was so distressed, and in such fear of his +life, that he made his enemy to be received into the city. So +Joash over threw a part of the wall, of the length of four +hundred cubits, and drove his chariot through the breach into +Jerusalem, and led Amaziah captive along with him; by which means +he became master of Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of +God, and carried off all the gold and silver that was in the +king's palace, and then freed the king from captivity, and +returned to Samaria. Now these things happened to the people of +Jerusalem in the fourteenth year of the reign of Amaziah, who +after this had a conspiracy made against him by his friends, and +fled to the city Lachish, and was there slain by the +conspirators, who sent men thither to kill him. So they took up +his dead body, and carried it to Jerusalem, and made a royal +funeral for him. This was the end of the life of Amaziah, because +of his innovations in religion, and his contempt of God, when he +had lived fifty-four years, and had reigned twenty-nine. He was +succeeded by his son, whose name was Uzziah. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Concerning Jeroboam King Of Israel And Jonah The Prophet; And How +After The Death Of Jeroboam His Son Zachariah Took The +Government. How Uzziah, King Of Jerusalem, Subdued The Nations +That Were Round About Him; And What Befell Him When He Attempted +To Offer Incense To God. + + +1. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah, Jeroboam the +son of Joash reigned over Israel in Samaria forty years. This +king was guilty of contumely against God, (18) and became very +wicked in worshipping of idols, and in many undertakings that +were absurd and foreign. He was also the cause of ten thousand +misfortunes to the people of Israel. Now one Jonah, a prophet, +foretold to him that he should make war with the Syrians, and +conquer their army, and enlarge the bounds of his kingdom on the +northern parts to the city Hamath, and on the southern to the +lake Asphaltitis; for the bounds of the Canaanites originally +were these, as Joshua their general had determined them. So +Jeroboam made an expedition against the Syrians, and overran all +their country, as Jonah had foretold. + +2. Now I cannot but think it necessary for me, who have promised +to give an accurate account of our affairs, to describe the +actions of this prophet, so far as I have found them written down +in the Hebrew books. Jonah had been commanded by God to go to the +kingdom of Nineveh; and when he was there, to publish it in that +city, how it should lose the dominion it had over the nations. +But he went not, out of fear; nay, he ran away from God to the +city of Joppa, and finding a ship there, he went into it, and +sailed to Tarsus, in Cilicia (19) and upon the rise of a most +terrible storm, which was so great that the ship was in danger of +sinking, the mariners, the master, and the pilot himself, made +prayers and vows, in case they escaped the sea: but Jonah lay +still and covered [in the ship,] without imitating any thing that +the others did; but as the waves grew greater, and the sea became +more violent by the winds, they suspected, as is usual in such +cases, that some one of the persons that sailed with them was the +occasion of this storm, and agreed to discover by lot which of +them it was. When they had cast lots, (21) the lot fell upon the +prophet; and when they asked him whence he came, and what he had +done? he replied, that he was a Hebrew by nation, and a prophet +of Almighty God; and he persuaded them to cast him into the sea, +if they would escape the danger they were in, for that he was the +occasion of the storm which was upon them. Now at the first they +durst not do so, as esteeming it a wicked thing to cast a man who +was a stranger, and who had committed his life to them, into such +manifest perdition; but at last, when their misfortune overbore +them, and the ship was just going to be drowned, and when they +were animated to do it by the prophet himself, and by the fear +concerning their own safety, they cast him into the sea; upon +which the sea became calm. It is also reported that Jonah was +swallowed down by a whale, and that when he had been there three +days, and as many nights, he was vomited out upon the Euxine Sea, +and this alive, and without any hurt upon his body; and there, on +his prayer to God, he obtained pardon for his sins, and went to +the city Nineveh, where he stood so as to be heard, and preached, +that in a very little time they should lose the dominion of Asia. +And when he had published this, he returned. Now I have given +this account about him as I found it written [in our books.] + +3. When Jeroboam the king had passed his life in great happiness, +and had ruled forty years, he died, and was buried in Samaria, +and his son Zachariah took the kingdom. After the same manner did +Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, begin to reign over the two tribes in +Jerusalem, in the fourteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam. He +was born of Jecoliah, his mother, who was a citizen of Jerusalem. +He was a good man, and by nature righteous and magnanimous, and +very laborious in taking care of the affairs of his kingdom. He +made an expedition also against the Philistines, and overcame +them in battle, and took the cities of Gath and Jabneh, and brake +down their walls; after which expedition he assaulted those Arabs +that adjoined to Egypt. He also built a city upon the Red Sea, +and put a garrison into it. He, after this, overthrew the +Ammonites, and appointed that they should pay tribute. He also +overcame all the countries as far as the bounds of Egypt, and +then began to take care of Jerusalem itself for the rest of his +life; for he rebuilt and repaired all those parts of the wall +which had either fallen down by length of time, or by the +carelessness of the kings, his predecessors, as well as all that +part which had been thrown down by the king of Israel, when he +took his father Amaziah prisoner, and entered with him into the +city. Moreover, he built a great many towers, of one hundred and +fifty cubits high, and built walled towns in desert places, and +put garrisons into them, and dug many channels for conveyance of +water. He had also many beasts for labor, and an immense number +of cattle; for his country was fit for pasturage. He was also +given to husbandry, and took care to cultivate the ground, and +planted it with all sorts of plants, and sowed it with all sorts +of seeds. He had also about him an army composed of chosen men, +in number three hundred and seventy thousand, who were governed +by general officers and captains of thousands, who were men of +valor, and of unconquerable strength, in number two thousand. He +also divided his whole army into bands, and armed them, giving +every one a sword, with brazen bucklers and breastplates, with +bows and slings; and besides these, he made for them many engines +of war for besieging of cities, such as cast stones and darts, +with grapplers, and other instruments of that sort. + +4. While Uzziah was in this state, and making preparation [for +futurity], he was corrupted in his mind by pride, and became +insolent, and this on account of that abundance which he had of +things that will soon perish, and despised that power which is of +eternal duration (which consisted in piety towards God, and in +the observation of the laws); so he fell by occasion of the good +success of his affairs, and was carried headlong into those sins +of his father, which the splendor of that prosperity he enjoyed, +and the glorious actions he had done, led him into, while he was +not able to govern himself well about them. Accordingly, when a +remarkable day was come, and a general festival was to be +celebrated, he put on the holy garment, and went into the temple +to offer incense to God upon the golden altar, which he was +prohibited to do by Azariah the high priest, who had fourscore +priests with him, and who told him that it was not lawful for him +to offer sacrifice, and that "none besides the posterity of Aaron +were permitted so to do." And when they cried out that he must go +out of the temple, and not transgress against God, he was wroth +at them, and threatened to kill them, unless they would hold +their peace. In the mean time a great earthquake shook the ground +(26) and a rent was made in the temple, and the bright rays of +the sun shone through it, and fell upon the king's face, insomuch +that the leprosy seized upon him immediately. And before the +city, at a place called Eroge, half the mountain broke off from +the rest on the west, and rolled itself four furlongs, and stood +still at the east mountain, till the roads, as well as the king's +gardens, were spoiled by the obstruction. Now, as soon as the +priests saw that the king's face was infected with the leprosy, +they told him of the calamity he was under, and commanded that he +should go out of the city as a polluted person. Hereupon he was +so confounded at the sad distemper, and sensible that he was not +at liberty to contradict, that he did as he was commanded, and +underwent this miserable and terrible punishment for an intention +beyond what befitted a man to have, and for that impiety against +God which was implied therein. So he abode out of the city for +some time, and lived a private life, while his son Jotham took +the government; after which he died with grief and anxiety at +what had happened to him, when he had lived sixty-eight years, +and reigned of them fifty-two; and was buried by himself in his +own gardens. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How Zachariah Shallum, Menahem Pekahiah And Pekah Took The +Government Over The Israelites; And How Pul And Tiglath-Pileser +Made An Expedition Against The Israelites. How Jotham, The Son Of +Uzziah Reigned Over The Tribe Of Judah; And What Things Nahum +Prophesied Against The Assyrians. + + +1. Now when Zachariah, the son of Jeroboam, had reigned six +months over Israel, he was slain by the treachery of a certain +friend of his, whose name was Shallum, the son of Jabesh, who +took the kingdom afterward, but kept it no longer than thirty +days; for Menahem, the general of his army, who was at that time +in the city Tirzah, and heard of what had befallen Zachariah, +removed thereupon with all his forces to Samaria, and joining +battle with Shallum, slew him; and when he had made himself king, +he went thence, and came to the city Tiphsah; but the citizens +that were in it shut their gates, and barred them against the +king, and would not admit him: but in order to be avenged on +them, he burnt the country round about it, and took the city by +force, upon a siege; and being very much displeased at what the +inhabitants of Tiphsah had done, he slew them all, and spared not +so much as the infants, without omitting the utmost instances of +cruelty and barbarity; for he used such severity upon his own +countrymen, as would not be pardonable with regard to strangers +who had been conquered by him. And after this manner it was that +this Menahem continued to reign with cruelty and barbarity for +ten years. But when Pul, king of Assyria, had made an expedition +against him, he did not think meet to fight or engage in battle +with the Assyrians, but he persuaded him to accept of a thousand +talents of silver, and to go away, and so put an end to the war. +This sum the multitude collected for Menahem, by exacting fifty +drachme as poll-money for every head; (23) after which he died, +and was buried in Samaria, and left his son Pekahiah his +successor in the kingdom, who followed the barbarity of his +father, and so ruled but two years only, after which he was slain +with his friends at a feast, by the treachery of one Pekah, the +general of his horse, and the son of Remaliah, who laid snares +for him. Now this Pekah held the government twenty years, and +proved a wicked man and a transgressor. But the king of Assyria, +whose name was Tiglath-Pileser, when he had made an expedition +against the Israelites, and had overrun all the land of Gilead, +and the region beyond Jordan, and the adjoining country, which is +called Galilee, and Kadesh, and Hazor, he made the inhabitants +prisoners, and transplanted them into his own kingdom. And so +much shall suffice to have related here concerning the king of +Assyria. + +2. Now Jotham the son of Uzziah reigned over the tribe of Judah +in Jerusalem, being a citizen thereof by his mother, whose name +was Jerusha. This king was not defective in any virtue, but was +religious towards God, and righteous towards men, and careful of +the good of the city (for what part soever wanted to be repaired +or adorned he magnificently repaired and adorned them). He also +took care of the foundations of the cloisters in the temple, and +repaired the walls that were fallen down, and built very great +towers, and such as were almost impregnable; and if any thing +else in his kingdom had been neglected, he took great care of it. +He also made an expedition against the Ammonites, and overcame +them in battle, and ordered them to pay tribute, a hundred +talents, and ten thousand cori of wheat, and as many of barley, +every year, and so augmented his kingdom, that his enemies could +not despise it, and his own people lived happily. + +3. Now there was at that time a prophet, whose name was Nahum, +who spake after this manner concerning the overthrow of the +Assyrians and of Nineveh: "Nineveh shall be a pool of water in +motion (23) so shall all her people be troubled, and tossed, and +go away by flight, while they say one to another, Stand, stand +still, seize their gold and silver, for there shall be no one to +wish them well, for they will rather save their lives than their +money; for a terrible contention shall possess them one with +another, and lamentation, and loosing of the members, and their +countenances shall be perfectly black with fear. And there will +be the den of the lions, and the mother of the young lions! God +says to thee, Nineveh, that they shall deface thee, and the lion +shall no longer go out from thee to give laws to the world." And +indeed this prophet prophesied many other things besides these +concerning Nineveh, which I do not think necessary to repeat, and +I here omit them, that I may not appear troublesome to my +readers; all which thing happened about Nineveh a hundred and +fifteen years afterward: so this may suffice to have spoken of +these matters. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +How Upon The Death Of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned In His Stead; Against +Whom Rezin, King Of Syria And Pekah King Of Israel, Made War; And +How Tiglath-Pileser, King Of Assyria Came To The Assistance Of +Ahaz, And Laid Syria Waste And Removing The Damascenes Into Media +Placed Other Nations In Their Room. + + +1. Now Jotham died when he had lived forty-one years, and of them +reigned sixteen, and was buried in the sepulchers of the kings; +and the kingdom came to his son Ahaz, who proved most impious +towards God, and a transgressor of the laws of his country. He +imitated the kings of Israel, and reared altars in Jerusalem, and +offered sacrifices upon them to idols; to which also he offered +his own son as a burnt-offering, according to the practices of +the Canaanites. His other actions were also of the same sort. Now +as he was going on in this mad course, Rezin, the king of Syria +and Damascus, and Pekah, the king of Israel, who were now at +amity one with another, made war with him; and when they had +driven him into Jerusalem, they besieged that city a long while, +making but a small progress, on account of the strength of its +walls; and when the king of Syria had taken the city Elath, upon +the Red Sea, and had slain the inhabitants, he peopled it with +Syrians; and when he had slain those in the [other] garrisons, +and the Jews in their neighborhood, and had driven away much +prey, he returned with his army back to Damascus. Now when the +king of Jerusalem knew that the Syrians were returned home, he, +supposing himself a match for the king of Israel, drew out his +army against him, and joining battle with him was beaten; and +this happened because God was angry with him, on account of his +many and great enormities. Accordingly there were slain by the +Israelites one hundred and twenty thousand of his men that day, +whose general, Amaziah by name, slew Zechariah the king's son, in +his conflict with Ahaz, as well as the governor of the kingdom, +whose name was Azricam. He also carried Elkanah, the general of +the troops of the tribe of Judah, into captivity. They also +carried the women and children of the tribe of Benjamin captives; +and when they had gotten a great deal of prey, they returned to +Samaria. + +2. Now there was one Obed, who was a prophet at that time in +Samaria; he met the army before the city walls, and with a loud +voice told them that they had gotten the victory not by their own +strength, but by reason of the anger God had against king Ahaz. +And he complained that they were not satisfied with the good +success they had had against him, but were so bold as to make +captives out of their kinsmen the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. +He also gave them counsel to let them go home without doing them +any harm, for that if they did not obey God herein, they should +be punished. So the people of Israel came together to their +assembly, and considered of these matters, when a man whose name +was Berechiah, and who was one of chief reputation in the +government, stood up, and the others with him, and said, "We will +not suffer the citizens to bring these prisoners into the city, +lest we be all destroyed by God; we have sins enough of our own +that we have committed against him, as the prophets assure us; +nor ought we therefore to introduce the practice of new crimes." +When the soldiers heard that, they permitted them to do what they +thought best. So the forenamed men took the captives, and let +them go, and took care of them, and gave them provisions, and +sent them to their own country, without doing them any harm. +However, these four went along with them, and conducted them as +far as Jericho, which is not far from Jerusalem, and returned to +Samaria. + +3. Hereupon king Ahaz, having been so thoroughly beaten by the +Israelites, sent to Tiglath-Pileser, king of the Assyrians, and +sued for assistance from him in his war against the Israelites, +and Syrians, and Damascenes, with a promise to send him much +money; he sent him also great presents at the same time. Now this +king, upon the reception of those ambassadors, came to assist +Ahaz, and made war upon the Syrians, and laid their country +waste, and took Damascus by force, and slew Rezin their king, and +transplanted the people of Damascus into the Upper Media, and +brought a colony of Assyrians, and planted them in Damascus. He +also afflicted the land of Israel, and took many captives out of +it. While he was doing thus with the Syrians, king Ahaz took all +the gold that was in the king's treasures, and the silver, and +what was in the temple of God, and what precious gifts were +there, and he carried them with him, and came to Damascus, and +gave it to the king of Assyria, according to his agreement. So he +confessed that he owed him thanks for all he had done for him, +and returned to Jerusalem. Now this king was so sottish and +thoughtless of what was for his own good, that he would not leave +off worshipping the Syrian gods when he was beaten by them, but +he went on in worshipping them, as though they would procure him +the victory; and when he was beaten again, he began to honor the +gods of the Assyrians; and he seemed more desirous to honor any +other gods than his own paternal and true God, whose anger was +the cause of his defeat; nay, he proceeded to such a degree of +despite and contempt [of God's worship], that he shut up the +temple entirely, and forbade them to bring in the appointed +sacrifices, and took away the gifts that had been given to it. +And when he had offered these indignities to God, he died, having +lived thirty-six years, and of them reigned sixteen; and he left +his son Hezekiah for his successor. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Pekah Died By The Treachery Of Hoshea Who Was A Little After +Subdued By Shalmaneser; And How Hezekiah Reigned Instead Of Ahaz; +And What Actions Of Piety And Justice He Did. + + +1. About the same time Pekah, the king of Israel, died by the +treachery of a friend of his, whose name was Hoshea, who retained +the kingdom nine years' time, but was a wicked man, and a +despiser of the Divine worship; and Shalmaneser, the king of +Assyria, made an expedition against him, and overcame him, (which +must have been because he had not God favorable nor assistant to +him,) and brought him to submission, and ordered him to pay an +appointed tribute. Now, in the fourth year of the reign of +Hoshea, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, began to reign in Jerusalem; +and his mother's name was Abijah, a citizen of Jerusalem. His +nature was good, and righteous, and religious; for when he came +to the kingdom, he thought that nothing was prior, or more +necessary, or more advantageous to himself, and to his subjects, +than to worship God. Accordingly, he called the people together, +and the priests, and the Levites, and made a speech to them, and +said, "You are not ignorant how, by the sins of my father, who +transgressed that sacred honor which was due to God, you have had +experience of many and great miseries, while you were corrupted +in your mind by him, and were induced to worship those which he +supposed to be gods; I exhort you, therefore, who have learned by +sad experience how dangerous a thing impiety is, to put that +immediately out of your memory, and to purify yourselves from +your former pollutions, and to open the temple to these priests +and Levites who are here convened, and to cleanse it with the +accustomed sacrifices, and to recover all to the ancient honor +which our fathers paid to it; for by this means we may render God +favorable, and he will remit the anger he hath had to us." + +2. When the king had said this, the priests opened the temple; +and when they had set in order the vessels of God, and east out +what was impure, they laid the accustomed sacrifices upon the +altar. The king also sent to the country that was under him, and +called the people to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of +unleavened bread, for it had been intermitted a long time, on +account of the wickedness of the forementioned kings. He also +sent to the Israelites, and exhorted them to leave off their +present way of living, and return to their ancient practices, and +to worship God, for that he gave them leave to come to Jerusalem, +and to celebrate, all in one body, the feast of unleavened bread; +and this he said was by way of invitation only, and to be done of +their own good-will, and for their own advantage, and not out of +obedience to him, because it would make them happy. But the +Israelites, upon the coming of the ambassadors, and upon their +laying before them what they had in charge from their own king, +were so far from complying therewith, that they laughed the +ambassadors to scorn, and mocked them as fools: as also they +affronted the prophets, which gave them the same exhortations, +and foretold what they would suffer if they did not return to the +worship of God, insomuch that at length they caught them, and +slew them; nor did this degree of transgressing suffice them, but +they had more wicked contrivances than what have been described: +nor did they leave off, before God, as a punishment for their +impiety, brought them under their enemies: but of that more +hereafter. However, many there were of the tribe of Manasseh, and +of Zebulon, and of Issachar, who were obedient to what the +prophets exhorted them to do, and returned to the worship of God. +Now all these came running to Jerusalem, to Hezekiah, that they +might worship God [there]. + +3. When these men were come, king Hezekiah went up into the +temple, with the rulers and all the people, and offered for +himself seven bulls, and as many rams, with seven lambs, and as +many kids of the goats. The king also himself, and the rulers, +laid their hands on the heads of the sacrifices, and permitted +the priests to complete the sacred offices about them. So they +both slew the sacrifices, and burnt the burnt-offerings, while +the Levites stood round about them, with their musical +instruments, and sang hymns to God, and played on their +psalteries, as they were instructed by David to do, and this +while the rest of the priests returned the music, and sounded the +trumpets which they had in their hands; and when this was done, +the king and the multitude threw themselves down upon their face, +and worshipped God. He also sacrificed seventy bulls, one hundred +rams, and two hundred lambs. He also granted the multitude +sacrifices to feast upon, six hundred oxen, and three thousand +other cattle; and the priests performed all things according to +the law. Now the king was so pleased herewith, that he feasted +with the people, and returned thanks to God; but as the feast of +unleavened bread was now come, when they had offered that +sacrifice which is called the passover, they after that offered +other sacrifices for seven days. When the king had bestowed on +the multitude, besides what they sanctified of themselves, two +thousand bulls, and seven thousand other cattle, the same thing +was done by the rulers; for they gave them a thousand bulls, and +a thousand and forty other cattle. Nor had this festival been so +well observed from the days of king Solomon, as it was now first +observed with great splendor and magnificence; and when the +festival was ended, they went out into the country and purged it, +and cleansed the city of all the pollution of the idols. The king +also gave order that the daily sacrifices should be offered, at +his own charges, and according to the law; and appointed that the +tithes and the first-fruits should be given by the multitude to +the priests and Levites, that they might constantly attend upon +Divine service, and never be taken off from the worship of God. +Accordingly, the multitude brought together all sorts of their +fruits to the priests and the Levites. The king also made garners +and receptacles for these fruits, and distributed them to every +one of the priests and Levites, and to their children and wives; +and thus did they return to their old form of Divine worship. Now +when the king had settled these matters after the manner already +described, he made war upon the Philistines, and beat them, and +possessed himself of all the enemy's cities, from Gaza to Gath; +but the king of Assyria sent to him, and threatened to overturn +all his dominions, unless he would pay him the tribute which his +father paid him formerly; but king Hezekiah was not concerned at +his threatenings, but depended on his piety towards God, and upon +Isaiah the prophet, by whom he inquired and accurately knew all +future events. And thus much shall suffice for the present +concerning this king Hezekiah. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +How Shalmaneser Took Samaria By Force And How He Transplanted The +Ten Tribes Into Media, And Brought The Nation Of The Cutheans +Into Their Country [In Their Room]. + + +1. When Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, had it told him, that +[Hoshea] the king of Israel had sent privately to So, the king of +Egypt, desiring his assistance against him, he was very angry, +and made an expedition against Samaria, in the seventh year of +the reign of Hoshea; but when he was not admitted [into the city] +by the king, (24) he besieged Samaria three years, and took it by +force in the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea, and in the +seventh year of Hezekiah, king of Jerusalem, and quite demolished +the government of the Israelites, and transplanted all the people +into Media and Persia among whom he took king Hoshea alive; and +when he had removed these people out of this their land he +transplanted other nations out of Cuthah, a place so called, (for +there is [still] a river of that name in Persia,) into Samaria, +and into the country of the Israelites. So the ten tribes of the +Israelites were removed out of Judea nine hundred and forty-seven +years after their forefathers were come out of the land of Egypt, +and possessed themselves of the country, but eight hundred years +after Joshua had been their leader, and, as I have already +observed, two hundred and forty years, seven months, and seven +days after they had revolted from Rehoboam, the grandson of +David, and had given the kingdom to Jeroboam. And such a +conclusion overtook the Israelites, when they had transgressed +the laws, and would not hearken to the prophets, who foretold +that this calamity would come upon them, if they would not leave +off their evil doings. What gave birth to these evil doings, was +that sedition which they raised against Rehoboam, the grandson of +David, when they set up Jeroboam his servant to be their king, +when, by sinning against God, and bringing them to imitate his +bad example, made God to be their enemy, while Jeroboam underwent +that punishment which he justly deserved. + +2. And now the king of Assyria invaded all Syria and Phoenicia in +a hostile manner. The name of this king is also set down in the +archives of Tyre, for he made an expedition against Tyre in the +reign of Eluleus; and Menander attests to it, who, when he wrote +his Chronology, and translated the archives of Tyre into the +Greek language, gives us the following history: "One whose name +was Eluleus reigned thirty-six years; this king, upon the revolt +of the Citteans, sailed to them, and reduced them again to a +submission. Against these did the king of Assyria send an army, +and in a hostile manner overrun all Phoenicia, but soon made +peace with them all, and returned back; but Sidon, and Ace, and +Palsetyrus revolted; and many other cities there were which +delivered themselves up to the king of Assyria. Accordingly, when +the Tyrians would not submit to him, the king returned, and fell +upon them again, while the Phoenicians had furnished him with +threescore ships, and eight hundred men to row them; and when the +Tyrians had come upon them in twelve ships, and the enemy's ships +were dispersed, they took five hundred men prisoners, and the +reputation of all the citizens of Tyre was thereby increased; but +the king of Assyria returned, and placed guards at their rivers +and aqueducts, who should hinder the Tyrians from drawing water. +This continued for five years; and still the Tyrians bore the +siege, and drank of the water they had out of the wells they +dug." And this is what is written in the Tyrian archives +concerning Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria. + +3. But now the Cutheans, who removed into Samaria, (for that is +the name they have been called by to this time, because they were +brought out of the country called Cuthah, which is a country of +Persia, and there is a river of the same name in it,) each of +them, according to their nations, which were in number five, +brought their own gods into Samaria, and by worshipping them, as +was the custom of their own countries, they provoked Almighty God +to be angry and displeased at them, for a plague seized upon +them, by which they were destroyed; and when they found no cure +for their miseries, they learned by the oracle that they ought to +worship Almighty God, as the method for their deliverance. So +they sent ambassadors to the king of Assyria, and desired him to +send them some of those priests of the Israelites whom he had +taken captive. And when he thereupon sent them, and the people +were by them taught the laws, and the holy worship of God, they +worshipped him in a respectful manner, and the plague ceased +immediately; and indeed they continue to make use of the very +same customs to this very time, and are called in the Hebrew +tongue Cutlans, but in the Greek tongue Samaritans. And when they +see the Jews in prosperity, they pretend that they are changed, +and allied to them, and call them kinsmen, as though they were +derived from Joseph, and had by that means an original alliance +with them; but when they see them falling into a low condition, +they say they are no way related to them, and that the Jews have +no right to expect any kindness or marks of kindred from them, +but they declare that they are sojourners, that come from other +countries. But of these we shall have a more seasonable +opportunity to discourse hereafter. + + + + +BOOK X. + +Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Eighty-Two Years And A +Half. + +From The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes To The First Year Of Cyrus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Sennacherib Made An Expedition Against Hezekiah; What +Threatenings Rabshakeh Made To Hezekiah When Sennacherib Was Gone +Against The Egyptians; How Isaiah The Prophet Encouraged Him; How +Sennacherib Having Failed Of Success In Egypt, Returned Thence To +Jerusalem; And How Upon His Finding His Army Destroyed, He +Returned Home; And What Befell Him A Little Afterward. + + +1. It was now the fourteenth year of the government of Hezekiah, +king of the two tribes, when the king of Assyria, whose name was +Sennacherib, made an expedition against him with a great army, +and took all the cities of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by +force; and when he was ready to bring his army against Jerusalem, +Hezekiah sent ambassadors to him beforehand, and promised to +submit, and pay what tribute he should appoint. Hereupon +Sennacherib, when he heard of what offers the ambassadors made, +resolved not to proceed in the war, but to accept of the +proposals that were made him; and if he might receive three +hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold, he +promised that he would depart in a friendly manner; and he gave +security upon oath to the ambassadors that he would then do him +no harm, but go away as he came. So Hezekiah submitted, and +emptied his treasures, and sent the money, as supposing he should +be freed from his enemy, and from any further distress about his +kingdom. Accordingly, the Assyrian king took it, and yet had no +regard to what he had promised; but while he himself went to the +war against the Egyptians and Ethiopians, he left his general +Rabshakeh, and two other of his principal commanders, with great +forces, to destroy Jerusalem. The names of the two other +commanders were Tartan and Rabsaris. + +2. Now as soon as they were come before the walls, they pitched +their camp, and sent messengers to Hezekiah, and desired that +they might speak with him; but he did not himself come out to +them for fear, but he sent three of his most intimate friends; +the name of one was Eliakim, who was over the kingdom, and +Shebna, and Joah the recorder. So these men came out, and stood +over against the commanders of the Assyrian army; and when +Rabshakeh saw them, he bid them go and speak to Hezekiah in the +manner following: That Sennacherib, the great king, (1) desires +to know of him, on whom it is that he relies and depends, in +flying from his lord, and will not hear him, nor admit his army +into the city? Is it on account of the Egyptians, and in hopes +that his army would be beaten by them? Whereupon he lets him +know, that if this be what he expects, he is a foolish man, and +like one who leans on a broken reed; while such a one will not +only fall down, but will have his hand pierced and hurt by it. +That he ought to know he makes this expedition against him by the +will of God, who hath granted this favor to him, that he shall +overthrow the kingdom of Israel, and that in the very same manner +he shall destroy those that are his subjects also. When Rabshakeh +had made this speech in the Hebrew tongue, for he was skillful in +that language, Eliakim was afraid lest the multitude that heard +him should be disturbed; so he desired him to speak in the Syrian +tongue. But the general, understanding what he meant, and +perceiving the fear that he was in, he made his answer with a +greater and a louder voice, but in the Hebrew tongue; and said, +that "since they all heard what were the king's commands, they +would consult their own advantage in delivering up themselves to +us; for it is plain the both you and your king dissuade the +people from submitting by vain hopes, and so induce them to +resist; but if you be courageous, and think to drive our forces +away, I am ready to deliver to you two thousand of these horses +that are with me for your use, if you can set as many horsemen on +their backs, and show your strength; but what you have not you +cannot produce. Why therefore do you delay to deliver up +yourselves to a superior force, who can take you without your +consent? although it will be safer for you to deliver yourselves +up voluntarily, while a forcible capture, when you are beaten, +must appear more dangerous, and will bring further calamities +upon you." + +3. When the people, as well as the ambassadors, heard what the +Assyrian commander said, they related it to Hezekiah, who +thereupon put off his royal apparel, and clothed himself with +sackcloth, and took the habit of a mourner, and, after the manner +of his country, he fell upon his face, and besought God, and +entreated him to assist them, now they had no other hope of +relief. He also sent some of his friends, and some of the +priests, to the prophet Isaiah, and desired that he would pray to +God, and offer sacrifices for their common deliverance, and so +put up supplications to him, that he would have indignation at +the expectations of their enemies, and have mercy upon his +people. And when the prophet had done accordingly, an oracle came +from God to him, and encouraged the king and his friends that +were about him; and foretold that their enemies should be beaten +without fighting, and should go away in an ignominious manner, +and not with that insolence which they now show, for that God +would take care that they should be destroyed. He also foretold +that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, should fail of his purpose +against Egypt, and that when he came home he should perish by the +sword. + +4. About the same time also the king of Assyria wrote an epistle +to Hezekiah, in which he said he was a foolish man, in supposing +that he should escape from being his servant, since he had +already brought under many and great nations; and he threatened, +that when he took him, he would utterly destroy him, unless he +now opened the gates, and willingly received his army into +Jerusalem. When he read this epistle, he despised it, on account +of the trust that he had in God; but he rolled up the epistle, +and laid it up within the temple. And as he made his further +prayers to God for the city, and for the preservation of all the +people, the prophet Isaiah said that God had heard his prayer, +and that he should not be besieged at this time by the king of +Assyria (2) that for the future he might be secure of not being +at all disturbed by him; and that the people might go on +peaceably, and without fear, with their husbandry and other +affairs. But after a little while the king of Assyria, when he +had failed of his treacherous designs against the Egyptians, +returned home without success, on the following occasion: He +spent a long time in the siege of Pelusium; and when the banks +that he had raised over against the walls were of a great height, +and when he was ready to make an immediate assault upon them, but +heard that Tirhaka, king of the Ethiopians, was coming and +bringing great forces to aid the Egyptians, and was resolved to +march through the desert, and so to fall directly upon the +Assyrians, this king Sennacherib was disturbed at the news, and, +as I said before, left Pelusium, and returned back without +success. Now concerning this Sennacherib, Herodotus also says, in +the second book of his histories, how "this king came against the +Egyptian king, who was the priest of Vulcan; and that as he was +besieging Pelusium, he broke up the siege on the following +occasion: This Egyptian priest prayed to God, and God heard his +prayer, and sent a judgment upon the Arabian king." But in this +Herodotus was mistaken, when he called this king not king of the +Assyrians, but of the Arabians; for he saith that "a multitude of +mice gnawed to pieces in one night both the bows and the rest of +the armor of the Assyrians, and that it was on that account that +the king, when he had no bows left, drew off his army from +Pelusium." And Herodotus does indeed give us this history; nay, +and Berosus, who wrote of the affairs of Chaldea, makes mention +of this king Sennacherib, and that he ruled over the Assyrians, +and that he made an expedition against all Asia and Egypt; and +says thus: + +5. "Now when Sennacherib was returning from his Egyptian war to +Jerusalem, he found his army under Rabshakeh his general in +danger [by a plague], for God had sent a pestilential distemper +upon his army; and on the very first night of the siege, a +hundred fourscore and five thousand, with their captains and +generals, were destroyed. So the king was in a great dread and in +a terrible agony at this calamity; and being in great fear for +his whole army, he fled with the rest of his forces to his own +kingdom, and to his city Nineveh; and when he had abode there a +little while, he was treacherously assaulted, and died by the +hands of his elder sons, (3) Adrammelech and Seraser, and was +slain in his own temple, which was called Araske. Now these sons +of his were driven away on account of the murder of their father +by the citizens, and went into Armenia, while Assarachoddas took +the kingdom of Sennacherib." And this proved to be the conclusion +of this Assyrian expedition against the people of Jerusalem. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Hezekiah Was Sick, And Ready To Die; And How God Bestowed +Upon Him Fifteen Years Longer Life, [And Secured That Promise] By +The Going Back Of The Shadow Ten Degrees. + + +1. Now king Hezekiah being thus delivered, after a surprising +manner, from the dread he was in, offered thank-offerings to God, +with all his people, because nothing else had destroyed some of +their enemies, and made the rest so fearful of undergoing the +same fate that they departed from Jerusalem, but that Divine +assistance. Yet, while he was very zealous and diligent about the +worship of God, did he soon afterwards fall into a severe +distemper, insomuch that the physicians despaired of him, and +expected no good issue of his sickness, as neither did his +friends: and besides the distemper (4) itself, there was a very +melancholy circumstance that disordered the king, which was the +consideration that he was childless, and was going to die, and +leave his house and his government without a successor of his own +body; so he was troubled at the thoughts of this his condition, +and lamented himself, and entreated of God that he would prolong +his life for a little while till he had some children, and not +suffer him to depart this life before he was become a father. +Hereupon God had mercy upon him, and accepted of his +supplication, because the trouble he was under at his supposed +death was not because he was soon to leave the advantages he +enjoyed in the kingdom, nor did he on that account pray that he +might have a longer life afforded him, but in order to have sons, +that might receive the government after him. And God sent Isaiah +the prophet, and commanded him to inform Hezekiah, that within +three days' time he should get clear of his distemper, and should +survive it fifteen years, and that he should have children also. +Now, upon the prophet's saying this, as God had commanded him, he +could hardly believe it, both on account of the distemper he was +under, which was very sore, and by reason of the surprising +nature of what was told him; so he desired that Isaiah would give +him some sign or wonder, that he might believe him in what he had +said, and be sensible that he came from God; for things that are +beyond expectation, and greater than our hopes, are made credible +by actions of the like nature. And when Isaiah had asked him what +sign he desired to be exhibited, he desired that he would make +the shadow of the sun, which he had already made to go down ten +steps [or degrees] in his house, to return again to the same +place, (5) and to make it as it was before. And when the prophet +prayed to God to exhibit this sign to the king, he saw what he +desired to see, and was freed from his distemper, and went up to +the temple, where he worshipped God, and made vows to him. + +2. At this time it was that the dominion of the Assyrians was +overthrown by the Medes; (6) but of these things I shall treat +elsewhere. But the king of Babylon, whose name was Baladan, sent +ambassadors to Hezekiah, with presents, and desired he would be +his ally and his friend. So he received the ambassadors gladly, +and made them a feast, and showed them his treasures, and his +armory, and the other wealth he was possessed of, in precious +stones and in gold, and gave them presents to be carried to +Baladan, and sent them back to him. Upon which the prophet Isaiah +came to him, and inquired of him whence those ambassadors came; +to which he replied, that they came from Babylon, from the king; +and that he had showed them all he had, that by the sight of his +riches and forces he might thereby guess at [the plenty he was +in], and be able to inform the king of it. But the prophet +rejoined, and said, "Know thou, that, after a little while, these +riches of thine shall be carried away to Babylon, and thy +posterity shall be made eunuchs there, and lose their manhood, +and be servants to the king of Babylon; for that God foretold +such things would come to pass." Upon which words Hezekiah was +troubled, and said that he was himself unwilling that his nation +should fall into such calamities; yet since it is not possible to +alter what God had determined, he prayed that there might be +peace while he lived. Berosus also makes mention of this Baladan, +king of Babylon. Now as to this prophet [Isaiah], he was by the +confession of all, a divine and wonderful man in speaking truth; +and out of the assurance that he had never written what was +false, he wrote down all his prophecies, and left them behind him +in books, that their accomplishment might be judged of from the +events by posterity: nor did this prophet do so alone, but the +others, which were twelve in number, did the same. And whatsoever +is done among us, Whether it be good, or whether it be bad, comes +to pass according to their prophecies; but of every one of these +we shall speak hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Manasseh Reigned After Hezekiah; And How When He Was In +Captivity He Returned To God And Was Restored To His Kingdom And +Left It To [His Son] Amon. + + +1. When king Hezekiah had survived the interval of time already +mentioned, and had dwelt all that time in peace, he died, having +completed fifty-four years of his life, and reigned twenty-nine. +But when his son Manasseh, whose mother's name was Hephzibah, of +Jerusalem, had taken the kingdom, he departed from the conduct of +his father, and fell into a course of life quite contrary +thereto, and showed himself in his manners most wicked in all +respects, and omitted no sort of impiety, but imitated those +transgressions of the Israelites, by the commission of which +against God they had been destroyed; for he was so hardy as to +defile the temple of God, and the city, and the whole country; +for, by setting out from a contempt of God, he barbarously slew +all the righteous men that were among the Hebrews; nor would he +spare the prophets, for he every day slew some of them, till +Jerusalem was overflown with blood. So God was angry at these +proceedings, and sent prophets to the king, and to the multitude, +by whom he threatened the very same calamities to them which +their brethren the Israelites, upon the like affronts offered to +God, were now under. But these men would not believe their words, +by which belief they might have reaped the advantage of escaping +all those miseries; yet did they in earnest learn that what the +prophets had told them was true. + +2. And when they persevered in the same course of life, God +raised up war against them from the king of Babylon and Chaldea, +who sent an army against Judea, and laid waste the country; and +caught king Manasseh by treachery, and ordered him to be brought +to him, and had him under his power to inflict what punishment he +pleased upon him. But then it was that Manasseh perceived what a +miserable condition he was in, and esteeming himself the cause of +all, he besought God to render his enemy humane and merciful to +him. Accordingly, God heard his prayer, and granted him what he +prayed for. So Manasseh was released by the king of Babylon, and +escaped the danger he was in; and when he was come to Jerusalem, +he endeavored, if it were possible, to cast out of his memory +those his former sins against God, of which he now repented, and +to apply himself to a very religious life. He sanctified the +temple, and purged the city, and for the remainder of his days he +was intent on nothing but to return his thanks to God for his +deliverance, and to preserve him propitious to him all his life +long. He also instructed the multitude to do the same, as having +very nearly experienced what a calamity he was fallen into by a +contrary conduct. He also rebuilt the altar, and offered the +legal sacrifices, as Moses commanded. And when he had +re-established what concerned the Divine worship, as it ought to +be, he took care of the security of Jerusalem: he did not only +repair the old walls with great diligence, but added another wall +to the former. He also built very lofty towers, and the +garrisoned places before the city he strengthened, not only in +other respects, but with provisions of all sorts that they +wanted. And indeed, when he had changed his former course, he so +led his life for the time to come, that from the time of his +return to piety towards God he was deemed a happy man, and a +pattern for imitation. When therefore he had lived sixty-seven +years, he departed this life, having reigned fifty-five years, +and was buried in his own garden; and the kingdom came to his son +Amon, whose mother's name was Meshulemeth, of the city of +Jotbath. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Amon Reigned Instead Of Manasseh; And After Amon Reigned +Josiah; He Was Both Righteous And Religious. As Also Concerning +Huldah The Prophetess. + + +1. This Amon imitated those works of his father which he +insolently did when he was young: so he had a conspiracy made +against him by his own servants, and was slain in his own house, +when he had lived twenty-four years, and of them had reigned two. +But the multitude punished those that slew Amon, and buried him +with his father, and gave the kingdom to his son Josiah, who was +eight years old. His mother was of the city of Boscath, and her +name was Jedidah. He was of a most excellent disposition, and +naturally virtuous, and followed the actions of king David, as a +pattern and a rule to him in the whole conduct of his life. And +when he was twelve years old, he gave demonstrations of his +religious and righteous behavior; for he brought the people to a +sober way of living, and exhorted them to leave off the opinion +they had of their idols, because they were not gods, but to +worship their own God. And by repeating on the actions of his +progenitors, he prudently corrected what they did wrong, like a +very elderly man, and like one abundantly able to understand what +was fit to be done; and what he found they had well done, he +observed all the country over, and imitated the same. And thus he +acted in following the wisdom and sagacity of his own nature, and +in compliance with the advice and instruction of the elders; for +by following the laws it was that he succeeded so well in the +order of his government, and in piety with regard to the Divine +worship. And this happened because the transgressions of the +former kings were seen no more, but quite vanished away; for the +king went about the city, and the whole country, and cut down the +groves which were devoted to strange gods, and overthrew their +altars; and if there were any gifts dedicated to them by his +forefathers, he made them ignominious, and plucked them down; and +by this means he brought the people back from their opinion about +them to the worship of God. He also offered his accustomed +sacrifices and burnt-offerings upon the altar. Moreover, he +ordained certain judges and overseers, that they might order the +matters to them severally belonging, and have regard to justice +above all things, and distribute it with the same concern they +would have about their own soul. He also sent over all the +country, and desired such as pleased to bring gold and silver for +the repairs of the temple, according to every one's inclinations +and abilities. And when the money was brought in, he made one +Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Shaphan the scribe, and +Joab the recorder, and Eliakim the high priest, curators of the +temple, and of the charges contributed thereto; who made no +delay, nor put the work off at all, but prepared architects, and +whatsoever was proper for those repairs, and set closely about +the work. So the temple was repaired by this means, and became a +public demonstration of the king's piety. + +2. But when he was now in the eighteenth year of his reign, he +sent to Eliakim the high priest, and gave order, that out of what +money was overplus, he should cast cups, and dishes, and vials, +for ministration [in the temple]; and besides, that they should +bring all the gold or silver which was among the treasures, and +expend that also in making cups and the like vessels. But as the +high priest was bringing out the gold, he lighted upon the holy +books of Moses that were laid up in the temple; and when he had +brought them out, he gave them to Shaphan the scribe, who, when +he had read them, came to the king, and informed him that all was +finished which he had ordered to be done. He also read over the +books to him, who, when he had heard them read, rent his garment, +and called for Eliakim the high priest, and for [Shaphan] the +scribe, and for certain [other] of his most particular friends, +and sent them to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, +(which Shallum was a man of dignity, and of an eminent family,) +and bid them go to her, and say that [he desired] she would +appease God, and endeavor to render him propitious to them, for +that there was cause to fear, lest, upon the transgression of the +laws of Moses by their forefathers, they should be in peril of +going into captivity, and of being cast out of their own country; +lest they should be in want of all things, and so end their days +miserably. When the prophetess had heard this from the messengers +that were sent to her by the king, she bid them go back to the +king, and say that "God had already given sentence against them, +to destroy the people, and cast them out of their country, and +deprive them of all the happiness they enjoyed; which sentence +none could set aside by any prayers of theirs, since it was +passed on account of their transgressions of the laws, and of +their not having repented in so long a time, while the prophets +had exhorted them to amend, and had foretold the punishment that +would ensue on their impious practices; which threatening God +would certainly execute upon them, that they might be persuaded +that he is God, and had not deceived them in any respect as to +what he had denounced by his prophets; that yet, because Josiah +was a righteous man, he would at present delay those calamities, +but that after his death he would send on the multitude what +miseries he had determined for them. + +3. So these messengers, upon this prophecy of the woman, came and +told it to the king; whereupon he sent to the people every where, +and ordered that the priests and the Levites should come together +to Jerusalem; and commanded that those of every age should be +present also. And when they had gathered together, he first read +to them the holy books; after which he stood upon a pulpit, in +the midst of the multitude, and obliged them to make a covenant, +with an oath, that they would worship God, and keep the laws of +Moses. Accordingly, they gave their assent willingly, and +undertook to do what the king had recommended to them. So they +immediately offered sacrifices, and that after an acceptable +manner, and besought God to be gracious and merciful to them. He +also enjoined the high priest, that if there remained in the +temple any vessel that was dedicated to idols, or to foreign +gods, they should cast it out. So when a great number of such +vessels were got together, he burnt them, and scattered their +ashes abroad, and slew the priests of the idols that were not of +the family of Aaron. + +4. And when he had done thus in Jerusalem, he came into the +country, and utterly destroyed what buildings had been made +therein by king Jeroboam, in honor of strange gods; and he burnt +the bones of the false prophets upon that altar which Jeroboam +first built; and, as the prophet [Jadon], who came to Jeroboam +when he was offering sacrifice, and when all the people heard +him, foretold what would come to pass, viz. that a certain man of +the house of David, Josiah by name, should do what is here +mentioned. And it happened that those predictions took effect +after three hundred and sixty-one years. + +5. After these things, Josiah went also to such other Israelites +as had escaped captivity and slavery under the Assyrians, and +persuaded them to desist from their impious practices, and to +leave off the honors they paid to strange gods, but to worship +rightly their own Almighty God, and adhere to him. He also +searched the houses, and the villages, and the cities, out of a +suspicion that somebody might have one idol or other in private; +nay, indeed, he took away the chariots [of the sun] that were set +up in his royal palace, (7) which his predecessors had framed, +and what thing soever there was besides which they worshipped as +a god. And when he had thus purged all the country, he called the +people to Jerusalem, and there celebrated the feast of unleavened +bread, and that called the passover. He also gave the people for +paschal sacrifices, young kids of the goats, and lambs, thirty +thousand, and three thousand oxen for burnt-offerings. The +principal of the priests also gave to the priests against the +passover two thousand and six hundred lambs; the principal of the +Levites also gave to the Levites five thousand lambs, and five +hundred oxen, by which means there was great plenty of +sacrifices; and they offered those sacrifices according to the +laws of Moses, while every priest explained the matter, and +ministered to the multitude. And indeed there had been no other +festival thus celebrated by the Hebrews from the times of Samuel +the prophet; and the plenty of sacrifices now was the occasion +that all things were performed according to the laws, and +according to the custom of their forefathers. So when Josiah had +after this lived in peace, nay, in riches and reputation also, +among all men, he ended his life in the manner following. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Josiah Fought With Neco [King Of Egypt.] And Was Wounded And +Died In A Little Time Afterward; As Also How Neco Carried +Jehoahaz, Who Had Been Made King Into Egypt And Delivered The +Kingdom To Jehoiakim; And [Lastly] Concerning Jeremiah And +Ezekiel. + + +1. Now Neco, king of Egypt, raised an army, and marched to the +river Euphrates, in order to fight with the Medes and +Babylonians, who had overthrown the dominion of the Assyrians, +(8) for he had a desire to reign over Asia. Now when he was come +to the city Mendes, which belonged to the kingdom of Josiah, he +brought an army to hinder him from passing through his own +country, in his expedition against the Medes. Now Neco sent a +herald to Josiah, and told him that he did not make this +expedition against him, but was making haste to Euphrates; and +desired that he would not provoke him to fight against him, +because he obstructed his march to the place whither he had +resolved to go. But Josiah did not admit of this advice of Neco, +but put himself into a posture to hinder him from his intended +march. I suppose it was fate that pushed him on this conduct, +that it might take an occasion against him; for as he was setting +his army in array, (9) and rode about in his chariot, from one +wing of his army to another, one of the Egyptians shot an arrow +at him, and put an end to his eagerness of fighting; for being +sorely wounded, he command a retreat to be sounded for his army, +and returned to Jerusalem, and died of that wound; and was +magnificently buried in the sepulcher of his fathers, when he had +lived thirty-nine years, and of them had reigned thirty-one. But +all the people mourned greatly for him, lamenting and grieving on +his account many days; and Jeremiah the prophet composed an elegy +to lament him, (10) which is extant till tills time also. +Moreover, this prophet denounced beforehand the sad calamities +that were coming upon the city. He also left behind him in +writing a description of that destruction of our nation which has +lately happened in our days, and the taking of Babylon; nor was +he the only prophet who delivered such predictions beforehand to +the multitude, but so did Ezekiel also, who was the first person +that wrote, and left behind him in writing two books concerning +these events. Now these two prophets were priests by birth, but +of them Jeremiah dwelt in Jerusalem, from the thirteenth year of +the reign of Josiah, until the city and temple were utterly +destroyed. However, as to what befell this prophet, we will +relate it in its proper place. + +2. Upon the death of Josiah, which we have already mentioned, his +son, Jehoahaz by name, took the kingdom, being about twenty-three +years old. He reigned in Jerusalem; and his mother was Hamutal, +of the city Libhah. He was an impious man, and impure in his +course of life; but as the king of Egypt returned from the +battle, he sent for Jehoahaz to come to him, to the city called +Hamath (11) which belongs to Syria; and when he was come, he put +him in bands, and delivered the kingdom to a brother of his, by +the father's side, whose name was Eliakim, and changed his name +to Jehoiakim and laid a tribute upon the land of a hundred +talents of silver, and a talent of gold; and this sum of money +Jehoiakim paid by way of tribute; but Neco carried away Jehoahaz +into Egypt, where he died when he had reigned three months and +ten days. Now Jehoiakim's mother was called Zebudah, of the city +Rumah. He was of a wicked disposition, and ready to do mischief; +nor was he either religions towards God, or good-natured towards +men. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Nebuchadnezzar, When He Had Conquered The King Of Egypt Made +An Expedition Against The Jews, And Slew Jehoiakim, And Made +Jeholachin His Son King. + + +1. Now in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, one whose +name was Nebuchadnezzar took the government over the Babylonians, +who at the same time went up with a great army to the city +Carchemish, which was at Euphrates, upon a resolution he had +taken to fight with Neco king of Egypt, under whom all Syria then +was. And when Neco understood the intention of the king of +Babylon, and that this expedition was made against him, he did +not despise his attempt, but made haste with a great band of men +to Euphrates to defend himself from Nebuchadnezzar; and when they +had joined battle, he was beaten, and lost many ten thousands [of +his soldiers] in the battle. So the king of Babylon passed over +Euphrates, and took all Syria, as far as Pelusium, excepting +Judea. But when Nebuchadnezzar had already reigned four years, +which was the eighth of Jehoiakim's government over the Hebrews, +the king of Babylon made an expedition with mighty forces against +the Jews, and required tribute of Jehoiakim, and threatened upon +his refusal to make war against him. He was aftrighted at his +threatening, and bought his peace with money, and brought the +tribute he was ordered to bring for three years. + +2. But on the third year, upon hearing that the king of the +Babylonians made an expedition against the Egyptians, he did not +pay his tribute; yet was he disappointed of his hope, for the +Egyptians durst not fight at this time. And indeed the prophet +Jeremiah foretold every day, how vainly they relied on their +hopes from Egypt, and how the city would be overthrown by the +king of Babylon, and Jehoiakim the king would be subdued by him. +But what he thus spake proved to be of no advantage to them, +because there were none that should escape; for both the +multitude and the rulers, when they heard him, had no concern +about what they heard; but being displeased at what was said, as +if the prophet were a diviner against the king, they accused +Jeremiah, and bringing him before the court, they required that a +sentence and a punishment might be given against him. Now all the +rest gave their votes for his condemnation, but the elders +refused, who prudently sent away the prophet from the court of +[the prison], and persuaded the rest to do Jeremiah no harm; for +they said that he was not the only person who foretold what would +come to the city, but that Micah signified the same before him, +as well as many others, none of which suffered any thing of the +kings that then reigned, but were honored as the prophets of God. +So they mollified the multitude with these words, and delivered +Jeremiah from the punishment to which he was condemned. Now when +this prophet had written all his prophecies, and the people were +fasting, and assembled at the temple, on the ninth month of the +fifth year of Jehoiakim, he read the book he had composed of his +predictions of what was to befall the city, and the temple, and +the multitude. And when the rulers heard of it, they took the +book from him, and bid him and Baruch the scribe to go their +ways, lest they should be discovered by one or other; but they +carried the book, and gave it to the king; so he gave order, in +the presence of his friends, that his scribe should take it, and +read it. When the king heard what it contained, he was angry, and +tore it, and cast it into the fire, where it was consumed. He +also commanded that they should seek for Jeremiah, and Baruch the +scribe, and bring them to him, that they might be punished. +However, they escaped his anger. + +3. Now, a little time afterwards, the king of Babylon made an +expedition against Jehoiakim, whom he received [into the city], +and this out of fear of the foregoing predictions of this +prophet, as supposing he should suffer nothing that was terrible, +because he neither shut the gates, nor fought against him; yet +when he was come into the city, he did not observe the covenants +he had made, but he slew such as were in the flower of their age, +and such as were of the greatest dignity, together with their +king Jehoiakim, whom he commanded to be thrown before the walls, +without any burial; and made his son Jehoiachin king of the +country, and of the city: he also took the principal persons in +dignity for captives, three thousand in number, and led them away +to Babylon; among which was the prophet Ezekiel, who was then but +young. And this was the end of king Jehoiakim, when he had lived +thirty-six years, and of them reigned eleven. But Jehoiachin +succeeded him in the kingdom, whose mother's name was Nehushta; +she was a citizen of Jerusalem. He reigned three months and ten +days. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +That The King Of Babylon Repented Of Making Jehoiachin King, And +Took Him Away To Babylon And Delivered The Kingdom To Zedekiah. +This King Would Not Relieve What Was Predicted By Jeremiah And +Ezekiel But Joined Himself To The Egyptians; Who When They Came +Into Judea, Were Vanquished By The King Of Babylon; As Also What +Befell Jeremiah. + + +1. But a terror seized on the king of Babylon, who had given the +kingdom to Jehoiachin, and that immediately; he was afraid that +he should bear him a grudge, because of his killing his father, +and thereupon should make the country revolt from him; wherefore +he sent an army, and besieged Jehoiachin in Jerusalem; but +because he was of a gentle and just disposition, he did not +desire to see the city endangered on his account, but he took his +mother and kindred, and delivered them to the commanders sent by +the king of Babylon, and accepted of their oaths, that neither +should they suffer any harm, nor the city; which agreement they +did not observe for a single year, for the king of Babylon did +not keep it, but gave orders to his generals to take all that +were in the city captives, both the youth and the handicraftsmen, +and bring them bound to him; their number was ten thousand eight +hundred and thirty-two; as also Jehoiachin, and his mother and +friends. And when these were brought to him, he kept them in +custody, and appointed Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, to be king; +and made him take an oath, that he would certainly keep the +kingdom for him, and make no innovation, nor have any league of +friendship with the Egyptians. + +2. Now Zedekiah was twenty and one year's old when he took the +government; and had the same mother with his brother Jehoiakim, +but was a despiser of justice and of his duty, for truly those of +the same age with him were wicked about him, and the whole +multitude did what unjust and insolent things they pleased; for +which reason the prophet Jeremiah came often to him, and +protested to him, and insisted, that he must leave off his +impieties and transgressions, and take care of what was right, +and neither give ear to the rulers, (among whom were wicked men,) +nor give credit to their false prophets, who deluded them, as if +the king of Babylon would make no more war against them, and as +if the Egyptians would make war against him, and conquer him, +since what they said was not true, and the events would not prove +such [as they expected]. Now as to Zedekiah himself, while he +heard the prophet speak, he believed him, and agreed to every +thing as true, and supposed it was for his advantage; but then +his friends perverted him, and dissuaded him from what the +prophet advised, and obliged him to do what they pleased. Ezekiel +also foretold in Babylon what calamities were coming upon the +people, which when he heard, he sent accounts of them unto +Jerusalem. But Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies, for the +reason following: It happened that the two prophets agreed with +one another in what they said as in all other things, that the +city should be taken, and Zedekiah himself should be taken +captive; but Ezekiel disagreed with him, and said that Zedekiah +should not see Babylon, while Jeremiah said to him, that the king +of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds. And be- + +3. Now when Zedekiah had preserved the league of mutual +assistance he had made with the Babylonians for eight years, he +brake it, and revolted to the Egyptians, in hopes, by their +assistance, of overcoming the Babylonians. When the king of +Babylon knew this, he made war against him: he laid his country +waste, and took his fortified towns, and came to the city +Jerusalem itself to besiege it. But when the king of Egypt heard +what circumstances Zedekiah his ally was in, he took a great army +with him, and came into Judea, as if he would raise the siege; +upon which the king of Babylon departed from Jerusalem, and met +the Egyptians, and joined battle with them, and beat them; and +when he had put them to flight, he pursued them, and drove them +out of all Syria. Now as soon as the king of Babylon was departed +from Jerusalem, the false prophets deceived Zedekiah, and said +that the king of Babylon would not any more make war against him +or his people, nor remove them out of their own country into +Babylon; and that those then in captivity would return, with all +those vessels of the temple of which the king of Babylon had +despoiled that temple. But Jeremiah came among them, and +prophesied what contradicted those predictions, and what proved +to be true, that they did ill, and deluded the king; that the +Egyptians would be of no advantage to them, but that the king of +Babylon would renew the war against Jerusalem, and besiege it +again, and would destroy the people by famine, and carry away +those that remained into captivity, and would take away what they +had as spoils, and would carry off those riches that were in the +temple; nay, that, besides this, he would burn it, and utterly +overthrow the city, and that they should serve him and his +posterity seventy years; that then the Persians and the Medes +should put an end to their servitude, and overthrow the +Babylonians; "and that we shall be dismissed, and return to this +land, and rebuild the temple, and restore Jerusalem." When +Jeremiah said this, the greater part believed him; but the +rulers, and those that were wicked, despised him, as one +disordered in his senses. Now he had resolved to go elsewhere, to +his own country, which was called Anathoth, and was twenty +furlongs distant from Jerusalem; (12) and as he was going, one of +the rulers met him, and seized upon him, and accused him falsely, +as though he were going as a deserter to the Babylonians; but +Jeremiah said that he accused him falsely, and added, that he was +only going to his own country; but the other would not believe +him, but seized upon him, and led him away to the rulers, and +laid an accusation against him, under whom he endured all sorts +of torments and tortures, and was reserved to be punished; and +this was the condition he was in for some time, while he suffered +what I have already described unjustly. + +4. Now in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah, on the tenth +day of the tenth month, the king of Babylon made a second +expedition against Jerusalem, and lay before it eighteen months, +and besieged it with the utmost application. There came upon them +also two of the greatest calamities at the same time that +Jerusalem was besieged, a famine and a pestilential distemper, +and made great havoc of them. And though the prophet Jeremiah was +in prison, he did not rest, but cried out, and proclaimed aloud, +and exhorted the multitude to open their gates, and admit the +king of Babylon, for that if they did so, they should be +preserved, and their whole families; but if they did not so, they +should be destroyed; and he foretold, that if any one staid in +the city, he should certainly perish by one of these ways, - +either be consumed by the famine, or slain by the enemy's sword; +but that if he would flee to the enemy, he should escape death. +Yet did not these rulers who heard believe him, even when they +were in the midst of their sore calamities; but they came to the +king, and in their anger informed him what Jeremiah had said, and +accused him, and complained of the prophet as of a madman, and +one that disheartened their minds, and by the denunciation of +miseries weakened the alacrity of the multitude, who were +otherwise ready to expose themselves to dangers for him, and for +their country, while he, in a way of threatening, warned them to +flee to the enemy, and told them that the city should certainly +be taken, and be utterly destroyed. + +5. But for the king himself, he was not at all irritated against +Jeremiah, such was his gentle and righteous disposition; yet, +that he might not be engaged in a quarrel with those rulers at +such a time, by opposing what they intended, he let them do with +the prophet whatsoever they would; whereupon, when the king had +granted them such a permission, they presently came into the +prison, and took him, and let him down with a cord into a pit +full of mire, that he might be suffocated, and die of himself. So +he stood up to the neck in the mire which was all about him, and +so continued; but there was one of the king's servants, who was +in esteem with him, an Ethiopian by descent, who told the king +what a state the prophet was in, and said that his friends and +his rulers had done evil in putting the prophet into the mire, +and by that means contriving against him that he should suffer a +death more bitter than that by his bonds only. When the king +heard this, he repented of his having delivered up the prophet to +the rulers, and bid the Ethiopian take thirty men of the king's +guards, and cords with them, and whatsoever else they understood +to be necessary for the prophet's preservation, and to draw him +up immediately. So the Ethiopian took the men he was ordered to +take, and drew up the prophet out of the mire, and left him at +liberty [in the prison]. + +6. But when the king had sent to call him privately, and inquired +what he could say to him from God, which might be suitable to his +present circumstances, and desired him to inform him of it, +Jeremiah replied, that he had somewhat to say; but he said +withal, he should not be believed, nor, if he admonished them, +should be hearkened to; "for," said he, "thy friends have +determined to destroy me, as though I had been guilty of some +wickedness; and where are now those men who deceived us, and said +that the king of Babylon would not come and fight against us any +more? but I am afraid now to speak the truth, lest thou shouldst +condemn me to die." And when the king had assured him upon oath, +that he would neither himself put him to death, nor deliver him +up to the rulers, he became bold upon that assurance that was +given him, and gave him this advice: That he should deliver the +city up to the Babylonians; and he said that it was God who +prophesied this by him, that [he must do so] if he would be +preserved, and escape out of the danger he was in, and that then +neither should the city fall to the ground, nor should the temple +be burned; but that [if he disobeyed] he would be the cause of +these miseries coming upon the citizens, and of the calamity that +would befall his whole house. When the king heard this, he said +that he would willingly do what he persuaded him to, and what he +declared would be to his advantage, but that he was afraid of +those of his own country that had fallen away to the Babylonians, +lest he should be accused by them to the king of Babylon, and be +punished. But the prophet encouraged him, and said he had no +cause to fear such punishment, for that he should not have the +experience of any misfortune, if he would deliver all up to the +Babylonians, neither himself, nor his children, nor his wives, +and that the temple should then continue unhurt. So when Jeremiah +had said this, the king let him go, and charged him to betray +what they had resolved on to none of the citizens, nor to tell +any of these matters to any of the rulers, if they should have +learned that he had been sent for, and should inquire of him what +it was that he was sent for, and what he had said to him; but to +pretend to them that he besought him that he might not be kept in +bonds and in prison. And indeed he said so to them; for they came +to the prophet, and asked him what advice it was that he came to +give the king relating to them. And thus I have finished what +concerns this matter. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How The King Of Babylon Took Jerusalem And Burnt The Temple And +Removed The People Of Jerusalem And Zedekiah To Babylon. As Also, +Who They Were That Had Succeeded In The High Priesthood Under The +Kings. + + +1. Now the king of Babylon was very intent and earnest upon the +siege of Jerusalem; and he erected towers upon great banks of +earth, and from them repelled those that stood upon the walls; he +also made a great number of such banks round about the whole +city, whose height was equal to those walls. However, those that +were within bore the siege with courage and alacrity, for they +were not discouraged, either by the famine, or by the +pestilential distemper, but were of cheerful minds in the +prosecution of the war, although those miseries within oppressed +them also, and they did not suffer themselves to be terrified, +either by the contrivances of the enemy, or by their engines of +war, but contrived still different engines to oppose all the +other withal, till indeed there seemed to be an entire struggle +between the Babylonians and the people of Jerusalem, which had +the greater sagacity and skill; the former party supposing they +should be thereby too hard for the other, for the destruction of +the city; the latter placing their hopes of deliverance in +nothing else but in persevering in such inventions in opposition +to the other, as might demonstrate the enemy's engines were +useless to them. And this siege they endured for eighteen months, +until they were destroyed by the famine, and by the darts which +the enemy threw at them from the towers. + +2. Now the city was taken on the ninth day of the fourth month, +in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah. They were indeed +only generals of the king of Babylon, to whom Nebuchadnezzar +committed the care of the siege, for he abode himself in the city +of Riblah. The names of these generals who ravaged and subdued +Jerusalem, if any one desire to know them, were these: Nergal +Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Rabsaris, Sorsechim, and Rabmag. And when +the city was taken about midnight, and the enemy's generals were +entered into the temple, and when Zedekiah was sensible of it, he +took his wives, and his children, and his captains, and his +friends, and with them fled out of the city, through the +fortified ditch, and through the desert; and when certain of the +deserters had informed the Babylonians of this, at break of day, +they made haste to pursue after Zedekiah, and overtook him not +far from Jericho, and encompassed him about. But for those +friends and captains of Zedekiah who had fled out of the city +with him, when they saw their enemies near them, they left him, +and dispersed themselves, some one way, and some another, and +every one resolved to save himself; so the enemy took Zedekiah +alive, when he was deserted by all but a few, with his children +and his wives, and brought him to the king. When he was come, +Nebuchadnezzar began to call him a wicked wretch, and a +covenant-breaker, and one that had forgotten his former words, +when he promised to keep the country for him. He also reproached +him for his ingratitude, that when he had received the kingdom +from him, who had taken it from Jehoiachin, and given it to him, +he had made use of the power he gave him against him that gave +it; "but," said he, "God is great, who hated that conduct of +thine, and hath brought thee under us." And when he had used +these words to Zedekiah, he commanded his sons and his friends to +be slain, while Zedekiah and the rest of the captains looked on; +after which he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him, and +carried him to Babylon. And these things happened to him, (13) as +Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold to him, that he should be +caught, and brought before the king of Babylon, and should speak +to him face to face, and should see his eyes with his own eyes; +and thus far did Jeremiah prophesy. But he was also made blind, +and brought to Babylon, but did not see it, according to the +prediction of Ezekiel. + +3. We have said thus much, because it was sufficient to show the +nature of God to such as are ignorant of it, that it is various, +and acts many different ways, and that all events happen after a +regular manner, in their proper season, and that it foretells +what must come to pass. It is also sufficient to show the +ignorance and incredulity of men, whereby they are not permitted +to foresee any thing that is future, and are, without any guard, +exposed to calamities, so that it is impossible for them to avoid +the experience of those calamities. + +4. And after this manner have the kings of David's race ended +their lives, being in number twenty-one, until the last king, who +all together reigned five hundred and fourteen years, and six +months, and ten days; of whom Saul, who was their first king, +retained the government twenty years, though he was not of the +same tribe with the rest. + +5. And now it was that the king of Babylon sent Nebuzaradan, the +general of his army, to Jerusalem, to pillage the temple, who had +it also in command to burn it and the royal palace, and to lay +the city even with the ground, and to transplant the people into +Babylon. Accordingly, he came to Jerusalem in the eleventh year +of king Zedekiah, and pillaged the temple, and carried out the +vessels of God, both gold and silver, and particularly that large +laver which Solomon dedicated, as also the pillars of brass, and +their chapiters, with the golden tables and the candlesticks; and +when he had carried these off, he set fire to the temple in the +fifth month, the first day of the month, in the eleventh year of +the reign of Zedekiah, and in the eighteenth year of +Nebuchadnezzar: he also burnt the palace, and overthrew the city. +Now the temple was burnt four hundred and seventy years, six +months, and ten days after it was built. It was then one thousand +and sixty-two years, six months, and ten days from the departure +out of Egypt; and from the deluge to the destruction of the +temple, the whole interval was one thousand nine hundred and +fifty-seven years, six months, and ten days; but from the +generation of Adam, until this befell the temple, there were +three thousand five hundred and thirteen years, six months, and +ten days; so great was the number of years hereto belonging. And +what actions were done during these years we have particularly +related. But the general of the Babylonian king now overthrew the +city to the very foundations, and removed all the people, and +took for prisoners the high priest Seraiah, and Zephaniah the +priest that was next to him, and the rulers that guarded the +temple, who were three in number, and the eunuch who was over the +armed men, and seven friends of Zedekiah, and his scribe, and +sixty other rulers; all which, together with the vessels which +they had pillaged, he carried to the king of Babylon to Riblah, a +city of Syria. So the king commanded the heads of the high priest +and of the rulers to be cut off there; but he himself led all the +captives and Zedekiah to Babylon. He also led Josedek the high +priest away bound. He was the son of Seraiah the high priest, +whom the king of Babylon had slain in Riblah, a city of Syria, as +we just now related. + +6. And now, because we have enumerated the succession of the +kings, and who they were, and how long they reigned, I think it +necessary to set down the names of the high priests, and who they +were that succeeded one another in the high priesthood under the +Kings. The first high priest then at the temple which Solomon +built was Zadok; after him his son Achimas received that dignity; +after Achimas was Azarias; his son was Joram, and Joram's son was +Isus; after him was Axioramus; his son was Phidens, and Phideas's +son was Sudeas, and Sudeas's son was Juelus, and Juelus's son was +Jotham, and Jotham's son was Urias, and Urias's son was Nerias, +and Nerias's son was Odeas, and his son was Sallumus, and +Sallumus's son was Elcias, and his son [was Azarias, and his son] +was Sareas, (14) and his son was Josedec, who was carried captive +to Babylon. All these received the high priesthood by succession, +the sons from their father. + +7. When the king was come to Babylon, he kept Zedekiah in prison +until he died, and buried him magnificently, and dedicated the +vessels he had pillaged out of the temple of Jerusalem to his own +gods, and planted the people in the country of Babylon, but freed +the high priest from his bonds. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How Nebuzaradan Set Gedaliah Over The Jews That Were Left In +Judea Which Gedaliah Was A Little Afterward Slain By Ishmael; And +How Johanan After Ishmael Was Driven Away Went Down Into Egypt +With The People Which People Nebuchadnezzar When He Made An +Expedition Against The Egyptians Took Captive And Brought Them +Away To Babylon. + + +1. Now the general of the army, Nebuzaradan, when he had carried +the people of the Jews into captivity, left the poor, and those +that had deserted, in the country, and made one, whose name was +Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, a person of a noble family, their +governor; which Gedaliah was of a gentle and righteous +disposition. He also commanded them that they should cultivate +the ground, and pay an appointed tribute to the king. He also +took Jeremiah the prophet out of prison, and would have persuaded +him to go along with him to Babylon, for that he had been +enjoined by the king to supply him with whatsoever he wanted; and +if he did not like to do so, he desired him to inform him where +he resolved to dwell, that he might signify the same to the king. +But the prophet had no mind to follow him, nor to dwell any where +else, but would gladly live in the ruins of his country, and in +the miserable remains of it. When the general understood what his +purpose was, he enjoined Gedaliah, whom he left behind, to take +all possible care of him, and to supply him with whatsoever he +wanted. So when he had given him rich presents, he dismissed him. +Accordingly, Jeremiah abode in a city of that country, which was +called Mispah; and desired of Nebuzaradan that he would set at +liberty his disciple Baruch, the son of Neriah, one of a very +eminent family, and exceeding skillful in the language of his +country. + +2. When Nebuzaradan had done thus, he made haste to Babylon. But +as to those that fled away during the siege of Jerusalem, and had +been scattered over the country, when they heard that the +Babylonians were gone away, and had left a remnant in the land of +Jerusalem, and those such as were to cultivate the same, they +came together from all parts to Gedaliah to Mispah. Now the +rulers that were over them were Johanan, the son of Kareah, and +Jezaniah, and Seraiah, and others beside them. Now there was of +the royal family one Ishmael, a wicked man, and very crafty, who, +during the siege of Jerusalem, fled to Baalis, the king of the +Ammonites, and abode with him during that time; and Gedaliah +persuaded them, now they were there, to stay with him, and to +have no fear of the Babylonians, for that if they would cultivate +the country, they should suffer no harm. This he assured them of +by oath; and said that they should have him for their patron, and +that if any disturbance should arise, they should find him ready +to defend them. He also advised them to dwell in any city, as +every one of them pleased; and that they would send men along +with his own servants, and rebuild their houses upon the old +foundations, and dwell there; and he admonished them beforehand, +that they should make preparation, while the season lasted, of +corn, and wine, and oil, that they might have whereon to feed +during the winter. When he had thus discoursed to them, he +dismissed them, that every one might dwell in what place of the +country he pleased. + +3. Now when this report was spread abroad as far as the nations +that bordered on Judea, that Gedaliah kindly entertained those +that came to him, after they had fled away, upon this [only] +condition, that they should pay tribute to the king of Babylon, +they also came readily to Gedaliah, and inhabited the country. +And when Johanan, and the rulers that were with him, observed the +country, and the humanity of Gedaliah, they were exceedingly in +love with him, and told him that Baalis, the king of the +Ammonites, had sent Ishmael to kill him by treachery, and +secretly, that he might have the dominion over the Israelites, as +being of the royal family; and they said that he might deliver +himself from this treacherous design, if he would give them leave +to slay Ishmael, and nobody should know it, for they told him +they were afraid that, when he was killed by the other, the +entire ruin of the remaining strength of the Israelites would +ensue. But he professed that he did not believe what they said, +when they told him of such a treacherous design, in a man that +had been well treated by him; because it was not probable that +one who, under such a want of all things, had failed of nothing +that was necessary for him, should be found so wicked and +ungrateful towards his benefactor, that when it would be an +instance of wickedness in him not to save him, had he been +treacherously assaulted by others, to endeavor, and that +earnestly, to kill him with his own hands: that, however, if he +ought to suppose this information to be true, it was better for +himself to be slain by the other, than to destroy a man who fled +to him for refuge, and intrusted his own safety to him, and +committed himself to his disposal. + +4. So Johanan, and the rulers that were with him, not being able +to persuade Gedaliah, went away. But after the interval of thirty +days was over, Ishmael came again to Gedaliah, to the city +Mispah, and ten men with him; and when he had feasted Ishmael, +and those that were with him, in a splendid manner at his table, +and had given them presents, he became disordered in drink, while +he endeavored to be very merry with them; and when Ishmael saw +him in that case, and that he was drowned in his cups to the +degree of insensibility, and fallen asleep, he rose up on a +sudden, with his ten friends, and slew Gedaliah, and those that +were with him at the feast; and when he had slain them, he went +out by night, and slew all the Jews that were in the city, and +those soldiers also which were left therein by the Babylonians. +But the next day fourscore men came out of the country with +presents to Gedaliah, none of them knowing what had befallen him; +when Ishmael saw them, he invited them in to Gedaliah, and when +they were come in, he shut up the court, and slew them, and cast +their dead bodies down into a certain deep pit, that they might +not be seen; but of these fourscore men Ishmael spared those that +entreated him not to kill them, till they had delivered up to him +what riches they had concealed in the fields, consisting of their +furniture, and garments, and corn: but he took captive the people +that were in Mispah, with their wives and children; among whom +were the daughters of king Zedekiah, whom Nebuzaradan, the +general of the army of Babylon, had left with Gedaliah. And when +he had done this, he came to the king of the Ammonites. + +5. But when Johanan and the rulers with him heard of what was +done at Mispah by Ishmael, and of the death of Gedaliah, they had +indignation at it, and every one of them took his own armed men, +and came suddenly to fight with Ishmael, and overtook him at the +fountain in Hebron. And when those that were carried away +captives by Ishmael saw Johanan and the rulers, they were very +glad, and looked upon them as coming to their assistance; so they +left him that had carried them captives, and came over to +Johanan: then Ishmael, with eight men, fled to the king of the +Ammonites; but Johanan took those whom he had rescued out of the +hands of Ishmael, and the eunuchs, and their wives and children, +and came to a certain place called Mandra, and there they abode +that day, for they had determined to remove from thence and go +into Egypt, out of fear, lest the Babylonians should slay them, +in case they continued in the country, and that out of anger at +the slaughter of Gedaliah, who had been by them set over it for +governor. + +6. Now while they were under this deliberation, Johanan, the son +of Kareah, and the rulers that were with him, came to Jeremiah +the prophet, and desired that he would pray to God, that because +they were at an utter loss about what they ought to do, he would +discover it to them, and they sware that they would do whatsoever +Jeremiah should say to them. And when the prophet said he would +be their intercessor with God, it came to pass, that after ten +days God appeared to him, and said that he should inform Johanan, +and the other rulers, and all the people, that he would be with +them while they continued in that country, and take care of them, +and keep them from being hurt by the Babylonians, of whom they +were afraid; but that he would desert them if they went into +Egypt, and, out of this wrath against them, would inflict the +same punishments upon them which they knew their brethren had +already endured. So when the prophet had informed Johanan and the +people that God had foretold these things, he was not believed, +when he said that God commanded them to continue in the country; +but they imagined that he said so to gratify Baruch, his own +disciple, and belied God, and that he persuaded them to stay +there, that they might be destroyed by the Babylonians. +Accordingly, both the people and Johanan disobeyed the counsel of +God, which he gave them by the prophet, and removed into Egypt, +and carried Jeremiah and Barnch along with him. + +7. And when they were there, God signified to the prophet that +the king of Babylon was about making an expedition against the +Egyptians, and commanded him to foretell to the people that Egypt +should be taken, and the king of Babylon should slay some of them +and, should take others captive, and bring them to Babylon; which +things came to pass accordingly; for on the fifth year after the +destruction of Jerusalem, which was the twenty-third of the reign +of Nebuchadnezzar, he made an expedition against Celesyria; and +when he had possessed himself of it, he made war against the +Ammonites and Moabites; and when he had brought all these nations +under subjection, he fell upon Egypt, in order to overthrow it; +and he slew the king that then reigned (15) and set up another; +and he took those Jews that were there captives, and led them +away to Babylon. And such was the end of the nation of the +Hebrews, as it hath been delivered down to us, it having twice +gone beyond Euphrates; for the people of the ten tribes were +carried out of Samaria by the Assyrians, in the days of king +Hoshea; after which the people of the two tribes that remained +after Jerusalem was taken [were carried away] by Nebuchadnezzar, +the king of Babylon and Chaldea. Now as to Shalmanezer, he +removed the Israelites out of their country, and placed therein +the nation of the Cutheans, who had formerly belonged to the +inner parts of Persia and Media, but were then called Samaritans, +by taking the name of the country to which they were removed; but +the king of Babylon, who brought out the two tribes, (16) placed +no other nation in their country, by which means all Judea and +Jerusalem, and the temple, continued to be a desert for seventy +years; but the entire interval of time which passed from the +captivity of the Israelites, to the carrying away of the two +tribes, proved to be a hundred and thirty years, six months, and +ten days. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +Concerning Daniel And What Befell Him At Babylon. + + +1. But now Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took some of the most +noble of the Jews that were children, and the kinsmen of Zedekiah +their king, such as were remarkable for the beauty of their +bodies, and the comeliness of their countenances, and delivered +them into the hands of tutors, and to the improvement to be made +by them. He also made some of them to be eunuchs; which course he +took also with those of other nations whom he had taken in the +flower of their age, and afforded them their diet from his own +table, and had them instructed in the institutes of the country, +and taught the learning of the Chaldeans; and they had now +exercised themselves sufficiently in that wisdom which he had +ordered they should apply themselves to. Now among these there +were four of the family of Zedekiah, of most excellent +dispositions, one of whom was called Daniel, another was called +Ananias, another Misael, and the fourth Azarias; and the king of +Babylon changed their names, and commanded that they should make +use of other names. Daniel he called Baltasar; Ananias, Shadrach; +Misael, Meshach; and Azarias, Abednego. These the king had in +esteem, and continued to love, because of the very excellent +temper they were of, and because of their application to +learning, and the profess they had made in wisdom. + +2. Now Daniel and his kinsmen had resolved to use a severe diet, +and to abstain from those kinds of food which came from the +king's table, and entirely to forbear to eat of all living +creatures. So he came to Ashpenaz, who was that eunuch to whom +the care of them was committed, (17) and desired him to take and +spend what was brought for them from the king, but to give them +pulse and dates for their food, and any thing else, besides the +flesh of living creatures, that he pleased, for that their +inclinations were to that sort of food, and that they despised +the other. He replied, that he was ready to serve them in what +they desired, but he suspected that they would be discovered by +the king, from their meagre bodies, and the alteration of their +countenances, because it could not be avoided but their bodies +and colors must be changed with their diet, especially while they +would be clearly discovered by the finer appearance of the other +children, who would fare better, and thus they should bring him +into danger, and occasion him to be punished; yet did they +persuade Arioch, who was thus fearful, to give them what food +they desired for ten days, by way of trial; and in case the habit +of their bodies were not altered, to go on in the same way, as +expecting that they should not be hurt thereby afterwards; but if +he saw them look meagre, and worse than the rest, he should +reduce them to their former diet. Now when it appeared that they +were so far from becoming worse by the use of this food, that +they grew plumper and fuller in body than the rest, insomuch that +he thought those who fed on what came from the king's table +seemed less plump and full, while those that were with Daniel +looked as if they had lived in plenty, and in all sorts of +luxury. Arioch, from that time, securely took himself what the +king sent every day from his supper, according to custom, to the +children, but gave them the forementioned diet, while they had +their souls in some measure more pure, and less burdened, and so +fitter for learning, and had their bodies in better tune for hard +labor; for they neither had the former oppressed and heavy with +variety of meats, nor were the other effeminate on the same +account; so they readily understood all the learning that was +among the Hebrews, and among the Chaldeans, as especially did +Daniel, who being already sufficiently skillful in wisdom, was +very busy about the interpretation of dreams; and God manifested +himself to him. + +3. Now two years after the destruction of Egypt, king +Nebuchadnezzar saw a wonderful dream, the accomplishment of which +God showed him in his sleep; but when he arose out of his bed, he +forgot the accomplishment. So he sent for the Chaldeans and +magicians, and the prophets, and told them that he had seen a +dream, and informed them that he had forgotten the accomplishment +of what he had seen, and he enjoined them to tell him both what +the dream was, and what was its signification; and they said that +this was a thing impossible to be discovered by men; but they +promised him, that if he would explain to them what dream he had +seen, they would tell him its signification. Hereupon he +threatened to put them to death, unless they told him his dream; +and he gave command to have them all put to death, since they +confessed they could not do what they were commanded to do. Now +when Daniel heard that the king had given a command, that all the +wise men should be put to death, and that among them himself and +his three kinsmen were in danger, he went to Arioch, who was +captain of the king's guards, and desired to know of him what was +the reason why the king had given command that all the wise men, +and Chaldeans, and magicians should be slain. So when he had +learned that the king had had a dream, and had forgotten it, and +that when they were enjoined to inform the king of it, they had +said they could not do it, and had thereby provoked him to anger, +he desired of Arioch that he would go in to the king, and desire +respite for the magicians for one night, and to put off their +slaughter so long, for that he hoped within that time to obtain, +by prayer to God, the knowledge of the dream. Accordingly, Arioch +informed the king of what Daniel desired. So the king bid them +delay the slaughter of the magicians till he knew what Daniel's +promise would come to; but the young man retired to his own +house, with his kinsmen, and besought God that whole night to +discover the dream, and thereby deliver the magicians and +Chaldeans, with whom they were themselves to perish, from the +king's anger, by enabling him to declare his vision, and to make +manifest what the king had seen the night before in his sleep, +but had forgotten it. Accordingly, God, out of pity to those that +were in danger, and out of regard to the wisdom of Daniel, made +known to him the dream and its interpretation, that so the king +might understand by him its signification also. When Daniel had +obtained this knowledge from God, he arose very joyful, and told +it his brethren, and made them glad, and to hope well that they +should now preserve their lives, of which they despaired before, +and had their minds full of nothing but the thoughts of dying. So +when he had with them returned thanks to God, who had +commiserated their youth, when it was day he came to Arioch, and +desired him to bring him to the king, because he would discover +to him that dream which he had seen the night before. + +4. When Daniel was come in to the king, he excused himself first, +that he did not pretend to be wiser than the other Chaldeans and +magicians, when, upon their entire inability to discover his +dream, he was undertaking to inform him of it; for this was not +by his own skill, or on account of his having better cultivated +his understanding than the rest; but he said, "God hath had pity +upon us, when we were in danger of death, and when I prayed for +the life of myself, and of those of my own nation, hath made +manifest to me both the dream, and the interpretation thereof; +for I was not less concerned for thy glory than for the sorrow +that we were by thee condemned to die, while thou didst so +unjustly command men, both good and excellent in themselves, to +be put to death, when thou enjoinedst them to do what was +entirely above the reach of human wisdom, and requiredst of them +what was only the work of God. Wherefore, as thou in thy sleep +wast solicitous concerning those that should succeed thee in the +government of the whole world, God was desirous to show thee all +those that should reign after thee, and to that end exhibited to +thee the following dream: Thou seemedst to see a great image +standing before thee, the head of which proved to be of gold, the +shoulders and arms of silver, and the belly and the thighs of +brass, but the legs and the feet of iron; after which thou sawest +a stone broken off from a mountain, which fell upon the image, +and threw it down, and brake it to pieces, and did not permit any +part of it to remain whole; but the gold, the silver, the brass, +and the iron, became smaller than meal, which, upon the blast of +a violent wind, was by force carried away, and scattered abroad, +but the stone did increase to such a degree, that the whole earth +beneath it seemed to be filled therewith. This is the dream which +thou sawest, and its interpretation is as follows: The head of +gold denotes thee, and the kings of Babylon that have been before +thee; but the two hands and arms signify this, that your +government shall be dissolved by two kings; but another king that +shall come from the west, armed with brass, shall destroy that +government; and another government, that shall be like unto iron, +shall put an end to the power of the former, and shall have +dominion over all the earth, on account of the nature of iron, +which is stronger than that of gold, of silver, and of brass." +Daniel did also declare the meaning of the stone to the king (18) +but I do not think proper to relate it, since I have only +undertaken to describe things past or things present, but not +things that are future; yet if any one be so very desirous of +knowing truth, as not to wave such points of curiosity, and +cannot curb his inclination for understanding the uncertainties +of futurity, and whether they will happen or not, let him be +diligent in reading the book of Daniel, which he will find among +the sacred writings. + +5. When Nebuchadnezzar heard this, and recollected his dream, he +was astonished at the nature of Daniel, and fell upon his knee; +and saluted Daniel in the manner that men worship God, and gave +command that he should be sacrificed to as a god. And this was +not all, for he also imposed the name, of his own god upon him, +[Baltasar,] and made him and his kinsmen rulers of his whole +kingdom; which kinsmen of his happened to fall into great danger +by the envy and malice [of their enemies]; for they offended the +king upon the occasion following: he made an image of gold, whose +height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits, and set it +in the great plain of Babylon; and when he was going to dedicate +the image, he invited the principal men out of all the earth that +was under his dominions, and commanded them, in the first place, +that when they should hear the sound of the trumpet, they should +then fall down and worship the image; and he threatened, that +those who did not so, should be cast into a fiery furnace. When +therefore all the rest, upon the hearing of the sound of the +trumpet, worshipped the image, they relate that Daniel's kinsmen +did not do it, because they would not transgress the laws of +their country. So these men were convicted, and cast immediately +into the fire, but were saved by Divine Providence, and after a +surprising manner escaped death, for the fire did not touch them; +and I suppose that it touched them not, as if it reasoned with +itself, that they were cast into it without any fault of theirs, +and that therefore it was too weak to burn the young men when +they were in it. This was done by the power of God, who made +their bodies so far superior to the fire, that it could not +consume them. This it was which recommended them to the king as +righteous men, and men beloved of God, on which account they +continued in great esteem with him. + +6. A little after this the king saw in his sleep again another +vision; how he should fall from his dominion, and feed among the +wild beasts, and that when he halt lived in this manner in the +desert for seven years, (19) he should recover his dominion +again. When he had seen this dream, he called the magicians +together again, and inquired of them about it, and desired them +to tell him what it signified; but when none of them could find +out the meaning of the dream, nor discover it to the king, Daniel +was the only person that explained it; and as he foretold, so it +came to pass; for after he had continued in the wilderness the +forementioned interval of time, while no one durst attempt to +seize his kingdom during those seven years, he prayed to God that +he might recover his kingdom, and he returned to it. But let no +one blame me for writing down every thing of this nature, as I +find it in our ancient books; for as to that matter, I have +plainly assured those that think me defective in any such point, +or complain of my management, and have told them in the beginning +of this history, that I intended to do no more than translate the +Hebrew books into the Greek language, and promised them to +explain those facts, without adding any thing to them of my own, +or taking any thing away from there. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +Concerning Nebuchadnezzar And His Successors And How Their +Government Was Dissolved By The Persians; And What Things Befell +DanieL In Media; And What PropHecies He Delivered There. + + +1. Now when king Nebuchadnezzar had reigned forty-three years, +(20) he ended his life. He was an active man, and more fortunate +than the kings that were before him. Now Berosus makes mention of +his actions in the third book of his Chaldaic History, where he +says thus: "When his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] heard +that the governor whom he had set over Egypt, and the places +about Coelesyria and Phoenicia, had revolted from him, while he +was not himself able any longer to undergo the hardships [of +war], he committed to his son Nebuchadnezzar, who was still but a +youth, some parts of his army, and sent them against him. So when +Nebuchadnezzar had given battle, and fought with the rebel, he +beat him, and reduced the country from under his subjection, and +made it a branch of his own kingdom; but about that time it +happened that his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] fell ill, +and ended his life in the city Babylon, when he had reigned +twenty-one years; (21) and when he was made sensible, as he was +in a little time, that his father Nebuchodonosor [Nabopollassar] +was dead, and having settled the affairs of Egypt, and the other +countries, as also those that concerned the captive Jews, and +Phoenicians, and Syrians, and those of the Egyptian nations; and +having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon to certain of +his friends, together with the gross of his army, and the rest of +their ammunition and provisions, he went himself hastily, +accompanied with a few others, over the desert, and came to +Babylon. So he took upon him the management of public affairs, +and of the kingdom which had been kept for him by one that was +the principal of the Chaldeans, and he received the entire +dominions of his father, and appointed, that when the captives +came, they should be placed as colonies, in the most proper +places of Babylonia; but then he adorned the temple of Belus, and +the rest of the temples, in a magnificent manner, with the spoils +he had taken in the war. He also added another city to that which +was there of old, and rebuilt it, that such as would besiege it +hereafter might no more turn the course of the river, and thereby +attack the city itself. He therefore built three walls round +about the inner city, and three others about that which was the +outer, and this he did with burnt brick. And after he had, after +a becoming manner, walled the city, and adorned its gates +gloriously, he built another palace before his father's palace, +but so that they joined to it; to describe whose vast height and +immense riches it would perhaps be too much for me to attempt; +yet as large and lofty as they were, they were completed in +fifteen days. (22) He also erected elevated places for walking, +of stone, and made it resemble mountains, and built it so that it +might be planted with all sorts of trees. He also erected what +was called a pensile paradise, because his wife was desirous to +have things like her own country, she having been bred up in the +palaces of Media." Megasthenes also, in his fourth book of his +Accounts of India, makes mention of these things, and thereby +endeavors to show that this king [Nebuchadnezzar] exceeded +Hercules in fortitude, and in the greatness of his actions; for +he saith that he conquered a great part of Libya and Iberia. +Diocles also, in the second book of his Accounts of Persia, +mentions this king; as does Philostrates in his Accounts both of +India and of Phoenicia, say, that this king besieged Tyre +thirteen years, while at the same time Ethbaal reigned at Tyre. +These are all the histories that I have met with concerning this +king. + +2. But now, after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach his +son succeeded in the kingdom, who immediately set Jeconiah at +liberty, and esteemed him among his most intimate friends. He +also gave him many presents, and made him honorable above the +rest of the kings that were in Babylon; for his father had not +kept his faith with Jeconiah, when he voluntarily delivered up +himself to him, with his wives and children, and his whole +kindred, for the sake of his country, that it might not be taken +by siege, and utterly destroyed, as we said before. When +Evil-Mcrodach was dead, after a reign of eighteen years, +Niglissar his son took the government, and retained it forty +years, and then ended his life; and after him the succession in +the kingdom came to his son Labosordacus, who continued in it in +all but nine months; and when he was dead, it came to Baltasar, +(23) who by the Babylonians was called Naboandelus; against him +did Cyrus, the king of Persia, and Darius, the king of Media, +make war; and when he was besieged in Babylon, there happened a +wonderful and prodigious vision. He was sat down at supper in a +large room, and there were a great many vessels of silver, such +as were made for royal entertainments, and he had with him his +concubines and his friends; whereupon he came to a resolution, +and commanded that those vessels of God which Nebuchadnezzar had +plundered out of Jerusalem, and had not made use of, but had put +them into his own temple, should be brought out of that temple. +He also grew so haughty as to proceed to use them in the midst of +his cups, drinking out of them, and blaspheming against God. In +the mean time, he saw a hand proceed out of the wall, and writing +upon the wall certain syllables; at which sight, being disturbed, +he called the magicians and Chaldeans together, and all that sort +of men that are among these barbarians, and were able to +interpret signs and dreams, that they might explain the writing +to him. But when the magicians said they could discover nothing, +nor did understand it, the king was in great disorder of mind, +and under great trouble at this surprising accident; so he caused +it to be proclaimed through all the country, and promised, that +to him who could explain the writing, and give the signification +couched therein, he would give him a golden chain for his neck, +and leave to wear a purple garment, as did the kings of Chaldea, +and would bestow on him the third part of his own dominions. When +this proclamation was made, the magicians ran together more +earnestly, and were very ambitious to find out the importance of +the writing, but still hesitated about it as much as before. Now +when the king's grandmother saw him cast down at this accident, +(24) she began to encourage him, and to say, that there was a +certain captive who came from Judea, a Jew by birth, but brought +away thence by Nebuchadnezzar when he had destroyed Jerusalem, +whose name was Daniel, a wise man, and one of great sagacity in +finding out what was impossible for others to discover, and what +was known to God alone, who brought to light and answered such +questions to Nebuchadnezzar as no one else was able to answer +when they were consulted. She therefore desired that he would +send for him, and inquire of him concerning the writing, and to +condemn the unskilfulness of those that could not find their +meaning, and this, although what God signified thereby should be +of a melancholy nature. + +3. When Baltasar heard this, he called for Daniel; and when he +had discoursed to him what he had learned concerning him and his +wisdom, and how a Divine Spirit was with him, and that he alone +was fully capable of finding out what others would never have +thought of, he desired him to declare to him what this writing +meant; that if he did so, he would give him leave to wear purple, +and to put a chain of gold about his neck, and would bestow on +him the third part of his dominion, as an honorary reward for his +wisdom, that thereby he might become illustrious to those who saw +him, and who inquired upon what occasion he obtained such honors. +But Daniel desired that he would keep his gifts to himself; for +what is the effect of wisdom and of Divine revelation admits of +no gifts, and bestows its advantages on petitioners freely; but +that still he would explain the writing to him; which denoted +that he should soon die, and this because he had not learnt to +honor God, and not to admit things above human nature, by what +punishments his progenitor had undergone for the injuries he had +offered to God; and because he had quite forgotten how +Nebuchadnezzar was removed to feed among wild beasts for his +impieties, and did not recover his former life among men and his +kingdom, but upon God's mercy to him, after many supplications +and prayers; who did thereupon praise God all the days of his +life, as one of almighty power, and who takes care of mankind. +[He also put him in mind] how he had greatly blasphemed against +God, and had made use of his vessels amongst his concubines; that +therefore God saw this, and was angry with him, and declared by +this writing beforehand what a sad conclusion of his life he +should come to. And he explained the writing thus:" MANEH. This, +if it be expounded in the Greek language, may signify a Number, +because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life, and for +thy government, and that there remains but a small portion. +THEKEL This signifies a weight, and means that God hath weighed +thy kingdom in a balance, and finds it going down +already.--PHARES. This also, in the Greek tongue, denotes a +fragment,. God will therefore break thy kingdom in pieces, and +divide it among the Medes and Persians." + +4. When Daniel had told the king that the writing upon the wall +signified these events, Baltasar was in great sorrow and +affliction, as was to be expected, when the interpretation was so +heavy upon him. However, he did not refuse what he had promised +Daniel, although he were become a foreteller of misfortunes to +him, but bestowed it all upon him; as reasoning thus, that what +he was to reward was peculiar to himself, and to fate, and did +not belong to the prophet, but that it was the part of a good and +a just man to give what he had promised, although the events were +of a melancholy nature. Accordingly, the king determined so to +do. Now, after a little while, both himself and the city were +taken by Cyrus, the king of Persia, who fought against him; for +it was Baltasar, under whom Babylon was taken, when he had +reigned seventeen years. And this is the end of the posterity of +king Nebuchadnezzar, as history informs us; but when Babylon was +taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an +end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years +old. He was the son of Astyages, and had another name among the +Greeks. Moreover, he took Daniel the prophet, and carried him +with him into Media, and honored him very greatly, and kept him +with him; for he was one of the three presidents whom he set over +his three hundred and sixty provinces, for into so many did +Darius part them. + +5. However, while Daniel was in so great dignity, and in so great +favor with Darius, and was alone intrusted with every thing by +him, a having somewhat divine in him, he was envied by the rest; +for those that see others in greater honor than themselves with +kings envy them; and when those that were grieved at the great +favor Daniel was in with Darius sought for an occasion against +him, he afforded them no occasion at all, for he was above all +the temptations of money, and despised bribery, and esteemed it a +very base thing to take any thing by way of reward, even when it +might be justly given him; he afforded those that envied him not +the least handle for an accusation. So when they could find +nothing for which they might calumniate him to the king, nothing +that was shameful or reproachful, and thereby deprive him of the +honor he was in with him, they sought for some other method +whereby they might destroy him. When therefore they saw that +Daniel prayed to God three times a day, they thought they had +gotten an occasion by which they might ruin him; so they came to +Darius and told him that the princes and governors had thought +proper to allow the multitude a relaxation for thirty days, that +no one might offer a petition or prayer either to himself or to +the gods, but that he who shall transgress this decree shall be +east into the den of lions, and there perish." + +6. Whereupon the king, not being acquainted with their wicked +design, nor suspecting that it was a contrivance of theirs +against Daniel, said he was pleased with this decree of theirs, +and he promised to confirm what they desired; he also published +an edict to promulgate to the people that decree which the +princes had made. Accordingly, all the rest took care not to +transgress those injunctions, and rested in quiet; but Daniel had +no regard to them, but, as he was wont, he stood and prayed to +God in the sight of them all; but the princes having met with the +occasion they so earnestly sought to find against Daniel, came +presently to the king, and accused him, that Daniel was the only +person that transgressed the decree, while not one of the rest +durst pray to their gods. This discovery they made, not because +of his impiety, but because they had watched him, and observed +him out of envy; for supposing that Darius did thus out of a +greater kindness to him than they expected, and that he was ready +to grant him pardon for this contempt of his injunctions, and +envying this very pardon to Daniel, they did not become more +honorable to him, but desired he might be cast into the den of +lions according to the law. So Darius, hoping that God would +deliver him, and that he would undergo nothing that was terrible +by the wild beasts, bid him bear this accident cheerfully. And +when he was cast into the den, he put his seal to the stone that +lay upon the mouth of the den, and went his way, but he passed +all the night without food and without sleep, being in great +distress for Daniel; but when it was day, he got up, and came to +the den, and found the seal entire, which he had left the stone +sealed withal; he also opened the seal, and cried out, and +called to Daniel, and asked him if he were alive. And as soon as +he heard the king's voice, and said that he had suffered no harm, +the king gave order that he should be drawn up out of the den. +Now when his enemies saw that Daniel had suffered nothing which +was terrible, they would not own that he was preserved by God, +and by his providence; but they said that the lions had been +filled full with food, and on that account it was, as they +supposed, that the lions would not touch Daniel, nor come to him; +and this they alleged to the king. But the king, out of an +abhorrence of their wickedness, gave order that they should throw +in a great deal of flesh to the lions; and when they had filled +themselves, he gave further order that Daniel's enemies should be +cast into the den, that he might learn whether the lions, now +they were full, would touch them or not. And it appeared plain to +Darius, after the princes had been cast to the wild beasts, that +it was God who preserved Daniel (25) for the lions spared none of +them, but tore them all to pieces, as if they had been very +hungry, and wanted food. I suppose therefore it was not their +hunger, which had been a little before satisfied with abundance +of flesh, but the wickedness of these men, that provoked them [to +destroy the princes]; for if it so please God, that wickedness +might, by even those irrational creatures, be esteemed a plain +foundation for their punishment. + +7. When therefore those that had intended thus to destroy Daniel +by treachery were themselves destroyed, king Darius sent +[letters] over all the country, and praised that God whom Daniel +worshipped, and said that he was the only true God, and had all +power. He had also Daniel in very great esteem, and made him the +principal of his friends. Now when Daniel was become so +illustrious and famous, on account of the opinion men had that he +was beloved of God, he built a tower at Ecbatana, in Media: it +was a most elegant building, and wonderfully made, and it is +still remaining, and preserved to this day; and to such as see +it, it appears to have been lately built, and to have been no +older than that very day when any one looks upon it, it is so +fresh (26) flourishing, and beautiful, and no way grown old in so +long time; for buildings suffer the same as men do, they grow old +as well as they, and by numbers of years their strength is +dissolved, and their beauty withered. Now they bury the kings of +Media, of Persia, and Parthia in this tower to this day, and he +who was entrusted with the care of it was a Jewish priest; which +thing is also observed to this day. But it is fit to give an +account of what this man did, which is most admirable to hear, +for he was so happy as to have strange revelations made to him, +and those as to one of the greatest of the prophets, insomuch, +that while he was alive he had the esteem and applause both of +the kings and of the multitude; and now he is dead, he retains a +remembrance that will never fail, for the several books that he +wrote and left behind him are still read by us till this time; +and from them we believe that Daniel conversed with God; for he +did not only prophesy of future events, as did the other +prophets, but he also determined the time of their +accomplishment. And while prophets used to foretell misfortunes, +and on that account were disagreeable both to the kings and to +the multitude, Daniel was to them a prophet of good things, and +this to such a degree, that by the agreeable nature of his +predictions, he procured the goodwill of all men; and by the +accomplishment of them, he procured the belief of their truth, +and the opinion of [a sort of] divinity for himself, among the +multitude. He also wrote and left behind him what made manifest +the accuracy and undeniable veracity of his predictions; for he +saith, that when he was in Susa, the metropolis of Persia, and +went out into the field with his companions, there was, on the +sudden, a motion and concussion of the earth, and that he was +left alone by himself, his friends fleeing away from him, and +that he was disturbed, and fell on his face, and on his two +hands, and that a certain person touched him, and, at the same +time, bid him rise, and see what would befall his countrymen +after many generations. He also related, that when he stood up, +he was shown a great rain, with many horns growing out of his +head, and that the last was higher than the rest: that after this +he looked to the west, and saw a he-goat carried through the air +from that quarter; that he rushed upon the ram with violence, and +smote him twice with his horns, and overthrew him to the ground, +and trampled upon him: that afterward he saw a very great horn +growing out of the head of the he-goat, and that when it was +broken off, four horns grew up that were exposed to each of the +four winds, and he wrote that out of them arose another lesser +horn, which, as he said, waxed great; and that God showed to him +that it should fight against his nation, and take their city by +force, and bring the temple worship to confusion, and forbid the +sacrifices to be offered for one thousand two hundred and +ninety-six days. Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the +Plain of Susa; and he hath informed us that God interpreted the +appearance of this vision after the following manner: He said +that the ram signified the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians, +and the horns those kings that were to reign in them; and that +the last horn signified the last king, and that he should exceed +all the kings in riches and glory: that the he-goat signified +that one should come and reign from the Greeks, who should twice +fight with the Persian, and overcome him in battle, and should +receive his entire dominion: that by the great horn which sprang +out of the forehead of the he-goat was meant the first king; and +that the springing up of four horns upon its falling off, and the +conversion of every one of them to the four quarters of the +earth, signified the successors that should arise after the death +of the first king, and the partition of the kingdom among them, +and that they should be neither his children, nor of his kindred, +that should reign over the habitable earth for many years; and +that from among them there should arise a certain king that +should overcome our nation and their laws, and should take away +their political government, and should spoil the temple, and +forbid the sacrifices to be offered for three years' time. And +indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things +under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel's vision, and what +he wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same +manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and +that our country should be made desolate by them. All these +things did this man leave in writing, as God had showed them to +him, insomuch that such as read his prophecies, and see how they +have been fulfilled, would wonder at the honor wherewith God +honored Daniel; and may thence discover how the Epicureans are in +an error, who cast Providence out of human life, and do not +believe that God takes care of the affairs of the world, nor that +the universe is governed and continued in being by that blessed +and immortal nature, but say that the world is carried along of +its own accord, without a ruler and a curator; which, were it +destitute of a guide to conduct it, as they imagine, it would be +like ships without pilots, which we see drowned by the winds, or +like chariots without drivers, which are overturned; so would the +world be dashed to pieces by its being carried without a +Providence, and so perish, and come to nought. So that, by the +forementioned predictions of Daniel, those men seem to me very +much to err from the truth, who determine that God exercises no +providence over human affairs; for if that were the case, that +the world went on by mechanical necessity, we should not see that +all things would come to pass according to his prophecy. Now as +to myself, I have so described these matters as I have found them +and read them; but if any one is inclined to another opinion +about them, let him enjoy his different sentiments without any +blame from me. + + + + +BOOK XI. + +Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Fifty-Three Years And +Five Months. + +From The First Of Cyrus To The Death Of Alexander The Great. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Cyrus, King Of The Persians, Delivered The Jews Out Of +Babylon And Suffered Them To Return To Their Own Country And To +Build Their Temple, For Which Work He Gave Them Money. + + +1. In the first year of the reign of Cyrus (1) which was the +seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their +own land into Babylon, God commiserated the captivity and +calamity of these poor people, according as he had foretold to +them by Jeremiah the prophet, before the destruction of the city, +that after they had served Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity, and +after they had undergone that servitude seventy years, he would +restore them again to the land of their fathers, and they should +build their temple, and enjoy their ancient prosperity. And these +things God did afford them; for he stirred up the mind of Cyrus, +and made him write this throughout all Asia: "Thus saith Cyrus +the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the +habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation +of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the +prophets, and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem, in +the country of Judea." + +2. This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah +left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God +had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: "My will is, that +Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great +nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my +temple." This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years +before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read +this, and admired the Divine power, an earnest desire and +ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written; so he +called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said +to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, +and to rebuild their city Jerusalem, (2) and the temple of God, +for that he would be their assistant, and that he would write to +the rulers and governors that were in the neighborhood of their +country of Judea, that they should contribute to them gold and +silver for the building of the temple, and besides that, beasts +for their sacrifices. + +3. When Cyrus had said this to the Israelites, the rulers of the +two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the Levites and priests, +went in haste to Jerusalem; yet did many of them stay at Babylon, +as not willing to leave their possessions; and when they were +come thither, all the king's friends assisted them, and brought +in, for the building of the temple, some gold, and some silver, +and some a great many cattle and horses. So they performed their +vows to God, and offered the sacrifices that had been accustomed +of old time; I mean this upon the rebuilding of their city, and +the revival of the ancient practices relating to their worship. +Cyrus also sent back to them the vessels of God which king +Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged out of the temple, and had carried to +Babylon. So he committed these things to Mithridates, the +treasurer, to be sent away, with an order to give them to +Sanabassar, that he might keep them till the temple was built; +and when it was finished, he might deliver them to the priests +and rulers of the multitude, in order to their being restored to +the temple. Cyrus also sent an epistle to the governors that were +in Syria, the contents whereof here follow: + +"King Cyrus To Sisinnes And Sathrabuzanes Sendeth Greeting. + +"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my +country as please to return to their own country, and to rebuild +their city, and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the +same place where it was before. I have also sent my treasurer +Mithridates, and Zorobabel, the governor of the Jews, that they +may lay the foundations of the temple, and may build it sixty +cubits high, and of the same latitude, making three edifices of +polished stones, and one of the wood of the country, and the same +order extends to the altar whereon they offer sacrifices to God. +I require also that the expenses for these things may be given +out of my revenues. Moreover, I have also sent the vessels which +king Nebuchadnezzar pillaged out of the temple, and have given +them to Mithridates the treasurer, and to Zorobabel the governor +of the Jews, that they may have them carried to Jerusalem, and +may restore them to the temple of God. Now their number is as +follows: Fifty chargers of gold, and five hundred of silver; +forty Thericlean cups of gold, and five hundred of silver; fifty +basons of gold, and five hundred of silver; thirty vessels for +pouring [the drink-offerings], and three hundred of silver; +thirty vials of gold, and two thousand four hundred of silver; +with a thousand other large vessels. (3) I permit them to have +the same honor which they were used to have from their +forefathers, as also for their small cattle, and for wine and +oil, two hundred and five thousand and five hundred drachme; and +for wheat flour, twenty thousand and five hundred artabae; and I +give order that these expenses shall be given them out of the +tributes due from Samaria. The priests shall also offer these +sacrifices according to the laws of Moses in Jerusalem; and when +they offer them, they shall pray to God for the preservation of +the king and of his family, that the kingdom of Persia may +continue. But my will is, that those who disobey these +injunctions, and make them void, shall be hung upon a cross, and +their substance brought into the king's treasury." And such was +the import of this epistle. Now the number of those that came out +of captivity to Jerusalem, were forty-two thousand four hundred +and sixty-two. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Upon The Death Of Cyrus The Jews Were Hindered In Building Of +The Temple By The Cutheans, And The Neighboring Governors; And +How Cambyses Entirely Forbade The Jews To Do Any Such Thing. + + +1. When the foundations of the temple were laying, and when the +Jews were very zealous about building it, the neighboring +nations, and especially the Cutheans, whom Shalmanezer, king of +Assyria, had brought out of Persia and Media, and had planted in +Samaria, when he carried the people of Israel captives, besought +the governors, and those that had the care of such affairs, that +they would interrupt the Jews, both in the rebuilding of their +city, and in the building of their temple. Now as these men were +corrupted by them with money, they sold the Cutheans their +interest for rendering this building a slow and a careless work, +for Cyrus, who was busy about other wars, knew nothing of all +this; and it so happened, that when he had led his army against +the Massagetae, he ended his life. (4) But when Cambyses, the son +of Cyrus, had taken the kingdom, the governors in Syria, and +Phoenicia, and in the countries of Amlnon, and Moab, and Samaria, +wrote an epistle to Calnbyses; whose contents were as follow: "To +our lord Cambyses. We thy servants, Rathumus the historiographer, +and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are thy judges in +Syria and Phoenicia, send greeting. It is fit, O king, that thou +shouldst know that those Jews which were carried to Babylon are +come into our country, and are building that rebellious and +wicked city, and its market-places, and setting up its walls, and +raising up the temple; know therefore, that when these things are +finished, they will not be willing to pay tribute, nor will they +submit to thy commands, but will resist kings, and will choose +rather to rule over others than be ruled over themselves. We +therefore thought it proper to write to thee, O king, while the +works about the temple are going on so fast, and not to overlook +this matter, that thou mayst search into the books of thy +fathers, for thou wilt find in them that the Jews have been +rebels, and enemies to kings, as hath their city been also, +which, for that reason, hath been till now laid waste. We thought +proper also to inform thee of this matter, because thou mayst +otherwise perhaps be ignorant of it, that if this city be once +inhabited and be entirely encompassed with walls, thou wilt be +excluded from thy passage to Celesyria and Phoenicia." + +2. When Cambyses had read the epistle, being naturally wicked, he +was irritated at what they told him, and wrote back to them as +follows: "Cambyses the king, to Rathumus the historiographer, to +Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are in +commission, and dwelling in Samaria and Phoenicia, after this +manner: I have read the epistle that was sent from you; and I +gave order that the books of my forefathers should be searched +into, and it is there found that this city hath always been an +enemy to kings, and its inhabitants have raised seditions and +wars. We also are sensible that their kings have been powerful +and tyrannical, and have exacted tribute of Celesyria and +Phoenicia. Wherefore I gave order, that the Jews shall not be +permitted to build that city, lest such mischief as they used to +bring upon kings be greatly augmented." When this epistle was +read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and their associates, +got suddenly on horseback, and made haste to Jerusalem; they also +brought a great company with them, and forbade the Jews to build +the city and the temple. Accordingly, these works were hindered +from going on till the second year of the reign of Darius, for +nine years more; for Cambyses reigned six years, and within that +time overthrew Egypt, and when he was come back, he died at +Damascus. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How After The Death Of Cambyses And The Slaughter Of The Magi But +Under The Reign Of Darius, Zorobabel Was Superior To The Rest In +The Solution Of Problems And Thereby Obtained This Favor Of The +King, That The Temple Should Be Built. + + +1. After the slaughter of file Magi, who, upon the death of +Cambyses, attained the government of the Persians for a year, +those families which were called the seven families of the +Persians appointed Darius, the son of Hystaspes, to be their +king. Now he, while he was a private man, had made a vow to God, +that if he came to be king, he would send all the vessels of God +that were in Babylon to the temple at Jerusalem. Now it so fell +out, that about this time Zorobabel, who had been made governor +of the Jews that had been in captivity, came to Darius, from +Jerusalem; for there had been an old friendship between him and +the king. He was also, with two others, thought worthy to be +guard of the king's body; and obtained that honor which he hoped +for. + +2. Now, in the first year of the king's reign, Darius feasted +those that were about him, and those born in his house, with the +rulers of the Medes, and princes of the Persians, and the +toparchs of India and Ethiopia, and the generals of the armies of +his hundred and twenty-seven provinces. But when they had eaten +and drunk to satiety, and abundantly, they every one departed to +go to bed at their own houses, and Darius the king went to bed; +but after he had rested a little part of the night, he awaked, +and not being able to sleep any more, he fell into conversation +with the three guards of his body, and promised, that to him who +should make an oration about points that he should inquire of, +such as should be most agreeable to truth, and to the dictates of +wisdom, he would grant it as a reward of his victory, to put on a +purple garment, and to drink in cups of gold, and to sleep upon +gold, and to have a chariot with bridles of gold, and a head tire +of fine linen, and a chain of gold about his neck, and to sit +next to himself, on account of his wisdom; "and," says he, "he +shall be called my cousin." Now when he had promised to give them +these gifts, he asked the first of them, "Whether wine was not +the strongest?"--the second, "Whether kings were not such?" - and +the third, "Whether women were not such? or whether truth was not +the strongest of all?" When he had proposed that they should make +their inquiries about these problems, he went to rest; but in the +morning he sent for his great men, his princes, and toparchs of +Persia and Media, and set himself down in the place where he used +to give audience, and bid each of the guards of his body to +declare what they thought proper concerning the proposed +questions, in the hearing of them all. + +3. Accordingly, the first of them began to speak of the strength +of wine, and demonstrated it thus: "When," said he," I am to give +my opinion of wine, O you men, I find that it exceeds every +thing, by the following indications: It deceives the mind of +those that drink it, and reduces that of the king to the same +state with that of the orphan, and he who stands in need of a +tutor; and erects that of the slave to the boldness of him that +is free; and that of the needy becomes like that of the rich man, +for it changes and renews the souls of men when it gets into +them; and it quenches the sorrow of those that are under +calamities, and makes men forget the debts they owe to others, +and makes them think themselves to be of all men the richest; it +makes them talk of no small things, but of talents, and such +other names as become wealthy men only; nay more, it makes them +insensible of their commanders, and of their kings, and takes +away the remembrance of their friends and companions, for it arms +men even against those that are dearest to them, and makes them +appear the greatest strangers to them; and when they are become +sober, and they have slept out their wine in the night, they +arise without knowing any thing they have done in their cups. I +take these for signs of power, and by them discover that wine is +the strongest and most insuperable of all things." + +4. As soon as the first had given the forementioned +demonstrations of the strength of wine, he left off; and the next +to him began to speak about the strength of a king, and +demonstrated that it was the strongest of all, and more powerful +than any thing else that appears to have any force or wisdom. He +began his demonstration after the following manner; and said," +They are men who govern all things; they force the earth and the +sea to become profitable to them in what they desire, and over +these men do kings rule, and over them they have authority. Now +those who rule over that animal which is of all the strongest and +most powerful, must needs deserve to be esteemed insuperable in +power and force. For example, when these kings command their +subjects to make wars, and undergo dangers, they are hearkened +to; and when they send them against their enemies, their power is +so great that they are obeyed. They command men to level +mountains, and to pull down walls and towers; nay, when they are +commanded to be killed and to kill, they submit to it, that they +may not appear to transgress the king's commands; and when they +have conquered, they bring what they have gained in the war to +the king. Those also who are not soldiers, but cultivate the +ground, and plough it, and when, after they have endured the +labor and all the inconveniences of such works of husbandry, they +have reaped and gathered in their fruits, they bring tributes to +the king; and whatsoever it is which the king says or commands, +it is done of necessity, and that without any delay, while he in +the mean time is satiated with all sorts of food and pleasures, +and sleeps in quiet. He is guarded by such as watch, and such as +are, as it were, fixed down to the place through fear; for no one +dares leave him, even when he is asleep, nor does any one go away +and take care of his own affairs; but he esteems this one thing +the only work of necessity, to guard the king, and accordingly to +this he wholly addicts himself. How then can it be otherwise, but +that it must appear that the king exceeds all in strength, while +so great a multitude obeys his injunctions?" + +5. Now when this man had held his peace, the third of them, who +was Zorobabel, began to instruct them about women, and about +truth, who said thus: "Wine is strong, as is the king also, whom +all men obey, but women are superior to them in power; for it was +a woman that brought the king into the world; and for those that +plant the vines and make the wine, they are women who bear them, +and bring them up: nor indeed is there any thing which we do not +receive from them; for these women weave garments for us, and our +household affairs are by their means taken care of, and preserved +in safety; nor can we live separate from women. And when we have +gotten a great deal of gold and silver, and any other thing that +is of great value, and deserving regard, and see a beautiful +woman, we leave all these things, and with open mouth fix our +eyes upon her countenance, and are willing to forsake what we +have, that we may enjoy her beauty, and procure it to ourselves. +We also leave father, and mother, and the earth that nourishes +us, and frequently forget our dearest friends, for the sake of +women; nay, we are so hardy as to lay down our lives for them. +But what will chiefly make you take notice of the strength of +women is this that follows: Do not we take pains, and endure a +great deal of trouble, and that both by land and sea, and when we +have procured somewhat as the fruit of our labors, do not we +bring them to the women, as to our mistresses, and bestow them +upon them? Nay, I once saw the king, who is lord of so many +people, smitten on the face by Apame, the daughter of Rabsases +Themasius, his concubine, and his diadem taken away from him, and +put upon her own head, while he bore it patiently; and when she +smiled he smiled, and when she was angry he was sad; and +according to the change of her passions, he flattered his wife, +and drew her to reconciliation by the great humiliation of +himself to her, if at my time he saw her displeased at him." + +6. And when the princes and rulers looked one upon another, he +began to speak about truth; and he said, "I have already +demonstrated how powerful women are; but both these women +themselves, and the king himself, are weaker than truth; for +although the earth be large, and the heaven high, and the course +of the sun swift, yet are all these moved according to the will +of God, who is true and righteous, for which cause we also ought +to esteem truth to be the strongest of all things, and that what +is unrighteous is of no force against it. Moreover, all things +else that have any strength are mortal and short-lived, but truth +is a thing that is immortal and eternal. It affords us not indeed +such a beauty as will wither away by time, nor such riches as may +be taken away by fortune, but righteous rules and laws. It +distinguishes them from injustice, and puts what is unrighteous +to rebuke." (5) + +7. So when Zorobabel had left off his discourse about truth, and +the multitude had cried out aloud that he had spoken the most +wisely, and that it was truth alone that had immutable strength, +and such as never would wax old, the king commanded that he +should ask for somewhat over and above what he had promised, for +that he would give it him because of his wisdom, and that +prudence wherein he exceeded the rest; "and thou shalt sit with +me," said the king, "and shalt be called my cousin." When he had +said this, Zorobabel put him in mind of the vow he had made in +case he should ever have the kingdom. Now this vow was, "to +rebuild Jerusalem, and to build therein the temple of God; as +also to restore the vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged, +and carried to Babylon. And this," said he, "is that request +which thou now permittest me to make, on account that I have been +judged to be wise and understanding." + +8. So the king was pleased with what he had said, and arose and +kissed him; and wrote to the toparchs and governors, and enjoined +them to conduct Zorobabel and those that were going with him to +build the temple. He also sent letters to those rulers that were +in Syria and Phoenicia to cut down and carry cedar trees from +Lebanon to Jerusalem, and to assist him in building the city. He +also wrote to them, that all the captives who should go to Judea +should be free; and he prohibited his deputies and governors to +lay any king's taxes upon the Jews; he also permitted that they +should have all that land which they could possess themselves of +without tributes. He also enjoined the Idumeans and Samaritans, +and the inhabitants of Celesyria, to restore those villages which +they had taken from the Jews; and that, besides all this, fifty +talents should be given them for the building of the temple. He +also permitted them to offer their appointed sacrifices, and that +whatsoever the high priest and the priests wanted, and those +sacred garments wherein they used to worship God, should be made +at his own charges; and that the musical instruments which the +Levites used in singing hymns to God should be given them. +Moreover, he charged them, that portions of land should be given +to those that guarded the city and the temple, as also a +determinate sum of money every year for their maintenance; and +withal he sent the vessels. And all that Cyrus intended to do +before him relating to the restoration of Jerusalem, Darius also +ordained should be done accordingly. + +9. Now when Zorobabel had obtained these grants from the king, he +went out of the palace, and looking up to heaven, he began to +return thanks to God for the wisdom he had given him, and the +victory he had gained thereby, even in the presence of Darius +himself; for, said he, "I had not been thought worthy of these +advantages, O Lord, unless thou hadst been favorable to me." When +therefore he had returned these thanks to God for the present +circumstances he was in, and had prayed to him to afford him the +like favor for the time to come, he came to Babylon, and brought +the good news to his countrymen of what grants he had procured +for them from the king; who, when they heard the same, gave +thanks also to God that he restored the land of their forefathers +to them again. So they betook themselves to drinking and eating, +and for seven days they continued feasting, and kept a festival, +for the rebuilding and restoration of their country: after this +they chose themselves rulers, who should go up to Jerusalem, out +of the tribes of their forefathers, with their wives, and +children, and cattle, who traveled to Jerusalem with joy and +pleasure, under the conduct of those whom Darius sent along with +them, and making a noise with songs, and pipes, and cymbals. The +rest of the Jewish multitude also besides accompanied them with +rejoicing. + +10. And thus did these men go, a certain and determinate number +out of every family, though I do not think it proper to recite +particularly the names of those families, that I may not take off +the mind of my readers from the connexion of the historical +facts, and make it hard for them to follow the coherence of my +narrations; but the sum of those that went up, above the age of +twelve years, of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, was four +hundred and sixty-two myriads and eight thousand (6) the Levites +were seventy-four; the number of the women and children mixed +together was forty thousand seven hundred and forty-two; and +besides these, there were singers of the Levites one hundred and +twenty-eight, and porters one hundred and ten, and of the sacred +ministers three hundred and ninety-two; there were also others +besides these, who said they were of the Israelites, but were not +able to show their genealogies, six hundred and sixty-two: some +there were also who were expelled out of the number and honor of +the priests, as having married wives whose genealogies they could +not produce, nor were they found in the genealogies of the +Levites and priests; they were about five hundred and +twenty-five: the multitude also of servants that followed those +that went up to Jerusalem were seven thousand three hundred and +thirty-seven; the singing men and singing women were two hundred +and forty-five; the camels were four hundred and thirty-five; the +beasts used to the yoke were five thousand five hundred and +twenty-five; and the governors of all this multitude thus +numbered were Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the posterity +of David, and of the tribe of Judah; and Jeshua, the son of +Josedek the high priest; and besides these there were Mordecai +and Serebeus, who were distinguished from the multitude, and were +rulers, who also contributed a hundred pounds of gold, and five +thousand of silver. By this means therefore the priests and the +Levites, and a certain part of the entire people of the Jews that +were in Babylon, came and dwelt in Jerusalem; but the rest of the +multitude returned every one to their own countries. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How The Temple Was Built While The Cutheans Endeavored In Vain To +Obstruct The Work. + + +1. Now in the seventh month after they were departed out of +Babylon, both Jeshua the high priest, and Zorobabel the governor, +sent messengers every way round about, and gathered those that +were in the country together to Jerusalem universally, who came +very gladly thither. He then built the altar on the same place it +had formerly been built, that they might offer the appointed +sacrifices upon it to God, according to the laws of Moses. But +while they did this, they did not please the neighboring nations, +who all of them bare an ill-will to them. They also celebrated +the feast of tabernacles at that time, as the legislator had +ordained concerning it; and after they offered sacrifices, and +what were called the daily sacrifices, and the oblations proper +for the Sabbaths, and for all the holy festivals. Those also that +had made vows performed them, and offered their sacrifices from +the first day of the seventh month. They also began to build the +temple, and gave a great deal of money to the masons and to the +carpenters, and what was necessary for the maintenance of the +workmen. The Sidonians also were very willing and ready to bring +the cedar trees from Libanus, to bind them together, and to make +a united float of them, and to bring them to the port of Joppa, +for that was what Cyrus had commanded at first, and what was now +done at the command of Darius. + +2. In the second year of their coming to Jerusalem, as the Jews +were there in the second month, the building of the temple went +on apace; and when they had laid its foundations on the first day +of the second month of that second year, they set, as overseers +of the work, such Levites as were full twenty years old; and +Jeshua and his sons and brethren, and Codmiel the brother of +Judas, the son of Aminadab, with his sons; and the temple, by the +great diligence of those that had the care of it, was finished +sooner than any one would have expected. And when the temple was +finished, the priests, adorned with their accustomed garments, +stood with their trumpets, while the Levites, and the sons of +Asaph, stood and sung hymns to God, according as David first of +all appointed them to bless God. Now the priests and Levites, and +the elder part of the families, recollecting with themselves how +much greater and more sumptuous the old temple had been, seeing +that now made how much inferior it was, on account of their +poverty, to that which had been built of old, considered with +themselves how much their happy state was sunk below what it had +been of old, as well as their temple. Hereupon they were +disconsolate, and not able to contain their grief, and proceeded +so far as to lament and shed tears on those accounts; but the +people in general were contented with their present condition; +and because they were allowed to build them a temple, they +desired no more, and neither regarded nor remembered, nor indeed +at all tormented themselves with the comparison of that and the +former temple, as if this were below their expectations; but the +wailing of the old men and of the priests, on account of the +deficiency of this temple, in their opinion, if compared with +that which had been demolished, overcame the sounds of the +trumpets and the rejoicing of the people. + +3. But when the Samaritans, who were still enemies to the tribes +of Judah and Benjamin, heard the sound of the trumpets, they came +running together, and desired to know what was the occasion of +this tumult; and when they perceived that it was from the Jews, +who had been carried captive to Babylon, and were rebuilding +their temple, they came to Zorobabel and to Jeshua, and to the +heads of the families, and desired that they would give them +leave to build the temple with them, and to be partners with them +in building it; for they said, "We worship their God, and +especially pray to him, and are desirous of their religious +settlement, and this ever since Shalmanezer, the king of Assyria, +transplanted us out of Cuthah and Media to this place." When they +said thus, Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest, and the heads of +the families of the Israelites, replied to them, that it was +impossible for them to permit them to be their partners, whilst +they [only] had been appointed to build that temple at first by +Cyrus, and now by Darius, although it was indeed lawful for them +to come and worship there if they pleased, and that they could +allow them nothing but that in common with them, which was common +to them with all other men, to come to their temple and worship +God there. + +4. When the Cuthearts heard this, for the Samaritans have that +appellation, they had indignation at it, and persuaded the +nations of Syria to desire of the governors, in the same manner +as they had done formerly in the days of Cyrus, and again in the +days of Cambyses afterwards, to put a stop to the building of the +temple, and to endeavor to delay and protract the Jews in their +zeal about it. Now at this time Sisinnes, the governor of Syria +and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with certain others, came up to +Jerusalem, and asked the rulers of the Jews, by whose grant it +was that they built the temple in this manner, since it was more +like to a citadel than a temple? and for what reason it was that +they built cloisters and walls, and those strong ones too, about +the city? To which Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest replied, +that they were the servants of God Almighty; that this temple was +built for him by a king of theirs, that lived in great +prosperity, and one that exceeded all men in virtue; and that it +continued a long time, but that because of their fathers' impiety +towards God, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians and of the +Chaldeans, took their city by force, and destroyed it, and +pillaged the temple, and burnt it down, and transplanted the +people whom he had made captives, and removed them to Babylon; +that Cyrus, who, after him, was king of Babylonia and Persia, +wrote to them to build the temple, and committed the gifts and +vessels, and whatsoever Nebuchadnezzar had carried out of it, to +Zorobabel, and Mithridates the treasurer; and gave order to have +them carried to Jerusalem, and to have them restored to their own +temple, when it was built; for he had sent to them to have that +done speedily, and commanded Sanabassar to go up to Jerusalem, +and to take care of the building of the temple; who, upon +receiving that epistle from Cyrus, came, and immediately laid its +foundations; "and although it hath been in building from that +time to this, it hath not yet been finished, by reason of the +malignity of our enemies. If therefore you have a mind, and think +it proper, write this account to Darius, that when he hath +consulted the records of the kings, he may find that we have told +you nothing that is false about this matter." + +5. When Zorobabel and the high priest had made this answer, +Sisinnes, and those that were with him, did not resolve to hinder +the building, until they had informed king Darius of all this. So +they immediately wrote to him about these affairs; but as the +Jews were now under terror, and afraid lest the king should +change his resolutions as to the building of Jerusalem and of the +temple, there were two prophets at that time among them, Haggai +and Zechariah, who encouraged them, and bid them be of good +cheer, and to suspect no discouragement from the Persians, for +that God foretold this to them. So, in dependence on those +prophets, they applied themselves earnestly to building, and did +not intermit one day. + +6. Now Darius, when the Samaritans had written to him, and in +their epistle had accused the Jews, how they fortified the city, +and built the temple more like to a citadel than to a temple; and +said, that their doings were not expedient for the king's +affairs; and besides, they showed the epistle of Cambyses, +wherein he forbade them to build the temple: and when Darius +thereby understood that the restoration of Jerusalem was not +expedient for his affairs, and when he had read the epistle that +was brought him from Sisinnes, and those that were with him, he +gave order that what concerned these matters should be sought for +among the royal records. Whereupon a book was found at Ecbatana, +in the tower that was in Media, wherein was written as follows: +"Cyrus the king, in the first year of his reign, commanded that +the temple should be built in Jerusalem; and the altar in height +threescore cubits, and its breadth of the same, with three +edifices of polished stone, and one edifice of stone of their own +country; and he ordained that the expenses of it should be paid +out of the king's revenue. He also commanded that the vessels +which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged [out of the temple], and had +carried to Babylon, should be restored to the people of +Jerusalem; and that the care of these things should belong to +Sanabassar, the governor and president of Syria and Phoenicia, +and his associates, that they may not meddle with that place, but +may permit the servants of God, the Jews and their rulers, to +build the temple. He also ordained that they should assist them +in the work; and that they should pay to the Jews, out of the +tribute of the country where they were governors, on account of +the sacrifices, bulls, and rams, and lambs, and kids of the +goats, and fine flour, and oil, and wine, and all other things +that the priests should suggest to them; and that they should +pray for the preservation of the king, and of the Persians; and +that for such as transgressed any of these orders thus sent to +them, he commanded that they should be caught, and hung upon a +cross, and their substance confiscated to the king's use. He also +prayed to God against them, that if any one attempted to hinder +the building of the temple, God would strike him dead, and +thereby restrain his wickedness." + +7. When Darius had found this book among the records of Cyrus, he +wrote an answer to Sisinnes and his associates, whose contents +were these: "King Darius to Sisinnes the governor, and to +Sathrabuzanes, sendeth greeting. Having found a copy of this +epistle among the records of Cyrus, I have sent it you; and I +will that all things be done as is therein written. Fare ye +well." So when Sisinnes, and those that were with him, understood +the intention of the king, they resolved to follow his directions +entirely for the time to come. So they forwarded the sacred +works, and assisted the elders of the Jews, and the princes of +the Sanhedrim; and the structure of the temple was with great +diligence brought to a conclusion, by the prophecies of Haggai +and Zechariah, according to God's commands, and by the +injunctions of Cyrus and Darius the kings. Now the temple was +built in seven years' time. And in the ninth year of the reign of +Darius, on the twenty-third day of the twelfth month, which is by +us called Adar, but by the Macedonians Dystrus, the priests, and +Levites, and the other multitude of the Israelites, offered +sacrifices, as the renovation of their former prosperity after +their captivity, and because they had now the temple rebuilt, a +hundred bulls, two hundred rains, four hundred lambs, and twelve +kids of the goats, according to the number of their tribes, (for +so many are the tribes of the Israelites,) and this last for the +sins of every tribe. The priests also and the Levites set the +porters at every gate, according to the laws of Moses. The Jews +also built the cloisters of the inner temple that were round +about the temple itself. + +8. And as the feast of unleavened bread was at hand, in the first +month, which, according to the Macedonians, is called Xanthicus, +but according to us Nisan, all the people ran together out of the +villages to the city, and celebrated the festival, having +purified themselves, with their wives and children, according to +the law of their country; and they offered the sacrifice which +was called the Passover, on the fourteenth day of the same month, +and feasted seven days, and spared for no cost, but offered whole +burnt-offerings to God, and performed sacrifices of thanksgiving, +because God had led them again to the land of their fathers, and +to the laws thereto belonging, and had rendered the mind of the +king of Persia favorable to them. So these men offered the +largest sacrifices on these accounts, and used great magnificence +in the worship of God, and dwelt in Jerusalem, and made use of a +form of government that was aristocratical, but mixed with an +oligarchy, for the high priests were at the head of their +affairs, until the posterity of the Asamoneans set up kingly +government; for before their captivity, and the dissolution of +their polity, they at first had kingly government from Saul and +David for five hundred and thirty-two years, six months, and ten +days; but before those kings, such rulers governed them as were +called judges and monarchs. Under this form of government they +continued for more than five hundred years after the death of +Moses, and of Joshua their commander. And this is the account I +had to give of the Jews who had been carried into captivity, but +were delivered from it in the times of Cyrus and Darius. + +9. (7) But the Samaritans, being evil and enviously disposed to +the Jews, wrought them many mischiefs, by reliance on their +riches, and by their pretense that they were allied to the +Persians, on account that thence they came; and whatsoever it was +that they were enjoined to pay the Jews by the king's order out +of their tributes for the sacrifices, they would not pay it. They +had also the governors favorable to them, and assisting them for +that purpose; nor did they spare to hurt them, either by +themselves or by others, as far as they were able. So the Jews +determined to send an embassage to king Darius, in favor of the +people of Jerusalem, and in order to accuse the Samaritans. The +ambassadors were Zorobabel, and four others of the rulers; and as +soon as the king knew from the ambassadors the accusations and +complaints they brought against the Samaritans, he gave them an +epistle to be carried to the governors and council of Samaria; +the contents of which epistle were these: "King Darius to +Tanganas and Sambabas, the governors of the Sainaritans, to +Sadraces and Bobelo, and the rest of their fellow servants that +are in Samaria: Zorobabel, Ananias, and Mordecai, the ambassadors +of the Jews, complain of you, that you obstruct them in the +building of the temple, and do not supply them with the expenses +which I commanded you to do for the offering their sacrifices. My +will therefore is this, That upon the reading of this epistle, +you supply them with whatsoever they want for their sacrifices, +and that out of the royal treasury, of the tributes of Samaria, +as the priest shall desire, that they may not leave off offering +their daily sacrifices, nor praying to God for me and the +Persians." And these were the contents of that epistle. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Xerxes The Son Of Darius Was Well Disposed To The Jews; As +Also Concerning Esdras And Nehemiah. + + +1. Upon the death of Darius, Xerxes his son took the kingdom, +who, as he inherited his father's kingdom, so did he inherit his +piety towards God, and honor of him; for he did all things +suitably to his father relating to Divine worship, and he was +exceeding friendly to the Jews. Now about this time a son of +Jeshua, whose name was Joacim, was the high priest. Moreover, +there was now in Babylon a righteous man, and one that enjoyed a +great reputation among the multitude. He was the principal priest +of the people, and his name was Esdras. He was very skillful in +the laws of Moses, and was well acquainted with king Xerxes. He +had determined to go up to Jerusalem, and to take with him some +of those Jews that were in Babylon; and he desired that the king +would give him an epistle to the governors of Syria, by which +they might know who he was. Accordingly, the king wrote the +following epistle to those governors: "Xerxes, king of kings, to +Esdras the priest, and reader of the Divine law, greeting. I +think it agreeable to that love which I bear to mankind, to +permit those of the Jewish nation that are so disposed, as well +as those of the priests and Levites that are in our kingdom, to +go together to Jerusalem. Accordingly, I have given command for +that purpose; and let every one that hath a mind go, according as +it hath seemed good to me, and to my seven counselors, and this +in order to their review of the affairs of Judea, to see whether +they be agreeable to the law of God. Let them also take with them +those presents which I and my friends have vowed, with all that +silver and gold that is found in the country of the Babylonians, +as dedicated to God, and let all this be carried to Jerusalem to +God for sacrifices. Let it also be lawful for thee and thy +brethren to make as many vessels of silver and gold as thou +pleasest. Thou shalt also dedicate those holy vessels which have +been given thee, and as many more as thou hast a mind to make, +and shall take the expenses out of the king's treasury. I have, +moreover, written to the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia, that +they take care of those affairs that Esdras the priest, and +reader of the laws of God, is sent about. And that God may not be +at all angry with me, or with my children, I grant all that is +necessary for sacrifices to God, according to the law, as far as +a hundred cori of wheat. And I enjoin you not to lay any +treacherous imposition, or any tributes, upon their priests or +Levites, or sacred singers, or porters, or sacred servants, or +scribes of the temple. And do thou, O Esdras, appoint judges +according to the wisdom [given thee] of God, and those such as +understand the law, that they may judge in all Syria and +Phoenicia; and do thou instruct those also which are ignorant of +it, that if any one of thy countrymen transgress the law of God, +or that of the king, he may be punished, as not transgressing it +out of ignorance, but as one that knows it indeed, but boldly +despises and contemns it; and such may be punished by death, or +by paying fines. Farewell." + +2. When Esdras had received this epistle, he was very joyful, and +began to worship God, and confessed that he had been the cause of +the king's great favor to him, and that for the same reason he +gave all the thanks to God. So he read the epistle at Babylon to +those Jews that were there; but he kept the epistle itself, and +sent a copy of it to all those of his own nation that were in +Media. And when these Jews had understood what piety the king had +towards God, and what kindness he had for Esdras, they were all +greatly pleased; nay, many of them took their effects with them, +and came to Babylon, as very desirous of going down to Jerusalem; +but then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that +country; wherefore there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe +subject to the Iomans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates +till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated +by numbers. Now there came a great number of priests, and +Levites, and porters, and sacred singers, and sacred servants to +Esdras. So he gathered those that were in the captivity together +beyond Euphrates, and staid there three days, and ordained a fast +for them, that they might make their prayers to God for their +preservation, that they might suffer no misfortunes by the way, +either from their enemies, or from any other ill accident; for +Esdras had said beforehand that he had told the king how God +would preserve them, and so he had not thought fit to request +that he would send horsemen to conduct them. So when they had +finished their prayers, they removed from Euphrates on the +twelfth day of the first month of the seventh year of the reign +of Xerxes, and they came to Jerusalem on the fifth month of the +same year. Now Esdras presented the sacred money to the +treasurers, who were of the family of the priests, of silver six +hundred and fifty talents, vessels of silver one hundred talents, +vessels of gold twenty talents, vessels of brass, that was more +precious than gold, (8) twelve talents by weight; for these +Presents had been made by the king and his counselors, and by all +the Israelites that staid at Babylon. So when Esdras had +delivered these things to the priests, he gave to God, as the +appointed sacrifices of whole burnt-offerings, twelve bulls on +account of the common preservation of the people, ninety rams, +seventy-two lambs, and twelve kids of the goats, for the +remission of sins. He also delivered the king's epistle to the +king's officers, and to the governors of Celesyria and Phoenicia; +and as they were under a necessity of doing what was enjoined by +him, they honored our nation, and were assistant to them in all +their necessities. + +3. Now these things were truly done under the conduct of Esdras; +and he succeeded in them, because God esteemed him worthy of the +success of his conduct, on account of his goodness and +righteousness. But some time afterward there came some persons to +him, and brought an accusation against certain of the multitude, +and of the priests and Levites, who had transgressed their +settlement, and dissolved the laws of their country, by marrying +strange wives, and had brought the family of the priests into +confusion. These persons desired him to support the laws, lest +God should take up a general anger against them all, and reduce +them to a calamitous condition again. Hereupon he rent his +garment immediately, out of grief, and pulled off the hair of his +head and beard, and cast himself upon the ground, because this +crime had reached the principal men among the people; and +considering that if he should enjoin them to cast out their +wives, and the children they had by them, he should not be +hearkener to, he continued lying upon the ground. However, all +the better sort came running to him, who also themselves wept, +and partook of the grief he was under for what had been done. So +Esdras rose up from the ground, and stretched out his hands +towards heaven, and said that he was ashamed to look towards it, +because of the sins which the people had committed, while they +had cast out of their memories what their fathers had undergone +on account of their wickedness; and he besought God, who had +saved a seed and a remnant out of the calamity and captivity they +had been in, and had restored them again to Jerusalem, and to +their own land, and had obliged the kings of Persia to have +compassion on them, that he would also forgive them their sins +they had now committed, which, though they deserved death, yet, +was it agreeable to the mercy of God, to remit even to these the +punishment due to them. + +4. After Esdras had said this, he left off praying; and when all +those that came to him with their wives and children were under +lamentation, one whose name was Jechonias, a principal man in +Jerusalem, came to him, and said that they had sinned in marrying +strange wives; and he persuaded him to adjure them all to cast +those wives out, and the children born of them, and that those +should be punished who would not obey the law. So Esdras +hearkened to this advice, and made the heads of the priests, and +of the Levites, and of the Israelites, swear that they would put +away those wives and children, according to the advice of +Jechonias. And when he had received their oaths, he went in haste +out of the temple into the chamber of Johanan, the son of +Eliasib, and as he had hitherto tasted nothing at all for grief, +so he abode there that day. And when proclamation was made, that +all those of the captivity should gather themselves together to +Jerusalem, and those that did not meet there in two or three days +should be banished from the multitude, and that their substance +should b appropriated to the uses of the temple, according to the +sentence of the elders, those that were of the tribes of Judah +and Benjamin came together in three days, viz. on the twentieth +day of the ninth month, which, according to the Hebrews, is +called Tebeth, and according to the Macedonians, Apelleius. Now +as they were sitting in the upper room of the temple, where the +elders also were present, but were uneasy because of the cold, +Esdras stood up and accused them, and told them that they had +sinned in marrying wives that were not of their own nation; but +that now they would do a thing both pleasing to God, and +advantageous to themselves, if they would put those wives away. +Accordingly, they all cried out that they would do so. That, +however, the multitude was great, and that the season of the year +was winter, and that this work would require more than one or two +days. "Let their rulers, therefore, [said they,] and those that +have married strange wives, come hither at a proper time, while +the elders of every place, that are in common to estimate the +number of those that have thus married, are to be there also." +Accordingly, this was resolved on by them, and they began the +inquiry after those that had married strange wives on the first +day of the tenth month, and continued the inquiry to the first +day of the next month, and found a great many of the posterity of +Jeshua the high priest, and of the priests and Levites, and +Israelites, who had a greater regard to the observation of the +law than to their natural affection, (9) and immediately cast out +their wives, and the children which were born of them. And in +order to appease God, they offered sacrifices, and slew rams, as +oblations to him; but it does not seem to me to be necessary to +set down the names of these men. So when Esdras had reformed this +sin about the marriages of the forementioned persons, he reduced +that practice to purity, so that it continued in that state for +the time to come. + +5. Now when they kept the feast of tabernacles in the seventh +month (10) and almost all the people were come together to it, +they went up to the open part of the temple, to the gate which +looked eastward, and desired of Esdras that the laws of Moses +might be read to them. Accordingly, he stood in the midst of the +multitude and read them; and this he did from morning to noon. +Now, by hearing the laws read to them, they were instructed to be +righteous men for the present and for the future; but as for +their past offenses, they were displeased at themselves, and +proceeded to shed tears on their account, as considering with +themselves that if they had kept the law, they had endured none +of these miseries which they had experienced. But when Esdras saw +them in that disposition, he bade them go home, and not weep, for +that it was a festival, and that they ought not to weep thereon, +for that it was not lawful so to do. (11) He exhorted them rather +to proceed immediately to feasting, and to do what was suitable +to a feast, and what was agreeable to a day of joy; but to let +their repentance and sorrow for their former sins be a security +and a guard to them, that they fell no more into the like +offenses. So upon Esdras's exhortation they began to feast; and +when they had so done for eight days, in their tabernacles, they +departed to their own homes, singing hymns to God, and returning +thanks to Esdras for his reformation of what corruptions had been +introduced into their settlement. So it came to pass, that after +he had obtained this reputation among the people, he died an old +man, and was buried in a magnificent manner at Jerusalem. About +the same time it happened also that Joacim, the high priest, +died; and his son Eliasib succeeded in the high priesthood. +6. Now there was one of those Jews that had been carried captive +who was cup-bearer to king Xerxes; his name was Nehemiah. As this +man was walking before Susa, the metropolis of the Persians, he +heard some strangers that were entering the city, after a long +journey, speaking to one another in the Hebrew tongue; so he went +to them, and asked them whence they came. And when their answer +was, that they came from Judea, he began to inquire of them again +in what state the multitude was, and in what condition Jerusalem +was; and when they replied that they were in a bad state (12) for +that their walls were thrown down to the ground, and that the +neighboring nations did a great deal of mischief to the Jews, +while in the day time they overran the country, and pillaged it, +and in the night did them mischief, insomuch that not a few were +led away captive out of the country, and out of Jerusalem itself, +and that the roads were in the day time found full of dead men. +Hereupon Nehemiah shed tears, out of commiseration of the +calamities of his countrymen; and, looking up to heaven, he said, +"How long, O Lord, wilt thou overlook our nation, while it +suffers so great miseries, and while we are made the prey and +spoil of all men?" And while he staid at the gate, and lamented +thus, one told him that the king was going to sit down to supper; +so he made haste, and went as he was, without wishing himself, to +minister to the king in his office of cup-bearer. But as the king +was very pleasant after supper, and more cheerful than usual, he +cast his eyes on Nehemiah, and seeing him look sad, he asked him +why he was sad. Whereupon he prayed to God to give him favor, and +afford him the power of persuading by his words, and said, "How +can I, O king, appear otherwise than thus, and not be in trouble, +while I hear that the walls of Jerusalem, the city where are the +sepulchers of my fathers, are thrown down to the ground, and that +its gates are consumed by fire? But do thou grant me the favor to +go and build its wall, and to finish the building of the temple." +Accordingly, the king gave him a signal that he freely granted +him what he asked; and told him that he should carry an epistle +to the governors, that they might pay him due honor, and afford +him whatsoever assistance he wanted, and as he pleased. "Leave +off thy sorrow then," said the king, "and be cheerful in the +performance of thy office hereafter." So Nehemiah worshipped God, +and gave the king thanks for his promise, and cleared up his sad +and cloudy countenance, by the pleasure he had from the king's +promises. Accordingly, the king called for him the next day, and +gave him an epistle to be carried to Adeus, the governor of +Syria, and Phoenicia, and Samaria; wherein he sent to him to pay +due honor to Nehemiah, and to supply him with what he wanted for +his building. + +7. Now when he was come to Babylon, and had taken with him many +of his countrymen, who voluntarily followed him, he came to +Jerusalem in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of Xerxes. +And when he had shown the epistles to God (13) he gave them to +Adeus, and to the other governors. He also called together all +the people to Jerusalem, and stood in the midst of the temple, +and made the following speech to them: "You know, O Jews, that +God hath kept our fathers, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in mind +continually, and for the sake of their righteousness hath not +left off the care of you. Indeed he hath assisted me in gaining +this authority of the king to raise up our wall, and finish what +is wanting of the temple. I desire you, therefore who well know +the ill-will our neighboring nations bear to us, and that when +once they are made sensible that we are in earnest about +building, they will come upon us, and contrive many ways of +obstructing our works, that you will, in the first place, put +your trust in God, as in him that will assist us against their +hatred, and to intermit building neither night nor day, but to +use all diligence, and to hasten on the work, now we have this +especial opportunity for it." When he had said this, he gave +order that the rulers should measure the wall, and part the work +of it among the people, according to their villages and cities, +as every one's ability should require. And when he had added this +promise, that he himself, with his servants, would assist them, +he dissolved the assembly. So the Jews prepared for the work: +that is the name they are called by from the day that they came +up from Babylon, which is taken from the tribe of Judah, which +came first to these places, and thence both they and the country +gained that appellation. + +8. But now when the Ammonites, and Moabites, and Samaritans, and +all that inhabited Celesyria, heard that the building went on +apace, they took it heinously, and proceeded to lay snares for +them, and to hinder their intentions. They also slew many of the +Jews, and sought how they might destroy Nehemiah himself, by +hiring some of the foreigners to kill him. They also put the Jews +in fear, and disturbed them, and spread abroad rumors, as if many +nations were ready to make an expedition against them, by which +means they were harassed, and had almost left off the building. +But none of these things could deter Nehemiah from being diligent +about the work; he only set a number of men about him as a guard +to his body, and so unweariedly persevered therein, and was +insensible of any trouble, out of his desire to perfect this +work. And thus did he attentively, and with great forecast, take +care of his own safety; not that he feared death, but of this +persuasion, that if he were dead, the walls for his citizens +would never be raised. He also gave orders that the builders +should keep their ranks, and have their armor on while they were +building. Accordingly, the mason had his sword on, as well as he +that brought the materials for building. He also appointed that +their shields should lie very near them; and he placed trumpeters +at every five hundred feet, and charged them, that if their +enemies appeared, they should give notice of it to the people, +that they might fight in their armor, and their enemies might not +fall upon them naked. He also went about the compass of the city +by night, being never discouraged, neither about the work itself, +nor about his own diet and sleep, for he made no use of those +things for his pleasure, but out of necessity. And this trouble +he underwent for two years and four months; (14) for in so long a +time was the wall built, in the twenty-eighth year of the reign +of Xerxes, in the ninth month. Now when the walls were finished, +Nehemiah and the multitude offered sacrifices to God for the +building of them, and they continued in feasting eight days. +However, when the nations which dwelt in Syria heard that the +building of the wall was finished, they had indignation at it. +But when Nehemiah saw that the city was thin of people, he +exhorted the priests and the Levites that they would leave the +country, and remove themselves to the city, and there continue; +and he built them houses at his own expenses; and he commanded +that part of the people which were employed in cultivating the +land to bring the tithes of their fruits to Jerusalem, that the +priests and Levites having whereof they might live perpetually, +might not leave the Divine worship; who willingly hearkened to +the constitutions of Nehemiah, by which means the city Jerusalem +came to be fuller of people than it was before. So when Nehemiah +had done many other excellent things, and things worthy of +commendation, in a glorious manner, he came to a great age, and +then died. He was a man of a good and righteous disposition, and +very ambitious to make his own nation happy; and he hath left the +walls of Jerusalem as an eternal monument for himself. Now this +was done in the days of Xerxes. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +Concerning Esther And Mordecai And Haman; And How In The Reign Of +Artaxerxes The Whole Nation Of The Jews Was In Danger Of +Perishing. + + +1. After the death of Xerxes, the kingdom came to be transferred +to his son Cyrus, whom the Greeks called Artaxerxes. When this +man had obtained the government over the Persians, the whole +nation of the Jews, (15) with their wives and children, were in +danger of perishing; the occasion whereof we shall declare in a +little time; for it is proper, in the first place, to explain +somewhat relating to this king, and how he came to marry a Jewish +wife, who was herself of the royal family also, and who is +related to have saved our nation; for when Artaxerxes had taken +the kingdom, and had set governors over the hundred twenty and +seven provinces, from India even unto Ethiopia, in the third year +of his reign, he made a costly feast for his friends, and for the +nations of Persia, and for their governors, such a one as was +proper for a king to make, when he had a mind to make a public +demonstration of his riches, and this for a hundred and fourscore +days; after which he made a feast for other nations, and for +their ambassadors, at Shushan, for seven days. Now this feast was +ordered after the manner following: He caused a tent to be +pitched, which was supported by pillars of gold and silver, with +curtains of linen and purple spread over them, that it might +afford room for many ten thousands to sit down. The cups with +which the waiters ministered were of gold, and adorned with +precious stones, for pleasure and for sight. He also gave order +to the servants that they should not force them to drink, by +bringing them wine continually, as is the practice of the +Persians, but to permit every one of the guests to enjoy himself +according to his own inclination. Moreover, he sent messengers +through the country, and gave order that they should have a +remission of their labors, and should keep a festival many days, +on account of his kingdom. In like manner did Vashti the queen +gather her guests together, and made them a feast in the palace. +Now the king was desirous to show her, who exceeded all other +women in beauty, to those that feasted with him, and he sent some +to command her to come to his feast. But she, out of regard to +the laws of the Persians, which forbid the wives to be seen by +strangers, did not go to the king (16) and though he oftentimes +sent the eunuchs to her, she did nevertheless stay away, and +refused to come, till the king was so much irritated, that he +brake up the entertainment, and rose up, and called for those +seven who had the interpretation of the laws committed to them, +and accused his wife, and said that he had been affronted by her, +because that when she was frequently called by him to his feast, +she did not obey him once. He therefore gave order that they +should inform him what could be done by the law against her. So +one of them, whose name was Memucan, said that this affront was +offered not to him alone, but to all the Persians, who were in +danger of leading their lives very ill with their wives, if they +must be thus despised by them; for that none of their wives would +have any reverence for their husbands, if they had" such an +example of arrogance in the queen towards thee, who rulest over +all." Accordingly, he exhorted him to punish her, who had been +guilty of so great an affront to him, after a severe manner; and +when he had so done, to publish to the nations what had been +decreed about the queen. So the resolution was to put Vashti +away, and to give her dignity to another woman. + +2. But the king having been fond of her, did not well bear a +separation, and yet by the law he could not admit of a +reconciliation; so he was under trouble, as not having it in his +power to do what he desired to do. But when his friends saw him +so uneasy, they advised him to cast the memory of his wife, and +his love for her, out of his mind, but to send abroad over all +the habitable earth, and to search out for comely virgins, and to +take her whom he should best like for his wife, because his +passion for his former wife would be quenched by the introduction +of another, and the kindness he had for Vashti would be withdrawn +from her, and be placed on her that was with him. Accordingly, he +was persuaded to follow this advice, and gave order to certain +persons to choose out of the virgins that were in his kingdom +those that were esteemed the most comely. So when a great number +of these virgins were gathered together, there was found a damsel +in Babylon, whose parents were both dead, and she was brought up +with her uncle Mordecai, for that was her uncle's name. This +uncle was of the tribe of Benjamin, and was one of the principal +persons among the Jews. Now it proved that this damsel, whose +name was Esther, was the most beautiful of all the rest, and that +the grace of her countenance drew the eyes of the spectators +principally upon her. So she was committed to one of the eunuchs +to take the care of her; and she was very exactly provided with +sweet odors, in great plenty, and with costly ointments, such as +her body required to be anointed withal; and this was used for +six months by the virgins, who were in number four hundred. And +when the eunuch thought the virgins had been sufficiently +purified, in the fore-mentioned time, and were now fit to go to +the king's bed, he sent one to be with the king ever day. So when +he had accompanied with her, he sent her back to the eunuch; and +when Esther had come to him, he was pleased with her, and fell in +love with the damsel, and married her, and made her his lawful +wife, and kept a wedding feast for her on the twelfth month of +the seventh year of his reign, which was called Adar. He also +sent angari, as they are called, or messengers, unto every +nation, and gave orders that they should keep a feast for his +marriage, while he himself treated the Persians and the Medes, +and the principal men of the nations, for a whole month, on +account of this his marriage. Accordingly, Esther came to his +royal palace, and he set a diadem on her head. And thus was +Esther married, without making known to the king what nation she +was derived from. Her uncle also removed from Babylon to Shushan, +and dwelt there, being every day about the palace, and inquiring +how the damsel did, for he loved her as though she had been his +own daughter. + +3. Now the king had made a law, (17) that none of his own people +should approach him unless he were called, when he sat upon his +throne and men, with axes in their hands, stood round about his +throne, in order to punish such as approached to him without +being called. However, the king sat with a golden scepter in his +hand, which he held out when he had a mind to save any one of +those that approached to him without being called, and he who +touched it was free from danger. But of this matter we have +discoursed sufficiently. + +4. Some time after this [two eunuchs], Bigthan and Teresh, +plotted against the king; and Barnabazus, the servant of one of +the eunuchs, being by birth a Jew, was acquainted with their +conspiracy, and discovered it to the queen's uncle; and Mordecai, +by the means of Esther, made the conspirators known to the king. +This troubled the king; but he discovered the truth, and hanged +the eunuchs upon a cross, while at that time he gave no reward ]: +to Mordecai, who had been the occasion of his preservation. He +only bid the scribes to set down his name in the records, and bid +him stay in the palace, as an intimate friend of the king. + +5. Now there was one Haman, the son of Amedatha, by birth an +Amalekite, that used to go in to the king; and the foreigners and +Persians worshipped him, as Artaxerxes had commanded that such +honor should be paid to him; but Mordecai was so wise, and so +observant of his own country's laws, that he would not worship +the man (18) When Haman observed this, he inquired whence he +came; and when he understood that he was a Jew, he had +indignation at him, and said within himself, that whereas the +Persians, who were free men, worshipped him, this man, who was no +better than a slave, does not vouchsafe to do so. And when he +desired to punish Mordecai, he thought it too small a thing to +request of the king that he alone might be punished; he rather +determined to abolish the whole nation, for he was naturally an +enemy to the Jews, because the nation of the Amalekites, of which +he was; had been destroyed by them. Accordingly he came to the +king, and accused them, saying, "There is a certain wicked +nation, and it is dispersed over all the habitable earth the was +under his dominion; a nation separate from others, unsociable, +neither admitting the same sort of Divine worship that others do, +nor using laws like to the laws of others, at enmity with thy +people, and with all men, both in their manners and practices. +Now, if thou wilt be a benefactor to thy subjects, thou wilt give +order to destroy them utterly, and not leave the least remains of +them, nor preserve any of them, either for slaves or for +captives." But that the king might not be damnified by the loss +of the tributes which the Jews paid him, Haman promised to give +him out of his own estate forty thousand talents whensoever he +pleased; and he said he would pay this money very willingly, that +the kingdom might be freed from such a misfortune. + +6. When Haman had made this petition, the king both forgave him +the money, and granted him the men, to do what he would with +them. So Haman, having gained what he desired, sent out +immediately a decree, as from the king, to all nations, the +contents whereof were these: "Artaxerxes, the great king, to the +rulers of the hundred twenty and seven provinces, from India to +Ethiopia, sends this writing. Whereas I have governed many +nations, and obtained the dominions of all the habitable earth, +according to my desire, and have not been obliged to do any thing +that is insolent or cruel to my subjects by such my power, but +have showed myself mild and gentle, by taking care of their peace +and good order, and have sought how they might enjoy those +blessings for all time to come. And whereas I have been kindly +informed by Haman, who, on account of his prudence and justice, +is the first in my esteem, and in dignity, and only second to +myself, for his fidelity and constant good-will to me, that there +is an ill-natured nation intermixed with all mankind, that is +averse to our laws, and not subject to kings, and of a different +conduct of life from others, that hateth monarchy, and of a +disposition that is pernicious to our affairs, I give order that +all these men, of whom Haman our second father hath informed us, +be destroyed, with their wives and children, and that none of +them be spared, and that none prefer pity to them before +obedience to this decree. And this I will to be executed on the +fourteenth day of the twelfth month of this present year, that so +when all that have enmity to us are destroyed, and this in one +day, we may be allowed to lead the rest of our lives in peace +hereafter." Now when this decree was brought to the cities, and +to the country, all were ready for the destruction and entire +abolishment of the Jews, against the day before mentioned; and +they were very hasty about it at Shushan, in particular. +Accordingly, the king and Haman spent their time in feasting +together with good cheer and wine, but the city was in disorder. + +7. Now when Mordecai was informed of what was done, he rent his +clothes, and put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes upon his head, +and went about the city, crying out, that "a nation that had been +injurious to no man was to be destroyed." And he went on saying +thus as far as to the king's palace, and there he stood, for it +was not lawful for him to go into it in that habit. The same +thing was done by all the Jews that were in the several cities +wherein this decree was published, with lamentation and mourning, +on account of the calamities denounced against them. But as soon +as certain persons had told the queen that Mordecai stood before +the court in a mourning habit, she was disturbed at this report, +and sent out such as should change his garments; but when he +could not be induced to put off his sackcloth, because the sad +occasion that forced him to put it on was not yet ceased, she +called the eunuch Acratheus, for he was then present, and sent +him to Mordecai, in order to know of him what sad accident had +befallen him, for which he was in mourning, and would not put off +the habit he had put on at her desire. Then did Mordecai inform +the eunuch of the occasion of his mourning, and of the decree +which was sent by the king into all the country, and of the +promise of money whereby Haman brought the destruction of their +nation. He also gave him a copy of what was proclaimed at +Shushan, to be carried to Esther; and he charged her to petition +the king about this matter, and not to think it a dishonorable +thing in her to put on a humble habit, for the safety of her +nation, wherein she might deprecate the ruin of the Jews, who +were in danger of it; for that Haman, whose dignity was only +inferior to that of the king, had accused the Jews, and had +irritated the king against them. When she was informed of this, +she sent to Mordecai again, and told him that she was not called +by the king, and that he who goes in to him without being called, +is to be slain, unless when he is willing to save any one, he +holds out his golden scepter to him; but that to whomsoever he +does so, although he go in without being called, that person is +so far from being slain, that he obtains pardon, and is entirely +preserved. Now when the eunuch carried this message from Esther +to Mordecai, he bade him also tell her that she must not only +provide for her own preservation, but for the common preservation +of her nation, for that if she now neglected this opportunity, +there would certainly arise help to them from God some other way, +but she and her father's house would be destroyed by those whom +she now despised. But Esther sent the very same eunuch back to +Mordecai [to desire him] to go to Shushan, and to gather the Jews +that were there together to a congregation, and to fast and +abstain from all sorts of food, on her account, and [to let him +know that] she with her maidens would do the same: and then she +promised that she would go to the king, though it were against +the law, and that if she must die for it, she would not refuse +it. + +8. Accordingly, Mordecai did as Esther had enjoined him, and made +the people fast; and he besought God, together with them, not to +overlook his nation, particularly at this time, when it was going +to be destroyed; but that, as he had often before provided for +them, and forgiven, when they had sinned, so he would now deliver +them from that destruction which was denounced against them; for +although it was not all the nation that had offended, yet must +they so ingloriously be slain, and that he was himself the +occasion of the wrath of Haman, "Because," said he, "I did not +worship him, nor could I endure to pay that honor to him which I +used to pay to thee, O Lord; for upon that his anger hath he +contrived this present mischief against those that have not +transgressed thy laws." The same supplications did the multitude +put up, and entreated that God would provide for their +deliverance, and free the Israelites that were in all the earth +from this calamity which was now coming upon them, for they had +it before their eyes, and expected its coming. Accordingly, +Esther made supplication to God after the manner of her country, +by casting herself down upon the earth, and putting on her +mourning garments, and bidding farewell to meat and drink, and +all delicacies, for three days' time; and she entreated God to +have mercy upon her, and make her words appear persuasive to the +king, and render her countenance more beautiful than it was +before, that both by her words and beauty she might succeed, for +the averting of the king's anger, in case he were at all +irritated against her, and for the consolation of those of her +own country, now they were in the utmost danger of perishing; as +also that he would excite a hatred in the king against the +enemies of the Jews, and those that had contrived their future +destruction, if they proved to be contemned by him. + +9. When Esther had used this supplication for three days, she put +off those garments, and changed her habit, and adorned herself as +became a queen, and took two of her handmaids with her, the one +of which supported her, as she gently leaned upon her, and the +other followed after, and lifted up her large train (which swept +along the ground) with the extremities of her fingers. And thus +she came to the king, having a blushing redness in her +countenance, with a pleasant agreeableness in her behavior; yet +did she go in to him with fear; and as soon as she was come over +against him, as he was sitting on his throne, in his royal +apparel, which was a garment interwoven with gold and precious +stones, which made him seem to her more terrible, especially when +he looked at her somewhat severely, and with a countenance on +fire with anger, her joints failed her immediately, out of the +dread she was in, and she fell down sideways in a swoon: but the +king changed his mind, which happened, as I suppose, by the will +of God, and was concerned for his wife, lest her fear should +bring some very ill thing upon her, and he leaped from his +throne, and took her in his arms, and recovered her, by embracing +her, and speaking comfortably to her, and exhorting her to be of +good cheer, and not to suspect any thing that was sad on account +of her coming to him without being called, because that law was +made for subjects, but that she, who was a queen, as well as he a +king, might be entirely secure; and as he said this, he put the +scepter into her hand, and laid his rod upon her neck, on account +of the law; and so freed her from her fear. And after she had +recovered herself by these encouragements, she said, "My lord, it +is not easy for me, on the sudden, to say what hath happened, for +as soon as I saw thee to be great, and comely, and terrible, my +spirit departed from me, and I had no soul left in me." And while +it was with difficulty, and in a low voice, that she could say +thus much, the king was in a great agony and disorder, and +encouraged Esther to be of good cheer, and to expect better +fortune, since he was ready, if occasion should require it, to +grant her the half of his kingdom. Accordingly, Esther desired +that he and his friend Haman would come to her to a banquet, for +she said she had prepared a supper for him. He consented to it; +and when they were there, as they were drinking, he bid Esther to +let him know what she desired; for that she should not be +disappointed though she should desire the half of his kingdom. +But she put off the discovery of her petition till the next day, +if he would come again, together with Haman, to her banquet. + +10. Now when the king had promised so to do, Haman went away very +glad, because he alone had the honor of supping with the king at +Esther's banquet, and because no one else partook of the same +honor with kings but himself; yet when he saw Mordecai in the +court, he was very much displeased, for he paid him no manner of +respect when he saw him. So he went home and called for his wife +Zeresh, and his friends, and when they were come, he showed them +what honor he enjoyed not only from the king, but from the queen +also, for as he alone had that day supped with her, together with +the king, so was he also invited again for the next day; yet," +said he, "am I not pleased to see Mordecai the Jew in the court." +Hereupon his wife Zeresh advised him to give order that a gallows +should be made fifty cubits high, and that in the morning he +should ask it of the king that Mordecai might be hanged thereon. +So he commended her advice, and gave order to his servants to +prepare the gallows, and to place it in the court, for the +punishment of Mordecai thereon, which was accordingly prepared. +But God laughed to scorn the wicked expectations of Haman; and as +he knew what the event would be, he was delighted at it, for that +night he took away the king's sleep; and as the king was not +willing to lose the time of his lying awake, but to spend it in +something that might be of advantage to his kingdom, he commanded +the scribe to bring him the chronicles of the former kings, and +the records of his own actions; and when he had brought them, and +was reading them, one was found to have received a country on +account of his excellent management on a certain occasion, and +the name of the country was set down; another was found to have +had a present made him on account of his fidelity: then the +scribe came to Bigthan and Teresh, the eunuchs that had made a +conspiracy against the king, which Mordecai had discovered; and +when the scribe said no more but that, and was going on to +another history, the king stopped him, and inquired "whether it +was not added that Mordecai had a reward given him?" and when he +said there was no such addition, he bade him leave off; and he +inquired of those that were appointed for that purpose, what hour +of the night it was; and when he was informed that it was already +day, he gave order, that if they found any one of his friends +already come, and standing before the court, they should tell +him. Now it happened that Haman was found there, for he was come +sooner than ordinary to petition the king to have Mordecai put to +death; and when the servants said that Haman was before the +court, he bid them call him in; and when he was come in, he said, +"Because I know that thou art my only fast friend, I desire thee +to give me advice how I may honor one that I greatly love, and +that after a manner suitable to my magnificence." Now Haman +reasoned with himself, that what opinion he should give it would +be for himself, since it was he alone who was beloved by the +king: so he gave that advice which he thought of all other the +best; for he said, "If thou wouldst truly honor a man whom thou +sayest thou dost love, give order that he may ride on horseback, +with the same garment on which thou wearest, and with a gold +chain about his neck, and let one of thy intimate friends go +before him, and proclaim through the whole city, that whosoever +the king honoreth obtaineth this mark of his honor." This was the +advice which Haman gave, out of a supposal that such a reward +would come to himself. Hereupon the king was pleased with the +advice, and said, "Go thou therefore, for thou hast the horse, +the garment, and the chain, ask for Mordecai the Jew, and give +him those things, and go before his horse and proclaim +accordingly; for thou art," said he, "my intimate friend, and +hast given me good advice; be thou then the minister of what thou +hast advised me to. This shall be his reward from us, for +preserving my life." When he heard this order, which was entirely +unexpected, he was confounded in his mind, and knew not what to +do. However, he went out and led the horse, and took the purple +garment, and the golden chain for the neck, and finding Mordecai +before the court, clothed in sackcloth, he bid him put that +garment off, and put the purple garment on. But Mordecai, not +knowing the truth of the matter, but thinking that it was done in +mockery, said, "O thou wretch, the vilest of all mankind, dost +thou thus laugh at our calamities?" But when he was satisfied +that the king bestowed this honor upon him, for the deliverance +he had procured him when he convicted the eunuchs who had +conspired against him, he put on that purple garment which the +king always wore, and put the chain about his neck, and got on +horseback, and went round the city, while Haman went before and +proclaimed, "This shall be the reward which the king will bestow +on every one whom he loves, and esteems worthy of honor." And +when they had gone round the city, Mordecai went in to the king; +but Haman went home, out of shame, and informed his wife and +friends of what had happened, and this with tears; who said, that +he would never be able to be revenged of Mordecai, for that God +was with him. + +11. Now while these men were thus talking one to another, +Esther's eunuchs hastened Haman away to come to supper; but one +of the eunuchs, named Sabuchadas, saw the gallows that was fixed +in Haman's house, and inquired of one of his servants for what +purpose they had prepared it. So he knew that it was for the +queen's uncle, because Haman was about to petition the king that +he might be punished; but at present he held his peace. Now when +the king, with Haman, were at the banquet, he desired the queen +to tell him what gifts she desired to obtain, and assured her +that she should have whatsoever she had a mind to. She then +lamented the danger her people were in; and said that "she and +her nation were given up to be destroyed, and that she, on that +account, made this her petition; that she would not have troubled +him if he had only given order that they should be sold into +bitter servitude, for such a misfortune would not have been +intolerable; but she desired that they might be delivered from +such destruction." And when the king inquired of her whom was the +author of this misery to them, she then openly accused Haman, and +convicted him, that he had been the wicked instrument of this, +and had formed this plot against them. When the king was hereupon +in disorder, and was gone hastily out of the banquet into the +gardens, Haman began to intercede with Esther, and to beseech her +to forgive him, as to what he had offended, for he perceived that +he was in a very bad case. And as he had fallen upon the queen's +bed, and was making supplication to her, the king came in, and +being still more provoked at what he saw, "O thou wretch," said +he, "thou vilest of mankind, dost thou aim to force in wife?" And +when Haman was astonished at this, and not able to speak one word +more, Sabuchadas the eunuch came in and accused Haman, and said," +He found a gallows at his house, prepared for Mordecai; for that +the servant told him so much upon his inquiry, when he was sent +to him to call him to supper." He said further, that the gallows +was fifty cubits high: which, when the king heard, he determined +that Haman should be punished after no other manner than that +which had been devised by him against Mordecai; so he gave order +immediately that he should be hung upon those gallows, and be put +to death after that manner. And from hence I cannot forbear to +admire God, and to learn hence his wisdom and his justice, not +only in punishing the wickedness of Haman, but in so disposing +it, that he should undergo the very same punishment which he had +contrived for another; as also because thereby he teaches others +this lesson, that what mischiefs any one prepares against +another, he, without knowing of it, first contrives it against +himself. + +12. Wherefore Haman, who had immoderately abused the honor he had +from the king, was destroyed after this manner, and the king +granted his estate to the queen. He also called for Mordecai, +(for Esther had informed him that she was akin to him,) and gave +that ring to Mordecai which he had before given to Haman. The +queen also gave Haman's estate to Mordecai; and prayed the king +to deliver the nation of the Jews from the fear of death, and +showed him what had been written over all the country by Haman +the son of Ammedatha; for that if her country were destroyed, and +her countrymen were to perish, she could not bear to live herself +any longer. So the king promised her that he would not do any +thing that should be disagreeable to her, nor contradict what she +desired; but he bid her write what she pleased about the Jews, in +the king's name, and seal it with his seal, and send it to all +his kingdom, for that those who read epistles whose authority is +secured by having the king's seal to them, would no way +contradict what was written therein. So he commanded the king's +scribes to be sent for, and to write to the nations, on the Jews' +behalf, and to his lieutenants and governors, that were over his +hundred twenty and seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia. Now +the contents of this epistle were these: "The great king +Artaxerxes to our rulers, and those that are our faithful +subjects, sendeth greeting. (19) Many men there are who, on +account of the greatness of the benefits bestowed on them, and +because of the honor which they have obtained from the wonderful +kind treatment of those that bestowed it, are not only injurious +to their inferiors, but do not scruple to do evil to those that +have been their benefactors, as if they would take away gratitude +from among men, and by their insolent abuse of such benefits as +they never expected, they turn the abundance they have against +those that are the authors of it, and suppose they shall lie +concealed from God in that case, and avoid that vengeance which +comes from him. Some of these men, when they have had the +management of affairs committed to them by their friends, and +bearing private malice of their own against some others, by +deceiving those that have the power, persuade them to be angry at +such as have done them no harm, till they are in danger of +perishing, and this by laying accusations and calumnies: nor is +this state of things to be discovered by ancient examples, or +such as we have learned by report only, but by some examples of +such impudent attempts under our own eyes; so that it is not fit +to attend any longer to calumnies and accusations, nor to the +persuasions of others, but to determine what any one knows of +himself to have been really done, and to punish what justly +deserves it, and to grant favors to such as are innocent. This +hath been the case of Haman, the son of Ammedatha, by birth an +Amalekite, and alien from the blood of the Persians, who, when he +was hospitably entertained by us, and partook of that kindness +which we bear to all men to so great a degree, as to be called my +father, and to be all along worshipped, and to have honor paid +him by all in the second rank after the royal honor due to +ourselves, he could not bear his good fortune, nor govern the +magnitude of his prosperity with sound reason; nay, he made a +conspiracy against me and my life, who gave him his authority, by +endeavoring to take away Mordecai, my benefactor, and my savior, +and by basely and treacherously requiring to have Esther, the +partner of my life, and of my dominion, brought to destruction; +for he contrived by this means to deprive me of my faithful +friends, and transfer the government to others: (20) but since I +perceived that these Jews, that were by this pernicious fellow +devoted to destruction, were not wicked men, but conducted their +lives after the best manner, and were men dedicated to the +worship of that God who hath preserved the kingdom to me and to +my ancestors, I do not only free them from the punishment which +the former epistle, which was sent by Haman, ordered to be +inflicted on them, to which if you refuse obedience, you shall do +well; but I will that they have all honor paid to them. +Accordingly, I have hanged up the man that contrived such things +against them, with his family, before the gates of Shushan; that +punishment being sent upon him by God, who seeth all things. And +I give you in charge, that you publicly propose a copy of this +epistle through all my kingdom, that the Jews may be permitted +peaceably to use their own laws, and that you assist them, that +at the same season whereto their miserable estate did belong, +they may defend themselves the very same day from unjust +violence, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is Adar; +for God hath made that day a day of salvation instead of a day of +destruction to them; and may it be a good day to those that wish +us well, and a memorial of the punishment of the conspirators +against us: and I will that you take notice, that every city, and +every nation, that shall disobey any thing that is contained in +this epistle, shall be destroyed by fire and sword. However, let +this epistle be published through all the country that is under +our obedience, and let all the Jews, by all means, be ready +against the day before mentioned, that they may avenge themselves +upon their enemies." + +13. Accordingly, the horsemen who carried the epistles proceeded +on the ways which they were to go with speed: but as for +Mordecai, as soon as he had assumed the royal garment, and the +crown of gold, and had put the chain about his neck, he went +forth in a public procession; and when the Jews who were at +Shushan saw him in so great honor with the king, they thought his +good fortune was common to themselves also, and joy and a beam of +salvation encompassed the Jews, both those that were in the +cities, and those that were in the countries, upon the +publication of the king's letters, insomuch that many even of +other nations circumcised their foreskin for fear of the Jews, +that they might procure safety to themselves thereby; for on the +thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which according to the +Hebrews is called Adar, but according to the Macedonians, +Dystrus, those that carried the king's epistle gave them notice, +that the same day wherein their danger was to have been, on that +very day should they destroy their enemies. But now the rulers of +the provinces, and the tyrants, and the kings, and the scribes, +had the Jews in esteem; for the fear they were in of Mordecai +forced them to act with discretion. Now when the royal decree was +come to all the country that was subject to the king, it fell out +that the Jews at Shushan slew five hundred of their enemies; and +when the king had told Esther the number of those that were slain +in that city, but did not well know what had been done in the +provinces, he asked her whether she would have any thing further +done against them, for that it should be done accordingly: upon +which she desired that the Jews might be permitted to treat their +remaining enemies in the same manner the next day; as also that +they might hang the ten sons of Haman upon the gallows. So the +king permitted the Jews so to do, as desirous not to contradict +Esther. So they gathered themselves together again on the +fourteenth day of the month Dystrus, and slew about three hundred +of their enemies, but touched nothing of what riches they had. +Now there were slain by the Jews that were in the country, and in +the other cities, seventy-five thousand of their enemies, and +these were slain on the thirteenth day of the month, and the next +day they kept as a festival. In like manner the Jews that were in +Shushan gathered themselves together, and feasted on the +fourteenth day, and that which followed it; whence it is that +even now all the Jews that are in the habitable earth keep these +days festival, and send portions to one another. Mordecai also +wrote to the Jews that lived in the kingdom of Artaxerxes to +observe these days, and celebrate them as festivals, and to +deliver them down to posterity, that this festival might continue +for all time to come, and that it might never be buried in +oblivion; for since they were about to be destroyed on these days +by Haman, they would do a right thing, upon escaping the danger +in them, and on them inflicting punishment on their enemies, to +observe those days, and give thanks to God on them; for which +cause the Jews still keep the forementioned days, and call them +days of Phurim [or Purim.] (21) And Mordecai became a great and +illustrious person with the king, and assisted him in the +government of the people. He also lived with the queen; so that +the affairs of the Jews were, by their means, better than they +could ever have hoped for. And this was the state of the Jews +under the reign of Artaxerxes. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How John Slew His Brother Jesus In The Temple; And How Bagoses +Offered Many Injuries To The Jews; And What Sanballat Did. + + +1. When Eliashib the high priest was dead, his son Judas +succeeded in the high priesthood; and when he was dead, his son +John took that dignity; on whose account it was also that +Bagoses, the general of another Artaxerxes's army, (22) polluted +the temple, and imposed tributes on the Jews, that out of the +public stock, before they offered the daily sacrifices, they +should pay for every lamb fifty shekels. Now Jesus was the +brother of John, and was a friend of Bagoses, who had promised to +procure him the high priesthood. In confidence of whose support, +Jesus quarreled with John in the temple, and so provoked his +brother, that in his anger his brother slew him. Now it was a +horrible thing for John, when he was high priest, to perpetrate +so great a crime, and so much the more horrible, that there never +was so cruel and impious a thing done, neither by the Greeks nor +Barbarians. However, God did not neglect its punishment, but the +people were on that very account enslaved, and the temple was +polluted by the Persians. Now when Bagoses, the general of +Artaxerxes's army, knew that John, the high priest of the Jews, +had slain his own brother Jesus in the temple, he came upon the +Jews immediately, and began in anger to say to them," Have you +had the impudence to perpetrate a murder in your temple?" And as +he was aiming to go into the temple, they forbade him so to do; +but he said to them," Am not I purer than he that was slain in +the temple?" And when he had said these words, he went into the +temple. Accordingly, Bagoses made use of this pretense, and +punished the Jews seven years for the murder of Jesus. + +2. Now when John had departed this life, his son Jaddua succeeded +in the high priesthood. He had a brother, whose name was +Manasseh. Now there was one Sanballat, who was sent by Darius, +the last king [of Persia], into Samaria. He was a Cutheam by +birth; of which stock were the Samaritans also. This man knew +that the city Jerusalem was a famous city, and that their kings +had given a great deal of trouble to the Assyrians, and the +people of Celesyria; so that he willingly gave his daughter, +whose name was Nicaso, in marriage to Manasseh, as thinking this +alliance by marriage would be a pledge and security that the +nation of the Jews should continue their good-will to him. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Concerning Sanballat And Manasseh, And The Temple Which They +Built On Mount Gerizzim; As Also How Alexander Made His Entry +Into The City Jerusalem, And What Benefits He Bestowed On The +Jews. + + +1. About this time it was that Philip, king of Macedon, was +treacherously assaulted and slain at Egae by Pausanias, the son +of Cerastes, who was derived from the family of Oreste, and his +son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom; who, passing over the +Hellespont, overcame the generals of Darius's army in a battle +fought at Granicum. So he marched over Lydia, and subdued Ionia, +and overran Caria, and fell upon the places of Pamphylia, as has +been related elsewhere. + +2. But the elders of Jerusalem being very uneasy that the brother +of Jaddua the high priest, though married to a foreigner, should +be a partner with him in the high priesthood, quarreled with him; +for they esteemed this man's marriage a step to such as should be +desirous of transgressing about the marriage of [strange] wives, +and that this would be the beginning of a mutual society with +foreigners, although the offense of some about marriages, and +their having married wives that were not of their own country, +had been an occasion of their former captivity, and of the +miseries they then underwent; so they commanded Manasseh to +divorce his wife, or not to approach the altar, the high priest +himself joining with the people in their indignation against his +brother, and driving him away from the altar. Whereupon Manasseh +came to his father-in-law, Sanballat, and told him, that although +he loved his daughter Nicaso, yet was he not willing to be +deprived of his sacerdotal dignity on her account, which was the +principal dignity in their nation, and always continued in the +same family. And then Sanballat promised him not only to preserve +to him the honor of his priesthood, but to procure for him the +power and dignity of a high priest, and would make him governor +of all the places he himself now ruled, if he would keep his +daughter for his wife. He also told him further, that he would +build him a temple like that at Jerusalem, upon Mount Gerizzini, +which is the highest of all the mountains that are in Samaria; +and he promised that he would do this with the approbation of +Darius the king. Manasseh was elevated with these promises, and +staid with Sanballat, upon a supposal that he should gain a high +priesthood, as bestowed on him by Darius, for it happened that +Sanballat was then in years. But there was now a great +disturbance among the people of Jerusalem, because many of those +priests and Levites were entangled in such matches; for they all +revolted to Manasseh, and Sanballat afforded them money, and +divided among them land for tillage, and habitations also, and +all this in order every way to gratify his son-in-law. + +3. About this time it was that Darius heard how Alexander had +passed over the Hellespont, and had beaten his lieutenants in the +battle at Granicum, and was proceeding further; whereupon he +gathered together an army of horse and foot, and determined that +he would meet the Macedonians before they should assault and +conquer all Asia. So he passed over the river Euphrates, and came +over Taurus, the Cilician mountain, and at Issus of Cilicia he +waited for the enemy, as ready there to give him battle. Upon +which Sanballat was glad that Darius was come down; and told +Manasseh that he would suddenly perform his promises to him, and +this as soon as ever Darius should come back, after he had beaten +his enemies; for not he only, but all those that were in Asia +also, were persuaded that the Macedonians would not so much as +come to a battle with the Persians, on account of their +multitude. But the event proved otherwise than they expected; for +the king joined battle with the Macedonians, and was beaten, and +lost a great part of his army. His mother also, and his wife and +children, were taken captives, and he fled into Persia. So +Alexander came into Syria, and took Damascus; and when he had +obtained Sidon, he besieged Tyre, when he sent all epistle to the +Jewish high priest, to send him some auxiliaries, and to supply +his army with provisions; and that what presents he formerly sent +to Darius, he would now send to him, and choose the friendship of +the Macedonians, and that he should never repent of so doing. But +the high priest answered the messengers, that he had given his +oath to Darius not to bear arms against him; and he said that he +would not transgress this while Darius was in the land of the +living. Upon hearing this answer, Alexander was very angry; and +though he determined not to leave Tyre, which was just ready to +be taken, yet as soon as he had taken it, he threatened that he +would make an expedition against the Jewish high priest, and +through him teach all men to whom they must keep their oaths. So +when he had, with a good deal of pains during the siege, taken +Tyre, and had settled its affairs, he came to the city of Gaza, +and besieged both the city and him that was governor of the +garrison, whose name was Babemeses. + +4. But Sanballat thought he had now gotten a proper opportunity +to make his attempt, so he renounced Darius, and taking with him +seven thousand of his own subjects, he came to Alexander; and +finding him beginning the siege of Tyre, he said to him, that he +delivered up to him these men, who came out of places under his +dominion, and did gladly accept of him for his lord instead of +Darius. So when Alexander had received him kindly, Sanballat +thereupon took courage, and spake to him about his present +affair. He told him that he had a son-in-law, Manasseh, who was +brother to the high priest Jaddua; and that there were many +others of his own nation, now with him, that were desirous to +have a temple in the places subject to him; that it would be for +the king's advantage to have the strength of the Jews divided +into two parts, lest when the nation is of one mind, and united, +upon any attempt for innovation, it prove troublesome to kings, +as it had formerly proved to the kings of Assyria. Whereupon +Alexander gave Sanballat leave so to do, who used the utmost +diligence, and built the temple, and made Manasseh the priest, +and deemed it a great reward that his daughter's children should +have that dignity; but when the seven months of the siege of Tyre +were over, and the two months of the siege of Gaza, Sanballat +died. Now Alexander, when he had taken Gaza, made haste to go up +to Jerusalem; and Jaddua the high priest, when he heard that, was +in an agony, and under terror, as not knowing how he should meet +the Macedonians, since the king was displeased at his foregoing +disobedience. He therefore ordained that the people should make +supplications, and should join with him in offering sacrifice to +God, whom he besought to protect that nation, and to deliver them +from the perils that were coming upon them; whereupon God warned +him in a dream, which came upon him after he had offered +sacrifice, that he should take courage, and adorn the city, and +open the gates; that the rest should appear in white garments, +but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits +proper to their order, without the dread of any ill consequences, +which the providence of God would prevent. Upon which, when he +rose from his sleep, he greatly rejoiced, and declared to all the +warning he had received from God. According to which dream he +acted entirely, and so waited for the coming of the king. + +5. And when he understood that he was not far from the city, he +went out in procession, with the priests and the multitude of the +citizens. The procession was venerable, and the manner of it +different from that of other nations. It reached to a place +called Sapha, which name, translated into Greek, signifies a +prospect, for you have thence a prospect both of Jerusalem and of +the temple. And when the Phoenicians and the Chaldeans that +followed him thought they should have liberty to plunder the +city, and torment the high priest to death, which the king's +displeasure fairly promised them, the very reverse of it +happened; for Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance, +in white garments, while the priests stood clothed with fine +linen, and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with +his mitre on his head, having the golden plate whereon the name +of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that +name, and first saluted the high priest. The Jews also did all +together, with one voice, salute Alexander, and encompass him +about; whereupon the kings of Syria and the rest were surprised +at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his +mind. However, Parmenio alone went up to him, and asked him how +it came to pass that, when all others adored him, he should adore +the high priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, "I did not adore +him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood; +for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I +was at Dios in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself +how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no +delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither, for that he would +conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the +Persians; whence it is that, having seen no other in that habit, +and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, +and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I +bring this army under the Divine conduct, and shall therewith +conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians, and that +all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind." And +when he had said this to Parmenio, and had given the high priest +his right hand, the priests ran along by him, and he came into +the city. And when he went up into the temple, he offered +sacrifice to God, according to the high priest's direction, and +magnificently treated both the high priest and the priests. And +when the Book of Daniel was showed him (23) wherein Daniel +declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the +Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. And +as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present; +but the next day he called them to him, and bid them ask what +favors they pleased of him; whereupon the high priest desired +that they might enjoy the laws of their forefathers, and might +pay no tribute on the seventh year. He granted all they desired. +And when they entreared him that he would permit the Jews in +Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly +promised to do hereafter what they desired. And when he said to +the multitude, that if any of them would enlist themselves in his +army, on this condition, that they should continue under the laws +of their forefathers, and live according to them, he was willing +to take them with him, many were ready to accompany him in his +wars. + +6. So when Alexander had thus settled matters at Jerusalem, he +led his army into the neighboring cities; and when all the +inhabitants to whom he came received him with great kindness, the +Samaritans, who had then Shechem for their metropolis, (a city +situate at Mount Gerizzim, and inhabited by apostates of the +Jewish nation,) seeing that Alexander had so greatly honored the +Jews, determined to profess themselves Jews; for such is the +disposition of the Samaritans, as we have already elsewhere +declared, that when the Jews are in adversity, they deny that +they are of kin to them, and then they confess the truth; but +when they perceive that some good fortune hath befallen them, +they immediately pretend to have communion with them, saying that +they belong to them, and derive their genealogy from the +posterity of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Accordingly, they +made their address to the king with splendor, and showed great +alacrity in meeting him at a little distance from Jerusalem. And +when Alexander had commended them, the Shechemites approached to +him, taking with them the troops that Sanballat had sent him, and +they desired that he would come to their city, and do honor to +their temple also; to whom he promised, that when he returned he +would come to them. And when they petitioned that he would remit +the tribute of the seventh year to them, because they did but sow +thereon, he asked who they were that made such a petition; and +when they said that they were Hebrews, but had the name of +Sidonians, living at Shechem, he asked them again whether they +were Jews; and when they said they were not Jews, "It was to the +Jews," said he, "that I granted that privilege; however, when I +return, and am thoroughly informed by you of this matter, I will +do what I shall think proper." And in this manner he took leave +of the Shechenlites; but ordered that the troops of Sanballat +should follow him into Egypt, because there he designed to give +them lands, which he did a little after in Thebais, when he +ordered them to guard that country. + +7. Now when Alexander was dead, the government was parted among +his successors, but the temple upon Mount Gerizzim remained. And +if any one were accused by those of Jerusalem of having eaten +things common (24) or of having broken the sabbath, or of any +other crime of the like nature, he fled away to the Shechemites, +and said that he was accused unjustly. About this time it was +that Jaddua the high priest died, and Onias his son took the high +priesthood. This was the state of the affairs of the people of +Jerusalem at this time. + + + + +BOOK XII. + +Containing The Interval Of A Hundred And Seventy Years. + +From The Death Of Alexander The Great To The Death Of Judas +Maccabeus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Ptolemy The Son Of Lagus Took Jerusalem And Judea By Deceit +And Treachery, And Carried Many Thence, And Planted Them In +Egypt. + + +1. Now when Alexander, king of Macedon, had put an end to the +dominion of the Persians, and had settled the affairs in Judea +after the forementioned manner, he ended his life. And as his +government fell among many, Antigonus obtained Asia, Seleucus +Babylon; and of the other nations which were there, Lysimachus +governed the Hellespont, and Cassander possessed Macedonia; as +did Ptolemy the son of Lagus seize upon Egypt. And while these +princes ambitiously strove one against another, every one for his +own principality, it came to pass that there were continual wars, +and those lasting wars too; and the cities were sufferers, and +lost a great many of their inhabitants in these times of +distress, insomuch that all Syria, by the means of Ptolemy the +son of Lagus, underwent the reverse of that denomination of +Savior, which he then had. He also seized upon Jerusalem, and for +that end made use of deceit and treachery; for as he came into +the city on a sabbath day, as if he would offer sacrifices (1) +he, without any trouble, gained the city, while the Jews did not +oppose him, for they did not suspect him to be their enemy; and +he gained it thus, because they were free from suspicion of him, +and because on that day they were at rest and quietness; and when +he had gained it, he ruled over it in a cruel manner. Nay, +Agatharchides of Cnidus, who wrote the acts of Alexander's +successors, reproaches us with superstition, as if we, by it, had +lost our liberty; where he says thus: "There is a nation called +the nation of the Jews, who inhabit a city strong and great, +named Jerusalem. These men took no care, but let it come into the +hands of Ptolemy, as not willing to take arms, and thereby they +submitted to be under a hard master, by reason of their +unseasonable superstition." This is what Agatharchides relates of +our nation. But when Ptolemy had taken a great many captives, +both from the mountainous parts of Judea, and from the places +about Jerusalem and Samaria, and the places near Mount Gerizzim, +he led them all into Egypt, (2) and settled them there. And as he +knew that the people of Jerusalem were most faithful in the +observation of oaths and covenants; and this from the answer they +made to Alexander, when he sent an embassage to them, after he +had beaten Darius in battle; so he distributed many of them into +garrisons, and at Alexandria gave them equal privileges of +citizens with the Macedonians themselves; and required of them to +take their oaths, that they would keep their fidelity to the +posterity of those who committed these places to their care. Nay, +there were not a few other Jews who, of their own accord, went +into Egypt, as invited by the goodness of the soil, and by the +liberality of Ptolemy. However, there were disoders among their +posterity, with relation to the Samaritans, on account of their +resolution to preserve that conduct of life which was delivered +to them by their forefathers, and they thereupon contended one +with another, while those of Jerusalem said that their temple was +holy, and resolved to send their sacrifices thither; but the +Samaritans were resolved that they should be sent to Mount +Gerizzim. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured The Laws Of The Jews To Be +Translated Into The Greek Tongue And Set Many Captives Free, And +Dedicated Many Gifts To God. + + +1. When Alexander had reigned twelve years, and after him Ptolemy +Soter forty years, Philadelphus then took the kingdom of Egypt, +and held it forty years within one. He procured the law to be +interpreted, and set free those that were come from Jerusalem +into Egypt, and were in slavery there, who were a hundred and +twenty thousand. The occasion was this: Demetrius Phalerius, who +was library keeper to the king, was now endeavoring, if it were +possible, to gather together all the books that were in the +habitable earth, and buying whatsoever was any where valuable, or +agreeable to the king's inclination, (who was very earnestly set +upon collecting of books,) to which inclination of his Demetrius +was zealously subservient. And when once Ptolemy asked him how +many ten thousands of books he had collected, he replied, that he +had already about twenty times ten thousand; but that, in a +little time, he should have fifty times ten thousand. But he said +he had been informed that there were many books of laws among the +Jews worthy of inquiring after, and worthy of the king's library, +but which, being written in characters and in a dialect of their +own, will cause no small pains in getting them translated into +the Greek tongue; (3) that the character in which they are +written seems to be like to that which is the proper character of +the Syrians, and that its sound, when pronounced, is like theirs +also; and that this sound appears to be peculiar to themselves. +Wherefore he said that nothing hindered why they might not get +those books to be translated also; for while nothing is wanting +that is necessary for that purpose, we may have their books also +in this library. So the king thought that Demetrius was very +zealous to procure him abundance of books, and that he suggested +what was exceeding proper for him to do; and therefore he wrote +to the Jewish high priest, that he should act accordingly. + +2. Now there was one Aristeus, who was among the king's most +intimate friends, and on account of his modesty very acceptable +to him. This Aristeus resolved frequently, and that before now, +to petition the king that he would set all the captive Jews in +his kingdom free; and he thought this to be a convenient +opportunity for the making that petition. So he discoursed, in +the first place, with the captains of the king's guards, Sosibius +of Tarentum, and Andreas, and persuaded them to assist him in +what he was going to intercede with the king for. Accordingly +Aristeus embraced the same opinion with those that have been +before mentioned, and went to the king, and made the following +speech to him: "It is not fit for us, O king, to overlook things +hastily, or to deceive ourselves, but to lay the truth open. For +since we have determined not only to get the laws of the Jews +transcribed, but interpreted also, for thy satisfaction, by what +means can we do this, while so many of the Jews are now slaves in +thy kingdom? Do thou then what will be agreeable to thy +magnanimity, and to thy good nature: free them from the miserable +condition they are in, because that God, who supporteth thy +kingdom, was the author of their laws as I have learned by +particular inquiry; for both these people, and we also, worship +the same God the framer of all things. We call him, and that +truly, by the name of GREEK, [or life, or Jupiter,] because he +breathes life into all men. Wherefore do thou restore these men +to their own country, and this do to the honor of God, because +these men pay a peculiarly excellent worship to him. And know +this further, that though I be not of kin to them by birth, nor +one of the same country with them, yet do I desire these favors +to be done them, since all men are the workmanship of God; and I +am sensible that he is well-pleased with those that do good. I do +therefore put up this petition to thee, to do good to them." + +3. When Aristeus was saying thus, the king looked upon him with a +cheerful and joyful countenance, and said, "How many ten +thousands dost thou suppose there are of such as want to be made +free?" To which Andreas replied, as he stood by, and said," A few +more than ten times ten thousand." The king made answer, "And is +this a small gift that thou askest, Aristeus?" But Sosibius, and +the rest that stood by, said that he ought to offer such a +thank-offering as was worthy of his greatness of soul, to that +God who had given him his kingdom. With this answer he was much +pleased; and gave order, that when they paid the soldiers their +wages, they should lay down [a hundred and] twenty drachmas (4) +for every one of the slaves? And he promised to publish a +magnificent decree, about what they requested, which should +confirm what Aristeus had proposed, and especially what God +willed should be done; whereby he said he would not only set +those free who had been led away captive by his father and his +army, but those who were in this kingdom before, and those also, +if any such there were, who had been brought away since. And when +they said that their redemption money would amount to above four +hundred talents, he granted it. A copy of which decree I have +determined to preserve, that the magnanimity of this king may be +made known. Its contents were as follows: "Let all those who were +soldiers under our father, and who, when they overran Syria and +Phoenicia, and laid waste Judea, took the Jews captives, and made +them slaves, and brought them into our cities, and into this +country, and then sold them; as also all those that were in my +kingdom before them, and if there be any that have been lately +brought thither, - be made free by those that possess them; and +let them accept of [a hundred and] twenty drachmas for every +slave. And let the soldiers receive this redemption money with +their pay, but the rest out of the king's treasury: for I suppose +that they were made captives without our father's consent, and +against equity; and that their country was harassed by the +insolence of the soldiers, and that, by removing them into Egypt, +the soldiers have made a great profit by them. Out of regard +therefore to justice, and out of pity to those that have been +tyrannized over, contrary to equity, I enjoin those that have +such Jews in their service to set them at liberty, upon the +receipt of the before-mentioned sum; and that no one use any +deceit about them, but obey what is here commanded. And I will +that they give in their names within three days after the +publication of this edict, to such as are appointed to execute +the same, and to produce the slaves before them also, for I think +it will be for the advantage of my affairs. And let every one +that will inform against those that do not obey this decree, and +I will that their estates be confiscated into the king's +treasury." When this decree was read to the king, it at first +contained the rest that is here inserted, and omitted only those +Jews that had formerly been brought, and those brought +afterwards, which had not been distinctly mentioned; so he added +these clauses out of his humanity, and with great generosity. He +also gave order that the payment, which was likely to be done in +a hurry, should be divided among the king's ministers, and among +the officers of his treasury. When this was over, what the king +had decreed was quickly brought to a conclusion; and this in no +more than seven days' time, the number of the talents paid for +the captives being above four hundred and sixty, and this, +because their masters required the [hundred and] twenty drachmas +for the children also, the king having, in effect, commanded that +these should be paid for, when he said in his decree, that they +should receive the forementioned sum for every slave. + +4. Now when this had been done after so magnificent a manner, +according to the king's inclinations, he gave order to Demetrius +to give him in writing his sentiments concerning the transcribing +of the Jewish books; for no part of the administration is done +rashly by these kings, but all things are managed with great +circumspection. On which account I have subjoined a copy of these +epistles, and set down the multitude of the vessels sent as gifts +[to Jerusalem], and the construction of every one, that the +exactness of the artificers' workmanship, as it appeared to those +that saw them, and which workman made every vessel, may be made +manifest, and this on account of the excellency of the vessels +themselves. Now the copy of the epistle was to this purpose: +"Demetrius to the great king. When thou, O king, gavest me a +charge concerning the collection of books that were wanting to +fill your library, and concerning the care that ought to be taken +about such as are imperfect, I have used the utmost diligence +about those matters. And I let you know, that we want the books +of the Jewish legislation, with some others; for they are written +in the Hebrew characters, and being in the language of that +nation, are to us unknown. It hath also happened to them, that +they have been transcribed more carelessly than they ought to +have been, because they have not had hitherto royal care taken +about them. Now it is necessary that thou shouldst have accurate +copies of them. And indeed this legislation is full of hidden +wisdom, and entirely blameless, as being the legislation of God; +for which cause it is, as Hecateus of Abdera says, that the poets +and historians make no mention of it, nor of those men who lead +their lives according to it, since it is a holy law, and ought +not to be published by profane mouths. If then it please thee, O +king, thou mayst write to the high priest of the Jews, to send +six of the elders out of every tribe, and those such as are most +skillful of the laws, that by their means we may learn the clear +and agreeing sense of these books, and may obtain an accurate +interpretation of their contents, and so may have such a +collection of these as may be suitable to thy desire." + +5. When this epistle was sent to the king, he commanded that an +epistle should be drawn up for Eleazar, the Jewish high priest, +concerning these matters; and that they should inform him of the +release of the Jews that had been in slavery among them. He also +sent fifty talents of gold for the making of large basons, and +vials, and cups, and an immense quantity of precious stones. He +also gave order to those who had the custody of the chest that +contained those stones, to give the artificers leave to choose +out what sorts of them they pleased. He withal appointed, that a +hundred talents in money should be sent to the temple for +sacrifices, and for other uses. Now I will give a description of +these vessels, and the manner of their construction, but not till +after I have set down a copy of the epistle which was written to +Eleazar the high priest, who had obtained that dignity on the +occasion following: When Onias the high priest was dead, his son +Simon became his successor. He was called Simon the Just (5) +because of both his piety towards God, and his kind disposition +to those of his own nation. When he was dead, and had left a +young son, who was called Onias, Simon's brother Eleazar, of whom +we are speaking, took the high priesthood; and he it was to whom +Ptolemy wrote, and that in the manner following: "King Ptolemy to +Eleazar the high priest, sendeth greeting. There are many Jews +who now dwell in my kingdom, whom the Persians, when they were in +power, carried captives. These were honored by my father; some of +them he placed in the army, and gave them greater pay than +ordinary; to others of them, when they came with him into Egypt, +he committed his garrisons, and the guarding of them, that they +might be a terror to the Egyptians. And when I had taken the +government, I treated all men with humanity, and especially those +that are thy fellow citizens, of whom I have set free above a +hundred thousand that were slaves, and paid the price of their +redemption to their masters out of my own revenues; and those +that are of a fit age, I have admitted into them number of my +soldiers. And for such as are capable of being faithful to me, +and proper for my court, I have put them in such a post, as +thinking this [kindness done to them] to be a very great and an +acceptable gift, which I devote to God for his providence over +me. And as I am desirous to do what will be grateful to these, +and to all the other Jews in the habitable earth, I have +determined to procure an interpretation of your law, and to have +it translated out of Hebrew into Greek, and to be deposited in my +library. Thou wilt therefore do well to choose out and send to me +men of a good character, who are now elders in age, and six in +number out of every tribe. These, by their age, must be skillful +in the laws, and of abilities to make an accurate interpretation +of them; and when this shall be finished, I shall think that I +have done a work glorious to myself. And I have sent to thee +Andreas, the captain of my guard, and Aristeus, men whom I have +in very great esteem; by whom I have sent those first-fruits +which I have dedicated to the temple, and to the sacrifices, and +to other uses, to the value of a hundred talents. And if thou +wilt send to us, to let us know what thou wouldst have further, +thou wilt do a thing acceptable to me." + +6. When this epistle of the king was brought to Eleazar, he wrote +an answer to it with all the respect possible: "Eleazar the high +priest to king Ptolemy, sendeth greeting. If thou and thy queen +Arsinoe, (6) and thy children, be well, we are entirely +satisfied. When we received thy epistle, we greatly rejoiced at +thy intentions; and when the multitude were gathered together, we +read it to them, and thereby made them sensible of the piety thou +hast towards God. We also showed them the twenty vials of gold, +and thirty of silver, and the five large basons, and the table +for the shew-bread; as also the hundred talents for the +sacrifices, and for the making what shall be needful at the +temple; which things Andreas and Aristeus, those most honored +friends of thine, have brought us; and truly they are persons of +an excellent character, and of great learning, and worthy of thy +virtue. Know then that we will gratify thee in what is for thy +advantage, though we do what we used not to do before; for we +ought to make a return for the numerous acts of kindness which +thou hast done to our countrymen. We immediately, therefore, +offered sacrifices for thee and thy sister, with thy children and +friends; and the multitude made prayers, that thy affairs may be +to thy mind, and that thy kingdom may be preserved in peace, and +that the translation of our law may come to the conclusion thou +desirest, and be for thy advantage. We have also chosen six +elders out of every tribe, whom we have sent, and the law with +them. It will be thy part, out of thy piety and justice, to send +back the law, when it hath been translated, and to return those +to us that bring it in safety. Farewell." + +7. This was the reply which the high priest made. But it does not +seem to me to be necessary to set down the names of the seventy +[two] elders who were sent by Eleazar, and carried the law, which +yet were subjoined at the end of the epistle. However, I thought +it not improper to give an account of those very valuable and +artificially contrived vessels which the king sent to God, that +all may see how great a regard the king had for God; for the king +allowed a vast deal of expenses for these vessels, and came often +to the workmen, and viewed their works, and suffered nothing of +carelessness or negligence to be any damage to their operations. +And I will relate how rich they were as well as I am able, +although perhaps the nature of this history may not require such +a description; but I imagine I shall thereby recommend the +elegant taste and magnanimity of this king to those that read +this history. + +8. And first I will describe what belongs to the table. It was +indeed in the king's mind to make this table vastly large in its +dimensions; but then he gave orders that they should learn what +was the magnitude of the table which was already at Jerusalem, +and how large it was, and whether there was a possibility of +making one larger than it. And when he was informed how large +that was which was already there, and that nothing hindered but a +larger might be made, he said that he was willing to have one +made that should be five times as large as the present table; but +his fear was, that it might be then useless in their sacred +ministrations by its too great largeness; for he desired that the +gifts he presented them should not only be there for show, but +should be useful also in their sacred ministrations. According to +which reasoning, that the former table was made of so moderate a +size for use, and not for want of gold, he resolved that he would +not exceed the former table in largeness; but would make it +exceed it in the variety and elegancy of its materials. And as he +was sagacious in observing the nature of all things, and in +having a just notion of what was new and surprising, and where +there was no sculptures, he would invent such as were proper by +his own skill, and would show them to the workmen, he commanded +that such sculptures should now be made, and that those which +were delineated should be most accurately formed by a constant +regard to their delineation. + +9. When therefore the workmen had undertaken to make the table, +they framed it in length two cubits [and a half], in breadth one +cubit, and in height one cubit and a half; and the entire +structure of the work was of gold. They withal made a crown of a +hand-breadth round it, with wave-work wreathed about it, and with +an engraving which imitated a cord, and was admirably turned on +its three parts; for as they were of a triangular figure, every +angle had the same disposition of its sculptures, that when you +turned them about, the very same form of them was turned about +without any variation. Now that part of the crown-work that was +enclosed under the table had its sculptures very beautiful; but +that part which went round on the outside was more elaborately +adorned with most beautiful ornaments, because it was exposed to +sight, and to the view of the spectators; for which reason it was +that both those sides which were extant above the rest were +acute, and none of the angles, which we before told you were +three, appeared less than another, when the table was turned +about. Now into the cordwork thus turned were precious stones +inserted, in rows parallel one to the other, enclosed in golden +buttons, which had ouches in them; but the parts which were on +the side of the crown, and were exposed to the sight, were +adorned with a row of oval figures obliquely placed, of the most +excellent sort of precious stones, which imitated rods laid +close, and encompassed the table round about. But under these +oval figures, thus engraven, the workmen had put a crown all +round it, where the nature of all sorts of fruit was represented, +insomuch that the bunches of grapes hung up. And when they had +made the stones to represent all the kinds of fruit before +mentioned, and that each in its proper color, they made them fast +with gold round the whole table. The like disposition of the oval +figures, and of the engraved rods, was framed under the crown, +that the table might on each side show the same appearance of +variety and elegancy of its ornaments; so that neither the +position of the wave-work nor of the crown might be different, +although the table were turned on the other side, but that the +prospect of the same artificial contrivances might be extended as +far as the feet; for there was made a plate of gold four fingers +broad, through the entire breadth of the table, into which they +inserted the feet, and then fastened them to the table by buttons +and button-holes, at the place where the crown was situate, that +so on what side soever of the table one should stand, it might +exhibit the very same view of the exquisite workmanship, and of +the vast expeses bestowed upon it: but upon the table itself they +engraved a meander, inserting into it very valuable stones in the +middle like stars, of various colors; the carbuncle and the +emerald, each of which sent out agreeable rays of light to the +spectators; with such stones of other sorts also as were most +curious and best esteemed, as being most precious in their kind. +Hard by this meander a texture of net-work ran round it, the +middle of which appeared like a rhombus, into which were inserted +rock-crystal and amber, which, by the great resemblance of the +appearance they made, gave wonderful delight to those that saw +them. The chapiters of the feet imitated the first buddings of +lilies, while their leaves were bent and laid under the table, +but so that the chives were seen standing upright within them. +Their bases were made of a carbuncle; and the place at the +bottom, which rested on that carbuncle, was one palm deep, and +eight fingers in breadth. Now they had engraven upon it with a +very fine tool, and with a great deal of pains, a branch of ivy +and tendrils of the vine, sending forth clusters of grapes, that +you would guess they were nowise different from real tendrils; +for they were so very thin, and so very far extended at their +extremities, that they were moved with the wind, and made one +believe that they were the product of nature, and not the +representation of art. They also made the entire workmanship of +the table appear to be threefold, while the joints of the several +parts were so united together as to be invisible, and the places +where they joined could not be distinguished. Now the thickness +of the table was not less than half a cubit. So that this gift, +by the king's great generosity, by the great value of the +materials, and the variety of its exquisite structure, and the +artificer's skill in imitating nature with graying tools, was at +length brought to perfection, while the king was very desirous, +that though in largeness it were not to be different from that +which was already dedicated to God, yet that in exquisite +workmanship, and the novelty of the contrivances, and in the +splendor of its construction, it should far exceed it, and be +more illustrious than that was. + +10. Now of the cisterns of gold there were two, whose sculpture +was of scale-work, from its basis to its belt-like circle, with +various sorts of stones enchased in the spiral circles. Next to +which there was upon it a meander of a cubit in height; it was +composed of stones of all sorts of colors. And next to this was +the rod-work engraven; and next to that was a rhombus in a +texture of net-work, drawn out to the brim of the basin, while +small shields, made of stones, beautiful in their kind, and of +four fingers' depth, filled up the middle parts. About the top of +the basin were wreathed the leaves of lilies, and of the +convolvulus, and the tendrils of vines in a circular manner. And +this was the construction of the two cisterns of gold, each +containing two firkins. But those which were of silver were much +more bright and splendid than looking-glasses, and you might in +them see the images that fell upon them more plainly than in the +other. The king also ordered thirty vials; those of which the +parts that were of gold, and filled up with precious stones, were +shadowed over with the leaves of ivy and of vines, artificially +engraven. And these were the vessels that were after an +extraordinary manner brought to this perfection, partly by the +skill of the workmen, who were admirable in such fine work, but +much more by the diligence and generosity of the king, who not +only supplied the artificers abundantly, and with great +generosity, with what they wanted, but he forbade public +audiences for the time, and came and stood by the workmen, and +saw the whole operation. And this was the cause why the workmen +were so accurate in their performance, because they had regard to +the king, and to his great concern about the vessels, and so the +more indefatigably kept close to the work. + +11. And these were what gifts were sent by Ptolemy to Jerusalem, +and dedicated to God there. But when Eleazar the high priest had +devoted them to God, and had paid due respect to those that +brought them, and had given them presents to be carried to the +king, he dismissed them. And when they were come to Alexandria, +and Ptolemy heard that they were come, and that the seventy elders +were come also, he presently sent for Andreas and Aristens, his +ambassadors, who came to him, and delivered him the epistle which +they brought him from the high priest, and made answer to all the +questions he put to them by word of mouth. He then made haste to +meet the elders that came from Jerusalem for the interpretation +of the laws; and he gave command, that every body who came on +other occasions should be sent away, which was a thing +surprising, and what he did not use to do; for those that were +drawn thither upon such occasions used to come to him on the +fifth day, but ambassadors at the month's end. But when he had +sent those away, he waited for these that were sent by Eleazar; +but as the old men came in with the presents, which the high +priest had given them to bring to the king, and with the +membranes, upon which they had their laws written in golden +letters (7) he put questions to them concerning those books; and +when they had taken off the covers wherein they were wrapt up, +they showed him the membranes. So the king stood admiring the +thinness of those membranes, and the exactness of the junctures, +which could not be perceived; (so exactly were they connected one +with another;) and this he did for a considerable time. He then +said that he returned them thanks for coming to him, and still +greater thanks to him that sent them; and, above all, to that God +whose laws they appeared to be. Then did the elders, and those +that were present with them, cry out with one voice, and wished +all happiness to the king. Upon which he fell into tears by the +violence of the pleasure he had, it being natural to men to +afford the same indications in great joy that they do under +sorrows. And when he had bid them deliver the books to those that +were appointed to receive them, he saluted the men, and said that +it was but just to discourse, in the first place, of the errand +they were sent about, and then to address himself to themselves. +He promised, however, that he would make this day on which they +came to him remarkable and eminent every year through the whole +course of his life; for their coming to him, and the victory +which he gained over Antigonus by sea, proved to be on the very +same day. He also gave orders that they should sup with him; and +gave it in charge that they should have excellent lodgings +provided for them in the upper part of the city. + +12. Now he that was appointed to take care of the reception of +strangers, Nicanor by name, called for Dorotheus, whose duty it +was to make provision for them, and bid him prepare for every one +of them what should be requisite for their diet and way of +living; which thing was ordered by the king after this manner: he +took care that those that belonged to every city, which did not +use the same way of living, that all things should be prepared +for them according to the custom of those that came to him, that, +being feasted according to the usual method of their own way of +living, they might be the better pleased, and might not be uneasy +at any thing done to them from which they were naturally averse. +And this was now done in the case of these men by Dorotheus, who +was put into this office because of his great skill in such +matters belonging to common life; for he took care of all such +matters as concerned the reception of strangers, and appointed +them double seats for them to sit on, according as the king had +commanded him to do; for he had commanded that half of their +seats should be set at his right hand, and the other half behind +his table, and took care that no respect should be omitted that +could be shown them. And when they were thus set down, he bid +Dorotheus to minister to all those that were come to him from +Judea, after the manner they used to be ministered to; for which +cause he sent away their sacred heralds, and those that slew the +sacrifices, and the rest that used to say grace; but called to +one of those that were come to him, whose name was Eleazar, who w +a priest, and desired him to say grace; (8) who then stood in the +midst of them, and prayed, that all prosperity might attend the +king, and those that were his subjects. Upon which an acclamation +was made by the whole company, with joy and a great noise; and +when that was over, they fell to eating their supper, and to the +enjoyment of what was set before them. And at a little interval +afterward, when the king thought a sufficient time had been +interposed, he began to talk philosophically to them, and he +asked every one of them a philosophical question (9) and such a +one as might give light in those inquiries; and when they had +explained all the problems that had been proposed by the king +about every point, he was well-pleased with their answers. This +took up the twelve days in which they were treated; and he that +pleases may learn the particular questions in that book of +Aristeus, which he wrote on this very occasion. + +13. And while not the king only, but the philosopher Menedemus +also, admired them, and said that all things were governed by +Providence, and that it was probable that thence it was that such +force or beauty was discovered in these men's words, they then +left off asking any more such questions. But the king said that +he had gained very great advantages by their coming, for that he +had received this profit from them, that he had learned how he +ought to rule his subjects. And he gave order that they should +have every one three talents given them, and that those that were +to conduct them to their lodging should do it. Accordingly, when +three days were over, Demetrius took them, and went over the +causeway seven furlongs long: it was a bank in the sea to an +island. And when they had gone over the bridge, he proceeded to +the northern parts, and showed them where they should meet, which +was in a house that was built near the shore, and was a quiet +place, and fit for their discoursing together about their work. +When he had brought them thither, he entreated them (now they had +all things about them which they wanted for the interpretation of +their law) that they would suffer nothing to interrupt them in +their work. Accordingly, they made an accurate interpretation, +with great zeal and great pains, and this they continued to do +till the ninth hour of the day; after which time they relaxed, +and took care of their body, while their food was provided for +them in great plenty: besides, Dorotheus, at the king's command, +brought them a great deal of what was provided for the king +himself. But in the morning they came to the court and saluted +Ptolemy, and then went away to their former place, where, when +they had washed their hands, (10) and purified themselves, they +betook themselves to the interpretation of the laws. Now when the +law was transcribed, and the labor of interpretation was over, +which came to its conclusion in seventy-two days, Demetrius +gathered all the Jews together to the place where the laws were +translated, and where the interpreters were, and read them over. +The multitude did also approve of those elders that were the +interpreters of the law. They withal commended Demetrius for his +proposal, as the inventor of what was greatly for their +happiness; and they desired that he would give leave to their +rulers also to read the law. Moreover, they all, both the priest +and the ancientest of the elders, and the principal men of their +commonwealth, made it their request, that since the +interpretation was happily finished, it might continue in the +state it now was, and might not be altered. And when they all +commended that determination of theirs, they enjoined, that if +any one observed either any thing superfluous, or any thing +omitted, that he would take a view of it again, and have it laid +before them, and corrected; which was a wise action of theirs, +that when the thing was judged to have been well done, it might +continue for ever. + +14. So the king rejoiced when he saw that his design of this +nature was brought to perfection, to so great advantage; and he +was chiefly delighted with hearing the Laws read to him; and was +astonished at the deep meaning and wisdom of the legislator. And +he began to discourse with Demetrius, "How it came to pass, that +when this legislation was so wonderful, no one, either of the +poets or of the historians, had made mention of it." Demetrius +made answer, "that no one durst be so bold as to touch upon the +description of these laws, because they were Divine and +venerable, and because some that had attempted it were afflicted +by God." He also told him, that "Theopompus was desirous of +writing somewhat about them, but was thereupon disturbed in his +mind for above thirty days' time; and upon some intermission of +his distemper, he appeased God [by prayer], as suspecting that +his madness proceeded from that cause." Nay, indeed, he further +saw in a dream, that his distemper befell him while he indulged +too great a curiosity about Divine matters, and was desirous of +publishing them among common men; but when he left off that +attempt, he recovered his understanding again. Moreover, he +informed him of Theodectes, the tragic poet, concerning whom it +was reported, that when in a certain dramatic representation he +was desirous to make mention of things that were contained in the +sacred books, he was afflicted with a darkness in his eyes; and +that upon his being conscious of the occasion of his distemper, +and appeasing God [by prayer], he was freed from that affliction. + +15. And when the king had received these books from Demetrius, as +we have said already, he adored them, and gave order that great +care should be taken of them, that they might remain uncorrupted. +He also desired that the interpreters would come often to him out +of Judea, and that both on account of the respects that he would +pay them, and on account of the presents he would make them; for +he said it was now but just to send them away, although if, of +their own accord, they would come to him hereafter, they should +obtain all that their own wisdom might justly require, and what +his generosity was able to give them. So he then sent them away, +and gave to every one of them three garments of the best sort, +and two talents of gold, and a cup of the value of one talent, +and the furniture of the room wherein they were feasted. And +these were the things he presented to them. But by them he sent +to Eleazar the high priest ten beds, with feet of silver, and the +furniture to them belonging, and a cup of the value of thirty +talents; and besides these, ten garments, and purple, and a very +beautiful crown, and a hundred pieces of the finest woven linen; +as also vials and dishes, and vessels for pouring, and two golden +cisterns to be dedicated to God. He also desired him, by an +epistle, that he would give these interpreters leave, if any of +them were desirous of coming to him, because he highly valued a +conversation with men of such learning, and should be very +willing to lay out his wealth upon such men. And this was what +came to the Jews, and was much to their glory and honor, from +Ptolemy Philadelphus. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How The Kings Of Asia Honored The Nation Of The Jews And Made +Them Citizens Of Those Cities Which They Built. + + +1. The Jews also obtained honors from the kings of Asia when they +became their auxiliaries; for Seleucus Nicator made them citizens +in those cities which he built in Asia, and in the lower Syria, +and in the metropolis itself, Antioch; and gave them privileges +equal to those of the Macedonians and Greeks, who were the +inhabitants, insomuch that these privileges continue to this very +day: an argument for which you have in this, that whereas the +Jews do not make use of oil prepared by foreigners, (11) they +receive a certain sum of money from the proper officers belonging +to their exercises as the value of that oil; which money, when +the people of Antioch would have deprived them of, in the last +war, Mucianus, who was then president of Syria, preserved it to +them. And when the people of Alexandria and of Antioch did after +that, at the time that Vespasian and Titus his son governed the +habitable earth, pray that these privileges of citizens might be +taken away, they did not obtain their request in which behavior +any one may discern the equity and generosity of the Romans, (12) +especially of Vespasian and Titus, who, although they had been at +a great deal of pains in the war against the Jews, and were +exasperated against them, because they did not deliver up their +weapons to them, but continued the war to the very last, yet did +not they take away any of their forementioned privileges +belonging to them as citizens, but restrained their anger, and +overcame the prayers of the Alexandrians and Antiochians, who +were a very powerful people, insomuch that they did not yield to +them, neither out of their favor to these people, nor out of +their old grudge at those whose wicked opposition they had +subdued in the war; nor would they alter any of the ancient +favors granted to the Jews, but said, that those who had borne +arms against them, and fought them, had suffered punishment +already, and that it was not just to deprive those that had not +offended of the privileges they enjoyed. + +2. We also know that Marcus Agrippa was of the like disposition +towards the Jews: for when the people of Ionia were very angry at +them, and besought Agrippa that they, and they only, might have +those privileges of citizens which Antiochus, the grandson of +Seleucus, (who by the Greeks was called The God,) had bestowed on +them, and desired that, if the Jews were to be joint-partakers +with them, they might be obliged to worship the gods they +themselves worshipped: but when these matters were brought to the +trial, the Jews prevailed, and obtained leave to make use of +their own customs, and this under the patronage of Nicolaus of +Damascus; for Agrippa gave sentence that he could not innovate. +And if any one hath a mind to know this matter accurately, let +him peruse the hundred and twenty-third and hundred and +twenty-fourth books of the history of this Nicolaus. Now as to +this determination of Agrippa, it is not so much to be admired, +for at that time our nation had not made war against the Romans. +But one may well be astonished at the generosity of Vespasian +and Titus, that after so great wars and contests which they had +from us, they should use such moderation. But I will now return +to that part of my history whence I made the present digression. + +3. Now it happened that in the reign of Antiochus the Great, who +ruled over all Asia, that the Jews, as well as the inhabitants of +Celesyria, suffered greatly, and their land was sorely harassed; +for while he was at war with Ptolemy Philopater, and with his +son, who was called Epiphanes, it fell out that these nations +were equally sufferers, both when he was beaten, and when he beat +the others: so that they were very like to a ship in a storm, +which is tossed by the waves on both sides; and just thus were +they in their situation in the middle between Antiochus's +prosperity and its change to adversity. But at length, when +Antiochus had beaten Ptolemy, he seized upon Judea; and when +Philopater was dead, his son sent out a great army under Scopas, +the general of his forces, against the inhabitants of Celesyria, +who took many of their cities, and in particular our nation; +which when he fell upon them, went over to him. Yet was it not +long afterward when Antiochus overcame Scopas, in a battle fought +at the fountains of Jordan, and destroyed a great part of his +army. But afterward, when Antiochus subdued those cities of +Celesyria which Scopas had gotten into his possession, and +Samaria with them, the Jews, of their own accord, went over to +him, and received him into the city [Jerusalem], and gave +plentiful provision to all his army, and to his elephants, and +readily assisted him when he besieged the garrison which was in +the citadel of Jerusalem. Wherefore Antiochus thought it but just +to requite the Jews' diligence and zeal in his service. So he +wrote to the generals of his armies, and to his friends, and gave +testimony to the good behavior of the Jews towards him, and +informed them what rewards he had resolved to bestow on them for +that their behavior. I will set down presently the epistles +themselves which he wrote to the generals concerning them, but +will first produce the testimony of Polybius of Megalopolis; for +thus does he speak, in the sixteenth book of his history: "Now +Scopas, the general of Ptolemy's army, went in haste to the +superior parts of the country, and in the winter time overthrew +the nation of the Jews?' He also saith, in the same book, that +"when Seopas was conquered by Antiochus, Antiochus received +Batanea, and Samaria, and Abila, and Gadara; and that, a while +afterwards, there came in to him those Jews that inhabited near +that temple which was called Jerusalem; concerning which, +although I have more to say, and particularly concerning the +presence of God about that temple, yet do I put off that history +till another opportunity." This it is which Polybius relates. But +we will return to the series of the history, when we have first +produced the epistles of king Antiochus. + +King Antiochus To Ptolemy, Sendeth Greeting. + +"Since the Jews, upon our first entrance on their country, +demonstrated their friendship towards us, and when we came to +their city [Jerusalem], received us in a splendid manner, and +came to meet us with their senate, and gave abundance of +provisions to our soldiers, and to the elephants, and joined with +us in ejecting the garrison of the Egyptians that were in the +citadel, we have thought fit to reward them, and to retrieve the +condition of their city, which hath been greatly depopulated by +such accidents as have befallen its inhabitants, and to bring +those that have been scattered abroad back to the city. And, in +the first place, we have determined, on account of their piety +towards God, to bestow on them, as a pension, for their +sacrifices of animals that are fit for sacrifice, for wine, and +oil, and frankincense, the value of twenty thousand pieces of +silver, and [six] sacred artabrae of fine flour, with one +thousand four hundred and sixty medimni of wheat, and three +hundred and seventy-five medimni of salt. And these payments I +would have fully paid them, as I have sent orders to you. I would +also have the work about the temple finished, and the cloisters, +and if there be any thing else that ought to be rebuilt. And for +the materials of wood, let it be brought them out of Judea itself +and out of the other countries, and out of Libanus tax free; and +the same I would have observed as to those other materials which +will be necessary, in order to render the temple more glorious; +and let all of that nation live according to the laws of their +own country; and let the senate, and the priests, and the scribes +of the temple, and the sacred singers, be discharged from +poll-money and the crown tax and other taxes also. And that the +city may the sooner recover its inhabitants, I grant a discharge +from taxes for three years to its present inhabitants, and to +such as shall come to it, until the month Hyperheretus. We also +discharge them for the future from a third part of their taxes, +that the losses they have sustained may be repaired. And all +those citizens that have been carried away, and are become +slaves, we grant them and their children their freedom, and give +order that their substance be restored to them." + +4. And these were the contents of this epistle. He also published +a decree through all his kingdom in honor of the temple, which +contained what follows: "It shall be lawful for no foreigner to +come within the limits of the temple round about; which thing is +forbidden also to the Jews, unless to those who, according to +their own custom, have purified themselves. Nor let any flesh of +horses, or of mules, or of asses, he brought into the city, +whether they be wild or tame; nor that of leopards, or foxes, or +hares; and, in general, that of any animal which is forbidden for +the Jews to eat. Nor let their skins be brought into it; nor let +any such animal be bred up in the city. Let them only be +permitted to use the sacrifices derived from their forefathers, +with which they have been obliged to make acceptable atonements +to God. And he that transgresseth any of these orders, let him +pay to the priests three thousand drachmae of silver." Moreover, +this Antiochus bare testimony to our piety and fidelity, in an +epistle of his, written when he was informed of a sedition in +Phrygia and Lydia, at which time he was in the superior +provinces, wherein he commanded Zenxis, the general of his +forces, and his most intimate friend, to send some of our nation +out of Babylon into Phrygia. The epistle was this: + +King Antiochus To Zeuxis His Father, Sendeth Greeting. + +"If you are in health, it is well. I also am in health. Having +been informed that a sedition is arisen in Lydia and Phrygia, I +thought that matter required great care; and upon advising with +my friends what was fit to be done, it hath been thought proper +to remove two thousand families of Jews, with their effects, out +of Mesopotamia and Babylon, unto the castles and places that lie +most convenient; for I am persuaded that they will be +well-disposed guardians of our possessions, because of their +piety towards God, and because I know that my predecessors have +borne witness to them, that they are faithful, and with alacrity +do what they are desired to do. I will, therefore, though it be a +laborious work, that thou remove these Jews, under a promise, +that they shall be permitted to use their own laws. And when thou +shalt have brought them to the places forementioned, thou shalt +give everyone of their families a place for building their +houses, and a portion of the land for their husbandry, and for +the plantation of their vines; and thou shalt discharge them from +paying taxes of the fruits of the earth for ten years; and let +them have a proper quantity of wheat for the maintenance of their +servants, until they receive bread corn out of the earth; also +let a sufficient share be given to such as minister to them in +the necessaries of life, that by enjoying the effects of our +humanity, they may show themselves the more willing and ready +about our affairs. Take care likewise of that nation, as far as +thou art able, that they may not have any disturbance given them +by any one." Now these testimonials which I have produced are +sufficient to declare the friendship that Antiochus the Great +bare to the Jews. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Antiochus Made A League With Ptolemy And How Onias Provoked +Ptolemy Euergetes To Anger; And How Joseph Brought All Things +Right Again, And Entered Into Friendship With Him; And What Other +Things Were Done By Joseph, And His Son Hyrcanus. + + +1. After this Antiochus made a friendship and league with +Ptolemy, and gave him his daughter Cleopatra to wife, and yielded +up to him Celesyria, and Samaria, and Judea, and Phoenicia, by +way of dowry. And upon the division of the taxes between the two +kings, all the principal men framed the taxes of their several +countries, and collecting the sum that was settled for them, paid +the same to the [two] kings. Now at this time the Samaritans were +in a flourishing condition, and much distressed the Jews, cutting +off parts of their land, and carrying off slaves. This happened +when Onias was high priest; for after Eleazar's death, his uncle +Manasseh took the priesthood, and after he had ended his life, +Onias received that dignity. He was the son of Simon, who was +called The Just: which Simon was the brother of Eleazar, as I +said before. This Onias was one of a little soul, and a great +lover of money; and for that reason, because he did not pay that +tax of twenty talents of silver, which his forefathers paid to +these things out of their own estates, he provoked king Ptolemy +Euergetes to anger, who was the father of Philopater. Euergetes +sent an ambassador to Jerusalem, and complained that Onias did +not pay his taxes, and threatened, that if he did not receive +them, he would seize upon their land, and send soldiers to live +upon it. When the Jews heard this message of the king, they were +confounded; but so sordidly covetous was Onias, that nothing of +things nature made him ashamed. + +2. There was now one Joseph, young in age, but of great +reputation among the people of Jerusalem, for gravity, prudence, +and justice. His father's name was Tobias; and his mother was the +sister of Onias the high priest, who informed him of the coming +of the ambassador; for he was then sojourning at a village named +Phicol, (13) where he was born. Hereupon he came to the city +[Jerusalem], and reproved Onias for not taking care of the +preservation of his countrymen, but bringing the nation into +dangers, by not paying this money. For which preservation of +them, he told him he had received the authority over them, and +had been made high priest; but that, in case he was so great a +lover of money, as to endure to see his country in danger on that +account, and his countrymen suffer the greatest damages, he +advised him to go to the king, and petition him to remit either +the whole or a part of the sum demanded. Onias's answer was this: +That he did not care for his authority, and that he was ready, if +the thing were practicable, to lay down his high priesthood; and +that he would not go to the king, because he troubled not himself +at all about such matters. Joseph then asked him if he would not +give him leave to go ambassador on behalf of the nation. He +replied, that he would give him leave. Upon which Joseph went up +into the temple, and called the multitude together to a +congregation, and exhorted them not to be disturbed nor +aftrighted, because of his uncle Onias's carelessness, but +desired them to be at rest, and not terrify themselves with fear +about it; for he promised them that he would be their ambassador +to the king, and persuade him that they had done him no wrong. +And when the multitude heard this, they returned thanks to +Joseph. So he went down from the temple, and treated Ptolemy's +ambassador in a hospitable manner. He also presented him with +rich gifts, and feasted him magnificently for many days, and then +sent him to the king before him, and told him that he would soon +follow him; for he was now more willing to go to the king, by the +encouragement of the ambassador, who earnestly persuaded him to +come into Egypt, and promised him that he would take care that he +should obtain every thing that he desired of Ptolemy; for he was +highly pleased with his frank and liberal temper, and with the +gravity of his deportment. + +3. When Ptolemy's ambassador was come into Egypt, he told the +king of the thoughtless temper of Onias; and informed him of the +goodness of the disposition of Joseph; and that he was coming to +him to excuse the multitude, as not having done him any harm, for +that he was their patron. In short, he was so very large in his +encomiums upon the young man, that he disposed both the king and +his wife Cleopatra to have a kindness for him before he came. So +Joseph sent to his friends at Samaria, and borrowed money of +them, and got ready what was necessary for his journey, garments +and cups, and beasts for burden, which amounted to about twenty +thousand drachmae, and went to Alexandria. Now it happened that +at this time all the principal men and rulers went up out of the +cities of Syria and Phoenicia, to bid for their taxes; for every +year the king sold them to the men of the greatest power in every +city. So these men saw Joseph journeying on the way, and laughed +at him for his poverty and meanness. But when he came to +Alexandria, and heard that king Ptolemy was at Memphis, he went +up thither to meet with him; which happened as the king was +sitting in his chariot, with his wife, and with his friend +Athenion, who was the very person who had been ambassador at +Jerusalem, and had been entertained by Joseph. As soon therefore +as Athenion saw him, he presently made him known to the king, how +good and generous a young man he was. So Ptolemy saluted him +first, and desired him to come up into his chariot; and as Joseph +sat there, he began to complain of the management of Onias: to +which he answered, "Forgive him, on account of his age; for thou +canst not certainly be unacquainted with this, that old men and +infants have their minds exactly alike; but thou shalt have from +us, who are young men, every thing thou desirest, and shalt have +no cause to complain." With this good humor and pleasantry of the +young man, the king was so delighted, that he began already, as +though he had had long experience of him, to have a still greater +affection for him, insomuch that he bade him take his diet in the +king's palace, and be a guest at his own table every day. But +when the king was come to Alexandria, the principal men of Syria +saw him sitting with the king, and were much offended at it. + +4. And when the day came on which the king was to let the taxes +of the cities to farm, and those that were the principal men of +dignity in their several countries were to bid for them, the sum +of the taxes together, of Celesyria, and Phoenicia, and Judea, +with Samaria, [as they were bidden for,] came to eight thousand +talents. Hereupon Joseph accused the bidders, as having agreed +together to estimate the value of the taxes at too low a rate; +and he promised that he would himself give twice as much for +them: but for those who did not pay, he would send the king home +their whole substance; for this privilege was sold together with +the taxes themselves. The king was pleased to hear that offer; +and because it augmented his revenues, he said he would confirm +the sale of the taxes to him. But when he asked him this +question, Whether he had any sureties that would be bound for the +payment of the money? he answered very pleasantly, "I will give +such security, and those of persons good and responsible, and +which you shall have no reason to distrust." And when he bid him +name them who they were, he replied, "I give thee no other +persons, O king, for my sureties, than thyself, and this thy +wife; and you shall be security for both parties." So Ptolemy +laughed at the proposal, and granted him the farming of the taxes +without any sureties. This procedure was a sore grief to those +that came from the cities into Egypt, who were utterly +disappointed; and they returned every one to their own country +with shame. + +5. But Joseph took with him two thousand foot soldiers from the +king, for he desired he might have some assistance, in order to +force such as were refractory in the cities to pay. And borrowing +of the king's friends at Alexandria five hundred talents, he made +haste back into Syria. And when he was at Askelon, and demanded +the taxes of the people of Askelon, they refused to pay any +thing, and affronted him also; upon which he seized upon about +twenty of the principal men, and slew them, and gathered what +they had together, and sent it all to the king, and informed him +what he had done. Ptolemy admired the prudent conduct of the man, +and commended him for what he had done, and gave him leave to do +as he pleased. When the Syrians heard of this, they were +astonished; and having before them a sad example in the men of +Askelon that were slain, they opened their gates, and willingly +admitted Joseph, and paid their taxes. And when the inhabitants +of Scythopolis attempted to affront him, and would not pay him +those taxes which they formerly used to pay, without disputing +about them, he slew also the principal men of that city, and sent +their effects to the king. By this means he gathered great wealth +together, and made vast gains by this farming of the taxes; and +he made use of what estate he had thus gotten, in order to +support his authority, as thinking it a piece of prudence to keep +what had been the occasion and foundation of his present good +fortune; and this he did by the assistance of what he was already +possessed of, for he privately sent many presents to the king, +and to Cleopatra, and to their friends, and to all that were +powerful about the court, and thereby purchased their good-will +to himself. + +6. This good fortune he enjoyed for twenty-two years, and was +become the father of seven sons by one wife; he had also another +son, whose name was Hyrcanus, by his brother Solymius's daughter, +whom he married on the following occasion. He once came to +Alexandria with his brother, who had along with him a daughter +already marriageable, in order to give her in wedlock to some of +the Jews of chief dignity there. He then supped with the king, +and falling in love with an actress that was of great beauty, and +came into the room where they feasted, he told his brother of it, +and entreated him, because a Jew is forbidden by their law to +come near to a foreigner, to conceal his offense; and to be kind +and subservient to him, and to give him an opportunity of +fulfilling his desires. Upon which his brother willingly +entertained the proposal of serving him, and adorned his own +daughter, and brought her to him by night, and put her into his +bed. And Joseph, being disordered with drink, knew not who she +was, and so lay with his brother's daughter; and this did he many +times, and loved her exceedingly; and said to his brother, that +he loved this actress so well, that he should run the hazard of +his life [if he must part with her], and yet probably the king +would not give him leave [to take her with him]. But his brother +bid him be in no concern about that matter, and told him he might +enjoy her whom he loved without any danger, and might have her +for his wife; and opened the truth of the matter to him, and +assured him that he chose rather to have his own daughter abused, +than to overlook him, and se him come to [public] disgrace. So +Joseph commended him for this his brotherly love, and married his +daughter; and by her begat a son, whose name was Hyrcanus, as we +said before. And when this his youngest son showed, at thirteen +years old, a mind that was both courageous and wise, and was +greatly envied by his brethren, as being of a genius much above +them, and such a one as they might well envy, Joseph had once a +mind to know which of his sons had the best disposition to +virtue; and when he sent them severally to those that had then +the best reputation for instructing youth, the rest of his +children, by reason of their sloth and unwillingness to take +pains, returned to him foolish and unlearned. After them he sent +out the youngest, Hyrcanus, and gave him three hundred yoke of +oxen, and bid him go two days' journey into the wilderness, and +sow the land there, and yet kept back privately the yokes of the +oxen that coupled them together. When Hyrcanus came to the place, +and found he had no yokes with him, he contenmed the drivers of +the oxen, who advised him to send some to his father, to bring +them some yokes; but he thinking that he ought not to lose his +time while they should be sent to bring him the yokes, he +invented a kind of stratagem, and what suited an age older than +his own; for he slew ten yoke of the oxen, and distributed their +flesh among the laborers, and cut their hides into several +pieces, and made him yokes, and yoked the oxen together with +them; by which means he sowed as much land as his father had +appointed him to sow, and returned to him. And when he was come +back, his father was mightily pleased with his sagacity, and +commended the sharpness of his understanding, and his boldness in +what he did. And he still loved him the more, as if he were his +only genuine son, while his brethren were much troubled at it. + +7. But when one told him that Ptolemy had a son just born, and +that all the principal men of Syria, and the other countries +subject to him, were to keep a festival, on account of the +child's birthday, and went away in haste with great retinues to +Alexandria, he was himself indeed hindered from going by old age; +but he made trial of his sons, whether any of them would be +willing to go to the king. And when the elder sons excused +themselves from going, and said they were not courtiers good +enough for such conversation, and advised him to send their +brother Hyrcanus, he gladly hearkened to that advice, and called +Hyrcanus, and asked him whether he would go to the king, and +whether it was agreeable to him to go or not. And upon his +promise that he would go, and his saying that he should not want +much money for his journey, because he would live moderately, and +that ten thousand drachmas would be sufficient, he was pleased +with his son's prudence. After a little while, the son advised +his father not to send his presents to the king from thence, but +to give him a letter to his steward at Alexandria, that he might +furnish him with money, for purchasing what should be most +excellent and most precious. So he thinking that the expense of +ten talents would be enough for presents to be made the king, and +commending his son, as giving him good advice, wrote to Arion his +steward, that managed all his money matters at Alexandria; which +money was not less than three thousand talents on his account, +for Joseph sent the money he received in Syria to Alexandria. And +when the day appointed for the payment of the taxes to the king +came, he wrote to Arion to pay them. So when the son had asked +his father for a letter to the steward, and had received it, he +made haste to Alexandria. And when he was gone, his brethren +wrote to all the king's friends, that they should destroy him. + +8. But when he was come to Alexaudria, he delivered his letter to +Arion, who asked him how many talents he would have (hoping he +would ask for no more than ten, or a little more); he said he +wanted a thousand talents. At which the steward was angry, and +rebuked him, as one that intended to live extravagantly; and he +let him know how his father had gathered together his estate by +painstaking, and resisting his inclinations, and wished him to +imitate the example of his father: he assured him withal, that he +would give him but ten talents, and that for a present to the +king also. The son was irritated at this, and threw Arion into +prison. But when Arion's wife had informed Cleopatra of this, +with her entreaty, that she would rebuke the child for what he +had done, (for Arion was in great esteem with her,) Cleopatra +informed the king of it. And Ptolemy sent for Hyrcanus, and told +him that he wondered, when he was sent to him by his father, that +he had not yet come into his presence, but had laid the steward +in prison. And he gave order, therefore, that he should come to +him, and give an account of the reason of what he had done. And +they report that the answer he made to the king's messenger was +this: That "there was a law of his that forbade a child that was +born to taste of the sacrifice, before he had been at the temple +and sacrificed to God. According to which way of reasoning he did +not himself come to him in expectation of the present he was to +make to him, as to one who had been his father's benefactor; and +that he had punished the slave for disobeying his commands, for +that it mattered not Whether a master was little or great: so +that unless we punish such as these, thou thyself mayst also +expect to be despised by thy subjects." Upon hearing this his +answer he fell a laughing, and wondered at the great soul of the +child. + +9. When Arion was apprized that this was the king's disposition, +and that he had no way to help himself, he gave the child a +thousand talents, and was let out of prison. So after three days +were over, Hyrcanus came and saluted the king and queen. They saw +him with pleasure, and feasted him in an obliging manner, out of +the respect they bare to his father. So he came to the merchants +privately, and bought a hundred boys, that had learning, and were +in the flower of their ages, each at a talent apiece; as also he +bought a hundred maidens, each at the same price as the other. +And when he was invited to feast with the king among the +principal men in the country, he sat down the lowest of them all, +because he was little regarded, as a child in age still; and this +by those who placed every one according to their dignity. Now +when all those that sat with him had laid the bones Of the +several parts on a heap before Hyrcanus, (for they had themselves +taken away the flesh belonging to them,) till the table where he +sat was filled full with them, Trypho, who was the king's jester, +and was appointed for jokes and laughter at festivals, was now +asked by the guests that sat at the table [to expose him to +laughter]. So he stood by the king, and said, "Dost thou not see, +my lord, the bones that lie by Hyrcanus? by this similitude thou +mayst conjecture that his father made all Syria as bare as he +hath made these bones." And the king laughing at what Trypho +said, and asking of Hyrcanus, How he came to have so many bones +before him? he replied," Very rightfully, my lord; for they are +dogs that eat the flesh and the bones together, as these thy +guests have done, (looking in the mean time at those guests,) for +there is nothing before them; but they are men that eat the +flesh, and cast away the hones, as I, who am also a man, have now +done." Upon which the king admired at his answer, which was so +wisely made; and bid them all make an acclamation, as a mark of +their approbation of his jest, which was truly a facetious one. +On the next day Hyrcanus went to every one of the king's friends, +and of the men powerful at court, and saluted them; but still +inquired of the servants what present they would make the king on +his son's birthday; and when some said that they would give +twelve talents, and that others of greater dignity would every +one give according to the quantity of their riches, he pretended +to every one of them to be grieved that he was not able to bring +so large a present; for that he had no more than five talents. +And when the servants heard what he said, they told their +masters; and they rejoiced in the prospect that Joseph would be +disapproved, and would make the king angry, by the smallness of +his present. When the day came, the others, even those that +brought the most, offered the king not above twenty talents; but +Hyrcanus gave to every one of the hundred boys and hundred +maidens that he had bought a talent apiece, for them to carry, +and introduced them, the boys to the king, and the maidens to +Cleopatra; every body wondering at the unexpected richness of the +presents, even the king and queen themselves. He also presented +those that attended about the king with gifts to the value of a +great number of talents, that he might escape the danger he was +in from them; for to these it was that Hyrcanus's brethren had +written to destroy him. Now Ptolemy admired at the young man's +magnanimity, and commanded him to ask what gift he pleased. But +he desired nothing else to be done for him by the king than to +write to his father and brethren about him. So when the king had +paid him very great respects, and had given him very large gifts, +and had written to his father and his brethren, and all his +commanders and officers, about him, he sent him away. But when +his brethren heard that Hyrcanus had received such favors from +the king, and was returning home with great honor, they went out +to meet him, and to destroy him, and that with the privity of +their father; for he was angry at him for the [large] sum of +money that he bestowed for presents, and so had no concern for +his preservation. However, Joseph concealed the anger he had at +his son, out of fear of the king. And when Hyrcanus's brethren +came to fight him, he slew many others of those that were with +them, as also two of his brethren themselves; but the rest of +them escaped to Jerusalem to their father. But when Hyrcanus came +to the city, where nobody would receive him, he was afraid for +himself, and retired beyond the river Jordan, and there abode, +but obliging the barbarians to pay their taxes. + +10. At this time Seleucus, who was called Soter, reigned over +Asia, being the son of Antiochus the Great. And [now] Hyrcanus's +father, Joseph, died. He was a good man, and of great +magnanimity; and brought the Jews out of a state of poverty and +meanness, to one that was more splendid. He retained the farm of +the taxes of Syria, and Phoenicia, and Samaria twenty-two years. +His uncle also, Onias, died [about this time], and left the high +priesthood to his son Simeon. And when he was dead, Onias his son +succeeded him in that dignity. To him it was that Areus, king of +the Lacedemonians, sent an embassage, with an epistle; the copy +whereof here follows: + +"Areus, King Of The Lacedemonians, To Onias, Sendeth Greeting. + +"We have met with a certain writing, whereby we have discovered +that both the Jews and the Lacedemonians are of one stock, and +are derived from the kindred of Abraham (14) It is but just +therefore that you, who are our brethren, should send to us about +any of your concerns as you please. We will also do the same +thing, and esteem your concerns as our own, and will look upon +our concerns as in common with yours. Demoteles, who brings you +this letter, will bring your answer back to us. This letter is +four-square; and the seal is an eagle, with a dragon in his +claws." + +11. And these were the contents of the epistle which was sent +from the king of the Lacedemonians. But, upon the death of +Joseph, the people grew seditious, on account of his sons. For +whereas the elders made war against Hyrcanus, who was the +youngest of Joseph's sons, the multitude was divided, but the +greater part joined with the elders in this war; as did Simon the +high priest, by reason he was of kin to them. However, Hyrcanus +determined not to return to Jerusalem any more, but seated +himself beyond Jordan, and was at perpetual war with the +Arabians, and slew many of them, and took many of them captives. +He also erected a strong castle, and built it entirely of white +stone to the very roof, and had animals of a prodigious magnitude +engraven upon it. He also drew round it a great and deep canal of +water. He also made caves of many furlongs in length, by +hollowing a rock that was over against him; and then he made +large rooms in it, some for feasting, and some for sleeping and +living in. He introduced also a vast quantity of waters which ran +along it, and which were very delightful and ornamental in the +court. But still he made the entrances at the mouth of the caves +so narrow, that no more than one person could enter by them at +once. And the reason why he built them after that manner was a +good one; it was for his own preservation, lest he should be +besieged by his brethren, and run the hazard of being caught by +them. Moreover, he built courts of greater magnitude than +ordinary, which he adorned with vastly large gardens. And when he +had brought the place to this state, he named it Tyre. This place +is between Arabia and Judea, beyond Jordan, not far from the +country of Heshbon. And he ruled over those parts for seven +years, even all the time that Seleucus was king of Syria. But +when he was dead, his brother Antiochus, who was called +Epiphanes, took the kingdom. Ptolemy also, the king of Egypt, +died, who was besides called Epiphanes. He left two sons, and +both young in age; the elder of which was called Philometer, and +the youngest Physcon. As for Hyrcanus, when he saw that Antiochus +had a great army, and feared lest he should be caught by him, and +brought to punishment for what he had done to the Arabians, he +ended his life, and slew himself with his own hand; while +Antiochus seized upon all his substance. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How, Upon The Quarrels One Against Another About The High +Priesthood Antiochus Made An Expedition Against Jerusalem, Took +The City And Pillaged The Temples. And Distressed The Jews' As +Also How Many Of The Jews Forsook The Laws Of Their Country; And +How The Samaritans Followed The Customs Of The Greeks And Named +Their Temple At Mount Gerizzim The Temple Of Jupiter Hellenius. + + +1. About this time, upon the death of Onias the high priest, they +gave the high priesthood to Jesus his brother; for that son which +Onias left [or Onias IV.] was yet but an infant; and, in its +proper place, we will inform the reader of all the circumstances +that befell this child. But this Jesus, who was the brother of +Onias, was deprived of the high priesthood by the king, who was +angry with him, and gave it to his younger brother, whose name +also was Onias; for Simon had these three sons, to each of which +the priesthood came, as we have already informed the reader. This +Jesus changed his name to Jason, but Onias was called Menelaus. +Now as the former high priest, Jesus, raised a sedition against +Menelaus, who was ordained after him, the multitude were divided +between them both. And the sons of Tobias took the part of +Menelaus, but the greater part of the people assisted Jason; and +by that means Menelaus and the sons of Tobias were distressed, +and retired to Antiochus, and informed him that they were +desirous to leave the laws of their country, and the Jewish way +of living according to them, and to follow the king's laws, and +the Grecian way of living. Wherefore they desired his permission +to build them a Gymnasium at Jerusalem. (15) And when he had +given them leave, they also hid the circumcision of their +genitals, that even when they were naked they might appear to be +Greeks. Accordingly, they left off all the customs that belonged +to their own country, and imitated the practices of the other +nations. + +2. Now Antiochus, upon the agreeable situation of the affairs of +his kingdom, resolved to make an expedition against Egypt, both +because he had a desire to gain it, and because he contemned the +son of Ptolemy, as now weak, and not yet of abilities to manage +affairs of such consequence; so he came with great forces to +Pelusium, and circumvented Ptolemy Philometor by treachery, and +seized upon Egypt. He then came to the places about Memphis; and +when he had taken them, he made haste to Alexandria, in hopes of +taking it by siege, and of subduing Ptolemy, who reigned there. +But he was driven not only from Alexandria, but out of all Egypt, +by the declaration of the Romans, who charged him to let that +country alone; according as I have elsewhere formerly declared. I +will now give a particular account of what concerns this king, +how he subdued Judea and the temple; for in my former work I +mentioned those things very briefly, and have therefore now +thought it necessary to go over that history again, and that with +great accuracy. + +3. King Antiochus returning out of Egypt (16) for fear of the +Romans, made an expedition against the city Jerusalem; and when +he was there, in the hundred and forty-third year of the kingdom +of the Seleucidse, he took the city without fighting, those of +his own party opening the gates to him. And when he had gotten +possession of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposite party; and +when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, he returned to +Antioch. + +4. Now it came to pass, after two years, in the hundred forty and +fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of that month which is by us +called Chasleu, and by the Macedonians Apelleus, in the hundred +and fifty-third olympiad, that the king came up to Jerusalem, +and, pretending peace, he got possession of the city by +treachery; at which time he spared not so much as those that +admitted him into it, on account of the riches that lay in the +temple; but, led by his covetous inclination, (for he saw there +was in it a great deal of gold, and many ornaments that had been +dedicated to it of very great value,) and in order to plunder its +wealth, he ventured to break the league he had made. So he left +the temple bare, and took away the golden candlesticks, and the +golden altar [of incense], and table [of shew-bread], and the +altar [of burnt-offering]; and did not abstain from even the +veils, which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied +it of its secret treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; +and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation, for he +forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to +offer to God, according to the law. And when he had pillaged the +whole city, some of the inhabitants he slew, and some he carried +captive, together with their wives and children, so that the +multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to +about ten thousand. He also burnt down the finest buildings; and +when he had overthrown the city walls, he built a citadel in the +lower part of the city, (17) for the place was high, and +overlooked the temple; on which account he fortified it with high +walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians. +However, in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the +[Jewish] multitude, from whom it proved that the citizens +suffered many and sore calamities. And when the king had built an +idol altar upon God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so +offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish +religious worship in that country. He also compelled them to +forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore +those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and +raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon +them every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their +sons, and threatened to punish any that should be found to have +transgressed his injunction. He also appointed overseers, who +should compel them to do what he commanded. And indeed many Jews +there were who complied with the king's commands, either +voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced. +But the best men, and those of the noblest souls, did not regard +him, but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their +country than concern as to the punishment which he threatened to +the disobedient; on which account they every day underwent great +miseries and bitter torments; for they were whipped with rods, +and their bodies were torn to pieces, and were crucified, while +they were still alive, and breathed. They also strangled those +women and their sons whom they had circumcised, as the king had +appointed, hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon +the crosses. And if there were any sacred book of the law found, +it was destroyed, and those with whom they were found miserably +perished also. + +5. When the Samaritans saw the Jews under these sufferings, they +no longer confessed that they were of their kindred, nor that the +temple on Mount Gerizzim belonged to Almighty God. This was +according to their nature, as we have already shown. And they now +said that they were a colony of Medes and Persians; and indeed +they were a colony of theirs. So they sent ambassadors to +Antiochus, and an epistle, whose contents are these: "To king +Antiochus the god, Epiphanes, a memorial from the Sidonians, who +live at Shechem. Our forefathers, upon certain frequent plagues, +and as following a certain ancient superstition, had a custom of +observing that day which by the Jews is called the Sabbath. (18) +And when they had erected a temple at the mountain called +Gerrizzim, though without a name, they offered upon it the proper +sacrifices. Now, upon the just treatment of these wicked Jews, +those that manage their affairs, supposing that we were of kin to +them, and practiced as they do, make us liable to the same +accusations, although we be originally Sidonians, as is evident +from the public records. We therefore beseech thee, our +benefactor and Savior, to give order to Apollonius, the governor +of this part of the country, and to Nicanor, the procurator of +thy affairs, to give us no disturbance, nor to lay to our charge +what the Jews are accused for, since we are aliens from their +nation, and from their customs; but let our temple, which at +present hath no name at all be named the Temple of Jupiter +Hellenius. If this were once done, we should be no longer +disturbed, but should be more intent on our own occupation with +quietness, and so bring in a greater revenue to thee." When the +Samaritans had petitioned for this, the king sent them back the +following answer, in an epistle: "King Antiochus to Nicanor. The +Sidonians, who live at Shechem, have sent me the memorial +enclosed. When therefore we were advising with our friends about +it, the messengers sent by them represented to us that they are +no way concerned with accusations which belong to the Jews, but +choose to live after the customs of the Greeks. Accordingly, we +declare them free from such accusations, and order that, +agreeable to their petition, their temple be named the Temple of +Jupiter Hellenius." He also sent the like epistle to Apollonius, +the governor of that part of the country, in the forty-sixth +year, and the eighteenth day of the month Hecatorabeom. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How, Upon Antiochus's Prohibition To The Jews To Make Use Of The +Laws Of Their Country Mattathias, The Son Of Asamoneus, Alone +Despised The King, And Overcame The Generals Of Antiochus's Army; +As Also Concerning The Death Of Mattathias, And The Succession Of +Judas. + + +1. Now at this time there was one whose name was Mattathias, who +dwelt at Modin, the son of John, the son of Simeon, the son of +Asamoneus, a priest of the order of Joarib, and a citizen of +Jerusalem. He had five sons; John, who was called Gaddis, and +Simon, who was called Matthes, and Judas, who was called +Maccabeus, (19) and Eleazar, who was called Auran, and Jonathan, +who was called Apphus. Now this Mattathias lamented to his +children the sad state of their affairs, and the ravage made in +the city, and the plundering of the temple, and the calamities +the multitude were under; and he told them that it was better for +them to die for the laws of their country, than to live so +ingloriously as they then did. + +2. But when those that were appointed by the king were come to +Modin, that they might compel the Jews to do what they were +commanded, and to enjoin those that were there to offer +sacrifice, as the king had commanded, they desired that +Mattathias, a person of the greatest character among them, both +on other accounts, and particularly on account of such a numerous +and so deserving a family of children, would begin the sacrifice, +because his fellow citizens would follow his example, and because +such a procedure would make him honored by the king. But +Mattathias said he would not do it; and that if all the other +nations would obey the commands of Antiochus, either out of fear, +or to please him, yet would not he nor his sons leave the +religious worship of their country. But as soon as he had ended +his speech, there came one of the Jews into the midst of them, +and sacrificed, as Antiochus had commanded. At which Mattathias +had great indignation, and ran upon him violently, with his sons, +who had swords with them, and slew both the man himself that +sacrificed, and Apelles the king's general, who compelled them to +sacrifice, with a few of his soldiers. He also overthrew the idol +altar, and cried out, "If," said he," any one be zealous for the +laws of his country, and for the worship of God, let him follow +me." And when he had said this, he made haste into the desert +with his sons, and left all his substance in the village. Many +others did the same also, and fled with their children and wives +into the desert, and dwelt in caves. But when the king's generals +heard this, they took all the forces they then had in the citadel +at Jerusalem, and pursued the Jews into the desert; and when they +had overtaken them, they in the first place endeavored to +persuade them to repent, and to choose what was most for their +advantage, and not put them to the necessity of using them +according to the law of war. But when they would not comply with +their persuasions, but continued to be of a different mind, they +fought against them on the sabbath day, and they burnt them as +they were in the caves, without resistance, and without so much +as stopping up the entrances of the caves. And they avoided to +defend themselves on that day, because they were not willing to +break in upon the honor they owed the sabbath, even in such +distresses; for our law requires that we rest upon that day. +There were about a thousand, with their wives and children, who +were smothered and died in these caves; but many of those that +escaped joined themselves to Mattathias, and appointed him to be +their ruler, who taught them to fight, even on the sabbath day; +and told them that unless they would do so, they would become +their own enemies, by observing the law [so rigorously], while +their adversaries would still assault them on this day, and they +would not then defend themselves, and that nothing could then +hinder but they must all perish without fighting. This speech +persuaded them. And this rule continues among us to this day, +that if there be a necessity, we may fight on sabbath days. So +Mattathias got a great army about him, and overthrew their idol +altars, and slew those that broke the laws, even all that he +could get under his power; for many of them were dispersed among +the nations round about them for fear of him. He also commanded +that those boys which were not yet circumcised should be +circumcised now; and he drove those away that were appointed to +hinder such their circumcision. + +3. But when he had ruled one year, and was fallen into a +distemper, he called for his sons, and set them round about him, +and said, "O my sons, I am going the way of all the earth; and I +recommend to you my resolution, and beseech you not to be +negligent in keeping it, but to be mindful of the desires of him +who begat you, and brought you up, and to preserve the customs of +your country, and to recover your ancient form of government, +which is in danger of being overturned, and not to be carried +away with those that, either by their own inclination, or out of +necessity, betray it, but to become such sons as are worthy of +me; to be above all force and necessity, and so to dispose your +souls, as to be ready, when it shall be necessary, to die for +your laws; as sensible of this, by just reasoning, that if God +see that you are so disposed he will not overlook you, but will +have a great value for your virtue, and will restore to you again +what you have lost, and will return to you that freedom in which +you shall live quietly, and enjoy your own customs. Your bodies +are mortal, and subject to fate; but they receive a sort of +immortality, by the remembrance of what actions they have done. +And I would have you so in love with this immortality, that you +may pursue after glory, and that, when you have undergone the +greatest difficulties, you may not scruple, for such things, to +lose your lives. I exhort you, especially, to agree one with +another; and in what excellency any one of you exceeds another, +to yield to him so far, and by that means to reap the advantage +of every one's own virtues. Do you then esteem Simon as your +father, because he is a man of extraordinary prudence, and be +governed by him in what counsels be gives you. Take Maccabeus for +the general of your army, because of his courage and strength, +for he will avenge your nation, and will bring vengeance on your +enemies. Admit among you the righteous and religious, and augment +their power." + +4. When Mattathias had thus discoursed to his sons, and had +prayed to God to be their assistant, and to recover to the people +their former constitution, he died a little afterward, and was +buried at Modin; all the people making great lamentation for him. +Whereupon his son Judas took upon him the administration of +public affairs, in the hundred fbrty and sixth year; and thus, by +the ready assistance of his brethren, and of others, Judas cast +their enemies out of the country, and put those of their own +country to death who had transgressed its laws, and purified the +land of all the pollutions that were in it. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Judas Overthrew The Forces Of Apollonius And Seron And Killed +The Generals Of Their Armies Themselves; And How When, A Little +While Afterwards Lysias And Gorgias Were Beaten He Went Up To +Jerusalem And Purified The Temple. + + +1. When Apollonius, the general of the Samaritan forces, heard +this, he took his army, and made haste to go against Judas, who +met him, and joined battle with him, and beat him, and slew many +of his men, and among them Apollonius himself, their general, +whose sword being that which he happened then to wear, he seized +upon, and kept for himself; but he wounded more than he slew, and +took a great deal of prey from the enemy's camp, and went his +way. But when Seron, who was general of the army of Celesyria, +heard that many had joined themselves to Judas, and that he had +about him an army sufficient for fighting, and for making war, he +determined to make an expedition against him, as thinking it +became him to endeavor to punish those that transgressed the +king's injunctions. He then got together an army, as large as he +was able, and joined to it the runagate and wicked Jews, and came +against Judas. He came as far as Bethhoron, a village of Judea, +and there pitched his camp; upon which Judas met him; and when he +intended to give him battle, he saw that his soldiers were +backward to fight, because their number was small, and because +they wanted food, for they were fasting, he encouraged them, and +said to them, that victory and conquest of enemies are not +derived from the multitude in armies, but in the exercise of +piety towards God; and that they had the plainest instances in +their forefathers, who, by their righteousness, exerting +themselves on behalf of their own laws, and their own children, +had frequently conquered many ten thousands, - for innocence is +the strongest army. By this speech he induced his men to contenm +the multitude of the enemy, and to fall upon Seron. And upon +joining battle with him, he beat the Syrians; and when their +general fell among the rest, they all ran away with speed, as +thinking that to be their best way of escaping. So he pursued +them unto the plain, and slew about eight hundred of the enemy; +but the rest escaped to the region which lay near to the sea. + +2. When king Antiochus heard of these things, he was very angry +at what had happened; so he got together all his own army, with +many mercenaries, whom he had hired from the islands, and took +them with him, and prepared to break into Judea about the +beginning of the spring. But when, upon his mustering his +soldiers, he perceived that his treasures were deficient, and +there was a want of money in them, for all the taxes were not +paid, by reason of the seditions there had been among the nations +he having been so magnanimous and so liberal, that what he had +was not sufficient for him, he therefore resolved first to go +into Persia, and collect the taxes of that country. Hereupon he +left one whose name was Lysias, who was in great repute with him +governor of the kingdom, as far as the bounds of Egypt, and of +the Lower Asia, and reaching from the river Euphrates, and +committed to him a certain part of his forces, and of his +elephants, and charged him to bring up his son Antiochus with all +possible care, until he came back; and that he should conquer +Judea, and take its inhabitants for slaves, and utterly destroy +Jerusalem, and abolish the whole nation. And when king Antiochus +had given these things in charge to Lysias, he went into Persia; +and in the hundred and forty-seventh year he passed over +Euphrates, and went to the superior provinces. + +3. Upon this Lysias chose Ptolemy, the son of Dorymenes, and +Nicanor, and Gorgias, very potent men among the king's friends, +and delivered to them forty thousand foot soldiers, and seven +thousand horsemen, and sent them against Judea, who came as far +as the city Emmaus, and pitched their camp in the plain country. +There came also to them auxiliaries out of Syria, and the country +round about; as also many of the runagate Jews. And besides these +came some merchants to buy those that should be carried captives, +(having bonds with them to bind those that should be made +prisoners,) with that silver and gold which they were to pay for +their price. And when Judas saw their camp, and how numerous +their enemies were, he persuaded his own soldiers to be of good +courage, and exhorted them to place their hopes of victory in +God, and to make supplication to him, according to the custom of +their country, clothed in sackcloth; and to show what was their +usual habit of supplication in the greatest dangers, and thereby +to prevail with God to grant you the victory over your enemies. +So he set them in their ancient order of battle used by their +forefathers, under their captains of thousands, and other +officers, and dismissed such as were newly married, as well as +those that had newly gained possessions, that they might not +fight in a cowardly manner, out of an inordinate love of life, in +order to enjoy those blessings. When he had thus disposed his +soldiers, he encouraged them to fight by the following speech, +which he made to them: "O my fellow soldiers, no other time +remains more opportune than the present for courage and contempt +of dangers; for if you now fight manfully, you may recover your +liberty, which, as it is a thing of itself agreeable to all men, +so it proves to be to us much more desirable, by its affording us +the liberty of worshipping God. Since therefore you are in such +circumstances at present, you must either recover that liberty, +and so regain a happy and blessed way of living, which is that +according to our laws, and the customs of our country, or to +submit to the most opprobrious sufferings; nor will any seed of +your nation remain if you be beat in this battle. Fight therefore +manfully; and suppose that you must die, though you do not fight; +but believe, that besides such glorious rewards as those of the +liberty of your country, of your laws, of your religion, you +shall then obtain everlasting glory. Prepare yourselves, +therefore, and put yourselves into such an agreeable posture, +that you may be ready to fight with the enemy as soon as it is +day tomorrow morning." + +4. And this was the speech which Judas made to encourage them. +But when the enemy sent Gorgias, with five thousand foot and one +thousand horse, that he might fall upon Judas by night, and had +for that purpose certain of the runagate Jews as guides, the son +of Mattathias perceived it, and resolved to fall upon those +enemies that were in their camp, now their forces were divided. +When they had therefore supped in good time, and had left many +fires in their camp, he marched all night to those enemies that +were at Emmaus. So that when Gorgias found no enemy in their +camp, but suspected that they were retired, and had hidden +themselves among the mountains, he resolved to go and seek them +wheresoever they were. But about break of day Judas appeared to +those enemies that were at Emmaus, with only three thousand men, +and those ill armed, by reason of their poverty; and when he saw +the enemy very well and skillfully fortified in their camp, he +encouraged the Jews, and told them that they ought to fight, +though it were with their naked bodies, for that God had +sometimes of old given such men strength, and that against such +as were more in number, and were armed also, out of regard to +their great courage. So he commanded the trumpeters to sound for +the battle; and by thus falling upon the enemies when they did +not expect it, and thereby astonishing and disturbing their +minds, he slew many of those that resisted him, and went on +pursuing the rest as far as Gadara, and the plains of Idumea, and +Ashdod, and Jamnia; and of these there fell about three thousand. +Yet did Judas exhort his soldiers not to be too desirous of the +spoils, for that still they must have a contest and battle with +Gorgias, and the forces that were with him; but that when they +had once overcome them, then they might securely plunder the +camp, because they were the only enemies remaining, and they +expected no others. And just as he was speaking to his soldiers, +Gorgias's men looked down into that army which they left in their +camp, and saw that it was overthrown, and the camp burnt; for the +smoke that arose from it showed them, even when they were a great +way off, what had happened. When therefore those that were with +Gorgias understood that things were in this posture, and +perceived that those that were with Judas were ready to fight +them, they also were affrighted, and put to flight; but then +Judas, as though he had already beaten Gorgias's soldiers without +fighting, returned and seized on the spoils. He took a great +quantity of gold, and silver, and purple, and blue, and then +returned home with joy, and singing hymns to God for their good +success; for this victory greatly contributed to the recovery of +their liberty. + +5. Hereupon Lysias was confounded at the defeat of the army which +he had sent, and the next year he got together sixty thousand +chosen men. He also took five thousand horsemen, and fell upon +Judea; and he went up to the hill country of Bethsur, a village +of Judea, and pitched his camp there, where Judas met him with +ten thousand men; and when he saw the great number of his +enemies, he prayed to God that he would assist him, and joined +battle with the first of the enemy that appeared, and beat them, +and slew about five thousand of them, and thereby became terrible +to the rest of them. Nay, indeed, Lysias observing the great +spirit of the Jews, how they were prepared to die rather than +lose their liberty, and being afraid of their desperate way of +fighting, as if it were real strength, he took the rest of the +army back with him, and returned to Antioch, where he listed +foreigners into the service, and prepared to fall upon Judea with +a greater army. + +6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been +beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told +them, that after these many victories which God had given them, +they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and +offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole +multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, +and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of +their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that +were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the +sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and +gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the +citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore +he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the +candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of +incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the +gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of +burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered +together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the +five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians +call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the +candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and +laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered +burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so +fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on +which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a +profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, +that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued +for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the +hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the +month Apeliens, and on the hundred fifty and third olympiad: but +it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the +month Apeliens, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the +hundred and fifty-fourth olympiad. And this desolation came to +pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four +hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the +Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time]. + +7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the +sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of +pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and +splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by +hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of +their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they +unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they +made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a +festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, +for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this +festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because +this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was +the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls +round about the city, and reared towers of great height against +the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also +fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel +against any distresses that might come from our enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How Judas Subdued The Nations Round About; And How Simon Beat The +People Of Tyre And Ptolemais; And How Judas Overcame Timotheus, +And Forced Him To Fly Away, And Did Many Other Things After +Joseph And Azarias Had Been Beaten + + +1. When these things were over, the nations round about the Jews +were very uneasy at the revival of their power, and rose up +together, and destroyed many of them, as gaining advantage over +them by laying snares for them, and making secret conspiracies +against them. Judas made perpetual expeditions against these men, +and endeavored to restrain them from those incursions, and to +prevent the mischiefs they did to the Jews. So he fell upon the +Idumeans, the posterity of Esau, at Acrabattene, and slew a great +many of them, and took their spoils. He also shut up the sons of +Bean, that laid wait for the Jews; and he sat down about them, +and besieged them, and burnt their towers, and destroyed the men +[that were in them]. After this he went thence in haste against +the Ammonites, who had a great and a numerous army, of which +Timotheus was the commander. And when he had subdued them, he +seized on the city Jazer, and took their wives and their children +captives, and burnt the city, and then returned into Judea. But +when the neighboring nations understood that he was returned, +they got together in great numbers in the land of Gilead, and +came against those Jews that were at their borders, who then fled +to the garrison of Dathema; and sent to Judas, to inform him that +Timotheus was endeavoring to take the place whither they were +fled. And as these epistles were reading, there came other +messengers out of Galilee, who informed him that the inhabitants +of Ptolemais, and of Tyre and Sidon, and strangers of Galilee, +were gotten together. + +2. Accordingly Judas, upon considering what was fit to be done, +with relation to the necessity both these cases required, gave +order that Simon his brother should take three thousand chosen +men, and go to the assistance of the Jews in Galilee, while he +and another of his brothers, Jonathan, made haste into the land +of Gilead, with eight thousand soldiers. And he left Joseph, the +son of Zacharias, and Azarias, to be over the rest of the forces; +and charged them to keep Judea very carefully, and to fight no +battles with any persons whomsoever until his return. +Accordingly, Simon-went into Galilee, and fought the enemy, and +put them to flight, and pursued them to the very gates of +Ptolemais, and slew about three thousand of them, and took the +spoils of those that were slain, and those Jews whom they had +made captives, with their baggage, and then returned home. + +3. Now as for Judas Maccabeus, and his brother Jonathan, they +passed over the river Jordan; and when they had gone three days +journey, they lighted upon the Nabateans, who came to meet them +peaceably, and who told them how the affairs of those in the land +of Gilead stood; and how many of them were in distress, and +driven into garrisons, and into the cities of Galilee; and +exhorted him to make haste to go against the foreigners, and to +endeavor to save his own countrymen out of their hands. To this +exhortation Judas hearkened, and returned to the wilderness; and +in the first place fell upon the inhabitants of Bosor, and took +the city, and beat the inhabitants, and destroyed all the males, +and all that were able to fight, and burnt the city. Nor did he +stop even when night came on, but he journeyed in it to the +garrison where the Jews happened to be then shut up, and where +Timotheus lay round the place with his army. And Judas came upon +the city in the morning; and when he found that the enemy were +making an assault upon the walls, and that some of them brought +ladders, on which they might get upon those walls, and that +others brought engines [to batter them], he bid the trumpeter to +sound his trumpet, and he encouraged his soldiers cheerfully to +undergo dangers for the sake of their brethren and kindred; he +also parted his army into three bodies, and fell upon the backs +of their enemies. But when Timotheus's men perceived that it was +Maccabeus that was upon them, of both whose courage and good +success in war they had formerly had sufficient experience, they +were put to flight; but Judas followed them with his army, and +slew about eight thousand of them. He then turned aside to a city +of the foreigners called Malle, and took it, and slew all the +males, and burnt the city itself. He then removed from thence, +and overthrew Casphom and Bosor, and many other cities of the +land of Gilead. + +4. But not long after this, Timotheus prepared a great army, and +took many others as auxiliaries; and induced some of the +Arabians, by the promise of rewards, to go with him in this +expedition, and came with his army beyond the brook, over against +the city Raphon; and he encouraged his soldiers, if it came to a +battle with the Jews, to fight courageously, and to hinder their +passing over the brook; for he said to them beforehand, that "if +they come over it, we shall be beaten." And when Judas heard that +Timotheus prepared himself to fight, he took all his own army, +and went in haste against Timotheus his enemy; and when he had +passed over the brook, he fell upon his enemies, and some of them +met him, whom he slew, and others of them he so terrified, that +he compelled them to throw down their arms and fly; and some of +them escaped, but some of them fled to what was called the Temple +of Camaim, and hoped thereby to preserve themselves; but Judas +took the city, and slew them, and burnt the temple, and so used +several ways of destroying his enemies. + +5. When he had done this, he gathered the Jews together, with +their children and wives, and the substance that belonged to +them, and was going to bring them back into Judea; but as soon as +he was come to a certain city, whose name was Ephron, that lay +upon the road, (and it was not possible for him to go any other +way, so he was not willing to go back again,) he then sent to the +inhabitants, and desired that they would open their gates, and +permit them to go on their way through the city; for they had +stopped up the gates with stones, and cut off their passage +through it. And when the inhabitants of Ephron would not agree to +this proposal, he encouraged those that were with him, and +encompassed the city round, and besieged it, and, lying round it +by day and night, took the city, and slew every male in it, and +burnt it all down, and so obtained a way through it; and the +multitude of those that were slain was so great, that they went +over the dead bodies. So they came over Jordan, and arrived at +the great plain, over against which is situate the city Bethshah, +which is called by the Greeks Scythopolis. (20) And going away +hastily from thence, they came into Judea, singing psalms and +hymns as they went, and indulging such tokens of mirth as are +usual in triumphs upon victory. They also offered +thank-offerings, both for their good success, and for the +preservation of their army, for not one of the Jews was slain in +these battles.(21) + +6. But as to Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, whom +Judas left generals [of the rest of his forces] at the same time +when Simon was in Galilee, fighting against the people of +Ptolemais, and Judas himself, and his brother Jonathan, were in +the land of Gilead, did these men also affect the glory of being +courageous generals in war, in order whereto they took the army +that was under their command, and came to Jamnia. There Gorgias, +the general of the forces of Jamnia, met them; and upon joining +battle with him, they lost two thousand of their army, (22) and +fled away, and were pursued to the very borders of Judea. And +this misfortune befell them by their disobedience to what +injunctions Judas had given them, not to fight with any one +before his return. For besides the rest of Judas's sagacious +counsels, one may well wonder at this concerning the misfortune +that befell the forces commanded by Joseph and Azarias, which he +understood would happen, if they broke any of the injunctions he +had given them. But Judas and his brethren did not leave off +fighting with the Idumeans, but pressed upon them on all sides, +and took from them the city of Hebron, and demolished all its +fortifications, and set all its towers on fire, and burnt the +country of the foreigners, and the city Marissa. They came also +to Ashdod, and took it, and laid it waste, and took away a great +deal of the spoils and prey that were in it, and returned to +Judea. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning The Death Of Antiochus Epiphane. How Antiochus Eupator +Fought Against Juda And Besieged Him In The Temple And Afterwards +Made Peace With Him And Departed; Of Alcimus And Onias. + + +1. About this time it was that king Antiochus, as he was going +over the upper countries, heard that there was a very rich city +in Persia, called Elymais; and therein a very rich temple of +Diana, and that it was full of all sorts of donations dedicated +to it; as also weapons and breastplates, which, upon inquiry, he +found had been left there by Alexander, the son of Philip, king +of Macedonia. And being incited by these motives, he went in +haste to Elymais, and assaulted it, and besieged it. But as those +that were in it were not terrified at his assault, nor at his +siege, but opposed him very courageously, he was beaten off his +hopes; for they drove him away from the city, and went out and +pursued after him, insomuch that he fled away as far as Babylon, +and lost a great many of his army. And when he was grieving for +this disappointment, some persons told him of the defeat of his +commanders whom he had left behind him to fight against Judea, +and what strength the Jews had already gotten. When this concern +about these affairs was added to the former, he was confounded, +and by the anxiety he was in fell into a distemper, which, as it +lasted a great while, and as his pains increased upon him, so he +at length perceived he should die in a little time; so he called +his friends to him, and told them that his distemper was severe +upon him; and confessed withal, that this calamity was sent upon +him for the miseries he had brought upon the Jewish nation, while +he plundered their temple, and contemned their God; and when he +had said this, he gave up the ghost. Whence one may wonder at +Polybius of Megalopolis, who, though otherwise a good man, yet +saith that "Antiochus died because he had a purpose to plunder +the temple of Diana in Persia;" for the purposing to do a thing, +(23) but not actually doing it, is not worthy of punishment. But +if Polybius could think that Antiochus thus lost his life on that +account, it is much more probable that this king died on account +of his sacrilegious plundering of the temple at Jerusalem. But we +will not contend about this matter with those who may think that +the cause assigned by this Polybius of Megalopolis is nearer the +truth than that assigned by us. + +2. However, Antiochus, before he died, called for Philip, who was +one of his companions, and made him the guardian of his kingdom; +and gave him his diadem, and his garment, and his ring, and +charged him to carry them, and deliver them to his son Antiochus; +and desired him to take care of his education, and to preserve +the kingdom for him. (24) This Antiochus died in the hundred +forty and ninth year; but it was Lysias that declared his death +to the multitude, and appointed his son Antiochus to be king, (of +whom at present he had the care,) and called him Eupator. + +3. At this time it was that the garrison in the citadel of +Jerusalem, with the Jewish runagates, did a great deal of harm to +the Jews; for the soldiers that were in that garrison rushed out +upon the sudden, and destroyed such as were going up to the +temple in order to offer their sacrifices, for this citadel +adjoined to and overlooked the temple. When these misfortunes had +often happened to them, Judas resolved to destroy that garrison; +whereupon he got all the people together, and vigorously besieged +those that were in the citadel. This was in the hundred and +fiftieth year of the dominion of the Seleucidse. So he made +engines of war, and erected bulwarks, and very zealously pressed +on to take the citadel. But there were not a few of the runagates +who were in the place that went out by night into the country, +and got together some other wicked men like themselves, and went +to Antiochus the king, and desired of him that he would not +suffer them to be neglected, under the great hardships that lay +upon them from those of their own nation; and this because their +sufferings were occasioned on his father's account, while they +left the religious worship of their fathers, and preferred that +which he had commanded them to follow: that there was danger lest +the citadel, and those appointed to garrison it by the king, +should be taken by Judas, and those that were with him, unless he +would send them succors. When Antiochus, who was but a child, +heard this, he was angry, and sent for his captains and his +friends, and gave order that they should get an army of +mercenaries together, with such men also of his own kingdom as +were of an age fit for war. Accordingly, an army was collected of +about a hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, +and thirty-two elephants. + +4. So the king took this army, and marched hastily out of +Antioch, with Lysias, who had the command of the whole, and came +to Idumea, and thence went up to the city Bethsnra, a city that +was strong, and not to be taken without great difficulty. He set +about this city, and besieged it. And while the inhabitants of +Bethsura courageously opposed him, and sallied out upon him, and +burnt his engines of war, a great deal of time was spent in the +siege. But when Judas heard of the king's coming, he raised the +siege of the citadel, and met the king, and pitched his camp in +certain straits, at a place called Bethzachriah, at the distance +of seventy furlongs from the enemy; but the king soon drew his +forces from Bethsura, and brought them to those straits. And as +soon as it was day, he put his men in battle-array, and made his +elephants follow one another through the narrow passes, because +they could not be set sideways by one another. Now round about +every elephant there were a thousand footmen, and five hundred +horsemen. The elephants also had high towers [upon their backs], +and archers [in them]. And he also made the rest of his army to +go up the mountains, and put his friends before the rest; and +gave orders for the army to shout aloud, and so he attacked the +enemy. He also exposed to sight their golden and brazen shields, +so that a glorious splendor was sent from them; and when they +shouted the mountains echoed again. When Judas saw this, he was +not terrified, but received the enemy with great courage, and +slew about six hundred of the first ranks. But when his brother +Eleazar, whom they called Auran, saw the tallest of all the +elephants armed with royal breastplates, and supposed that the +king was upon him, he attacked him with great quickness and +bravery. He also slew many of those that were about the elephant, +and scattered the rest, and then went under the belly of the +elephant, and smote him, and slew him; so the elephant fell upon +Eleazar, and by his weight crushed him to death. And thus did +this man come to his end, when he had first courageously +destroyed manyof his enemies. + +5. But Judas, seeing the strength of the enemy, retired to +Jerusalem, and prepared to endure a siege. As for Antiochus, he +sent part of his army to Bethsura, to besiege it, and with the +rest of his army he came against Jerusalem; but the inhabitants +of Bethsura were terrified at his strength; and seeing that their +provisions grew scarce, they delivered themselves up on the +security of oaths that they should suffer no hard treatment from +the king. And when Antiochus had thus taken the city, he did them +no other harm than sending them out naked. He also placed a +garrison of his own in the city. But as for the temple of +Jerusalem, he lay at its siege a long time, while they within +bravely defended it; for what engines soever the king set against +them, they set other engines again to oppose them. But then their +provisions failed them; what fruits of the ground they had laid +up were spent and the land being not ploughed that year, +continued unsowed, because it was the seventh year, on which, by +our laws, we are obliged to let it lay uncultivated. And withal, +so many of the besieged ran away for want of necessaries, that +but a few only were left in the temple. + +6. And these happened to be the circumstances of such as were +besieged in the temple. But then, because Lysias, the general of +the army, and Antiochus the king, were informed that Philip was +coming upon them out of Persia, and was endeavoring to get the +management of public affairs to himself, they came into these +sentiments, to leave the siege, and to make haste to go against +Philip; yet did they resolve not to let this be known to the +soldiers or to the officers: but the king commanded Lysias to +speak openly to the soldiers and the officers, without saying a +word about the business of Philip; and to intimate to them that +the siege would be very long; that the place was very strong; +that they were already in want of provisions; that many affairs +of the kingdom wanted regulation; and that it was much better to +make a league with the besieged, and to become friends to their +whole nation, by permitting them to observe the laws of their +fathers, while they broke out into this war only because they +were deprived of them, and so to depart home. When Lysias had +discoursed thus to them, both the army and the officers were +pleased with this resolution. + +7. Accordingly the king sent to Judas, and to those that were +besieged with them, and promised to give them peace, and to +permit them to make use of, and live according to, the laws of +their fathers; and they gladly received his proposals; and when +they had gained security upon oath for their performance, they +went out of the temple. But when Antiochus came into it, and saw +how strong the place was, he broke his oaths, and ordered his +army that was there to pluck down the walls to the ground; and +when he had so done, he returned to Antioch. He also carried with +him Onias the high priest, who was also called Menelaus; for +Lysias advised the king to slay Menelaus, if he would have the +Jews be quiet, and cause him no further disturbance, for that +this man was the origin of all the mischief the Jews had done +them, by persuading his father to compel the Jews to leave the +religion of their fathers. So the king sent Menelaus to Berea, a +city of Syria, and there had him put to death, when he had been +high priest ten years. He had been a wicked and an impious man; +and, in order to get the government to himself, had compelled his +nation to transgress their own laws. After the death of Menelaus, +Alcimus, who was also called Jacimus, was made high priest. But +when king Antiochus found that Philip had already possessed +himself of the government, he made war against him, and subdued +him, and took him, and slew him. Now as to Onias, the son of the +high priest, who, as we before informed you, was left a child +when his father died, when he saw that the king had slain his +uncle Menelaus, and given the high priesthood to Alcimus, who was +not of the high priest stock, but was induced by Lysias to +translate that dignity from his family to another house, he fled +to Ptolemy, king of Egypt; and when he found he was in great +esteem with him, and with his wife Cleopatra, he desired and +obtained a place in the Nomus of Heliopolis, wherein he built a +temple like to that at Jerusalem; of which therefore we shall +hereafter give an account, in a place more proper for it. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Bacchides, The General Of Demetrius's Army, Made An +Expedition Against Judea, And Returned Without Success; And How +Nicanor Was Sent A Little Afterward Against Judas And Perished, +Together With His Army; As Also Concerning The Death Of Alcimus +And The Succession Of Judas. + + +1. About the same time Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, fled away +from Rome, and took Tripoli, a city of Syria, and set the diadem +on his own head. He also gathered certain mercenary soldiers +together, and entered into his kingdom, and was joyfully received +by all, who delivered themselves up to him. And when they had +taken Autiochus the king, and Lysias, they brought them to him +alive; both which were immediately put to death by the command of +Demetrius, when Antiochus had reigned two years, as we have +already elsewhere related. But there were now many of the wicked +Jewish runagates that came together to him, and with them Alcimus +the high priest, who accused the whole nation, and particularly +Judas and his brethren; and said that they had slain all his +friends, and that those in his kingdom that were of his party, +and waited for his return, were by them put to death; that these +men had ejected them out of their own country, and caused them to +be sojourners in a foreign land; and they desired that he would +send some one of his own friends, and know from him what mischief +Judas's party had done. + +2. At this Demetrius was very angry, and sent Bacchides, a friend +of Antiochus Epiphanes, (25) a good man, and one that had been +intrusted with all Mesopotamia, and gave him an army, and +committed Alcimus the high priest to his care; and gave him +charge to slay Judas, and those that were with him. So Bacchides +made haste, and went out of Antioch with his army; and when he +was come into Judea, he sent to Judas and his brethren, to +discourse with them about a league of friendship and peace, for +he had a mind to take him by treachery. But Judas did not give +credit to him, for he saw that he came with so great an army as +men do not bring when they come to make peace, but to make war. +However, some of the people acquiesced in what Bacchides caused +to be proclaimed; and supposing they should undergo no +considerable harm from Alcimus, who was their countryman, they +went over to them; and when they had received oaths from both of +them, that neither they themselves, nor those of the same +sentiments, should come to any harm, they intrusted themselves +with them. But Bacchides troubled not himself about the oaths he +had taken, but slew threescore of them, although, by not keeping +his faith with those that first went over, he deterred all the +rest, who had intentions to go over to him, from doing it. But as +he was gone out of Jerusalem, and was at the village called +Bethzetho, he sent out, and caught many of the deserters, and +some of the people also, and slew them all; and enjoined all that +lived in the country to submit to Alcimus. So he left him there, +with some part of the army, that he might have wherewith to keep +the country in obedience and returned to Antioch to king +Demetrius. + +3. But Alcimus was desirous to have the dominion more firmly +assured to him; and understanding that, if he could bring it +about that the multitude should be his friends, he should govern +with greater security, he spake kind words to them all, and +discoursed to each of them after an agreeable and pleasant +manner; by which means he quickly had a great body of men and an +army about him, although the greater part of them were of the +wicked, and the deserters. With these, whom he used as his +servants and soldiers, he went all over the country, and slew all +that he could find of Judas's party. But when Judas saw that +Alcimus was already become great, and had destroyed many of the +good and holy men of the country, he also went all over the +country, and destroyed those that were of the other party. But +when Alcimus saw that he was not able to oppose Judas, nor was +equal to him in strength, he resolved to apply himself to king +Demetrius for his assistance; so he came to Antioch, and +irritated him against Judas, and accused him, alleging that he +had undergone a great many miseries by his means, and that he +would do more mischief unless he were prevented, and brought to +punishment, which must be done by sending a powerful force +against him. + +4. So Demetrius, being already of opinion that it would be a +thing pernicious to his own affairs to overlook Judas, now he was +becoming so great, sent against him Nicanor, the most kind and +most faithful of all his friends; for he it was who fled away +with him from the city of Rome. He also gave him as many forces +as he thought sufficient for him to conquer Judas withal, and bid +him not to spare the nation at all. When Nicanor was come to +Jerusalem, he did not resolve to fight Judas immediately, but +judged it better to get him into his power by treachery; so he +sent him a message of peace, and said there was no manner of +necessity for them to fight and hazard themselves; and that he +would give him his oath that he would do him no harm, for that he +only came with some friends, in order to let him know what king +Demetrius's intentions were, and what opinion he had of their +nation. When Nicanor had delivered this message, Judas and his +brethren complied with him, and suspecting no deceit, they gave +him assurances of friendship, and received Nicanor and his army; +but while he was saluting Judas, and they were talking together, +he gave a certain signal to his own soldiers, upon which they +were to seize upon Judas; but he perceived the treachery, and ran +back to his own soldiers, and fled away with them. So upon this +discovery of his purpose, and of the snares laid for Judas, +Nicanor determined to make open war with him, and gathered his +army together, and prepared for fighting him; and upon joining +battle with him at a certain village called Capharsalama, he beat +Judas, (26) and forced him to fly to that citadel which was at +Jerusalem. + +5. And when Nicanor came down from the citadel unto the temple, +some of the priests and elders met him, and saluted him; and +showed him the sacrifices which they offered to God for the king: +upon which he blasphemed, and threatened them, that unless the +people would deliver up Judas to him, upon his return he would +pull down their temple. And when he had thus threatened them, he +departed from Jerusalem. But the priests fell into tears out of +grief at what he had said, and besought God to deliver them from +their enemies But now for Nicanor, when he was gone out of +Jerusalem, and was at a certain village called Bethoron, he there +pitched his camp, another army out of Syria having joined him. +And Judas pitched his camp at Adasa, another village, which was +thirty furlongs distant from Bethoron, having no more than one +thousand soldiers. And when he had encouraged them not to be +dismayed at the multitude of their enemies, nor to regard how +many they were against whom they were going to fight, but to +consider who they themselves were, and for what great rewards +they hazarded themselves, and to attack the enemy courageously, +he led them out to fight, and joining battle with Nicanor, which +proved to be a severe one, he overcame the enemy, and slew many +of them; and at last Nicanor himself, as he was fighting +gloriously, fell:-- upon whose fall the army did not stay; but +when they had lost their general, they were put to flight, and +threw down their arms. Judas also pursued them and slew them, and +gave notice by the sound of the trumpets to the neighboring +villages that he had conquered the enemy; which, when the +inhabitants heard, they put on their armor hastily, and met their +enemies in the face as they were running away, and slew them, +insomuch that not one of them escaped out of this battle, who +were in number nine thousand This victory happened to fall on the +thirteenth day of that month which by the Jews is called Adar and +by the Macedonians Dystrus; and the Jews thereon celebrate this +victory every year, and esteem it as a festival day. After which +the Jewish nation were, for a while, free from wars, and enjoyed +peace; but afterward they returned into their former state of +wars and hazards. + +6. But now as the high priest Alcimus, was resolving to pull down +the wall of the sanctuary, which had been there of old time, and +had been built by the holy prophets, he was smitten suddenly by +God, and fell down. (27) This stroke made him fall down +speechless upon the ground; and undergoing torments for many +days, he at length died, when he had been high priest four years. +And when he was dead, the people bestowed the high priesthood on +Judas; who hearing of the power of the Romans, and that they had +conquered in war Galatia, and Iberia, and Carthage, and Libya; +and that, besides these, they had subdued Greece, and their +kings, Perseus, and Philip, and Antiochus the Great also; he +resolved to enter into a league of friendship with them. He +therefore sent to Rome some of his friends, Eupolemus the son of +John, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and by them desired the +Romans that they would assist them, and be their friends, and +would write to Demetrius that he would not fight against the +Jews. So the senate received the ambassadors that came from Judas +to Rome, and discoursed with them about the errand on which they +came, and then granted them a league of assistance. They also +made a decree concerning it, and sent a copy of it into Judea. It +was also laid up in the capitol, and engraven in brass. The +decree itself was this: "The decree of the senate concerning a +league of assistance and friendship with the nation of the Jews. +It shall not be lawful for any that are subject to the Romans to +make war with the nation of the Jews, nor to assist those that do +so, either by sending them corn, or ships, or money; and if any +attack be made upon the Jews, the Romans shall assist them, as +far as they are able; and again, if any attack be made upon the +Romans, the Jews shall assist them. And if the Jews have a mind +to add to, or to take away any thing from, this league of +assistance, that shall be done with the common consent of the +Romans. And whatsoever addition shall thus be made, it shall be +of force." This decree was written by Eupolemus the son of John, +and by Jason the son of Eleazar, (28) when Judas was high priest +of the nation, and Simon his brother was general of the army. And +this was the first league that the Romans made with the Jews, and +was managed after this manner. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +That Bacchides Was Again Sent Out Against Judas; And How Judas +Fell As He Was Courageously Fighting. + + +1. But when Demetrius was informed of the death of Nicanor, and +of the destruction of the army that was with him, he sent +Bacchides again with an army into Judea, who marched out of +Antioch, and came into Judea, and pitched his camp at Arbela, a +city of Galilee; and having besieged and taken those that were +there in caves, (for many of the people fled into such places,) +he removed, and made all the haste he could to Jerusalem. And +when he had learned that Judas had pitched his camp at a certain +village whose name was Bethzetho, he led his army against him: +they were twenty thousand foot-men, and two thousand horsemen. +Now Judas had no more soldiers than one thousand. (29) When these +saw the multitude of Bacchides's men, they were afraid, and left +their camp, and fled all away, excepting eight hundred. Now when +Judas was deserted by his own soldiers, and the enemy pressed +upon him, and gave him no time to gather his army together, he +was disposed to fight with Bacchides's army, though he had but +eight hundred men with him; so he exhorted these men to undergo +the danger courageously, and encouraged them to attack the enemy. +And when they said they were not a body sufficient to fight so +great an army, and advised that they should retire now, and save +themselves and that when he had gathered his own men together, +then he should fall upon the enemy afterwards, his answer was +this: "Let not the sun ever see such a thing, that I should show +my back to the enemy and although this be the time that will +bring me to my end, and I must die in this battle, I will rather +stand to it courageously, and bear whatsoever comes upon me, than +by now running away bring reproach upon my former great actions, +or tarnish their glory." This was the speech he made to those +that remained with him, whereby he encouraged them to attack the +enemy. + +2. But Bacchldes drew his army out of their camp, and put them in +array for the battle. He set the horsemen on both the wings, and +the light soldiers and the archers he placed before the whole +army, but he was himself on the right wing. And when he had thus +put his army in order of battle, and was going to join battle +with the enemy, he commanded the trumpeter to give a signal of +battle, and the army to make a shout, and to fall on the enemy. +And when Judas had done the same, he joined battle with them; and +as both sides fought valiantly, and the battle continued till +sun-set, Judas saw that Bacehides and the strongest part of the +army was in the right wing, and thereupon took the most +courageous men with him, and ran upon that part of the army, and +fell upon those that were there, and broke their ranks, and drove +them into the middle, and forced them to run away, and pursued +them as far as to a mountain called Aza: but when those of the +left wing saw that the right wing was put to flight, they +encompassed Judas, and pursued him, and came behind him, and took +him into the middle of their army; so being not able to fly, but +encompassed round about with enemies, he stood still, and he and +those that were with him fought; and when he had slain a great +many of those that came against him, he at last was himself +wounded, and fell and gave up the ghost, and died in a way like +to his former famous actions. When Judas was dead, those that +were with him had no one whom they could regard [as their +commander]; but when they saw themselves deprived of such a +general, they fled. But Simon and Jonathan, Judas's brethren, +received his dead body by a treaty from the enemy, and carried it +to the village of Modin, where their father had been buried, and +there buried him; while the multitude lamented him many days, and +performed the usual solemn rites of a funeral to him. And this +was the end that Judas came to. He had been a man of valor and a +great warrior, and mindful of the commands of their father +Matrathins; and had undergone all difficulties, both in doing and +suffering, for the liberty of his countrymen. And when his +character was so excellent [while he was alive], he left behind +him a glorious reputation and memorial, by gaining freedom for +his nation, and delivering them from slavery under the +Macedonians. And when he had retained the high priesthood three +years, he died. + + + + +BOOK XIII. + +Containing The Interval Of Eighty-Two Years, + +From The Death Of Judas Maccabeus To The Death Of Queen +Alexandra. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Jonathan Took The Government After His Brother Judas; And How +He, Together With His Brother Simon, Waged War Against Bacchides. + + +1. By what means the nation of the Jews recovered their freedom +when they had been brought into slavery by the Macedonians, and +what struggles, and how great battles, Judas, the general of +their army, ran through, till he was slain as he was fighting for +them, hath been related in the foregoing book; but after he was +dead, all the wicked, and those that transgressed the laws of +their forefathers, sprang up again in Judea, and grew upon them, +and distressed them on every side. A famine also assisted their +wickedness, and afflicted the country, till not a few, who by +reason of their want of necessaries, and because they were not +able to bear up against the miseries that both the famine and +their enemies brought upon them, deserted their country, and went +to the Macedonians. And now Bacchides gathered those Jews +together who had apostatized from the accustomed way of living of +their forefathers, and chose to live like their neighbors, and +committed the care of the country to them, who also caught the +friends of Judas, and those of his party, and delivered them up +to Bacchides, who when he had, in the first place, tortured and +tormented them at his pleasure, he, by that means, at length +killed them. And when this calamity of the Jews was become so +great, as they had never had experience of the like since their +return out of Babylon, those that remained of the companions of +Judas, seeing that the nation was ready to be destroyed after a +miserable manner, came to his brother Jonathan, and desired him +that he would imitate his brother, and that care which he took of +his countrymen, for whose liberty in general he died also; and +that he would not permit the nation to be without a governor, +especially in those destructive circumstances wherein it now was. +And where Jonathan said that he was ready to die for them, and +esteemed no inferior to his brother, he was appointed to be the +general of the Jewish army. + +2. When Bacchides heard this, and was afraid that Jonathan might +be very troublesome to the king and the Macedonians, as Judas had +been before him, he sought how he might slay him by treachery. +But this intention of his was not unknown to Jonathan, nor to his +brother Simon; but when these two were apprized of it, they took +all their companions, and presently fled into that wilderness +which was nearest to the city; and when they were come to a lake +called Asphar, they abode there. But when Bacchides was sensible +that they were in a low state, and were in that place, he hasted +to fall upon them with all his forces, and pitching his camp +beyond Jordan, he recruited his army. But when Jonathan knew that +Bacchides Was coming upon him, he sent his brother John, who was +also called Gaddis, to the Nabatean Arabs, that he might lodge +his baggage with them until the battle with Bacchides should be +over, for they were the Jews' friends. And the sons of Ambri laid +an ambush for John from the city Medaba, and seized upon him, and +upon those that were with him, and plundered all that they had +with them. They also slew John, and all his companions. However, +they were sufficiently punished for what they now did by John's +brethren, as we shall relate presently. + +3. But when Bacchides knew that Jonathan had pitched his camp +among the lakes of Jordan, he observed when their sabbath day +came, and then assaulted him, [as supposing that he would not +fight because of the law for resting on that day]: but he +exhorted his companions [to fight]; and told them that their +lives were at stake, since they were encompassed by the river, +and by their enemies, and had no way to escape, for that their +enemies pressed upon them from before, and the river was behind +them. So after he had prayed to God to give them the victory, he +joined battle with the enemy, of whom he overthrew many; and as +he saw Bacchides coming up boldly to him, he stretched out his +right hand to smite him; but the other foreseeing and avoiding +the stroke, Jonathan with his companions leaped into the river, +and swam over it, and by that means escaped beyond Jordan while +the enemies did not pass over that river; but Bacchides returned +presently to the citadel at Jerusalem, having lost about two +thousand of his army. He also fortified many cities of Judea, +whose walls had been demolished; Jericho, and Emmaus, and +Betboron, and Bethel, and Tinma, and Pharatho, and Tecoa, and +Gazara, and built towers in every one of these cities, and +encompassed them with strong walls, that were very large also, +and put garrisons into them, that they might issue out of them, +and do mischief to the Jews. He also fortified the citadel at +Jerusalem more than all the rest. Moreover, he took the sons of +the principal Jews as pledges, and shut them up in the citadel, +and in that manner guarded it. + +4. About the same time one came to Jonathan, and to his brother +Simon, and told them that the sons of Ambri were celebrating a +marriage, and bringing the bride from the city Gabatha, who was +the daughter of one of the illustrious men among the Arabians, +and that the damsel was to be conducted with pomp, and splendor, +and much riches: so Jonathan and Simon thinking this appeared to +be the fittest time for them to avenge the death of their +brother, and that they had forces sufficient for receiving +satisfaction from them for his death, they made haste to Medaba, +and lay in wait among the mountains for the coming of their +enemies; and as soon as they saw them conducting the virgin, and +her bridegroom, and such a great company of their friends with +them as was to be expected at this wedding, they sallied out of +their ambush, and slew them all, and took their ornaments, and +all the prey that then followed them, and so returned, and +received this satisfaction for their brother John from the sons +of Ambri; for as well those sons themselves, as their friends, +and wives, and children that followed them, perished, being in +number about four hundred. + +5. However, Simon and Jonathan returned to the lakes of the +river, and abode there. But Bacchides, when he had secured all +Judea with his garrisons, returned to the king; and then it was +that the affairs of Judea were quiet for two years. But when the +deserters and the wicked saw that Jonathan and those that were +with him lived in the country very quietly, by reason of the +peace, they sent to king Demetrius, and excited him to send +Bacchides to seize upon Jonathan, which they said was to be done +without any trouble, and in one night's time; and that if they +fell upon them before they were aware, they might slay them all. +So the king sent Bacchides, who, when he was come into Judea, +wrote to all his friends, both Jews and auxiliaries, that they +should seize upon Jonathan, and bring him to him; and when, upon +all their endeavors, they were not able to seize upon Jonathan, +for he was sensible of the snares they laid for him, and very +carefully guarded against them, Bacchides was angry at these +deserters, as having imposed upon him, and upon the king, and +slew fifty of their leaders: whereupon Jonathan, with his +brother, and those that were with him, retired to Bethagla, a +village that lay in the wilderness, out of his fear of Bacchides. +He also built towers in it, and encompassed it with walls, and +took care that it should be safely guarded. Upon the hearing of +which Bacchides led his own army along with him, and besides took +his Jewish auxiliaries, and came against Jonathan, and made an +assault upon his fortifications, and besieged him many days; but +Jonathan did not abate of his courage at the zeal Bacchides used +in the siege, but courageously opposed him. And while he left his +brother Simon in the city to fight with Bacchides, he went +privately out himself into the country, and got a great body of +men together of his own party, and fell upon Bacchides's camp in +the night time, and destroyed a great many of them. His brother +Simon knew also of this his falling upon them, because he +perceived that the enemies were slain by him; so he sallied out +upon them, and burnt the engines which the Macedonians used, and +made a great slaughter of them. And when Bacchides saw himself +encompassed with enemies, and some of them before and some behind +him, he fell into despair and trouble of mind, as confounded at +the unexpected ill success of this siege. However, he vented his +displeasure at these misfortunes upon those deserters who sent +for him from the king, as having deluded him. So he had a mind to +finish this siege after a decent manner, if it were possible for +him so to do, and then to return home. + +6. When Jonathan understood these his intentions, he sent +ambassadors to him about a league of friendship and mutual +assistance, and that they might restore those they had taken +captive on both sides. So Bacchides thought this a pretty decent +way of retiring home, and made a league of friendship with +Jonathan, when they sware that they would not any more make war +one against another. Accordingly, he restored the captives, and +took his own men with him, and returned to the king at Antioch; +and after this his departure, he never came into Judea again. +Then did Jonathan take the opportunity of this quiet state of +things, and went and lived in the city Michmash; and there +governed the multitude, and punished the wicked and ungodly, and +by that means purged the nation of them. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Alexander [Bala] In His War With Demetrius, Granted Jonathan +Many Advantages And Appointed Him To Be High Priest And Persuaded +Him To Assist Him Although Demetrius Promised Him Greater +Advantages On The Other Side. Concerning The Death Of Demetrius. + + +1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, it fell out that +Alexander, the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, (1) came up into +Syria, and took Ptolemais the soldiers within having betrayed it +to him; for they were at enmity with Demetrius, on account of his +insolence and difficulty of access; for he shut himself up in a +palace of his that had four towers which he had built himself, +not far from Antioch and admitted nobody. He was withal slothful +and negligent about the public affairs, whereby the hatred of his +subjects was the more kindled against him, as we have elsewhere +already related. When therefore Demetrius heard that Alexander +was in Ptolemais, he took his whole army, and led it against him; +he also sent ambassadors to Jonathan about a league of mutual +assistance and friendship, for he resolved to be beforehand with +Alexander, lest the other should treat with him first, and gain +assistance from him; and this he did out of the fear he had lest +Jonathan should remember how ill Demetrius had formerly treated +him, and should join with him in this war against him. He +therefore gave orders that Jonathan should be allowed to raise an +army, and should get armor made, and should receive back those +hostages of the Jewish nation whom Baechides had shut up in the +citadel of Jerusalem. When this good fortune had befallen +Jonathan, by the concession of Demetrius, he came to Jerusalem, +and read the king's letter in the audience of the people, and of +those that kept the citadel. When these were read, these wicked +men and deserters, who were in the citadel, were greatly afraid, +upon the king's permission to Jonathan to raise an army, and to +receive back the hostages. So he delivered every one of them to +his own parents. And thus did Jonathan make his abode at +Jerusalem, renewing the city to a better state, and reforming the +buildings as he pleased; for he gave orders that the walls of the +city should be rebuilt with square stones, that it might be more +secure from their enemies. And when those that kept the garrisons +that were in Judea saw this, they all left them, and fled to +Antioch, excepting those that were in the city Bethsura, and +those that were in the citadel of Jerusalem, for the greater part +of these was of the wicked Jews and deserters, and on that +account these did not deliver up their garrisons. + +2. When Alexander knew what promises Demetrius had made Jonathan, +and withal knew his courage, and what great things he had done +when he fought the Macedonians, and besides what hardships he had +undergone by the means of Demetrius, and of Bacchides, the +general of Demetrius's army, he told his friends that he could +not at present find any one else that might afford him better +assistance than Jonathan, who was both courageous against his +enemies, and had a particular hatred against Demetrius, as having +both suffered many hard things from him, and acted many hard +things against him. If therefore they were of opinion that they +should make him their friend against Demetrius, it was more for +their advantage to invite him to assist them now than at another +time. It being therefore determined by him and his friends to +send to Jonathan, he wrote to him this epistle: "King Alexander +to his brother Jonathan, sendeth greeting. We have long ago heard +of thy courage and thy fidelity, and for that reason have sent to +thee, to make with thee a league of friendship and mutual +assistance. We therefore do ordain thee this day the high priest +of the Jews, and that thou beest called my friend. I have also +sent thee, as presents, a purple robe and a golden crown, and +desire that, now thou art by us honored, thou wilt in like manner +respect us also." + +3. When Jonathan had received this letter, he put on the +pontifical robe at the time of the feast of tabernacles, (2) four +years after the death of his brother Judas, for at that time no +high priest had been made. So he raised great forces, and had +abundance of armor got ready. This greatly grieved Demetrius when +he heard of it, and made him blame himself for his slowness, that +he had not prevented Alexander, and got the good-will of +Jonathan, but had given him time so to do. However, he also +himself wrote a letter to Jonathan, and to the people, the +contents whereof are these: "King Demetrius to Jonathan, and to +the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting. Since you have +preserved your friendship for us, and when you have been tempted +by our enemies, you have not joined yourselves to them, I both +commend you for this your fidelity, and exhort you to continue in +the same disposition, for which you shall be repaid, and receive +rewards from us; for I will free you from the greatest part of +the tributes and taxes which you formerly paid to the kings my +predecessors, and to myself; and I do now set you free from those +tributes which you have ever paid; and besides, I forgive you the +tax upon salt, and the value of the crowns which you used to +offer to me (3) and instead of the third part of the fruits [of +the field], and the half of the fruits of the trees, I relinquish +my part of them from this day: and as to the poll-money, which +ought to be given me for every head of the inhabitants of Judea, +and of the three toparchies that adjoin to Judea, Samaria, and +Galilee, and Peres, that I relinquish to you for this time, and +for all time to come. I will also that the city of Jerusalem be +holy and inviolable, and free from the tithe, and from the taxes, +unto its utmost bounds. And I so far recede from my title to the +citadel, as to permit Jonathan your high priest to possess it, +that he may place such a garrison in it as he approves of for +fidelity and good-will to himself, that they may keep it for us. +I also make free all those Jews who have been made captives and +slaves in my kingdom. I also give order that the beasts of the +Jews be not pressed for our service; and let their sabbaths, and +all their festivals, and three days before each of them, be free +from any imposition. In the same manner, I set free the Jews that +are inhabitants of my kingdom, and order that no injury be done +them. I also give leave to such of them as are willing to list +themselves in my army, that they may do it, and those as far as +thirty thousand; which Jewish soldiers, wheresoever they go, +shall have the same pay that my own army hath; and some of them I +will place in my garrisons, and some as guards about mine own +body, and as rulers over those that are in my court. I give them +leave also to use the laws of their forefathers, and to observe +them; and I will that they have power over the three toparchies +that are added to Judea; and it shall be in the power of the high +priest to take care that no one Jew shall have any other temple +for worship but only that at Jerusalem. I bequeath also, out of +my own revenues, yearly, for the expenses about the sacrifices, +one hundred and fifty thousand [drachmae]; and what money is to +spare, I will that it shall be your own. I also release to you +those ten thousand drachmae which the kings received from the +temple, because they appertain to the priests that minister in +that temple. And whosoever shall fly to the temple at Jerusalem, +or to the places thereto belonging, or who owe the king money, or +are there on any other account, let them be set free, and let +their goods be in safety. I also give you leave to repair and +rebuild your temple, and that all be done at my expenses. I also +allow you to build the walls of your city, and to erect high +towers, and that they be erected at my charge. And if there be +any fortified town that would be convenient for the Jewish +country to have very strong, let it be so built at my expenses." + +4. This was what Demetrius promised and granted to the Jews by +this letter. But king Alexander raised a great army of mercenary +soldiers, and of those that deserted to him out of Syria, and +made an expedition against Demetrius. And when it was come to a +battle, the left wing of Demetrius put those who opposed them to +flight, and pursued them a great way, and slew many of them, and +spoiled their camp; but the right wing, where Demetrius happened +to be, was beaten; and as for all the rest, they ran away. But +Demetrius fought courageously, and slew a great many of the +enemy; but as he was in the pursuit of the rest, his horse +carried him into a deep bog, where it was hard to get out, and +there it happened, that upon his horse's falling down, he could +not escape being killed; for when his enemies saw what had +befallen him, they returned back, and encompassed Demetrius +round, and they all threw their darts at him; but he, being now +on foot, fought bravely. But at length he received so many +wounds, that he was not able to bear up any longer, but fell. And +this is the end that Demetrius came to, when he had reigned +eleven years, (4) as we have elsewhere related. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +The Friendship That Was Between Onias And Ptolemy Philometor; And +How Onias Built A Temple In Egypt Like To That At Jerusalem. + + +1. But then the son of Onias the high priest, who was of the same +name with his father, and who fled to king Ptolemy, who was +called Philometor, lived now at Alexandria, as we have said +already. When this Onias saw that Judea was oppressed by the +Macedonians and their kings, out of a desire to purchase to +himself a memorial and eternal fame he resolved to send to king +Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra, to ask leave of them that he might +build a temple in Egypt like to that at Jerusalem, and might +ordain Levites and priests out of their own stock. The chief +reason why he was desirous so to do, was, that he relied upon the +prophet Isaiah, who lived above six hundred years before, and +foretold that there certainly was to be a temple built to +Almighty God in Egypt by a man that was a Jew. Onias was elevated +with this prediction, and wrote the following epistle to Ptolemy +and Cleopatra: "Having done many and great things for you in the +affairs of the war, by the assistance of God, and that in +Celesyria and Phoenicia, I came at length with the Jews to +Leontopolis, and to other places of your nation, where I found +that the greatest part of your people had temples in an improper +manner, and that on this account they bare ill-will one against +another, which happens to the Egyptians by reason of the +multitude of their temples, and the difference of opinions about +Divine worship. Now I found a very fit place in a castle that +hath its name from the country Diana; this place is full of +materials of several sorts, and replenished with sacred animals; +I desire therefore that you will grant me leave to purge this +holy place, which belongs to no master, and is fallen down, and +to build there a temple to Almighty God, after the pattern of +that in Jerusalem, and of the same dimensions, that may be for +the benefit of thyself, and thy wife and children, that those +Jews which dwell in Egypt may have a place whither they may come +and meet together in mutual harmony one with another, and he +subservient to thy advantages; for the prophet Isaiah foretold +that "there should be an altar in Egypt to the Lord God; (5) and +many other such things did he prophesy relating to that place." + +2. And this was what Onias wrote to king Ptolemy. Now any one may +observe his piety, and that of his sister and wife Cleopatra, by +that epistle which they wrote in answer to it; for they laid the +blame and the transgression of the law upon the head of Onias. +And this was their reply: "King Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra to +Onias, send greeting. We have read thy petition, wherein thou +desirest leave to be given thee to purge that temple which is +fallen down at Leontopolis, in the Nomus of Heliopolis, and which +is named from the country Bubastis; on which account we cannot +but wonder that it should be pleasing to God to have a temple +erected in a place so unclean, and so full of sacred animals. But +since thou sayest that Isaiah the prophet foretold this long ago, +we give thee leave to do it, if it may be done according to your +law, and so that we may not appear to have at all offended God +herein." + +3. So Onias took the place, and built a temple, and an altar to +God, like indeed to that in Jerusalem, but smaller and poorer. I +do not think it proper for me now to describe its dimensions or +its vessels, which have been already described in my seventh book +of the Wars of the Jews. However, Onias found other Jews like to +himself, together with priests and Levites, that there performed +Divine service. But we have said enough about this temple. + +4. Now it came to pass that the Alexandrian Jews, and those +Samaritans who paid their worship to the temple that was built in +the days of Alexander at Mount Gerizzim, did now make a sedition +one against another, and disputed about their temples before +Ptolemy himself; the Jews saying that, according to the laws of +Moses, the temple was to be built at Jerusalem; and the +Samaritans saying that it was to be built at Gerizzim. They +desired therefore the king to sit with his friends, and hear the +debates about these matters, and punish those with death who were +baffled. Now Sabbeus and Theodosius managed the argument for the +Samaritans, and Andronicus, the son of Messalamus, for the people +of Jerusalem; and they took an oath by God and the king to make +their demonstrations according to the law; and they desired of +Ptolemy, that whomsoever he should find that transgressed what +they had sworn to, he would put him to death. Accordingly, the +king took several of his friends into the council, and sat down, +in order to hear what the pleaders said. Now the Jews that were +at Alexandria were in great concern for those men, whose lot it +was to contend for the temple at Jerusalem; for they took it very +ill that any should take away the reputation of that temple, +which was so ancient and so celebrated all over the habitable +earth. Now when Sabbeus and Tlteodosius had given leave to +Andronicus to speak first, he began to demonstrate out of the +law, and out of the successions of the high priests, how they +every one in succession from his father had received that +dignity, and ruled over the temple; and how all the kings of Asia +had honored that temple with their donations, and with the most +splendid gifts dedicated thereto. But as for that at Gerizzm, he +made no account of it, and regarded it as if it had never had a +being. By this speech, and other arguments, Andronicus persuaded +the king to determine that the temple at Jerusalem was built +according to the laws of Moses, (6) and to put Sabbeus and +Theodosius to death. And these were the events that befell the +Jews at Alexandria in the days of Ptolemy Philometor. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Alexander Honored Jonathan After An Extraordinary Manner; And +How Demetrius, The Son Of Demetrius, Overcame Alexander And Made +A League Of Friendship With Jonathan. + + +1. Demetrius being thus slain in battle, as we have above +related, Alexander took the kingdom of Syria; and wrote to +Ptolemy Philometor, and desired his daughter in marriage; and +said it was but just that he should be joined an affinity to one +that had now received the principality of his forefathers, and +had been promoted to it by God's providence, and had conquered +Demetrius, and that was on other accounts not unworthy of being +related to him. Ptolemy received this proposal of marriage +gladly; and wrote him an answer, saluting him on account of his +having received the principality of his forefathers; and +promising him that he would give him his daughter in marriage; +and assured him that he was coming to meet him at Ptolemais, and +desired that he would there meet him, for that he would accompany +her from Egypt so far, and would there marry his child to him. +When Ptolemy had written thus, he came suddenly to Ptolemais, and +brought his daughter Cleopatra along with him; and as he found +Alexander there before him, as he desired him to come, he gave +him his child in marriage, and for her portion gave her as much +silver and gold as became such a king to give. + +2. When the wedding was over, Alexander wrote to Jonathan the +high priest, and desired him to come to Ptolemais. So when he +came to these kings, and had made them magnificent presents, he +was honored by them both. Alexander compelled him also to put off +his own garment, and to take a purple garment, and made him sit +with him in his throne; and commanded his captains that they +should go with him into the middle of the city, and proclaim, +that it was not permitted to any one to speak against him, or to +give him any disturbance. And when the captains had thus done, +those that were prepared to accuse Jonathan, and who bore him +ill-will, when they saw the honor that was done him by +proclamation, and that by the king's order, ran away, and were +afraid lest some mischief should befall them. Nay, king Alexander +was so very kind to Jonathan, that he set him down as the +principal of his friends. + +3. But then, upon the hundred and sixty-fifth year, Demetrius, +the son of Demetrius, came from Crete with a great number of +mercenary soldiers, which Lasthenes, the Cretian, brought him, +and sailed to Cilicia. This thing cast Alexander into great +concern and disorder when he heard it; so he made haste +immediately out of Phoenicia, and came to Antioch, that he might +put matters in a safe posture there before Demetrius should come. +He also left Apollonius Daus (7) governor of Celesyria, who +coming to Jamnia with a great army, sent to Jonathan the high +priest, and told him that it was not right that he alone should +live at rest, and with authority, and not be subject to the king; +that this thing had made him a reproach among all men, that he +had not yet made him subject to the king. "Do not thou therefore +deceive thyself, and sit still among the mountains, and pretend +to have forces with thee; but if thou hast any dependence on thy +strength, come down into the plain, and let our armies be +compared together, and the event of the battle will demonstrate +which of us is the most courageous. However, take notice, that +the most valiant men of every city are in my army, and that these +are the very men who have always beaten thy progenitors; but let +us have the battle in such a place of the country where we may +fight with weapons, and not with stones, and where there may be +no place whither those that are beaten may fly." + +4. With this Jonathan was irritated; and choosing himself out ten +thousand of his soldiers, he went out of Jerusalem in haste, with +his brother Simon, and came to Joppa, and pitched his camp on the +outside of the city, because the people of Joppa had shut their +gates against him, for they had a garrison in the city put there +by Apollonius. But when Jonathan was preparing to besiege them, +they were afraid he would take them by force, and so they opened +the gates to him. But Apollonius, when he heard that Joppa was +taken by Jonathan, took three thousand horsemen, and eight +thousand footmen and came to Ashdod; and removing thence, he made +his journey silently and slowly, and going up to Joppa, he made +as if he was retiring from the place, and so drew Jonathan into +the plain, as valuing himself highly upon his horsemen, and +having his hopes of victory principally in them. However, +Jonathan sallied out, and pursued Apollonius to Ashdod; but as +soon as Apollonius perceived that his enemy was in the plain, he +came back and gave him battle. But Apollonius had laid a thousand +horsemen in ambush in a valley, that they might be seen by their +enemies as behind them; which when Jonathan perceived, he was +under no consternation, but ordering his army to stand in a +square battle-array, he gave them a charge to fall on the enemy +on both sides, and set them to face those that attacked them both +before and behind; and while the fight lasted till the evening, +he gave part of his forces to his brother Simon, and ordered him +to attack the enemies; but for himself, he charged those that +were with him to cover themselves with their armor, and receive +the darts of the horsemen, who did as they were commanded; so +that the enemy's horsemen, while they threw their darts till they +had no more left, did them no harm, for the darts that were +thrown did not enter into their bodies, being thrown upon the +shields that were united and conjoined together, the closeness of +which easily overcame the force of the darts, and they flew about +without any effect. But when the enemy grew remiss in throwing +their darts from morning till late at night, Simon perceived +their weariness, and fell upon the body of men before him; and +because his soldiers showed great alacrity, he put the enemy to +flight. And when the horsemen saw that the footmen ran away, +neither did they stay themselves, but they being very weary, by +the duration of the fight till the evening, and their hope from +the footmen being quite gone, they basely ran away, and in great +confusion also, till they were separated one from another, and +scattered over all the plain. Upon which Jonathan pursued them as +far as Ashdod, and slew a great many of them, and compelled the +rest, in despair of escaping, to fly to the temple of Dagon, +which was at Ashdod; but Jonathan took the city on the first +onset, and burnt it, and the villages about it; nor did he +abstain from the temple of Dagon itself, but burnt it also, and +destroyed those that had fled to it. Now the entire multitude of +the enemies that fell in the battle, and were consumed in the +temple, were eight thousand. When Jonathan therefore had overcome +so great an army, he removed from Ashdod, and came to Askelon; +and when he had pitched his camp without the city, the people of +Askelon came out and met him, bringing him hospitable presents, +and honoring him; so he accepted of their kind intentions, and +returned thence to Jerusalem with a great deal of prey, which he +brought thence when he conquered his enemies. But when Alexander +heard that Apollonius, the general of his army, was beaten, he +pretended to be glad of it, because he had fought with Jonathan +his friend and ally against his directions. Accordingly, he sent +to Jonathan, and gave testimony to his worth; and gave him +honorary rewards, as a golden button, (8) which it is the custom +to give the king's kinsmen, and allowed him Ekron and its +toparchy for his own inheritance. + +5. About this time it was that king Ptolemy, who was called +Philometor, led an army, part by the sea, and part by land, and +came to Syria, to the assistance of Alexander, who was his +son-in-law; and accordingly all the cities received him +willingly, as Alexander had commanded them to do, and conducted +him as far as Ashdod; where they all made loud complaints about +the temple of Dagon, which was burnt, and accused Jonathan of +having laid it waste, and destroyed the country adjoining with +fire, and slain a great number of them. Ptolemy heard these +accusations, but said nothing. Jonathan also went to meet Ptolemy +as far as Joppa, and obtained from him hospitable presents, and +those glorious in their kinds, with all the marks of honor; and +when he had conducted him as far as the river called Eleutherus, +he returned again to Jerusalem. + +6. But as Ptolemy was at Ptolemais, he was very near to a most +unexpected destruction; for a treacherous design was laid for his +life by Alexander, by the means of Ammonius, who was his friend; +and as the treachery was very plain, Ptolemy wrote to Alexander, +and required of him that he should bring Ammonius to condign +punishment, informing him what snares had been laid for him by +Ammonius, and desiring that he might be accordingly punished for +it. But when Alexander did not comply with his demands, he +perceived that it was he himself who laid the design, and was +very angry at him. Alexander had also formerly been on very ill +terms with the people of Antioch, for they had suffered very much +by his means; yet did Ammonius at length undergo the punishment +his insolent crimes had deserved, for he was killed in an +opprobrious manner, like a woman, while he endeavored to conceal +himself in a feminine habit, as we have elsewhere related. + +7. Hereupon Ptolemy blamed himself for having given his daughter +in marriage to Alexander, and for the league he had made with him +to assist him against Demetrius; so he dissolved his relation to +him, and took his daughter away from him, and immediately sent to +Demetrius, and offered to make a league of mutual assistance and +friendship with him, and agreed with him to give him his daughter +in marriage, and to restore him to the principality of his +fathers. Demetrius was well pleased with this embassage, and +accepted of his assistance, and of the marriage of his daughter. +But Ptolemy had still one more hard task to do, and that was to +persuade the people of Antioch to receive Demetrius, because they +were greatly displeased at him, on account of the injuries his +father Demetrius had done them; yet did he bring this about; for +as the people of Antioch hated Alexander on Ammonius's account, +as we have shown already, they were easily prevailed with to cast +him out of Antioch; who, thus expelled out of Antioch, came into +Cilicia. Ptolemy came then to Antioch, and was made king by its +inhabitants, and by the army; so that he was forced to put on two +diadems, the one of Asia, the other of Egypt: but being naturally +a good and a righteous man, and not desirous of what belonged to +others, and besides these dispositions, being also a wise man in +reasoning about futurities, he determined to avoid the envy of +the Romans; so he called the people of Antioch together to an +assembly, and persuaded them to receive Demetrius; and assured +them that he would not be mindful of what they did to his father +in case he should be now obliged by them; and he undertook that +he would himself be a good monitor and governor to him, and +promised that he would not permit him to attempt any bad actions; +but that, for his own part, he was contented with the kingdom of +Egypt. By which discourse he persuaded the people of Antioch to +receive Demetrius. + +8. But now Alexander made haste with a numerous and great army, +and came out of Cilicia into Syria, and burnt the country +belonging to Antioch, and pillaged it; whereupon Ptolemy, and his +son-in-law Demetrius, brought their army against him, (for he had +already given him his daughter in marriage,) and beat Alexander, +and put him to flight; and accordingly he fled into Arabia. Now +it happened in the time of the battle that Ptolemy' horse, upon +hearing the noise of an elephant, cast him off his back, and +threw him on the ground; upon the sight of which accident, his +enemies fell upon him, and gave him many wounds upon his head, +and brought him into danger of death; for when his guards caught +him up, he was so very ill, that for four days' time he was not +able either to understand or to speak. However, Zabdiel, a prince +among the Arabians, cut off Alexander's head, and sent it to +Ptolemy, who recovering of his wounds, and returning to his +understanding, on the fifth day, heard at once a most agreeable +hearing, and saw a most agreeable sight, which were the death and +the head of Alexander; yet a little after this his joy for the +death of Alexander, with which he was so greatly satisfied, he +also departed this life. Now Alexander, who was called Balas, +reigned over Asia five years, as we have elsewhere related. + +9. But when Demetrius, who was styled Nicator, (9) had taken the +kingdom, he was so wicked as to treat Ptolemy's soldiers very +hardly, neither remembering the league of mutual assistance that +was between them, nor that he was his son-in-law and kinsman, by +Cleopatra's marriage to him; so the soldiers fled from his wicked +treatment to Alexandria; but Demetrius kept his elephants. But +Jonathan the high priest levied an army out of all Judea, and +attacked the citadel at Jerusalem, and besieged it. It was held +by a garrison of Macedonians, and by some of those wicked men who +had deserted the customs of their forefathers. These men at first +despised the attempts of Jonathan for taking the place, as +depending on its strength; but some of those wicked men went out +by night, and came to Demetrius, and informed him that the +citadel was besieged; who was irritated with what he heard, and +took his army, and came from Antioch, against Jonathan. And when +he was at Antioch, he wrote to him, and commanded him to come to +him quickly to Ptolemais: upon which Jonathan did not intermit +the siege of the citadel, but took with him the elders of the +people, and the priests, and carried with him gold, and silver, +and garments, and a great number of presents of friendship, and +came to Demetrius, and presented him with them, and thereby +pacified the king's anger. So he was honored by him, and received +from him the confirmation of his high priesthood, as he had +possessed it by the grants of the kings his predecessors. And +when the Jewish deserters accused him, Demetrius was so far from +giving credit to them, that when he petitioned him that he would +demand no more than three hundred talents for the tribute of all +Judea, and the three toparchies of Samaria, and Perea, and +Galilee, he complied with the proposal, and gave him a letter +confirming all those grants; whose contents were as follows: +"King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother, and to the nation of the +Jews, sendeth greeting. We have sent you a copy of that epistle +which we have written to Lasthones our kinsman, that you may know +its contents. "King Demetrus to Lasthenes our father, sendeth +greeting. I have determined to return thanks, and to show favor +to the nation of the Jews, which hath observed the rules of +justice in our concerns. Accordingly, I remit to them the three +prefectures, Apherims, and Lydda, and Ramatha, which have been +added to Judea out of Samaria, with their appurtenances; as also +what the kings my predecessors received from those that offered +sacrifices in Jerusalem, and what are due from the fruits of the +earth, and of the trees, and what else belongs to us; with the +salt-pits, and the crowns that used to be presented to us. Nor +shall they be compelled to pay any of those taxes from this time +to all futurity. Take care therefore that a copy of this epistle +be taken, and given to Jonathan, and be set up in an eminent +place of their holy temple.'" And these were the contents of this +writing. And now when Demetrius saw that there was peace every +where, and that there was no danger, nor fear of war, he +disbanded the greatest part of his army, and diminished their +pay, and even retained in pay no others than such foreigners as +came up with him from Crete, and from the other islands. However, +this procured him ill-will and hatred from the soldiers; on whom +he bestowed nothing from this time, while the kings before him +used to pay them in time of peace as they did before, that they +might have their good-will, and that they might be very ready to +undergo the difficulties of war, if any occasion should require +it. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Trypho After He Had Beaten Demetrius Delivered The Kingdom To +Antiochus The Son Of Alexander, And Gained Jonathan For His +Assistant; And Concerning The Actions And Embassies Of Jonathan. + + +1. Now there was a certain commander of Alexander's forces, an +Apanemian by birth, whose name was Diodotus, and was also called +Trypho, took notice the ill-will of the soldiers bare to +Demetrius, and went to Malchus the Arabian, who brought up +Antiochus, the son of Alexander, and told him what ill-will the +army bare Demetrius, and persuaded him to give him Antiochus, +because he would make him king, and recover to him the kingdom of +his father. Malchus at the first opposed him in this attempt, +because he could not believe him; but when Trypho lay hard at him +for a long time, he over-persuaded him to comply with Trypho's +intentions and entreaties. And this was the state Trypho was now +in. + +2. But Jonathan the high priest, being desirous to get clear of +those that were in the citadel of Jerusalem, and of the Jewish +deserters, and wicked men, as well as of those in all the +garrisons in the country, sent presents and ambassadors to +Demetrius, and entreated him to take away his soldiers out of the +strong holds of Judea. Demetrius made answer, that after the war, +which he was now deeply engaged in, was over, he would not only +grant him that, but greater things than that also; and he desired +he would send him some assistance, and informed him that his army +had deserted him. So Jonathan chose out three thousand of his +soldiers, and sent them to Demetrius. + +3. Now the people of Antioch hated Demetrius, both on account of +what mischief he had himself done them, and because they were his +enemies also on account of his father Demetrius, who had greatly +abused them; so they watched some opportunity which they might +lay hold on to fall upon him. And when they were informed of the +assistance that was coming to Demetrius from Jonathan, and +considered at the same time that he would raise a numerous army, +unless they prevented him, and seized upon him, they took their +weapons immediately, and encompassed his palace in the way of a +siege, and seizing upon all the ways of getting out, they sought +to subdue their king. And when he saw that the people of Antioch +were become his bitter enemies and that they were thus in arms, +he took the mercenary soldiers which he had with them, and those +Jews who were sent by Jonathan, and assaulted the Antiochians; +but he was overpowered by them, for they were many ten thousands, +and was beaten. But when the Jews saw that the Antiochians were +superior, they went up to the top of the palace, and shot at them +from thence; and because they were so remote from them by their +height, that they suffered nothing on their side, but did great +execution on the others, as fighting from such an elevation, they +drove them out of the adjoining houses, and immediately set them +on fire, whereupon the flame spread itself over the whole city, +and burnt it all down. This happened by reason of the closeness +of the houses, and because they were generally built of wood. So +the Antioehians, when they were not able to help themselves, nor +to stop the fire, were put to flight. And as the Jews leaped from +the top of one house to the top of another, and pursued them +after that manner, it thence happened that the pursuit was so +very surprising. But when the king saw that the Antiochians were +were busy in saving their children and their wives, and so did +not fight any longer, he fell upon them in the narrow passages, +and fought them, and slew a great many of them, till at last they +were forced to throw down their arms, and to deliver themselves +up to Demetrius. So he forgave them this their insolent behavior, +and put an end to the sedition; and when he had given rewards to +the Jews out of the rich spoils he had gotten, and had returned +them thanks, as the cause of his victory, he sent them away to +Jerusalem to Jonathan, with an ample testimony of the assistance +they had afforded him. Yet did he prove an ill man to Jonathan +afterward, and broke the promises he had made; and he threatened +that he would make war upon him, unless he would pay all that +tribute which the Jewish nation owed to the first kings [of +Syria]. And this he had done, if Trypho had not hindered him, and +diverted his preparations against Jonathan to a concern for his +own preservation; for he now returned out of Arabia into Syria, +with the child Antiochus, for he was yet in age but a youth, and +put the diadem on his head; and as the whole forces that had left +Demetrius, because they had no pay, came to his assistance, he +made war upon Demetrius, and joining battle with him, overcame +him in the fight, and took from him both his elephants and the +city Antioch. + +4. Demetrius, upon this defeat, retired into Cilicia; but the +child Antiochus sent ambassadors and an epistle to Jonathan, and +made him his friend and confederate, and confirmed to him the +high priesthood, and yielded up to him the four prefectures which +had been added to Judea. Moreover, he sent him vessels and cups +of gold, and a purple garment, and gave him leave to use them. He +also presented him with a golden button, and styled him one of +his principal friends, and appointed his brother Simon to be the +general over the forces, from the Ladder of Tyre unto Egypt. So +Jonathan was so pleased with these grants made him by Antiochus, +that he sent ambassadors to him and to Trypho, and professed +himself to be their friend and confederate, and said he would +join with him in a war against Demetrius, informing him that he +had made no proper returns for the kindness he had done him; for +that when he had received many marks of kindness from him, when +he stood in great need of them, he, for such good turns, had +requited him with further injuries. + +5. So Antiochus gave Jonathan leave to raise himself a numerous +army out of Syria and Phoenicia and to make war against +Demetrius's generals; whereupon he went in haste to the several +cities which received him splendidly indeed, but put no forces +into his hands. And when he was come from thence to Askelon, the +inhabitants of Askelon came and brought him presents, and met him +in a splendid manner. He exhorted them, and every one of the +cities of Celesyria, to forsake Demetrius, and to join with +Antiochus; and, in assisting him, to endeavor to punish Demetrius +for what offenses he had been guilty of against themselves; and +told them there were many reasons for that their procedure, if +they had a mind so to do. And when he had persuaded those cities +to promise their assistance to Antiochus, he came to Gaza, in +order to induce them also to be friends to Antiochus; but he +found the inhabitants of Gaza much more alienated from him than +he expected, for they had shut their gates against him; and +although they had deserted Demetrius, they had not resolved to +join themselves to Antiochus. This provoked Jonathan to besiege +them, and to harass their country; for as he set a part of his +army round about Gaza itself, so with the rest he overran their +land, and spoiled it, and burnt what was in it. When the of Gaza +saw themselves in this state of affliction, and that no +assistance came to them from Demetrius, that what distressed them +was at hand, but what should profit them was still at a great +distance, and it was uncertain whether it would come at all or +not, they thought it would be prudent conduct to leave off any +longer continuance with them, and to cultivate friendship with +the other; so they sent to Jonathan, and professed they would be +his friends, and afford him assistance: for such is the temper of +men, that before they have had the trial of great afflictions, +they do not understand what is for their advantage; but when they +find themselves under such afflictions, they then change their +minds, and what it had been better for them to have done before +they had been at all damaged, they choose to do, but not till +after they have suffered such damages. However, he made a league +of friendship with them, and took from them hostages for their +performance of it, and sent these hostages to Jerusalem, while he +went himself over all the country, as far as Damascus. + +6. But when he heard that the generals of Demetrius's forces were +come to the city Cadesh with a numerous army, (the place lies +between the land of the Tyrians and Galilee,)for they supposed +they should hereby draw him out of Syria, in order to preserve +Galilee, and that he would not overlook the Galileans, who were +his own people, when war was made upon them, he went to meet +them, having left Simon in Judea, who raised as great an army as +he was able out of the country, and then sat down before +Bethsura, and besieged it, that being the strongest place in all +Judea; and a garrison of Demetrius's kept it, as we have already +related. But as Simon was raising banks, and bringing his engines +of war against Bethsura, and was very earnest about the siege of +it, the garrison was afraid lest the place should be taken of +Simon by force, and they put to the sword; so they sent to Simon, +and desired the security of his oath, that they should come to no +harm from him, and that they would leave the place, and go away +to Demetrius. Accordingly he gave them his oath, and ejected them +out of the city, and he put therein a garrison of his own. + +7. But Jonathan removed out of Galilee, and from the waters which +are called Gennesar, for there he was before encamped, and came +into the plain that is called Asor, without knowing that the +enemy was there. When therefore Demetrius's men knew a day +beforehand that Jonathan was coming against them, they laid an +ambush in the mountain, who were to assault him on the sudden, +while they themselves met him with an army in the plain; which +army, when Jonathan saw ready to engage him, he also got ready +his own soldiers for the battle as well as he was able; but those +that were laid in ambush by Demetrius's generals being behind +them, the Jews were afraid lest they should be caught in the +midst between two bodies, and perish; so they ran away in haste, +and indeed all the rest left Jonathan; but a few there were, in +number about fifty, who staid with him, and with them Mattathias, +the son of Absalom, and Judas, the son of Chapseus, who were +commanders of the whole army. These marched boldly, and like men +desperate, against the enemy, and so pushed them, that by their +courage they daunted them, and with their weapons in their hands +they put them to flight. And when those soldiers of Jonathan that +had retired saw the enemy giving way, they got together after +their flight, and pursued them with great violence; and this did +they as far as Cadesh, where the camp of the enemy lay. + +8. Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious victory, and slain two +thousand of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem. So when he saw that +all his affairs prospered according to his mind, by the +providence of God, he sent ambassadors to the Romans, being +desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation had with +them formerly. He enjoined the same ambassadors, that, as they +came back, they should go to the Spartans, and put them in mind +of their friendship and kindred. So when the ambassadors came to +Rome, they went into their senate, and said what they were +commanded by Jonathan the high priest to say, how he had sent +them to confirm their friendship. The senate then confirmed what +had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the +Jews, and gave them letters to carry to all the kings of Asia and +Europe, and to the governors of the cities, that they might +safely conduct them to their own country. Accordingly, as they +returned, they came to Sparta, and delivered the epistle which +they had received of Jonathan to them; a copy of which here +follows: "Jonathan the high priest of the Jewish nation, and the +senate, and body of the people of the Jews, to the ephori, and +senate, and people of the Lacedemonians, send greeting. If you be +well, and both your public and private affairs be agreeable to +your mind, it is according to our wishes. We are well also. When +in former times an epistle was brought to Onias, who was then our +high priest, from Areus, who at that time was your king, by +Demoteles, concerning the kindred that was between us and you, a +copy of which is here subjoined, we both joyfully received the +epistle, and were well pleased with Demoteles and Areus, although +we did not need such a demonstration, because we were satisfied +about it from the sacred writings (10) yet did not we think fit +first to begin the claim of this relation to you, lest we should +seem too early in taking to ourselves the glory which is now +given us by you. It is a long time since this relation of ours to +you hath been renewed; and when we, upon holy and festival days, +offer sacrifices to God, we pray to him for your preservation and +victory. As to ourselves, although we have had many wars that +have compassed us around, by reason of the covetousness of our +neighbors, yet did not we determine to be troublesome either to +you, or to others that were related to us; but since we have now +overcome our enemies, and have occasion to send Numenius the son +of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, who are both +honorable men belonging to our senate, to the Romans, we gave +them this epistle to you also, that they might renew that +friendship which is between us. You will therefore do well +yourselves to write to us, and send us an account of what you +stand in need of from us, since we are in all things disposed to +act according to your desires." So the Lacedemonians received the +ambassadors kindly, and made a decree for friendship and mutual +assistance, and sent it to them. + +9. At this time there were three sects among the Jews, who had +different opinions concerning human actions; the one was called +the sect of the Pharisees, another the sect of the Sadducees, and +the other the sect of the Essens. Now for the Pharisees, (11) +they say that some actions, but not all, are the work of fate, +and some of them are in our own power, and that they are liable +to fate, but are not caused by fate. But the sect of the Essens +affirm, that fate governs all things, and that nothing befalls +men but what is according to its determination. And for the +Sadducees, they take away fate, and say there is no such thing, +and that the events of human affairs are not at its disposal; but +they suppose that all our actions are in our own power, so that +we are ourselves the causes of what is good, and receive what is +evil from our own folly. However, I have given a more exact +account of these opinions in the second book of the Jewish War. + +10. But now the generals of Demetrius being willing to recover +the defeat they had had, gathered a greater army together than +they had before, and came against Jonathan; but as soon as he was +informed of their coming, he went suddenly to meet them, to the +country of Hamoth, for he resolved to give them no opportunity of +coming into Judea; so he pitched his camp at fifty furlongs' +distance from the enemy, and sent out spies to take a view of +their camp, and after what manner they were encamped. When his +spies had given him full information, and had seized upon some of +them by night, who told him the enemy would soon attack him, he, +thus apprized beforehand, provided for his security, and placed +watchmen beyond his camp, and kept all his forces armed all +night; and he gave them a charge to be of good courage, and to +have their minds prepared to fight in the night time, if they +should be obliged so to do, lest their enemy's designs should +seem concealed from them. But when Demetrius's commanders were +informed that Jonathan knew what they intended, their counsels +were disordered, and it alarmed them to find that the enemy had +discovered those their intentions; nor did they expect to +overcome them any other way, now they had failed in the snares +they had laid for them; for should they hazard an open battle, +they did not think they should be a match for Jonathan's army, so +they resolved to fly; and having lighted many fires, that when +the enemy saw them they might suppose they were there still, they +retired. When Jonathan came to give them battle in the morning in +their camp, and found it deserted, and understood they were fled, +he pursued them; yet he could not overtake them, for they had +already passed over the river Eleutherus, and were out of danger. +So when Jonathan was returned thence, he went into Arabia, and +fought against the Nabateans, and drove away a great deal of +their prey, and took [many] captives, and came to Damascus, and +there sold off what he had taken. About the same time it was that +Simon his brother went over all Judea and Palestine, as far as +Askelon, and fortified the strong holds; and when he had made +them very strong, both in the edifices erected, and in the +garrisons placed in them, he came to Joppa; and when he had taken +it, he brought a great garrison into it, for he heard that the +people of Joppa were disposed to deliver up the city to +Demetrius's generals. + +11. When Simon and Jonathan had finished these affairs, they +returned to Jerusalem, where Jonathan gathered all the people +together, and took counsel to restore the walls of Jerusalem, and +to rebuild the wall that encompassed the temple, which had been +thrown down, and to make the places adjoining stronger by very +high towers; and besides that, to build another wall in the midst +of the city, in order to exclude the market-place from the +garrison, which was in the citadel, and by that means to hinder +them from any plenty of provisions; and moreover, to make the +fortresses that were in the country much stronger and more +defensible than they were before. And when these things were +approved of by the multitude, as rightly proposed, Jonathan +himself took care of the building that belonged to the city, and +sent Simon away to make the fortresses in the country more secure +than formerly. But Demetrius passed over [Euphrates], and came +into Mesopotamia, as desirous to retain that country still, as +well as Babylon; and when he should have obtained the dominion of +the upper provinces, to lay a foundation for recovering his +entire kingdom; for those Greeks and Macedonians who dwelt there +frequently sent ambassadors to him, and promised, that if he +would come to them, they would deliver themselves up to him, and +assist him in fighting against Arsaces, (12) the king of the +Parthians. So he was elevated with these hopes, and came hastily +to them, as having resolved, that if he had once overthrown the +Parthians, and gotten an army of his own, he would make war +against Trypho, and eject him out of Syria; and the people of +that country received him with great alacrity. So he raised +forces, with which he fought against Arsaces, and lost all his +army, and was himself taken alive, as we have elsewhere related. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Jonathan Was Slain By Treachery; And How Thereupon The Jews +Made Simon Their General And High Priest: What Courageous Actions +He Also Performed Especially Against Trypho. + + +1. Now when Trypho knew what had befallen Demetrius, he was no +longer firm to Antiochus, but contrived by subtlety to kill him, +and then take possession of his kingdom; but the fear that he was +in of Jonathan was an obstacle to this his design, for Jonathan +was a friend to Antiochus, for which cause he resolved first to +take Jonathan out of the way, and then to set about his design +relating to Antiochus; but he judging it best to take him off by +deceit and treachery, came from Antioch to Bethshan, which by the +Greeks is called Scythopolis, at which place Jonathan met him +with forty thousand chosen men, for he thought that he came to +fight him; but when he perceived that Jonathan was ready to +fight, he attempted to gain him by presents and kind treatment, +and gave order to his captains to obey him, and by these means +was desirous to give assurance of his good-will, and to take away +all suspicions out of his mind, that so he might make him +careless and inconsiderate, and might take him when he was +unguarded. He also advised him to dismiss his army, because there +was no occasion for bringing it with him when there was no war, +but all was in peace. However, he desired him to retain a few +about him, and go with him to Ptolemais, for that he would +deliver the city up to him, and would bring all the fortresses +that were in the country under his dominion; and he told him that +he came with those very designs. + +2. Yet did not Jonathan suspect any thing at all by this his +management, but believed that Trypho gave him this advice out of +kindness, and with a sincere design. Accordingly, he dismissed +his army, and retained no more than three thousand of them with +him, and left two thousand in Galilee; and he himself, with one +thousand, came with Trypho to Ptolemais. But when the people of +Ptolemais had shut their gates, as it had been commanded by +Trypho to do, he took Jonathan alive, and slew all that were with +him. He also sent soldiers against those two thousand that were +left in Galilee, in order to destroy them; but those men having +heard the report of what had happened to Jonathan, they prevented +the execution; and before those that were sent by Trypho came, +they covered themselves with their armor, and went away out of +the country. Now when those that were sent against them saw that +they were ready to fight for their lives, they gave them no +disturbance, but returned back to Trypho. + +3. But when the people of Jerusalem heard that Jonathan was +taken, and that the soldiers who were with him were destroyed, +they deplored his sad fate; and there was earnest inquiry made +about him by every body, and a great and just fear fell upon +them, and made them sad, lest, now they were deprived of the +courage and conduct of Jonathan, the nations about them should +bear them ill-will; and as they were before quiet on account of +Jonathan they should now rise up against them, and by making war +with them, should force them into the utmost dangers. And indeed +what they suspected really befell them; for when those nations +heard of the death of Jonathan, they began to make war with the +Jews as now destitute of a governor and Trypho himself got an +army together, and had intention to go up to Judea, and make war +against its inhabitants. But when Simon saw that the people of +Jerusalem were terrified at the circumstances they were in, he +desired to make a speech to them, and thereby to render them more +resolute in opposing Trypho when he should come against them. He +then called the people together into the temple, and thence began +thus to encourage them: "O my countrymen, you are not ignorant +that our father, myself, and my brethren, have ventured to hazard +our lives, and that willingly, for the recovery of your liberty; +since I have therefore such plenty of examples before me, and we +of our family have determined with ourselves to die for our laws, +and our Divine worship, there shall no terror be so great as to +banish this resolution from our souls, nor to introduce in its +place a love of life, and a contempt of glory. Do you therefore +follow me with alacrity whithersoever I shall lead you, as not +destitute of such a captain as is willing to suffer, and to do +the greatest things for you; for neither am I better than my +brethren that I should be sparing of my own life, nor so far +worse than they as to avoid and refuse what they thought the most +honorable of all things, - I mean, to undergo death for your +laws, and for that worship of God which is peculiar to you; I +will therefore give such proper demonstrations as will show that +I am their own brother; and I am so bold as to expect that I +shall avenge their blood upon our enemies, and deliver you all +with your wives and children from the injuries they intend +against you, and, with God's assistance, to preserve your temple +from destruction by them; for I see that these nations have you +in contempt, as being without a governor, and that they thence +are encouraged to make war against you." + +4. By this speech of Simon he inspired the multitude with +courage; and as they had been before dispirited through fear, +they were now raised to a good hope of better things, insomuch +that the whole multitude of the people cried out all at once that +Simon should be their leader; and that instead of Judas and +Jonathan his brethren, he should have the government over them; +and they promised that they would readily obey him in whatsoever +he should command them. So he got together immediately all his +own soldiers that were fit for war, and made haste in rebuilding +the walls of the city, and strengthening them by very high and +strong towers, and sent a friend of his, one Jonathan, the son of +Absalom, to Joppa, and gave him order to eject the inhabitants +out of the city, for he was afraid lest they should deliver up +the city to Trypho; but he himself staid to secure Jerusalem. + +5. But Trypho removed from Ptoeinais with a great army, and came +into Judea, and brought Jonathan with him in bonds. Simon also +met him with his army at the city Adida, which is upon a hill, +and beneath it lie the plains of Judea. And when Trypho knew that +Simon was by the Jews made their governor, he sent to him, and +would have imposed upon him by deceit and trencher, and desired, +if he would have his brother Jonathan released, that he would +send him a hundred talents of silver, and two of Jonathan's sons +as hostages, that when he shall be released, he may not make +Judea revolt from the king; for that at present he was kept in +bonds on account of the money he had borrowed of the king, and +now owed it to him. But Simon was aware of the craft of Trypho; +and although he knew that if he gave him the money he should lose +it, and that Trypho would not set his brother free and withal +should deliver the sons of Jonathan to the enemy, yet because he +was afraid that he should have a calumny raised against him among +the multitude as the cause of his brother's death, if he neither +gave the money, nor sent Jonathan's sons, he gathered his army +together, and told them what offers Trypho had made; and added +this, that the offers were ensnaring and treacherous, and yet +that it was more eligible to send the money and Jonathan's sons, +than to be liable to the imputation of not complying with +Trypho's offers, and thereby refusing to save his brother. +Accordingly, Simon sent the sons of Jonathan and the money; but +when Trypho had received them, he did not keep his promise, nor +set Jonathan free, but took his army, and went about all the +country, and resolved to go afterward to Jerusalem by the way of +Idumea, while Simon went over against him with his army, and all +along pitched his own camp over against his. + +6. But when those that were in the citadel had sent to Trypho, +and besought him to make haste and come to them, and to send them +provisions, he prepared his cavalry as though he would be at +Jerusalem that very night; but so great a quantity of snow fell +in the night, that it covered the roads, and made them so deep, +that there was no passing, especially for the cavalry. This +hindered him from coming to Jerusalem; whereupon Trypho removed +thence, and came into Celesyria, and falling vehemently upon the +land of Gilead, he slew Jonathan there; and when he had given +order for his burial, he returned himself to Antioch. However, +Simon sent some to the city Basca to bring away his brother's +bones, and buried them in their own city Modin; and all the +people made great lamentation over him. Simon also erected a very +large monument for his father and his brethren, of white and +polished stone, and raised it a great height, and so as to be +seen a long way off, and made cloisters about it, and set up +pillars, which were of one stone apiece; a work it was wonderful +to see. Moreover, he built seven pyramids also for his parents +and his brethren, one for each of them, which were made very +surprising, both for their largeness and beauty, and which have +been preserved to this day; and we know that it was Simon who +bestowed so much zeal about the burial of Jonathan, and the +building of these monuments for his relations. Now Jonathan died +when he had been high priest four years (13) and had been also +the governor of his nation. And these were the circumstances that +concerned his death. + +7. But Simon, who was made high priest by the multitude, on the +very first year of his high priesthood set his people free from +their slavery under the Macedonians, and permitted them to pay +tribute to them no longer; which liberty and freedom from tribute +they obtained after a hundred and seventy years (14) of the +kingdom of the Assyrians, which was after Seleucus, who was +called Nicator, got the dominion over Syria. Now the affection of +the multitude towards Simon was so great, that in their contracts +one with another, and in their public records, they wrote, "in +the first year of Simon the benefactor and ethnarch of the Jews;" +for under him they were very happy, and overcame the enemies that +were round about them; for Simon overthrew the city Gazara, and +Joppa, and Jamhis. He also took the citadel of Jerusalem by +siege, and cast it down to the ground, that it might not be any +more a place of refuge to their enemies when they took it, to do +them a mischief, as it had been till now. And when he had done +this, he thought it their best way, and most for their advantage, +to level the very mountain itself upon which the citadel happened +to stand, that so the temple might be higher than it. And indeed, +when he had called the multitude to an assembly, he persuaded +them to have it so demolished, and this by putting them in mind +what miseries they had suffered by its garrison and the Jewish +deserters, and what miseries they might hereafter suffer in case +any foreigner should obtain the kingdom, and put a garrison into +that citadel. This speech induced the multitude to a compliance, +because he exhorted them to do nothing but what was for their own +good: so they all set themselves to the work, and leveled the +mountain, and in that work spent both day and night without any +intermission, which cost them three whole years before it was +removed, and brought to an entire level with the plain of the +rest of the city. After which the temple was the highest of all +the buildings, now the citadel, as well as the mountain whereon +it stood, were demolished. And these actions were thus performed +under Simon. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Simon Confederated Himself With Antiochus Pius, And Made War +Against Trypho, And A Little Afterward, Against Cendebeus, The +General Of Antiochus's Army; As Also How Simon Was Murdered By +His Son-In-Law Ptolemy, And That By Treachery. + + +1. (15) Now a little while after Demetrius had been carried into +captivity, Trypho his governor destroyed Antiochus, (16) the son +of Alexander, who was also called The God, (17) and this when he +had reigned four years, though he gave it out that he died under +the hands of the surgeons. He then sent his friends, and those +that were most intimate with him, to the soldiers, and promised +that he would give them a great deal of money if they would make +him king. He intimated to them that Demetrius was made a captive +by the Parthians; and that Demetrius's brother Atitiochus, if he +came to be king, would do them a great deal of mischief, in way +of revenge for their revolting from his brother. So the soldiers, +in expectation of the wealth they should get by bestowing the +kingdom on Trypho, made him their ruler. However, when Trypho had +gained the management of affairs, he demonstrated his disposition +to be wicked; for while he was a private person, he cultivated +familiarity with the multitude, and pretended to great +moderation, and so drew them on artfully to whatsoever he +pleased; but when he had once taken the kingdom, he laid aside +any further dissimulation, and was the true Trypho; which +behavior made his enemies superior to him; for the soldiery hated +him, and revolted from him to Cleopatra, the wife of Demetrius, +who was then shut up in Seleucia with her children. But as +Antiochus, the brother of Demetrius who was called Soter, was not +admitted by any of the cities on account of Trypho, Cleopatra +sent to him, and invited him to marry her, and to take the +kingdom. The reasons why she made this invitation were these: +That her friends persuaded her to it, and that she was afraid for +herself, in case some of the people of Seleucia should deliver up +the city to Trypho. + +2. As Antlochuswas now come to Seleucia, and his forces increased +every day, he marched to fight Trypho; and having beaten him in +the battle, he ejected him out of the Upper Syria into Phoenicia, +and pursued him thither, and besieged him in Dora which was a +fortress hard to be taken, whither he had fled. He also sent +ambassadors to Simon the Jewish high priest, about a league of +friendship and mutual assistance; who readily accepted of the +invitation, and sent to Antiochus great sums of money and +provisions for those that besieged Dora, and thereby supplied +them very plentifully, so that for a little while he was looked +upon as one of his most intimate friends; but still Trypho fled +from Dora to Apamia, where he was taken during the siege, and put +to death, when he had reigned three years. + +3. However, Antiochus forgot the kind assistance that Simon had +afforded him in his necessity, by reason of his covetous and +wicked disposition, and committed an army of soldiers to his +friend Cendebeus, and sent him at once to ravage Judea, and to +seize Simon. When Simon heard of Antiochus's breaking his league +with him, although he were now in years, yet, provoked with the +unjust treatment he had met with from Antiochus, and taking a +resolution brisker than his age could well bear, he went like a +young man to act as general of his army. He also sent his sons +before among the most hardy of his soldiers, and he himself +marched on with his army another way, and laid many of his men in +ambushes in the narrow valleys between the mountains; nor did he +fail of success in any one of his attempts, but was too hard for +his enemies in every one of them. So he led the rest of his life +in peace, and did also himself make a league with the Romans. + +4. Now he was the ruler of the Jews in all eight years; but at a +feast came to his end. It was caused by the treachery of his +son-in-law Ptolemy, who caught also his wife, and two of his +sons, and kept them in bonds. He also sent some to kill John the +third son, whose name was Hyrcanus; but the young man perceiving +them coming, he avoided the danger he was in from them, (18) and +made haste into the city [Jerusalem], as relying on the good-will +of the multitude, because of the benefits they had received from +his father, and because of the hatred the same multitude bare to +Ptolemy; so that when Ptolemy was endeavoring to enter the city +by another gate, they drove him away, as having already admitted +Hyrcanus. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Hyrcanus Receives The High Priesthood, And Ejects Ptolemy Out Of +The Country. Antiochus Makes War Against Hyrcanus And Afterwards +Makes A League With Him. + + +1. So Ptolemy retired to one of the fortresses that was above +Jericho, which was called Dagon. But Hyrcanus having taken the +high priesthood that had been his father's before, and in the +first place propitiated God by sacrifices, he then made an +expedition against Ptolemy; and when he made his attacks upon the +place, in other points he was too hard for him, but was rendered +weaker than he, by the commiseration he had for his mother and +brethren, and by that only; for Ptolemy brought them upon the +wall, and tormented them in the sight of all, and threatened that +he would throw them down headlong, unless Hyrcanus would leave +off the siege. And as he thought that so far as he relaxed as to +the siege and taking of the place, so much favor did he show to +those that were dearest to him by preventing their misery, his +zeal about it was cooled. However, his mother spread out her +hands, and begged of him that he would not grow remiss on her +account, but indulge his indignation so much the more, and that +he would do his utmost to take the place quickly, in order to get +their enemy under his power, and then to avenge upon him what he +had done to those that were dearest to himself; for that death +would be to her sweet, though with torment, if that enemy of +theirs might but be brought to punishment for his wicked dealings +to them. Now when his mother said so, he resolved to take the +fortress immediately; but when he saw her beaten, and torn to +pieces, his courage failed him, and he could not but sympathize +with what his mother suffered, and was thereby overcome. And as +the siege was drawn out into length by this means, that year on +which the Jews used to rest came on; for the Jews observe this +rest every seventh year, as they do every seventh day; so that +Ptolemy being for this cause released from the war, (19) he slew +the brethren of Hyrcanus, and his mother; and when he had so +done, he fled to Zeno, who was called Cotylas, who was then the +tyrant of the city Philadelphia. + +2. But Antiochus, being very uneasy at the miseries that Simon +had brought upon him, he invaded Judea in the fourth years' of +his reign, and the first year of the principality of Hyrcanus, in +the hundred and sixty-second olympiad. (20) And when he had burnt +the country, he shut up Hyrcanus in the city, which he +encompassed round with seven encampments; but did just nothing at +the first, because of the strength of the walls, and because of +the valor of the besieged, although they were once in want of +water, which yet they were delivered from by a large shower of +rain, which fell at the setting of the Pleiades (21) However, +about the north part of the wall, where it happened the city was +upon a level with the outward ground, the king raised a hundred +towers of three stories high, and placed bodies of soldiers upon +them; and as he made his attacks every day, he cut a double +ditch, deep and broad, and confined the inhabitants within it as +within a wall; but the besieged contrived to make frequent +sallies out; and if the enemy were not any where upon their +guard, they fell upon them, and did them a great deal of +mischief; and if they perceived them, they then retired into the +city with ease. But because Hyrcanus discerned the inconvenience +of so great a number of men in the city, while the provisions +were the sooner spent by them, and yet, as is natural to suppose, +those great numbers did nothing, he separated the useless part, +and excluded them out of the city, and retained that part only +which were in the flower of their age, and fit for war. However, +Antiochus would not let those that were excluded go away, who +therefore wandering about between the wails, and consuming away +by famine, died miserably; but when the feast of tabernacles was +at hand, those that were within commiserated their condition, and +received them in again. And when Hyrcanus sent to Antiochus, and +desired there might be a truce for seven days, because of the +festival, he gave way to this piety towards God, and made that +truce accordingly. And besides that, he sent in a magnificent +sacrifice, bulls with their horns gilded, with all sorts of sweet +spices, and with cups of gold and silver. So those that were at +the gates received the sacrifices from those that brought them, +and led them to the temple, Antiochus the mean while feasting his +army, which was a quite different conduct from Antiochus +Epiphanes, who, when he had taken the city, offered swine upon +the altar, and sprinkled the temple with the broth of their +flesh, in order to violate the laws of the Jews, and the religion +they derived from their forefathers; for which reason our nation +made war with him, and would never be reconciled to him; but for +this Antiochus, all men called him Antiochus the Pious, for the +great zeal he had about religion. + +3. Accordingly, Hyrcanus took this moderation of his kindly; and +when he understood how religious he was towards the Deity, he +sent an embassage to him, and desired that he would restore the +settlements they received from their forefathers. So he rejected +the counsel of those that would have him utterly destroy the +nation, (23) by reason of their way of living, which was to +others unsociable, and did not regard what they said. But being +persuaded that all they did was out of a religious mind, he +answered the ambassadors, that if the besieged would deliver up +their arms, and pay tribute for Joppa, and the other cities which +bordered upon Judea, and admit a garrison of his, on these terms +he would make war against them no longer. But the Jews, although +they were content with the other conditions, did not agree to +admit the garrison, because they could not associate with other +people, nor converse with them; yet were they willing, instead of +the admission of the garrison, to give him hostages, and five +hundred talents of silver; of which they paid down three hundred, +and sent the hostages immediately, which king Antiochus accepted. +One of those hostages was Hyrcanus's brother. But still he broke +down the fortifications that encompassed the city. And upon these +conditions Antiochus broke up the siege, and departed. + +4. But Hyrcanus opened the sepulcher of David, who excelled all +other kings in riches, and took out of it three thousand talents. +He was also the first of the Jews that, relying on this wealth, +maintained foreign troops. There was also a league of friendship +and mutual assistance made between them; upon which Hyrcanus +admitted him into the city, and furnished him with whatsoever his +army wanted in great plenty, and with great generosity, and +marched along with him when he made an expedition against the +Parthians; of which Nicolaus of Damascus is a witness for us; who +in his history writes thus: "When Antiochus had erected a trophy +at the river Lycus, upon his conquest of Indates, the general of +the Parthians, he staid there two days. It was at the desire of +Lyrcanus the Jew, because it was such a festival derived to them +from their forefathers, whereon the law of the Jews did not allow +them to travel." And truly he did not speak falsely in saying so; +for that festival, which we call Pentecost, did then fall out to +be the next day to the Sabbath. Nor is it lawful for us to +journey, either on the Sabbath day, or on a festival day (24) But +when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces, the king of Parthin, +he lost a great part of his army, and was himself slain; and his +brother Demetrius succeeded in the kingdom of Syria, by the +permission of Arsaces, who freed him from his captivity at the +same time that Antiochus attacked Parthin, as we have formerly +related elsewhere. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How, After The Death Of Antiochus, Hyrcanus Made An Expedition +Against Syria, And Made A League With The Romans. Concerning The +Death Of King Demetrius And Alexander. + + +1. But when Hyrcanus heard of the death of Antiochus, he +presently made an expedition against the cities of Syria, hoping +to find them destitute of fighting men, and of such as were able +to defend them. However, it was not till the sixth month that he +took Medaba, and that not without the greatest distress of his +army. After this he took Samega, and the neighboring places; and +besides these, Shechem and Gerizzim, and the nation of the +Cutheans, who dwelt at the temple which resembled that temple +which was at Jerusalem, and which Alexander permitted Sanballat, +the general of his army, to build for the sake of Manasseh, who +was son-in-law to Jaddua the high priest, as we have formerly +related; which temple was now deserted two hundred years after it +was built. Hyrcanus took also Dora and Marissa, cities of Idumea, +and subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that +country, if they would circumcise their genitals, and make use of +the laws of the Jews; and they were so desirous of living in the +country of their forefathers, that they submitted to the use of +circumcision, (25) and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; +at which time therefore this befell them, that they were +hereafter no other than Jews. + +2. But Hyrcanus the high priest was desirous to renew that league +of friendship they had with the Romans. Accordingly, he sent an +embassage to them; and when the senate had received their +epistle, they made a league of friendship with them, after the +manner following: "Fanius, the son of Marcus, the praetor, +gathered the senate together on the eighth day before the Ides of +February, in the senate-house, when Lucius Manlius, the son of +Lucius, of the Mentine tribe, and Caius Sempronius, the son of +Caius, of the Falernian tribe, were present. The occasion was, +that the ambassadors sent by the people of the Jews (26) Simon, +the son of Dositheus, and Apollonius, the son of Alexander, and +Diodorus, the son of Jason, who were good and virtuous men, had +somewhat to propose about that league of friendship and mutual +assistance which subsisted between them and the Romans, and about +other public affairs, who desired that Joppa, and the havens, and +Gazara, and the springs [of Jordan], and the several other cities +and countries of theirs, which Antiochus had taken from them in +the war, contrary to the decree of the senate, might be restored +to them; and that it might not be lawful for the king's troops to +pass through their country, and the countries of those that are +subject to them; and that what attempts Antiochus had made during +that war, without the decree of the senate, might be made void; +and that they would send ambassadors, who should take care that +restitution be made them of what Antiochus had taken from them, +and that they should make an estimate of the country that had +been laid waste in the war; and that they would grant them +letters of protection to the kings and free people, in order to +their quiet return home. It was therefore decreed, as to these +points, to renew their league of friendship and mutual assistance +with these good men, and who were sent by a good and a friendly +people." But as to the letters desired, their answer was, that +the senate would consult about that matter when their own affairs +would give them leave; and that they would endeavor, for the time +to come, that no like injury should be done to them; and that +their praetor Fanius should give them money out of the public +treasury to bear their expenses home. And thus did Fanius dismiss +the Jewish ambassadors, and gave them money out of the public +treasury; and gave the decree of the senate to those that were to +conduct them, and to take care that they should return home in +safety. + +3. And thus stood the affairs of Hyrcanus the high priest. But as +for king Demetrius, who had a mind to make war against Hyrcanus, +there was no opportunity nor room for it, while both the Syrians +and the soldiers bare ill-will to him, because he was an ill man. +But when they had sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, who was called +Physcon, that he would send them one of the family at Seleueus, +in order to take the kingdom, and he had sent them Alexander, who +was called Zebina, with an army, and there had been a battle +between them, Demetrius was beaten in the fight, and fled to +Cleopatra his wife, to Ptolemais; but his wife would not receive +him. He went thence to Tyre, and was there caught; and when he +had suffered much from his enemies before his death, he was slain +by them. So Alexander took the kingdom, and made a league with +Hyrcanus, who yet, when he afterward fought with Antiochus the +son of Demetrius, who was called Grypus, was also beaten in the +fight, and slain. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Upon The Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus And AntiocHus +Cyzicenus About The Kingdom Hyrcanus Tooksamaria, And Utterly +Demolished It; And How Hyrcaus Joined Himself To The Sect Of The +Sadducees, And Left That Of The Pharisees. + + +1. When Antiochus had taken the kingdom, he was afraid to make +war against Judea, because he heard that his brother by the same +mother, who was also called Antiochus, was raising an army +against him out of Cyzicum; so he staid in his own land, and +resolved to prepare himself for the attack he expected from his +brother, who was called Cyzicenus, because he had been brought up +in that city. He was the son of Antiochus that was called Soter, +who died in Parthia. He was the brother of Demetrius, the father +of Grypus; for it had so happened, that one and the same +Cleopatra was married to two who were brethren, as we have +related elsewhere. But Antiochus Cyzicenus coming into Syria, +continued many years at war with his brother. Now Hyrcanus lived +all this while in peace; for after the death of Antlochus, he +revolted from the Macedonians, (27) nor did he any longer pay +them the least regard, either as their subject or their friend; +but his affairs were in a very improving and flourishing +condition in the times of Alexander Zebina, and especially under +these brethren, for the war which they had with one another gave +Hyrcanus the opportunity of enjoying himself in Judea quietly, +insomuch that he got an immense quantity of money. How ever, when +Antiochus Cyzicenus distressed his land, he then openly showed +what he meant. And when he saw that Antiochus was destitute of +Egyptian auxiliaries, and that both he and his brother were in an +ill condition in the struggles they had one with another, he +despised them both. + +2. So he made an expedition against Samaria which was a very +strong city; of whose present name Sebaste, and its rebuilding by +Herod, we shall speak at a proper time; but he made his attack +against it, and besieged it with a great deal of pains; for he +was greatly displeased with the Samaritans for the injuries they +had done to the people of Merissa, a colony of the Jews, and +confederate with them, and this in compliance to the kings of +Syria. When he had therefore drawn a ditch, and built a double +wall round the city, which was fourscore furlongs long, he set +his sons Antigonus and Arisrobulna over the siege; which brought +the Samaritans to that great distress by famine, that they were +forced to eat what used not to be eaten, and to call for +Antiochus Cyzicenus to help them, who came readily to their +assistance, but was beaten by Aristobulus; and when he was +pursued as far as Scythopolis by the two brethren, he got away. +So they returned to Samaria, and shut them again within the wall, +till they were forced to send for the same Antiochus a second +time to help them, who procured about six thousand men from +Ptolemy Lathyrus, which were sent them without his mother's +consent, who had then in a manner turned him out of his +government. With these Egyptians Antiochus did at first overrun +and ravage the country of Hyrcanus after the manner of a robber, +for he durst not meet him in the face to fight with him, as not +having an army sufficient for that purpose, but only from this +supposal, that by thus harassing his land he should force +Hyrcanus to raise the siege of Samaria; but because he fell into +snares, and lost many of his soldiers therein, he went away to +Tripoli, and committed the prosecution of the war against the +Jews to Callimander and Epicrates. + +3. But as to Callimander, he attacked the enemy too rashly, and +was put to flight, and destroyed immediately; and as to +Epicrates, he was such a lover of money, that he openly betrayed +Scythopolis, and other places near it, to the Jews, but was not +able to make them raise the siege of Samaria. And when Hyrcanus +had taken that city, which was not done till after a year's +siege, he was not contented with doing that only, but he +demolished it entirely, and brought rivulets to it to drown it, +for he dug such hollows as might let the water run under it; nay, +he took away the very marks that there had ever been such a city +there. Now a very surprising thing is related of this high priest +Hyrcanus, how God came to discourse with him; for they say that +on the very same day on which his sons fought with Antiochus +Cyzicenus, he was alone in the temple, as high priest, offering +incense, and heard a voice, that his sons had just then overcome +Antiochus. And this he openly declared before all the multitude +upon his coming out of the temple; and it accordingly proved +true; and in this posture were the affairs of Hyrcanus. + +4. Now it happened at this time, that not only those Jews who +were at Jerusalem and in Judea were in prosperity, but also those +of them that were at Alexandria, and in Egypt and Cyprus; for +Cleopatra the queen was at variance with her son Ptolemy, who was +called Lathyrus, and appointed for her generals Chelcias and +Ananias, the sons of that Onias who built the temple in the +prefecture of Heliopolis, like to that at Jerusalem, as we have +elsewhere related. Cleopatra intrusted these men with her army, +and did nothing without their advice, as Strabo of Cappadocia +attests, when he saith thus, "Now the greater part, both those +that came to Cyprus with us, and those that were sent afterward +thither, revolted to Ptolemy immediately; only those that were +called Onias's party, being Jews, continued faithful, because +their countrymen Chelcias and Ananias were in chief favor with +the queen." These are the words of Strabo. + +5. However, this prosperous state of affairs moved the Jews to +envy Hyrcanus; but they that were the worst disposed to him were +the Pharisees, (28) who were one of the sects of the Jews, as we +have informed you already. These have so great a power over the +multitude, that when they say any thing against the king, or +against the high priest, they are presently believed. Now +Hyrcanus was a disciple of theirs, and greatly beloved by them. +And when he once invited them to a feast, and entertained them +very kindly, when he saw them in a good humor, he began to say to +them, that they knew he was desirous to be a righteous man, and +to do all things whereby he might please God, which was the +profession of the Pharisees also. However, he desired, that if +they observed him offending in any point, and going out of the +right way, they would call him back and correct him. On which +occasion they attested to his being entirely virtuous; with which +commendation he was well pleased. But still there was one of his +guests there, whose name was Eleazar, a man of an ill temper, and +delighting in seditious practices. This man said," Since thou +desirest to know the truth, if thou wilt be righteous in earnest, +lay down the high priesthood, and content thyself with the civil +government of the people," And when he desired to know for what +cause he ought to lay down the high priesthood, the other +replied, "We have heard it from old men, that thy mother had been +a captive under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. (29)" This +story was false, and Hyrcanus was provoked against him; and all +the Pharisees had a very great indignation against him. + +6. Now there was one Jonathan, a very great friend of Hyrcanus's, +but of the sect of the Sadducees, whose notions are quite +contrary to those of the Pharisees. He told Hyrcanus that Eleazar +had cast such a reproach upon him, according to the common +sentiments of all the Pharisees, and that this would be made +manifest if he would but ask them the question, What punishment +they thought this man deserved? for that he might depend upon it, +that the reproach was not laid on him with their approbation, if +they were for punishing him as his crime deserved. So the +Pharisees made answer, that he deserved stripes and bonds, but +that it did not seem right to punish reproaches with death. And +indeed the Pharisees, even upon other occasions, are not apt to +be severe in punishments. At this gentle sentence, Hyrcanus was +very angry, and thought that this man reproached him by their +approbation. It was this Jonathan who chiefly irritated him, and +influenced him so far, that he made him leave the party of the +Pharisees, and abolish the decrees they had imposed on the +people, and to punish those that observed them. From this source +arose that hatred which he and his sons met with from the +multitude: but of these matters we shall speak hereafter. What I +would now explain is this, that the Pharisees have delivered to +the people a great many observances by succession from their +fathers, which are not written in the laws of Moses; and for that +reason it is that the Sadducees reject them, and say that we are +to esteem those observances to be obligatory which are in the +written word, but are not to observe what are derived from the +tradition of our forefathers. And concerning these things it is +that great disputes and differences have arisen among them, while +the Sadducees are able to persuade none but the rich, and have +not the populace obsequious to them, but the Pharisees have the +multitude on their side. But about these two sects, and that of +the Essens, I have treated accurately in the second book of +Jewish affairs. + +7. But when Hyrcanus had put an end to this sedition, he after +that lived happily, and administered the government in the best +manner for thirty-one years, and then died, (30) leaving behind +him five sons. He was esteemed by God worthy of three of the +greatest privileges, - the government of his nation, the dignity +of the high priesthood, and prophecy; for God was with him, and +enabled him to know futurities; and to foretell this in +particular, that, as to his two eldest sons, he foretold that +they would not long continue in the government of public affairs; +whose unhappy catastrophe will be worth our description, that we +may thence learn how very much they were inferior to their +father's happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How Aristobulus, When He Had Taken The Government First Of All +Put A Diadem On His Head, And Was Most Barbarously Cruel To His +Mother And His Brethren; And How, After He Had Slain Antigonus, +He Himself Died. + + +1. Now when their father Hyrcanus was dead, the eldest son +Aristobulus, intending to change the government into a kingdom, +for so he resolved to do, first of all put a diadem on his head, +four hundred eighty and one years and three months after the +people had been delivered from the Babylonish slavery, and were +returned to their own country again. This Aristobulus loved his +next brother Antigonus, and treated him as his equal; but the +others he held in bonds. He also cast his mother into prison, +because she disputed the government with him; for Hyrcanus had +left her to be mistress of all. He also proceeded to that degree +of barbarity, as to kill her in prison with hunger; nay, he was +alienated from his brother Antigonus by calumnies, and added him +to the rest whom he slew; yet he seemed to have an affection for +him, and made him above the rest a partner with him in the +kingdom. Those calumnies he at first did not give credit to, +partly because he loved him, and so did not give heed to what was +said against him, and partly because he thought the reproaches +were derived from the envy of the relaters. But when Antigonus +was once returned from the army, and that feast was then at hand +when they make tabernacles to [the honor of God,] it happened +that Arlstobulus was fallen sick, and that Antigonus went up most +splendidly adorned, and with his soldiers about him in their +armor, to the temple to celebrate the feast, and to put up many +prayers for the recovery of his brother, when some wicked +persons, who had a great mind to raise a difference between the +brethren, made use of this opportunity of the pompous appearance +of Antigonus, and of the great actions which he had done, and +went to the king, and spitefully aggravated the pompous show of +his at the feast, and pretended that all these circumstances were +not like those of a private person; that these actions were +indications of an affectation of royal authority; and that his +coming with a strong body of men must be with an intention to +kill him; and that his way of reasoning was this: That it was a +silly thing in him, while it was in his power to reign himself, +to look upon it as a great favor that he was honored with a lower +dignity by his brother. + +2. Aristobulus yielded to these imputations, but took care both +that his brother should not suspect him, and that he himself +might not run the hazard of his own safety; so he ordered his +guards to lie in a certain place that was under ground, and dark; +(he himself then lying sick in the tower which was called +Antonia;) and he commanded them, that in case Antigonus came in +to him unarmed, they should not touch any body, but if armed, +they should kill him; yet did he send to Antigonus, and desired +that he would come unarmed; but the queen, and those that joined +with her in the plot against Antigonus, persuaded the messenger +to tell him the direct contrary: how his brother had heard that +he had made himself a fine suit of armor for war, and desired him +to come to him in that armor, that he might see how fine it was. +So Antigonus suspecting no treachery, but depending on the +good-will of his brother, came to Aristobulus armed, as he used +to be, with his entire armor, in order to show it to him; but +when he was come to a place which was called Strato's Tower, +where the passage happened to be exceeding dark, the guards slew +him; which death of his demonstrates that nothing is stronger +than envy and calumny, and that nothing does more certainly +divide the good-will and natural affections of men than those +passions. But here one may take occasion to wonder at one Judas, +who was of the sect of the Essens, (31) and who never missed the +truth in his predictions; for this man, when he saw Antigonus +passing by the temple, cried out to his companions and friends, +who abode with him as his scholars, in order to learn the art of +foretelling things to come?" That it was good for him to die now, +since he had spoken falsely about Antigonus, who is still alive, +and I see him passing by, although he had foretold he should die +at the place called Strato's Tower that very day, while yet the +place is six hundred furlongs off, where he had foretold he +should be slain; and still this day is a great part of it already +past, so that he was in danger of proving a false prophet." As he +was saying this, and that in a melancholy mood, the news came +that Antigonus was slain in a place under ground, which itself +was called also Strato's Tower, or of the same name with that +Cesarea which is seated at the sea. This event put the prophet +into a great disorder. + +3. But Aristobulus repented immediately of this slaughter of his +brother; on which account his disease increased upon him, and he +was disturbed in his mind, upon the guilt of such wickedness, +insomuch that his entrails were corrupted by his intolerable +pain, and he vomited blood: at which time one of the servants +that attended upon him, and was carrying his blood away, did, by +Divine Providence, as I cannot but suppose, slip down, and shed +part of his blood at the very place where there were spots of +Antigonus's blood, there slain, still remaining; and when there +was a cry made by the spectators, as if the servant had on +purpose shed the blood on that place, Aristobulus heard it, and +inquired what the matter was; and as they did not answer him, he +was the more earnest to know what it was, it being natural to men +to suspect that what is thus concealed is very bad: so upon his +threatening, and forcing them by terrors to speak, they at length +told him the truth; whereupon he shed many tears, in that +disorder of mind which arose from his consciousness of what he +had done, and gave a deep groan, and said, "I am not therefore, I +perceive, to be concealed from God, in the impious and horrid +crimes I have been guilty of; but a sudden punishment is coming +upon me for the shedding the blood of my relations. And now, O +thou most impudent body of mine, how long wilt thou retain a soul +that ought to die, in order to appease the ghosts of my brother +and my mother? Why dost thou not give it all up at once? And why +do I deliver up my blood drop by drop to those whom I have so +wickedly murdered?" In saying which last words he died, having +reigned a year. He was called a lover of the Grecians; and had +conferred many benefits on his own country, and made war against +Iturea, and added a great part of it to Judea, and compelled the +inhabitants, if they would continue in that country, to be +circumcised, and to live according to the Jewish laws. He was +naturally a man of candor, and of great modesty, as Strabo bears +witness, in the name of Timagenes; who says thus: "This man was a +person of candor, and very serviceable to the Jews; for he added +a country to them, and obtained a part of the nation of the +Itureans for them, and bound them to them by the bond of the +circumcision of their genitals." + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +How Alexander When He Had Taken The Government Made An Expedition +Against Ptolemais, And Then Raised The Siege Out Of Fear Of +Ptolemy Lathyrus; And How Ptolemy Made War Against Him, Because +He Had Sent To Cleopatra To Persuade Her To Make War Against +Ptolemy, And Yet Pretended To Be In Friendship With Him, When He +Beat The Jews In The Battle. + + +1. When Aristobulus was dead, his wife Salome, who, by the +Greeks, was called Alexandra, let his brethren out of prison, +(for Aristobulus had kept them in bonds, as we have said +already,) and made Alexander Janneus king, who was the superior +in age and in moderation. This child happened to be hated by his +father as soon as he was born, and could never be permitted to +come into his father's sight till he died. (32) The occasion of +which hatred is thus reported: when Hyrcanus chiefly loved the +two eldest of his sons, Antigonus and Aristobutus, God appeared +to him in his sleep, of whom he inquired which of his sons should +be his successor. Upon God's representing to him the countenance +of Alexander, he was grieved that he was to be the heir of all +his goods, and suffered him to be brought up in Galilee However, +God did not deceive Hyrcanus; for after the death of Aristobulus, +he certainly took the kingdom; and one of his brethren, who +affected the kingdom, he slew; and the other, who chose to live a +private and quiet life, he had in esteem. + +2. When Alexander Janneus had settled the government in the +manner that he judged best, he made an expedition against +Ptolemais; and having overcome the men in battle, he shut them up +in the city, and sat round about it, and besieged it; for of the +maritime cities there remained only Ptolemais and Gaza to be +conquered, besides Strato's Tower and Dora, which were held by +the tyrant Zoilus. Now while Antiochus Philometor, and Antiochus +who was called Cyzicenus, were making war one against another, +and destroying one another's armies, the people of Ptolemais +could have no assistance from them; but when they were distressed +with this siege, Zoilus, who possessed Strato's Tower and Dora, +and maintained a legion of soldiers, and, on occasion of the +contest between the kings, affected tyranny himself, came and +brought some small assistance to the people of Ptolemais; nor +indeed had the kings such a friendship for them, as that they +should hope for any advantage from them. Both those kings were in +the case of wrestlers, who finding themselves deficient in +strength, and yet being ashamed to yield, put off the fight by +laziness, and by lying still as long as they can. The only hope +they had remaining was from the kings of Egypt, and from Ptolemy +Lathyrus, who now held Cyprus, and who came to Cyprus when he was +driven from the government of Egypt by Cleopatra his mother. So +the people of Ptolemais sent to this Ptolemy Lathyrus, and +desired him to come as a confederate, to deliver them, now they +were in such danger, out of the hands of Alexander. And as the +ambassadors gave him hopes, that if he would pass over into +Syria, he would have the people of Gaza on the side of those of +Ptolemais; as also they said, that Zoilus, and besides these the +Sidonians, and many others, would assist them; so he was elevated +at this, and got his fleet ready as soon as possible. + +3. But in this interval Demenetus, one that was of abilities to +persuade men to do as he would have them, and a leader of the +populace, made those of Ptolemais change their opinions; and said +to them, that it was better to run the hazard of being subject to +the Jews, than to admit of evident slavery by delivering +themselves up to a master; and besides that, to have not only a +war at present, but to expect a much greater war from Egypt; for +that Cleopatra would not overlook an army raised by Ptolemy for +himself out of the neighborhood, but would come against them with +a great army of her own, and this because she was laboring to +eject her son out of Cyprus also; that as for Ptolemy, if he fail +of his hopes, he can still retire to Cyprus, but that they will +be left in the greatest danger possible. Now Ptolemy, although he +had heard of the change that was made in the people of Ptolemais, +yet did he still go on with his voyage, and came to the country +called Sycamine, and there set his army on shore. This army of +his, in the whole horse and foot together, were about thirty +thousand, with which he marched near to Ptolemais, and there +pitched his camp. But when the people of Ptolemais neither +received his ambassadors, nor would hear what they had to say, he +was under a very great concern. + +4. But when Zoilus and the people of Gaza came to him, and +desired his assistance, because their country was laid waste by +the Jews, and by Alexander, Alexander raised the siege, for fear +of Ptolemy: and when he had drawn off his army into his own +country, he used a stratagem afterwards, by privately inviting +Cleopatra to come against Ptolemy, but publicly pretending to +desire a league of friendship and mutual assistance with him; and +promising to give him four hundred talents of silver, he desired +that, by way of requital, he would take off Zoilus the tyrant, +and give his country to the Jews. And then indeed Ptolemy, with +pleasure, made such a league of friendship with Alexander, and +subdued Zoilus; but when he afterwards heard that he had privily +sent to Cleopatra his mother, he broke the league with him, which +yet he had confirmed with an oath, and fell upon him, and +besieged Ptolemais, because it would not receive him. However, +leaving his generals, with some part of his forces, to go on with +the siege, he went himself immediately with the rest to lay Judea +waste; and when Alexander understood this to be Ptolemy's +intention, he also got together about fifty thousand soldiers out +of his own country; nay, as some writers have said, eighty +thousand (33) He then took his army, and went to meet Ptolemy; +but Ptolemy fell upon Asochis, a city of Galilee, and took it by +force on the sabbath day, and there he took about ten thousand +slaves, and a great deal of other prey. + +5. He then tried to take Sepphoris, which was a city not far from +that which was destroyed, but lost many of his men; yet did he +then go to fight with Alexander; which Alexander met him at the +river Jordan, near a certain place called Saphoth, [not far from +the river Jordan,] and pitched his camp near to the enemy. He had +however eight thousand in the first rank, which he styled +Hecatontomachi, having shields of brass. Those in the first rank +of Ptolemy's soldiers also had shields covered with brass. But +Ptolemy's soldiers in other respects were inferior to those of +Alexander, and therefore were more fearful of running hazards; +but Philostephanus, the camp-master, put great courage into them, +and ordered them to pass the river, which was between their +camps. Nor did Alexander think fit to hinder their passage over +it; for he thought, that if the enemy had once gotten the river +on their back, that he should the easier take them prisoners, +when they could not flee out of the battle: in the beginning of +which, the acts on both sides, with their hands, and with their +alacrity, were alike, and a great slaughter was made by both the +armies; but Alexander was superior, till Philostephanus +opportunely brought up the auxiliaries, to help those that were +giving way; but as there were no auxiliaries to afford help to +that part of the Jews that gave way, it fell out that they fled, +and those near them did no assist them, but fled along with them. +However, Ptolemy's soldiers acted quite otherwise; for they +followed the Jews, and killed them, till at length those that +slew them pursued after them when they had made them all run +away, and slew them so long, that their weapons of iron were +blunted, and their hands quite tired with the slaughter; for the +report was, that thirty thousand men were then slain. Timagenes +says they were fifty thousand. As for the rest, they were part of +them taken captives, and the other part ran away to their own +country. + +6. After this victory, Ptolemy overran all the country; and when +night came on, he abode in certain villages of Judea, which when +he found full of women and children, he commanded his soldiers to +strangle them, and to cut them in pieces, and then to cast them +into boiling caldrons, and then to devour their limbs as +sacrifices. This commandment was given, that such as fled from +the battle, and came to them, might suppose their enemies were +cannibals, and eat men's flesh, and might on that account be +still more terrified at them upon such a sight. And both Strabo +and Nicholaus [of Damascus] affirm, that they used these people +after this manner, as I have already related. Ptolemy also took +Ptolemais by force, as we have declared elsewhere. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Alexander, upon the League of Mutual Defense Which Cleopatra +Had Agreed with Him, Made an Expedition Against Coelesyria, and +Utterly Overthrew the City of Gaza; and How He Slew Many Ten +Thousands of Jews That Rebelled Against Him. Also Concerning +Antiochus Grypus, Seleucus Antiochus Cyziceius, and Antiochus +Pius, and Others. + + +1. When Cleopatra saw that her son was grown great, and laid +Judea waste, without disturbance, and had gotten the city of Gaza +under his power, she resolved no longer to overlook what he did, +when he was almost at her gates; and she concluded, that now he +was so much stronger than before, he would be very desirous of +the dominion over the Egyptians; but she immediately marched +against him, with a fleet at sea and an army of foot on land, and +made Chelcias and Ananias the Jews generals of her whole army, +while she sent the greatest part of her riches, her +grandchildren, and her testament, to the people of Cos (34) +Cleopatra also ordered her son Alexander to sail with a great +fleet to Phoenicia; and when that country had revolted, she came +to Ptolemais; and because the people of Ptolemais did not receive +her, she besieged the city; but Ptolemy went out of Syria, and +made haste unto Egypt, supposing that he should find it destitute +of an army, and soon take it, though he failed of his hopes. At +this time Chelcias, one of Cleopatra's generals, happened to die +in Celesyria, as he was in pursuit of Ptolemy. + +2. When Cleopatra heard of her son's attempt, and that his +Egyptian expedition did not succeed according to his +expectations, she sent thither part of her army, and drove him +out of that country; so when he was returned out of Egypt again, +he abode during the winter at Gaza, in which time Cleopatra took +the garrison that was in Ptolemais by siege, as well as the city; +and when Alexander came to her, he gave her presents, and such +marks of respect as were but proper, since under the miseries he +endured by Ptolemy he had no other refuge but her. Now there were +some of her friends who persuaded her to seize Alexander, and to +overrun and take possession of the country, and not to sit still +and see such a multitude of brave Jews subject to one man. But +Ananias's counsel was contrary to theirs, who said that she would +do an unjust action if she deprived a man that was her ally of +that authority which belonged to him, and this a man who is +related to us; "for (said he) I would not have thee ignorant of +this, that what in justice thou dost to him will make all us +that are Jews to be thy enemies. This desire of Ananias Cleopatra +complied with, and did no injury to Alexander, but made a league +of mutual assistance with him at Scythopolis, a city of +Celesyria. + +3. So when Alexander was delivered from the fear he was in of +Ptolemy, he presently made an expedition against Coelesyria. He +also took Gadara, after a siege of ten months. He took also +Areathus, a very strong fortress belonging to the inhabitants +above Jordan, where Theodorus, the son of Zeno, had his chief +treasure, and what he esteemed most precious. This Zeno fell +unexpectedly upon the Jews, and slew ten thousand of them, and +seized upon Alexander's baggage. Yet did not this misfortune +terrify Alexander; but he made an expedition upon the maritime +parts of the country, Raphia and Anthedon, (the name of which +king Herod afterwards changed to Agrippias,) and took even that +by force. But when Alexander saw that Ptolemy was retired from +Gaza to Cyprus, and his mother Cleopatra was returned to Egypt, +he grew angry at the people of Gaza, because they had invited +Ptolemy to assist them, and besieged their city, and ravaged +their country. But as Apollodotus, the general of the army of +Gaza, fell upon the camp of the Jews by night, with two thousand +foreign and ten thousand of his own forces, while the night +lasted, those of Gaza prevailed, because the enemy was made to +believe that it was Ptolemy who attacked them; but when day was +come on, and that mistake was corrected, and the Jews knew the +truth of the matter, they came back again, and fell upon those of +Gaza, and slew of them about a thousand. But as those of Gaza +stoutly resisted them, and would not yield for either their want +of any thing, nor for the great multitude that were slain, (for +they would rather suffer any hardship whatever than come under +the power of their enemies,) Aretas, king of the Arabians, a +person then very illustrious, encouraged them to go on with +alacrity, and promised them that he would come to their +assistance; but it happened that before he came Apollodotus was +slain; for his brother Lysimachus envying him for the great +reputation he had gained among the citizens, slew him, and got +the army together, and delivered up the city to Alexander, who, +when he came in at first, lay quiet, but afterward set his army +upon the inhabitants of Gaza, and gave them leave to punish them; +so some went one way, and some went another, and slew the +inhabitants of Gaza; yet were not they of cowardly hearts, but +opposed those that came to slay them, and slew as many of the +Jews; and some of them, when they saw themselves deserted, burnt +their own houses, that the enemy might get none of their spoils; +nay, some of them, with their own hands, slew their children and +their wives, having no other way but this of avoiding slavery for +them; but the senators, who were in all five hundred, fled to +Apollo's temple, (for this attack happened to be made as they +were sitting,) whom Alexander slew; and when he had utterly +overthrown their city, he returned to Jerusalem, having spent a +year in that siege. + +4. About this very time Antiochus, who was called Grypus, died +(35) His death was caused by Heracleon's treachery, when he had +lived forty-five years, and had reigned twenty-nine. (36) His son +Seleucus succeeded him in the kingdom, and made war with +Antiochus, his father's brother, who was called Antiochus +Cyzicenus, and beat him, and took him prisoner, and slew him. But +after a while Antiochus, the son of Cyzicenus, who was called +Pius, came to Aradus, and put the diadem on his own head, and +made war with Seleucus, and beat him, and drove him out of all +Syria. But when he fled out of Syria, he came to Mopsuestia +again, and levied money upon them; but the people of Mopsuestin +had indignation at what he did, and burnt down his palace, and +slew him, together with his friends. But when Antiochus, the son +of Cyzicenus, was king of Syria, Antiochus, (37) the brother of +Seleucus, made war upon him, and was overcome, and destroyed, he +and his army. After him, his brother Philip put on the diadem, +and reigned over some part of Syria; but Ptolemy Lathyrus sent +for his fourth brother Demetrius, who was called Eucerus, from +Cnidus, and made him king of Damascus. Both these brothers did +Antiochus vehemently oppose, but presently died; for when he was +come as an auxiliary to Laodice, queen of the Gileadites, (38) +when she was making war against the Parthians, and he was +fighting courageously, he fell, while Demetrius and Philip +governed Syria, as hath been elsewhere related. + +5. As to Alexander, his own people were seditious against him; +for at a festival which was then celebrated, when he stood upon +the altar, and was going to sacrifice, the nation rose upon him, +and pelted him with citrons [which they then had in their hands, +because] the law of the Jews required that at the feast of +tabernacles every one should have branches of the palm tree and +citron tree; which thing we have elsewhere related. They also +reviled him, as derived from a captive, and so unworthy of his +dignity and of sacrificing. At this he was in a rage, and slew of +them about six thousand. He also built a partition-wall of wood +round the altar and the temple, as far as that partition within +which it was only lawful for the priests to enter; and by this +means he obstructed the multitude from coming at him. He also +maintained foreigners of Pisidie and Cilicia; for as to the +Syrians, he was at war with them, and so made no use of them. He +also overcame the Arabians, such as the Moabites and Gileadites, +and made them bring tribute. Moreover, he demolished Amathus, +while Theodorus (39) durst not fight with him; but as he had +joined battle with Obedas, king of the Arabians, and fell into an +ambush in the places that were rugged and difficult to be +traveled over, he was thrown down into a deep valley, by the +multitude of the camels at Gadurn, a village of Gilead, and +hardly escaped with his life. From thence he fled to Jerusalem, +where, besides his other ill success, the nation insulted him, +and he fought against them for six years, and slew no fewer than +fifty thousand of them. And when he desired that they would +desist from their ill-will to him, they hated him so much the +more, on account of what had already happened; and when he had +asked them what he ought to do, they all cried out, that he ought +to kill himself. They also sent to Demetrius Eucerus, and desired +him to make a league of mutual defense with them. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +How Demetrius Eucerus Overcame Alexander And Yet In A Little Time +Retired Out Of The Country For Fear; As Also How Alexander Slew +Many Of The Jews And Thereby Got Clear Of His Troubles. +Concerning The Death Of Demetrius. + + +1. So Demetrius came with an army, and took those that invited +him, and pitched his camp near the city Shechem; upon which +Alexander, with his six thousand two hundred mercenaries, and +about twenty thousand Jews, who were of his party, went against +Demetrius, who had three thousand horsemen, and forty thousand +footmen. Now there were great endeavors used on both sides, - +Demetrius trying to bring off the mercenaries that were with +Alexander, because they were Greeks, and Alexander trying to +bring off the Jews that were with Demetrius. However, when +neither of them could persuade them so to do, they came to a +battle, and Demetrius was the conqueror; in which all Alexander's +mercenaries were killed, when they had given demonstration of +their fidelity and courage. A great number of Demetrius's +soldiers were slain also. + +2. Now as Alexander fled to the mountains, six thousand of the +Jews hereupon came together [from Demetrius] to him out of pity +at the change of his fortune; upon which Demetrius was afraid, +and retired out of the country; after which the Jews fought +against Alexander, and being beaten, were slain in great numbers +in the several battles which they had; and when he had shut up +the most powerful of them in the city Bethome, he besieged them +therein; and when he had taken the city, and gotten the men into +his power, he brought them to Jerusalem, and did one of the most +barbarous actions in the world to them; for as he was feasting +with his concubines, in the sight of all the city, he ordered +about eight hundred of them to be crucified; and while they were +living, he ordered the throats of their children and wives to be +cut before their eyes. This was indeed by way of revenge for the +injuries they had done him; which punishment yet was of an +inhuman nature, though we suppose that he had been never so much +distressed, as indeed he had been, by his wars with them, for he +had by their means come to the last degree of hazard, both of his +life and of his kingdom, while they were not satisfied by +themselves only to fight against him, but introduced foreigners +also for the same purpose; nay, at length they reduced him to +that degree of necessity, that he was forced to deliver back to +the king of Arabia the land of Moab and Gilead, which he had +subdued, and the places that were in them, that they might not +join with them in the war against him, as they had done ten +thousand other things that tended to affront and reproach him. +However, this barbarity seems to have been without any necessity, +on which account he bare the name of a Thracian among the Jews +(40) whereupon the soldiers that had fought against him, being +about eight thousand in number, ran away by night, and continued +fugitives all the time that Alexander lived; who being now freed +from any further disturbance from them, reigned the rest of his +time in the utmost tranquillity. + +3. But when Demetrius was departed out of Judea, he went to +Berea, and besieged his brother Philip, having with him ten +thousand footmen, and a thousand horsemen. However Strato, the +tyrant of Berea, the confederate of Philip, called in Zizon, the +ruler of the Arabian tribes, and Mithridates Sinax, the ruler of +the Parthians, who coming with a great number of forces, and +besieging Demetrius in his encampment, into which they had driven +them with their arrows, they compelled those that were with him +by thirst to deliver up themselves. So they took a great many +spoils out of that country, and Demetrius himself, whom they sent +to Mithridates, who was then king of Parthis; but as to those +whom they took captives of the people of Antioch, they restored +them to the Antiochinus without any reward. Now Mithridates, the +king of Parthis, had Demetrius in great honor, till Demetrius +ended his life by sickness. So Philip, presently after the fight +was over, came to Antioch, and took it, and reigned over Syria. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +How Antiochus, Who Was Called Dionysus, And After Him Aretas Made +Expeditions Into Judea; As Also How Alexander Took Many Cities +And Then Returned To Jerusalem, And After A Sickness Of Three +Years Died; And What Counsel He Gave To Alexandra. + + +1. After this, Antiochus, who was called Dionysus, (41) and was +Philip's brother, aspired to the dominion, and came to Damascus, +and got the power into his hands, and there he reigned; but as he +was making war against the Arabians, his brother Philip heard of +it, and came to Damascus, where Milesius, who had been left +governor of the citadel, and the Damascens themselves, delivered +up the city to him; yet because Philip was become ungrateful to +him, and had bestowed upon him nothing of that in hopes whereof +he had received him into the city, but had a mind to have it +believed that it was rather delivered up out of fear than by the +kindness of Milesius, and because he had not rewarded him as he +ought to have done, he became suspected by him, and so he was +obliged to leave Damascus again; for Milesius caught him marching +out into the Hippodrome, and shut him up in it, and kept Damascus +for Antiochus [Eucerus], who hearing how Philip's affairs stood, +came back out of Arabia. He also came immediately, and made an +expedition against Judea, with eight thousand armed footmen, and +eight hundred horsemen. So Alexander, out of fear of his coming, +dug a deep ditch, beginning at Chabarzaba, which is now called +Antipatris, to the sea of Joppa, on which part only his army +could be brought against him. He also raised a wall, and erected +wooden towers, and intermediate redoubts, for one hundred and +fifty furlongs in length, and there expected the coming of +Antiochus; but he soon burnt them all, and made his army pass by +that way into Arabia. The Arabian king [Aretas] at first +retreated, but afterward appeared on the sudden with ten thousand +horsemen. Antiochus gave them the meeting, and fought +desperately; and indeed when he had gotten the victory, and was +bringing some auxiliaries to that part of his army that was in +distress, he was slain. When Antiochus was fallen, his army fled +to the village Cana, where the greatest part of them perished by +famine. + +2. After him (42) Arems reigned over Celesyria, being called to +the government by those that held Damascus, by reason of the +hatred they bare to Ptolemy Menneus. He also made thence an +expedition against Judea, and beat Alexander in battle, near a +place called Adida; yet did he, upon certain conditions agreed on +between them, retire out of Judea. + +3. But Alexander marched again to the city Dios, and took it; and +then made an expedition against Essa, where was the best part of +Zeno's treasures, and there he encompassed the place with three +walls; and when he had taken the city by fighting, he marched to +Golan and Seleucia; and when he had taken these cities, he, +besides them, took that valley which is called The Valley of +Antiochus, as also the fortress of Gamala. He also accused +Demetrius, who was governor of those places, of many crimes, and +turned him out; and after he had spent three years in this war, +he returned to his own country, when the Jews joyfully received +him upon this his good success. + +4. Now at this time the Jews were in possession of the following +cities that had belonged to the Syrians, and Idumeans, and +Phoenicians: At the sea-side, Strato's Tower, Apollonia, Joppa, +Jamhis, Ashdod, Gaza, Anthedon, Raphia, and Rhinocolura; in the +middle of the country, near to Idumea, Adorn, and Marissa; near +the country of Samaria, Mount Carmel, and Mount Tabor, +Scythopolis, and Gadara; of the country of Gaulonitis, Seleucia +and Gabala; in the country of Moab, Heshbon, and Medaba, Lemba, +and Oronas, Gelithon, Zorn, the valley of the Cilices, and Pollo; +which last they utterly destroyed, because its inhabitants would +not bear to change their religious rites for those peculiar to +the Jews. (43) The Jews also possessed others of the principal +cities of Syria, which had been destroyed. + +5. After this, king Alexander, although he fell into a distemper +by hard drinking, and had a quartan ague, which held him three +years, yet would not leave off going out with his army, till he +was quite spent with the labors he had undergone, and died in the +bounds of Ragaba, a fortress beyond Jordan. But when his queen +saw that he was ready to die, and had no longer any hopes of +surviving, she came to him weeping and lamenting, and bewailed +herself and her sons on the desolate condition they should be +left in; and said to him, "To whom dost thou thus leave me and my +children, who are destitute of all other supports, and this when +thou knowest how much ill-will thy nation bears thee?" But he +gave her the following advice: That she need but follow what he +would suggest to her, in order to retain the kingdom securely, +with her children: that she should conceal his death from the +soldiers till she should have taken that place; after this she +should go in triumph, as upon a victory, to Jerusalem, and put +some of her authority into the hands of the Pharisees; for that +they would commend her for the honor she had done them, and would +reconcile the nation to her for he told her they had great +authority among the Jews, both to do hurt to such as they hated, +and to bring advantages to those to whom they were friendly +disposed; for that they are then believed best of all by the +multitude when they speak any severe thing against others, though +it be only out of envy at them. And he said that it was by their +means that he had incurred the displeasure of the nation, whom +indeed he had injured. "Do thou, therefore," said he, "when thou +art come to Jerusalem, send for the leading men among them, and +show them my body, and with great appearance of sincerity, give +them leave to use it as they themselves please, whether they will +dishonor the dead body by refusing it burial, as having severely +suffered by my means, or whether in their anger they will offer +any other injury to that body. Promise them also that thou wilt +do nothing without them in the affairs of the kingdom. If thou +dost but say this to them, I shall have the honor of a more +glorious Funeral from them than thou couldst have made for me; +and when it is in their power to abuse my dead body, they will do +it no injury at all, and thou wilt rule in safety." (44) So when +he had given his wife this advice, he died, after he had reigned +twenty-seven years, and lived fifty years within one. + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + +How Alexandra By Gaining The Good-Will Of The Pharisees, Retained +The Kingdom Nine Years, And Then, Having Done Many Glorious +Actions Died. + + +1. So Alexandra, when she had taken the fortress, acted as her +husband had suggested to her, and spake to the Pharisees, and put +all things into their power, both as to the dead body, and as to +the affairs of the kingdom, and thereby pacified their anger +against Alexander, and made them bear goodwill and friendship to +him; who then came among the multitude, and made speeches to +them, and laid before them the actions of Alexander, and told +them that they had lost a righteous king; and by the commendation +they gave him, they brought them to grieve, and to be in +heaviness for him, so that he had a funeral more splendid than +had any of the kings before him. Alexander left behind him two +sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, but committed the kingdom to +Alexandra. Now, as to these two sons, Hyrcanus was indeed unable +to manage public affairs, and delighted rather in a quiet life; +but the younger, Aristobulus, was an active and a bold man; and +for this woman herself, Alexandra, she was loved by the +multitude, because she seemed displeased at the offenses her +husband had been guilty of. + +2. So she made Hyrcanus high priest, because he was the elder, +but much more because he cared not to meddle with politics, and +permitted the Pharisees to do every thing; to whom also she +ordered the multitude to be obedient. She also restored again +those practices which the Pharisees had introduced, according to +the traditions of their forefathers, and which her father-in-law, +Hyrcanus, had abrogated. So she had indeed the name of the +regent, but the Pharisees had the authority; for it was they who +restored such as had been banished, and set such as were +prisoners at liberty, and, to say all at once, they differed in +nothing from lords. However, the queen also took care of the +affairs of the kingdom, and got together a great body of +mercenary soldiers, and increased her own army to such a degree, +that she became terrible to the neighboring tyrants, and took +hostages of them: and the country was entirely at peace, +excepting the Pharisees; for they disturbed the queen, and +desired that she would kill those who persuaded Alexander to slay +the eight hundred men; after which they cut the throat of one of +them, Diogenes; and after him they did the same to several, one +after another, till the men that were the most potent came into +the palace, and Aristobulus with them, for he seemed to be +displeased at what was done; and it appeared openly, that if he +had an opportunity, he would not permit his mother to go on so. +These put the queen in mind what great dangers they had gone +through, and great things they had done, whereby they had +demonstrated the firmness of their fidelity to their master, +insomuch that they had recieved the greatest marks of favor from +him; and they begged of her, that she would not utterly blast +their hopes, as it now happened, that when they had escaped the +hazards that arose from their [open] enemies, they were to be cut +off at home by their [private] enemies, like brute beasts, +without any help whatsoever. They said also, that if their +adversaries would be satisfied with those that had been slain +already, they would take what had been done patiently, on account +of their natural love to their governors; but if they must expect +the same for the future also, they implored of her a dismission +from her service; for they could not bear to think of attempting +any method for their deliverance without her, but would rather +die willingly before the palace gate, in case she would not +forgive them. And that it was a great shame, both for themselves +and for the queen, that when they were neglected by her, they +should come under the lash of her husband's enemies; for that +Aretas, the Arabian king, and the monarchs, would give any +reward, if they could get such men as foreign auxiliaries, to +whom their very names, before their voices be heard, may perhaps +be terrible; but if they could not obtain this their second +request, and if she had determined to prefer the Pharisees before +them, they still insisted that she would place them every one in +her fortresses; for if some fatal demon hath a constant spite +against Alexander's house, they would be willing to bear their +part, and to live in a private station there. + +3. As these men said thus, and called upon Alexander's ghost for +commiseration of those already slain, and those in danger of it, +all the bystanders brake out into tears. But Aristobulus chiefly +made manifest what were his sentiments, and used many +reproachful expressions to his mother, [saying,] "Nay, indeed, +the case is this, that they have been themselves the authors of +their own calamities, who have permitted a woman who, against +reason, was mad with ambition, to reign over them, when there +were sons in the flower of their age fitter for it." So +Alexandra, not knowing what to do with any decency, committed the +fortresses to them, all but Hyrcania, and Alexandrium, and +Macherus, where her principal treasures were. After a little +while also, she sent her son Aristobulus with an army to Damascus +against Ptolemy, who was called Menneus, who was such a bad +neighbor to the city; but he did nothing considerable there, and +so returned home. + +4. About this time news was brought that Tigranes, the king of +Armenia, had made an irruption into Syria with five hundred +thousand soldiers, (45) and was coming against Judea. This news, +as may well be supposed, terrified the queen and the nation. +Accordingly, they sent him many and very valuable presents, as +also ambassadors, and that as he was besieging Ptolemais; for +Selene the queen, the same that was also called Cleopatra, ruled +then over Syria, who had persuaded the inhabitants to exclude +Tigranes. So the Jewish ambassadors interceded with him, and +entreated him that he would determine nothing that was severe +about their queen or nation. He commended them for the respects +they paid him at so great a distance, and gave them good hopes of +his favor. But as soon as Ptolemais was taken, news came to +Tigranes, that Lucullus, in his pursuit of Mithridates, could not +light upon him, who was fled into Iberia, but was laying waste +Armenia, and besieging its cities. Now when Tigranes knew this, +he returned home. + +5. After this, when the queen was fallen into a dangerous +distemper, Aristobulus resolved to attempt the seizing of the +government; so he stole away secretly by night, with only one of +his servants, and went to the fortresses, wherein his friends, +that were such from the days of his father, were settled; for as +he had been a great while displeased at his mother's conduct, so +he was now much more afraid, lest, upon her death, their whole +family should be under the power of the Pharisees; for he saw the +inability of his brother, who was to succeed in the government; +nor was any one conscious of what he was doing but only his wife, +whom he left at Jerusalem with their children. He first of all +came to Agaba, where was Galestes, one of the potent men before +mentioned, and was received by him. When it was day, the queen +perceived that Aristobulus was fled; and for some time she +supposed that his departure was not in order to make any +innovation; but when messengers came one after another with the +news that he had secured the first place, the second place, and +all the places, for as soon as one had begun they all submitted +to his disposal, then it was that the queen and the nation were +in the greatest disorder, for they were aware that it would not +be long ere Aristobulus would be able to settle himself firmly in +the government. What they were principally afraid of was this, +that he would inflict punishment upon them for the mad treatment +his house had had from them. So they resolved to take his wife +and children into custody, and keep them in the fortress that was +over the temple. (46) Now there was a mighty conflux of people +that came to Aristobulus from all parts, insomuch that he had a +kind of royal attendants about him; for in a little more than +fifteen days he got twenty-two strong places, which gave him the +opportunity of raising an army from Libanus and Trachonitis, and +the monarchs; for men are easily led by the greater number, and +easily submit to them. And besides this, that by affording him +their assistance, when he could not expect it, they, as well as +he, should have the advantages that would come by his being king, +because they had been the occasion of his gaining the kingdom. +Now the eiders of the Jews, and Hyrcanus with them, went in unto +the queen, and desired that she would give them her sentiments +about the present posture of affairs, for that Aristobulus was in +effect lord of almost all the kingdom, by possessing of so many +strong holds, and that it was absurd for them to take any counsel +by themselves, how ill soever she were, whilst she was alive, and +that the danger would be upon them in no long time. But she bid +them do what they thought proper to be done; that they had many +circumstances in their favor still remaining, a nation in good +heart, an army, and money in their several treasuries; for that +she had small concern about public affairs now, when the strength +of her body already failed her. + +6. Now a little while after she had said this to them, she died, +when she had reigned nine years, and had in all lived +seventy-three. A woman she was who showed no signs of the +weakness of her sex, for she was sagacious to the greatest degree +in her ambition of governing; and demonstrated by her doings at +once, that her mind was fit for action, and that sometimes men +themselves show the little understanding they have by the +frequent mistakes they make in point of government; for she +always preferred the present to futurity, and preferred the power +of an imperious dominion above all things, and in comparison of +that had no regard to what was good, or what was right. However, +she brought the affairs of her house to such an unfortunate +condition, that she was the occasion of the taking away that +authority from it, and that in no long time afterward, which she +had obtained by a vast number of hazards and misfortunes, and +this out of a desire of what does not belong to a woman, and all +by a compliance in her sentiments with those that bare ill-will +to their family, and by leaving the administration destitute of a +proper support of great men; and, indeed, her management during +her administration while she was alive, was such as filled the +palace after her death with calamities and disturbance. However, +although this had been her way of governing, she preserved the +nation in peace. And this is the conclusion of the affairs of, +Alexandra. + + + + +BOOK XIV. + +Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years. + +From The Death Of Queen Alexandra To The Death Of Antigonus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +The War Between Aristobulus And Hyrcanus About The Kingdom; And +How They Made Anagreement That Aristobulus Should Be King, And +Hyrcanus Live A Private Life; As Also How Hyrcanus A Little +Afterward Was Persuaded By Antipater To Fly To Aretas. + + +1. We have related the affairs of queen Alexandra, and her death, +in the foregoing book and will now speak of what followed, and +was connected with those histories; declaring, before we proceed, +that we have nothing so much at heart as this, that we may omit +no facts, either through ignorance or laziness; (1) for we are +upon the history and explication of such things as the greatest +part are unacquainted withal, because of their distance from our +times; and we aim to do it with a proper beauty of style, so far +as that is derived from proper words harmonically disposed, and +from such ornaments of speech also as may contribute to the +pleasure of our readers, that they may entertain the knowledge of +what we write with some agreeable satisfaction and pleasure. But +the principal scope that authors ought to aim at above all the +rest, is to speak accurately, and to speak truly, for the +satisfaction of those that are otherwise unacquainted with such +transactions, and obliged to believe what these writers inform +them of. + +2. Hyrcanus then began his high priesthood on the third year of +the hundred and seventy-seventh olympiad, when Quintus Hortensius +and Quintus Metellus, who was called Metellus of Crete, were +consuls at Rome; when presently Aristobulus began to make war +against him; and as it came to a battle with Hyrcanus at Jericho, +many of his soldiers deserted him, and went over to his brother; +upon which Hyrcanus fled into the citadel, where Aristobulus's +wife and children were imprisoned by their mother, as we have +said already, and attacked and overcame those his adversaries +that had fled thither, and lay within the walls of the temple. So +when he had sent a message to his brother about agreeing the +matters between them, he laid aside his enmity to him on these +conditions, that Aristobulus should be king, that he should live +without intermeddling with public affairs, and quietly enjoy the +estate he had acquired. When they had agreed upon these terms in +the temple, and had confirmed the agreement with oaths, and the +giving one another their right hands, and embracing one another +in the sight of the whole multitude, they departed; the one, +Aristobulus, to the palace; and Hyrcanus, as a private man, to +the former house of Aristobulus. + +3. But there was a certain friend of Hyrcanus, an Idumean, called +Antipater, who was very rich, and in his nature an active and a +seditious man; who was at enmity with Aristobulus, and had +differences with him on account of his good-will to Hyrcanus. It +is true that Nicolatls of Damascus says, that Antipater was of +the stock of the principal Jews who came out of Babylon into +Judea; but that assertion of his was to gratify Herod, who was +his son, and who, by certain revolutions of fortune, came +afterward to be king of the Jews, whose history we shall give you +in its proper place hereafter. However, this Antipater was at +first called Antipas, (2) and that was his father's name also; of +whom they relate this: That king Alexander and his wife made him +general of all Idumea, and that he made a league of friendship +with those Arabians, and Gazites, and Ascalonites, that were of +his own party, and had, by many and large presents, made them his +fast friends. But now this younger Antipater was suspicious of +the power of Aristobulus, and was afraid of some mischief he +might do him, because of his hatred to him; so he stirred up the +most powerful of the Jews, and talked against him to them +privately; and said that it was unjust to overlook the conduct of +Aristobulus, who had gotten the government unrighteously, and +ejected his brother out of it, who was the elder, and ought to +retain what belonged to him by prerogative of his birth. And the +same speeches he perpetually made to Hyrcanus; and told him that +his own life would be in danger, unless he guarded himself, and +got shut of Aristobulus; for he said that the friends of +Aristobulus omitted no opportunity of advising him to kill him, +as being then, and not before, sure to retain his principality. +Hyrcanus gave no credit to these words of his, as being of a +gentle disposition, and one that did not easily admit of +calumnies against other men. This temper of his not disposing him +to meddle with public affairs, and want of spirit, occasioned him +to appear to spectators to be degenerous and unmanly; while. +Aristo-bulus was of a contrary temper, an active man, and one of +a great and generous soul. + +4. Since therefore Antipater saw that Hyrcanus did not attend to +what he said, he never ceased, day by day, to charge reigned +crimes upon Aristobulus, and to calumniate him before him, as if +he had a mind to kill him; and so, by urging him perpetually, he +advised him, and persuaded him to fly to Aretas, the king of +Arabia; and promised, that if he would comply with his advice, he +would also himself assist him and go with him]. When Hyrcanus +heard this, he said that it was for his advantage to fly away to +Aretas. Now Arabia is a country that borders upon Judea. However, +Hyrcanus sent Antipater first to the king of Arabia, in order to +receive assurances from him, that when he should come in the +manner of a supplicant to him, he would not deliver him up to his +enemies. So Antipater having received such assurances, returned +to Hyrcanus to Jerusalem. A while afterward he took Hyrcanus, and +stole out of the city by night, and went a great journey, and +came and brought him to the city called Petra, where the palace +of Aretas was; and as he was a very familiar friend of that king, +he persuaded him to bring back Hyrcanus into Judea, and this +persuasion he continued every day without any intermission. He +also proposed to make him presents on that account. At length he +prevailed with Aretas in his suit. Moreover, Hyrcanus promised +him, that when he had been brought thither, and had received his +kingdom, he would restore that country, and those twelve cities +which his father Alexander had taken from the Arabians, which +were these, Medaba, Naballo, Libias, Tharabasa, Agala, Athone, +Zoar, Orone, Marissa, Rudda, Lussa, and Oruba. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Aretas And Hyrcanus Made An Expedition Against Aristobulus +And Besieged Jerusalem; And How Scaurus The Roman General Raised +The Siege. Concerning The Death Of Onias. + + +1. After these promises had been given to Aretas, he made an +expedition against Aristobulus with an army of fifty thousand +horse and foot, and beat him in the battle. And when after that +victory many went over to Hyrcanus as deserters, Aristobulus was +left desolate, and fled to Jerusalem; upon which the king of +Arabia took all his army, and made an assault upon the temple, +and besieged Aristobulus therein, the people still supporting +Hyreanus, and assisting him in the siege, while none but the +priests continued with Aristobulus. So Aretas united the forces +of the Arabians and of the Jews together, and pressed on the +siege vigorously. As this happened at the time when the feast of +unleavened bread was celebrated, which we call the passover, the +principal men among the Jews left the country, and fled into +Egypt. Now there was one, whose name was Onias, a righteous man +he was, and beloved of God, who, in a certain drought, had prayed +to God to put an end to the intense heat, and whose prayers God +had heard, and had sent them rain. This man had hid himself, +because he saw that this sedition would last a great while. +However, they brought him to the Jewish camp, and desired, that +as by his prayers he had once put an end to the drought, so he +would in like manner make imprecations on Aristobulus and those +of his faction. And when, upon his refusal, and the excuses that +he made, he was still by the multitude compelled to speak, he +stood up in the midst of them, and said, "O God, the King of the +whole world! since those that stand now with me are thy people, +and those that are besieged are also thy priests, I beseech thee, +that thou wilt neither hearken to the prayers of those against +these, nor bring to effect what these pray against those." +Whereupon such wicked Jews as stood about him, as soon as he had +made this prayer, stoned him to death. + +2. But God punished them immediately for this their barbarity, +and took vengeance of them for the murder of Onias, in the manner +following: While the priests and Aristobulus were besieged, it +happened that the feast called the passover was come, at which it +is our custom to offer a great number of sacrifices to God; but +those that were with Aristobulus wanted sacrifices, and desired +that their countrymen without would furnish them with such +sacrifices, and assured them they should have as much money for +them as they should desire; and when they required them to pay a +thousand drachmae for each head of cattle, Aristobulus and the +priests willingly undertook to pay for them accordingly, and +those within let down the money over the walls, and gave it them. +But when the others had received it, they did not deliver the +sacrifices, but arrived at that height of wickedness as to break +the assurances they had given, and to be guilty of impiety +towards God, by not furnishing those that wanted them with +sacrifices. And when the priests found they had been cheated, and +that the agreements they had made were violated, they prayed to +God that he would avenge them on their countrymen. Nor did he +delay that their punishment, but sent a strong and vehement storm +of wind, that destroyed the fruits of the whole country, till a +modius of wheat was then bought for eleven drachmae. + +3. In the mean time Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria, while he was +himself in Armenia, and making war with Tigranes; but when +Scaurus was come to Damascus, and found that Lollins and Metellus +had newly taken the city, he came himself hastily into Judea. And +when he was come thither, ambassadors came to him, both from +Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, and both desired he would assist them. +And when both of them promised to give him money, Aristobulus +four hundred talents, and Hyrcanus no less, he accepted of +Aristobulus's promise, for he was rich, and had a great soul, and +desired to obtain nothing but what was moderate; whereas the +other was poor, and tenacious, and made incredible promises in +hopes of greater advantages; for it was not the same thing to +take a city that was exceeding strong and powerful, as it was to +eject out of the country some fugitives, with a greater number of +Mabateans, who were no very warlike people. He therefore made an +agreement with Aristobulus, for the reasons before mentioned, and +took his money, and raised the siege, and ordered Aretas to +depart, or else he should be declared an enemy to the Romans. So +Scaurus returned to Damascus again; and Aristobulus, with a great +army, made war with Aretas and Hyrcanus, and fought them at a +place called Papyron, and beat them in the battle, and slew about +six thousand of the enemy, with whom fell Phalion also, the +brother of Antipater. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Aristobulus And Hyrcanus Came To Pompey In Order To Argue Who +Ought To Have The Kingdom; And How Upon The Plight Of Aristobulus +To The Fortress Alexandrium Pompey Led His Army Against Him And +Ordered Him To Deliver Up The Fortresses Whereof He Was +Possessed. + + +1. A Little afterward Pompey came to Damascus, and marched over +Celesyria; at which time there came ambassadors to him from all +Syria, and Egypt, and out of Judea also, for Aristobulus had sent +him a great present, which was a golden vine (3) of the value of +five hundred talents. Now Strabo of Cappadocia mentions this +present in these words: "There came also an embassage out of +Egypt, and a crown of the value of four thousand pieces of gold; +and out of Judea there came another, whether you call it a vine +or a garden; they call the thing Terpole, the Delight. However, +we ourselves saw that present reposited at Rome, in the temple of +Jupiter Capitolinus, with this inscription, 'The gift of +Alexander, the king of the Jews.' It was valued at five hundred +talents; and the report is, that Aristobulus, the governor of the +Jews, sent it." + +2. In a little time afterward came ambassadors again to him, +Antipater from Hyrcanus, and Nicodemus from Aristobulus; which +last also accused such as had taken bribes; first Gabinius, and +then Scaurus, - the one three hundred talents, and the other four +hundred; by which procedure he made these two his enemies, +besides those he had before. And when Pompey had ordered those +that had controversies one with another to come to him in the +beginning of the spring, he brought his army out of their winter +quarters, and marched into the country of Damascus; and as he +went along he demolished the citadel that was at Apamia, which +Antiochus Cyzicenus had built, and took cognizance of the country +of Ptolemy Menneus, a wicked man, and not less so than Dionysius +of Tripoli, who had been beheaded, who was also his relation by +marriage; yet did he buy off the punishment of his crimes for a +thousand talents, with which money Pompey paid the soldiers their +wages. He also conquered the place called Lysias, of which Silas +a Jew was tyrant. And when he had passed over the cities of +Heliopolis and Chalcis, and got over the mountain which is on the +limit of Colesyria, he came from Pella to Damascus; and there it +was that he heard the causes of the Jews, and of their governors +Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, who were at difference one with +another, as also of the nation against them both, which did not +desire to be under kingly' government, because the form of +government they received from their forefathers was that of +subjection to the priests of that God whom they worshipped; and +[they complained], that though these two were the posterity of +priests, yet did they seek to change the government of their +nation to another form, in order to enslave them. Hyrcanus +complained, that although he were the elder brother, he was +deprived of the prerogative of his birth by Aristobulus, and that +he had but a small part of the country under him, Aristobulus +having taken away the rest from him by force. He also accused +him, that the incursions which had been made into their +neighbors' countries, and the piracies that had been at sea, were +owing to him; and that the nation would not have revolted, unless +Aristobulus had been a man given to violence and disorder; and +there were no fewer than a thousand Jews, of the best esteem +among them, who confirmed this accusation; which confirmation was +procured by Antipater. But Aristobulus alleged against him, that +it was Hyrcanus's own temper, which was inactive, and on that +account contemptible, which caused him to be deprived of the +government; and that for himself, he was necessitated to take it +upon him, for fear lest it should be transferred to others. And +that as to his title [of king], it was no other than what his +father had taken [before him]. He also called for witnesses of +what he said some persons who were both young and insolent; whose +purple garments, fine heads of hair, and other ornaments, were +detested [by the court], and which they appeared in, not as +though they were to plead their cause in a court of justice, but +as if they were marching in a pompous procession. + +3. When Pompey had heard the causes of these two, and had +condemned Aristobulus for his violent procedure, he then spake +civilly to them, and sent them away; and told them, that when he +came again into their country, he would settle all their affairs, +after he had first taken a view of the affairs of the Nabateans. +In the mean time, he ordered them to be quiet; and treated +Aristobulus civilly, lest he should make the nation revolt, and +hinder his return; which yet Aristobulus did; for without +expecting any further determination, which Pompey had promised +them, he went to the city Delius, and thence marched into Judea. + +4. At this behavior Pompey was angry; and taking with him that +army which he was leading against the Nabateans, and the +auxiliaries that came from Damascus, and the other parts of +Syria, with the other Roman legions which he had with him, he +made an expedition against Aristobulus; but as he passed by Pella +and Scythopolis, he came to Corem, which is the first entrance +into Judea when one passes over the midland countries, where he +came to a most beautiful fortress that was built on the top of a +mountain called Alexandrium, whither Aristobulus had fled; and +thence Pompey sent his commands to him, that he should come to +him. Accordingly, at the persuasions of many that he would not +make war with the Romans, he came down; and when he had disputed +with his brother about the right to the government, he went up +again to the citadel, as Pompey gave him leave to do; and this he +did two or three times, as flattering himself with the hopes of +having the kingdom granted him; so that he still pretended he +would obey Pompey in whatsoever he commanded, although at the +same time he retired to his fortress, that he might not depress +himself too low, and that he might be prepared for a war, in case +it should prove as he feared, that Pompey would transfer the +government to Hyrcanus. But when Pompey enjoined Aristobulus to +deliver up the fortresses he held, and to send an injunction to +their governors under his own hand for that purpose, for they had +been forbidden to deliver them up upon any other commands, he +submitted indeed to do so; but still he retired in displeasure to +Jerusalem, and made preparation for war. A little after this, +certain persons came out of Pontus, and informed Pompey, as he +was on the way, and conducting his army against Aristobulus, that +Mithridates was dead, and was slain by his son Pharmaces. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Pompey When The Citizens Of Jerusalem Shut Their Gates +Against Him Besieged The City And Took It By Force; As Also What +Other Things He Did In Judea. + + +1. Now when Pompey had pitched his camp at Jericho, (where the +palm tree grows, +and that balsam which is an ointment of all the most precious, +which upon any incision made in the wood with a sharp stone, +distills out thence like a juice,) (4) he marched in the morning +to Jerusalem. Hereupon Aristobulus repented of what he was doing, +and came to Pompey, had [promised to] give him money, and +received him into Jerusalem, and desired that he would leave off +the war, and do what he pleased peaceably. So Pompey, upon his +entreaty, forgave him, and sent Gabinius, and soldiers with him, +to receive the money and the city: yet was no part of this +performed; but Gabinius came back, being both excluded out of the +city, and receiving none of the money promised, because +Aristobulus's soldiers would not permit the agreements to be +executed. At this Pompey was very angry, and put Aristobulus into +prison, and came himself to the city, which was strong on every +side, excepting the north, which was not so well fortified, for +there was a broad and deep ditch that encompassed the city (5) +and included within it the temple, which was itself encompassed +about with a very strong stone wall. + +2. Now there was a sedition of the men that were within the city, +who did not agree what was to be done in their present +circumstances, while some thought it best to deliver up the city +to Pompey; but Aristobulus's party exhorted them to shut the +gates, because he was kept in prison. Now these prevented the +others, and seized upon the temple, and cut off the bridge which +reached from it to the city, and prepared themselves to abide a +siege; but the others admitted Pompey's army in, and delivered up +both the city and the king's palace to him. So Pompey sent his +lieutenant Piso with an army, and placed garrisons both in the +city and in the palace, to secure them, and fortified the houses +that joined to the temple, and all those which were more distant +and without it. And in the first place, he offered terms of +accommodation to those within; but when they would not comply +with what was desired, he encompassed all the places thereabout +with a wall, wherein Hyrcanus did gladly assist him on all +occasions; but Pompey pitched his camp within [the wall], on the +north part of the temple, where it was most practicable; but even +on that side there were great towers, and a ditch had been dug, +and a deep valley begirt it round about, for on the parts towards +the city were precipices, and the bridge on which Pompey had +gotten in was broken down. However, a bank was raised, day by +day, with a great deal of labor, while the Romans cut down +materials for it from the places round about. And when this bank +was sufficiently raised, and the ditch filled up, though but +poorly, by reason of its immense depth, he brought his mechanical +engines and battering-rams from Tyre, and placing them on the +bank, he battered the temple with the stones that were thrown +against it. And had it not been our practice, from the days of +our forefathers, to rest on the seventh day, this bank could +never have been perfected, by reason of the opposition the Jews +would have made; for though our law gives us leave then to defend +ourselves against those that begin to fight with us and assault +us, yet does it not permit us to meddle with our enemies while +they do any thing else. + +3. Which thing when the Romans understood, on those days which we +call Sabbaths they threw nothing at the Jews, nor came to any +pitched battle with them; but raised up their earthen banks, and +brought their engines into such forwardness, that they might do +execution the next day. And any one may hence learn how very +great piety we exercise towards God, and the observance of his +laws, since the priests were not at all hindered from their +sacred ministrations by their fear during this siege, but did +still twice a-day, in the morning and about the ninth hour, offer +their sacrifices on the altar; nor did they omit those +sacrifices, if any melancholy accident happened by the stones +that were thrown among them; for although the city was taken on +the third month, on the day of the fast, (6) upon the hundred and +seventy-ninth olympiad, when Caius Antonius and Marcus Tullius +Cicero were consuls, and the enemy then fell upon them, and cut +the throats of those that were in the temple; yet could not those +that offered the sacrifices be compelled to run away, neither by +the fear they were in of their own lives, nor by the number that +were already slain, as thinking it better to suffer whatever came +upon them, at their very altars, than to omit any thing that +their laws required of them. And that this is not a mere brag, or +an encomium to manifest a degree of our piety that was false, but +is the real truth, I appeal to those that have written of the +acts of Pompey; and, among them, to Strabo and Nicolaus [of +Damascus]; and besides these two, Titus Livius, the writer of the +Roman History, who will bear witness to this thing. (7) + +4. But when the battering-engine was brought near, the greatest +of the towers was shaken by it, and fell down, and broke down a +part of the fortifications, so the enemy poured in apace; and +Cornelius Faustus, the son of Sylla, with his soldiers, first of +all ascended the wall, and next to him Furius the centurion, with +those that followed on the other part, while Fabius, who was also +a centurion, ascended it in the middle, with a great body of men +after him. But now all was full of slaughter; some of the Jews +being slain by the Romans, and some by one another; nay, some +there were who threw themselves down the precipices, or put fire +to their houses, and burnt them, as not able to bear the miseries +they were under. Of the Jews there fell twelve thousand, but of +the Romans very few. Absalom, who was at once both uncle and +father-in-law to Aristobulus, was taken captive; and no small +enormities were committed about the temple itself, which, in +former ages, had been inaccessible, and seen by none; for Pompey +went into it, and not a few of those that were with him also, and +saw all that which it was unlawful for any other men to see but +only for the high priests. There were in that temple the golden +table, the holy candlestick, and the pouring vessels, and a great +quantity of spices; and besides these there were among the +treasures two thousand talents of sacred money: yet did Pompey +touch nothing of all this, (8) on account of his regard to +religion; and in this point also he acted in a manner that was +worthy of his virtue. The next day he gave order to those that +had the charge of the temple to cleanse it, and to bring what +offerings the law required to God; and restored the high +priesthood to Hyrcanus, both because he had been useful to him in +other respects, and because he hindered the Jews in the country +from giving Aristobulus any assistance in his war against him. He +also cut off those that had been the authors of that war; and +bestowed proper rewards on Faustus, and those others that mounted +the wall with such alacrity; and he made Jerusalem tributary to +the Romans, and took away those cities of Celesyria which the +inhabitants of Judea had subdued, and put them under the +government of the Roman president, and confined the whole nation, +which had elevated itself so high before, within its own bounds. +Moreover, he rebuilt Gadara, (9) which had been demolished a +little before, to gratify Demetrius of Gadara, who was his +freedman, and restored the rest of the cities, Hippos, and +Scythopolis, and Pella, and Dios, and Samaria, as also Marissa, +and Ashdod, and Jamnia, and Arethusa, to their own inhabitants: +these were in the inland parts. Besides those that had been +demolished, and also of the maritime cities, Gaza, and Joppa, and +Dora, and Strato's Tower; which last Herod rebuilt after a +glorious manner, and adorned with havens and temples, and changed +its name to Caesarea. All these Pompey left in a state of +freedom, and joined them to the province of Syria. + +5. Now the occasions of this misery which came upon Jerusalem +were Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, by raising a sedition one against +the other; for now we lost our liberty, and became subject to the +Romans, and were deprived of that country which we had gained by +our arms from the Syrians, and were compelled to restore it to +the Syrians. Moreover, the Romans exacted of us, in a little +time, above ten thousand talents; and the royal authority, which +was a dignity formerly bestowed on those that were high priests, +by the right of their family, became the property of private men. +But of these matters we shall treat in their proper places. Now +Pompey committed Celesyria, as far as the river Euphrates and +Egypt, to Scaurus, with two Roman legions, and then went away to +Cilicia, and made haste to Rome. He also carried bound along with +him Aristobulus and his children; for he had two daughters, and +as many sons; the one of which ran away, but the younger, +Antigonus, was carried to Rome, together with his sisters. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Scaurus Made A League Of Mutual Assistance With Aretas; And +What Gabinius Did In Judea, After He Had Conquered Alexander, The +Son Of Aristobulus. + + +1. Scaurus made now an expedition against Petrea, in Arabia, and +set on fire all the places round about it, because of the great +difficulty of access to it. And as his army was pinched by +famine, Antipater furnished him with corn out of Judea, and with +whatever else he wanted, and this at the command of Hyrcanus. And +when he was sent to Aretas, as an ambassador by Scaurus, because +he had lived with him formerly, he persuaded Aretas to give +Scaurus a sum of money, to prevent the burning of his country, +and undertook to be his surety for three hundred talents. So +Scaurus, upon these terms, ceased to make war any longer; which +was done as much at Scaurus's desire, as at the desire of Aretas. + +2. Some time after this, when Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, +made an incursion into Judea, Gabinius came from Rome into Syria, +as commander of the Roman forces. He did many considerable +actions; and particularly made war with Alexander, since Hyrcanus +was not yet able to oppose his power, but was already attempting +to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, which Pompey had overthrown, +although the Romans which were there restrained him from that his +design. However, Alexander went over all the country round about, +and armed many of the Jews, and suddenly got together ten +thousand armed footmen, and fifteen hundred horsemen, and +fortified Alexandrium, a fortress near to Corem, and Macherus, +near the mountains of Arabia. Gabinius therefore came upon him, +having sent Marcus Antonius, with other commanders, before. These +armed such Romans as followed them; and, together with them, such +Jews as were subject to them, whose leaders were Pitholaus and +Malichus; and they took with them also their friends that were +with Antipater, and met Alexander, while Gabinius himself +followed with his legion. Hereupon Alexander retired to the +neighborhood of Jerusalem, where they fell upon one another, and +it came to a pitched battle, in which the Romans slew of their +enemies about three thousand, and took a like number alive. + +3. At which time Gabinius (10) came to Alexandrium, and invited +those that were in it to deliver it up on certain conditions, and +promised that then their former offenses should be forgiven. But +as a great number of the enemy had pitched their camp before the +fortress, whom the Romans attacked, Marcus Antonius fought +bravely, and slew a great number, and seemed to come off with the +greatest honor. So Gabinius left part of his army there, in order +to take the place, and he himself went into other parts of Judea, +and gave order to rebuild all the cities that he met with that +had been demolished; at which time were rebuilt Samaria, Ashdod, +Scythopolis, Anthedon, Raphia, and Dora; Marissa also, and Gaza, +and not a few others besides. And as the men acted according to +Gabinius's command, it came to pass, that at this time these +cities were securely inhabited, which had been desolate for a +long time. + +4. When Gabinius had done thus in the country, he returned to +Alexandrium; and when he urged on the siege of the place, +Alexander sent an embassage to him, desiring that he would pardon +his former offenses; he also delivered up the fortresses, +Hyrcania and Macherus, and at last Alexandrium itself which +fortresses Gabinius demolished. But when Alexander's mother, who +was of the side of the Romans, as having her husband and other +children at Rome, came to him, he granted her whatsoever she +asked; and when he had settled matters with her, he brought +Hyrcanus to Jerusalem, and committed the care of the temple to +him. And when he had ordained five councils, he distributed the +nation into the same number of parts. So these councils governed +the people; the first was at Jerusalem, the second at Gadara, the +third at Amathus, the fourth at Jericho, and the fifth at +Sepphoris in Galilee. So the Jews were now freed from monarchic +authority, and were governed by an aristocracy. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Gabinius Caught Aristobulus After He Had Fled From Rome, And +Sent Him Back To Rome Again; And Now The Same Gabinius As He +Returned Out Of Egypt Overcame Alexander And The Nabateans In +Battle. + + +1. Now Aristobulus ran away from Rome to Judea, and set about the +rebuilding of Alexandrium, which had been newly demolished. +Hereupon Gabinius sent soldiers against him, add for their +commanders Sisenna, and Antonius, and Servilius, in order to +hinder him from getting possession of the country, and to take +him again. And indeed many of the Jews ran to Aristobulus, on +account of his former glory, as also because they should be glad +of an innovation. Now there was one Pitholaus, a lieutenant at +Jerusalem, who deserted to him with a thousand men, although a +great number of those that came to him were unarmed; and when +Aristobulus had resolved to go to Macherus, he dismissed those +people, because they were unarmed; for they could not be useful +to him in what actions he was going about; but he took with him +eight thousand that were armed, and marched on; and as the Romans +fell upon them severely, the Jews fought valiantly, but were +beaten in the battle; and when they had fought with alacrity, but +were overborne by the enemy, they were put to flight; of whom +were slain about five thousand, and the rest being dispersed, +tried, as well as they were able, to save themselves. However, +Aristobulus had with him still above a thousand, and with them he +fled to Macherus, and fortified the place; and though he had had +ill success, he still had good hope of his affairs; but when he +had struggled against the siege for two days' time, and had +received many wounds, he was brought as a captive to Gabinius, +with his son Antigonus, who also fled with him from Rome. And +this was the fortune of Aristobulus, who was sent back again to +Rome, and was there retained in bonds, having been both king and +high priest for three years and six months; and was indeed an +eminent person, and one of a great soul. However, the senate let +his children go, upon Gabinius's writing to them that he had +promised their mother so much when she delivered up the +fortresses to him; and accordingly they then returned into Judea. + +2. Now when Gabinius was making an expedition against the +Parthians, and had already passed over Euphrates, he changed his +mind, and resolved to return into Egypt, in order to restore +Ptolemy to his kingdom. (11) This hath also been related +elsewhere. However, Antipater supplied his army, which he sent +against Archelaus, with corn, and weapons, and money. He also +made those Jews who were above Pelusium his friends and +confederates, and had been the guardians of the passes that led +into Egypt. But when he came back out of Egypt, he found Syria in +disorder, with seditions and troubles; for Alexander, the son of +Aristobulus, having seized on the government a second time by +force, made many of the Jews revolt to him; and so he marched +over the country with a great army, and slew all the Romans he +could light upon, and proceeded to besiege the mountain called +Gerizzim, whither they had retreated. + +3. But when Gabinius found Syria in such a state, he sent +Antipater, who was a prudent man, to those that were seditious, +to try whether he could cure them of their madness, and persuade +them to return to a better mind; and when he came to them, he +brought many of them to a sound mind, and induced them to do what +they ought to do; but he could not restrain Alexander, for he had +an army of thirty thousand Jews, and met Gabinius, and joining +battle with him, was beaten, and lost ten thousand of his men +about Mount Tabor. + +4. So Gabinius settled the affairs which belonged to the city +Jerusalem, as was agreeable to Antipater's inclination, and went +against the Nabateans, and overcame them in battle. He also sent +away in a friendly manner Mithridates and Orsanes, who were +Parthian deserters, and came to him, though the report went +abroad that they had run away from him. And when Gabinius had +performed great and glorious actions, in his management of the +affairs of war, he returned to Rome, and delivered the government +to Crassus. Now Nicolaus of Damascus, and Strabo of Cappadocia, +both describe the expeditions of Pompey and Gabinius against the +Jews, while neither of them say anything new which is not in the +other. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Crassus Came Into Judea, And Pillaged The Temple; And Then +Marched Against The Parthians And Perished, With His Army. Also +How Cassius Obtained Syria, And Put A Stop To The Parthians And +Then Went Up To Judea. + + +1. Now Crassus, as he was going upon his expedition against the +Parthians, came into Judea, and carried off the money that was in +the temple, which Pompey had left, being two thousand talents, +and was disposed to spoil it of all the gold belonging to it, +which was eight thousand talents. He also took a beam, which was +made of solid beaten gold, of the weight of three hundred minae, +each of which weighed two pounds and a half. It was the priest +who was guardian of the sacred treasures, and whose name was +Eleazar, that gave him this beam, not out of a wicked design, for +he was a good and a righteous man; but being intrusted with the +custody of the veils belonging to the temple, which were of +admirable beauty, and of very costly workmanship, and hung down +from this beam, when he saw that Crassus was busy in gathering +money, and was in fear for the entire ornaments of the temple, he +gave him this beam of gold as a ransom for the whole, but this +not till he had given his oath that he would remove nothing else +out of the temple, but be satisfied with this only, which he +should give him, being worth many ten thousand [shekels]. Now +this beam was contained in a wooden beam that was hollow, but was +known to no others; but Eleazar alone knew it; yet did Crassus +take away this beam, upon the condition of touching nothing else +that belonged to the temple, and then brake his oath, and carried +away all the gold that was in the temple. + +2. And let no one wonder that there was so much wealth in our +temple, since all the Jews throughout the habitable earth, and +those that worshipped God, nay, even those of Asia and Europe, +sent their contributions to it, and this from very ancient times. +Nor is the largeness of these sums without its attestation; nor +is that greatness owing to our vanity, as raising it without +ground to so great a height; but there are many witnesses to it, +and particularly Strabo of Cappadocia, who says thus: +"Mithridates sent to Cos, and took the money which queen +Cleopatra had deposited there, as also eight hundred talents +belonging to the Jews." Now we have no public money but only what +appertains to God; and it is evident that the Asian Jews removed +this money out of fear of Mithridates; for it is not probable +that those of Judea, who had a strong city and temple, should +send their money to Cos; nor is it likely that the Jews who are +inhabitants of Alexandria should do so neither, since they were +ill no fear of Mithridates. And Strabo himself bears witness to +the same thing in another place, that at the same time that Sylla +passed over into Greece, in order to fight against Mithridates, +he sent Lucullus to put an end to a sedition that our nation, of +whom the habitable earth is full, had raised in Cyrene; where he +speaks thus: "There were four classes of men among those of +Cyrene; that of citizens, that of husbandmen, the third of +strangers, and the fourth of Jews. Now these Jews are already +gotten into all cities; and it is hard to find a place in the +habitable earth that hath not admitted this tribe of men, and is +not possessed by them; and it hath come to pass that Egypt and +Cyrene, as having the same governors, and a great number of other +nations, imitate their way of living, and maintain great bodies +of these Jews in a peculiar manner, and grow up to greater +prosperity with them, and make use of the same laws with that +nation also. Accordingly, the Jews have places assigned them in +Egypt, wherein they inhabit, besides what is peculiarly allotted +to this nation at Alexandria, which is a large part of that city. +There is also an ethnarch allowed them, who governs the nation, +and distributes justice to them, and takes care of their +contracts, and of the laws to them belonging, as if he were the +ruler of a free republic. In Egypt, therefore, this nation is +powerful, because the Jews were originally Egyptians, and because +the land wherein they inhabit, since they went thence, is near to +Egypt. They also removed into Cyrene, because that this land +adjoined to the government of Egypt, as well as does Judea, or +rather was formerly under the same government." And this is what +Strabo says. + +3. So when Crassus had settled all things as he himself pleased, +he marched into Parthia, where both he himself and all his army +perished, as hath been related elsewhere. But Cassius, as he fled +from Rome to Syria, took possession of it, and was an impediment +to the Parthians, who by reason of their victory over Crassus +made incursions upon it. And as he came back to Tyre, he went up +into Judea also, and fell upon Tarichee, and presently took it, +and carried about thirty thousand Jews captives; and slew +Pitholaus, who succeeded Aristobulus in his seditious practices, +and that by the persuasion of Antipater, who proved to have great +interest in him, and was at that time in great repute with the +Idumeans also: out of which nation he married a wife, who was the +daughter of one of their eminent men, and her name was Cypros, +(12) by whom he had four sons, Phasael, and Herod, who was +afterwards made king, and Joseph, and Pheroras; and a daughter, +named Salome. This Antipater cultivated also a friendship and +mutual kindness with other potentates, but especially with the +king of Arabia, to whom he committed his children, while he +fought against Aristobulus. So Cassius removed his camp, and +marched to Euphrates, to meet those that were coming to attack +him, as hath been related by others. + +4. But some time afterward Cesar, when he had taken Rome, and +after Pompey and the senate were fled beyond the Ionian Sea, +freed Aristobulus from his bonds, and resolved to send him into +Syria, and delivered two legions to him, that he might set +matters right, as being a potent man in that country. But +Aristobulus had no enjoyment of what he hoped for from the power +that was given him by Cesar; for those of Pompey's party +prevented it, and destroyed him by poison; and those of Caesar's +party buried him. His dead body also lay, for a good while, +embalmed in honey, till Antony afterward sent it to Judea, and +caused him to be buried in the royal sepulcher. But Scipio, upon +Pompey's sending to him to slay Alexander, the son of +Aristobulus, because the young man was accused of what offenses +he had been guilty of at first against the Romans, cut off his +head; and thus did he die at Antioch. But Ptolemy, the son of +Menneus, who was the ruler of Chalcis, under Mount Libanus, took +his brethren to him, and sent his son Philippion to Askelon to +Aristobulus's wife, and desired her to send back with him her son +Antigonus, and her daughters; the one of which, whose name was +Alexandra, Philippion fell in love with, and married her, though +afterward his father Ptolemy slew him, and married Alexandra, and +continued to take care of her brethren. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +The Jews Become Confederates With Caesar When He Fought Against +Egypt. The Glorious Actions Of Antipater, And His Friendship With +Caesar. The Honors Which The Jews Received From The Romans And +Athenians. + + +1. Now after Pompey was dead, and after that victory Caesar had +gained over him, Antipater, who managed the Jewish affairs, +became very useful to Caesar when he made war against Egypt, and +that by the order of Hyrcanus; for when Mithridates of Pergainus +was bringing his auxiliaries, and was not able to continue his +march through Pelusium, but obliged to stay at Askelon, Antipater +came to him, conducting three thousand of the Jews, armed men. He +had also taken care the principal men of the Arabians should come +to his assistance; and on his account it was that all the Syrians +assisted him also, as not willing to appear behindhand in their +alacrity for Cesar, viz. Jamblicus the ruler, and Ptolemy his +son, and Tholomy the son of Sohemus, who dwelt at Mount Libanus, +and almost all the cities. So Mithridates marched out of Syria, +and came to Pelusium; and when its inhabitants would not admit +him, he besieged the city. Now Antipater signalized himself here, +and was the first who plucked down a part of the wall, and so +opened a way to the rest, whereby they might enter the city, and +by this means Pelusium was taken. But it happened that the +Egyptian Jews, who dwelt in the country called Onion, would not +let Antipater and Mithridates, with their soldiers, pass to +Caesar; but Antipater persuaded them to come over with their +party, because he was of the same people with them, and that +chiefly by showing them the epistles of Hyrcanus the high priest, +wherein he exhorted them to cultivate friendship with Caesar, and +to supply his army with money, and all sorts of provisions which +they wanted; and accordingly, when they saw Antipater and the +high priest of the same sentiments, they did as they were +desired. And when the Jews about Memphis heard that these Jews +were come over to Caesar, they also invited Mithridates to come +to them; so he came and received them also into his army. + +2. And when Mithridates had gone over all Delta, as the place is +called, he came to a pitched battle with the enemy, near the +place called the Jewish Camp. Now Mithridates had the right wing, +and Antipater the left; and when it came to a fight, that wing +where Mithridates was gave way, and was likely to suffer +extremely, unless Antipater had come running to him with his own +soldiers along the shore, when he had already beaten the enemy +that opposed him; so he delivered Mithridates, and put those +Egyptians who had been too hard for him to flight. He also took +their camp, and continued in the pursuit of them. He also +recalled Mithridates, who had been worsted, and was retired a +great way off; of whose soldiers eight hundred fell, but of +Antipater's fifty. So Mithridates sent an account of this battle +to Caesar, and openly declared that Antipater was the author of +this victory, and of his own preservation, insomuch that Caesar +commended Antipater then, and made use of him all the rest of +that war in the most hazardous undertakings; he happened also to +be wounded in one of those engagements. + +3. However, when Caesar, after some time, had finished that war, +and was sailed away for Syria, he honored Antipater greatly, and +confirmed Hyrcanus in the high priesthood; and bestowed on +Antipater the privilege of a citizen of Rome, and a freedom from +taxes every where; and it is reported by many, that Hyrcanus went +along with Antipater in this expedition, and came himself into +Egypt. And Strabo of Cappadocia bears witness to this, when he +says thus, in the name of Aslnius: "After Mithridates had invaded +Egypt, and with him Hyrcanus the high priest of the Jews." Nay, +the same Strabo says thus again, in another place, in the name of +Hypsicrates, that "Mithridates at first went out alone; but that +Antipater, who had the care of the Jewish affairs, was called by +him to Askelon, and that he had gotten ready three thousand +soldiers to go along with him, and encouraged other governors of +the country to go along with him also; and that Hyrcanus the high +priest was also present in this expedition." This is what Strabo +says. + +4. But Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, came at this time to +Caesar, and lamented his father's fate; and complained, that it +was by Antipater's means that Aristobulus was taken off by +poison, and his brother was beheaded by Scipio, and desired that +he would take pity of him who had been ejected out of that +principality which was due to him. He also accused Hyrcanus and +Antipater as governing the nation by violence, and offering +injuries to himself. Antipater was present, and made his defense +as to the accusations that were laid against him. He demonstrated +that Antigonus and his party were given to innovation, and were +seditious persons. He also put Caesar in mind what difficult +services he had undergone when he assisted him in his wars, and +discoursed about what he was a witness of himself. He added, that +Aristobulus was justly carried away to Rome, as one that was an +enemy to the Romans, and could never be brought to be a friend to +them, and that his brother had no more than he deserved from +Scipio, as being seized in committing robberies; and that this +punishment was not inflicted on him in a way of violence or +injustice by him that did it. + +5. When Antipater had made this speech, Caesar appointed Hyrcauus +to be high priest, and gave Antipater what principality he +himself should choose, leaving the determination to himself; so +he made him procurator of Judea. He also gave Hyrcanus leave to +raise up the walls of his own city, upon his asking that favor of +him, for they had been demolished by Pompey. And this grant he +sent to the consuls to Rome, to be engraven in the capitol. The +decree of the senate was this that follows: (13) "Lucius +Valerius, the son of Lucius the praetor, referred this to the +senate, upon the Ides of December, in the temple of Concord. +There were present at the writing of this decree Lucius Coponius, +the son of Lucius of the Colline tribe, and Papirius of the +Quirine tribe, concerning the affairs which Alexander, the son of +Jason, and Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Alexander, the son +of Dositheus, ambassadors of the Jews, good and worthy men, +proposed, who came to renew that league of goodwill and +friendship with the Romans which was in being before. They also +brought a shield of gold, as a mark of confederacy, valued at +fifty thousand pieces of gold; and desired that letters might be +given them, directed both to the free cities and to the kings, +that their country and their havens might be at peace, and that +no one among them might receive any injury. It therefore pleased +[the senate] to make a league of friendship and good-will with +them, and to bestow on them whatsoever they stood in need of, and +to accept of the shield which was brought by them. This was done +in the ninth year of Hyrcanus the high priest and ethnarch, in +the month Panemus." Hyreanus also received honors from the people +of Athens, as having been useful to them on many occasions. And +when they wrote to him, they sent him this decree, as it here +follows "Under the prutaneia and priesthood of Dionysius, the son +of Esculapius, on the fifth day of the latter part of the month +Panemus, this decree of the Athenians was given to their +commanders, when Agathocles was archon, and Eucles, the son of +Menander of Alimusia, was the scribe. In the month Munychion, on +the eleventh day of the prutaneia, a council of the presidents +was held in the theater. Dorotheus the high priest, and the +fellow presidents with him, put it to the vote of the people. +Dionysius, the son of Dionysius, gave the sentence. Since +Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the high priest and ethnareh of +the Jews, continues to bear good-will to our people in general, +and to every one of our citizens in particular, and treats them +with all sorts of kindness; and when any of the Athenians come to +him, either as ambassadors, or on any occasion of their own, he +receives them in an obliging manner, and sees that they are +conducted back in safety, of which we have had several former +testimonies; it is now also decreed, at the report of Theodosius, +the son of Theodorus, and upon his putting the people in mind of +the virtue of this man, and that his purpose is to do us all the +good that is in his power, to honor him with a crown of gold, the +usual reward according to the law, and to erect his statue in +brass in the temple of Demus and of the Graces; and that this +present of a crown shall be proclaimed publicly in the theater, +in the Dionysian shows, while the new tragedies are acting; and +in the Panathenean, and Eleusinian, and Gymnical shows also; and +that the commanders shall take care, while he continues in his +friendship, and preserves his good-will to us, to return all +possible honor and favor to the man for his affection and +generosity; that by this treatment it may appear how our people +receive the good kindly, and repay them a suitable reward; and he +may be induced to proceed in his affection towards us, by the +honors we have already paid him. That ambassadors be also chosen +out of all the Athenians, who shall carry this decree to him, and +desire him to accept of the honors we do him, and to endeavor +always to be doing some good to our city." And this shall suffice +us to have spoken as to the honors that were paid by the Romans +and the people of Athens to Hyrcanus. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How Antipater Committed The Care Of Galilee To Herod, And That Of +Jerusalem To Phasaelus; As Also How Herod Upon The Jews' Envy At +Antipater Was Accused Before Hyrcanus. + + +1. Now when Caesar had settled the affairs of Syria, he sailed +away. And as soon as Antipater had conducted Caesar out of Syria, +he returned to Judea. He then immediately raised up the wall +which had been thrown down by Pompey; and, by coming thither, he +pacified that tumult which had been in the country, and this by +both threatening and advising them to be quiet; for that if they +would be of Hyrcanus's side, they would live happily, and lead +their lives without disturbance, and in the enjoyment of their +own possessions; but if they were addicted to the hopes of what +might come by innovation, and aimed to get wealth thereby, they +should have him a severe master instead of a gentle governor, and +Hyrcanus a tyrant instead of a king, and the Romans, together +with Caesar, their bitter enemies instead of rulers, for that +they would never bear him to be set aside whom they had appointed +to govern. And when Antipater had said this to them, he himself +settled the affairs of this country. + +2. And seeing that Hyrcanus was of a slow and slothful temper, he +made Phasaelus, his eldest son, governor of Jerusalem, and of the +places that were about it, but committed Galilee to Herod, his +next son, who was then a very young man, for he was but fifteen +years of age (14) But that youth of his was no impediment to him; +but as he was a youth of great mind, he presently met with an +opportunity of signalizing his courage; for finding that there +was one Hezekiah, a captain of a band of robbers, who overran the +neighboring parts of Syria with a great troop of them, he seized +him and slew him, as well as a great number of the other robbers +that were with him; for which action he was greatly beloved by +the Syrians; for when they were very desirous to have their +country freed from this nest of robbers, he purged it of them. So +they sung songs in his commendation in their villages and cities, +as having procured them peace, and the secure enjoyment of their +possessions; and on this account it was that he became known to +Sextus Caesar, who was a relation of the great Caesar, and was +now president of Syria. Now Phasaetus, Herod's brother, was moved +with emulation at his actions, and envied the fame he had thereby +gotten, and became ambitious not to be behindhand with him in +deserving it. So he made the inhabitants of Jerusalem bear him +the greatest good-will while he held the city himself, but did +neither manage its affairs improperly, nor abuse his authority +therein. This conduct procured from the nation to Antipater such +respect as is due to kings, and such honors as he might partake +of if he were an absolute lord of the country. Yet did not this +splendor of his, as frequently happens, in the least diminish in +him that kindness and fidelity which he owed to Hyrcanus. + +3. But now the principal men among the Jews, when they saw +Antipater and his sons to grow so much in the good-will the +nation bare to them, and in the revenues which they received out +of Judea, and out of Hyrcanus's own wealth, they became +ill-disposed to him; for indeed Antipater had contracted a +friendship with the Roman emperors; and when he had prevailed +with Hyrcanus to send them money, he took it to himself, and +purloined the present intended, and sent it as if it were his +own, and not Hyrcanus's gift to them. Hyrcanus heard of this his +management, but took no care about it; nay, he rather was very +glad of it. But the chief men of the Jews were therefore in fear, +because they saw that Herod was a violent and bold man, and very +desirous of acting tyrannically; so they came to Hyrcanus, and +now accused Antipater openly, and said to him, "How long wilt +thou be quiet under such actions as are now done? Or dost thou +not see that Antipater and his sons have already seized upon the +government, and that it is only the name of a king which is given +thee? But do not thou suffer these things to be hidden from thee, +nor do thou think to escape danger by being so careless of +thyself and of thy kingdom; for Antipater and his sons are not +now stewards of thine affairs: do not thou deceive thyself with +such a notion; they are evidently absolute lords; for Herod, +Antipater's son, hath slain Hezekiah, and those that were with +him, and hath thereby transgressed our law, which hath forbidden +to slay any man, even though he were a wicked man, unless he had +been first condemned to suffer death by the Sanhedrim (15) yet +hath he been so insolent as to do this, and that without any +authority from thee." + +4. Upon Hyrcanus hearing this, he complied with them. The mothers +also of those that had been slain by Herod raised his +indignation; for those women continued every day in the temple, +persuading the king and the people that Herod might undergo a +trial before the Sanhedrim for what he had done. Hyrcanus was so +moved by these complaints, that he summoned Herod to come to his +trial for what was charged upon him. Accordingly he came; but his +father had persuaded him to come not like a private man, but with +a guard, for the security of his person; and that when he had +settled the affairs of Galilee in the best manner he could for +his own advantage, he should come to his trial, but still with a +body of men sufficient for his security on his journey, yet so +that he should not come with so great a force as might look like +terrifying Hyrcanus, but still such a one as might not expose him +naked and unguarded [to his enemies.] However, Sextus Caesar, +president of Syria, wrote to Hyrcanus, and desired him to clear +Herod, and dismiss him at his trial, and threatened him +beforehand if he did not do it. Which epistle of his was the +occasion of Hyrcanus delivering Herod from suffering any harm +from the Sanhedrim, for he loved him as his own son. But when +Herod stood before the Sanhedrim, with his body of men about him, +he aftrighted them all, and no one of his former accusers durst +after that bring any charge against him, but there was a deep +silence, and nobody knew what was to be done. When affairs stood +thus, one whose name was Sameas, (16) a righteous man he was, and +for that reason above all fear, rose up, and said, "O you that +are assessors with me, and O thou that art our king, I neither +have ever myself known such a case, nor do I suppose that any one +of you can name its parallel, that one who is called to take his +trial by us ever stood in such a manner before us; but every one, +whosoever he be, that comes to be tried by this Sanhedrim, +presents himself in a submissive manner, and like one that is in +fear of himself, and that endeavors to move us to compassion, +with his hair dishevelled, and in a black and mourning garment: +but this admirable man Herod, who is accused of murder, and +called to answer so heavy an accusation, stands here clothed in +purple, and with the hair of his head finely trimmed, and with +his armed men about him, that if we shall condemn him by our law, +he may slay us, and by overbearing justice may himself escape +death. Yet do not I make this complaint against Herod himself; he +is to be sure more concerned for himself than for the laws; but +my complaint is against yourselves, and your king, who gave him a +license so to do. However, take you notice, that God is great, +and that this very man, whom you are going to absolve and +dismiss, for the sake of Hyrcanus, will one day punish both you +and your king himself also." Nor did Sameas mistake in any part +of this prediction; for when Herod had received the kingdom, he +slew all the members of this Sanhedrim, and Hyrcanus himself +also, excepting Sameas, for he had a great honor for him on +account of his righteousness, and because, when the city was +afterward besieged by Herod and Sosius, he persuaded the people +to admit Herod into it; and told them that for their sins they +would not be able to escape his hands:-- which things will be +related by us in their proper places. + +5. But when Hyrcanus saw that the members of the Sanhedrim were +ready to pronounce the sentence of death upon Herod, he put off +the trial to another day, and sent privately to Herod, and +advised him to fly out of the city, for that by this means he +might escape. So he retired to Damascus, as though he fled from +the king; and when he had been with Sextus Caesar, and had put +his own affairs in a sure posture, he resolved to do thus; that +in case he were again summoned before the Sanhedrim to take his +trial, he would not obey that summons. Hereupon the members of +the Sanhedrim had great indignation at this posture of affairs, +and endeavored to persuade Hyrcanus that all these things were +against him; which state of matters he was not ignorant of; but +his temper was so unmanly, and so foolish, that he was able to do +nothing at all. But when Sextus had made Herod general of the +army of Celesyria, for he sold him that post for money, Hyrcanus +was in fear lest Herod should make war upon him; nor was the +effect of what he feared long in coming upon him; for Herod came +and brought an army along with him to fight with Hyrcanus, as +being angry at the trial he had been summoned to undergo before +the Sanhedrim; but his father Antipater, and his brother +[Phasaelus], met him, and hindered him from assaulting Jerusalem. +They also pacified his vehement temper, and persuaded him to do +no overt action, but only to affright them with threatenings, and +to proceed no further against one who had given him the dignity +he had: they also desired him not only to be angry that he was +summoned, and obliged to come to his trial, but to remember +withal how he was dismissed without condemnation, and how he +ought to give Hyrcanus thanks for the same; and that he was not +to regard only what was disagreeable to him, and be unthankful +for his deliverance. So they desired him to consider, that since +it is God that turns the scales of war, there is great +uncertainty in the issue of battles, and that therefore he ought +of to expect the victory when he should fight with his king, and +him that had supported him, and bestowed many benefits upon him, +and had done nothing itself very severe to him; for that his +accusation, which was derived from evil counselors, and not from +himself, had rather the suspicion of some severity, than any +thing really severe in it. Herod was persuaded by these +arguments, and believed that it was sufficient for his future +hopes to have made a show of his strength before the nation, and +done no more to it - and in this state were the affairs of Judea +at this time. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +The Honors That Were Paid The Jews; And The Leagues That Were +Made By The Romans And Other Nations, With Them. + + +1. Now when Caesar was come to Rome, he was ready to sail into +Africa to fight against Scipio and Cato, when Hyrcanus sent +ambassadors to him, and by them desired that he would ratify that +league of friendship and mutual alliance which was between them, +And it seems to me to be necessary here to give an account of all +the honors that the Romans and their emperor paid to our nation, +and of the leagues of mutual assistance they have made with it, +that all the rest of mankind may know what regard the kings of +Asia and Europe have had to us, and that they have been +abundantly satisfied of our courage and fidelity; for whereas +many will not believe what hath been written about us by the +Persians and Macedonians, because those writings are not every +where to be met with, nor do lie in public places, but among us +ourselves, and certain other barbarous nations, while there is no +contradiction to be made against the decrees of the Romans, for +they are laid up in the public places of the cities, and are +extant still in the capitol, and engraven upon pillars of brass; +nay, besides this, Julius Caesar made a pillar of brass for the +Jews at Alexandria, and declared publicly that they were citizens +of Alexandria. Out of these evidences will I demonstrate what I +say; and will now set down the decrees made both by the senate +and by Julius Caesar, which relate to Hyrcanus and to our nation. + +2. "Caius Julius Caesar, imperator and high priest, and dictator +the second time, to the magistrates, senate, and people of Sidon, +sendeth greeting. If you be in health, it is well. I also and the +army are well. I have sent you a copy of that decree, registered +on the tables, which concerns Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the +high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, that it may be laid up +among the public records; and I will that it be openly proposed +in a table of brass, both in Greek and in Latin. It is as +follows: I Julius Caesar, imperator the second time, and high +priest, have made this decree, with the approbation of the +senate. Whereas Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander the Jew, hath +demonstrated his fidelity and diligence about our affairs, and +this both now and in former times, both in peace and in war, as +many of our generals have borne witness, and came to our +assistance in the last Alexandrian war, (17) with fifteen hundred +soldiers; and when he was sent by me to Mithridates, showed +himself superior in valor to all the rest of that army; - for +these reasons I will that Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, and his +children, be ethnarchs of the Jews, and have the high priesthood +of the Jews for ever, according to the customs of their +forefathers, and that he and his sons be our confederates; and +that besides this, everyone of them be reckoned among our +particular friends. I also ordain that he and his children retain +whatsoever privileges belong to the office of high priest, or +whatsoever favors have been hitherto granted them; and if at any +time hereafter there arise any questions about the Jewish +customs, I will that he determine the same. And I think it not +proper that they should be obliged to find us winter quarters, or +that any money should be required of them." + +3. "The decrees of Caius Caesar, consul, containing what hath +been granted and determined, are as follows: That Hyrcanus and +his children bear rule over the nation of the Jews, and have the +profits of the places to them bequeathed; and that he, as himself +the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, defend those that are +injured; and that ambassadors be sent to Hyrcanus, the son of +Alexander, the high priest of the Jews, that may discourse with +him about a league of friendship and mutual assistance; and that +a table of brass, containing the premises, be openly proposed in +the capitol, and at Sidon, and Tyre, and Askelon, and in the +temple, engraven in Roman and Greek letters: that this decree may +also be communicated to the quaestors and praetors of the several +cities, and to the friends of the Jews; and that the ambassadors +may have presents made them; and that these decrees be sent every +where." + +4. "Caius Caesar, imperator, dictator, consul, hath granted, That +out of regard to the honor, and virtue, and kindness of the man, +and for the advantage of the senate, and of the people of Rome, +Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, both he and his children, be high +priests and priests of Jerusalem, and of the Jewish nation, by +the same right, and according to the same laws, by which their +progenitors have held the priesthood." + +5. "Caius Caesar, consul the fifth time, hath decreed, That the +Jews shall possess Jerusalem, and may encompass that city with +walls; and that Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the high priest +and ethnarch of the Jews, retain it in the manner he himself +pleases; and that the Jews be allowed to deduct out of their +tribute, every second year the land is let [in the Sabbatic +period], a corus of that tribute; and that the tribute they pay +be not let to farm, nor that they pay always the same tribute." + +6. "Caius Caesar, imperator the second time, hath ordained, That +all the country of the Jews, excepting Joppa, do pay a tribute +yearly for the city Jerusalem, excepting the seventh, which they +call the sabbatical year, because thereon they neither receive +the fruits of their trees, nor do they sow their land; and that +they pay their tribute in Sidon on the second year [of that +sabbatical period], the fourth part of what was sown: and besides +this, they are to pay the same tithes to Hyrcanus and his sons +which they paid to their forefathers. And that no one, neither +president, nor lieutenant, nor ambassador, raise auxiliaries +within the bounds of Judea; nor may soldiers exact money of them +for winter quarters, or under any other pretense; but that they +be free from all sorts of injuries; and that whatsoever they +shall hereafter have, and are in possession of, or have bought, +they shall retain them all. It is also our pleasure that the city +Joppa, which the Jews had originally, when they made a league of +friendship with the Romans, shall belong to them, as it formerly +did; and that Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, and his sons, have +as tribute of that city from those that occupy the land for the +country, and for what they export every year to Sidon, twenty +thousand six hundred and seventy-five modii every year, the +seventh year, which they call the Sabbatic year, excepted, +whereon they neither plough, nor receive the product of their +trees. It is also the pleasure of the senate, that as to the +villages which are in the great plain, which Hyrcanus and his +forefathers formerly possessed, Hyrcanus and the Jews have them +with the same privileges with which they formerly had them also; +and that the same original ordinances remain still in force which +concern the Jews with regard to their high priests; and that they +enjoy the same benefits which they have had formerly by the +concession of the people, and of the senate; and let them enjoy +the like privileges in Lydda. It is the pleasure also of the +senate that Hyrcanus the ethnarch, and the Jews, retain those +places, countries, and villages which belonged to the kings of +Syria and Phoenicia, the confederates of the Romans, and which +they had bestowed on them as their free gifts. It is also granted +to Hyrcanus, and to his sons, and to the ambassadors by them sent +to us, that in the fights between single gladiators, and in those +with beasts, they shall sit among the senators to see those +shows; and that when they desire an audience, they shall be +introduced into the senate by the dictator, or by the general of +the horse; and when they have introduced them, their answers +shall be returned them in ten days at the furthest, after the +decree of the senate is made about their affairs." + +7. "Caius Cqesar, imperator, dictator the fourth time, and consul +the fifth time, declared to be perpetual dictator, made this +speech concerning the rights and privileges of Hyrcanus, the son +of Alexander, the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews. Since +those imperators that have been in the provinces before me have +borne witness to Hyrcanus, the high priest of the Jews, and to +the Jews themselves, and this before the senate and people of +Rome, when the people and senate returned their thanks to them, +it is good that we now also remember the same, and provide that a +requital be made to Hyrcanus, to the nation of the Jews, and to +the sons of Hyrcanus, by the senate and people of Rome, and that +suitably to what good-will they have shown us, and to the +benefits they have bestowed upon us." + +8. "Julius Caius, praetor [consul] of Rome, to the magistrates, +senate, and people of the Parians, sendeth greeting. The Jews of +Delos, and some other Jews that sojourn there, in the presence of +your ambassadors, signified to us, that, by a decree of yours, +you forbid them to make use of the customs of their forefathers, +and their way of sacred worship. Now it does not please me that +such decrees should be made against our friends and confederates, +whereby they are forbidden to live according to their own +customs, or to bring in contributions for common suppers and holy +festivals, while they are not forbidden so to do even at Rome +itself; for even Caius Caesar, our imperator and consul, in that +decree wherein he forbade the Bacchanal rioters to meet in the +city, did yet permit these Jews, and these only, both to bring in +their contributions, and to make their common suppers. +Accordingly, when I forbid other Bacchanal rioters, I permit +these Jews to gather themselves together, according to the +customs and laws of their forefathers, and to persist therein. It +will be therefore good for you, that if you have made any decree +against these our friends and confederates, to abrogate the same, +by reason of their virtue and kind disposition towards us." + +9. Now after Caius was slain, when Marcus Antonius and Publius +Dolabella were consuls, they both assembled the senate, and +introduced Hyrcanus's ambassadors into it, and discoursed of what +they desired, and made a league of friendship with them. The +senate also decreed to grant them all they desired. I add the +decree itself, that those who read the present work may have +ready by them a demonstration of the truth of what we say. The +decree was this: + +10. "The decree of the senate, copied out of the treasury, from +the public tables belonging to the quaestors, when Quintus +Rutilius and Caius Cornelius were quaestors, and taken out of the +second table of the first class, on the third day before the Ides +of April, in the temple of Concord. There were present at the +writing of this decree, Lucius Calpurnius Piso of the Menenian +tribe, Servius Papinins Potitus of the Lemonian tribe, Caius +Caninius Rebilius of the Terentine tribe, Publius Tidetius, +Lucius Apulinus, the son of Lucius, of the Sergian tribe, +Flavius, the son of Lucius, of the Lemonian tribe, Publius +Platins, the son of Publius, of the Papyrian tribe, Marcus +Acilius, the son of Marcus, of the Mecian tribe, Lucius Erucius, +the son of Lucius, of the Stellatine tribe, Mareils Quintus +Plancillus, the son of Marcus, of the Pollian tribe, and Publius +Serius. Publius Dolabella and Marcus Antonius, the consuls, made +this reference to the senate, that as to those things which, by +the decree of the senate, Caius Caesar had adjudged about the +Jews, and yet had not hitherto that decree been brought into the +treasury, it is our will, as it is also the desire of Publius +Dolabella and Marcus Antonius, our consuls, to have these decrees +put into the public tables, and brought to the city quaestors, +that they may take care to have them put upon the double tables. +This was done before the fifth of the Ides of February, in the +temple of Concord. Now the ambassadors from Hyrcanus the high +priest were these: Lysimachus, the son of Pausanias, Alexander, +the son of Theodorus, Patroclus, the son of Chereas, and Jonathan +the son of Onias." + +11. Hyrcanus sent also one of these ambassadors to Dolabella, who +was then the prefect of Asia, and desired him to dismiss the Jews +from military services, and to preserve to them the customs of +their forefathers, and to permit them to live according to them. +And when Dolabella had received Hyrcanus's letter, without any +further deliberation, he sent an epistle to all the Asiatics, and +particularly to the city of the Ephesians, the metropolis of +Asia, about the Jews; a copy of which epistle here follows: + +12. "When Artermon was prytanis, on the first day of the month +Leneon, Dolabella, imperator, to the senate, and magistrates, and +people of the Ephesians, sendeth greeting. Alexander, the son of +Theodorus, the ambassador of Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the +high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, appeared before me, to show +that his countrymen could not go into their armies, because they +are not allowed to bear arms or to travel on the sabbath days, +nor there to procure themselves those sorts of food which they +have been used to eat from the times of their forefathers; - I do +therefore grant them a freedom from going into the army, as the +former prefects have done, and permit them to use the customs of +their forefathers, in assembling together for sacred and +religious purposes, as their law requires, and for collecting +oblations necessary for sacrifices; and my will is, that you +write this to the several cities under your jurisdiction." + +13. And these were the concessions that Dolabella made to our +nation when Hyrcanus sent an embassage to him. But Lucius the +consul's decree ran thus: "I have at my tribunal set these Jews, +who are citizens of Rome, and follow the Jewish religious rites, +and yet live at Ephesus, free from going into the army, on +account of the superstition they are under. This was done before +the twelfth of the calends of October, when Lucius Lentulus and +Caius Marcellus were consuls, in the presence of Titus Appius +Balgus, the son of Titus, and lieutenant of the Horatian tribe; +of Titus Tongins, the son of Titus, of the Crustumine tribe; of +Quintus Resius, the son of Quintus; of Titus Pompeius Longinus, +the son of Titus; of Catus Servilius, the son of Caius, of the +Terentine tribe; of Bracchus the military tribune; of Publius +Lucius Gallus, the son of Publius, of the Veturian tribe; of +Caius Sentins, the son of Caius, of the Sabbatine tribe; of Titus +Atilius Bulbus, the son of Titus, lieutenant and vice-praetor to +the magistrates, senate, and people of the Ephesians, sendeth +greeting. Lucius Lentulus the consul freed the Jews that are in +Asia from going into the armies, at my intercession for them; and +when I had made the same petition some time afterward to Phanius +the imperator, and to Lucius Antonius the vice-quaestor, I +obtained that privilege of them also; and my will is, that you +take care that no one give them any disturbance." + +14. The decree of the Delians. "The answer of the praetors, when +Beotus was archon, on the twentieth day of the month Thargeleon. +While Marcus Piso the lieutenant lived in our city, who was also +appointed over the choice of the soldiers, he called us, and many +other of the citizens, and gave order, that if there be here any +Jews who are Roman citizens, no one is to give them any +disturbance about going into the army, because Cornelius +Lentulus, the consul, freed the Jews from going into the army, on +account of the superstition they are under; - you are therefore +obliged to submit to the praetor." And the like decree was made +by the Sardians about us also. + +15. "Caius Phanius, the son of Caius, imperator and consul, to +the magistrates of Cos, sendeth greeting. I would have you know +that the ambassadors of the Jews have been with me, and desired +they might have those decrees which the senate had made about +them; which decrees are here subjoined. My will is, that you have +a regard to and take care of these men, according to the senate's +decree, that they may be safely conveyed home through your +country." + +16. The declaration of Lucius Lentulus the consul: "I have +dismissed those Jews who are Roman citizens, and who appear to me +to have their religious rites, and to observe the laws of the +Jews at Ephesus, on account of the superstition they are under. +This act was done before the thirteenth of the calends of +October." + +17. "Lucius Antonius, the son of Marcus, vice-quaestor, and +vice-praetor, to the magistrates, senate, and people of the +Sardians, sendeth greeting. Those Jews that are our fellow +citizens of Rome came to me, and demonstrated that they had an +assembly of their own, according to the laws of their +forefathers, and this from the beginning, as also a place of +their own, wherein they determined their suits and controversies +with one another. Upon their petition therefore to me, that these +might be lawful for them, I gave order that these their +privileges be preserved, and they be permitted to do +accordingly." + +18. The declaration of Marcus Publius, the son of Spurius, and of +Marcus, the son of Marcus, and of Lucius, the son of Publius: "We +went to the proconsul, and informed him of what Dositheus, the +son of Cleopatrida of Alexandria, desired, that, if he thought +good, he would dismiss those Jews who were Roman citizens, and +were wont to observe the rites of the Jewish religion, on account +of the superstition they were under. Accordingly, he did dismiss +them. This was done before the thirteenth of the calends of +October." + +19. "In the month Quntius, when Lucius Lentulus and Caius +Mercellus were consuls; and there were present Titus Appius +Balbus, the son of Titus, lieutenant of the Horatian tribe, Titus +Tongius of the Crustumine tribe, Quintus Resius, the son of +Quintus, Titus Pompeius, the son of Titus, Cornelius Longinus, +Caius Servilius Bracchus, the son of Caius, a military tribune, +of the Terentine tribe, Publius Clusius Gallus, the son of +Publius, of the Veturian tribe, Caius Teutius, the son of Caius, +a milital tribune, of the EmilJan tribe, Sextus Atilius Serranus, +the son of Sextus, of the Esquiline tribe, Caius Pompeius, the +son of Caius, of the Sabbatine tribe, Titus Appius Menander, the +son of Titus, Publius Servilius Strabo, the son of Publius, +Lucius Paccius Capito, the son of Lucius, of the Colline tribe, +Aulus Furius Tertius, the son of Aulus, and Appius Menus. In the +presence of these it was that Lentulus pronounced this decree: I +have before the tribunal dismissed those Jews that are Roman +citizens, and are accustomed to observe the sacred rites of the +Jews at Ephesus, on account of the superstition they are under." + +20. "The magistrates of the Laodiceans to Caius Rubilius, the son +of Caius, the consul, sendeth greeting. Sopater, the ambassador +of Hyrcanus the high priest, hath delivered us an epistle from +thee, whereby he lets us know that certain ambassadors were come +from Hyrcanus, the high priest of the Jews, and brought an +epistle written concerning their nation, wherein they desire that +the Jews may be allowed to observe their Sabbaths, and other +sacred rites, according to the laws of their forefathers, and +that they may be under no command, because they are our friends +and confederates, and that nobody may injure them in our +provinces. Now although the Trallians there present contradicted +them, and were not pleased with these decrees, yet didst thou +give order that they should be observed, and informedst us that +thou hadst been desired to write this to us about them. We +therefore, in obedience to the injunctions we have received from +thee, have received the epistle which thou sentest us, and have +laid it up by itself among our public records. And as to the +other things about which thou didst send to us, we will take care +that no complaint be made against us." + +21. "Publius Servilius, the son of Publius, of the Galban tribe, +the proconsul, to the magistrates, senate, and people of the +Mileslans, sendeth greeting. Prytanes, the son of Hermes, a +citizen of yours, came to me when I was at Tralles, and held a +court there, and informed me that you used the Jews in a way +different from my opinion, and forbade them to celebrate their +Sabbaths, and to perform the Sacred rites received from their +forefathers, and to manage the fruits of the land, according to +their ancient custom; and that he had himself been the promulger +of your decree, according as your laws require: I would therefore +have you know, that upon hearing the pleadings on both sides, I +gave sentence that the Jews should not be prohibited to make use +of their own customs." + +22. The decree of those of Pergamus. "When Cratippus was +prytanis, on the first day of the month Desius, the decree of the +praetors was this: Since the Romans, following the conduct of +their ancestors, undertake dangers for the common safety of all +mankind, and are ambitious to settle their confederates and +friends in happiness, and in firm peace, and since the nation of +the Jews, and their high priest Hyrcanus, sent as ambassadors to +them, Strato, the son of Theodatus, and Apollonius, the son of +Alexander, and Eneas, the son of Antipater, and Aristobulus, the +son of Amyntas, and Sosipater, the son of Philip, worthy and good +men, who gave a particular account of their affairs, the senate +thereupon made a decree about what they had desired of them, that +Antiochus the king, the son of Antiochus, should do no injury to +the Jews, the confederates of the Romans; and that the +fortresses, and the havens, and the country, and whatsoever else +he had taken from them, should be restored to them; and that it +may be lawful for them to export their goods out of their own +havens; and that no king nor people may have leave to export any +goods, either out of the country of Judea, or out of their +havens, without paying customs, but only Ptolemy, the king of +Alexandria, because he is our confederate and friend; and that, +according to their desire, the garrison that is in Joppa may be +ejected. Now Lucius Pettius, one of our senators, a worthy and +good man, gave order that we should take care that these things +should be done according to the senate's decree; and that we +should take care also that their ambassadors might return home in +safety. Accordingly, we admitted Theodorus into our senate and +assembly, and took the epistle out his hands, as well as the +decree of the senate. And as he discoursed with great zeal about +the Jews, and described Hyrcanus's virtue and generosity, and how +he was a benefactor to all men in common, and particularly to +every body that comes to him, we laid up the epistle in our +public records; and made a decree ourselves, that since we also +are in confederacy with the Romans, we would do every thing we +could for the Jews, according to the senate's decree. Theodorus +also, who brought the epistle, desired of our praetors, that they +would send Hyrcanus a copy of that decree, as also ambassadors to +signify to him the affection of our people to him, and to exhort +them to preserve and augment their friendship for us, and be +ready to bestow other benefits upon us, as justly expecting to +receive proper requitals from us; and desiring them to remember +that our ancestors (19) were friendly to the Jews even in the +days of Abraham, who was the father of all the Hebrews, as we +have [also] found it set down in our public records." + +23. The decree of those of Halicarnassus. "When Memnon, the son +of Orestidas by descent, but by adoption of Euonymus, was priest, +on the * * * day of the month Aristerion, the decree of the +people, upon the representation of Marcus Alexander, was this: +Since we have ever a great regard to piety towards God, and to +holiness; and since we aim to follow the people of the Romans, +who are the benefactors of all men, and what they have written to +us about a league of friendship and mutual assistance between the +Jews and our city, and that their sacred offices and accustomed +festivals and assemblies may be observed by them; we have +decreed, that as many men and women of the Jews as are willing so +to do, may celebrate their Sabbaths, and perform their holy +offices, according to Jewish laws; and may make their proseuchae +at the sea-side, according to the customs of their forefathers; +and if any one, whether he be a magistrate or private person, +hindereth them from so doing, he shall be liable to a fine, to be +applied to the uses of the city." + +24. The decree of the Sardians. "This decree was made by the +senate and people, upon the representation of the praetors: +Whereas those Jews who are fellow citizens, and live with us in +this city, have ever had great benefits heaped upon them by the +people, and have come now into the senate, and desired of the +people, that upon the restitution of their law and their liberty, +by the senate and people of Rome, they may assemble together, +according to their ancient legal custom, and that we will not +bring any suit against them about it; and that a place may be +given them where they may have their congregations, with their +wives and children, and may offer, as did their forefathers, +their prayers and sacrifices to God. Now the senate and people +have decreed to permit them to assemble together on the days +formerly appointed, and to act according to their own laws; and +that such a place be set apart for them by the praetors, for the +building and inhabiting the same, as they shall esteem fit for +that purpose; and that those that take care of the provision for +the city, shall take care that such sorts of food as they esteem +fit for their eating may be imported into the city." + +25. The decree of the Ephesians. "When Menophilus was prytanis, +on the first day of the month Artemisius, this decree was made by +the people: Nicanor, the son of Euphemus, pronounced it, upon the +representation of the praetors. Since the Jews that dwell in this +city have petitioned Marcus Julius Pompeius, the son of Brutus, +the proconsul, that they might be allowed to observe their +Sabbaths, and to act in all things according to the customs of +their forefathers, without impediment from any body, the praetor +hath granted their petition. Accordingly, it was decreed by the +senate and people, that in this affair that concerned the Romans, +no one of them should be hindered from keeping the sabbath day, +nor be fined for so doing, but that they may be allowed to do all +things according to their own laws." + +26. Now there are many such decrees of the senate and imperators +of the Romans (20) and those different from these before us, +which have been made in favor of Hyrcanus, and of our nation; as +also, there have been more decrees of the cities, and rescripts +of the praetors, to such epistles as concerned our rights and +privileges; and certainly such as are not ill-disposed to what we +write may believe that they are all to this purpose, and that by +the specimens which we have inserted; for since we have produced +evident marks that may still be seen of the friendship we have +had with the Romans, and demonstrated that those marks are +engraven upon columns and tables of brass in the capitol, that +axe still in being, and preserved to this day, we have omitted to +set them all down, as needless and disagreeable; for I cannot +suppose any one so perverse as not to believe the friendship we +have had with the Romans, while they have demonstrated the same +by such a great number of their decrees relating to us; nor will +they doubt of our fidelity as to the rest of those decrees, since +we have shown the same in those we have produced, And thus have +we sufficiently explained that friendship and confederacy we at +those times had with the Romans. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How Marcus, Succeeded Sextus When He Had Been Slain By Bassus's +Treachery; And How, After The Death Of Caesar, Cassius Came Into +Syria, And Distressed Judea; As Also How Malichus Slew Antipater +And Was Himself Slain By Herod. + + +1. Now it so fell out, that about this very time the affairs of +Syria were in great disorder, and this on the occasion following: +Cecilius Bassus, one of Pompey's party, laid a treacherous design +against Sextus Ceasar, and slew him, and then took his army, and +got the management of public affairs into his own hand; so there +arose a great war about Apamia, while Ceasar's generals came +against him with an army of horsemen and footmen; to these +Antipater also sent succors, and his sons with them, as calling +to mind the kindnesses they had received from Caesar, and on that +account he thought it but just to require punishment for him, and +to take vengeance on the man that had murdered him. And as the +war was drawn out into a great length, Marcus (21) came from Rome +to take Sextus's government upon him. But Caesar was slain by +Cassius and Brutus in the senate-house, after he had retained the +government three years and six months. This fact however, is +related elsewhere. + +2. As the war that arose upon the death of Caesar was now begun, +and the principal men were all gone, some one way, and some +another, to raise armies, Cassius came from Rome into Syria, in +order to receive the [army that lay in the] camp at Apamia; and +having raised the siege, he brought over both Bassus and Marcus +to his party. He then went over the cities, and got together +weapons and soldiers, and laid great taxes upon those cities; and +he chiefly oppressed Judea, and exacted of it seven hundred +talents: but Antipater, when he saw the state to be in so great +consternation and disorder, he divided the collection of that +sum, and appointed his two sons to gather it; and so that part of +it was to be exacted by Malichus, who was ill-disposed to him, +and part by others. And because Herod did exact what is required +of him from Galilee before others, he was in the greatest favor +with Cassius; for he thought it a part of prudence to cultivate a +friendship with the Romans, and to gain their goodwill at the +expense of others; whereas the curators of the other cities, with +their citizens, were sold for slaves; and Cassius reduced four +cities into a state of slavery, the two most potent of which were +Gophna and Emmaus; and, besides these, Lydia and Thamna. Nay, +Cassius was so very angry at Malichus, that he had killed him, +(for he assaulted him,) had not Hyrcanus, by the means of +Antipater, sent him a hundred talents of his own, and thereby +pacified his anger against him. + +3. But after Cassius was gone out of Judea, Malichus laid snares +for Antipater, as thinking that his death would-be the +preservation of Hyrcanus's government; but his design was not +unknown to Antipater, which when he perceived, he retired beyond +Jordan, and got together an army, partly of Arabs, and partly of +his own countrymen. However, Malichus, being one of great +cunning, denied that he had laid any snares for him, and made his +defense with an oath, both to himself and his sons; and said that +while Phasaelus had a garrison in Jerusalem, and Herod had the +weapons of war in his custody, he could never have a thought of +any such thing. So Antipater, perceiving the distress that +Malichus was in, was reconciled to him, and made an agreement +with him: this was when Marcus was president of Syria; who yet +perceiving that this Malichus was making a disturbance in Judea, +proceeded so far that he had almost killed him; but still, at the +intercession of Antipater, he saved him. + +4. However, Antipater little thought that by saving Malichus he +had saved his own murderer; for now Cassius and Marcus had got +together an army, and intrusted the entire care of it with Herod, +and made him general of the forces of Celesyria, and gave him a +fleet of ships, and an army of horsemen and footmen; and promised +him, that after the war was over they would make him king of +Judea; for a war was already begun between Antony and the younger +Caesar: but as Malichus was most afraid of Antipater, he took him +out of the way; and by the offer of money, persuaded the butler +of Hyrcanus, with whom they were both to feast, to kill him by +poison. This being done, and he having armed men with him, +settled the affairs of the city. But when Antipater's sons, Herod +and Phasaelus, were acquainted with this conspiracy against their +father, and had indignation at it, Malichus denied all, and +utterly renounced any knowledge of the murder. And thus died +Antipater, a man that had distinguished himself for piety and +justice, and love to his country. And whereas one of his sons, +Herod, resolved immediately to revenge their father's death, and +was coming upon Malichus with an army for that purpose, the elder +of his sons, Phasaelus, thought it best rather to get this man +into their hands by policy, lest they should appear to begin a +civil war in the country; so he accepted of Malichus's defense +for himself, and pretended to believe him that he had had no hand +in the violent death of Antipater his father, but erected a fine +monument for him. Herod also went to Samaria; and when he found +them in great distress, he revived their spirits, and composed +their differences. + +5. However, a little after this, Herod, upon the approach of a +festival, came with his soldiers into the city; whereupon +Malichus was aftrighted, and persuaded Hyrcanus not to permit him +to come into the city. Hyrcanus complied; and, for a pretense of +excluding him, alleged, that a rout of strangers ought not to be +admitted when the multitude were purifying themselves. But Herod +had little regard to the messengers that were sent to him, and +entered the city in the night time, and aftrighted Malichus; yet +did he remit nothing of his former dissimulation, but wept for +Antipater, and bewailed him as a friend of his with a loud voice; +but Herod and his friends though, it proper not openly to +contradict Malichus's hypocrisy, but to give him tokens of mutual +friendship, in order to prevent his suspicion of them. + +6. However, Herod sent to Cassius, and informed him of the murder +of his father; who knowing what sort of man Malichus was as to +his morals, sent him back word that he should revenge his +father's death; and also sent privately to the commanders of his +army at Tyre, with orders to assist Herod in the execution of a +very just design of his. Now when Cassius had taken Laodicea, +they all went together to him, and carried him garlands and +money; and Herod thought that Malichus might be punished while he +was there; but he was somewhat apprehensive of the thing, and +designed to make some great attempt, and because his son was then +a hostage at Tyre, he went to that city, and resolved to steal +him away privately, and to march thence into Judea; and as +Cassius was in haste to march against Antony, he thought to bring +the country to revolt, and to procure the government for himself. +But Providence opposed his counsels; and Herod being a shrewd +man, and perceiving what his intention was, he sent thither +beforehand a servant, in appearance indeed to get a supper ready, +for he had said before that he would feast them all there, but in +reality to the commanders of the army, whom he persuaded to go +out against Malichus, with their daggers. So they went out and +met the man near the city, upon the sea-shore, and there stabbed +him. Whereupon Hyrcanus was so astonished at what had happened, +that his speech failed him; and when, after some difficulty, he +had recovered himself, he asked Herod what the matter could be, +and who it was that slew Malichus; and when he said that it was +done by the command of Cassius, he commended the action; for that +Malichus was a very wicked man, and one that conspired against +his own country. And this was the punishment that was inflicted +on Malichus for what he wickedly did to Antipater. + +7. But when Cassius was marched out of Syria, disturbances arose +in Judea; for Felix, who was left at Jerusalem with an army, made +a sudden attempt against Phasaelus, and the people themselves +rose in arms; but Herod went to Fabius, the prefect of Damascus, +and was desirous to run to his brother's assistance, but was +hindered by a distemper that seized upon him, till Phasaelus by +himself had been too hard for Felix, and had shut him up in the +tower, and there, on certain conditions, dismissed him. Phasaelus +also complained of Hyrcanus, that although he had received a +great many benefits from them, yet did he support their enemies; +for Malichus's brother had made many places to revolt, and kept +garrisons in them, and particularly Masada, the strongest +fortress of them all. In the mean time, Herod was recovered of +his disease, and came and took from Felix all the places he had +gotten; and, upon certain conditions, dismissed him also. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +Herod Ejects Antigonus, The Son Of Aristobulus Out Of Judea, And +Gains The Friendship Of Antony, Who Was Now Come Into Syria, By +Sending Him Much Money; On Which Account He Would Not Admit Of +Those That Would Have Accused Herod: And What It Was That Antony +Wrote To The Tyrians In Behalf. + + +1. Now (22) Ptolemy, the son of Menneus, brought back into Judea +Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, who had already raised an +army, and had, by money, made Fabius to be his friend, add this +because he was of kin to him. Marion also gave him assistance. He +had been left by Cassius to tyrannize over Tyre; for this +Cussiris was a man that seized on Syria, and then kept it under, +in the way of a tyrant. Marion also marched into Galilee, which +lay in his neighborhood, and took three of his fortresses, and +put garrisons into them to keep them. But when Herod came, he +took all from him; but the Tyrian garrison he dismissed in a very +civil manner; nay, to some of the soldiers he made presents out +of the good-will he bare to that city. When he had despatched +these affairs, and was gone to meet Antigonus, he joined battle +with him, and beat him, and drove him out of Judea presently, +when he was just come into its borders. But when he was come to +Jerusalem, Hyrcanus and the people put garlands about his head; +for he had already contracted an affinity with the family of +Hyrcanus by having espoused a descendant of his, and for that +reason Herod took the greater care of him, as being to marry the +daughter of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, add the +granddaughter of Hyrcanus, by which wife he became the father of +three male and two female children. He had also married before +this another wife, out of a lower family of his own nation, whose +name was Doris, by whom he had his eldest son Antipater. + +2. Now Antonius and Caesar had beaten Cassius near Philippi, as +others have related; but after the victory, Caesar went into +Gaul, [Italy,] and Antony marched for Asia, who, when he was +arrived at Bithynia, he had ambassadors that met him from all +parts. The principal men also of the Jews came thither, to accuse +Phasaelus and Herod; and they said that Hyrcanus had indeed the +appearance of reigning, but that these men had all the power: but +Antony paid great respect to Herod, who was come to him to make +his defense against his accusers, on which account his +adversaries could not so much as obtain a hearing; which favor +Herod had gained of Antony by money. But still, when Antony was +come to Ephesus, Hyrcanus the high priest, and our nation, sent +an embassage to him, which carried a crown of gold with them, and +desired that he would write to the governors of the provinces, to +set those Jews free who had been carried captive by Cassius, and +this without their having fought against him, and to restore them +that country, which, in the days of Cassius, had been taken from +them. Antony thought the Jews' desires were just, and wrote +immediately to Hyrcanus, and to the Jews. He also sent, at the +same time, a decree to the Tyrians; the contents of which were to +the same purpose. + +3. "Marcus Antonius, imperator, to Hyrcanus the high priest and +ethnarch of the Jews, sendeth greeting. It you be in health, it +is well; I am also in health, with the army. Lysimachus, the son +of Pausanias, and Josephus, the son of Menneus, and Alexander, +the son of Theodorus, your ambassadors, met me at Ephesus, and +have renewed the embassage which they had formerly been upon at +Rome, and have diligently acquitted themselves of the present +embassage, which thou and thy nation have intrusted to them, and +have fully declared the goodwill thou hast for us. I am therefore +satisfied, both by your actions and your words, that you are +well-disposed to us; and I understand that your conduct of life +is constant and religious: so I reckon upon you as our own. But +when those that were adversaries to you, and to the Roman people, +abstained neither from cities nor temples, and did not observe +the agreement they had confirmed by oath, it was not only on +account of our contest with them, but on account of all mankind +in common, that we have taken vengeance on those who have been +the authors of great injustice towards men, and of great +wickedness towards the gods; for the sake of which we suppose it +was that the sun turned away his light from us, (23) as unwilling +to view the horrid crime they were guilty of in the case of +Caesar. We have also overcome their conspiracies, which +threatened the gods themselves, which Macedonia received, as it +is a climate peculiarly proper for impious and insolent attempts; +and we have overcome that confused rout of men, half mad with +spite against us, which they got together at Philippi in +Macedonia, when they seized on the places that were proper for +their purpose, and, as it were, walled them round with mountains +to the very sea, and where the passage was open only through a +single gate. This victory we gained, because the gods had +condemned those men for their wicked enterprises. Now Brutus, +when he had fled as far as Philippi, was shut up by us, and +became a partaker of the same perdition with Cassius; and now +these have received their punishment, we suppose that we may +enjoy peace for the time to come, and that Asia may be at rest +from war. We therefore make that peace which God hath given us +common to our confederates also, insomuch that the body of Asia +is now recovered out of that distemper it was under by the means +of our victory. I, therefore, bearing in mind both thee and your +nation, shall take care of what may be for your advantage. I have +also sent epistles in writing to the several cities, that if any +persons, whether free-men or bond-men, have been sold under the +spear by Caius Cassius, or his subordinate officers, they may be +set free. And I will that you kindly make use of the favors which +I and Dolabella have granted you. I also forbid the Tyrians to +use any violence with you; and for what places of the Jews they +now possess, I order them to restore them. I have withal accepted +of the crown which thou sentest me." + +4. "Marcus Antonius, imperator, to the magistrates, senate, and +people of Tyre, sendeth greeting. The ambassadors of Hyrcanus, +the high priest and ethnarch [of the Jews], appeared before me at +Ephesus, and told me that you are in possession of part of their +country, which you entered upon under the government of our +adversaries. Since, therefore, we have undertaken a war for the +obtaining the government, and have taken care to do what was +agreeable to piety and justice, and have brought to punishment +those that had neither any remembrance of the kindnesses they had +received, nor have kept their oaths, I will that you be at peace +with those that are our confederates; as also, that what you have +taken by the means of our adversaries shall not be reckoned your +own, but be returned to those from whom you took them; for none +of them took their provinces or their armies by the gift of the +senate, but they seized them by force, and bestowed them by +violence upon such as became useful to them in their unjust +proceedings. Since, therefore, those men have received the +punishment due to them, we desire that our confederates may +retain whatsoever it was that they formerly possessed without +disturbance, and that you restore all the places which belong to +Hyrcanus, the ethnarch of the Jews, which you have had, though it +were but one day before Caius Cassius began an unjustifiable war +against us, and entered into our province; nor do you use any +force against him, in order to weaken him, that he may not be +able to dispose of that which is his own; but if you have any +contest with him about your respective rights, it shall be lawful +for you to plead your cause when we come upon the places +concerned, for we shall alike preserve the rights and hear all +the causes of our confederates." + +5. "Marcus Antonius, imperator, to the magistrates, senate, and +people of Tyre, sendeth greeting. I have sent you my decree, of +which I will that ye take care that it be engraven on the public +tables, in Roman and Greek letters, and that it stand engraven in +the most illustrious places, that it may be read by all. Marcus +Antonius, imperator, one of the triumvirate over the public +affairs, made this declaration: Since Caius Cassius, in this +revolt he hath made, hath pillaged that province which belonged +not to him, and was held by garrisons there encamped, while they +were our confederates, and hath spoiled that nation of the Jews +that was in friendship with the Roman people, as in war; and +since we have overcome his madness by arms, we now correct by our +decrees and judicial determinations what he hath laid waste, that +those things may be restored to our confederates. And as for what +hath been sold of the Jewish possessions, whether they be bodies +or possessions, let them be released; the bodies into that state +of freedom they were originally in, and the possessions to their +former owners. I also will that he who shall not comply with this +decree of mine shall be punished for his disobedience; and if +such a one be caught, I will take care that the offenders suffer +condign punishment." + +6. The same thing did Antony write to the Sidonians, and the +Antiochians, and the Aradians. We have produced these decrees, +therefore, as marks for futurity of the truth of what we have +said, that the Romans had a great concern about our nation. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Antony Made Herod And Phasaelus Tetrarchs, After They Had +Been Accused To No Purpose; And How The Parthians When They +Brought Antigonus Into Judea Took Hyrcanus And Phasaelus +Captives. Herod's Flight; And What Afflictions Hyrcanus And +Phasaelus Endured. + + +1. When after this Antony came into Syria, Cleopatra met him in +Cilicia, and brought him to fall in love with her. And there came +now also a hundred of the most potent of the Jews to accuse Herod +and those about him, and set the men of the greatest eloquence +among them to speak. But Messala contradicted them, on behalf of +the young men, and all this in the presence of Hyrcanus, who was +Herod's father-in-law (24) already. When Antony had heard both +sides at Daphne, he asked Hyrcanus who they were that governed +the nation best. He replied, Herod and his friends. Hereupon +Antony, by reason of the old hospitable friendship he had made +with his father [Antipater], at that time when he was with +Gabinius, he made both Herod and Phasaelus tetrarchs, and +committed the public affairs of the Jews to them, and wrote +letters to that purpose. He also bound fifteen of their +adversaries, and was going to kill them, but that Herod obtained +their pardon. + +2. Yet did not these men continue quiet when they were come back, +but a thousand of the Jews came to Tyre to meet him there, +whither the report was that he would come. But Antony was +corrupted by the money which Herod and his brother had given him; +and so he gave order to the governor of the place to punish the +Jewish ambassadors, who were for making innovations, and to +settle the government upon Herod; but Herod went out hastily to +them, and Hyrcanus was with him, (for they stood upon the shore +before the city,) and he charged them to go their ways, because +great mischief would befall them if they went on with their +accusation. But they did not acquiesce; whereupon the Romans ran +upon them with their daggers, and slew some, and wounded more of +them, and the rest fled away and went home, and lay still in +great consternation. And when the people made a clamor against +Herod, Antony was so provoked at it, that he slew the prisoners. + +3. Now, in the second year, Pacorus, the king of Parthia's son, +and Barzapharnes, a commander of the Parthians, possessed +themselves of Syria. Ptolemy, the son of Menneus, also was now +dead, and Lysanias his son took his government, and made a league +of friendship with Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus; and in +order to obtain it, made use of that commander, who had great +interest in him. Now Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians +a thousand talents, and five hundred women, upon condition they +would take the government away from Hyrcanus, and bestow it upon +him, and withal kill Herod. And although he did not give them +what he had promised, yet did the Parthians make an expedition +into Judea on that account, and carried Antigonus with them. +Pacorus went along the maritime parts, but the commander +Barzapharnes through the midland. Now the Tyrians excluded +Pacorus, but the Sidontans and those of Ptolemais received him. +However, Pacorus sent a troop of horsemen into Judea, to take a +view of the state of the country, and to assist Antigonus; and +sent also the king's butler, of the same name with himself. So +when the Jews that dwelt about Mount Carmel came to Antigonus, +and were ready to march with him into Judea, Antigonus hoped to +get some part of the country by their assistance. The place is +called Drymi; and when some others came and met them, the men +privately fell upon Jerusalem; and when some more were come to +them, they got together in great numbers, and came against the +king's palace, and besieged it. But as Phasaelus's and Herod's +party came to the other's assistance, and a battle happened +between them in the market-place, the young men beat their +enemies, and pursued them into the temple, and sent some armed +men into the adjoining houses to keep them in, who yet being +destitute of such as should support them, were burnt, and the +houses with them, by the people who rose up against them. But +Herod was revenged on these seditious adversaries of his a little +afterward for this injury they had offered him, when he fought +with them, and slew a great number of them. + +4. But while there were daily skirmishes, the enemy waited for +the coming of the multitude out of the country to Pentecost, a +feast of ours so called; and when that day was come, many ten +thousands of the people were gathered together about the temple, +some in armor, and some without. Now those that came guarded both +the temple and the city, excepting what belonged to the palace, +which Herod guarded with a few of his soldiers; and Phasaelus had +the charge of the wall, while Herod, with a body of his men, +sallied out upon the enemy, who lay in the suburbs, and fought +courageously, and put many ten thousands to flight, some flying +into the city, and some into the temple, and some into the outer +fortifications, for some such fortifications there were in that +place. Phasaelus came also to his assistance; yet was Pacorus, +the general of the Parthians, at the desire of Antigonus, +admitted into the city, with a few of his horsemen, under +pretence indeed as if he would still the sedition, but in reality +to assist Antigonus in obtaining the government. And when +Phasaelus met him, and received him kindly, Pacorus persuaded him +to go himself as ambassador to Barzapharnes, which was done +fraudulently. Accordingly, Phasaelus, suspecting no harm, +complied with his proposal, while Herod did not give his consent +to what was done, because of the perfidiousness of these +barbarians, but desired Phasaelus rather to fight those that were +come into the city. + +5. So both Hyrcanus and Phasaelus went on the embassage; but +Pacorus left with Herod two hundred horsemen, and ten men, who +were called the freemen, and conducted the others on their +journey; and when they were in Galilee, the governors of the +cities there met them in their arms. Barzaphanles also received +them at the first with cheerfulness, and made them presents, +though he afterward conspired against them; and Phasaelus, with +his horsemen, were conducted to the sea-side. But when they heard +that Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians a thousand +talents, and five hundred women, to assist him against them, they +soon had a suspicion of the barbarians. Moreover, there was one +who informed them that snares were laid for them by night, while +a guard came about them secretly; and they had then been seized +upon, had not they waited for the seizure of Herod by the +Parthians that were about Jerusalem, lest, upon the slaughter of +Hyrcanus and Phasaelus, he should have an intimation of it, and +escape out of their hands. And these were the circumstances they +were now in; and they saw who they were that guarded them. Some +persons indeed would have persuaded Phasaelus to fly away +immediately on horseback, and not stay any longer; and there was +one Ophellius, who, above all the rest, was earnest with him to +do so; for he had heard of this treachery from Saramalla, the +richest of all the Syrians at that time, who also promised to +provide him ships to carry him off; for the sea was just by them. +But he had no mind to desert Hyrcanus, nor bring his brother into +danger; but he went to Barzapharnes, and told him he did not act +justly when he made such a contrivance against them; for that if +he wanted money, he would give him more than Antigonus; and +besides, that it was a horrible thing to slay those that came to +him upon the security of their oaths, and that when they had done +them no injury. But the barbarian swore to him that there was no +truth in any of his suspicions, but that he was troubled with +nothing but false proposals, and then went away to Pacorus. + +6. But as soon as he was gone away, some men came and bound +Hyrcanus and Phasaelus, while Phasaelus greatly reproached the +Parthians for their perjury; However, that butler who was sent +against Herod had it in command to get him without the walls of +the city, and seize upon him; but messengers had been sent by +Phasaelus to inform Herod of the perfidiousness of the Parthians. +And when he knew that the enemy had seized upon them, he went to +Pacorus, and to the most potent of the Parthians, as to the lord +of the rest, who, although they knew the whole matter, dissembled +with him in a deceitful way; and said that he ought to go out +with them before the walls, and meet those which were bringing +him his letters, for that they were not taken by his adversaries, +but were coming to give him an account of the good success +Phasaelus had had. Herod did not give credit to what they said; +for he had heard that his brother was seized upon by others also; +and the daughter of Hyrcanus, whose daughter he had espoused, was +his monitor also [not to credit them], which made him still more +suspicious of the Parthians; for although other people did not +give heed to her, yet did he believe her as a woman of very great +wisdom. + +7. Now while the Parthians were in consultation what was fit to +be done; for they did not think it proper to make an open attempt +upon a person of his character; and while they put off the +determination to the next day, Herod was under great disturbance +of mind, and rather inclining to believe the reports he heard +about his brother and the Parthians, than to give heed to what +was said on the other side, he determined, that when the evening +came on, he would make use of it for his flight, and not make any +longer delay, as if the dangers from the enemy were not yet +certain. He therefore removed with the armed men whom he had with +him; and set his wives upon the beasts, as also his mother, and +sister, and her whom he was about to marry, [Mariamne,] the +daughter of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, with her mother, +the daughter of Hyrcanus, and his youngest brother, and all their +servants, and the rest of the multitude that was with him, and +without the enemy's privity pursued his way to Idumea. Nor could +any enemy of his who then saw him in this case be so hardhearted, +but would have commiserated his fortune, while the women drew +along their infant children and left their own country, and their +friends in prison, with tears in their eyes, and sad +lamentations, and in expectation of nothing but what was of a +melancholy nature. + +8. But for Herod himself, he raised his mind above the miserable +state he was in, and was of good courage in the midst of his +misfortunes; and as he passed along, he bid them every one to be +of good cheer, and not to give themselves up to sorrow, because +that would hinder them in their flight, which was now the only +hope of safety that they had. Accordingly, they tried to bear +with patience the calamity they were under, as he exhorted them +to do; yet was he once almost going to kill himself, upon the +overthrow of a waggon, and the danger his mother was then in of +being killed; and this on two accounts, because of his great +concern for her, and because he was afraid lest, by this delay, +the enemy should overtake him in the pursuit: but as he was +drawing his sword, and going to kill himself therewith, those +that were present restrained him, and being so many in number, +were too hard for him; and told him that he ought not to desert +them, and leave them a prey to their enemies, for that it was not +the part of a brave man to free himself from the distresses he +was in, and to overlook his friends that were in the same +distresses also. So he was compelled to let that horrid attempt +alone, partly out of shame at what they said to him, and partly +out of regard to the great number of those that would not permit +him to do what he intended. So he encouraged his mother, and took +all the care of her the time would allow, and proceeded on the +way he proposed to go with the utmost haste, and that was to the +fortress of Masada. And as he had many skirmishes with such of +the Parthians as attacked him and pursued him, he was conqueror +in them all. + +9. Nor indeed was he free from the Jews all along as he was in +his flight; for by that time he was gotten sixty furlongs out of +the city, and was upon the road, they fell upon him, and fought +hand to hand with him, whom he also put to flight, and overcame, +not like one that was in distress and in necessity, but like one +that was excellently prepared for war, and had what he wanted in +great plenty. And in this very place where he overcame the Jews +it was that he some time afterward build a most excellent palace, +and a city round about it, and called it Herodium. And when he +was come to Idumea, at a place called Thressa, his brother Joseph +met him, and he then held a council to take advice about all his +affairs, and what was fit to be done in his circumstances, since +he had a great multitude that followed him, besides his mercenary +soldiers, and the place Masada, whither he proposed to fly, was +too small to contain so great a multitude; so he sent away the +greater part of his company, being above nine thousand, and bid +them go, some one way, and some another, and so save themselves +in Idumea, and gave them what would buy them provisions in their +journey. But he took with him those that were the least +encumbered, and were most intimate with him, and came to the +fortress, and placed there his wives and his followers, being +eight hundred in number, there being in the place a sufficient +quantity of corn and water, and other necessaries, and went +directly for Petra, in Arabia. But when it was day, the Parthians +plundered all Jerusalem, and the palace, and abstained from +nothing but Hyrcanus's money, which was three hundred talents. A +great deal of Herod's money escaped, and principally all that the +man had been so provident as to send into Idumea beforehand; nor +indeed did what was in the city suffice the Parthians, but they +went out into the country, and plundered it, and demolished the +city Marissa. + +10. And thus was Antigonus brought back into Judea by the king of +the Parthians, and received Hyrcanus and Phasaelus for his +prisoners; but he was greatly cast down because the women had +escaped, whom he intended to have given the enemy, as having +promised they should have them, with the money, for their reward: +but being afraid that Hyrcanus, who was under the guard of the +Parthians, might have his kingdom restored to him by the +multitude, he cut off his ears, and thereby took care that the +high priesthood should never come to him any more, because he was +maimed, while the law required that this dignity should belong to +none but such as had all their members entire (25) But now one +cannot but here admire the fortitude of Phasaelus, who, +perceiving that he was to be put to death, did not think death +any terrible thing at all; but to die thus by the means of his +enemy, this he thought a most pitiable and dishonorable thing; +and therefore, since he had not his hands at liberty, but the +bonds he was in prevented him from killing himself thereby, he +dashed his head against a great stone, and thereby took away his +own life, which he thought to be the best thing he could do in +such a distress as he was in, and thereby put it out of the power +of the enemy to bring him to any death he pleased. It is also +reported, that when he had made a great wound in his head, +Antigonus sent physicians to cure it, and, by ordering them to +infuse poison into the wound, killed him. However, Phasaelus +hearing, before he was quite dead, by a certain woman, that his +brother Herod had escaped the enemy, underwent his death +cheerfully, since he now left behind him one who would revenge +his death, and who was able to inflict punishment on his enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + +How Herod Got Away From The King Of Arabia And Made Haste To Go +Into Egypt And Thence Went Away In Haste Also To Rome; And How, +By Promising A Great Deal Of Money To Antony He Obtained Of The +Senate And Of Caesar To Be Made King Of The Jews. + + +1. As for Herod, the great miseries he was in did not discourage +him, but made him sharp in discovering surprising undertakings; +for he went to Malchus, king of Arabia, whom he had formerly been +very kind to, in order to receive somewhat by way of requital, +now he was in more than ordinary want of it, and desired he would +let him have some money, either by way of loan, or as his free +gift, on account of the many benefits he had received from him; +for not knowing what was become of his brother, he was in haste +to redeem him out of the hand of his enemies, as willing to give +three hundred talents for the price of his redemption. He also +took with him the son of Phasaelus, who was a child of but seven +years of age, for this very reason, that he might be a hostage +for the repayment of the money. But there came messengers from +Malchus to meet him, by whom he was desired to be gone, for that +the Parthians had laid a charge upon him not to entertain Herod. +This was only a pretense which he made use of, that he might not +be obliged to repay him what he owed him; and this he was further +induced to by the principal men among the Arabians, that they +might cheat him of what sums they had received from [his father] +Antipater, and which he had committed to their fidelity. He made +answer, that he did not intend to be troublesome to them by his +coning thither, but that he desired only to discourse with them +about certain affairs that were to him of the greatest +importance. + +2. Hereupon he resolved to go away, and did go very prudently the +road to Egypt; and then it was that he lodged in a certain +temple; for he had left a great many of his followers there. On +the next day he came to Rhinocolura, and there it was that he +heard what was befallen his brother. Though Malehus soon repented +of what he had done, and came running after Herod; but with no +manner of success, for he was gotten a very great way off, and +made haste into the road to Pelusium; and when the stationary +ships that lay there hindered him from sailing to Alexandria, he +went to their captains, by whose assistance, and that out of much +reverence of and great regard to him, he was conducted into the +city [Alexandria], and was retained there by Cleopatra; yet was +she not able to prevail with him to stay there, because he was +making haste to Rome, even though the weather was stormy, and he +was informed that the affairs of Italy were very tumultuous, and +in great disorder. + +3. So he set sail from thence to Pamphylia, and falling into a +violent storm, he had much ado to escape to Rhodes, with the loss +of the ship's burden; and there it was that two of his friends, +Sappinas and Ptolemeus, met with him; and as he found that city +very much damaged in the war against Cassius, though he were in +necessity himself, he neglected not to do it a kindness, but did +what he could to recover it to its former state. He also built +there a three-decked ship, and set sail thence, with his friends, +for Italy, and came to the port of Brundusium; and when he was +come from thence to Rome, he first related to Antony what had +befallen him in Judea, and how Phasaelus his brother was seized +on by the Parthians, and put to death by them, and how Hyrcanus +was detained captive by them, and how they had made Antigonus +king, who had promised them a sum of money, no less than a +thousand talents, with five hundred women, who were to be of the +principal families, and of the Jewish stock; and that he had +carried off the women by night; and that, by undergoing a great +many hardships, he had escaped the hands of his enemies; as also, +that his own relations were in danger of being besieged and +taken, and that he had sailed through a storm, and contemned all +these terrible dangers of it, in order to come, as soon as +possible, to him, who was his hope and only succor at this time. + +4. This account made Antony commiserate the change that had +happened in Herod's condition; (26) and reasoning with himself +that this was a common case among those that are placed in such +great dignities, and that they are liable to the mutations that +come from fortune, he was very ready to give him the assistance +he desired, and this because he called to mind the friendship he +had had with Antipater because Herod offered him money to make +him king, as he had formerly given it him to make him tetrarch, +and chiefly because of his hatred to Antigonus; for he took him +to be a seditious person, and an enemy to the Romans. Caesar was +also the forwarder to raise Herod's dignity, and to give him his +assistance in what he desired, on account of the toils of war +which he had himself undergone with Antipater his father in +Egypt, and of the hospitality he had treated him withal, and the +kindness he had always showed him, as also to gratify Antony, who +was very zealous for Herod. So a senate was convocated; and +Messala first, and then Atratinus, introduced Herod into it, and +enlarged upon the benefits they had received from his father, and +put them in mind of the good-will he had borne to the Romans. At +the same time, they accused Antigonus, and declared him an enemy, +not only because of his former opposition to them, but that he +had now overlooked the Romans, and taken the government from the +Parthians. Upon this the senate was irritated; and Antony +informed them further, that it was for their advantage in the +Parthian war that Herod should be king. This seemed good to all +the senators; and so they made a decree accordingly. + +5. And this was the principal instance of Antony's affection for +Herod, that he not only procured him a kingdom which he did not +expect, (for he did not come with an intention to ask the kingdom +for himself, which he did not suppose the Romans would grant him, +who used to bestow it on some of the royal family, but intended +to desire it for his wife's brother, who was grandson by his +father to Aristobulus, and to Hyrcanus by his mother,) but that +he procured it for him so suddenly, that he obtained what he did +not expect, and departed out of Italy in so few days as seven in +all. This young man [the grandson] Herod afterward took care to +have slain, as we shall show in its proper place. But when the +senate was dissolved, Antony and Caesar went out of the senate +house with Herod between them, and with the consuls and other +magistrates before them, in order to offer sacrifices, and to lay +up their decrees in the capitol. Antony also feasted Herod the +first day of his reign. And thus did this man receive the +kingdom, having obtained it on the hundred and eighty-fourth +olympiad, when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second +time, and Caius Asinius Pollio [the first time]. + +6. All this while Antigonus besieged those that were in Masada, +who had plenty of all other necessaries, but were only in want of +water (27) insomuch that on this occasion Joseph, Herod's +brother, was contriving to run away from it, with two hundred of +his dependents, to the Arabians; for he had heard that Malchus +repented of the offenses he had been guilty of with regard to +Herod; but God, by sending rain in the night time, prevented his +going away, for their cisterns were thereby filled, and he was +under no necessity of running away on that account; but they were +now of good courage, and the more so, because the sending that +plenty of water which they had been in want of seemed a mark of +Divine Providence; so they made a sally, and fought hand to hand +with Antigonus's soldiers, (with some openly, with some +privately,) and destroyed a great number of them. At the same +time Ventidius, the general of the Romans, was sent out of Syria, +to drive the Parthians out of it, and marched after them into +Judea, in pretense indeed to succor Joseph; but in reality the +whole affair was no more than a stratagem, in order to get money +of Antigonus; so they pitched their camp very near to Jerusalem, +and stripped Antigonus of a great deal of money, and then he +retired himself with the greater part of the army; but, that the +wickedness he had been guilty of might be found out, he left Silo +there, with a certain part of his soldiers, with whom also +Antigonus cultivated an acquaintance, that he might cause him no +disturbance, and was still in hopes that the Parthians would come +again and defend him. + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + +How Herod Sailed Out Of Italy To Judea, And Fought With Antigonus +And What Other Things Happened In Judea About That Time. + + +1. By this time Herod had sailed out of Italy to Ptolemais, and +had gotten together no small army, both of strangers and of his +own countrymen, and marched through Galilee against Antignus. +Silo also, and Ventidius, came and assisted him, being persuaded +by Dellius, who was sent by Antony to assist in bringing back +Herod. Now for Ventidius, he was employed in composing the +disturbances that had been made in the cities by the means of the +Parthians; and for Silo, he was in Judea indeed, but corrupted by +Antigonus. However, as Herod went along his army increased every +day, and all Galilee, with some small exception, joined him; but +as he was to those that were in Masada, (for he was obliged to +endeavor to save those that were in that fortress now they were +besieged, because they were his relations,) Joppa was a +hinderance to him, for it was necessary for him to take that +place first, it being a city at variance with him, that no strong +hold might be left in his enemies' hands behind him when he +should go to Jerusalem. And when Silo made this a pretense for +rising up from Jerusalem, and was thereupon pursued by the Jews, +Herod fell upon them with a small body of men, and both put the +Jews to flight and saved Silo, when he was very poorly able to +defend himself; but when Herod had taken Joppa, he made haste to +set free those of his family that were in Masada. Now of the +people of the country, some joined him because of the friendship +they had had with his father, and some because of the splendid +appearance he made, and others by way of requital for the +benefits they had received from both of them; but the greatest +number came to him in hopes of getting somewhat from him +afterward, if he were once firmly settled in the kingdom. + +2. Herod had now a strong army; and as he marched on, Antigonus +laid snares and ambushes in the passes and places most proper for +them; but in truth he thereby did little or no damage to the +enemy. So Herod received those of his family out of Masada, and +the fortress Ressa, and then went on for Jerusalem. The soldiery +also that was with Silo accompanied him all along, as did many of +the citizens, being afraid of his power; and as soon as he had +pitched his camp on the west side of the city, the soldiers that +were set to guard that part shot their arrows and threw their +darts at him; and when some sallied out in a crowd, and came to +fight hand to hand with the first ranks of Herod's army, he gave +orders that they should, in the first place, make proclamation +about the wall, that he came for the good of the people, and for +the preservation of the city, and not to bear any old grudge at +even his most open enemies, but ready to forget the offenses +which his greatest adversaries had done him. But Antigonus, by +way of reply to what Herod had caused to be proclaimed, and this +before the Romans, and before Silo also, said that they would not +do justly, if they gave the kingdom to Herod, who was no more +than a private man, and an Idumean, i.e. a half Jew, (28) whereas +they ought to bestow it on one of the royal family, as their +custom was; for that in case they at present bear an ill-will to +him, and had resolved to deprive him of the kingdom, as having +received it from the Parthians, yet were there many others of his +family that might by their law take it, and these such as had no +way offended the Romans; and being of the sacerdotal family, it +would be an unworthy thing to put them by. Now while they said +thus one to another, and fell to reproaching one another on both +sides, Antigonus permitted his own men that were upon the wall to +defend themselves, who using their bows, and showing great +alacrity against their enemies, easily drove them away from the +towers. + +3. And now it was that Silo discovered that he had taken bribes; +for he set a good number of his soldiers to complain aloud of the +want of provisions they were in, and to require money to buy them +food; and that it was fit to let them go into places proper for +winter quarters, since the places near the city were a desert, by +reason that Antigonus's soldiers had carried all away; so he set +the army upon removing, and endeavored to march away; but Herod +pressed Silo not to depart, and exhorted Silo's captains and +soldiers not to desert him, when Caesar, and Antony, and the +senate had sent him thither, for that he would provide them +plenty of all the things they wanted, and easily procure them a +great abundance of what they required; after which entreaty, he +immediately went out into the country, and left not the least +pretense to Silo for his departure; for he brought an unexpected +quantity of provisions, and sent to those friends of his who +inhabited about Samaria to bring down corn, and wine, and oil, +and cattle, and all other provisions, to Jericho, that those +might be no want of a supply for the soldiers for the time to +come. Antigonus was sensible of this, and sent presently over the +country such as might restrain and lie in ambush for those that +went out for provisions. So these men obeyed the orders of +Antigonus, and got together a great number of armed men about +Jericho, and sat upon the mountains, and watched those that +brought the provisions. However, Herod was not idle in the mean +time, for he took ten bands of soldiers, of whom five were of the +Romans, and five of the Jews, with some mercenaries among them, +and with some few horsemen, and came to Jericho; and as they +found the city deserted, but that five hundred of them had +settled themselves on the tops of the hills, with their wives and +children, those he took and sent away; but the Romans fell upon +the city, and plundered it, and found the houses full of all +sorts of good things. So the king left a garrison at Jericho, and +came back again, and sent the Roman army to take their winter +quarters in the countries that were come over to him, Judea, and +Galilee, and Samaria. And so much did Antigonus gain of Silo for +the bribes he gave him, that part of the army should be quartered +at Lydda, in order to please Antony. So the Romans laid their +weapons aside, and lived in plenty of all things. + +4. But Herod was not pleased with lying still, but sent out his +brother Joseph against Idumea with two thousand armed footmen, +and four hundred horsemen, while he himself came to Samaria, and +left his mother and his other relations there, for they were +already gone out of Masada, and went into Galilee, to take +certain places which were held by the garrisons of Antigonus; and +he passed on to Sepphoris, as God sent a snow, while Antigonus's +garrisons withdrew themselves, and had great plenty of +provisions. He also went thence, and resolved to destroy those +robbers that dwelt in the caves, and did much mischief in the +country; so he sent a troop of horsemen, and three companies of +armed footmen, against them. They were very near to a village +called Arbela; and on the fortieth day after, he came himself +with his whole army: and as the enemy sallied out boldly upon +him, the left wing of his army gave way; but he appearing with a +body of men, put those to flight who were already conquerors, and +recalled his men that ran away. He also pressed upon his enemies, +and pursued them as far as the river Jordan, though they ran away +by different roads. So he brought over to him all Galilee, +excepting those that dwelt in the caves, and distributed money to +every one of his soldiers, giving them a hundred and fifty +drachmae apiece, and much more to their captains, and sent them +into winter quarters; at which time Silo came to him, and his +commanders with him, because Antigonus would not give them +provisions any longer, for he supplied them for no more than one +month; nay, he had sent to all the country about, and ordered +them to carry off the provisions that were there, and retire to +the mountains, that the Romans might have no provisions to live +upon, and so might perish by famine. But Herod committed the care +of that matter to Pheroras, his youngest brother, and ordered him +to repair Alexandrium also. Accordingly, he quickly made the +soldiers abound with great plenty of provisions, and rebuilt +Alexandrium, which had been before desolate. + +5. About this time it was that Antony continued some time at +Athens, and that Ventidius, who was now in Syria, sent for Silo, +and commanded him to assist Herod, in the first place, to finish +the present war, and then to send for their confederates for the +war they were themselves engaged in; but as for Herod, he went in +haste against the robbers that were in the caves, and sent Silo +away to Ventidius, while he marched against them. These caves +were in mountains that were exceeding abrupt, and in their middle +were no other than precipices, with certain entrances into the +caves, and those caves were encompassed with sharp rocks, and in +these did the robbers lie concealed, with all their families +about them; but the king caused certain chests to be made, in +order to destroy them, and to be hung down, bound about with iron +chains, by an engine, from the top of the mountain, it being not +possible to get up to them, by reason of the sharp ascent of the +mountains, nor to creep down to them from above. Now these chests +were filled with armed men, who had long hooks in their hands, by +which they might pull out such as resisted them, and then tumble +them down, and kill them by so doing; but the letting the chests +down proved to be a matter of great danger, because of the vast +depth they were to be let down, although they had their +provisions in the chests themselves. But when the chests were let +down, and not one of those in the mouths of the caves durst come +near them, but lay still out of fear, some of the armed men girt +on their armor, and by both their hands took hold of the chain by +which the chests were let down, and went into the mouths of the +caves, because they fretted that such delay was made by the +robbers not daring to come out of the caves; and when they were +at any of those mouths, they first killed many of those that were +in the mouths with their darts, and afterwards pulled those to +them that resisted them with their hooks, and tumbled them down +the precipices, and afterwards went into the caves, and killed +many more, and then went into their chests again, and lay still +there; but, upon this, terror seized the rest, when they heard +the lamentations that were made, and they despaired of escaping. +However, when the night came on, that put an end to the whole +work; and as the king proclaimed pardon by a herald to such as +delivered themselves up to him, many accepted of the offer. The +same method of assault was made use of the next day; and they +went further, and got out in baskets to fight them, and fought +them at their doors, and sent fire among them, and set their +caves on fire, for there was a great deal of combustible matter +within them. Now there was one old man who was caught within one +of these caves, with seven children and a wife; these prayed him +to give them leave to go out, and yield themselves up to the +enemy; but he stood at the cave's mouth, and always slew that +child of his who went out, till he had destroyed them every one, +and after that he slew his wife, and cast their dead bodies down +the precipice, and himself after them, and so underwent death +rather than slavery: but before he did this, he greatly +reproached Herod with the meanness of his family, although he was +then king. Herod also saw what he was doing, and stretched out +his hand, and offered him all manner of security for his life; by +which means all these caves were at length subdued entirely. + +6. And when the king had set Ptolemy over these parts of the +country as his general, he went to Samaria, with six hundred +horsemen, and three thousand armed footmen, as intending to fight +Antigonus. But still this command of the army did not succeed +well with Ptolemy, but those that had been troublesome to Galilee +before attacked him, and slew him; and when they had done this, +they fled among the lakes and places almost inaccessible laying +waste and plundering whatsoever they could come at in those +places. But Herod soon returned, and punished them for what they +had done; for some of these rebels he slew, and others of them, +who had fled to the strong holds he besieged, and both slew them, +and demolished their strong holds. And when he had thus put an +end to their rebellion, he laid a fine upon the cities of a +hundred talents. + +7. In the mean time, Pacorus was fallen in a battle, and the +Parthians were defeated, when Ventidius sent Macheras to the +assistance of Herod, with two legions, and a thousand horsemen, +while Antony encouraged him to make haste. But Macheras, at the +instigation of Antigonus, without the approbation of Herod, as +being corrupted by money, went about to take a view of his +affairs; but Antigonus suspecting this intention of his coming, +did not admit him into the city, but kept him at a distance, with +throwing stones at him, and plainly showed what he himself meant. +But when Macheras was sensible that Herod had given him good +advice, and that he had made a mistake himself in not hearkening +to that advice, he retired to the city Emmaus; and what Jews he +met with he slew them, whether they were enemies or friends, out +of the rage he was in at what hardships he had undergone. The +king was provoked at this conduct of his, and went to Samaria, +and resolved to go to Antony about these affairs, and to inform +him that he stood in no need of such helpers, who did him more +mischief than they did his enemies; and that he was able of +himself to beat Antigonus. But Macheras followed him, and desired +that he would not go to Antony; or if he was resolved to go, that +he would join his brother Joseph with them, and let them fight +against Antigonus. So he was reconciled to Macheras, upon his +earnest entreaties. Accordingly, he left Joseph there with his +army, but charged him to run no hazards, nor to quarrel with +Macheras. + +8. But for his own part, he made haste to Antony (who was then at +the siege of Samosata, a place upon Euphrates) with his troops, +both horsemen and footmen, to be auxiliaries to him. And when he +came to Antioch, and met there a great number of men gotten +together that were very desirous to go to Antony, but durst not +venture to go, out of fear, because the barbarians fell upon men +on the road, and slew many, so he encouraged them, and became +their conductor upon the road. Now when they were within two +days' march of Samosata, the barbarians had laid an ambush there +to disturb those that came to Antony, and where the woods made +the passes narrow, as they led to the plains, there they laid not +a few of their horsemen, who were to lie still until those +passengers were gone by into the wide place. Now as soon as the +first ranks were gone by, (for Herod brought on the rear,) those +that lay in ambush, who were about five hundred, fell upon them +on the sudden, and when they had put the foremost to flight, the +king came riding hard, with the forces that were about him, and +immediately drove back the enemy; by which means he made the +minds of his own men courageous, and imboldened them to go on, +insomuch that those who ran away before now returned back, and +the barbarians were slain on all sides. The king also went on +killing them, and recovered all the baggage, among which were a +great number of beasts for burden, and of slaves, and proceeded +on in his march; and whereas there were a great number of those +in the woods that attacked them, and were near the passage that +led into the plain, he made a sally upon these also with a strong +body of men, and put them to flight, and slew many of them, and +thereby rendered the way safe for those that came after; and +these called Herod their savior and protector. + +9. And when he was near to Samosata, Antony sent out his army in +all their proper habiliments to meet him, in order to pay Herod +this respect, and because of the assistance he had given him; for +he had heard what attacks the barbarians had made upon him [in +Judea]. He also was very glad to see him there, as having been +made acquainted with the great actions he had performed upon the +road. So he entertained him very kindly, and could not but admire +his courage. Antony also embraced him as soon as he saw him, and +saluted him after a most affectionate manner, and gave him the +upper hand, as having himself lately made him a king; and in a +little time Antiochus delivered up the fortress, and on that +account this war was at an end; then Antony committed the rest to +Sosius, and gave him orders to assist Herod, and went himself to +Egypt. Accordingly, Sosius sent two legions before into Judea to +the assistance of Herod, and he followed himself with the body of +the army. + +10. Now Joseph was already slain in Judea, in the manner +following: He forgot what charge his brother Herod had given him +when he went to Antony; and when he had pitched his camp among +the mountains, for Macheras had lent him five regiments, with +these he went hastily to Jericho, in order to reap the corn +thereto belonging; and as the Roman regiments were but newly +raised, and were unskillful in war, for they were in great part +collected out of Syria, he was attacked by the enemy, and caught +in those places of difficulty, and was himself slain, as he was +fighting bravely, and the whole army was lost, for there were six +regiments slain. So when Antigonus had got possession of the dead +bodies, he cut off Joseph's head, although Pheroras his brother +would have redeemed it at the price of fifty talents. After which +defeat, the Galileans revolted from their commanders, and took +those of Herod's party, and drowned them in the lake, and a great +part of Judea was become seditious; but Macheras fortified the +place Gitta [in Samaria]. + +11. At this time messengers came to Herod, and informed him of +what had been done; and when he was come to Daphne by Antioch, +they told him of the ill fortune that had befallen his brother; +which yet he expected, from certain visions that appeared to him +in his dreams, which clearly foreshowed his brother's death. So +he hastened his march; and when he came to Mount Libanus, he +received about eight hundred of the men of that place, having +already with him also one Roman legion, and with these he came to +Ptolemais. He also marched thence by night with his army, and +proceeded along Galilee. Here it was that the enemy met him, and +fought him, and were beaten, and shut up in the same place of +strength whence they had sallied out the day before. So he +attacked the place in the morning; but by reason of a great storm +that was then very violent, he was able to do nothing, but drew +off his army into the neighboring villages; yet as soon as the +other legion that Antony sent him was come to his assistance, +those that were in garrison in the place were afraid, and +deserted it in the night time. Then did the king march hastily to +Jericho, intending to avenge himself on the enemy for the +slaughter of his brother; and when he had pitched his tents, he +made a feast for the principal commanders; and after this +collation was over, and he had dismissed his guests, he retired +to his own chamber; and here may one see what kindness God had +for the king, for the upper part of the house fell down when +nobody was in it, and so killed none, insomuch that all the +people believed that Herod was beloved of God, since he had +escaped such a great and surprising danger. + +12. But the next day six thousand of the enemy came down from the +tops of the mountains to fight the Romans, which greatly +terrified them; and the soldiers that were in light armor came +near, and pelted the king's guards that were come out with darts +and stones, and one of them hit him on the side with a dart. +Antigonus also sent a commander against Samaria, whose name was +Pappus, with some forces, being desirous to show the enemy how +potent he was, and that he had men to spare in his war with them. +He sat down to oppose Macheras; but Herod, when he had taken five +cities, took such as were left in them, being about two thousand, +and slew them, and burnt the cities themselves, and then returned +to go against Pappus, who was encamped at a village called +Isanas; and there ran in to him many out of Jericho and Judea, +near to which places he was, and the enemy fell upon his men, so +stout were they at this time, and joined battle with them, but he +beat them in the fight; and in order to be revenged on them for +the slaughter of his brother, he pursued them sharply, and killed +them as they ran away; and as the houses were full of armed men, +(29) and many of them ran as far as the tops of the houses, he +got them under his power, and pulled down the roofs of the +houses, and saw the lower rooms full of soldiers that were +caught, and lay all on a heap; so they threw stones down upon +them as they lay piled one upon another, and thereby killed them; +nor was there a more frightful spectacle in all the war than +this, where beyond the walls an immense multitude of dead men lay +heaped one upon another. This action it was which chiefly brake +the spirits of the enemy, who expected now what would come; for +there appeared a mighty number of people that came from places +far distant, that were now about the village, but then ran away; +and had it not been for the depth of winter, which then +restrained them, the king's army had presently gone to Jerusalem, +as being very courageous at this good success, and the whole work +had been done immediately; for Antigonus was already looking +about how he might fly away and leave the city. + +13. At this time the king gave order that the soldiers should go +to supper, for it was late at night, while he went into a chamber +to use the bath, for he was very weary; and here it was that he +was in the greatest danger, which yet, by God's providence, he +escaped; for as he was naked, and had but one servant that +followed him, to be with him while he was bathing in an inner +room, certain of the enemy, who were in their armor, and had fled +thither, out of fear, were then in the place; and as he was +bathing, the first of them came out with his naked sword drawn, +and went out at the doors, and after him a second, and a third, +armed in like manner, and were under such a consternation, that +they did no hurt to the king, and thought themselves to have come +off very well ill suffering no harm themselves in their getting +out of the house. However, on the next day, he cut off the head +of Pappus, for he was already slain, and sent it to Pheroras, as +a punishment of what their brother had suffered by his means, for +he was the man that slew him with his own hand. + +14. When the rigor of winter was over, Herod removed his army, +and came near to Jerusalem, and pitched his camp hard by the +city. Now this was the third year since he had been made king at +Rome; and as he removed his camp, and came near that part of the +wall where it could be most easily assaulted, he pitched that +camp before the temple, intending to make his attacks in the same +manner as did Pompey. So he encompassed the place with three +bulwarks, and erected towers, and employed a great many hands +about the work, and cut down the trees that were round about the +city; and when he had appointed proper persons to oversee the +works, even while the army lay before the city, he himself went +to Samaria, to complete his marriage, and to take to wife the +daughter of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus; for he had +betrothed her already, as I have before related. + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + +How Herod, When He Had Married Mariamne Took Jerusalem With The +Assistance Of Sosius By Force; And How The Government Of He +Asamoneans Was Put An End To + + +1. After the wedding was over, came Sosius through Phoenicia, +having sent out his army before him over the midland parts. He +also, who was their commander, came himself, with a great number +of horsemen and footmen. The king also came himself from Samaria, +and brought with him no small army, besides that which was there +before, for they were about thirty thousand; and they all met +together at the walls of Jerusalem, and encamped at the north +wall of the city, being now an army of eleven legions, armed men +on foot, and six thousand horsemen, with other auxiliaries out of +Syria. The generals were two: Sosius, sent by Antony to assist +Herod, and Herod on his own account, in order to take the +government from Antigonus, who was declared all enemy at Rome, +and that he might himself be king, according to the decree of the +Senate. + +2. Now the Jews that were enclosed within the walls of the city +fought against Herod with great alacrity and zeal (for the whole +nation was gathered together); they also gave out many prophecies +about the temple, and many things agreeable to the people, as if +God would deliver them out of the dangers they were in; they had +also carried off what was out of the city, that they might not +leave any thing to afford sustenance either for men or for +beasts; and by private robberies they made the want of +necessaries greater. When Herod understood this, he opposed +ambushes in the fittest places against their private robberies, +and he sent legions of armed men to bring its provisions, and +that from remote places, so that in a little time they had great +plenty of provisions. Now the three bulwarks were easily erected, +because so many hands were continually at work upon it; for it +was summer time, and there was nothing to hinder them in raising +their works, neither from the air nor from the workmen; so they +brought their engines to bear, and shook the walls of the city, +and tried all manner of ways to get its; yet did not those within +discover any fear, but they also contrived not a few engines to +oppose their engines withal. They also sallied out, and burnt not +only those engines that were not yet perfected, but those that +were; and when they came hand to hand, their attempts were not +less bold than those of the Romans, though they were behind them +in skill. They also erected new works when the former were +ruined, and making mines underground, they met each other, and +fought there; and making use of brutish courage rather than of +prudent valor, they persisted in this war to the very last; and +this they did while a mighty army lay round about them, and while +they were distressed by famine and the want of necessaries, for +this happened to be a Sabbatic year. The first that scaled the +walls were twenty chosen men, the next were Sosius's centurions; +for the first wall was taken in forty days, and the second in +fifteen more, when some of the cloisters that were about the +temple were burnt, which Herod gave out to have been burnt by +Antigonus, in order to expose him to the hatred of the Jews. And +when the outer court of the temple and the lower city were taken, +the Jews fled into the inner court of the temple, and into the +upper city; but now fearing lest the Romans should hinder them +from offering their daily sacrifices to God, they sent an +embassage, and desired that they would only permit them to bring +in beasts for sacrifices, which Herod granted, hoping they were +going to yield; but when he saw that they did nothing of what he +supposed, but bitterly opposed him, in order to preserve the +kingdom to Antigonus, he made an assault upon the city, and took +it by storm; and now all parts were full of those that were +slain, by the rage of the Romans at the long duration of the +siege, and by the zeal of the Jews that were on Herod's side, who +were not willing to leave one of their adversaries alive; so they +were murdered continually in the narrow streets and in the houses +by crowds, and as they were flying to the temple for shelter, and +there was no pity taken of either infants or the aged, nor did +they spare so much as the weaker sex; nay, although the king sent +about, and besought them to spare the people, yet nobody +restrained their hand from slaughter, but, as if they were a +company of madmen, they fell upon persons of all ages, without +distinction; and then Antigonus, without regard to either his +past or present circumstances, came down from the citadel, and +fell down at the feet of Sosius, who took no pity of him, in the +change of his fortune, but insulted him beyond measure, and +called him Antigone [i.e. a woman, and not a man;] yet did he not +treat him as if he were a woman, by letting him go at liberty, +but put him into bonds, and kept him in close custody. + +3. And now Herod having overcome his enemies, his care was to +govern those foreigners who had been his assistants, for the +crowd of strangers rushed to see the temple, and the sacred +things in the temple; but the king, thinking a victory to be a +more severe affliction than a defeat, if any of those things +which it was not lawful to see should be seen by them, used +entreaties and threatenings, and even sometimes force itself, to +restrain them. He also prohibited the ravage that was made in the +city, and many times asked Sosius whether the Romans would empty +the city both of money and men, and leave him king of a desert; +and told him that he esteemed the dominion over the whole +habitable earth as by no means an equivalent satisfaction for +such a murder of his citizens'; and when he said that this +plunder was justly to be permitted the soldiers for the siege +they had undergone, he replied, that he would give every one +their reward out of his own money; and by this means be redeemed +what remained of the city from destruction; and he performed what +he had promised him, for he gave a noble present to every +soldier, and a proportionable present to their commanders, but a +most royal present to Sosius himself, till they all went away +full of money. + +4. This destruction befell the city of Jerusalem when Marcus +Agrippa and Caninius Gallus were consuls of Rome (30) on the +hundred eighty and fifth olympiad, on the third month, on the +solemnity of the fast, as if a periodical revolution of +calamities had returned since that which befell the Jews under +Pompey; for the Jews were taken by him on the same day, and this +was after twenty-seven years' time. So when Sosius had dedicated +a crown of gold to God, he marched away from Jerusalem, and +carried Antigonus with him in bonds to Antony; but Herod was +afraid lest Antigonus should be kept in prison [only] by Antony, +and that when he was carried to Rome by him, he might get his +cause to be heard by the senate, and might demonstrate, as he was +himself of the royal blood, and Herod but a private man, that +therefore it belonged to his sons however to have the kingdom, on +account of the family they were of, in case he had himself +offended the Romans by what he had done. Out of Herod's fear of +this it was that he, by giving Antony a great deal of money, +endeavored to persuade him to have Antigonus slain, which if it +were once done, he should be free from that fear. And thus did +the government of the Asamoneans cease, a hundred twenty and six +years after it was first set up. This family was a splendid and +an illustrious one, both on account of the nobility of their +stock, and of the dignity of the high priesthood, as also for the +glorious actions their ancestors had performed for our nation; +but these men lost the government by their dissensions one with +another, and it came to Herod, the son of Antipater, who was of +no more than a vulgar family, and of no eminent extraction, but +one that was subject to other kings. And this is what history +tells us was the end of the Asamonean family. + + + + +BOOK XV. + +Containing The Interval Of Eighteen Years. + +From The Death Of Antigonus To The Finishing Of The Temple By +Herod. + +CHAPTER 1. + +Concerning Pollio And Sameas. Herod Slays The Principal Of +Antigonus's Friends, And Spoils The City Of Its Wealth. Antony +Beheads Antigonus. + + +1. How Sosius and Herod took Jerusalem by force; and besides +that, how they took Antigonus captive, has been related by us in +the foregoing book. We will now proceed in the narration. And +since Herod had now the government of all Judea put into his +hands, he promoted such of the private men in the city as had +been of his party, but never left off avenging and punishing +every day those that had chosen to be of the party of his +enemies. But Pollio the Pharisee, and Sameas, a disciple of his, +were honored by him above all the rest; for when Jerusalem was +besieged, they advised the citizens to receive Herod, for which +advice they were well requited. But this Pollio, at the time when +Herod was once upon his trial of life and death, foretold, in way +of reproach, to Hyrcanus and the other judges, how this Herod, +whom they suffered now to escape, would afterward inflict +punishment on them all; which had its completion in time, while +God fulfilled the words he had spoken. + +2. At this time Herod, now he had got Jerusalem under his power, +carried off all the royal ornaments, and spoiled the wealthy men +of what they had gotten; and when, by these means, he had heaped +together a great quantity of silver and gold, he gave it all to +Antony, and his friends that were about him. He also slew +forty-five of the principal men of Antigonus's party, and set +guards at the gates of the city, that nothing might be carried +out together with their dead bodies. They also searched the dead, +and whatsoever was found, either of silver or gold, or other +treasure, it was carried to the king; nor was there any end of +the miseries he brought upon them; and this distress was in part +occasioned by the covetousness of the prince regent, who was +still in want of more, and in part by the Sabbatic year, which +was still going on, and forced the country to lie still +uncultivated, since we are forbidden to sow our land in that +year. Now when Antony had received Antigonus as his captive, he +determined to keep him against his triumph; but when he heard +that the nation grew seditious, and that, out of their hatred to +Herod, they continued to bear good-will to Antigonus, he resolved +to behead him at Antioch, for otherwise the Jews could no way be +brought to be quiet. And Strabo of Cappadocia attests to what I +have said, when he thus speaks: "Antony ordered Antigonus the Jew +to be brought to Antioch, and there to be beheaded. And this +Antony seems to me to have been the very first man who beheaded a +king, as supposing he could no other way bend the minds of the +Jews so as to receive Herod, whom he had made king in his stead; +for by no torments could they he forced to call him king, so +great a fondness they had for their former king; so he thought +that this dishonorable death would diminish the value they had +for Antigonus's memory, and at the same time would diminish the +hatred they bare to Herod." Thus far Strabo. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Hyrcanus Was Set At Liberty By The Parthians, And Returned To +Herod; And What Alexandra Did When She Heard That Ananelus Was +Made High Priest. + + +1. Now after Herod was in possession of the kingdom, Hyrcanus the +high priest, who was then a captive among the Parthians, came to +him again, and was set free from his captivity, in the manner +following: Barzapharnes and Pacorus, the generals of the +Parthians, took Hyreanus, who was first made high priest and +afterward king, and Herod's brother, Phasaelus captives, and were +them away into Parthis. Phasaelus indeed could not bear the +reproach of being in bonds; and thinking that death with glory +was better than any life whatsoever, he became his own +executioner, as I have formerly related. + +2. But when Hyrcanus was brought into Parthia the king Phraates +treated him after a very gentle manner, as having already learned +of what an illustrious family he was; on which account he set him +free from his bonds, and gave him a habitation at Babylon, (1) +where there were Jews in great numbers. These Jews honored +Hyrcanus as their high priest and king, as did all the Jewish +nation that dwelt as far as Euphrates; which respect was very +much to his satisfaction. But when he was informed that Herod had +received the kingdom, new hopes came upon him, as having been +himself still of a kind disposition towards him, and expecting +that Herod would bear in mind what favor he had received from +him; and when he was upon his trial, and when he was in danger +that a capital sentence would be pronounced against him, he +delivered him from that danger, and from all punishment. +Accordingly, he talked of that matter with the Jew that came +often to him with great affection; but they endeavored to retain +him among them, and desired that he would stay with them, putting +him in mind of the kind offices and honors they did him, and that +those honors they paid him were not at all inferior to what they +could pay to either their high priests or their kings; and what +was a greater motive to determine him, they said, was this, that +he could not have those dignities [in Judea] because of that maim +in his body, which had been inflicted on him by Antigonus; and +that kings do not use to requite men for those kindnesses which +they received when they were private persons, the height of their +fortune making usually no small changes in them. + +3. Now although they suggested these arguments to him for his own +advantage, yet did Hyrcanus still desire to depart. Herod also +wrote to him, and persuaded him to desire of Phraates, and the +Jews that were there, that they should not grudge him the royal +authority, which he should have jointly with himself, for that +now was the proper time for himself to make him amends for the +favors he had received from him, as having been brought up by +him, and saved by him also, as well as for Hyrcanus to receive +it. And as he wrote thus to Hyrcanus, so did he send also +Saramallas, his ambassador, to Phraates, and many presents with +him, and desired him in the most obliging way that he would be no +hinderance to his gratitude towards his benefactor. But this zeal +of Herod's did not flow from that principle, but because he had +been made governor of that country without having any just claim +to it, he was afraid, and that upon reasons good enough, of a +change in his condition, and so made what haste he could to get +Hyrcanus into his power, or indeed to put him quite out of the +way; which last thing he compassed afterward. + +4. Accordingly, when Hyrcanus came, full of assurance, by the +permission of the king of Parthia, and at the expense of the +Jews, who supplied him with money, Herod received him with all +possible respect, and gave him the upper place at public +meetings, and set him above all the rest at feasts, and thereby +deceived him. He called him his father, and endeavored, by all +the ways possible, that he might have no suspicion of any +treacherous design against him. He also did other things, in +order to secure his government, which yet occasioned a sedition +in his own family; for being cautious how he made any illustrious +person the high priest of God, (2) he sent for an obscure priest +out of Babylon, whose name was Ananelus, and bestowed the high +priesthood upon him. + +5. However, Alexandra, the daughter of Hyrcanus, and wife of +Alexander, the son of Aristobulus the king, who had also brought +Alexander [two] children, could not bear this indignity. Now this +son was one of the greatest comeliness, and was called +Aristobulus; and the daughter, Mariamne, was married to Herod, +and eminent for her beauty also. This Alexandra was much +disturbed, and took this indignity offered to her son exceeding +ill, that while he was alive, any one else should be sent for to +have the dignity of the high priesthood conferred upon him. +Accordingly, she wrote to Cleopatra (a musician assisting her in +taking care to have her letters carried) to desire her +intercession with Antony, in order to gain the high priesthood +for her son. + +6. But as Antony was slow in granting this request, his friend +Dellius (3) came into Judea upon some affairs; and when he saw +Aristobulus, he stood in admiration at the tallness and +handsomeness of the child, and no less at Mariarune, the king's +wife, and was open in his commendations of Alexandra, as the +mother of most beautiful children. And when she came to discourse +with him, he persuaded her to get pictures drawn of them both, +and to send them to Antony, for that when he saw them, he would +deny her nothing that she should ask. Accordingly, Alexandra was +elevated with these words of his, and sent the pictures to +Antony. Dellius also talked extravagantly, and said that these +children seemed not derived from men, but from some god or other. +His design in doing so was to entice Antony into lewd pleasures +with them, who was ashamed to send for the damsel, as being the +wife of Herod, and avoided it, because of the reproaches he +should have from Cleopatra on that account; but he sent, in the +most decent manner he could, for the young man; but added this +withal, unless he thought it hard upon him so to do. When this +letter was brought to Herod, he did not think it safe for him to +send one so handsome as was Aristobulus, in the prime of his +life, for he was sixteen years of age, and of so noble a family, +and particularly not to Antony, the principal man among the +Romans, and one that would abuse him in his amours, and besides, +one that openly indulged himself in such pleasures as his power +allowed him without control. He therefore wrote back to him, that +if this boy should only go out of the country, all would be in a +state of war and uproar, because the Jews were in hopes of a +change in the government, and to have another king over them. + +7. When Herod had thus excused himself to Antony, he resolved +that he would not entirely permit the child or Alexandra to be +treated dishonorably; but his wife Mariamne lay vehemently at him +to restore the high priesthood to her brother; and he judged it +was for his advantage so to do, because if he once had that +dignity, he could not go out of the country. So he called his +friends together, and told them that Alexandra privately +conspired against his royal authority, and endeavored, by the +means of Cleopatra, so to bring it about, that he might be +deprived of the government, and that by Antony's means this youth +might have the management of public affairs in his stead; and +that this procedure of hers was unjust, since she would at the +same time deprive her daughter of the dignity she now had, and +would bring disturbances upon the kingdom, for which he had taken +a great deal of pains, and had gotten it with extraordinary +hazards; that yet, while he well remembered her wicked practices, +he would not leave off doing what was right himself, but would +even now give the youth the high priesthood; and that he formerly +set up Ananelus, because Aristobulus was then so very young a +child. Now when he had said this, not at random, but as he +thought with the best discretion he had, in order to deceive the +women, and those friends whom he had taken to consult withal, +Alexandra, out of the great joy she had at this unexpected +promise, and out of fear from the suspicions she lay under, fell +a weeping; and made the following apology for herself; and said, +that as to the [high] priesthood, she was very much concerned for +the disgrace her son was under, and so did her utmost endeavors +to procure it for him; but that as to the kingdom, she had made +no attempts, and that if it were offered her [for her son], she +would not accept it; and that now she would be satisfied with her +son's dignity, while he himself held the civil government, and +she had thereby the security that arose from his peculiar ability +in governing to all the remainder of her family; that she was now +overcome by his benefits, and thankfully accepted of this honor +showed by him to her son, and that she would hereafter be +entirely obedient. And she desired him to excuse her, if the +nobility of her family, and that freedom of acting which she +thought that allowed her, had made her act too precipitately and +imprudently in this matter. So when they had spoken thus to one +another, they came to an agreement, and all suspicions, so far as +appeared, were vanished away. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Herod Upon His Making Aristobulus High Priest Took Care That +He Should Be Murdered In A Little Time; And What Apology He Made +To Antony About Aristobulus; As Also Concerning Joseph And +Mariamne. + + +1. So king Herod immediately took the high priesthood away from +Ananelus, who, as we said before, was not of this country, but +one of those Jews that had been carried captive beyond Euphrates; +for there were not a few ten thousands of this people that had +been carried captives, and dwelt about Babylonia, whence Ananelus +came. He was one of the stock of the high priests (4) and had +been of old a particular friend of Herod; and when he was first +made king, he conferred that dignity upon him, and now put him +out of it again, in order to quiet the troubles in his family, +though what he did was plainly unlawful, for at no other time [of +old] was any one that had once been in that dignity deprived of +it. It was Antiochus Epiphanes who first brake that law, and +deprived Jesus, and made his brother Onias high priest in his +stead. Aristobulus was the second that did so, and took that +dignity from his brother [Hyrcanus]; and this Herod was the +third, who took that high office away [from Arianflus], and gave +it to this young man, Aristobulus, in his stead. + +2. And now Herod seemed to have healed the divisions in his +family; yet was he not without suspicion, as is frequently the +case, of people seeming to be reconciled to one another, but +thought that, as Alexandra had already made attempts tending to +innovations, so did he fear that she would go on therein, if she +found a fit opportunity for so doing; so he gave a command that +she should dwell in the palace, and meddle with no public +affairs. Her guards also were so careful, that nothing she did in +private life every day was concealed. All these hardships put her +out of patience, by little and little and she began to hate +Herod; for as she had the pride of a woman to the utmost degree, +she had great indignation at this suspicious guard that was about +her, as desirous rather to undergo any thing that could befall +her, than to be deprived of her liberty of speech, and, under the +notion of an honorary guard, to live in a state of slavery and +terror. She therefore sent to Cleopatra, and made a long +complaint of the circumstances she was in, and entreated her to +do her utmost for her assistance. Cleopatra hereupon advised her +to take her son with her, and come away immediately to her into +Egypt. This advice pleased her; and she had this contrivance for +getting away: She got two coffins made, as if they were to carry +away two dead bodies and put herself into one, and her son into +the other and gave orders to such of her servants as knew of her +intentions to carry them away in the night time. Now their road +was to be thence to the sea-side and there was a ship ready to +carry them into Egypt. Now Aesop, one of her servants, happened +to fall upon Sabion, one of her friends, and spake of this matter +to him, as thinking he had known of it before. When Sabion knew +this, (who had formerly been an enemy of Herod, and been esteemed +one of those that laid snares for and gave the poison to [his +father] Antipater,) he expected that this discovery would change +Herod's hatred into kindness; so he told the king of this private +stratagem of Alexandra: whereupon be suffered her to proceed to +the execution of her project, and caught her in the very fact; +but still he passed by her offense; and though he had a great +mind to do it, he durst not inflict any thing that was severe +upon her, for he knew that Cleopatra would not bear that he +should have her accused, on account of her hatred to him; but +made a show as if it were rather the generosity of his soul, and +his great moderation, that made him forgive them. However, he +fully proposed to himself to put this young man out of the way, +by one means or other; but he thought he might in probability be +better concealed in doing it, if he did it not presently, nor +immediately after what had lately happened. + +3. And now, upon the approach of the feast of tabernacles, which +is a festival very much observed among us, he let those days pass +over, and both he and the rest of the people were therein very +merry; yet did the envy which at this time arose in him cause him +to make haste to do what he was about, and provoke him to it; +for when this youth Aristobulus, who was now in the seventeenth +year of his age, went up to the altar, according to the law, to +offer the sacrifices, and this with the ornaments of his high +priesthood, and when he performed the sacred offices, (5) he +seemed to be exceedingly comely, and taller than men usually were +at that age, and to exhibit in his countenance a great deal of +that high family he was sprung from, - a warm zeal and affection +towards him appeared among the people, and the memory of the +actions of his grandfather Aristobulus was fresh in their minds; +and their affections got so far the mastery of them, that they +could not forbear to show their inclinations to him. They at once +rejoiced and were confounded, and mingled with good wishes their +joyful acclamations which they made to him, till the good-will of +the multitude was made too evident; and they more rashly +proclaimed the happiness they had received from his family than +was fit under a monarchy to have done. Upon all this, Herod +resolved to complete what he had intended against the young man. +When therefore the festival was over, and he was feasting at +Jericho (6) with Alexandra, who entertained them there, he was +then very pleasant with the young man, and drew him into a lonely +place, and at the same time played with him in a juvenile and +ludicrous manner. Now the nature of that place was hotter than +ordinary; so they went out in a body, and of a sudden, and in a +vein of madness; and as they stood by the fish-ponds, of which +there were large ones about the house, they went to cool +themselves [by bathing], because it was in the midst of a hot +day. At first they were only spectators of Herod's servants and +acquaintance as they were swimming; but after a while, the young +man, at the instigation of Herod, went into the water among them, +while such of Herod's acquaintance, as he had appointed to do it, +dipped him as he was swimming, and plunged him under water, in +the dark of the evening, as if it had been done in sport only; +nor did they desist till he was entirely suffocated. And thus was +Aristobulus murdered, having lived no more in all than eighteen +years, (7) and kept the high priesthood one year only; which high +priesthood Ananelus now recovered again. + +4. When this sad accident was told the women, their joy was soon +changed to lamentation, at the sight of the dead body that lay +before them, and their sorrow was immoderate. The city also [of +Jerusalem], upon the spreading of this news, were in very great +grief, every family looking on this calamity as if it had not +belonged to another, but that one of themselves was slain. But +Alexandra was more deeply affected, upon her knowledge that he +had been destroyed [on purpose]. Her sorrow was greater than that +of others, by her knowing how the murder was committed; but she +was under the necessity of bearing up under it, out of her +prospect of a greater mischief that might otherwise follow; and +she oftentimes came to an inclination to kill herself with her +own hand, but still she restrained herself, in hopes she might +live long enough to revenge the unjust murder thus privately +committed; nay, she further resolved to endeavor to live longer, +and to give no occasion to think she suspected that her son was +slain on purpose, and supposed that she might thereby be in a +capacity of revenging it at a proper opportunity. Thus did she +restrain herself, that she might not be noted for entertaining +any such suspicion. However, Herod endeavored that none abroad +should believe that the child's death was caused by any design of +his; and for this purpose he did not only use the ordinary signs +of sorrow, but fell into tears also, and exhibited a real +confusion of soul; and perhaps his affections were overcome on +this occasion, when he saw the child's countenance so young and +so beautiful, although his death was supposed to tend to his own +security. So far at least this grief served as to make some +apology for him; and as for his funeral, that he took care should +be very magnificent, by making great preparation for a sepulcher +to lay his body in, and providing a great quantity of spices, and +burying many ornaments together with him, till the very women, +who were in such deep sorrow, were astonished at it, and received +in this way some consolation. + +5. However, no such things could overcome Alexandra's grief; but +the remembrance of this miserable case made her sorrow, both deep +and obstinate. Accordingly, she wrote an account of this +treacherous scene to Cleopatra, and how her son was murdered; but +Cleopatra, as she had formerly been desirous to give her what +satisfaction she could, and commiserating Alexandra's +misfortunes, made the case her own, and would not let Antony be +quiet, but excited him to punish the child's murder; for that it +was an unworthy thing that Herod, who had been by him made king +of a kingdom that no way belonged to him, should be guilty of +such horrid crimes against those that were of the royal blood in +reality. Antony was persuaded by these arguments; and when he +came to Laodicea, he sent and commanded Herod to come and make +his defense, as to what he had done to Aristobulus, for that such +a treacherous design was not well done, if he had any hand in it. +Herod was now in fear, both of the accusation, and of Cleopatra's +ill-will to him, which was such that she was ever endeavoring to +make Antony hate him. He therefore determined to obey his +summons, for he had no possible way to avoid it. So he left his +uncle Joseph procurator for his government, and for the public +affairs, and gave him a private charge, that if Antony should +kill him, he also should kill Mariamne immediately; for that he +had a tender affection for this his wife, and was afraid of the +injury that should be offered him, if, after his death, she, for +her beauty, should be engaged to some other man: but his +intimation was nothing but this at the bottom, that Antony had +fallen in love with her, when he had formerly heard somewhat of +her beauty. So when Herod had given Joseph this charge, and had +indeed no sure hopes of escaping with his life, he went away to +Antony. + +6. But as Joseph was administering the public affairs of the +kingdom, and for that reason was very frequently with Mariamne, +both because his business required it, and because of the +respects he ought to pay to the queen, he frequently let himself +into discourses about Herod's kindness, and great affection +towards her; and when the women, especially Alexandra, used to +turn his discourses into feminine raillery, Joseph was so +over-desirous to demonstrate the kings inclinations, that he +proceeded so far as to mention the charge he had received, and +thence drew his demonstration, that Herod was not able to live +without her; and that if he should come to any ill end, he could +not endure a separation from her, even after he was dead. Thus +spake Joseph. But the women, as was natural, did not take this to +be an instance of Herod's strong affection for them, but of his +severe usage of them, that they could not escape destruction, nor +a tyrannical death, even when he was dead himself. And this +saying [of Joseph] was a foundation for the women's severe +suspicions about him afterwards. + +7. At this time a report went about the city Jerusalem among +Herod's enemies, that Antony had tortured Herod, and put him to +death. This report, as is natural, disturbed those that were +about the palace, but chiefly the women; upon which Alexandra +endeavored to persuade Joseph to go out of the palace, and fly +away with them to the ensigns of the Roman legion, which then lay +encamped about the city, as a guard to the kingdom, under the +command of Julius; for that by this means, if any disturbance +should happen about the palace, they should be in greater +security, as having the Romans favorable to them; and that +besides, they hoped to obtain the highest authority, if Antony +did but once see Mariamne, by whose means they should recover the +kingdom, and want nothing which was reasonable for them to hope +for, because of their royal extraction. + +8. But as they were in the midst of these deliberations, letters +were brought from Herod about all his affairs, and proved +contrary to the report, and of what they before expected; for +when he was come to Antony, he soon recovered his interest with +him, by the presents he made him, which he had brought with him +from Jerusalem; and he soon induced him, upon discoursing with +him, to leave off his indignation at him, so that Cleopatra's +persuasions had less force than the arguments and presents he +brought to regain his friendship; for Antony said that it was not +good to require an account of a king, as to the affairs of his +government, for at this rate he could be no king at all, but that +those who had given him that authority ought to permit him to +make use of it. He also said the same things to Cleopatra, that +it would be best for her not busily to meddle with the acts of +the king's government. Herod wrote an account of these things, +and enlarged upon the other honors which he had received from +Antony; how he sat by him at his hearing causes, and took his +diet with him every day, and that he enjoyed those favors from +him, notwithstanding the reproaches that Cleopatra so severely +laid against him, who having a great desire of his country, and +earnestly entreating Antony that the kingdom might be given to +her, labored with her utmost diligence to have him out of the +way; but that he still found Antony just to him, and had no +longer any apprehensions of hard treatment from him; and that he +was soon upon his return, with a firmer additional assurance of +his favor to him, in his reigning and managing public affairs; +and that there was no longer any hope for Cleopatra's covetous +temper, since Antony had given her Celesyria instead of what she +had desired; by which means he had at once pacified her, and got +clear of the entreaties which she made him to have Judea bestowed +upon her. + +9. When these letters were brought, the women left off their +attempt for flying to the Romans, which they thought of while +Herod was supposed to be dead; yet was not that purpose of theirs +a secret; but when the king had conducted Antony on his way +against the Partnians, he returned to Judea, when both his sister +Salome and his mother informed him of Alexandra's intentions. +Salome also added somewhat further against Joseph, though it was +no more than a calumny, that he had often had criminal +conversation with Mariamne. The reason of her saying so was this, +that she for a long time bare her ill-will; for when they had +differences with one another, Mariamne took great freedoms, and +reproached the rest for the meanness of their birth. But Herod, +whose affection to Mariamne was always very warm, was presently +disturbed at this, and could not bear the torments of jealousy, +but was still restrained from doing any rash thing to her by the +love he had for her; yet did his vehement affection and jealousy +together make him ask Mariamne by herself about this matter of +Joseph; but she denied it upon her oath, and said all that an +innocent woman could possibly say in her own defense; so that by +little and little the king was prevailed upon to drop the +suspicion, and left off his anger at her; and being overcome with +his passion for his wife, he made an apology to her for having +seemed to believe what he had heard about her, and returned her a +great many acknowledgments of her modest behavior, and professed +the extraordinary affection and kindness he had for her, till at +last, as is usual between lovers, they both fell into tears, and +embraced one another with a most tender affection. But as the +king gave more and more assurances of his belief of her fidelity, +and endeavored to draw her to a like confidence in him, Marianme +said, Yet was not that command thou gavest, that if any harm came +to thee from Antony, I, who had been no occasion of it, should +perish with thee, a sign of thy love to me?" When these words +were fallen from her, the king was shocked at them, and presently +let her go out of his arms, and cried out, and tore his hair with +his own hands, and said, that "now he had an evident +demonstration that Joseph had had criminal conversation with his +wife; for that he would never have uttered what he had told him +alone by himself, unless there had been such a great familiarity +and firm confidence between them. And while he was in this +passion he had like to have killed his wife; but being still +overborne by his love to her, he restrained this his passion, +though not without a lasting grief and disquietness of mind. +However, he gave order to slay Joseph, without permitting him to +come into his sight; and as for Alexandra, he bound her, and kept +her in custody, as the cause of all this mischief. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Cleopatra, When She Had Gotten From Antony Some Parts Of +Judea And Arabia Came Into Judea; And How Herod Gave Her Many +Presents And Conducted Her On Her Way Back To Egypt. + + +1. Now at this time the affairs of Syria were in confusion by +Cleopatra's constant persuasions to Antony to make an attempt +upon every body's dominions; for she persuaded him to take those +dominions away from their several princes, and bestow them upon +her; and she had a mighty influence upon him, by reason of his +being enslaved to her by his affections. She was also by nature +very covetous, and stuck at no wickedness. She had already +poisoned her brother, because she knew that he was to be king of +Egypt, and this when he was but fifteen years old; and she got +her sister Arsinoe to be slain, by the means of Antony, when she +was a supplicant at Diana's temple at Ephesus; for if there were +but any hopes of getting money, she would violate both temples +and sepulchers. Nor was there any holy place that was esteemed +the most inviolable, from which she would not fetch the ornaments +it had in it; nor any place so profane, but was to suffer the +most flagitious treatment possible from her, if it could but +contribute somewhat to the covetous humor of this wicked +creature: yet did not all this suffice so extravagant a woman, +who was a slave to her lusts, but she still imagined that she +wanted every thing she could think of, and did her utmost to gain +it; for which reason she hurried Antony on perpetually to deprive +others of their dominions, and give them to her. And as she went +over Syria with him, she contrived to get it into her possession; +so he slew Lysanias, the son of Ptolemy, accusing him of his +bringing the Parthians upon those countries. She also petitioned +Antony to give her Judea and Arabia; and, in order thereto, +desired him to take these countries away from their present +governors. As for Antony, he was so entirely overcome by this +woman, that one would not think her conversation only could do +it, but that he was some way or other bewitched to do whatsoever +she would have him; yet did the grossest parts of her injustice +make him so ashamed, that he would not always hearken to her to +do those flagrant enormities she would have persuaded him to. +That therefore he might not totally deny her, nor, by doing every +thing which she enjoined him, appear openly to be an ill man, he +took some parts of each of those countries away from their former +governors, and gave them to her. Thus he gave her the cities that +were within the river Eleutherus, as far as Egypt, excepting Tyre +and Sidon, which he knew to have been free cities from their +ancestors, although she pressed him very often to bestow those on +her also. + +2. When Cleopatra had obtained thus much, and had accompanied +Antony in his expedition to Armenia as far as Euphrates, she +returned back, and came to Apamia and Damascus, and passed on to +Judea, where Herod met her, and farmed of her parts of Arabia, +and those revenues that came to her from the region about +Jericho. This country bears that balsam, which is the most +precious drug that is there, and grows there alone. The place +bears also palm trees, both many in number, and those excellent +in their kind. When she was there, and was very often with Herod, +she endeavored to have criminal conversation with the king; nor +did she affect secrecy in the indulgence of such sort of +pleasures; and perhaps she had in some measure a passion of love +to him; or rather, what is most probable, she laid a treacherous +snare for him, by aiming to obtain such adulterous conversation +from him: however, upon the whole, she seemed overcome with love +to him. Now Herod had a great while borne no good-will to +Cleopatra, as knowing that she was a woman irksome to all; and at +that time he thought her particularly worthy of his hatred, if +this attempt proceeded out of lust; he had also thought of +preventing her intrigues, by putting her to death, if such were +her endeavors. However, he refused to comply with her proposals, +and called a counsel of his friends to consult with them whether +he should not kill her, now he had her in his power; for that he +should thereby deliver all those from a multitude of evils to +whom she was already become irksome, and was expected to be still +so for the time to come; and that this very thing would be much +for the advantage of Antony himself, since she would certainly +not be faithful to him, in case any such season or necessity +should come upon him as that he should stand in need of her +fidelity. But when he thought to follow this advice, his friends +would not let him; and told him that, in the first place, it was +not right to attempt so great a thing, and run himself thereby +into the utmost danger; and they laid hard at him, and begged of +him to undertake nothing rashly, for that Antony would never bear +it, no, not though any one should evidently lay before his eyes +that it was for his own advantage; and that the appearance of +depriving him of her conversation, by this violent and +treacherous method, would probably set his affections more on a +flame than before. Nor did it appear that he could offer any +thing of tolerable weight in his defense, this attempt being +against such a woman as was of the highest dignity of any of her +sex at that time in the world; and as to any advantage to be +expected from such an undertaking, if any such could be supposed +in this case, it would appear to deserve condemnation, on account +of the insolence he must take upon him in doing it: which +considerations made it very plain that in so doing he would find +his government filled with mischief, both great and lasting, both +to himself and his posterity, whereas it was still in his power +to reject that wickedness she would persuade him to, and to come +off honorably at the same time. So by thus affrighting Herod, and +representing to him the hazard he must, in all probability, run +by this undertaking, they restrained him from it. So he treated +Cleopatra kindly, and made her presents, and conducted her on her +way to Egypt. + +3. But Antony subdued Armenia, and sent Artabazes, the son of +Tigranes, in bonds, with his children and procurators, to Egypt, +and made a present of them, and of all the royal ornaments which +he had taken out of that kingdom, to Cleopatra. And Artaxias, the +eldest of his sons, who had escaped at that time, took the +kingdom of Armenia; who yet was ejected by Archclaus and Nero +Caesar, when they restored Tigranes, his younger brother, to that +kingdom; but this happened a good while afterward. + +4. But then, as to the tributes which Herod was to pay Cleopatra +for that country which Antony had given her, he acted fairly with +her, as deeming it not safe for him to afford any cause for +Cleopatra to hate him. As for the king of Arabia, whose tribute +Herod had undertaken to pay her, for some time indeed he paid him +as much as came to two hundred talents; but he afterwards became +very niggardly and slow in his payments, and could hardly be +brought to pay some parts of it, and was not willing to pay even +them without some deductions. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Herod Made War With The King Of Arabia, And After They Had +Fought Many Battles, At Length Conquered Him, And Was Chosen By +The Arabs To Be Governor Of That Nation; As Also Concerning A +Great Earthquake. + + +1. Hereupon Herod held himself ready to go against the king of +Arabia, because of his ingratitude to him, and because, after +all, he would do nothing that was just to him, although Herod +made the Roman war an occasion of delaying his own; for the +battle at Actium was now expected, which fell into the hundred +eighty and seventh olympiad, where Caesar and Antony were to +fight for the supreme power of the world; but Herod having +enjoyed a country that was very fruitful, and that now for a long +time, and having received great taxes, and raised great armies +therewith, got together a body of men, and carefully furnished +them with all necessaries, and designed them as auxiliaries for +Antony. But Antony said he had no want of his assistance; but he +commanded him to punish the king of Arabia; for he had heard both +from him, and from Cleopatra, how perfidious he was; for this was +what Cleopatra desired, who thought it for her own advantage that +these two kings should do one another as great mischief as +possible. Upon this message from Antony, Herod returned back, but +kept his army with him, in order to invade Arabia immediately. So +when his army of horsemen and footmen was ready, he marched to +Diospolis, whither the Arabians came also to meet them, for they +were not unapprized of this war that was coming upon them; and +after a great battle had been fought, the Jews had the victory. +But afterward there were gotten together another numerous army of +the Arabians, at Cana, which is a place of Celesyria. Herod was +informed of this beforehand; so he came marching against them +with the greatest part of the forces he had; and when he was come +near to Cana, he resolved to encamp himself; and he cast up a +bulwark, that he might take a proper season for attacking the +enemy; but as he was giving those orders, the multitude of the +Jews cried out that he should make no delay, but lead them +against the Arabians. They went with great spirit, as believing +they were in very good order; and those especially were so that +had been in the former battle, and had been conquerors, and had +not permitted their enemies so much as to come to a close fight +with them. And when they were so tumultuous, and showed such +great alacrity, the king resolved to make use of that zeal the +multitude then exhibited; and when he had assured them he would +not be behindhand with them in courage, he led them on, and stood +before them all in his armor, all the regiments following him in +their several ranks: whereupon a consternation fell upon the +Arabians; for when they perceived that the Jews were not to be +conquered, and were full of spirit, the greater part of them ran +away, and avoided fighting; and they had been quite destroyed, +had not Anthony fallen upon the Jews, and distressed them; for +this man was Cleopatra's general over the soldiers she had there, +and was at enmity with Herod, and very wistfully looked on to see +what the event of the battle would be. He had also resolved, that +in case the Arabians did any thing that was brave and successful, +he would lie still; but in case they were beaten, as it really +happened, he would attack the Jews with those forces he had of +his own, and with those that the country had gotten together for +him. So he fell upon the Jews unexpectedly, when they were +fatigued, and thought they had already vanquished the enemy, and +made a great slaughter of them; for as the Jews had spent their +courage upon their known enemies, and were about to enjoy +themselves in quietness after their victory, they were easily +beaten by these that attacked them afresh, and in particular +received a great loss in places where the horses could not be of +service, and which were very stony, and where those that attacked +them were better acquainted with the places than themselves. And +when the Jews had suffered this loss, the Arabians raised their +spirits after their defeat, and returning back again, slew those +that were already put to flight; and indeed all sorts of +slaughter were now frequent, and of those that escaped, a few +only returned into the camp. So king Herod, when he despaired of +the battle, rode up to them to bring them assistance; yet did he +not come time enough to do them any service, though he labored +hard to do it; but the Jewish camp was taken; so that the +Arabians had unexpectedly a most glorious success, having gained +that victory which of themselves they were no way likely to have +gained, and slaying a great part of the enemy's army: whence +afterward Herod could only act like a private robber, and make +excursions upon many parts of Arabia, and distress them by sudden +incursions, while he encamped among the mountains, and avoided by +any means to come to a pitched battle; yet did he greatly harass +the enemy by his assiduity, and the hard labor he took in this +matter. He also took great care of his own forces, and used all +the means he could to restore his affairs to their old state. + +2. At this time it was that the fight happened at Actium, between +Octavius Caesar and Antony, in the seventh year of the reign of +Herod (8) and then it was also that there was an earthquake in +Judea, such a one as had not happened at any other time, and +which earthquake brought a great destruction upon the cattle in +that country. About ten thousand men also perished by the fall of +houses; but the army, which lodged in the field, received no +damage by this sad accident. When the Arabians were informed of +this, and when those that hated the Jews, and pleased themselves +with aggravating the reports, told them of it, they raised their +spirits, as if their enemy's country was quite overthrown, and +the men were utterly destroyed, and thought there now remained +nothing that could oppose them. Accordingly, they took the Jewish +ambassadors, who came to them after all this had happened, to +make peace with them, and slew them, and came with great alacrity +against their army; but the Jews durst not withstand them, and +were so cast down by the calamities they were under, that they +took no care of their affairs, but gave up themselves to despair; +for they had no hope that they should be upon a level again with +them in battles, nor obtain any assistance elsewhere, while their +affairs at home were in such great distress also. When matters +were in this condition, the king persuaded the commanders by his +words, and tried to raise their spirits, which were quite sunk; +and first he endeavored to encourage and embolden some of the +better sort beforehand, and then ventured to make a speech to the +multitude, which he had before avoided to do, lest he should find +them uneasy thereat, because of the misfortunes which had +happened; so he made a consolatory speech to the multitude, in +the manner following: + +3. "You are not unacquainted, my fellow soldiers, that we have +had, not long since, many accidents that have put a stop to what +we are about, and it is probable that even those that are most +distinguished above others for their courage can hardly keep up +their spirits in such circumstances; but since we cannot avoid +fighting, and nothing that hath happened is of such a nature but +it may by ourselves be recovered into a good state, and this by +one brave action only well performed, I have proposed to myself +both to give you some encouragement, and, at the same time, some +information; both which parts of my design will tend to this +point; that you may still continue in your own proper fortitude. +I will then, in the first place, demonstrate to you that this war +is a just one on our side, and that on this account it is a war +of necessity, and occasioned by the injustice of our adversaries; +for if you be once satisfied of this, it will be a real cause of +alacrity to you; after which I will further demonstrate, that the +misfortunes we are under are of no great consequence, and that we +have the greatest reason to hope for victory. I shall begin with +the first, and appeal to yourselves as witnesses to what I shall +say. You are not ignorant certainly of the wickedness of the +Arabians, which is to that degree as to appear incredible to all +other men, and to include somewhat that shows the grossest +barbarity and ignorance of God. The chief things wherein they +have affronted us have arisen from covetousness and envy; and +they have attacked us in an insidious manner, and on the sudden. +And what occasion is there for me to mention many instances of +such their procedure? When they were in danger of losing their +own government of themselves, and of being slaves to Cleopatra, +what others were they that freed them from that fear? for it was +the friendship. I had with Antony, and the kind disposition he +was in towards us, that hath been the occasion that even these +Arabians have not been utterly undone, Antony being unwilling to +undertake any thing which might be suspected by us of unkindness: +but when he had a mind to bestow some parts of each of our +dominions on Cleopatra, I also managed that matter so, that by +giving him presents of my own, I might obtain a security to both +nations, while I undertook myself to answer for the money, and +gave him two hundred talents, and became surety for those two +hundred more which were imposed upon the land that was subject to +this tribute; and this they have defrauded us of, although it was +not reasonable that Jews should pay tribute to any man living, or +allow part of their land to be taxable; but although that was to +be, yet ought we not to pay tribute for these Arabians, whom we +have ourselves preserved; nor is it fit that they, who have +professed (and that with great integrity and sense of our +kindness) that it is by our means that they keep their +principality, should injure us, and deprive us of what is our +due, and this while we have been still not their enemies, but +their friends. And whereas observation of covenants takes place +among the bitterest enemies, but among friends is absolutely +necessary, this is not observed among these men, who think gain +to be the best of all things, let it be by any means whatsoever, +and that injustice is no harm, if they may but get money by it: +is it therefore a question with you, whether the unjust are to be +punished or not? when God himself hath declared his mind that so +it ought to be, and hath commanded that we ever should hate +injuries and injustice, which is not only just, but necessary, in +wars between several nations; for these Arabians have done what +both the Greeks and barbarians own to be an instance of the +grossest wickedness, with regard to our ambassadors, which they +have beheaded, while the Greeks declare that such ambassadors are +sacred and inviolable. (9) And for ourselves, we have learned +from God the most excellent of our doctrines, and the most holy +part of our law, by angels or ambassadors; for this name brings +God to the knowledge of mankind, and is sufficient to reconcile +enemies one to another. What wickedness then can be greater than +the slaughter of ambassadors, who come to treat about doing what +is right? And when such have been their actions, how is it +possible they can either live securely in common life, or be +successful in war? In my opinion, this is impossible; but perhaps +some will say, that what is holy, and what is righteous, is +indeed on our side, but that the Arabians are either more +courageous or more numerous than we are. Now, as to this, in the +first place, it is not fit for us to say so, for with whom is +what is righteous, with them is God himself; now where God is, +there is both multitude and courage. But to examine our own +circumstances a little, we were conquerors in the first battle; +and when we fought again, they were not able to oppose us, but +ran away, and could not endure our attacks or our courage; but +when we had conquered them, then came Athenion, and made war +against us without declaring it; and pray, is this an instance of +their manhood? or is it not a second instance of their wickedness +and treachery? Why are we therefore of less courage, on account +of that which ought to inspire us with stronger hopes? and why +are we terrified at these, who, when they fight upon the level, +are continually beaten, and when they seem to be conquerors, they +gain it by wickedness? and if we suppose that any one should deem +them to be men of real courage, will not he be excited by that +very consideration to do his utmost against them? for true valor +is not shown by fighting against weak persons, but in being able +to overcome the most hardy. But then if the distresses we are +ourselves under, and the miseries that have come by the +earthquake, hath aftrighted any one, let him consider, in the +first place, that this very thing will deceive the Arabians, by +their supposal that what hath befallen us is greater than it +really is. Moreover, it is not right that the same thing that +emboldens them should discourage us; for these men, you see, do +not derive their alacrity from any advantageous virtue of their +own, but from their hope, as to us, that we are quite cast down +by our misfortunes; but when we boldly march against them, we +shall soon pull down their insolent conceit of themselves, and +shall gain this by attacking them, that they will not be so +insolent when we come to the battle; for our distresses are not +so great, nor is what hath happened all indication of the anger +of God against us, as some imagine; for such things are +accidental, and adversities that come in the usual course of +things; and if we allow that this was done by the will of God, we +must allow that it is now over by his will also, and that he is +satisfied with what hath already happened; for had he been +willing to afflict us still more thereby, he had not changed his +mind so soon. And as for the war we are engaged in, he hath +himself demonstrated that he is willing it should go on, and that +he knows it to be a just war; for while some of the people in the +country have perished, all you who were in arms have suffered +nothing, but are all preserved alive; whereby God makes it plain +to us, that if you had universally, with your children and wives, +been in the army, it had come to pass that you had not undergone +any thing that would have much hurt you. Consider these things, +and, what is more than all the rest, that you have God at all +times for your Protector; and prosecute these men with a just +bravery, who, in point of friendship, are unjust, in their +battles perfidious, towards ambassadors impious, and always +inferior to you in valor." + +4. When the Jews heard this speech, they were much raised in +their minds, and more disposed to fight than before. So Herod, +when he had offered the sacrifices appointed by the law (10) made +haste, and took them, and led them against the Arabians; and in +order to that passed over Jordan, and pitched his camp near to +that of the enemy. He also thought fit to seize upon a certain +castle that lay in the midst of them, as hoping it would be for +his advantage, and would the sooner produce a battle; and that if +there were occasion for delay, he should by it have his camp +fortified; and as the Arabians had the same intentions upon that +place, a contest arose about it; at first they were but +skirmishes, after which there came more soldiers, and it proved a +sort of fight, and some fell on both sides, till those of the +Arabian side were beaten and retreated. This was no small +encouragement to the Jews immediately; and when Herod observed +that the enemy's army was disposed to any thing rather than to +come to an engagement, he ventured boldly to attempt the bulwark +itself, and to pull it to pieces, and so to get nearer to their +camp, in order to fight them; for when they were forced out of +their trenches, they went out in disorder, and had not the least +alacrity, or hope of victory; yet did they fight hand to hand, +because they were more in number than the Jews, and because they +were in such a disposition of war that they were under a +necessity of coming on boldly; so they came to a terrible battle, +while not a few fell on each side. However, at length the +Arabians fled; and so great a slaughter was made upon their being +routed, that they were not only killed by their enemies, but +became the authors of their own deaths also, and were trodden +down by the multitude, and the great current of people in +disorder, and were destroyed by their own armor; so five thousand +men lay dead upon the spot, while the rest of the multitude soon +ran within the bulwark for safety, but had no firm hope of +safety, by reason of their want of necessaries, and especially of +water. The Jews pursued them, but could not get in with them, but +sat round about the bulwark, and watched any assistance that +would get in to them, and prevented any there, that had a mind to +it, from running away. + +5. When the Arabians were in these circumstances, they sent +ambassadors to Herod, in the first place, to propose terms of +accommodation, and after that to offer him, so pressing was their +thirst upon them, to undergo whatsoever he pleased, if he would +free them from their present distress; but he would admit of no +ambassadors, of no price of redemption, nor of any other moderate +terms whatever, being very desirous to revenge those unjust +actions which they had been guilty of towards his nation. So they +were necessitated by other motives, and particularly by their +thirst, to come out, and deliver themselves up to him, to be +carried away captives; and in five days' time the number of four +thousand were taken prisoners, while all the rest resolved to +make a sally upon their enemies, and to fight it out with them, +choosing rather, if so it must be, to die therein, than to perish +gradually and ingloriously. When they had taken this resolution, +they came out of their trenches, but could no way sustain the +fight, being too much disabled, both in mind and body, and having +not room to exert themselves, and thought it an advantage to be +killed, and a misery to survive; so at the first onset there fell +about seven thousand of them, after which stroke they let all the +courage they had put on before fall, and stood amazed at Herod's +warlike spirit under his own calamities; so for the future they +yielded, and made him ruler of their nation; whereupon he was +greatly elevated at so seasonable a success, and returned home, +taking great authority upon him, on account of so bold and +glorious an expedition as he had made. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How Herod Slew Hyrcanus And Then Hasted Away To Caesar, And +Obtained The Kingdom From Him Also; And How A Little Time +Afterward, He Entertained Caesar In A Most Honorable Manner. + + +1. Herod's other affairs were now very prosperous, and he was not +to be easily assaulted on any side. Yet did there come upon him a +danger that would hazard his entire dominions, after Antony had +been beaten at the battle of Actium by Caesar [Octarian]; for at +that time both Herod's enemies and friends despaired of his +affairs, for it was not probable that he would remain without +punishment, who had showed so much friendship for Antony. So it +happened that his friends despaired, and had no hopes of his +escape; but for his enemies, they all outwardly appeared to be +troubled at his case, but were privately very glad of it, as +hoping to obtain a change for the better. As for Herod himself he +saw that there was no one of royal dignity left but Hyrcanus, and +therefore he thought it would be for his advantage not to suffer +him to be an obstacle in his way any longer; for that in case he +himself survived, and escaped the danger he was in, he thought it +the safest way to put it out of the power of such a man to make +any attempt against him, at such junctures of affairs, as was +more worthy of the kingdom than himself; and in case he should be +slain by Caesar, his envy prompted him to desire to slay him that +would otherwise be king after him. + +2. While Herod had these things in his mind, there was a certain +occasion afforded him: for Hyrcanus was of so mild a temper, both +then and at other times, that he desired not to meddle with +public affairs, nor to concern himself with innovations, but left +all to fortune, and contented himself with what that afforded +him: but Alexandra [his daughter] was a lover of strife, and was +exceeding desirous of a change of the government, and spake to +her father not to bear for ever Herod's injurious treatment of +their family, but to anticipate their future hopes, as he safely +might; and desired him to write about these matters to Malchus, +who was then governor of Arabia, to receive them, and to secure +them [from Herod], for that if they went away, and Herod's +affairs proved to be as it was likely they would be, by reason of +Caesar's enmity to him, they should then be the only persons that +could take the government; and this, both on account of the royal +family they were of, and on account of the good disposition of: +the multitude to them. While she used these persuasions, Hyrcanus +put off her suit; but as she showed that she was a woman, and a +contentious woman too, and would not desist either night or day, +but would always be speaking to him about these matters, and +about Herod's treacherous designs, she at last prevailed with him +to intrust Dositheus, one of his friends, with a letter, wherein +his resolution was declared; and he desired the Arabian governor +to send to him some horsemen, who should receive him, and conduct +him to the lake Asphaltites, which is from the bounds of +Jerusalem three hundred furlongs: and he did therefore trust +Dositheus with this letter, because he was a careful attendant on +him, and on Alexandra, and had no small occasions to bear +ill-will to Herod; for he was a kinsman of one Joseph, whom he +had slain, and a brother of those that were formerly slain at +Tyre by Antony: yet could not these motives induce Dositheus to +serve Hyrcanus in this affair; for, preferring the hopes he had +from the present king to those he had from him, he gave Herod the +letter. So he took his kindness in good part, and bid him besides +do what he had already done, that is, go on in serving him, by +rolling up the epistle and sealing it again, and delivering it to +Malchus, and then to bring back his letter in answer to it; for +it would be much better if he could know Malchus's intentions +also. And when Dositheus was very ready to serve him in this +point also, the Arabian governor returned back for answer, that +he would receive Hyrcanus, and all that should come with him, and +even all the Jews that were of his party; that he would, +moreover, send forces sufficient to secure them in their journey; +and that he should be in no want of any thing he should desire. +Now as soon as Herod had received this letter, he immediately +sent for Hyrcanus, and questioned him about the league he had +made with Malchus; and when he denied it, he showed his letter to +the Sanhedrim, and put the man to death immediately. + +3. And this account we give the reader, as it is contained in the +commentaries of king Herod: but other historians do not agree +with them, for they suppose that Herod did not find, but rather +make, this an occasion for thus putting him to death, and that by +treacherously laying a snare for him; for thus do they write: +That Herod and he were once at a treat, and that Herod had given +no occasion to suspect [that he was displeased at him], but put +this question to Hyrcanus, Whether he had received any letters +from Malchus? and when he answered that he had received letters, +but those of salutation only; and when he asked further, whether +he had not received any presents from him? and when he had +replied that he had received no more than four horses to ride on, +which Malchus had sent him; they pretended that Herod charged +these upon him as the crimes of bribery and treason, and gave +order that he should be led away and slain. And in order to +demonstrate that he had been guilty of no offense, when he was +thus brought to his end, they alleged how mild his temper had +been, and that even in his youth he had never given any +demonstration of boldness or rashness, and that the case was the +same when he came to be king, but that he even then committed the +management of the greatest part of public affairs to Antipater; +and that he was now above fourscore years old, and knew that +Herod's government was in a secure state. He also came over +Euphrates, and left those who greatly honored him beyond that +river, though he were to be entirely under Herod's government; +and that it was a most incredible thing that he should enterprise +any thing by way of innovation, and not at all agreeable to his +temper, but that this was a plot of Herod's contrivance. + +4. And this was the fate of Hyrcanus; and thus did he end his +life, after he had endured various and manifold turns of fortune +in his lifetime. For he was made high priest of the Jewish nation +in the beginning of his mother Alexandra's reign, who held the +government nine years; and when, after his mother's death, he +took the kingdom himself, and held it three months, he lost it, +by the means of his brother Aristobulus. He was then restored by +Pompey, and received all sorts of honor from him, and enjoyed +them forty years; but when he was again deprived by Antigonus, +and was maimed in his body, he was made a captive by the +Parthians, and thence returned home again after some time, on +account of the hopes that Herod had given him; none of which came +to pass according to his expectation, but he still conflicted +with many misfortunes through the whole course of his life; and, +what was the heaviest calamity of all, as we have related +already, he came to an end which was undeserved by him. His +character appeared to be that of a man of a mild and moderate +disposition, and suffered the administration of affairs to be +generally done by others under him. He was averse to much +meddling with the public, nor had shrewdness enough to govern a +kingdom. And both Antipater and Herod came to their greatness by +reason of his mildness; and at last he met with such an end from +them as was not agreeable either to justice or piety. + +5. Now Herod, as soon as he had put Hyrcanus out of the way, made +haste to Caesar; and because he could not have any hopes of +kindness from him, on account of the friendship he had for +Antony, he had a suspicion of Alexandra, lest she should take +this opportunity to bring the multitude to a revolt, and +introduce a sedition into the affairs of the kingdom; so he +committed the care of every thing to his brother Pheroras, and +placed his mother Cypros, and his sister [Salome], and the whole +family at Masada, and gave him a charge, that if he should hear +any sad news about him, he should take care of the government. +But as to Mariamne his wife, because of the misunderstanding +between her and his sister, and his sister's mother, which made +it impossible for them to live together, he placed her at +Alexandrium, with Alexandra her mother, and left his treasurer +Joseph and Sohemus of Iturea to take care of that fortress. These +two had been very faithful to him from the beginning, and were +now left as a guard to the women. They also had it in charge, +that if they should hear any mischief had befallen him, they +should kill them both, and, as far as they were able, to preserve +the kingdom for his sons, and for his brother Pheroras. + +6. When he had given them this charge, he made haste to Rhodes, +to meet Caesar; and when he had sailed to that city, he took off +his diadem, but remitted nothing else of his usual dignity. And +when, upon his meeting him, he desired that he would let him +speak to him, he therein exhibited a much more noble specimen of +a great soul; for he did not betake himself to supplications, as +men usually do upon such occasions, nor offered him any petition, +as if he were an offender; but, after an undaunted manner, gave +an account of what he had done; for he spake thus to Caesar: That +he had the greatest friendship for Antony, and did every thing he +could that he might attain the government; that he was not indeed +in the army with him, because the Arabians had diverted him; but +that he had sent him both money and corn, which was but too +little in comparison of what he ought to have done for him; "for +if a man owns himself to be another's friend, and knows him to be +a benefactor, he is obliged to hazard every thing, to use every +faculty of his soul, every member of his body, and all the wealth +he hath, for him, in which I confess I have been too deficient. +However, I am conscious to myself, that so far I have done right, +that I have not deserted him upon his defeat at Actium; nor upon +the evident change of his fortune have I transferred my hopes +from him to another, but have preserved myself, though not as a +valuable fellow soldier, yet certainly as a faithful counselor, +to Antony, when I demonstrated to him that the only way that he +had to save himself, and not to lose all his authority, was to +slay Cleopatra; for when she was once dead, there would be room +for him to retain his authority, and rather to bring thee to make +a composition with him, than to continue at enmity any longer. +None of which advises would he attend to, but preferred his own +rash resolution before them, which have happened unprofitably for +him, but profitably for thee. Now, therefore, in case thou +determinest about me, and my alacrity in serving Antony, +according to thy anger at him, I own there is no room for me to +deny what I have done, nor will I be ashamed to own, and that +publicly too, that I had a great kindness for him. But if thou +wilt put him out of the case, and only examine how I behave +myself to my benefactors in general, and what sort of friend I +am, thou wilt find by experience that we shall do and be the same +to thyself, for it is but changing the names, and the firmness of +friendship that we shall bear to thee will not be disapproved by +thee." + +7. By this speech, and by his behavior, which showed Caesar the +frankness of his mind, he greatly gained upon him, who was +himself of a generous and magnificent temper, insomuch that those +very actions, which were the foundation of the accusation against +him, procured him Caesar's good-will. Accordingly, he restored +him his diadem again; and encouraged him to exhibit himself as +great a friend to himself as he had been to Antony, and then had +him in great esteem. Moreover, he added this, that Quintus Didius +had written to him that Herod had very readily assisted him in +the affair of the gladiators. So when he had obtained such a kind +reception, and had, beyond all his hopes, procured his crown to +be more entirely and firmly settled upon him than ever by +Caesar's donation, as well as by that decree of the Romans, which +Caesar took care to procure for his greater security, he +conducted Caesar on his way to Egypt, and made presents, even +beyond his ability, to both him and his friends, and in general +behaved himself with great magnanimity. He also desired that +Caesar would not put to death one Alexander, who had been a +companion of Antony; but Caesar had sworn to put him to death, +and so he could not obtain that his petition. And now he returned +to Judea again with greater honor and assurance than ever, and +affrighted those that had expectations to the contrary, as still +acquiring from his very dangers greater splendor than before, by +the favor of God to him. So he prepared for the reception of +Caesar, as he was going out of Syria to invade Egypt; and when he +came, he entertained him at Ptolemais with all royal +magnificence. He also bestowed presents on the army, and brought +them provisions in abundance. He also proved to be one of +Caesar's most cordial friends, and put the army in array, and +rode along with Caesar, and had a hundred and fifty men, well +appointed in all respects, after a rich and sumptuous manner, for +the better reception of him and his friends. He also provided +them with what they should want, as they passed over the dry +desert, insomuch that they lacked neither wine nor water, which +last the soldiers stood in the greatest need of; and besides, he +presented Caesar with eight hundred talents, and procured to +himself the good-will of them all, because he was assisting to +them in a much greater and more splendid degree than the kingdom +he had obtained could afford; by which means he more and more +demonstrated to Caesar the firmness of his friendship, and his +readiness to assist him; and what was of the greatest advantage +to him was this, that his liberality came at a seasonable time +also. And when they returned again out of Egypt, his assistances +were no way inferior to the good offices he had formerly done +them. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Herod Slew Sohemus And Mariamne And Afterward Alexandra And +Costobarus, And His Most Intimate Friends, And At Last The Sons +Of Babbas Also. + + +1. However, when he came into his kingdom again, he found his +house all in disorder, and his wife Mariamne and her mother +Alexandra very uneasy; for as they supposed (what was easy to be +supposed) that they were not put into that fortress [Alexandrium] +for the security of their persons, but as into a garrison for +their imprisonment, and that they had no power over any thing, +either of others or of their own affairs, they were very uneasy; +and Mariamne supposing that the king's love to her was but +hypocritical, and rather pretended (as advantageous to himself) +than real, she looked upon it as fallacious. She also was grieved +that he would not allow her any hopes of surviving him, if he +should come to any harm himself. She also recollected what +commands he had formerly given to Joseph, insomuch that she +endeavored to please her keepers, and especially Sohemus, as well +apprized how all was in his power. And at the first Sohemus was +faithful to Herod, and neglected none of the things he had given +him in charge; but when the women, by kind words and liberal +presents, had gained his affections over to them, he was by +degrees overcome, and at length discovered to them all the king's +injunctions, and this on that account principally, that he did +not so much as hope he would come back with the same authority he +had before; so that he thought he should both escape any danger +from him, mid supposed that he did hereby much gratify the women, +who were likely not to be overlooked in the settling of the +government; nay, that they would be able to make him abundant +recompense, since they must either reign themselves, or be very +near to him that should reign. He had a further ground of hope +also, that though Herod should have all the success he could wish +for, and should return again, he could not contradict his wife in +what she desired, for he knew that the king's fondness for his +wife was inexpressible. These were the motives that drew Sohemus +to discover what injunctions had been given him. So Mariamne was +greatly displeased to hear that there was no end of the dangers +she was under from Herod, and was greatly uneasy at it, and +wished that he might obtain no favors [from Caesar], and esteemed +it almost an insupportable task to live with him any longer; and +this she afterward openly declared, without concealing her +resentment. + +2. And now Herod sailed home with joy, at the unexpected good +success he had had; and went first of all, as was proper, to this +his wife, and told her, and her only, the good news, as +preferring her before the rest, on account of his fondness for +her, and the intimacy there had been between them, and saluted +her; but so it happened, that as he told her of the good success +he had had, she was so far from rejoicing at it, that she rather +was sorry for it; nor was she able to conceal her resentments, +but, depending on her dignity, and the nobility of her birth, in +return for his salutations, she gave a groan, and declared +evidently that she rather grieved than rejoiced at his success, +and this till Herod was disturbed at her, as affording him, not +only marks of her suspicion, but evident signs of her +dissatisfaction. This much troubled him, to see that this +surprising hatred of his wife to him was not concealed, but open; +and he took this so ill, and yet was so unable to bear it, on +account of the fondness he had for her, that he could not +continue long in any one mind, but sometimes was angry at her, +and sometimes reconciled himself to her; but by always changing +one passion for another, he was still in great uncertainty, and +thus was he entangled between hatred and love, and was frequently +disposed to inflict punishment on her for her insolence towards +him; but being deeply in love with her in his soul, he was not +able to get quit of this woman. In short, as he would gladly have +her punished, so was he afraid lest, ere he were aware, he +should, by putting her to death, bring a heavier punishment upon +himself at the same time. + +3. When Herod's sister and mother perceived that he was in this +temper with regard to Mariamne they thought they had now got an +excellent opportunity to exercise their hatred against her and +provoked Herod to wrath by telling him, such long stories and +calumnies about her, as might at once excite his hatred and his +jealousy. Now, though he willingly enough heard their words, yet +had not he courage enough to do any thing to her as if he +believed them; but still he became worse and worse disposed to +her, and these ill passions were more and more inflamed on both +sides, while she did not hide her disposition towards him, and he +turned his love to her into wrath against her. But when he was +just going to put this matter past all remedy, he heard the news +that Caesar was the victor in the war, and that Antony and +Cleopatra were both dead, and that he had conquered Egypt; +whereupon he made haste to go to meet Caesar, and left the +affairs of his family in their present state. However, Mariamne +recommended Sohemus to him, as he was setting out on his journey, +and professed that she owed him thanks for the care he had taken +of her, and asked of the king for him a place in the government; +upon which an honorable employment was bestowed upon him +accordingly. Now when Herod was come into Egypt, he was +introduced to Caesar with great freedom, as already a friend of +his, and received very great favors from him; for he made him a +present of those four hundred Galatians who had been Cleopatra's +guards, and restored that country to him again, which, by her +means, had been taken away from him. He also added to his kingdom +Gadara, Hippos, and Samaria; and, besides those, the maritime +cities, Gaza, and Anthedon, and Joppa, and Strato's Tower. + +4. Upon these new acquisitions, he grew more magnificent, and +conducted Caesar as far as Antioch; but upon his return, as much +as his prosperity was augmented by the foreign additions that had +been made him, so much the greater were the distresses that came +upon him in his own family, and chiefly in the affair of his +wife, wherein he formerly appeared to have been most of all +fortunate; for the affection he had for Mariamne was no way +inferior to the affections of such as are on that account +celebrated in history, and this very justly. As for her, she was +in other respects a chaste woman, and faithful to him; yet had +she somewhat of a woman rough by nature, and treated her husband +imperiously enough, because she saw he was so fond of her as to +be enslaved to her. She did not also consider seasonably with +herself that she lived under a monarchy, and that she was at +another's disposal, and accordingly would behave herself after a +saucy manner to him, which yet he usually put off in a jesting +way, and bore with moderation and good temper. She would also +expose his mother and his sister openly, on account of the +meanness of their birth, and would speak unkindly of them, +insomuch that there was before this a disagreement and +unpardonable hatred among the women, and it was now come to +greater reproaches of one another than formerly, which suspicions +increased, and lasted a whole year after Herod returned from +Caesar. However, these misfortunes, which had been kept under +some decency for a great while, burst out all at once upon such +an occasion as was now offered; for as the king was one day about +noon lain down on his bed to rest him, he called for Mariamne, +out of the great affection he had always for her. She came in +accordingly, but would not lie down by him; and when he was very +desirous of her company, she showed her contempt of him; and +added, by way of reproach, that he had caused her father and her +brother to be slain. (11) And when he took this injury very +unkindly, and was ready to use violence to her, in a precipitate +manner, the king's sister Salome, observing that he was more than +ordinarily disturbed, sent in to the king his cup-bearer, who had +been prepared long beforehand for such a design, and bid him tell +the king how Mariamne had persuaded him to give his assistance in +preparing a love potion for him; and if he appeared to be greatly +concerned, and to ask what that love potion was, to tell him that +she had the potion, and that he was desired only to give it him; +but that in case he did not appear to be much concerned at this +potion, to let the thing drop; and that if he did so, no harm +should thereby come to him. When she had given him these +instructions, she sent him in at this time to make such a speech. +So he went in, after a composed manner, to gain credit to what he +should say, and yet somewhat hastily, and said that Mariamne had +given him presents, and persuaded him to give him a love potion. +And when this moved the king, he said that this love potion was a +composition that she had given him, whose effects he did not +know, which was the reason of his resolving to give him this +information, as the safest course he could take, both for himself +and for the king. When Herod heard what he said, and was in an +ill disposition before, his indignation grew more violent; and he +ordered that eunuch of Mariamne, who was most faithful to her, to +be brought to torture about this potion, as well knowing it was +not possible that any thing small or great could be done without +him. And when the man was under the utmost agonies, he could say +nothing concerning the thing he was tortured about, but so far he +knew, that Mariamne's hatred against him was occasioned by +somewhat that Sohemus had said to her. Now as he was saying this, +Herod cried out aloud, and said that Sohemus, who had been at all +other times most faithful to him, and to his government, would +not have betrayed what injunctions he had given him, unless he +had had a nearer conversation than ordinary with Mariamne. So he +gave order that Sohemus should be seized on and slain +immediately; but he allowed his wife to take her trial; and got +together those that were most faithful to him, and laid an +elaborate accusation against her for this love potion and +composition, which had been charged upon her by way of calumny +only. However, he kept no temper in what he said, and was in too +great a passion for judging well about this matter. Accordingly, +when the court was at length satisfied that he was so resolved, +they passed the sentence of death upon her; but when the sentence +was passed upon her, this temper was suggested by himself, and by +some others of the court, that she should not be thus hastily put +to death, but be laid in prison in one of the fortresses +belonging to the kingdom: but Salome and her party labored hard +to have the woman put to death; and they prevailed with the king +to do so, and advised this out of caution, lest the multitude +should be tumultuous if she were suffered to live; and thus was +Mariamne led to execution. + +5. When Alexandra observed how things went, and that there were +small hopes that she herself should escape the like treatment +from Herod, she changed her behavior to quite the reverse of what +might have been expected from her former boldness, and this after +a very indecent manner; for out of her desire to show how +entirely ignorant she was of the crimes laid against Mariamne, +she leaped out of her place, and reproached her daughter in the +hearing of all the people; and cried out that she had been an ill +woman, and ungrateful to her husband, and that her punishment +came justly upon her for such her insolent behavior, for that she +had not made proper returns to him who had been their common +benefactor. And when she had for some time acted after this +hypocritical manner, and been so outrageous as to tear her hair, +this indecent and dissembling behavior, as was to be expected, +was greatly condemned by the rest of the spectators, as it was +principally by the poor woman who was to suffer; for at the first +she gave her not a word, nor was discomposed at her peevishness, +and only looked at her, yet did she out of a greatness of soul +discover her concern for her mother's offense, and especially for +her exposing herself in a manner so unbecoming her; but as for +herself, she went to her death with an unshaken firmness of mind, +and without changing the color of her face, and thereby evidently +discovered the nobility of her descent to the spectators, even in +the last moments of her life. + +6. And thus died Mariamne, a woman of an excellent character, +both for chastity and greatness of soul; but she wanted +moderation, and had too much of contention in her nature; yet had +she all that can be said in the beauty of her body, and her +majestic appearance in conversation; and thence arose the +greatest part of the occasions why she did not prove so agreeable +to the king, nor live so pleasantly with him, as she might +otherwise have done; for while she was most indulgently used by +the king, out of his fondness for her, and did not expect that he +could do any hard thing to her, she took too unbounded a liberty. +Moreover, that which most afflicted her was, what he had done to +her relations, and she ventured to speak of all they had suffered +by him, and at last greatly provoked both the king's mother and +sister, till they became enemies to her; and even he himself also +did the same, on whom alone she depended for her expectations of +escaping the last of punishments. + +7. But when she was once dead, the king's affections for her were +kindled in a more outrageous manner than before, whose old +passion for her we have already described; for his love to her +was not of a calm nature, nor such as we usually meet with among +other husbands; for at its commencement it was of an enthusiastic +kind, nor was it by their long cohabitation and free conversation +together brought under his power to manage; but at this time his +love to Mariamne seemed to seize him in such a peculiar manner, +as looked like Divine vengeance upon him for the taking away her +life; for he would frequently call for her, and frequently lament +for her in a most indecent manner. Moreover, he bethought him of +every thing he could make use of to divert his mind from thinking +of her, and contrived feasts and assemblies for that purpose, but +nothing would suffice; he therefore laid aside the administration +of public affairs, and was so far conquered by his passion, that +he would order his servants to call for Mariamne, as if she were +still alive, and could still hear them. And when he was in this +way, there arose a pestilential disease, and carried off the +greatest part of the multitude, and of his best and most esteemed +friends, and made all men suspect that this was brought upon them +by the anger of God, for the injustice that had been done to +Mariamne. This circumstance affected the king still more, till at +length he forced himself to go into desert places, and there, +under pretense of going a hunting, bitterly afflicted himself; +yet had he not borne his grief there many days before he fell +into a most dangerous distemper himself: he had an inflammation +upon him, and a pain in the hinder part of his head, joined with +madness; and for the remedies that were used, they did him no +good at all, but proved contrary to his case, and so at length +brought him to despair. All the physicians also that were about +him, partly because the medicines they brought for his recovery +could not at all conquer the disease, and partly because his diet +could be no other than what his disease inclined him to, desired +him to eat whatever he had a mind to, and so left the small hopes +they had of his recovery in the power of that diet, and committed +him to fortune. And thus did his distemper go on, while he was at +Samaria, now called Sebaste. + +8. Now Alexandra abode at this time at Jerusalem; and being +informed what condition Herod was in, she endeavored to get +possession of the fortified places that were about the city, +which were two, the one belonging to the city itself, the other +belonging to the temple; and those that could get them into their +hands had the whole nation under their power, for without the +command of them it was not possible to offer their sacrifices; +and to think of leaving on those sacrifices is to every Jew +plainly impossible, who are still more ready to lose their lives +than to leave off that Divine worship which they have been wont +to pay unto God. Alexandra, therefore, discoursed with those that +had the keeping of these strong holds, that it was proper for +them to deliver the same to her, and to Herod's sons, lest, upon +his death, any other person should seize upon the government; and +that upon his recovery none could keep them more safely for him +than those of his own family. These words were not by them at all +taken in good part; and as they had been in former times faithful +[to Herod], they resolved to continue so more than ever, both +because they hated Alexandra, and because they thought it a sort +of impiety to despair of Herod's recovery while he was yet alive, +for they had been his old friends; and one of them, whose name +was Achiabus, was his cousin-german. They sent messengers +therefore to acquaint him with Alexandra's design; so he made no +longer delay, but gave orders to have her slain; yet was it still +with difficulty, and after he had endured great pain, that he got +clear of his distemper. He was still sorely afflicted, both in +mind and body, and made very uneasy, and readier than ever upon +all occasions to inflict punishment upon those that fell under +his hand. He also slew the most intimate of his friends, +Costobarus, and Lysimachus, and Cadias, who was also called +Antipater; as also Dositheus, and that upon the following +occasion. + +9. Costobarus was an Idumean by birth, and one of principal +dignity among them, and one whose ancestors had been priests to +the Koze, whom the Idumeans had [formerly] esteemed as a god; but +after Hyrcanus had made a change in their political government, +and made them receive the Jewish customs and law, Herod made +Costobarus governor of Idumea and Gaza, and gave him his sister +Salome to wife; and this was upon the slaughter of [his uncle] +Joseph, who had that government before, as we have related +already. When Costobarus had gotten to be so highly advanced, it +pleased him and was more than he hoped for, and he was more and +more puffed up by his good success, and in a little while he +exceeded all bounds, and did not think fit to obey what Herod, as +their ruler, commanded him, or that the Idumeans should make use +of the Jewish customs, or be subject to them. He therefore sent +to Cleopatra, and informed her that the Idumeans had been always +under his progenitors, and that for the same reason it was but +just that she should desire that country for him of Antony, for +that he was ready to transfer his friendship to her; and this he +did, not because he was better pleased to be under Cleopatra's +government, but because he thought that, upon the diminution of +Herod's power, it would not be difficult for him to obtain +himself the entire government over the Idumeans, and somewhat +more also; for he raised his hopes still higher, as having no +small pretenses, both by his birth and by these riches which he +had gotten by his constant attention to filthy lucre; and +accordingly it was not a small matter that he aimed at. So +Cleopatra desired this country of Antony, but failed of her +purpose. An account of this was brought to Herod, who was +thereupon ready to kill Costobarus; yet, upon the entreaties of +his sister and mother, he forgave him, and vouchsafed to pardon +him entirely; though he still had a suspicion of him afterward +for this his attempt. + +10. But some time afterward, when Salome happened to quarrel with +Costobarus, she sent him a bill of divorce (12) and dissolved her +marriage with him, though this was not according to the Jewish +laws; for with us it is lawful for a husband to do so; but a +wife; if she departs from her husband, cannot of herself be +married to another, unless her former husband put her away. +However, Salome chose to follow not the law of her country, but +the law of her authority, and so renounced her wedlock; and told +her brother Herod, that she left her husband out of her good-will +to him, because she perceived that he, with Antipater, and +Lysimachus, and Dositheus, were raising a sedition against him; +as an evidence whereof, she alleged the case of the sons of +Babas, that they had been by him preserved alive already for the +interval of twelve years; which proved to be true. But when Herod +thus unexpectedly heard of it, he was greatly surprised at it, +and was the more surprised, because the relation appeared +incredible to him. As for the fact relating to these sons of +Babas, Herod had formerly taken great pains to bring them to +punishment, as being enemies to his government; but they were now +forgotten by him, on account of the length of time [since he had +ordered them to be slain]. Now the cause of his ill-will and +hatred to them arose hence, that while Antigonus was king, Herod, +with his army, besieged the city of Jerusalem, where the distress +and miseries which the besieged endured were so pressing, that +the greater number of them invited Herod into the city, and +already placed their hopes on him. Now the sons of Babas were of +great dignity, and had power among the multitude, and were +faithful to Antigonus, and were always raising calumnies against +Herod, and encouraged the people to preserve the government to +that royal family which held it by inheritance. So these men +acted thus politically, and, as they thought, for their own +advantage; but when the city was taken, and Herod had gotten the +government into his hands, and Costobarus was appointed to hinder +men from passing out at the gates, and to guard the city, that +those citizens that were guilty, and of the party opposite to the +king, might not get out of it, Costobarus, being sensible that +the sons of Babas were had in respect and honor by the whole +multitude, and supposing that their preservation might be of +great advantage to him in the changes of government afterward, he +set them by themselves, and concealed them in his own farms; and +when the thing was suspected, he assured Herod upon oath that he +really knew nothing of that matter, and so overcame the +suspicions that lay upon him; nay, after that, when the king had +publicly proposed a reward for the discovery, and had put in +practice all sorts of methods for searching out this matter, he +would not confess it; but being persuaded that when he had at +first denied it, if the men were found, he should not escape +unpunished, he was forced to keep them secret, not only out of +his good-will to them, but out of a necessary regard to his own +preservation also. But when the king knew the thing, by his +sister's information, he sent men to the places where he had the +intimation they were concealed, and ordered both them, and those +that were accused as guilty with them, to be slain, insomuch that +there were now none at all left of the kindred of Hyrcanus, and +the kingdom was entirely in Herod's own power, and there was +nobody remaining of such dignity as could put a stop to what he +did against the Jewish laws. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How Ten Men Of The Citizens [Of Jerusalem] Made A Conspiracy +Against Herod, For The Foreign Practices He Had Introduced, Which +Was A Transgression Of The Laws Of Their Country. Concerning The +Building Of Sebaste And Cesarea, And Other Edifices Of Herod. + + +1. On this account it was that Herod revolted from the laws of +his country, and corrupted their ancient constitution, by the +introduction of foreign practices, which constitution yet ought +to have been preserved inviolable; by which means we became +guilty of great wickedness afterward, while those religious +observances which used to lead the multitude to piety were now +neglected; for, in the first place, he appointed solemn games to +be celebrated every fifth year, in honor of Caesar, and built a +theater at Jerusalem, as also a very great amphitheater in the +plain. Both of them were indeed costly works, but opposite to the +Jewish customs; for we have had no such shows delivered down to +us as fit to be used or exhibited by us; yet did he celebrate +these games every five years, in the most solemn and splendid +manner. He also made proclamation to the neighboring countries, +and called men together out of every nation. The wrestlers also, +and the rest of those that strove for the prizes in such games, +were invited out of every land, both by the hopes of the rewards +there to be bestowed, and by the glory of victory to be there +gained. So the principal persons that were the most eminent in +these sorts of exercises were gotten together, for there were +very great rewards for victory proposed, not only to those that +performed their exercises naked, but to those that played the +musicians also, and were called Thymelici; and he spared no pains +to induce all persons, the most famous for such exercises, to +come to this contest for victory. He also proposed no small +rewards to those who ran for the prizes in chariot races, when +they were drawn by two, or three, or four pair of horses. He also +imitated every thing, though never so costly or magnificent, in +other nations, out of an ambition that he might give most public +demonstration of his grandeur. Inscriptions also of the great +actions of Caesar, and trophies of those nations which he had +conquered in his wars, and all made of the purest gold and +silver, encompassed the theater itself; nor was there any thing +that could be subservient to his design, whether it were precious +garments, or precious stones set in order, which was not also +exposed to sight in these games. He had also made a great +preparation of wild beasts, and of lions themselves in great +abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon +strength, or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were +prepared either to fight with one another, or that men who were +condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners +were greatly surprised and delighted at the vastness of the +expenses here exhibited, and at the great dangers that were here +seen; but to natural Jews, this was no better than a dissolution +of those customs for which they had so great a veneration. (13) +It appeared also no better than an instance of barefaced impiety, +to throw men to wild beasts, for the affording delight to the +spectators; and it appeared an instance of no less impiety, to +change their own laws for such foreign exercises: but, above all +the rest, the trophies gave most distaste to the Jews; for as +they imagined them to be images, included within the armor that +hung round about them, they were sorely displeased at them, +because it was not the custom of their country to pay honors to +such images. + +2. Nor was Herod unacquainted with the disturbance they were +under; and as he thought it unseasonable to use violence with +them, so he spake to some of them by way of consolation, and in +order to free them from that superstitious fear they were under; +yet could not he satisfy them, but they cried out with one +accord, out of their great uneasiness at the offenses they +thought he had been guilty of, that although they should think of +bearing all the rest yet would they never bear images of men in +their city, meaning the trophies, because this was disagreeable +to the laws of their country. Now when Herod saw them in such a +disorder, and that they would not easily change their resolution +unless they received satisfaction in this point, he called to him +the most eminent men among them, and brought them upon the +theater, and showed them the trophies, and asked them what sort +of things they took these trophies to be; and when they cried out +that they were the images of men, he gave order that they should +be stripped of these outward ornaments which were about them, and +showed them the naked pieces of wood; which pieces of wood, now +without any ornament, became matter of great sport and laughter +to them, because they had before always had the ornaments of +images themselves in derision. + +3. When therefore Herod had thus got clear of the multitude, and +had dissipated the vehemency of passion under which they had +been, the greatest part of the people were disposed to change +their conduct, and not to be displeased at him any longer; but +still some of them continued in their displeasure against him, +for his introduction of new customs, and esteemed the violation +of the laws of their country as likely to be the origin of very +great mischiefs to them, so that they deemed it an instance of +piety rather to hazard themselves [to be put to death], than to +seem as if they took no notice of Herod, who, upon the change he +had made in their government, introduced such customs, and that +in a violent manner, which they had never been used to before, as +indeed in pretense a king, but in reality one that showed himself +an enemy to their whole nation; on which account ten men that +were citizens [of Jerusalem] conspired together against him, and +sware to one another to undergo any dangers in the attempt, and +took daggers with them under their garments [for the purpose of +killing Herod]. Now there was a certain blind man among those +conspirators who had thus sworn to one another, on account of the +indignation he had against what he heard to have been done; he +was not indeed able to afford the rest any assistance in the +undertaking, but was ready to undergo any suffering with them, if +so be they should come to any harm, insomuch that he became a +very great encourager of the rest of the undertakers. + +4. When they had taken this resolution, and that by common +consent, they went into the theater, hoping that, in the first +place, Herod himself could not escape them, as they should fall +upon him so unexpectedly; and supposing, however, that if they +missed him, they should kill a great many of those that were +about him; and this resolution they took, though they should die +for it, in order to suggest to the king what injuries he had done +to the multitude. These conspirators, therefore, standing thus +prepared beforehand, went about their design with great alacrity; +but there was one of those spies of Herod, that were appointed +for such purposes, to fish out and inform him of any conspiracies +that should be made against him, who found out the whole affair, +and told the king of it, as he was about to go into the theater. +So when he reflected on the hatred which he knew the greatest +part of the people bore him, and on the disturbances that arose +upon every occasion, he thought this plot against him not to be +improbable. Accordingly, he retired into his palace, and called +those that were accused of this conspiracy before him by their +several names; and as, upon the guards falling upon them, they +were caught in the very fact, and knew they could not escape, +they prepared themselves for their ends with all the decency they +could, and so as not at all to recede from their resolute +behavior, for they showed no shame for what they were about, nor +denied it; but when they were seized, they showed their daggers, +and professed that the conspiracy they had sworn to was a holy +and pious action; that what they intended to do was not for gain, +or out of any indulgence to their passions, but principally for +those common customs of their country, which all the Jews were +obliged to observe, or to die for them. This was what these men +said, out of their undaunted courage in this conspiracy. So they +were led away to execution by the king's guards that stood about +them, and patiently underwent all the torments inflicted on them +till they died. Nor was it long before that spy who had +discovered them was seized on by some of the people, out of the +hatred they bore to him; and was not only slain by them, but +pulled to pieces, limb from limb, and given to the dogs. This +execution was seen by many of the citizens, yet would not one of +them discover the doers of it, till upon Herod's making a strict +scrutiny after them, by bitter and severe tortures, certain women +that were tortured confessed what they had seen done; the authors +of which fact were so terribly punished by the king, that their +entire families were destroyed for this their rash attempt; yet +did not the obstinacy of the people, and that undaunted constancy +they showed in the defense of their laws, make Herod any easier +to them, but he still strengthened himself after a more secure +manner, and resolved to encompass the multitude every way, lest +such innovations should end in an open rebellion. + +5. Since, therefore, he had now the city fortified by the palace +in which he lived, and by the temple which had a strong fortress +by it, called Antonia, and was rebuilt by himself, he contrived +to make Samaria a fortress for himself also against all the +people, and called it Sebaste, supposing that this place would be +a strong hold against the country, not inferior to the former. So +he fortified that place, which was a day's journey distant from +Jerusalem, and which would be useful to him in common, to keep +both the country and the city in awe. He also built another +fortress for the whole nation; it was of old called Strato's +Tower, but was by him named Cesarea. Moreover, he chose out some +select horsemen, and placed them ill the great plain; and built +[for them] a place in Galilee, called Gaba with Hesebonitis, in +Perea. And these were the places which he particularly built, +while he always was inventing somewhat further for his own +security, and encompassing the whole nation with guards, that +they might by no means get from under his power, nor fall into +tumults, which they did continually upon any small commotion; and +that if they did make any commotions, he might know of it, while +some of his spies might be upon them from the neighborhood, and +might both be able to know what they were attempting, and to +prevent it. And when he went about building the wall of Samaria, +he contrived to bring thither many of those that had been +assisting to him in his wars, and many of the people in that +neighborhood also, whom he made fellow citizens with the rest. +This he did out of an ambitious desire of building a temple, and +out of a desire to make the city more eminent than it had been +before; but principally because he contrived that it might at +once be for his own security, and a monument of his magnificence. +He also changed its name, and called it Sebaste. Moreover, he +parted the adjoining country, which was excellent in its kind, +among the inhabitants of Samaria, that they might be in a happy +condition, upon their first coming to inhabit. Besides all which, +he encompassed the city with a wall of great strength, and made +use of the acclivity of the place for making its fortifications +stronger; nor was the compass of the place made now so small as +it had been before, but was such as rendered it not inferior to +the most famous cities; for it was twenty furlongs in +circumference. Now within, and about the middle of it, he built a +sacred place, of a furlong and a half [in circuit], and adorned +it with all sorts of decorations, and therein erected a temple, +which was illustrious on account of both its largeness and +beauty. And as to the several parts of the city, he adorned them +with decorations of all sorts also; and as to what was necessary +to provide for his own security, he made the walls very strong +for that purpose, and made it for the greatest part a citadel; +and as to the elegance of the building, it was taken care of +also, that he might leave monuments of the fineness of his taste, +and of his beneficence, to future ages. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning The Famine That Happened In Judea And Syria; And How +Herod, After He Had Married Another Wife, Rebuilt Cesarea, And +Other Grecian Cities. + + +1. Now on this very year, which was the thirteenth year of the +reign of Herod, very great calamities came upon the country; +whether they were derived from the anger of God, or whether this +misery returns again naturally in certain periods of time (14) +for, in the first place, there were perpetual droughts, and for +that reason the ground was barren, and did not bring forth the +same quantity of fruits that it used to produce; and after this +barrenness of the soil, that change of food which the want of +corn occasioned produced distempers in the bodies of men, and a +pestilential disease prevailed, one misery following upon the +back of another; and these circumstances, that they were +destitute both of methods of cure and of food, made the +pestilential distemper, which began after a violent manner, the +more lasting. The destruction of men also after such a manner +deprived those that surived of all their courage, because they +had no way to provide remedies sufficient for the distresses they +were in. When therefore the fruits of that year were spoiled, and +whatsoever they had laid up beforehand was spent, there was no +foundation of hope for relief remaining, but the misery, contrary +to what they expected still increased upon them; and this not +only on that year, while they had nothing for themselves left [at +the end of it], but what seed they had sown perished also, by +reason of the ground not yielding its fruits on the second year. +(15) This distress they were in made them also, out of necessity, +to eat many things that did not use to be eaten; nor was the king +himself free from this distress any more than other men, as being +deprived of that tribute he used to have from the fruits of the +ground, and having already expended what money he had, in his +liberality to those whose cities he had built; nor had he any +people that were worthy of his assistance, since this miserable +state of things had procured him the hatred of his subjects: for +it is a constant rule, that misfortunes are still laid to the +account of those that govern. + +2. In these circumstances he considered with himself how to +procure some seasonable help; but this was a hard thing to be +done, while their neighbors had no food to sell them; and their +money also was gone, had it been possible to purchase a little +food at a great price. However, he thought it his best way, by +all means, not to leave off his endeavors to assist his people; +so he cut off the rich furniture that was in his palace, both of +silver and gold, insomuch that he did not spare the finest +vessels he had, or those that were made with the most elaborate +skill of the artificers, but sent the money to Petronius, who had +been made prefect of Egypt by Caesar; and as not a few had +already fled to him under their necessities, and as he was +particularly a friend to Herod, and desirous to have his subjects +preserved, he gave leave to them in the first place to export +corn, and assisted them every way, both in purchasing and +exporting the same; so that he was the principal, if not the only +person, who afforded them what help they had. And Herod taking +care the people should understand that this help came from +himself, did thereby not only remove the ill opinion of those +that formerly hated him, but gave them the greatest demonstration +possible of his good-will to them, and care of them; for, in the +first place, as for those who were able to provide their own +food, he distributed to them their proportion of corn in the +exactest manner; but for those many that were not able, either by +reason of their old age, or any other infirmity, to provide food +for themselves, he made this provision for them, the bakers +should make their bread ready for them. He also took care that +they might not be hurt by the dangers of winter, since they were +in great want of clothing also, by reason of the utter +destruction and consumption of their sheep and goats, till they +had no wool to make use of, nor any thing else to cover +themselves withal. And when he had procured these things for his +own subjects, he went further, in order to provide necessaries +for their neighbors, and gave seed to the Syrians, which thing +turned greatly to his own advantage also, this charitable +assistance being afforded most seasonably to their fruitful soil, +so that every one had now a plentiful provision of food. Upon the +whole, when the harvest of the land was approaching, he sent no +fewer than fifty thousand men, whom he had sustained, into the +country; by which means he both repaired the afflicted condition +of his own kingdom with great generosity and diligence, and +lightened the afflictions of his neighbors, who were under the +same calamities; for there was nobody who had been in want that +was left destitute of a suitable assistance by him; nay, further, +there were neither any people, nor any cities, nor any private +men, who were to make provision for the multitudes, and on that +account were in want of support, and had recourse to him, but +received what they stood in need of, insomuch that it appeared, +upon a computation, that the number of cori of wheat, of ten +attic medimni apiece, that were given to foreigners, amounted to +ten thousand, and the number that was given in his own kingdom +was about fourscore thousand. Now it happened that this care of +his, and this seasonable benefaction, had such influence on the +Jews, and was so cried up among other nations, as to wipe off +that old hatred which his violation of some of their customs, +during his reign, had procured him among all the nation, and that +this liberality of his assistance in this their greatest +necessity was full satisfaction for all that he had done of that +nature, as it also procured him great fame among foreigners; and +it looked as if these calamities that afflicted his land, to a +degree plainly incredible, came in order to raise his glory, and +to be to his great advantage; for the greatness of his liberality +in these distresses, which he now demonstrated beyond all +expectation, did so change the disposition of the multitude +towards him, that they were ready to suppose he had been from the +beginning not such a one as they had found him to be by +experience, but such a one as the care he had taken of them in +supplying their necessities proved him now to be. + +3. About this time it was that he sent five hundred chosen men +out of the guards of his body as auxiliaries to Caesar, whom +Aelius Gallus (16) led to the Red Sea, and who were of great +service to him there. When therefore his affairs were thus +improved, and were again in a flourishing condition, he built +himself a palace in the upper city, raising the rooms to a very +great height, and adorning them with the most costly furniture of +gold, and marble scats, and beds; and these were so large that +they could contain very many companies of men. These apartments +were also of distinct magnitudes, and had particular names given +them; for one apartment was called Caesar's, another Agrippa's. +He also fell in love again, and married another wife, not +suffering his reason to hinder him from living as he pleased. The +occasion of this his marriage was as follows: There was one +Simon, a citizen of Jerusalem, the son of one Boethus, a citizen +of Alexandria, and a priest of great note there; this man had a +daughter, who was esteemed the most beautiful woman of that time; +and when the people of Jerusalem began to speak much in her +commendation, it happened that Herod was much affected with what +was said of her; and when he saw the damsel, he was smitten with +her beauty, yet did he entirely reject the thoughts of using his +authority to abuse her, as believing, what was the truth, that by +so doing he should be stigmatized for violence and tyranny; so he +thought it best to take the damsel to wife. And while Simon was +of a dignity too inferior to be allied to him, but still too +considerable to be despised, he governed his inclinations after +the most prudent manner, by augmenting the dignity of the family, +and making them more honorable; so he immediately deprived Jesus, +the son of Phabet, of the high priesthood, and conferred that +dignity on Simon, and so joined in affinity with him [by marrying +his daughter]. + +4. When this wedding was over, he built another citadel in that +place where he had conquered file Jews when he was driven out of +his government, and Antigonus enjoyed it. This citadel is distant +from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. It was strong by +nature, and fit for such a building. It is a sort of a moderate +hill, raised to a further height by the hand of man, till it was +of the shape of a woman's breast. It is encompassed with circular +towers, and hath a strait ascent up to it, which ascent is +composed of steps of polished stones, in number two hundred. +Within it are royal and very rich apartments, of a structure that +provided both for security and for beauty. About the bottom there +are habitations of such a structure as are well worth seeing, +both on other accounts, and also on account of the water which is +brought thither from a great way off, and at vast expenses, for +the place itself is destitute of water. The plain that is about +this citadel is full of edifices, not inferior to any city in +largeness, and having the hill above it in the nature of a +castle. + +5. And now, when all Herod's designs had succeeded according to +his hopes, he had not the least suspicion that any troubles could +arise in his kingdom, because he kept his people obedient, as +well by the fear they stood in of him, for he was implacable in +the infliction of his punishments, as by the provident care he +had showed towards them, after the most magnanimous manner, when +they were under their distresses. But still he took care to have +external security for his government as a fortress against his +subjects; for the orations he made to the cities were very fine, +and full of kindness; and he cultivated a seasonable good +understanding with their governors, and bestowed presents on +every one of them, inducing them thereby to be more friendly to +him, and using his magnificent disposition so as his kingdom +might be the better secured to him, and this till all his affairs +were every way more and more augmented. But then this magnificent +temper of his, and that submissive behavior and liberality which +he exercised towards Caesar, and the most powerful men of Rome, +obliged him to transgress the customs of his nation, and to set +aside many of their laws, and by building cities after an +extravagant manner, and erecting temples, - not in Judea indeed, +for that would not have been borne, it being forbidden for us to +pay any honor to images, or representations of animals, after the +manner of the Greeks; but still he did thus in the country +[properly] out of our bounds, and in the cities thereof (17) The +apology which he made to the Jews for these things was this: That +all was done, not out of his own inclinations, but by the +commands and injunctions of others, in order to please Caesar and +the Romans, as though he had not the Jewish customs so much in +his eye as he had the honor of those Romans, while yet he had +himself entirely in view all the while, and indeed was very +ambitious to leave great monuments of his government to +posterity; whence it was that he was so zealous in building such +fine cities, and spent such vast sums of money upon them. + +6. Now upon his observation of a place near the sea, which was +very proper for containing a city, and was before called Strato's +Tower, he set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there, +and erected many edifices with great diligence all over it, and +this of white stone. He also adorned it with most sumptuous +palaces and large edifices for containing the people; and what +was the greatest and most laborious work of all, he adorned it +with a haven, that was always free from the waves of the sea. Its +largeness was not less than the Pyrmum [at Athens], and had +towards the city a double station for the ships. It was of +excellent workmanship; and this was the more remarkable for its +being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to such +noble structures, but was to be brought to perfection by +materials from other places, and at very great expenses. This +city is situate in Phoenicia, in the passage by sea to Egypt, +between Joppa and Dora, which are lesser maritime cities, and not +fit for havens, on account of the impetuous south winds that beat +upon them, which rolling the sands that come from the sea against +the shores, do not admit of ships lying in their station; but the +merchants are generally there forced to ride at their anchors in +the sea itself. So Herod endeavored to rectify this +inconvenience, and laid out such a compass towards the land as +might be sufficient for a haven, wherein the great ships might +lie in safety; and this he effected by letting down vast stones +of above fifty feet in length, not less than eighteen in breadth, +and nine in depth, into twenty fathom deep; and as some were +lesser, so were others bigger than those dimensions. This mole +which he built by the sea-side was two hundred feet wide, the +half of which was opposed to the current of the waves, so as to +keep off those waves which were to break upon them, and so was +called Procymatia, or the first breaker of the waves; but the +other half had upon it a wall, with several towers, the largest +of which was named Drusus, and was a work of very great +excellence, and had its name from Drusus, the son-in-law of +Caesar, who died young. There were also a great number of arches +where the mariners dwelt. There was also before them a quay, [or +landing place,] which ran round the entire haven, and was a most +agreeable walk to such as had a mind to that exercise; but the +entrance or mouth of the port was made on the north quarter, on +which side was the stillest of the winds of all in this place: +and the basis of the whole circuit on the left hand, as you enter +the port, supported a round turret, which was made very strong, +in order to resist the greatest waves; while on the right hand, +as you enter, stood two vast stones, and those each of them +larger than the turret, which were over against them; these stood +upright, and were joined together. Now there were edifices all +along the circular haven, made of the politest stone, with a +certain elevation, whereon was erected a temple, that was seen a +great way off by those that were sailing for that haven, and had +in it two statues, the one of Rome, the other of Caesar. The city +itself was called Cesarea, which was also itself built of fine +materials, and was of a fine structure; nay, the very +subterranean vaults and cellars had no less of architecture +bestowed on them than had the buildings above ground. Some of +these vaults carried things at even distances to the haven and to +the sea; but one of them ran obliquely, and bound all the rest +together, that both the rain and the filth of the citizens were +together carried off with ease, and the sea itself, upon the flux +of the tide from without, came into the city, and washed it all +clean. Herod also built therein a theater of stone; and on the +south quarter, behind the port, an amphitheater also, capable of +holding a vast number of men, and conveniently situated for a +prospect to the sea. So this city was thus finished in twelve +years; (18) during which time the king did not fail to go on both +with the work, and to pay the charges that were necessary. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Herod Sent His Sons To Rome; How Also He Was Accused By +Zenodorus And The Gadarens, But Was Cleared Of What They Accused +Him Of And Withal Gained To Himself The Good-Will Of Caesar. +Concerning The Pharisees, The Essens And Manahem. + + +1. When Herod was engaged in such matters, and when he had +already re-edified Sebaste, [Samaria,] he resolved to send his +sons Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome, to enjoy the company of +Caesar; who, when they came thither, lodged at the house of +Pollio, (19) who was very fond of Herod's friendship; and they +had leave to lodge in Caesar's own palace, for he received these +sons of Herod with all humanity, and gave Herod leave to give +his, kingdom to which of his sons he pleased; and besides all +this, he bestowed on him Trachon, and Batanea, and Auranitis, +which he gave him on the occasion following: One Zenodorus (20) +had hired what was called the house of Lysanias, who, as he was +not satisfied with its revenues, became a partner with the +robbers that inhabited the Trachonites, and so procured himself a +larger income; for the inhabitants of those places lived in a mad +way, and pillaged the country of the Damascenes, while Zenodorus +did not restrain them, but partook of the prey they acquired. Now +as the neighboring people were hereby great sufferers, they +complained to Varro, who was then president [of Syria], and +entreated him to write to Caesar about this injustice of +Zenodorus. When these matters were laid before Caesar, he wrote +back to Varro to destroy those nests of robbers, and to give the +land to Herod, that so by his care the neighboring countries +might be no longer disturbed with these doings of the +Trachonites; for it was not an easy firing to restrain them, +since this way of robbery had been their usual practice, and they +had no other way to get their living, because they had neither +any city of their own, nor lands in their possession, but only +some receptacles and dens in the earth, and there they and their +cattle lived in common together. However, they had made +contrivances to get pools of water, and laid up corn in granaries +for themselves, and were able to make great resistance, by +issuing out on the sudden against any that attacked them; for the +entrances of their caves were narrow, in which but one could come +in at a time, and the places within incredibly large, and made +very wide but the ground over their habitations was not very +high, but rather on a plain, while the rocks are altogether hard +and difficult to be entered upon, unless any one gets into the +plain road by the guidance of another, for these roads are not +straight, but have several revolutions. But when these men are +hindered from their wicked preying upon their neighbors, their +custom is to prey one upon another, insomuch that no sort of +injustice comes amiss to them. But when Herod had received this +grant from Caesar, and was come into this country, he procured +skillful guides, and put a stop to their wicked robberies, and +procured peace and quietness to the neighboring people. + +2. Hereupon Zenodorus was grieved, in the first place, because +his principality was taken away from him; and still more so, +because he envied Herod, who had gotten it; So he went up to Rome +to accuse him, but returned back again without success. Now +Agrippa was [about this time] sent to succeed Caesar in the +government of the countries beyond the Ionian Sea, upon whom +Herod lighted when he was wintering about Mitylene, for he had +been his particular friend and companion, and then returned into +Judea again. However, some of the Gadarens came to Agrippa, and +accused Herod, whom he sent back bound to the king without giving +them the hearing. But still the Arabians, who of old bare +ill-will to Herod's government, were nettled, and at that time +attempted to raise a sedition in his dominions, and, as they +thought, upon a more justifiable occasion; for Zenodorus, +despairing already of success as to his own affairs, prevented +[his enemies], by selling to those Arabians a part of his +principality, called Auranitis, for the value of fifty talents; +but as this was included in the donations of Caesar, they +contested the point with Herod, as unjustly deprived of what they +had bought. Sometimes they did this by making incursions upon +him, and sometimes by attempting force against him, and sometimes +by going to law with him. Moreover, they persuaded the poorer +soldiers to help them, and were troublesome to him, out of a +constant hope that they should reduce the people to raise a +sedition; in which designs those that are in the most miserable +circumstances of life are still the most earnest; and although +Herod had been a great while apprized of these attempts, yet did +not he indulge any severity to them, but by rational methods +aimed to mitigate things, as not willing to give any handle for +tumults. + +3. Now when Herod had already reigned seventeen years, Caesar +came into Syria; at which time the greatest part of the +inhabitants of Gadara clamored against Herod, as one that was +heavy in his injunctions, and tyrannical. These reproaches they +mainly ventured upon by the encouragement of Zenodorus, who took +his oath that he would never leave Herod till he had procured +that they should be severed from Herod's kingdom, and joined to +Caesar's province. The Gadarens were induced hereby, and made no +small cry against him, and that the more boldly, because those +that had been delivered up by Agrippa were not punished by Herod, +who let them go, and did them no harm; for indeed he was the +principal man in the world who appeared almost inexorable in +punishing crimes in his own family, but very generous in +remitting the offenses that were committed elsewhere. And while +they accused Herod of injuries, and plunderings, and subversions +of temples, he stood unconcerned, and was ready to make his +defense. However, Caesar gave him his right hand, and remitted +nothing of his kindness to him, upon this disturbance by the +multitude; and indeed these things were alleged the first day, +but the hearing proceeded no further; for as the Gadarens saw the +inclination of Caesar and of his assessors, and expected, as they +had reason to do, that they should be delivered up to the king, +some of them, out of a dread of the torments they might undergo, +cut their own throats in the night time, and some of them threw +themselves down precipices, and others of them cast themselves +into the river, and destroyed themselves of their own accord; +which accidents seemed a sufficient condemnation of the rashness +and crimes they had been guilty of; whereupon Caesar made no +longer delay, but cleared Herod from the crimes he was accused +of. Another happy accident there was, which was a further great +advantage to Herod at this time; for Zenodorus's belly burst, and +a great quantity of blood issued from him in his sickness, and he +thereby departed this life at Antioch in Syria; so Caesar +bestowed his country, which was no small one, upon Herod; it lay +between Trachon and Galilee, and contained Ulatha, and Paneas, +and the country round about. He also made him one of the +procurators of Syria, and commanded that they should do every +thing with his approbation; and, in short, he arrived at that +pitch of felicity, that whereas there were but two men that +governed the vast Roman empire, first Caesar, and then Agrippa, +who was his principal favorite, Caesar preferred no one to Herod +besides Agrippa, and Agrippa made no one his greater friend than +Herod besides Caesar. And when he had acquired such freedom, he +begged of Caesar a tetrarchy (21) for his brother Pheroras, while +he did himself bestow upon him a revenue of a hundred talents out +of his own kingdom, that in case he came to any harm himself, his +brother might be in safety, and that his sons might not have +dominion over him. So when he had conducted Caesar to the sea, +and was returned home, he built him a most beautiful temple, of +the whitest stone, in Zenodorus's country, near the place called +Panlure. This is a very fine cave in a mountain, under which +there is a great cavity in the earth, and the cavern is abrupt, +and prodigiously deep, and frill of a still water; over it hangs +a vast mountain; and under the caverns arise the springs of the +river Jordan. Herod adorned this place, which was already a very +remarkable one, still further by the erection of this temple, +which he dedicated to Caesar. + +4. At which time Herod released to his subjects the third part of +their taxes, under pretense indeed of relieving them, after the +dearth they had had; but the main reason was, to recover their +good-will, which he now wanted; for they were uneasy at him, +because of the innovations he had introduced in their practices, +of the dissolution of their religion, and of the disuse of their +own customs; and the people every where talked against him, like +those that were still more provoked and disturbed at his +procedure; against which discontents he greatly guarded himself, +and took away the opportunities they might have to disturb him, +and enjoined them to be always at work; nor did he permit the +citizens either to meet together, or to walk or eat together, but +watched every thing they did, and when any were caught, they were +severely punished; and many there were who were brought to the +citadel Hyrcania, both openly and secretly, and were there put to +death; and there were spies set every where, both in the city and +in the roads, who watched those that met together; nay, it is +reported that he did not himself neglect this part of caution, +but that he would oftentimes himself take the habit of a private +man, and mix among the multitude, in the night time, and make +trial what opinion they had of his government: and as for those +that could no way be reduced to acquiesce under his scheme of +government, he prosecuted them all manner of ways; but for the +rest of the multitude, he required that they should be obliged to +take an oath of fidelity to him, and at the same time compelled +them to swear that they would bear him good-will, and continue +certainly so to do, in his management of the government; and +indeed a great part of them, either to please him, or out of fear +of him, yielded to what he required of them; but for such as were +of a more open and generous disposition, and had indignation at +the force he used to them, he by one means or other made away, +with them. He endeavored also to persuade Pollio the Pharisee, +and Satneas, and the greatest part of their scholars, to take the +oath; but these would neither submit so to do, nor were they +punished together with the rest, out of the reverence he bore to +Pollio. The Essens also, as we call a sect of ours, were excused +from this imposition. These men live the same kind of life as do +those whom the Greeks call Pythagoreans, concerning whom I shall +discourse more fully elsewhere. However, it is but fit to set +down here the reasons wherefore Herod had these Essens in such +honor, and thought higher of them than their mortal nature +required; nor will this account be unsuitable to the nature of +this history, as it will show the opinion men had of these +Essens. + +5. Now there was one of these Essens, whose name was Manahem, who +had this testimony, that he not only conducted his life after an +excellent manner, but had the foreknowledge of future events +given him by God also. This man once saw Herod when he was a +child, and going to school, and saluted him as king of the Jews; +but he, thinking that either he did not know him, or that he was +in jest, put him in mind that he was but a private man; but +Manahem smiled to himself, and clapped him on his backside with +his hand, and said," However that be, thou wilt be king, and wilt +begin thy reign happily, for God finds thee worthy of it. And do +thou remember the blows that Manahem hath given thee, as being a +signal of the change of thy fortune. And truly this will be the +best reasoning for thee, that thou love justice [towards men], +and piety towards God, and clemency towards thy citizens; yet do +I know how thy whole conduct will be, that thou wilt not be such +a one, for thou wilt excel all men in happiness, and obtain an +everlasting reputation, but wilt forget piety and righteousness; +and these crimes will not be concealed from God, at the +conclusion of thy life, when thou wilt find that he will be +mindful of them, and punish time for them." Now at that time +Herod did not at all attend to what Manahem said, as having no +hopes of such advancement; but a little afterward, when he was so +fortunate as to be advanced to the dignity of king, and was in +the height of his dominion, he sent for Manahem, and asked him +how long he should reign. Manahem did not tell him the full +length of his reign; wherefore, upon that silence of his, he +asked him further, whether he should reign ten years or not? He +replied, "Yes, twenty, nay, thirty years;" but did not assign the +just determinate limit of his reign. Herod was satisfied with +these replies, and gave Manahem his hand, and dismissed him; and +from that time he continued to honor all the Essens. We have +thought it proper to relate these facts to our readers, how +strange soever they be, and to declare what hath happened among +us, because many of these Essens have, by their excellent virtue, +been thought worthy of this knowledge of Divine revelations. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +How Herod Rebuilt The Temple And Raised It Higher And Made It +More Magnificent Than It Was Before; As Also Concerning That +Tower Which He Called Antonia. + + +1. And now Herod, in the eighteenth year of his reign, and after +the acts already mentioned, undertook a very great work, that is, +to build of himself the temple of God, (22) and make it larger in +compass, and to raise it to a most magnificent altitude, as +esteeming it to be the most glorious of all his actions, as it +really was, to bring it to perfection; and that this would be +sufficient for an everlasting memorial of him; but as he knew the +multitude were not ready nor willing to assist him in so vast a +design, he thought to prepare them first by making a speech to +them, and then set about the work itself; so he called them +together, and spake thus to them: "I think I need not speak to +you, my countrymen, about such other works as I have done since I +came to the kingdom, although I may say they have been performed +in such a manner as to bring more security to you than glory to +myself; for I have neither been negligent in the most difficult +times about what tended to ease your necessities, nor have the +buildings. I have made been so proper to preserve me as +yourselves from injuries; and I imagine that, with God's +assistance, I have advanced the nation of the Jews to a degree of +happiness which they never had before; and for the particular +edifices belonging to your own country, and your own cities, as +also to those cities that we have lately acquired, which we have +erected and greatly adorned, and thereby augmented the dignity of +your nation, it seems to me a needless task to enumerate them to +you, since you well know them yourselves; but as to that +undertaking which I have a mind to set about at present, and +which will be a work of the greatest piety and excellence that +can possibly be undertaken by us, I will now declare it to you. +Our fathers, indeed, when they were returned from Babylon, built +this temple to God Almighty, yet does it want sixty cubits of its +largeness in altitude; for so much did that first temple which +Solomon built exceed this temple; nor let any one condemn our +fathers for their negligence or want of piety herein, for it was +not their fault that the temple was no higher; for they were +Cyrus, and Darius the son of Hystaspes, who determined the +measures for its rebuilding; and it hath been by reason of the +subjection of those fathers of ours to them and to their +posterity, and after them to the Macedonians, that they had not +the opportunity to follow the original model of this pious +edifice, nor could raise it to its ancient altitude; but since I +am now, by God's will, your governor, and I have had peace a long +time, and have gained great riches and large revenues, and, what +is the principal filing of all, I am at amity with and well +regarded by the Romans, who, if I may so say, are the rulers of +the whole world, I will do my endeavor to correct that +imperfection, which hath arisen from the necessity of our +affairs, and the slavery we have been under formerly, and to make +a thankful return, after the most pious manner, to God, for what +blessings I have received from him, by giving me this kingdom, +and that by rendering his temple as complete as I am able." + +2. And this was the speech which Herod made to them; but still +this speech aftrighted many of the people, as being unexpected by +them; and because it seemed incredible, it did not encourage +them, but put a damp upon them, for they were afraid that he +would pull down the whole edifice, and not be able to bring his +intentions to perfection for its rebuilding; and this danger +appeared to them to be very great, and the vastness of the +undertaking to be such as could hardly be accomplished. But while +they were in this disposition, the king encouraged them, and told +them he would not pull down their temple till all things were +gotten ready for building it up entirely again. And as he +promised them this beforehand, so he did not break his word with +them, but got ready a thousand waggons, that were to bring stones +for the building, and chose out ten thousand of the most skillful +workmen, and bought a thousand sacerdotal garments for as many of +the priests, and had some of them taught the arts of +stone-cutters, and others of carpenters, and then began to build; +but this not till every thing was well prepared for the work. + +3. So Herod took away the old foundations, and laid others, and +erected the temple upon them, being in length a hundred cubits, +and in height twenty additional cubits, which [twenty], upon the +sinking of their foundations (23) fell down; and this part it was +that we resolved to raise again in the days of Nero. Now the +temple was built of stones that were white and strong, and each +of their length was twenty-five cubits, their height was eight, +and their breadth about twelve; and the whole structure, as also +the structure of the royal cloister, was on each side much lower, +but the middle was much higher, till they were visible to those +that dwelt in the country for a great many furlongs, but chiefly +to such as lived over against them, and those that approached to +them. The temple had doors also at the entrance, and lintels over +them, of the same height with the temple itself. They were +adorned with embroidered veils, with their flowers of purple, and +pillars interwoven; and over these, but under the crown-work, was +spread out a golden vine, with its branches hanging down from a +great height, the largeness and fine workmanship of which was a +surprising sight to the spectators, to see what vast materials +there were, and with what great skill the workmanship was done. +He also encompassed the entire temple with very large cloisters, +contriving them to be in a due proportion thereto; and he laid +out larger sums of money upon them than had been done before him, +till it seemed that no one else had so greatly adorned the temple +as he had done. There was a large wall to both the cloisters, +which wall was itself the most prodigious work that was ever +heard of by man. The hill was a rocky ascent, that declined by +degrees towards the east parts of the city, till it came to an +elevated level. This hill it was which Solomon, who was the first +of our kings, by Divine revelation, encompassed with a wall; it +was of excellent workmanship upwards, and round the top of it. He +also built a wall below, beginning at the bottom, which was +encompassed by a deep valley; and at the south side he laid rocks +together, and bound them one to another with lead, and included +some of the inner parts, till it proceeded to a great height, and +till both the largeness of the square edifice and its altitude +were immense, and till the vastness of the stones in the front +were plainly visible on the outside, yet so that the inward parts +were fastened together with iron, and preserved the joints +immovable for all future times. When this work [for the +foundation] was done in this manner, and joined together as part +of the hill itself to the very top of it, he wrought it all into +one outward surface, and filled up the hollow places which were +about the wall, and made it a level on the external upper +surface, and a smooth level also. This hill was walled all round, +and in compass four furlongs, [the distance of] each angle +containing in length a furlong: but within this wall, and on the +very top of all, there ran another wall of stone also, having, on +the east quarter, a double cloister, of the same length with the +wall; in the midst of which was the temple itself. This cloister +looked to the gates of the temple; and it had been adorned by +many kings in former times; and round about the entire temple +were fixed the spoils taken from barbarous nations; all these had +been dedicated to the temple by Herod, with the addition of those +he had taken from the Arabians. + +4. Now on the north side [of the temple] was built a citadel, +whose walls were square, and strong, and of extraordinary +firmness. This citadel was built by the kings of the Asamonean +race, who were also high priests before Herod, and they called it +the Tower, in which were reposited the vestments of the high +priest, which the high priest only put on at the time when he was +to offer sacrifice. These vestments king Herod kept in that +place; and after his death they were under the power of the +Romans, until the time of Tiberius Caesar; under whose reign +Vitellius, the president of Syria, when he once came to +Jerusalem, and had been most magnificently received by the +multitude, he had a mind to make them some requital for the +kindness they had shewn him; so, upon their petition to have +those holy vestments in their own power, he wrote about them to +Tiberius Caesar, who granted his request: and this their power +over the sacerdotal vestments continued with the Jews till the +death of king Agrippa; but after that, Cassius Longinus, who was +president of Syria, and Cuspius Fadus, who was procurator of +Judea, enjoined the Jews to reposit those vestments in the tower +of Antonia, for that they ought to have them in their power, as +they formerly had. However, the Jews sent ambassadors to Claudius +Caesar, to intercede with him for them; upon whose coming, king +Agrippa, junior, being then at Rome, asked for and obtained the +power over them from the emperor, who gave command to Vitellius, +who was then commander in Syria, to give it them accordingly. +Before that time they were kept under the seal of the high +priest, and of the treasurers of the temple; which treasurers, +the day before a festival, went up to the Roman captain of the +temple guards, and viewed their own seal, and received the +vestments; and again, when the festival was over, they brought it +to the same place, and showed the captain of the temple guards +their seal, which corresponded with his seal, and reposited them +there. And that these things were so, the afflictions that +happened to us afterwards [about them] are sufficient evidence. +But for the tower itself, when Herod the king of the Jews had +fortified it more firmly than before, in order to secure and +guard the temple, he gratified Antonius, who was his friend, and +the Roman ruler, and then gave it the name of the Tower of +Antonia. + +5. Now in the western quarters of the enclosure of the temple +there were four gates; the first led to the king's palace, and +went to a passage over the intermediate valley; two more led to +the suburbs of the city; and the last led to the other city, +where the road descended down into the valley by a great number +of steps, and thence up again by the ascent for the city lay over +against the temple in the manner of a theater, and was +encompassed with a deep valley along the entire south quarter; +but the fourth front of the temple, which was southward, had +indeed itself gates in its middle, as also it had the royal +cloisters, with three walks, which reached in length from the +east valley unto that on the west, for it was impossible it +should reach any farther: and this cloister deserves to be +mentioned better than any other under the sun; for while the +valley was very deep, and its bottom could not be seen, if you +looked from above into the depth, this further vastly high +elevation of the cloister stood upon that height, insomuch that +if any one looked down from the top of the battlements, or down +both those altitudes, he would be giddy, while his sight could +not reach to such an immense depth. This cloister had pillars +that stood in four rows one over against the other all along, for +the fourth row was interwoven into the wall, which [also was +built of stone]; and the thickness of each pillar was such, that +three men might, with their arms extended, fathom it round, and +join their hands again, while its length was twenty-seven feet, +with a double spiral at its basis; and the number of all the +pillars [in that court] was a hundred and sixty-two. Their +chapiters were made with sculptures after the Corinthian order, +and caused an amazement [to the spectators], by reason of the +grandeur of the whole. These four rows of pillars included three +intervals for walking in the middle of this cloister; two of +which walks were made parallel to each other, and were contrived +after the same manner; the breadth of each of them was thirty +feet, the length was a furlong, and the height fifty feet; but +the breadth of the middle part of the cloister was one and a half +of the other, and the height was double, for it was much higher +than those on each side; but the roofs were adorned with deep +sculptures in wood, representing many sorts of figures. The +middle was much higher than the rest, and the wall of the front +was adorned with beams, resting upon pillars, that were +interwoven into it, and that front was all of polished stone, +insomuch that its fineness, to such as had not seen it, was +incredible, and to such as had seen it, was greatly amazing. Thus +was the first enclosure. In the midst of which, and not far from +it, was the second, to be gone up to by a few steps: this was +encompassed by a stone wall for a partition, with an inscription, +which forbade any foreigner to go in under pain of death. Now +this inner enclosure had on its southern and northern quarters +three gates [equally] distant one from another; but on the east +quarter, towards the sun-rising, there was one large gate, +through which such as were pure came in, together with their +wives; but the temple further inward in that gate was not allowed +to the women; but still more inward was there a third [court of +the] temple, whereinto it was not lawful for any but the priests +alone to enter. The temple itself was within this; and before +that temple was the altar, upon which we offer our sacrifices and +burnt-offerings to God. Into none of these three did king Herod +enter, (24) for he was forbidden, because he was not a priest. +However, he took care of the cloisters and the outer enclosures, +and these he built in eight years. + +6. But the temple itself was built by the priests in a year and +six months; upon which all the people were full of joy; and +presently they returned thanks, in the first place, to God; and +in the next place, for the alacrity the king had showed. They +feasted and celebrated this rebuilding of the temple: and for the +king, he sacrificed three hundred oxen to God, as did the rest +every one according to his ability; the number of which +sacrifices is not possible to set down, for it cannot be that we +should truly relate it; for at the same time with this +celebration for the work about the temple fell also the day of +the king's inauguration, which he kept of an old custom as a +festival, and it now coincided with the other, which coincidence +of them both made the festival most illustrious. + +7. There was also an occult passage built for the king; it led +from Antonia to the inner temple, at its eastern gate; over which +he also erected for himself a tower, that he might have the +opportunity of a subterraneous ascent to the temple, in order to +guard against any sedition which might be made by the people +against their kings. It is also reported, (25) that during the +time that the temple was building, it did not rain in the +daytime, but that the showers fell in the nights, so that the +work was not hindered. And this our fathers have delivered to us; +nor is it incredible, if any one have regard to the +manifestations of God. And thus was performed the work of the +rebuilding of the temple. + + + + +BOOK XVI. + +Containing The Interval Of Twelve Years. + +From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of +Alexander And Aristobulus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +A Law Of Herod's About, Thieves. Salome And Pheroras Calumniate +Alexander And Aristobulus, Upon Their Return From Rome For Whom +Yet Herod Provides Wives. + + +1. As king Herod was very zealous in the administration of his +entire government, and desirous to put a stop to particular acts +of injustice which were done by criminals about the city and +country, he made a law, no way like our original laws, and which +he enacted of himself, to expose house-breakers to be ejected out +of his kingdom; which punishment was not only grievous to be +borne by the offenders, but contained in it a dissolution of the +customs of our forefathers; for this slavery to foreigners, and +such as did not live after the manner of Jews, and this necessity +that they were under to do whatsoever such men should command, +was an offense against our religious settlement, rather than a +punishment to such as were found to have offended, such a +punishment being avoided in our original laws; for those laws +ordain, that the thief shall restore fourfold; and that if he +have not so much, he shall be sold indeed, but not to foreigners, +nor so that he be under perpetual slavery, for he must have been +released after six years. But this law, thus enacted, in order to +introduce a severe and illegal punishment, seemed to be a piece +of insolence of Herod, when he did not act as a king, but as a +tyrant, and thus contemptuously, and without any regard to his +subjects, did he venture to introduce such a punishment. Now this +penalty, thus brought into practice, was like Herod's other +actions, and became a part of his accusation, and an occasion of +the hatred he lay under. + +2. Now at this time it was that he sailed to Italy, as very +desirous to meet with Caesar, and to see his sons who lived at +Rome; and Caesar was not only very obliging to him in other +respects, but delivered him his sons again, that he might take +them home with him, as having already completed themselves in the +sciences; but as soon as the young men were come from Italy, the +multitude were very desirous to see them, and they became +conspicuous among them all, as adorned with great blessings of +fortune, and having the countenances of persons of royal dignity. +So they soon appeared to be the objects of envy to Salome, the +king's sister, and to such as had raised calumnies against +Mariamne; for they were suspicious, that when these came to the +government, they should be punished for the wickedness they had +been guilty of against their mother; so they made this very fear +of theirs a motive to raise calumnies against them also. They +gave it out that they were not pleased with their father's +company, because he had put their mother to death, as if it were +not agreeable to piety to appear to converse with their mother's +murderer. Now, by carrying these stories; that had indeed a true +foundation [in the fact], but were only built on probabilities as +to the present accusation, they were able to do them mischief, +and to make Herod take away that kindness from his sons which he +had before borne to them; for they did not say these things to +him openly, but scattered abroad such words, among the rest of +the multitude; from which words, when carried to Herod, he was +induced [at last] to hate them, and which natural affection +itself, even in length of time, was not able to overcome; yet was +the king at that time in a condition to prefer the natural +affection of a father before all the suspicions and calumnies his +sons lay under. So he respected them as he ought to do, and +married them to wives, now they were of an age suitable thereto. +To Aristobulus he gave for a wife Bernice, Salome's daughter; and +to Alexander, Glaphyra, the daughter of Archelaus, king of +Cappadocia. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Herod Twice Sailed To Agrippa; And How Upon The Complaint In +Ionia Against The Greeks Agrippa Confirmed The Laws To Them. + + +1. When Herod had despatched these affairs, and he understood +that Marcus Agrippa had sailed again out of Italy into Asia, he +made haste to him, and besought him to come to him into his +kingdom, and to partake of what he might justly expect from one +that had been his guest, and was his friend. This request he +greatly pressed, and to it Agrippa agreed, and came into Judea; +whereupon Herod omitted nothing that might please him. He +entertained him in his new-built cities, and showed him the +edifices he had built, and provided all sorts of the best and +most costly dainties for him and his friends, and that at Sebaste +and Cesarea, about that port that he had built, and at the +fortresses which he had erected at great expenses, Alexandrium, +and Herodium, and Hyrcania. He also conducted him to the city +Jerusalem, where all the people met him in their festival +garments, and received him with acclamations. Agrippa also +offered a hecatomb of sacrifices to God; and feasted the people, +without omitting any of the greatest dainties that could be +gotten. He also took so much pleasure there, that he abode many +days with them, and would willingly have staid longer, but that +the season of the year made him make haste away; for as winter +was coming on, he thought it not safe to go to sea later, and yet +he was of necessity to return again to Ionia. + +2. So Agrippa went away, when Herod had bestowed on him, and on +the principal of those that were with him, many presents; but +king Herod, when he had passed the winter in his own dominions, +made haste to get to him again in the spring, when he knew he +designed to go to a campaign at the Bosptiorus. So when he had +sailed by Rhodes and by Cos, he touched at Lesbos, as thinking he +should have overtaken Agrippa there; but he was taken short here +by a north wind, which hindered his ship from going to the shore; +so he continued many days at Chius, and there he kindly treated a +great many that came to him, and obliged them by giving them +royal gifts. And when he saw that the portico of the city was +fallen down, which as it was overthrown in the Mithridatic war, +and was very large and fine building, so was it not so easy to +rebuild that as it was the rest, yet did he furnish a sum not +only large enough for that purpose, but what was more than +sufficient to finish the building; and ordered them not to +overlook that portico, but to rebuild it quickly, that so the +city might recover its proper ornaments. And when the high winds +were laid, he sailed to Mytilene, and thence to Byzantium; and +when he heard that Agrippa was sailed beyond the Cyanean rocks, +he made all the haste possible to overtake him, and came up with +him about Sinope, in Pontus. He was seen sailing by the ship-men +most unexpectedly, but appeared to their great joy; and many +friendly salutations there were between them, insomuch that +Agrippa thought he had received the greatest marks of the king's +kindness and humanity towards him possible, since the king had +come so long a voyage, and at a very proper season, for his +assistance, and had left the government of his own dominions, and +thought it more worth his while to come to him. Accordingly, +Herod was all in all to Agrippa, in the management of the war, +and a great assistant in civil affairs, and in giving him counsel +as to particular matters. He was also a pleasant companion for +him when he relaxed himself, and a joint partaker with him in all +things; ill troubles because of his kindness, and in prosperity +because of the respect Agrippa had for him. Now as soon as those +affairs of Pontus were finished, for whose sake Agrippa was sent +thither, they did not think fit to return by sea, but passed +through Paphlagonia and Cappadocia; they then traveled thence +over great Phrygia, and came to Ephesus, and then they sailed +from Ephesus to Samos. And indeed the king bestowed a great many +benefits on every city that he came to, according as they stood +in need of them; for as for those that wanted either money or +kind treatment, he was not wanting to them; but he supplied the +former himself out of his own expenses: he also became an +intercessor with Agrippa for all such as sought after his favor, +and he brought things so about, that the petitioners failed in +none of their suits to him, Agrippa being himself of a good +disposition, and of great generosity, and ready to grant all such +requests as might be advantageous to the petitioners, provided +they were not to the detriment of others. The inclination of the +king was of great weight also, and still excited Agrippa, who was +himself ready to do good; for he made a reconciliation between +the people of Ilium, at whom he was angry, and paid what money +the people of Chius owed Caesar's procurators, and discharged +them of their tributes; and helped all others, according as their +several necessities required. + +3. But now, when Agrippa and Herod were in Ionia, a great +multitude of Jews, who dwelt in their cities, came to them, and +laying hold of the opportunity and the liberty now given them, +laid before them the injuries which they suffered, while they +were not permitted to use their own laws, but were compelled to +prosecute their law-suits, by the ill usage of the judges, upon +their holy days, and were deprived of the money they used to lay +up at Jerusalem, and were forced into the army, and upon such +other offices as obliged them to spend their sacred money; from +which burdens they always used to be freed by the Romans, who had +still permitted them to live according to their own laws. When +this clamor was made, the king desired of Agrippa that he would +hear their cause, and assigned Nicolaus, one of his friends, to +plead for those their privileges. Accordingly, when Agrippa had +called the principal of the Romans, and such of the kings and +rulers as were there, to be his assessors, Nicolaus stood up, and +pleaded for the Jews, as follows: "It is of necessity incumbent +on such as are in distress to have recourse to those that have it +in their power to free them from those injuries they lie under; +and for those that now are complainants, they approach you with +great assurance; for as they have formerly often obtained your +favor, so far as they have even wished to have it, they now only +entreat that you, who have been the donors, will take care that +those favors you have already granted them may not be taken away +from them. We have received these favors from you, who alone have +power to grant them, but have them taken from us by such as are +no greater than ourselves, and by such as we know are as much +subjects as we are; and certainly, if we have been vouchsafed +great favors, it is to our commendation who have obtained them, +as having been found deserving of such great favors; and if those +favors be but small ones, it would be barbarous for the donors +not to confirm them to us. And for those that are the hinderance +of the Jews, and use them reproachfully, it is evident that they +affront both the receivers, while they will not allow those to be +worthy men to whom their excellent rulers themselves have borne +their testimony, and the donors, while they desire those favors +already granted may be abrogated. Now if any one should ask these +Gentiles themselves, which of the two things they would choose to +part with, their lives, or the customs of their forefathers, +their solemnities, their sacrifices, their festivals, which they +celebrated in honor of those they suppose to be gods? I know very +well that they would choose to suffer any thing whatsoever rather +than a dissolution of any of the customs of their forefathers; +for a great many of them have rather chosen to go to war on that +account, as very solicitous not to transgress in those matters. +And indeed we take an estimate of that happiness which all +mankind do now enjoy by your means from this very thing, that we +are allowed every one to worship as our own institutions require, +and yet to live [in peace]; and although they would not be thus +treated themselves, yet do they endeavor to compel others to +comply with them, as if it were not as great an instance of +impiety profanely to dissolve the religious solemnities of any +others, as to be negligent in the observation of their own +towards their gods. And let us now consider the one of these +practices. Is there any people, or city, or community of men, to +whom your government and the Roman power does not appear to be +the greatest blessing '. Is there any one that can desire to make +void the favors they have granted? No one is certainly so mad; +for there are no men but such as have been partakers of their +favors, both public and private; and indeed those that take away +what you have granted, can have no assurance but every one of +their own grants made them by you may be taken from them also; +which grants of yours can yet never be sufficiently valued; for +if they consider the old governments under kings, together with +your present government, besides the great number of benefits +which this government hath bestowed on them, in order to their +happiness, this is instead of all the rest, that they appear to +be no longer in a state of slavery, but of freedom. Now the +privileges we desire, even when we are in the best circumstances, +are not such as deserve to be envied, for we are indeed in a +prosperous state by your means, but this is only in common with +others; and it is no more than this which we desire, to preserve +our religion without any prohibition; which as it appears not in +itself a privilege to be envied us, so it is for the advantage of +those that grant it to us; for if the Divinity delights in being +honored, it must delight in those that permit them to be honored. +And there are none of our customs which are inhuman, but all +tending to piety, and devoted to the preservation of justice; nor +do we conceal those injunctions of ours by which we govern our +lives, they being memorials of piety, and of a friendly +conversation among men. And the seventh day we set apart from +labor; it is dedicated to the learning of our customs and laws, +(1) we thinking it proper to reflect on them, as well as on any +[good] thing else, in order to our avoiding of sin. If any one +therefore examine into our observances, he will find they are +good in themselves, and that they are ancient also, though some +think otherwise, insomuch that those who have received them +cannot easily be brought to depart from them, out of that honor +they pay to the length of time they have religiously enjoyed them +and observed them. Now our adversaries take these our privileges +away in the way of injustice; they violently seize upon that +money of ours which is owed to God, and called sacred money, and +this openly, after a sacrilegious manner; and they impose +tributes upon us, and bring us before tribunals on holy days, and +then require other like debts of us, not because the contracts +require it, and for their own advantage, but because they would +put an affront on our religion, of which they are conscious as +well as we, and have indulged themselves in an unjust, and to +them involuntary, hatred; for your government over all is one, +tending to the establishing of benevolence, and abolishing of +ill-will among such as are disposed to it. This is therefore what +we implore from thee, most excellent Agrippa, that we may not be +ill-treated; that we may not be abused; that we may not be +hindered from making use of our own customs, nor be despoiled of +our goods, nor be forced by these men to do what we ourselves +force nobody to do; for these privileges of ours are not only +according to justice, but have formerly been granted us by you. +And we are able to read to you many decrees of the senate, and +the tables that contain them, which are still extant in the +capitol, concerning these things, which it is evident were +granted after you had experience of our fidelity towards you, +which ought to be valued, though no such fidelity had been; for +you have hitherto preserved what people were in possession of, +not to us only, but almost to all men, and have added greater +advantages than they could have hoped for, and thereby your +government is become a great advantage to them. And if any one +were able to enumerate the prosperity you have conferred on every +nation, which they possess by your means, he could never put an +end to his discourse; but that we may demonstrate that we are not +unworthy of all those advantages we have obtained, it will be +sufficient for us, to say nothing of other things, but to speak +freely of this king who now governs us, and is now one of thy +assessors; and indeed in what instance of good-will, as to your +house, hath he been deficient? What mark of fidelity to it hath +he omitted? What token of honor hath he not devised? What +occasion for his assistance of you hath he not regarded at the +very first? What hindereth; therefore, but that your kindnesses +may be as numerous as his so great benefits to you have been? It +may also perhaps be fit not here to pass over in silence the +valor of his father Antipater, who, when Caesar made an +expedition into Egypt, assisted him with two thousand armed men, +and proved inferior to none, neither in the battles on land, nor +in the management of the navy; and what need I say any thing of +how great weight those soldiers were at that juncture? or how +many and how great presents they were vouchsafed by Caesar? And +truly I ought before now to have mentioned the epistles which +Caesar wrote to the senate; and how Antipater had honors, and the +freedom of the city of Rome, bestowed upon him; for these are +demonstrations both that we have received these favors by our own +deserts, and do on that account petition thee for thy +confirmation of them, from whom we had reason to hope for them, +though they had not been given us before, both out of regard to +our king's disposition towards you, and your disposition towards +him. And further, we have been informed by those Jews that were +there with what kindness thou camest into our country, and how +thou offeredst the most perfect sacrifices to God, and honoredst +him with remarkable vows, and how thou gavest the people a feast, +and acceptedst of their own hospitable presents to thee. We ought +to esteem all these kind entertainments made both by our nation +and to our city, to a man who is the ruler and manager of so much +of the public affairs, as indications of that friendship which +thou hast returned to the Jewish nation, and which hath been +procured them by the family of Herod. So we put thee in mind of +these things in the presence of the king, now sitting by thee, +and make our request for no more but this, that what you have +given us yourselves you will not see taken away by others from +us." + +4. When Nicolaus had made this speech, there was no opposition +made to it by the Greeks, for this was not an inquiry made, as in +a court of justice, but an intercession to prevent violence to be +offered to the Jews any longer; nor did the Greeks make any +defense of themselves, or deny what it was supposed they had +done. Their pretense was no more than this, that while the Jews +inhabited in their country, they were entirely unjust to them [in +not joining in their worship] but they demonstrated their +generosity in this, that though they worshipped according to +their institutions, they did nothing that ought to grieve them. +So when Agrippa perceived that they had been oppressed by +violence, he made this answer: That, on account of Herod's +good-will and friendship, he was ready to grant the Jews +whatsoever they should ask him, and that their requests seemed to +him in themselves just; and that if they requested any thing +further, he should not scruple to grant it them, provided they +were no way to the detriment of the Roman government; but that +while their request was no more than this, that what privileges +they had already given them might not be abrogated, he confirmed +this to them, that they might continue in the observation of +their own customs, without any one offering them the least +injury. And when he had said thus, he dissolved the assembly; +upon which Herod stood up and saluted him, and gave him thanks +for the kind disposition he showed to them. Agrippa also took +this in a very obliging manner, and saluted him again, and +embraced him in his arms; after which he went away from Lesbos; +but the king determined to sail from Samos to his own country; +and when he had taken his leave of Agrippa, he pursued his +voyage, and landed at Cesarea in a few days' time, as having +favorable winds; from whence he went to Jerusalem, and there +gathered all the people together to an assembly, not a few being +there out of the country also. So he came to them, and gave them +a particular account of all his journey, and of the affairs of +all the Jews in Asia, how by his means they would live without +injurious treatment for the time to come. He also told them of +the entire good fortune he had met with and how he had +administered the government, and had not neglected any thing +which was for their advantage; and as he was very joyful, he now +remitted to them the fourth part of their taxes for the last +year. Accordingly, they were so pleased with his favor and speech +to them, that they went their ways with great gladness, and +wished the king all manner of happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER 3 + +How Great Disturbances Arose In Herods Family On His Preferring +Antipater His Eldest Son Before The Rest, Till Alexander Took +That Injury Very Heinously. + + +1. But now the affairs in Herod's family were in more and more +disorder, and became more severe upon him, by the hatred of +Salome to the young men [Alexander and Aristobulus], which +descended as it were by inheritance [from their mother Mariamne]; +and as she had fully succeeded against their mother, so she +proceeded to that degree of madness and insolence, as to endeavor +that none of her posterity might be left alive, who might have it +in their power to revenge her death. The young men had also +somewhat of a bold and uneasy disposition towards their father +occasioned by the remembrance of what their mother had unjustly +suffered, and by their own affectation of dominion. The old +grudge was also renewed; and they east reproaches on Salome and +Pheroras, who requited the young men with malicious designs, and +actually laid treacherous snares for them. Now as for this +hatred, it was equal on both sides, but the manner of exerting +that hatred was different; for as for the young men, they were +rash, reproaching and affronting the others openly, and were +inexperienced enough to think it the most generous to declare +their minds in that undaunted manner; but the others did not take +that method, but made use of calumnies after a subtle and a +spiteful manner, still provoking the young men, and imagining +that their boldness might in time turn to the offering violence +to their father; for inasmuch as they were not ashamed of the +pretended crimes of their mother, nor thought she suffered +justly, these supposed that might at length exceed all bounds, +and induce them to think they ought to be avenged on their +father, though it were by despatching him with their own hands. +At length it came to this, that the whole city was full of their +discourses, and, as is usual in such contests, the unskilfulness +of the young men was pitied; but the contrivance of Salome was +too hard for them, and what imputations she laid upon them came +to be believed, by means of their own conduct; for they who were +so deeply affected with the death of their mother, that while +they said both she and themselves were in a miserable case, they +vehemently complained of her pitiable end, which indeed was truly +such, and said that they were themselves in a pitiable case also, +because they were forced to live with those that had been her +murderers, and to be partakers with them. + +2. These disorders increased greatly, and the king's absence +abroad had afforded a fit opportunity for that increase; but as +soon as Herod was returned, and had made the forementioned speech +to the multitude, Pheroras and Salome let fill words immediately +as if he were in great danger, and as if the young men openly +threatened that they would not spare him any longer, but revenge +their mother's death upon him. They also added another +circumstance, that their hopes were fixed on Archclaus, the king +of Cappadocia, that they should be able by his means to come to +Caesar, and accuse their father. Upon hearing such things, Herod +was immediately disturbed; and indeed was the more astonished, +because the same things were related to him by some others also. +He then called to mind his former calamity, and considered that +the disorders in his family had hindered him from enjoying any +comfort from those that were dearest to him or from his wife whom +he loved so well; and suspecting that his future troubles would +soon be heavier and greater than those that were past, he was in +great confusion of mind; for Divine Providence had in reality +conferred upon him a great many outward advantages for his +happiness, even beyond his hopes; but the troubles he had at home +were such as he never expected to have met with, and rendered him +unfortunate; nay, both sorts came upon him to such a degree as no +one could imagine, and made it a doubtful question, whether, upon +the comparison of both, he ought to have exchanged so great a +success of outward good things for so great misfortunes at home, +or whether he ought not to have chosen to avoid the calamities +relating to his family, though he had, for a compensation, never +been possessed of the admired grandeur of a kingdom. + +3. As he was thus disturbed and afflicted, in order to depress +these young men, he brought to court another of his sons, that +was born to him when he was a private man; his name was +Antipater; yet did he not then indulge him as he did afterwards, +when he was quite overcome by him, and let him do every thing as +he pleased, but rather with a design of depressing the insolence +of the sons of Marianme, and managing this elevation of his so, +that it might be for a warning to them; for this bold behavior of +theirs [he thought] would not be so great, if they were once +persuaded that the succession to the kingdom did not appertain to +them alone, or must of necessity come to them. So he introduced +Antipater as their antagonist, and imagined that he made a good +provision for discouraging their pride, and that after this was +done to the young men, there might be a proper season for +expecting these to be of a better disposition; but the event +proved otherwise than he intended, for the young men thought he +did them a very great injury; and as Antipater was a shrewd man, +when he had once obtained this degree of freedom, and began to +expect greater things than he had before hoped for, he had but +one single design in his head, and that was to distress his +brethren, and not at all to yield to them the pre-eminence, but +to keep close to his father, who was already alienated from them +by the calumnies he had heard about them, and ready to be wrought +upon in any way his zeal against them should advise him to +pursue, that he might be continually more and more severe against +them. Accordingly, all the reports that were spread abroad came +from him, while he avoided himself the suspicion as if those +discoveries proceeded from him; but he rather chose to make use +of those persons for his assistants that were unsuspected, and +such as might be believed to speak truth by reason of the +good-will they bore to the king; and indeed there were already +not a few who cultivated a friendship with Antipater, in hopes of +gaining somewhat by him, and these were the men who most of all +persuaded Herod, because they appeared to speak thus out of their +good-will to him: and with these joint accusations, which from +various foundations supported one another's veracity, the young +men themselves afforded further occasions to Antipater also; for +they were observed to shed tears often, on account of the injury +that was offered them, and had their mother in their mouths; and +among their friends they ventured to reproach their father, as +not acting justly by them; all which things were with an evil +intention reserved in memory by Antipater against a proper +opportunity; and when they were told to Herod, with aggravations, +increased the disorder so much, that it brought a great tumult +into the family; for while the king was very angry at imputations +that were laid upon the sons of Mariamne, and was desirous to +humble them, he still increased the honor that he had bestowed on +Antipater, and was at last so overcome by his persuasions, that +he brought his mother to court also. He also wrote frequently to +Caesar in favor of him, and more earnestly recommended him to his +care particularly. And when Agrippa was returning to Rome, after +he had finished his ten years' government in Asia. (2) Herod +sailed from Judea; and when he met with him, he had none with him +but Antipater, whom he delivered to Agrippa, that he might take +him along with him, together with many presents, that so he might +become Caesar's friend, insomuch that things already looked as if +he had all his father's favor, and that the young men were +already entirely rejected from any hopes of the kingdom. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How During Antipater's Abode At Rome, Herod Brought Alexander And +Aristobulus Before Caesar And Accused Them. Alexander's Defense +Of Himself Before Caesar And Reconciliation To His Father. + + +1. And now what happened during Antipater's absence augmented the +honor to which he had been promoted, and his apparent eminence +above his brethren; for he had made a great figure in Rome, +because Herod had sent recommendations of him to all his friends +there; only he was grieved that he was not at home, nor had +proper opportunities of perpetually calumniating his brethren; +and his chief fear was, lest his father should alter his mind, +and entertain a more favorable opinion of the sons of Mariamne; +and as he had this in his mind, he did not desist from his +purpose, but continually sent from Rome any such stories as he +hoped might grieve and irritate his father against his brethren, +under pretense indeed of a deep concern for his preservation, but +in truth such as his malicious mind dictated, in order to +purchase a greater hope of the succession, which yet was already +great in itself: and thus he did till he had excited such a +degree of anger in Herod, that he was already become very +ill-disposed towards the young men; but still while he delayed to +exercise so violent a disgust against them, and that he might not +either be too remiss or too rash, and so offend, he thought it +best to sail to Rome, and there accuse his sons before Caesar, +and not indulge himself in any such crime as might be heinous +enough to be suspected of impiety. But as he was going up to +Rome, it happened that he made such haste as to meet with Caesar +at the city Aquilei (3) so when he came to the speech of Caesar, +he asked for a time for hearing this great cause, wherein he +thought himself very miserable, and presented his sons there, and +accused them of their mad actions, and of their attempts against +him: That they were enemies to him; and by all the means they +were able, did their endeavors to show their hatred to their own +father, and would take away his life, and so obtain his kingdom, +after the most barbarous manner: that he had power from Caesar to +dispose of it, not by necessity, but by choice, to him who shall +exercise the greatest piety towards him; while these my sons are +not so desirous of ruling, as they are, upon a disappointment +thereof, to expose their own life, if so be they may but deprive +their father of his life; so wild and polluted is their mind by +time become, out of their hatred to him: that whereas he had a +long time borne this his misfortune, he was now compelled to lay +it before Caesar, and to pollute his ears with such language, +while he himself wants to know what severity they have ever +suffered from him, or what hardships he hath ever laid upon them +to make them complain of him; and how they can think it just that +he should not be lord of that kingdom which he in a long time, +and with great danger, had gained, and not allow him to keep it +and dispose of it to him who should deserve best; and this, with +other advantages, he proposes as a reward for the piety of such a +one as will hereafter imitate the care he hath taken of it, and +that such a one may gain so great a requital as that is: and that +it is an impious thing for them to pretend to meddle with it +beforehand; for he who hath ever the kingdom in his view, at the +same time reckons upon procuring the death of his father, because +otherwise he cannot come at the government: that as for himself, +he had hitherto given them all that he was able, and what was +agreeable to such as are subject to the royal authority, and the +sons of a king; what ornaments they wanted, with servants and +delicate fare, and had married them into the most illustrious +families, the one [Aristobulus] to his sister's daughter, but +Alexander to the daughter of king Archelaus; and, what was the +greatest favor of all, when their crimes were so very bad, and he +had authority to punish them, yet had he not made use of it +against them, but had brought them before Caesar, their common +benefactor, and had not used the severity which, either as a +father who had been impiously abused, or as a king who had been +assaulted treacherously, he might have done, but made them stand +upon a level with him in judgment: that, however, it was +necessary that all this should not be passed over without +punishment, nor himself live in the greatest fears; nay, that it +was not for their own advantage to see the light of the sun after +what they have done, although they should escape at this time, +since they had done the vilest things, and would certainly suffer +the greatest punishments that ever were known among mankind. + +2. These were the accusations which Herod laid with great +vehemency against his sons before Caesar. Now the young men, both +while he was speaking, and chiefly at his concluding, wept, and +were in confusion. Now as to themselves, they knew in their own +conscience they were innocent; but because they were accused by +their father, they were sensible, as the truth was, that it was +hard for them to make their apology, since though they were at +liberty to speak their minds freely as the occasion required, and +might with force and earnestness refute the accusation, yet was +it not now decent so to do. There was therefore a difficulty how +they should be able to speak; and tears, and at length a deep +groan, followed, while they were afraid, that if they said +nothing, they should seem to be in this difficulty from a +consciousness of guilt, - nor had they any defense ready, by +reason of their youth, and the disorder they were under; yet was +not Caesar unapprized, when he looked upon them in the confusion +they were in, that their delay to make their defense did not +arise from any consciousness of great enormities, but from their +unskilfulness and modesty. They were also commiserated by those +that were there in particular; and they moved their father's +affections in earnest till he had much ado to conceal them. + +3. But when they saw there was a kind disposition arisen both in +him and in Caesar, and that every one of the rest did either shed +tears, or at least did all grieve with them, the one of them, +whose name was Alexander, called to his father, and attempted to +answer his accusation, and said, "O father, the benevolence thou +hast showed to us is evident, even in this very judicial +procedure, for hadst thou had any pernicious intentions about us, +thou hadst not produced us here before the common savior of all, +for it was in thy power, both as a king and as a father, to +punish the guilty; but by thus bringing us to Rome, and making +Caesar himself a witness to what is done, thou intimatest that +thou intendest to save us; for no one that hath a design to slay +a man will bring him to the temples, and to the altars; yet are +our circumstances still worse, for we cannot endure to live +ourselves any longer, if it be believed that we have injured such +a father; nay, perhaps it would be worse for us to live with this +suspicion upon us, that we have injured him, than to die without +such guilt. And if our open defense may be taken to be true, we +shall be happy, both in pacifying thee, and in escaping the +danger we are in; but if this calumny so prevails, it is more +than enough for us that we have seen the sun this day; which why +should we see, if this suspicion be fixed upon us? Now it is easy +to say of young men, that they desire to reign; and to say +further, that this evil proceeds from the case of our unhappy +mother. This is abundantly sufficient to produce our present +misfortune out of the former; but consider well, whether such an +accusation does not suit all such young men, and may not be said +of them all promiscuously; for nothing can hinder him that +reigns, if he have children, and their mother be dead, but the +father may have a suspicion upon all his sons, as intending some +treachery to him; but a suspicion is not sufficient to prove such +an impious practice. Now let any man say, whether we have +actually and insolently attempted any such thing, whereby actions +otherwise incredible use to be made credible? Can any body prove +that poison hath been prepared? or prove a conspiracy of our +equals, or the corruption of servants, or letters written against +thee? though indeed there are none of those things but have +sometimes been pretended by way of calumny, when they were never +done; for a royal family that is at variance with itself is a +terrible thing; and that which thou callest a reward of piety +often becomes, among very wicked men, such a foundation of hope, +as makes them leave no sort of mischief untried. Nor does any one +lay any wicked practices to our charge; but as to calumnies by +hearsay, how can he put an end to them, who will not hear what we +have to say? Have we talked with too great freedom? Yes; but not +against thee, for that would be unjust, but against those that +never conceal any thing that is spoken to them. Hath either of us +lamented our mother? Yes; but not because she is dead, but +because she was evil spoken of by those that had no reason so to +do. Are we desirous of that dominion which we know our father is +possessed of? For what reason can we do so? If we already have +royal honors, as we have, should not we labor in vain? And if we +have them not, yet are not we in hopes of them? Or supposing that +we had killed thee, could we expect to obtain thy kingdom? while +neither the earth would let us tread upon it, nor the sea let us +sail upon it, after such an action as that; nay, the religion of +all your subjects, and the piety of the whole nation, would have +prohibited parricides from assuming the government, and from +entering into that most holy temple which was built by thee (4) +But suppose we had made light of other dangers, can any murderer +go off unpunished while Caesar is alive? We are thy sons, and not +so impious or so thoughtless as that comes to, though perhaps +more unfortunate than is convenient for thee. But in case thou +neither findest any causes of complaint, nor any treacherous +designs, what sufficient evidence hast thou to make such a +wickedness of ours credible? Our mother is dead indeed, but then +what befell her might be an instruction to us to caution, and not +an incitement to wickedness. We are willing to make a larger +apology for ourselves; but actions never done do not admit of +discourse. Nay, we will make this agreement with thee, and that +before Caesar, the lord of all, who is now a mediator between us, +If thou, O father, canst bring thyself, by the evidence of truth, +to have a mind free from suspicion concerning us let us live, +though even then we shall live in an unhappy way, for to be +accused of great acts of wickedness, though falsely, is a +terrible thing; but if thou hast any fear remaining, continue +thou on in thy pious life, we will give this reason for our own +conduct; our life is not so desirable to us as to desire to have +it, if it tend to the harm of our father who gave it us." + +4. When Alexander had thus spoken, Caesar, who did not before +believe so gross a calumny, was still more moved by it, and +looked intently upon Herod, and perceived he was a little +confounded: the persons there present were under an anxiety about +the young men, and the fame that was spread abroad made the king +hated, for the very incredibility of the calumny, and the +commiseration of the flower of youth, the beauty of body, which +were in the young men, pleaded for assistance, and the more so on +this account, that Alexander had made their defense with +dexterity and prudence; nay, they did not themselves any longer +continue in their former countenances, which had been bedewed +with tears, and cast downwards to the ground, but now there arose +in them hope of the best; and the king himself appeared not to +have had foundation enough to build such an accusation upon, he +having no real evidence wherewith to correct them. Indeed he +wanted some apology for making the accusation; but Caesar, after +some delay, said, that although the young men were thoroughly +innocent of that for which they were calumniated, yet had they +been so far to blame, that they had not demeaned themselves +towards their father so as to prevent that suspicion which was +spread abroad concerning them. He also exhorted Herod to lay all +such suspicions aside, and to be reconciled to his sons; for that +it was not just to give any credit to such reports concerning his +own children; and that this repentance on both sides might still +heal those breaches that had happened between them, and might +improve that their good-will to one another, whereby those on +both sides, excusing the rashness of their suspicions, might +resolve to bear a greater degree of affection towards each other +than they had before. After Caesar had given them this +admonition, he beckoned to the young men. When therefore they +were disposed to fall down to make intercession to their father, +he took them up, and embraced them, as they were in tears, and +took each of them distinctly in his arms, till not one of those +that were present, whether free-man or slave, but was deeply +affected with what they saw. (5) + +5. Then did they return thanks to Caesar, and went away together; +and with them went Antipater, with an hypocritical pretense that +he rejoiced at this reconciliation. And in the last days they +were with Caesar, Herod made him a present of three hundred +talents, as he was then exhibiting shows and largesses to the +people of Rome; and Caesar made him a present of half the revenue +of the copper mines in Cyprus, and committed the care of the +other half to him, and honored him with other gifts and incomes; +and as to his own kingdom, he left it in his own power to appoint +which of his sons he pleased for his successor, or to distribute +it in parts to every one, that the dignity might thereby come to +them all. And when Herod was disposed to make such a settlement +immediately, Caesar said he would not give him leave to deprive +himself, while he was alive, of the power over his kingdom, or +over his sons. + +6. After this, Herod returned to Judea again. But during his +absence no small part of his dominion about Trachon had revolted, +whom yet the commanders he left there had vanquished, and +compelled to a submission again. Now as Herod was sailing with +his sons, and was come over against Cilicia, to [the island] +Eleusa, which hath now changed its name for Sebaste, he met with +Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, who received him kindly, as +rejoicing that he was reconciled to his sons, and that the +accusation against Alexander, who had married his daughter, was +at an end. They also made one another such presents as it became +kings to make, From thence Herod came to Judea and to the temple, +where he made a speech to the people concerning what had been +done in this his journey. He also discoursed to them about +Caesar's kindness to him, and about as many of the particulars he +had done as he thought it for his advantage other people should +be acquainted with. At last he turned his speech to the +admonition of his sons; and exhorted those that lived at court, +and the multitude, to concord; and informed them that his sons +were to reign after him; Antipater first, and then Alexander and +Aristobulus, the sons of Mariamne: but he desired that at present +they should all have regard to himself, and esteem him king and +lord of all, since he was not yet hindered by old age, but was in +that period of life when he must be the most skillful in +governing; and that he was not deficient in other arts of +management that might enable him to govern the kingdom well, and +to rule over his children also. He further told the rulers under +him, and the soldiery, that in case they would look upon him +alone, their life would be led in a peaceable manner, and they +would make one another happy. And when he had said this, he +dismissed the assembly. Which speech was acceptable to the +greatest part of the audience, but not so to them all; for the +contention among his sons, and the hopes he had given them, +occasioned thoughts and desires of innovations among them. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Herod Celebrated The Games That Were To Return Every Fifth +Year Upon The Building Of Cesarea; And How He Built And Adorned +Many Other Places After A Magnificent Manner; And Did Many Other +Actions Gloriously + + +1. About this time it was that Cesarea Sebaste, which he had +built, was finished. The entire building being accomplished: in +the tenth year, the solemnity of it fell into the twenty-eighth +year of Herod's reign, and into the hundred and ninety-second +olympiad. There was accordingly a great festival and most +sumptuous preparations made presently, in order to its +dedication; for he had appointed a contention in music, and games +to be performed naked. He had also gotten ready a great number of +those that fight single combats, and of beasts for the like +purpose; horse races also, and the most chargeable of such sports +and shows as used to be exhibited at Rome, and in other places. +He consecrated this combat to Caesar, and ordered it to be +celebrated every fifth year. He also sent all sorts of ornaments +for it out of his own furniture, that it might want nothing to +make it decent; nay, Julia, Caesar's wife, sent a great part of +her most valuable furniture [from Rome], insomuch that he had no +want of any thing. The sum of them all was estimated at five +hundred talents. Now when a great multitude was come to that city +to see the shows, as well as the ambassadors whom other people +sent, on account of the benefits they had received from Herod, he +entertained them all in the public inns, and at public tables, +and with perpetual feasts; this solemnity having in the day time +the diversions of the fights, and in the night time such merry +meetings as cost vast sums of money, and publicly demonstrated +the generosity of his soul; for in all his undertakings he was +ambitious to exhibit what exceeded whatsoever had been done +before of the same kind. And it is related that Caesar and +Agrippa often said, that the dominions of Herod were too little +for the greatness of his soul; for that he deserved to have both +all the kingdom of Syria, and that of Egypt also. + +2. After this solemnity and these festivals were over, Herod +erected another city in the plain called Capharsaba, where he +chose out a fit place, both for plenty of water and goodness of +soil, and proper for the production of what was there planted, +where a river encompassed the city itself, and a grove of the +best trees for magnitude was round about it: this he named +Antipatris, from his father Antipater. He also built upon another +spot of ground above Jericho, of the same name with his mother, a +place of great security and very pleasant for habitation, and +called it Cypros. He also dedicated the finest monuments to his +brother Phasaelus, on account of the great natural affection +there had been between them, by erecting a tower in the city +itself, not less than the tower of Pharos, which he named +Phasaelus, which was at once a part of the strong defenses of the +city, and a memorial for him that was deceased, because it bare +his name. He also built a city of the same name in the valley of +Jericho, as you go from it northward, whereby he rendered the +neighboring country more fruitful by the cultivation its +inhabitants introduced; and this also he called Phasaelus. + +3. But as for his other benefits, it is impossible to reckon them +up, those which he bestowed on cities, both in Syria and in +Greece, and in all the places he came to in his voyages; for he +seems to have conferred, and that after a most plentiful manner, +what would minister to many necessities, and the building of +public works, and gave them the money that was necessary to such +works as wanted it, to support them upon the failure of their +other revenues: but what was the greatest and most illustrious of +all his works, he erected Apollo's temple at Rhodes, at his own +expenses, and gave them a great number of talents of silver for +the repair of their fleet. He also built the greatest part of the +public edifices for the inhabitants of Nicopolis, at Actium; (6) +and for the Antiochinus, the inhabitants of the principal city of +Syria, where a broad street cuts through the place lengthways, he +built cloisters along it on both sides, and laid the open road +with polished stone, and was of very great advantage to the +inhabitants. And as to the olympic games, which were in a very +low condition, by reason of the failure of their revenues, he +recovered their reputation, and appointed revenues for heir +maintenance, and made that solemn meeting more venerable, as to +the sacrifices and other ornaments; and by reason of this vast +liberality, he was generally declared in their inscriptions to be +one of the perpetual managers of those games. + +4. Now some there are who stand amazed at the diversity of +Herod's nature and purposes; for when we have respect to his +magnificence, and the benefits which he bestowed on all mankind, +there is no possibility for even those that had the least respect +for him to deny, or not openly to confess, that he had a nature +vastly beneficent; but when any one looks upon the punishments he +inflicted, and the injuries he did, not only to his subjects, but +to his nearest relations, and takes notice of his severe and +unrelenting disposition there, he will be forced to allow that he +was brutish, and a stranger to all humanity; insomuch that these +men suppose his nature to be different, and sometimes at +contradiction with itself; but I am myself of another opinion, +and imagine that the occasion of both these sort of actions was +one and the same; for being a man ambitious of honor, and quite +overcome by that passion, he was induced to be magnificent, +wherever there appeared any hopes of a future memorial, or of +reputation at present; and as his expenses were beyond his +abilities, he was necessitated to be harsh to his subjects; for +the persons on whom he expended his money were so many, that they +made him a very bad procurer of it; and because he was conscious +that he was hated by those under him, for the injuries he did +them, he thought it not an easy thing to amend his offenses, for +that it was inconvenient for his revenue; he therefore strove on +the other side to make their ill-will an occasion of his gains. +As to his own court, therefore, if any one was not very +obsequious to him in his language, and would not confess himself +to be his slave, or but seemed to think of any innovation in his +government, he was not able to contain himself, but prosecuted +his very kindred and friends, and punished them as if they were +enemies and this wickedness he undertook out of a desire that he +might be himself alone honored. Now for this, my assertion about +that passion of his, we have the greatest evidence, by what he +did to honor Caesar and Agrippa, and his other friends; for with +what honors he paid his respects to them who were his superiors, +the same did he desire to be paid to himself; and what he thought +the most excellent present he could make another, he discovered +an inclination to have the like presented to himself. But now the +Jewish nation is by their law a stranger to all such things, and +accustomed to prefer righteousness to glory; for which reason +that nation was not agreeable to him, because it was out of their +power to flatter the king's ambition with statues or temples, or +any other such performances; And this seems to me to have been at +once the occasion of Herod's crimes as to his own courtiers and +counselors, and of his benefactions as to foreigners and those +that had no relation to him. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +An Embassage In Cyrene And Asia To Caesar, Concerning The +Complaints They Had To Make Against The Greeks; With Copies Of +The Epistles Which Caesar And Agrippa Wrote To The Cities For +Them. + + +1. Now the cities ill-treated the Jews in Asia, and all those +also of the same nation which lived ill Libya, which joins to +Cyrene, while the former kings had given them equal privileges +with the other citizens; but the Greeks affronted them at this +time, and that so far as to take away their sacred money, and to +do them mischief on other particular occasions. When therefore +they were thus afflicted, and found no end of their barbarous +treatment they met with among the Greeks, they sent ambassadors +to Caesar on those accounts, who gave them the same privileges as +they had before, and sent letters to the same purpose to the +governors of the provinces, copies of which I subjoin here, as +testimonials of the ancient favorable disposition the Roman +emperors had towards us. + +2. "Caesar Augustus, high priest and tribune of the people, +ordains thus: Since the nation of the Jews hath been found +grateful to the Roman people, not only at this time, but in time +past also, and chiefly Hyrcanus the high priest, under my father +(7) Caesar the emperor, it seemed good to me and my counselors, +according to the sentence and oath of the people of Rome, that +the Jews have liberty to make use of their own customs, according +to the law of their forefathers, as they made use of them under +Hyrcanus the high priest of the Almighty God; and that their +sacred money be not touched, but be sent to Jerusalem, and that +it be committed to the care of the receivers at Jerusalem; and +that they be not obliged to go before any judge on the sabbath +day, nor on the day of the preparation to it, after the ninth +hour. (8) But if any one be caught stealing their holy books, or +their sacred money, whether it be out of the synagogue or public +school, he shall be deemed a sacrilegious person, and his goods +shall be brought into the public treasury of the Romans. And I +give order that the testimonial which they have given me, on +account of my regard to that piety which I exercise toward all +mankind, and out of regard to Caius Marcus Censorinus, together +with the present decree, be proposed in that most eminent place +which hath been consecrated to me by the community of Asia at +Ancyra. And if any one transgress any part of what is above +decreed, he shall be severely punished." This was inscribed upon +a pillar in the temple of Caesar. + +3. "Caesar to Norbanus Flaccus, sendeth greeting. Let those Jews, +how many soever they be, who have been used, according to their +ancient custom, to send their sacred money to Jerusalem, do the +same freely." These were the decrees of Caesar. + +4. Agrippa also did himself write after the manner following, on +behalf of the Jews: "Agrippa, to the magistrates, senate, and +people of the Ephesians, sendeth greeting. I will that the care +and custody of the sacred money that is carried to the temple at +Jerusalem be left to the Jews of Asia, to do with it according to +their ancient custom; and that such as steal that sacred money of +the Jews, and fly to a sanctuary, shall be taken thence and +delivered to the Jews, by the same law that sacrilegious persons +are taken thence. I have also written to Sylvanus the praetor, +that no one compel the Jews to come before a judge on the sabbath +day." + +5. "Marcus Agrippa to the magistrates, senate, and people of +Cyrene, sendeth greeting. The Jews of Cyrene have interceded with +me for the performance of what Augustus sent orders about to +Flavius, the then praetor of Libya, and to the other procurators +of that province, that the sacred money may be sent to Jerusalem +freely, as hath been their custom from their forefathers, they +complaining that they are abused by certain informers, and under +pretense of taxes which were not due, are hindered from sending +them, which I command to be restored without any diminution or +disturbance given to them. And if any of that sacred money in the +cities be taken from their proper receivers, I further enjoin, +that the same be exactly returned to the Jews in that place." + +6. "Caius Norbanus Flaccus, proconsul, to the magistrates of the +Sardians, sendeth greeting. Caesar hath written to me, and +commanded me not to forbid the Jews, how many soever they be, +from assembling together according to the custom of their +forefathers, nor from sending their money to Jerusalem. I have +therefore written to you, that you may know that both Caesar and +I would have you act accordingly." + +7. Nor did Julius Antonius, the proconsul, write otherwise. "To +the magistrates, senate, and people of the Ephesians, sendeth +greeting. As I was dispensing justice at Ephesus, on the Ides of +February, the Jews that dwell in Asia demonstrated to me that +Augustus and Agrippa had permitted them to use their own laws and +customs, and to offer those their first-fruits, which every one +of them freely offers to the Deity on account of piety, and to +carry them in a company together to Jerusalem without +disturbance. They also petitioned me that I also would confirm +what had been granted by Augustus and Agrippa by my own sanction. +I would therefore have you take notice, that according to the +will of Augustus and Agrippa, I permit them to use and do +according to the customs of their forefathers without +disturbance." + +8. I have been obliged to set down these decree because the +present history of our own acts will go generally among the +Greeks; and I have hereby demonstrated to them that we have +formerly been in great esteem, and have not been prohibited by +those governors we were under from keeping any of the laws of our +forefathers; nay, that we have been supported by them, while we +followed our own religion, and the worship we paid to God; and I +frequently make mention of these decrees, in order to reconcile +other people to us, and to take away the causes of that hatred +which unreasonable men bear to us. As for our customs (9) there +is no nation which always makes use of the same, and in every +city almost we meet with them different from one another; but +natural justice is most agreeable to the advantage of all men +equally, both Greeks and barbarians, to which our laws have the +greatest regard, and thereby render us, if we abide in them after +a pure manner, benevolent and friendly to all men; on which +account we have reason to expect the like return from others, and +to inform them that they ought not to esteem difference of +positive institutions a sufficient cause of alienation, but [join +with us in] the pursuit of virtue and probity, for this belongs +to all men in common, and of itself alone is sufficient for the +preservation of human life. I now return to the thread of my +history. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How, Upon Herod's Going Down Into David's Sepulcher, The Sedition +In His Family Greatly Increased. + + +1. As for Herod, he had spent vast sums about the cities, both +without and within his own kingdom; and as he had before heard +that Hyrcanus, who had been king before him, had opened David's +sepulcher, and taken out of it three thousand talents of silver, +and that there was a much greater number left behind, and indeed +enough to suffice all his wants, he had a great while an +intention to make the attempt; and at this time he opened that +sepulcher by night, and went into it, and endeavored that it +should not be at all known in the city, but took only his most +faithful friends with him. As for any money, he found none, as +Hyrcanus had done, but that furniture of gold, and those precious +goods that were laid up there; all which he took away. However, +he had a great desire to make a more diligent search, and to go +farther in, even as far as the very bodies of David and Solomon; +where two of his guards were slain, by a flame that burst out +upon those that went in, as the report was. So he was terribly +aftrighted, and went out, and built a propitiatory monument of +that fright he had been in; and this of white stone, at the mouth +of the sepulcher, and that at great expense also. And even +Nicolaus (10) his historiographer makes mention of this monument +built by Herod, though he does not mention his going down into +the sepulcher, as knowing that action to be of ill repute; and +many other things he treats of in the same manner in his book; +for he wrote in Herod's lifetime, and under his reign, and so as +to please him, and as a servant to him, touching upon nothing but +what tended to his glory, and openly excusing many of his +notorious crimes, and very diligently concealing them. And as he +was desirous to put handsome colors on the death of Mariamne and +her sons, which were barbarous actions in the king, he tells +falsehoods about the incontinence of Mariamne, and the +treacherous designs of his sons upon him; and thus he proceeded +in his whole work, making a pompous encomium upon what just +actions he had done, but earnestly apologizing for his unjust +ones. Indeed, a man, as I said, may have a great deal to say by +way of excuse for Nicolaus; for he did not so properly write this +as a history for others, as somewhat that might be subservient to +the king himself. As for ourselves, who come of a family nearly +allied to the Asamonean kings, and on that account have an +honorable place, which is the priesthood, we think it indecent to +say any thing that is false about them, and accordingly we have +described their actions after an unblemished and upright manner. +And although we reverence many of Herod's posterity, who still +reign, yet do we pay a greater regard to truth than to them, and +this though it sometimes happens that we incur their displeasure +by so doing. + +2. And indeed Herod's troubles in his family seemed to be +augmented by reason of this attempt he made upon David's +sepulcher; whether Divine vengeance increased the calamities he +lay under, in order to render them incurable, or whether fortune +made an assault upon him, in those cases wherein the +seasonableness of the cause made it strongly believed that the +calamities came upon him for his impiety; for the tumult was like +a civil war in his palace, and their hatred towards one another +was like that where each one strove to exceed another in +calumnies. However, Antipater used stratagems perpetually against +his brethren, and that very cunningly; while abroad he loaded +them with accusations, but still took upon him frequently to +apologize for them, that this apparent benevolence to them might +make him be believed, and forward his attempts against them; by +which means he, after various manners, circumvented his father, +who believed all that he did was for his preservation. Herod also +recommended Ptolemy, who was a great director of the affairs of +his kingdom, to Antipater; and consulted with his mother about +the public affairs also. And indeed these were all in all, and +did what they pleased, and made the king angry against any other +persons, as they thought it might be to their own advantage; but +still the sons of Marianme were in a worse and worse condition +perpetually; and while they were thrust out, and set in a more +dishonorable rank, who yet by birth were the most noble, they +could not bear the dishonor. And for the women, Glaphyra, +Alexander's wife, the daughter of Archclaus, hated Salome, both +because of her love to her husband, and because Glaphyra seemed +to behave herself somewhat insolently towards Salome's daughter, +who was the wife of Aristobulus, which equality of hers to +herself Glaphyra took very impatiently. + +3. Now, besides this second contention that had fallen among +them, neither did the king's brother Pheroras keep himself out of +trouble, but had a particular foundation for suspicion and +hatred; for he was overcome with the charms of his wife, to such +a degree of madness, that he despised the king's daughter, to +whom he had been betrothed, and wholly bent his mind to the +other, who had been but a servant. Herod also was grieved by the +dishonor that was done him, because he had bestowed many favors +upon him, and had advanced him to that height of power that he +was almost a partner with him in the kingdom, and saw that he had +not made him a due return for his labors, and esteemed himself +unhappy on that account. So upon Pheroras's unworthy refusal, he +gave the damsel to Phasaelus's son; but after some time, when he +thought the heat of his brother's affections was over, he blamed +him for his former conduct, and desired him to take his second +daughter, whose name was Cypros. Ptolemy also advised him to +leave off affronting his brother, and to forsake her whom he had +loved, for that it was a base thing to be so enamored of a +servant, as to deprive himself of the king's good-will to him, +and become an occasion of his trouble, and make himself hated by +him. Pheroras knew that this advice would be for his own +advantage, particularly because he had been accused before, and +forgiven; so he put his wife away, although he already had a son +by her, and engaged to the king that he would take his second +daughter, and agreed that the thirtieth day after should be the +day of marriage; and sware he would have no further conversation +with her whom he had put away; but when the thirty days were +over, he was such a slave to his affections, that he no longer +performed any thing he had promised, but continued still with his +former wife. This occasioned Herod to grieve openly, and made him +angry, while the king dropped one word or other against Pheroras +perpetually; and many made the king's anger an opportunity for +raising calumnies against him. Nor had the king any longer a +single quiet day or hour, but occasions of one fresh quarrel or +another arose among his relations, and those that were dearest to +him; for Salome was of a harsh temper, and ill-natured to +Mariamne's sons; nor would she suffer her own daughter, who was +the wife of Aristobulus, one of those young men, to bear a +good-will to her husband, but persuaded her to tell her if he +said any thing to her in private, and when any misunderstandings +happened, as is common, she raised a great many suspicions out of +it; by which means she learned all their concerns, and made the +damsel ill-natured to the young man. And in order to gratify her +mother, she often said that the young men used to mention +Mariamne when they were by themselves; and that they hated their +father, and were continually threatening, that if they had once +got the kingdom, they would make Herod's sons by his other wives +country schoolmasters, for that the present education which was +given them, and their diligence in learning, fitted them for such +an employment. And as for the women, whenever they saw them +adorned with their mother's clothes, they threatened, that +instead of their present gaudy apparel, they should be clothed in +sackcloth, and confined so closely that they should not see the +light of the sun. These stories were presently carried by Salome +to the king, who was troubled to hear them, and endeavored to +make up matters; but these suspicions afflicted him, and becoming +more and more uneasy, he believed every body against every body. +However, upon his rebuking his sons, and hearing the defense they +made for themselves, he was easier for a while, though a little +afterwards much worse accidents came upon him. + +4. For Pheroras came to Alexander, the husband of Glaphyra, who +was the daughter of Archelaus, as we have already told you, and +said that he had heard from Salome that Herod has enamored on +Glaphyra, and that his passion for her was incurable. When +Alexander heard that, he was all on fire, from his youth and +jealousy; and he interpreted the instances of Herod's obliging +behavior to her, which were very frequent, for the worse, which +came from those suspicions he had on account of that word which +fell from Pheroras; nor could he conceal his grief at the thing, +but informed him what word: Pheroras had said. Upon which Herod +was in a greater disorder than ever; and not bearing such a false +calumny, which was to his shame, was much disturbed at it; and +often did he lament the wickedness of his domestics, and how good +he had been to them, and how ill requitals they had made him. So +he sent for Pheroras, and reproached him, and said, "Thou vilest +of all men! art thou come to that unmeasurable and extravagant +degree of ingratitude, as not only to suppose such things of me, +but to speak of them? I now indeed perceive what thy intentions +are. It is not thy only aim to reproach me, when thou usest such +words to my son, but thereby to persuade him to plot against me, +and get me destroyed by poison. And who is there, if he had not a +good genius at his elbow, as hath my son, but would not bear such +a suspicion of his father, but would revenge himself upon him? +Dost thou suppose that thou hast only dropped a word for him to +think of, and not rather hast put a sword into his hand to slay +his father? And what dost thou mean, when thou really hatest both +him and his brother, to pretend kindness to them, only in order +to raise a reproach against me, and talk of such things as no one +but such an impious wretch as thou art could either devise in +their mind, or declare in their words? Begone, thou art such a +plague to thy benefactor and thy brother, and may that evil +conscience of thine go along with thee; while I still overcome my +relations by kindness, and am so far from avenging myself of +them, as they deserve, that I bestow greater benefits upon them +than they are worthy of." + +5. Thus did the king speak. Whereupon Pheroras, who was caught in +the very act of his villainy, said that "it was Salome who was +the framer of this plot, and that the words came from her." But +as soon as she heard that, for she was at hand, she cried out, +like one that would be believed, that no such thing ever came out +of her mouth; that they all earnestly endeavored to make the king +hate her, and to make her away, because of the good-will she bore +to Herod, and because she was always foreseeing the dangers that +were coming upon him, and that at present there were more plots +against him than usual; for while she was the only person who +persuaded her brother to put away the wife he now had, and to +take the king's daughter, it was no wonder if she were hated by +him. As she said this, and often tore her hair, and often beat +her breast, her countenance made her denial to be believed; but +the peverseness of her manners declared at the same time her +dissimulation in these proceedings; but Pheroras was caught +between them, and had nothing plausible to offer in his own +defense, while he confessed that he had said what was charged +upon him, but was not believed when he said he had heard it from +Salome; so the confusion among them was increased, and their +quarrelsome words one to another. At last the king, out of his +hatred to his brother and sister, sent them both away; and when +he had commended the moderation of his son, and that he had +himself told him of the report, he went in the evening to refresh +himself. After such a contest as this had fallen out among them, +Salome's reputation suffered greatly, since she was supposed to +have first raised the calumny; and the king's wives were grieved +at her, as knowing she was a very ill-natured woman, and would +sometimes be a friend, and sometimes an enemy, at different +seasons: so they perpetually said one thing or another against +her; and somewhat that now fell out made them the bolder in +speaking against her. + +6. There was one Obodas, king of Arabia, an inactive and slothful +man in his nature; but Sylleus managed most of his affairs for +him. He was a shrewd man, although he was but young, and was +handsome withal. This Sylleus, upon some occasion coming to +Herod, and supping with him, saw Salome, and set his heart upon +her; and understanding that she was a widow, he discoursed with +her. Now because Salome was at this time less in favor with her +brother, she looked upon Sylleus with some passion, and was very +earnest to be married to him; and on the days following there +appeared many, and those very great, indications of their +agreement together. Now the women carried this news to the king, +and laughed at the indecency of it; whereupon Herod inquired +about it further of Pheroras, and desired him to observe them at +supper, how their behavior was one toward another; who told him, +that by the signals which came from their heads and their eyes, +they both were evidently in love. After this, Sylleus the Arabian +being suspected, went away, but came again in two or three months +afterwards, as it were on that very design, and spake to Herod +about it, and desired that Salome might be given him to wife; for +that his affinity might not be disadvantageous to his affairs, by +a union with Arabia, the government of which country was already +in effect under his power, and more evidently would be his +hereafter. Accordingly, when Herod discoursed with his sister +about it, and asked her whether she were disposed to this match, +she immediately agreed to it. But when Sylleus was desired to +come over to the Jewish religion, and then he should marry her, +and that it was impossible to do it on any other terms, he could +not bear that proposal, and went his way; for he said, that if he +should do so, he should be stoned by the Arabs. Then did Pheroras +reproach Salome for her incontinency, as did the women much more; +and said that Sylleus had debauched her. As for that damsel which +the king had betrothed to his brother Pheroras, but he had not +taken her, as I have before related, because he was enamored on +his former wife, Salome desired of Herod she might be given to +her son by Costobarus; which match he was very willing to, but +was dissuaded from it by Pheroras, who pleaded that this young +man would not be kind to her, since his father had been slain by +him, and that it was more just that his son, who was to be his +successor in the tetrarchy, should have her. So he begged his +pardon, and persuaded him to do so. Accordingly the damsel, upon +this change of her espousals, was disposal of to this young man, +the son of Pheroras, the king giving for her portion a hundred +talents. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +How Herod Took Up Alexander And Bound Him; Whom Yet Archelaus +King Of Cappadocia Reconciled To His Father Herod Again. + + +1. But still the affairs of Herod's family were no better, but +perpetually more troublesome. Now this accident happened, which +arose from no decent occasion, but proceeded so far as to bring +great difficulties upon him. There were certain eunuchs which the +king had, and on account of their beauty was very fond of them; +and the care of bringing him drink was intrusted to one of them; +of bringing him his supper, to another; and of putting him to +bed, to the third, who also managed the principal affairs of the +government; and there was one told the king that these eunuchs +were corrupted by Alexander the king's son with great sums of +money. And when they were asked whether Alexander had had +criminal conversation with them, they confessed it, but said they +knew of no further mischief of his against his father; but when +they were more severely tortured, and were in the utmost +extremity, and the tormentors, out of compliance with Antipater, +stretched the rack to the very utmost, they said that Alexander +bare great ill-will and innate hatred to his father; and that he +told them that Herod despaired to live much longer; and that, in +order to cover his great age, he colored his hair black, and +endeavored to conceal what would discover how old he was; but +that if he would apply himself to him, when he should attain the +kingdom, which, in spite of his father, could come to no one +else, he should quickly have the first place in that kingdom +under him, for that he was now ready to take the kingdom, not +only as his birth-right, but by the preparations he had made for +obtaining it, because a great many of the rulers, and a great +many of his friends, were of his side, and those no ill men +neither, ready both to do and to suffer whatsoever should come on +that account. + +2. When Herod heard this confession, he was all over anger and +fear, some parts seeming to him reproachful, and some made him +suspicious of dangers that attended him, insomuch that on both +accounts he was provoked, and bitterly afraid lest some more +heavy plot was laid against him than he should be then able to +escape from; whereupon he did not now make an open search, but +sent about spies to watch such as he suspected, for he was now +overrun with suspicion and hatred against all about him; and +indulging abundance of those suspicions, in order to his +preservation, he continued to suspect those that were guiltless; +nor did he set any bounds to himself, but supposing that those +who staid with him had the most power to hurt him, they were to +him very frightful; and for those that did not use to come to +him, it seemed enough to name them [to make them suspected], and +he thought himself safer when they were destroyed. And at last +his domestics were come to that pass, that being no way secure of +escaping themselves, they fell to accusing one another, and +imagining that he who first accused another was most likely to +save himself; yet when any had overthrown others, they were +hated; and they were thought to suffer justly who unjustly +accused others, and they only thereby prevented their own +accusation; nay, they now executed their own private enmities by +this means, and when they were caught, they were punished in the +same way. Thus these men contrived to make use of this +opportunity as an instrument and a snare against their enemies; +yet when they tried it, were themselves caught also in the same +snare which they laid for others: and the king soon repented of +what he had done, because he had no clear evidence of the guilt +of those whom he had slain; and yet what was still more severe in +him, he did not make use of his repentance, in order to leave off +doing the like again, but in order to inflict the same punishment +upon their accusers. + +3. And in this state of disorder were the affairs of the palace; +and he had already told many of his friends directly that they +ought not to appear before him, her come into the palace; and the +reason of this injunction was, that [when they were there], he +had less freedom of acting, or a greater restraint on himself on +their account; for at this time it was that he expelled +Andromachus and Gamellus, men who had of old been his friends, +and been very useful to him in the affairs of his kingdom, and +been of advantage to his family, by their embassages and +counsels; and had been tutors to his sons, and had in a manner +the first degree of freedom with him. He expelled Andromachus, +because his son Demetrius was a companion to Alexander; and +Gamellus, because he knew that he wished him well, which arose +from his having been with him in his youth, when he was at +school, and absent at Rome. These he expelled out of his palace, +and was willing enough to have done worse by them; but that he +might not seem to take such liberty against men of so great +reputation, he contented himself with depriving them of their +dignity, and of their power to hinder his wicked proceedings. + +4. Now it was Antipater who was the cause of all this; who when +he knew what a mad and licentious way of acting his father was +in, and had been a great while one of his counselors, he hurried +him on, and then thought he should bring him to do somewhat to +purpose, when every one that could oppose him was taken away. +When therefore Andromachus and his friends were driven away, and +had no discourse nor freedom with the king any longer, the king, +in the first place, examined by torture all whom he thought to be +faithful to Alexander, Whether they knew of any of his attempts +against him; but these died without having any thing to say to +that matter, which made the king more zealous [after +discoveries], when he could not find out what evil proceedings he +suspected them of. As for Antipater, he was very sagacious to +raise a calumny against those that were really innocent, as if +their denial was only their constancy and fidelity [to +Alexander], and thereupon provoked Herod to discover by the +torture of great numbers what attempts were still concealed. Now +there was a certain person among the many that were tortured, who +said that he knew that the young man had often said, that when he +was commended as a tall man in his body, and a skillful marksman, +and that in his other commendable exercises he exceeded all men, +these qualifications given him by nature, though good in +themselves, were not advantageous to him, because his father was +grieved at them, and envied him for them; and that when he walked +along with his father, he endeavored to depress and shorten +himself, that he might not appear too tall; and that when he shot +at any thing as he was hunting, when his father was by, he missed +his mark on purpose, for he knew how ambitious his father was of +being superior in such exercises. So when the man was tormented +about this saying, and had ease given his body after it, he +added, that he had his brother Aristobulus for his assistance, +and contrived to lie in wait for their father, as they were +hunting, and kill him; and when they had done so to fly to Rome, +and desire to have the kingdom given them. There were also +letters of the young man found, written to his brother, wherein +he complained that his father did not act justly in giving +Antipater a country, whose [yearly] revenues amounted to two +hundred talents. Upon these confessions Herod presently thought +he had somewhat to depend on, in his own opinion, as to his +suspicion about his sons; so he took up Alexander and bound him: +yet did he still continue to be uneasy, and was not quite +satisfied of the truth of what he had heard; and when he came to +recollect himself, he found that they had only made juvenile +complaints and contentions, and that it was an incredible thing, +that when his son should have slain him, he should openly go to +Rome [to beg the kingdom]; so he was desirous to have some surer +mark of his son's wickedness, and was very solicitous about it, +that he might not appear to have condemned him to be put in +prison too rashly; so he tortured the principal of Alexander's +friends, and put not a few of them to death, without getting any +of the things out of them which he suspected. And while Herod was +very busy about this matter, and the palace was full of terror +and trouble, one of the younger sort, when he was in the utmost +agony, confessed that Alexander had sent to his friends at Rome, +and desired that he might be quickly invited thither by Caesar, +and that he could discover a plot against him; that Mithridates, +the king of Parthia, was joined in friendship with his father +against the Romans, and that he had a poisonous potion ready +prepared at Askelori. + +5. To these accusations Herod gave credit, and enjoyed hereby, in +his miserable case, some sort of consolation, in excuse of his +rashness, as fiattering himself with finding things in so bad a +condition; but as for the poisonous potion, which he labored to +find, he could find none. As for Alexander, he was very desirous +to aggravate the vast misfortunes he was under, so he pretended +not to deny the accusations, but punished the rashness of his +father with a greater crime of his own; and perhaps he was +willing to make his father ashamed of his easy belief of such +calumnies: he aimed especially, if he could gain belief to his +story, to plague him and his whole kingdom; for he wrote four +letters, and sent them to him, that he did not need to torture +any more persons, for he had plotted against him; and that he had +for his partners Pheroras and the most faithful of his friends; +and that Salome came in to him by night, and that she lay with +him whether he would or not; and that all men were come to be of +one mind, to make away with him as soon as they could, and so get +clear of the continual fear they were in from him. Among these +were accused Ptolemy and Sapinnius, who were the most faithful +friends to the king. And what more can be said, but that those +who before were the most intimate friends, were become wild +beasts to one another, as if a certain madness had fallen upon +them, while there was no room for defense or refutation, in order +to the discovery of the truth, but all were at random doomed to +destruction; so that some lamented those that were in prison, +some those that were put to death, and others lamented that they +were in expectation of the same miseries; and a melancholy +solitude rendered the kingdom deformed, and quite the reverse to +that happy state it was formerly in. Herod's own life also was +entirely disturbed; and because he could trust nobody, he was +sorely punished by the expectation of further misery; for he +often fancied in his imagination that his son had fallen upon +him, or stood by him with a sword in his hand; and thus was his +mind night and day intent upon this thing, and revolved it over +and over, no otherwise than if he were under a distraction. And +this was the sad condition Herod was now in. + +6. But when Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, heard of the state +that Herod was in, and being in great distress about his +daughter, and the young man [her husband], and grieving with +Herod, as with a man that was his friend, on account of so great +a disturbance as he was under, he came [to Jerusalem] on purpose +to compose their differences; and when he found Herod in such a +temper, he thought it wholly unseasonable to reprove him, or to +pretend that he had done any thing rashly, for that he should +thereby naturally bring him to dispute the point with him, and by +still more and more apologizing for himself to be the more +irritated: he went, therefore, another way to work, in order to +correct the former misfortunes, and appeared angry at the young +man, and said that Herod had been so very mild a man, that he had +not acted a rash part at all. He also said he would dissolve his +daughter's marriage with Alexander, nor could in justice spare +his own daughter, if she were conscious of any thing, and did not +inform Herod of it. When Archelaus appeared to be of this temper, +and otherwise than Herod expected or imagined, and, for the main, +took Herod's part, and was angry on his account, the king abated +of his harshness, and took occasion from his appearing to have +acted justly hitherto, to come by degrees to put on the affection +of a father, and was on both sides to be pitied; for when some +persons refuted the calumnies that were laid on the young man, he +was thrown into a passion; but when Archclaus joined in the +accusation, he was dissolved into tears and sorrow after an +affectionate manner. Accordingly, he desired that he would not +dissolve his son's marriage, and became not so angry as before +for his offenses. So when Archclaus had brought him to a more +moderate temper, he transferred the calumnies upon his friends; +and said it must be owing to them that so young a man, and one +unacquainted with malice, was corrupted; and he supposed that +there was more reason to suspect the brother than the soft. Upon +which Herod was very much displeased at Pheroras, who indeed now +had no one that could make a reconciliation between him and his +brother. So when he saw that Archclaus had the greatest power +with Herod, he betook himself to him in the habit of a mourner, +and like one that had all the signs upon him of an undone man. +Upon this Archclaus did not overlook the intercession he made to +him, nor yet did he undertake to change the king's disposition +towards him immediately; and he said that it was better for him +to come himself to the king, and confess himself the occasion of +all; that this would make the king's anger not to be extravagant +towards him, and that then he would be present to assist him. +When he had persuaded him to this, he gained his point with both +of them; and the calumnies raised against the young man were, +beyond all expectation, wiped off. And Archclaus, as soon as he +had made the reconciliation, went then away to Cappadocia, having +proved at this juncture of time the most acceptable person to +Herod in the world; on which account he gave him the richest +presents, as tokens of his respects to him; and being on other +occasions magnanimous, he esteemed him one of his dearest +friends. He also made an agreement with him that he would go to +Rome, because he had written to Caesar about these affairs; so +they went together as far as Antioch, and there Herod made a +reconciliation between Archclaus and Titus, the president of +Syria, who had been greatly at variance, and so returned back to +Judea. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning The Revolt Of The Trachonites; How Sylleus Accused +Herod Before Caesar; And How Herod, When Caesar Was Angry At Him, +Resolved To Send Nicolaus To Rome. + + +1. When Herod had been at Rome, and was come back again, a war +arose between him and the Arabians, on the occasion following: +The inhabitants of Trachonitis, after Caesar had taken the +country away from Zenodorus, and added it to Herod, had not now +power to rob, but were forced to plough the land, and to live +quietly, which was a thing they did not like; and when they did +take that pains, the ground did not produce much fruit for them. +However, at the first the king would not permit them to rob, and +so they abstained from that unjust way of living upon their +neighbors, which procured Herod a great reputation for his care. +But when he was sailing to Rome, it was at that time when he went +to accuse his son Alexander, and to commit Antipater to Caesar's +protection, the Trachonites spread a report as if he were dead, +and revolted from his dominion, and betook themselves again to +their accustomed way of robbing their neighbors; at which time +the king's commanders subdued them during his absence; but about +forty of the principal robbers, being terrified by those that had +been taken, left the country, and retired into Arabia, Sylleus +entertaining them, after he had missed of marrying Salome, and +gave them a place of strength, in which they dwelt. So they +overran not only Judea, but all Celesyria also, and carried off +the prey, while Sylleus afforded them places of protection and +quietness during their wicked practices. But when Herod came back +from Rome, he perceived that his dominions had greatly suffered +by them; and since he could not reach the robbers themselves, +because of the secure retreat they had in that country, and which +the Arabian government afforded them, and yet being very uneasy +at the injuries they had done him, he went all over Trachonitis, +and slew their relations; whereupon these robbers were more angry +than before, it being a law among them to be avenged on the +murderers of their relations by all possible means; so they +continued to tear and rend every thing under Herod's dominion +with impunity. Then did he discourse about these robberies to +Saturninus and Volumnius, and required that they should be +punished; upon which occasion they still the more confirmed +themselves in their robberies, and became more numerous, and made +very great disturbances, laying waste the countries and villages +that belonged to Herod's kingdom, and killing those men whom they +caught, till these unjust proceedings came to be like a real war, +for the robbers were now become about a thousand; - at which +Herod was sore displeased, and required the robbers, as well as +the money which he had lent Obodas, by Sylleus, which was sixty +talents, and since the time of payment was now past, he desired +to have it paid him; but Sylleus, who had laid Obodas aside, and +managed all by himself, denied that the robbers were in Arabia, +and put off the payment of the money; about which there was a +hearing before Saturninus and Volumnius, who were then the +presidents of Syria. (11) At last he, by their means, agreed, +that within thirty days' time Herod should be paid his money, and +that each of them should deliver up the other's subjects +reciprocally. Now, as to Herod, there was not one of the other's +subjects found in his kingdom, either as doing any injustice, or +on any other account, but it was proved that the Arabians had the +robbers amongst them. + +2. When this day appointed for payment of the money was past, +without Sylleus's performing any part of his agreement, and he +was gone to Rome, Herod demanded the payment of the money, and +that the robbers that were in Arabia should be delivered up; and, +by the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius, executed the +judgment himself upon those that were refractory. He took an army +that he had, and let it into Arabia, and in three days' time +marched seven mansions; and when he came to the garrison wherein +the robbers were, he made an assault upon them, and took them +all, and demolished the place, which was called Raepta, but did +no harm to any others. But as the Arabians came to their +assistance, under Naceb their captain, there ensued a battle, +wherein a few of Herod's soldiers, and Naceb, the captain of the +Arabians, and about twenty of his soldiers, fell, while the rest +betook themselves to flight. So when he had brought these to +punishment, he placed three thousand Idumeans in Trachonitis, and +thereby restrained the robbers that were there. He also sent an +account to the captains that were about Phoenicia, and +demonstrated that he had done nothing but what he ought to do, in +punishing the refractory Arabians, which, upon an exact inquiry, +they found to be no more than what was true. + +3. However, messengers were hasted away to Sylleus to Rome, and +informed him what had been done, and, as is usual, aggravated +every thing. Now Sylleus had already insinuated himself into the +knowledge of Caesar, and was then about the palace; and as soon +as he heard of these things, he changed his habit into black, and +went in, and told Caesar that Arabia was afflicted with war, and +that all his kingdom was in great confusion, upon Herod's laying +it waste with his army; and he said, with tears in his eyes, that +two thousand five hundred of the principal men among the Arabians +had been destroyed, and that their captain Nacebus, his familiar +friend and kinsman, was slain; and that the riches that were at +Raepta were carried off; and that Obodas was despised, whose +infirm state of body rendered him unfit for war; on which account +neither he, nor the Arabian army, were present. When Sylleus said +so, and added invidiously, that he would not himself have come +out of the country, unless he had believed that Caesar would have +provided that they should all have peace one with another, and +that, had he been there, he would have taken care that the war +should not have been to Herod's advantage; Caesar was provoked +when this was said, and asked no more than this one question, +both of Herod's friends that were there, and of his own friends, +who were come from Syria, Whether Herod had led an army thither? +And when they were forced to confess so much, Caesar, without +staying to hear for what reason he did it, and how it was done, +grew very angry, and wrote to Herod sharply. The sum of his +epistle was this, that whereas of old he had used him as his +friend, he should now use him as his subject. Sylleus also wrote +an account of this to the Arabians, who were so elevated with it, +that they neither delivered up the robbers that had fled to them, +nor paid the money that was due; they retained those pastures +also which they had hired, and kept them without paying their +rent, and all this because the king of the Jews was now in a low +condition, by reason of Caesar's anger at him. Those of +Trachonitis also made use of this opportunity, and rose up +against the Idumean garrison, and followed the same way of +robbing with the Arabians, who had pillaged their country, and +were more rigid in their unjust proceedings, not only in order to +get by it, but by way of revenge also. + +4. Now Herod was forced to bear all this, that confidence of his +being quite gone with which Caesar's favor used to inspire him; +for Caesar would not admit so much as an embassage from him to +'make an apology for him; and when they came again, he sent them +away without success. So he was cast into sadness and fear; and +Sylleus's circumstances grieved him exceedingly, who was now +believed by Caesar, and was present at Rome, nay, sometimes +aspiring higher. Now it came to pass that Obodas was dead; and +Aeneas, whose name was afterward changed to Aretas, (12) took the +government, for Sylleus endeavored by calumnies to get him turned +out of his principality, that he might himself take it; with +which design he gave much money to the courtiers, and promised +much money to Caesar, who indeed was angry that Aretas had not +sent to him first before he took the kingdom; yet did Aeneas send +an epistle and presents to Caesar, and a golden crown, of the +weight of many talents. Now that epistle accused Sylleus as +having been a wicked servant, and having killed Obodas by poison; +and that while he was alive, he had governed him as he pleased; +and had also debauched the wives of the Arabians; and had +borrowed money, in order to obtain the dominion for himself: yet +did not Caesar give heed to these accusations, but sent his +ambassadors back, without receiving any of his presents. But in +the mean time the affairs of Judea and Arabia became worse and +worse, partly because of the anarchy they were under, and partly +because, as bad as they were, nobody had power to govern them; +for of the two kings, the one was not yet confirmed in his +kingdom, and so had not authority sufficient to restrain the +evil-doers; and as for Herod, Caesar was immediately angry at him +for having avenged himself, and so he was compelled to bear all +the injuries that were offered him. At length, when he saw no end +of the mischief which surrounded him, he resolved to send +ambassadors to Rome again, to see whether his friends had +prevailed to mitigate Caesar, and to address themselves to Caesar +himself; and the ambassador he sent thither was Nicolans of +Damascus. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +How Eurycles Falsely Accused Herod's Sons; And How Their Father +Bound Them, And Wrote To Caesar About Them. Of Sylleus And How He +Was Accused By Nicolaus. + + +1. The disorders about Herod's family and children about this +time grew much worse; for it now appeared certain, nor was it +unforeseen before-hand, that fortune threatened the greatest and +most insupportable misfortunes possible to his kingdom. Its +progress and augmentation at this time arose on the occasion +following: One Eurycles, a Lacedemonian, (a person of note there, +but a man of a perverse mind, and so cunning in his ways of +voluptuousness and flattery, as to indulge both, and yet seem to +indulge neither of them,) came in his travels to Herod, and made +him presents, but so that he received more presents from him. He +also took such proper seasons for insinuating himself into his +friendship, that he became one of the most intimate of the king's +friends. He had his lodging in Antipater's house; but he had not +only access, but free conversation, with Alexander, as pretending +to him that he was in great favor with Archclaus, the king of +Cappadocia; whence he pretended much respect to Glaphyra, and in +an occult manner cultivated a friendship with them all; but +always attending to what was said and done, that he might be +furnished with calumnies to please them all. In short, he behaved +himself so to every body in his conversation, as to appear to be +his particular friend, and he made others believe that his being +any where was for that person's advantage. So he won upon +Alexander, who was but young; and persuaded him that he might +open his grievances to him with assurance and with nobody else. +So he declared his grief to him, how his father was alienated +from him. He related to him also the affairs of his mother, and +of Antipater; that he had driven them from their proper dignity, +and had the power over every thing himself; that no part of this +was tolerable, since his father was already come to hate them; +and he added, that he would neither admit them to his table, nor +to his conversation. Such were the complaints, as was but +natural, of Alexander about the things that troubled him; and +these discourses Eurycles carried to Antipater, and told him he +did not inform him of this on his own account, but that being +overcome by his kindness, the great importance of the thing +obliged him to do it; and he warned him to have a care of +Alexander, for that what he said was spoken with vehemency, and +that, in consequence of what he said, he would certainly kill him +with his own hand. Whereupon Antipater, thinking him to be his +friend by this advice, gave him presents upon all occasions, and +at length persuaded him to inform Herod of what he had heard. So +when he related to the king Alexander's ill temper, as discovered +by the words he had heard him speak, he was easily believed by +him; and he thereby brought the king to that pass, turning him +about by his words, and irritating him, till he increased his +hatred to him and made him implacable, which he showed at that +very time, for he immediately gave Eurycles a present of fifty +talents; who, when he had gotten them, went to Archclaus, king of +Cappadocia, and commended Alexander before him, and told him that +he had been many ways of advantage to him, in making a +reconciliation between him and his father. So he got money from +him also, and went away, before his pernicious practices were +found out; but when Eurycles was returned to Lacedemon, he did +not leave off doing mischief; and so, for his many acts of +injustice, he was banished from his own country. + +2. But as for the king of the Jews, he was not now in the temper +he was in formerly towards Alexander and Aristobulus, when he had +been content with the hearing their calumnies when others told +him of them; but he was now come to that pass as to hate them +himself, and to urge men to speak against them, though they did +not do it of themselves. He also observed all that was said, and +put questions, and gave ear to every one that would but speak, if +they could but say any thing against them, till at length he +heard that Euaratus of Cos was a conspirator with Alexander; +which thing to Herod was the most agreeable and sweetest news +imaginable. + +3. But still a greater misfortune came upon the young men; while +the calumnies against them were continually increased, and, as a +man may say, one would think it was every one's endeavor to lay +some grievous thing to their charge, which might appear to be for +the king's preservation. There were two guards of Herod's body, +who were in great esteem for their strength and tallness, +Jucundus and Tyrannus; these men had been cast off by Herod, who +was displeased at them; these now used to ride along with +Alexander, and for their skill in their exercises were in great +esteem with him, and had some gold and other gifts bestowed on +them. Now the king having an immediate suspicion of those men, +had them tortured, who endured the torture courageously for a +long time; but at last confessed that Alexander would have +persuaded them to kill Herod, when he was in pursuit of the wild +beasts, that it might be said he fell from his horse, and was run +through with his own spear, for that he had once such a +misfortune formerly. They also showed where there was money +hidden in the stable under ground; and these convicted the king's +chief hunter, that he had given the young men the royal hunting +spears and weapons to Alexander's dependents, at Alexander's +command. + +4. After these, the commander of the garrison of Alexandrium was +caught and tortured; for he was accused to have promised to +receive the young men into his fortress, and to supply them with +that money of the king's which was laid up in that fortress, yet +did not he acknowledge any thing of it himself; but his son came +ill, and said it was so, and delivered up the writing, which, so +far as could be guessed, was in Alexander's hand. Its contents +were these: "When we have finished, by God's help, all that we +have proposed to do, we will come to you; but do your endeavors, +as you have promised, to receive us into your fortress." After +this writing was produced, Herod had no doubt about the +treacherous designs of his sons against him. But Alexander said +that Diophantus the scribe had imitated his hand, and that the +paper was maliciously drawn up by Antipater; for Diophantus +appeared to be very cunning in such practices; and as he was +afterward convicted of forging other papers, he was put to death +for it. + +5. So the king produced those that had been tortured before the +multitude at Jericho, in order to have them accuse the young men, +which accusers many of the people stoned to death; and when they +were going to kill Alexander and Aristobulus likewise, the king +would not permit them to do so, but restrained the multitude, by +the means of Ptolemy and Pheroras. However, the young men were +put under a guard, and kept in custody, that nobody might come at +them; and all that they did or said was watched, and the reproach +and fear they were in was little or nothing different from those +of condemned criminals: and one of them, who was Aristobulus, was +so deeply affected, that he brought Salome, who was his aunt, and +his mother-in-law, to lament with him for his calamities, and to +hate him who had suffered things to come to that pass; when he +said to her, "Art thou not in danger of destruction also, while +the report goes that thou hadst disclosed beforehand all our +affairs to Syllcus, when thou wast in hopes of being married to +him?" But she immediately carried these words to her brother. +Upon this he was out of patience, and gave command to bind him; +and enjoined them both, now they were kept separate one from the +other, to write down the ill things they had done against their +father, and bring the writings to him, So when this was enjoined +them, they wrote this, that they had laid no treacherous designs, +nor made any preparations against their father, but that they had +intended to fly away; and that by the distress they were in, +their lives being now uncertain and tedious to them. + +6. About this time there came an ambassador out of Cappadocia +from Archelaus, whose name was Melas; he was one of the principal +rulers under him. So Herod, being desirous to show Archelaus's +ill-will to him, called for Alexander, as he was in his bonds, +and asked him again concerning his fight, whether and how they +had resolved to retire Alexander replied, To Archclaus, who had +promised to send them away to Rome; but that they had no wicked +nor mischievous designs against their father, and that nothing of +that nature which their adversaries had charged upon them was +true; and that their desire was, that he might have examined +Tyrannus and Jucundus more strictly, but that they had been +suddenly slain by the means of Antipater, who put his own friends +among the multitude [for that purpose]. + +7. When this was said, Herod commanded that both Alexander and +Melas should be carried to Glaphyra, Archelaus's daughter, and +that she should be asked, whether she did not know somewhat of +Alexander's treacherous designs against Herod? Now as soon as +they were come to her, and she saw Alexander in bonds, she beat +her head, and in a great consternation gave a deep and moving +groan. The young man also fell into tears. This was so miserable +a spectacle to those present, that, for a great while, they were +not able to say or to do any thing; but at length Ptolemy, who +was ordered to bring Alexander, bid him say whether his wife was +conscious of his actions. He replied, "How is it possible that +she, whom I love better than my own soul, and by whom I have had +children, should not know what I do?" Upon which she cried out +that she knew of no wicked designs of his; but that yet, if her +accusing herself falsely would tend to his preservation, she +would confess it all. Alexander replied, "There is no such +wickedness as those (who ought the least of all so to do) +suspect, which either I have imagined, or thou knowest of, but +this only, that we had resolved to retire to Archelaus, and from +thence to Rome." Which she also confessed. Upon which Herod, +supposing that Archelaus's ill-will to him was fully proved, sent +a letter by Olympus and Volumnius; and bid them, as they sailed +by, to touch at Eleusa of Cilicia, and give Archelaus the letter. +And that when they had ex-postulated with him, that he had a hand +in his son's treacherous design against him, they should from +thence sail to Rome; and that, in case they found Nicolaus had +gained any ground, and that Caesar was no longer displeased at +him, he should give him his letters, and the proofs which he had +ready to show against the young men. As to Archelaus, he made his +defense for himself, that he had promised to receive the young +men, because it was both for their own and their father's +advantage so to do, lest some too severe procedure should be gone +upon in that anger and disorder they were in on occasion of the +present suspicions; but that still he had not promised to send +them to Caesar; and that he had not promised any thing else to +the young men that could show any ill-will to him. + +8. When these ambassadors were come to Rome, they had a fit +opportunity of delivering their letters to Caesar, because they +found him reconciled to Herod; for the circumstances of +Nicolaus's embassage had been as follows: As soon as he was come +to Rome, and was about the court, he did not first of all set +about what he was come for only, but he thought fit also to +accuse Sylleus. Now the Arabians, even before he came to talk +with them, were quarrelling one with another; and some of them +left Sylleus's party, and joining themselves to Nicolaus, +informed him of all the wicked things that had been done; and +produced to him evident demonstrations of the slaughter of a +great number of Obodas's friends by Sylleus; for when these men +left Sylleus, they had carried off with them those letters +whereby they could convict him. When Nicolaus saw such an +opportunity afforded him, he made use of it, in order to gain his +own point afterward, and endeavored immediately to make a +reconciliation between Caesar and Herod; for he was fully +satisfied, that if he should desire to make a defense for Herod +directly, he should not be allowed that liberty; but that if he +desired to accuse Sylleus, there would an occasion present itself +of speaking on Herod's behalf. So when the cause was ready for a +hearing, and the day was appointed, Nicolaus, while Aretas's +ambassadors were present, accused Sylleus, and said that he +imputed to him the destruction of the king [Obodas], and of many +others of the Arabians; that he had borrowed money for no good +design; and he proved that he had been guilty of adultery, not +only with the Arabian, but Reinan women also. And he added, that +above all the rest he had alienated Caesar from Herod, and that +all that he had said about the actions of Herod were falsities. +When Nicolaus was come to this topic, Caesar stopped him from +going on, and desired him only to speak to this affair of Herod, +and to show that he had not led an army into Arabia, nor slain +two thousand five hundred men there, nor taken prisoners, nor +pillaged the country. To which Nicolaus made this answer: "I +shall principally demonstrate, that either nothing at all, or but +a very little, of those imputations are true, of which thou hast +been informed; for had they been true, thou mightest justly have +been still more angry at Herod." At this strange assertion Caesar +was very attentive; and Nicolaus said that there was a debt due +to Herod of five hundred talents, and a bond, wherein it was +written, that if the time appointed be lapsed, it should be +lawful to make a seizure out of any part of his country. "As for +the pretended army," he said, "it was no army, but a party sent +out to require the just payment of the money; that this was not +sent immediately, nor so soon as the bond allowed, but that +Sylleus had frequently come before Saturninus and Volumnius, the +presidents of Syria; and that at last he had sworn at Berytus, by +thy fortune, (13) that he would certainly pay the money within +thirty days, and deliver up the fugitives that were under his +dominion. And that when Sylleus had performed nothing of this, +Herod came again before the presidents; and upon their permission +to make a seizure for his money, he, with difficulty, went out of +his country with a party of soldiers for that purpose. And this +is all the war which these men so tragically describe; and this +is the affair of the expedition into Arabia. And how can this be +called a war, when thy presidents permitted it, the covenants +allowed it, and it was not executed till thy name, O Caesar, as +well as that of the other gods, had been profaned? And now I must +speak in order about the captives. There were robbers that dwelt +in Trachonitis; at first their number was no more than forty, but +they became more afterwards, and they escaped the punishment +Herod would have inflicted on them, by making Arabia their +refuge. Sylleus received them, and supported them with food, that +they might be mischievous to all mankind, and gave them a country +to inhabit, and himself received the gains they made by robbery; +yet did he promise that he would deliver up these men, and that +by the same oaths and same time that he sware and fixed for +payment of his debt: nor can he by any means show that any other +persons have at this time been taken out of Arabia besides these, +and indeed not all these neither, but only so many as could not +conceal themselves. And thus does the calumny of the captives, +which hath been so odiously represented, appear to be no better +than a fiction and a lie, made on purpose to provoke thy +indignation; for I venture to affirm that when the forces of the +Arabians came upon us, and one or two of Herod's party fell, he +then only defended himself, and there fell Nacebus their general, +and in all about twenty-five others, and no more; whence Sylleus, +by multiplying every single soldier to a hundred, he reckons the +slain to have been two thousand five hundred." + +9. This provoked Caesar more than ever. So he turned to Sylleus +full of rage, and asked him how many of the Arabians were slain. +Hereupon he hesitated, and said he had been imposed upon. The +covenants also were read about the money he had borrowed, and the +letters of the presidents of Syria, and the complaints of the +several cities, so many as had been injured by the robbers. The +conclusion was this, that Sylleus was condemned to die, and that +Caesar was reconciled to Herod, and owned his repentance for what +severe things he had written to him, occasioned by calumny, +insomuch that he told Sylleus, that he had compelled him, by his +lying account of things, to be guilty of ingratitude against a +man that was his friend. At the last all came to this, Sylleus +was sent away to answer Herod's suit, and to repay the debt that +he owed, and after that to be punished [with death]. But still +Caesar was offended with Aretas, that he had taken upon himself +the government, without his consent first obtained, for he had +determined to bestow Arabia upon Herod; but that the letters he +had sent hindered him from so doing; for Olympus and Volumnius, +perceiving that Caesar was now become favorable to Herod, thought +fit immediately to deliver him the letters they were commanded by +Herod to give him concerning his sons. When Caesar had read them, +he thought it would not be proper to add another government to +him, now he was old, and in an ill state with relation to his +sons, so he admitted Aretas's ambassadors; and after he had just +reproved him for his rashness, in not tarrying till he received +the kingdom from him, he accepted of his presents, and confirmed +him in his government. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +HOW HEROD, BY PERMISSION FROM CAESAR ACCUSED HIS SONS BEFORE An +Assembly Of Judges At Berytus; And What Tero Suffered For Using +A Boundless And Military Liberty Of Speech. Concerning Also The +Death Of The Young Men And Their Burial At Alexandrium. + +. So Caesar was now reconciled to Herod, and wrote thus to him: +That he was grieved for him on account of his sons; and that in +case they had been guilty of any profane and insolent crimes +against him, it would behoove him to punish them as parricides, +for which he gave him power accordingly; but if they had only +contrived to fly away, he would have him give them an admonition, +and not proceed to extremity with them. He also advised him to +get an assembly together, and to appoint some place near Berytus, +(14) which is a city belonging to the Romans, and to take the +presidents of Syria, and Archelaus king of Cappadocia, and as +many more as he thought to be illustrious for their friendship to +him, and the dignities they were in, and determine what should be +done by their approbation. These were the directions that Caesar +gave him. Accordingly Herod, when the letter was brought to him, +was immediately very glad of Caesar's reconciliation to him, and +very glad also that he had a complete authority given him over +his sons. And it strangely came about, that whereas before, in +his adversity, though he had indeed showed himself severe, yet +had he not been very rash nor hasty in procuring the destruction +of his sons; he now, in his prosperity, took advantage of this +change for the better, and the freedom he now had, to exercise +his hatred against them after an unheard of manner; he therefore +sent and called as many as he thought fit to this assembly, +excepting Archclaus; for as for him, he either hated him, so that +he would not invite him, or he thought he would be an obstacle to +his designs. + +2. When the presidents, and the rest that belonged to the cities, +were come to Berytus, he kept his sons in a certain village +belonging to Sidon, called Platana, but near to this city, that +if they were called, he might produce them, for he did not think +fit to bring them before the assembly: and when there were one +hundred and fifty assessors present, Herod came by himself alone, +and accused his sons, and that in such a way as if it were not a +melancholy accusation, and not made but out of necessity, and +upon the misfortunes he was under; indeed, in such a way as was +very indecent for a father to accuse his sons, for he was very +vehement and disordered when he came to the demonstration of the +crime they were accused of, and gave the greatest signs of +passion and barbarity: nor would he suffer the assessors to +consider of the weight of the evidence, but asserted them to be +true by his own authority, after a manner most indecent in a +father against his sons, and read himself what they themselves +had written, wherein there was no confession of any plots or +contrivances against him, but only how they had contrived to fly +away, and containing withal certain reproaches against him, on +account of the ill-will he bare them; and when he came to those +reproaches, he cried out most of all, and exaggerated what they +said, as if they had confessed the design against him, and took +his oath that he had rather lose his life than hear such +reproachful words. At last he said that he had sufficient +authority, both by nature and by Caesar's grant to him, [to do +what he thought fit]. He also added an allegation of a law of +their country, which enjoined this: That if parents laid their +hands on the head of him that was accused, the standers by were +obliged to cast stones at him, and thereby to slay him; which +though he were ready to do in his own country and kingdom, yet +did he wait for their determination; and yet they came thither +not so much as judges, to condemn them for such manifest designs +against him, whereby he had almost perished by his sons' means, +but as persons that had an opportunity of showing their +detestation of such practices, and declaring how unworthy a thing +it must be in any, even the most remote, to pass over such +treacherous designs [without punishment]. + +3. When the king had said this, and the young men had not been +produced to make any defense for themselves, the assessors +perceived there was no room for equity and reconciliation, so +they confirmed his authority. And in the first place, Saturninus, +a person that had been consul, and one of great dignity, +pronounced his sentence, but with great moderation and trouble; +and said that he condemned Herod's sons, but did not think they +should be put to death. He had sons of his own, and to put one's +son to death is a greater misfortune than any other that could +befall him by their means. After him Saturninus's sons, for he +had three sons that followed him, and were his legates, +pronounced the same sentence with their father. On the contrary, +Volumnius's sentence was to inflict death on such as had been so +impiously undutiful to their father; and the greatest part of the +rest said the same, insomuch that the conclusion seemed to be, +that the young men were condemned to die. Immediately after this +Herod came away from thence, and took his sons to Tyre, where +Nicolaus met him in his voyage from Rome; of whom he inquired, +after he had related to him what had passed at Berytus, what his +sentiments were about his sons, and what his friends at Rome +thought of that matter. His answer was, "That what they had +determined to do to thee was impious, and that thou oughtest to +keep them in prison; and if thou thinkest any thing further +necessary, thou mayst indeed so punish them, that thou mayst not +appear to indulge thy anger more than to govern thyself by +judgment; but if thou inclinest to the milder side, thou mayst +absolve them, lest perhaps thy misfortunes be rendered incurable; +and this is the opinion of the greatest part of thy friends at +Rome also." Whereupon Herod was silent, and in great +thoughtfulness, and bid Nicolaus sail along with him. + +4. Now as they came to Cesarea, every body was there talking of +Herod's sons, and the kingdom was in suspense, and the people in +great expectation of what would become of them; for a terrible +fear seized upon all men, lest the ancient disorders of the +family should come to a sad conclusion, and they were in great +trouble about their sufferings; nor was it without danger to say +any rash thing about this matter, nor even to hear another saying +it, but men's pity was forced to be shut up in themselves, which +rendered the excess of their sorrow very irksome, but very silent +yet was there an old soldier of Herod's, whose name was Tero, who +had a son of the same age with Alexander, and his friend, who was +so very free as openly to speak out what others silently thought +about that matter; and was forced to cry out often among the +multitude, and said, in the most unguarded manner, that truth was +perished, and justice taken away from men, while lies and +ill-will prevailed, and brought such a mist before public +affairs, that the offenders were not able to see the greatest +mischiefs that can befall men. And as he was so bold, he seemed +not to have kept himself out of danger, by speaking so freely; +but the reasonableness of what he said moved men to regard him as +having behaved himself with great manhood, and this at a proper +time also, for which reason every one heard what he said with +pleasure; and although they first took care of their own safety +by keeping silent themselves, yet did they kindly receive the +great freedom he took; for the expectation they were in of so +great an affliction, put a force upon them to speak of Tero +whatsoever they pleased. + +5. This man had thrust himself into the king's presence with the +greatest freedom, and desired to speak with him by himself alone, +which the king permitted him to do, where he said this: "Since I +am not able, O king, to bear up under so great a concern as I am +under, I have preferred the use of this bold liberty that I now +take, which may be for thy advantage, if thou mind to get any +profit by it, before my own safety. Whither is thy understanding +gone, and left thy soul empty? Whither is that extraordinary +sagacity of thine gone whereby thou hast performed so many and +such glorious-actions? Whence comes this solitude, and desertion +of thy friends and relations? Of which I cannot but determine +that they are neither thy friends nor relations, while they +overlook such horrid wickedness in thy once happy kingdom. Dost +not thou perceive what is doing? Wilt thou slay these two young +men, born of thy queen, who are accomplished with every virtue in +the highest degree, and leave thyself destitute in thy old age, +but exposed to one son, who hath very ill managed the hopes thou +hast given him,' and to relations, whose death thou hast so often +resolved on thyself? Dost not thou take notice, that the very +silence of the multitude at once sees the crime, and abhors the +fact? The whole army and the officers have commiseration on the +poor unhappy youths, and hatred to those that are the actors in +this matter." These words the king heard, and for some time with +good temper. But what can one say? When Tero plainly touched upon +the bad behavior and perfidiousness of his domestics, he was +moved at it; but Tero went on further, and by degrees used an +unbounded military freedom of speech, nor was he so well +disciplined as to accommodate himself to the time. So Herod was +greatly disturbed, and seeming to be rather reproached by this +speech, than to be hearing what was for his advantage, while he +learned thereby that both the soldiers abhorred the thing he was +about, and the officers had indignation at it, he gave order that +all whom Tero had named, and Tero himself, should be bound and +kept in prison. + +6. When this was over, one Trypho, who was the king's barber, +took the opportunity, and came and told the king, that Tero would +often have persuaded him, when he trimmed him with a razor, to +cut his throat, for that by this means he should be among the +chief of Alexander's friends, and receive great rewards from him. +When he had said this, the king gave order that Tero, and his +son, and the barber should be tortured, which was done +accordingly; but while Tero bore up himself, his son seeing his +father already in a sad case, and had no hope of deliverance, and +perceiving what would be the consequence of his terrible +sufferings, said, that if the king would free him and his father +from these torments for what he should say, he would tell the +truth. And when the king had given his word to do so, he said +that there was an agreement made, that Tero should lay violent +hands on the king, because it was easy for him to come when he +was alone; and that if, when he had done the thing, he should +suffer death for it, as was not unlikely, it would be an act of +generosity done in favor of Alexander. This was what Tero's son +said, and thereby freed his father from the distress he was in; +but uncertain it is whether he had been thus forced to speak what +was true, or whether it were a contrivance of his, in order to +procure his own and his father's deliverance from their miseries. + +7. As for Herod, if he had before any doubt about the slaughter +of his sons, there was now no longer any room left in his soul +for it; but he had banished away whatsoever might afford him the +least suggestion of reasoning better about this matter, so he +already made haste to bring his purpose to a conclusion. He also +brought out three hundred of the officers that were under an +accusation, as also Tero and his son, and the barber that accused +them before an assembly, and brought an accusation against them +all; whom the multitude stoned with whatsoever came to hand, and +thereby slew them. Alexander also and Aristobulus were brought to +Sebaste, by their father's command, and there strangled; but +their dead bodies were in the night time carried to Alexandraum, +where their uncle by the mother's side, and the greatest part of +their ancestors, had been deposited. + +8. (15) And now perhaps it may not seem unreasonable to some, +that such an inveterate hatred might increase so much [on both +sides], as to proceed further, and overcome nature; but it may +justly deserve consideration, whether it be to be laid to the +charge of the young men, that they gave such an occasion to their +father's anger, and led him to do what he did, and by going on +long in the same way put things past remedy, and brought him to +use them so unmercifully; or whether it be to be laid to the +father's charge, that he was so hard-hearted, and so very tender +in the desire of government, and of other things that would tend +to his glory, that tae would take no one into a partnership with +him, that so whatsoever he would have done himself might continue +immovable; or, indeed, whether fortune have not greater power +than all prudent reasonings; whence we are persuaded that human +actions are thereby determined beforehand by an inevitable +necessity, and we call her Fate, because there is nothing which +is not done by her; wherefore I suppose it will be sufficient to +compare this notion with that other, which attribute somewhat to +ourselves, and renders men not unaccountable for the different +conducts of their lives, which notion is no other than the +philosophical determination of our ancient law. Accordingly, of +the two other causes of this sad event, any body may lay the +blame on the young men, who acted by youthful vanity, and pride +of their royal birth, that they should bear to hear the calumnies +that were raised against their father, while certainly they were +not equitable judges of the actions of his life, but ill-natured +in suspecting, and intemperate in speaking of it, and on both +accounts easily caught by those that observed them, and revealed +them to gain favor; yet cannot their father be thought worthy +excuse, as to that horrid impiety which he was guilty of about +them, while he ventured, without any certain evidence of their +treacherous designs against him, and without any proofs that they +had made preparations for such attempt, to kill his own sons, who +were of very comely bodies, and the great darlings of other men, +and no way deficient in their conduct, whether it were in +hunting, or in warlike exercises, or in speaking upon occasional +topics of discourse; for in all these they were skillful, and +especially Alexander, who was the eldest; for certainly it had +been sufficient, even though he had condemned them, to have kept +them alive in bonds, or to let them live at a distance from his +dominions in banishment, while he was surrounded by the Roman +forces, which were a strong security to him, whose help would +prevent his suffering any thing by a sudden onset, or by open +force; but for him to kill them on the sudden, in order to +gratify a passion that governed him, was a demonstration of +insufferable impiety. He also was guilty of so great a crime in +his older age; nor will the delays that he made, and the length +of time in which the thing was done, plead at all for his excuse; +for when a man is on a sudden amazed, and in commotion of mind, +and then commits a wicked action, although this be a heavy crime, +yet is it a thing that frequently happens; but to do it upon +deliberation, and after frequent attempts, and as frequent +puttings-off, to undertake it at last, and accomplish it, was the +action of a murderous mind, and such as was not easily moved from +that which is evil. And this temper he showed in what he did +afterward, when he did not spare those that seemed to be the best +beloved of his friends that were left, wherein, though the +justice of the punishment caused those that perished to be the +less pitied, yet was the barbarity of the man here equal, in that +he did not abstain from their slaughter also. But of those +persons we shall have occasion to discourse more hereafter. + + + + +BOOK XVII. + +Containing The Interval Of Fourteen Years. + +From The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus To The Banishment Of +Archelaus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Antipater Was Hated By All The Nation [Of The Jews] For The +Slaughter Of His Brethren; And How, For That Reason He Got Into +Peculiar Favor With His Friends At Rome, By Giving Them Many +Presents; As He Did Also With Saturninus, The President Of Syria +And The Governors Who Were Under Him; And Concerning Herod's +Wives And Children. + + +1. When Antipater had thus taken off his brethren, and had +brought his father into the highest degree of impiety, till he +was haunted with furies for what he had done, his hopes did not +succeed to his mind, as to the rest of his life; for although he +was delivered from the fear of his brethren being his rivals as +to the government, yet did he find it a very hard thing, and +almost impracticable, to come at the kingdom, because the hatred +of the nation against him on that account was become very great; +and besides this very disagreeable circumstance, the affair of +the soldiery grieved him still more, who were alienated from him, +from which yet these kings derived all the safety which they had, +whenever they found the nation desirous of innovation: and all +this danger was drawn upon him by his destruction of his +brethren. However, he governed the nation jointly with his +father, being indeed no other than a king already; and he was for +that very reason trusted, and the more firmly depended on, for +the which he ought himself to have been put to death, as +appearing to have betrayed his brethren out of his concern for +the preservation of Herod, and not rather out of his ill-will to +them, and, before them, to his father himself: and this was the +accursed state he was in. Now all Antipater's contrivances tended +to make his way to take off Herod, that he might have nobody to +accuse him in the vile practices he was devising: and that Herod +might have no refuge, nor any to afford him their assistance, +since they must thereby have Antipater for their open enemy; +insomuch that the very plots he had laid against his brethren +were occasioned by the hatred he bore his father. But at this +time he was more than ever set upon the execution of his attempts +against Herod, because if he were once dead, the government would +now be firmly secured to him; but if he were suffered to live any +longer, he should be in danger, upon a discovery of that +wickedness of which he had been the contriver, and his father +would of necessity then become his enemy. And on this account it +was that he became very bountiful to his father's friends, and +bestowed great sums on several of them, in order to surprise men +with his good deeds, and take off their hatred against him. And +he sent great presents to his friends at Rome particularly, to +gain their good-will; and above all to Saturninus, the president +of Syria. He also hoped to gain the favor of Saturninus's brother +with the large presents he bestowed on him; as also he used the +same art to [Salome] the king's sister, who had married one of +Herod's chief friends. And when he counterfeited friendship to +those with whom he conversed, he was very subtle in gaining their +belief, and very cunning to hide his hatred against any that he +really did hate. But he could not impose upon his aunt, who +understood him of a long time, and was a woman not easily to be +deluded, especially while she had already used all possible +caution in preventing his pernicious designs. Although +Antipeter's uncle by the mother's side was married to her +daughter, and this by his own connivance and management, while +she had before been married to Aristobulus, and while Salome's +other daughter by that husband was married to the son of Calleas; +yet that marriage was no obstacle to her, who knew how wicked he +was, in her discovering his designs, as her former kindred to him +could not prevent her hatred of him. Now Herod had compelled +Salome, while she was in love with Sylleus the Arabian, and had +taken a fondness for him, to marry Alexas; which match was by her +submitted to at the instance of Julia, who persuaded Salome not +to refuse it, lest she should herself be their open enemy, since +Herod had sworn that he would never be friends with Salome, if +she would not accept of Alexas for her husband; so she submitted +to Julia as being Caesar's wife; and besides that, she advised +her to nothing but what was very much for her own advantage. At +this time also it was that Herod sent back king Archelaus's +daughter, who had been Alexander's wife, to her father, returning +the portion he had with her out of his own estate, that there +might be no dispute between them about it. + +2. Now Herod brought up his sons' children with great care; for +Alexander had two sons by Glaphyra; and Aristobulus had three +sons by Bernice, Salome's daughter, and two daughters; and as his +friends were once with him, he presented the children before +them; and deploring the hard fortune of his own sons, he prayed +that no such ill fortune would befall these who were their +children, but that they might improve in virtue, and obtain what +they justly deserved, and might make him amends for his care of +their education. He also caused them to be betrothed against they +should come to the proper age of marriage; the elder of +Alexander's sons to Pheroras's daughter, and Antipater's daughter +to Aristobulus's eldest son. He also allotted one of +Aristobulus's daughters to Antipater's son, and Aristobulus's +other daughter to Herod, a son of his own, who was born to him by +the high priest's daughter; for it is the ancient practice among +us to have many wives at the same time. Now the king made these +espousals for the children, out of commiseration of them now they +were fatherless, as endeavoring to render Antipater kind to them +by these intermarriages. But Antipater did not fail to bear the +same temper of mind to his brothers' children which he had borne +to his brothers themselves; and his father's concern about them +provoked his indignation against them upon this supposal, that +they would become greater than ever his brothers had been; while +Archclaus, a king, would support his daughter's sons, and +Pheroras, a tetrarch, would accept of one of the daughters as a +wife to his son. What provoked him also was this, that all the +multitude would so commiserate these fatherless children, and so +hate him [for making them fatherless], that all would come out, +since they were no strangers to his vile disposition towards his +brethren. He contrived, therefore, to overturn his father's +settlements, as thinking it a terrible thing that they should be +so related to him, and be so powerful withal. So Herod yielded to +him, and changed his resolution at his entreaty; and the +determination now was, that Antipater himself should marry +Aristobulus's daughter, and Antipater's son should marry +Pheroras's daughter. So the espousals for the marriages were +changed after this manner, even without the king's real +approbation. + +3. Now Herod the king had at this time nine wives; one of them +Antipater's mother, and another the high priest's daughter, by +whom he had a son of his own name. He had also one who was his +brother's daughter, and another his sister's daughter; which two +had no children. One of his wives also was of the Samaritan +nation, whose sons were Antipas and Archelaus, and whose daughter +was Olympias; which daughter was afterward married to Joseph, the +king's brother's son; but Archelaus and Antipas were brought up +with a certain private man at Rome. Herod had also to wife +Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and by her he had his sons Herod and +Philip; which last was also brought up at Rome. Pallas also was +one of his wives, which bare him his son Phasaelus. And besides +these, he had for his wives Phedra and Elpis, by whom he had his +daughters Roxana and Salome. As for his elder daughters by the +same mother with Alexander and Aristobulus, and whom Pheroras +neglected to marry, he gave the one in marriage to Antipater, the +king's sister's son, and the other to Phasaelus, his brother's +son. And this was the posterity of Herod. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +Concerning Zamaris, The Babylonian Jew; Concerning The Plots Laid +By Antipater Against His Father; And Somewhat About The +Pharisees. + + +1. And now it was that Herod, being desirous of securing himself +on the side of the Trachonites, resolved to build a village as +large as a city for the Jews, in the middle of that country, +which might make his own country difficult to be assaulted, and +whence he might be at hand to make sallies upon them, and do them +a mischief. Accordingly, when he understood that there was a man +that was a Jew come out of Babylon, with five hundred horsemen, +all of whom could shoot their arrows as they rode on horde-back, +and, with a hundred of his relations, had passed over Euphrates, +and now abode at Antioch by Daphne of Syria, where Saturninus, +who was then president, had given them a place for habitation, +called Valatha, he sent for this man, with the multitude that +followed him, and promised to give him land in the toparchy +called Batanea, which country is bounded with Trachonitis, as +desirous to make that his habitation a guard to himself. He also +engaged to let him hold the country free from tribute, and that +they should dwell entirely without paying such customs as used to +be paid, and gave it him tax-free. + +2. The Babylonian was reduced by these offers to come hither; so +he took possession of the land, and built in it fortresses and a +village, and named it Bathyra. Whereby this man became a +safeguard to the inhabitants against the Trachonites, and +preserved those Jews who came out of Babylon, to offer their +sacrifices at Jerusalem, from being hurt by the Trachonite +robbers; so that a great number came to him from all those parts +where the ancient Jewish laws were observed, and the country +became full of people, by reason of their universal freedom from +taxes. This continued during the life of Herod; but when Philip, +who was [tetrarch] after him, took the government, he made them +pay some small taxes, and that for a little while only; and +Agrippa the Great, and his son of the same name, although they +harassed them greatly, yet would they not take their liberty +away. From whom, when the Romans have now taken the government +into their own hands, they still gave them the privilege of their +freedom, but oppress them entirely with the imposition of taxes. +Of which matter I shall treat more accurately in the progress of +this history. (2) + +3. At length Zamaris the Babylonian, to whom Herod had given that +country for a possession, died, having lived virtuously, and left +children of a good character behind him; one of whom was Jacim, +who was famous for his valor, and taught his Babylonians how to +ride their horses; and a troop of them were guards to the +forementioned kings. And when Jacim was dead in his old age, he +left a son, whose name was Philip, one of great strength in his +hands, and in other respects also more eminent for his valor than +any of his contemporaries; on which account there was a +confidence and firm friendship between him and king Agrippa. He +had also an army which he maintained as great as that of a king, +which he exercised and led wheresoever he had occasion to march. + +4. When the affairs of Herod were in the condition I have +described, all the public affairs depended upon Antipater; and +his power was such, that he could do good turns to as many as he +pleased, and this by his father's concession, in hopes of his +good-will and fidelity to him; and this till he ventured to use +his power still further, because his wicked designs were +concealed from his father, and he made him believe every thing he +said. He was also formidable to all, not so much on account of +the power and authority he had, as for the shrewdness of his vile +attempts beforehand; but he who principally cultivated a +friendship with him was Pheroras, who received the like marks of +his friendship; while Antipater had cunningly encompassed him +about by a company of women, whom he placed as guards about him; +for Pheroras was greatly enslaved to his wife, and to her mother, +and to her sister; and this notwithstanding the hatred he bare +them for the indignities they had offered to his virgin +daughters. Yet did he bear them, and nothing was to be done +without the women, who had got this man into their circle, and +continued still to assist each other in all things, insomuch that +Antipater was entirely addicted to them, both by himself and by +his mother; for these four women, (3) said all one and the same +thing; but the opinions of Pheroras and Antipater were different +in some points of no consequence. But the king's sister [Salome] +was their antagonist, who for a good while had looked about all +their affairs, and was apprized that this their friendship was +made in order to do Herod some mischief, and was disposed to +inform the king of it. And since these people knew that their +friendship was very disagreeable to Herod, as tending to do him a +mischief, they contrived that their meetings should not be +discovered; so they pretended to hate one another, and to abuse +one another when time served, and especially when Herod was +present, or when any one was there that would tell him: but still +their intimacy was firmer than ever, when they were private. And +this was the course they took. But they could not conceal from +Salome neither their first contrivance, when they set about these +their intentions, nor when they had made some progress in them; +but she searched out every thing; and, aggravating the relations +to her brother, declared to him, as well their secret assemblies +and compotations, as their counsels taken in a clandestine +manner, which if they were not in order to destroy him, they +might well enough have been open and public. But to appearance +they are at variance, and speak about one another as if they +intended one another a mischief, but agree so well together when +they are out of the sight of the multitude; for when they are +alone by themselves, they act in concert, and profess that they +will never leave off their friendship, but will fight against +those from whom they conceal their designs. And thus did she +search out these things, and get a perfect knowledge of them, and +then told her brother of them, who understood also of himself a +great deal of what she said, but still durst not depend upon it, +because of the suspicions he had of his sister's calumnies. For +there was a certain sect of men that were Jews, who valued +themselves highly upon the exact skill they had in the law of +their fathers, and made men believe they were highly favored by +God, by whom this set of women were inveigled. These are those +that are called the sect of the Pharisees, who were in a capacity +of greatly opposing kings. A cunning sect they were, and soon +elevated to a pitch of open fighting and doing mischief. +Accordingly, when all the people of the Jews gave assurance of +their good-will to Caesar, and to the king's government, these +very men did not swear, being above six thousand; and when the +king imposed a fine upon them, Pheroras's wife paid their fine +for them. In order to requite which kindness of hers, since they +were believed to have the foreknowledge of things to come by +Divine inspiration, they foretold how God had decreed that +Herod's government should cease, and his posterity should be +deprived of it; but that the kingdom should come to her and +Pheroras, and to their children. These predictions were not +concealed from Salome, but were told the king; as also how they +had perverted some persons about the palace itself; so the king +slew such of the Pharisees as were principally accused, and +Bagoas the eunuch, and one Carus, who exceeded all men of that +time in comeliness, and one that was his catamite. He slew also +all those of his own family who had consented to what the +Pharisees foretold; and for Bagoas, he had been puffed up by +them, as though he should be named the father and the benefactor +of him who, by the prediction, was foretold to be their appointed +king; for that this king would have all things in his power, and +would enable Bagoas to marry, and to have children of his own +body begotten. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +Concerning The Enmity Between Herod And Pheroras; How Herod Sent +Antipater To Caesar; And Of The Death Of Pheroras. + + +1. When Herod had punished those Pharisees who had been convicted +of the foregoing crimes, he gathered an assembly together of his +friends, and accused Pheroras's wife; and ascribing the abuses of +the virgins to the impudence of that woman, brought an accusation +against her for the dishonor she had brought upon them: that she +had studiously introduced a quarrel between him and his brother, +and, by her ill temper, had brought them into a state of war, +both by her words and actions; that the fines which he had laid +had not been paid, and the offenders had escaped punishment by +her means; and that nothing which had of late been done had been +done without her; "for which reason Pheroras would do well, if he +would of his own accord, and by his own command, and not at my +entreaty, or as following my opinion, put this his wife away, as +one that will still be the occasion of war between thee and me. +And now, Pheroras, if thou valuest thy relation to me, put this +wife of thine away; for by this means thou wilt continue to be a +brother to me, and wilt abide in thy love to me." Then said +Pheroras, (although he was pressed hard by the former words,) +that as he would not do so unjust a thing as to renounce his +brotherly relation to him, so would he not leave off his +affection for his wife; that he would rather choose to die than +to live, and be deprived of a wife that was so dear unto him. +Hereupon Herod put off his anger against Pheroras on these +accounts, although he himself thereby underwent a very uneasy +punishment. However, he forbade Antipater and his mother to have +any conversation with Pheroras, and bid them to take care to +avoid the assemblies of the women; which they promised to do, but +still got together when occasion served, and both Ptieroras and +Antipater had their own merry meetings. The report went also, +that Antipater had criminal conversation with Pheroras's wife, +and that they were brought together by Antipater's mother. + +2. But Antipater had now a suspicion of his father, and was +afraid that the effects of his hatred to him might increase; so +he wrote to his friends at Rome, and bid them to send to Herod, +that he would immediately send Antipater to Caesar; which when it +was done, Herod sent Antipater thither, and sent most noble +presents along with him; as also his testament, wherein Antipater +was appointed to be his successor; and that if Antipater should +die first, his son [Herod Philip] by the high priest's daughter +should succeed. And, together with Antipater, there went to Rome +Sylleus the Arabian, although he had done nothing of all that +Caesar had enjoined him. Antipater also accused him of the same +crimes of which he had been formerly accused by Herod. Sylleus +was also accused by Aretas, that without his consent he had slain +many of the chief of the Arabians at Petra; and particularly +Soemus, a man that deserved to be honored by all men; and that he +had slain Fabatus, a servant of Caesar. These were the things of +which Sylleus was accused, and that on the occasion following: +There was one Corinthus, belonging to Herod, of the guards of the +king's body, and one who was greatly trusted by him. Sylleus had +persuaded this man with the offer of a great sum of money to kill +Herod; and he had promised to do it. When Fabatus had been made +acquainted with this, for Sylleus had himself told him of it, he +informed the king of it; who caught Corinthus, and put him to the +torture, and thereby got out of him the whole conspiracy. He also +caught two other Arabians, who were discovered by Corinthus; the +one the head of a tribe, and the other a friend to Sylleus, who +both were by the king brought to the torture, and confessed that +they were come to encourage Corinthus not to fail of doing what +he had undertaken to do; and to assist him with their own hands +in the murder, if need should require their assistance. So +Saturninns, upon Herod's discovering the whole to him, sent them +to Rome. + +3. At this time Herod commanded Pheroras, that since he was so +obstinate in his affection for his wife, he should retire into +his own tetrarchy; which he did very willingly, and sware many +oaths that he would not come again till he heard that Herod was +dead. And indeed when, upon a sickness of the king, he was +desired to come to him before he died, that he might intrust him +with some of his injunctions, he had such a regard to his oath, +that he would not come to him; yet did not Herod so retain his +hatred to Pheroras, but remitted of his purpose [not to see him], +which he before had, and that for such great causes as have been +already mentioned: but as soon as he began to be ill, he came to +him, and this without being sent for; and when he was dead, he +took care of his funeral, and had his body brought to Jerusalem, +and buried there, and appointed a solemn mourning for him. This +[death of Pheroras] became the origin of Antipater's misfortunes, +although he were already sailed for Rome, God now being about to +punish him for the murder of his brethren, I will explain the +history of this matter very distinctly, that it may be for a +warning to mankind, that they take care of conducting their whole +lives by the rules of virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +Pheroras's Wife Is Accused By His Freedmen, As Guilty Of +Poisoning Him; And How Herod, Upon Examining; Of The Matter By +Torture Found The Poison; But So That It Had Been Prepared For +Himself By His Son Antipater; And Upon An Inquiry By Torture He +Discovered The Dangerous Designs Of Antipater. + + +1. As soon as Pheroras was dead, and his funeral was over, two of +Pheroras's freed-men, who were much esteemed by him, came to +Herod, and entreated him not to leave the murder of his brother +without avenging it, but to examine into such an unreasonable and +unhappy death. When he was moved with these words, for they +seemed to him to be true, they said that Pheroras supped with his +wife the day before he fell sick, and that a certain potion was +brought him in such a sort of food as he was not used to eat; but +that when he had eaten, he died of it: that this potion was +brought out of Arabia by a woman, under pretense indeed as a +love-potion, for that was its name, but in reality to kill +Pheroras; for that the Arabian women are skillful in making such +poisons: and the woman to whom they ascribe this was confessedly +a most intimate friend of one of Sylleus's mistresses; and that +both the mother and the sister of Pheroras's wife had been at the +places where she lived, and had persuaded her to sell them this +potion, and had come back and brought it with them the day before +that his supper. Hereupon the king was provoked, and put the +women slaves to the torture, and some that were free with them; +and as the fact did not yet appear, because none of them would +confess it, at length one of them, under the utmost agonies, said +no more but this, that she prayed that God would send the like +agonies upon Antipater's mother, who had been the occasion of +these miseries to all of them. This prayer induced Herod to +increase the women's tortures, till thereby all was discovered; +their merry meetings, their secret assemblies, and the disclosing +of what he had said to his son alone unto Pheroras's (4) women. +(Now what Herod had charged Antipater to conceal, was the gift of +a hundred talents to him not to have any conversation with +Pheroras.) And what hatred he bore to his father; and that he +complained to his mother how very long his father lived; and that +he was himself almost an old man, insomuch that if the kingdom +should come to him, it would not afford him any great pleasure; +and that there were a great many of his brothers, or brothers' +children, bringing up, that might have hopes of the kingdom as +well as himself, all which made his own hopes of it uncertain; +for that even now, if he should himself not live, Herod had +ordained that the government should be conferred, not on his son, +but rather on a brother. He also had accused the king of great +barbarity, and of the slaughter of his sons; and that it was out +of the fear he was under, lest he should do the like to him, that +made him contrive this his journey to Rome, and Pheroras contrive +to go to his own tetrarchy. (5) + +2. These confessions agreed with what his sister had told him, +and tended greatly to corroborate her testimony, and to free her +from the suspicion of her unfaithfulness to him. So the king +having satisfied himself of the spite which Doris, Antipater's +mother, as well as himself, bore to him, took away from her all +her fine ornaments, which were worth many talents, and then sent +her away, and entered into friendship with Pheroras's women. But +he who most of all irritated the king against his son was one +Antipater, the procurator of Antipater the king's son, who, when +he was tortured, among other things, said that Antipater had +prepared a deadly potion, and given it to Pheroras, with his +desire that he would give it to his father during his absence, +and when he was too remote to have the least suspicion cast upon +him thereto relating; that Antiphilus, one of Antipater's +friends, brought that potion out of Egypt; and that it was sent +to Pheroras by Thendion, the brother of the mother of Antipater, +the king's son, and by that means came to Pheroras's wife, her +husband having given it her to keep. And when the king asked her +about it, she confessed it; and as she was running to fetch it, +she threw herself down from the house-top; yet did she not kill +herself, because she fell upon her feet; by which means, when the +king had comforted her, and had promised her and her domestics +pardon, upon condition of their concealing nothing of the truth +from him, but had threatened her with the utmost miseries if she +proved ungrateful [and concealed any thing]: so she promised, and +swore that she would speak out every thing, and tell after what +manner every thing was done; and said what many took to be +entirely true, that the potion was brought out of Egypt by +Antiphilus; and that his brother, who was a physician, had +procured it; and that" when Thendion brought it us, she kept it +upon Pheroras's committing it to her; and that it was prepared by +Antipater for thee. When, therefore, Pheroras was fallen sick, +and thou camest to him and tookest care of him, and when he saw +the kindness thou hadst for him, his mind was overborne thereby. +So he called me to him, and said to me, 'O woman! Antipater hath +circumvented me in this affair of his father and my brother, by +persuading me to have a murderous intention to him, and procuring +a potion to be subservient thereto; do thou, therefore, go and +fetch my potion, (since my brother appears to have still the same +virtuous disposition towards me which he had formerly, and I do +not expect to live long myself, and that I may not defile my +forefathers by the murder of a brother,) and burn it before my +face:' that accordingly she immediately brought it, and did as +her husband bade her; and that she burnt the greatest part of the +potion; but that a little of it was left, that if the king, after +Pheroras's death, should treat her ill, she might poison herself, +and thereby get clear of her miseries." Upon her saying thus, she +brought out the potion, and the box in which it was, before them +all. Nay, there was another brother of Antiphilus, and his mother +also, who, by the extremity of pain and torture, confessed the +same things, and owned the box [to be that which had been brought +out of Egypt]. The high priest's daughter also, who was the +king's wife, was accused to have been conscious of all this, and +had resolved to conceal it; for which reason Herod divorced her, +and blotted her son out of his testament, wherein he had been +mentioned as one that was to reign after him; and he took the +high priesthood away from his father-in-law, Simeon the son of +Boethus, and appointed Matthias the son of Theophilus, who was +born at Jerusalem, to be high priest in his room. + +3. While this was doing, Bathyllus also, Antipater's freed-man, +came from Rome, and, upon the torture, was found to have brought +another potion, to give it into the hands of Antipater's mother, +and of Pheroras, that if the former potion did not operate upon +the king, this at least might carry him off. There came also +letters from Herod's friends at Rome, by the approbation and at +the suggestion of Antipater, to accuse Archelaus and Philip, as +if they calumniated their father on account of the slaughter of +Alexander and Aristobulus, and as if they commiserated their +deaths, and as if, because they were sent for home, (for their +father had already recalled them,) they concluded they were +themselves also to be destroyed. These letters had been procured +by great rewards by Antipater's friends; but Antipater himself +wrote to his father about them, and laid the heaviest things to +their charge; yet did he entirely excuse them of any guilt, and +said they were but young men, and so imputed their words to their +youth. But he said that he had himself been very busy in the +affair relating to Sylleus, and in getting interest among the +great men; and on that account had bought splendid ornaments to +present them withal, which cost him two hundred talents. Now one +may wonder how it came about, that while so many accusations were +laid against him in Judea during seven months before this time, +he was not made acquainted with any of them. The causes of which +were, that the roads were exactly guarded, and that men hated +Antipater; for there was nobody who would run any hazard himself +to gain him any advantages. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +Antipater's Navigation From Rome To His Father; And How He Was +Accused By Nicolaus Of Damascus And Condemned To Die By His +Father, And By Quintilius Varus, Who Was Then President Of Syria; +And How He Was Then Bound Till Caesar Should Be Informed Of His +Cause. + + +1. Now Herod, upon Antipater's writing to him, that having done +all that he was to do, and this in the manner he was to do it, he +would suddenly come to him, concealed his anger against him, and +wrote back to him, and bid him not delay his journey, lest any +harm should befall himself in his absence. At the same time also +he made some little complaint about his mother, but promised that +he would lay those complaints aside when he should return. He +withal expressed his entire affection for him, as fearing lest he +should have some suspicion of him, and defer his journey to him; +and lest, while he lived at Rome, he should lay plots for the +kingdom, and, moreover, do somewhat against himself. This letter +Antipater met with in Cilicia; but had received an account of +Pheroras's death before at Tarentum. This last news affected him +deeply; not out of any affection for Pheroras, but because he was +dead without having murdered his father, which he had promised +him to do. And when he was at Celenderis in Cilicia, he began to +deliberate with himself about his sailing home, as being much +grieved with the ejection of his mother. Now some of his friends +advised him that he should tarry a while some where, in +expectation of further information. But others advised him to +sail home without delay; for that if he were once come thither, +he would soon put an end to all accusations, and that nothing +afforded any weight to his accusers at present but his absence. +He was persuaded by these last, and sailed on, and landed at the +haven called Sebastus, which Herod had built at vast expenses in +honor of Caesar, and called Sebastus. And now was Antipater +evidently in a miserable condition, while nobody came to him nor +saluted him, as they did at his going away, with good wishes of +joyful acclamations; nor was there now any thing to hinder them +from entertaining him, on the contrary, with bitter curses, while +they supposed he was come to receive his punishment for the +murder of his brethren. + +2. Now Quintilius Varus was at this time at Jerusalem, being sent +to succeed Saturninus as president of Syria, and was come as an +assessor to Herod, who had desired his advice in his present +affairs; and as they were sitting together, Antipater came upon +them, without knowing any thing of the matter; so he came into +the palace clothed in purple. The porters indeed received him in, +but excluded his friends. And now he was in great disorder, and +presently understood the condition he was in, while, upon his +going to salute his father, he was repulsed by him, who called +him a murderer of his brethren, and a plotter of destruction +against himself, and told him that Varus should be his auditor +and his judge the very next day; so he found that what +misfortunes he now heard of were already upon him, with the +greatness of which he went away in confusion; upon which his +mother and his wife met him, (which wife was the daughter of +Antigonus, who was king of the Jews before Herod,) from whom he +learned all circumstances which concerned him, and then prepared +himself for his trial. + +3. On the next day Varus and the king sat together in judgment, +and both their friends were also called in, as also the king's +relations, with his sister Salome, and as many as could discover +any thing, and such as had been tortured; and besides these, some +slaves of Antipater's mother, who were taken up a little before +Antipater's coming, and brought with them a written letter, the +sum of which was this: That he should not come back, because all +was come to his father's knowledge; and that Caesar was the only +refuge he had left to prevent both his and her delivery into his +father's hands. Then did Antipater fall down at his father's +feet, and besought him not to prejudge his cause, but that he +might be first heard by his father, and that his father would +keep himself unprejudiced. So Herod ordered him to be brought +into the midst, and then lamented himself about his children, +from whom he had suffered such great misfortunes; and because +Antipater fell upon him in his old age. He also reckoned up what +maintenance and what education he had given them; and what +seasonable supplies of wealth he had afforded them, according to +their own desires; none of which favors had hindered them from +contriving against him, and from bringing his very life into +danger, in order to gain his kingdom, after an impious manner, by +taking away his life before the course of nature, their father's +wishes, or justice required that that kingdom should come to +them; and that he wondered what hopes could elevate Antipater to +such a pass as to be hardy enough to attempt such things; that he +had by his testament in writing declared him his successor in the +government; and while he was alive, he was in no respect inferior +to him, either in his illustrious dignity, or in power and +authority, he having no less than fifty talents for his yearly +income, and had received for his journey to Rome no fewer than +thirty talents. He also objected to him the case of his brethren +whom he had accused; and if they were guilty, he had imitated +their example; and if not, he had brought him groundless +accusations against his near relations; for that he had been +acquainted with all those things by him, and by nobody else, and +had done what was done by his approbation, and whom he now +absolved from all that was criminal, by becoming the inheritor of +the guilt of such their parricide. + +4. When Herod had thus spoken, he fell a weeping, and was not +able to say any more; but at his desire Nicolaus of Damascus, +being the king's friend, and always conversant with him, and +acquainted with whatsoever he did, and with the circumstances of +his affairs, proceeded to what remained, and explained all that +concerned the demonstrations and evidences of the facts. Upon +which Antipater, in order to make his legal defense, turned +himself to his father, and enlarged upon the many indications he +had given of his good-will to him; and instanced in the honors +that had been done him, which yet had not been done, had he not +deserved them by his virtuous concern about him; for that he had +made provision for every thing that was fit to be foreseen +beforehand, as to giving him his wisest advice; and whenever +there was occasion for the labor of his own hands, he had not +grudged any such pains for him. And that it was almost impossible +that he, who had delivered his father from so many treacherous +contrivances laid against him, should be himself in a plot +against him, and so lose all the reputation he had gained for his +virtue, by his wickedness which succeeded it; and this while he +had nothing to prohibit him, who was already appointed his +successor, to enjoy the royal honor with his father also at +present; and that there was no likelihood that a person who had +the one half of that authority without any danger, and with a +good character, should hunt after the whole with infamy and +danger, and this when it was doubtful whether he could obtain it +or not; and when he saw the sad example of his brethren before +him, and was both the informer and the accuser against them, at a +time when they might not otherwise have been discovered; nay, was +the author of the punishment inflicted upon them, when it +appeared evidently that they were guilty of a wicked attempt +against their father; and that even the contentions there were in +the king's family were indications that he had ever managed +affairs out of the sincerest affection to his father. And as to +what he had done at Rome, Caesar was a witness thereto, who yet +was no more to be imposed upon than God himself; of whose +opinions his letters sent hither are sufficient evidence; and +that it was not reasonable to prefer the calumnies of such as +proposed to raise disturbances before those letters; the greatest +part of which calumnies had been raised during his absence, which +gave scope to his enemies to forge them, which they had not been +able to do if he had been there. Moreover he showed the weakness +of the evidence obtained by torture, which was commonly false, +because the distress men are in under such tortures naturally +obliges them to say many things in order to please those that +govern them. He also offered himself to the torture. + +5. Hereupon there was a change observed in the assembly, while +they greatly pitied Antipater, who by weeping and putting on a +countenance suitable to his sad case made them commiserate the +same, insomuch that his very enemies were moved to compassion; +and it appeared plainly that Herod himself was affected in his +own mind, although he was not willing it should be taken notice +of. Then did Nicolaus begin to prosecute what the king had begun, +and that with great bitterness; and summed up all the evidence +which arose from the tortures, or from the testimonies. He +principally and largely cried up the king's virtues, which he had +exhibited in the maintenance and education of his sons; while he +never could gain any advantage thereby, but still fell from one +misfortune to another. Although he owned that he was not so much +surprised with that thoughtless behavior of his former sons, who +were but young, and were besides corrupted by wicked counselors, +who were the occasion of their wiping out of their minds the +righteous dictates of nature, and this out of a desire of coming +to the government sooner than they ought to do; yet that he could +not but justly stand amazed at the horrid wickedness of +Antipater, who, although he had not only had great benefits +bestowed on him by his father, enough to tame his reason, yet +could not be more tamed than the most envenomed serpents; whereas +even those creatures admit of some mitigation, and will not bite +their benefactors, while Antipater hath not let the misfortunes +of his brethren be any hinderance to him, but he hath gone on to +imitate their barbarity notwithstanding. "Yet wast thou, O +Antipater! (as thou hast thyself confessed,) the informer as to +what wicked actions they had done, and the searcher out of the +evidence against them, and the author of the punishment they +underwent upon their detection. Nor do we say this as accusing +thee for being so zealous in thy anger against them, but are +astonished at thy endeavors to imitate their profligate behavior; +and we discover thereby that thou didst not act thus for the +safety of thy father, but for the destruction of thy brethren, +that by such outside hatred of their impiety thou mightest be +believed a lover of thy father, and mightest thereby get thee +power enough to do mischief with the greatest impunity; which +design thy actions indeed demonstrate. It is true, thou tookest +thy brethren off, because thou didst convict theft of their +wicked designs; but thou didst not yield up to justice those who +were their partners; and thereby didst make it evident to all men +that thou madest a covenant with them against thy father, when +thou chosest to be the accuser of thy brethren, as desirous to +gain to thyself alone this advantage of laying plots to kill thy +father, and so to enjoy double pleasure, which is truly worthy of +thy evil disposition, which thou has openly showed against thy +brethren; on which account thou didst rejoice, as having done a +most famous exploit, nor was that behavior unworthy of thee. But +if thy intention were otherwise, thou art worse than they: while +thou didst contrive to hide thy treachery against thy father, +thou didst hate them, not as plotters against thy father, for in +that case thou hadst not thyself fallen upon the like crime, but +as successors of his dominions, and more worthy of that +succession than thyself. Thou wouldst kill thy father after thy +brethren, lest thy lies raised against them might be detected; +and lest thou shouldst suffer what punishment thou hadst +deserved, thou hadst a mind to exact that punishment of thy +unhappy father, and didst devise such a sort of uncommon +parricide as the world never yet saw. For thou who art his son +didst not only lay a treacherous design against thy father, and +didst it while he loved thee, and had been thy benefactor, had +made thee in reality his partner in the kingdom, and had openly +declared thee his successor, while thou wast not forbidden to +taste the sweetness of authority already, and hadst the firm hope +of what was future by thy father's determination, and the +security of a written testament; but, for certain, thou didst not +measure these things according to thy father's various +disposition, but according to thy own thoughts and inclinations; +and was desirous to take the part that remained away from thy too +indulgent father, and soughtest to destroy him with thy deeds, +whom thou in words pretendedst to preserve. Nor wast thou content +to be wicked thyself, but thou filledst thy mother's head with +thy devices, and raised disturbances among thy brethren, and +hadst the boldness to call thy father a wild beast; while thou +hadst thyself a mind more cruel than any serpent, whence thou +sentest out that poison among thy nearest kindred and greatest +benefactors, and invitedst them to assist thee and guard thee, +and didst hedge thyself in on all sides, by the artifices of both +men and women, against an old man, as though that mind of thine +was not sufficient of itself to support so great a hatred as thou +baredst to him. And here thou appearest, after the tortures of +free-men, of domestics, of men and women, which have been +examined on thy account, and after the informations of thy fellow +conspirators, as making haste to contradict the truth; and hast +thought on ways not only how to take thy father out of the world, +but to disannul that written law which is against thee, and the +virtue of Varus, and the nature of justice; nay, such is that +impudence of thine on which thou confidest, that thou desirest to +be put to the torture thyself, while thou allegest that the +tortures of those already examined thereby have made them tell +lies; that those that have been the deliverers of thy father may +not be allowed to have spoken the truth; but that thy tortures +may be esteemed the discoverers of truth. Wilt not thou, O Varus! +deliver the king from the injuries of his kindred? Wilt not thou +destroy this wicked wild beast, which hath pretended kindness to +his father, in order to destroy his brethren; while yet he is +himself alone ready to carry off the kingdom immediately, and +appears to be the most bloody butcher to him of them all? for +thou art sensible that parricide is a general injury both to +nature and to common life, and that the intention of parricide is +not inferior to its perpetration; and he who does not punish it +is injurious to nature itself." + +6. Nicolaus added further what belonged to Antipater's mother, +and whatsoever she had prattled like a woman; as also about the +predictions and the sacrifices relating to the king; and +whatsoever Antipater had done lasciviously in his cups and his +amours among Pheroras's women; the examination upon torture; and +whatsoever concerned the testimonies of the witnesses, which were +many, and of various kinds; some prepared beforehand, and others +were sudden answers, which further declared and confirmed the +foregoing evidence. For those men who were not acquainted with +Antipater's practices, but had concealed them out of fear, when +they saw that he was exposed to the accusations of the former +witnesses, and that his great good fortune, which had supported +him hitherto, had now evidently betrayed him into the hands of +his enemies, who were now insatiable in their hatred to him, told +all they knew of him. And his ruin was now hastened, not so much +by the enmity of those that were his accusers, as by his gross, +and impudent, and wicked contrivances, and by his ill-will to his +father and his brethren; while he had filled their house with +disturbance, and caused them to murder one another; and was +neither fair in his hatred, nor kind in his friendship, but just +so far as served his own turn. Now there were a great number who +for a long time beforehand had seen all this, and especially such +as were naturally disposed to judge of matters by the rules of +virtue, because they were used to determine about affairs without +passion, but had been restrained from making any open complaints +before; these, upon the leave now given them, produced all that +they knew before the public. The demonstrations also of these +wicked facts could no way be disproved, because the many +witnesses there were did neither speak out of favor to Herod, nor +were they obliged to keep what they had to say silent, out of +suspicion of any danger they were in; but they spake what they +knew, because they thought such actions very wicked, and that +Antipater deserved the greatest punishment; and indeed not so +much for Herod's safety, as on account of the man's own +wickedness. Many things were also said, and those by a great +number of persons, who were no way obliged to say them, insomuch +that Antipater, who used generally to be very shrewd in his lies +and impudence, was not able to say one word to the contrary. When +Nicolaus had left off speaking, and had produced the evidence, +Varus bid Antipater to betake himself to the making his defense, +if he had prepared any thing whereby it might appear that he was +not guilty of the crimes he was accused of; for that, as he was +himself desirous, so did he know that his father was in like +manner desirous also, to have him found entirely innocent. But +Antipater fell down on his face, and appealed to God and to all +men for testimonials of his innocency, desiring that God would +declare, by some evident signals, that he had not laid any plot +against his father. This being the usual method of all men +destitute of virtue, that when they set about any wicked +undertakings, they fall to work according to their own +inclinations, as if they believed that God was unconcerned in +human affairs; but when once they are found out, and are in +danger of undergoing the punishment due to their crimes, they +endeavor to overthrow all the evidence against them by appealing +to God; which was the very thing which Antipater now did; for +whereas he had done everything as if there were no God in the +world, when he was on all sides distressed by justice, and when +he had no other advantage to expect from any legal proofs, by +which he might disprove the accusations laid against him, he +impudently abused the majesty of God, and ascribed it to his +power that he had been preserved hitherto; and produced before +them all what difficulties he had ever undergone in his bold +acting for his father's preservation. + +7. So when Varus, upon asking Antipater what he had to say for +himself, found that he had nothing to say besides his appeal to +God, and saw that there was no end of that, he bid them bring the +potion before the court, that he might see what virtue still +remained in it; and when it was brought, and one that was +condemned to die had drank it by Varus's command, he died +presently. Then Varus got up, and departed out of the court, and +went away the day following to Antioch, where his usual residence +was, because that was the palace of the Syrians; upon which Herod +laid his son in bonds. But what were Varus's discourses to Herod +was not known to the generality, and upon what words it was that +he went away; though it was also generally supposed that +whatsoever Herod did afterward about his son was done with his +approbation. But when Herod had bound his son, he sent letters to +Rome to Caesar about him, and such messengers withal as should, +by word of mouth, inform Caesar of Antipater's wickedness. Now at +this very time there was seized a letter of Antiphilus, written +to Antipater out of Egypt (for he lived there); and when it was +opened by the king, it was found to contain what follows: "I have +sent thee Acme's letter, and hazarded my own life; for thou +knowest that I am in danger from two families, if I be +discovered. I wish thee good success in thy affair." These were +the contents of this letter; but the king made inquiry about the +other letter also, for it did not appear; and Antiphilus's slave, +who brought that letter which had been read, denied that he had +received the other. But while the king was in doubt about it, one +of Herod's friends seeing a seam upon the inner coat of the +slave, and a doubling of the cloth, (for he had two coats on,) he +guessed that the letter might be within that doubling; which +accordingly proved to be true. So they took out the letter, and +its contents were these: "Acme to Antipater. I have written such +a letter to thy father as thou desiredst me. I have also taken a +copy and sent it, as if it came from Salome, to my lady [Livia]; +which, when thou readest, I know that Herod Will punish Salome, +as plotting against him?' Now this pretended letter of Salome to +her lady was composed by Antipater, in the name of Salome, as to +its meaning, but in the words of Acme. The letter was this: "Acme +to king Herod. I have done my endeavor that nothing that is done +against thee should be concealed from thee. So, upon my finding a +letter of Salome written to my lady against thee, I have written +out a copy, and sent it to thee; with hazard to myself, but for +thy advantage. The reason why she wrote it was this, that she had +a mind to be married to Sylleus. Do thou therefore tear this +letter in pieces, that I may not come into danger of my life." +Now Acme had written to Antipater himself, and informed him, +that, in compliance with his command, she had both herself +written to Herod, as if Salome had laid a sudden plot entirely +against him, and had herself sent a copy of an epistle, as coming +from Salome to her lady. Now Acme was a Jew by birth, and a +servant to Julia, Caesar's wife; and did this out of her +friendship for Antipater, as having been corrupted by him with a +large present of money, to assist in his pernicious designs +against his father and his aunt. + +8. Hereupon Herod was so amazed at the prodigious wickedness of +Antipater, that he was ready to have ordered him to be slain +immediately, as a turbulent person in the most important +concerns, and as one that had laid a plot not only against +himself, but against his sister also, and even corrupted Caesar's +own domestics. Salome also provoked him to it, beating her +breast, and bidding him kill her, if he could produce any +credible testimony that she had acted in that manner. Herod also +sent for his son, and asked him about this matter, and bid him +contradict if he could, and not suppress any thing he had to say +for himself; and when he had not one word to say, he asked him, +since he was every way caught in his villainy, that he would make +no further delay, but discover his associates in these his wicked +designs. So he laid all upon Antiphilus, but discovered nobody +else. Hereupon Herod was in such great grief, that he was ready +to send his son to Rome to Caesar, there to give an account of +these his wicked contrivances. But he soon became afraid, lest he +might there, by the assistance of his friends, escape the danger +he was in; so he kept him bound as before, and sent more +ambassadors and letters [to Rome] to accuse his son, and an +account of what assistance Acme had given him in his wicked +designs, with copies of the epistles before mentioned. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +Concerning The Disease That Herod Fell Into And The Sedition +Which The Jews Raised Thereupon; With The Punishment Of The +Seditious. + + +1. Now Herod's ambassadors made haste to Rome; but sent, as +instructed beforehand, what answers they were to make to the +questions put to them. They also carried the epistles with them. +But Herod now fell into a distemper, and made his will, and +bequeathed his kingdom to [Antipas], his youngest son; and this +out of that hatred to Archclaus and Philip, which the calumnies +of Antipater had raised against them. He also bequeathed a +thousand talents to Caesar, and five hundred to Julia, Caesar's +wife, to Caesar's children, and friends and freed-men. He also +distributed among his sons and their sons his money, his +revenues, and his lands. He also made Salome his sister very +rich, because she had continued faithful to him in all his +circumstances, and was never so rash as to do him any harm; and +as he despaired of recovering, for he was about the seventieth +year of his age, he grew fierce, and indulged the bitterest anger +upon all occasions; the cause whereof was this, that he thought +himself despised, and that the nation was pleased with his +misfortunes; besides which, he resented a sedition which some of +the lower sort of men excited against him, the occasion of which +was as follows. + +2. There was one Judas, the son of Saripheus, and Mattbias, the +son of Margalothus, two of the most eloquent men among the Jews, +and the most celebrated interpreters of the Jewish laws, and men +well beloved by the people, because of their education of their +youth; for all those that were studious of virtue frequented +their lectures every day. These men, when they found that the +king's distemper was incurable, excited the young men that they +would pull down all those works which the king had erected +contrary to the law of their fathers, and thereby obtain the +rewards which the law will confer on them for such actions of +piety; for that it was truly on account of Herod's rashness in +making such things as the law had forbidden, that his other +misfortunes, and this distemper also, which was so unusual among +mankind, and with which he was now afflicted, came upon him; for +Herod had caused such things to be made which were contrary to +the law, of which he was accused by Judas and Matthias; for the +king had erected over the great gate of the temple a large golden +eagle, of great value, and had dedicated it to the temple. Now +the law forbids those that propose to live according to it, to +erect images (6) or representations of any living creature. So +these wise men persuaded [their scholars] to pull down the golden +eagle; alleging, that although they should incur any danger, +which might bring them to their deaths, the virtue of the action +now proposed to them would appear much more advantageous to them +than the pleasures of life; since they would die for the +preservation and observation of the law of their fathers; since +they would also acquire an everlasting fame and commendation; +since they would be both commended by the present generation, and +leave an example of life that would never be forgotten to +posterity; since that common calamity of dying cannot be avoided +by our living so as to escape any such dangers; that therefore it +is a right thing for those who are in love with a virtuous +conduct, to wait for that fatal hour by such behavior as may +carry them out of the world with praise and honor; and that this +will alleviate death to a great degree, thus to come at it by the +performance of brave actions, which bring us into danger of it; +and at the same time to leave that reputation behind them to +their children, and to all their relations, whether they be men +or women, which will be of great advantage to them afterward. + +3. And with such discourses as this did these men excite the +young men to this action; and a report being come to them that +the king was dead, this was an addition to the wise men's +persuasions; so, in the very middle of the day, they got upon the +place, they pulled down the eagle, and cut it into pieces with +axes, while a great number of the people were in the temple. And +now the king's captain, upon hearing what the undertaking was, +and supposing it was a thing of a higher nature than it proved to +be, came up thither, having a great band of soldiers with him, +such as was sufficient to put a stop to the multitude of those +who pulled down what was dedicated to God; so he fell upon them +unexpectedly, and as they were upon this bold attempt, in a +foolish presumption rather than a cautious circumspection, as is +usual with the multitude, and while they were in disorder, and +incautious of what was for their advantage; so he caught no fewer +than forty of the young men, who had the courage to stay behind +when the rest ran away, together with the authors of this bold +attempt, Judas and Matthius, who thought it an ignominious thing +to retire upon his approach, and led them to the king. And when +they were come to the king, and he asked them if they had been so +bold as to pull down what he had dedicated to God, "Yes, (said +they,) what was contrived we contrived, and what hath been +performed we performed it, and that with such a virtuous courage +as becomes men; for we have given our assistance to those things +which were dedicated to the majesty of God, and we have provided +for what we have learned by hearing the law; and it ought not to +be wondered at, if we esteem those laws which Moses had suggested +to him, and were taught him by God, and which he wrote and left +behind him, more worthy of observation than thy commands. +Accordingly we will undergo death, and all sorts of punishments +which thou canst inflict upon us, with pleasure, since we are +conscious to ourselves that we shall die, not for any unrighteous +actions, but for our love to religion." And thus they all said, +and their courage was still equal to their profession, and equal +to that with which they readily set about this undertaking. And +when the king had ordered them to be bound, he sent them to +Jericho, and called together the principal men among the Jews; +and when they were come, he made them assemble in the theater, +and because he could not himself stand, he lay upon a couch, and +enumerated the many labors that he had long endured on their +account, and his building of the temple, and what a vast charge +that was to him; while the Asamoneans, during the hundred and +twenty-five years of their government, had not been able to +perform any so great a work for the honor of God as that was; +that he had also adorned it with very valuable donations, on +which account he hoped that he had left himself a memorial, and +procured himself a reputation after his death. He then cried out, +that these men had not abstained from affronting him, even in his +lifetime, but that in the very day time, and in the sight of the +multitude, they had abused him to that degree, as to fall upon +what he had dedicated, and in that way of abuse had pulled it +down to the ground. They pretended, indeed, that they did it to +affront him; but if any one consider the thing truly, they will +find that they were guilty of sacrilege against God therein. + +4. But the people, on account of Herod's barbarous temper, and +for fear he should be so cruel and to inflict punishment on them, +said what was done was done without their approbation, and that +it seemed to them that the actors might well be punished for what +they had done. But as for Herod, he dealt more mildly with others +[of the assembly] but he deprived Matthias of the high +priesthood, as in part an occasion of this action, and made +Joazar, who was Matthias's wife's brother, high priest in his +stead. Now it happened, that during the time of the high +priesthood of this Matthias, there was another person made high +priest for a single day, that very day which the Jews observed as +a fast. The occasion was this: This Matthias the high priest, on +the night before that day when the fast was to be celebrated, +seemed, in a dream, (7) to have conversation with his wife; and +because he could not officiate himself on that account, Joseph, +the son of Ellemus, his kinsman, assisted him in that sacred +office. But Herod deprived this Matthias of the high priesthood, +and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the sedition, with +his companions, alive. And that very night there was an eclipse +of the moon. (8) + +5. But now Herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a +severe manner, and this by God's judgment upon him for his sins; +for a fire glowed in him slowly, which did not so much appear to +the touch outwardly, as it augmented his pains inwardly; for it +brought upon him a vehement appetite to eating, which he could +not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other. His entrails +were also ex-ulcerated, and the chief violence of his pain lay on +his colon; an aqueous and transparent liquor also had settled +itself about his feet, and a like matter afflicted him at the +bottom of his belly. Nay, further, his privy-member was +putrefied, and produced worms; and when he sat upright, he had a +difficulty of breathing, which was very loathsome, on account of +the stench of his breath, and the quickness of its returns; he +had also convulsions in all parts of his body, which increased +his strength to an insufferable degree. It was said by those who +pretended to divine, and who were endued with wisdom to foretell +such things, that God inflicted this punishment on the king on +account of his great impiety; yet was he still in hopes of +recovering, though his afflictions seemed greater than any one +could bear. He also sent for physicians, and did not refuse to +follow what they prescribed for his assistance, and went beyond +the river Jordan, and bathed himself in the warm baths that were +at Callirrhoe, which, besides their other general virtues, were +also fit to drink; which water runs into the lake called +Asphaltiris. And when the physicians once thought fit to have him +bathed in a vessel full of oil, it was supposed that he was just +dying; but upon the lamentable cries of his domestics, he +revived; and having no longer the least hopes of recovering, he +gave order that every soldier should be paid fifty drachmae; and +he also gave a great deal to their commanders, and to his +friends, and came again to Jericho, where he grew so choleric, +that it brought him to do all things like a madman; and though he +were near his death, he contrived the following wicked designs. +He commanded that all the principal men of the entire Jewish +nation, wheresoever they lived, should be called to him. +Accordingly, they were a great number that came, because the +whole nation was called, and all men heard of this call, and +death was the penalty of such as should despise the epistles that +were sent to call them. And now the king was in a wild rage +against them all, the innocent as well as those that had afforded +ground for accusations; and when they were come, he ordered them +to be all shut up in the hyppodrome, (9) and sent for his sister +Salome, and her husband Alexas, and spake thus to them: "I shall +die in a little time, so great are my pains; which death ought to +be cheerfully borne, and to be welcomed by all men; but what +principally troubles me is this, that I shall die without being +lamented, and without such mourning as men usually expect at a +king's death. For that he was not unacquainted with the temper of +the Jews, that his death would be a thing very desirable, and +exceedingly acceptable to them, because during his lifetime they +were ready to revolt from him, and to abuse the donations he had +dedicated to God that it therefore was their business to resolve +to afford him some alleviation of his great sorrows on this +occasion; for that if they do not refuse him their consent in +what he desires, he shall have a great mourning at his funeral, +and such as never had any king before him; for then the whole +nation would mourn from their very soul, which otherwise would be +done in sport and mockery only. He desired therefore, that as +soon as they see he hath given up the ghost, they shall place +soldiers round the hippodrome, while they do not know that he is +dead; and that they shall not declare his death to the multitude +till this is done, but that they shall give orders to have those +that are in custody shot with their darts; and that this +slaughter of them all will cause that he shall not miss to +rejoice on a double account; that as he is dying, they will make +him secure that his will shall be executed in what he charges +them to do; and that he shall have the honor of a memorable +mourning at his funeral. So he deplored his condition, with tears +in his eyes, and obtested them by the kindness due from them, as +of his kindred, and by the faith they owed to God, and begged of +them that they would not hinder him of this honorable mourning at +his funeral. So they promised him not to transgress his commands. + +6. Now any one may easily discover the temper of this man's mind, +which not only took pleasure in doing what he had done formerly +against his relations, out of the love of life, but by those +commands of his which savored of no humanity; since he took care, +when he was departing out of this life, that the whole nation +should be put into mourning, and indeed made desolate of their +dearest kindred, when he gave order that one out of every family +should be slain, although they had done nothing that was unjust, +or that was against him, nor were they accused of any other +crimes; while it is usual for those who have any regard to virtue +to lay aside their hatred at such a time, even with respect to +those they justly esteemed their enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +Herod Has Thoughts Of Killing Himself With His Own Hand; And A +Little Afterwards He Orders Antipater To Be Slain. + + +1. As he was giving these commands to his relations, there came +letters from his ambassadors, who had been sent to Rome unto +Caesar, which, when they were read, their purport was this: That +Acme was slain by Caesar, out of his indignation at what hand, +she had in Antipater's wicked practices; and that as to Antipater +himself, Caesar left it to Herod to act as became a father and a +king, and either to banish him, or to take away his life, which +he pleased. When Herod heard this, he was some-what better, out +of the pleasure he had from the contents of the letters, and was +elevated at the death of Acme, and at the power that was given +him over his son; but as his pains were become very great, he was +now ready to faint for want of somewhat to eat; so he called for +an apple and a knife; for it was his custom formerly to pare the +apple himself, and soon afterwards to cut it, and eat it. When he +had got the knife, he looked about, and had a mind to stab +himself with it; and he had done it, had not his first cousin, +Achiabus, prevented him, and held his hand, and cried out loudly. +Whereupon a woeful lamentation echoed through the palace, and a +great tumult was made, as if the king were dead. Upon which +Antipater, who verily believed his father was deceased, grew bold +in his discourse, as hoping to be immediately and entirely +released from his bonds, and to take the kingdom into his hands +without any more ado; so he discoursed with the jailer about +letting him go, and in that case promised him great things, both +now and hereafter, as if that were the only thing now in +question. But the jailer did not only refuse to do what Antipater +would have him, but informed the king of his intentions, and how +many solicitations he had had from him [of that nature]. Hereupon +Herod, who had formerly no affection nor good-will towards his +son to restrain him, when he heard what the jailer said, he cried +out, and beat his head, although he was at death's door, and +raised himself upon his elbow, and sent for some of his guards, +and commanded them to kill Antipater without tiny further delay, +and to do it presently, and to bury him in an ignoble manner at +Hyrcania. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Concerning Herod's Death, And Testament, And Burial. + + +1. And now Herod altered his testament upon the alteration of his +mind; for he appointed Antipas, to whom he had before left the +kingdom, to be tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, and granted the +kingdom to Archclaus. He also gave Gaulonitis, and Trachonitis, +and Paneas to Philip, who was his son, but own brother to +Archclaus (10) by the name of a tetrarchy; and bequeathed +Jarnnia, and Ashdod, and Phasaelis to Salome his sister, with +five hundred thousand [drachmae] of silver that was coined. He +also made provision for all the rest of his kindred, by giving +them sums of money and annual revenues, and so left them all in a +wealthy condition. He bequeathed also to Caesar ten millions [of +drachmae] of coined money, besides both vessels of gold and +silver, and garments exceeding costly, to Julia, Caesar's wife; +and to certain others, five millions. When he had done these +things, he died, the fifth day after he had caused Antipater to +be slain; having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus to be +slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared king by +the Romans, thirty-seven. (11) A man he was of great barbarity +towards all men equally, and a slave to his passion; but above +the consideration of what was right; yet was he favored by +fortune as much as any man ever was, for from a private man he +became a king; and though he were encompassed with ten thousand +dangers, he got clear of them all, and continued his life till a +very old age. But then, as to the affairs of his family and +children, in which indeed, according to his own opinion, he was +also very fortunate, because he was able to conquer his enemies, +yet, in my opinion, he was herein very unfortunate. + +2. But then Salome and Alexas, before the king's death was made +known, dismissed those that were shut up in the hippodrome, and +told them that the king ordered them to go away to their own +lands, and take care of their own affairs, which was esteemed by +the nation a great benefit. And now the king's death was made +public, when Salome and Alexas gathered the soldiery together in +the amphitheater at Jericho; and the first thing they did was, +they read Herod's letter, written to the soldiery, thanking them +for their fidelity and good-will to him, and exhorting them to +afford his son Archelaus, whom he had appointed for their king, +like fidelity and good-will. After which Ptolemy, who had the +king's seal intrusted to him, read the king's testament, which +was to be of force no otherwise than as it should stand when +Caesar had inspected it; so there was presently an acclamation +made to Archelaus, as king; and the soldiers came by bands, and +their commanders with them, and promised the same good-will to +him, and readiness to serve him, which they had exhibited to +Herod; and they prayed God to be assistant to him. + +3. After this was over, they prepared for his funeral, it being +Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulcher +should be very sumptuous. Accordingly, he brought out all his +ornaments to adorn the pomp of the funeral. The body was carried +upon a golden bier, embroidered with very precious stones of +great variety, and it was covered over with purple, as well as +the body itself; he had a diadem upon his head, and above it a +crown of gold: he also had a scepter in his right hand. About the +bier were his sons and his numerous relations; next to these was +the soldiery, distinguished according to their several countries +and denominations; and they were put into the following order: +First of all went his guards, then the band of Thracians, and +after them the Germans; and next the band of Galatians, every one +in their habiliments of war; and behind these marched the whole +army in the same manner as they used to go out to war, and as +they used to be put in array by their muster-masters and +centurions; these were followed by five hundred of his domestics +carrying spices. So they went eight furlongs (12) to Herodium; +for there by his own command he was to be buried. And thus did +Herod end his life. + +4. Now Archelaus paid him so much respect, as to continue his +mourning till the seventh day; for so many days are appointed for +it by the law of our fathers. And when he had given a treat to +the multitude, and left off his motoring, he went up into the +temple; he had also acclamations and praises given him, which way +soever he went, every one striving with the rest who should +appear to use the loudest acclamations. So he ascended a high +elevation made for him, and took his seat, in a throne made of +gold, and spake kindly to the multitude, and declared with what +joy he received their acclamations, and the marks of the +good-will they showed to him; and returned them thanks that they +did not remember the injuries his father had done them to his +disadvantage; and promised them he would endeavor not to be +behindhand with them in rewarding their alacrity in his service, +after a suitable manner; but that he should abstain at present +from the name of king, and that he should have the honor of that +dignity, if Caesar should confirm and settle that testament which +his father had made; and that it was on this account, that when +the army would have put the diadem on him at Jericho, he would +not accept of that honor, which is usually so much desired, +because it was not yet evident that he who was to be principally +concerned in bestowing it would give it him; although, by his +acceptance of the government, he should not want the ability of +rewarding their kindness to him and that it should be his +endeavor, as to all things wherein they were concerned, to prove +in every respect better than his father. Whereupon the multitude, +as it is usual with them, supposed that the first days of those +that enter upon such governments declare the intentions of those +that accept them; and so by how much Archelaus spake the more +gently and civilly to them, by so much did they more highly +commend him, and made application to him for the grant of what +they desired. Some made a clamor that he would ease them of some +of their annual payments; but others desired him to release those +that were put into prison by Herod, who were many, and had been +put there at several times; others of them required that he would +take away those taxes which had been severely laid upon what was +publicly sold and bought. So Archelaus contradicted them in +nothing, since he pretended to do all things so as to get the +good-will of the multitude to him, as looking upon that good-will +to be a great step towards his preservation of the government. +Hereupon he went and offered sacrifice to God, and then betook +himself to feast with his friends. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +How The People Raised A Sedition Against Archelaus, And How He +Sailed To Rome. + + +1. At this time also it was that some of the Jews got together +out of a desire of innovation. They lamented Matthias, and those +that were slain with him by Herod, who had not any respect paid +them by a funeral mourning, out of the fear men were in of that +man; they were those who had been condemned for pulling down the +golden eagle. The people made a great clamor and lamentation +hereupon, and cast out some reproaches against the king also, as +if that tended to alleviate the miseries of the deceased. The +people assembled together, and desired of Archelaus, that, in way +of revenge on their account, he would inflict punishment on those +who had been honored by Herod; and that, in the first and +principal place, he would deprive that high priest whom Herod had +made, and would choose one more agreeable to the law, and of +greater purity, to officiate as high priest. This was granted by +Archelaus, although he was mightily offended at their +importunity, because he proposed to himself to go to Rome +immediately to look after Caesar's determination about him. +However, he sent the general of his forces to use persuasions, +and to tell them that the death which was inflicted on their +friends was according to the law; and to represent to them that +their petitions about these things were carried to a great height +of injury to him; that the time was not now proper for such +petitions, but required their unanimity until such time as he +should be established in the government by the consent of Caesar, +and should then be come back to them; for that he would then +consult with them in common concerning the purport of their +petitions; but that they ought at present to be quiet, lest they +should seem seditious persons. + +2. So when the king had suggested these things, and instructed +his general in what he was to say, he sent him away to the +people; but they made a clamor, and would not give him leave to +speak, and put him in danger of his life, and as many more as +were desirous to venture upon saying openly any thing which might +reduce them to a sober mind, and prevent their going on in their +present courses, because they had more concern to have all their +own wills performed than to yield obedience to their governors; +thinking it to be a thing insufferable, that, while Herod was +alive, they should lose those that were most dear to them, and +that when he was dead, they could not get the actors to be +punished. So they went on with their designs after a violent +manner, and thought all to be lawful and right which tended to +please them, and being unskillful in foreseeing what dangers they +incurred; and when they had suspicion of such a thing, yet did +the present pleasure they took in the punishment of those they +deemed their enemies overweigh all such considerations; and +although Archelaus sent many to speak to them, yet they treated +them not as messengers sent by him, but as persons that came of +their own accord to mitigate their anger, and would not let one +of them speak. The sedition also was made by such as were in a +great passion; and it was evident that they were proceeding +further in seditious practices, by the multitude running so fast +upon them. + +3. Now, upon the approach of that feast of unleavened bread, +which the law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this +time, which feast is called the Passover (13) and is a memorial +of their deliverance out of Egypt, when they offer sacrifices +with great alacrity; and when they are required to slay more +sacrifices in number than at any other festival; and when an +innumerable multitude came thither out of the country, nay, from +beyond its limits also, in order to worship God, the seditious +lamented Judas and Matthias, those teachers of the laws, and kept +together in the temple, and had plenty of food, because these +seditious persons were not ashamed to beg it. And as Archelaus +was afraid lest some terrible thing should spring up by means of +these men's madness, he sent a regiment of armed men, and with +them a captain of a thousand, to suppress the violent efforts of +the seditious before the whole multitude should be infected with +the like madness; and gave them this charge, that if they found +any much more openly seditious than others, and more busy in +tumultuous practices, they should bring them to him. But those +that were seditious on account of those teachers of the law, +irritated the people by the noise and clamors they used to +encourage the people in their designs; so they made an assault +upon the soldiers, and came up to them, and stoned the greatest +part of them, although some of them ran away wounded, and their +captain among them; and when they had thus done, they returned to +the sacrifices which were already in their hands. Now Archelaus +thought there was no way to preserve the entire government but by +cutting off those who made this attempt upon it; so he sent out +the whole army upon them, and sent the horsemen to prevent those +that had their tents without the temple from assisting those that +were within the temple, and to kill such as ran away from the +footmen when they thought themselves out of danger; which +horsemen slew three thousand men, while the rest went to the +neighboring mountains. Then did Archelaus order proclamation to +be made to them all, that they should retire to their own homes; +so they went away, and left the festival, out of fear of somewhat +worse which would follow, although they had been so bold by +reason of their want of instruction. So Archelaus went down to +the sea with his mother, and took with him Nicolaus and Ptolemy, +and many others of his friends, and left Philip his brother as +governor of all things belonging both to his own family and to +the public. There went out also with him Salome, Herod's sister +who took with her, her children, and many of her kindred were +with her; which kindred of hers went, as they pretended, to +assist Archelaus in gaining the kingdom, but in reality to oppose +him, and chiefly to make loud complaints of what he had done in +the temple. But Sabinus, Caesar's steward for Syrian affairs, as +he was making haste into Judea to preserve Herod's effects, met +with Archclaus at Caesarea; but Varus (president of Syria) came +at that time, and restrained him from meddling with them, for he +was there as sent for by Archceaus, by the means of Ptolemy. And +Sabinus, out of regard to Varus, did neither seize upon any of +the castles that were among the Jews, nor did he seal up the +treasures in them, but permitted Archelaus to have them, until +Caesar should declare his resolution about them; so that, upon +this his promise, he tarried still at Cesarea. But after +Archelaus was sailed for Rome, and Varus was removed to Antioch, +Sabinus went to Jerusalem, and seized on the king's palace. He +also sent for the keepers of the garrisons, and for all those +that had the charge of Herod's effects, and declared publicly +that he should require them to give an account of what they had; +and he disposed of the castles in the manner he pleased; but +those who kept them did not neglect what Archelaus had given them +in command, but continued to keep all things in the manner that +had been enjoined them; and their pretense was, that they kept +them all for Caesar. + +4. At the same time also did Antipas, another of Herod's sons, +sail to Rome, in order to gain the government; being buoyed up by +Salome with promises that he should take that government; and +that he was a much honester and fitter man than Archelaus for +that authority, since Herod had, in his former testament, deemed +him the worthiest to be made king, which ought to be esteemed +more valid than his latter testament. Antipas also brought with +him his mother, and Ptolemy the brother of Nicolaus, one that had +been Herod's most honored friend, and was now zealous for +Antipas; but it was Ireneus the orator, and one who, on account +of his reputation for sagacity, was intrusted with the affairs of +the kingdom, who most of all encouraged him to attempt to gain +the kingdom; by whose means it was, that when some advised him to +yield to Archelaus, as to his elder brother, and who had been +declared king by their father's last will, he would not submit so +to do. And when he was come to Rome, all his relations revolted +to him; not out of their good-will to him, but out of their +hatred to Archelaus; though indeed they were most of all desirous +of gaining their liberty, and to be put under a Roman governor; +but if there were too great an opposition made to that, they +thought Antipas preferable to Archelaus, and so joined with him, +in order to procure the kingdom for him. Sabinus also, by +letters, accused Archelaus to Caesar. + +5. Now when Archelaus had sent in his papers to Caesar, wherein +he pleaded his right to the kingdom, and his father's testament, +with the accounts of Herod's money, and with Ptolemy, who brought +Herod's seal, he so expected the event; but when Caesar had read +these papers, and Varus's and Sabinus's letters, with the +accounts of the money, and what were the annual incomes of the +kingdom, and understood that Antipas had also sent letters to lay +claim to the kingdom, he summoned his friends together, to know +their opinions, and with them Caius, the son of Agrippa, and of +Julia his daughter, whom he had adopted, and took him, and made +him sit first of all, and desired such as pleased to speak their +minds about the affairs now before them. Now Antipater, Salome's +son, a very subtle orator, and a bitter enemy to Archelaus, spake +first to this purpose: That it was ridiculous in Archelaus to +plead now to have the kingdom given him, since he had, in +reality, taken already the power over it to himself, before +Caesar had granted it to him; and appealed to those bold actions +of his, in destroying so many at the Jewish festival; and if the +men had acted unjustly, it was but fit the punishing of them +should have been reserved to those that were out of the country, +but had the power to punish them, and not been executed by a man +that, if he pretended to be a king, he did an injury to Caesar, +by usurping that authority before it was determined for him by +Caesar; but if he owned himself to be a private person, his case +was much worse, since he who was putting in for the kingdom could +by no means expect to have that power granted him, of which he +had already deprived Caesar [by taking it to himself]. He also +touched sharply upon him, and appealed to his changing the +commanders in the army, and his sitting in the royal throne +beforehand, and his determination of law-suits; all done as if he +were no other than a king. He appealed also to his concessions to +those that petitioned him on a public account, and indeed doing +such things, than which he could devise no greater if he had been +already settled in the kingdom by Caesar. He also ascribed to him +the releasing of the prisoners that were in the hippodrome, and +many other things, that either had been certainly done by him, or +were believed to be done, and easily might be believed to have +been done, because they were of such a nature as to be usually +done by young men, and by such as, out of a desire of ruling, +seize upon the government too soon. He also charged him with his +neglect of the funeral mourning for his father, and with having +merry meetings the very night in which he died; and that it was +thence the multitude took the handle of raising a tumult: and if +Archelaus could thus requite his dead father, who had bestowed +such benefits upon him, and bequeathed such great things to him, +by pretending to shed tears for him in the day time, like an +actor on the stage, but every night making mirth for having +gotten the government, he would appear to be the same Archelaus +with regard to Caesar, if he granted him the kingdom, which he +hath been to his father; since he had then dancing and singing, +as though an enemy of his were fallen, and not as though a man +were carried to his funeral, that was so nearly related, and had +been so great a benefactor to him. But he said that the greatest +crime of all was this, that he came now before Caesar to obtain +the government by his grant, while he had before acted in all +things as he could have acted if Caesar himself, who ruled all, +had fixed him firmly in the government. And what he most +aggravated in his pleading was the slaughter of those about the +temple, and the impiety of it, as done at the festival; and how +they were slain like sacrifices themselves, some of whom were +foreigners, and others of their own country, till the temple was +full of dead bodies: and all this was done, not by an alien, but +by one who pretended to the lawful title of a king, that he might +complete the wicked tyranny which his nature prompted him to, and +which is hated by all men. On which account his father never so +much as dreamed of making him his successor in the kingdom, when +he was of a sound mind, because he knew his disposition; and in +his former and more authentic testament, he appointed his +antagonist Antipas to succeed; but that Archelaus was called by +his father to that dignity when he was in a dying condition, both +of body and mind; while Antipas was called when he was ripest in +his judgment, and of such strength of body as made him capable of +managing his own affairs: and if his father had the like notion +of him formerly that he hath now showed, yet hath he given a +sufficient specimen what a king he is likely to be, when he hath +[in effect] deprived Caesar of that power of disposing of the +kingdom, which he justly hath, and hath not abstained from making +a terrible slaughter of his fellow citizens in the temple, while +he was but a private person. + +6. So when Antipater had made this speech, and had confirmed what +he had said by producing many witnesses from among Archelaus's +own relations, he made an end of his pleading. Upon which +Nicolaus arose up to plead for Archelaus, and said, "That what +had been done at the temple was rather to be attributed to the +mind of those that had been killed, than to the authority of +Archelaus; for that those who were the authors of such things are +not only wicked in the injuries they do of themselves, but in +forcing sober persons to avenge themselves upon them. Now it is +evident that what these did in way of opposition was done under +pretense, indeed, against Archelaus, but in reality against +Caesar himself, for they, after an injurious manner, attacked and +slew those who were sent by Archelaus, and who came only to put a +stop to their doings. They had no regard, either to God or to the +festival, whom Antipater yet is not ashamed to patronize, whether +it be out of his indulgence of an enmity to Archelaus, or out of +his hatred of virtue and justice. For as to those who begin such +tumults, and first set about such unrighteous actions, they are +the men who force those that punish them to betake themselves to +arms even against their will. So that Antipater in effect +ascribes the rest of what was done to all those who were of +counsel to the accusers; for nothing which is here accused of +injustice has been done but what was derived from them as its +authors; nor are those things evil in themselves, but so +represented only in order to do harm to Archelaus. Such is these +men's inclination to do an injury to a man that is of their +kindred, their father's benefactor, and familiarity acquainted +with them, and that hath ever lived in friendship with them; for +that, as to this testament, it was made by the king when he was +of a sound mind, and so ought to be of more authority than his +former testament; and that for this reason, because Caesar is +therein left to be the judge and disposer of all therein +contained; and for Caesar, he will not, to be sure, at all +imitate the unjust proceedings of those men, who, during Herod's +whole life, had on all occasions been joint partakers of power +with him, and yet do zealously endeavor to injure his +determination, while they have not themselves had the same regard +to their kinsman [which Archelaus had]. Caesar will not therefore +disannul the testament of a man whom he had entirely supported, +of his friend and confederate, and that which is committed to him +in trust to ratify; nor will Caesar's virtuous and upright +disposition, which is known and uncontested through all the +habitable world, imitate the wickedness of these men in +condemning a king as a madman, and as having lost his reason, +while he hath bequeathed the succession to a good son of his, and +to one who flies to Caesar's upright determination for refuge. +Nor can Herod at any time have been mistaken in his judgment +about a successor, while he showed so much prudence as to submit +all to Caesar's determination." + +7. Now when Nicolaus had laid these things before Caesar, he +ended his plea; whereupon Caesar was so obliging to Archelaus, +that he raised him up when he had cast himself down at his feet, +and said that he well deserved the kingdom; and he soon let them +know that he was so far moved in his favor, that he would not act +otherwise than his father's testament directed, and than was for +the advantage of Archelaus. However, while he gave this +encouragement to Archelaus to depend on him securely, he made no +full determination about him; and when the assembly was broken +up, he considered by himself whether he should confirm the +kingdom to Archelaus, or whether he should part it among all +Herod's posterity; and this because they all stood in need of +much assistance to support them. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +A Sedition Against Sabinus; And How Varus Brought The Authors Of +It To Punishment. + + +1. But before these things could be brought to a settlement, +Malthace, Archelaus's mother, fell into a distemper, and died of +it; and letters came from Varus, the president of Syria, which +informed Caesar of the revolt of the Jews; for after Archlaus was +sailed, the whole nation was in a tumult. So Varus, since he was +there himself, brought the authors of the disturbance to +punishment; and when he had restrained them for the most part +from this sedition, which was a great one, he took his journey to +Antiocli, leaving one legion of his army at Jerusalem to keep the +Jews quiet, who were now very fond of innovation. Yet did not +this at all avail to put an end to that their sedition; for after +Varus was gone away, Sabinus, Caesar's procurator, staid behind, +and greatly distressed the Jews, relying on the forces that were +left there that they would by their multitude protect him; for he +made use of them, and armed them as his guards, thereby so +oppressing the Jews, and giving them so great disturbance, that +at length they rebelled; for he used force in seizing the +citadels, and zealously pressed on the search after the king's +money, in order to seize upon it by force, on account of his love +of gain and his extraordinary covetousness. + +2. But on the approach of pentecost, which is a festival of ours, +so called from the days of our forefathers, a great many ten +thousands of men got together; nor did they come only to +celebrate the festival, but out of their indignation at the +madness of Sabinus, and at the injuries he offered them. A great +number there was of Galileans, and Idumeans, and many men from +Jericho, and others who had passed over the river Jordan, and +inhabited those parts. This whole multitude joined themselves to +all the rest, and were more zealous than the others in making an +assault on Sabinus, in order to be avenged on him; so they parted +themselves into three bands, and encamped themselves in the +places following:-- some of them seized on the hippodrome and of +the other two bands, one pitched themselves from the northern +part of the temple to the southern, on the east quarter; but the +third band held the western part of the city, where the king's +palace was. Their work tended entirely to besiege the Romans, and +to enclose them on all sides. Now Sabinus was afraid of these +men's number, and of their resolution, who had little regard to +their lives, but were very desirous not to be overcome, while +they thought it a point of puissance to overcome their enemies; +so he sent immediately a letter to Varus, and, as he used to do, +was very pressing with him, and entreated him to come quickly to +his assistance, because the forces he had left were in imminent +danger, and would probably, in no long time, be seized upon, and +cut to pieces; while he did himself get up to the highest tower +of the fortress Phasaelus, which had been built in honor of +Phasaelus, king Herod's brother, and called so when the Parthians +had brought him to his death. (14) So Sabinus gave thence a +signal to the Romans to fall upon the Jews, although he did not +himself venture so much as to come down to his friends, and +thought he might expect that the others should expose themselves +first to die on account of his avarice. However, the Romans +ventured to make a sally out of the place, and a terrible battle +ensued; wherein, though it is true the Romans beat their +adversaries, yet were not the Jews daunted in their resolutions, +even when they had the sight of that terrible slaughter that was +made of them; but they went round about, and got upon those +cloisters which encompassed the outer court of the temple, where +a great fight was still continued, and they cast stones at the +Romans, partly with their hands, and partly with slings, as being +much used to those exercises. All the archers also in array did +the Romans a great deal of mischief, because they used their +hands dexterously from a place superior to the others, and +because the others were at an utter loss what to do; for when +they tried to shoot their arrows against the Jews upwards, these +arrows could not reach them, insomuch that the Jews were easily +too hard for their enemies. And this sort of fight lasted a great +while, till at last the Romans, who were greatly distressed by +what was done, set fire to the cloisters so privately, that those +that were gotten upon them did not perceive it. This fire (15) +being fed by a great deal of combustible matter, caught hold +immediately on the roof of the cloisters; so the wood, which was +full of pitch and wax, and whose gold was laid on it with wax, +yielded to the flame presently, and those vast works, which were +of the highest value and esteem, were destroyed utterly, while +those that were on the roof unexpectedly perished at the same +time; for as the roof tumbled down, some of these men tumbled +down with it, and others of them were killed by their enemies who +encompassed them. There was a great number more, who, out of +despair of saving their lives, and out of astonishment at the +misery that surrounded them, did either cast themselves into the +fire, or threw themselves upon their swords, and so got out of +their misery. But as to those that retired behind the same way by +which they ascended, and thereby escaped, they were all killed by +the Romans, as being unarmed men, and their courage failing them; +their wild fury being now not able to help them, because they +were destitute of armor, insomuch that of those that went up to +the top of the roof, not one escaped. The Romans also rushed +through the fire, where it gave them room so to do, and seized on +that treasure where the sacred money was reposited; a great part +of which was stolen by the soldiers, and Sabinus got openly four +hundred talents. + +3. But this calamity of the Jews' friends, who fell in this +battle, grieved them, as did also this plundering of the money +dedicated to God in the temple. Accordingly, that body of them +which continued best together, and was the most warlike, +encompassed the palace, and threatened to set fire to it, and +kill all that were in it. Yet still they commanded them to go out +presently, and promised, that if they would do so, they would not +hurt them, nor Sabinus neither; at which time the greatest part +of the king's troops deserted to them, while Rufus and Gratus, +who had three thousand of the most warlike of Herod's army with +them, who were men of active bodies, went over to the Romans. +There was also a band of horsemen under the command of Ruffis, +which itself went over to the Romans also. However, the Jews went +on with the siege, and dug mines under the palace walls, and +besought those that were gone over to the other side not to be +their hinderance, now they had such a proper opportunity for the +recovery of their country's ancient liberty; and for Sabinus, +truly he was desirous of going away with his soldiers, but was +not able to trust himself with the enemy, on account of what +mischief he had already done them; and he took this great +[pretended] lenity of theirs for an argument why he should not +comply with them; and so, because he expected that Varus was +coming, he still bore the siege. + +4. Now at this time there were ten thousand other disorders in +Judea, which were like tumults, because a great number put +themselves into a warlike posture, either out of hopes of gain to +themselves, or out of enmity to the Jews. In particular, two +thousand of Herod's old soldiers, who had been already disbanded, +got together in Judea itself, and fought against the king's +troops, although Achiabus, Herod's first cousin, opposed them; +but as he was driven out of the plains into the mountainous parts +by the military skill of those men, he kept himself in the +fastnesses that were there, and saved what he could. + +5. There was also Judas, (16) the son of that Ezekias who had +been head of the robbers; which Ezekias was a very strong man, +and had with great dificulty been caught by Herod. This Judas, +having gotten together a multitude of men of a profligate +character about Sepphoris in Galilee, made an assault upon the +palace [there,] and seized upon all the weapons that were laid up +in it, and with them armed every one of those that were with him, +and carried away what money was left there; and he became +terrible to all men, by tearing and rending those that came near +him; and all this in order to raise himself, and out of an +ambitious desire of the royal dignity; and he hoped to obtain +that as the reward not of his virtuous skill in war, but of his +extravagance in doing injuries. + +6. There was also Simon, who had been a slave of Herod the king, +but in other respects a comely person, of a tall and robust body; +he was one that was much superior to others of his order, and had +had great things committed to his care. This man was elevated at +the disorderly state of things, and was so bold as to put a +diadem on his head, while a certain number of the people stood by +him, and by them he was declared to be a king, and thought +himself more worthy of that dignity than any one else. He burnt +down the royal palace at Jericho, and plundered what was left in +it. He also set fire to many other of the king's houses in +several places of the country, and utterly destroyed them, and +permitted those that were with him to take what was left in them +for a prey; and he would have done greater things, unless care +had been taken to repress him immediately; for Gratus, when he +had joined himself to some Roman soldiers, took the forces he had +with him, and met Simon, and after a great and a long fight, no +small part of those that came from Perea, who were a disordered +body of men, and fought rather in a bold than in a skillful +manner, were destroyed; and although Simon had saved himself by +flying away through a certain valley, yet Gratus overtook him, +and cut off his head. The royal palace also at Amathus, by the +river Jordan, was burnt down by a party of men that were got +together, as were those belonging to Simon. And thus did a great +and wild fury spread itself over the nation, because they had no +king to keep the multitude in good order, and because those +foreigners who came to reduce the seditious to sobriety did, on +the contrary, set them more in a flame, because of the injuries +they offered them, and the avaricious management of their +affairs. + +7. But because Athronges, a person neither eminent by the dignity +of his progenitors, nor for any great wealth he was possessed of, +but one that had in all respects been a shepherd only, and was +not known by any body; yet because he was a tall man, and +excelled others in the strength of his hands, he was so bold as +to set up for king. This man thought it so sweet a thing to do +more than ordinary injuries to others, that although he should be +killed, he did not much care if he lost his life in so great a +design. He had also four brethren, who were tall men themselves, +and were believed to be superior to others in the strength of +their hands, and thereby were encouraged to aim at great things, +and thought that strength of theirs would support them in +retaining the kingdom. Each of these ruled over a band of men of +their own; for those that got together to them were very +numerous. They were every one of them also commanders; but when +they came to fight, they were subordinate to him, and fought for +him, while he put a diadem about his head, and assembled a +council to debate about what things should be done, and all +things were done according to his pleasure. And this man retained +his power a great while; he was also called king, and had nothing +to hinder him from doing what he pleased. He also, as well as his +brethren, slew a great many both of the Romans and of the king's +forces, an managed matters with the like hatred to each of them. +The king's forces they fell upon, because of the licentious +conduct they had been allowed under Herod's government; and they +fell upon the Romans, because of the injuries they had so lately +received from them. But in process of time they grew more cruel +to all sorts of men, nor could any one escape from one or other +of these seditions, since they slew some out of the hopes of +gain, and others from a mere custom of slaying men. They once +attacked a company of Romans at Emmaus, who were bringing corn +and weapons to the army, and fell upon Arius, the centurion, who +commanded the company, and shot forty of the best of his foot +soldiers; but the rest of them were aftrighted at their +slaughter, and left their dead behind them, but saved themselves +by the means of Gratus, who came with the king's troops that were +about him to their assistance. Now these four brethren continued +the war a long while by such sort of expeditions, and much +grieved the Romans; but did their own nation also a great deal of +mischief. Yet were they afterwards subdued; one of them in a +fight with Gratus, another with Ptolemy; Archelaus also took the +eldest of them prisoner; while the last of them was so dejected +at the other's misfortune, and saw so plainly that he had no way +now left to save himself, his army being worn away with sickness +and continual labors, that he also delivered himself up to +Archclaus, upon his promise and oath to God [to preserve his +life.] But these things came to pass a good while afterward. + +8. And now Judea was full of robberies; and as the several +companies of the seditious lighted upon any one to head them, he +was created a king immediately, in order to do mischief to the +public. They were in some small measure indeed, and in small +matters, hurtful to the Romans; but the murders they committed +upon their own people lasted a long while. + +9. As soon as Varus was once informed of the state of Judea by +Sabinus's writing to him, he was afraid for the legion he had +left there; so he took the two other legions, (for there were +three legions in all belonging to Syria,) and four troops of +horsemen, with the several auxiliary forces which either the +kings or certain of the tetrarchs afforded him, and made what +haste he could to assist those that were then besieged in Judea. +He also gave order that all that were sent out for this +expedition, should make haste to Ptolemais. The citizens of +Berytus also gave him fifteen hundred auxiliaries as he passed +through their city. Aretas also, the king of Arabia Petrea, out +of his hatred to Herod, and in order to purchase the favor of the +Romans, sent him no small assistance, besides their footmen and +horsemen; and when he had now collected all his forces together, +he committed part of them to his son, and to a friend of his, and +sent them upon an expedition into Galilee, which lies in the +neighborhood of Ptolemais; who made an attack upon the enemy, and +put them to flight, and took Sepphoris, and made its inhabitants +slaves, and burnt the city. But Varus himself pursued his march +for Samaria with his whole army; yet did not he meddle with the +city of that name, because it had not at all joined with the +seditious; but pitched his camp at a certain village that +belonged to Ptolemy, whose name was Arus, which the Arabians +burnt, out of their hatred to Herod, and out of the enmity they +bore to his friends; whence they marched to another village, +whose name was Sampho, which the Arabians plundered and burnt, +although it was a fortified and a strong place; and all along +this march nothing escaped them, but all places were full of fire +and of slaughter. Emmaus was also burnt by Varus's order, after +its inhabitants had deserted it, that he might avenge those that +had there been destroyed. From thence he now marched to +Jerusalem; whereupon those Jews whose camp lay there, and who had +besieged the Roman legion, not bearing the coming of this army, +left the siege imperfect: but as to the Jerusalem Jews, when +Varus reproached them bitterly for what had been done, they +cleared themselves of the accusation, and alleged that the +conflux of the people was occasioned by the feast; that the war +was not made with their approbation, but by the rashness of the +strangers, while they were on the side of the Romans, and +besieged together with them, rather than having any inclination +to besiege them. There also came beforehand to meet Varus, +Joseph, the cousin-german of king Herod, as also Gratus and +Rufus, who brought their soldiers along with them, together with +those Romans who had been besieged; but Sabinus did not come into +Varus's presence, but stole out of the city privately, and went +to the sea-side. + +10. Upon this, Varus sent a part of his army into the country, to +seek out those that had been the authors of the revolt; and when +they were discovered, he punished some of them that were most +guilty, and some he dismissed: now the number of those that were +crucified on this account were two thousand. After which he +disbanded his army, which he found no way useful to him in the +affairs he came about; for they behaved themselves very +disorderly, and disobeyed his orders, and what Varus desired them +to do, and this out of regard to that gain which they made by the +mischief they did. As for himself, when he was informed that ten +thousand Jews had gotten together, he made haste to catch them; +but they did not proceed so far as to fight him, but, by the +advice of Achiabus, they came together, and delivered themselves +up to him: hereupon Varus forgave the crime of revolting to the +multitude, but sent their several commanders to Caesar, many of +whom Caesar dismissed; but for the several relations of Herod who +had been among these men in this war, they were the only persons +whom he punished, who, without the least regard to justice, +fought against their own kindred. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +An Embassage To Caesar; And How Caesar Confirmed Herod's +Testament. + + +1. So when Varus had settled these affairs, and had placed the +former legion at Jerusalem, he returned back to Antioch; but as +for Archelaus, he had new sources of trouble come upon him at +Rome, on the occasions following: for an embassage of the Jews +was come to Rome, Varus having permitted the nation to send it, +that they might petition for the liberty of living by their own +laws. (17) Now the number of the ambassadors that were sent by +the authority of the nation were fifty, to which they joined +above eight thousand of the Jews that were at Rome already. +Hereupon Caesar assembled his friends, and the chief men among +the Romans, in the temple of Apollo, (18) which he had built at a +vast charge; whither the ambassadors came, and a multitude of the +Jews that were there already came with them, as did also +Archelaus and his friends; but as for the several kinsmen which +Archelaus had, they would not join themselves with him, out of +their hatred to him; and yet they thought it too gross a thing +for them to assist the ambassadors [against him], as supposing it +would be a disgrace to them in Caesar's opinion to think of thus +acting in opposition to a man of their own kindred. Philip (19) +also was come hither out of Syria, by the persuasion of Varus, +with this principal intention to assist his brother [Archelaus]; +for Varus was his great friend: but still so, that if there +should any change happen in the form of government, (which Varus +suspected there would,) and if any distribution should be made on +account of the number that desired the liberty of living by their +own laws, that he might not be disappointed, but might have his +share in it. + +2. Now upon the liberty that was given to the Jewish ambassadors +to speak, they who hoped to obtain a dissolution of kingly +government betook themselves to accuse Herod of his iniquities; +and they declared that he was indeed in name a king, but that he +had taken to himself that uncontrollable authority which tyrants +exercise over their subjects, and had made use of that authority +for the destruction of the Jews, and did not abstain from making +many innovations among them besides, according to his own +inclinations; and that whereas there were a great many who +perished by that destruction he brought upon them, so many indeed +as no other history relates, they that survived were far more +miserable than those that suffered under him; not only by the +anxiety they were in from his looks and disposition towards them, +but from the danger their estates were in of being taken away by +him. That he did never leave off adorning these cities that lay +in their neighborhood, but were inhabited by foreigners; but so +that the cities belonging to his own government were ruined, and +utterly destroyed that whereas, when he took the kingdom, it was +in an extraordinary flourishing condition, he had filled the +nation with the utmost degree of poverty; and when, upon unjust +pretenses, he had slain any of the nobility, he took away their +estates; and when he permitted any of them to live, he condemned +them to the forfeiture of what they possessed. And besides the +annual impositions which he laid upon every one of them, they +were to make liberal presents to himself, to his domestics and +friends, and to such of his slaves as were vouchsafed the favor +of being his tax-gatherers, because there was no way of obtaining +a freedom from unjust violence without giving either gold or +silver for it. That they would say nothing of the corruption of +the chastity of their virgins, and the reproach laid on their +wives for incontinency, and those things acted after an insolent +and inhuman manner; because it was not a smaller pleasure to the +sufferers to have such things concealed, than it would have been +not to have suffered them. That Herod had put such abuses upon +them as a wild beast would not have put on them, if he had power +given him to rule over us; and that although their nation had +passed through many subversions and alterations of government, +their history gave no account of any calamity they had ever been +under, that could be compared with this which Herod had brought +upon their nation; that it was for this reason that they thought +they might justly and gladly salute Archelaus as king, upon this +supposition, that whosoever should be set over their kingdom, he +would appear more mild to them than Herod had been; and that they +had joined with him in the mourning for his father, in order to +gratify him, and were ready to oblige him in other points also, +if they could meet with any degree of moderation from him; but +that he seemed to be afraid lest he should not be deemed Herod's +own son; and so, without any delay, he immediately let the nation +understand his meaning, and this before his dominion was well +established, since the power of disposing of it belonged to +Caesar, who could either give it to him or not, as he pleased. +That he had given a specimen of his future virtue to his +subjects, and with what kind of moderation and good +administration he would govern them, by that his first action, +which concerned them, his own citizens, and God himself also, +when he made the slaughter of three thousand of his own +countrymen at the temple. How then could they avoid the just +hatred of him, who, to the rest of his barbarity, hath added this +as one of our crimes, that we have opposed and contradicted him +in the exercise of his authority? Now the main thing they desired +was this: That they might be delivered from kingly and the like +forms of government, (20) and might be added to Syria, and be put +under the authority of such presidents of theirs as should be +sent to them; for that it would thereby be made evident, whether +they be really a seditious people, and generally fond of +innovations, or whether they would live in an orderly manner, if +they might have governors of any sort of moderation set over +them. + +3. Now when the Jews had said this, Nicolaus vindicated the kings +from those accusations, and said, that as for Herod, since he had +never been thus accused all the time of his life, it was not fit +for those that might have accused him of lesser crimes than those +now mentioned, and might have procured him to be punished during +his lifetime, to bring an accusation against him now he is dead. +He also attributed the actions of Archlaus to the Jews' injuries +to him, who, affecting to govern contrary to the laws, and going +about to kill those that would have hindered them from acting +unjustly, when they were by him punished for what they had done, +made their complaints against him; so he accused them of their +attempts for innovation, and of the pleasure they took in +sedition, by reason of their not having learned to submit to +justice and to the laws, but still desiring to be superior in all +things. This was the substance of what Nicolaus said. + +4. When Caesar had heard these pleadings, he dissolved the +assembly; but a few days afterwards he appointed Archelaus, not +indeed to be king of the whole country, but ethnarch of the one +half of that which had been subject to Herod, and promised to +give him the royal dignity hereafter, if he governed his part +virtuously. But as for the other half, he divided it into two +parts, and gave it to two other of Herod's sons, to Philip and to +Antipas, that Antipas who disputed with Archelaus for the whole +kingdom. Now to him it was that Peres and Galilee paid their +tribute, which amounted annually to two hundred talents, (21) +while Batanea, with Trachonitis, as well as Auranitis, with a +certain part of what was called the House of Zenodorus, (22) paid +the tribute of one hundred talents to Philip; but Idumea, and +Judea, and the country of Samaria paid tribute to Archelaus, but +had now a fourth part of that tribute taken off by the order of +Caesar, who decreed them that mitigation, because they did not +join in this revolt with the rest of the multitude. There were +also certain of the cities which paid tribute to Archelaus: +Strato's Tower and Sebaste, with Joppa and Jerusalem; for as to +Gaza, and Gadara, and Hippos, they were Grecian cities, which +Caesar separated from his government, and added them to the +province of Syria. Now the tribute-money that came to Archelaus +every year from his own dominions amounted to six hundred +talents. + +5. And so much came to Herod's sons from their father's +inheritance. But Salome, besides what her brother left her by his +testament, which were Jamnia, and Ashdod, and Phasaelis, and five +hundred thousand [drachmae] of coined silver, Caesar made her a +present of a royal habitation at Askelo; in all, her revenues +amounted to sixty talents by the year, and her dwelling-house was +within Archelaus's government. The rest also of the king's +relations received what his testament allotted them. Moreover, +Caesar made a present to each of Herod's two virgin daughters, +besides what their father left them, of two hundred and fifty +thousand [drachmae] of silver, and married them to Pheroras's +sons: he also granted all that was bequeathed to himself to the +king's sons, which was one thousand five hundred talents, +excepting a few of the vessels, which he reserved for himself; +and they were acceptable to him, not so much for the great value +they were of, as because they were memorials of the king to him. + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + +Concerning A Spurious Alexander. + + +1. When these affairs had been thus settled by Caesar, a certain +young man, by birth a Jew, but brought up by a Roman freed-man in +the city Sidon, ingrafted himself into the kindred of Herod, by +the resemblance of his countenance, which those that saw him +attested to be that of Alexander, the son of Herod, whom he had +slain; and this was an incitement to him to endeavor to obtain +the government; so he took to him as an assistant a man of his +own country, (one that was well acquainted with the affairs of +the palace, but, on other accounts, an ill man, and one whose +nature made him capable of causing great disturbances to the +public, and one that became a teacher of such a mischievous +contrivance to the other,) and declared himself to be Alexander, +and the son of Herod, but stolen away by one of those that were +sent to slay him, who, in reality, slew other men, in order to +deceive the spectators, but saved both him and his brother +Aristobulus. Thus was this man elated, and able to impose on +those that came to him; and when he was come to Crete, he made +all the Jews that came to discourse with him believe him [to be +Alexander]. And when he had gotten much money which had been +presented to him there, he passed over to Melos, where he got +much more money than he had before, out of the belief they had +that he was of the royal family, and their hopes that he would +recover his father's principality, and reward his benefactors; so +he made haste to Rome, and was conducted thither by those +strangers who entertained him. He was also so fortunate, as, upon +his landing at Dicearchia, to bring the Jews that were there into +the same delusion; and not only other people, but also all those +that had been great with Herod, or had a kindness for him, joined +themselves to this man as to their king. The cause of it was +this, that men were glad of his pretenses, which were seconded by +the likeness of his countenance, which made those that had been +acquainted with Alexander strongly to believe that he was no +other but the very same person, which they also confirmed to +others by oath; insomuch that when the report went about him that +he was coming to Rome, the whole multitude of the Jews that were +there went out to meet him, ascribing it to Divine Providence +that he has so unexpectedly escaped, and being very joyful on +account of his mother's family. And when he was come, he was +carried in a royal litter through the streets; and all the +ornaments about him were such as kings are adorned withal; and +this was at the expense of those that entertained him. The +multitude also flocked about him greatly, and made mighty +acclamations to him, and nothing was omitted which could be +thought suitable to such as had been so unexpectedly preserved. + +2. When this thing was told Caesar, he did not believe it, +because Herod was not easily to be imposed upon in such affairs +as were of great concern to him; yet, having some suspicion it +might be so, he sent one Celadus, a freed-man of his, and one +that had conversed with the young men themselves, and bade him +bring Alexander into his presence; so he brought him, being no +more accurate in judging about him than the rest of the +multitude. Yet did not he deceive Caesar; for although there was +a resemblance between him and Alexander, yet was it not so exact +as to impose on such as were prudent in discerning; for this +spurious Alexander had his hands rough, by the labors he had been +put to and instead of that softness of body which the other had, +and this as derived from his delicate and generous education, +this man, for the contrary reason, had a rugged body. When, +therefore, Caesar saw how the master and the scholar agreed in +this lying story, and in a bold way of talking, he inquired about +Aristobulus, and asked what became of him who (it seems) was +stolen away together with him, and for what reason it was that he +did not come along with him, and endeavor to recover that +dominion which was due to his high birth also. And when he said +that he had been left in the isle of Crete, for fear of the +dangers of the sea, that, in case any accident should come to +himself, the posterity of Mariamne might not utterly perish, but +that Aristobulus might survive, and punish those that laid such +treacherous designs against them; and when he persevered in his +affirmations, and the author of the imposture agreed in +supporting it, Caesar took the young man by himself, and said to +him, "If thou wilt not impose upon me, thou shalt have this for +thy reward, that thou shalt escape with thy life; tell me, then, +who thou art, and who it was that had boldness enough to contrive +such a cheat as this. For this contrivance is too considerable a +piece of villainy to be undertaken by one of thy age." +Accordingly, because he had no other way to take, he told Caesar +the contrivance, and after what manner and by whom it was laid +together. So Caesar, upon observing the spurious Alexander to be +a strong active man, and fit to work with his hands, that he +might not break his promise to him, put him among those that were +to row among the mariners, but slew him that induced him to do +what he had done; for as for the people of Melos, he thought them +sufficiently punished, in having thrown away so much of their +money upon this spurious Alexander. And such was the ignominious +conclusion of this bold contrivance about the spurious Alexander. + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + +How Archelaus Upon A Second Accusation, Was Banished To Vienna. + + +1. When Archelaus was entered on his ethnarchy, and was come into +Judea, he accused Joazar, the son of Boethus, of assisting the +seditious, and took away the high priesthood from him, and put +Eleazar his brother in his place. He also magnificently rebuilt +the royal palace that had been at Jericho, and he diverted half +the water with which the village of Neara used to be watered, and +drew off that water into the plain, to water those palm trees +which he had there planted: he also built a village, and put his +own name upon it, and called it Archelais. Moreover, he +transgressed the law of our fathers (23) and married Glaphyra, +the daughter of Archelaus, who had been the wife of his brother +Alexander, which Alexander had three children by her, while it +was a thing detestable among the Jews to marry the brother's +wife. Nor did this Eleazar abide long in the high priesthood, +Jesus, the son of Sie, being put in his room while he was still +living. + +2. But in the tenth year of Archelaus's government, both his +brethren, and the principal men of Judea and Samaria, not being +able to bear his barbarous and tyrannical usage of them, accused +him before Caesar, and that especially because they knew he had +broken the commands of Caesar, which obliged him to behave +himself with moderation among them. Whereupon Caesar, when he +heard it, was very angry, and called for Archelaus's steward, who +took care of his affairs at Rome, and whose name was Archelaus +also; and thinking it beneath him to write to Archelaus, he bid +him sail away as soon as possible, and bring him to us: so the +man made haste in his voyage, and when he came into Judea, he +found Archelaus feasting with his friends; so he told him what +Caesar had sent him about, and hastened him away. And when he was +come [to Rome], Caesar, upon hearing what certain accusers of his +had to say, and what reply he could make, both banished him, and +appointed Vienna, a city of Gaul, to be the place of his +habitation, and took his money away from him. + +3. Now, before Archelaus was gone up to Rome upon this message, +he related this dream to his friends: That he saw ears of corn, +in number ten, full of wheat, perfectly ripe, which ears, as it +seemed to him, were devoured by oxen. And when he was awake and +gotten up, because the vision appeared to beof great importance +to him, he sent for the diviners, whose study was employed about +dreams. And while some were of one opinion, and some of another, +(for all their interpretations did not agree,) Simon, a man of +the sect of the Essens, desired leave to speak his mind freely, +and said that the vision denoted a change in the affairs of +Archelaus, and that not for the better; that oxen, because that +animal takes uneasy pains in his labors, denoted afflictions, and +indeed denoted, further, a change of affairs, because that land +which is ploughed by oxen cannot remain in its former state; and +that the ears of corn being ten, determined the like number of +years, because an ear of corn grows in one year; and that the +time of Archelaus's government was over. And thus did this man +expound the dream. Now on the fifth day after this dream came +first to Archelaus, the other Archelaus, that was sent to Judea +by Caesar to call him away, came hither also. + +4. The like accident befell Glaphyra his wife, who was the +daughter of king Archelaus, who, as I said before, was married, +while she was a virgin, to Alexander, the son of Herod, and +brother of Archelaus; but since it fell out so that Alexander was +slain by his father, she was married to Juba, the king of Lybia; +and when he was dead, and she lived in widowhood in Cappadocia +with her father, Archclaus divorced his former wife Mariamne, and +married her, so great was his affection for this Glphyra; who, +during her marriage to him, saw the following dream: She thought +she saw Alexander standing by her, at which she rejoiced, and +embraced him with great affection; but that he complained o her, +and said, O Glaphyra! thou provest that saying to be true, which +assures us that women are not to be trusted. Didst not thou +pledge thy faith to me? and wast not thou married to me when thou +wast a virgin? and had we not children between us? Yet hast thou +forgotten the affection I bare to thee, out of a desire of a +second husband. Nor hast thou been satisfied with that injury +thou didst me, but thou hast been so bold as to procure thee a +third husband to lie by thee, and in an indecent and imprudent +manner hast entered into my house, and hast been married to +Archelaus, thy husband and my brother. However, I will not forget +thy former kind affection for me, but will set thee free from +every such reproachful action, and cause thee to be mine again, +as thou once wast. When she had related this to her female +companions, in a few days' time she departed this life. + +5. Now I did not think these histories improper for the present +discourse, both because my discourse now is concerning kings, and +otherwise also on account of the advantage hence to be drawn, as +well for the confirmation of the immortality of the soul, as of +the providence of God over human affairs, I thought them fit to +be set down; but if any one does not believe such relations, let +him indeed enjoy his own opinion, but let him not hinder another +that would thereby encourage himself in virtue. So Archelaus's +country was laid to the province of Syria; and Cyrenius, one that +had been consul, was sent by Caesar to take account of people's +effects in Syria, and to sell the house of Archelaus. + + + + +BOOK XVIII. + +Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years. + +From The Banishment Of Archelus To The Departure From Babylon. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Cyrenius Was Sent By Caesar To Make A Taxation Of Syria And +Judea; And How Coponius Was Sent To Be Procurator Of Judea; +Concerning Judas Of Galilee And Concerning The Sects That Were +Among The Jews. + + +1. Now Cyrenius, a Roman senator, and one who had gone through +other magistracies, and had passed through them till he had been +consul, and one who, on other accounts, was of great dignity, +came at this time into Syria, with a few others, being sent by +Caesar to be a judge of that nation, and to take an account of +their substance. Coponius also, a man of the equestrian order, +was sent together with him, to have the supreme power over the +Jews. Moreover, Cyrenius came himself into Judea, which was now +added to the province of Syria, to take an account of their +substance, and to dispose of Archelaus's money; but the Jews, +although at the beginning they took the report of a taxation +heinously, yet did they leave off any further opposition to it, +by the persuasion of Joazar, who was the son of Beethus, and high +priest; so they, being over-pesuaded by Joazar's words, gave an +account of their estates, without any dispute about it. Yet was +there one Judas, a Gaulonite, (1) of a city whose name was +Gamala, who, taking with him Sadduc, (2) a Pharisee, became +zealous to draw them to a revolt, who both said that this +taxation was no better than an introduction to slavery, and +exhorted the nation to assert their liberty; as if they could +procure them happiness and security for what they possessed, and +an assured enjoyment of a still greater good, which was that of +the honor and glory they would thereby acquire for magnanimity. +They also said that God would not otherwise be assisting to them, +than upon their joining with one another in such councils as +might be successful, and for their own advantage; and this +especially, if they would set about great exploits, and not grow +weary in executing the same; so men received what they said with +pleasure, and this bold attempt proceeded to a great height. All +sorts of misfortunes also sprang from these men, and the nation +was infected with this doctrine to an incredible degree; one +violent war came upon us after another, and we lost our friends +which used to alleviate our pains; there were also very great +robberies and murder of our principal men. This was done in +pretense indeed for the public welfare, but in reality for the +hopes of gain to themselves; whence arose seditions, and from +them murders of men, which sometimes fell on those of their own +people, (by the madness of these men towards one another, while +their desire was that none of the adverse party might be left,) +and sometimes on their enemies; a famine also coming upon us, +reduced us to the last degree of despair, as did also the taking +and demolishing of cities; nay, the sedition at last increased so +high, that the very temple of God was burnt down by their +enemies' fire. Such were the consequences of this, that the +customs of our fathers were altered, and such a change was made, +as added a mighty weight toward bringing all to destruction, +which these men occasioned by their thus conspiring together; for +Judas and Sadduc, who excited a fourth philosophic sect among us, +and had a great many followers therein, filled our civil +government with tumults at present, and laid the foundations of +our future miseries, by this system of philosophy, which we were +before unacquainted withal, concerning which I will discourse a +little, and this the rather because the infection which spread +thence among the younger sort, who were zealous for it, brought +the public to destruction. + +2. The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy +peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of +the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those +called Pharisees; of which sects, although I have already spoken +in the second book of the Jewish War, yet will I a little touch +upon them now. + +3. Now, for the Pharisees, they live meanly, and despise +delicacies in diet; and they follow the conduct of reason; and +what that prescribes to them as good for them they do; and they +think they ought earnestly to strive to observe reason's dictates +for practice. They also pay a respect to such as are in years; +nor are they so bold as to contradict them in any thing which +they have introduced; and when they determine that all things are +done by fate, they do not take away the freedom from men of +acting as they think fit; since their notion is, that it hath +pleased God to make a temperament, whereby what he wills is done, +but so that the will of man can act virtuously or viciously. They +also believe that souls have an immortal rigor in them, and that +under the earth there will be rewards or punishments, according +as they have lived virtuously or viciously in this life; and the +latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison, but that the +former shall have power to revive and live again; on account of +which doctrines they are able greatly to persuade the body of the +people; and whatsoever they do about Divine worship, prayers, and +sacrifices, they perform them according to their direction; +insomuch that the cities give great attestations to them on +account of their entire virtuous conduct, both in the actions of +their lives and their discourses also. + +4. But the doctrine of the Sadducees is this: That souls die with +the bodies; nor do they regard the observation of any thing +besides what the law enjoins them; for they think it an instance +of virtue to dispute with those teachers of philosophy whom they +frequent: but this doctrine is received but by a few, yet by +those still of the greatest dignity. But they are able to do +almost nothing of themselves; for when they become magistrates, +as they are unwillingly and by force sometimes obliged to be, +they addict themselves to the notions of the Pharisees, because +the multitude would not otherwise bear them. + +5. The doctrine of the Essens is this: That all things are best +ascribed to God. They teach the immortality of souls, and esteem +that the rewards of righteousness are to be earnestly striven +for; and when they send what they have dedicated to God into the +temple, they do not offer sacrifices (3) because they have more +pure lustrations of their own; on which account they are excluded +from the common court of the temple, but offer their sacrifices +themselves; yet is their course of life better than that of other +men; and they entirely addict themselves to husbandry. It also +deserves our admiration, how much they exceed all other men that +addict themselves to virtue, and this in righteousness; and +indeed to such a degree, that as it hath never appeared among any +other men, neither Greeks nor barbarians, no, not for a little +time, so hath it endured a long while among them. This is +demonstrated by that institution of theirs, which will not suffer +any thing to hinder them from having all things in common; so +that a rich man enjoys no more of his own wealth than he who hath +nothing at all. There are about four thousand men that live in +this way, and neither marry wives, nor are desirous to keep +servants; as thinking the latter tempts men to be unjust, and the +former gives the handle to domestic quarrels; but as they live by +themselves, they minister one to another. They also appoint +certain stewards to receive the incomes of their revenues, and of +the fruits of the ground; such as are good men and priests, who +are to get their corn and their food ready for them. They none of +them differ from others of the Essens in their way of living, but +do the most resemble those Dacae who are called Polistae (4) +[dwellers in cities]. + +6. But of the fourth sect of Jewish philosophy, Judas the +Galilean was the author. These men agree in all other things with +the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to +liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. +They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do +they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any +such fear make them call any man lord. And since this immovable +resolution of theirs is well known to a great many, I shall speak +no further about that matter; nor am I afraid that any thing I +have said of them should be disbelieved, but rather fear, that +what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they +undergo pain. And it was in Gessius Florus's time that the nation +began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, +and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of +his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans. And these +are the sects of Jewish philosophy. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +Now Herod And Philip Built Several Cities In Honor Of Caesar. +Concerning The Succession Of Priests And Procurators; As Also +What Befell Phraates And The Parthians. + + +1. When Cyrenius had now disposed of Archelaus's money, and when +the taxings were come to a conclusion, which were made in the +thirty-seventh year of Caesar's victory over Antony at Actium, he +deprived Joazar of the high priesthood, which dignity had been +conferred on him by the multitude, and he appointed Ananus, the +son of Seth, to be high priest; while Herod and Philip had each +of them received their own tetrarchy, and settled the affairs +thereof. Herod also built a wall about Sepphoris, (which is the +security of all Galilee,) and made it the metropolis of the +country. He also built a wall round Betharamphtha, which was +itself a city also, and called it Julias, from the name of the +emperor's wife. When Philip also had built Paneas, a city at the +fountains of Jordan, he named it Cesarea. He also advanced the +village Bethsaids, situate at the lake of Gennesareth, unto the +dignity of a city, both by the number of inhabitants it +contained, and its other grandeur, and called it by the name of +Julias, the same name with Caesar's daughter. + +2. As Coponius, who we told you was sent along with Cyrenius, was +exercising his office of procurator, and governing Judea, the +following accidents happened. As the Jews were celebrating the +feast of unleavened bread, which we call the Passover, it was +customary for the priests to open the temple-gates just after +midnight. When, therefore, those gates were first opened, some of +the Samaritans came privately into Jerusalem, and threw about +dead men's bodies, in the cloisters; on which account the Jews +afterward excluded them out of the temple, which they had not +used to do at such festivals; and on other accounts also they +watched the temple more carefully than they had formerly done. A +little after which accident Coponius returned to Rome, and Marcus +Ambivius came to be his successor in that government; under whom +Salome, the sister of king Herod, died, and left to Julia, +[Caesar's wife,] Jamnia, all its toparchy, and Phasaelis in the +plain, and Arehelais, where is a great plantation of palm trees, +and their fruit is excellent in its kind. After him came Annius +Rufus, under whom died Caesar, the second emperor of the Romans, +the duration of whose reign was fifty-seven years, besides six +months and two days (of which time Antonius ruled together with +him fourteen years; but the duration of his life was +seventy-seven years); upon whose death Tiberius Nero, his wife +Julia's son, succeeded. He was now the third emperor; and he sent +Valerius Gratus to be procurator of Judea, and to succeed Annius +Rufus. This man deprived Ananus of the high priesthood, and +appointed Ismael, the son of Phabi, to be high priest. He also +deprived him in a little time, and ordained Eleazar, the son of +Ananus, who had been high priest before, to be high priest; which +office, when he had held for a year, Gratus deprived him of it, +and gave the high priesthood to Simon, the son of Camithus; and +when he had possessed that dignity no longer than a year, Joseph +Caiaphas was made his successor. When Gratus had done those +things, he went back to Rome, after he had tarried in Judea +eleven years, when Pontius Pilate came as his successor. + +3. And now Herod the tetrarch, who was in great favor with +Tiberius, built a city of the same name with him, and called it +Tiberias. He built it in the best part of Galilee, at the lake of +Gennesareth. There are warm baths at a little distance from it, +in a village named Emmaus. Strangers came and inhabited this +city; a great number of the inhabitants were Galileans also; and +many were necessitated by Herod to come thither out of the +country belonging to him, and were by force compelled to be its +inhabitants; some of them were persons of condition. He also +admitted poor people, such as those that were collected from all +parts, to dwell in it. Nay, some of them were not quite free-men, +and these he was benefactor to, and made them free in great +numbers; but obliged them not to forsake the city, by building +them very good houses at his own expenses, and by giving them +land also; for he was sensible, that to make this place a +habitation was to transgress the Jewish ancient laws, because +many sepulchers were to be here taken away, in order to make room +for the city Tiberias (5) whereas our laws pronounce that such +inhabitants are unclean for seven days. (6) + +4. About this time died Phraates, king of the Parthians, by the +treachery of Phraataces his son, upon the occasion following: +When Phraates had had legitimate sons of his own, he had also an +Italian maid-servant, whose name was Thermusa, who had been +formerly sent to him by Julius Caesar, among other presents. He +first made her his concubine; but he being a great admirer of her +beauty, in process of time having a son by her, whose name was +Phraataces, he made her his legitimate wife, and had a great +respect for her. Now she was able to persuade him to do any thing +that she said, and was earnest in procuring the government of +Parthia for her son; but still she saw that her endeavors would +not succeed, unless she could contrive how to remove Phraates's +legitimate sons [out of the kingdom;] so she persuaded him to +send those his sons as pledges of his fidelity to Rome; and they +were sent to Rome accordingly, because it was not easy for him to +contradict her commands. Now while Phraataces was alone brought +up in order to succeed in the government, he thought it very +tedious to expect that government by his father's donation [as +his successor]; he therefore formed a treacherous design against +his father, by his mother's assistance, with whom, as the report +went, he had criminal conversation also. So he was hated for both +these vices, while his subjects esteemed this [wicked] love of +his mother to be no way inferior to his parricide; and he was by +them, in a sedition, expelled out of the country before he grew +too great, and died. But as the best sort of Parthians agreed +together that it was impossible they should be governed without a +king, while also it was their constant practice to choose one of +the family of Arsaces, [nor did their law allow of any others; +and they thought this kingdom had been sufficiently injured +already by the marriage with an Italian concubine, and by her +issue,] they sent ambassadors, and called Orodes [to take the +crown]; for the multitude would not otherwise have borne them; +and though he was accused of very great cruelty, and was of an +untractable temper, and prone to wrath, yet still he was one of +the family of Arsaces. However, they made a conspiracy against +him, and slew him, and that, as some say, at a festival, and +among their sacrifices; (for it is the universal custom there to +carry their swords with them;) but, as the more general report +is, they slew him when they had drawn him out a hunting. So they +sent ambassadors to Rome, and desired they would send one of +those that were there as pledges to be their king. Accordingly, +Vonones was preferred before the rest, and sent to them (for he +seemed capable of such great fortune, which two of the greatest +kingdoms under the sun now offered him, his own and a foreign +one). However, the barbarians soon changed their minds, they +being naturally of a mutable disposition, upon the supposal that +this man was not worthy to be their governor; for they could not +think of obeying the commands of one that had been a slave, (for +so they called those that had been hostages,) nor could they bear +the ignominy of that name; and this was the more intolerable, +because then the Parthians must have such a king set over them, +not by right of war, but in time of peace. So they presently +invited Artabanus, king of Media, to be their king, he being also +of the race of Arsaces. Artabanus complied with the offer that +was made him, and came to them with an army. So Vonones met him; +and at first the multitude of the Parthians stood on this side, +and he put his army in array; but Artabanus was beaten, and fled +to the mountains of Media. Yet did he a little after gather a +great army together, and fought with Vonones, and beat him; +whereupon Vonones fled away on horseback, with a few of his +attendants about him, to Seleucia [upon Tigris]. So when +Artabanus had slain a great number, and this after he had gotten +the victory by reason of the very great dismay the barbarians +were in, he retired to Ctesiphon with a great number of his +people; and so he now reigned over the Parthians. But Vonones +fled away to Armenia; and as soon as he came thither, he had an +inclination to have the government of the country given him, and +sent ambassadors to Rome [for that purpose]. But because Tiberius +refused it him, and because he wanted courage, and because the +Parthian king threatened him, and sent ambassadors to him to +denounce war against him if he proceeded, and because he had no +way to take to regain any other kingdom, (for the people of +authority among the Armenians about Niphates joined themselves to +Artabanus,) he delivered up himself to Silanus, the president of +Syria, who, out of regard to his education at Rome, kept him in +Syria, while Artabanus gave Armenia to Orodes, one of his own +sons. + +5. At this time died Antiochus, the king of Commagene; whereupon +the multitude contended with the nobility, and both sent +ambassadors to [Rome]; for the men of power were desirous that +their form of government might be changed into that of a [Roman] +province; as were the multitude desirous to be under kings, as +their fathers had been. So the senate made a decree that +Germanicus should be sent to settle the affairs of the East, +fortune hereby taking a proper opportunity for depriving him of +his life; for when he had been in the East, and settled all +affairs there, his life was taken away by the poison which Piso +gave him, as hath been related elsewhere. (7) + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +Sedition Of The Jews Against Pontius Pilate. Concerning Christ, +And What Befell Paulina And The Jews At Rome. + + +1. But now Pilate, the procurator of Judea, removed the army from +Cesarea to Jerusalem, to take their winter quarters there, in +order to abolish the Jewish laws. So he introduced Caesar's +effigies, which were upon the ensigns, and brought them into the +city; whereas our law forbids us the very making of images; on +which account the former procurators were wont to make their +entry into the city with such ensigns as had not those ornaments. +Pilate was the first who brought those images to Jerusalem, and +set them up there; which was done without the knowledge of the +people, because it was done in the night time; but as soon as +they knew it, they came in multitudes to Cesarea, and interceded +with Pilate many days that he would remove the images; and when +he would not grant their requests, because it would tend to the +injury of Caesar, while yet they persevered in their request, on +the sixth day he ordered his soldiers to have their weapons +privately, while he came and sat upon his judgment-seat, which +seat was so prepared in the open place of the city, that it +concealed the army that lay ready to oppress them; and when the +Jews petitioned him again, he gave a signal to the soldiers to +encompass them routed, and threatened that their punishment +should be no less than immediate death, unless they would leave +off disturbing him, and go their ways home. But they threw +themselves upon the ground, and laid their necks bare, and said +they would take their death very willingly, rather than the +wisdom of their laws should be transgressed; upon which Pilate +was deeply affected with their firm resolution to keep their laws +inviolable, and presently commanded the images to be carried back +from Jerusalem to Cesarea. + +2. But Pilate undertook to bring a current of water to Jerusalem, +and did it with the sacred money, and derived the origin of the +stream from the distance of two hundred furlongs. However, the +Jews (8) were not pleased with what had been done about this +water; and many ten thousands of the people got together, and +made a clamor against him, and insisted that he should leave off +that design. Some of them also used reproaches, and abused the +man, as crowds of such people usually do. So he habited a great +number of his soldiers in their habit, who carried daggers under +their garments, and sent them to a place where they might +surround them. So he bid the Jews himself go away; but they +boldly casting reproaches upon him, he gave the soldiers that +signal which had been beforehand agreed on; who laid upon them +much greater blows than Pilate had commanded them, and equally +punished those that were tumultuous, and those that were not; nor +did they spare them in the least: and since the people were +unarmed, and were caught by men prepared for what they were +about, there were a great number of them slain by this means, and +others of them ran away wounded. And thus an end was put to this +sedition. + +3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be +lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a +teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew +over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He +was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the +principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, (9) +those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he +appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) as the divine +prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful +things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from +him, are not extinct at this day. + +4. About the same time also another sad calamity put the Jews +into disorder, and certain shameful practices happened about the +temple of Isis that was at Rome. I will now first take notice of +the wicked attempt about the temple of Isis, and will then give +an account of the Jewish affairs. There was at Rome a woman whose +name was Paulina; one who, on account of the dignity of her +ancestors, and by the regular conduct of a virtuous life, had a +great reputation: she was also very rich; and although she was of +a beautiful countenance, and in that flower of her age wherein +women are the most gay, yet did she lead a life of great modesty. +She was married to Saturninus, one that was every way answerable +to her in an excellent character. Decius Mundus fell in love with +this woman, who was a man very high in the equestrian order; and +as she was of too great dignity to be caught by presents, and had +already rejected them, though they had been sent in great +abundance, he was still more inflamed with love to her, insomuch +that he promised to give her two hundred thousand Attic drachmae +for one night's lodging; and when this would not prevail upon +her, and he was not able to bear this misfortune in his amours, +he thought it the best way to famish himself to death for want of +food, on account of Paulina's sad refusal; and he determined with +himself to die after such a manner, and he went on with his +purpose accordingly. Now Mundus had a freed-woman, who had been +made free by his father, whose name was Ide, one skillful in all +sorts of mischief. This woman was very much grieved at the young +man's resolution to kill himself, (for he did not conceal his +intentions to destroy himself from others,) and came to him, and +encouraged him by her discourse, and made him to hope, by some +promises she gave him, that he might obtain a night's lodging +with Paulina; and when he joyfully hearkened to her entreaty, she +said she wanted no more than fifty thousand drachmae for the +entrapping of the woman. So when she had encouraged the young +man, and gotten as much money as she required, she did not take +the same methods as had been taken before, because she perceived +that the woman was by no means to be tempted by money; but as she +knew that she was very much given to the worship of the goddess +Isis, she devised the following stratagem: She went to some of +Isis's priests, and upon the strongest assurances [of +concealment], she persuaded them by words, but chiefly by the +offer of money, of twenty-five thousand drachmae in hand, and as +much more when the thing had taken effect; and told them the +passion of the young man, and persuaded them to use all means +possible to beguile the woman. So they were drawn in to promise +so to do, by that large sum of gold they were to have. +Accordingly, the oldest of them went immediately to Paulina; and +upon his admittance, he desired to speak with her by herself. +When that was granted him, he told her that he was sent by the +god Anubis, who was fallen in love with her, and enjoined her to +come to him. Upon this she took the message very kindly, and +valued herself greatly upon this condescension of Anubis, and +told her husband that she had a message sent her, and was to sup +and lie with Anubis; so he agreed to her acceptance of the offer, +as fully satisfied with the chastity of his wife. Accordingly, +she went to the temple, and after she had supped there, and it +was the hour to go to sleep, the priest shut the doors of the +temple, when, in the holy part of it, the lights were also put +out. Then did Mundus leap out, (for he was hidden therein,) and +did not fail of enjoying her, who was at his service all the +night long, as supposing he was the god; and when he was gone +away, which was before those priests who knew nothing of this +stratagem were stirring, Paulina came early to her husband, and +told him how the god Anubis had appeared to her. Among her +friends, also, she declared how great a value she put upon this +favor, who partly disbelieved the thing, when they reflected on +its nature, and partly were amazed at it, as having no pretense +for not believing it, when they considered the modesty and the +dignity of the person. But now, on the third day after what had +been done, Mundus met Paulina, and said, "Nay, Paulina, thou hast +saved me two hundred thousand drachmae, which sum thou sightest +have added to thy own family; yet hast thou not failed to be at +my service in the manner I invited thee. As for the reproaches +thou hast laid upon Mundus, I value not the business of names; +but I rejoice in the pleasure I reaped by what I did, while I +took to myself the name of Anubis." When he had said this, he +went his way. But now she began to come to the sense of the +grossness of what she had done, and rent her garments, and told +her husband of the horrid nature of this wicked contrivance, and +prayed him not to neglect to assist her in this case. So he +discovered the fact to the emperor; whereupon Tiberius inquired +into the matter thoroughly by examining the priests about it, and +ordered them to be crucified, as well as Ide, who was the +occasion of their perdition, and who had contrived the whole +matter, which was so injurious to the woman. He also demolished +the temple of Isis, and gave order that her statue should be +thrown into the river Tiber; while he only banished Mundus, but +did no more to him, because he supposed that what crime he had +committed was done out of the passion of love. And these were the +circumstances which concerned the temple of Isis, and the +injuries occasioned by her priests. I now return to the relation +of what happened about this time to the Jews at Rome, as I +formerly told you I would. + +5. There was a man who was a Jew, but had been driven away from +his own country by an accusation laid against him for +transgressing their laws, and by the fear he was under of +punishment for the same; but in all respects a wicked man. He, +then living at Rome, professed to instruct men in the wisdom of +the laws of Moses. He procured also three other men, entirely of +the same character with himself, to be his partners. These men +persuaded Fulvia, a woman of great dignity, and one that had +embraced the Jewish religion, to send purple and gold to the +temple at Jerusalem; and when they had gotten them, they employed +them for their own uses, and spent the money themselves, on which +account it was that they at first required it of her. Whereupon +Tiberius, who had been informed of the thing by Saturninus, the +husband of Fulvia, who desired inquiry might be made about it, +ordered all the Jews to be banished out of Rome; at which time +the consuls listed four thousand men out of them, and sent them +to the island Sardinia; but punished a greater number of them, +who were unwilling to become soldiers, on account of keeping the +laws of their forefathers. (11) Thus were these Jews banished out +of the city by the wickedness of four men. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How The Samaritans Made A Tumult And Pilate Destroyed Many Of +Them; How Pilate Was Accused And What Things Were Done By +Vitellius Relating To The Jews And The Parthians. + + +1. But the nation of the Samaritans did not escape without +tumults. The man who excited them to it was one who thought lying +a thing of little consequence, and who contrived every thing so +that the multitude might be pleased; so he bid them to get +together upon Mount Gerizzim, which is by them looked upon as the +most holy of all mountains, and assured them, that when they were +come thither, he would show them those sacred vessels which were +laid under that place, because Moses put them there (12) So they +came thither armed, and thought the discourse of the man +probable; and as they abode at a certain village, which was +called Tirathaba, they got the rest together to them, and desired +to go up the mountain in a great multitude together; but Pilate +prevented their going up, by seizing upon file roads with a great +band of horsemen and foot-men, who fell upon those that were +gotten together in the village; and when it came to an action, +some of them they slew, and others of them they put to flight, +and took a great many alive, the principal of which, and also the +most potent of those that fled away, Pilate ordered to be slain. + +2. But when this tumult was appeased, the Samaritan senate sent +an embassy to Vitellius, a man that had been consul, and who was +now president of Syria, and accused Pilate of the murder of those +that were killed; for that they did not go to Tirathaba in order +to revolt from the Romans, but to escape the violence of Pilate. +So Vitellius sent Marcellus, a friend of his, to take care of the +affairs of Judea, and ordered Pilate to go to Rome, to answer +before the emperor to the accusations of the Jews. So Pilate, +when he had tarried ten years in Judea, made haste to Rome, and +this in obedience to the orders of Vitellius, which he durst not +contradict; but before he could get to Rome Tiberius was dead. + +3. But Vitellius came into Judea, and went up to Jerusalem; it +was at the time of that festival which is called the Passover. +Vitellius was there magnificently received, and released the +inhabitants of Jerusalem from all the taxes upon the fruits that +were bought and sold, and gave them leave to have the care of the +high priest's vestments, with all their ornaments, and to have +them under the custody of the priests in the temple, which power +they used to have formerly, although at this time they were laid +up in the tower of Antonia, the citadel so called, and that on +the occasion following: There was one of the [high] priests, +named Hyrcanus; and as there were many of that name, he was the +first of them; this man built a tower near the temple, and when +he had so done, he generally dwelt in it, and had these vestments +with him, because it was lawful for him alone to put them on, and +he had them there reposited when he went down into the city, and +took his ordinary garments; the same things were continued to be +done by his sons, and by their sons after them. But when Herod +came to be king, he rebuilt this tower, which was very +conveniently situated, in a magnificent manner; and because he +was a friend to Antonius, he called it by the name of Antonia. +And as he found these vestments lying there, he retained them in +the same place, as believing, that while he had them in his +custody, the people would make no innovations against him. The +like to what Herod did was done by his son Archelaus, who was +made king after him; after whom the Romans, when they entered on +the government, took possession of these vestments of the high +priest, and had them reposited in a stone-chamber, under the seal +of the priests, and of the keepers of the temple, the captain of +the guard lighting a lamp there every day; and seven days before +a festival (13) they were delivered to them by the captain of the +guard, when the high priest having purified them, and made use of +them, laid them up again in the same chamber where they had been +laid up before, and this the very next day after the feast was +over. This was the practice at the three yearly festivals, and on +the fast day; but Vitellius put those garments into our own +power, as in the days of our forefathers, and ordered the captain +of the guard not to trouble himself to inquire where they were +laid, or when they were to be used; and this he did as an act of +kindness, to oblige the nation to him. Besides which, he also +deprived Joseph, who was also called Caiaphas, of the high +priesthood, and appointed Jonathan the son of Ananus, the former +high priest, to succeed him. After which, he took his journey +back to Antioch. + +4. Moreover, Tiberius sent a letter to Vitellius, and commanded +him to make a league of friendship with Artabanus, the king of +Parthia; for while he was his enemy, he terrified him, because he +had taken Armenia away from him, lest he should proceed further, +and told him he should no otherwise trust him than upon his +giving him hostages, and especially his son Artabanus. Upon +Tiberius's writing thus to Vitellius, by the offer of great +presents of money, he persuaded both the king of Iberia and the +king of Albania to make no delay, but to fight against Artabanus; +and although they would not do it themselves, yet did they give +the Scythians a passage through their country, and opened the +Caspian gates to them, and brought them upon Artabanus. So +Armenia was again taken from the Parthians, and the country of +Parthis was filled with war, and the principal of their men were +slain, and all things were in disorder among them: the king's son +also himself fell in these wars, together with many ten +thousands of his army. Vitellius had also sent such great sums of +money to Artabanus's father's kinsmen and friends, that he had +almost procured him to be slain by the means of those bribes +which they had taken. And when Artabanus perceived that the plot +laid against him was not to be avoided, because it was laid by +the principal men, and those a great many in number, and that it +would certainly take effect, - when he had estimated the number +of those that were truly faithful to him, as also of those who +were already corrupted, but were deceitful in the kindness they +professed to him, and were likely, upon trial, to go over to his +enemies, he made his escape to the upper provinces, where he +afterwards raised a great army out of the Dahae and Sacre, and +fought with his enemies, and retained his principality. + +5. When Tiberius had heard of these things, he desired to have a +league of friendship made between him and Artabanus; and when, +upon this invitation, he received the proposal kindly, Artabanus +and Vitellius went to Euphrates, and as a bridge was laid over +the river, they each of them came with their guards about them, +and met one another on the midst of the bridge. And when they had +agreed upon the terms of peace Herod, the tetrarch erected a rich +tent on the midst of the passage, and made them a feast there. +Artabanus also, not long afterward, sent his son Darius as an +hostage, with many presents, among which there was a man seven +cubits tall, a Jew he was by birth, and his name was Eleazar, +who, for his tallness, was called a giant. After which Vitellius +went to Antioch, and Artabanus to Babylon; but Herod [the +tetrarch] being desirous to give Caesar the first information +that they had obtained hostages, sent posts with letters, wherein +he had accurately described all the particulars, and had left +nothing for the consular Vitellius to inform him of. But when +Vitellius's letters were sent, and Caesar had let him know that +he was acquainted with the affairs already, because Herod had +given him an account of them before, Vitellius was very much +troubled at it; and supposing that he had been thereby a greater +sufferer than he really was, he kept up a secret anger upon this +occasion, till he could be revenged on him, which he was after +Caius had taken the government. + +6. About this time it was that Philip, Herod's brother, +departed this life, in the twentieth year of the reign of +Tiberius, (14) after he had been tetrarch of Trachonitis and +Gaulanitis, and of the nation of the Bataneans also, thirty-seven +years. He had showed himself a person of moderation and quietness +in the conduct of his life and government; he constantly lived in +that country which was subject to him; he used to make his +progress with a few chosen friends; his tribunal also, on which +he sat in judgment, followed him in his progress; and when any +one met him who wanted his assistance, he made no delay, but had +his tribunal set down immediately, wheresoever he happened to be, +and sat down upon it, and heard his complaint: he there ordered +the guilty that were convicted to be punished, and absolved those +that had been accused unjustly. He died at Julias; and when he +was carried to that monument which he had already erected for +himself beforehand, he was buried with great pomp. His +principality Tiberius took, (for he left no sons behind him,) and +added it to the province of Syria, but gave order that the +tributes which arose from it should be collected, and laid up in +his tetrachy. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +Herod The Tetrarch Makes War With Aretas, The King Of Arabia, And +Is Beaten By Him As Also Concerning The Death Of John The +Baptist. How Vitellius Went Up To Jerusalem; Together With Some +Account Of Agrippa And Of The Posterity Of Herod The Great. + + +1. About this time Aretas (the king of Arabia Petres) and Herod +had a quarrel on the account following: Herod the tetrarch had, +married the daughter of Aretas, and had lived with her a great +while; but when he was once at Rome, he lodged with Herod, (15) +who was his brother indeed, but not by the same mother; for this +Herod was the son of the high priest Sireoh's daughter. However, +he fell in love with Herodias, this last Herod's wife, who was +the daughter of Aristobulus their brother, and the sister of +Agrippa the Great. This man ventured to talk to her about a +marriage between them; which address, when she admitted, an +agreement was made for her to change her habitation, and come to +him as soon as he should return from Rome: one article of this +marriage also was this, that he should divorce Aretas's daughter. +So Antipus, when he had made this agreement, sailed to Rome; but +when he had done there the business he went about, and was +returned again, his wife having discovered the agreement he had +made with Herodias, and having learned it before he had notice of +her knowledge of the whole design, she desired him to send her to +Macherus, which is a place in the borders of the dominions of +Aretas and Herod, without informing him of any of her intentions. +Accordingly Herod sent her thither, as thinking his wife had not +perceived any thing; now she had sent a good while before to +Macherus, which was subject to her father and so all things +necessary for her journey were made ready for her by the general +of Aretas's army; and by that means she soon came into Arabia, +under the conduct of the several generals, who carried her from +one to another successively; and she soon came to her father, and +told him of Herod's intentions. So Aretas made this the first +occasion of his enmity between him and Herod, who had also some +quarrel with him about their limits at the country of Gamalitis. +So they raised armies on both sides, and prepared for war, and +sent their generals to fight instead of themselves; and when they +had joined battle, all Herod's army was destroyed by the +treachery of some fugitives, who, though they were of the +tetrarchy of Philip, joined with Aretas's army.. So Herod wrote +about these affairs to Tiberius, who being very angry at the +attempt made by Aretas, wrote to Vitellius to make war upon him, +and either to take him alive, and bring him to him in bonds, or +to kill him, and send him his head. This was the charge that +Tiberius gave to the president of Syria. + +2. Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's +army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what +he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew +him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise +virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety +towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing +[with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, +not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins +[only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still +that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by +righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, +for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his +words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over +the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a +rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should +advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any +mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, +by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be +too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's +suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, +and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the +destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and +a mark of God's displeasure to him. + +3. So Vitellius prepared to make war with Aretas, having with him +two legions of armed men; he also took with him all those of +light armature, and of the horsemen which belonged to them, and +were drawn out of those kingdoms which were under the Romans, and +made haste for Petra, and came to Ptolemais. But as he was +marching very busily, and leading his army through Judea, the +principal men met him, and desired that he would not thus march +through their land; for that the laws of their country would not +permit them to overlook those images which were brought into it, +of which there were a great many in their ensigns; so he was +persuaded by what they said, and changed that resolution of his +which he had before taken in this matter. Whereupon he ordered +the army to march along +the great plain, while he himself, with Herod the tetrarch and +his friends, went up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to God, an +ancient festival of the Jews being then just approaching; and +when he had been there, and been honorably entertained by the +multitude of the Jews, he made a stay there for three days, +within which time he deprived Jonathan of the high priesthood, +and gave it to his brother Theophilus. But when on the fourth day +letters came to him, which informed him of the death of Tiberius, +he obliged the multitude to take an oath of fidelity to Caius; he +also recalled his army, and made them every one go home, and take +their winter quarters there, since, upon the devolution of the +empire upon Caius, he had not the like authority of making this +war which he had before. It was also reported, that when Aretas +heard of the coming of Vitellius to fight him, he said, upon his +consulting the diviners, that it was impossible that this army of +Vitellius's could enter Petra; for that one of the rulers would +die, either he that gave orders for the war, or he that was +marching at the other's desire, in order to be subservient to his +will, or else he against whom this army is prepared. So Vitellius +truly retired to Antioch; but Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, +went up to Rome, a year before the death of Tiberius, in order to +treat of some affairs with the emperor, if he might be permitted +so to do. I have now a mind to describe Herod and his family, how +it fared with them, partly because it is suitable to this history +to speak of that matter, and partly because this thing is a +demonstration of the interposition of Providence, how a multitude +of children is of no advantage, no more than any other strength +that mankind set their hearts upon, besides those acts of piety +which are done towards God; for it happened, that, within the +revolution of a hundred years, the posterity of Herod, which were +a great many in number, were, excepting a few, utterly destroyed. +(16) One may well apply this for the instruction of mankind, and +learn thence how unhappy they were: it will also show us the +history of Agrippa, who, as he was a person most worthy of +admiration, so was he from a private man, beyond all the +expectation of those that knew him, advanced to great power and +authority. I have said something of them formerly, but I shall +now also speak accurately about them. + +4. Herod the Great had two daughters by Mariamne, the [grand] +daughter of Hyrcanus; the one was Salampsio, who was married to +Phasaelus, her first cousin, who was himself the son of +Phasaelus, Herod's brother, her father making the match; the +other was Cypros, who was herself married also to her first +cousin Antipater, the son of Salome, Herod's sister. Phasaelus +had five children by Salampsio; Antipater, Herod, and Alexander, +and two daughters, Alexandra and Cypros; which last Agrippa, the +son of Aristobulus, married; and Timius of Cyprus married +Alexandra; he was a man of note, but had by her no children. +Agrippa had by Cypros two sons and three daughters, which +daughters were named Bernice, Mariarune, and Drusius; but the +names of the sons were Agrippa and Drusus, of which Drusus died +before he came to the years of puberty; but their father, +Agrippa, was brought up with his other brethren, Herod and +Aristobulus, for these were also the sons of the son of Herod the +Great by Bernice; but Bernice was the daughter of Costobarus and +of Salome, who was Herod's sister. Aristobulus left these infants +when he was slain by his father, together with his brother +Alexander, as we have already related. But when they were arrived +at years of puberty, this Herod, the brother of Agrippa, married +Mariamne, the daughter of Olympias, who was the daughter of Herod +the king, and of Joseph, the son of Joseph, who was brother to +Herod the king, and had by her a son, Aristobulus; but +Aristobulus, the third brother of Agrippa, married Jotape, the +daughter of Sampsigeramus, king of Emesa; they had a daughter who +was deaf, whose name also was Jotape; and these hitherto were the +children of the male line. But Herodias, their sister, was +married to Herod [Philip], the son of Herod the Great, who was +born of Mariamne, the daughter of Simon the high priest, who had +a daughter, Salome; after whose birth Herodias took upon her to +confound the laws of our country, and divorced herself from her +husband while he was alive, and was married to Herod [Antipas], +her husband's brother by the father's side, he was tetrarch of +Galilee; but her daughter Salome was married to Philip, the son +of Herod, and tetrarch of Trachonitis; and as he died childless, +Aristobulus, the son of Herod, the brother of Agrippa, married +her; they had three sons, Herod, Agrippa, and Aristobulus; and +this was the posterity of Phasaelus and Salampsio. But the +daughter of Antipater by Cypros was Cypros, whom Alexas Selcias, +the son of Alexas, married; they had a daughter, Cypros; but +Herod and Alexander, who, as we told you, were the brothers of +Antipater, died childless. As to Alexander, the son of Herod the +king, who was slain by his father, he had two sons, Alexander and +Tigranes, by the daughter of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia. +Tigranes, who was king of Armenia, was accused at Rome, and died +childless; Alexander had ason of the same name with his brother +Tigranes, and was sent to take possession of the kingdom of +Armenia by Nero; he had a son, Alexander, who married Jotape, +(17) the daughter of Antiochus, the king of Commagena; Vespasian +made him king of an island in Cilicia. But these descendants of +Alexander, soon after their birth, deserted the Jewish religion, +and went over to that of the Greeks. But for the rest of the +daughters of Herod the king, it happened that they died +childless. And as these descendants of Herod, whom we have +enumerated, were in being at the same time that Agrippa the Great +took the kingdom, and I have now given an account of them, it now +remains that I relate the several hard fortunes which befell +Agrippa, and how he got clear of them, and was advanced to the +greatest height of dignity and power. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +Of The Navigation Of King Agrippa To Rome, To Tiberius Caesar; +And Now Upon His Being Accused By His Own Freed-Man, He Was +Bound; How Also He, Was Set At Liberty By Caius, After Tiberius's +Death And Was Made King Of The Tetrarchy Of Philip. + + +1. A Little before the death of Herod the king, Agrippa lived at +Rome, and was generally brought up and conversed with Drusus, the +emperor Tiberius's son, and contracted a friendship with Antonia, +the wife of Drusus the Great, who had his mother Bernice in great +esteem, and was very desirous of advancing her son. Now as +Agrippa was by nature magnanimous and generous in the presents he +made, while his mother was alive, this inclination of his mind +did not appear, that he might be able to avoid her anger for such +his extravagance; but when Bernice was dead, and he was left to +his own conduct, he spent a great deal extravagantly in his daily +way of living, and a great deal in the immoderate presents he +made, and those chiefly among Caesar's freed-men, in order to +gain their assistance, insomuch that he was, in a little time, +reduced to poverty, and could not live at Rome any longer. +Tiberius also forbade the friends of his deceased son to come +into his sight, because on seeing them he should be put in mind +of his son, and his grief would thereby be revived. + +2. For these reasons he went away from Rome, and sailed to Judea, +but in evil circumstances, being dejected with the loss of that +money which he once had, and because he had not wherewithal to +pay his creditors, who were many in number, and such as gave him +no room for escaping them. Whereupon he knew not what to do; so, +for shame of his present condition, he retired to a certain +tower, at Malatha, in Idumea, and had thoughts of killing +himself; but his wife Cypros perceived his intentions, and tried +all sorts of methods to divert him from his taking such a course; +so she sent a letter to his sister Herodias, who was now the wife +of Herod the tetrarch, and let her know Agrippa's present design, +and what necessity it was which drove him thereto, and desired +her, as a kinswoman of his, to give him her help, and to engage +her husband to do the same, since she saw how she alleviated +these her husband's troubles all she could, although she had not +the like wealth to do it withal. So they sent for him, and +allotted him Tiberias for his habitation, and appointed him some +income of money for his maintenance, and made him a magistrate of +that city, by way of honor to him. Yet did not Herod long +continue in that resolution of supporting him, though even that +support was not sufficient for him; for as once they were at a +feast at Tyre, and in their cups, and reproaches were cast upon +one another, Agrippa thought that was not to be borne, while +Herod hit him in the teeth with his poverty, and with his owing +his necessary food to him. So he went to Flaccus, one that had +been consul, and had been a very great friend to him at Rome +formerly, and was now president of Syria. + +3. Hereupon Flaccus received him kindly, and he lived with him. +Flaccus had also with him there Aristobulus, who was indeed +Agrippa's brother, but was at variance with him; yet did not +their enmity to one another hinder the friendship of Flaccus to +them both, but still they were honorably treated by him. However, +Aristobulus did not abate of his ill-will to Agrippa, till at +length he brought him into ill terms with Flaccus; the occasion +of bringing on which estrangement was this: The Damascens were at +difference with the Sidonians about their limits, and when +Flaccus was about to hear the cause between them, they understood +that Agrippa had a mighty influence upon him; so they desired +that he would be of their side, and for that favor promised him a +great deal of money; so he was zealous in assisting the Damascens +as far as he was able. Now Aristobulus had gotten intelligence of +this promise of money to him, and accused him to Flaccus of the +same; and when, upon a thorough examination of the matter, it +appeared plainly so to be, he rejected Agrippa out of the number +of his friends. So he was reduced to the utmost necessity, and +came to Ptolemais; and because he knew not where else to get a +livelihood, he thought to sail to Italy; but as he was restrained +from so doing by want of money, he desired Marsyas, who was his +freed-man, to find some method for procuring him so much as he +wanted for that purpose, by borrowing such a sum of some person +or other. So Marsyas desired of Peter, who was the freed-man of +Bernice, Agrippa's mother, and by the right of her testament was +bequeathed to Antonia, to lend so much upon Agrippa's own bond +and security; but he accused Agrippa of having defrauded him of +certain sums of money, and so obliged Marsyas, when he made the +bond of twenty thousand Attic drachmae, to accept of twenty-five +hundred drachma as (18) less than what he desired, which the +other allowed of, because he could not help it. Upon the receipt +of this money, Agrippa came to Anthedon, and took shipping, and +was going to set sail; but Herennius Capito, who was the +procurator of Jamhis, sent a band of soldiers to demand of him +three hundred thousand drachmae of silver, which were by him +owing to Caesar's treasury while he was at Rome, and so forced +him to stay. He then pretended that he would do as he bid him; +but when night came on, he cut his cables, and went off, and +sailed to Alexandria, where he desired Alexander the alabarch +(19) to lend him two hundred thousand drachmae; but he said he +would not lend it to him, but would not refuse it to Cypros, as +greatly astonished at her affection to her husband, and at the +other instances of her virtue; so she undertook to repay it. +Accordingly, Alexander paid them five talents at Alexandria, and +promised to pay them the rest of that sum at Dicearchia +[Puteoli]; and this he did out of the fear he was in that Agrippa +would soon spend it. So this Cypros set her husband free, and +dismissed him to go on with his navigation to Italy, while she +and her children departed for Judea. + +4. And now Agrippa was come to Puteoli, whence he wrote a letter +to Tiberius Caesar, who then lived at Capreae, and told him that +he was come so far in order to wait on him, and to pay him a +visit; and desired that he would give him leave to come over to +Caprein: so Tiberius made no difficulty, but wrote to him in an +obliging way in other respects; and withal told him he was glad +of his safe return, and desired him to come to Capreae; and when +he was come, he did not fail to treat him as kindly as he had +promised him in his letter to do. But the next day came a letter +to Caesar from Herennius Capito, to inform him that Agrippa had +borrowed three hundred thousand drachmae, and not pad it at the +time appointed; but when it was demanded of him, he ran away like +a fugitive, out of the places under his government, and put it +out of his power to get the money of him. When Caesar had read +this letter, he was much troubled at it, and gave order that +Agrippa should be excluded from his presence until he had paid +that debt: upon which he was no way daunted at Caesar's anger, +but entreated Antonia, the mother of Germanicus, and of Claudius, +who was afterward Caesar himself, to lend him those three hundred +thousand drachmae, that he might not be deprived of Tiberius's +friendship; so, out of regard to the memory of Bernice his +mother, (for those two women were very familiar with one +another,) and out of regard to his and Claudius's education +together, she lent him the money; and, upon the payment of this +debt, there was nothing to hinder Tiberius's friendship to him. +After this, Tiberius Caesar recommended to him his grandson, (20) +and ordered that he should always accompany him when he went +abroad. But upon Agrippa's kind reception by Antonia, he betook +him to pay his respects to Caius, who was her grandson, and in +very high reputation by reason of the good-will they bare his +father. Now there was one Thallus, a freed-man of Caesar, of whom +he borrowed a million of drachmae, and thence repaid Antonia the +debt he owed her; and by sending the overplus in paying his court +to Caius, became a person of great authority with him. + +5. Now as the friendship which Agrippa had for Caius was come to +a great height, there happened some words to pass between them, +as they once were in a chariot together, concerning Tiberius; +Agrippa praying [to God] (for they two sat by themselves) that +Tiberius might soon go off the stage, and leave the government to +Caius, who was in every respect more worthy of it. Now Eutychus, +who was Agrippa's freed-man, and drove his chariot, heard these +words, and at that time said nothing of them; but when Agrippa +accused him of stealing some garments of his, (which was +certainly true,) he ran away from him; but when he was caught, +and brought before Piso, who was governor of the city, and the +man was asked why he ran away, he replied, that he had somewhat +to say to Caesar, that tended to his security and preservation: +so Piso bound him, and sent him to Capreae. But Tiberius, +according to his usual custom, kept him still in bonds, being a +delayer of affairs, if ever there was any other king or tyrant +that was so; for he did not admit ambassadors quickly, and no +successors were despatched away to governors or procurators of +the provinces that had been formerly sent, unless they were dead; +whence it was that he was so negligent in hearing the causes of +prisoners; insomuch that when he was asked by his friends what +was the reason of his delay in such cases, he said that he +delayed to hear ambassadors, lest, upon their quick dismission, +other ambassadors should be appointed, and return upon him; and +so he should bring trouble upon himself in their public reception +and dismission: that he permitted those governors who had been +sent once to their government [to stay there a long while], out +of regard to the subjects that were under them; for that all +governors are naturally disposed to get as much as they can; and +that those who are not to fix there, but to stay a short time, +and that at an uncertainty when they shall be turned out, do the +more severely hurry themselves on to fleece the people; but that +if their government be long continued to them; they are at last +satiated with the spoils, as having gotten a vast deal, and so +become at length less sharp in their pillaging; but that if +successors are sent quickly, the poor subjects, who are exposed +to them as a prey, will not be able to bear the new ones, while +they shall not have the same time allowed them wherein their +predecessors had filled themselves, and so grew more unconcerned +about getting more; and this because they are removed before they +have had time [for their oppressions]. He gave them an example to +show his meaning: A great number of flies came about the sore +places of a man that had been wounded; upon which one of the +standers-by pitied the man's misfortune, and thinking he was not +able to drive those flies away himself, was going to drive them +away for him; but he prayed him to let them alone: the other, by +way of reply, asked him the reason of such a preposterous +proceeding, in preventing relief from his present misery; to +which he answered, "If thou drivest these flies away, thou wilt +hurt me worse; for as these are already full of my blood, they do +not crowd about me, nor pain me so much as before, but are +somewhat more remiss, while the fresh ones that come almost +famished, and find me quite tired down already, will be my +destruction. For this cause, therefore, it is that I am myself +careful not to send such new governors perpetually to those my +subjects, who are already sufficiently harassed by many +oppressions, as may, like these flies, further distress them; and +so, besides their natural desire of gain, may have this +additional incitement to it, that they expect to be suddenly +deprived of that pleasure which they take in it." And, as a +further attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of +Tiberius, I appeal to this his practice itself; for although he +was emperor twenty-two years, he sent in all but two procurators +to govern the nation of the Jews, Gratus, and his successor in +the government, Pilate. Nor was he in one way of acting with +respect to the Jews, and in another with respect to the rest of +his subjects. He further informed them, that even in the hearing +of the causes of prisoners, he made such delays, because +immediate death to those that must be condemned to die would be +an alleviation of their present miseries, while those wicked +wretches have not deserved any such favor; "but I do it, that, by +being harassed with the present calamity, they may undergo +greater misery." + +6. On this account it was that Eutychus could not obtain a +bearing, but was kept still in prison. However, some time +afterward, Tiberius came from Capreae to Tusculanum, which is +about a hundred furlongs from Rome. Agrippa then desired of +Antonia that she would procure a hearing for Eutychus, let the +matter whereof he accused him prove what it would. Now Antonia +was greatly esteemed by Tiberius on all accounts, from the +dignity of her relation to him, who had been his brother Drusus's +wife, and from her eminent chastity; (21) for though she was +still a young woman, she continued in her widowhood, and refused +all other matches, although Augustus had enjoined her to be +married to somebody else; yet did she all along preserve her +reputation free from reproach. She had also been the greatest +benefactress to Tiberius, when there was a very dangerous plot +laid against him by Sejanus, a man who had been her husband's +friend, and wire had the greatest authority, because he was +general of the army, and when many members of the senate and many +of the freed-men joined with him, and the soldiery was corrupted, +and the plot was come to a great height. Now Sejanus had +certainly gained his point, had not Antonia's boldness been more +wisely conducted than Sejanus's malice; for when she had +discovered his designs against Tiberius, she wrote him an exact +account of the whole, and gave the letter to Pallas, the most +faithful of her servants, and sent him to Caprere to Tiberius, +who, when he understood it, slew Sejanus and his confederates; so +that Tiberius, who had her in great esteem before, now looked +upon her with still greater respect, and depended upon her in all +things. So when Tiberius was desired by this Antonia to examine +Eutychus, he answered, "If indeed Eutychus hath falsely accused +Agrippa in what he hath said of him, he hath had sufficient +punishment by what I have done to him already; but if, upon +examination, the accusation appears to be true, let Agrippa have +a care, lest, out of desire of punishing his freed-man, he do not +rather bring a punishment upon himself." Now when Antonia told +Agrippa of this, he was still much more pressing that the matter +might be examined into; so Antonia, upon Agrippa's lying hard at +her continually to beg this favor, took the following +opportunity: As Tiberius lay once at his ease upon his sedan, and +was carried about, and Caius, her grandson, and Agrippa, were +before him after dinner she walked by the sedan, and desired him +to call Eutychus, and have him examined; to which he replied, "O +Antonia! the gods are my witnesses that I am induced to do what I +am going to do, not by my own inclination, but because I am +forced to it by thy prayers." When he had said this, he ordered +Macro, who succeeded Sejanus, to bring Eutychus to him; +accordingly, without any delay, he was brought. Then Tiberius +asked him what he had to say against a man who had given him his +liberty. Upon which he said, "O my lord! this Caius, and Agrippa +with him, were once riding in a chariot, when I sat at their +feet, and, among other discourses that passed, Agrippa said to +Caius, Oh that the day would once come when this old fellow will +dies and name thee for the governor of the habitable earth! for +then this Tiberius, his grandson, would be no hinderance, but +would be taken off by thee, and that earth would be happy, and I +happy also." Now Tiberius took these to be truly Agrippa's words, +and bearing a grudge withal at Agrippa, because, when he had +commanded him to pay his respects to Tiberius, his grandson, and +the son of Drusus, Agrippa had not paid him that respect, but had +disobeyed his commands, and transferred all his regard to Caius; +he said to Macro, "Bind this man." But Macro, not distinctly +knowing which of them it was whom he bid him bind, and not +expecting that he would have any such thing done to Agrippa, he +forbore, and came to ask more distinctly what it was that he +said. But when Caesar had gone round the hippodrome, he found +Agrippa standing: "For certain," said he, "Macro, this is the man +I meant to have bound;" and when he still asked, "Which of these +is to be bound?" he said "Agrippa." Upon which Agrippa betook +himself to make supplication for himself, putting him in mind of +his son, with whom he was brought up, and of Tiberius [his +grandson] whom he had educated; but all to no purpose; for they +led him about bound even in his purple garments. It was also very +hot weather, and they had but little wine to their meal, so that +he was very thirsty; he was also in a sort of agony, and took +this treatment of him heinously: as he therefore saw one of +Caius's slaves, whose name was Thaumastus, carrying some water in +a vessel, he desired that he would let him drink; so the servant +gave him some water to drink, and he drank heartily, and said, "O +thou boy! this service of thine to me will be for thy advantage; +for if I once get clear of these my bonds, I will soon procure +thee thy freedom of Caius who has not been wanting to minister to +me now I am in bonds, in the same manner as when I was in my +former state and dignity." Nor did he deceive him in what he +promised him, but made him amends for what he had now done; for +when afterward Agrippa was come to the kingdom, he took +particular care of Thaumastus, and got him his liberty from +Caius, and made him the steward over his own estate; and when he +died, he left him to Agrippa his son, and to Bernice his +daughter, to minister to them in the same capacity. The man also +grew old in that honorable post, and therein died. But all this +happened a good while later. + +7. Now Agrippa stood in his bonds before the royal palace, and +leaned on a certain tree for grief, with many others, who were +in bonds also; and as a certain bird sat upon the tree on which +Agrippa leaned, (the Romans call this bird bubo,) [an owl,] one +of those that were bound, a German by nation, saw him, and asked +a soldier who that man in purple was; and when he was informed +that his name was Agrippa, and that he was by nation a Jew, and +one of the principal men of that nation, he asked leave of the +soldier to whom he was bound, (22) to let him come nearer to him, +to speak with him; for that he had a mind to inquire of him about +some things relating to his country; which liberty, when he had +obtained, and as he stood near him, he said thus to him by an +interpreter: "This sudden change of thy condition, O young man! +is grievous to thee, as bringing on thee a manifold and very +great adversity; nor wilt thou believe me, when I foretell how +thou wilt get clear of this misery which thou art now under, and +how Divine Providence will provide for thee. Know therefore (and +I appeal to my own country gods, as well as to the gods of this +place, who have awarded these bonds to us) that all I am going to +say about thy concerns shall neither be said for favor nor +bribery, nor out of an endeavor to make thee cheerful without +cause; for such predictions, when they come to fail, make the +grief at last, and in earnest, more bitter than if the party had +never heard of any such thing. However, though I run the hazard +of my own self, I think it fit to declare to thee the prediction +of the gods. It cannot be that thou shouldst long continue in +these bonds; but thou wilt soon be delivered from them, and wilt +be promoted to the highest dignity and power, and thou wilt be +envied by all those who now pity thy hard fortune; and thou wilt +be happy till thy death, and wilt leave thine happiness to the +children whom thou shalt have. But do thou remember, when thou +seest this bird again, that thou wilt then live but five days +longer. This event will be brought to pass by that God who hath +sent this bird hither to be a sign unto thee. And I cannot but +think it unjust to conceal from thee what I foreknow concerning +thee, that, by thy knowing beforehand what happiness is coming +upon thee, thou mayst not regard thy present misfortunes. But +when this happiness shall actually befall thee, do not forget +what misery I am in myself, but endeavor to deliver me." So when +the German had said this, he made Agrippa laugh at him as much as +he afterwards appeared worthy of admiration. But now Antonia took +Agrippa's misfortune to heart: however, to speak to Tiberius on +his behalf, she took to be a very difficult thing, and indeed +quite impracticable, as to any hope of success; yet did she +procure of Macro, that the soldiers that kept him should be of a +gentle nature, and that the centurion who was over them and was +to diet with him, should be of the same disposition, and that he +might have leave to bathe himself every day, and that his +freed-men and friends might come to him, and that other things +that tended to ease him might be indulged him. So his friend +Silas came in to him, and two of his freed-men, Marsyas and +Stechus, brought him such sorts of food as he was fond of, and +indeed took great care of him; they also brought him garments, +under pretense of selling them; and when night came on, they laid +them under him; and the soldiers assisted them, as Macro had +given them order to do beforehand. And this was Agrippa's +condition for six months' time, and in this case were his +affairs. + +8. But for Tiberius, upon his return to Caprein, he fell sick. At +first his distemper was but gentle; but as that distemper +increased upon him, he had small or no hopes of recovery. +Hereupon he bid Euodus, who was that freed-man whom he most of +all respected, to bring the children (23) to him, for that he +wanted to talk to them before he died. Now he had at present no +sons of his own alive for Drusus, who was his only son, was dead; +but Drusus's son Tiberius was still living, whose additional name +was Gemellus: there was also living Caius, the son of Germanicus, +who was the son (24) of his brother [Drusus]. He was now grown +up, and had a liberal education, and was well improved by it, and +was in esteem and favor with the people, on account of the +excellent character of his father Germanicus, who had attained +the highest honor among the multitude, by the firmness of his +virtuous behavior, by the easiness and agreeableness of his +conversing with the multitude, and because the dignity he was in +did not hinder his familiarity with them all, as if they were his +equals; by which behavior he was not only greatly esteemed by the +people and the senate, but by every one of those nations that +were subject to the Romans; some of which were affected when they +came to him with the gracefulness of their reception by him, and +others were affected in the same manner by the report of the +others that had been with him; and, upon his death, there was a +lamentation made by all men; not such a one as was to be made in +way of flattery to their rulers, while they did but counterfeit +sorrow, but such as was real; while every body grieved at his +death, as if they had lost one that was near to them. And truly +such had been his easy conversation with men, that it turned +greatly to the advantage of his son among all; and, among others, +the soldiery were so peculiarly affected to him, that they +reckoned it an eligible thing, if need were, to die themselves, +if he might but attain to the government. + +9. But when Tiberius had given order to Euodus to bring the +children to him the next day in the morning, he prayed to his +country gods to show him a manifest signal which of those +children should come to the government; being very desirous to +leave it to his son's son, but still depending upon what God +should foreshow concerning them more than upon his own opinion +and inclination; so he made this to be the omen, that the +government should be left to him who should come to him first the +next day. When he had thus resolved within himself, he sent to +his grandson's tutor, and ordered him to bring the child to him +early in the morning, as supposing that God would permit him to +be made emperor. But God proved opposite to his designation; for +while Tiberius was thus contriving matters, and as soon as it was +at all day, he bid Euodus to call in that child which should be +there ready. So he went out, and found Caius before the door, for +Tiberius was not yet come, but staid waiting for his breakfast; +for Euodus knew nothing of what his lord intended; so he said to +Caius, "Thy father calls thee," and then brought him in. As soon +as Tiberius saw Caius, and not before, he reflected on the power +of God, and how the ability of bestowing the government on whom +he would was entirely taken from him; and thence he was not able +to establish what he had intended. So he greatly lamented that +his power of establishing what he had before contrived was taken +from him, and that his grandson Tiberius was not only to lose the +Roman empire by his fatality, but his own safety also, because +his preservation would now depend upon such as would be more +potent than himself, who would think it a thing not to be borne, +that a kinsman should live with them, and so his relation would +not be able to protect him; but he would be feared and bated by +him who had the supreme authority, partly on account of his being +next to the empire, and partly on account of his perpetually +contriving to get the government, both in order to preserve +himself, and to be at the head of affairs also. Now Tiberius had +been very much given to astrology, (25) and the calculation of +nativities, and had spent his life in the esteem of what +predictions had proved true, more than those whose profession it +was. Accordingly, when he once saw Galba coming in to him, he +said to his most intimate friends, that there came in a man that +would one day have the dignity of the Roman empire. So that this +Tiberius was more addicted to all such sorts of diviners than any +other of the Roman emperors, because he had found them to have +told him truth in his own affairs. And indeed he was now in great +distress upon this accident that had befallen him, and was very +much grieved at the destruction of his son's son, which he +foresaw, and complained of himself, that he should have made use +of such a method of divination beforehand, while it was in his +power to have died without grief by this knowledge of futurity; +whereas he was now tormented by his foreknowledge of the +misfortune of such as were dearest to him, and must die under +that torment. Now although he was disordered at this unexpected +revolution of the government to those for whom he did not intend +it, he spake thus to Caius, though unwillingly, and against his +own inclination: "O child! although Tiberius be nearer related to +me than thou art, I, by my own determination, and the conspiring +suffrage of the gods, do give and put into thy hand the Roman +empire; and I desire thee never to be unmindful when thou comest +to it, either of my kindness to thee, who set thee in so high a +dignity, or of thy relation to Tiberius. But as thou knowest that +I am, together with and after the gods, the procurer of so great +happiness to thee; so I desire that thou wilt make me a return +for my readiness to assist thee, and wilt take care of Tiberius +because of his near relation to thee. Besides which, thou art to +know, that while Tiberius is alive, he will be a security to +thee, both as to empire and as to thy own preservation; but if he +die, that will be but a prelude to thy own misfortunes; for to be +alone under the weight of such vast affairs is very dangerous; +nor will the gods suffer those actions which are unjustly done, +contrary to that law which directs men to act otherwise, to go +off unpunished." This was the speech which Tiberius made, which +did not persuade Caius to act accordingly, although he promised +so to do; but when he was settled in the government, he took off +this Tiberius, as was predicted by the other Tiberius; as he was +also himself, in no long time afterward, slain by a secret plot +laid against him. + +10. So when Tiberius had at this time appointed Caius to be his +successor, he outlived but a few days, and then died, after he +had held the government twenty-two years five months and three +days. Now Caius was the fourth emperor. But when the Romans +understood that Tiberius was dead, they rejoiced at the good +news, but had not courage to believe it; not because they were +unwilling it should be true, for they would have given huge sums +of money that it might be so, but because they were afraid, that +if they had showed their joy when the news proved false, their +joy should be openly known, and they should be accused for it, +and be thereby undone. For this Tiberius had brought a vast +number of miseries on the best families of the Romans, since he +was easily inflamed with passion in all cases, and was of such a +temper as rendered his anger irrevocable, till he had executed +the same, although he had taken a hatred against men without +reason; for he was by nature fierce in all the sentences he gave, +and made death the penalty for the lightest offenses; insomuch +that when the Romans heard the rumor about his death gladly, they +were restrained from the enjoyment of that pleasure by the dread +of such miseries as they foresaw would follow, if their hopes +proved ill-grounded. Now Marsyas, Agrippa's freed-man, as soon as +he heard of Tiberius's death, came running to tell Agrippa the +news; and finding him going out to the bath, he gave him a nod, +and said, in the Hebrew tongue, "The lion (26) is dead;" who, +understanding his meaning, and being ovejoyed at the news, "Nay," +said he, "but all sorts of thanks and happiness attend thee for +this news of thine; only I wish that what thou sayest may prove +true." Now the centurion who was set to keep Agrippa, when he saw +with what haste Marsyas came, and what joy Agrippa had from what +he said, he had a suspicion that his words implied some great +innovation of affairs, and he asked them about what was said. +They at first diverted the discourse; but upon his further +pressing, Agrippa, without more ado, told him, for he was already +become his friend; so he joined with him in that pleasure which +this news occasioned, because it would be fortunate to Agrippa, +and made him a supper. But as they were feasting, and the cups +went about, there came one who said that Tiberius was still +alive, and would return to the city ill a few days. At which news +the centurion was exceedingly troubled, because he had done what +might cost him his life, to have treated so joyfully a prisoner, +and this upon the news of the death of Caesar; so he thrust +Agrippa from the couch whereon he lay, and said, "Dost thou think +to cheat me by a lie about the emperor without punishment? and +shalt not thou pay for this thy malicious report at the price of +thine head?" When he had so said, he ordered Agrippa to be bound +again, (for he had loosed him before,) and kept a severer guard +over him than formerly, and in that evil condition was Agrippa +that night; but the next day the rumor increased in the city, and +confirmed the news that Tiberius was certainly dead; insomuch +that men durst now openly and freely talk about it; nay, some +offered sacrifices on that account. Several letters also came +from Caius; one of them to the senate, which informed them of the +death of Tiberius, and of his own entrance on the government; +another to Piso, the governor of the city, which told him the +same thing. He also gave order that Agrippa should be removed out +of the camp, and go to that house where he lived before he was +put in prison; so that he was now out of fear as to his own +affairs; for although he was still in custody, yet it was now +with ease to his own affairs. Now, as soon as Caius was come to +Rome, and had brought Tiberius's dead body with him, and had made +a sumptuous funeral for him, according to the laws of his +country, he was much disposed to set Agrippa at liberty that very +day; but Antonia hindered him, not out of any ill-will to the +prisoner, but out of regard to decency in Caius, lest that should +make men believe that he received the death of Tiberius with +pleasure, when he loosed one whom he had bound immediately. +However, there did not many days pass ere he sent for him to his +house, and had him shaved, and made him change his raiment; after +which he put a diadem upon his head, and appointed him to be king +of the tetrarchy of Philip. He also gave him the tetrarchy of +Lysanias, (27) and changed his iron chain for a golden one of +equal weight. He also sent Marullus to be procurator of Judea. + +11. Now, in the second year of the reign of Caius Caesar, Agrippa +desired leave to be given him to sail home, and settle the +affairs of his government; and he promised to return again, when +he had put the rest in order, as it ought to be put. So, upon the +emperor's permission, he came into his own country, and appeared +to them all unexpectedly as asking, and thereby demonstrated to +the men that saw him the power of fortune, when they compared his +former poverty with his present happy affluence; so some called +him a happy man, and others could not well believe that things +were so much changed with him for the better. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +How Herod The Tetrarch Was Banished. + + +1. But Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that +Herod who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres, took this authority +of her brother in an envious manner, particularly when she saw +that he had a greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband +had; since, when he ran away, it was because he was not able to +pay his debts; and now he was come back, he was in a way of +dignity, and of great good fortune. She was therefore grieved and +much displeased at so great a mutation of his affairs; and +chiefly when she saw him marching among the multitude with the +usual ensigns of royal authority, she was not able to conceal how +miserable she was, by reason of the envy she had towards him; but +she excited her husband, and desired him that he would sail to +Rome, to court honors equal to his; for she said that she could +not bear to live any longer, while Agrippa, the son of that +Aristobulus who was condemned to die by his father, one that came +to her husband in such extreme poverty, that the necessaries of +life were forced to be entirely supplied him day by day; and when +he fled away from his creditors by sea, he now returned a king; +while he was himself the son of a king, and while the near +relation he bare to royal authority called upon him to gain the +like dignity, he sat still, and was contented with a privater +life. "But then, Herod, although thou wast formerly not concerned +to be in a lower condition than thy father from whom thou wast +derived had been, yet do thou now seek after the dignity which +thy kinsman hath attained to; and do not thou bear this contempt, +that a man who admired thy riches should be in greater honor than +thyself, nor suffer his poverty to show itself able to purchase +greater things than our abundance; nor do thou esteem it other +than a shameful thing to be inferior to one who, the other day, +lived upon thy charity. But let us go to Rome, and let us spare +no pains nor expenses, either of silver or gold, since they +cannot be kept for any better use than for the obtaining of a +kingdom." + +2. But for Herod, he opposed her request at this time, out of the +love of ease, and having a suspicion of the trouble he should +have at Rome; so he tried to instruct her better. But the more +she saw him draw back, the more she pressed him to it, and +desired him to leave no stone unturned in order to be king; and +at last she left not off till she engaged him, whether he would +or not, to be of her sentiments, because he could no otherwise +avoid her importunity. So he got all things ready, after as +sumptuous a manner as he was able, and spared for nothing, and +went up to Rome, and took Herodias along with him. But Agrippa, +when he was made sensible of their intentions and preparations, +he also prepared to go thither; and as soon as he heard they set +sail, he sent Fortunatus, one of his freed-men, to Rome, to carry +presents to the emperor, and letters against Herod, and to give +Caius a particular account of those matters, if he should have +any opportunity. This man followed Herod so quick, and had so +prosperous a voyage, and came so little after Herod, that while +Herod was with Caius, he came himself, and delivered his letters; +for they both sailed to Dicearchia, and found Caius at Bairn, +which is itself a little city of Campania, at the distance of +about five furlongs from Dicearchia. There are in that place +royal palaces, with sumptuous apartments, every emperor still +endeavoring to outdo his predecessor's magnificence; the place +also affords warm baths, that spring out of the ground of their +own accord, which are of advantage for the recovery of the health +of those that make use of them; and, besides, they minister to +men's luxury also. Now Caius saluted Herod, for he first met with +him, and then looked upon the letters which Agrippa had sent him, +and which were written in order to accuse Herod; wherein he +accused him, that he had been in confederacy with Sejanus against +Tiberius's and that he was now confederate with Artabanus, the +king of Parthia, in opposition to the government of Caius; as a +demonstration of which he alleged, that he had armor sufficient +for seventy thousand men ready in his armory. Caius was moved at +this information, and asked Herod whether what was said about the +armor was true; and when he confessed there was such armor there, +for he could not deny the same, the truth of it being too +notorious, Caius took that to be a sufficient proof of the +accusation, that he intended to revolt. So he took away from him +his tetrarchy, and gave it by way of addition to Agrippa's +kingdom; he also gave Herod's money to Agrippa, and, by way of +punishment, awarded him a perpetual banishment, and appointed +Lyons, a city of Gaul, to be his place of habitation. But when he +was informed that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, he made her a +present of what money was her own, and told her that it was her +brother who prevented her being put under the same calamity with +her husband. But she made this reply: "Thou, indeed, O emperor! +actest after a magnificent manner, and as becomes thyself in what +thou offerest me; but the kindness which I have for my husband +hinders me from partaking of the favor of thy gift; for it is not +just that I, who have been made a partner in his prosperity, +should forsake him in his misfortunes." Hereupon Caius was angry +at her, and sent her with Herod into banishment, and gave her +estate to Agrippa. And thus did God punish Herodias for her envy +at her brother, and Herod also for giving ear to the vain +discourses of a woman. Now Caius managed public affairs with +great magnanimity during the first and second year of his reign, +and behaved himself with such moderation, that he gained the +good-will of the Romans themselves, and of his other subjects. +But, in process of time, he went beyond the bounds of human +nature in his conceit of himself, and by reason of the vastness +of his dominions made himself a god, and took upon himself to act +in all things to the reproach of the Deity itself. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +Concerning The Embassage Of The Jews To Caius; (28) And How Caius +Sent Petronius Into Syria To Make War Against The Jews, Unless +They Would Receive His Statue. + + +1. There was now a tumult arisen at Alexandria, between the +Jewish inhabitants and the Greeks; and three ambassadors were +chosen out of each party that were at variance, who came to +Caius. Now one of these ambassadors from the people of Alexandria +was Apion, (29) who uttered many blasphemies against the Jews; +and, among other things that he said, he charged them with +neglecting the honors that belonged to Caesar; for that while all +who were subject to the Roman empire built altars and temples to +Caius, and in other regards universally received him as they +received the gods, these Jews alone thought it a dishonorable +thing for them to erect statues in honor of him, as well as to +swear by his name. Many of these severe things were said by +Apion, by which he hoped to provoke Caius to anger at the Jews, +as he was likely to be. But Philo, the principal of the Jewish +embassage, a man eminent on all accounts, brother to Alexander +the alabarch, (30) and one not unskillful in philosophy, was +ready to betake himself to make his defense against those +accusations; but Caius prohibited him, and bid him begone; he was +also in such a rage, that it openly appeared he was about to do +them some very great mischief. So Philo being thus affronted, +went out, and said to those Jews who were about him, that they +should be of good courage, since Caius's words indeed showed +anger at them, but in reality had already set God against +himself. + +2. Hereupon Caius, taking it very heinously that he should be +thus despised by the Jews alone, sent Petronius to be president +of Syria, and successor in the government to Vitellius, and gave +him order to make an invasion into Judea, with a great body of +troops; and if they would admit of his statue willingly, to erect +it in the temple of God; but if they were obstinate, to conquer +them by war, and then to do it. Accordingly, Petronius took the +government of Syria, and made haste to obey Caesar's epistle. He +got together as great a number of auxiliaries as he possibly +could, and took with him two legions of the Roman army, and came +to Ptolemais, and there wintered, as intending to set about the +war in the spring. He also wrote word to Caius what he had +resolved to do, who commended him for his alacrity, and ordered +him to go on, and to make war with them, in case they would not +obey his commands. But there came many ten thousands of the Jews +to Petronius, to Ptolemais, to offer their petitions to him, that +he would not compel them to transgress and violate the law of +their forefathers; "but if," said they, "thou art entirely +resolved to bring this statue, and erect it, do thou first kill +us, and then do what thou hast resolved on; for while we are +alive we cannot permit such things as are forbidden us to be done +by the authority of our legislator, and by our forefathers' +determination that such prohibitions are instances of virtue." +But Petronius was angry at them, and said, "If indeed I were +myself emperor, and were at liberty to follow my own inclination, +and then had designed to act thus, these your words would be +justly spoken to me; but now Caesar hath sent to me, I am under +the necessity of being subservient to his decrees, because a +disobedience to them will bring upon me inevitable destruction." +Then the Jews replied, "Since, therefore, thou art so disposed, O +Petronius! that thou wilt not disobey Caius's epistles, neither +will we transgress the commands of our law; and as we depend upon +the excellency of our laws, and, by the labors of our ancestors, +have continued hitherto without suffering them to be +transgressed, we dare not by any means suffer ourselves to be so +timorous as to transgress those laws out of the fear of death, +which God hath determined are for our advantage; and if we fall +into misfortunes, we will bear them, in order to preserve our +laws, as knowing that those who expose themselves to dangers have +good hope of escaping them, because God will stand on our side, +when, out of regard to him, we undergo afflictions, and sustain +the uncertain turns of fortune. But if we should submit to thee, +we should be greatly reproached for our cowardice, as thereby +showing ourselves ready to transgress our law; and we should +incur the great anger of God also, who, even thyself being judge, +is superior to Caius." + +3. When Petronius saw by their words that their determination was +hard to be removed, and that, without a war, he should not be +able to be subservient to Caius in the dedication of his statue, +and that there must be a great deal of bloodshed, he took his +friends, and the servants that were about him, and hasted to +Tiberias, as wanting to know in what posture the affairs of the +Jews were; and many ten thousands of the Jews met Petronius +again, when he was come to Tiberias. These thought they must run +a mighty hazard if they should have a war with the Romans, but +judged that the transgression of the law was of much greater +consequence, and made supplication to him, that he would by no +means reduce them to such distresses, nor defile their city with +the dedication of the statue. Then Petronius said to them, "Will +you then make war with Caesar, without considering his great +preparations for war, and your own weakness?" They replied, "We +will not by any means make war with him, but still we will die +before we see our laws transgressed." So they threw themselves +down upon their faces, and stretched out their throats, and said +they were ready to be slain; and this they did for forty days +together, and in the mean time left off the tilling of their +ground, and that while the season of the year required them to +sow it. (31) Thus they continued firm in their resolution, and +proposed to themselves to die willingly, rather than to see the +dedication of the statue. + +4. When matters were in this state, Aristobulus, king Agrippa's +brother, and Heleias the Great, and the other principal men of +that family with them, went in unto Petronius, and besought him, +that since he saw the resolution of the multitude, he would not +make any alteration, and thereby drive them to despair; but would +write to Caius, that the Jews had an insuperable aversion to the +reception of the statue, and how they continued with him, and +left of the tillage off their ground: that they were not willing +to go to war with him, because they were not able to do it, but +were ready to die with pleasure, rather than suffer their laws to +be transgressed: and how, upon the land's continuing unsown, +robberies would grow up, on the inability they would be under of +paying their tributes; and that Caius might be thereby moved to +pity, and not order any barbarous action to be done to them, nor +think of destroying the nation: that if he continues inflexible +in his former opinion to bring a war upon them, he may then set +about it himself. And thus did Aristobulus, and the rest with +him, supplicate Petronius. So Petronius, (32) partly on account +of the pressing instances which Aristobulus and the rest with him +made, and because of the great consequence of what they desired, +and the earnestness wherewith they made their supplication, - +partly on account of the firmness of the opposition made by the +Jews, which he saw, while he thought it a terrible thing for him +to be such a slave to the madness of Caius, as to slay so many +ten thousand men, only because of their religious disposition +towards God, and after that to pass his life in expectation of +punishment; Petronius, I say, thought it much better to send to +Caius, and to let him know how intolerable it was to him to bear +the anger he might have against him for not serving him sooner, +in obedience to his epistle, for that perhaps he might persuade +him; and that if this mad resolution continued, he might then +begin the war against them; nay, that in case he should turn his +hatred against himself, it was fit for virtuous persons even to +die for the sake of such vast multitudes of men. Accordingly, he +determined to hearken to the petitioners in this matter. + +5. He then called the Jews together to Tiberias, who came many +ten thousands in number; he also placed that army he now had with +him opposite to them; but did not discover his own meaning, but +the commands of the emperor, and told them that his wrath would, +without delay, be executed on such as had the courage to disobey +what he had commanded, and this immediately; and that it was fit +for him, who had obtained so great a dignity by his grant, not to +contradict him in any thing:-- "yet," said he, "I do not think it +just to have such a regard to my own safety and honor, as to +refuse to sacrifice them for your preservation, who are so many +in number, and endeavor to preserve the regard that is due to +your law; which as it hath come down to you from your +forefathers, so do you esteem it worthy of your utmost contention +to preserve it: nor, with the supreme assistance and power of +God, will I be so hardy as to suffer your temple to fall into +contempt by the means of the imperial authority. I will, +therefore, send to Caius, and let him know what your resolutions +are, and will assist your suit as far as I am able, that you may +not be exposed to suffer on account of the honest designs you +have proposed to yourselves; and may God be your assistant, for +his authority is beyond all the contrivance and power of men; and +may he procure you the preservation of your ancient laws, and may +not he be deprived, though without your consent, of his +accustomed honors. But if Caius be irritated, and turn the +violence of his rage upon me, I will rather undergo all that +danger and that affliction that may come either on my body or my +soul, than see so many of you to perish, while you are acting in +so excellent a manner. Do you, therefore, every one of you, go +your way about your own occupations, and fall to the cultivation +of your ground; I will myself send to Rome, and will not refuse +to serve you in all things, both by myself and by my friends." + +6. When Petronius had said this, and had dismissed rite assembly +of the Jews, he desired the principal of them to take care of +their husbandry, and to speak kindly to the people, and encourage +them to have good hope of their affairs. Thus did he readily +bring the multitude to be cheerful again. And now did God show +his presence to Petronius, and signify to him that he would +afford him his assistance in his whole design; for he had no +sooner finished the speech that he made to the Jews, but God sent +down great showers of rain, contrary to human expectation; (33) +for that day was a clear day, and gave no sign, by the appearance +of the sky, of any rain; nay, the whole year had been subject to +a great drought, and made men despair of any water from above, +even when at any time they saw the heavens overcast with clouds; +insomuch that when such a great quantity of rain came, and that +in an unusual manner, and without any other expectation of it, +the Jews hoped that Petronius would by no means fail in his +petition for them. But as to Petronius, he was mightily surprised +when he perceived that God evidently took care of the Jews, and +gave very plain signs of his appearance, and this to such a +degree, that those that were in earnest much inclined to the +contrary had no power left to contradict it. This was also among +those other particulars which he wrote to Caius, which all tended +to dissuade him, and by all means to entreat him not to make so +many ten thousands of these men go distracted; whom, if he should +slay, (for without war they would by no means suffer the laws of +their worship to be set aside,) he would lose the revenue they +paid him, and would be publicly cursed by them for all future +ages. Moreover, that God, who was their Governor, had shown his +power most evidently on their account, and that such a power of +his as left no room for doubt about it. And this was the business +that Petronius was now engaged in. + +7. But king Agrippa, who now lived at Rome, was more and more in +the favor of Caius; and when he had once made him a supper, and +was careful to exceed all others, both in expenses and in such +preparations as might contribute most to his pleasure; nay, it +was so far from the ability of others, that Caius himself could +never equal, much less exceed it (such care had he taken +beforehand to exceed all men, and particularly to make all +agreeable to Caesar); hereupon Caius admired his understanding +and magnificence, that he should force himself to do all to +please him, even beyond such expenses as he could bear, and was +desirous not to be behind Agrippa in that generosity which he +exerted in order to please him. So Caius, when he had drank wine +plentifully, and was merrier than ordinary, said thus during the +feast, when Agrippa had drunk to him: "I knew before now how +great a respect thou hast had for me, and how great kindness thou +hast shown me, though with those hazards to thyself, which thou +underwentest under Tiberius on that account; nor hast thou +omitted any thing to show thy good-will towards us, even beyond +thy ability; whence it would be a base thing for me to be +conquered by thy affection. I am therefore desirous to make thee +amends for every thing in which I have been formerly deficient; +for all that I have bestowed on thee, that may be called my +gifts, is but little. Everything that may contribute to thy +happiness shall be at thy service, and that cheerfully, and so +far as my ability will reach." (34) And this was what Caius said +to Agrippa, thinking he would ask for some large country, or the +revenues of certain cities. But although he had prepared +beforehand what he would ask, yet had he not discovered his +intentions, but made this answer to Caius immediately: That it +was not out of any expectation of gain that he formerly paid his +respects to him, contrary to the commands of Tiberius, nor did he +now do any thing relating to him out of regard to his own +advantage, and in order to receive any thing from him; that the +gifts he had already bestowed upon him were great, and beyond the +hopes of even a craving man; for although they may be beneath thy +power, [who art the donor,] yet are they greater than my +inclination and dignity, who am the receiver. And as Caius was +astonished at Agrippa's inclinations, and still the more pressed +him to make his request for somewhat which he might gratify him +with, Agrippa replied, "Since thou, O my lord! declarest such is +thy readiness to grant, that I am worthy of thy gifts, I will ask +nothing relating to my own felicity; for what thou hast already +bestowed on me has made me excel therein; but I desire somewhat +which may make thee glorious for piety, and render the Divinity +assistant to thy designs, and may be for an honor to me among +those that inquire about it, as showing that I never once fail of +obtaining what I desire of thee; for my petition is this, that +thou wilt no longer think of the dedication of that statue which +thou hast ordered to be set up in the Jewish temple by +Petronius." + +8. And thus did Agrippa venture to cast the die upon this +occasion, so great was the affair in his opinion, and in reality, +though he knew how dangerous a thing it was so to speak; for had +not Caius approved of it, it had tended to no less than the loss +of his life. So Caius, who was mightily taken with Agrippa's +obliging behavior, and on other accounts thinking it a +dishonorable thing to be guilty of falsehood before so many +witnesses, in points wherein he had with such alacrity forced +Agrippa to become a petitioner, and that it would look as if he +had already repented of what he had said, and because he greatly +admired Agrippa's virtue, in not desiring him at all to augment +his own dominions, either with larger revenues, or other +authority, but took care of the public tranquillity, of the laws, +and of the Divinity itself, he granted him what he had requested. +He also wrote thus to Petronius, commending him for his +assembling his army, and then consulting him about these affairs. +"If therefore," said' he," thou hast already erected my statue, +let it stand; but if thou hast not yet dedicated it, do not +trouble thyself further about it, but dismiss thy army, go back, +and take care of those affairs which I sent thee about at first, +for I have now no occasion for the erection of that statue. This +I have granted as a favor to Agrippa, a man whom I honor so very +greatly, that I am not able to contradict what he would have, or +what he desired me to do for him." And this was what Caius wrote +to Petronius, which was before he received his letter, informing +him that the Jews were very ready to revolt about the statue, and +that they seemed resolved to threaten war against the Romans, and +nothing else. When therefore Caius was much displeased that any +attempt should be made against his government as he was a slave +to base and vicious actions on all occasions, and had no regard +to What was virtuous and honorable, and against whomsoever he +resolved to show his anger, and that for any cause whatsoever, he +suffered not himself to be restrained by any admonition, but +thought the indulging his anger to be a real pleasure, he wrote +thus to Petronius: "Seeing thou esteemest the presents made thee +by the Jews to be of greater value than my commands, and art +grown insolent enough to be subservient to their pleasure, I +charge thee to become thy own judge, and to consider what thou +art to do, now thou art under my displeasure; for I will make +thee an example to the present and to all future ages, that they. +may not dare to contradict the commands of their emperor." + +9. This was the epistle which Caius wrote to. Petronius; but +Petronius did not receive it while Caius was alive, that ship +which carried it sailing so slow, that other letters came to +Petronius before this, by which he understood that Caius was +dead; for God would not forget the dangers Petronius had +undertaken on account of the Jews, and of his own honor. But when +he had taken Caius away, out of his indignation of what he had so +insolently attempted in assuming to himself divine worship, both +Rome and all that dominion conspired with Petronius, especially +those that were of the senatorian order, to give Caius his due +reward, because he had been unmercifully severe to them; for he +died not long after he had written to Petronius that epistle +which threatened him with death. But as for the occasion of his +death, and the nature of the plot against him, I shall relate +them in the progress of this narration. Now that epistle which +informed Petronius of Caius's death came first, and a little +afterward came that which commanded him to kill himself with his +own hands. Whereupon he rejoiced at this coincidence as to the +death of Caius, and admired God's providence, who, without the +least delay, and immediately, gave him a reward for the regard he +had to the temple, and the assistance he afforded the Jews for +avoiding the dangers they were in. And by this means Petronius +escaped that danger of death, which he could not foresee. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +What Befell The Jews That Were In Babylon On Occasion Of Asineus +And Anileus, Two Brethren. + + +1. A Very sad calamity now befell the Jews that were in +Mesopotamia, and especially those that dwelt in Babylonia. +Inferior it was to none of the calamities which had gone before, +and came together with a great slaughter of them, and that +greater than any upon record before; concerning all which I shall +speak accurately, and shall explain the occasions whence these +miseries came upon them. There was a city of Babylonia called +Neerda; not only a ver populous one, but one that had a good and +a large territory about it, and, besides its other advantages, +full of men also. It was, besides, not easily to be assaulted by +enemies, from the river Euphrates encompassing it all round, and +from the wails that were built about it. There was also the city +Nisibis, situate on the same current of the river. For which +reason the Jews, depending on the natural strength of these +places, deposited in them that half shekel which every one, by +the custom of our country, offers unto God, as well as they did +other things devoted to him; for they made use of these cities as +a treasury, whence, at a proper time, they were transmitted to +Jerusalem; and many ten thousand men undertook the carriage of +those donations, out of fear of the ravages of the Parthians, to +whom the Babylonians were then subject. Now there were two men, +Asineus and Anileus, of the city Neerda by birth, and brethren to +one another. They were destitute of a father, and their mother +put them to learn the art of weaving curtains, it not being +esteemed disgrace among them for men to be weavers of cloth. Now +he that taught them that art, and was set over them, complained +that they came too late to their work, and punished them with +stripes; but they took this just punishment as an affront, and +carried off all the weapons which were kept in that house, which +were not a few, and went into a certain place where was a +partition of the rivers, and was a place naturally very fit for +the feeding of cattle, and for preserving such fruits as were +usually laid up against winter. The poorest sort of the young men +also resorted to them, whom they armed with the weapons they had +gotten, and became their captains; and nothing hindered them from +being their leaders into mischief; for as soon as they were +become invincible, and had built them a citadel, they sent to +such as fed cattle, and ordered them to pay them so much tribute +out of them as might be sufficient for their maintenance, +proposing also that they would be their friends, if they would +submit to them, and that they would defend them from all their +other enemies on every side, but that they would kill the cattle +of those that refused to obey them. So they hearkened to their +proposals, (for they could do nothing else,) and sent them as +many sheep as were required of them; whereby their forces grew +greater, and they became lords over all they pleased, because +they marched suddenly, and did them a mischief, insomuch that +every body who had to do with them chose to pay them respect; and +they became formidable to such as came to assault them, till the +report about them came to the ears of the king of Parthia +himself. + +2. But when the governor of Babylonia understood this, and had a +mind to put a stop to them before they grew greater, and before +greater mischiefs should arise from them, he got together as +great an army as he could, both of Parthians and Babylonians, and +marched against them, thinking to attack them and destroy them +before any one should carry them the news that he had got an army +together. He then encamped at a lake, and lay still; but on the +next day (it was the sabbath, which is among the Jews a day of +rest from all sorts of work) he supposed that the enemy would not +dare to fight him thereon, but that he would take them and carry +them away prisoners, without fighting. He therefore proceeded +gradually, and thought to fall upon them on the sudden. Now +Asineus was sitting with the rest, and their weapons lay by them; +upon which he said, "Sirs, I hear a neighing of horses; not of +such as are feeding, but such as have men on their backs; I also +hear such a noise of their bridles, that I am afraid that some +enemies are coming upon us to encompass us round. However, let +somebody go to look about, and make report of what reality there +is in the present state of things; and may what I have said prove +a false alarm." And when he had said this, some of them went out +to spy out what was the matter; and they came again immediately, +and said to him, that "neither hast thou been mistaken in telling +us what our enemies were doing, nor will those enemies permit us +to be injurious to people any longer. We are caught by their +intrigues like brute beasts, and there is a large body of cavalry +marching upon us, while we are destitute of hands to defend +ourselves withal, because we are restrained from doing it by the +prohibition of our law, which obliges us to rest [on this day]." +But Asiueus did not by any means agree with the opinion of his +spy as to what was to be done, but thought it more agreeable to +the law to pluck up their spirits in this necessity they were +fallen into, and break their law by avenging themselves, although +they should die in the action, than by doing nothing to please +their enemies in submitting to be slain by them. Accordingly, he +took up his weapons, and infused courage into those that were +with him to act as courageously as himself. So they fell upon +their enemies, and slew a great many of them, because they +despised them and came as to a certain victory, and put the rest +to flight. + +3. But when the news of this fight came to the king of Parthia, +he was surprised at the boldness of these brethren, and was +desirous to see them, and speak with them. He therefore sent the +most trusty of all his guards to say thus to them: "That king +Artsbanus, although he had been unjustly treated by you, who have +made an attempt against his government, yet hath he more regard +to your courageous behavior, than to the anger he bears to you, +and hath sent me to give you his right hand (35) and security; +and he permits you to come to him safely, and without any +violence upon the road; and he wants to have you address +yourselves to him as friends, without meaning any guile or deceit +to you. He also promises to make you presents, and to pay you +those respects which will make an addition of his power to your +courage, and thereby be of advantage to you." Yet did Asineus +himself put off his journey thither, but sent his brother Anileus +with all such presents as he could procure. So he went, and was +admitted to the king's presence; and when Artabanus saw Anileus +coming alone, he inquired into the reason why Asineus avoided to +come along with him; and when he understood that he was afraid, +and staid by the lake, he took an oath, by the gods of his +country, that he would do them no harm, if they came to him upon +the assurances he gave them, and gave him his right hand. This is +of the greatest force there with all these barbarians, and +affords a firm security to those who converse with them; for none +of them will deceive you when once they have given you their +right hands, nor will any one doubt of their fidelity, when that +is once given, even though they were before suspected of +injustice. When Artabanus had done this, he sent away Anileus to +persuade his brother to come to him. Now this the king did, +because he wanted to curb his own governors of provinces by the +courage of these Jewish brethren, lest they should make a league +with them; for they were ready for a revolt, and were disposed to +rebel, had they been sent on an expedition against them. He was +also afraid, lest when he was engaged in a war, in order to +subdue those governors of provinces that had revolted, the party +of Asineus, and those in Babylonia, should be augmented, and +either make war upon him, when they should hear of that revolt, +or if they should be disappointed in that case, they would not +fail of doing further mischief to him. + +4. When the king had these intentions, he sent away Anileus, and +Anileus prevailed on his brother [to come to the king], when he +had related to him the king's good-will, and the oath that he had +taken. Accordingly, they made haste to go to Artsbanus, who +received them when they were come with pleasure, and admired +Asineus's courage in the actions he had done, and this because he +was a little man to see to, and at first sight appeared +contemptible also, and such as one might deem a person of no +value at all. He also said to his friends, how, upon the +comparison, he showed his soul to be in all respects superior to +his body; and when, as they were drinking together, he once +showed Asineus to Abdagases, one of the generals of his army, and +told him his name, and described the great courage he was of in +war, and Abdagases had desired leave to kill him, and thereby to +inflict on him a punishment for those injuries he had done to the +Parthian government, the king replied, "I will never give thee +leave to kill a man who hath depended on my faith, especially not +after I have sent him my right hand, and endeavored to gain his +belief by oaths made by the gods. But if thou be a truly warlike +man, thou standest not in need of my perjury. Go thou then, and +avenge the Parthian government; attack this man, when he is +returned back, and conquer him by the forces that are under thy +command, without my privity." Hereupon the king called for +Asineus, and said to him, "It is time for thee, O thou young man! +to return home, and not provoke the indignation of my generals in +this place any further, lest they attempt to murder thee, and +that without my approbation. I commit to thee the country of +Babylonia in trust, that it may, by thy care, be preserved free +from robbers, and from other mischiefs. I have kept my faith +inviolable to thee, and that not in trifling affairs, but in +those that concerned thy safety, and do therefore deserve thou +shouldst be kind to me." When he had said this, and given Asineus +some presents, he sent him away immediately; who, when he was +come home, built fortresses, and became great in a little time, +and managed things with such courage and success, as no other +person, that had no higher a beginning, ever did before him. +Those Parthian governors also, who were sent that way, paid him +great respect; and the honor that was paid him by the Babylonians +seemed to them too small, and beneath his deserts, although he +were in no small dignity and power there; nay, indeed, all the +affairs of Mesopotamia depended upon him, and he more and more +flourished in this happy condition of his for fifteen years. + +5. But as their affairs were in so flourishing a state, there +sprang up a calamity among them on the following occasion. When +once they had deviated from that course of virtue whereby they +had gained so great power, they affronted and transgressed the +laws of their forefathers, and fell under the dominion of their +lusts and pleasures. A certain Parthian, who came as general of +an army into those parts, had a wife following him, who had a +vast reputation for other accomplishments, and particularly was +admired above all other women for her beauty. Anileus, the +brother of Asineus, either heard of that her beauty from others, +or perhaps saw her himself also, and so became at once her lover +and her enemy; partly because he could not hope to enjoy this +woman but by obtaining power over her as a captive, and partly +because he thought he could not conquer his inclinations for her. +As soon therefore as her husband had been declared an enemy to +them, and was fallen in the battle, the widow of the deceased was +married to this her lover. However, this woman did not come into +their house without producing great misfortunes, both to Anileus +himself, and to Asineus also; but brought great mischiefs upon +them on the occasion following. Since she was led away captive, +upon the death of her husband, she concealed the images of those +gods which were their country gods, common to her husband and to +herself: now it was the custom (36) of that country for all to +have the idols they worship in their own houses, and to carry +them along with them when they go into a foreign land; agreeable +to which custom of theirs she carried her idols with her. Now at +first she performed her worship to them privately; but when she +was become Anileus's married wife, she worshipped them in her +accustomed manner, and with the same appointed ceremonies which +she used in her former husband's days; upon which their most +esteemed friends blamed him at first, that he did not act after +the manner of the Hebrews, nor perform what was agreeable to +their laws, in marrying a foreign wife, and one that transgressed +the accurate appointments of their sacrifices and religious +ceremonies; that he ought to consider, lest, by allowing himself +in many pleasures of the body, he might lose his principality, on +account of the beauty of a wife, and that high authority which, +by God's blessing, he had arrived at. But when they prevailed not +at all upon him, he slew one of them for whom he had the greatest +respect, because of the liberty he took with him; who, when he +was dying, out of regard to the laws, imprecated a punishment +upon his murderer Anileus, and upon Asineus also, and that all +their companions might come to a like end from their enemies; +upon the two first as the principal actors of this wickedness, +and upon the rest as those that would not assist him when he +suffered in the defense of their laws. Now these latter were +sorely grieved, yet did they tolerate these doings, because they +remembered that they had arrived at their present happy state by +no other means than their fortitude. But when they also heard of +the worship of those gods whom the Parthians adore, they thought +the injury that Anileus offered to their laws was to be borne no +longer; and a greater number of them came to Asineus, and loudly +complained of Aniteus, and told him that it had been well that he +had of himself seen what was advantageous to them; but that +however it was now high time to correct what had been done amiss, +before the crime that had been committed proved the ruin of +himself and all the rest of them. They added, that the marriage +of this woman was made without their consent, and without a +regard to their old laws; and that the worship which this woman +paid [to her gods] was a reproach to the God whom they +worshipped. Now Asineus was sensible of his brother's offense, +that it had been already the cause of great mischiefs, and would +be so for the time to come; yet did he tolerate the same from the +good-will he had to so near a relation, and forgiving it to him, +on account that his brother was quite overborne by his wicked +inclinations. But as more and more still came about him every +day, and the clamors about it became greater, he at length spake +to Anileus about these clamors, reproving him for his former +actions, and desiring him for the future to leave them off, and +send the woman back to her relations. But nothing was gained by +these reproofs; for as the woman perceived what a tumult was made +among the people on her account, and was afraid for Anileus, lest +he should come to any harm for his love to her, she infused +poison into Asineus's food, and thereby took him off, and was now +secure of prevailing, when her lover was to be judge of what +should be done about her. + +6. So Anileus took the government upon himself alone, and led his +army against the villages of Mithridates, who was a man of +principal authority in Parthin, and had married king Artabanus's +daughter; he also plundered them, and among that prey was found +much money, and many slaves, as also a great number of sheep, and +many other things, which, when gained, make men's condition +happy. Now when Mithridates, who was there at this time, heard +that his villages were taken, he was very much displeased to find +that Anileus had first begun to injure him, and to affront him in +his present dignity, when he had not offered any injury to him +beforehand; and he got together the greatest body of horsemen he +was able, and those out of that number which were of an age fit +for war, and came to fight Anileus; and when he was arrived at a +certain village of his own, he lay still there, as intending to +fight him on the day following, because it was the sabbath, the +day on which the Jews rest. And when Anileus was informed of this +by a Syrian stranger of another village, who not only gave him an +exact account of other circumstances, but told him where +Mithridates would have a feast, he took his supper at a proper +time, and marched by night, with an intent of falling upon the +Parthians while they were unaprrized what they should do; so he +fell upon them about the fourth watch of the night, and some of +them he slew while they were asleep, and others he put to flight, +and took Mithridates alive, and set him naked upon an ass (37) +which, among the Parthians, is esteemed the greatest reproach +possible. And when he had brought him into a wood with such a +resolution, and his friends desired him to kill Mithridates, he +soon told them his own mind to the contrary, and said that it was +not right to kill a man who was of one of the principal families +among the Parthians, and greatly honored with matching into the +royal family; that so far as they had hitherto gone was +tolerable; for although they had injured Mithridates, yet if they +preserved his life, this benefit would be remembered by him to +the advantage of those that gave it him; but that if he were once +put to death, the king would not be at rest till he had made a +great slaughter of the Jews that dwelt at Babylon; "to whose +safety we ought to have a regard, both on account of our relation +to them, and because if any misfortune befall us, we have no +other place to retire to, since he hath gotten the flower of +their youth under him." By this thought, and this speech of his +made in council, he persuaded them to act accordingly; so +Mithridates was let go. But when he was got away, his wife +reproached him, that although he was son-in-law to the king, he +neglected to avenge himself on those that had injured him, while +he took no care about it, but was contented to have been made a +captive by the Jews, and to have escaped them; and she bid him +either to go back like a man of courage, or else she sware by the +gods of their royal family that she would certainly dissolve her +marriage with him. Upon which, partly because he could not bear +the daily trouble of her taunts, and partly because he was afraid +of her insolence, lest she should in earnest dissolve their +marriage, he unwillingly, and against his inclinations, got +together again as great an army as he could, and marched along +with them, as himself thinking it a thing not to be borne any +longer, that he, a Parthian, should owe his preservation to the +Jews, when they had been too hard for him in the war. + +7. But as soon as Anileus understood that Mithridates was +marching with a great army against him, he thought it too +ignominious a thing to tarry about the lakes, and not to take the +first opportunity of meeting his enemies, and he hoped to have +the same success, and to beat their enemies as they did before; +as also he ventured boldly upon the like attempts. Accordingly, +he led out his army, and a great many more joined themselves to +that army, in order to betake themselves to plunder the people, +and in order to terrify the enemy again by their numbers. But +when they had marched ninety furlongs, while the road had been +through dry [and sandy] places, and about the midst of the day, +they were become very thirsty; and Mithridates appeared, and fell +upon them, as they were in distress for want of water, on which +account, and on account of the time of the day, they were not +able to bear their weapons. So Anileus and his men were put to an +ignominious rout, while men in despair were to attack those that +were fresh and in good plight; so a great slaughter was made, and +many ten thousand men fell. Now Anileus, and all that stood firm +about him, ran away as fast as they were able into a wood, and +afforded Mithridates the pleasure of having gained a great +victory over them. But there now came in to Anileus a conflux of +bad men, who regarded their own lives very little, if they might +but gain some present ease, insomuch that they, by thus coming to +him, compensated the multitude of those that perished in the +fight. Yet were not these men like to those that fell, because +they were rash, and unexercised in war; however, with these he +came upon the villages of the Babylonians, and a mighty +devastation of all things was made there by the injuries that +Anileus did them. So the Babylonians, and those that had already +been in the war, sent to Neerda to the Jews there, and demanded +Anileus. But although they did not agree to their demands, (for +if they had been willing to deliver him up, it was not in their +power so to do,) yet did they desire to make peace with them. To +which the other replied, that they also wanted to settle +conditions of peace with them, and sent men together with the +Babylonians, who discoursed with Anileus about them. But the +Babylonians, upon taking a view of his situation, and having +learned where Anileus and his men lay, fell secretly upon them as +they were drunk and fallen asleep, and slew all that they caught +of them, without any fear, and killed Anileus himself also. + +8. The Babylonians were now freed from Anileus's heavy +incursions, which had been a great restraint to the effects of +that hatred they bore to the Jews; for they were almost always at +variance, by reason of the contrariety of their laws; and which +party soever grew boldest before the other, they assaulted the +other: and at this time in particular it was, that upon the ruin +of Anileus's party, the Babylonians attacked the Jews, which made +those Jews so, vehemently to resent the injuries they received +from the Babylonians, that being neither able to fight them, nor +bearing to live with them, they went to Seleucia, the principal +city of those parts, which was built by Seleucus Nicator. It was +inhabited by many of the Macedonians, but by more of the +Grecians; not a few of the Syrians also dwelt there; and thither +did the Jews fly, and lived there five years, without any +misfortunes. But on the sixth year, a pestilence came upon these +at Babylon, which occasioned new removals of men's habitations +out of that city; and because they came to Seleucia, it happened +that a still heavier calamity came upon them on that account +which I am going to relate immediately. + +9. Now the way of living of the people of Seleucia, which were +Greeks and Syrians, was commonly quarrelsome, and full of +discords, though the Greeks were too hard for the Syrians. When, +therefore, the Jews were come thither, and dwelt among them, +there arose a sedition, and the Syrians were too hard for the +other, by the assistance of the Jews, who are men that despise +dangers, and very ready to fight upon any occasion. Now when the +Greeks had the worst in this sedition, and saw that they had but +one way of recovering their former authority, and that was, if +they could prevent the agreement between the Jews and the +Syrians, they every one discoursed with such of the Syrians as +were formerly their acquaintance, and promised they would be at +peace and friendship with them. Accordingly, they gladly agreed +so to do; and when this was done by the principal men of both +nations, they soon agreed to a reconciliation; and when they were +so agreed, they both knew that the great design of such their +union would be their common hatred to the Jews. Accordingly, they +fell upon them, and slew about fifty thousand of them; nay, the +Jews were all destroyed, excepting a few who escaped, either by +the compassion which their friends or neighbors afforded them, in +order to let them fly away. These retired to Ctesiphon, a Grecian +city, and situate near to Seleucia, where the king [of Parthia] +lives in winter every year, and where the greatest part of his +riches are reposited; but the Jews had here no certain +settlement, those of Seleucia having little concern for the +king's honor. Now the whole nation of the Jews were in fear both +of the Babylonians and of the Seleucians, because all the Syrians +that live in those places agreed with the Seleucians in the war +against the Jews; so the most of them gathered themselves +together, and went to Neerda and Nisibis, and obtained security +there by the strength of those cities; besides which their +inhabitants, who were a great many, were all warlike men. And +this was the state of the Jews at this time in Babylonia. + + + + +BOOK XIX. + +Containing The Interval Of Three Years And A Half. + +From The Departure Out Of Babylon To Fadus, The Roman Procurator. + +CHAPTER 1. + +How Caius (1) Was Slain By Cherea. + + +1. Now this Caius (2) did not demonstrate his madness in offering +injuries only to the Jews at Jerusalem, or to those that dwelt in +the neighborhood; but suffered it to extend itself through all +the earth and sea, so far as was in subjection to the Romans, and +filled it with ten thousand mischiefs; so many indeed in number +as no former history relates. But Rome itself felt the most +dismal effects of what he did, while he deemed that not to be any +way more honorable than the rest of the cities; but he pulled and +hauled its other citizens, but especially the senate, and +particularly the nobility, and such as had been dignified by +illustrious ancestors; he also had ten thousand devices against +such of the equestrian order, as it was styled, who were esteemed +by the citizens equal in dignity and wealth with the senators, +because out of them the senators were themselves chosen; these he +treated after all ignominious manner, and removed them out of his +way, while they were at once slain, and their wealth plundered, +because he slew men generally in order to seize on their riches. +He also asserted his own divinity, and insisted on greater honors +to be paid him by his subjects than are due to mankind. He also +frequented that temple of Jupiter which they style the Capitol, +which is with them the most holy of all their temples, and had +boldness enough to call himself the brother of Jupiter. And other +pranks he did like a madman; as when he laid a bridge from the +city Dicearchia, which belongs to Campania, to Misenum, another +city upon the sea-side, from one promontory to another, of the +length of thirty furlongs, as measured over the sea. And this was +done because he esteemed it to be a most tedious thing to row +over it in a small ship, and thought withal that it became him to +make that bridge, since he was lord of the sea, and might oblige +it to give marks of obedience as well as the earth; so he +enclosed the whole bay within his bridge, and drove his chariot +over it; and thought that, as he was a god, it was fit for him to +travel over such roads as this was. Nor did he abstain from the +plunder of any of the Grecian temples, and gave order that all +the engravings and sculptures, and the rest of the ornaments of +the statues and donations therein dedicated, should be brought to +him, saying that the best things ought to be set no where but in +the best place, and that the city of Rome was that best place. He +also adorned his own house and his gardens with the curiosities +brought from those temples, together with the houses he lay at +when he traveled all over Italy; whence he did not scruple to +give a command that the statue of Jupiter Olympius, so called +because he was honored at the Olympian games by the Greeks, which +was the work of Phidias the Athenian, should be brought to Rome. +Yet did not he compass his end, because the architects told +Memmius Regulus, who was commanded to remove that statue of +Jupiter, that the workmanship was such as would be spoiled, and +would not bear the removal. It was also reported that Memmius, +both on that account, and on account of some such mighty +prodigies as are of an incredible nature, put off the taking it +down, and wrote to Caius those accounts, as his apology for not +having done what his epistle required of him; and that when he +was thence in danger of perishing, he was saved by Caius being +dead himself, before he had put him to death. + +2. Nay, Caius's madness came to this height, that when he had a +daughter born, he carried her into the capitol, and put her upon +the knees of the statue, and said that the child was common to +him and to Jupiter, and determined that she had two fathers, but +which of these fathers were the greatest he left undetermined; +and yet mankind bore him in such his pranks. He also gave leave +to slaves to accuse their masters of any crimes whatsoever they +pleased; for all such accusations were terrible, because they +were in great part made to please him, and at his suggestion, +insomuch that Pollux, Claudius's slave, had the boldness to lay +an accusation against Claudius himself; and Caius was not ashamed +to be present at his trial of life and death, to hear that trial +of his own uncle, in hopes of being able to take him off, +although he did not succeed to his mind. But when he had filled +the whole habitable world which he governed with false +accusations and miseries, and had occasioned the greatest insults +of slaves against their masters, who indeed in a great measure +ruled them, there were many secret plots now laid against him; +some in anger, and in order for men to revenge themselves, on +account of the miseries they had already undergone from him; and +others made attempts upon him, in order to take him off before +they should fall into such great miseries, while his death came +very fortunately for the preservation of the laws of all men, and +had a great influence upon the public welfare; and this happened +most happily for our nation in particular, which had almost +utterly perished if he had not been suddenly slain. And I confess +I have a mind to give a full account of this matter particularly, +because it will afford great assurance of the power of God, and +great comfort to those that are under afflictions, and wise +caution to those who think their happiness will never end, nor +bring them at length to the most lasting miseries, if they do not +conduct their lives by the principles of virtue. + +3. Now there were three several conspiracies made in order to +take off Caius, and each of these three were conducted by +excellent persons. Emilius Regulus, born at Corduba in Spain, got +some men together, and was desirous to take Caius off, either by +them or by himself. Another conspiracy there was laid by them, +under the conduct of Cherea Cassius, the tribune [of the +Pretorian band]. Minucianus Annins was also one of great +consequence among those that were prepared to oppose his tyranny. +Now the several occasions of these men's several hatred and +conspiracy against Caius were these: Regulus had indignation and +hatred against all injustice, for he had a mind naturally angry, +and bold, and free, which made him not conceal his counsels; so +he communicated them to many of his friends, and to others who +seemed to him persons of activity and vigor: Minucianus entered +into this conspiracy, because of the injustice done to Lepidus +his particular friend, and one of the best character of all the +citizens, whom Caius had slain, as also because he was afraid of +himself, since Caius's wrath tended to the slaughter of all +alike: and for Cherea, he came in, because he thought it a deed +worthy of a free ingenuous man to kill Caius, and was ashamed of +the reproaches he lay under from Caius, as though he were a +coward; as also because he was himself in danger every day from +his friendship with him, and the observance he paid him. These +men proposed this attempt to all the rest that were concerned, +who saw the injuries that were offered them, and were desirous +that Caius's slaughter might succeed by their mutual assistance +of one another, and they might themselves escape being killed by +the taking off Caius; that perhaps they should gain their point; +and that it would be a happy thing, if they should gain it, to +approve themselves to so many excellent persons, as earnestly +wished to be partakers with them in their design for the delivery +of the city and of the government, even at the hazard of their +own lives. But still Cherea was the most zealous of them all, +both out of a desire of getting himself the greatest name, and +also by reason of his access to Caius's presence with less +danger, because he was tribune, and could therefore the more +easily kill him. + +4. Now at this time came on the horse-races [Circensian games]; +the view of which games was eagerly desired by the people of +Rome, for they come with great alacrity into the hippodrome +[circus] at such times, and petition their emperors, in great +multitudes, for what they stand in need of; who usually did not +think fit to deny them their requests, but readily and gratefully +granted them. Accordingly, they most importunately desired that +Caius would now ease them in their tributes, and abate somewhat +of the rigor of their taxes imposed upon them; but he would not +hear their petition; and when their clamors increased, he sent +soldiers some one way and some another, and gave order that they +should lay hold on those that made the clamors, and without any +more ado bring them out, and put them to death. These were +Caius's commands, and those who were commanded executed the same; +and the number of those who were slain on this occasion was very +great. Now the people saw this, and bore it so far, that they +left off clamoring, because they saw with their own eyes that +this petition to be relieved, as to the payment of their money, +brought immediate death upon them. These things made Cherea more +resolute to go on with his plot, in order to put an end to this +barbarity of Caius against men. He then at several times thought +to fall upon Caius, even as he was feasting; yet did he restrain +himself by some considerations; not that he had any doubt on him +about killing him, but as watching for a proper season, that the +attempt might not be frustrated, but that he might give the blow +so as might certainly gain his purpose. + +5. Cherea had been in the army a long time, yet was he not +pleased with conversing so much with Caius. But Caius had set him +to require the tributes, and other dues, which, when not paid in +due time, were forfeited to Caesar's treasury; and he had made +some delays in requiring them, because those burdens had been +doubled, and had rather indulged his own mild disposition than +performed Caius's command; nay, indeed, he provoked Caius to +anger by his sparing men, and pitying the hard fortunes of those +from whom he demanded the taxes; and Caius upbraided him with his +sloth and effeminacy in being so long about collecting the taxes. +And indeed he did not only affront him in other respects, but +when he gave him the watchword of the day, to whom it was to be +given by his place, he gave him feminine words, and those of a +nature very reproachful; and these watchwords he gave out, as +having been initiated in the secrets of certain mysteries, which +he had been himself the author of. Now although he had sometimes +put on women's clothes, and had been wrapt in some embroidered +garments to them belonging, and done a great many other things, +in order to make the company mistake him for a woman; yet did he, +by way of reproach, object the like womanish behavior to Cherea. +But when Cherea received the watchword from him, he had +indignation at it, but had greater indignation at the delivery of +it to others, as being laughed at by those that received it; +insomuch that his fellow tribunes made him the subject of their +drollery; for they would foretell that he would bring them some +of his usual watchwords when he was about to take the watchword +from Caesar, and would thereby make him ridiculous; on which +accounts he took the courage of assuming certain partners to him, +as having just reasons for his indignation against Caius. Now +there was one Pompedius, a senator, and one who had gone through +almost all posts in the government, but otherwise an Epicurean, +and for that reason loved to lead an inactive life. Now Timidius, +an enemy of his, had informed Caius that he had used indecent +reproaches against him, and he made use of Quintilia for a +witness to them; a woman she was much beloved by many that +frequented the theater, and particularly by Pompedius, on account +of her great beauty. Now this woman thought it a horrible thing +to attest to an accusation that touched the life of her lover, +which was also a lie. Timidius, however, wanted to have her +brought to the torture. Caius was irritated at this reproach upon +him, and commanded Cherea, without any delay, to torture +Quintilia, as he used to employ Cherea in such bloody matters, +and those that required the torture, because he thought he would +do it the more barbarously, in order to avoid that imputation of +effeminacy which he had laid upon him. But Quintilia, when she +was brought to the rack, trod upon the foot of one of her +associates, and let him know that he might be of good courage, +and not be afraid of the consequence of her tortures, for that +she would bear them with magnanimity. Cherea tortured this woman +after a cruel manner; unwillingly indeed, but because he could +not help it. He then brought her, without being in the least +moved at what she had suffered, into the presence of Caius, and +that in such a state as was sad to behold; and Caius, being +somewhat affected with the sight of Quintilia, who had her body +miserably disordered by the pains she had undergone, freed both +her and Pompedius of the crime laid to their charge. He also gave +her money to make her an honorable amends, and comfort her for +that maiming of her body which she had suffered, and for her +glorious patience under such insufferable torments. + +6. This matter sorely grieved Cherea, as having been the cause, +as far as he could, or the instrument, of those miseries to men, +which seemed worthy of consolation to Caius himself; on which +account he said to Clement and to Papinius, (of whom Clement was +general of the army, and Papinius was a tribune,) "To be sure, O +Clement, we have no way failed in our guarding the emperor; for +as to those that have made conspiracies against his government, +some have been slain by our care and pains, and some have been by +us tortured, and this to such a degree, that he hath himself +pitied them. How great then is our virtue in submitting to +conduct his armies!" Clement held his peace, but showed the shame +he was under in obeying Caius's orders, both by his eyes and his +blushing countenance, while he thought it by no means right to +accuse the emperor in express words, lest their own safety should +be endangered thereby. Upon which Cherea took courage, and spake +to him without fear of the dangers that were before him, and +discoursed largely of the sore calamities under which the city +and the government then labored, and said, "We may indeed pretend +in words that Caius is the person unto whom the cause of such +miseries ought to be imputed; but, in the opinion of such as are +able to judge uprightly, it is I, O Clement! and this Papinius, +and before us thou thyself, who bring these tortures upon the +Romans, and upon all mankind. It is not done by our being +subservient to the commands of Caius, but it is done by our own +consent; for whereas it is in our power to put an end to the life +of this man, who hath so terribly injured the citizens and his +subjects, we are his guard in mischief, and his executioners +instead of his soldiers, and are the instruments of his cruelty. +We bear these weapons, not for our liberty, not for the Roman +government, but only for his preservation, who hath enslaved both +their bodies and their minds; and we are every day polluted with +the blood that we shed, and the torments we inflict upon others; +and this we do, till somebody becomes Caius's instrument in +bringing the like miseries upon ourselves. Nor does he thus +employ us because he hath a kindness for us, but rather because +he hath a suspicion of us, as also because when abundance more +have been killed, (for Caius will set no bounds to his wrath, +since he aims to do all, not out of regard to justice, but to his +own pleasure,) we shall also ourselves be exposed to his cruelty; +whereas we ought to be the means of confirming the security and +liberty of all, and at the same time to resolve to free ourselves +from dangers. + +7. Hereupon Clement openly commended Cherea's intentions, but bid +him hold his tongue; for that in case his words should get out +among many, and such things should be spread abroad as were fit +to be concealed, the plot would come to be discovered before it +was executed, and they should be brought to punishment; but that +they should leave all to futurity, and the hope which thence +arose, that some fortunate event would come to their assistance; +that, as for himself, his age would not permit him to make any +attempt in that case. "However, although perhaps I could suggest +what may be safer than what thou, Cherea, hast contrived and +said, yet trow is it possible for any one to suggest what is more +for thy reputation?" So Clement went his way home, with deep +reflections on what he had heard, and what he had himself said. +Cherea also was under a concern, and went quickly to Cornelius +Sabinus, who was himself one of the tribunes, and whom he +otherwise knew to be a worthy man, and a lover of liberty, and on +that account very uneasy at the present management of public +affairs, he being desirous to come immediately to the execution +of what had been determined, and thinking it right for him to +propose it to the other, and afraid lest Clement should discover +them, and besides looking upon delays and puttings off to be the +next to desisting from the enterprise. + +8. But as all was agreeable to Sabinus, who had himself, equally +without Cherea, the same design, but had been silent for want of +a person to whom he could safely communicate that design; so +having now met with one, who not only promised to conceal what he +heard, but who had already opened his mind to him, he was much +more encouraged, and desired of Cherea that no delay might be +made therein. Accordingly they went to Minucianus, who was as +virtuous a man, and as zealous to do glorious actions, as +themselves, and suspected by Caius on occasion of the slaughter +of Lepidus; for Minucianus and Lepidus were intimate friends, and +both in fear of the dangers that they were under; for Caius was +terrible to all the great men, as appearing ready to act a mad +part towards each of them in particular, and towards all of: them +in general; and these men were afraid of one another, while they +were yet uneasy at the posture of affairs, but avoided to declare +their mind and their hatred against Caius to one another, out of +fear of the dangers they might be in thereby, although they +perceived by other means their mutual hatred against Caius, and +on that account were not averse to a mutual kindness one towards +another. + +9. When Minuetanus and Cherea had met together, and saluted one +another, (as they had been used on former conversations to give +the upper hand to Minucianus, both on account of his eminent +dignity, for he was the noblest of all the citizens, and highly +commended by all men, especially when he made speeches to them,) +Minuetanus began first, and asked Cherea, What was the watchword +he had received that day from Caius; for the affront which was +offered Cherea, in giving the watchwords, was famous over the +city. But Cherea made no delay so long as to reply to that +question, out of the joy he had that Minueianus would have such +confidence in him as to discourse with him. "But do thou," said +he, "give me the watchword of liberty. And I return thee my +thanks that thou hast so greatly encouraged me to exert myself +after an extraordinary manner; nor do I stand in need of many +words to encourage me, since both thou and I are of the same +mind, and partakers of the same resolutions, and this before we +have conferred together. I have indeed but one sword girt on, but +this one will serve us both. Come on, therefore, let us set about +the work. Do thou go first, if thou hast a mind, and bid me +follow thee; or else I will go first, and thou shalt assist me, +and we will assist one another, and trust one another. Nor is +there a necessity for even one sword to such as have a mind +disposed to such works, by which mind the sword uses to be +successful. I am zealous about this action, nor am I solicitous +what I may myself undergo; for I can not at leisure to consider +the dangers that may come upon myself, so deeply am I troubled at +the slavery our once free country is now under, and at the +contempt cast upon our excellent laws, and at the destruction +which hangs over all men, by the means of Caius. I wish that I +may be judged by thee, and that thou mayst esteem me worthy of +credit in these matters, seeing we are both of the same opinion, +and there is herein no difference between us." + +10. When Minucianus saw the vehemency with which Cherea delivered +himself, he gladly embraced him, and encouraged him in his bold +attempt, commending him, and embracing him; so he let him go with +his good wishes; and some affirm that he thereby confirmed +Minuclanus in the prosecution of what had been agreed among them; +for as Cherea entered into the court, the report runs, that a +voice came from among the multitude to encourage him, which bid +him finish what he was about, and take the opportunity that +Providence afforded; and that Cherea at first suspected that some +one of the conspirators had betrayed him, and he was caught, but +at length perceived that it was by way of exhortation. Whether +somebody (3) that was conscious of what he was about, gave a +signal for his encouragement, or whether it was God himself, who +looks upon the actions of men, that encouraged him to go on +boldly in his design, is uncertain. The plot was now communicated +to a great many, and they were all in their armor; some of the +conspirators being senators, and some of the equestrian order, +and as many of the soldiery as were made acquainted with it; for +there was not one of them who would not reckon it a part of his +happiness to kill Caius; and on that account they were all very +zealous in the affair, by what means soever any one could come at +it, that he might not be behindhand in these virtuous designs, +but might be ready with all his alacrity or power, both by words +and actions, to complete this slaughter of a tyrant. And besides +these, Callistus also, who was a freed-man of Caius, and was the +only man that had arrived at the greatest degree of power under +him, - such a power, indeed, as was in a manner equal to the +power of the tyrant himself, by the dread that all men had of +him, and by the great riches he had acquired; for he took bribes +most plenteously, and committed injuries without bounds, and was +more extravagant in the use of his power in unjust proceedings +than any other. He also knew the disposition of Caius to be +implacable, and never to be turned from what he had resolved on. +He had withal many other reasons why he thought himself in +danger, and the vastness of his wealth was not one of the least +of them; on which account he privately ingratiated himself with +Claudius, and transferred his courtship to him, out of this hope, +that in case, upon the removal of Caius, the government should +come to him, his interest in such changes should lay a foundation +for his preserving his dignity under him, since he laid in +beforehand a stock of merit, and did Claudius good offices in his +promotion. He had also the boldness to pretend that he had been +persuaded to make away with Claudius, by poisoning him, but had +still invented ten thousand excuses for delaying to do it. But it +seems probable to me that Callistus only counterfeited this, in +order to ingratiate himself with Claudius; for if Caius had been +in earnest resolved to take off Claudius, he would not have +admitted of Callistus's excuses; nor would Callistus, if he had +been enjoined to do such an act as was desired by Caius, have put +it off; nor if he had disobeyed those injunctions of his master, +had he escaped immediate punishment; while Claudius was preserved +from the madness of Caius by a certain Divine providence, and +Callistus pretended to such a piece of merit as he no way +deserved. + +11. However, the execution of Cherea's designs was put off from +day to day, by the sloth of many therein concerned; for as to +Cherea himself, he would not willingly make any delay in that +execution, thinking every time a fit time for it; for frequent +opportunities offered themselves; as when Caius went up to the +capitol to sacrifice for his daughter, or when he stood upon his +royal palace, and threw gold and silver pieces of money among the +people, he might be pushed down headlong, because the top of the +palace, that looks towards the market-place, was very high; and +also when he celebrated the mysteries, which he had appointed at +that time; for he was then no way secluded from the people, but +solicitous to do every thing carefully and decently, and was free +from all suspicion that he should be then assaulted by any body; +and although the gods should afford him no divine assistance to +enable him to take away his life, yet had he strength himself +sufficient to despatch Caius, even without a sword. Thus was +Chorea angry at his fellow conspirators, for fear they should +suffer a proper opportunity to pass by; and they were themselves +sensible that he had just cause to be angry at them, and that his +eagerness was for their advantage; yet did they desire he would +have a little longer patience, lest, upon any disappointment they +might meet with, they should put the city into disorder, and an +inquisition should be made after the conspiracy, and should +render the courage of those that were to attack Caius without +success, while he would then secure himself more carefully than +ever against them; that it would therefore be the best to set +about the work when the shows were exhibited in the palace. These +shows were acted in honor of that Caesar (4) who first of all +changed the popular government, and transferred it to himself; +galleries being fixed before the palace, where the Romans that +were patricians became spectators, together with their children +and their wives, and Caesar himself was to be also a spectator; +and they reckoned, among those many ten thousands who would there +be crowded into a narrow compass, they should have a favorable +opportunity to make their attempt upon him as he came in, because +his guards that should protect him, if any of them should have a +mind to do it, would not here be able to give him any assistance. + +12. Cherea consented to this delay; and when the shows were +exhibited, it was resolved to do the work the first day. But +fortune, which allowed a further delay to his slaughter, was too +hard for their foregoing resolution; and as three days of the +regular times for these shows were now over, they had much ado to +get the business done on the last day. Then Cherea called the +conspirators together, and spake thus to them: "So much time +passed away without effort is a reproach to us, as delaying to go +through such a virtuous design as we are engaged in; but more +fatal will this delay prove if we be discovered, and the design +be frustrated; for Caius will then become more cruel in his +unjust proceedings. Do we not see how long we deprive all our +friends of their liberty, and give Caius leave still to tyrannize +over them? while we ought to have procured them security for the +future, and, by laying a foundation for the happiness of others, +gain to ourselves great admiration and honor for all time to +come." Now while the conspirators had nothing tolerable to say by +way of contradiction, and yet did not quite relish what they were +doing, but stood silent and astonished, he said further, "O my +brave comrades! why do we make such delays? Do not you see that +this is the last day of these shows, and that Caius is about to +go to sea? for he is preparing to sail to Alexandria, in order to +see Egypt. Is it therefore for your honor to let a man go out of +your hands who is a reproach to mankind, and to permit him to go, +after a pompous manner, triumphing both at land and sea? Shall +not we be justly ashamed of ourselves, if we give leave to some +Egyptian or other, who shall think his injuries insufferable to +free-men, to kill him? As for myself, I will no longer bear your +stow proceedings, but will expose myself to the dangers of the +enterprise this very day, and bear cheerfully whatsoever shall be +the consequence of the attempt; nor, let them be ever so great, +will I put them off any longer: for, to a wise and courageous +man, what can be more miserable than that, while I am alive, any +one else should kill Caius, and deprive me of the honor of so +virtuous an action?" + +13. When Cherea had spoken thus, he zealously set about the work, +and inspired courage into the rest to go on with it, and they +were all eager to fall to it without further delay. So he was at +the palace in the morning, with his equestrian sword girt on him; +for it was the custom that the tribunes should ask for the +watchword with their swords on, and this was the day on which +Cherea was, by custom, to receive the watchword; and the +multitude were already come to the palace, to be soon enough for +seeing the shows, and that in great crowds, and one tumultuously +crushing another, while Caius was delighted with this eagerness +of the multitude; for which reason there was no order observed in +the seating men, nor was any peculiar place appointed for the +senators, or for the equestrian order; but they sat at random, +men and women together, and free-men were mixed with the slaves. +So Caius came out in a solemn manner, and offered sacrifice to +Augustus Caesar, in whose honor indeed these shows were +celebrated. Now it happened, upon the fall of a certain priest, +that the garment of Asprenas, a senator, was filled with blood, +which made Caius laugh, although this was an evident omen to +Asprenas, for he was slain at the same time with Caius. It is +also related that Caius was that day, contrary to his usual +custom, so very affable and good-natured in his conversation, +that every one of those that were present were astonished at it. +After the sacrifice was over, Caius betook himself to see the +shows, and sat down for that purpose, as did also the principal +of his friends sit near him. Now the parts of the theater were so +fastened together, as it used to be every year, in the manner +following: It had two doors, the one door led to the open air, +the other was for going into, or going out of, the cloisters, +that those within the theater might not be thereby disturbed; but +out of one gallery there went an inward passage, parted into +partitions also, which led into another gallery, to give room to +the combatants and to the musicians to go out as occasion served. +When the multitude were set down, and Cherea, with the other +tribunes, were set down also, and the right corner of the theater +was allotted to Caesar, one Vatinius, a senator, commander of the +praetorian band, asked of Cluvius, one that sat by him, and was +of consular dignity also, whether he had heard any thing of news, +or not? but took care that nobody should hear what he said; and +when Cluvius replied, that he had heard no news, "Know then," +said Vatinius, "that the game of the slaughter of tyrants is to +be played this day." But Cluvius replied "O brave comrade hold +thy peace, lest some other of the Achaians hear thy tale." And as +there was abundance of autumnal fruit thrown among the +spectators, and a great number of birds, that were of great value +to such as possessed them, on account of their rareness, Caius +was pleased with the birds fighting for the fruits, and with the +violence wherewith the spectators seized upon them: and here he +perceived two prodigies that happened there; for an actor was +introduced, by whom a leader of robbers was crucified, and the +pantomime brought in a play called Cinyras, wherein he himself +was to be slain, as well as his daughter Myrrha, and wherein a +great deal of fictitious blood was shed, both about him that was +crucified, and also about Cinyras. It was also confessed that +this was the same day wherein Pausanias, a friend of Philip, the +son of Amyntas, who was king of Macedonia, slew him, as he was +entering into the theater. And now Caius was in doubt whether he +should tarry to the end of the shows, because it was the last +day, or whether he should not go first to the bath, and to +dinner, and then return and sit down as before. Hereupon +Minucianus, who sat over Caius, and was afraid that the +opportunity should fail them, got up, because he saw Cherea was +already gone out, and made haste out, to confirm him in his +resolution; but Caius took hold of his garment, in an obliging +way, and said to him, "O brave man! whither art thou going?" +Whereupon, out of reverence to Caesar, as it seemed, he sat down +again; but his fear prevailed over him, and in a little time he +got up again, and then Caius did no way oppose his going out, as +thinking that he went out to perform some necessities of nature. +And Asprenas, who was one of the confederates, persuaded Caius to +go out to the bath, and to dinner, and then to come in again, as +desirous that what had been resolved on might be brought to a +conclusion immediately. + +14. So Cherea's associates placed themselves in order, as the +time would permit them, and they were obliged to labor hard, that +the place which was appointed them should not be left by them; +but they had an indignation at the tediousness of the delays, and +that what they were about should be put off any longer, for it +was already about the ninth (5) hour of the day; and Cherea, upon +Caius's tarrying so long, had a great mind to go in, and fall +upon him in his seat, although he foresaw that this could not be +done without much bloodshed, both of the senators, and of those +of the equestrian order that were present; and although he knew +this must happen, yet had he a great mind to do so, as thinking +it a right thing to procure security and freedom to all, at the +expense of such as might perish at the same time. And as they +were just going back into the entrance to the theater, word was +brought them that Caius was arisen, whereby a tumult was made; +hereupon the conspirators thrust away the crowd, under pretense +as if Caius was angry at them, but in reality as desirous to have +a quiet place, that should have none in it to defend him, while +they set about Caius's slaughter. Now Claudius, his uncle, was +gone out before, and Marcus Vinicius his sister's husband, as +also Valellus of Asia; whom though they had had such a mind to +put out of their places, the reverence to their dignity hindered +them so to do; then followed Caius, with Paulus Arruntius: and +because Caius was now gotten within the palace, he left the +direct road, along which those his servants stood that were in +waiting, and by which road Claudius had gone out before, Caius +turned aside into a private narrow passage, in order to go to the +place for bathing, as also in order to take a view of the boys +that came out of Asia, who were sent thence, partly to sing hymns +in these mysteries which were now celebrated, and partly to dance +in the Pyrrhic way of dancing upon the theatres. So Cherea met +him, and asked him for the watchword; upon Caius's giving him one +of his ridiculous words, he immediately reproached him, and drew +his sword, and gave him a terrible stroke with it, yet was not +this stroke mortal. And although there be those that say it was +so contrived on purpose by Chorea, that Caius should not be +killed at one blow, but should be punished more severely by a +multitude of wounds; yet does this story appear to me incredible, +because the fear men are under in such actions does not allow +them to use their reason. And if Cherea was of that mind, I +esteem him the greatest of all fools, in pleasing himself in his +spite against Caius, rather than immediately procuring safety to +himself and to his confederates from the dangers they were in, +because there might many things still happen for helping Caius's +escape, if he had not already given up the ghost; for certainly +Cherea would have regard, not so much to the punishment of Caius, +as to the affliction himself and his friends were in, while it +was in his power, after such success, to keep silent, and to +escape the wrath of Caius's defenders, and not to leave it to +uncertainty whether he should gain the end he aimed at or not, +and after an unreasonable manner to act as if he had a mind to +ruin himself, and lose the opportunity that lay before him. But +every body may guess as he please about this matter. However, +Caius was staggered with the pain that the blow gave him; for the +stroke of the sword falling in the middle, between the shoulder +and the neck, was hindered by the first bone of the breast from +proceeding any further. Nor did he either cry out, (in such +astonishment was he,) nor did he call out for any of his friends; +whether it were that he had no confidence in them, or that his +mind was otherwise disordered, but he groaned under the pain he +endured, and presently went forward and fled; when Cornelius +Sabinus, who was already prepared in his mind so to do, thrust +him down upon his knee, where many of them stood round about him, +and struck him with their swords; and they cried out, and +encouraged one another all at once to strike him again; but all +agree that Aquila gave him the finishing stroke, which directly +killed him. But one may justly ascribe this act to Cherea; for +although many concurred in the act itself, yet was he the first +contriver of it, and began long before all the rest to prepare +for it, and was the first man that boldly spake of it to the +rest; and upon their admission of what he said about it, he got +the dispersed conspirators together; he prepared every thing +after a prudent manner, and by suggesting good advice, showed +himself far superior to the rest, and made obliging speeches to +them, insomuch that he even compelled them all to go on, who +otherwise had not courage enough for that purpose; and when +opportunity served to use his sword in hand, he appeared first of +all ready so to do, and gave the first blow in this virtuous +slaughter; he also brought Caius easily into the power of the +rest, and almost killed him himself, insomuch that it is but just +to ascribe all that the rest did to the advice, and bravery, and +labors of the hands of Cherea. + +15. Thus did Caius come to his end, and lay dead, by the many +wounds which had been given him. Now Cherea and his associates, +upon Caius's slaughter, saw that it was impossible for them to +save themselves, if they should all go the same way, partly on +account of the astonishment they were under; for it was no small +danger they had incurred by killing an emperor, who was honored +and loved by the madness of the people, especially when the +soldiers were likely to make a bloody inquiry after his +murderers. The passages also were narrow wherein the work was +done, which were also crowded with a great multitude of Caius's +attendants, and of such of the soldiers as were of the emperor's +guard that day; whence it was that they went by other ways, and +came to the house of Germanicus, the father of Caius, whom they +had now killed (which house adjoined to the palace; for while the +edifice was one, it was built in its several parts by those +particular persons who had been emperors, and those parts bare +the names of those that built them or the name of him who had +begun to build its parts). So they got away from the insults of +the multitude, and then were for the present out of danger, that +is, so long as the misfortune which had overtaken the emperor was +not known. The Germans were the first who perceived that Caius +was slain. These Germans were Caius's guard, and carried the name +of the country whence they were chosen, and composed the Celtic +legion. The men of that country are naturally passionate, which +is commonly the temper of some other of the barbarous nations +also, as being not used to consider much about what they do; they +are of robust bodies and fall upon their enemies as soon as ever +they are attacked by them; and which way soever they go, they +perform great exploits. When, therefore, these German guards +understood that Caius was slain, they were very sorry for it, +because they did not use their reason in judging about public +affairs, but measured all by the advantages themselves received, +Caius being beloved by them because of the money he gave them, by +which he had purchased their kindness to him; so they drew their +swords, and Sabinus led them on. He was one of the tribunes, not +by the means of the virtuous actions of his pro genitors, for he +had been a gladiator, but he had obtained that post in the army +by his having a robust body. So these Germans marched along the +houses in quest of Caesar's murderers, and cut Asprenas to +pieces, because he was the first man they fell upon, and whose +garment it was that the blood of the sacrifices stained, as I +have said already, and which foretold that this his meeting the +soldiers would not be for his good. Then did Norbanus meet them, +who was one of the principal nobility of and could show many +generals of armies among his ancestors; but they paid no regard +to his dignity; yet was he of such great strength, that he +wrested the sword of the first of those that assaulted him out of +his hands, and appeared plainly not to be willing to die without +a struggle for his life, until he was surrounded by a great +number of assailants, and died by the multitude of the wounds +which they gave him. The third man was Anteius, a senator, and a +few others with him. He did not meet with these Germans by +chance, as the rest did before, but came to show his hatred to +Caius, and because he loved to see Caius lie dead with his own +eyes, and took a pleasure in that sight; for Caius had banished +Anteius's father, who was of the same name with himself, and +being not satisfied with that, he sent out his soldiers, and slew +him; so he was come to rejoice at the sight of him, now he was +dead. But as the house was now all in a tumult, when he was +aiming to hide himself, he could not escape that accurate search +which the Germans made, while they barbarously slew those that +were guilty, and those that were not guilty, and this equally +also. And thus were these [three] persons slain. + +16. But when the rumor that Caius was slain reached the theater, +they were astonished at it, and could not believe it; even some +that entertained his destruction with great pleasure, and were +more desirous of its happening than almost any other faction that +could come to them, were under such a fear, that they could not +believe it. There were also those who greatly distrusted it, +because they were unwilling that any such thing should come to +Caius, nor could believe it, though it were ever so true, because +they thought no man could possibly so much power as to kill +Caius. These were the women, and the children, and the slaves, +and some of the soldiery. This last sort had taken his pay, and +in a manner tyrannized with him, and had abused the best of the +citizens, in being subservient to his unjust commands, in order +to gain honors and advantages to themselves; but for the women +and the youth, they had been inveigled with shows, and the +fighting of the gladiators, and certain distributions of +flesh-meat among them, which things them pretense were designed +for the pleasing of multitude, but in reality to satiate the +barbarous cruelty and madness of Caius. The slaves also were +sorry, because they were by Caius allowed to accuse and to +despise their masters, and they could have recourse to his +assistance when they had unjustly affronted them; for he was very +easy in believing them against their masters, even when they the +city, accused them falsely; and if they would discover what money +their masters had, they might soon obtain both riches and +liberty, as the rewards of their accusations, because the reward +of these informers was the eighth (6) part of the criminal's +substance. As to the nobles, although the report appeared +credible to some of them, either because they knew of the plot +beforehand, or because they wished it might be true; however, +they concealed not only the joy they had at the relation of it, +but that they had heard any thing at all about it. These last +acted so out of the fear they had, that if the report proved +false, they should be punished, for having so soon let men know +their minds. But those that knew Caius was dead, because they +were partners with the conspirators, they concealed all still +more cautiously, as not knowing one another's minds; and fearing +lest they should speak of it to some of those to whom the +continuance of tyranny was advantageous; and if Caius should +prove to be alive, they might be informed against, and punished. +And another report went about, that although Caius had been +wounded indeed, yet was not he dead, but alive still, and under +the physician's hands. Nor was any one looked upon by another as +faithful enough to be trusted, and to whom any one would open his +mind; for he was either a friend to Caius, and therefore +suspected to favor his tyranny, or he was one that hated him, who +therefore might be suspected to deserve the less credit, because +of his ill-will to him. Nay, it was said by some (and this indeed +it was that deprived the nobility of their hopes, and made them +sad) that Caius was in a condition to despise the dangers he had +been in, and took no care of healing his wounds, but was gotten +away into the market-place, and, bloody as he was, was making an +harangue to the people. And these were the conjectural reports of +those that were so unreasonable as to endeavor to raise tumults, +which they turned different ways, according to the opinions of +the bearers. Yet did they not leave their seats, for fear of +being accused, if they should go out before the rest; for they +should not be sentenced according to the real intention with +which they went out, but according to the supposals of the +accusers and of the judges. + +17. But now a multitude of Germans had surrounded the theater +with their swords drawn: all the spectators looked for nothing +but death, and at every one coming in a fear seized upon them, as +if they were to be cut in pieces immediately; and in great +distress they were, as neither having courage enough to go out of +the theater, nor believing themselves safe from dangers if they +tarried there. And when the Germans came upon them, the cry was +so great, that the theater rang again with the entreaties of the +spectators to the soldiers, pleading that they were entirely +ignorant of every thing that related to such seditious +contrivances, and that if there were any sedition raised, they +knew nothing of it; they therefore begged that they would spare +them, and not punish those that had not the least hand in such +bold crimes as belonged to other persons, while they neglected to +search after such as had really done whatsoever it be that hath +been done. Thus did these people appeal to God, and deplore their +infelicity with shedding of tears, and beating their faces, and +said every thing that the most imminent danger and the utmost +concern for their lives could dictate to them. This brake the +fury of the soldiers, and made them repent of what they minded to +do to the spectators, which would have been the greatest instance +of cruelty. And so it appeared to even these savages, when they +had once fixed the heads of those that were slain with Asprenas +upon the altar; at which sight the spectators were sorely +afflicted, both upon the consideration of the dignity of the +persons, and out of a commiseration of their sufferings; nay, +indeed, they were almost in as great disorder at the prospect of +the danger themselves were in, seeing it was still uncertain +whether they should entirely escape the like calamity. Whence it +was that such as thoroughly and justly hated Caius could yet no +way enjoy the pleasure of his death, because they were themselves +in jeopardy of perishing together with him; nor had they hitherto +any firm assurance of surviving. + +18. There was at this time one Euaristus Arruntius, a public +crier in the market, and therefore of a strong and audible voice, +who vied in wealth with the richest of the Romans, and was able +to do what he pleased in the city, both then and afterward. This +man put himself into the most mournful habit he could, although +he had a greater hatred against Caius than any one else; his fear +and his wise contrivance to gain his safety taught him so to do, +and prevailed over his present pleasure; so he put on such a +mournful dress as he would have done had he lost his dearest +friends in the world; this man came into the theater, and +informed them of the death of Caius, and by this means put an end +to that state of ignorance the men had been in. Arruntius also +went round about the pillars, and called out to the Germans, as +did the tribunes with him, bidding them put up their swords, and +telling them that Caius was dead. And this proclamation it was +plainly which saved those that were collected together in the +theater, and all the rest who any way met the Germans; for while +they had hopes that Caius had still any breath in him, they +abstained from no sort of mischief; and such an abundant kindness +they still had for Caius, that they would willingly have +prevented the plot against him, and procured his escape from so +sad a misfortune, at the expense of their own lives. But they now +left off the warm zeal they had to punish his enemies, now they +were fully satisfied that Caius was dead, because it was now in +vain for them to show their zeal and kindness to him, when he who +should reward them was perished. They were also afraid that they +should be punished by the senate, if they should go on in doing +such injuries; that is, in case the authority of the supreme +governor should revert to them. And thus at length a stop was +put, though not without difficulty, to that rage which possessed +the Germans on account of Caius's death. + +19. But Cherea was so much afraid for Minucianus, lest he should +light upon the Germans now they were in their fury, that he went +and spike to every one of the soldiers, and prayed them to take +care of his preservation, and made himself great inquiry about +him, lest he should have been slain. And for Clement, he let +Minucianus go when he was brought to him, and, with many other of +the senators, affirmed the action was right, and commended the +virtue of those that contrived it, and had courage enough to +execute it; and said that "tyrants do indeed please themselves +and look big for a while, upon having the power to act unjustly; +but do not however go happily out of the world, because they are +hated by the virtuous; and that Caius, together with all his +unhappiness, was become a conspirator against himself, before +these other men who attacked him did so; and by becoming +intolerable, in setting aside the wise provision the laws had +made, taught his dearest friends to treat him as an enemy; +insomuch that although in common discourse these conspirators +were those that slew Caius, yet that, in reality, he lies now +dead as perishing by his own self." + +20. Now by this time the people in the theatre were arisen from +their seats, and those that were within made a very great +disturbance; the cause of which was this, that the spectators +were too hasty in getting away. There was also one Aleyon, a +physician, who hurried away, as if to cure those that were +wounded, and under that pretense he sent those that were with him +to fetch what things were necessary for the healing of those +wounded persons, but in reality to get them clear of the present +dangers they were in. Now the senate, during this interval, had +met, and the people also assembled together in the accustomed +form, and were both employed in searching after the murderers of +Caius. The people did it very zealously, but the senate in +appearance only; for there was present Valerius of Asia, one that +had been consul; this man went to the people, as they were in +disorder, and very uneasy that they could not yet discover who +they were that had murdered the emperor; he was then earnestly +asked by them all who it was that had done it. He replied, "I +wish I had been the man." The consuls (7) also published an +edict, wherein they accused Caius, and gave order to the people +then got together, and to the soldiers, to go home; and gave the +people hopes of the abatement of the oppressions they lay under; +and promised the soldiers, if they lay quiet as they used to do, +and would not go abroad to do mischief unjustly, that they would +bestow rewards upon them; for there was reason to fear lest the +city might suffer harm by their wild and ungovernable behavior, +if they should once betake themselves to spoil the citizens, or +plunder the temples. And now the whole multitude of the senators +were assembled together, and especially those that had conspired +to take away the life of Caius, who put on at this time an air of +great assurance, and appeared with great magnanimity, as if the +administration of the public affairs were already devolved upon +them. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How The Senators Determined To Restore The Democracy; But The +Soldiers Were For Preserving The Monarchy, Concerning The +Slaughter Of Caius's Wife And Daughter. A Character Of Caius's +Morals. + + +1. When the public affairs were in this posture, Claudius was on +the sudden hurried away out of his house; for the soldiers had a +meeting together; and when they had debated about what was to be +done, they saw that a democracy was incapable of managing such a +vast weight of public affairs; and that if it should be set up, +it would not be for their advantage; and in case any one of those +already in the government should obtain the supreme power, it +would in all respects be to their grief, if they were not +assisting to him in this advancement; that it would therefore be +right for them, while the public affairs were unsettled, to +choose Claudius emperor, who was uncle to the deceased Caius, and +of a superior dignity and worth to every one of those that were +assembled together in the senate, both on account of the virtues +of his ancestors, and of the learning he had acquired in his +education; and who, if once settled in the empire, would reward +them according to their deserts, and bestow largesses upon them. +These were their consultations, and they executed the same +immediately. Claudius was therefore seized upon suddenly by the +soldiery. But Cneas Sentins Saturninns, although he understood +that Claudius was seized, and that he intended to claim the +government, unwillingly indeed in appearance, but in reality by +his own free consent, stood up in the senate, and, without being +dismayed, made an exhortatory oration to them, and such a one +indeed as was fit for men of freedom and generosity, and spake +thus: + +2. "Although it be a thing incredible, O Romans! because of the +great length of time, that so unexpected an event hath happened, +yet are we now in possession of liberty. How long indeed this +will last is uncertain, and lies at the disposal of the gods, +whose grant it is; yet such it is as is sufficient to make us +rejoice, and be happy for the present, although we may soon be +deprived of it; for one hour is sufficient to those that are +exercised in virtue, wherein we may live with a mind accountable +only to ourselves, in our own country, now free, and governed by +such laws as this country once flourished under. As for myself, I +cannot remember our former time of liberty, as being born after +it was gone; but I am beyond measure filled with joy at the +thoughts of our present freedom. I also esteem those that were +born and bred up in that our former liberty happy men, and that +those men are worthy of no less esteem than the gods themselves +who have given us a taste of it in this age; and I heartily wish +that this quiet enjoyment of it, which we have at present, might +continue to all ages. However, this single day may suffice for +our youth, as well as for us that are in years. It will seem an +age to our old men, if they might die during its happy duration: +it may also be for the instruction of the younger sort, what kind +of virtue those men, from whose loins we are derived, were +exercised in. As for ourselves, our business is, during the space +of time, to live virtuously, than which nothing can be more to +our advantage; which course of virtue it is alone that can +preserve our liberty; for as to our ancient state, I have heard +of it by the relations of others; but as to our later state, +during my lifetime, I have known it by experience, and learned +thereby what mischiefs tyrannies have brought upon this +commonwealth, discouraging all virtue, and depriving persons of +magnanimity of their liberty, and proving the teachers of +flattery and slavish fear, because it leaves the public +administration not to be governed by wise laws, but by the humor +of those that govern. For since Julius Caesar took it into his +head to dissolve our democracy, and, by overbearing the regular +system of our laws, to bring disorders into our administration, +and to get above right and justice, and to be a slave to his own +inclinations, there is no kind of misery but what hath tended to +the subversion of this city; while all those that have succeeded +him have striven one with another to overthrow the ancient laws +of their country, and have left it destitute of such citizens as +were of generous principles, because they thought it tended to +their safety to have vicious men to converse withal, and not only +to break the spirits of those that were best esteemed for their +virtue, but to resolve upon their utter destruction. Of all +which emperors, who have been many in number, and who laid upon +us insufferable hardships during the times of their government, +this Caius, who hath been slain today, hath brought more terrible +calamities upon us than did all the rest, not only by exercising +his ungoverned rage upon his fellow citizens, but also upon his +kindred and friends, and alike upon all others, and by inflicting +still greater miseries upon them, as punishments, which they +never deserved, he being equally furious against men and against +the gods. For tyrants are not content to gain their sweet +pleasure, and this by acting injuriously, and in the vexation +they bring both upon men's estates and their wives; but they look +upon that to be their principal advantage, when they can utterly +overthrow the entire families of their enemies; while all lovers +of liberty are the enemies of tyranny. Nor can those that +patiently endure what miseries they bring on them gain their +friendship; for as they are conscious of the abundant mischiefs +they have brought on these men, and how magnanimously they have +borne their hard fortunes, they cannot but be sensible what evils +they have done, and thence only depend on security from what they +are suspicious of, if it may be in their power to take them quite +out of the world. Since, then, we are now gotten clear of such +great misfortunes, and are only accountable to one another, +(which form of government affords us the best assurance of our +present concord, and promises us the best security from evil +designs, and will be most for our own glory in settling the city +in good order,) you ought, every one of you in particular, to +make provision for his own, and in general for the public +utility: or, on the contrary, they may declare their dissent to +such things as have been proposed, and this without any hazard of +danger to come upon them, because they have now no lord set over +them, who, without fear of punishment, could do mischief to the +city, and had an uncontrollable power to take off those that +freely declared their opinions. Nor has any thing so much +contributed to this increase of tyranny of late as sloth, and a +timorous forbearance of contradicting the emperor's will; while +men had an over-great inclination to the sweetness of peace, and +had learned to live like slaves; and as many of us as either +heard of intolerable calamities that happened at a distance from +us, or saw the miseries that were near us, out of the dread of +dying virtuously, endured a death joined with the utmost infamy. +We ought, then, in the first place, to decree the greatest honors +we are able to those that have taken off the tyrant, especially +to Cherea Cassius; for this one man, with the assistance of the +gods, hath, by his counsel and by his actions, been the procurer +of our liberty. Nor ought we to forget him now we have recovered +our liberty, who, under the foregoing tyranny, took counsel +beforehand, and beforehand hazarded himself for our liberties; +but ought to decree him proper honors, and thereby freely declare +that he from the beginning acted with our approbation. And +certainly it is a very excellent thing, and what becomes +free-men, to requite their benefactors, as this man hath been a +benefactor to us all, though not at all like Cassius and Brutus, +who slew Caius Julius [Caesar]; for those men laid the +foundations of sedition and civil wars in our city; but this man, +together with his slaughter of the tyrant, hath set our city free +from all those sad miseries which arose from the tyranny." (8) + +3. And this was the purport of Sentius's oration, (9) which was +received with pleasure by the senators, and by as many of the +equestrian order as were present. And now one Trebellius Maximus +rose up hastily, and took off Sentius's finger a ring, which had +a stone, with the image of Caius engraven upon it, and which, in +his zeal in speaking, and his earnestness in doing what he was +about, as it was supposed, he had forgotten to take off himself. +This sculpture was broken immediately. But as it was now far in +the night, Cherea demanded of the consuls the watchword, who gave +him this word, Liberty. These facts were the subjects of +admiration to themselves, and almost incredible; for it was a +hundred years since the democracy had been laid aside, when this +giving the watchword returned to the consuls; for before the city +was subject to tyrants, they were the commanders of the soldiers. +But when Cherea had received that watchword, he delivered it to +those who were on the senate's side, which were four regiments, +who esteemed the government without emperors to be preferable to +tyranny. So these went away with their tribunes. The people also +now departed very joyful, full of hope and of courage, as having +recovered their former democracy, and were no longer under an +emperor; and Cherea was in very great esteem with them. + +4. And now Cherea was very uneasy that Caius's daughter and wife +were still alive, and that all his family did not perish with +him, since whosoever was left of them must be left for the ruin +of the city and of the laws. Moreover, in order to finish this +matter with the utmost zeal, and in order to satisfy his hatred +of Caius, he sent Julius Lupus, one of the tribunes, to kill +Caius's wife and daughter. They proposed this office to Lupus as +to a kinsman of Clement, that he might be so far a partaker of +this murder of the tyrant, and might rejoice in the virtue of +having assisted his fellow citizens, and that he might appear to +have been a partaker with those that were first in their designs +against him. Yet did this action appear to some of the +conspirators to be too cruel, as to this using such severity to a +woman, because Caius did more indulge his own ill-nature than use +her advice in all that he did; from which ill-nature it was that +the city was in so desperate a condition with the miseries that +were brought on it, and the flower of the city was destroyed. But +others accused her of giving her consent to these things; nay, +they ascribed all that Caius had done to her as the cause of it, +and said she had given a potion to Caius, which had made him +obnoxious to her, and had tied him down to love her by such evil +methods; insomuch that she, having rendered him distracted, was +become the author of all the mischiefs that had befallen the +Romans, and that habitable world which was subject to them. So +that at length it was determined that she must die; nor could +those of the contrary opinion at all prevail to have her saved; +and Lupus was sent accordingly. Nor was there any delay made in +executing what he went about, but he was subservient to those +that sent him on the first opportunity, as desirous to be no way +blameable in what might be done for the advantage of the people. +So when he was come into the palace, he found Cesonia, who was +Caius's wife, lying by her husband's dead body, which also lay +down on the ground, and destitute of all such things as the law +allows to the dead, and all over herself besmeared with the blood +of her husband's wounds, and bewailing the great affliction she +was under, her daughter lying by her also; and nothing else was +heard in these her circumstances but her complaint of Caius, as +if he had not regarded what she had often told him of beforehand; +which words of hers were taken in a different sense even at that +time, and are now esteemed equally ambiguous by those that hear +of them, and are still interpreted according to the different +inclinations of people. Now some said that the words denoted that +she had advised him to leave off his mad behavior and his +barbarous cruelty to the citizens, and to govern the public with +moderation and virtue, lest he should perish by the same way, +upon their using him as he had used them. But some said, that as +certain words had passed concerning the conspirators, she desired +Caius to make no delay, but immediately to put them all to death, +and this whether they were guilty or not, and that thereby he +would be out of the fear of any danger; and that this was what +she reproached him for, when she advised him so to do, but he was +too slow and tender in the matter. And this was what Cesonia +said, and what the opinions of men were about it. But when she +saw Lupus approach, she showed him Caius's dead body, and +persuaded him to come nearer, with lamentation and tears; and as +she perceived that Lupus was in disorder, and approached her in +order to execute some design disagreeable to himself, she was +well aware for what purpose he came, and stretched out her naked +throat, and that very cheerfully to him, bewailing her case, like +one that utterly despaired of her life, and bidding him not to +boggle at finishing the tragedy they had resolved upon relating +to her. So she boldly received her death's wound at the hand of +Lupus, as did the daughter after her. So Lupus made haste to +inform Cherea of what he had done. + +5. This was the end of Caius, after he had reigned four years, +within four months. He was, even before he came to be emperor, +ill-natured, and one that had arrived at the utmost pitch of +wickedness; a slave to his pleasures, and a lover of calumny; +greatly affected by every terrible accident, and on that account +of a very murderous disposition where he durst show it. He +enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose, to injure +those who least deserved it, with unreasonable insolene and got +his wealth by murder and injustice. He labored to appear above +regarding either what was divine or agreeable to the laws, but +was a slave to the commendations of the populace; and whatsoever +the laws determined to be shameful, and punished, that he +esteemed more honorable than what was virtuous. He was unmindful +of his friends, how intimate soever, and though they were persons +of the highest character; and if he was once angry at any of +them, he would inflict punishment upon them on the smallest +occasions, and esteemed every man that endeavored to lead a +virtuous life his enemy. And whatsoever he commanded, he would +not admit of any contradiction to his inclinations; whence it was +that he had criminal conversation with his own sister; (10) from +which occasion chiefly it was also that a bitter hatred first +sprang up against him among the citizens, that sort of incest not +having been known of a long time; and so this provoked men to +distrust him, and to hate him that was guilty of it. And for any +great or royal work that he ever did, which might be for the +present and for future ages, nobody can name any such, but only +the haven that he made about Rhegium and Sicily, for the +reception of the ships that brought corn from Egypt; which was +indeed a work without dispute very great in itself, and of very +great advantage to the navigation. Yet was not this work brought +to perfection by him, but was the one half of it left imperfect, +by reason of his want of application to it; the cause of which +was this, that he employed his studies about useless matters, and +that by spending his money upon such pleasures as concerned no +one's benefit but his own, he could not exert his liberality in +things that were undeniably of great consequence. Otherwise he +was an excellent orator, and thoroughly acquainted with the Greek +tongue, as well as with his own country or Roman language. He was +also able, off-hand and readily, to give answers to compositions +made by others, of considerable length and accuracy. He was also +more skillful in persuading others to very great things than any +one else, and this from a natural affability of temper, which had +been improved by much exercise and pains-taking; for as he was +the grandson (11) of the brother of Tiberius, whose successor he +was, this was a strong inducement to his acquiring of learning, +because Tiberius aspired after the highest pitch of that sort of +reputation; and Caius aspired after the like glory for eloquence, +being induced thereto by the letters of his kinsman and his +emperor. He was also among the first rank of his own citizens. +But the advantages he received from his learning did not +countervail the mischief he brought upon himself in the exercise +of his authority; so difficult it is for those to obtain the +virtue that is necessary for a wise man, who have the absolute +power to do what they please without control. At the first he got +himself such friends as were in all respects the most worthy, and +was greatly beloved by them, while he imitated their zealous +application to the learning and to the glorious actions of the +best men; but when he became insolent towards them, they laid +aside the kindness they had for him, and began to hate him; from +which hatred came that plot which they raised against him, and +wherein he perished. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Claudius Was Seized Upon And Brought Out Of His House And +Brought To The Camp; And How The Senate Sent An Embassage To Him. + + +1. Now Claudius, as I said before, went out of that way along +which Caius was gone; and as the family was in a mighty disorder +upon the sad accident of the murder of Caius, he was in great +distress how to save himself, and was found to have hidden +himself in a certain narrow place, (12) though he had no other +occasion for suspicion of any dangers, besides the dignity of his +birth; for while he was a private man, he behaved himself with +moderation, and was contented with his present fortune, applying +himself to learning, and especially to that of the Greeks, and +keeping himself entirely clear from every thing that might bring +on any disturbance. But as at this time the multitude were under +a consternation, and the whole palace was full of the soldiers' +madness, and the very emperor's guards seemed under the like fear +and disorder with private persons, the band called pretorian, +which was the purest part of the army, was in consultation what +was to be done at this juncture. Now all those that were at this +consultation had little regard to the punishment Caius had +suffered, because he justly deserved such his fortune; but they +were rather considering their own circumstances, how they might +take the best care of themselves, especially while the Germans +were busy in punishing the murderers of Caius; which yet was +rather done to gratify their own savage temper, than for the good +of the public; all which things disturbed Claudius, who was +afraid of his own safety, and this particularly because he saw +the heads of Asprenas and his partners carried about. His station +had been on a certain elevated place, whither a few steps led +him, and whither he had retired in the dark by himself. But when +Gratus, who was one of the soldiers that belonged to the palace, +saw him, but did not well know by his countenance who he was, +because it was dark, though he could well judge that it was a man +who was privately there on some design, he came nearer to him; +and when Claudius desired that he would retire, he discovered who +he was, and owned him to be Claudius. So he said to his +followers, "This is a Germanicus; (12) come on, let us choose him +for our emperor." But when Claudius saw they were making +preparations for taking him away by force, and was afraid they +would kill him, as they had killed Caius, he besought them to +spare him, putting them in mind how quietly he had demeaned +himself, and that he was unacquainted with what had been done. +Hereupon Gratus smiled upon him, and took him by the right hand, +and said, "Leave off, sir, these low thoughts of saving yourself, +while you ought to have greater thoughts, even of obtaining the +empire, which the gods, out of their concern for the habitable +world, by taking Caius out of the way, commit to thy virtuous +conduct. Go to, therefore, and accept of the throne of thy +ancestors." So they took him up and carried him, because he was +not then able to go on foot, such was his dread and his joy at +what was told him. + +2. Now there was already gathered together about Gratus a great +number of the guards; and when they saw Claudius carried off, +they looked with a sad countenance, as supposing that he was +carried to execution for the mischiefs that had been lately done; +while yet they thought him a man who never meddled with public +affairs all his life long, and one that had met with no +contemptible dangers under the reign of Caius; and some of them +thought it reasonable that the consuls should take cognizance of +these matters; and as still more and more of the soldiery got +together, the crowd about him ran away, and Claudius could hardly +go on, his body was then so weak; and those who carried his +sedan, upon an inquiry that was made about his being carried off, +ran away and saved themselves, as despairing of their Lord's +preservation. But when they were come into the large court of the +palace, (which, as the report goes about it, was inhabited first +of all the parts of the city of Rome,) and had just reached the +public treasury, many more soldiers came about him, as glad to +see Claudius's face, and thought it exceeding right to make him +emperor, on account of their kindness for Germanicus, who was his +brother, and had left behind him a vast reputation among all that +were acquainted with him. They reflected also on the covetous +temper of the leading men of the senate, and what great errors +they had been guilty of when the senate had the government +formerly; they also considered the impossibility of such an +undertaking, as also what dangers they should be in, if the +government should come to a single person, and that such a one +should possess it as they had no hand in advancing, and not to +Claudius, who would take it as their grant, and as gained by +their good-will to him, and would remember the favors they had +done him, and would make them a sufficient recompense for the +same. + +3. These were the discourses the soldiers had one with another by +themselves, and they communicated them to all such as came in to +them. Now those that inquired about this matter willingly +embraced the invitation that was made them to join with the rest; +so they carried Claudius into the camp, crowding about him as his +guard, and encompassing him about, one chairman still succeeding +another, that their vehement endeavors might not be hindered. But +as to the populace and senators, they disagreed in their +opinions. The latter were very desirous to recover their former +dignity, and were zealous to get clear of the slavery that had +been brought on them by the injurious treatment of the tyrants, +which the present opportunity afforded them; but for the people, +who were envious against them, and knew that the emperors were +capable of curbing their covetous temper, and were a refuge from +them, they were very glad that Claudius had been seized upon, and +brought to them, and thought that if Claudius were made emperor, +he would prevent a civil war, such as there was in the days of +Pompey. But when the senate knew that Claudius was brought into +the camp by the soldiers, they sent to him those of their body +which had the best character for their virtues, that they might +inform him that he ought to do nothing by violence, in order to +gain the government; that he who was a single person, one either +already or hereafter to be a member of their body, ought to yield +to the senate, which consisted of so great a number; that he +ought to let the law take place in the disposal of all that +related to the public order, and to remember how greatly the +former tyrants had afflicted their city, and what dangers both he +and they had escaped under Caius; and that he ought not to hate +the heavy burden of tyranny, when the injury is done by others, +while he did himself willfully treat his country after a mad and +insolent manner; that if he would comply with them, and +demonstrate that his firm resolution was to live quietly and +virtuously, he would have the greatest honors decreed to him that +a free people could bestow; and by subjecting himself to the law, +would obtain this branch of commendation, that he acted like a +man of virtue, both as a ruler and a subject; but that if he +would act foolishly, and learn no wisdom by Caius's death, they +would not permit him to go on; that a great part of the army was +got together for them, with plenty of weapons, and a great number +of slaves, which they could make use of; that good hope was a +great matter in such cases, as was also good fortune; and that +the gods would never assist any others but those that undertook +to act with virtue and goodness, who can be no other than such as +fight for the liberty of their country. + +4. Now these ambassadors, Veranius and Brocchus, who were both of +them tribunes of the people, made this speech to Claudius; and +falling down upon their knees, they begged of him that he would +not throw the city into wars and misfortunes; but when they saw +what a multitude of soldiers encompassed and guarded Claudius, +and that the forces that were with the consuls were, in +comparison of them, perfectly inconsiderable, they added, that if +he did desire the government, he should accept of it as given by +the senate; that he would prosper better, and be happier, if he +came to it, not by the injustice, but by the good-will of those +that would bestow it upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +What Things King Agrippa Did For Claudius; And How Claudius When +He Had Taken The Government Commanded The Murderers Of Caius To +Be Slain. + + +1. Now Claudius, though he was sensible after what an insolent +manner the senate had sent to him yet did he, according to their +advice, behave himself for the present with moderation; but not +so far that he could not recover himself out of his fright; so he +was encouraged [to claim the government] partly by the boldness +of the soldiers, and partly by the persuasion of king Agrippa, +who exhorted him not to let such a dominion slip out of his +hands, when it came thus to him of its own accord. Now this +Agrippa, with relation to Caius, did what became one that had +been so much honored by him; for he embraced Caius's body after +he was dead, and laid it upon a bed, and covered it as well as he +could, and went out to the guards, and told them that Caius was +still alive; but he said that they should call for physicians, +since he was very ill of his wounds. But when he had learned that +Claudius was carried away violently by the soldiers, he rushed +through the crowd to him, and when he found that he was in +disorder, and ready to resign up the government to the senate, he +encouraged him, and desired him to keep the government; but when +he had said this to Claudius, he retired home. And upon the +senate's sending for him, he anointed his head with ointment, as +if he had lately accompanied with his wife, and had dismissed +her, and then came to them: he also asked of the senators what +Claudius did; who told him the present state of affairs, and then +asked his opinion about the settlement of the public. He told +them in words that he was ready to lose his life for the honor of +the senate, but desired them to consider what was for their +advantage, without any regard to what was most agreeable to them; +for that those who grasp at government will stand in need of +weapons and soldiers to guard them, unless they will set up +without any preparation for it, and so fall into danger. And when +the senate replied that they would bring in weapons in abundance, +and money, and that as to an army, a part of it was already +collected together for them, and they would raise a larger one by +giving the slaves their liberty, - Agrippa made answer, "O +senators! may you be able to compass what you have a mind to; yet +will I immediately tell you my thoughts, because they tend to +your preservation. Take notice, then, that the army which will +fight for Claudius hath been long exercised in warlike affairs; +but our army will be no better than a rude multitude of raw men, +and those such as have been unexpectedly made free from slavery, +and ungovernable; we must then fight against those that are +skillful in war, with men who know not so much as how to draw +their swords. So that my opinion is, that we should send some +persons to Claudius, to persuade him to lay down the government; +and I am ready to be one of your ambassadors." + +2. Upon this speech of Agrippa, the senate complied with him, and +he was sent among others, and privately informed Claudius of the +disorder the senate was in, and gave him instructions to answer +them in a somewhat commanding strain, and as one invested with +dignity and authority. Accordingly, Claudius said to the +ambassadors, that he did not wonder the senate had no mind to +have an emperor over them, because they had been harassed by the +barbarity of those that had formerly been at the head of their +affairs; but that they should taste of an equitable government +under him, and moderate times, while he should only be their +ruler in name, but the authority should be equally common to them +all; and since he had passed through many and various scenes of +life before their eyes, it would be good for them not to distrust +him. So the ambassadors, upon their hearing this his answer, were +dismissed. But Claudius discoursed with the army which was there +gathered together, who took oaths that they would persist in +their fidelity to him; Upon which he gave the guards every man +five thousand (13) drachmae a-piece, and a proportionable +quantity to their captains, and promised to give the same to the +rest of the armies wheresoever they were. + +3. And now the consuls called the senate together into the temple +of Jupiter the Conqueror, while it was still night; but some of +those senators concealed themselves in the city, being uncertain +what to do, upon the hearing of this summons; and some of them +went out of the city to their own farms, as foreseeing whither +the public affairs were going, and despairing of liberty; nay, +these supposed it much better for them to be slaves without +danger to themselves, and to live a lazy and inactive life, than +by claiming the dignity of their forefathers, to run the hazard +of their own safety. However, a hundred and no more were gotten +together; and as they were in consultation about the present +posture of affairs, a sudden clamor was made by the soldiers that +were on their side, desiring that the senate would choose them an +emperor, and not bring the government into ruin by setting up a +multitude of rulers. So they fully declared themselves to be for +the giving the government not to all, but to one; but they gave +the senate leave to look out for a person worthy to be set over +them, insomuch that now the affairs of the senate were much worse +than before, because they had not only failed in the recovery of +their liberty, which they boasted themselves of, but were in +dread of Claudius also. Yet were there those that hankered after +the government, both on account of the dignity of their families +and that accruing to them by their marriages; for Marcus +Minucianus was illustrious, both by his own nobility, and by his +having married Julia, the sister of Caius, who accordingly was +very ready to claim the government, although the consuls +discouraged him, and made one delay after another in proposing +it: that Minucianus also, who was one of Caius's murderers, +restrained Valerius of Asia from thinking of such things; and a +prodigious slaughter there had been, if leave had been given to +these men to set up for themselves, and oppose Claudius. There +were also a considerable number of gladiators besides, and of +those soldiers who kept watch by night in the city, and rowers of +ships, who all ran into the camp; insomuch that, of those who put +in for the government, some left off their pretensions in order +to spare the city, and others out of fear for their own persons. + +4. But as soon as ever it was day, Cherea, and those that were +with him, came into the senate, and attempted to make speeches to +the soldiers. However, the multitude of those soldiers, when they +saw that they were making signals for silence with their hands, +and were ready to begin to speak to them, grew tumultuous, and +would not let them speak at all, because they were all zealous to +be under a monarchy; and they demanded of the senate one for +their ruler, as not enduring any longer delays: but the senate +hesitated about either their own governing, or how they should +themselves be governed, while the soldiers would not admit them +to govern, and the murderers of Caius would not permit the +soldiers to dictate to them. When they were in these +circumstances, Cherea was not able to contain the anger he had, +and promised, that if they desired an emperor, he would give them +one, if any one would bring him the watchword from Eutychus. Now +this Eutychus was charioteer of the green-band faction, styled +Prasine, and a great friend of Caius, who used to harass the +soldiery with building stables for the horses, and spent his time +in ignominious labors, which occasioned Cherea to reproach them +with him, and to abuse them with much other scurrilous language; +and told them he would bring them the head of Claudius; and that +it was an amazing thing, that, after their former madness, they +should commit their government to a fool. Yet were not they moved +with his words, but drew their swords, and took up their ensigns, +and went to Claudius, to join in taking the oath of fidelity to +him. So the senate were left without any body to defend them, and +the very consuls differed nothing from private persons. They were +also under consternation and sorrow, men not knowing what would +become of them, because Claudius was very angry at them; so they +fell a reproaching one another, and repented of what they had +done. At which juncture Sabinus, one of Caius's murderers, +threatened that he would sooner come into the midst of them and +kill himself, than consent to make Claudius emperor, and see +slavery returning upon them; he also abused Cherea for loving his +life too well, while he who was the first in his contempt of +Caius, could think it a good thin to live, when, even by all that +they had done for the recovery of their liberty, they found it +impossible to do it. But Cherea said he had no manner of doubt +upon him about killing himself; that yet he would first sound the +intentions of Claudius before he did it. + +5. These were the debates [about the senate]; but in the camp +every body was crowding on all sides to pay their court to +Claudius; and the other consul, Quintus Pomponhis, was reproached +by the soldiery, as having rather exhorted the senate to recover +their liberty; whereupon they drew their swords, and were going +to assault him, and they had done it, if Claudius had not +hindered them, who snatched the consul out of the danger he was +in, and set him by him. But he did not receive that part of the +senate which was with Quintus in the like honorable manner; nay, +some of them received blows, and were thrust away as they came to +salute Claudius; nay, Aponius went away wounded, and they were +all in danger. However, king Agrippa went up to Claudius, and +desired he would treat the senators more gently; for if any +mischief should come to the senate, he would have no others over +whom to rule. Claudius complied with him, and called the senate +together into the palace, and was carried thither himself through +the city, while the soldiery conducted him, though this was to +the great vexation of the multitude; for Cherea and Sabinus, two +of Caius's murderers, went in the fore-front of them, in an open +manner, while Pollio, whom Claudius, a little before, had made +captain of his guards, had sent them an epistolary edict, to +forbid them to appear in public. Then did Claudius, upon his +coming to the palace, get his friends together, and desired their +suffrages about Cherea. They said that the work he had done was a +glorious one; but they accused him the he did it of +perfidiousness, and thought it just to inflict the punishment [of +death] upon him, to discountenance such actions for the time to +come. So Cherea was led to his execution, and Lupus and many +other Romans with him. Now it is reported that Cherea bore this +calamity courageously; and this not only by the firmness of his +own behavior under it, but by the reproaches he laid upon Lupus, +who fell into tears; for when Lupus laid his garment aside, and +complained of the cold (14) he said, that cold was never hurtful +to Lupus [i.e. a wolf] And as a great many men went along with +them to see the sight, when Cherea came to the place, he asked +the soldier who was to be their executioner, whether this office +was what he was used to, or whether this was the first time of +his using his sword in that manner, and desired him to bring him +that very sword with which he himself slew Caius. (15) So he was +happily killed at one stroke. But Lupus did not meet with such +good fortune in going out of the world, since he was timorous, +and had many blows leveled at his neck, because he did not +stretch it out boldly [as he ought to have done]. + +6. Now, a few days after this, as the Parental solemnities were +just at hand, the Roman multitude made their usual oblations to +their several ghosts, and put portions into the fire in honor of +Cherea, and besought him to be merciful to them, and not continue +his anger against them for their ingratitude. And this was the +end of the life that Cherea came to. But for Sabinus, although +Claudius not only set him at liberty, but gave him leave to +retain his former command in the army, yet did he think it would +be unjust in him to fail of performing his obligations to his +fellow confederates; so he fell upon his sword, and killed +himself, the wound reaching up to the very hilt of the sword. + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +How Claudius Restored To Agrippa His Grandfathers Kingdoms And +Augmented His Dominions; And How He Published An Edict In Behalf. + + +1. Now when Claudius had taken out of the way all those soldiers +whom he suspected, which he did immediately, he published an +edict, and therein confirmed that kingdom to Agrippa which Caius +had given him, and therein commended the king highly. He also +made all addition to it of all that country over which Herod, who +was his grandfather, had reigned, that is, Judea and Samaria; and +this he restored to him as due to his family. But for Abila (16) +of Lysanias, and all that lay at Mount Libanus, he bestowed them +upon him, as out of his own territories. He also made a league +with this Agrippa, confirmed by oaths, in the middle of the +forum, in the city of Rome: he also took away from Antiochus that +kingdom which he was possessed of, but gave him a certain part of +Cilicia and Commagena: he also set Alexander Lysimachus, the +alabarch, at liberty, who had been his old friend, and steward to +his mother Antonia, but had been imprisoned by Caius, whose son +[Marcus] married Bernice, the daughter of Agrippa. But when +Marcus, Alexander's son, was dead, who had married her when she +was a virgin, Agrippa gave her in marriage to his brother Herod, +and begged for him of Claudius the kingdom of Chalcis. + +2. Now about this time there was a sedition between the Jews and +the Greeks, at the city of Alexandria; for when Caius was dead, +the nation of the Jews, which had been very much mortified under +the reign of Caius, and reduced to very great distress by the +people of Alexandria, recovered itself, and immediately took up +their arms to fight for themselves. So Claudius sent an order to +the president of Egypt to quiet that tumult; he also sent an +edict, at the requests of king Agrippa and king Herod, both to +Alexandria and to Syria, whose contents were as follows: +"Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, high priest, and +tribune of the people, ordains thus: Since I am assured that the +Jews of Alexandria, called Alexandrians, have been joint +inhabitants in the earliest times with the Alexandrians, and have +obtained from their kings equal privileges with them, as is +evident by the public records that are in their possession, and +the edicts themselves; and that after Alexandria had been +subjected to our empire by Augustus, their rights and privileges +have been preserved by those presidents who have at divers times +been sent thither; and that no dispute had been raised about +those rights and privileges, even when Aquila was governor of +Alexandria; and that when the Jewish ethnarch was dead, Augustus +did not prohibit the making such ethnarchs, as willing that all +men should be so subject [to the Romans] as to continue in the +observation of their own customs, and not be forced to transgress +the ancient rules of their own country religion; but that, in the +time of Caius, the Alexandrians became insolent towards the Jews +that were among them, which Caius, out of his great madness and +want of understanding, reduced the nation of the Jews very low, +because they would not transgress the religious worship of their +country, and call him a god: I will therefore that the nation of +the Jews be not deprived of their rights and privileges, on +account of the madness of Caius; but that those rights and +privileges which they formerly enjoyed be preserved to them, and +that they may continue in their own customs. And I charge both +parties to take very great care that no troubles may arise after +the promulgation of this edict." + +3. And such were the contents of this edict on behalf of the Jews +that was sent to Alexandria. But the edict that was sent into the +other parts of the habitable earth was this which follows: +"Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, high priest, +tribune of the people, chosen consul the second time, ordains +thus: Upon the petition of king Agrippa and king Herod, who are +persons very dear to me, that I would grant the same rights and +privileges should be preserved to the Jews which are in all the +Roman empire, which I have granted to those of Alexandria, I very +willingly comply therewith; and this grant I make not only for +the sake of the petitioners, but as judging those Jews for whom I +have been petitioned worthy of such a favor, on account of their +fidelity and friendship to the Romans. I think it also very just +that no Grecian city should be deprived of such rights and +privileges, since they were preserved to them under the great +Augustus. It will therefore be fit to permit the Jews, who are in +all the world under us, to keep their ancient customs without +being hindered so to do. And I do charge them also to use this my +kindness to them with moderation, and not to show a contempt of +the superstitious observances of other nations, but to keep their +own laws only. And I will that this decree of mine be engraven on +tables by the magistrates of the cities, and colonies, and +municipal places, both those within Italy and those without it, +both kings and governors, by the means of the ambassadors, and to +have them exposed to the public for full thirty days, in such a +place whence it may plainly be read from the ground. (17) + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +What Things Were Done By Agrippa At Jerusalem When He Was +Returned Back Into Judea; And What It Was That Petronius Wrote To +The Inhabitants Of Doris, In Behalf. + + +1. Now Claudius Caesar, by these decrees of his which were sent +to Alexandria, and to all the habitable earth, made known what +opinion he had of the Jews. So he soon sent Agrippa away to take +his kingdom, now he was advanced to a more illustrious dignity +than before, and sent letters to the presidents and procurators +of the provinces that they should treat him very kindly. +Accordingly, he returned in haste, as was likely he would, now +he returned in much greater prosperity than he had before. He +also came to Jerusalem, and offered all the sacrifices that +belonged to him, and omitted nothing which the law required; (18) +on which account he ordained that many of the Nazarites should +have their heads shorn. And for the golden chain which had been +given him by Caius, of equal weight with that iron chain +wherewith his royal hands had been bound, he hung it up within +the limits of the temple, over the treasury, (19) that it might +be a memorial of the severe fate he had lain under, and a +testimony of his change for the better; that it might be a +demonstration how the greatest prosperity may have a fall, and +that God sometimes raises up what is fallen down: for this chain +thus dedicated afforded a document to all men, that king Agrippa +had been once bound in a chain for a small cause, but recovered +his former dignity again; and a little while afterward got out of +his bonds, and was advanced to be a more illustrious king than he +was before. Whence men may understand that all that partake of +human nature, how great soever they are, may fall; and that those +that fall may gain their former illustrious dignity again. + +2. And when Agrippa had entirely finished all the duties of the +Divine worship, he removed Theophilus, the son of Ananus, from +the high priesthood, and bestowed that honor of his on Simon the +son of Boethus, whose name was also Cantheras whose daughter king +Herod married, as I have related above. Simon, therefore, had the +[high] priesthood with his brethren, and with his father, in like +manner as the sons of Simon, the son of Onias, who were three, +had it formerly under the government of the Macedonians, as we +have related in a former book. + +3. When the king had settled the high priesthood after this +manner, he returned the kindness which the inhabitants of +Jerusalem had showed him; for he released them from the tax upon +houses, every one of which paid it before, thinking it a good +thing to requite the tender affection of those that loved him. He +also made Silas the general of his forces, as a man who had +partaken with him in many of his troubles. But after a very +little while the young men of Doris, preferring a rash attempt +before piety, and being naturally bold and insolent, carried a +statue of Caesar into a synagogue of the Jews, and erected it +there. This procedure of theirs greatly provoked Agrippa; for it +plainly tended to the dissolution of the laws of his country. So +he came without delay to Publius Petronius, who was then +president of Syria, and accused the people of Doris. Nor did he +less resent what was done than did Agrippa; for he judged it a +piece of impiety to transgress the laws that regulate the actions +of men. So he wrote the following letter to the people of Doris +in an angry strain: "Publius Petronius, the president under +Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, to the magistrates +of Doris, ordains as follows: Since some of you have had the +boldness, or madness rather, after the edict of Claudius Caesar +Augustus Germanicus was published, for permitting the Jews to +observe the laws of their country, not to obey the same, but have +acted in entire opposition thereto, as forbidding the Jews to +assemble together in the synagogue, by removing Caesar's statue, +and setting it up therein, and thereby have offended not only the +Jews, but the emperor himself, whose statue is more commodiously +placed in his own temple than in a foreign one, where is the +place of assembling together; while it is but a part of natural +justice, that every one should have the power over the place +belonging peculiarly to themselves, according to the +determination of Caesar, - to say nothing of my own +determination, which it would be ridiculous to mention after the +emperor's edict, which gives the Jews leave to make use of their +own customs, as also gives order that they enjoy equally the +rights of citizens with the Greeks themselves, - I therefore +ordain that Proculus Vitellius, the centurion, bring those men to +me, who, contrary to Augustus's edict, have been so insolent as +to do this thing, at which those very men, who appear to be of +principal reputation among them, have an indignation also, and +allege for themselves, 'that it was not done with their consent, +but by the violence of the multitude, that they may give an +account of what hath been done. I also exhort the principal +magistrates among them, unless they have a mind to have this +action esteemed to be done with their consent, to inform the +centurion of those that were guilty of it, and take care that no +handle be hence taken for raising a sedition or quarrel among +them; which those seem to me to treat after who encourage such +doings; while both I myself, and king Agrippa, for whom I have +the highest honor, have nothing more under our care, than that +the nation of the Jews may have no occasion given them of getting +together, under the pretense of avenging themselves, and become +tumultuous. And that it may be more publicly known what Augustus +hath resolved about this whole matter, I have subjoined those +edicts which he hath lately caused to be published at Alexandria, +and which, although they may be well known to all, yet did king +Agrippa, for whom I have the highest honor, read them at that +time before my tribunal, and pleaded that the Jews ought not to +be deprived of those rights which Augustus hath granted them. I +therefore charge you, that you do not, for the time to come, seek +for any occasion of sedition or disturbance, but that every one +be allowed to follow their own religious customs." + +4. Thus did Petronius take care of this matter, that such a +breach of the law might be corrected, and that no such thing +might be attempted afterwards against the Jews. And now king +Agrippa took the [high] priesthood away from Simon Cantheras, and +put Jonathan, the son of Ananus, into it again, and owned that he +was more worthy of that dignity than the other. But this was not +a thing acceptable to him, to recover that his former dignity. So +he refused it, and said, "O king! I rejoice in the honor that +thou hast for me, and take it kindly that thou wouldst give me +such a dignity of thy own inclinations, although God hath judged +that I am not at all worthy of the high priesthood. I am +satisfied with having once put on the sacred garments; for I then +put them on after a more holy manner than I should now receive +them again. But if thou desirest that a person more worthy than +myself should have this honorable employment, give me leave to +name thee such a one. I have a brother that is pure from all sin +against God, and of all offenses against thyself; I recommend him +to thee, as one that is fit for this dignity." So the king was +pleased with these words of his, and passed by Jonathan, and, +according to his brother's desire, bestowed the high priesthood +upon Matthias. Nor was it long before Marcus succeeded Petronius, +as president of Syria. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +Concerning Silas And On What Account It Was That King Agrippa Was +Angry At Him. How Agrippa Began To Encompass Jerusalem With A +Wall; And What Benefits He Bestowed On The Inhabitants Of +Berytus. + + +1. Now Silas, the general of the king's horse, because he had +been faithful to him under all his misfortunes, and had never +refused to be a partaker with him in any of his dangers, but had +oftentimes undergone the most hazardous dangers for him, was full +of assurance, and thought he might expect a sort of equality with +the king, on account of the firmness of the friendship he had +showed to him. Accordingly, he would no where let the king sit as +his superior, and took the like liberty in speaking to him upon +all occasions, till he became troublesome to the king, when they +were merry together, extolling himself beyond measure, and oft +putting the king in mind of the severity of fortune he had +undergone, that he might, by way of ostentation, demonstrate What +zeal he had showed in his service; and was continually harping +upon this string, what pains he had taken for him, and much +enlarged still upon that subject. The repetition of this so +frequently seemed to reproach the king, insomuch that he took +this ungovernable liberty of talking very ill at his hands. For +the commemoration of times when men have been under ignominy, is +by no means agreeable to them; and he is a very silly man who is +perpetually relating to a person what kindness he had done him. +At last, therefore, Silas had so thoroughly provoked the king's +indignation, that he acted rather out of passion than good +consideration, and did not only turn Silas out of his place, as +general of his horse, but sent him in bonds into his own country. +But the edge of his anger wore off by length of time, and made +room for more just reasonings as to his judgment about this man; +and he considered how many labors he had undergone for his sake. +So when Agrippa was solemnizing his birth-day, and he gave +festival entertainments to all his subjects, he sent for Silas on +the sudden to be his guest. But as he was a very frank man, he +thought he had now a just handle given him to be angry; which he +could not conceal from those that came for him, but said to them, +"What honor is this the king invites me to, which I conclude will +soon be over? For the king hath not let me keep those original +marks of the good-will I bore him, which I once had from him; but +he hath plundered me, and that unjustly also. Does he think that +I can leave off that liberty of speech, which, upon the +consciousness of my deserts, I shall use more loudly than before, +and shall relate how many misfortunes I have been delivered from; +how many labors I have undergone for him, whereby I procured him +deliverance and respect; as a reward for which I have borne the +hardships of bonds and a dark prison? I shall never forget this +usage. Nay, perhaps, my very soul, when it is departed out of the +body, will not forget the glorious actions I did on his account." +This was the clamor he made, and he ordered the messengers to +tell it to the king. So he perceived that Silas was incurable in +his folly, and still suffered him to lie in prison. + +2. As for the walls of Jerusalem, that were adjoining to the new +city [Bezetha], he repaired them at the expense of the public, +and built them wider in breadth, and higher in altitude; and he +had made them too strong for all human power to demolish, unless +Marcus, the then president of Syria, had by letter informed +Claudius Caesar of what he was doing. And when Claudius had some +suspicion of attempts for innovation, he sent to Agrippa to leave +off the building of those walls presently. So he obeyed, as not +thinking it proper to contradict Claudius. + +3. Now this king was by nature very beneficent and liberal in his +gifts, and very ambitious to oblige people with such large +donations; and he made himself very illustrious by the many +chargeable presents he made them. He took delight in giving, and +rejoiced in living with good reputation. He was not at all like +that Herod who reigned before him; for that Herod was +ill-natured, and severe in his punishments, and had no mercy on +them that he hated; and every one perceived that he was more +friendly to the Greeks than to the Jews; for he adorned foreign +cities with large presents in money; with building them baths and +theatres besides; nay, in some of those places he erected +temples, and porticoes in others; but he did not vouchsafe to +raise one of the least edifices in any Jewish city, or make them +any donation that was worth mentioning. But Agrippa's temper was +mild, and equally liberal to all men. He was humane to +foreigners, and made them sensible of his liberality. He was in +like manner rather of a gentle and compassionate temper. +Accordingly, he loved to live continually at Jerusalem, and was +exactly careful in the observance of the laws of his country. He +therefore kept himself entirely pure; nor did any day pass over +his head without its appointed sacrifice. + +4. However, there was a certain mall of the Jewish nation at +Jerusalem, who appeared to be very accurate in the knowledge of +the law. His name was Simon. This man got together an assembly, +while the king was absent at Cesarea, and had the insolence to +accuse him as not living holily, and that he might justly be +excluded out of the temple, since it belonged only to native +Jews. But the general of Agrippa's army informed him that Simon +had made such a speech to the people. So the king sent for him; +and as he was sitting in the theater, he bid him sit down by him, +and said to him with a low and gentle voice, "What is there done +in this place that is contrary to the law?" But he had nothing to +say for himself, but begged his pardon. So the king was more +easily reconciled to him than one could have imagined, as +esteeming mildness a better quality in a king than anger, and +knowing that moderation is more becoming in great men than +passion. So he made Simon a small present, and dismissed him. + +5. Now as Agrippa was a great builder in many places, he paid a +peculiar regard to the people of Berytus; for he erected a +theater for them, superior to many others of that sort, both in +Sumptuousness and elegance, as also an amphitheater, built at +vast expenses; and besides these, he built them baths and +porticoes, and spared for no costs in any of his edifices, to +render them both handsome and large. He also spent a great deal +upon their dedication, and exhibited shows upon them, and brought +thither musicians of all sorts, and such as made the most +delightful music of the greatest variety. He also showed his +magnificence upon the theater, in his great number of gladiators; +and there it was that he exhibited the several antagonists, in +order to please the spectators; no fewer indeed than seven +hundred men to fight with seven hundred other men (20) and +allotted all the malefactors he had for this exercise, that both +the malefactors might receive their punishment, and that this +operation of war might be a recreation in peace. And thus were +these criminals all destroyed at once. + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +What Other Acts Were Done By Agrippa Until His Death; And After +What Manner He Died. + + +1. When Agrippa had finished what I have above related at +Berytus, he removed to Tiberias, a city of Galilee. Now he was in +great esteem among other kings. Accordingly there came to him +Antiochus, king of Commalena, Sampsigeratnus, king of Emesa, and +Cotys, who was king of the Lesser Armenia, and Polemo, who was +king of Pontus, as also Herod his brother, who was king of +Chalcis. All these he treated with agreeable entertainments, and +after an obliging manner, and so as to exhibit the greatness of +his mind, and so as to appear worthy of those respects which the +kings paid to him, by coming thus to see him. However, while +these kings staid with him, Marcus, the president of Syria, came +thither. So the king, in order to preserve the respect that was +due to the Romans, went out of the city to meet him, as far as +seven furlongs. But this proved to be the beginning of a +difference between him and Marcus; for he took with him in his +chariot those other kings as his assessors. But Marcus had a +suspicion what the meaning could be of so great a friendship of +these kings one with another, and did not think so close an +agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the +Romans. He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of +them, and enjoined them to go their ways home without further +delay. This was very ill taken by Agrippa, who after that became +his enemy. And now he took the high priesthood away from +Matthias, and made Elioneus, the son of Cantheras, high priest in +his stead. + +2. Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he +came to the city Cesarea, which was formerly called Strato's +Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar, upon his +being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to +make vows for his safety. At which festival a great multitude was +gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of +dignity through his province. On the second day of which shows he +put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly +wonderful, and came into the theater early in the morning; at +which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the +fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, shone out after a +surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror +over those that looked intently upon him; and presently his +flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from +another, (though not for his good,) that he was a god; and they +added, "Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto +reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee +as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king did neither +rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But as he +presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl (21) sitting on a +certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this +bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the +messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest +sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a +most violent manner. He therefore looked upon his friends, and +said, "I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart +this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you +just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am +immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept +of what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no +means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he +said this, his pain was become violent. Accordingly he was +carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad every where, +that he would certainly die in a little time. But the multitude +presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and children, after +the law of their country, and besought God for the king's +recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation. +Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below +lying prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear +weeping. And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his +belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the +fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his +reign; for he reigned four years under Caius Caesar, three of +them were over Philip's tetrarchy only, and on the fourth he had +that of Herod added to it; and he reigned, besides those, three +years under the reign of Claudius Caesar; in which time he +reigned over the forementioned countries, and also had Judea +added to them, as well as Samaria and Cesarea. The revenues that +he received out of them were very great, no less than twelve +millions of drachme. (22) Yet did he borrow great sums from +others; for he was so very liberal that his expenses exceeded his +incomes, and his generosity was boundless. (23) + +3. But before the multitude were made acquainted with Agrippa's +being expired, Herod the king of Chalcis, and Helcias the master +of his horse, and the king's friend, sent Aristo, one of the +king's most faithful servants, and slew Silas, who had been their +enemy, as if it had been done by the king's own command. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +What Things Were Done After The Death Of Agrippa; And How +Claudius, On Account Of The Youth And Unskilfulness Of Agrippa, +Junior, Sent Cuspius Fadus To Be Procurator Of Judea, And Of The +Entire Kingdom. + + +1. And thus did king Agrippa depart this life. But he left behind +him a son, Agrippa by name, a youth in the seventeenth year of +his age, and three daughters; one of which, Bernice, was married +to Herod, his father's brother, and was sixteen years old; the +other two, Mariamne and Drusilla, were still virgins; the former +was ten years old, and Drusilla six. Now these his daughters were +thus espoused by their father; Marlatone to Julius Archclaus +Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, the son of Chelcias; and +Drusilla to the king of Commagena. But when it was known that +Agrippa was departed this life, the inhabitants of Cesarea and of +Sebaste forgot the kindnesses he had bestowed on them, and acted +the part of the bitterest enemies; for they cast such reproaches +upon the deceased as are not fit to be spoken of; and so many of +them as were then soldiers, which were a great number, went to +his house, and hastily carried off the statues (24) of this +king's daughters, and all at once carried them into the +brothel-houses, and when they had set them on the tops of those +houses, they abused them to the utmost of their power, and did +such things to them as are too indecent to be related. They also +laid themselves down in public places, and celebrated general +feastings, with garlands on their heads, and with ointments and +libations to Charon, and drinking to one another for joy that the +king was expired. Nay, they were not only unmindful of Agrippa, +who had extended his liberality to them in abundance, but of his +grandfather Herod also, who had himself rebuilt their cities, and +had raised them havens and temples at vast expenses. + +2. Now Agrippa, the son of the deceased, was at Rome, and brought +up with Claudius Caesar. And when Caesar was informed that +Agrippa was dead, and that the inhabitants of Sebaste and Cesarea +had abused him, he was sorry for the first news, and was +displeased with the ingratitude of those cities. He was therefore +disposed to send Agrippa, junior, away presently to succeed his +father in the kingdom, and was willing to confirm him in it by +his oath. But those freed-men and friends of his, who had the +greatest authority with him, dissuaded him from it, and said that +it was a dangerous experiment to permit so large a kingdom to +come under the government of so very young a man, and one hardly +yet arrived at years of discretion, who would not be able to take +sufficient care of its administration; while the weight of a +kingdom is heavy enough to a grown man. So Caesar thought what +they said to be reasonable. Accordingly he sent Cuspins Fadus to +be procurator of Judea, and of the entire kingdom, and paid that +respect to the eceased as not to introduce Marcus, who had been +at variance with him, into his kingdom. But he determined, in the +first place, to send orders to Fadus, that he should chastise the +inhabitants of Cesarca and Sebaste for those abuses they had +offered to him that was deceased, and their madness towards his +daughters that were still alive; and that he should remove that +body of soldiers that were at Cesarea and Sebaste, with the five +regiments, into Pontus, that they might do their military duty +there; and that he should choose an equal number of soldiers out +of the Roman legions that were in Syria, to supply their place. +Yet were not those that had such orders actually removed; for by +sending ambassadors to Claudius, they mollified him, and got +leave to abide in Judea still; and these were the very men that +became the source of very great calamities to the Jews in +after-times, and sowed the seeds of that war which began under +Florus; whence it was that when Vespasian had subdued the +country, he removed them out of his province, as we shall relate +hereafter. + + + + +BOOK XX. + +Containing The Interval Of Twenty-Two Years. + +From Fadus The Procurator To Florus. + +CHAPTER 1. + +A Sedition Of The Philadelphians Against The Jews; And Also +Concerning The Vestments Of The High Priest. + + +1. Upon the death of king Agrippa, which we have related in the +foregoing book, Claudius Caesar sent Cassius Longinus as +successor to Marcus, out of regard to the memory of king Agrippa, +who had often desired of him by letters, while he was alive, that +he would not suffer Marcus to be any longer president of Syria. +But Fadus, as soon as he was come procurator into Judea, found +quarrelsome doings between the Jews that dwelt in Perea, and the +people of Philadelphia, about their borders, at a village called +Mia, that was filled with men of a warlike temper; for the Jews +of Perea had taken up arms without the consent of their principal +men, and had destroyed many of the Philadelphians. When Fadus was +informed of this procedure, it provoked him very much that they +had not left the determination of the matter to him, if they +thought that the Philadelphians had done them any wrong, but had +rashly taken up arms against them. So he seized upon three of +their principal men, who were also the causes of this sedition, +and ordered them to be bound, and afterwards had one of them +slain, whose name was Hannibal; and he banished the other two, +Areram and Eleazar. Tholomy also, the arch robber, was, after +some time, brought to him bound, and slain, but not till he had +done a world of mischief to Idumea and the Arabians. And indeed, +from that time, Judea was cleared of robberies by the care and +providence of Fadus. He also at this time sent for the high +priests and the principal citizens of Jerusalem, and this at the +command of the emperor, and admonished them that they should lay +up the long garment and the sacred vestment, which it is +customary for nobody but the high priest to wear, in the tower of +Antonia, that it might be under the power of the Romans, as it +had been formerly. Now the Jews durst not contradict what he had +said, but desired Fadus, however, and Longinus, (which last was +come to Jerusalem, and had brought a great army with him, out of +a fear that the [rigid] injunctions of Fadus should force the +Jews to rebel,) that they might, in the first place, have leave +to send ambassadors to Caesar, to petition him that they may have +the holy vestments under their own power; and that, in the next +place, they would tarry till they knew what answer Claudius would +give to that their request. So they replied, that they would give +them leave to send their ambassadors, provided they would give +them their sons as pledges [for their peaceable behavior]. And +when they had agreed so to do, and had given them the pledges +they desired, the ambassadors were sent accordingly. But when, +upon their coming to Rome, Agrippa, junior, the son of the +deceased, understood the reason why they came, (for he dwelt with +Claudius Caesar, as we said before,) he besought Caesar to grant +the Jews their request about the holy vestments, and to send a +message to Fadus accordingly. + +2. Hereupon Claudius called for the ambassadors; and told them +that he granted their request; and bade them to return their +thanks to Agrippa for this favor, which had been bestowed on them +upon his entreaty. And besides these answers of his, he sent the +following letter by them: "Claudius Caesar Germanicus, tribune of +the people the fifth time, and designed consul the fourth time, +and imperator the tenth time, the father of his country, to the +magistrates, senate, and people, and the whole nation of the +Jews, sendeth greeting. Upon the presentation of your ambassadors +to me by Agrippa, my friend, whom I have brought up, and have now +with me, and who is a person of very great piety, who are come to +give me thanks for the care I have taken of your nation, and to +entreat me, in an earnest and obliging manner, that they may have +the holy vestments, with the crown belonging to them, under their +power, - I grant their request, as that excellent person +Vitellius, who is very dear to me, had done before me. And I have +complied with your desire, in the first place, out of regard to +that piety which I profess, and because I would have every one +worship God according to the laws of their own country; and this +I do also because I shall hereby highly gratify king Herod, and +Agrippa, junior, whose sacred regards to me, and earnest +good-will to you, I am well acquainted with, and with whom I have +the greatest friendship, and whom I highly esteem, and look on as +persons of the best character. Now I have written about these +affairs to Cuspius Fadus, my procurator. The names of those that +brought me your letter are Cornelius, the son of Cero, Trypho, +the son of Theudio, Dorotheus, the son of Nathaniel, and John, +the son of Jotre. This letter is dated before the fourth of the +calends of July, when Ruffis and Pompeius Sylvanus are consuls." + +3. Herod also, the brother of the deceased Agrippa, who was then +possessed of the royal authority over Chalcis, petitioned +Claudius Caesar for the authority over the temple, and the money +of the sacred treasure, and the choice of the high priests, and +obtained all that he petitioned for. So that after that time this +authority continued among all his descendants till the end of the +war (1) Accordingly, Herod removed the last high priest, called +Cimtheras, and bestowed that dignity on his successor Joseph, the +son of Cantos. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + +How Helena The Queen Of Adiabene And Her Son Izates, Embraced The +Jewish Religion; And How Helena Supplied The Poor With Corn, When +There Was A Great Famine At Jerusalem. + + +1. About this time it was that Helena, queen of Adiabene, and her +son Izates, changed their course of life, and embraced the Jewish +customs, and this on the occasion following: Monobazus, the king +of Adiabene, who had also the name of Bazeus, fell in love with +his sister Helena, and took her to be his wife, and begat her +with child. But as he was in bed with her one night, he laid his +hand upon his wife's belly, and fell asleep, and seemed to hear a +voice, which bid him take his hand off his wife's belly, and not +hurt the infant that was therein, which, by God's providence, +would be safely born, and have a happy end. This voice put him +into disorder; so he awaked immediately, and told the story to +his wife; and when his son was born, he called him Izates. He had +indeed Monobazus, his elder brother, by Helena also, as he had +other sons by other wives besides. Yet did he openly place all +his affections on this his only begotten (2) son Izates, which +was the origin of that envy which his other brethren, by the same +father, bore to him; while on this account they hated him more +and more, and were all under great affliction that their father +should prefer Izates before them. Now although their father was +very sensible of these their passions, yet did he forgive them, +as not indulging those passions out of an ill disposition, but +out of a desire each of them had to be beloved by their father. +However, he sent Izates, with many presents, to Abennerig, the +king of Charax-Spasini, and that out of the great dread he was in +about him, lest he should come to some misfortune by the hatred +his brethren bore him; and he committed his son's preservation to +him. Upon which Abennerig gladly received the young man, and had +a great affection for him, and married him to his own daughter, +whose name was Samacha: he also bestowed a country upon him, from +which he received large revenues. + +2. But when Monobazus was grown old, and saw that he had but a +little time to live, he had a mind to come to the sight of his +son before he died. So he sent for him, and embraced him after +the most affectionate manner, and bestowed on him the country +called Carra; it was a soil that bare amomum in great plenty: +there are also in it the remains of that ark, wherein it is +related that Noah escaped the deluge, and where they are still +shown to such as are desirous to see them. (3) Accordingly, +Izates abode in that country until his father's death. But the +very day that Monobazus died, queen Helena sent for all the +grandees, and governors of the kingdom, and for those that had +the armies committed to their command; and when they were come, +she made the following speech to them: "I believe you are not +unacquainted that my husband was desirous Izates should succeed +him in the government, and thought him worthy so to do. However, +I wait your determination; for happy is he who receives a +kingdom, not from a single person only, but from the willing +suffrages of a great many." This she said, in order to try those +that were invited, and to discover their sentiments. Upon the +hearing of which, they first of all paid their homage to the +queen, as their custom was, and then they said that they +confirmed the king's determination, and would submit to it; and +they rejoiced that Izates's father had preferred him before the +rest of his brethren, as being agreeable to all their wishes: but +that they were desirous first of all to slay his brethren and +kinsmen, that so the government might come securely to Izates; +because if they were once destroyed, all that fear would be over +which might arise from their hatred and envy to him. Helena +replied to this, that she returned them her thanks for their +kindness to herself and to Izates; but desired that they would +however defer the execution of this slaughter of Izates's +brethren till he should be there himself, and give his +approbation to it. So since these men had not prevailed with her, +when they advised her to slay them, they exhorted her at least to +keep them in bonds till he should come, and that for their own +security; they also gave her counsel to set up some one whom she +could put the greatest trust in, as a governor of the kingdom in +the mean time. So queen Helena complied with this counsel of +theirs, and set up Monobazus, the eldest son, to be king, and put +the diadem upon his head, and gave him his father's ring, with +its signet; as also the ornament which they call Sampser, and +exhorted him to administer the affairs of the kingdom till his +brother should come; who came suddenly upon hearing that his +father was dead, and succeeded his brother Monobazus, who +resigned up the government to him. + +3. Now, during the time Izates abode at Charax-Spasini, a certain +Jewish merchant, whose name was Ananias, got among the women that +belonged to the king, and taught them to worship God according to +the Jewish religion. He, moreover, by their means, became known +to Izates, and persuaded him, in like manner, to embrace that +religion; he also, at the earnest entreaty of Izates, accompanied +him when he was sent for by his father to come to Adiabene; it +also happened that Helena, about the same time, was instructed by +a certain other Jew and went over to them. But when Izates had +taken the kingdom, and was come to Adiabene, and there saw his +brethren and other kinsmen in bonds, he was displeased at it; and +as he thought it an instance of impiety either to slay or +imprison them, but still thought it a hazardous thing for to let +them have their liberty, with the remembrance of the injuries +that had been offered them, he sent some of them and their +children for hostages to Rome, to Claudius Caesar, and sent the +others to Artabanus, the king of Parthia, with the like +intentions. + +4. And when he perceived that his mother was highly pleased with +the Jewish customs, he made haste to change, and to embrace them +entirely; and as he supposed that he could not be thoroughly a +Jew unless he were circumcised, he was ready to have it done. But +when his mother understood what he was about, she endeavored to +hinder him from doing it, and said to him that this thing would +bring him into danger; and that, as he was a king, he would +thereby bring himself into great odium among his subjects, when +they should understand that he was so fond of rites that were to +them strange and foreign; and that they would never bear to be +ruled over by a Jew. This it was that she said to him, and for +the present persuaded him to forbear. And when he had related +what she had said to Ananias, he confirmed what his mother had +said; and when he had also threatened to leave him, unless he +complied with him, he went away from him, and said that he was +afraid lest such an action being once become public to all, he +should himself be in danger of punishment for having been the +occasion of it, and having been the king's instructor in actions +that were of ill reputation; and he said that he might worship +God without being circumcised, even though he did resolve to +follow the Jewish law entirely, which worship of God was of a +superior nature to circumcision. He added, that God would forgive +him, though he did not perform the operation, while it was +omitted out of necessity, and for fear of his subjects. So the +king at that time complied with these persuasions of Ananias. But +afterwards, as he had not quite left off his desire of doing this +thing, a certain other Jew that came out of Galilee, whose name +was Eleazar, and who was esteemed very skillful in the learning +of his country, persuaded him to do the thing; for as he entered +into his palace to salute him, and found him reading the law of +Moses, he said to him, "Thou dost not consider, O king! that thou +unjustly breakest the principal of those laws, and art injurious +to God himself, [by omitting to be circumcised]; for thou +oughtest not only to read them, but chiefly to practice what they +enjoin thee. How long wilt thou continue uncircumcised? But if +thou hast not yet read the law about circumcision, and dost not +know how great impiety thou art guilty of by neglecting it, read +it now." When the king had heard what he said, he delayed the +thing no longer, but retired to another room, and sent for a +surgeon, and did what he was commanded to do. He then sent for +his mother, and Ananias his tutor, and informed them that he had +done the thing; upon which they were presently struck with +astonishment and fear, and that to a great degree, lest the thing +should be openly discovered and censured, and the king should +hazard the loss of his kingdom, while his subjects would not bear +to be governed by a man who was so zealous in another religion; +and lest they should themselves run some hazard, because they +would be supposed the occasion of his so doing. But it was God +himself who hindered what they feared from taking effect; for he +preserved both Izates himself and his sons when they fell into +many dangers, and procured their deliverance when it seemed to be +impossible, and demonstrated thereby that the fruit of piety does +not perish as to those that have regard to him, and fix their +faith upon him only. (4) But these events we shall relate +hereafter. + +5. But as to Helena, the king's mother, when she saw that the +affairs of Izates's kingdom were in peace, and that her son was a +happy man, and admired among all men, and even among foreigners, +by the means of God's providence over him, she had a mind to go +to the city of Jerusalem, in order to worship at that temple of +God which was so very famous among all men, and to offer her +thank-offerings there. So she desired her son to give her leave +to go thither; upon which he gave his consent to what she desired +very willingly, and made great preparations for her dismission, +and gave her a great deal of money, and she went down to the city +Jerusalem, her son conducting her on her journey a great way. Now +her coming was of very great advantage to the people of +Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, +and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure +food withal, queen Helena sent some of her servants to Alexandria +with money to buy a great quantity of corn, and others of them to +Cyprus, to bring a cargo of dried figs. And as soon as they were +come back, and had brought those provisions, which was done very +quickly, she distributed food to those that were in want of it, +and left a most excellent memorial behind her of this +benefaction, which she bestowed on our whole nation. And when her +son Izates was informed of this famine, (5) he sent great sums of +money to the principal men in Jerusalem. However, what favors +this queen and king conferred upon our city Jerusalem shall be +further related hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + +How Artabanus, the King of Parthia out of Fear of the Secret +Contrivances of His Subjects Against Him, Went to Izates, and Was +By Him Reinstated in His Government; as Also How Bardanes His Son +Denounced War Against Izates. + + +1. But now Artabanus, king of the Parthians perceiving that the +governors of the provinces had framed a plot against him, did not +think it safe for him to continue among them; but resolved to go +to Izates, in hopes of finding some way for his preservation by +his means, and, if possible, for his return to his own dominions. +So he came to Izates, and brought a thousand of his kindred and +servants with him, and met him upon the road, while he well knew +Izates, but Izates did not know him. When Artabanus stood near +him, and, in the first place, worshipped him, according to the +custom, he then said to him, "O king! do not thou overlook me thy +servant, nor do thou proudly reject the suit I make thee; for as +I am reduced to a low estate, by the change of fortune, and of a +king am become a private man, I stand in need of thy assistance. +Have regard, therefore, unto the uncertainty of fortune, and +esteem the care thou shalt take of me to be taken of thyself +also; for if I be neglected, and my subjects go off unpunished, +many other subjects will become the more insolent towards other +kings also." And this speech Artabanus made with tears in his +eyes, and with a dejected countenance. Now as soon as Izates +heard Artabanus's name, and saw him stand as a supplicant before +him, he leaped down from his horse immediately, and said to him, +"Take courage, O king! nor be disturbed at thy present calamity, +as if it were incurable; for the change of thy sad condition +shall be sudden; for thou shalt find me to be more thy friend and +thy assistant than thy hopes can promise thee; for I will either +re-establish thee in the kingdom of Parthia, or lose my own." + +2. When he had said this, he set Artabanus upon his horse, and +followed him on foot, in honor of a king whom he owned as greater +than himself; which, when Artabanus saw, he was very uneasy at +it, and sware by his present fortune and honor that he would get +down from his horse, unless Izates would get upon his horse +again, and go before him. So he complied with his desire, and +leaped upon his horse; and when he had brought him to his royal +palace, he showed him all sorts of respect when they sat +together, and he gave him the upper place at festivals also, as +regarding not his present fortune, but his former dignity, and +that upon this consideration also, that the changes of fortune +are common to all men. He also wrote to the Parthians, to +persuade them to receive Artabanus again; and gave them his right +hand and his faith, that he should forget what was past and done, +and that he would undertake for this as a mediator between them. +Now the Parthians did not themselves refuse to receive him again, +but pleaded that it was not now in their power so to do, because +they had committed the government to another person, who had +accepted of it, and whose name was Cinnamus; and that they were +afraid lest a civil war should arise on this account. When +Cinnamus understood their intentions, he wrote to Artabanus +himself, for he had been brought up by him, and was of a nature +good and gentle also, and desired him to put confidence in him, +and to come and take his own dominions again. Accordingly, +Artabanus trusted him, and returned home; when Cinnamus met him, +worshipped him, and saluted him as a king, and took the diadem +off his own head, and put it on the head of Artabanus. + +3. And thus was Artahanus restored to his kingdom again by the +means of Izates, when he had lost it by the means of the grandees +of the kingdom. Nor was he unmindful of the benefits he had +conferred upon him, but rewarded him with such honors as were of +the greatest esteem among them; for he gave him leave to wear his +tiara upright, (6) and to sleep upon a golden bed, which are +privileges and marks of honor peculiar to the kings of Parthia. +He also cut off a large and fruitful country from the king of +Armenia, and bestowed it upon him. The name of the country is +Nisibis, wherein the Macedonians had formerly built that city +which they called Antioch of Mygodonla. And these were the honors +that were paid Izates by the king of the Parthians. + +4. But in no long time Artabanus died, and left his kingdom to +his son Bardanes. Now this Bardanes came to Izates, and would +have persuaded him to join him with his army, and to assist him +in the war he was preparing to make with the Romans; but he could +not prevail with him. For Izates so well knew the strength and +good fortune of the Romans, that he took Bardanes to attempt what +was impossible to be done; and having besides sent his sons, five +in number, and they but young also, to learn accurately the +language of our nation, together with our learning, as well as he +had sent his mother to worship at our temple, as I have said +already, was the more backward to a compliance; and restrained +Bardanes, telling him perpetually of the great armies and famous +actions of the Romans, and thought thereby to terrify him, and +desired thereby to hinder him from that expedition. But the +Parthian king was provoked at this his behavior, and denounced +war immediately against Izates. Yet did he gain no advantage by +this war, because God cut off all his hopes therein; for the +Parthians perceiving Bardanes's intentions, and how he had +determined to make war with the Romans, slew him, and gave his +kingdom to his brother Gotarzes. He also, in no long time, +perished by a plot made against him, and Vologases, his brother, +succeeded him, who committed two of his provinces to two of his +brothers by the same father; that of the Medes to the elder, +Pacorus; and Armenia to the younger, Tiridates. + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + +How Izates Was Betrayed By His Own Subjects, And Fought Against +By The Arabians And How Izates, By The Providence Of God, Was +Delivered Out Of Their Hands. + + +1. Now when the king's brother, Monobazus, and his other kindred, +saw how Izates, by his piety to God, was become greatly esteemed +by all men, they also had a desire to leave the religion of their +country, and to embrace the customs of the Jews; but that act of +theirs was discovered by Izates's subjects. Whereupon the +grandees were much displeased, and could not contain their anger +at them; but had an intention, when they should find a proper +opportunity, to inflict a punishment upon them. Accordingly, they +wrote to Abia, king of the Arabians, and promised him great sums +of money, if he would make an expedition against their king; and +they further promised him, that, on the first onset, they would +desert their king, because they were desirous to punish him, by +reason of the hatred he had to their religious worship; then they +obliged themselves, by oaths, to be faithful to each other, and +desired that he would make haste in this design. The king of +Arabia complied with their desires, and brought a great army into +the field, and marched against Izates; and, in the beginning of +the first onset, and before they came to a close fight, those +Handees, as if they had a panic terror upon them, all deserted +Izates, as they had agreed to do, and, turning their backs upon +their enemies, ran away. Yet was not Izates dismayed at this; but +when he understood that the grandees had betrayed him, he also +retired into his camp, and made inquiry into the matter; and as +soon as he knew who they were that made this conspiracy with the +king of Arabia, he cut off those that were found guilty; and +renewing the fight on the next day, he slew the greatest part of +his enemies, and forced all the rest to betake themselves to +flight. He also pursued their king, and drove him into a fortress +called Arsamus, and following on the siege vigorously, he took +that fortress. And when he had plundered it of all the prey that +was in it, which was not small, he returned to Adiabene; yet did +not he take Abia alive, because, when he found himself +encompassed on every side, he slew himself. + +2. But although the grandees of Adiabene had failed in their +first attempt, as being delivered up by God into their king's +hands, yet would they not even then be quiet, but wrote again to +Vologases, who was then king of Parthia, and desired that he +would kill Izates, and set over them some other potentate, who +should be of a Parthian family; for they said that they hated +their own king for abrogating the laws of their forefathers, and +embracing foreign customs. When the king of Parthia heard this, +he boldly made war upon Izates; and as he had no just pretense +for this war, he sent to him, and demanded back those honorable +privileges which had been bestowed on him by his father, and +threatened, on his refusal, to make war upon him. Upon hearing of +this, Izates was under no small trouble of mind, as thinking it +would be a reproach upon him to appear to resign those privileges +that had been bestowed upon him out of cowardice; yet because he +knew, that though the king of Parthia should receive back those +honors, yet would he not be quiet, he resolved to commit himself +to God, his Protector, in the present danger he was in of his +life; and as he esteemed him to be his principal assistant, he +intrusted his children and his wives to a very strong fortress, +and laid up his corn in his citadels, and set the hay and the +grass on fire. And when he had thus put things in order, as well +as he could, he awaited the coming of the enemy. And when the +king of Parthia was come, with a great army of footmen and +horsemen, which he did sooner than was expected, (for he marched +in great haste,) and had cast up a bank at the river that parted +Adiabene from Media, - Izates also pitched his camp not far off, +having with him six thousand horsemen. But there came a messenger +to Izates, sent by the king of Parthia, who told him how large +his dominions were, as reaching from the river Euphrates to +Bactria, and enumerated that king's subjects; he also threatened +him that he should be punished, as a person ungrateful to his +lords; and said that the God whom he worshipped could not deliver +him out of the king's hands. When the messenger had delivered +this his message, Izates replied that he knew the king of +Parthia's power was much greater than his own; but that he knew +also that God was much more powerful than all men. And when he +had returned him this answer, he betook himself to make +supplication to God, and threw himself upon the ground, and put +ashes upon his head, in testimony of his confusion, and fasted, +together with his wives and children. (7) Then he called upon +God, and said, "O Lord and Governor, if I have not in vain +committed myself to thy goodness, but have justly determined that +thou only art the Lord and principal of all beings, come now to +my assistance, and defend me from my enemies, not only on my own +account, but on account of their insolent behavior with regard to +thy power, while they have not feared to lift up their proud and +arrogant tongue against thee." Thus did he lament and bemoan +himself, with tears in his eyes; whereupon God heard his prayer. +And immediately that very night Vologases received letters, the +contents of which were these, that a great band of Dahe and +Sacse, despising him, now he was gone so long a journey from +home, had made an expedition, and laid Parthis waste; so that he +[was forced to] retire back, without doing any thing. And thus it +was that Izates escaped the threatenings of the Parthians, by the +providence of God. + +3. It was not long ere Izates died, when he had completed +fifty-five years of his life, and had ruled his kingdom +twenty-four years. He left behind him twenty-four sons and +twenty-four daughters. However, he gave order that his brother +Monobazus should succeed in the government, thereby requiting +him, because, while he was himself absent after their father's +death, he had faithfully preserved the government for him. But +when Helena, his mother, heard of her son's death, she was in +great heaviness, as was but natural, upon her loss of such a most +dutiful son; yet was it a comfort to her that she heard the +succession came to her eldest son. Accordingly, she went to him +in haste; and when she was come into Adiabene, she did not long +outlive her son Izates. But Monobazus sent her bones, as well as +those of Izates, his brother, to Jerusalem, and gave order that +they should be buried at the pyramids (8) which their mother had +erected; they were three in number, and distant no more than +three furlongs from the city Jerusalem. But for the actions of +Monobazus the king, which he did during the rest of his life, we +will relate them hereafter.- + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + +Concerning Theudas And The Sons Of Judas The Galilean; As Also +What Calamity Fell Upon The Jews On The Day Of The Passover. + + +1. Now it came to pass, while Fadus was procurator of Judea, that +a certain magician, whose name was Theudas, (9) persuaded a great +part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow +him to the river Jordan; for he told them he was a prophet, and +that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford +them an easy passage over it; and many were deluded by his words. +However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his +wild attempt, but sent a troop of horsemen out against them; who, +falling upon them unexpectedly, slew many of them, and took many +of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, and cut off his +head, and carried it to Jerusalem. This was what befell the Jews +in the time of Cuspius Fadus's government. + +2. Then came Tiberius Alexander as successor to Fadus; he was the +son of Alexander the alabarch of Alexandria, which Alexander was +a principal person among all his contemporaries, both for his +family and wealth: he was also more eminent for his piety than +this his son Alexander, for he did not continue in the religion +of his country. Under these procurators that great famine +happened in Judea, in which queen Helena bought corn in Egypt at +a great expense, and distributed it to those that were in want, +as I have related already. And besides this, the sons of Judas of +Galilee were now slain; I mean of that Judas who caused the +people to revolt, when Cyrenius came to take an account of the +estates of the Jews, as we have showed in a foregoing book. The +names of those sons were James and Simon, whom Alexander +commanded to be crucified. But now Herod, king of Chalcis, +removed Joseph, the son of Camydus, from the high priesthood, and +made Ananias, the son of Nebedeu, his successor. And now it was +that Cumanus came as successor to Tiberius Alexander; as also +that Herod, brother of Agrippa the great king, departed this +life, in the eighth year of the reign of Claudius Caesar. He left +behind him three sons; Aristobulus, whom he had by his first +wife, with Bernicianus, and Hyrcanus, both whom he had by Bernice +his brother's daughter. But Claudius Caesar bestowed his +dominions on Agrippa, junior. + +3. Now while the Jewish affairs were under the administration of +Cureanus, there happened a great tumult at the city of Jerusalem, +and many of the Jews perished therein. But I shall first explain +the occasion whence it was derived. When that feast which is +called the passover was at hand, at which time our custom is to +use unleavened bread, and a great multitude was gathered together +from all parts to that feast, Cumanus was afraid lest some +attempt of innovation should then be made by them; so he ordered +that one regiment of the army should take their arms, and stand +in the temple cloisters, to repress any attempts of innovation, +if perchance any such should begin; and this was no more than +what the former procurators of Judea did at such festivals. But +on the fourth day of the feast, a certain soldier let down his +breeches, and exposed his privy members to the multitude, which +put those that saw him into a furious rage, and made them cry out +that this impious action was not done to approach them, but God +himself; nay, some of them reproached Cumanus, and pretended that +the soldier was set on by him, which, when Cumanus heard, he was +also himself not a little provoked at such reproaches laid upon +him; yet did he exhort them to leave off such seditious attempts, +and not to raise a tumult at the festival. But when he could not +induce them to be quiet for they still went on in their +reproaches to him, he gave order that the whole army should take +their entire armor, and come to Antonia, which was a fortress, as +we have said already, which overlooked the temple; but when the +multitude saw the soldiers there, they were affrighted at them, +and ran away hastily; but as the passages out were but narrow, +and as they thought their enemies followed them, they were +crowded together in their flight, and a great number were pressed +to death in those narrow passages; nor indeed was the number +fewer than twenty thousand that perished in this tumult. So +instead of a festival, they had at last a mournful day of it; and +they all of them forgot their prayers and sacrifices, and betook +themselves to lamentation and weeping; so great an affliction did +the impudent obsceneness of a single soldier bring upon them. +(10) + +4. Now before this their first mourning was over, another +mischief befell them also; for some of those that raised the +foregoing tumult, when they were traveling along the public road, +about a hundred furlongs from the city, robbed Stephanus, a +servant of Caesar, as he was journeying, and plundered him of all +that he had with him; which things when Cureanus heard of, he +sent soldiers immediately, and ordered them to plunder the +neighboring villages, and to bring the most eminent persons among +them in bonds to him. Now as this devastation was making, one of +the soldiers seized the laws of Moses that lay in one of those +villages, and brought them out before the eyes of all present, +and tore them to pieces; and this was done with reproachful +language, and much scurrility; which things when the Jews heard +of, they ran together, and that in great numbers, and came down +to Cesarea, where Cumanus then was, and besought him that he +would avenge, not themselves, but God himself, whose laws had +been affronted; for that they could not bear to live any longer, +if the laws of their forefathers must be affronted after this +manner. Accordingly Cumanus, out of fear lest the multitude +should go into a sedition, and by the advice of his friends also, +took care that the soldier who had offered the affront to the +laws should be beheaded, and thereby put a stop to the sedition +which was ready to be kindled a second time. + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + +How There Happened A Quarrel Between The Jews And The Samaritans; +And How Claudius Put An End To Their Differences. + + +1. Now there arose a quarrel between the Samaritans and the Jews +on the occasion following: It was the custom of the Galileans, +when they came to the holy city at the festivals, to take their +journeys through the country of the Samaritans; (11) and at this +time there lay, in the road they took, a village that was called +Ginea, which was situated in the limits of Samaria and the great +plain, where certain persons thereto belonging fought with the +Galileans, and killed a great many of them. But when the +principal of the Galileans were informed of what had been done, +they came to Cumanus, and desired him to avenge the murder of +those that were killed; but he was induced by the Samaritans, +with money, to do nothing in the matter; upon which the Galileans +were much displeased, and persuaded the multitude of the Jews to +betake themselves to arms, and to regain their liberty, saying +that slavery was in itself a bitter thing, but that when it was +joined with direct injuries, it was perfectly intolerable, And +when their principal men endeavored to pacify them, and promised +to endeavor to persuade Cureanus to avenge those that were +killed, they would not hearken to them, but took their weapons, +and entreated the assistance of Eleazar, the son of Dineus, a +robber, who had many years made his abode in the mountains, with +which assistance they plundered many villages of the Samaritans. +When Cumanus heard of this action of theirs, he took the band of +Sebaste, with four regiments of footmen, and armed the +Samaritans, and marched out against the Jews, and caught them, +and slew many of them, and took a great number of them alive; +whereupon those that were the most eminent persons at Jerusalem, +and that both in regard to the respect that was paid them, and +the families they were of, as soon as they saw to what a height +things were gone, put on sackcloth, and heaped ashes upon their +heads, and by all possible means besought the seditious, and +persuaded them that they would set before their eyes the utter +subversion of their country, the conflagration of their temple, +and the slavery of themselves, their wives, and children, (12) +which would be the consequences of what they were doing; and +would alter their minds, would cast away their weapons, and for +the future be quiet, and return to their own homes. These +persuasions of theirs prevailed upon them. So the people +dispersed themselves, and the robbers went away again to their +places of strength; and after this time all Judea was overrun +with robberies. + +2. But the principal of the Samaritans went to Ummidius +Quadratus, the president of Syria, who at that time was at Tyre, +and accused the Jews of setting their villages on fire, and +plundering them; and said withal, that they were not so much +displeased at what they had suffered, as they were at the +contempt thereby showed the Romans; while if they had received +any injury, they ought to have made them the judges of what had +been done, and not presently to make such devastation, as if they +had not the Romans for their governors; on which account they +came to him, in order to obtain that vengeance they wanted. This +was the accusation which the Samaritans brought against the Jews. +But the Jews affirmed that the Samaritans were the authors of +this tumult and fighting, and that, in the first place, Cumanus +had been corrupted by their gifts, and passed over the murder of +those that were slain in silence; - which allegations when +Quadratus heard, he put off the hearing of the cause, and +promised that he would give sentence when he should come into +Judea, and should have a more exact knowledge of the truth of +that matter. So these men went away without success. Yet was it +not long ere Quadratus came to Samaria, where, upon hearing the +cause, he supposed that the Samaritans were the authors of that +disturbance. But when he was informed that certain of the Jews +were making innovations, he ordered those to be crucified whom +Cumanus had taken captives. From whence he came to a certain +village called Lydda, which was not less than a city in +largeness, and there heard the Samaritan cause a second time +before his tribunal, and there learned from a certain Samaritan +that one of the chief of the Jews, whose name was Dortus, and +some other innovators with him, four in number, persuaded the +multitude to a revolt from the Romans; whom Quadratus ordered to +be put to death: but still he sent away Ananias the high priest, +and Ananus the commander [of the temple], in bonds to Rome, to +give an account of what they had done to Claudius Caesar. He also +ordered the principal men, both of the Samaritans and of the +Jews, as also Cumanus the procurator, and Ceier the tribune, to +go to Italy to the emperor, that he might hear their cause, and +determine their differences one with another. But he came again +to the city of Jerusalem, out of his fear that the multitude of +the Jews should attempt some innovations; but he found the city +in a peaceable state, and celebrating one of the usual festivals +of their country to God. So he believed that they would not +attempt any innovations, and left them at the celebration of the +festival, and returned to Antioch. + +3. Now Cumanus, and the principal of the Samaritans, who were +sent to Rome, had a day appointed them by the emperor whereon +they were to have pleaded their cause about the quarrels they had +one with another. But now Caesar's freed-men and his friends were +very zealous on the behalf of Cumanus and the Samaritans; and +they had prevailed over the Jews, unless Agrippa, junior, who was +then at Rome, had seen the principal of the Jews hard set, and +had earnestly entreated Agrippina, the emperor's wife, to +persuade her husband to hear the cause, so as was agreeable to +his justice, and to condemn those to be punished who were really +the authors of this revolt from the Roman government:-- whereupon +Claudius was so well disposed beforehand, that when he had heard +the cause, and found that the Samaritans had been the ringleaders +in those mischievous doings, he gave order that those who came up +to him should be slain, and that Cureanus should be banished. He +also gave order that Celer the tribune should be carried back to +Jerusalem, and should be drawn through the city in the sight of +all the people, and then should be slain. + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + +Felix Is Made Procurator Of Judea; As Also Concerning Agrippa, +Junior And His Sisters. + + +1. So Claudius sent Felix, the brother of Pallas, to take care of +the affairs of Judea; and when he had already completed the +twelfth year of his reign, he bestowed upon Agrippa the tetrarchy +of Philip and Batanea, and added thereto Trachonites, with Abila; +which last had been the tetrarchy of Lysanias; but he took from +him Chalcis, when he had been governor thereof four years. And +when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar, +he gave his sister Drusilla in marriage to Azizus, king of Emesa, +upon his consent to be circumcised; for Epiphanes, the son of +king Antiochus, had refused to marry her, because, after he had +promised her father formerly to come over to the Jewish religion, +he would not now perform that promise. He also gave Mariamne in +marriage to Archelaus, the son of Helcias, to whom she had +formerly been betrothed by Agrippa her father; from which +marriage was derived a daughter, whose name was Bernice. + +2. But for the marriage of Drusilla with Azizus, it was in no +long time afterward dissolved upon the following occasion: While +Felix was procurator of Judea, he saw this Drusilla, and fell in +love with her; for she did indeed exceed all other women in +beauty; and he sent to her a person whose name was Simon (13) one +of his friends; a Jew he was, and by birth a Cypriot, and one who +pretended to be a magician, and endeavored to persuade her to +forsake her present husband, and marry him; and promised, that if +she would not refuse him, he would make her a happy woman. +Accordingly she acted ill, and because she was desirous to avoid +her sister Bernice's envy, for she was very ill treated by her on +account of her beauty, was prevailed upon to transgress the laws +of her forefathers, and to marry Felix; and when he had had a son +by her, he named him Agrippa. But after what manner that young +man, with his wife, perished at the conflagration of the mountain +Vesuvius, (14) in the days of Titus Caesar, shall be related +hereafter. (15) + +3. But as for Bernice, she lived a widow a long while after the +death of Herod [king of Chalcis], who was both her husband and +her uncle; but when the report went that she had criminal +conversation with her brother, [Agrippa, junior,] she persuaded +Poleme, who was king of Cilicia, to be circumcised, and to marry +her, as supposing that by this means she should prove those +calumnies upon her to be false; and Poleme was prevailed upon, +and that chiefly on account of her riches. Yet did not this +matrimony endure long; but Bernice left Poleme, and, as was said, +with impure intentions. So he forsook at once this matrimony, and +the Jewish religion; and, at the same time, Mariamne put away +Archclaus, and was married to Demetrius, the principal man among +the Alexandrian Jews, both for his family and his wealth; and +indeed he was then their alabarch. So she named her son whom she +had by him Agrippinus. But of all these particulars we shall +hereafter treat more exactly. (16) + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + +After What Manner Upon The Death Of Claudius, Nero Succeeded In +The Government; As Also What Barbarous Things He Did. Concerning +The Robbers, Murderers And Impostors, That Arose While Felix And +Festus Were Procurators Of Judea. + + +1. Now Claudius Caesar died when he had reigned thirteen years, +eight months, and twenty days; (17) and a report went about that +he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina. Her father was Germanicus, +the brother of Caesar. Her husband was Domitius Aenobarbus, one +of the most illustrious persons that was in the city of Rome; +after whose death, and her long continuance in widowhood, +Claudius took her to wife. She brought along with her a son, +Domtitus, of the same name with his father. He had before this +slain his wife Messalina, out of jealousy, by whom he had his +children Britannicus and Octavia; their eldest sister was +Antonia, whom he had by Pelina his first wife. He also married +Octavia to Nero; for that was the name that Caesar gave him +afterward, upon his adopting him for his son. + +2. But now Agrippina was afraid, lest, when Britannicus should +come to man's estate, he should succeed his father in the +government, and desired to seize upon the principality beforehand +for her own son [Nero]; upon which the report went that she +thence compassed the death of Claudius. Accordingly, she sent +Burrhus, the general of the army, immediately, and with him the +tribunes, and such also of the freed-men as were of the greatest +authority, to bring Nero away into the camp, and to salute him +emperor. And when Nero had thus obtained the government, he got +Britannicus to be so poisoned, that the multitude should not +perceive it; although he publicly put his own mother to death not +long afterward, making her this requital, not only for being born +of her, but for bringing it so about by her contrivances that he +obtained the Roman empire. He also slew Octavia his own wife, and +many other illustrious persons, under this pretense, that they +plotted against him. + +3. But I omit any further discourse about these affairs; for +there have been a great many who have composed the history of +Nero; some of which have departed from the truth of facts out of +favor, as having received benefits from him; while others, out of +hatred to him, and the great ill-will which they bare him, have +so impudently raved against him with their lies, that they justly +deserve to be condemned. Nor do I wonder at such as have told +lies of Nero, since they have not in their writings preserved the +truth of history as to those facts that were earlier than his +time, even when the actors could have no way incurred their +hatred, since those writers lived a long time after them. But as +to those that have no regard to truth, they may write as they +please; for in that they take delight: but as to ourselves, who +have made truth our direct aim, we shall briefly touch upon what +only belongs remotely to this undertaking, but shall relate what +hath happened to us Jews with great accuracy, and shall not +grudge our pains in giving an account both of the calamities we +have suffered, and of the crimes we have been guilty of. I will +now therefore return to the relation of our own affairs. + +4. For in the first year of the reign of Nero, upon the death of +Azizus, king of Emesa, Soemus, his brother, succeeded in his +kingdom, and Aristobulus, the son of Herod, king of Chalcis, was +intrusted by Nero with the government of the Lesser Armenia. +Caesar also bestowed on Agrippa a certain part of Galilee, +Tiberias, and Tarichae, (18) and ordered them to submit to his +jurisdiction. He gave him also Julias, a city of Perea, with +fourteen villages that lay about it. + +5. Now as for the affairs of the Jews, they grew worse and worse +continually, for the country was again filled with robbers and +impostors, who deluded the multitude. Yet did Felix catch and put +to death many of those impostors every day, together with the +robbers. He also caught Eleazar, the son of Dineas, who had +gotten together a company of robbers; and this he did by +treachery; for he gave him assurance that he should suffer no +harm, and thereby persuaded him to come to him; but when he came, +he bound him, and sent him to Rome. Felix also bore an ill-will +to Jonathan, the high priest, because he frequently gave him +admonitions about governing the Jewish affairs better than he +did, lest he should himself have complaints made of him by the +multitude, since he it was who had desired Caesar to send him as +procurator of Judea. So Felix contrived a method whereby he might +get rid of him, now he was become so continually troublesome to +him; for such continual admonitions are grievous to those who are +disposed to act unjustly. Wherefore Felix persuaded one of +Jonathan's most faithful friends, a citizen of Jerusalem, whose +name was Doras, to bring the robbers upon Jonathan, in order to +kill him; and this he did by promising to give him a great deal +of money for so doing. Doras complied with the proposal, and +contrived matters so, that the robbers might murder him after the +following manner: Certain of those robbers went up to the city, +as if they were going to worship God, while they had daggers +under their garments, and by thus mingling themselves among the +multitude they slew Jonathan (19) and as this murder was never +avenged, the robbers went up with the greatest security at the +festivals after this time; and having weapons concealed in like +manner as before, and mingling themselves among the multitude, +they slew certain of their own enemies, and were subservient to +other men for money; and slew others, not only in remote parts of +the city, but in the temple itself also; for they had the +boldness to murder men there, without thinking of the impiety of +which they were guilty. And this seems to me to have been the +reason why God, out of his hatred of these men's wickedness, +rejected our city; and as for the temple, he no longer esteemed +it sufficiently pure for him to inhabit therein, but brought the +Romans upon us, and threw a fire upon the city to purge it; and +brought upon us, our wives, and children, slavery, as desirous to +make us wiser by our calamities. + +6. These works, that were done by the robbers, filled the city +with all sorts of impiety. And now these impostors and deceivers +persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness, and +pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs, +that should be performed by the providence of God. And many that +were prevailed on by them suffered the punishments of their +folly; for Felix brought them back, and then punished them. +Moreover, there came out of Egypt (20) about this time to +Jerusalem one that said he was a prophet, and advised the +multitude of the common people to go along with him to the Mount +of Olives, as it was called, which lay over against the city, and +at the distance of five furlongs. He said further, that he would +show them from hence how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem +would fall down; and he promised them that he would procure them +an entrance into the city through those walls, when they were +fallen down. Now when Felix was informed of these things, he +ordered his soldiers to take their weapons, and came against them +with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem, and +attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him. He also +slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred alive. But the +Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, but did not appear any +more. And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war +with the Romans, and said they ought not to obey them at all; and +when any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to +their villages, and plundered them. + +7. And now it was that a great sedition arose between the Jews +that inhabited Cesarea, and the Syrians who dwelt there also, +concerning their equal right to the privileges belonging to +citizens; for the Jews claimed the pre-eminence, because Herod +their king was the builder of Cesarea, and because he was by +birth a Jew. Now the Syrians did not deny what was alleged about +Herod; but they said that Cesarea was formerly called Strato's +Tower, and that then there was not one Jewish inhabitant. When +the presidents of that country heard of these disorders, they +caught the authors of them on both sides, and tormented them with +stripes, and by that means put a stop to the disturbance for a +time. But the Jewish citizens depending on their wealth, and on +that account despising the Syrians, reproached them again, and +hoped to provoke them by such reproaches. However, the Syrians, +though they were inferior in wealth, yet valuing themselves +highly on this account, that the greatest part of the Roman +soldiers that were there were either of Cesarea or Sebaste, they +also for some time used reproachful language to the Jews also; +and thus it was, till at length they came to throwing stones at +one another, and several were wounded, and fell on both sides, +though still the Jews were the conquerors. But when Felix saw +that this quarrel was become a kind of war, he came upon them on +the sudden, and desired the Jews to desist; and when they refused +so to do, he armed his soldiers, and sent them out upon them, and +slew many of them, and took more of them alive, and permitted his +soldiers to plunder some of the houses of the citizens, which +were full of riches. Now those Jews that were more moderate, and +of principal dignity among them, were afraid of themselves, and +desired of Felix that he would sound a retreat to his soldiers, +and spare them for the future, and afford them room for +repentance for what they had done; and Felix was prevailed upon +to do so. + +8. About this time king Agrippa gave the high priesthood to +Ismael, who was the son of Fabi. And now arose a sedition between +the high priests and the principal men of the multitude of +Jerusalem; each of which got them a company of the boldest sort +of men, and of those that loved innovations about them, and +became leaders to them; and when they struggled together, they +did it by casting reproachful words against one another, and by +throwing stones also. And there was nobody to reprove them; but +these disorders were done after a licentious manner in the city, +as if it had no government over it. And such was the impudence +(21) and boldness that had seized on the high priests, that they +had the hardiness to send their servants into the +threshing-floors, to take away those tithes that were due to the +priests, insomuch that it so fell out that the poorest sort of +the priests died for want. To this degree did the violence of the +seditious prevail over all right and justice. + +9. Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by +Nero, the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up +to Rome to accuse Felix; and he had certainly been brought to +punishment, unless Nero had yielded to the importunate +solicitations of his brother Pallas, who was at that time had in +the greatest honor by him. Two of the principal Syrians in +Cesarea persuaded Burrhus, who was Nero's tutor, and secretary +for his Greek epistles, by giving him a great sum of money, to +disannul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which +they hitherto enjoyed. So Burrhus, by his solicitations, obtained +leave of the emperor that an epistle should be written to that +purpose. This epistle became the occasion of the following +miseries that befell our nation; for when the Jews of Cesarea +were informed of the contents of this epistle to the Syrians, +they were more disorderly than before, till a war was kindled. + +10. Upon Festus's coming into Judea, it happened that Judea was +afflicted by the robbers, while all the villages were set on +fire, and plundered by them. And then it was that the sicarii, as +they were called, who were robbers, grew numerous. They made use +of small swords, not much different in length from the Persian +acinacae, but somewhat crooked, and like the Roman sicae, [or +sickles,] as they were called; and from these weapons these +robbers got their denomination; and with these weapons they slew +a great many; for they mingled themselves among the multitude at +their festivals, when they were come up in crowds from all parts +to the city to worship God, as we said before, and easily slew +those that they had a mind to slay. They also came frequently +upon the villages belonging to their enemies, with their weapons, +and plundered them, and set them on fire. So Festus sent forces, +both horsemen and footmen, to fall upon those that had been +seduced by a certain impostor, who promised them deliverance and +freedom from the miseries they were under, if they would but +follow him as far as the wilderness. Accordingly, those forces +that were sent destroyed both him that had deluded them, and +those that were his followers also. + +11. About the same time king Agrippa built himself a very large +dining-room in the royal palace at Jerusalem, near to the +portico. Now this palace had been erected of old by the children +of Asamoneus and was situate upon an elevation, and afforded a +most delightful prospect to those that had a mind to take a view +of the city, which prospect was desired by the king; and there he +could lie down, and eat, and thence observe what was done in the +temple; which thing, when the chief men of Jerusalem saw they +were very much displeased at it; for it was not agreeable to the +institutions of our country or law that what was done in the +temple should be viewed by others, especially what belonged to +the sacrifices. They therefore erected a wall upon the uppermost +building which belonged to the inner court of the temple towards +the west, which wall when it was built, did not only intercept +the prospect of the dining-room in the palace, but also of the +western cloisters that belonged to the outer court of the temple +also, where it was that the Romans kept guards for the temple at +the festivals. At these doings both king Agrippa, and principally +Festus the procurator, were much displeased; and Festus ordered +them to pull the wall down again: but the Jews petitioned him to +give them leave to send an embassage about this matter to Nero; +for they said they could not endure to live if any part of the +temple should be demolished; and when Festus had given them leave +so to do, they sent ten of their principal men to Nero, as also +Ismael the high priest, and Helcias, the keeper of the sacred +treasure. And when Nero had heard what they had to say, he not +only forgave (22) them what they had already done, but also gave +them leave to let the wall they had built stand. This was granted +them in order to gratify Poppea, Nero's wife, who was a religious +woman, and had requested these favors of Nero, and who gave order +to the ten ambassadors to go their way home; but retained Helcias +and Ismael as hostages with herself. As soon as the king heard +this news, he gave the high priesthood to Joseph, who was called +Cabi, the son of Simon, formerly high priest. + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + +Concerning Albinus Under Whose Procuratorship James Was Slain; As +Also What Edifices Were Built By Agrippa. + + +1. And now Caesar, upon hearing the death of Festus, sent Albinus +into Judea, as procurator. But the king deprived Joseph of the +high priesthood, and bestowed the succession to that dignity on +the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus. Now the +report goes that this eldest Ananus proved a most fortunate man; +for he had five sons who had all performed the office of a high +priest to God, and who had himself enjoyed that dignity a long +time formerly, which had never happened to any other of our high +priests. But this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you +already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, +and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, (23) +who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of +the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus +was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper +opportunity [to exercise his authority]. Festus was now dead, and +Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of +judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was +called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some +of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against +them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but +as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and +such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they +disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], +desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for +that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some +of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey +from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for +Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without his consent. (24) +Whereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and wrote in +anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to +punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the +high priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and +made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high priest. + +2. Now as soon as Albinus was come to the city of Jerusalem, he +used all his endeavors and care that the country might be kept in +peace, and this by destroying many of the Sicarii. But as for the +high priest, Ananias (25) he increased in glory every day, and +this to a great degree, and had obtained the favor and esteem of +the citizens in a signal manner; for he was a great hoarder up of +money: he therefore cultivated the friendship of Albinus, and of +the high priest [Jesus], by making them presents; he also had +servants who were very wicked, who joined themselves to the +boldest sort of the people, and went to the thrashing-floors, and +took away the tithes that belonged to the priests by violence, +and did not refrain from beating such as would not give these +tithes to them. So the other high priests acted in the like +manner, as did those his servants, without any one being able to +prohibit them; so that [some of the] priests, that of old were +wont to be supported with those tithes, died for want of food. + +3. But now the Sicarii went into the city by night, just before +the festival, which was now at hand, and took the scribe +belonging to the governor of the temple, whose name was Eleazar, +who was the son of Ananus [Ananias] the high priest, and bound +him, and carried him away with them; after which they sent to +Ananias, and said that they would send the scribe to him, if he +would persuade Albinus to release ten of those prisoners which he +had caught of their party; so Ananias was plainly forced to +persuade Albinus, and gained his request of him. This was the +beginning of greater calamities; for the robbers perpetually +contrived to catch some of Ananias's servants; and when they had +taken them alive, they would not let them go, till they thereby +recovered some of their own Sicarii. And as they were again +become no small number, they grew bold, and were a great +affliction to the whole country. + +4. About this time it was that king Agrippa built Cesarea +Philippi larger than it was before, and, in honor of Nero, named +it Neronlas. And when he had built a theater at Berytus, with +vast expenses, he bestowed on them shows, to be exhibited every +year, and spent therein many ten thousand [drachmae]; he also +gave the people a largess of corn, and distributed oil among +them, and adorned the entire city with statues of his own +donation, and with original images made by ancient hands; nay, he +almost transferred all that was most ornamental in his own +kingdom thither. This made him more than ordinarily hated by his +subjects, because he took those things away that belonged to them +to adorn a foreign city. And now Jesus, the son of Gamaliel, +became the successor of Jesus, the son of Damneus, in the high +priesthood, which the king had taken from the other; on which +account a sedition arose between the high priests, with regard to +one another; for they got together bodies of the boldest sort of +the people, and frequently came, from reproaches, to throwing of +stones at each other. But Ananias was too hard for the rest, by +his riches, which enabled him to gain those that were most ready +to receive. Costobarus also, and Saulus, did themselves get +together a multitude of wicked wretches, and this because they +were of the royal family; and so they obtained favor among them, +because of their kindred to Agrippa; but still they used violence +with the people, and were very ready to plunder those that were +weaker than themselves. And from that time it principally came to +pass that our city was greatly disordered, and that all things +grew worse and worse among us. + +5. But when Albinus heard that Gessius Florus was coming to +succeed him, he was desirous to appear to do somewhat that might +be grateful to the people of Jerusalem; so he brought out all +those prisoners who seemed to him to be most plainly worthy of +death, and ordered them to be put to death accordingly. But as to +those who had been put into prison on some trifling occasions, he +took money of them, and dismissed them; by which means the +prisons were indeed emptied, but the country was filled with +robbers. + +6. Now as many of the Levites, (26) which is a tribe of ours, as +were singers of hymns, persuaded the king to assemble a +sanhedrim, and to give them leave to wear linen garments, as well +as the priests for they said that this would be a work worthy the +times of his government, that he might have a memorial of such a +novelty, as being his doing. Nor did they fail of obtaining their +desire; for the king, with the suffrages of those that came into +the sanhedrim, granted the singers of hymns this privilege, that +they might lay aside their former garments, and wear such a linen +one as they desired; and as a part of this tribe ministered in +the temple, he also permitted them to learn those hymns as they +had besought him for. Now all this was contrary to the laws of +our country, which, whenever they have been transgressed, we have +never been able to avoid the punishment of such transgressions. + +7. And now it was that the temple was finished. So when the +people saw that the workmen were unemployed, who were above +eighteen thousand and that they, receiving no wages, were in want +because they had earned their bread by their labors about the +temple; and while they were unwilling to keep by them the +treasures that were there deposited, out of fear of [their being +carried away by] the Romans; and while they had a regard to the +making provision for the workmen; they had a mind to expend these +treasures upon them; for if any one of them did but labor for a +single hour, he received his pay immediately; so they persuaded +him to rebuild the eastern cloisters. These cloisters belonged to +the outer court, and were situated in a deep valley, and had +walls that reached four hundred cubits [in length], and were +built of square and very white stones, the length of each of +which stones was twenty cubits, and their height six cubits. This +was the work of king Solomon, (27) who first of all built the +entire temple. But king Agrippa, who had the care of the temple +committed to him by Claudius Caesar, considering that it is easy +to demolish any building, but hard to build it up again, and that +it was particularly hard to do it to these cloisters, which would +require a considerable time, and great sums of money, he denied +the petitioners their request about that matter; but he did not +obstruct them when they desired the city might be paved with +white stone. He also deprived Jesus, the son of Gamaliel, of the +high priesthood, and gave it to Matthias, the son of Theophilus, +under whom the Jews' war with the Romans took its beginning. + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + +An Enumeration Of The High Priests. + + +1. And now I think it proper and agreeable to this history to +give an account of our high priests; how they began, who those +are which are capable of that dignity, and how many of them there +had been at the end of the war. In the first place, therefore, +history informs us that Aaron, the brother of Moses, officiated +to God as a high priest, and that, after his death, his sons +succeeded him immediately; and that this dignity hath been +continued down from them all to their posterity. Whence it is a +custom of our country, that no one should take the high +priesthood of God but he who is of the blood of Aaron, while +every one that is of another stock, though he were a king, can +never obtain that high priesthood. Accordingly, the number of all +the high priests from Aaron, of whom we have spoken already, as +of the first of them, until Phanas, who was made high priest +during the war by the seditious, was eighty-three; of whom +thirteen officiated as high priests in the wilderness, from the +days of Moses, while the tabernacle was standing, until the +people came into Judea, when king Solomon erected the temple to +God; for at the first they held the high priesthood till the end +of their life, although afterward they had successors while they +were alive. Now these thirteen, who were the descendants of two +of the sons of Aaron, received this dignity by succession, one +after another; for their form of government was an aristocracy, +and after that a monarchy, and in the third place the government +was regal Now the number of years during the rule of these +thirteen, from the day when our fathers departed out of Egypt, +under Moses their leader, until the building of that temple which +king Solomon erected at Jerusalem, were six hundred and twelve. +After those thirteen high priests, eighteen took the high +priesthood at Jerusalem, one in succession to another, from the +days of king Solomon, until Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made +an expedition against that city, and burnt the temple, and +removed our nation into Babylon, and then took Josadek, the high +priest, captive; the times of these high priests were four +hundred and sixty-six years, six months, and ten days, while the +Jews were still under the regal government. But after the term of +seventy years' captivity under the Babylonians, Cyrus, king of +Persia, sent the Jews from Babylon to their own land again, and +gave them leave to rebuild their temple; at which time Jesus, the +son of Josadek, took the high priesthood over the captives when +they were returned home. Now he and his posterity, who were in +all fifteen, until king Antiochus Eupator, were under a +democratical government for four hundred and fourteen years; and +then the forementioned Antiochus, and Lysias the general of his +army, deprived Onias, who was also called Menelaus, of the high +priesthood, and slew him at Berea; and driving away the son [of +Onias the third], put Jaeimus into the place of the high priest, +one that was indeed of the stock of Aaron, but not of that family +of Onias. On which account Onias, who was the nephew of Onias +that was dead, and bore the same name with his father, came into +Egypt, and got into the friendship of Ptolemy Philometor, and +Cleopatra his wife, and persuaded them to make him the high +priest of that temple which he built to God in the prefecture of +Heliopolis, and this in imitation of that at Jerusalem; but as +for that temple which was built in Egypt, we have spoken of it +frequently already. Now when Jacimus had retained the priesthood +three years, he died, and there was no one that succeeded him, +but the city continued seven years without a high priest. But +then the posterity of the sons of Asamoneus, who had the +government of the nation conferred upon them, when they had +beaten the Macedonians in war, appointed Jonathan to be their +high priest, who ruled over them seven years. And when he had +been slain by the treacherous contrivance of Trypho, as we have +related some where, Simon his brother took the high priesthood; +and when he was destroyed at a feast by the treachery of his +son-in-law, his own son, whose name was Hyrcanus, succeeded him, +after he had held the high priesthood one year longer than his +brother. This Hyrcanus enjoyed that dignity thirty years, and +died an old man, leaving the succession to Judas, who was also +called Aristobulus, whose brother Alexander was his heir; which +Judas died of a sore distemper, after he had kept the priesthood, +together with the royal authority; for this Judas was the first +that put on his head a diadem for one year. And when Alexander +had been both king and high priest twenty-seven years, he +departed this life, and permitted his wife Alexandra to appoint +him that should be high priest; so she gave the high priesthood +to Hyrcanus, but retained the kingdom herself nine years, and +then departed this life. The like duration [and no longer] did +her son Hyrcanus enjoy the high priesthood; for after her death +his brother Aristobulus fought against him, and beat him, and +deprived him of his principality; and he did himself both reign, +and perform the office of high priest to God. But when he had +reigned three years, and as many months, Pompey came upon him, +and not only took the city of Jerusalem by force, but put him and +his children in bonds, and sent them to Rome. He also restored +the high priesthood to Hyrcanus, and made him governor of the +nation, but forbade him to wear a diadem. This Hyrcanus ruled, +besides his first nine years, twenty-four years more, when +Barzapharnes and Pacorus, the generals of the Parthians, passed +over Euphrates, and fought with Hyrcanus, and took him alive, and +made Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, king; and when he had +reigned three years and three months, Sosius and Herod besieged +him, and took him, when Antony had him brought to Antioch, and +slain there. Herod was then made king by the Romans, but did no +longer appoint high priests out of the family of Asamoneus; but +made certain men to be so that were of no eminent families, but +barely of those that were priests, excepting that he gave that +dignity to Aristobulus; for when he had made this Aristobulus, +the grandson of that Hyrcanus who was then taken by the +Parthians, and had taken his sister Mariarmne to wife, he thereby +aimed to win the good-will of the people, who had a kind +remembrance of Hyrcanus [his grandfather]. Yet did he afterward, +out of his fear lest they should all bend their inclinations to +Aristobulus, put him to death, and that by contriving how to have +him suffocated as he was swimming at Jericho, as we have already +related that matter; but after this man he never intrusted the +priesthood to the posterity of the sons of Asamoneus. Archelaus +also, Herod's son, did like his father in the appointment of the +high priests, as did the Romans also, who took the government +over the Jews into their hands afterward. Accordingly, the number +of the high priests, from the days of Herod until the day when +Titus took the temple and the City, and burnt them, were in all +twenty-eight; the time also that belonged to them was a hundred +and seven years. Some of these were the political governors of +the people under the reign of Herod, and under the reign of +Archelaus his son, although, after their death, the government +became an aristocracy, and the high priests were intrusted with a +dominion over the nation. And thus much may suffice to be said +concerning our high priests. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +Concerning Florus The Procurator, Who Necessitated The Jews To +Take Up Arms Against The Romans. The Conclusion. + + +1. Now Gessius Florus, who was sent as successor to Albinus by +Nero, filled Judea with abundance of miseries. He was by birth of +the city of Clazomene, and brought along with him his wife +Cleopatra, (by whose friendship with Poppea, Nero's wife, he +obtained this government,) who was no way different from him in +wickedness. This Florus was so wicked, and so violent in the use +of his authority, that the Jews took Albinus to have been +[comparatively] their benefactor; so excessive were the mischiefs +that he brought upon them. For Albinus concealed his wickedness, +and was careful that it might not be discovered to all men; but +Gessius Florus, as though he had been sent on purpose to show his +crimes to every body, made a pompous ostentation of them to our +nation, as never omitting any sort of violence, nor any unjust +sort of punishment; for he was not to be moved by pity, and never +was satisfied with any degree of gain that came in his way; nor +had he any more regard to great than to small acquisitions, but +became a partner with the robbers themselves. For a great many +fell then into that practice without fear, as having him for +their security, and depending on him, that he would save them +harmless in their particular robberies; so that there were no +bounds set to the nation's miseries; but the unhappy Jews, when +they were not able to bear the devastations which the robbers +made among them, were all under a necessity of leaving their own +habitations, and of flying away, as hoping to dwell more easily +any where else in the world among foreigners [than in their own +country]. And what need I say any more upon this head? since it +was this Florus who necessitated us to take up arms against the +Romans, while we thought it better to be destroyed at once, than +by little and little. Now this war began in the second year of +the government of Florus, and the twelfth year of the reign of +Nero. But then what actions we were forced to do, or what +miseries we were enabled to suffer, may be accurately known by +such as will peruse those books which I have written about the +Jewish war. + +2. I shall now, therefore, make an end here of my Antiquities; +after the conclusion of which events, I began to write that +account of the war; and these Antiquities contain what hath been +delivered down to us from the original creation of man, until the +twelfth year of the reign of Nero, as to what hath befallen the +Jews, as well in Egypt as in Syria and in Palestine, and what we +have suffered from the Assyrians and Babylonians, and what +afflictions the Persians and Macedonians, and after them the +Romans, have brought upon us; for I think I may say that I have +composed this history with sufficient accuracy in all things. I +have attempted to enumerate those high priests that we have had +during the interval of two thousand years; I have also carried +down the succession of our kings, and related their actions, and +political administration, without [considerable] errors, as also +the power of our monarchs; and all according to what is written +in our sacred books; for this it was that I promised to do in the +beginning of this history. And I am so bold as to say, now I have +so completely perfected the work I proposed to myself to do, that +no other person, whether he were a Jew or foreigner, had he ever +so great an inclination to it, could so accurately deliver these +accounts to the Greeks as is done in these books. For those of my +own nation freely acknowledge that I far exceed them in the +learning belonging to Jews; I have also taken a great deal of +pains to obtain the learning of the Greeks, and understand the +elements of the Greek language, although I have so long +accustomed myself to speak our own tongue, that I cannot +pronounce Greek with sufficient exactness; for our nation does +not encourage those that learn the languages of many nations, and +so adorn their discourses with the smoothness of their periods; +because they look upon this sort of accomplishment as common, not +only to all sorts of free-men, but to as many of the servants as +please to learn them. But they give him the testimony of being a +wise man who is fully acquainted with our laws, and is able to +interpret their meaning; on which account, as there have been +many who have done their endeavors with great patience to obtain +this learning, there have yet hardly been so many as two or three +that have succeeded therein, who were immediately well rewarded +for their pains. + +3. And now it will not be perhaps an invidious thing, if I treat +briefly of my own family, and of the actions of my own life (28) +while there are still living such as can either prove what I say +to be false, or can attest that it is true; with which accounts I +shall put an end to these Antiquities, which are contained in +twenty books, and sixty thousand verses. And if God permit me, I +will briefly run over this war (29), and to add what befell them +further to that very day, the 13th of Domitian, or A.D. 03, is +not, that I have observed, taken distinct notice of by any one; +nor do we ever again, with what befell us therein to this very +day, which is the thirteenth year of the reign of Caesar +Domitian, and the fifty-sixth year of my own life. I have also an +intention to write three books concerning our Jewish opinions +about God and his essence, and about our laws; why, according to +them, some things are permitted us to do, and others are +prohibited. + + + + +ANT PREFACE FOOTNOTES + + +(1) This preface of Josephus is excellent in its kind, and highly +worthy the repeated perusal of the reader, before he set about +the perusal of the work itself. + +(2)That is, all the Gentiles, both Greeks and Romans. + +(3) We may seasonably note here, that Josephus wrote his Seven +Books of the Jewish War long before he wrote these his +Antiquities. Those books of the War were published about A.D. 75, +and these Antiquities, A. D. 93, about eighteen years later. + +(4) This Epaphroditus was certainly alive in the third year of +Trajan, A.D. 100. See the note on the First Book Against Apion, +sect. 1. Who he was we do not know; for as to Epaphroditus, the +freedman of Nero, and afterwards Domitian's secretary, who was +put to death by Domitian in the 14th or 15th year of his reign, +he could not be alive in the third of Trajan. + +(5) Josephus here plainly alludes to the famous Greek proverb, If +God be with us, every thing that is impossible becomes possible. + +(6) As to this intended work of Josephus concerning the reasons +of many of the Jewish laws, and what philosophical or allegorical +sense they would bear, the loss of which work is by some of the +learned not much regretted, I am inclinable, in part, to +Fabricius's opinion, ap. Havercamp, p. 63, 61, That "we need not +doubt but that, among some vain and frigid conjectures derived +from Jewish imaginations, Josephus would have taught us a greater +number of excellent and useful things, which perhaps nobody, +neither among the Jews, nor among the Christians, can now inform +us of; so that I would give a great deal to find it still +extant." + + + + +Ant. BOOK 1 + + +(1) Since Josephus, in his Preface, sect. 4, says that Moses +wrote some things enigmatically, some allegorically, and the rest +in plain words, since in his account of the first chapter of +Genesis, and the first three verses of the second, he gives us no +hints of any mystery at all; but when he here comes to ver. 4, +etc., he says that Moses, after the seventh day was over, began to +talk philosophically; it is not very improbable that he +understood the rest of the second and the third chapters in some +enigmatical, or allegorical, or philosophical sense. The change +of the name of God just at this place, from Elohim to Jehovah +Elohim, from God to Lord God, in the Hebrew, Samaritan, and +Septuagint, does also not a little favor some such change in the +narration or construction. + +(2) We may observe here, that Josephus supposed man to be +compounded of spirit, soul, and body, with St. Paul, 1 +Thessalonians 5:23, and the rest of the ancients: he elsewhere +says also, that the blood of animals was forbidden to be eaten, +as having in it soul and spirit, Antiq. B. III. ch. 11. sect. 2. + +(3) Whence this strange notion came, which yet is not peculiar to +Joseph,, but, as Dr. Hudson says here, is derived from older +authors, as if four of the greatest rivers in the world, running +two of them at vast distances from the other two, by some means +or other watered paradise, is hard to say. Only since Josephus +has already appeared to allegorize this history, and take notice +that these four names had a particular signification; Phison for +Ganges, a multitude; Phrath for Euphrates, either a dispersion or +a flower; Diglath for Tigris, what is swift, with narrowness; and +Geon for Nile, what arises from the east,--we perhaps mistake him +when we suppose he literally means those four rivers; especially +as to Geon or Nile, which arises from the east, while he very +well knew the literal Nile arises from the south; though what +further allegorical sense he had in view, is now, I fear, +impossible to be determined. + +(4) By the Red Sea is not here meant the Arabian Gulf, which +alone we now call by that name, but all that South Sea, which +included the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, as far as the East +Indies; as Reland and Hudson here truly note, from the old +geographers. + +(5) Hence it appears, that Josephus thought several, at least, of +the brute animals, particularly the serpent, could speak before +the fall. And I think few of the more perfect kinds of those +animals want the organs of speech at this day. Many inducements +there are also to a notion, that the present state they are in, +is not their original state; and that their capacities have been +once much greater than we now see them, and are capable of being +restored to their former condition. But as to this most ancient, +and authentic, and probably allegorical account of that grand +affair of the fall of our first parents, I have somewhat more to +say in way of conjecture, but being only a conjecture, I omit it: +only thus far, that the imputation of the sin of our first +parents to their posterity, any further than as some way the +cause or occasion of man's mortality, seems almost entirely +groundless; and that both man, and the other subordinate +creatures, are hereafter to be delivered from the curse then +brought upon them, and at last to be delivered from that bondage +of corruption, Romans 8:19-22. + +(6) St. John's account of the reason why God accepted the +sacrifice of Abel, and rejected that of Cain; as also why Cain +slew Abel, on account of that his acceptance with God, is much +better than this of Josephus: I mean, because "Cain was of the +evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? +Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous," 1 +John 3:12. Josephus's reason seems to be no better than a +pharisaical notion or tradition. + +(7) From this Jubal, not improbably, came Jobel, the trumpet of +jobel or jubilee; that large and loud musical instrument, used in +proclaiming the liberty at the year of jubilee. + +(8) The number of Adam's children, as says the old tradition was +thirty-three sons, and twenty-three daughters. + +(9) What is here said of Seth and his posterity, that they were +very good and virtuous, and at the same time very happy, without +any considerable misfortunes, for seven generations, [see ch. 2. +sect. 1, before; and ch. 3. sect. 1, hereafter,] is exactly +agreeable to the state of the world and the conduct of Providence +in all the first ages. + +(10) Of Josephus's mistake here, when he took Seth the son of +Adam, for Seth or Sesostris, king of Egypt, the erector of this +pillar in the land of Siriad, see Essay on the Old Testament, +Appendix, p. 159, 160. Although the main of this relation might +be true, and Adam might foretell a conflagration and a deluge, +which all antiquity witnesses to be an ancient tradition; nay, +Seth's posterity might engrave their inventions in astronomy on +two such pillars; yet it is no way credible that they could +survive the deluge, which has buried all such pillars and +edifices far under ground in the sediment of its waters, +especially since the like pillars of the Egyptian Seth or +Sesostris were extant after the flood, in the land of Siriad, and +perhaps in the days of Josephus also, as is shown in the place +here referred to. + +(11) This notion, that the fallen angels were, in some sense, the +fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity. + +(12) Josephus here supposes that the life of these giants, for of +them only do I understand him, was now reduced to 120 years; +which is confirmed by the fragment of Enoch, sect. 10, in +Authent. Rec. Part I. p. 268. For as to the rest of mankind, +Josephus himself confesses their lives were much longer than 120 +years, for many generations after the flood, as we shall see +presently; and he says they were gradually shortened till the +days of Moses, and then fixed [for some time] at 120, ch. 6. +sect. 5. Nor indeed need we suppose that either Enoch or Josephus +meant to interpret these 120 years for the life of men before the +flood, to be different from the 120 years of God's patience +[perhaps while the ark was preparing] till the deluge; which I +take to be the meaning of God when he threatened this wicked +world, that if they so long continued impenitent, their days +should be no more than 120 years. + +(13) A cubit is about 21 English inches. + +(14) Josephus here truly determines, that the year at the Flood +began about the autumnal equinox. As to what day of the month the +Flood began, our Hebrew and Samaritan, and perhaps Josephus's own +copy, more rightly placed it on the 17th day, instead of the +27th, as here; for Josephus agrees with them, as to the distance +of 150 days to the 17th day of the 7th month, as Genesis 7. ult. +with 8:3. + +(15) Josephus here takes notice, that these ancient genealogies +were first set down by those that then lived, and from them were +transmitted down to posterity; which I suppose to be the true +account of that matter. For there is no reason to imagine that +men were not taught to read and write soon after they were taught +to speak; and perhaps all by the Messiah himself, who, under the +Father, was the Creator or Governor of mankind, and who +frequently in those early days appeared to them. + +(16) This (GREEK), or Place of Descent, is the proper rendering +of the Armenian name of this very city. It is called in Ptolemy +Naxuana, and by Moses Chorenensis, the Armenian historian, +Idsheuan; but at the place itself Nachidsheuan, which signifies +The first place of descent, and is a lasting monument of the +preservation of Noah in the ark, upon the top of that mountain, +at whose foot it was built, as the first city or town after the +flood. See Antiq. B. XX. ch. 2. sect. 3; and Moses Chorenensis, +who also says elsewhere, that another town was related by +tradition to have been called Seron, or, The Place of Dispersion, +on account of the dispersion of Xisuthrus's or Noah's sons, from +thence first made. Whether any remains of this ark be still +preserved, as the people of the country suppose, I cannot +certainly tell. Mons. Tournefort had, not very long since, a mind +to see the place himself, but met with too great dangers and +difficulties to venture through them. + +(17) One observation ought not here to be neglected, with regard +to that Ethiopic war which Moses, as general of the Egyptians, +put an end to, Antiq. B. II. ch. 10., and about which our late +writers seem very much unconcerned; viz. that it was a war of +that consequence, as to occasion the removal or destruction of +six or seven nations of the posterity of Mitzraim, with their +cities; which Josephus would not have said, if he had not had +ancient records to justify those his assertions, though those +records be now all lost. + +(18) That the Jews were called Hebrews from this their progenitor +Heber, our author Josephus here rightly affirms; and not from +Abram the Hebrew, or passenger over Euphrates, as many of the +moderns suppose. Shem is also called the father of all the +children of Heber, or of all the Hebrews, in a history long +before Abram passed over Euphrates, Genesis 10:21, though it must +be confessed that, Genesis 14:13, where the original says they +told Abram the Hebrew, the Septuagint renders it the passenger, +(GREEK): but this is spoken only of Abram himself, who had then +lately passed over Euphrates, and is another signification of the +Hebrew word, taken as an appellative, and not as a proper name. + +(19) It is worth noting here, that God required no other +sacrifices under the law of Moses, than what were taken from +these five kinds of animals which he here required of Abram. Nor +did the Jews feed upon any other domestic animals than the three +here named, as Reland observes on Antiq. B. IV. ch. 4. sect. 4. + +(20) As to this affliction of Abram's posterity for 400 years, +see Antiq. B. II. ch. 9. sect. 1. + +(21) These sons-in-law to Lot, as they are called, Genesis +19:12-14, might be so styled, because they were betrothed to +Lot's daughters, though not yet married to them. See the note on +Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 13. sect. 1. + +(22) Of the War, B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 4. + +(23) This pillar of salt was, we see here, standing in the days +of Josephus, and he had seen it. That it was standing then is +also attested by Clement of Rome, contemporary with Josephus; as +also that it was so in the next century, is attested by Irenaeus, +with the addition of an hypothesis, how it came to last so long, +with all its members entire. - Whether the account that some +modern travelers give be true, that it is still standing, I do +not know. Its remote situation, at the most southern point of the +Sea of Sodom, in the wild and dangerous deserts of Arabia, makes +it exceeding difficult for inquisitive travelers to examine the +place; and for common reports of country people, at a distance, +they are not very satisfactory. In the mean time, I have no +opinion of Le Clerc's dissertation or hypothesis about this +question, which can only be determined by eye-witnesses. When +Christian princes, so called, lay aside their foolish and +unchristian wars and quarrels, and send a body of fit persons to +travel over the east, and bring us faithful accounts of all +ancient monuments, and procure us copies of all ancient records, +at present lost among us, we may hope for full satisfaction in +such inquiries; but hardly before. + +(24) I see no proper wicked intention in these daughters of Lot, +when in a case which appeared to them of unavoidable necessity, +they procured themselves to be with child by their father. +Without such an unavoidable necessity, incest is a horrid crime; +but whether in such a case of necessity, as they apprehended this +to be, according to Josephus, it was any such crime, I am not +satisfied. In the mean time, their making their father drunk, and +their solicitous concealment of what they did from him, shows +that they despaired of persuading him to an action which, at the +best, could not but be very suspicious and shocking to so good a +man. + +(25) It is well worth observation, that Josephus here calls that +principal Angel, who appeared to Abraham and foretold the birth +of Isaac, directly God; which language of Josephus here, prepares +us to believe those other expressions of his, that Jesus was a +wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. +3. sect. 3, and of God the Word, in his homily concerning Hades, +may be both genuine. Nor is the other expression of Divine Angel, +used presently, and before, also of any other signification. + +(26) Josephus here calls Ismael a young child or infant, though +he was about 13 years of age; as Judas calls himself and his +brethren young men, when he was 47, and had two children, Antiq. +B. II. ch. 6. sect. 8, and they were of much the same age; as is +a damsel of 12 years old called a little child, Mark 5:39-42, +five several times. Herod is also said by Josephus to be a very +young man at 25. See the note on Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 9. sect 2, +and of the War, B. I. ch. 10. And Aristobulus is styled a very +little child at 16 years of age, Antiq. B. XV. ch. 2. sect. 6, 7. +Domitian also is called by him a very young child, when he went +on his German expedition at about 18 years of age, of the War, B. +VII. ch. 4. sect. 2. Samson's wife, and Ruth, when they were +widows, are called children, Antiq. B. V. ch. 8. sect. 6, and ch. +9. sect. 2 3. + +(27) Note, that both here and Hebrews 11:17, Isaac is called +Abraham's only begotten son, though he at the same time had +another son, Ismael. The Septuagint expresses the true meaning, +by rendering the text the beloved son. + +(28) Here is a plain error in the copies which say that king +David afterwards built the temple on this Mount Moriah, while it +was certainly no other than king Solomon who built that temple, +as indeed Procopius cites it from Josephus. For it was for +certain David, and not Solomon, who built the first altar there, +as we learn, 2 Samuel 24:18, etc.; 1 Chronicles 21:22, etc.; and +Antiq. B. VII. ch. 13. sect. 4. + +(29) It seems both here, and in God's parallel blessing to Jacob, +ch. 19. sect. 1, that Josephus had yet no notion of the hidden +meaning of that most important and most eminent promise, "In thy +seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. He saith +not, and of seeds, as of many, but as of one; and to thy seed, +which is Christ," Galatians 3:16. Nor is it any wonder, he being, +I think, as yet not a Christian. And had he been a Christian, yet +since he was, to be sure, till the latter part of his life, no +more than an Ebionite Christian, who, above all the apostles, +rejected and despised St. Paul, it would be no great wonder if he +did not now follow his interpretation. In the mean time, we have +in effect St. Paul's exposition in the Testament of Reuben, sect. +6, in Authent. Rec. Part I. p. 302, who charges his sons "to +worship the seed of Judah, who should die for them in visible and +invisible wars; and should be among them an eternal king." Nor is +that observation of a learned foreigner of my acquaintance to be +despised, who takes notice, that as seeds in the plural, must +signify posterity, so seed in the singular may signify either +posterity, or a single person; and that in this promise of all +nations being happy in the seed of Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, +etc., it is always used in the singular. To which I shall add, +that it is sometimes, as it were, paraphrased by the son of +Abraham, the son of David, etc., which is capable of no such +ambiguity. + +(30) The birth of Jacob and Esau is here said to be after +Abraham's death: it should have been after Sarah's death. The +order of the narration in Genesis, not always exactly according +to the order of time, seems to have led Josephus into this error, +as Dr. Bernard observes here. + +(31) For Seir in Josephus, the coherence requires that we read +Esau or Seir, which signify the same thing. + +(32) The supper of savory meat, as we call it, Genesis 27:4, to +be caught by hunting, was intended plainly for a festival or a +sacrifice; and upon the prayers that were frequent at sacrifices, +Isaac expected, as was then usual in such eminent cases, that a +divine impulse would come upon him, in order to the blessing of +his son there present, and his foretelling his future behavior +and fortune. Whence it must be, that when Isaac had unwittingly +blessed Jacob, and was afterwards made sensible of his mistake, +yet did he not attempt to alter it, how earnestly soever his +affection for Esau might incline him to wish it might be altered, +because he knew that this blessing came not from himself, but +from God, and that an alteration was out of his power. A second +afflatus then came upon him, and enabled him to foretell Esau's +future behavior and foretell Esau's future behavior and fortune +also. + +(33) Whether Jacob or his mother Rebeka were most blameable in +this imposition upon Isaac in his old age, I cannot determine. +However the blessing being delivered as a prediction of future +events, by a Divine impulse, and foretelling things to befall to +the posterity of Jacob and Esau in future ages, was for certain +providential; and according to what Rebeka knew to be the purpose +of God, when he answered her inquiry, "before the children were +born," Genesis 25:23, "that one people should be stronger than +the other people; and the elder, Esau, should serve the younger, +Jacob." Whether Isaac knew or remembered this old oracle, +delivered in our copies only to Rebeka; or whether, if he knew +and remembered it, he did not endeavor to alter the Divine +determination, out of his fondness for his elder and worser son +Esau, to the damage of his younger and better son Jacob, as +Josephus elsewhere supposes, Antiq. B. II. ch. 7. sect. 3; I +cannot certainly say. If so, this might tempt Rebeka to contrive, +and Jacob to put this imposition upon him. However, Josephus says +here, that it was Isaac, and not Rebeka, who inquired of God at +first, and received the forementioned oracle, sect. 1; which, if +it be the true reading, renders Isaac's procedure more +inexcusable. Nor was it probably any thing else that so much +encouraged Esau formerly to marry two Canaanitish wives, without +his parents' consent, as Isaac's unhappy fondness for him. + +(34) By this "deprivation of the kingdom that was to be given +Esau of God," as the first-born, it appears that Josephus thought +that a "kingdom to be derived from God" was due to him whom Isaac +should bless as his first-born, which I take to be that kingdom +which was expected under the Messiah, who therefore was to be +born of his posterity whom Isaac should so bless. Jacob therefore +by obtaining this blessing of the first-born, became the genuine +heir of that kingdom, in opposition to Esau. + +(35) Here we have the difference between slaves for life and +servants, such as we now hire for a time agreed upon on both +sides, and dismiss again after he time contracted for is over, +which are no slaves, but free men and free women. Accordingly, +when the Apostolical Constitutions forbid a clergyman to marry +perpetual servants or slaves, B. VI. ch. 17., it is meant only of +the former sort; as we learn elsewhere from the same +Constitutions, ch. 47. Can. LXXXII. But concerning these twelve +sons of Jacob, the reasons of their several names, and the times +of their several births in the intervals here assigned, their +several excellent characters, their several faults and +repentance, the several accidents of their lives, with their +several prophecies at their deaths, see the Testaments of these +twelve patriarchs, still preserved at large in the Authent. Rec. +Part I. p. 294-443. + +(36) I formerly explained these mandrakes, as we, with the +Septuagint, and Josephus, render the Hebrew word Dudaim, of the +Syrian Maux, with Ludolphus, Antbent. Rec. Part I. p. 420; but +have since seen such a very probable account in M. S. of my +learned friend Mr. Samuel Barker, of what we still call +mandrakes, and their description by the ancient naturalists and +physicians, as inclines me to think these here mentioned were +really mandrakes, and no other. + +(37) Perhaps this may be the proper meaning of the word Israel, +by the present and the old Jerusalem analogy of the Hebrew +tongue. In the mean time, it is certain that the Hellenists of +the first century, in Egypt and elsewhere, interpreted Israel to +be a man seeing God, as is evident from the argument fore-cited. + +(38) Of this slaughter of the Shechemites by Simeon and Levi, see +Authent. Rec. Part I. p. 309, 418, 432-439. But why Josephus has +omitted the circumcision of these Shechemites, as the occasion of +their death; and of Jacob's great grief, as in the Testament of +Levi, sect. 5; I cannot tell. + +(39) Since Benoni signifies the son of my sorrow, and Benjamin +the son of days, or one born in the father's old age, Genesis +44:20, I suspect Josephus's present copies to be here imperfect, +and suppose that, in correspondence to other copies, he wrote +that Rachel called her son's name Benoni, but his father called +him Benjamin, Genesis 35:18. As for Benjamin, as commonly +explained, the son of the right hand, it makes no sense at all, +and seems to be a gross modern error only. The Samaritan always +writes this name truly Benjamin, which probably is here of the +same signification, only with the Chaldee termination in, instead +of im in the Hebrew; as we pronounce cherubin or cherubim +indifferently. Accordingly, both the Testament of Benjamin, sect. +2, p. 401, and Philo de Nominum Mutatione, p. 1059, write the +name Benjamin, but explain it not the son of the right hand, but +the son of days. + + + + +BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) We may here observe, that in correspondence to Joseph's +second dream, which implied that his mother, who was then alive, +as well as his father, should come and bow down to him, Josephus +represents her here as still alive after she was dead, for the +decorum of the dream that foretold it, as the interpretation of +the dream does also in all our copies, Genesis 37:10. + +(2) The Septuagint have twenty pieces of gold; the Testament of +Gad thirty; the Hebrew and Samaritan twenty of silver; and the +vulgar Latin thirty. What was the true number and true sum cannot +therefore now be known. + +(3) That is, bought it for Pharaoh at a very low price. + +(4) This Potiphar, or, as Josephus, Petephres, who was now a +priest of On, or Heliopolis, is the same name in Josephus, and +perhaps in Moses also, with him who is before called head cook or +captain of the guard, and to whom Joseph was sold. See Genesis +37:36; 39:1, with 41:50. They are also affirmed to be one and the +same person in the Testament of Joseph, sect. 18, for he is there +said to have married the daughter of his master and mistress. Nor +is this a notion peculiar to that Testament, but, as Dr. Bernard +confesses, note on Antiq. B. II. ch. 4. sect. 1, common to +Josephus, to the Septuagint interpreters, and to other learned +Jews of old time. + +(5) This entire ignorance of the Egyptians of these years of +famine before they came, told us before, as well as here, ch. 5. +sect. 7, by Josephus, seems to me almost incredible. It is in no +other copy that I know of. + +(6) The reason why Symeon might be selected out of the rest for +Joseph's prisoner, is plain in the Testament of Symeon, viz. that +he was one of the bitterest of all Joseph's brethren against him, +sect. 2; which appears also in part by the Testament of Zabulon, +sect. 3. + +(7) The coherence seems to me to show that the negative particle +is here wanting, which I have supplied in brackets, and I wonder +none have hitherto suspected that it ought to be supplied. + +(8) Of the precious balsam of Judea, and the turpentine, see the +note on Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 6. sect. 6. + +(9) This oration seems to me too large, and too unusual a +digression, to have been composed by Judas on this occasion. It +seems to me a speech or declamation composed formerly, in the +person of Judas, and in the way of oratory, that lay by him, and +which he thought fit to insert on this occasion. See two more +such speeches or declamations, Antiq. B. VI. ch. 14. sect. 4 + +(10) In all this speech of Judas we may observe, that Josephus +still supposed that death was the punishment of theft in Egypt, +in the days of Joseph, though it never was so among the Jews, by +the law of Moses. + +(11) All the Greek copies of Josephus have the negative particle +here, that Jacob himself was not reckoned one of the 70 souls +that came into Egypt; but the old Latin copies want it, and +directly assure us he was one of them. It is therefore hardly +certain which of these was Josephus's true reading, since the +number 70 is made up without him, if we reckon Leah for one; but +if she be not reckoned, Jacob must himself be one, to complete +the number. + +(12) Josephus thought that the Egyptians hated or despised the +employment of a shepherd in the days of Joseph; whereas Bishop +Cumberland has shown that they rather hated such Poehnician or +Canaanite shepherds that had long enslaved the Egyptians of old +time. See his Sanchoniatho, p. 361, 362. + +(13) Reland here puts the question, how Josephus could complain +of its not raining in Egypt during this famine, while the +ancients affirm that it never does naturally rain there. His +answer is, that when the ancients deny that it rains in Egypt, +they only mean the Upper Egypt above the Delta, which is called +Egypt in the strictest sense; but that in the Delta [and by +consequence in the Lower Egypt adjoining to it] it did of old, +and still does, rain sometimes. See the note on Antiq. B. III. +ch. 1. sect. 6. + +(14) Josephus supposes that Joseph now restored the Egyptians +their lands again upon the payment of a fifth part as tribute. +It seems to me rather that the land was now considered as +Pharaoh's land, and this fifth part as its rent, to be paid to +him, as he was their landlord, and they his tenants; and that the +lands were not properly restored, and this fifth part reserved as +tribute only, till the days of Sesostris. See Essay on the Old +Testament, Append. 148, 149. + +(15) As to this encomium upon Joseph, as preparatory to Jacob's +adopting Ephraim and Manasses into his own family, and to be +admitted for two tribes, which Josephus here mentions, all our +copies of Genesis omit it, ch. 48.; nor do we know whence he took +it, or whether it be not his own embellishment only. + +(16) As to the affliction of Abraham's posterity for 400 years, +see Antiq. B. I. ch. 10. sect. 3; and as to what cities they +built in Egypt, under Pharaoh Sesostris, and of Pharaoh +Sesostris's drowning in the Red Sea, see Essay on the Old +Testament, Append. p. 132-162. + +(17) Of this building of the pyramids of Egypt by the Israelites, +see Perizonius Orig. Aegyptiac, ch. 21. It is not impossible they +might build one or more of the small ones; but the larger ones +seem much later. Only, if they be all built of stone, this does +not so well agree with the Israelites' labors, which are said to +have been in brick, and not in stone, as Mr. Sandys observes in +his Travels. p. 127, 128. + +(18) Dr. Bernard informs us here, that instead of this single +priest or prophet of the Egyptians, without a name in Josephus, +the Targum of Jonathan names the two famous antagonists of Moses, +Jannes and Jambres. Nor is it at all unlikely that it might be +one of these who foreboded so much misery to the Egyptians, and +so much happiness to the Israelites, from the rearing of Moses. + +(19) Josephus is clear that these midwives were Egyptians, and +not Israelites, as in our other copies: which is very probable, +it being not easily to be supposed that Pharaoh could trust the +Israelite midwives to execute so barbarous a command against +their own nation. (Consult, therefore, and correct hence our +ordinary copies, Exodus 1:15, 22. And, indeed, Josephus seems to +have had much completer copies of the Pentateuch, or other +authentic records now lost, about the birth and actions of Moses, +than either our Hebrew, Samaritan, or Greek Bibles afford us, +which enabled him to be so large and particular about him. + +(20) Of this grandfather of Sesostris, Ramestes the Great, who +slew the Israelite infants, and of the inscription on his +obelisk, containing, in my opinion, one of the oldest records of +mankind, see Essay on the Old Test. Append. p. 139, 145, 147, +217-220. + +(21) What Josephus here says of the beauty of Moses, that he was +of a divine form, is very like what St. Stephen says of the same +beauty; that Moses was beautiful in the sight of Acts 7:20. + +(22) This history of Moses, as general of the Egyptians against +the Ethiopians, is wholly omitted in our Bibles; but is thus by +Irenaeus, from Josephus, and that soon after his own age:-- +"Josephus says, that when Moses was nourished in the palace, he +was appointed general of the army against the Ethiopians, and +conquered them, when he married that king's daughter; because, +out of her affection for him, she delivered the city up to him." +See the Fragments of Irenaeus, ap. edit. Grab. p. 472. Nor +perhaps did St. Stephen refer to any thing else when he said of +Moses, before he was sent by God to the Israelites, that he was +not only learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, but was also +mighty in words and in deeds, Acts 7:22. + +(23) Pliny speaks of these birds called ibes; and says, "The +Egyptians invoked them against the serpents," Hist. Nat. B. X. +ch. 28. Strabo speaks of this island Meroe, and these rivers +Astapus and Astaboras, B. XVI. p. 771, 786; and B XVII. p. 82]. + +(24) This superstitious fear of discovering the name with four +letters, which of late we have been used falsely to pronounce +Jehovah, but seems to have been originally pronounced Jahoh, or +Jao, is never, I think, heard of till this passage of Josephus; +and this superstition, in not pronouncing that name, has +continued among the Rabbinical Jews to this day (though whether +the Samaritans and Caraites observed it so early, does not +appear). Josephus also durst not set down the very words of the +ten commandments, as we shall see hereafter, Antiq. B. III. ch. +5. sect. 4, which superstitious silence I think has yet not been +continued even by the Rabbins. It is, however, no doubt but both +these cautious concealments were taught Josephus by the +Pharisees, a body of men at once very wicked and very +superstitious. + +(25) Of this judicial hardening the hearts and blinding the eyes +of wicked men, or infatuating them, as a just punishment for +their other willful sins, to their own destruction, see the note +on Antiq. B. VII. ch. 9. sect. 6. + +(26) As to this winter or spring hail near Egypt and Judea, see +the like on thunder and lightning there, in the note on Antiq. B. +VI. ch. 5. sect. 6. + +(27) These large presents made to the Israelites, of vessels of +and vessels of gold, and raiment, were, as Josephus truly calls +them, gifts really given them; not lent them, as our English +falsely renders them. They were spoils required, not of them, +Genesis 15:14; Exodus 3:22; 11:2; Psalm 105:37,) as the same +version falsely renders the Hebrew word Exodus 12:35, 36. God had +ordered the Jews to demand these as their pay and reward, during +their long and bitter slavery in Egypt, as atonements for the +lives of the Egyptians, and as the condition of the Jews' +departure, and of the Egyptians' deliverance from these terrible +judgments, which, had they not now ceased, they had soon been all +dead men, as they themselves confess, ch. 12. 33. Nor was there +any sense in borrowing or lending, when the Israelites were +finally departing out of the land for ever. + +(28) Why our Masorete copy so groundlessly abridges this account +in Exodus 12:40, as to ascribe 430 years to the sole +peregrination of the Israelites in Egypt, when it is clear even +by that Masorete chronology elsewhere, as well as from the +express text itself, in the Samaritan, Septuagint, and Josephus, +that they sojourned in Egypt but half that time, - and that by +consequence, the other half of their peregrination was in the +land of Canaan, before they came into Egypt, - is hard to say. +See Essay on the Old Testament, p. 62, 63. + +(29) Take the main part of Reland's excellent note here, which +greatly illustrates Josephus, and the Scripture, in this history, +as follows: "[A traveller, says Reland, whose name was] Eneman, +when he returned out of Egypt, told me that he went the same way +from Egypt to Mount Sinai, which he supposed the Israelites of +old traveled; and that he found several mountainous tracts, that +ran down towards the Red Sea. He thought the Israelites had +proceeded as far as the desert of Etham, Exodus 13:20, when they +were commanded by God to return back, Exodus 14:2, and to pitch +their camp between Migdol and the sea; and that when they were +not able to fly, unless by sea, they were shut in on each side by +mountains. He also thought we might evidently learn hence, how it +might be said that the Israelites were in Etham before they went +over the sea, and yet might be said to have come into Etham after +they had passed over the sea also. Besides, he gave me an account +how he passed over a river in a boat near the city Suez, which he +says must needs be the Heroopolia of the ancients, since that +city could not be situate any where else in that neighborhood." + +As to the famous passage produced here by Dr. Bernard, out of +Herodotus, as the most ancient heathen testimony of the +Israelites coming from the Red Sea into Palestine, Bishop +Cumberland has shown that it belongs to the old Canaanite or +Phoenician shepherds, and their retiring out of Egypt into Canaan +or Phoenicia, long before the days of Moses. Sanchoniatho, p. +374, &c. + +(30) Of these storms of wind, thunder, and lightning, at this +drowning of Pharaoh's army, almost wanting in our copies of +Exodus, but fully extant in that of David, Psalm 77:16-18, and in +that of Josephus here, see Essay on the Old Test. Append. p. +15,1, 155. + +(31) What some have here objected against this passage of the +Israelites over the Red Sea, in this one night, from the common +maps, viz. that this sea being here about thirty miles broad, so +great an army could not pass over it in so short a time, is a +great mistake. Mons. Thevenot, an authentic eye-witness, informs +us, that this sea, for about five days' journey, is no where more +than about eight or nine miles over-cross, and in one place but +four or five miles, according to De Lisle's map, which is made +from the best travelers themselves, and not copied from others. +What has been further objected against this passage of the +Israelites, and drowning of the Egyptians, being miraculous also, +viz. that Moses might carry the Israelites over at a low tide +without any miracle, while yet the Egyptians, not knowing the +tide so well as he, might be drowned upon the return of the tide, +is a strange story indeed! That Moses, who never had lived here, +should know the quantity and time of the flux and reflux of the +Red Sea better than the Egyptians themselves in its neighborhood! +Yet does Artapanus, an ancient heathen historian, inform us, that +this was what the more ignorant Memphites, who lived at a great +distance, pretended, though he confesses, that the more learned +Heliopolitans, who lived much nearer, owned the destruction of +the Egyptians, and the deliverance of the Israelites, to have +been miraculous: and De Castro, a mathematician, who surveyed +this sea with great exactness, informs us, that there is no great +flux or reflux in this part of the Red Sea, to give a color to +this hypothesis; nay, that at the elevation of the tide there is +little above half the height of a man. See Essay on the Old Test. +Append. p. 239, 240. So vain and groundless are these and the +like evasions and subterfuges of our modern sceptics and +unbelievers, and so certainly do thorough inquiries and authentic +evidence disprove and confute such evasions and subterfuges upon +all occasions. + +(32) What that hexameter verse, in which Moses's triumphant song +is here said to be written, distinctly means, our present +ignorance of the old Hebrew metre or measure will not let us +determine. Nor does it appear to me certain that even Josephus +himself had a distinct notion of it, though he speaks of several +sort of that metre or measure, both here and elsewhere. Antiq. B. +IV. ch. 8. sect. 44; and B. VII. ch. 12. sect. 3. + +(33) Take here the original passages of the four old authors that +still remain, as to this transit of Alexander the Great over the +Pamphylian Sea: I mean, of Callisthenes, Strabu, Arrian, and +Appian. As to Callisthenes, who himself accompanied Alexander in +this expedition, Eustathius, in his Notes on the third Iliad of +Homer, (as Dr. Bernard here informs us,) says, That "this +Callisthenes wrote how the Pamphylian Sea did not only open a +passage for Alexander, but, by rising and did pay him homage as +its king." Strabo's is this (Geog. B. XIV. p. 666): "Now about +Phaselis is that narrow passage, by the sea-side, through which +his army. There is a mountain called Climax, adjoins to the Sea +of Pamphylia, leaving a narrow passage on the shore, which, in +calm weather, is bare, so as to be passable by travelers, but +when the sea overflows, it is covered to a great degree by the +waves. Now then, the ascent by the mountains being round about +and steep, in still weather they make use of the road along the +coast. But Alexander fell into the winter season, and committing +himself chiefly to fortune, he marched on before the waves +retired; and so it happened that were a whole day in journeying +over it, and were under water up to the navel." Arrian's account +is this (B. I. p. 72, 73): Alexander removed from Phaselis, he +sent some part his army over the mountains to Perga; which road +the Thracians showed him. A difficult way it was, but short. He +himself conducted those that were with him by the sea-shore. This +road is impassable at any other time than when the north wind +blows; but if the south wind prevail, there is no passing by the +shore. Now at this time, after strong south winds, a north wind +blew, and that not without the Divine Providence, (as both he and +they that were with him supposed,) and afforded him an easy and +quick passage." Appian, when he compares Caesar and Alexander +together, (De Bel. Civil. B. II. p. 522,) says, "That they both +depended on their boldness and fortune, as much as on their skill +in war. As an instance of which, Alexander journeyed over a +country without water, in the heat of summer, to the oracle of +[Jupiter] Hammon, and quickly passed over the Bay of Pamphylia, +when, by Divine Providence, the sea was cut off - thus Providence +restraining the sea on his account, as it had sent him rain when +he traveled [over the desert]." + +N. B. - Since, in the days of Josephus, as he assures us, all the +more numerous original historians of Alexander gave the account +he has here set down, as to the providential going back of the +waters of the Pamphylian Sea, when he was going with his army to +destroy the Persian monarchy, which the fore-named authors now +remaining fully confirm, it is without all just foundation that +Josephus is here blamed by some late writers for quoting those +ancient authors upon the present occasion; nor can the +reflections of Plutarch, or any other author later than Josephus, +be in the least here alleged to contradict him. Josephus went by +all the evidence he then had, and that evidence of the most +authentic sort also. So that whatever the moderns may think of +the thing itself, there is hence not the least color for finding +fault with Josephus: he would rather have been much to blame had +he omitted these quotations. + + + + +BOOK 3 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Dr. Bernard takes notice here, that this place Mar, where the +waters were bitter, is called by the Syrians and Arabians Mariri, +and by the Syrians sometimes Morath, all derived from the Hebrew +Mar. He also takes notice, that it is called The Bitter Fountain +by Pliny himself; which waters remain there to this day, and are +still bitter, as Thevenot assures us and that there are also +abundance of palm-trees. See his Travels, Part I. ch. 26. p. 166. + +(2)The additions here to Moses's account of the sweetening of the +waters at Marah, seem derived from some ancient profane author, +and he such an author also as looks less authentic than are +usually followed by Josephus. Philo has not a syllable of these +additions, nor any other ancienter writer that we know of. Had +Josephus written these his Antiquities for the use of Jews, he +would hardly have given them these very improbable circumstances; +but writing to Gentiles, that they might not complain of his +omission of any accounts of such miracles derived from Gentiles, +he did not think proper to conceal what he had met with there +about this matter. Which procedure is perfectly agreeable to the +character and usage of Josephus upon many occasions. This note +is, I confess, barely conjectural; and since Josephus never tells +us when his own copy, taken out of the temple, had such +additions, or when any ancient notes supplied them; or indeed +when they are derived from Jewish, and when from Gentile +antiquity, - we can go no further than bare conjectures in such +cases; only the notions of Jews were generally so different from +those of Gentiles, that we may sometimes make no improbable +conjectures to which sort such additions belong. See also +somewhat like these additions in Josephus's account of Elisha's +making sweet the bitter and barren spring near Jericho, War, B. +IV. ch. 8. sect. 3. + +(3) It seems to me, from what Moses, Exodus 16:18, St. Paul, 2 +Corinthians 8:15, and Josephus here say, compared together, that +the quantity of manna that fell daily, and did not putrefy, was +just so much as came to an omer apiece, through the whole host of +Israel, and no more. + +(4) This supposal, that the sweet honey-dew or manna, so +celebrated in ancient and modern authors, as falling usually in +Arabia, was of the very same sort with this manna sent to the +Israelites, savors more of Gentilism than of Judaism or +Christianity. It is not improbable that some ancient Gentile +author, read by Josephus, so thought; nor would he here +contradict him; though just before, and Antiq. B. IV. ch. 3. +sect. 2, he seems directly to allow that it had not been seen +before. However, this food from heaven is here described to be +like snow; and in Artapanus, a heathen writer, it is compared to +meal, color like to snow, rained down by God," Essay on +the Old Test. Append. p. 239. But as to the derivation of +the word manna, whether from man, which Josephus says then +signified What is it or from mannah, to divide, i.e., a +dividend or portion allotted to every one, it is uncertain: +I incline to the latter derivation. This manna is called +angels' food, Psalm 78:26, and by our Sacior, John 6:31, +etc., as well as by Josephus here and elsewhere, Antiq. B. III. +ch. 5. sect. 3, said to be sent the Jews from heaven. + +(5) This rock is there at this day, as the travelers agree; and +must be the same that was there in the days of Moses, as being +too large to be brought thither by our modern carriages. + +(6) Note here, that the small book of the principal laws of Moses +is ever said to be laid up in the holy house itself; but the +larger Pentateuch, as here, some where within the limits of the +temple and its courts only. See Antiq. B. V. ch. 1. sect. 17. + +(7) This eminent circumstance, that while Moses's hands were lift +up towards heaven, the Israelites prevailed, and while they were +let down towards the earth, the Amalekites prevailed, seems to me +the earliest intimation we have of the proper posture, used of +old, in solemn prayer, which was the stretching out of the hands +[and eyes] towards heaven, as other passages of the Old and New +Testament inform us. Nay, by the way, this posture seemed to have +continued in the Christian church, till the clergy, instead of +learning their prayers by heart, read them out of a book, which +is in a great measure inconsistent with such an elevated posture, +and which seems to me to have been only a later practice, +introduced under the corrupt state of the church; though the +constant use of divine forms of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, +appears to me to have been the practice of God's people, +patriarchs, Jews, and Christians, in all the past ages. + +(8) This manner of electing the judges and officers of the +Israelites by the testimonies and suffrages of the people, before +they were ordained by God, or by Moses, deserves to be carefully +noted, because it was the pattern of the like manner of the +choice and ordination of bishops, presbyters, and deacons, in the +Christian church. + +(9) Since this mountain, Sinai, is here said to be the highest of +all the mountains that are in that country, it must be that now +called St. Katherine's, which is one-third higher than that +within a mile of it, now called Sinai, as Mons. Thevenot informs +us, Travels, Part I. ch. 23. p. 168. The other name of it, Horeb, +is never used by Josephus, and perhaps was its name among the +Egyptians only, whence the Israelites were lately come, as Sinai +was its name among the Arabians, Canaanites, and other nations. +Accordingly when (1 Kings 9:8) the Scripture says that Elijah +came to Horeb, the mount of God, Josephus justly says, Antiq. B. +VIII. ch. 13. sect. 7, that he came to the mountain called Sinai: +and Jerome, here cited by Dr. Hudson, says, that he took this +mountain to have two names, Sinai and Choreb. De Nomin. Heb. p. +427. + +(10) Of this and another like superstitious notion of the +Pharisees, which Josephus complied with, see the note on Antiq. +B. II. ch. 12. sect. 4. + +(11) This other work of Josephus, here referred to, seems to be +that which does not appear to have been ever published, which yet +he intended to publish, about the reasons of many of the laws of +Moses; of which see the note on the Preface, sect. 4. + +(12) Of this tabernacle of Moses, with its several parts and +furniture, see my description at large, chap. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. +12., hereto belonging. + +(13) The use of these golden bells at the bottom of the high +priest's long garment, seems to me to have been this: That by +shaking his garment at the time of his offering incense in the +temple, on the great day of expiation, or at other proper periods +of his sacred ministrations there, on the great festivals, the +people might have notice of it, and might fall to their own +prayers at the time of incense, or other proper periods; and so +the whole congregation might at once offer those common prayers +jointly with the high priest himself to the Almighty See Luke +1:10; Revelation 8:3, 4. Nor probably is the son of Sirach to be +otherwise understood, when he says of Aaron, the first high +priest, Ecelus. 45:9, "And God encompassed Aaron with +pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he +went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard +in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people." + +(14) The reader ought to take notice here, that the very Mosaic +Petalon, or golden plate, for the forehead of the Jewish high +priest, was itself preserved, not only till the days of Josephus, +but of Origen; and that its inscription, Holiness to the Lord, +was in the Samaritan characters. See Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 3. sect. +8, Essay on the Old Test. p. 154, and Reland, De pol. Templi, p. +132. + +(15) When Josephus, both here and ch. 6. sect. 4, supposes the +tabernacle to have been parted into three parts, he seems to +esteem the bare entrance to be a third division, distinct from +the holy and the most holy places; and this the rather, because +in the temple afterward there was a real distinct third part, +which was called the Porch: otherwise Josephus would contradict +his own description of the tabernacle, which gives as a +particular account of no more than two parts. + +(16) This explication of the mystical meaning of the Jewish +tabernacle and its vessels, with the garments of the high priest, +is taken out of Philo, and fitted to Gentile philosophical +notions. This may possibly be forgiven in Jews, greatly versed in +heathen learning and philosophy, as Philo had ever been, and as +Josephus had long been when he wrote these Antiquities. In the +mean time, it is not to be doubted, but in their education they +must have both learned more Jewish interpretations, such as we +meet with in the Epistle of Barnabas, in that to the Hebrews, and +elsewhere among the old Jews. Accordingly when Josephus wrote his +books of the Jewish War, for the use of the Jews, at which time +he was comparatively young, and less used to Gentile books, we +find one specimen of such a Jewish interpretation; for there (B. +VII. ch. 5. sect. 5) he makes the seven branches of the +temple-candlestick, with their seven lamps, an emblem of the +seven days of creation and rest, which are here emblems of the +seven planets. Nor certainly ought ancient Jewish emblems to be +explained any other way than according to ancient Jewish, and not +Gentile, notions. See of the War, B. I. ch. 33. sect. 2. + +(17) It is well worth our observation, that the two principal +qualifications required in this section for the constitution of +the first high priest, (viz. that he should have an excellent +character for virtuous and good actions; as also that he should +have the approbation of the people,) are here noted by Josephus, +even where the nomination belonged to God himself; which are the +very same qualifications which the Christian religion requires in +the choice of Christian bishops, priests, and deacons; as the +Apostolical Constitutions inform us, B. II. ch. 3. + +(18) This weight and value of the Jewish shekel, in the days of +Josephus, equal to about 2s. 10d. sterling, is, by the learned +Jews, owned to be one-fifth larger than were their old shekels; +which determination agrees perfectly with the remaining shekels +that have Samaritan inscriptions, coined generally by Simon the +Maccabee, about 230 years before Josephus published his +Antiquities, which never weigh more than 2s. 4d., and commonly +but 2s. 4d. See Reland De Nummis Samaritanorum, p. 138. + +(19) The incense was here offered, according to Josephus's +opinion, before sun-rising, and at sun-setting; but in the days +of Pompey, according to the same Josephus, the sacrifices were +offered in the morning, and at the ninth hour. Antiq. B. XIV. ch. +4. sect. 3. + +(20) Hence we may correct the opinions of the modern Rabbins, who +say that only one of the seven lamps burned in the day-time; +whereas our Josephus, an eyewitness, says there were three. + +(21) Of this strange expression, that Moses "left it to God to be +present at his sacrifices when he pleased, and when he pleased to +be absent," see the note on B. II. against Apion, sect. 16. + +(22)These answers by the oracle of Urim and Thummim, which words +signify, light and perfection, or, as the Septuagint render them, +revelation and truth, and denote nothing further, that I see, but +the shining stones themselves, which were used, in this method of +illumination, in revealing the will of God, after a perfect and +true manner, to his people Israel: I say, these answers were not +made by the shining of the precious stones, after an awkward +manner, in the high priest's breastplate, as the modern Rabbins +vainly suppose; for certainly the shining of the stones might +precede or accompany the oracle, without itself delivering that +oracle, see Antiq. B. VI. ch. 6. sect. 4; but rather by an +audible voice from the mercy-seat between the cherubims. See +Prideaux's Connect. at the year 534. This oracle had been silent, +as Josephus here informs us, two hundred years before he wrote +his Antiquities, or ever since the days of the last good high +priest of the family of the Maccabees, John Hyrcanus. Now it is +here very well worth our observation, that the oracle before us +was that by which God appeared to be present with, and gave +directions to, his people Israel as their King, all the while +they submitted to him in that capacity; and did not set over them +such independent kings as governed according to their own wills +and political maxims, instead of Divine directions. Accordingly +we meet with this oracle (besides angelic and prophetic +admonitions) all along from the days of Moses and Joshua to the +anointing of Saul, the first of the succession of the kings, +Numbers 27:21; Joshua 6:6, etc.; 19:50; Judges 1:1; 18:4-6, 30, +31; 20:18, 23, 26-28; 21:1, etc.; 1 Samuel 1:17, 18; 3. per tot.; +4. per tot.; nay, till Saul's rejection of the Divine commands in +the war with Amalek, when he took upon him to act as he thought +fit, 1 Samuel 14:3, 18, 19, 36, 37, then this oracle left Saul +entirely, (which indeed he had seldom consulted before, 1 Samuel +14:35; 1 Chronicles 10:14; 13:3; Antiq. B. 7 ch. 4 sect 2.) and +accompanied David, who was anointed to succeed him, and who +consulted God by it frequently, and complied with its directions +constantly (1 Samuel 14:37, 41; 15:26; 22:13, 15; 23:9, 10; 30:7, +8, 18; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19, 23; 21:1; 23:14; 1 Chronicles 14:10, +14; Antiq. B IV ch. 12 sect. 5). Saul, indeed, long after his +rejection by God, and when God had given him up to destruction +for his disobedience, did once afterwards endeavor to consult God +when it was too late; but God would not then answer him, neither +by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets, 1 Samuel 28:6. Nor did +any of David's successors, the kings of Judah, that we know of, +consult God by this oracle, till the very Babylonish captivity +itself, when those kings were at an end; they taking upon them, I +suppose, too much of despotic power and royalty, and too little +owning the God of Israel for the supreme King of Israel, though a +few of them consulted the prophets sometimes, and were answered +by them. At the return of the two tribes, without the return of +the kingly government, the restoration of this oracle was +expected, Nehemiah 7;63; 1 Esd. 5:40; 1 Macc. 4:46; 14:41. And +indeed it may seem to have been restored for some time after the +Babylonish captivity, at least in the days of that excellent high +priest, John Hyrcanus, whom Josephus esteemed as a king, a +priest, and a prophet; and who, he says, foretold several things +that came to pass accordingly; but about the time of his death, +he here implies, that this oracle quite ceased, and not before. +The following high priests now putting diadems on their heads, +and ruling according to their own will, and by their own +authority, like the other kings of the pagan countries about +them; so that while the God of Israel was allowed to be the +supreme King of Israel, and his directions to be their authentic +guides, God gave them such directions as their supreme King and +Governor, and they were properly under a theocracy, by this +oracle of Urim, but no longer (see Dr. Bernard's notes here); +though I confess I cannot but esteem the high priest Jaddus's +divine dream, Antiq. B. XI. ch. 8. sect. 4, and the high priest +Caiaphas's most remarkable prophecy, John 11:47-52, as two small +remains or specimens of this ancient oracle, which properly +belonged to the Jewish high priests: nor perhaps ought we +entirely to forget that eminent prophetic dream of our Josephus +himself, (one next to a high priest, as of the family of the +Asamoneans or Maccabees,) as to the succession of Vespasian and +Titus to the Roman empire, and that in the days of Nero, and +before either Galba, Otho, or Vitellius were thought of to +succeed him. Of the War, B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9. This, I think, +may well be looked on as the very last instance of any thing like +the prophetic Urim among the Jewish nation, and just preceded +their fatal desolation: but how it could possibly come to pass +that such great men as Sir John Marsham and Dr. Spenser, should +imagine that this oracle of Urim and Thummim with other practices +as old or older than the law of Moses, should have been ordained +in imitation of somewhat like them among the Egyptians, which we +never hear of till the days of Diodorus Siculus, Aelian, and +Maimonides, or little earlier than the Christian era at the +highest, is almost unaccountable; while the main business of the +law of Moses was evidently to preserve the Israelites from the +idolatrous and superstitious practices of the neighboring pagan +nations; and while it is so undeniable, that the evidence for the +great antiquity of Moses's law is incomparably beyond that for +the like or greater antiquity of such customs in Egypt or other +nations, which indeed is generally none at all, it is most absurd +to derive any of Moses's laws from the imitation of those heathen +practices, Such hypotheses demonstrate to us how far inclination +can prevail over evidence, in even some of the most learned part +of mankind. + +(23) What Reland well observes here, out of Josephus, as compared +with the law of Moses, Leviticus 7:15, (that the eating of the +sacrifice the same day it was offered, seems to mean only before +the morning of the next, although the latter part, i.e. the +night, be in strictness part of the next day, according to the +Jewish reckoning,) is greatly to be observed upon other occasions +also. The Jewish maxim in such cases, it seems, is this: That the +day goes before the night; and this appears to me to be the +language both of the Old and New Testament. See also the note on +Antiq. B. IV. ch. 4. sect. 4, and Reland's note on B. IV. ch. 8. +sect. 28. + +(24) We may here note, that Josephus frequently calls the camp +the city, and the court of the Mosaic tabernacle a temple, and +the tabernacle itself a holy house, with allusion to the latter +city, temple, and holy house, which he knew so well long +afterwards. + +(25) These words of Josephus are remarkable, that the lawgiver of +the Jews required of the priests a double degree of parity, in +comparison of that required of the people, of which he gives +several instances immediately. It was for certain the case also +among the first Christians, of the clergy, in comparison of the +laity, as the Apostolical Constitutions and Canons every where +inform us. + +(26) We must here note with Reland, that the precept given to the +priests of not drinking wine while they wore the sacred garments, +is equivalent; to their abstinence from it all the while they +ministered in the temple; because they then always, and then +only, wore those sacred garments, which were laid up there from +one time of ministration to another. + +(27) See Antiq, B. XX. ch. 2. sect, 6. and Acts 11:28. + + + + +BOOK 4 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Reland here takes notice, that although our Bibles say little +or nothing of these riches of Corah, yet that both the Jews and +Mahommedans, as well as Josephus, are full of it. + +(2) It appears here, and from the Samaritan Pentateuch, and, in +effect, from the psalmist, as also from the Apostolical +Constitutions, from Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians, +from Ignatius's Epistle to the Magnesians, and from Eusebius, +that Corah was not swallowed up with the Reubenites, but burned +with the Levites of his own tribe. See Essay on the Old +Testament, p. 64, 65. + +(3) Concerning these twelve rods of the twelve tribes of Israel, +see St. Clement's account, much larger than that in our Bibles, 1 +Epist. sect. 45; as is Josephus's present account in measure +larger also. + +(4) Grotius, on Numbers 6:18, takes notice that the Greeks also, +aswell as the Jews, sometimes consecrated the hair of their heads +to the gods. + +(5) Josephus here uses this phrase, "when the fortieth year was +completed," for when it was begun; as does St. Luke when the day +of Pentecost was completed," Acts 2:1. + +(6) Whether Miriam died, as Josephus's. Greek copies imply, on +the first day of the month, may be doubted, because the Latin +copies say it was on the tenth, and so say the Jewish calendars +also, as Dr. Bernard assures us. It is said her sepulcher is +still extant near Petra, the old capital city of Arabia Petraea, +at this day; as also that of Aaron, not far off. + +(7) What Josephus here remarks is well worth our remark in this +place also; viz. that the Israelites were never to meddle with +the Moabites, or Ammonites, or any other people, but those +belonging to the land of Canaan, and the countries of Sihon and +Og beyond Jordan, as far as the desert and Euphrates, and that +therefore no other people had reason to fear the conquests of the +Israelites; but that those countries given them by God were their +proper and peculiar portion among the nations, and that all who +endeavored to dispossess them might ever be justly destroyed by +them. + +(8) Note that Josephus never supposes Balaam to be an idolater, +nor to seek idolatrous enchantments, or to prophesy falsely, but +to be no other than an ill-disposed prophet of the true God; and +intimates that God's answer the second time, permitting him to +go, was ironical, and on design that he deceived (which sort of +deception, by way of punishment for former crimes, Josephus never +scruples to admit, as ever esteeming such wicked men justly and +providentially deceived). But perhaps we had better keep here +close to the text which says Numbers 23:20, 21, that God only +permitted Balaam to go along with the ambassadors, in case they +came and called him, or positively insisted on his going along +with them, on any terms; whereas Balaam seems out of impatience +to have risen up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and rather +to have called them, than staid for their calling him, so zealous +does he seem to have been for his reward of divination, his wages +of unrighteousness, Numbers 23:7, 17, 18, 37; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude +5, 11; which reward or wages the truly religious prophets of God +never required nor accepted, as our Josephus justly takes notice +in the cases of Samuel, Antiq. B. V. ch. 4. sect. 1, and Daniel, +Antiq. B. X. ch. 11. sect. 3. See also Genesis 14:22, 23; 2 Kings +5:15, 16, 26, 27; and Acts 8;17-24. + +(9) Whether Josephus had in his copy but two attempts of Balaam +in all to curse Israel; or whether by this his twice offering +sacrifice, he meant twice besides that first time already +mentioned, which yet is not very probable; cannot now be +certainly determined. In the mean time, all other copies have +three such attempts of Balaam to curse them in the present +history. + +(10) Such a large and distinct account of this perversion of the +Israelites by the Midianite women, of which our other copies give +us but short intimations, Numbers 31:16 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; +Revelation 2:14, is preserved, as Reland informs us, in the +Samaritan Chronicle, in Philo, and in other writings of the Jews, +as well as here by Josephus. + +(11) This grand maxim, That God's people of Israel could never be +hurt nor destroyed, but by drawing them to sin against God, +appears to be true, by the entire history of that people, both in +the Bible and in Josephus; and is often taken notice of in them +both. See in particular a most remarkable Ammonite testimony to +this purpose, Judith 5:5-21. + +(12) What Josephus here puts into the mouths of these Midianite +women, who came to entice the Israelites to lewdness and +idolatry, viz. that their worship of the God of Israel, in +opposition to their idol gods, implied their living according to +the holy laws which the true God had given them by Moses, in +opposition to those impure laws which were observed under their +false gods, well deserves our consideration; and gives us a +substantial reason for the great concern that was ever shown +under the law of Moses to preserve the Israelites from idolatry, +and in the worship of the true God; it being of no less +consequence than, Whether God's people should be governed by the +holy laws of the true God, or by the impure laws derived from +demons, under the pagan idolatry. + +(13) The mistake in all Josephus's copies, Greek and Latin which +have here fourteen thousand instead of twenty-four thousand, is +so flagrant, that our very learned editors, Bernard and Hudson, +have put the latter number directly into the text. I choose +rather to put it in brackets. + +(14) The slaughter of all the Midianite women that had +prostituted themselves to the lewd Israelites, and the +preservation of those that had not been guilty therein; the last +of which were no fewer than thirty-two thousand, both here and +Numbers 31:15-17, 35, 40, 46, and both by the particular command +of God; are highly remarkable, and show that, even in nations +otherwise for their wickedness doomed to destruction, the +innocent were sometimes particularly and providentially taken +care of, and delivered from that destruction; which directly +implies, that it was the wickedness of the nations of Canaan, and +nothing else, that occasioned their excision. See Genesis 15;16; +1 Samuel 15:18, 33; Apost. Constit. B. VIII. ch. 12. p. 402. In +the first of which places, the reason of the delay of the +punishment of the Amorites is given, because "their iniquity was +not yet full." In the secured, Saul is ordered to go and "destroy +the sinners, the Amalekites;" plainly implying that they were +therefore to be destroyed, because they were sinners, and not +otherwise. In the third, the reason is given why king Agag was +not to be spared, viz. because of his former cruelty: "As thy +sword hath made the (Hebrew) women childless, so shall thy mother +be made childless among women by the Hebrews." In the last place, +the apostles, or their amanuensis Clement, gave this reason for +the necessity of the coming of Christ, that "men had formerly +perverted both the positive law, and that of nature; and had cast +out of their mind the memory of the Flood, the burning of Sodom, +the plagues of the Egyptians, and the slaughter of the +inhabitants of Palestine," as signs of the most amazing +impenitence and insensibility, under the punishments of horrid +wickedness. + +(15) Josephus here, in this one sentence, sums up his notion of +Moses's very long and very serious exhortations in the book of +Deuteronomy; and his words are so true, and of such importance, +that they deserve to be had in constant remembrance. + +(16) This law, both here and Exodus 20:25, 26, of not going up to +God's altar by ladder-steps, but on an acclivity, seems not to +have belonged to the altar of the tabernacle, which was in all +but three cubits high, Exodus 27:4; nor to that of Ezekiel, which +was expressly to be gone up to by steps, ch. 43:17; but rather to +occasional altars of any considerable altitude and largeness; as +also probably to Solomon's altar, to which it is here applied by +Josephus, as well as to that in Zorobabel's and Herod's temple, +which were, I think, all ten cubits high. See 2 Chronicles 4:1, +and Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 3. sect. 7. The reason why these temples, +and these only, were to have this ascent on an acclivity, and not +by steps, is obvious, that before the invention of stairs, such +as we now use, decency could not be otherwise provided for in the +loose garments which the priests wore, as the law required. See +Lamy of the Tabernacle and Temple, p. 444. + +(17) The hire of public or secret harlots was given to Venus in +Syria, as Lucian informs us, p. 878; and against some such vile +practice of the old idolaters this law seems to have been made. + +(18) The Apostolical Constitutions, B. II. ch. 26. sect. 31, +expound this law of Moses, Exodus 22. 28, "Thou shalt not revile +or blaspheme the gods," or magistrates, which is a much more +probable exposition than this of Josephus, of heathen gillis, as +here, and against Apion, B. II. ch. 3. sect. 31. What book of the +law was thus publicly read, see the note on Antiq. B. X. ch. 5. +sect. 5, and 1 Esd. 9:8-55. + +(19)Whether these phylacteries, and other Jewish memorials of the +law here mentioned by Josephus, and by Muses, (besides the +fringes on the borders of their garments, Numbers 15:37,) were +literally meant by God, I much question. That they have been long +observed by the Pharisees and Rabbinical Jews is certain; +however, the Karaites, who receive not the unwritten traditions +of the elders, but keep close to the written law, with Jerome and +Grotius, think they were not literally to be understood; as +Bernard and Reland here take notice. Nor indeed do I remember +that, either in the ancienter books of the Old Testament, or in +the books we call Apocrypha, there are any signs of such literal +observations appearing among the Jews, though their real or +mystical signification, i.e. the constant remembrance and +observation of the laws of God by Moses, be frequently inculcated +in all the sacred writings. + +(20) Here, as well as elsewhere, sect. 38, of his Life, sect. 14, +and of the War, B. II. ch. 20. sect. 5, are but seven judges +appointed for small cities, instead of twenty-three in the modern +Rabbins; which modern Rabbis are always but of very little +authority in comparison of our Josephus. + +(21) I have never observed elsewhere, that in the Jewish +government women were not admitted as legal witnesses in courts +of justice. None of our copies of the Pentateuch say a word of +it. It is very probable, however, that this was the exposition of +the scribes and Pharisees, and the practice of the Jews in the +days of Josephus. + +(22) This penalty of "forty stripes save one," here mentioned, +and sect. 23, was five times inflicted on St. Paul himself by the +Jews, 2 Corinthians 11:24 + +(23) Josephus's plain and express interpretation of this law of +Moses, Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 26:12, etc., that the Jews were +bound every third year to pay three tithes, that to the Levites, +that for sacrifices at Jerusalem, and this for the indigent, the +widow, and the orphans, is fully confirmed by the practice of +good old Tobit, even when he was a captive in Assyria, against +the opinions of the Rabbins, Tobit 1:6-8. + +(24) These tokens of virginity, as the Hebrew and Septuagint +style them, Deuteronomy 22:15, 17, 20, seem to me very different +from what our later interpreters suppose. They appear rather to +have been such close linen garments as were never put off +virgins, after, a certain age, till they were married, but before +witnesses, and which, while they were entire, were certain +evidences of such virginity. See these, Antiq. B. VII. ch. 8. +sect. 1; 2 Samuel 13:18; Isaiah 6:1 Josephus here determines +nothing what were these particular tokens of virginity or of +corruption: perhaps he thought he could not easily describe them +to the heathens, without saying what they might have thought a +breach of modesty; which seeming breach of modesty laws cannot +always wholly avoid. + +(25) These words of Josephus are very like those of the Pharisees +to our Savior upon this very subject, Matthew 19:3, "Is it lawful +for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" + +(26) Here it is supposed that this captive's husband, if she were +before a married woman, was dead before, or rather was slain in +this very battle, otherwise it would have been adultery in him +that married her. + +(27) See Herod the Great insisting on the execution of this law, +with relation to two of his own sons, before the judges at +Berytus, Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 11. sect. 2. + +(28) Philo and others appear to have understood this law, Exodus +21:22, 23, better than Josephus, who seems to allow, that though +the infant in the mother's womb, even after the mother were +quick, and so the infant had a rational soul, were killed by the +stroke upon the mother, yet if the mother escaped, the offender +should only be fined, and not put to death; while the law seems +rather to mean, that if the infant in that case be killed, though +the mother escape, the offender must be put to death, and not +only when the mother is killed, as Josehus understood it. It +seems this was the exposition of the Pharisees in the days of +Josephus. + +(29) What we render a witch, according to our modern notions of +witchcraft, Exodus 22:15, Philo and Josephus understood of a +poisoner, or one who attempted by secret and unlawful drugs or +philtra, to take away the senses or the lives of men. + +(30) This permission of redeeming this penalty with money is not +in our copies, Exodus 21:24, 25; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy +19:21. + +(31) We may here note, that thirty shekels, the price our Savior +was sold for by Judas to the Jews, Matthew 26:15, and 27;3, was +the old value of a bought servant or slave among that people. + +(32) This law against castration, even of brutes, is said to be +so rigorous elsewhere, as to inflict death on him that does it +which seems only a Pharisaical interpretation in the days of +Josephus of that law, Leviticus 21:20, and 22:24: only we may +hence observe, that the Jews could then have no oxen which are +gelded, but only bulls and cows, in Judea. + +(33) These laws seem to be those above-mentioned, sect, 4, of +this chapter. + +(34) What laws were now delivered to the priests, see the note on +Antiq. B. III. ch. 1. sect. 7. + +(35) Of the exact place where this altar was to be built, whether +nearer Mount Gerizzim or Mount Ebal, according to Josephus, see +Essay on the Old Testament, p. 168--171. + +Dr. Bernard well observes here, how unfortunate this neglect of +consulting the Urim was to Joshua himself, in the case of the +Gibeonites, who put a trick upon him, and ensnared him, together +with the rest of the Jewish rulers, with a solemn oath to +preserve them, contrary to his commission to extirpate all the +Canaanites, root and branch; which oath he and the other rulers +never durst break. See Scripture Politics, p. 55, 56; and this +snare they were brought into because they "did not ask counsel at +the mouth of the Lord," Joshua 9:14. + +(36) Since Josephus assures us here, as is most naturally to be +supposed, and as the Septuagint gives the text, Deuteronomy 33:6, +that Moses blessed every one of the tribes of Israel, it is +evident that Simeon was not omitted in his copy, as it unhappily +now is, both in our Hebrew and Samaritan copies. + + + + +BOOK 5 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) The Amorites were one of the seven nations of Canaan. Hence +Reland is willing to suppose that Josephus did not here mean that +their land beyond Jordan was a seventh part of the whole land of +Canaan, but meant the Arnorites as a seventh nation. His reason +is, that Josephus, as well as our Bible, generally distinguish +the land beyond Jordan from the land of Canaan; nor can it be +denied, that in strictness they were all fercot: yet after two +tribes and a half of the twelve tribes came to inherit it, it +might in a general way altogether be well included under the land +of Canaan, or Palestine, or Judea, of which we have a clear +example here before us in Josephus, whose words evidently imply, +that taking the whole land of Canaan, or that inhabited by all +the twelve tribes together, and parting it into seven parts, the +part beyond Jordan was in quantity of ground one seventh part of +the whole. And this well enough agrees to Reland's own map of +that country, although this land beyond Jordan was so peculiarly +fruitful, and good for pasturage, as the two tribes and a half +took notice, Numbers 32:1, 4, 16, that it maintained about a +fifth part of the whole people. + +(2) It plainly appears by the history of these spies, and the +innkeeper Rahab's deception of the king of Jericho's messengers, +by telling them what was false in order to save the lives of the +spies, and yet the great commendation of her faith and good works +in the New Testament, Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25, as well as by +many other parallel examples, both in the Old Testament and in +Josephus, that the best men did not then scruple to deceive those +public enemies who might justly be destroyed; as also might +deceive ill men in order to save life, and deliver themselves +from the tyranny of their unjust oppressors, and this by telling +direct falsehoods; I mean, all this where no oath was demanded of +them, otherwise they never durst venture on such a procedure. Nor +was Josephus himself of any other opinion or practice, as I shall +remark in the note on Antiq. B. IX. ch. 4. sect. 3. And observe, +that I still call this woman Rahab, an innkeeper, not a harlot, +the whole history, both in our copies, and especially in +Josephus, implying no more. It was indeed so frequent a thing, +that women who were innkeepers were also harlots, or maintainers +of harlots, that the word commonly used for real harlots was +usually given them. See Dr. Bernard's note here, and Judges 11:1, +and Antiq. B. V. ch. 7. sect. 8. + +(3) Upon occasion of this devoting of Jericho to destruction, and +the exemplary punishment of Achar, who broke that duerein or +anathema, and of the punishment of the future breaker of it, +Hiel, 1 Kings 16:34, as also of the punishment of Saul, for +breaking the like chefera or anathema, against the Amalekites, 1 +Samuel 15., we may observe what was the true meaning of that law, +Leviticus 27:28: "None devoted which shall be devoted of shall be +redeemed; but shall be put to death;" i.e. whenever any of the +Jews' public enemies had been, for their wickedness, solemnly +devoted to destruction, according to the Divine command, as were +generally the seven wicked nations of Canaan, and those sinners +the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15:18, it was utterly unlawful to permit +those enemies to be redeemed; but they were to be all utterly +destroyed. See also Numbers 23:2, 3. + +(4) That the name of this chief was not Achan, as in the common +copies, but Achar, as here in Josephus, and in the Apostolical +Constit. B. VII. ch. 2., and elsewhere, is evident by the +allusion to that name in the curse of Joshua, "Why hast thou +troubled us? - the Lord shall trouble thee;" where the Hebrew +word alludes only to the name Achar, but not to Achan. +Accordingly, this Valley of Achar, or Achor, was and is a known +place, a little north of Gilgal, so called from the days of +Joshua till this day. See Joshua 7:26; Isaiah 65:10; Hosea 2:15; +and Dr. Bernard's notes here. + +(5) Here Dr. Bernard very justly observes, that a few words are +dropped out of Josephus's copies, on account of the repetition of +the word shekels, and that it ought to be read thus:-- "A piece +of gold that weighed fifty shekels, and one of silver that +weighed two hundred shekels," as in our other copies, Joshua +7:21. + +(6) I agree here with Dr. Bernard, and approve of Josephus's +interpretation of Gilgal for liberty. See Joshua 5:9. + +(7) Whether this lengthening of the day, by the standing still of +the sun and moon, were physical and real, by the miraculous +stoppage of the diurnal motion of the earth for about half a +revolution, or whether only apparent, by aerial phosphori +imitating the sun and moon as stationary so long, while clouds +and the night hid the real ones, and this parhelion or mock sun +affording sufficient light for Joshua's pursuit and complete +victory, (which aerial phosphori in other shapes have been more +than ordinarily common of late years,) cannot now be determined: +philosophers and astronomers will naturally incline to this +latter hypothesis. In the mean thee, the fact itself was +mentioned in the book of Jasher, now lost, Joshua 10:13, and is +confirmed by Isaiah, 28:21, Habakkuk, 3:11, and by the son of +Sirach, Ecclus. 46:4. In the 18th Psalm of Solomon, yet it is +also said of the luminaries, with relation, no doubt, to this and +the other miraculous standing still and going back, in the days +of Joshua and Hezekiah, "They have not wandered, from the day +that he created them; they have not forsaken their way, from +ancient generations, unless it were when God enjoined them [so to +do] by the command of his servants." See Authent. Rec. part i. p. +154. + +(8) Of the books laid up in the temple, see the note on Antiq. B. +III. ch. 1. sect. 7. + +(9) Since not only Procopius and Suidas, but an earlier author, +Moses Chorenensis, p. 52, 53, and perhaps from his original +author Mariba Carina, one as old as Alexander the Great, sets +down the famous inscription at Tangier concerning the old +Canaanites driven out of Palestine by Joshua, take it here in +that author's own words: "We are those exiles that were governors +of the Canaanites, but have been driven away by Joshua the +robber, and are come to inhabit here." See the note there. Nor is +it unworthy of our notice what Moses Chorenensis adds, p. 53, and +this upon a diligent examination, viz. that "one of those eminent +men among the Canaanites came at the same thee into Armenia, and +founded the Genthuniaa family, or tribe; and that this was +confirmed by the manners of the same family or tribe, as being +like those of the Canaanites." + +(10) By prophesying, when spoken of a high priest, Josephus, both +here and frequently elsewhere, means no more than consulting God +by Urim, which the reader is still to bear in mind upon all +occasions. And if St. John, who was contemporary with Josephus, +and of the same country, made use of this style, when he says +that "Caiaphas being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus +should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but +that also he should gather together in one the children of God +that were scattered abroad," chap. 11;51, 52, he may possibly +mean, that this was revealed to the high priest by an +extraordinary voice from between the cherubims, when he had his +breastplate, or Urim and Thummim, on before; or the most holy +place of the temple, which was no other than the oracle of Urim +and Thummim. Of which above, in the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. +sect. 9. + +(11) This great number of seventy-two reguli, or small kings, +over whom Adonibezek had tyrannized, and for which he was +punished according to the lex talionis, as well as the thirty-one +kings of Canaan subdued by Joshua, and named in one chapter, +Joshua 12., and thirty-two kings, or royal auxiliaries to +Benhadad king of Syria, 1 Kings 20:1; Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 14. +sect. 1, intimate to us what was the ancient form of government +among several nations before the monarchies began, viz. that +every city or large town, with its neighboring villages, was a +distinct government by itself; which is the more remarkable, +because this was certainly the form of ecclesiastical government +that was settled by the apostles, and preserved throughout the +Christian church in the first ages of Christianity. Mr. Addison +is of opinion, that "it would certainly be for the good of +mankind to have all the mighty empires and monarchies of the +world cantoned out into petty states and principalities, which, +like so many large families, might lie under the observation of +their proper governors, so that the care of the prince might +extend itself to every individual person under his protection; +though he despairs of such a scheme being brought about, and +thinks that if it were, it would quickly be destroyed." Remarks +on Italy, 4to, p. 151. Nor is it unfit to be observed here, that +the Armenian records, though they give us the history of +thirty-nine of their ancientest heroes or governors after the +Flood, before the days of Sardanapalus, had no proper king till +the fortieth, Parerus. See Moses Chorehensis, p. 55. And that +Almighty God does not approve of such absolute and tyrannical +monarchies, any one may learn that reads Deuteronomy 17:14-20, +and 1 Samuel 8:1-22; although, if such kings are set up as own +him for their supreme King, and aim to govern according to his +laws, he hath admitted of them, and protected them and their +subjects in all generations. + +(12) Josephus's early date of this history before the beginning +of the Judges, or when there was no king in Israel, Judges 19;1, +is strongly confirmed by the large number of Benjamites, both in +the days of Asa and Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 14:8, and 16:17, +who yet were here reduced to six hundred men; nor can those +numbers be at all supposed genuine, if they were reduced so late +as the end of the Judges, where our other copies place this +reduction. + +(13) Josephus seems here to have made a small mistake, when he +took the Hebrew word Bethel, which denotes the house of God, or +the tabernacle, Judges 20:18, for the proper name of a place, +Bethel, it no way appearing that the tabernacle was ever at +Bethel; only so far it is true, that Shiloh, the place of the +tabernacle in the days of the Judges, was not far from Bethel. + +(14) It appears by the sacred history, Judges 1:16; 3:13, that +Eglon's pavilion or palace was at the City of Palm-Trees, as the +place where Jericho had stood is called after its destruction by +Joshua, that is, at or near the demolished city. Accordingly, +Josephus says it was at Jericho, or rather in that fine country +of palm-trees, upon, or near to, the same spot of ground on which +Jericho had formerly stood, and on which it was rebuilt by Hiel, +1 Kings 16:31. Our other copies that avoid its proper name +Jericho, and call it the City of Palm-Trees only, speak here more +accurately than Josephus. + +(15) These eighty years for the government of Ehud are necessary +to Josephus's usual large numbers between the exodus and the +building of the temple, of five hundred and ninety-two or six +hundred and twelve years, but not to the smallest number of four +hundred and eighty years, 1 Kings 6:1; which lesser number +Josephus seems sometimes to have followed. And since in the +beginning of the next chapter it is said by Josephus, that there +was hardly a breathing time for the Israelites before Jabin came +and enslaved them, it is highly probable that some of the copies +in his time had here only eight years instead of eighty; as had +that of Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolye. 1. iii., and this most +probably from his copy of Josephus. + +(16) Our present copies of Josephus all omit Tola among the +judges, though the other copies have him next after Abimelech, +and allot twenty-three years to his administration, Judges 10:1, +2; yet do all Josephus's commentators conclude, that in +Josephus's sum of the years of the judges, his twenty-three years +are included; hence we are to confess, that somewhat has been +here lost out of his copies. + +(17) Josephus justly condemns Jephtha, as do the Apostolical +Constitutions, B. VII. ch. 37., for his rash vow, whether it were +for sacrificing his daughter, as Josephus thought, or for +dedicating her, who was his only child, to perpetual virginity, +at the tabernacle or elsewhere, which I rather suppose. If he had +vowed her for a sacrifice, she ought to have been redeemed, +Leviticus 27:1-8; but of the sense of ver. 28, 29, as relating +not to things vowed to. God, but devoted to destruction, see the +note on Antiq. B. V. ch. 1. sect. 8. + +(18) I can discover no reason why Manoah and his wife came so +constantly into these suburbs to pray for children, but because +there was a synagogue or place of devotion in those suburbs. + +(19) Here, by a prophet, Josephus seems only to mean one that was +born by a particular providence, lived after the manner of a +Nazarite devoted to God, and was to have an extraordinary +commission and strength from God for the judging and avenging his +people Israel, without any proper prophetic revelations at all. + +(20) This fountain, called Lehi, or the Jaw-bone, is still in +being, as travelers assure us, and was known by this very name in +the days of Josephus, and has been known by the same name in all +those past ages. See Antiq. B. VII. ch. 12. sect. 4. + +(21) See this justly observed in the Apostolical Constitutions, +B. VII. ch. 37., that Samson's prayer was heard, but that it was +before this his transgression. + +(22) Although there had been a few occasional prophets before, +yet was this Samuel the first of a constant succession of +prophets in the Jewish nation, as is implied in St. Peter's +words, Acts 3:24 "Yea, and all the prophets, from Samuel, and +those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise +foretold of those days." See also Acts 13:20. The others were +rather sometime called righteous men, Matthew 10:41; 13:17. + + + + +BOOK 6 Footnotes + + +(1) Dagon, a famous maritime god or idol, is generally supposed +to have been like a man above the navel, and like a fish beneath +it. + +(2) Spanheim informs us here, that upon the coins of Tenedos, and +those of other cities, a field-mouse is engraven, together with +Apollo Smintheus, or Apollo, the driver away of field-mice, on +account of his being supposed to have freed certain tracts of +ground from those mice; which coins show how great a judgment +such mice have sometimes been, and how the deliverance from them +was then esteemed the effect of a divine power; which +observations are highly suitable to this history. + +(3) This device of the Philistines, of having a yoke of kine to +draw this cart, into which they put the ark of the Hebrews, is +greatly illustrated by Sanchoniatho's account, under his ninth +generation, that Agrouerus, or Agrotes, the husbandman, had a +much-worshipped statue and temple, carried about by one or more +yoke of oxen, or kine, in Phoenicia, in the neighborhood of these +Philistines. See Cumberland's Sanchoniatho, p. 27 and 247; and +Essay on the Old Testament, Append. p. 172. + +(4) These seventy men, being not so much as Levites, touched the +ark in a rash or profane manner, and were slain by the hand of +God for such their rashness and profaneness, according to the +Divine threatenings, Numbers 4:15, 20; but how other copies come +to add such an incredible number as fifty thousand in this one +town, or small city, I know not. See Dr. Wall's Critical Notes on +1 Samuel 6:19. + +(5) This is the first place, so far as I remember, in these +Antiquities, where Josephus begins to call his nation Jews, he +having hitherto usually, if not constantly, called them either +Hebrews or Israelites. The second place soon follows; see also +ch. 3. sect. 5. + +(6) Of this great mistake of Saul and his servant, as if true +prophet of God would accept of a gift or present, for foretelling +what was desired of him, see the note on B. IV. ch. 6. sect. 3. + +(7) It seems to me not improbable that these seventy guests of +Samuel, as here, with himself at the head of them, were a Jewish +sanhedrim, and that hereby Samuel intimated to Saul that these +seventy-one were to be his constant counselors, and that he was +to act not like a sole monarch, but with the advice and direction +of these seventy-one members of that Jewish sanhedrim upon all +occasions, which yet we never read that he consulted afterward. + +(8) An instance of this Divine fury we have after this in Saul, +ch. 5. sect. 2, 3; 1 Samuel 11:6. See the like, Judges 3:10; +6:34; 11:29; 13:25; and 14:6. + +(9) Take here Theodoret's note, cited by Dr. Hudson:-- "He that +exposes his shield to the enemy with his left hand, thereby hides +his left eye, and looks at the enemy with his right eye: he +therefore that plucks out that eye, makes men useless in war." + +(10) Mr. Reland observes here, and proves elsewhere in his note +on Antiq. B. III. ch. 1. sect. 6, that although thunder and +lightning with us usually happen in summer, yet in Palestine and +Syria they are chiefly confined to winter. Josephus takes notice +of the same thing again, War, B. IV. ch. 4. sect. 5. + +(11) Saul seems to have staid till near the time of the evening +sacrifice, on the seventh day, which Samuel the prophet of God +had appointed him, but not till the end of that day, as he ought +to have done; and Samuel appears, by delaying to come to the full +time of the evening sacrifice on that seventh day, to have tried +him (who seems to have been already for some time declining from +his strict and bounden subordination to God and his prophet; to +have taken life-guards for himself and his son, which was +entirely a new thing in Israel, and savored of a distrust of +God's providence; and to have affected more than he ought that +independent authority which the pagan kings took to themselves); +Samuel, I say, seems to have here tried Saul whether he would +stay till the priest came, who alone could lawfully offer the +sacrifices, nor would boldly and profanely usurp the priest's +office, which he venturing upon, was justly rejected for his +profaneness. See Apost. Constit. B. II. ch. 27. And, indeed, +since Saul had accepted kingly power, which naturally becomes +ungovernable and tyrannical, as God foretold, and the experience +of all ages has shown, the Divine settlement by Moses had soon +been laid aside under the kings, had not God, by keeping strictly +to his laws, and severely executing the threatenings therein +contained, restrained Saul and other kings in some degree of +obedience to himself; nor was even this severity sufficient to +restrain most of the future kings of Israel and Judah from the +grossest idolatry and impiety. Of the advantage of which +strictness, in the observing Divine laws, and inflicting their +threatened penalties, see Antiq. B. VI. ch. 12. sect. 7; and +Against Apion, B. II. sect. 30, where Josephus speaks of that +matter; though it must be noted that it seems, at least in three +instances, that good men did not always immediately approve of +such Divine severity. There seems to be one instance, 1 Samuel +6:19, 20; another, 1 Samuel 15:11; and a third, 2 Samuel 6:8, 9; +Antiq. B. VI. ch. 7. sect. 2; though they all at last acquiesced +in the Divine conduct, as knowing that God is wiser than men. + +(12) By this answer of Samuel, and that from a Divine commission, +which is fuller in l Samuel 13:14, and by that parallel note in +the Apostolical Constitutions just now quoted, concerning the +great wickedness of Saul in venturing, even under a seeming +necessity of affairs, to usurp the priest's office, and offer +sacrifice without the priest, we are in some degree able to +answer that question, which I have ever thought a very hard one, +viz. Whether, if there were a city or country of lay Christians +without any clergymen, it were lawful for the laity alone to +baptize, or celebrate the eucharist, etc., or indeed whether they +alone could ordain themselves either bishops, priests, or +deacons, for the due performance of such sacerdotal +ministrations; or whether they ought not rather, till they +procure clergymen to come among them, to confine themselves +within those bounds of piety and Christianity which belong alone +to the laity; such particularly as are recommended in the first +book of the Apostolical Constitutions, which peculiarly concern +the laity, and are intimated in Clement's undoubted epistle, +sect. 40. To which latter opinion I incline. + +(13) This rash vow or curse of Saul, which Josephus says was +confirmed by the people, and yet not executed, I suppose +principally because Jonathan did not know of it, is very +remarkable; it being of the essence of the obligation of all +laws, that they be sufficiently known and promulgated, otherwise +the conduct of Providence, as to the sacredness of solemn oaths +and vows, in God's refusing to answer by Urim till this breach of +Saul's vow or curse was understood and set right, and God +propitiated by public prayer, is here very remarkable, as indeed +it is every where else in the Old Testament. + +(14) Here we have still more indications of Saul's affectation of +despotic power, and of his entrenching upon the priesthood, and +making and endeavoring to execute a rash vow or curse, without +consulting Samuel or the sanhedrim. In this view it is also that +I look upon this erection of a new altar by Saul, and his +offering of burnt-offerings himself upon it, and not as any +proper instance of devotion or religion, with other commentators. + +(15) The reason of this severity is distinctly given, 1 Samuel +15:18, "Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites:" nor +indeed do we ever meet with these Amalekites but as very cruel +and bloody people, and particularly seeking to injure and utterly +to destroy the nation of Israel. See Exodus 17:8-16; Numbers +14:45; Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Judges 6:3, 6; 1 Samuel 15:33; +Psalms 83:7; and, above all, the most barbarous of all cruelties, +that of Haman the Agagite, or one of the posterity of Agag, the +old king of the Amalekites, Esther 3:1-15. + +(16) Spanheim takes notice here that the Greeks had such singers +of hymns; and that usually children or youths were picked out for +that service; as also, that those called singers to the harp, did +the same that David did here, i.e. join their own vocal and +instrumental music together. + +(17) Josephus says thrice in this chapter, and twice afterwards, +ch. 11. sect. 2, and B. VII. ch. 1. sect. 4, i.e. five times in +all, that Saul required not a bare hundred of the foreskins of +the Philistines, but six hundred of their heads. The Septuagint +have 100 foreskins, but the Syriac and Arabic 200. Now that these +were not foreskins, with our other copies, but heads, with +Josephus's copy, seems somewhat probable, from 1 Samuel 29:4, +where all copies say that it was with the heads of such +Philistines that David might reconcile himself to his master, +Saul. + +(18) Since the modern Jews have lost the signification of the +Hebrew word here used, cebr; and since the LXX., as well as +Josephus, reader it the liver of the goat, and since this +rendering, and Josephus's account, are here so much more clear +and probable than those of others, it is almost unaccountable +that our commentators should so much as hesitate about its true +interpretation. + +(19) These violent and wild agitations of Saul seem to me to have +been no other than demoniacal; and that the same demon which used +to seize him, since he was forsaken of God, and which the divine +hymns and psalms which were sung to the harp by David used to +expel, was now in a judicial way brought upon him, not only in +order to disappoint his intentions against innocent David, but to +expose him to the laughter and contempt of all that saw him, or +heard of those agitations; such violent and wild agitations being +never observed in true prophets, when they were under the +inspiration of the Spirit of God. Our other copies, which say the +Spirit of God came him, seem not so here copy, which mentions +nothing of God at all. Nor does Josephus seem to ascribe this +impulse and ecstasy of Saul to any other than to his old +demoniacal spirit, which on all accounts appears the most +probable. Nor does the former description of Saul's real +inspiration by the Divine Spirit, 1 Samuel 10:9-12; Antiq. B. VI. +ch. 4. sect. 2, which was before he was become wicked, well agree +with the descriptions before us. + +(20) What is meant by Saul's lying down naked all that day, and +all that night, 1 Samuel 19:4, and whether any more than laying +aside his royal apparel, or upper garments, as Josephus seems to +understand it, is by no means certain. See the note on Antiq. B. +VIII. ch. 14. sect. 2. + +(21) This city Nob was not a city allotted to the priests, nor +had the prophets, that we know of, any particular cities allotted +them. It seems the tabernacle was now at Nob, and probably a +school of the prophets was here also. It was full two days' +journey on foot from Jerusalem, 1 Samuel 21:5. The number of +priests here slain in Josephus is three hundred and eighty-five, +and but eighty-five in our Hebrew copies; yet are they three +hundred and five in the Septuagint. I prefer Josephus's number, +the Hebrew having, I suppose, only dropped the hundreds, the +other the tens. This city Nob seems to have been the chief, or +perhaps the only seat of the family of Ithamar, which here +perished, according to God's former terrible threatenings to Eli, +1 Samuel 2:27-36; 3:11-18. See ch. 14. sect. D, hereafter. + +(22) This section contains an admirable reflection of Josephus +concerning the general wickedness of men in great authority, and +the danger they are in of rejecting that regard to justice and +humanity, to Divine Providence and the fear of God, which they +either really had, or pretended to have, while they were in a +lower condition. It can never be too often perused by kings and +great men, nor by those who expect to obtain such elevated +dignities among mankind. See the like reflections of our +Josephus, Antiq. B. VII. ch. 1. sect. 5, at the end; and B. VIII. +ch. 10. sect. 2, at the beginning. They are to the like purport +with one branch of Agur's prayer: "One thing have I required of +thee, deny it me not before I die: Give me not riches, lest I be +full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord?" Proverbs 30:7-9. + +(23) The phrase in David's speech to Saul, as set down in +Josephus, that he had abstained from just revenge, puts me in +mind of the like words in the Apostolical Constitutions, B. VII. +ch. 2., "That revenge is not evil, but that patience is more +honorable." + +(24) The number of men that came first to David, are distinctly +in Josephus, and in our common copies, but four hundred. When he +was at Keilah still but four hundred, both in Josephus and in the +LXXX.; but six hundred in our Hebrew copies, 1 Samuel 23:3; see +30:9, 10. Now the six hundred there mentioned are here estimated +by Josephus to have been so many, only by an augmentation of two +hundred afterward, which I suppose is the true solution of this +seeming disagreement. + +(25) In this and the two next sections, we may perceive how +Josephus, nay, how Abigail herself, would understand, the "not +avenging ourselves, but heaping coals of fire on the head of the +injurious," Proverbs 25:22; Romans 12:20, not as we do now, of +them into but of leaving them to the judgment of God, "to whom +vengeance belongeth," Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalms 94:1; Hebrews +10:30, and who will take vengeance on the wicked. And since all +God's judgments are just, and all fit to be executed, and all at +length for the good of the persons punished, I incline to think +that to be the meaning of this phrase of "heaping coals of fire +on their heads." + +(26) We may note here, that how sacred soever an oath was +esteemed among the people of God in old times, they did not think +it obligatory where the action was plainly unlawful. For so we +see it was in this case of David, who, although he had sworn to +destroy Nabal and his family, yet does he here, and 1 Samuel +25:32-41, bless God for preventing his keeping his oath, and +shedding of blood, which he had swore to do. + +(27) This history of Saul's consultation, not with a witch, as we +render the Hebrew word here, but with a necromancer, as the whole +history shows, is easily understood, especially if we consult the +Recognitions of Clement, B. I. ch. 5. at large, and more briefly, +and nearer the days of Samuel Ecclus. 46:20, "Samuel prophesied +after his death, and showed the king his end, and lift up his +voice from the earth in prophecy," to blot out "the wickedness of +the people." Nor does the exactness of the accomplishment of this +prediction, the very next day, permit us to suppose any +imposition upon Saul in the present history; for as to all modern +hypotheses against the natural sense of such ancient and +authentic histories, I take them to be of very small value or +consideration. + +(28) These great commendations of this necromantic woman of +Endor, and of Saul's martial courage, when yet he knew he should +die in the battle, are somewhat unusual digressions in Josephus. +They seem to me extracted from some speeches or declamations of +his composed formerly, in the way of oratory, that lay by him, +and which he thought fit to insert upon this occasion. See before +on Antiq. B. I. ch. 6 sect. 8. + +(29) This way of speaking in Josephus, of fasting "seven days +without meat or drink," is almost like that of St. Paul, Acts +27:33, "This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried, and +continued fasting, having taken nothing:" and as the nature of +the thing, and the impossibility of strictly fasting so long, +require us here to understand both Josephus and the sacred author +of this history, 1 Samuel 30:13, from whom he took it, of only +fasting fill the evening; so must we understand St. Paul, either +that this was really the fourteenth day that they had taken +nothing till the evening, or else that this was the fourteenth +day of their tempestuous weather in the Adriatic Sea, as ver. 27, +and that on this fourteenth day alone they had continued fasting, +and had taken nothing before that evening. The mention of their +long abstinence, ver. 21, inclines me to believe the former +explication to be the truth, and that the case was then for a +fortnight what it was here for a week, that they kept all those +days entirely as lasts till the evening, but not longer. See +Judges 20:26; 21:2; 1 Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 1:12; Antiq. B. VII. +ch. 7. sect. 4. + + + + +BOOK 7 Footnotes + + +(1) It ought to be here noted, that Joab, Abishai, and Asahel +were all three David's nephews, the sons of his sister Zeraiah, +as 1 Chronicles 2:16; and that Amasa was also his nephew by his +other sister Abigail, ver. 17. + +(2) This may be a true observation of Josephus's, that Samuel by +command from God entailed the crown on David and his posteerity; +for no further did that entail ever reach, Solomon himself having +never had any promise made him that his posterity should always +have the right to it. + +(3) These words of Josephus concerning the tribe of Issachar, who +foreknew what was to come hereafter," are best paraphrased by the +parallel text. 1 Chronicles 12:32, "Who had understanding of the +times to know what Israel ought to do;" that is, who had so much +knowledge in astronomy as to make calendars for the Israelites, +that they might keep their festivals, and plough and sow, and +gather in their harvests and vintage, in due season. + +(4) What our other copies say of Mount Sion, as alone properly +called the city of David, 2 Samuel 5:6-9, and of this its siege +and conquest now by David, Josephus applies to the whole city +Jerusalem, though including the citadel also; by what authority +we do not now know perhaps, after David had united them together, +or joined the citadel to the lower city, as sect. 2, Josephus +esteemed them as one city. However, this notion seems to be +confirmed by what the same Josephus says concerning David's and +many other kings of Judah's sepulchers, which as the authors of +the books of Kings and Chronicles say were in the city of David, +so does Josephus still say they were in Jerusalem. The sepulcher +of David seems to have been also a known place in the several +days of Hyrcanus, of Herod, and of St. Peter, Antiq. B. XIII. ch. +8. sect. 4 B. XVI. ch. 8. sect. 1; Acts 2:29. Now no such royal +sepulchers have been found about Mount Sion, but are found close +by the north wall of Jerusalem, which I suspect, therefore, to be +these very sepulchers. See the note on ch. 15. sect. 3. In the +meantime, Josephus's explication of the lame, and the blind, and +the maimed, as set to keep this city or citadel, seems to be the +truth, and gives the best light to that history in our Bible. Mr. +Ottius truly observes, (up. Hayercamp, p. 305,) that Josephus +never mentions Mount Sion by that name, as taking it for an +appellative, as I suppose, and not for a proper name; he still +either styles it The Citadel, or The Upper City; nor do I see any +reason for Mr. Ottius's evil suspicions about this procedure of +Josephus. + +(5) Some copies of Josephus have here Solyma, or Salem; and +others Hierosolyma, or Jerusalem. The latter best agree to what +Josephus says elsewhere, (Of the War, B. VI. ch. 10.,) that this +city was called Solyma, or Salem, before the days of Melchisedec, +but was by him called Hierosolyma, or Jerusalem. I rather suppose +it to have been so called after Abraham had received that oracle +Jehovah Jireh, "The Lord will see, or provide," Genesis 22;14. +The latter word, Jireh, with a little alteration, prefixed to the +old name Salem, Peace, will be Jerusalem; and since that +expression, "God will see," or rather, "God will provide himself +a lamb for a burnt-offering," ver. 8, 14, is there said to have +been proverbial till the days of Moses, this seems to me the most +probable derivation of that name, which will then denote that God +would provide peace by that "Lamb of God which was to take away +the sins of the world." However, that which is put into brackets +can hardly be supposed the genuine words of Josephus, as Dr. +Hudson well judges. + +(6) It deserves here to be remarked, that Saul very rarely, and +David very frequently, consulted God by Urim; and that David +aimed always to depend, not on his own prudence or abilities but +on the Divine direction, contrary to Saul's practice. See sect. +2, and the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9; and when Saul's +daughter, (but David's wife,) Michal, laughed at David's dancing +before the ark, 2 Samuel 6:16, &c., and here, sect. l, 2, 3, it +is probable she did so, because her father Saul did not use to +pay such a regard to the ark, to the Urim there inquired by, or +to God's worship before it, and because she thought it beneath +the dignity of a king to be so religious. + +(7) Josephus seems to be partly in the right, when he observes +here that Uzzah was no priest, (though perhaps he might be a +Levite,) and was therefore struck dead for touching the ark, +contrary to the law, and for which profane rashness death was the +penalty by that law, Numbers 4:15, 20. See the like before, +Antiq. B. VI. ch. 1. sect. 4. It is not improbable that the +putting this ark in a cart, when it ought to have been carried by +the priests or Levites, as it was presently here in Josephus so +carried from Obededom's house to David's, might be also an +occasion of the anger of God on that breach of his law. See +Numbers 4:15; 1 Chronicles 15:13. + +(8) Josephus here informs us, that, according to his +understanding of the sense of his copy of the Pentateuch, Moses +had himself foretold the building of the temple, which yet is no +where, that I know of, in our present copies. And that this is +not a mistake set down by him unwarily, appears by what he +observed before, on Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 46, how Moses +foretold that, upon the Jews' future disobedience, their temple +should be burnt and rebuilt, and that not once only, but several +times afterward. See also Josephus's mention of God's former +commands to build such a temple presently, ch. 14. sect. 2, +contrary to our other copies, or at least to our translation of +the Hebrew, 2 Samuel 7:6, 7; 1 Chronicles 17:5, 6. + +(9) Josephus seems, in this place, with our modern interpreters +to confound the two distinct predictions which God made to David +and to Nathan, concerning the building him a temple by one of +David's posterity; the one belongeth to Solomon, the other to the +Messiah; the distinction between which is of the greatest +consequence to the Christian religion. + +(10) Whether Syria Zobah, 2 Samuel 3:8; 1 Chronicles 18:3-8, be +Sophene, as Josephus here supposes; which yet Ptolemy places +beyond Euphrates, as Dr. Hudson observes here, whereas Zobah was +on this side; or whether Josephus was not here guilty of a +mistake in his geography; I cannot certainly determine. + +(11) David's reserving only one hundred chariots for himself out +of one thousand he had taken from Hadadezer, was most probably in +compliance with the law of Moses, which forbade a king of Israel +"to multiply horses to himself," Deuteronomy 17:16; one of the +principal uses of horses in Judea at that time being for drawing +their chariots. See Joshua 12:6; and Antiq. B. V. ch. 1. sect. +18. It deserves here to be remarked, that this Hadad, being a +very great king, was conquered by David, whose posterity yet for +several generations were called Benhadad, or the son of Hadad, +till the days of Hazael, whose son Adar or Ader is also in our +Hebrew copy (2 Kings 13:24) written Benhadad, but in Josephus +Adad or Adar. And strange it is, that the son of Hazael, said to +be such in the same text, and in Josephus, Antiq. B. IX. ch. 8. +sect. 7, should still be called the son of Hadad. I would, +therefore, here correct our Hebrew copy from Josephus's, which +seems to have the true reading, nor does the testimony of +Nicolaus of Damascus, produced in this place by Josephus, seem to +be faultless, when it says that he was the third of the Hadads, +or second of the Benhadads, who besieged Samaria in the days of +Ahab. He must rather have been the seventh or eighth, if there +were ten in all of that name, as we are assured there were. For +this testimony makes all the Hadads or Benhadads of the same +line, and to have immediately succeeded one another; whereas +Hazael was not of that line, nor is he called Hadad or Benhadad +in any copy. And note, that from this Hadad, in the days of +David, to the beginning of Hazael, were near two hundred years, +according to the exactest chronology of Josephus. + +(12) By this great victory over the Idameans or Edomites, the +posterity of Esau, and by the consequent tribute paid by that +nation to the Jews, were the prophecies delivered to Rebecca +before Jacob and Esau were born, and by old Isaac before his +death, that the elder, Esau, (or the Edomites,) should serve and +the younger, Jacob, (or the Israelites,) and Jacob (or the +Israelites) should be Esau's (or the Edomites') lord, remarkably +fulfilled. See Antiq. B. VIII. ch 7. sect. 6; Genesis 25;9,3; and +the notes on Antiq. B. I. ch. 18. sect. 5, 6. + +(13) That a talent of gold was about seven pounds weight, see the +description of the temple ch. 13. Nor could Josephus well +estimate it higher, since he here says that David wore it on his +head perpetually. + +(14) Whether Josephus saw the words of our copies, 2 Samuel +12:31, and 1 Chronicles 20:3, that David put the inhabitants, or +at least the garrison of Rabbah, and of the other Ammonite +cities, which he besieged and took, under, or cut them with saws, +and under, or with harrows of iron, and under, or with axes of +iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln, is not here +directly expressed. If he saw them, as is most probable he did, +he certainly expounded them of tormenting these Ammonites to +death, who were none of those seven nations of Canaan whose +wickedness had rendered them incapable of mercy; otherwise I +should be inclinable to think that the meaning, at least as the +words are in Samuel, might only be this: That they were made the +lowest slaves, to work in sawing of timber or stone, in harrowing +the fields, in hewing timber, in making and burning bricks, and +the like hard services, but without taking away their lives. We +never elsewhere, that I remember, meet with such methods of +cruelty in putting men to death in all the Bible, or in any other +ancient history whatsoever; nor do the words in Samuel seem +naturally to refer to any such thing. + +(15) Of this weight of Absalom's hair, how in twenty or thirty +years it might well amount to two hundred shekels, or to somewhat +above six pounds avoirdupois, see the Literal Accomplishment of +Prophecies, p. 77, 78. But a late very judicious author thinks +that the LXXX. meant not its weight, but its value, Was twenty +shekels. - Dr. Wall's Critical Notes on the Old Testament, upon 2 +Samuel 14:26. It does not appear what was Josephus's opinion: he +sets the text down honestly as he found it in his copies, only he +thought that "at the end of days," when Absalom polled or weighed +his hair, was once a week. + +(16) This is one of the best corrections that Josephus's copy +affords us of a text that in our ordinary copies is grossly +corrupted. They say that this rebellion of Absalom was forty +years after what went before, (of his reconciliation to his +father,) whereas the series of the history shows it could not be +more than four years after it, as here in Josephus; whose number +is directly confirmed by that copy of the Septuagint version +whence the Armenian translation was made, which gives us the +small number of four years. + +(17) This reflection of Josephus's, that God brought to nought +the dangerous counsel of Ahithophel, and directly infatuated +wicked Absalom to reject it, (which infatuation is what the +Scripture styles the judicial hardening the hearts and blinding +the eyes of men, who, by their former voluntary wickedness, have +justly deserved to be destroyed, and are thereby brought to +destruction,) is a very just one, and in him not unfrequent. Nor +does Josephus ever puzzle himself, or perplex his readers, with +subtle hypotheses as to the manner of such judicial infatuations +by God, while the justice of them is generally so obvious. That +peculiar manner of the Divine operations, or permissions, or the +means God makes use of in such cases, is often impenetrable by +us. "Secret things belong to the Lord our God; but those things +that are revealed belong to us, and to our children for ever, +that we may do all the words of this law," Deuteronomy 29:29. Nor +have all the subtleties of the moderns, as far as I see, given +any considerable light in this, and many other the like points of +difficulty relating either to Divine or human operations.--See +the notes on Antiq. B. V ch. 1. sect. 2; and Antiq. B. IX. ch. 4. +sect. 3. + +(18) Those that take a view of my description of the gates of the +temple, will not be surprised at this account of David's throne, +both here and 2 Samuel 18:21, that it was between two gates or +portals. Gates being in cities, as well as at the temple, large +open places, with a portal at the entrance, and another at the +exit, between which judicial causes were heard, and public +consultations taken, as is well known from several places of +Scripture, 2 Chronicles 31:2; Psalm 9:14; 137:5; Proverbs 1:21; +8:3, 31; 31:23, and often elsewhere. + +(19) Since David was now in Mahanairn, and in the open place of +that city gate, which seems still to have been built the highest +of any part of the wall, and since our other copies say he went +up to the chamber over the gate, 2 Samuel 18:33, I think we ought +to correct our present reading in Josephus, and for city, should +read gate, i.e. instead of the highest part of the city, should +say the highest part of the gate. Accordingly we find David +presently, in Josephus, as well as in our other copies, 2 Samuel +19:8, sitting as before, in the gate of the city. + +(20) By David's disposal of half Mephibosheth's estate to Ziba, +one would imagine that he was a good deal dissatisfied, and +doubtful whether Mephibosheth's story were entirely true or not; +nor does David now invite him to diet with him, as he did before, +but only forgives him, if he had been at all guilty. Nor is this +odd way of mourning that Mephibosheth made use of here, and 2 +Samuel 19:24, wholly free from suspicion by hypocrisy. If Ziba +neglected or refused to bring Mephibosheh an ass of his own, on +which he might ride to David, it is half to suppose that so great +a man as he was should not be able to procure some other beast +for the same purpose. + +(21) I clearly prefer Josephus's reading here, when it supposes +eleven tribes, including Benjamin, to be on the one side, and the +tribe of Judah alone on the other, since Benjamin, in general, +had been still father of the house of Saul, and less firm to +David hitherto, than any of the rest, and so cannot be supposed +to be joined with Judah at this time, to make it double, +especially when the following rebellion was headed by a +Benjamite. See sect. 6, and 2 Samuel 20:2, 4. + +(22) This section is a very remarkable one, and shows that, in +the opinion of Josephus, David composed the Book of Psalms, not +at several times before, as their present inscriptions frequently +imply, but generally at the latter end of his life, or after his +wars were over. Nor does Josephus, nor the authors of the known +books of the Old and New Testament, nor the Apostolical +Constitutions, seem to have ascribed any of them to any other +author than to David himself. See Essay on the Old Testament, +pages 174, 175. Of these metres of the Psalms, see the note on +Antiq. B. II. ch. 16. sect. 4. + +(23) The words of God by Moses, Exodus 30:12, sufficiently +satisfy the reason here given by Josephus for the great plague +mentioned in this chapter:-- "When thou takest the sum of the +children of Israel after their number, then shall they give a +ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that +there be no plague amongst them, when numberest them." Nor indeed +could David's or the neglect of executing this law at this +numeration of half a shekel apiece with them, when they came +numbered. The great reason why nations are so committed by and +with their wicked kings and governors that they almost constantly +comply with them in their of or disobedience to the Divine laws, +and suffer Divine laws to go into disuse or contempt, in order to +kings and governors; and that they sub-political laws and +commands of those governors, instead of the righteous laws of +God, which all mankind ought ever to obey, let their kings and +governors say what they please to the contrary; this preference +of human before Divine laws seeming to me the principal character +of idolatrous or antichristian nations. Accordingly, Josephus +well observes, Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 17, that it was the +duty of the people of Israel to take care that their kings, when +they should have them, did not exceed their proper limits of +power, and prove ungovernable by the laws of God, which would +certainly be a most pernicious thing to their Divine settlement. +Nor do I think that negligence peculiar to the Jews: those +nations which are called Christians, are sometimes indeed very +solicitous to restrain their kings and governors from breaking +the human laws of their several kingdoms, but without the like +care for restraining them from breaking the laws of God. "Whether +it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto men more than to +God, judge ye," Acts 4:19. "We ought to obey God rather than +men," ver. 29. + +(24) What Josephus adds here is very remarkable, that this Mount +Moriah was not only the very place where Abraham offered up Isaac +long ago, but that God had foretold to David by a prophet, that +here his son should build him a temple, which is not directly in +any of our other copies, though very agreeable to what is in +them, particularly in 1 Chronicles 21:25, 28; 22:1, to which +places I refer the reader. + +(25) Of the quantity of gold and silver expended in the building +of Solomon's temple, and whence it arose, see the description of +ch. 13. + +(26) David is here greatly blamed by some for recommending Joab +and Shimei to be punished by Solomon, if he could find a proper +occasion, after he had borne with the first a long while, and +seemed to have pardoned the other entirely, which Solomon +executed accordingly; yet I cannot discern any fault either in +David or Solomon in these cases. Joab's murder of Abner and Amasa +were very barbarous, and could not properly be forgiven either by +David or Solomon; for a dispensing power in kings for the crime +of willful murder is warranted by no law of God, nay, is directly +against it every where; nor is it, for certain, in the power of +men to grant such a prerogative to any of their kings; though +Joab was so nearly related to David, and so potent in the army +under a warlike administration, that David durst not himself put +him to death, 2 Samuel 3:39; 19:7. Shimei's cursing the Lord's +anointed, and this without any just cause, was the highest act of +treason against God and his anointed king, and justly deserved +death; and though David could forgive treason against himself, +yet had he done no more in the case of Shimei than promised him +that he would not then, on the day of his return and +reinauguration, or upon that occasion, himself put him to death, +2 Samuel 19:22; and he swore to him no further, ver. 23, as the +words are in Josephus, than that he would not then put him to +death, which he performed; nor was Solomon under any obligation +to spare such a traitor. + + + + +BOOK 8 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) This execution upon Joab, as a murderer, by slaying him, even +when he had taken sanctuary at God's altar, is perfectly +agreeable to the law of Moses, which enjoins, that "if a man come +presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, thou +shalt take him from mine altar that he die," Exodus 21:14. + +(2) This building of the walls of Jerusalem, soon after David's +death, illustrates the conclusion of the 51st Psalm, where David +prays, "Build thou the walls of Jerusalem;" they being, it seems, +unfinished or imperfect at that time. See ch. 6. sect. 1; and ch. +1. sect. 7; also 1 Kings 9:15. + +(3) It may not be amiss to compare the daily furniture of king +Solomon's table, here set down, and 1 Kings 4;22, 23, with the +like daily furniture of Nehemiah the governor's table, after the +Jews were come back from Babylon; and to remember withal, that +Nehemiah was now building the walls of Jerusalem, and maintained, +more than usual, above a hundred and fifty considerable men every +day, and that, because the nation was then very poor, at his own +charges also, without laying any burden upon the people at all. +"Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six +choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten +days store of all sorts of wine; and yet for all this required +not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon +this people," Nehemiah 5:18: see the whole context, ver. 14-19. +Nor did the governor's usual allowance of forty shekels of silver +a-day, ver. 15, amount to 45 a day, nor to 1800 a-year. Nor does +it indeed appear that, under the judges, or under Samuel the +prophet, there was any such public allowance to those governors +at all. Those great charges upon the public for maintaining +courts came in with kings, as God foretold they would, 1 Samuel +8:11-18. + +(4) Some pretended fragments of these books of conjuration of +Solomon are still extant in Fabricius's Cod. Pseudepigr. Vet. +Test. page 1054, though I entirely differ from Josephus in this +his supposal, that such books and arts of Solomon were parts of +that wisdom which was imparted to him by God in his younger days; +they must rather have belonged to such profane but curious arts +as we find mentioned Acts 19:13-20, and had been derived from the +idolatry and superstition of his heathen wives and concubines in +his old age, when he had forsaken God, and God had forsaken him, +and given him up to demoniacal delusions. Nor does Josephus's +strange account of the root Baara (Of the War, B. VIII. ch. 6. +sect. 3) seem to be other than that of its magical use in such +conjurations. As for the following history, it confirms what +Christ says, Matthew 12;27 "If I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by +whom do your Sons cast them out?" + +(5) These epistles of Solomon and Hiram are those in 1 Kings +5:3-9, and, as enlarged, in 2 Chronicles 2:3-16, but here given +us by Josephus in his own words. + +(6) What Josephus here puts into his copy of Hiram's epistle to +Solomon, and repeats afterwards, ch. 5. sect. 3, that Tyre was +now an island, is not in any of the three other copies, viz. that +of the Kings, Chronicles, or Eusebius; nor is it any other, I +suppose, than his own conjectural paraphrase; for when I, many +years ago, inquired into this matter, I found the state of this +famous city, and of the island whereupon it stood, to have been +very different at different times. The result of my inquiries in +this matter, with the addition of some later improvements, stands +thus: That the best testimonies hereto relating, imply, that +Paketyrus, or Oldest Tyre, was no other than that most ancient +smaller fort or city Tyre, situated on the continent, and +mentioned in Joshua 19:29, out of which the Canaanite or +Phoenician inhabitants were driven into a large island, that lay +not far off in the sea, by Joshua: that this island was then +joined to the continent at the present remains of Paketyrus, by a +neck of land over against Solomon's cisterns, still so called; +and the city's fresh water, probably, was carried along in pipes +by that neck of land; and that this island was therefore, in +strictness, no other than a peninsula, having villages in its +fields, Ezekiel 26:6, and a wall about it, Amos 1:10, and the +city was not of so great reputation as Sitlon for some ages: that +it was attacked both by sea and land by Salmanasser, as Josephus +informs us, Antiq. B. IX. ch. 14. sect. 2, and afterwards came to +be the metropolis of Phoenicia; and was afterwards taken and +destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, according to the numerous Scripture +prophecies thereto relating, Isaiah 23.; Jeremiah 25:22; 27:3; +47:4; Ezekiel 26., 27., 28.: that seventy years after that +destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, this city was in some measure +revived and rebuilt, Isaiah 23:17, 18, but that, as the prophet +Ezekiel had foretold, chap. 26:3-5, 14; 27: 34, the sea arose +higher than before, till at last it over flowed, not only the +neck of land, but the main island or peninsula itself, and +destroyed that old and famous city for ever: that, however, there +still remained an adjoining smaller island, once connected to Old +Tyre itself by Hiram, which was afterwards inhabited; to which +Alexander the Great, with incredible pains, raised a new bank or +causeway: and that it plainly appears from Ifaundreh, a most +authentic eye-witness, that the old large and famous city, on the +original large island, is now laid so generally under water, that +scarce more than forty acres of it, or rather of that adjoining +small island remain at this day; so that, perhaps, not above a +hundredth part of the first island and city is now above water. +This was foretold in the same prophecies of Ezekiel; and +according to them, as Mr. Maundrell distinctly observes, these +poor remains of Old Tyre are now "become like the top of a rock, +a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea." + +(7) Of the temple of Solomon here described by Josephus, in this +and the following sections of this chapter, see my description of +the temples belonging to this work, ch. 13, These small rooms, or +side chambers, seem to have been, by Josephus's description, no +less than twenty cubits high a piece, otherwise there must have +been a large interval between one and the other that was over it; +and this with double floors, the one of six cubits distance from +the floor beneath it, as 1 Kings 6:5 + +(8) Josephus says here that the cherubims were of solid gold, and +only five cubits high, while our Hebrew copies (1 Kings 6;23, 28) +say they were of the olive tree, and the LXXX. of the cypress +tree, and only overlaid with gold; and both agree they were ten +cubits high. I suppose the number here is falsely transcribed, +and that Josephus wrote ten cubits also. + +(9) As for these two famous pillars, Jachin and Booz, their +height could be no more than eighteen cubits, as here, and 1 +Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; Jeremiah 3:21; those thirty-five +cubits in 2 Chronicles 3:15, being contrary to all the rules of +architecture in the world. + +(10) The round or cylindrical lavers of four cubits in diameter, +and four in height, both in our copies, 1 Kings 7:38, 39, and +here in Josephus, must have contained a great deal more than +these forty baths, which are always assigned them. Where the +error lies is hard to say: perhaps Josephus honestly followed his +copies here, though they had been corrupted, and he was not able +to restore the true reading. In the mean time, the forty baths +are probably the true quantity contained in each laver, since +they went upon wheels, and were to be drawn by the Levites about +the courts of the priests for the washings they were designed +for; and had they held much more, they would have been too heavy +to have been so drawn. + +(11) Here Josephus gives us a key to his own language, of right +and left hand in the tabernacle and temple; that by the right +hand he means what is against our left, when we suppose ourselves +going up from the east gate of the courts towards the tabernacle +or temple themselves, and so vice versa; whence it follows, that +the pillar Jachin, on the right hand of the temple was on the +south, against our left hand; and Booz on the north, against our +right hand. Of the golden plate on the high priest's forehead +that was in being in the days of Josephus, and a century or two +at least later, seethe note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 7. sect. 6. + +(12) When Josephus here says that the floor of the outmost temple +or court of the Gentiles was with vast labor raised to be even, +or of equal height, with the floor of the inner, or court of the +priests, he must mean this in a gross estimation only; for he and +all others agree, that the inner temple, or court of the priests, +was a few cubits more elevated than the middle court, the court +of Israel, and that much more was the court of the priests +elevated several cubits above that outmost court, since the court +of Israel was lower than the one and higher than the other. The +Septuagint say that "they prepared timber and stones to build the +temple for three years," 1 Kings 5:18; and although neither our +present Hebrew copy, nor Josephus, directly name that number of +years, yet do they both say the building itself did not begin +till Solomon's fourth year; and both speak of the preparation of +materials beforehand, 1 Kings v. 18; Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 5. sect. +1. There is no reason, therefore, to alter the Septuagint's +number; but we are to suppose three years to have been the just +time of the preparation, as I have done in my computation of the +expense in building that temple. + +(13) This solemn removal of the ark from Mount Sion to Mount +Moriah, at the distance of almost three quarters of a mile, +confutes that notion of the modern Jews, and followed by many +Christians also, as if those two were after a sort one and the +same mountain, for which there is, I think, very little +foundation. + +(14) This mention of the Corinthian ornaments of architecture in +Solomon's palace by Josephus seems to be here set down by way of +prophecy although it appears to me that the Grecian and Roman +most ancient orders of architecture were taken from Solomon's +temple, as from their original patterns, yet it is not so clear +that the last and most ornamental order of the Corinthian was so +ancient, although what the same Josephus says, (Of the War, B. V. +ch. 5. sect. 3,) that one of the gates of Herod's temple was +built according to the rules of this Corinthian order, is no way +improbable, that order being, without dispute, much older than +the reign of Herod. However, upon some trial, I confess I have +not hitherto been able fully to understand the structure of this +palace of Solomon, either as described in our Bibles, or even +with the additional help of this description here by Josephus; +only the reader may easily observe with me, that the measures of +this first building in Josephus, a hundred cubits long, and fifty +cubits broad, are the very same with the area of the cart of the +tabernacle of Moses, and just hall' an Egyptian orout, or acre. + +(15) This signification of the name Pharaoh appears to be true. +But what Josephus adds presently, that no king of Egypt was +called Pharaoh after Solomon's father-in-law, does hardly agree +to our copies, which have long afterwards the names of Pharaoh +Neehob, and Pharaoh Hophrah, 2 Kings 23:29; Jeremiah 44:30, +besides the frequent mention of that name Pharaoh in the +prophets. However, Josephus himself, in his own speech to the +Jews, Of the War, B. V. ch. 9. sect. 4, speaks of Neehao, who was +also called Pharaoh, as the name of that king of Egypt with whom +Abraham was concerned; of which name Neehao yet we have elsewhere +no mention till the days of Josiah, but only of Pharaoh. And, +indeed, it must be conceded, that here, and sect. 5, we have more +mistakes made by Josephus, and those relating to the kings of +Egypt, and to that queen of Egypt and Ethiopia, whom he supposes +to have come to see Solomon, than almost any where else in all +his Antiquities. + +(16) That this queen of Sheba was a queen of Sabea in South +Arabia, and not of Egypt and Ethiopia, as Josephus here asserts, +is, I suppose, now generally agreed. And since Sabea is well +known to be a country near the sea in the south of Arabia Felix, +which lay south from Judea also; and since our Savior calls this +queen, "the queen of the south," and says, "she came from the +utmost parts of the earth," Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31, which +descriptions agree better to this Arabia than to Egypt and +Ethiopia; there is little occasion for doubting in this matter. + +(17) Some blame Josephus for supposing that the balsam tree might +be first brought out of Arabia, or Egypt, or Ethiopia, into +Judea, by this queen of Sheba, since several have said that of +old no country bore this precious balsam but Judea; yet it is not +only false that this balsam was peculiar to Judea but both Egypt +and Arabia, and particularly Sabea; had it; which last was that +very country whence Josephus, if understood not of Ethiopia, but +of Arabia, intimates this queen might bring it first into Judea. +Nor are we to suppose that the queen of Sabaea could well omit +such a present as this balsam tree would be esteemed by Solomon, +in case it were then almost peculiar to her own country. Nor is +the mention of balm or balsam, as carried by merchants, and sent +as a present out of Judea by Jacob, to the governor of Egypt, +Genesis 37:25; 43:11, to be alleged to the contrary, since what +we there render balm or balsam, denotes rather that turpentine +which we now call turpentine of Chio, or Cyprus, the juice of the +turpentine tree, than this precious balm. This last is also the +same word that we elsewhere render by the same mistake balm of +Gilead; it should be rendered, the turpentine of Gilead, Jeremiah +8:22. + +(18) Whether these fine gardens and rivulets of Etham, about six +miles from Jerusalem, whither Solomon rode so often in state, be +not those alluded to, Ecclesiastes 2:5, 6, where he says, "He +made him gardens and orchards, and planted trees in them of all +kinds of fruits: he made him pools of water, to water the wood +that bringeth forth trees;" and to the finest part whereof he +seems to allude, when, in the Canticles, he compares his spouse +to a garden "enclosed," to a "spring shut up," to a "fountain +sealed," ch. 4. 12 (part of which from rains are still extant, as +Mr. Matmdrell informs us, page 87, 88); cannot now be certainly +determined, but may very probably be conjectured. But whether +this Etham has any relation to those rivers of Etham, which +Providence once dried up in a miraculous manner, Psalm 74:15, in +the Septuagint, I cannot say. + +(19) These seven hundred wives, or the daughters of great men, +and the three hundred concubines, the daughters of the ignoble, +make one thousand in all; and are, I suppose, those very one +thousand women intimated elsewhere by Solomon himself, when he +speaks of his not having found one [good] woman among that very +number, Ecclesiastes 7:28. + +(20) Josephus is here certainly too severe upon Solomon, who, in +making the cherubims, and these twelve brazen oxen, seems to have +done no more than imitate the patterns left him by David, which +were all given David by Divine inspiration. See my description of +the temples, ch. 10. And although God gave no direction for the +lions that adorned his throne, yet does not Solomon seem therein +to have broken any law of Moses; for although the Pharisees and +latter Rabbins have extended the second commandment, to forbid +the very making of any image, though without any intention to +have it worshipped, yet do not I suppose that Solomon so +understood it, nor that it ought to be so understood. The making +any other altar for worship but that at the tabernacle was +equally forbidden by Moses, Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 5; yet did +not the two tribes and a half offend when they made an altar for +a memorial only, Joshua 22; Antiq. B. V. ch. 1. sect. 26, 27. + +(21) Since the beginning of Solomon's evil life and adversity was +the time when Hadad or Ader, who was born at least twenty or +thirty years before Solomon came to the crown, in the days of +David, began to give him disturbance, this implies that Solomon's +evil life began early, and continued very long, which the +multitude of his wives and concubines does imply also; I suppose +when he was not fifty years of age. + +(22) This youth of Jeroboam, when Solomon built the walls of +righteous and keep the laws, because he hath proposed to thee the +greatest of all rewards for thy piety, and the honor thou shalt +pay to God, namely, to be as greatly exalted as thou knowest +David to have been." Jerusalem, not very long after he had +finished his twenty years building of the temple and his own +palace, or not very long after the twenty-fourth of his reign, 1 +Kings 9:24; 2 Chronicles 8:11, and his youth here still +mentioned, when Solomon's wickedness was become intolerable, +fully confirm my former observation, that such his wickedness +began early, and continued very long. See Ecclus. 47:14. + +(23) That by scorpions is not here meant that small animal so +called, which was never used in corrections, but either a shrub, +furze bush, or else some terrible sort of whip of the like nature +see Hudson's and Spanheim's notes here. + +(24) Whether these "fountains of the Lesser Jordan" were near a +place called Dan, and the fountains of the Greater near a place +called Jor, before their conjunction; or whether there was only +one fountain, arising at the lake Phiala, at first sinking under +ground, and then arising near the mountain Paneum, and thence +running through the lake Scmochonitis to the Sea of Galilee, and +so far called the Lesser Jordan; is hardly certain, even in +Josephus himself, though the latter account be the most probable. +However, the northern idolatrous calf, set up by Jeroboam, was +where Little Jordan fell into Great Jordan, near a place called +Daphnae, as Josephus elsewhere informs us, Of the War, B. IV. ch. +1. sect. 1: see the note there. + +(25) How much a larger and better copy Josephus had in this +remarkable history of the true prophet of Judea, and his concern +with Jeroboam, and with the false prophet of Bethel, than our +other copies have, is evident at first sight. The prophet's very +name, Jadon, or, as the Constitutions call him, Adonias, is +wanting in our other copies; and it is there, with no little +absurdity, said that God revealed Jadon the true prophet's death, +not to himself as here, but to the false prophet. Whether the +particular account of the arguments made use of, after all, by +the false prophet against his own belief and his own conscience, +in order to persuade Jeroboam to persevere in his idolatry and +wickedness, than which more plausible could not be invented, was +intimated in Josephus's copy, or in some other ancient book, +cannot now be determined; our other copies say not one word of +it. + +(26) That this Shishak was not the same person with the famous +Sesostris, as some have very lately, in contradiction to all +antiquity, supposed, and that our Josephus did not take him to be +the same, as they pretend, but that Sesostris was many centuries +earlier than Shishak, see Authent. Records, part II. page 1024. + +(27) Herodotus, as here quoted by Josephus, and as this passage +still stands in his present copies, B. II. ch. 14., affirms, that +"the Phoenicians and Syrians in Palestine [which last are +generally supposed to denote the Jews] owned their receiving +circumcision from the Egyptians;" whereas it is abnudantly +evident that the Jews received their circumcision from the +patriarch Abraham, Genesis 17:9-14; John 7:22, 23, as I conclude +the Egyptian priests themselves did also. It is not therefore +very unlikely that Herodotus, because the Jews had lived long in +Egypt, and came out of it circumcised, did thereupon think they +had learned that circumcision in Egypt, and had it not broke. +Manetho, the famous Egyptian chronologer and historian, who knew +the history of his own country much better than Herodotus, +complains frequently of his mistakes about their affairs, as does +Josephus more than once in this chapter. Nor indeed does +Herodotus seem at all acquainted with the affairs of the Jews; +for as he never names them, so little or nothing of what he says +about them, their country, or maritime cities, two of which he +alone mentions, Cadytus and Jenysus, proves true; nor indeed do +there appear to have ever been any such cities on their coast. + +(28) This is a strange expression in Josephus, that God is his +own workmanship, or that he made himself, contrary to common +sense and to catholic Christianity; perhaps he only means that he +was not made by one, but was unoriginated. + +(29) By this terrible and perfectly unparalleled slaughter of +five hundred thousand men of the newly idolatrous and rebellious +ten tribes, God's high displeasure and indignation against that +idolatry and rebellion fully appeared; the remainder were thereby +seriously cautioned not to persist in them, and a kind of balance +or equilibrium was made between the ten and the two tribes for +the time to come; while otherwise the perpetually idolatrous and +rebellious ten tribes would naturally have been too powerful for +the two tribes, which were pretty frequently free both from such +idolatry and rebellion; nor is there any reason to doubt of the +truth of the prodigious number upmost: signal an occasion. + +(30) The reader is to remember that Cush is not Ethiopia, but +Arabia. See Bochart, B. IV. ch. 2. + +(31) Here is a very great error in our Hebrew copy in this place, +2 Chronicles 15:3-6, as applying what follows to times past, and +not to times future; whence that text is quite misapplied by Sir +Isaac Newton. + +(32) This Abelmain, or, in Josephus's copy, Abellane, that +belonged to the land of Israel, and bordered on the country of +Damascus, is supposed, both by Hudson and Spanheim, to be the +same with Abel, or Ahila, whence came Abilene. This may be that +city so denominated from Abel the righteous, there buried, +concerning the shedding of whose blood within the compass of the +land of Israel, I understand our Savior's words about the fatal +war and overthrow of Judea by Titus and his Roman army; "That +upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the land, +from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of +Barnchins, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily, +I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this +generation," Matthew 23;35, 36; Luke 11:51. + +(33) Josephus, in his present copies, says, that a little while +rain upon the earth; whereas, in our other copies, it is after +many days, 1 Kings 18:1. Several years are also intimated there, +and in Josephus, sect. 2, as belonging to this drought and +famine; nay, we have the express mention of the third year, which +I suppose was reckoned from the recovery of the widow's son, and +the ceasing of this drought in Phmuiela (which, as Menander +informs us here, lasted one whole year); and both our Savior and +St. James affirm, that this drought lasted in all three years and +six months, as their copies of the Old Testament then informed +them, Luke 4:25; James 5:17. Josephus here seems to mean, that +this drought affected all the habitable earth, and presently all +the earth, as our Savior says it was upon all the earth, Luke +4:25. They who restrain these expressions to the land of Judea +alone, go without sufficient authority or examples. + +(34) Mr. Spanheim takes notice here, that in the worship of +Mithra (the god of the Persians) the priests cut themselves in +the same manner as did these priests in their invocation of Baal +(the god of the Phoenicians). + +(35) For Izar we may here read (with Hudson and Cocceius) +Isachar, i.e of the tribe of Isachar, for to that tribe did +Jezreel belong; and presently at the beginning of sect. 8, as +also ch. 15. sect. 4, we may read for Iar, with one MS. nearly, +and the Scripture, Jezreel, for that was the city meant in the +history of Naboth. + +(36) "The Jews weep to this day," (says Jerome, here cited by +Reland,) "and roll themselves upon sackcloth, in ashes, barefoot, +upon such occasions." To which Spanheim adds, "that after the +same manner Bernice, when his life was in danger, stood at the +tribunal of Florus barefoot." Of the War, B. II. ch. 15. sect. 1. +See the like of David, 2 Samuel 15:30; Antiq. B. VII. ch. 9. +sect. 2. + +(37) Mr. Reland notes here very truly, that the word naked does +not always signify entirely naked, but sometimes without men's +usual armor, without heir usual robes or upper garments; as when +Virgil bids the husbandman plough naked, and sow naked; when +Josephus says (Antiq. B. IV. ch. 3. sect. 2) that God had given +the Jews the security of armor when they were naked; and when he +here says that Ahab fell on the Syrians when they were naked and +drunk; when (Antiq. B. XI. ch. 5. sect. 8) he says that Nehemiah +commanded those Jews that were building the walls of Jerusalem to +take care to have their armor on upon occasion, that the enemy +might not fall upon them naked. I may add, that the case seems to +be the same in the Scripture, when it says that Saul lay down +naked among the prophets, 1 Samuel 19:24; when it says that +Isaiah walked naked and barefoot, Isaiah 20:2, 3; and when it +says that Peter, before he girt his fisher's coat to him, was +naked, John 21:7. What is said of David also gives light to this, +who was reproached by Michal for "dancing before the ark, and +uncovering himself in the eyes of his handmaids, as one of the +vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself," 2 Samuel 6:14, 20; +yet it is there expressly said (ver. 14) that "David was girded +with a linen ephod," i.e. he had laid aside his robes of state, +and put on the sacerdotal, Levitical, or sacred garments, proper +for such a solemnity. + +(38) Josephus's number, two myriads and seven thousand, agrees +here with that in our other copies, as those that were slain by +the falling down of the walls of Aphek; but I suspected at first +that this number in Josephus's present copies could not be his +original number, because he calls them "oligoi," a few, which +could hardly be said of so many as twenty-seven thousand, and +because of the improbability of the fall of a particular wall +killing so many; yet when I consider Josephus's next words, how +the rest which were slain in the battle were "ten other myriads," +that twenty-seven thousand are but a few in comparison of a +hundred thousand, and that it was not "a wall," as in our English +version, but "the walls" or "the entire walls" of the city that +fell down, as in all the originals, I lay aside that suspicion, +and firmly believe that Josephus himself hath, with the rest, +given us the just number, twenty-seven thousand. + +(39) This manner of supplication for men's lives among the +Syrians, with ropes or halters about their heads or necks, is, I +suppose, no strange thing in later ages, even in our own country. + +(40) It is here remarkable, that in Josephus's copy this prophet, +whose severe denunciation of a disobedient person's slaughter by +a lion had lately come to pass, was no other than Micaiah, the +son of Imlah, who, as he now denounced God's judgment on +disobedient Ahab, seems directly to have been that very prophet +whom the same Ahab, in 1 Kings 22:8, 18, complains of, "as one +whom he hated, because he did not prophesy good concerning him, +but evil," and who in that chapter openly repeats his +denunciations against him; all which came to pass accordingly; +nor is there any reason to doubt but this and the former were the +very same prophet. + +(41) What is most remarkable in this history, and in many +histories on other occasions in the Old Testament, is this, that +during the Jewish theocracy God acted entirely as the supreme +King of Israel, and the supreme General of their armies, and +always expected that the Israelites should be in such absolute +subjection to him, their supreme and heavenly King, and General +of their armies, as subjects and soldiers are to their earthly +kings and generals, and that usually without knowing the +particular reasons of their injunctions. + +(42) These reasonings of Zedekiah the false prophet, in order to +persuade Ahab not to believe Micaiah the true prophet, are +plausible; but being omitted in our other copies, we cannot now +tell whence Josephus had them, whether from his own temple copy, +from some other original author, or from certain ancient notes. +That some such plausible objection was now raised against Micaiah +is very likely, otherwise Jehoshaphat, who used to disbelieve all +such false prophets, could never have been induced to accompany +Ahab in these desperate circumstances. + +(43) This reading of Josephus, that Jehoshaphat put on not his +own, but Ahab's robes, in order to appear to be Ahab, while Ahab +was without any robes at all, and hoped thereby to escape his own +evil fate, and disprove Micaiah's prophecy against him, is +exceeding probable. It gives great light also to this whole +history; and shows, that although Ahab hoped Jehoshaphat would be +mistaken for him, and run the only risk of being slain in the +battle, yet he was entirely disappointed, while still the escape +of the good man Jehoshaphat, and the slaughter of the bad man +Ahab, demonstrated the great distinction that Divine providence +made betwixt them. + +(44) We have here a very wise reflection of Josephus about Divine +Providence, and what is derived from it, prophecy, and the +inevitable certainty of its accomplishment; and that when wicked +men think they take proper methods to elude what is denounced +against them, and to escape the Divine judgments thereby +threatened them, without repentance, they are ever by Providence +infatuated to bring about their own destruction, and thereby +withal to demonstrate the perfect veracity of that God whose +predictions they in vain endeavored to elude. + + + + +BOOK 9 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) These judges constituted by Jehoshaphat were a kind of +Jerusalem Sanhedrim, out of the priests, the Levites, and the +principal of the people, both here and 2 Chronicles 19:8; much +like the old Christian judicatures of the bishop, the presbyters, +the deacons, and the people. + +(2) Concerning this precious balsam, see the note on Atiq. B. +VIII. ch. 6. sect. 6. + +(3) What are here Pontus and Thrace, as the places whither +Jehoshaphat's fleet sailed, are in our other copies Ophir and +Tarshish, and the place whence it sailed is in them Eziongeber, +which lay on the Red Sea, whence it was impossible for any ships +to sail to Pontus or Thrace; so that Josephus's copy differed +from our other copies, as is further plain from his own words, +which render what we read, that "the ships were broken at +Eziongeber, from their unwieldy greatness." But so far we may +conclude, that Josephus thought one Ophir to be some where in the +Mediterranean, and not in the South Sea, though perhaps there +might be another Ophir in that South Sea also, and that fleets +might then sail both from Phoenicia and from the Red Sea to fetch +the gold of Ophir. + +(4) This god of flies seems to have been so called, as was the +like god among the Greeks, from his supposed power over flies, in +driving them away from the flesh of their sacrifices, which +otherwise would have been very troublesome to them. + +(5) It is commonly esteemed a very cruel action of Elijah, when +he called for fire from heaven, and consumed no fewer than two +captains and a hundred soldiers, and this for no other crime than +obeying the orders of their king, in attempting to seize him; and +it is owned by our Savior, that it was an instance of greater +severity than the spirit of the New Testament allows, Luke 9:54. +But then we must consider that it is not unlikely that these +captains and soldiers believed that they were sent to fetch the +prophet, that he might be put to death for foretelling the death +of the king, and this while they knew him to be the prophet of +the true God, the supreme King of Israel, (for they were still +under the theocracy,) which was no less than impiety, rebellion, +and treason, in the highest degree: nor would the command of a +subaltern, or inferior captain, contradicting the commands of the +general, when the captain and the soldiers both knew it to be so, +as I suppose, justify or excuse such gross rebellion and +disobedience in soldiers at this day. Accordingly, when Saul +commanded his guards to slay Ahimelech and the priests at Nob, +they knew it to be an unlawful command, and would not obey it, 1 +Samuel 22:17. From which cases both officers and soldiers may +learn, that the commands of their leaders or kings cannot justify +or excuse them in doing what is wicked in the sight of God, or in +fighting in an unjust cause, when they know it so to be. + +(6) This practice of cutting down, or plucking up by the roots, +the fruit trees was forbidden, even in ordinary wars, by the law +of Moses, Deuteronomy 20:19, 20, and only allowed by God in this +particular case, when the Moabites were to be punished and cut +off in an extraordinary manner for their wickedness See Jeremiah +48:11-13, and many the like prophecies against them. Nothing +could therefore justify this practice but a particular commission +from God by his prophet, as in the present case, which was ever a +sufficient warrant for breaking any such ritual or ceremonial law +whatsoever. + +(7) That this woman who cried to Elisha, and who in our Bible is +styled "the wife of one of the sons of the prophets," 2 Kings +4:1, was no other than the widow of Obadiah, the good steward of +Ahab, is confirmed by the Chaldee paraphrast, and by the Rabbins +and others. Nor is that unlikely which Josephus here adds, that +these debts were contracted by her husband for the support of +those "hundred of the Lord's prophets, whom he maintained by +fifty in a cave," in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, 1 Kings 18:4; +which circumstance rendered it highly fit that the prophet Elisha +should provide her a remedy, and enable her to redeem herself and +her sons from the fear of that slavery which insolvent debtors +were liable to by the law of Moses, Leviticus 25:39; Matthew +18:25; which he did accordingly, with God's help, at the expense +of a miracle. + +(8) Dr. Hudson, with very good reason, suspects that there is no +small defect in our present copies of Josephus, just before the +beginning of this section, and that chiefly as to that distinct +account which he had given us reason to expect in the first +section, and to which he seems to refer, ch. 8. sect. 6. +concerning the glorious miracles which Elisha wrought, which +indeed in our Bibles are not a few, 2 Kings 6-9., but of which we +have several omitted in Josephus's present copies. One of those +histories, omitted at present, was evidently in his Bible, I mean +that of the curing of Nanman's leprosy, 2 Kings 5.; for he +plainly alludes to it, B. III. ch. 11. sect. 4, where he +observes, that "there were lepers in many nations who yet have +been in honor, and not only free from reproach and avoidance, but +who have been great captains of armies, and been intrusted with +high offices in the commonwealth, and have had the privilege of +entering into holy places and temples." But what makes me most +regret the want of that history in our present copies of Josephus +is this, that we have here, as it is commonly understood, one of +the greatest difficulties in all the Bible, that in 2 Kings 5:18, +19, where Naaman, after he had been miraculously cured by a +prophet of the true God, and had thereupon promised (ver. 17) +that "he would henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor +sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord," adds, "In this +thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into +the house of Rimnu to worship there, and he leaneth on my hands, +and I bow myself in the house of Rimmort; when I bow down myself +in the house of Rimmort, the Lord pardon thy servant in this +thing. And Elisha said, Go in peace." This looks like a prophet's +permission for being partaker in idolatry itself, out of +compliance with an idolatrous court. + +(9) Upon occasion of this stratagem of Elisha, in Josephus, we +may take notice, that although Josephus was one of the greatest +lovers of truth in the world, yet in a just war he seems to have +had no manner of scruple upon him by all such stratagems possible +to deceive public enemies. See this Josephus's account of +Jeremiah's imposition on the great men of the Jews in somewhat +like case, Antiq. B. X. ch. 7. sect. 6; 2 Samuel 16:16, &c. + +(10) This son of a murderer was Joram, the son of Ahab, which +Ahab slew, or permitted his wife Jezebel to slay, the Lord's +prophets, and Naboth, 1 Kings 18:4; 21:19; and he is here called +by this name, I suppose, because he had now also himself sent an +officer to murder him; yet is Josephus's account of Joram's +coming himself at last as repenting of his intended cruelty, +much more probable than that in our copies, 2 Kings 6:33, which +rather implies the contrary. + +(11) This law of the Jews, for the exclusion of lepers out of the +camp in the wilderness, and out of the cities in Judea, is a +known one, Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:14. + +(12) Since Elijah did not live to anoint Hazael king of Syria +himself, as he was empowered to do, 1 Kings 19:15, it was most +probably now done, in his name, by his servant and successor +Elisha. Nor does it seem to me otherwise but that Benhadad +immediately recovered of his disease, as the prophet foretold; +and that Hazael, upon his being anointed to succeed him though he +ought to have staid till he died by the course of nature, or some +other way of Divine punishment, as did David for many years in +the like case, was too impatient, and the very next day smothered +or strangled him, in order to come directly to the succession. + +(13) What Mr. Le Clerc pretends here, that it is more probable +that Hazael and his son were worshipped by the Syrians and people +of Damascus till the days of Josephus, than Benhadad and Hazael, +because under Benhadad they had greatly suffered, and because it +is almost incredible that both a king and that king's murderer +should be worshipped by the same Syrians, is of little force +against those records, out of which Josephus drew this history, +especially when it is likely that they thought Benhadad died of +the distemper he labored under, and not by Hazael's treachery. +Besides, the reason that Josephus gives for this adoration, that +these two kings had been great benefactors to the inhabitants of +Damascus, and had built them temples, is too remote from the +political suspicions of Le Clerc; nor ought such weak suspicions +to be deemed of any force against authentic testimonies of +antiquity. + +(14) This epistle, in some copies of Josephus, is said to come to +Jotare from Elijah, with this addition," for he was yet upon +earth," which could not be true of Elijah, who, as all agree, was +gone from the earth about four years before, and could only be +true of Elisha; nor perhaps is there any more mystery here, than +that the name of Elijah has very anciently crept into the text +instead of Elisha, by the copiers, there being nothing in any +copy of that epistle peculiar to Elijah. + +(15) Spanheim here notes, that this putting off men's garments, +and strewing them under a king, was an Eastern custom, which he +had elsewhere explained. + +(16) Our copies say that this "driving of the chariots was like +the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously," +2 Kings 9:20; whereas Josephus's copy, as he understood it, was +this, that, on the contrary, Jehu marched slowly, and in good +order. Nor can it be denied, that since there was interval enough +for king Joram to send out two horsemen, one after another, to +Jehu, and at length to go out with king Ahaziah to meet him, and +all this after he was come within sight of the watchman, and +before he was come to Jezreel, the probability is greatly on the +side of Josephus's copy or interpretation. + +(17) This character of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, that "he was a +good man, and in his disposition not at all like to his father," +seems a direct contradiction to our ordinary copies, which say (2 +Kings 13:11) that "he did evil in the sight of the Lord; and that +he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, +who made Israel to sin: he walked therein." Which copies are here +the truest it is hard positively to determine. If Josephus's be +true, this Joash is the single instance of a good king over the +ten tribes; if the other be true, we have not one such example. +The account that follows, in all copies, of Elisha the prophet's +concern for him, and his concern for Elisha, greatly favors +Josephus's copies, and supposes this king to have been then a +good man, and no idolater, with whom God's prophets used not to +be so familiar. Upon the whole, since it appears, even by +Josephus's own account, that Amaziah, the good king of Judah, +while he was a good king, was forbidden to make use of the +hundred thousand auxiliaries he had hired of this Joash, the king +of Israel, as if he and they were then idolaters, 2 Chronicles +25:6-9, it is most likely that these different characters of +Joash suited the different parts of his reign, and that, +according to our common copies, he was at first a wicked king, +and afterwards was reclaimed, and became a good one, according to +Josephus. + +(18) What I have above noted concerning Jehoash, seems to me to +have been true also concerning his son Jeroboam II., viz. that +although he began wickedly, as Josephus agrees with our other +copies, and, as he adds, "was the cause of a vast number of +misfortunes to the Israelites" in those his first years, (the +particulars of which are unhappily wanting both in Josephus and +in all our copies,) so does it seem to me that he was afterwards +reclaimed, and became a good king, and so was encouraged by the +prophet Jonah, and had great successes afterward, when "God had +saved the Israelites by the hand of Jeroboam, the son of Joash," +2 Kings 14:27; which encouragement by Jonah, and great successes, +are equally observable in Josephus, and in the other copies. + +(19) When Jonah is said in our Bibles to have gone to Tarshish, +Jonah 1:3, Josephus understood it that he went to Tarsus in +Cilicia, or to the Mediterranean Sea, upon which Tarsus lay; so +that he does not appear to have read the text, 1 Kings 22:48, as +our copies do, that ships of Tarshish could lie at Ezion-geber, +upon the Red Sea. But as to Josephus's assertion, that Jonah's +fish was carried by the strength of the current, upon a nean, it +is by no means an improbable determination in Josephus. + +(20) This ancient piece of religion, of supposing there was great +sin where there was great misery, and of casting lots to discover +great sinners, not only among the Israelites, but among these +heathen mariners, seems a remarkable remains of the ancient +tradition which prevailed of old over all mankind, that I +Providence used to interpose visibly in all human affairs, and +storm, as far as the Euxine Sea, it is no way impossible; and +since the storm might have driven the ship, while Jonah was in it +never to bring, or at least not long to continue, notorious +judge, near to that Euxine Sea, and since in three more days, +while but for notorious sins, which the most ancient Book of he +was in the fish's belly, that current might bring him to the Job +shows to have been the state of mankind for about the Assyrian +coast, and since withal that coast could bring him former three +thousand years of the world, till the days of Job nearer to +Nineveh than could any coast of the Mediterranian and Moses. + +(21) This account of an earthquake at Jerusalem at the very same +time when Uzziah usurped the priest's office, and went into the +sanctuary to burn incense, and of the consequences of the +earthquake, is entirely wanting in our other copies, though it be +exceeding like to a prophecy of Jeremiah, now in Zechariah 14:4, +5; in which prophecy mention is made of "fleeing from that +earthquake, as they fled from this earthquake in the days of +Uzziah king of Judah;" so that there seems to have been some +considerable resemblance between these historical and prophetical +earthquakes. + +(22) Dr. Wall, in his critical notes on 2 Kings 15:20, observes, +"that when this Menahem is said to have exacted the money of +Israel of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels +of silver, to give Pul, the king of Assyria, a thousand talents, +this is the first public money raised by any [Israelite] king by +tax on the people; that they used before to raise it out of the +treasures of the house of the Lord, or of their own house; that +it was a poll-money on the rich men, [and them only,] to raise +oe353,000, or, as others count a talent, oe400,000, at the rate of +oe6 or oe7 per head; and that God commanded, by Ezekiel, ch. 45:8; +46:18, that no such thing should be done [at the Jews' +restoration], but the king should have land of his own." + +(23) This passage is taken out of the prophet Nahum, ch. 2:8-13, +and is the principal, or rather the only, one that is given us +almost verbatim, but a little abridged, in all Josephus's known +writings: by which quotation we learn what he himself always +asserts, viz. that he made use of the Hebrew original and not of +the Greek version]; as also we learn, that his Hebrew copy +considerably differed from ours. See all three texts particularly +set down and compared together in the Essay on the Old Testament, +page 187. + +(24) This siege of Samaria, though not given a particular account +of, either in our Hebrew or Greek Bibles, or in Josephus, was so +very long, no less than three years, that it was no way +improbable but that parents, and particularly mothers, might +therein be reduced to eat their own children, as the law of Moses +had threatened upon their disobedience, Leviticus 26;29; +Deuteronomy 28:53-57; and as was accomplished in the other +shorter sieges of both the capital cities, Jerusalem and Samaria; +the former mentioned Jeremiah 19:9; Antiq. B. IX. ch. 4. sect. 4, +and the latter, 2 Kings 6:26-29. + + + + +BOOK 10 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) This title of great king, both in our Bibles, 2 Kings 18:19; +Isaiah 36:4, and here in Josephus, is the very same that +Herodotus gives this Sennacherib, as Spanheim takes notice on +this place. + +(2) What Josephus says here, how Isaiah the prophet assured +Hezekiah that "at this time he should not be besieged by the king +of Assyria; that for the future he might be secure of being not +at all disturbed by him; and that [afterward] the people might go +on peaceably, and without fear, with their husbandry and other +affairs," is more distinct in our other copies, both of the Kings +and of Isaiah, and deserves very great consideration. The words +are these: "This shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this +year such as groweth of itself, and the second year that which +springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, +and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof," 2 Kings 19:29; +Isaiah 37:30; which seem to me plainly to design a Sabbatic year, +a year of jubilee next after it, and the succeeding usual labors +and fruits of them on the third and following years. + +(3) That this terrible calamity of the slaughter of the 185,000 +Assyrians is here delivered in the words of Berosus the Chaldean, +and that it was certainly and frequently foretold by the Jewish +prophets, and that it was certainly and undeniably accomplished, +see Authent. Rec. part II. p. 858. + +(3) We are here to take notice, that these two sons of +Sennacherib, that ran away into Armenia, became the heads of two +famous families there, the Arzerunii and the Genunii; of which +see the particular histories in Moses Chorenensis, p. 60. + +(4) Josephus, and all our copies, place the sickness of Hezekiah +after the destruction of Sennacherib's army, because it appears +to have been after his first assault, as he was going into Arabia +and Egypt, where he pushed his conquests as far as they would go, +and in order to despatch his story altogether; yet does no copy +but this of Josephus say it was after that destruction, but only +that it happened in those days, or about that time of Hezekiah's +life. Nor will the fifteen years' prolongation of his life after +his sickness, allow that sickness to have been later than the +former part of the fifteenth year of his reign, since chronology +does not allow him in all above twenty-nine years and a few +months; whereas the first assault of Sennacherib was on the +fourteenth year of Hezekiah, but the destruction of Sennacherib's +army was not till his eighteenth year. + +(5) As to this regress of the shadow, either upon a sun-dial, or +the steps of the royal palace built by Ahaz, whether it were +physically done by the real miraculous revolution of the earth in +its diurnal motion backward from east to west for a while, and +its return again to its old natural revolution from west to east; +or whether it were not apparent only, and performed by an aerial +phosphorus, which imitated the sun's motion backward, while a +cloud hid the real sun; cannot now be determined. Philosophers +and astronomers will naturally incline to the latter hypothesis. +However, it must be noted, that Josephus seems to have understood +it otherwise than we generally do, that the shadow was +accelerated as much at first forward as it was made to go +backward afterward, and so the day was neither longer nor shorter +than usual; which, it must be confessed agrees best of all to +astronomy, whose eclipses, older than the time were observed at +the same times of the day as if this miracle had never happened. +After all, this wonderful signal was not, it seems, peculiar to +Judea, but either seen, or at least heard of, at Babylon also, as +appears by 2 Chronicles 32:31, where we learn that the Babylonian +ambassadors were sent to Hezekiah, among other things, to inquire +of the wonder that was done in the land. + +(6) This expression of Josephus, that the Medes, upon this +destruction of the Assyrian army, "overthrew" the Assyrian +empire, seems to be too strong; for although they immediately +cast off the Assrian yoke, and set up Deioces, a king of their +own, yet it was some time before the Medes and Babylonians +overthrew Nineveh, and some generations ere the Medes and +Persians under Cyaxares and Cyrus overthrew the Assyrian or +Babylonian empire, and took Babylon. + +(7) It is hard to reconcile the account in the Second Book of +Kings (ch. 23:11) with this account in Josephus, and to translate +this passage truly in Josephus, whose copies are supposed to be +here imperfect. However, the general sense of both seems to be +this: That there were certain chariots, with their horses, +dedicated to the idol of the sun, or to Moloch; which idol might +be carried about in procession, and worshipped by the people; +which chariots were now "taken away," as Josephus says, or, as +the Book of Kings says, "burnt with fire, by Josiah." + +(8) This is a remarkable passage of chronology in Josephus, that +about the latter end of the reign of Josiah, the Medes and +Babylonians overthrew the empire of the Assyrians; or, in the +words of Tobit's continuator, that "before Tobias died, he heard +of the destruction of Nineveh, which was taken by Nebuchodonosor +the Babylonian, and Assuerus the Mede," Tob. 14:15. See Dean +Prideaux's Connexion, at the year 612. + +(9) This battle is justly esteemed the very same that Herodotus +(B. II. sect. 156) mentions, when he says, that "Necao joined +battle with the Syrians [or Jews] at Magdolum, [Megiddo,] and +beat them," as Dr. Hudson here observes. + +(10) Whether Josephus, from 2 Chronicles 35:25, here means the +book of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, still extant, which chiefly +belongs to the destruction of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, or +to any other like melancholy poem now lost, but extant in the +days of Josephus, belonging peculiarly to Josiah, cannot now be +determined. + +(11) This ancient city Hamath, which is joined with Arpad, or +Aradus, and with Damascus, 2 Kings 18:34; Isaiah 36:19; Jeremiah +49:23, cities of Syria and Phoenicia, near the borders of Judea, +was also itself evidently near the same borders, though long ago +utterly destroyed. + +(12) Josephus says here that Jeremiah prophesied not only of the +return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity, and this under +the Persians and Medes, as in our other copies; but of cause they +did not both say the same thing as to this circumstance, he +disbelieved what they both appeared to agree in, and condemned +them as not speaking truth therein, although all the things +foretold him did come to pass according to their prophecies, as +we shall show upon a fitter opportunity their rebuilding the +temple, and even the city Jerusalem, which do not appear in our +copies under his name. See the note on Antiq. B. XI. ch. 1. sect. +3. + +(13) This observation of Josephus about the seeming disagreement +of Jeremiah, ch. 32:4, and 34:3, and Ezekiel 12:13, but real +agreement at last, concerning the fate of Zedekiah, is very true +and very remarkable. See ch. 7. sect. 2. Nor is it at all +unlikely that the courtiers and false prophets might make use of +this seeming contradiction to dissuade Zedekiah from believing +either of those prophets, as Josephus here intimates he was +dissuaded thereby. + +(14) I have here inserted in brackets this high priest Azarias, +though he be omitted in all Josephus's copies, out of the Jewish +chronicle, Seder Olam, of how little authority soever I generally +esteem such late Rabbinical historians, because we know from +Josephus himself, that the number of the high priests belonging +to this interval was eighteen, Antiq. B. XX. ch. 10., whereas his +copies have here but seventeen. Of this character of Baruch, the +son of Neriah, and the genuineness of his book, that stands now +in our Apocrypha, and that it is really a canonical book, and an +appendix to Jeremiah, see Authent. Rec. Part I. p. 1--11. + +(15) Herodotus says, this king of Egypt [Pharaoh Hophra, or +Apries] was slain by the Egyptians, as Jeremiah foretold his +slaughter by his enemies, Jeremiah 44:29, 30, and that as a sign +of the destruction of Egypt [by Nebuchadnezzar]. Josephus says, +this king was slain by Nebuchadnezzar himself. + +(16) We see here that Judea was left in a manner desolate after +the captivity of the two tribes and was not I with foreign +colonies, perhaps as an indication of Providence that the Jews +were to repeople it without opposition themselves. I also esteem +the latter and present desolate condition of the same country, +without being repeopled by foreign colonies, to be a like +indication, that the same Jews are hereafter to repeople it again +themselves, at their so long expected future restoration. + +(17) That Daniel was made one of these eunuchs of which Isaiah +prophesied, Isaiah 39:7, and the three children his companions +also, seems to me plain, both here in Josephus, and in our copies +of Daniel, Daniel 1:3, 6-11, 18, although it must be granted that +some married persons, that had children, were sometimes called +eunuchs, in a general acceptation for courtiers, on account that +so many of the ancient courtiers were real eunuchs. See Genesis +39:1. + +(18) Of this most remarkable passage in Josephus concerning the +"stone cut out of the mountain, and destroying the image," which +he would not explain, but intimated to be a prophecy of futurity, +and probably not safe for him to explain, as belonging to the +destruction of the Roman empire by Jesus Christ, the true Messiah +of the Jews, take the words of Hayercamp, ch. 10. sect. 4: "Nor +is this to be wondered at, that he would not now meddle with +things future, for he had no mind to provoke the Romans, by +speaking of the destruction of that city which they called the +Eternal City." + +(19) Since Josephus here explains the seven prophetic times which +were to pass over Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:16) to be seven years, +we thence learn how he most probably must have understood those +other parallel phrases, of "a time, times, and a half," Antiq. B. +VII. ch. 25., of so many prophetic years also, though he withal +lets us know, by his hint at the interpretation of the seventy +weeks, as belonging to the fourth monarchy, and the destruction +of Jerusalem by the Romans in the days of Josephus, ch. 2. sect. +7, that he did not think those years to be bare years, but rather +days for years; by which reckoning, and by which alone, could +seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety days, reach to the age +of Josephus. But as to the truth of those seven years' banishment +of Nebuchadnezzar from men, and his living so long among the +beasts, the very small remains we have any where else of this +Nebuchadnezzar prevent our expectation of any other full account +of it. So far we knew by Ptolemy's canon, a contemporary record, +as well as by Josephus presently, that he reigned in all +forty-three years, that is, eight years after we meet with any +account of his actions; one of the last of which was the thirteen +years' siege of Tyre, Antiq. B. XI. ch. 11., where yet the Old +Latin has but three years and ten months: yet were his actions +before so remarkable, both in sacred and profane authors, that a +vacuity of eight years at the least, at the latter end of his +reign, must be allowed to agree very well with Daniel's accounts; +that after a seven years' brutal life, he might return to his +reason, and to the exercise of his royal authority, for one whole +year at least before his death. + +(20) These forty-three years for the duration of the reign of +Nebuchadnezzar are, as I have just now observed, the very same +number in Ptolemy's canon. Moses Chorenensis does also confirm +this captivity of the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar, and adds, what +is very remarkable, that sale of those Jews that were carried by +him into captivity got away into Armenia, and raised the great +family of the Bagratide there. + +(21) These twenty-one years here ascribed to one named +Naboulassar, in the first book against Apion, or to +Nabopollassar, the father of the great Nebuchadnezzar, are also +the very same with those given him in Ptolemy's canon. And note +here, that what Dr. Prideaux says, at the year, that +Nebuchadnezzar must have been a common name of other kings of +Babylon, besides the great Nebuchadnezzar himself is a groundless +mistake of some modern chronologers rely, and destitute of all +proper original authority. + +(22) These fifteen days for finishing such vast buildings at +Babylon, in Josephus's copy of Berosus, would seem too absurd to +be supposed to be the true number, were it not for the same +testimony extant also in the first book against Apion, sect. 19, +with the same number. It thence indeed appears that Josephus's +copy of Berosus had this small number, but that it is the true +number I still doubt. Josephus assures us, that the walls of so +much a smaller city as Jerusalem were two years and four months +in building by Nehemiah, who yet hastened the work all he could, +Antiq. B. XI. ch. 5. sect. 8. I should think one hundred and +fifteen days, or a year and fifteen days, much more +proportionable to so great a work. + +(23) It is here remarkable that Josephus, without the knowledge +of Ptolemy's canon, should call the same king whom he himself +here (Bar. i. 11, and Daniel 5:1, 2, 9, 12, 22, 29, 39) styles +Beltazar, or Belshazzar, from the Babylonian god Bel, Naboandelus +also; and in the first book against Apion, sect. 19, vol. iii., +from the same citation out of Berosus, Nabonnedon, from the +Babylonian god Nabo or Nebo. This last is not remote from the +original pronunciation itself in Ptolemy's canon, Nabonadius; for +both the place of this king in that canon, as the last of the +Assyrian or Babylonian kings, and the number of years of his +reign, seventeen, the same in both demonstrate that it is one and +the same king that is meant by them all. It is also worth noting, +that Josephus knew that Darius, the partner of Cyrus, was the son +of Astyages, and was called by another name among the Greeks, +though it does not appear he knew what that name was, as having +never seen the best history of this period, which is Xenophon's. +But then what Josephus's present copies say presently, sect. 4, +that it was only within no long time after the hand-writing on +the wall that Baltasar was slain, does not so well agree with our +copies of Daniel, which say it was the same night, Daniel 5:30. + +(24) This grandmother, or mother of Baltasar, the queen dowager +of Babylon, (for she is distinguished from his queen, Daniel +5:10, 13,) seems to have been the famous Nitocris, who fortified +Babylon against the Medes and Persians, and, in all probability +governed under Baltasar, who seems to be a weak and effeminate +prince. + +(25) It is no way improbable that Daniel's enemies might suggest +this reason to the king why the lions did not meddle with him and +that they might suspect the king's kindness to Daniel had +procured these lions to be so filled beforehand, and that thence +it was that he encouraged Daniel to submit to this experiment, in +hopes of coming off safe; and that this was the true reason of +making so terrible an experiment upon those his enemies, and all +their families, Daniel 6:21, though our other copies do not +directly take notice of it. + +(26) What Josephus here says, that the stones of the sepulchers +of the kings of Persia at this tower, or those perhaps of the +same sort that are now commonly called the ruins of Persepolis, +continued so entire and unaltered in his days, as if they were +lately put there, "I (says Reland) here can show to be true, as +to those stones of the Persian mansoleum, which Com. Brunius +brake off and gave me." He ascribed this to the hardness of the +stones, which scarcely yields to iron tools, and proves +frequently too hard for cutting by the chisel, but oftentimes +breaks it to pieces. + + + + +BOOK 11 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) This Cyrus is called God's shepherd by Xenophon, as well as +by Isaiah, Isaiah 44:28; as also it is said of him by the same +prophet, that "I will make a man more precious than fine gold, +even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir," Isaiah 13:12, which +character makes Xenophon's most excellent history of him very +credible. + +(2) This leave to build Jerusalem, sect. 3, and this epistle of +Cyrus to Sisinnes and Sathrabuzanes, to the same purpose, are +most unfortunately omitted in all our copies but this best and +completest copy of Josephus; and by such omission the famous +prophecy of Isaiah, Isaiah 44:28, where we are informed that God +said of or to Cyrus, "He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my +pleasure; even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built, and to +the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid," could not hitherto be +demonstrated from the sacred history to have been completely +fulfilled, I mean as to that part of it which concerned his +giving leave or commission for rebuilding the city Jerusalem as +distinct from the temple, whose rebuilding is alone permitted or +directed in the decree of Cyrus in all our copies. + +(3) Of the true number of golden and silver vessels here and +elsewhere belonging to the temple of Solomon, see the description +of the temples, chap. 13. + +(4) Josephus here follows Herodotus, and those that related how +Cyrus made war with the Scythians and Massagets, near the Caspian +Sea, and perished in it; while Xenophon's account, which appears +never to have been seen by Josephus, that Cyrus died in peace in +his own country of Persia, is attested to by the writers of the +affairs of Alexander the Great, when they agree that he found +Cyrus's sepulcher at Pasargadae, near Persepolis. This account of +Xenophon is also confirmed by the circumstances of Cambyses, upon +his succession to Cyrus, who, instead of a war to avenge his +father's death upon the Scythians and Massagets, and to prevent +those nations from overrunning his northern provinces, which +would have been the natural consequence of his father's ill +success and death there, went immediately to an Egyptian war, +long ago begun by Cyrus, according to Xenophon, p. 644, and +conquered that kingdom; nor is there, that I ever heard of, the +least mention in the reign of Cambyses of any war against the +Scythians and Massagets that he was ever engaged in all his life. + +(5) The reader is to note, that although the speeches or papers +of these three of the king's guard are much the same, in our +Third Book of Esdras, ch. 3. and 4., as they are here in +Josephus, yet that the introduction of them is entirely +different, while in our Esdras the whole is related as the +contrivance of the three of the king's guards themselves; and +even the mighty rewards are spoken of as proposed by themselves, +and the speeches are related to have been delivered by themselves +to the king in writing, while all is contrary in Josephus. I need +not say whose account is the most probable, the matters speak for +themselves; and there can be no doubt but Josephus's history is +here to be very much preferred before the other. Nor indeed does +it seem to me at all unlikely that the whole was a contrivance of +king Darius's own, in order to be decently and inoffensively put +in mind by Zorobabel of fulfilling his old vow for the rebuilding +of Jerusalem and the temple, and the restoration of the worship +of the "one true God" there. Nor does the full meaning of +Zorobabel, when he cries out, 3 Esd. 4. 41), "Blessed be the God +of truth;" and here, "God is true and righteous;" or even of all +the people, 3 Esd. 4. 41, "Great is truth, and mighty above all +things;" seem to me much different from this, "There is but one +true God, the God of Israel." To which doctrine, such as Cyrus +and Darius; etc., the Jews' great patrons, seem not to have been +very averse, though the entire idolatry of their kingdoms made +them generally conceal it. + +(6) This strange reading in Josephus's present copies of four +millions instead of forty thousand, is one of the grossest errors +that is in them, and ought to be corrected from Ezra 2:61; 1 Esd. +5:40; and Nehemiah 7:66, who all agree the general sum was but +about forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty. It is also very +plain that Josephus thought, that when Esdras afterwards brought +up another company out of Babylon and Persia, in the days of +Xerxes, they were also, as well as these, out of the two tribes, +and out of them only, and were in all no more than "a seed" and +"a remnant," while an "immense number" of the ten tribes never +returned, but, as he believed, continued then beyond Euphrates, +ch. 5. sect. 2, 3; of which multitude, the Jews beyond Euphrates, +he speaks frequently elsewhere, though, by the way, he never +takes them to be idolaters, but looks on them still as observers +of the laws of Moses. The "certain part" of the people that now +came up from Babylon, at the end of this chapter, imply the same +smaller number of Jews that now came up, and will no way agree +with the four millions. + +(7) The history contained in this section is entirely wanting in +all our other copies, both of Ezra and Esdras. + +(8) Dr. Hudson takes notice here, that this kind of brass or +copper, or rather mixture of gold and brass or copper, was called +aurichalcum, and that this was of old esteemed the most precious +of all metals. + +(9) This procedure of Esdras, and of the best part of the Jewish +nation, after their return from the Babylonish captivity, of +reducing the Jewish marriages, once for all, to the strictness of +the law of Moses, without any regard to the greatness of those +who had broken it, and without regard to that natural affection +or compassion for their heathen wives, and their children by +them, which made it so hard for Esdras to correct it, deserves +greatly to be observed and imitated in all attempts for +reformation among Christians, the contrary conduct having ever +been the bane of true religion, both among Jews and Christians, +while political views, or human passions, or prudential motives, +are suffered to take place instead of the Divine laws, and so the +blessing of God is forfeited, and the church still suffered to +continue corrupt from one generation to another. See ch. 8. sect. +2. + +(10) This Jewish feast of tabernacles was imitated in several +heathen solemnities, as Spanheim here observes and proves. He +also further observes presently, what great regard many heathens +had to the monuments of their forefathers, as Nehemiah had here, +sect. 6. + +(11) This rule of Esdras, not to fast on a festival day, is +quoted in the Apostolical Constitutions, B. V., as obtaining +among Christians also. + +(12) This miserable condition of the Jews, and their capital, +must have been after the death of Esdras, their former governor, +and before Nehemiah came with his commission to build the walls +of Jerusalem. Nor is that at all disagreeable to these histories +in Josephus, since Esdras came on the seventh, and Nehemiah not +till the twenty-fifth of Xerxes, at the interval of eighteen +years. + +(13) This showing king Xerxes's epistles to God, or laying them +open before God in the temple, is very like the laying open the +epistles of Sennacherib before him also by Hezekiah, 2 Kings +19:14; Isaiah 37:14, although this last was for a memorial, to +put him in mind of the enemies, in order to move the Divine +compassion, and the present as a token of gratitude for mercies +already received, as Hayercamp well observes on this place. + +(14) It may not be very improper to remark here, with what an +unusual accuracy Josephus determines these years of Xerxes, in +which the walls of Jerusalem were built, viz. that Nehemiah came +with his commission in the twenty-fifth of Xerxes, that the walls +were two years and four months in building, and that they were +finished on the twenty-eighth of Xerxes, sect. 7, 8. It may also +be remarked further, that Josephus hardly ever mentions more than +one infallible astronomical character, I mean an eclipse of the +moon, and this a little before the death of Herod the Great, +Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 6. sect. 4. Now on these two chronological +characters in great measure depend some of the most important +points belonging to Christianity, viz. the explication of +Daniel's seventy weeks, and the duration of our Savior's +ministry, and the time of his death, in correspondence to those +seventy weeks. See the Supplement to the Lit. Accorap. of Proph. +p. 72. + +(15) Since some skeptical persons are willing to discard this +Book of Esther as no true history; and even our learned and +judicious Dr. Wall, in his late posthumous Critical Notes upon +all the other Hebrew books of the Old Testament, gives none upon +the Canticles, or upon Esther, and seems thereby to give up this +book, as well as he gives up the Canticles, as indefensible; I +shall venture to say, that almost all the objections against this +Book of Esther are gone at once, if, as we certainly ought to do, +and as Dean Prideaux has justly done, we place this history under +Artsxerxes Longimanus, as do both the Septuagint interpretation +and Josephus. The learned Dr. Lee, in his posthumous Dissertation +on the Second Book of Esdras, p. 25, also says, that "the truth +of this history is demonstrated by the feast of Purlin, kept up +from that time to this very day. And this surprising providential +revolution in favor of a captive people, thereby constantly +commemorated, standeth even upon a firmer basis than that there +ever was such a man as king Alexander [the Great] in the world, +of whose reign there is no such abiding monument at this day to +be found any where. Nor will they, I dare say, who quarrel at +this or any other of the sacred histories, find it a very easy +matter to reconcile the different accounts which were given by +historians of the affairs of this king, or to confirm any one +fact of his whatever with the same evidence which is here given +for the principal fact in this sacred book, or even so much as to +prove the existence of such a person, of whom so great things are +related, but upon granting this Book of Esther, or sixth of +Esdras, (as it is placed in some of the most ancient copies of +the Vulgate,) to be a most true and certain history," etc. + +(16) If the Chaldee paraphrast be in the right, that Artaxerxes +intended to show Vashti to his guests naked, it is no wonder at +all that she would not submit to such an indignity; but still if +it were not so gross as that, yet it might, in the king's cups, +be done in a way so indecent, as the Persian laws would not then +bear, no more than the common laws of modesty. And that the king +had some such design seems not improbable, for otherwise the +principal of these royal guests could be no strangers to the +queen, nor unapprized of her beauty, so far as decency admitted. +However, since Providence was now paving the way for the +introduction of a Jewess into the king's affections, in order to +bring about one of the most wonderful deliverances which the +Jewish or any other nation ever had, we need not be further +solicitous about the motives by which the king was induced to +divorce Vashti, and marry Esther. + +(17) Herodotus says that this law [against any one's coming +uncalled to the kings of Persia when they were sitting on their +thrones] was first enacted by Deioces [i.e. by him who first +withdrew the Medes from the dominion of the Assyrians, and +himself first reigned over them]. Thus also, lays Spanheim, stood +guards, with their axes, about the throne of Tenus, or Tenudus, +that the offender might by them be punished immediately. + +(18) Whether this adoration required of Mordecai to Haman were by +him deemed too like the adoration due only to God, as Josephus +seems here to think, as well as the Septuagint interpreters also, +by their translation of Esther 13:12-14, or whether he thought he +ought to pay no sort of adoration to an Amalekite, which nation +had been such great sinners as to have been universally devoted +to destruction by God himself, Exodus 17:14-16; 1 Samuel 15:18, +or whether both causes concurred, cannot now, I doubt, be +certainly determined. + +(19) The true reason why king Artaxerxes did not here properly +revoke his former barbarous decree for the universal slaughter of +the Jews, but only empowered and encouraged the Jews to fight for +their lives, and to kill their enemies, if they attempted their +destruction, seems to have been that old law of the Medes and +Persians, not yet laid aside, that whatever decree was signed +both by the king and his lords could not be changed, but remained +unalterable, Daniel 6:7-9, 12, 15, 17; Esther 1:19; 8:8. And +Haman having engrossed the royal favor might perhaps have himself +signed this decree for the Jews' slaughter instead of the ancient +lords, and so might have rendered it by their rules irrevocable. + +(21) These words give an intimation as if Artaxerxes suspected a +deeper design in Haman than openly appeared, viz. that knowing +the Jews would be faithful to him, and that he could never +transfer the crown to his own family, who was an Agagite, Esther +3:1, 10, or of the posterity of Agag, the old king of the +Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15:8, 32, 33, while they were alive, and +spread over all his dominions, he therefore endeavored to destroy +them. Nor is it to me improbable that those seventy-five thousand +eight hundred of the Jews' enemies which were soon destroyed by +the Jews, on the permission of the king, which must be on some +great occasion, were Amalekites, their old and hereditary +enemies, Exodus 17:14, 15; and that thereby was fulfilled +Balaam's prophecy, "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his +latter end shall be, that he perish for ever" Numbers 24:20. + +(21) Take here part of Reland's note on this disputed passage: +"In Josephus's copies these Hebrew words, 'days of Purim,' or ' +lots,' as in the Greek copies of Esther, ch. 9:26, 28-32, is read +'days of Phurim,' or 'days of protection,' but ought to be read' +days of Parira,' as in the Hebrew; than which creation," says he, +"nothing is more certain." And had we any assurance that +Josephus's copy mentioned the "casting of lots," as our other +copies do, Esther 3:7, I should fully agree with Reland; but, as +it now stands, it seems to me by no means certain. As to this +whole Book of Esther in the present Hebrew copy, it is so very +imperfect, in a case where the providence of God was so very +remarkable, and the Septuagint and Josephus have so much of +religion, that it has not so much as the name of God once in it; +and it is hard to say who made that epitome which the Masorites +have given us for the genuine book itself; no religious Jews +could well be the authors of it, whose education obliged them to +have a constant regard to God, and whatsoever related to his +worship; nor do we know that there ever was so imperfect a copy +of it in the world till after the days of Barchochab, in the +second century. + +(22) Concerning this other Artaxerxes, called Muemon, and the +Persian affliction and captivity of the Jews under him, +occasioned by the murder of the high priest's brother in the holy +house itself, see Authent. Rec. at large, p. 49. And if any +wonder why Josephus wholly omits the rest of the kings of Persia +after Artaxerxes Mnemon, till he came to their last king Darius, +who was conquered by Alexander the Great, I shall give them +Vossius's and Dr. Hudson's answer, though in my own words, viz. +that Josephus did not do ill in admitting those kings of Persia +with whom the Jews had no concern, because he was giving the +history of the Jews, and not of the Persians [which is a +sufficient reason also why he entirely omits the history and the +Book of Job, as not particularly relating to that nation]. He +justly therefore returns to the Jewish affairs after the death of +Longimanus, without any intention of Darius II. before Artaxerxes +Mnemon, or of Ochus or Arogus, as the Canon of Ptolemy names +them, after him. Nor had he probably mentioned this other +Artaxerxes, unless Bagoses, one of the governors and commanders +under him, had occasioned the pollution of the Jewish temple, and +had greatly distressed the Jews upon that pollution. + +(23) The place showed Alexander might be Daniel 7:6; 8:3-8, +20--22; 11:3; some or all of them very plain predictions of +Alexander's conquests and successors. + + + + +BOOK 12 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Here Josephus uses the very word koinopltagia, "eating things +common," for "eating things unclean;" as does our New Testament, +Acts 10:14, 15, 28; 11:8, 9; Romans 14:14. + +(2) The great number of these Jews and Samaritans that were +formerly carried into Egypt by Alexander, and now by Ptolemy the +son of Lagus, appear afterwards in the vast multitude who as we +shall see presently, were soon ransomed by Philadelphus, and by +him made free, before he sent for the seventy-two interpreters; +in the many garrisons and other soldiers of that nation in Egypt; +in the famous settlement of Jews, and the number of their +synagogues at Alexandria, long afterward; and in the vehement +contention between the Jews and Samatitans under Philometer, +about the place appointed for public worship in the law of Moses, +whether at the Jewish temple of Jerusalem, or at the Samaritan +temple of Gerizzim; of all which our author treats hereafter. And +as to the Samaritans carried into Egypt under the same princes, +Scaliger supposes that those who have a great synagogue at Cairo, +as also those whom the Arabic geographer speaks of as having +seized on an island in the Red Sea, are remains of them at this +very day, as the notes here inform us. + +(3) Of the translation of the other parts of the Old Testament by +seventy Egyptian Jews, in the reigns of Ptolemy the son of Lagus, +and Philadelphus; as also of the translation of the Pentateuch by +seventy-two Jerusalem Jews, in the seventh year of Philadelphus +at Alexandria, as given us an account of by Aristeus, and thence +by Philo and Josephus, with a vindication of Aristeus's history; +see the Appendix to Lit. Accorap. of Proph. at large, p. +117--152. + +(4) Although this number one hundred and twenty drachmee [of +Alexandria, or sixty Jewish shekels] be here three times +repeated, and that in all Josephus's copies, Greek and Latin; yet +since all the copies of Aristeus, whence Josephus took his +relation, have this sum several times, and still as no more than +twenty drachmae, or ten Jewish shekels; and since the sum of the +talents, to be set down presently, which is little above four +hundred and sixty, for somewhat more than one hundred thousand +slaves, and is nearly the same in Josephus and Aristeus, does +better agree to twenty than to one hundred and twenty drachmae; +and since the value of a slave of old was at the utmost but +thirty shekels, or sixty drachmae; see Exodus 21:32; while in the +present circumstances of these Jewish slaves, and those so very +numerous, Philadelphus would rather redeem them at a cheaper than +at a dearer rate; - there is great reason to prefer here +Aristeus's copies before Josephus's. + +(5) We have a very great encomium of this Simon the Just, the son +of Onias, in the fiftieth chapter of the Ecclesiasticus, through +the whole chapter. Nor is it improper to consult that chapter +itself upon this occasion. + +(6) When we have here and presently mention made of +Philadelphus's queen and sister Arsinoe, we are to remember, with +Spanheim, that Arsinoe was both his sister and his wife, +according to the old custom of Persia, and of Egypt at this very +time; nay, of the Assyrians long afterwards. See Antiq. B. XX. +ch. 2. sect. 1. Whence we have, upon the coins of Philadelphus, +this known inscription, "The divine brother and sister." + +(7) The Talmudists say, that it is not lawful to write the law in +letters of gold, contrary to this certain and very ancient +example. See Hudson's and Reland's notes here. + +(8) This is the most ancient example I have met with of a grace, +or short prayer, or thanksgiving before meat; which, as it is +used to be said by a heathen priest, was now said by Eleazar, a +Jewish priest, who was one of these seventy-two interpreters. The +next example I have met with, is that of the Essenes, (Of the +War, B. II. ch. 8. sect. 5,) both before and after it; those of +our Savior before it, Mark 8:6; John 6:11, 23; and St. Paul, Acts +27:35; and a form of such a grace or prayer for Christians, at +the end of the fifth book of the Apostolical Constitutions, which +seems to have been intended for both times, both before and after +meat. + +(9) They were rather political questions and answers, tending to +the good and religious government of mankind. + +(10) This purification of the interpreters, by washing in the +sea, before they prayed to God every morning, and before they set +about translating, may be compared with the like practice of +Peter the apostle, in the Recognitions of Clement, B. IV. ch. 3., +and B. V. ch. 36., and with the places of the Proseuchre, or of +prayer, which were sometimes built near the sea or rivers also; +of which matter see Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 10. sect. 9,3; Acts 16:13. +16. + +(11) The use of oil was much greater, and the donatives of it +much more valuable, in Judea, and the neighboring countries, than +it is amongst us. It was also, in the days of Josephus, thought +unlawful for Jews to make use of any oil that was prepared by +heathens, perhaps on account of some superstitions intermixed +with its preparation by those heathens. When therefore the +heathens were to make them a donative of oil,: they paid them +money instead of it. See Of the War, B. II. ch. 21. sect. 2; the +Life of Josephus, sect. 13; and Hudson's note on the place before +us. + +(12) This, and the like great and just characters, of the +justice, and equity, and generosity of the old Romans, both to +the Jews and other conquered nations, affords us a very good +reason why Almighty God, upon the rejection of the Jews for their +wickedness, chose them for his people, and first established +Christianity in that empire; of which matter see Josephus here, +sect. 2; as also Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 10. sect. 22, 23; B. XVI. ch. +2. sect. 4. + +(13) The name of this place, Phicol, is the very same with that +of the chief captain of Abimelech's host, in the days of Abraham, +Genesis 21:22, and might possibly be the place of that Phicol's +nativity or abode, for it seems to have been in the south part of +Palestine, as that was. + +(14) Whence it comes that these Lacedemonians declare themselves +here to be of kin to the Jews, as derived from the same ancestor, +Abraham, I cannot tell, unless, as Grotius supposes, they were +derived from Dores, that came of the Pelasgi. These are by +Herodotus called Barbarians, and perhaps were derived from the +Syrians and Arabians, the posterity of Abraham by Keturah. See +Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 10. sect. 22; and Of the War, B. I. ch. 26. +sect. l; and Grot. on 1 Macc. 12:7. We may further observe from +the Recognitions of Clement, that Eliezer, of Damascus, the +servant of Abraham, Genesis 15:2; 24., was of old by some taken +for his son. So that if the Lacedemonians were sprung from him, +they might think themselves to be of the posterity of Abraham, as +well as the Jews, who were sprung from Isaac. And perhaps this +Eliezer of Damascus is that very Damascus whom Trogus Pompeius, +as abridged by Justin, makes the founder of the Jewish nation +itself, though he afterwards blunders, and makes Azelus, Adores, +Abraham, and Israel kings of Judea, and successors to this +Damascus. It may not be improper to observe further, that Moses +Chorenensis, in his history of the Armenians, informs us, that +the nation of the Parthians was also derived from Abraham by +Keturah and her children. + +(15) This word" Gymnasium" properly denotes a place where the +exercises were performed naked, which because it would naturally +distinguish circumcised Jews from uncircumcised Gentiles, these +Jewish apostates endeavored to appear uncircumcised, by means of +a surgical operation, hinted at by St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 7:18, +and described by Celsus, B. VII. ch. 25., as Dr. Hudson here +informs us. + +(16) Hereabout Josephus begins to follow the First Book of the +Maccabees, a most excellent and most authentic history; and +accordingly it is here, with great fidelity and exactness, +abridged by him; between whose present copies there seem to be +fewer variations than in any other sacred Hebrew book of the Old +Testament whatsoever, (for this book also was originally written +in Hebrew,) which is very natural, because it was written so much +nearer to the times of Josephus than the rest were. + +(17) This citadel, of which we have such frequent mention in the +following history, both in the Maccabees and Josephus, seems to +have been a castle built on a hill, lower than Mount Zion, though +upon its skirts, and higher than Mount Moriah, but between them +both; which hill the enemies of the Jews now got possession of, +and built on it this citadel, and fortified it, till a good while +afterwards the Jews regained it, demolished it, and leveled the +hill itself with the common ground, that their enemies might no +more recover it, and might thence overlook the temple itself, and +do them such mischief as they had long undergone from it, Antiq. +B. XIII. ch. 6. sect. 6. + +(18) This allegation of the Samaritans is remarkable, that though +they were not Jews, yet did they, from ancient times, observe the +Sabbath day, and, as they elsewhere pretend, the Sabbatic year +also, Antiq. B. XI. ch. 8. sect. 6. + +(19) That this appellation of Maccabee was not first of all given +to Judas Maccabeus, nor was derived from any initial letters of +the Hebrew words on his banner, "Mi Kamoka Be Elire, Jehovah?" +("Who is like unto thee among the gods, O Jehovah?") Exodus 15:11 +as the modern Rabbins vainly pretend, see Authent. Rec. Part I. +p. 205, 206. Only we may note, by the way, that the original name +of these Maccabees, and their posterity, was Asamoneans; which +was derived from Asamoneus, the great-grandfather of Mattathias, +as Josephus here informs us. + +(20) The reason why Bethshah was called Scythopolis is well known +from Herodotus, B. I. p. 105, and Syncellus, p. 214, that the +Scythians, when they overran Asia, in the days of Josiah, seized +on this city, and kept it as long as they continued in Asia, from +which time it retained the name of Scythopolis, or the City of +the Scythians. + +(21) This most providential preservation of all the religious +Jews in this expedition, which was according to the will of God, +is observable often among God's people, the Jews; and somewhat +very like it in the changes of the four monarchies, which were +also providential. See Prideaux at the years 331, 333, and 334. + +(22) Here is another great instance of Providence, that when, +even at the very time that Simon, and Judas, and Jonathan were so +miraculously preserved and blessed, in the just defense of their +laws and religion, these other generals of the Jews, who went to +fight for honor in a vain-glorious way, and without any +commission from God, or the family he had raised up to deliver +them, were miserably disappointed and defeated. See 1 Macc. 5:61, +62. + +(23) Since St. Paul, a Pharisee, confesses that he had not known +concupiscence, or desires, to be sinful, had not the tenth +commandment said, "Thou shalt not covet," Romans 7:7, the case +seems to have been much the same with our Josephus, who was of +the same sect, that he had not a deep sense of the greatness of +any sins that proceeded no further than the intention. However, +since Josephus speaks here properly of the punishment of death, +which is not intended by any law, either of God or man, for the +bare intention, his words need not to be strained to mean, that +sins intended, but not executed, were no sins at all. + +(24) No wonder that Josephus here describes Antiochus Eupator as +young, and wanting tuition, when he came to the crown, since +Appian informs us (Syriac. p. 177) that he was then but nine +years old. + +(25) It is no way probable that Josephus would call Bacchidoa, +that bitter and bloody enemy of the Jews, as our present copies +have it, a man good, or kind, and gentle, What the author of the +First Book of Maccabees, whom Josephus here follows, instead of +that character, says of him, is, that he was a great man in the +kingdom, and faithful to his king; which was very probably +Josephus's meaning also. + +(26) Josephus's copies must have been corrupted when they here +give victory to Nicanor, contrary to the words following, which +imply that he who was beaten fled into the citadel, which for +certain belonged to the city of David, or to Mount Zion, and was +in the possession of Nicanor's garrison, and not of Judas's. As +also it is contrary to the express words of Josephus's original +author, 1 Macc. 7:32, who says that Nicanor lost about five +thousand men, and fled to the city of David. + +(27) This account of the miserable death of Alcimus, or Jac-mus, +the wicked high priest, (the first that was not of the family of +the high priests, and made by a vile heathen, Lysias,) before the +death of Judas, and of Judas's succession to him as high priest, +both here, and at the conclusion of this book, directly +contradicts 1 Macc. 9:54-57, which places his death after the +death of Judas, and says not a syllable of the high priesthood of +Judas. How well the Roman histories agree to this account of the +conquests and powerful condition of the Romans at this time, see +the notes in Havercamp's edition; only that the number of the +senators of Rome was then just three hundred and twenty, is, I +think, only known from 1 Macc. 8:15. + +(28) This subscription is wanting 1 Macc. 8:17, 29, and must be +the words of Josephus, who by mistake thought, as we have just +now seen, that Judas was at this time high priest, and +accordingly then reckoned his brother Jonathan to be the general +of the army, which yet he seems not to have been till after the +death of Judas. + +(29) That this copy of Josephus, as he wrote it, had here not one +thousand, but three thousand, with 1 Macc 9:5, is very plain, +because though the main part ran away at first, even in Josephus, +as well as in 1 Macc. 9:6, yet, as there, so here, eight hundred +are said to have remained with Judas, which would be absurd, if +the whole number had been no more than one thousand. + + + + +BOOK 13 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) This Alexander Bala, who certainly pretended to be the son of +Antiochus Epiphanes, and was owned for such by the Jews and +Romans, and many others, and yet is by several historians deemed +to be a counterfeit, and of no family at all, is, however, by +Josephus believed to have been the real son of that Antiochus, +and by him always spoken of accordingly. And truly, since the +original contemporary and authentic author of the First Book of +Maccabees (10:1) calls him by his father's name, Epiphanes, and +says he was the son of Antiochus, I suppose the other writers, +who are all much later, are not to be followed against such +evidence, though perhaps Epiphanes might have him by a woman of +no family. The king of Egypt also, Philometor, soon gave him his +daughter in marriage, which he would hardly have done, had he +believed him to be a counterfeit, and of so very mean a birth as +the later historians pretend. + +(2) Since Jonathan plainly did not put on the pontifical robes +till seven or eight years after the death of his brother Judas, +or not till the feast of tabernacles, in the 160th of the +Seleucidm, 1 Macc. 10;21, Petitus's emendation seems here to +deserve consideration, who, instead of "after four years since +the death of his brother Judas," would have us read, "and +therefore after eight years since the death of his brother +Judas." This would tolerably well agree with the date of the +Maccabees, and with Josephus's own exact chronology at the end of +the twentieth book of these Antiquities, which the present text +cannot be made to do. + +(3) Take Grotius's note here: "The Jews," says he, "were wont to +present crowns to the kings [of Syria]; afterwards that gold +which was paid instead of those crowns, or which was expended in +making them, was called the crown gold and crown tax." On 1 Macc. +10:29. + +(4) Since the rest of the historians now extant give this +Demetrius thirteen years, and Josephus only eleven years, Dean +Prideaux does not amiss in ascribing to him the mean number +twelve. + +(5) It seems to me contrary to the opinion of Josephus, and of +the moderns, both Jews and Christians, that this prophecy of +Isaiah, 19:19, etc., "In that day there shall be an altar to the +Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt," etc., directly foretold +the building of this temple of Onias in Egypt, and was a +sufficient warrant to the Jews for building it, and for +worshipping the true God, the God of Israel, therein. See +Authent. Rec. 11. p. 755. That God seems to have soon better +accepted of the sacrifices and prayers here offered him than +those at Jerusalem, see the note on ch. 10. sect. 7. And truly +the marks of Jewish corruption or interpolation in this text, in +order to discourage their people from approving of the Worship of +God here, are very strong, and highly deserve our consideration +and correction. The foregoing verse in Isaiah runs thus in our +common copies, "In that day shall five cities in the land of +Egypt speak the language of Canaan," [the Hebrew language; shall +be full of Jews, whose sacred books were in Hebrew,] "and swear +to the Lord of hosts; one" [or the first] "shall be called, The +City of Destruction," Isaiah 19:18. A strange-name, "City of +Destruction," upon so joyful occasion, and a name never heard of +in the land of Egypt, or perhaps in any other nation. The old +reading was evidently the City of the Sun, or Heliopolis; and +Unkelos, in effect, and Symmachus, with the Arabic version, +entirely confess that to be the true reading. The Septuagint +also, though they have the text disguised in the common copies, +and call it Asedek, the City of Righteousness; yet in two or +three other copies the Hebrew word itself for the Sun, Achares, +or Thares, is preserved. And since Onias insists with the king +and queen, that Isaiah's prophecy contained many other +predictions relating to this place besides the words by him +recited, it is highly probable that these were especially meant +by him; and that one main reason why he applied this prediction +to himself, and to his prefecture of Heliopolis, which Dean +Prideaux well proves was in that part of Egypt, and why he chose +to build in that prefecture of Heliopolis, though otherwise an +improper place, was this, that the same authority that he had for +building this temple in Egypt, the very same he had for building +it in his own prefecture of Heliopolis also, which he desired to +do, and which he did accordingly. Dean Prideaux has much ado to +avoid seeing this corruption of the Hebrew; but it being in +support of his own opinion about this temple, he durst not see +it; and indeed he reasons here in the most injudicious manner +possible. See him at the year 149. + +(6) A very unfair disputation this! while the Jewish disputant, +knowing that he could not properly prove out of the Pentateuch, +that "the place which the Lord their God shall choose to place +his name there," so often referred to in the Book of Deuteronomy, +was Jerusalem any more than Gerizzim, that being not determined +till the days of David, Antiq. B. VII. ch. 13. sect. 4, proves +only, what the Samaritans did not deny, that the temple at +Jerusalem was much more ancient, and much more celebrated and +honored, than that at Gerizzim, which was nothing to the present +purpose. The whole evidence, by the very oaths of both parties, +being, we see, obliged to be confined to the law of Moses, or to +the Pentateuch alone. However, worldly policy and interest and +the multitude prevailing, the court gave sentence, as usual, on +the stronger side, and poor Sabbeus and Theodosius, the Samaritan +disputants, were martyred, and this, so far as appears, without +any direct hearing at all, which is like the usual practice of +such political courts about matters of religion. Our copies say +that the body of the Jews were in a great concern about those men +(in the plural) who were to dispute for their temple at +Jerusalem, whereas it seems here they had but one disputant, +Andronicus by name. Perhaps more were prepared to speak on the +Jews' side; but the firstraying answered to his name, and +overcome the Samaritans, there was necessity for any other +defender of the Jerusalem temple. + +(7) Of the several Apollonius about these ages, see Dean Prideaux +at the year 148. This Apollonius Daus was, by his account, the +son of that Apollonius who had been made governor of Celesyria +and Phoenicia by Seleueus Philopater, and was himself a confidant +of his son Demetrius the father, and restored to his father's +government by him, but afterwards revolted from him to Alexander; +but not to Demetrius the son, as he supposes. + +(8) Dr. Hudson here observes, that the Phoenicians and Romans +used to reward such as had deserved well of them, by presenting +to them a golden button. See ch. 5. sect. 4. + +(9) This name, Demetrius Nicator, or Demetrius the conqueror, is +so written on his coins still extant, as Hudson and Spanheim +inform us; the latter of whom gives us here the entire +inscription, "King Demetrius the God, Philadelphus, Nicator." + +(10) This clause is otherwise rendered in the First Book of +Maccabees, 12:9, "For that we have the holy books of Scripture in +our hands to comfort us." The Hebrew original being lost, we +cannot certainly judge which was the truest version only the +coherence favors Josephus. But if this were the Jews' meaning, +that they were satisfied out of their Bible that the Jews and +Lacedemonians were of kin, that part of their Bible is now lost, +for we find no such assertion in our present copies. + +(11) Those that suppose Josephus to contradict himself in his +three several accounts of the notions of the Pharisees, this +here, and that earlier one, which is the largest, Of the War B. +II. ch. 8. sect. 14, and that later, Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 1. +sect. 3, as if he sometimes said they introduced an absolute +fatality, and denied all freedom of human actions, is almost +wholly groundless if he ever, as the very learned Casaubon here +truly observes, asserting, that the Pharisees were between the +Essens and Sadducees, and did so far ascribe all to fate or +Divine Providence as was consistent with the freedom of human +actions. However, their perplexed way of talking about fate, or +Providence, as overruling all things, made it commonly thought +they were willing to excuse their sins by ascribing them to fate, +as in the Apostolical Constitutions, B. VI. ch. 6. Perhaps under +the same general name some difference of opinions in this point +might be propagated, as is very common in all parties, especially +in points of metaphysical subtilty. However, our Josephus, who in +his heart was a great admirer of the piety of the Essens, was yet +in practice a Pharisee, as he himself informs us, in his own +Life, sect. 2. And his account of this doctrine of the Pharisees +is for certain agreeable to his own opinion, who ever both fully +allowed the freedom of human actions, and yet strongly believed +the powerful interposition of Divine Providence. See concerning +this matter a remarkable clause, Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 11. sect. 7. + +(12) This king, who was of the famous race of Arsaces, is +bethused to call them; but by the elder author of the First +Maccahere, and 1 Macc. 14:2, called by the family name Arsaces; +was, the king of the Persians and Medes, according to the land +but Appion says his proper name was Phraates. He is language of +the Eastern nations. See Authent. Rec. Part II. also called by +Josephus the king of the Parthians, as the Greeks p. 1108. + +(13) There is some error in the copies here, when no more than +four years are ascribed to the high priesthood of Jonathan. We +know by Josephus's last Jewish chronology, Antiq. B. XX. ch. 10., +that there was an interval of seven years between the death of +Alcimus, or Jacimus, the last high priest, and the real high +priesthood of Jonathan, to whom yet those seven years seem here +to be ascribed, as a part of them were to Judas before, Antiq. B. +XII. ch. 10. sect. 6. Now since, besides these seven years +interregnum in the pontificate, we are told, Antiq. B. XX. ch. +10., that Jonathan's real high priesthood lasted seven years +more, these two seven years will make up fourteen years, which I +suppose was Josephus's own number in this place, instead of the +four in our present copies. + +(14) These one hundred and seventy years of the Assyrians mean no +more, as Josephus explains himself here, than from the sara of +Seleucus, which as it is known to have began on the 312th year +before the Christian sara, from its spring in the First Book of +Maccabees, and from its autumn in the Second Book of Maccabees, +so did it not begin at Babylon till the next spring, on the 311th +year. See Prid. at the year 312. And it is truly observed by Dr. +Hudson on this place, that the Syrians and Assyrians are +sometimes confounded in ancient authors, according to the words +of Justin, the epitomiser of Trogus -pompeius, who says that "the +Assyrians were afterward called Syrian." B. I. ch. 11. See Of the +War, B. V. ch. 9. sect. 4, where the Philistines themselves, at +the very south limit of Syria, in its utmost extent, are called +Assyrians by Josephus as Spanheim observes. + +(15) It must here be diligently noted, that Josephus's copy of +the First Book of Maccabees, which he had so carefully followed, +and faithfully abridged, as far as the fiftieth verse of the +thirteenth chapter, seems there to have ended. What few things +there are afterward common to both, might probably be learned by +him from some other more imperfect records. However, we must +exactly observe here, what the remaining part of that book of the +Maccabees informs us of, and what Josephus would never have +omitted, had his copy contained so much, that this Simon the +Great, the Maccabee, made a league with Antiochus Soter, the son +of Demetrius Soter, and brother of the other Demetrius, who was +now a captive in Parthis: that upon his coming to the crown, +about the 140th year before the Christian sets, he granted great +privileges to the Jewish nation, and to Simon their high priest +and ethnarch; which privileges Simon seems to have taken of his +own accord about three years before. In particular, he gave him +leave to coin money for his country with his own stamp; and as +concerning Jerusalem and the sanctuary, that they should be free, +or, as the vulgar Latin hath it, "holy and free," 1 Macc. 15:6, +7, which I take to be the truer reading, as being the very words +of his father's concession offered to Jonathan several years +before, ch. 10:31; and Antiq. B, XIII. ch. 2. sect. 3. Now what +makes this date and these grants greatly remarkable, is the state +of the remaining genuine shekels of the Jews with Samaritan +characters, which seem to have been (most of them at least) +coined in the first four years of this Simon the Asamonean, and +having upon them these words on one side, "Jerusalem the Holy;" +and on the reverse, "In the Year of Freedom," 1, or 2, or 3, or +4; which shekels therefore are original monuments of these times, +and undeniable marks of the truth of the history in these +chapters, though it be in great measure omitted by Josephus. See +Essay on the Old Test. p. 157, 158. The reason why I rather +suppose that his copy of the Maccabees wanted these chapters, +than that his own copies are here imperfect, is this, that all +their contents are not here omitted, though much the greatest +part be. + +(16) How Trypho killed this Antiochus the epitome of Livy informs +us, ch. 53, viz. that he corrupted his physicians or surgeons, +who falsely pretending to the people that he was perishing with +the stone, as they cut him for it, killed him, which exactly +agrees with Josephus. + +(17) That this Antiochus, the son of Alexader Balas, was called +"The God," is evident from his coins, which Spanheim assures us +bear this inscription, "King Antiochus the God, Epiphanes the +Victorious." + +(18) Here Josephus begins to follow and to abridge the next +sacred Hebrew book, styled in the end of the First Book of +Maccabees, "The Chronicle of John [Hyrcanus's] high priesthood;" +but in some of the Greek copies," The Fourth Book of Maccabees." +A Greek version of this chronicle was extant not very long ago in +the days of Sautes Pagninus, and Sixtus Senensis, at Lyons, +though it seems to have been there burnt, and to be utterly lost. +See Sixtus Senensis's account of it, of its many Hebraisms, and +its great agreement with Josephus's abridgement, in the Authent. +Rec. Part I. p. 206, 207, 208. + +(19) Hence we learn, that in the days of this excellent high +priest, John Hyrcanus, the observation of the Sabbatic year, as +Josephus supposed, required a rest from war, as did that of the +weekly sabbath from work; I mean this, unless in the case of +necessity, when the Jews were attacked by their enemies, in which +case indeed, and in which alone, they then allowed defensive +fighting to be lawful, even on the sabbath day, as we see in +several places of Josephus, Antlq. B. XII. ch. 6. sect. 2; B. +XIII. ch. 1. sect. 2; Of the War, B. I. ch. 7. sect. 3. But then +it must be noted, that this rest from war no way appears in the +First Book of Maccabees, ch. 16., but the direct contrary; though +indeed the Jews, in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, did not +venture upon fighting on the Sabbath day, even in the defense of +their own lives, till the Asamoneans or Maccabees decreed so to +do, 1 Macc. 2:32-41; Antiq. B. XII. ch. 6. sect. 2. + +(20) Josephus's copies, both Greek and Latin, have here a gross +mistake, when they say that this first year of John Hyrcanus, +which we have just now seen to have been a Sabbatic year, was in +the 162nd olympiad, whereas it was for certain the second year of +the 161st. See the like before, B. XII. ch. 7. sect. 6. + +(21) This heliacal setting of the Pleiades, or seven stars, was, +in the days of Hyrcanus and Josephus, early in the spring, about +February, the time of the latter rain in Judea; and this, so far +as I remember, is the only astronomical character of time, +besides one eclipse of the moon in the reign of Herod, that we +meet with in all Josephus; the Jews being little accustomed to +astronomical observations, any further than for the uses of their +calendar, and utterly forbidden those astrological uses which the +heathens commonly made of them. + +(22) Dr. Hudson tells us here, that this custom of gilding the +horns of those oxen that were to be sacrificed is a known thing +both in the poets and orators. + +(23) This account in Josephus, that the present Antiochus was +persuaded, though in vain, not to make peace with the Jews, but +to cut them off utterly, is fully confirmed by Diodorus Siculus, +in Photiua's extracts out of his 34th Book. + +(24) The Jews were not to march or journey on the sabbath, or on +such a great festival as was equivalent to the sabbath, any +farther than a sabbath day's journey, or two thousand cubits, see +the note on Antiq. B. XX. ch. 8. sect. 6. + +(25) This account of the Idumeans admitting circumcision, and the +entire Jewish law, from this time, or from the days of Hyrcanus, +is confirmed by their entire history afterward. See Antiq. B. +XIV. ch. 8. sect. 1; B. XV. ch. 7. sect. 9. Of the War, B. II. +ch. 3. sect. 1; B. IV. ch. 4. sect. 5. This, in the opinion of +Josephus, made them proselytes of justice, or entire Jews, as +here and elsewhere, Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 8. sect. 1. However, +Antigonus, the enemy of Herod, though Herod were derived from +such a proselyte of justice for several generations, will allow +him to be no more than a half Jew, B. XV. ch. 15. sect. 2. But +still, take out of Dean Prideaux, at the year 129, the words of +Ammouius, a grammarian, which fully confirm this account of the +Idumeans in Josephus: "The Jews," says he, are such by nature, +and from the beginning, whilst the Idumeans were not Jews from +the beginning, but Phoenicians and Syrians; but being afterward +subdued by the Jews, and compelled to be circumcised, and to +unite into one nation, and be subject to the same laws, they were +called Jews." Dio also says, as the Dean there quotes him, from +Book XXXVI. p. 37, "That country is called Judea, and the people +Jews; and this name is given also to as many others as embrace +their religion, though of other nations." But then upon what +foundation so good a governor as Hyrcanus took upon him to compel +those Idumeans either to become Jews, or to leave the country, +deserves great consideration. I suppose it was because they had +long ago been driven out of the land of Edom, and had seized on +and possessed the tribe of Simeon, and all the southern parts of +the tribe of Judah, which was the peculiar inheritance of the +worshippers of the true God without idolatry, as the reader may +learn from Reland, Palestine, Part I. p. 154, 305; and from +Prideaux, at the years 140 and 165. + +(26) In this decree of the Roman senate, it seems that these +ambassadors were sent from the "people of the Jews," as well as +from their prince or high priest, John Hyrcanus. + +(27) Dean Prideaux takes notice at the year 130, that Justin, in +agreement with Josephus, says, "The power of the Jews was now +grown so great, that after this Antiochus they would not bear any +Macedonian king over them; and that they set up a government of +their own, and infested Syria with great wars." + +(28) The original of the Sadducees, as a considerable party among +the Jews, being contained in this and the two following sections, +take Dean Prideaux's note upon this their first public +appearance, which I suppose to be true: "Hyrcanus," says be, +"went over to the party of the Sadducees; that is, by embracing +their doctrine against the traditions of the eiders, added to the +written law, and made of equal authority with it, but not their +doctrine against the resurrection and a future state; for this +cannot be supposed of so good and righteous a man as John +Hyrcanus is said to be. It is most probable, that at this time +the Sadducees had gone no further in the doctrines of that sect +than to deny all their unwritten traditions, which the Pharisees +were so fond of; for Josephus mentions no other difference at +this time between them; neither doth he say that Hyrcanna went +over to the Sadducees in any other particular than in the +abolishing of all the traditionary constitutions of the +Pharisees, which our Savior condemned as well as they." [At the +year.] + +(29) This slander, that arose from a Pharisee, has been preserved +by their successors the Rabbins to these later ages; for Dr. +Hudson assures us that David Gantz, in his Chronology, S. Pr. p. +77, in Vorstius's version, relates that Hyrcanus's mother was +taken captive in Mount Modinth. See ch. 13. sect. 5. + +(30) Here ends the high priesthood, and the life of this +excellent person John Hyrcanus, and together with him the holy +theocracy, or Divine government of the Jewish nation, and its +concomitant oracle by Urim. Now follows the profane and +tyrannical Jewish monarchy, first of the Asamoneans or Maccabees, +and then of Herod the Great, the Idumean, till the coming of the +Messiah. See the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9. Hear +Strabo's testimony on this occasion, B. XVI. p. 761, 762: +"Those," says he, "that succeeded Moses continued for some time +in earnest, both in righteous actions and in piety; but after a +while there were others that took upon them the high priesthood, +at first superstitious and afterward tyrannical persons. Such a +prophet was Moses and those that succeeded him, beginning in a +way not to be blamed, but changing for the worse. And when it +openly appeared that the government was become tyrannical, +Alexander was the first that set up himself for a king instead of +a priest; and his sons were Hyrcanus and Aristobulus." All in +agreement with Josephus, excepting this, that Strabo omits the +first king, Aristobulus, who reigning but a single year, seems +hardly to have come to his knowledge. Nor indeed does +Aristobulus, the son of Alexander, pretend that the name of king +was taken before his father Alexander took it himself, Antiq. B. +XIV. ch. 3. sect. 2. See also ch. 12. sect. l, which favor Strabo +also. And indeed, if we may judge from the very different +characters of the Egyptian Jews under high priests, and of the +Palestine Jews under kings, in the two next centuries, we may +well suppose that the Divine Shechinah was removed into Egypt, +and that the worshippers at the temple of Onias were better men +than those at the temple of Jerusalem. + +(31) Hence we learn that the Essens pretended to have ruled +whereby men might foretell things to come, and that this Judas +the Essen taught those rules to his scholars; but whether their +pretense were of an astrological or magical nature, which yet in +such religious Jews, who were utterly forbidden such arts, is no +way probable, or to any Bath Col, spoken of by the later Rabbins, +or otherwise, I cannot tell. See Of the War, B. II. ch. 8. sect. +12. + +(32) The reason why Hyrcanus suffered not this son of his whom he +did not love to come into Judea, but ordered him to be brought up +in Galilee, is suggested by Dr. Hudson, that Galilee was not +esteemed so happy and well cultivated a country as Judea, Matthew +26:73; John 7:52; Acts 2:7, although another obvious reason +occurs also, that he was out of his sight in Galilee than he +would have been in Judea. + +(33) From these, and other occasional expressions, dropped by +Josephus, we may learn, that where the sacred hooks of the Jews +were deficient, he had several other histories then extant, (but +now most of them lost,) which he faithfully followed in his own +history; nor indeed have we any other records of those times, +relating to Judea, that can be compared to these accounts of +Josephus, though when we do meet with authentic fragments of such +original records, they almost always confirm his history. + +(34) This city, or island, Cos, is not that remote island in the +Aegean Sea, famous for the birth of the great Hippocrates, but a +city or island of the same name adjoining to Egypt, mentioned +both by Stephanus and Ptolemy, as Dr. Mizon informs us. Of which +Cos, and the treasures there laid up by Cleopatra and the Jews, +see Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 7, sect. 2. + +(35) This account of the death of Antiochus Grypus is confirmed +by Appion, Syriac. p. 132, here cited by Spanheim. + +(36) Porphyry says that this Antiochus Grypus reigned but +twenty-six years, as Dr. Hudson observes. The copies of Josephus, +both Greek and Latin, have here so grossly false a reading, +Antiochus and Antoninus, or Antonius Plus, for Antiochus Pius, +that the editors are forced to correct the text from the other +historians, who all agree that this king's name was nothing more +than Antiochus Plus. + +(37) These two brothers, Antiochus and Philippus are called twins +by Porphyry; the fourth brother was king of Damascus: both which +are the observations of Spanheim. + +(38) This Laodicea was a city of Gilead beyond Jordan. However, +Porphyry says that this Antiochus Pius did not die in this +battle; but, running away, was drowned in the river Orontes. +Appian says that he, was deprived of the kingdom of Syria by +Tigranes; but Porphyry makes this Laodice queen of the Calamans; +- all which is noted by Spanheim. In such confusion of the later +historians, we have no reason to prefer any of them before +Josephus, who had more original ones before him. This reproach +upon Alexander, that he was sprung from a captive, seems only the +repetition of the old Pharisaical calumny upon his father, ch. +10. sect. 5. + +(39) This Theodorus was the son of Zeno, and was in possession of +Areathus, as we learn from sect. 3 foregoing. + +(40) This name Thracida, which the Jews gave Alexander, must, by +the coherence, denote as barbarous as a Thracian, or somewhat +like it; but what it properly signifies is not known. + +(41) Spanheim takes notice that this Antiochus Dionysus [the +brother of Philip, and of Demetrius Eucerus, and of two otbsrs] +was the fifth son of Antiochus Grypus; and that he is styled on +the coins, "Antiochus, Epiphanes, Dionysus." + +(42) This Aretas was the first king of the Arabians who took +Damascus, and reigned there; which name became afterwards common +to such Arabian kings, both at Petra and at Damascus, as we learn +from Josephus in many places; and from St. Paul, 2 Corinthians +11:32. See the note on Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 9. sect. 4. + +(43) We may here and elsewhere take notice, that whatever +countries or cities the Asamoneans conquered from any of the +neighboring nations, or whatever countries or cities they gained +from them that had not belonged to them before, they, after the +days of Hyrcanus, compelled the inhabitants to leave their +idolatry, and entirely to receive the law of Moses, as proselytes +of justice, or else banished them into other lands. That +excellent prince, John Hyrcanus, did it to the Idumeans, as I +have noted on ch. 9. sect. 1, already, who lived then in the +Promised Land, and this I suppose justly; but by what right the +rest did it, even to the countries or cities that were no part of +that land, I do not at all know. This looks too like unjust +persecution for religion. + +(44) It seems, by this dying advice of Alexander Janneus to his +wife, that he had himself pursued the measures of his father +Hyrcanus and taken part with the Sadducees, who kept close to +the written law, against the Pharisees, who had introduced their +own traditions, ch. 16. sect. 2; and that he now saw a political +necessity of submitting to the Pharisees and their traditions +hereafter, if his widow and family minded to retain their +monarchical government or tyranny over the Jewish nation; which +sect yet, thus supported, were at last in a great measure the +ruin of the religion, government, and nation of the Jews, and +brought them into so wicked a state, that the vengeance of God +came upon them to their utter excision. Just thus did Caiaphas +politically advise the Jewish sanhedrim, John 11:50, "That it was +expedient for them that one man should die for the people, and +that the whole nation perish not;" and this in consequence of +their own political supposal, ver. 48, that, "If they let Jesus +alone," with his miracles, "all men would believe on him, and the +Romans would come and take away both their place and nation." +Which political crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth brought down the +vengeance of God upon them, and occasioned those very Romans, of +whom they seemed so much afraid, that to prevent it they put him +to death, actually to "come and take away both their place and +nation" within thirty-eight years afterwards. I heartily wish the +politicians of Christendom would consider these and the like +examples, and no longer sacrifice all virtue and religion to +their pernicious schemes of government, to the bringing down the +judgments of God upon themselves, and the several nations +intrusted to their care. But this is a digression. I wish it were +an unseasonable one also. Josephus himself several times makes +such digressions, and I here venture to follow him. See one of +them at the conclusion of the very next chapter. + +(45) The number of five hundred thousand or even three hundred +thousand, as one Greek copy, with the Latin copies, have it, for +Tigranes's army, that came out of Armenia into Syria and Judea, +seems much too large. We have had already several such +extravagant numbers in Josephus's present copies, which are not +to be at all ascribed to him. Accordingly, I incline to Dr. +Hudson's emendation here, which supposes them but forty thousand. + +(46) This fortress, castle, citadel, or tower, whither the wife +and children of Aristobulus were new sent, and which overlooked +the temple, could be no other than what Hyrcanus I. built, +(Antiq. B. XVIII ch. 4. sect. 3,) and Herod the Great rebuilt, +and called the "Tower of Antonia," Aatiq. B. XV. ch. 11. sect. 5. + + + + +BOOK 14 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Reland takes notice here, very justly, how Josephus's +declaration, that it was his great concern not only to write "an +agreeable, an accurate," and "a true" history, but also +distinctly not to omit any thing [of consequence], either through +"ignorance or laziness," implies that he could not, consistently +with that resolution, omit the mention of [so famous a person as] +"Jesus Christ." + +(2) That the famous Antipater's or Antipas's father was also +Antipater or Antipas (which two may justly be esteemed one and +the same frame, the former with a Greek or Gentile, the latter +with a Hebrew or Jewish termination) Josephus here assures us, +though Eusebias indeed says it was Herod. + +(3) This "golden vine," or "garden," seen by Strabo at Rome, has +its inscription here as if it were the gift of Alexander, the +father of Aristobulus, and not of Aristobulus himself, to whom +yet Josephus ascribes it; and in order to prove the truth of that +part of his history, introduces this testimony of Strabo; so that +the ordinary copies seem to be here either erroneous or +defective, and the original reading seems to have been either +Aristobulus, instead of Alexander, with one Greek copy, or else +"Aristobulus the son of Alexander," with the Latin copies; which +last seems to me the most probable. For as to Archbishop Usher's +conjectures, that Alexander made it, and dedicated it to God in +the temple, and that thence Aristobulus took it, and sent it to +Pompey, they are both very improbable, and no way agreeable to +Josephus, who would hardly have avoided the recording both these +uncommon points of history, had he known any thing of them; nor +would either the Jewish nation, or even Pompey himself, then have +relished such a flagrant instance of sacrilege. + +(4) These express testimonies of Josephus here, and Antiq. B. +VIII. ch. 6. sect. 6, and B. XV. ch. 4. sect. 2, that the only +balsam gardens, and the best palm trees, were, at least in his +days, near Jericho and Kugaddi, about the north part of the Dead +Sea, (whereabout also Alexander the Great saw the balsam drop,) +show the mistake of those that understand Eusebius and Jerom as +if one of those gardens were at the south part of that sea, at +Zoar or Segor, whereas they must either mean another Zoar or +Segor, which was between Jericho and Kugaddi, agreeably to +Josephus: which yet they do not appear to do, or else they +directly contradict Josephus, and were therein greatly mistaken: +I mean this, unless that balsam, and the best palm trees, grew +much more southward in Judea in the days of Eusebius and Jerom +than they did in the days of Josephus. + +(5) The particular depth and breadth of this ditch, whence the +stones for the wall about the temple were probably taken, are +omitted in our copies of Josephus, but set down by Strabo, B. +XVI. p. 763; from whom we learn that this ditch was sixty feet +deep, and two hundred and fifty feet broad. However, its depth +is, in the next section, said by Josephus to be immense, which +exactly agrees to Strabo's description, and which numbers in +Strabo are a strong confirmation of the truth of Josephus's +description also. + +(6) That is, on the 23rd of Sivan, the annual fast for the +defection and idolatry of Jeroboam, "who made Israel to sin;" or +possibly some other fast might fall into that month, before and +in the days of Josephus. + +(7) It deserves here to be noted, that this Pharisaical, +superstitious notion, that offensive fighting was unlawful to +Jews, even under the utmost necessity, on the Sabbath day, of +which we hear nothing before the times of the Maccabees, was the +proper occasion of Jerusalem's being taken by Pompey, by Sosius, +and by Titus, as appears from the places already quoted in the +note on Antiq. B. XIII. ch. 8. sect. 1; which scrupulous +superstition, as to the observation of such a rigorous rest upon +the Sabbath day, our Savior always opposed, when the Pharisaical +Jews insisted on it, as is evident in many places in the New +Testament, though he still intimated how pernicious that +superstition might prove to them in their flight from the Romans, +Matthew 25:20. + +(8) This is fully confirmed by the testimony of Cicero, who: +says, in his oration for Flaecus, that "Cneius Pompeius, when he +was conqueror, and had taken Jerusalem, did not touch any thing +belonging to that temple." + +(9) Of this destruction of Gadara here presupposed, and its +restoration by Pompey, see the note on the War, B. I. ch. 7. +sect. 7. + +(10) Dean Prideaux well observes, "That notwithstanding the +clamor against Gabinius at Rome, Josephus gives him a able +character, as if he had acquitted himself with honor in the +charge committed to him" [in Judea]. See at the year 55. + +(11) This history is best illustrated by Dr. Hudson out of Livy, +who says that "A. Gabinius, the proconsul, restored Ptolemy of +Pompey and Gabinius against the Jews, while neither of them say +any thing new which is not in the other to his kingdom of Egypt, +and ejected Archelaus, whom they had set up for king," &c. See +Prid. at the years 61 and 65. + +(12) Dr. Hudson observes, that the name of this wife of Antipater +in Josephus was Cypros, as a Hebrew termination, but not Cypris, +the Greek name for Venus, as some critics were ready to correct +it. + +(13) Take Dr. Hudson's note upon this place, which I suppose to +be the truth: "Here is some mistake in Josephus; for when he had +promised us a decree for the restoration of Jerusalem he brings +in a decree of far greater antiquity, and that a league of +friendship and union only. One may easily believe that Josephus +gave order for one thing, and his amanuensis performed another, +by transposing decrees that concerned the Hyrcani, and as deluded +by the sameness of their names; for that belongs to the first +high priest of this name, [John Hyrcanus,] which Josephus here +ascribes to one that lived later [Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander +Janneus]. However, the decree which he proposes to set down +follows a little lower, in the collection of Raman decrees that +concerned the Jews and is that dated when Caesar was consul the +fifth time." See ch. 10. sect. 5. + +(14) Those who will carefully observe the several occasional +numbers and chronological characters in the life and death of +this Herod, and of his children, hereafter noted, will see that +twenty-five years, and not fifteen, must for certain have been +here Josephus's own number for the age of Herod, when he was made +governor of Galilee. See ch. 23. sect. 5, and ch. 24. sect. 7; +and particularly Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 8. sect. 1, where about +forty-four years afterwards Herod dies an old man at about +seventy. + +(15) It is here worth our while to remark, that none could be put +to death in Judea but by the approbation of the Jewish Sanhedrim, +there being an excellent provision in the law of Moses, that even +in criminal causes, and particularly where life was concerned, an +appeal should lie from the lesser councils of seven in the other +cities to the supreme council of seventy-one at Jerusalem; and +that is exactly according to our Savior's words, when he says, +"It could not be that a prophet should perish out of Jerusalem," +Luke 13:33. + +(16) This account, as Reland observes, is confirmed by the +Talmudists, who call this Sameas, "Simeon, the son of Shetach." + +(17) That Hyreanus was himself in Egypt, along with Antipater, at +this time, to whom accordingly the bold and prudent actions of +his deputy Antipater are here ascribed, as this decree of Julius +Caesar supposes, we are further assured by the testimony of +Strabo, already produced by Josephus, ch. 8. sect. 3. + +(18) Dr. Hudson justly supposes that the Roman imperators, or +generals of armies, meant both here and sect. 2, who gave +testimony to Hyrcanus's and the Jews' faithfulness and goodwill +to the Romans before the senate and people of Rome, were +principally Pompey, Scaurus, and Gabinius; of all whom Josephus +had already given us the history, so far as the Jews were +concerned with them. + +(19) We have here a most remarkable and authentic attestation of +the citizens of Pergamus, that Abraham was the father of all the +Hebrews; that their own ancestors were, in the oldest times, the +friends of those Hebrews; and that the public arts of their city, +then extant, confirmed the same; which evidence is too strong to +be evaded by our present ignorance of the particular occasion of +such ancient friendship and alliance between those people. See +the like full evidence of the kindred of the Lacedemonians and +the Jews; and that became they were both of the posterity of +Abraham, by a public epistle of those people to the Jews, +preserved in the First Book of the Maccabees, 12:19-23; and +thence by Josephus, Antiq. B. XII. ch. 4 sect. 10; both which +authentic records are highly valuable. It is also well worthy of +observation, what Moses Chorenensis, the principal Armenian +historian, informs us of, p. 83, that Arsaces, who raised the +Parthian empire, was of the seed of Abraham by Chetura; and that +thereby was accomplished that prediction which said, "Kings of +nations shall proceed from thee," Genesis 17:6. + +(20) If we compare Josephus's promise in sect. 1, to produce all +the public decrees of the Romans in favor of the Jews, with his +excuse here for omitting many of them, we may observe, that when +he came to transcribe all those decrees he had collected, he +found them so numerous, that he thought he should too much tire +his readers if he had attempted it, which he thought a sufficient +apology for his omitting the rest of them; yet do those by him +produced afford such a strong confirmation to his history, and +give such great light to even the Roman antiquities themselves, +that I believe the curious are not a little sorry for such his +omissions. + +(21) For Marcus, this president of Syria, sent as successor to +Sextus Caesar, the Roman historians require us to read "Marcus" +in Josephus, and this perpetually, both in these Antiquities, and +in his History of the Wars, as the learned generally agree. + +(22) In this and the following chapters the reader will easily +remark, how truly Gronovius observes, in his notes on the Roman +decrees in favor of the Jews, that their rights and privileges +were commonly purchased of the Romans with money. Many examples +of this sort, both as to the Romans and others in authority, will +occur in our Josephus, both now and hereafter, and need not be +taken particular notice of on the several occasions in these +notes. Accordingly, the chief captain confesses to St. Paul that +"with a great sum he had obtained his freedom," Acts 22:28; as +had St. Paul's ancestors, very probably, purchased the like +freedom for their family by money, as the same author justly +concludes also. + +(23) This clause plainly alludes to that well-known but unusual +and very long darkness of the sun which happened upon the murder +of Julius Cesar by Brutus and Cassius, which is greatly taken +notice of by Virgil, Pliny, and other Roman authors. See Virgil's +Georgics, B. I., just before the end; and Pliny's Nat. Hist. B. +IL ch. 33. + +(24) We may here take notice that espousals alone were of old +esteemed a sufficient foundation for affinity, Hyrcanus being +here called father-in-law to Herod because his granddaughter +Mariarune was betrothed to him, although the marriage was not +completed till four years afterwards. See Matthew 1:16. + +(25) This law of Moses, that the priests were to be "without +blemish," as to all the parts of their bodies, is in Leviticus +21:17-24 + +(26) Concerning the chronology of Herod, and the time when he was +first made king at Rome, and concerning the time when he began +his second reign, without a rival, upon the conquest and +slaughter of Antigonus, both principally derived from this and +the two next chapters in Josephus, see the note on sect. 6, and +ch. 15. sect. 10. + +(27) This grievous want of water at Masada, till the place had +like to have been taken by the Parthians, (mentioned both here, +and Of the War, B. I. ch. 15. sect. 1,) is an indication that it +was now summer time. + +(28) This affirmation of Antigonus, spoken in the days of Herod, +and in a manner to his face, that he was an Idumean, i.e. a half +Jew, seems to me of much greater authority than that pretense of +his favorite and flatterer Nicolaus of Damascus, that he derived +his pedigree from Jews as far backward as the Babylonish +captivity, ch. 1. sect. 3. Accordingly Josephus always esteems +him an Idumean, though he says his father Antipater was of the +same people with the Jews, ch. viii. sect. 1. and by birth a Jew, +Antiq. B. XX. ch. 8. sect. 7; as indeed all such proselytes of +justice, as the Idumeans, were in time esteemed the very same +people with the Jews. + +(29) It may be worth our observation here, that these soldiers of +Herod could not have gotten upon the tops of these houses which +were full of enemies, in order to pull up the upper floors, and +destroy them beneath, but by ladders from the out side; which +illustrates some texts in the New Testament, by which it appears +that men used to ascend thither by ladders on the outsides. See +Matthew 24:17; Mark 13:15; Luke 5:19; 17:31. + +(30) Note here, that Josephus fully and frequently assures us +that there passed above three years between Herod's first +obtaining the kingdom at Rome, and his second obtaining it upon +the taking of Jerusalem and death of Antigonus. The present +history of this interval twice mentions the army going into +winter quarters, which perhaps belonged to two several winters, +ch. 15. sect. 3, 4; and though Josephus says nothing how long +they lay in those quarters, yet does he give such an account of +the long and studied delays of Ventidius, Silo, and Macheras, who +were to see Herod settled in his new kingdom, but seem not to +have had sufficient forces for that purpose, and were for certain +all corrupted by Antigonus to make the longest delays possible, +and gives us such particular accounts of the many great actions +of Herod during the same interval, as fairly imply that interval, +before Herod went to Samosata, to have been very considerable. +However, what is wanting in Josephus, is fully supplied by Moses +Chorenensis, the Armenian historian, in his history of that +interval, B. II ch. 18., where he directly assures us that +Tigranes, then king of Armenia, and the principal manager of this +Parthian war, reigned two years after Herod was made king at +Rome, and yet Antony did not hear of his death, in that very +neighborhood, at Samosata, till he was come thither to besiege +it; after which Herod brought him an army, which was three +hundred and forty miles' march, and through a difficult country, +full of enemies also, and joined with him in the siege of +Samosata till that city was taken; then Herod and Sosins marched +back with their large armies the same number of three hundred and +forty miles; and when, in a little time, they sat down to besiege +Jerusalem, they were not able to take it but by a siege of five +months. All which put together, fully supplies what is wanting in +Josephus, and secures the entire chronology of these times beyond +contradiction. + + + + +BOOK 15 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) The city here called "Babylon" by Josephus, seems to be one +which was built by some of the Seleucidae upon the Tigris, which +long after the utter desolation of old Babylon was commonly so +called, and I suppose not far from Seleueia; just as the latter +adjoining city Bagdat has been and is often called by the same +old name of Babylon till this very day. + +(2) Here we have an eminent example of Herod's worldly and +profane politics, when by the abuse of his unlawful and usurped +power, to make whom he pleased high priest, in the person of +Ananelus, he occasioned such disturbances in his kingdom, and in +his own family, as suffered him to enjoy no lasting peace or +tranquillity ever afterward; and such is frequently the effect of +profane court politics about matters of religion in other ages +and nations. The Old Testament is full of the miseries of the +people of the Jews derived from such court politics, especially +in and after the days of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, "who made +Israel to sin;" who gave the most pernicious example of it; who +brought on the grossest corruption of religion by it; and the +punishment of whose family for it was most remarkable. The case +is too well known to stand in need of particular citations. + +(3) Of this wicked Dellius, see the note on the War, B. I. ch. +15. sect. 3. + +(4) When Josephus says here that this Ananelus, the new high +priest, was "of the stock of the high priests," and since he had +been just telling us that he was a priest of an obscure family or +character, ch. 2. sect. 4, it is not at all probable that he +could so soon say that he was "of the stock of the high priests." +However, Josephus here makes a remarkable observation, that this +Ananelus was the third that was ever unjustly and wickedly turned +out of the high priesthood by the civil power, no king or +governor having ventured to do so, that Josephus knew of, but +that heathen tyrant and persecutor Antiochus Epiphanes; that +barbarous parricide Aristobulus, the first that took royal +authority among the Maccabees; and this tyrant king Herod the +Great, although afterward that infamous practice became frequent, +till the very destruction of Jerusalem, when the office of high +priesthood was at an end. + +(5) This entirely confutes the Talmudists, who pretend that no +one under twenty years of age could officiate as high priest +among the Jews. + +(6) A Hebrew chronicle, cited by Reland, says this drowning was +at Jordan, not at Jericho, and this even when he quote Josephus. +I suspect the transcriber of the Hebrew chronicle mistook the +name, and wrote Jordan for Jericho. + +(7) The reading of one of Josephus's Greek MSS. seems here to be +right, that Aristobulus was "not eighteen years old" when he was +drowned, for he was not seventeen when he was made high priest, +ch. 2. sect. 6, ch. 3. sect. 3, and he continued in that office +but one year, as in the place before us. + +(8) The reader is here to take notice, that this seventh year of +the reign of Herod, and all the other years of his reign, in +Josephus, are dated from the death of Antigonus, or at the +soonest from the conclusion of Antigonus, and the taking of +Jerusalem a few months before, and never from his first obtaining +the kingdom at Rome, above three years before, as some have very +weakly and injudiciously done. + +(9) Herod says here, that as ambassadors were sacred when they +carried messages to others, so did the laws of the Jews derive a +sacred authority by being delivered from God by angels, [or +Divine ambassadors,] which is St. Paul's expression about the +same laws, Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2;2. + +(10) This piece of religion, the supplicating God with +sacrifices, by Herod, before he went to this fight with the +Arabians, taken notice of also in the first book of the War, ch. +19. sect. 5, is worth remarking, because it is the only example +of this nature, so far as I remember, that Josephus ever mentions +in all his large and particular accounts of this Herod; and it +was when he had been in mighty distress, and discouraged by a +great defeat of his former army, and by a very great earthquake +in Judea, such times of affliction making men most religious; nor +was he disappointed of his hopes here, but immediately gained a +most signal victory over the Arabians, while they who just before +had been so great victors, and so much elevated upon the +earthquake in Judea as to venture to slay the Jewish ambassadors, +were now under a strange consternation, and hardly able to fight +at all. + +(11) Whereas Mariamne is here represented as reproaching: Herod +with the murder of her father [Alexander], as well as her brother +[Aristobulus], while it was her grandfather Hyrcanus, and not her +father Alexander, whom he caused to be slain, (as Josephus +himself informs us, ch. 6. sect. 2,) we must either take +Zonaras's reading, which is here grandfather, rightly, or else we +must, as before, ch. 1. sect. 1, allow a slip of Josephus's pen +or memory in the place before us. + +(12) Here is a plain example of a Jewish lady giving a bill of +divorce to her husband, though in the days of Josephus it was not +esteemed lawful for a woman so to do. See the like among the +Parthians, Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 9. sect. 6. However, the +Christian law, when it allowed divorce for adultery, Matthew +5:32, allowed the innocent wife to divorce her guilty husband, as +well as the innocent husband to divorce his guilty wife, as we +learn from the shepherd of Hermas, Mand. B. IV., and from: the +second apology of Justin Martyr, where a persecution was brought +upon the Christians upon such a divorce; and I think the Roman +laws permitted it at that time, as well as the laws of +Christianity. Now this Babas, who was one of the race of the +Asamoneans or Maccabees, as the latter end of this section +informs us, is related by the Jews, as Dr. Hudson here remarks, +to have been so eminently religious in the Jewish way, that, +except the day following the tenth of Tisri, the great day of +atonement, when he seems to have supposed all his sins entirely +forgiven, he used every day of the whole year to offer a +sacrifice for his sins of ignorance, or such as he supposed he +had been guilty of, but did not distinctly remember. See somewhat +like it of Agrippa the Great, Antiq. B. XIX. ch. 3. sect. 3, and +Job 1:4, 5. + +(13) These grand plays, and shows, and Thymelici, or music +meetings, and chariot races, when the chariots were drawn by two, +three, or four pair of horses, etc., instituted by Herod in his +theatres, were still, as we see here, looked on by the sober Jews +as heathenish sports, and tending to corrupt the manners of the +Jewish nation, and to bring them in love with paganish idolatry, +and paganish conduct of life, but to the dissolution of the law +of Moses, and accordingly were greatly and justly condemned by +them, as appears here and every where else in Josephus. Nor is +the case of our modern masquerades, plays, operas, and the like +"pomps and vanities of this wicked world," of any better tendency +under Christianity. + +(14) Here we have an eminent example of the language of Josephus +in his writing to Gentiles, different from that when he wrote to +Jews; in his writing to whom he still derives all such judgments +from the anger of God; but because he knew many of the Gentiles +thought they might naturally come in certain periods, he complies +with them in the following sentence. See the note on the War. B. +I. ch. 33. sect. 2. + +(15) This famine for two years that affected Judea and Syria, the +thirteenth mid fourteenth years of Herod, which are the +twenty-third and twenty-fourth years before the Christian era, +seems to have been more terrible during this time than was that +in the days of Jacob, Genesis 41., 42. And what makes the +comparison the more remarkable is this, that now, as well as +then, the relief they had was from Egypt also; then from Joseph +the governor of Egypt, under Pharaoh king of Egypt; and now from +Petronius the prefect of Egypt, under Augustus the Roman emperor. +See almost the like case, Antiq. B. XX. ch. 2. sect. 6. It is +also well worth our observation here, that these two years were a +Sabbatic year, and a year of jubilee, for which Providence, +during the theocracy, used to provide a triple crop beforehand; +but became now, when the Jews had forfeited that blessing, the +greatest years of famine to them ever since the days of Ahab, 1 +Kings 17., 18. + +(16) This Aelius Gallus seems to be no other than that Aelius +Lagus whom Dio speaks of as conducting an expedition that was +about this time made into Arabia Felix, according to Betarius, +who is here cited by Spanheim. See a full account of this +expedition in Prideaux, at the years 23 and 24. + +(17) One may here take notice, that how tyrannical and +extravagant soever Herod were in himself, and in his Grecian +cities, as to those plays, and shows, and temples for idolatry, +mentioned above, ch. 8. sect. 1, and here also; yet durst even he +introduce very few of them into the cities of the Jews, who, as +Josephus here notes, would not even then have borne them, so +zealous were they still for many of the laws of Moses, even under +so tyrannical a government as this was of Herod the Great; which +tyrannical government puts me naturally in mind of Dean +Prideaux's honest reflection upon the like ambition after such +tyrannical power in Pompey and Caesar: "One of these (says he, at +the year 60) could not bear an equal, nor the other a superior; +and through this ambitions humor and thirst after more power in +these two men, the whole Roman empire being divided into two +opposite factions, there was produced hereby the most destructive +war that ever afflicted it; and the like folly too much reigns in +all other places. Could about thirty men be persuaded to live at +home in peace, without enterprising upon the rights of each +other, for the vain glory of conquest, and the enlargement of +power, the whole world might be at quiet; but their ambition, +their follies, and their humor, leading them constantly to +encroach upon and quarrel with each other, they involve all that +are under them in the mischiefs thereof; and many thousands are +they which yearly perish by it; so that it may almost raise a +doubt, whether the benefit which the world receives from +government be sufficient to make amends for the calamities which +it suffers from the follies, mistakes, and real-administrations +of those that manage it." + +(18) Cesarea being here said to be rebuilt and adorned in twelve +years, and soon afterwards in ten years, Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 5. +sect. 1, there must be a mistake in one of the places as to the +true number, but in which of them it is hard positively to +determine. + +(19) This Pollio, with whom Herod's sons lived at Rome, was not +Pollio the Pharisee, already mentioned by Josephus, ch. 1. sect. +1, and again presently after this, ch. 10. sect. 4; but Asinine +Pollo, the Roman, as Spanheim here observes. + +(20) The character of this Zenodorus is so like that of a famous +robber of the same name in Strabo, and that about this very +country, and about this very time also, that I think Dr. Hudson +hardly needed to have put a overlaps to his determination that +they were the same. + +(21) A tetrarchy properly and originally denoted the fourth part +of an entire kingdom or country, and a tetrarch one that was +ruler of such a fourth part, which always implies somewhat less +extent of dominion and power than belong to a kingdom and to a +king. + +(22) We may here observe, that the fancy of the modern Jews, in +calling this temple, which was really the third of their temples, +the second temple, followed so long by later Christians, seems to +be without any solid foundation. The reason why the Christians +here followed the Jews is, because of the prophecy of Haggai, +2:6-9, which they expound of the Messiah's coning to the second +or Zorobabel's temple, of which they suppose this of Herod to be +only a continuation; which is meant, I think, of his coming to +the fourth and last temple, of that future, largest, and most +glorious one, described by Ezekiel; whence I take the former +notion, how general soever, to be a great mistake. See Lit. +Accorap. of Proph. p. 2. + +(23) Some of our modern students in architecture have made a +strange blunder here, when they imagine that Josephus affirms the +entire foundations of the temple or holy house sunk down into the +rocky mountain on which it stood no less than twenty cubits, +whereas he is clear that they were the foundations of the +additional twenty cubits only above the hundred (made perhaps +weak on purpose, and only for show and grandeur) that sunk or +fell down, as Dr. Hudson rightly understands him; nor is the +thing itself possible in the other sense. Agrippa's preparation +for building the inner parts of the temple twenty cubits higher +(History of the War, B. V. ch. 1. sect. 5) must in all +probability refer to this matter, since Josephus says here, that +this which had fallen down was designed to be raised up again +under Nero, under whom Agrippa made that preparation. But what +Josephus says presently, that Solomon was the first king of the +Jews, appears by the parallel place, Antiq. B. XX. ch. 9. sect. +7, and other places, to be meant only the first of David's +posterity, and the first builder of the temple. + +(24) "Into none Of these three did king Herod enter," i.e. 1. Not +into the court of the priests; 2. Nor into the holy house itself; +3. Nor into the separate place belonging to the altar, as the +words following imply; for none but priests, or their attendants +the Levites, might come into any of them. See Antiq. B. XVI. ch. +4. sect. 6, when Herod goes into the temple, and makes a speech +in it to the people, but that could only be into the court of +Israel, whither the people could come to hear him. + +(25) This tradition which Josephus here mentions, as delivered +down from fathers to their children, of this particular +remarkable circumstance relating to the building of Herod's +temple, is a demonstration that such its building was a known +thing in Judea at this time. He was born about forty-six years +after it is related to have been finished, and might himself have +seen and spoken with some of the builders themselves, and with a +great number of those that had seen it building. The doubt +therefore about the truth of this history of the pulling down and +rebuilding this temple by Herod, which some weak people have +indulged, was not then much greater than it soon may be, whether +or not our St. Paul's church in London was burnt down in the fire +of London, A.D. 1666, and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren a +little afterward. + + + + +BOOK 16 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) We may here observe the ancient practice of the Jews, of +dedicating the sabbath day, not to idleness, but to the learning +their sacred rites and religious customs, and to the meditation +on the law of Moses; the like to which we meet with elsewhere in +Josephus also against Apion, B. I. sect. 22. + +(2) This interval of ten years for the duration of Marcus +Agrippa's government in Asia seems to be true, and agreeable to +the Roman history. See Usher's Annals at A.M. 3392. + +(3) Although Herod met Augustus at Aquilei, yet was this +accusation of his sons deferred till they came to Rome, as sect. +3 assures us, and as we are particularly informed in the History +of the War, B. I. ch. 23. sect. 3; though what he here says +belonged distinctly to Alexander, the elder brother, I mean his +being brought to Rome, is here justly extended to both the +brothers, and that not only in our copies, but in that of Zonaras +also; nor is there reason to doubt but they were both at this +solemn hearing by Augustus, although the defense was made by +Alexander alone, who was the eldest brother, and one that could +speak very well. + +(4) Since some prejudiced men have indulged a wild suspicion, as +we have supposed already, Antiq. B. XV. ch. 11. sect. 7, that +Josephus's history of Herod's rebuilding the temple is no better +than a fable, it may not be amiss to take notice of this +occasional clause in the speech of Alexander before his father +Herod, in his and his brother's vindication, which mentions the +temple as known by every body to have been built by Herod. + +(5) See John 2:20. See also another speech of Herod's own to the +young men that pulled down his golden eagle from the front of the +temple, where he takes notice how the building of the temple cost +him a vast sum; and that the Asamoneans, in those one hundred and +twenty-five years they held the government, were not able to +perform so great a work, to the honor of God, as this was, Antiq. +B. XVII. ch. 6. sect. 3. + +(6) Dr. Hudson here gives us the words of Suetonius concerning +this Nicopolis, when Augustus rebuilt it: "And that the memory of +the victory at Actium might be celebrated the more afterward, he +built Nicopolis at Actium, and appointed public shows to be there +exhibited every fifth year." In August, sect. 18. + +(7) Augustus here calls Julius Caesar his father, though by birth +he was only his uncle, on account of his adoption by him. See the +same Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 14. sect. 4. + +(8) This is authentic evidence that the Jews, in the days of +Augustus, began to prepare for the celebration of the sabbath at +the ninth hour on Friday, as the tradition of the elders did, it +seems, then require of them. + +(9) The remaining part of this chapter is remarkable, as justly +distinguishing natural justice, religion, and morality, from +positive institutions in all countries, and evidently preferring +the former before the latter, as did the true prophets of God +always under the Old Testament, and Christ and his New; whence +Josephus seems to have been at this time nearer Christianity than +were the Scribes and Pharisees of his age; who, as we know from +the New Testament, were entirely of a different opinion and +practice. + +(10) It is here worth our observation, how careful Josephus was +as to the discovery of truth in Herod's history, since he would +not follow Nicolaus of Damascus himself, so great an historian, +where there was great reason to suspect that he flattered Herod; +which impartiality in history Josephus here solemnly pro fesses, +and of which impartiality he has given more demonstrations than +almost any historian whomsoever; but as to Herod's taking great +wealth out of David's sepulcher, though I cannot prove it, yet do +I strongly suspect it from this very history. + +(11) These joint presidents of Syria, Saturninus and Volumnius, +were not perhaps of equal authority, but the latter like a +procurator under the former, as the very learned Noris and Pagi, +and with them Dr. Hudson, determine. + +(12) This Aretas was now become so established a name for the +kings of Arabia, [at Petra and Damascus,] that when the crown +came to this Aeneas, he changed his name to Aretas, as Havercamp +here justly observes. See Antiq. B. XIII. ch. 15. sect, 2. + +(13) This oath, by the fortune of Caesar, was put to Polycarp, a +bishop of Smyrna, by the Roman governor, to try whether he were a +Christian, as they were then esteemed who refused to swear that +oath. Martyr. Polycarp, sect. 9. + +(14) What Josephus relates Augustus to have here said, that +Berytus was a city belonging to the Romans, is confirmed by +Spanheim's notes here: "It was," says he, "a colony placed there +by Augustus. Whence Ulpian, De Gens. bel. L. T. XV. The colony of +Berytus was rendered famous by the benefits of Caesar; and thence +it is that, among the coins of Augustus, we meet with some having +this inscription: The happy colony of Augustus at Berytua." + +(15) The reader is here to note, that this eighth section is +entirely wanting in the old Latin version, as Spanheim truly +observes; nor is there any other reason for it, I suppose, than +the great difficulty of an exact translation. + + + + +BOOK 17 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Those who have a mind to know all the family and descendants +of Antipater the Idumean, and of Herod the Great, his son, and +have a memory to preserve them all distinctly, may consult +Josephus, Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 5. sect. 4; and Of the War, B. I. +ch. 28. sect. 4; in Havercamp's edition, p. 336; and Spanheim, +lb. p. 402--405; and Reland, Paleslin. Part I. p. 178, 176. + +(2) This is now wanting. + +(3) Pheroras's wife, and her mother and sister, and Doris, +Antipater's mother. + +(4)His wife, her mother, and sister. + +(5) It seems to me, by this whole story put together, that +Pheroras was not himself poisoned, as is commonly supposed; for +Antipater had persuaded him to poison Herod, ch. v. sect. 1, +which would fall to the ground if he wore himself poisoned; nor +could the poisoning of Pheroras serve any design that appears now +going forward; it was only the supposal of two of his freed-men, +that this love-potion, or poison, which they knew was brought to +Pheroras's wife, was made use of for poisoning him; whereas it +appears to have been brought for her husband to poison Herod +withal, as the future examinations demonstrate. + +(6) That the making of images, without an intention to worship +them, was not unlawful to the Jews, see the note on Antiq. B +VIII. ch. 7. sect. 5. + +(7) This fact, that one Joseph was made high priest for a single +day, on occasion of the action here specified, that befell +Matthias, the real high priest, in his sleep, the night before +the great day of expiation, is attested to both in the Mishna and +Talmud, as Dr. Hudson here informs us. And indeed, from this +fact, thus fully attested, we may confute that pretended rule in +the Talmud here mentioned, and endeavored to be excused lay +Reland, that the high priest was not suffered to sleep the night +before that great day of expiation; which watching would surely +rather unfit him for the many important duties he was to perform +on that solemn day, than dispose him duly to perform them. Nor do +such Talmudical rules, when unsupported by better evidence, much +less when contradicted there by, seem to me of weight enough to +deserve that so great a man as Reland should spend his time in +endeavors at their vindication. + +(8) This eclipse of the moon (which is the only eclipse of either +of the luminaries mentioned by our Josephus in any of his +writings) is of the greatest consequence for the determination of +the time for the death of Herod and Antipater, and for the birth +and entire chronology of Jesus Christ. It happened March 13th, in +the year of the Julian period 4710, and the 4th year before the +Christian era. See its calculation by the rules of astronomy, at +the end of the Astronomical Lectures, edit. Lat. p. 451, 452. + +(9) A place for the horse-races. + +(10) When it is here said that Philip the tetrarch, and Archelaus +the king, or ethnarch, were own brother, or genuine brothers, if +those words mean own brothers, or born of the same father and +mother, there must be here some mistake; because they had indeed +the same father, Herod, but different mothers; the former +Cleopatra, and Archclaus Malthace. They were indeed brought up +together privately at Rome like when he went to have his kingdom +confirmed to him at Rome, ch. 9. sect. 5; and Of the War, B. II. +ch. 2. sect. 1; which intimacy is perhaps all that Josephus +intended by the words before us. + +(11) These numbers of years for Herod's reign, 34 and 37, are the +very same with those, Of the War, B. I. ch. 33. sect. 8, and are +among the principal chronological characters belonging to the +reign or death of Herod. See Harm. p. 150--155. + +(12) At eight stadia or furlongs a-day, as here, Herod's funeral, +conducted to Herodium, which lay at the distance from Jericho, +where he died, of 200 stadia or furlongs, Of the War, B. 1. ch. +33. sect. 9, must have taken up no less than twenty-five days. + +(13) This passover, when the sedition here mentioned was moved +against Archelaus, was not one, but thirteen months after the +eclipse of the moon already mentioned. + +(14) See Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 13. sect. 10; and Of the War; B. II. +ch. 12. sect. 9. + +(15) These great devastations made about the temple here, and Of +the War, B. II. ch. 3. sect. 3, seem not to have been full +re-edified in the days of Nero; till whose time there were +eighteen thousand workmen continually employed in rebuilding and +repairing that temple, as Josephus informs us, Antiq. B. XX. ch. +9. sect. 7. See the note on that place. + +(16) Unless this Judas, the son of Ezekias, be the same with that +Theudas, mentioned Acts 5:36, Josephus must have omitted him; for +that other Thoualas, whom he afterward mentions, under Fadus the +Roman governor, B. XX. ch. 5. sect. 1, is much too late to +correspond to him that is mentioned in the Acts. The names +Theudas, Thaddeus, and Judas differ but little. See Archbishop +Usher's Annals at A.M. 4001. However, since Josephus does not +pretend to reckon up the heads of all those ten thousand +disorders in Judea, which he tells us were then abroad, see sect. +4 and 8, the Theudas of the Acts might be at the head of one of +those seditions, though not particularly named by him. Thus he +informs us here, sect. 6, and Of the War, B. II. ch. 4. Sect. 2, +that certain of the seditious came and burnt the royal palace at +Amsthus, or Betharamphta, upon the river Jordan. Perhaps their +leader, who is not named by Josephus, might be this Theudas. + +(17) See Of the War, B. II. ch. 2. sect. 3. + +(18) See the note, Of the War, B. II. ch. 6. sect. 1. + +(19) He was tetrarch afterward. + +(20) If any one compare that Divine prediction concerning the +tyrannical power which Jewish kings would exercise over them, if +they would be so foolish as to prefer it before their ancient +theocracy or aristocracy, 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Antiq. B. VI. ch. 4. +sect. 4, he will soon find that it was superabundantly fulfilled +in the days of Herod, and that to such a degree, that the nation +now at last seem sorely to repent of such their ancient choice, +in opposition to God's better choice for them, and had much +rather be subject to even a pagan Roman government, and their +deputies, than to be any longer under the oppression of the +family of Herod; which request of theirs Augustus did not now +grant them, but did it for the one half of that nation in a few +years afterward, upon fresh complaints made by the Jews against +Archelaus, who, under the more humble name of an ethnarch, which +Augustus only would now allow him, soon took upon him the +insolence and tyranny of his father king Herod, as the remaining +part of this book will inform us, and particularly ch. 13. sect. +2. + +(21) This is not true. See Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 9. sect. 3, 4; and +ch. 12. sect. 2; and ch. 13. sect. 1, 2. Antiq. B. XV. ch. 3. +sect. 5; and ch. 10. sect. 2, 3. Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 9. sect. 3. +Since Josephus here informs us that Archelaus had one half of the +kingdom of Herod, and presently informs us further that +Archelaus's annual income, after an abatement of one quarter for +the present, was 600 talents, we may therefore ga ther pretty +nearly what was Herod the Great's yearly income, I mean about +1600 talents, which, at the known value of 3000 shekels to a +talent, and about 2s. 10d. to a shekel, in the days of Josephus, +see the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 2, amounts to 680,000 +sterling per annum; which income, though great in itself, bearing +no proportion to his vast expenses every where visible in +Josephus, and to the vast sums he left behind him in his will, +ch. 8. sect. 1, and ch. 12. sect. 1, the rest must have arisen +either from his confiscation of those great men's estates whom he +put to death, or made to pay fine for the saving of their lives, +or from some other heavy methods of oppression which such savage +tyrants usually exercise upon their miserable subjects; or rather +from these several methods not together, all which yet seem very +much too small for his expenses, being drawn from no larger a +nation than that of the Jews, which was very populous, but +without the advantage of trade to bring them riches; so that I +cannot but strongly suspect that no small part of this his wealth +arose from another source; I mean from some vast sums he took out +of David's sepulcher, but concealed from the people. See the note +on Antiq. B. VII. ch. 15. sect. 3. + +(22) Take here a very useful note of Grotias, on Luke 3:1, here +quoted by Dr. Hudson: "When Josephus says that some part of the +house (or possession) of Zenodorus (i.e. Abilene) was allotted to +Philip, he thereby declares that the larger part of it belonged +to another. This other was Lysanias, whom Luke mentions, of the +posterity of that Lysanias who was possessed of the same country +called Abilene, from the city Abila, and by others Chalcidene, +from the city Chaleis, when the government of the East was under +Antonius, and this after Ptolemy, the son of Menneus; from which +Lysanias this country came to be commonly called the Country of +Lysanias; and as, after the death of the former Lyanias, it was +called the tetrarchy of Zenodorus, so, after the death of +Zenodorus, or when the time for which he hired it was ended when +another Lysanias, of the same name with the former, was possessed +of the same country, it began to be called the Tetrarchy of +Lysanias." However, since Josephus elsewhere (Antiq. B. XX. ch. +7. sect. 1) clearly distinguishes Abilene from Cilalcidcue, +Groius must be here so far mistaken. + +(23) Spanheim seasonably observes here, that it was forbidden the +Jews to marry their brother's wife when she had children by her +first husband, and that Zonaras (cites, or) interprets the clause +before us accordingly. + + + + +BOOK 18 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Since St. Luke once, Acts 5:37, and Josephus four several +times, once here, sect. 6; and B. XX. ch. 5. sect. 2; Of the War, +B. II. ch. 8. sect. 1; and ch. 17. sect. 8, calls this Judas, who +was the pestilent author of that seditious doctrine and temper +which brought the Jewish nation to utter destruction, a Galilean; +but here (sect. 1) Josephus calls him a Gaulonite, of the city of +Gamala; it is a great question where this Judas was born, whether +in Galilee on the west side, or in Gaulonitis on the east side, +of the river Jordan; while, in the place just now cited out of +the Antiquities, B. XX. ch. 5. sect. 2, he is not only called a +Galilean, but it is added to his story, "as I have signified in +the books that go before these," as if he had still called him a +Galilean in those Antiquities before, as well as in that +particular place, as Dean Aldrich observes, Of the War, B. II. +ch. 8. sect. 1. Nor can one well imagine why he should here call +him a Gaulonite, when in the 6th sect. following here, as well as +twice Of the War, he still calls him a Galilean. As for the city +of Gamala, whence this Judas was derived, it determines nothing, +since there were two of that name, the one in Gaulonitis, the +other in Galilee. See Reland on the city or town of that name. + +(2) It seems not very improbable to me that this Sadduc, the +Pharisee, was the very same man of whom the Rabbins speak, as the +unhappy, but undesigning, occasion of the impiety or infidelity +of the Sadducees; nor perhaps had the men this name of Sadducees +till this very time, though they were a distinct sect long +before. See the note on B. XIII. ch. 10. sect 5; and Dean +Prideaux, as there quoted. Nor do we, that I know of, find the +least footsteps of such impiety or infidelity of these Sadducees +before this time, the Recognitions assuring us that they began +about the days of John the Baptist; B. 1. ch. 54. See note above. + +(3) It seems by what Josephus says here, and Philo himself +elsewhere, Op. p. 679, that these Essens did not use to go to the +Jewish festivals at Jerusalem, or to offer sacrifices there, +which may be one great occasion why they are never mentioned in +the ordinary books of the New Testament; though, in the +Apostolical Constitutions, they are mentioned as those that +observed the customs of their forefathers, and that without any +such ill character laid upon them as is there laid upon the other +sects among that people. + +(4) Who these Polistae in Josephus, or in Strabo, among the +Pythagoric Dacae, were, it is not easy to determine. Scaliger +offers no improbable conjecture, that some of these Dacae lived +alone, like monks, in tents or caves; but that others of them +lived together in built cities, and thence were called by such +names as implied the same. + +(5) We may here take notice, as well as in the parallel parts of +the books Of the War, B. II. ch. 9. sect. 1, that after the death +of Herod the Great, and the succession of Archclaus, Josephus is +very brief in his accounts of Judea, till near his own time. I +suppose the reason is, that after the large history of Nicolaus +of Damascus, including the life of Herod, and probably the +succession and first actions of his sons, he had but few good +histories of those times before him. + +(6) Numbers 19:11-14. + +(7) This citation is now wanting. + +(8) These Jews, as they are here called, whose blood Pilate shed +on this occasion, may very well be those very Galilean Jews, +"whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices," Luke +13:1, 2; these tumults being usually excited at some of the Jews' +great festivals, when they slew abundance of sacrifices, and the +Galileans being commonly much more busy in such tumults than +those of Judea and Jerusalem, as we learn from the history of +Archelaus, Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 9. sect. 3 and ch. 10. sect. 2, 9; +though, indeed, Josephus's present copies say not one word of +"those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew +them," which the 4th verse of the same 13th chapter of St. Luke +informs us of. But since our gospel teaches us, Luke 23:6, 7, +that "when Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether Jesus were a +Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's +jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod;" and ver. 12, "The same day +Pilate and Herod were made friends together for before they had +been at enmity between themselves;" take the very probable key of +this matter in the words of the learned Noldius, de Herod. No. +219: "The cause of the enmity between Herod and Pilate (says he) +seems to have been this, that Pilate had intermeddled with the +tetrarch's jurisdiction, and had slain some of his Galilean +subjects, Luke 13:1; and, as he was willing to correct that +error, he sent Christ to Herod at this time." + +(9) A.D. 33, April 3. + +(10) April 5. + +(11) Of the banishment of these four thousand Jews into Sardinia +by Tiberius, see Suetonlus in Tiber. sect. 36. But as for Mr. +Reland's note here, which supposes that Jews could not, +consistently with their laws, be soldiers, it is contradicted by +one branch of the history before us, and contrary to innumerable +instances of their fighting, and proving excellent soldiers in +war; and indeed many of the best of them, and even under heathen +kings themselves, did so; those, I mean, who allowed them their +rest on the sabbath day, and other solemn festivals, and let them +live according to their own laws, as Alexander the Great and the +Ptolemies of Egypt did. It is true, they could not always obtain +those privileges, and then they got executed as well as they +could, or sometimes absolutely refused to fight, which seems to +have been the case here, as to the major part of the Jews now +banished, but nothing more. See several of the Roman decrees in +their favor as to such matters, B. XIV. ch. 10. + +(12) Since Moses never came himself beyond Jordan, nor +particularly to Mount Gerizzim, and since these Samaritans have a +tradition among them, related here by Dr. Hudson, from Reland, +who was very skillful in Jewish and Samaritan learning, that in +the days of Uzzi or Ozis the high priest, 1 Chronicles 6:6; the +ark and other sacred vessels were, by God's command, laid up or +hidden in Mount Gerizzim, it is highly probable that this was the +foolish foundation the present Samaritans went upon, in the +sedition here described. + +(13) This mention of the high priest's sacred garments received +seven days before a festival, and purified in those days against +a festival, as having been polluted by being in the custody of +heathens, in Josephus, agrees well with the traditions of the +Talmudists, as Reland here observes. Nor is there any question +but the three feasts here mentioned were the passover, pentecost, +and feast of tabernacles; and the fast so called by way of +distinction, as Acts 27:9, was the great day of expiation. + +(14) This calculation, from all Josephus's Greek copies, is +exactly right; for since Herod died about September, in the +fourth year before the Christian era, and Tiberius began, as is +well known, Aug. 19, A.D. 14, it is evident that the +thirty-seventh year of Philip, reckoned from his father's death, +was the twentieth of Tiberius, or near the end of A.D. 33, [the +very year of our Savior's death also,] or, however, in the +beginning of the next year, A.D. 34. This Philip the tetrarch +seems to have been the best of all the posterity of Herod, for +his love of peace, and his love of justice. +An excellent example this. + +(15) This Herod seems to have had the additional name of Philip, +as Antipus was named Herod-Antipas: and as Antipus and Antipater +seem to be in a manner the very same name, yet were the names of +two sons of Herod the Great; so might Philip the tetrarch and +this Herod-Philip be two different sons of the same father, all +which Grotias observes on Matthew 14:3. Nor was it, as I with +Grotias and others of the Philip the tetrarch, but this +Herod-Philip, whose wife Herod the tetrarch had married, and that +in her first husband's lifetime, and when her first husband had +issue by her-; for which adulterous and incestuous marriage John +the Baptist justly reproved Herod the tetrarch, and for which +reproof Salome, the daughter of Herodias by her first husband +Herod-Philip, who was still alive, occasioned him to be unjustly +beheaded. + +(16) Whether this sudden extinction of almost the entire lineage +of Herod the Great, which was very numerous, as we are both here +and in the next section informed, was not in part as a punishment +for the gross incests they were frequently guilty of, in marrying +their own nephews and nieces, well deserves to be considered. See +Leviticus 18:6, 7; 21:10; and Noldius, De Herod, No. 269, 270. + +(17) There are coins still extant of this Eraess, as Spanheim +informs us. Spanheim also informs us of a coin still extant of +this Jotape, daughter of the king of Commageus. + +(18) Spanheim observes, that we have here an instance of the +Attic quantity of use-money, which was the eighth part of the +original sum, or 12 per cent., for such is the proportion of 2500 +to 20,000. + +(19) The governor of the Jews there. + +(20) Tiberius, junior of Germanicus. + +(21) This high commendation of Antonia for marrying but once, +given here, and supported elsewhere; Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 13. +sect. 4, and this, notwithstanding the strongest temptations, +shows how honorable single marriages were both among the Jews and +Romans, in the days of Josephus and of the apostles, and takes +away much of that surprise which the modern Protestants have at +those laws of the apostles, where no widows, but those who had +been the wives of one husband only, are taken into the church +list; and no bishops, priests, or deacons are allowed to marry +more than once, without leaving off to officiate as clergymen any +longer. See Luke 2:36; 1 Timothy 5:11, 12; 3:2, 12; Titus 1:10; +Constit. Apost. B. II. sect. 1, 2; B. VI. sect. 17; Can. B. +XVII,; Grot. in Luc. ii. 36; and Resports. ad Consult. Cassand. +p. 44; and Cotelet. in Constit. B. VI. sect. 17. And note, that +Tertullian owns this law against second marriages of the clergy +had been once at least executed in his time; and heavily +complains elsewhere, that the breach thereof had not been always +punished by the catholics, as it ought to have been. Jerome, +speaking of the ill reputation of marrying twice, says, that no +such person could be chosen into the clergy in his days; which +Augustine testifies also; and for Epiphanius, rather earlier, he +is clear and full to the same purpose, and says that law obtained +over the whole catholic church in his days,--as the places in the +forecited authors inform us. + +(22) Dr. Hudson here takes notice, out of Seneca, Epistle V. that +this was the custom of Tiberius, to couple the prisoner and the +soldier that guarded him together in the same chain. + +(23) Tiberius his own grandson, and Caius his brother Drusus's +grandson. + +(24) So I correct Josephus's copy, which calls Germanicus his +brother, who was his brother's son. + +(25) This is a known thing among the Roman historians and poets, +that Tiberius was greatly given to astrology and divination. + +(26) This name of a lion is often given to tyrants, especially by +the such Agrippa, and probably his freed-man Marsyas, in effect +were, Ezekiel 19:1, 9; Esther 4:9 2 Timothy 4:17. They are also +sometimes compared to or represented by wild beasts, of which the +lion is the principal, Daniel 7:3, 8; Apoc. 13:1, 2. + +(27) Although Caius now promised to give Agrippa the tetrarchy of +Lysanias, yet was it not actually conferred upon him till the +reign of Claudius, as we learn, Antiq. B. XIX, ch. 5. sect. 1. + +(28) Regarding instances of the interpositions of Providence, as +have been always very rare among the other idolatrous nations, +but of old very many among the posterity of Abraham, the +worshippers of the true God; nor do these seem much inferior to +those in the Old Testament, which are the more remarkable, +because, among all their other follies and vices, the Jews were +not at this time idolaters; and the deliverances here mentioned +were done in order to prevent their relapse into that idolatry. + +(29) Josephus here assures us that the ambassadors from +Alexandria to Caius were on each part no more than three in +number, for the Jews, and for the Gentiles, which are but six in +all; whereas Philo, who was the principal ambassador from the +Jews, as Josephus here confesses, (as was Apion for the +Gentiles,) says, the Jews' ambassadors were themselves no fewer +than live, towards the end of his legation to Caius; which, if +there be no mistake in the copies, must be supposed the truth; +nor, in that case, would Josephus have contradicted so authentic +a witness, had he seen that account of Philo's; which that he +ever did does not appear. + +(30) This Alexander, the alabarch, or governor of the Jews, at +Alexandria, and brother to Philo, is supposed by Bishop Pearson, +in Act. Apost. p. 41,42, to be the same with that Alexander who +is mentioned by St. Luke, as of the kindred of the high priests, +Acts 4:6. + +(31) What Josephus here, and sect. 6, relates as done by the Jews +seed time, is in Philo, "not far off the time when the corn was +ripe," who, as Le Clerc notes, differ here one from the other. +This is another indication that Josephus, when he wrote this +account, had not seen Philo's Legat. ad Caiurn, otherwise he +would hardly trove herein differed from him. + +(32) This. Publius Petronius was after this still president of +Syria, under Cladius, and, at the desire of Agrippa, published a +severe decree against the inhabitants of Dora, who, in a sort of +intitation of Caius, had set op a statue of Claudius in a Jewish +synagogue there. This decree is extant, B. XIX. ch. 6. sect. 3, +and greatly confirms the present accounts of Josephus, as do the +other decrees of Claudius, relating to the like Jewish affairs, +B. XIX. ch. 5. sect. 2, 3, to which I refer the inquisitive +reader. + +(33) Josephus here uses the solemn New Testament words, the +presence and appearance of God, for the extraordinary +manifestation of his power and providence to Petronius, by +sending rain in a time of distress, immediately upon the +resolution he had taken to preserve the temple unpolluted, at the +hazard of his own life, without any other miraculous appearance +at all in that case; which well deserves to be taken notice of +here, and greatly illustrates several texts, both in the Old and +New Testament. + +(34) This behavior of Caius to Agrippa is very like that of Herod +Antipas, his uncle, to Herodias, Agrippa's sister, about it John +the Baptist, Matthew 14:6--11. + +(35) The joining of the right hands was esteemed among the +Peoians [and Parthians] in particular a most inviolable +obligation to fidelity, as Dr. Hudson here observes, and refers +to the commentary on Justin, B. XI. ch. 15., for its +confirmation. We often meet with the like use of it in Josephus. + +(36) This custom of the Mesopotamians to carry their household +gods along with them wherever they traveled is as old as the days +of Jacob, when Rachel his wife did the same, Genesis 31:19, +30-35; nor is it to pass here unobserved, what great miseries +came on these Jews, because they suffered one of their leaders to +marry an idolatrous wife, contrary to the law of Moses. Of which +matter see the note on B. XIX. ch. 5. sect. 3. + +(37) This custom, in Syria and Mesopotamia, of setting men upon +an ass, by way of disgrace, is still kept up at Damascus in +Syria; where, in order to show their despite against the +Christians, the Turks will not suffer them to hire horses, but +asses only, when they go abroad to see the country, as Mr. +Maundrell assures us, p. 128. + + + + +BOOK 19 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) In this and the three next chapters we have, I think, a +larger and more distinct account of the slaughter of Caius, and +the succession of Claudius, than we have of any such ancient +facts whatsoever elsewhere. Some of the occasions of which +probably were, Josephus's bitter hatred against tyranny, and the +pleasure he took in giving the history of the slaughter of such a +barbarous tyrant as was this Caius Caligula, as also the +deliverance his own nation had by that slaughter, of which he +speaks sect. 2, together with the great intimacy he had with +Agrippa, junior, whose father was deeply concerned in the +advancement of Claudius, upon the death of Caius; from which +Agrippa, junior, Josephus might be fully informed Of his history. + +(2) Called Caligula by the Romans. + +(3) Just such a voice as this is related to be came, and from an +unknown original also, to the famous Polycarp, as he was going to +martyrdom, bidding him "play the man;" as the church of Smyrna +assures us in their account of that his martyrdom, sect. 9. + +(4) Here Josephus supposes that it was Augustus, and not Julius +Caesar, who first changed the Roman commonwealth into a monarchy; +for these shows were in honor of Augustus, as we shall learn in +the next section. + +(5) Suetonius says Caius was slain about the seventh hour of the +day, the ninth. The series of the narration favors Josephus. + +(6) The rewards proposed by the Roman laws to informers was +sometimes an eigth partm as Spanheim assures us, from the +criminal's goods, as here, and sometimes a fourth part. + +(7) These consuls are named in the War of the Jews, B. II. ch. +11. sect; 1, Sentius Saturninus and Pomponius Secundus, as +Spanheim notes here. The speech of the former of them is set down +in the next chapter, sect. 2. + +(8) In this oration of Sentius Saturninus, we may see the great +value virtuous men put upon public liberty, and the sad misery +they underwent, while they were tyrannized over by such emperors +as Caius. See Josephus's own short but pithy reflection at the +end of the chapter: "So difficult," says he, "it is for those to +obtain the virtue that is necessary to a wise man, who have the +absolute power to do what they please without control." + +(9) Hence we learn that, in the opinion of Saturninus, the +sovereign authority of the consuls and senate had been taken away +just a hundred years before the death of Caius, A.D. 41, or in +the sixtieth year before the Christian saga, when the first +triumvirate began under Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. + +(10) Spanheim here notes from Suetonius, that the name of Caius's +sister with whom he was guilty of incest, was Drusilla and that +Suetonius adds, he was guilty of the same crime with all his +sisters also. He notes further, that Suetonius omits the mention +of the haven for ships, which our author esteems the only public +work for the good of the present and future ages which Caius left +behind him, though in an imperfect condition. + +(11) This Caius was the son of that excellent person Germanicus, +who was the son of Drusus, the brother of Tiberius the emperor. + +(11) The first place Claudius came to was inhabited, and called +Herincure, as Spanheim here informs us from Suetonius, in Claud. +ch. 10. + +(12) How Claudius, another son of Drusus, which Drusus was the +father of Germanicus, could be here himself called Germanicus, +Suetonius informs us, when he assures us that, by a decree of the +senate, the surname of Germanicus was bestowed upon Drusus, and +his posterity also.--In Claud. ch. 1. + +(13) This number of drachmae to be distributed to each private +soldier, five thousand drachmae, equal to twenty thousand +sesterces, or one hundred and sixty-one pounds sterling, seems +much too large, and directly contradicts Suetonius, ch. 10., who +makes them in all but fifteen sesterces, or two shillings and +four pence. Yet might Josephus have this number from Agrippa, +junior, though I doubt the thousands, or at least the hundreds, +have been added by the transcribers, of which we have had several +examples already in Josephus. + +(14) This piercing cold here complained of by Lupus agrees well +to the time of the year when Claudius began his reign; it being +for certain about the months of November, December, or January, +and most probably a few days after January the twenty-fourth, and +a few days before the Roman Parentalia. + +(15) It is both here and elsewhere very remarkable, that the +murders of the vilest tyrants, who yet highly deserved to die, +when those murderers were under oaths, or other the like +obligations of fidelity to them, were usually revenged, and the +murderers were cut off themselves, and that after a remarkable +manner; and this sometimes, as in the present case, by those very +persons who were not sorry for such murders, but got kingdoms by +them. The examples are very numerous, both in sacred and profane +histories, and seem generally indications of Divine vengeance on +such murderers. Nor is it unworthy of remark, that such murderers +of tyrants do it usually on such ill principles, in such a cruel +manner, and as ready to involve the innocent with the guilty, +which was the case here, ch. 1. sect. 14, and ch. 2. sect. 4, as +justly deserved the Divine vengeance upon them. Which seems to +have been the case of Jehu also, when, besides the house of Ahab, +for whose slaughter he had a commission from God, without any +such commission, any justice or commiseration, he killed Ahab's +great men, and acquaintance, and priests, and forty-two of the +kindred of Ahaziah, 2 Kings 10:11-14. See Hosea 1:4. I do not +mean here to condemn Ehud or Judith, or the like executioners of +God's vengeance on those wicked tyrants who had unjustly +oppressed God's own people under their theocracy; who, as they +appear still to have had no selfish designs nor intentions to +slay the innocent, so had they still a Divine commission, or a +Divine impulse, which was their commission for what they did, +Judges 3:15, 19, 20; Judith 9:2; Test. Levi. sect. 5, in Authent. +Rec. p. 312. See also page 432. + +(16) Here St. Luke is in some measure confirmed, when he reforms +us, ch. 3:1, that Lysanias was some time before tetrarch of +Abilene, whose capital was Abila; as he is further confirmed by +Ptolemy, the great geographer, which Spanheim here observes, when +he calls that city Abila of Lysanias. See the note on B. XVII. +ch. 11. sect. 4; and Prid. at the years 36 and 22. I esteem this +principality to have belonged to the land of Canaan originally, +to have been the burying-place of Abel, and referred to as such, +Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51. See Authent. Rec. Part. II. p. +883--885. + +(17) This form was so known and frequent among the Romans, as Dr. +Hudson here tells us from the great Selden, that it used to be +thus represented at the bottom of their edicts by the initial +letters only, U. D. P. R. L. P, Unde De Plano Recte Lege Possit; +"Whence it may be plainly read from the ground." + +(18) Josephus shows, both here and ch. 7. sect. 3, that he had a +much greater opinion of king Agrippa I. than Simon the learned +Rabbi, than the people of Cesarea and Sebaste, ch. 7. sect. 4; +and ch. 9. sect. 1; and indeed than his double-dealing between +the senate and Claudius, ch. 4. sect. 2, than his slaughter of +James the brother of John, and his imprisonment of Peter, or his +vain-glorious behavior before he died, both in Acts 12:13; and +here, ch. 4. sect. 1, will justify or allow. Josephus's character +was probably taken from his son Agrippa, junior. + +(19) This treasury-chamber seems to have been the very same in +which our Savior taught, and where the people offered their +charity money for the repairs or other uses of the temple, Mark +12:41, etc.; Luke 22:1; John 8:20. + +(20) A strange number of condemned criminals to be under the +sentence of death at once; no fewer, it seems, than one thousand +four hundred! + +(21) We have a mighty cry made here by some critics, as the great +Eusebius had on purpose falsified this account of Josephus, so as +to make it agree with the parallel account in the Acts of the +Apostles, because the present copies of his citation of it, Hist. +Eceles. B. II. ch. 10., omit the words an owl--on a certain rope, +which Josephus's present copies retain, and only have the +explicatory word or angel; as if he meant that angel of the Lord +which St. Luke mentions as smiting Herod, Acts 12:23, and not +that owl which Josephus called an angel or messenger, formerly of +good, but now of bad news, to Agrippa. This accusation is a +somewhat strange one in the case of the great Eusebius, who is +known to have so accurately and faithfully produced a vast number +of other ancient records, and particularly not a few out of our +Josephus also, without any suspicion of prevarication. Now, not +to allege how uncertain we are whether Josephus's and Eusebius's +copies of the fourth century were just like the present in this +clause, which we have no distinct evidence of, the following +words, preserved still in Eusebius, will not admit of any such +exposition: "This [bird] (says Eusebius) Agrippa presently +perceived to be the cause of ill fortune, as it was once of good +fortune, to him;" which can only belong to that bird, the owl, +which as it had formerly foreboded his happy deliverance from +imprisonment, Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 6. sect. 7, so was it then +foretold to prove afterward the unhappy forerunner of his death +in five days' time. If the improper words signifying cause, be +changed for Josephus's proper word angel or messenger, and the +foregoing words, be inserted, Esuebius's text will truly +represent that in Josephus. Had this imperfection been in some +heathen author that was in good esteem with our modern critics, +they would have readily corrected these as barely errors in the +copies; but being in an ancient Christian writer, not so well +relished by many of those critics, nothing will serve but the +ill-grounded supposal of willful corruption and prevarication. + +(22) This sum of twelve millions of drachmae, which is equal to +three millions of shekels, i.e. at 2s. 10d. a shekel, equal to +four hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds sterling, was +Agrippa the Great's yearly income, or about three quarters of his +grandfather Herod's income; he having abated the tax upon houses +at Jerusalem, ch. 6. sect. 3, and was not so tyrannical as Herod +had been to the Jews. See the note on Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 11. +sect. 4. A large sum this! but not, it seems, sufficient for his +extravagant expenses. + +(23) Reland takes notice here, not improperly, that Josephus +omits the reconciliation of this Herod Agrippa to the Tyrians and +Sidoninus, by the means of Blastus the king's chamberlain, +mentioned Acts 12:20. Nor is there any history in the world so +complete, as to omit nothing that other historians take notice +of, unless the one be taken out of the other, and accommodated to +it. + +(24) Photius, who made an extract out of this section, says they +were not the statues or images, but the ladies themselves, who +were thus basely abused by the soldiers. + + + + +BOOK 20 FOOTNOTES + + +(1) Here is some error in the copies, or mistake in Josephus; for +the power of appointing high priests, alter Herod king of Chalcis +was dead, and Agrippa, junior, was made king of Chalcis in his +room, belonged to him; and he exercised the same all along till +Jerusalem was destroyed, as Josephus elsewhere informs us, ch. 8. +sect., 11; ch. 9. sect. 1, 4, 6, 7. + +(2) Josephus here uses the word monogene, an only begotten son, +for no other than one best beloved, as does both the Old and New +Testament, I mean where there were one or more sons besides, +Genesis 22:2; Hebrew 11:17. See the note on B. I. ch. 13. sect. +1. + +(3) It is here very remarkable, that the remains of Noah's ark +were believed to be still in being in the days of Josephus. See +the note on B. I. ch. 3. sect. 5. + +(4) Josephus is very full and express in these three chapters, +3., 4., and 5., in observing how carefully Divine Providence +preserved this Izates, king of Adiabene, and his sons, while he +did what he thought was his bounden duty, notwithstanding the +strongest political motives to the contrary. + +(5) This further account of the benefactions of Izates and Helena +to the Jerusalem Jews which Josephus here promises is, I think, +no where performed by him in his present works. But of this +terrible famine itself in Judea, take Dr. Hudson's note here:-- +"This ( says he ) is that famine foretold by Agabus, Acts 11:28, +which happened when Claudius was consul the fourth time; and not +that other which happened when Claudius was consul the second +time, and Cesina was his colleague, as Scaliger says upon +Eusebius, p. 174." Now when Josephus had said a little afterward, +ch. 5. sect. 2, that "Tiberius Alexander succeeded Cuspius Fadus +as procurator," he immediately subjoins, that" under these +procurators there happened a great famine in Judea." Whence it is +plain that this famine continued for many years, on account of +its duration under these two procurators. Now Fadus was not sent +into Judea till after the death of king Agrippa, i.e. towards the +latter end of the 4th year of Claudius; so that this famine +foretold by Agabus happened upon the 5th, 6th, and 7th years of +Claudius, as says Valesius on Euseb. II. 12. Of this famine also, +and queen Helena's supplies, and her monument, see Moses +Churenensis, p. 144, 145, where it is observed in the notes that +Pausanias mentions that her monument also. + +(6) This privilege of wearing the tiara upright, or with the tip +of the cone erect, is known to have been of old peculiar to great +kings, from Xenophon and others, as Dr. Hudson observes here. + +(7) This conduct of Izates is a sign that he was become either a +Jew, or an Ebionite Christian, who indeed differed not much from +proper Jews. See ch. 6. sect. 1. However, his supplications were +heard, and he was providentially delivered from that imminent +danger he was in. + +(8) These pyramids or pillars, erected by Helena, queen of +Adiabene, near Jerusalem, three in number, are mentioned by +Eusebius, in his Eccles. Hist. B. II. ch. 12, for which Dr. +Hudson refers us to Valesius's notes upon that place.--They are +also mentioned by Pausanias, as hath been already noted, ch. 2. +sect. 6. Reland guesses that that now called Absalom's Pillar may +be one of them. + +(9) This Theudas, who arose under Fadus the procurator, about +A.D. 45 or 46, could not be that Thendas who arose in the days of +the taxing, under Cyrenius, or about A.D. 7, Acts v. 36, 37. Who +that earlier Theudas was, see the note on B. XVII. ch. 10. sect. +5. + +(10) This and many more tumults and seditions which arose at the +Jewish festivals, in Josephus, illustrate the cautious procedure +of the Jewish governors, when they said, Matthew 26:5, "Let us +not take Jesus on the feast-day, lest there be an up roar among +the people;" as Reland well observes on tins place. Josephus also +takes notice of the same thing, Of the War, B. I. ch. 4. sect. 3. + +(11) This constant passage of the Galileans through the country +of Samaria, as they went to Judea and Jerusalem, illustrates +several passages in the Gospels to the same purpose, as Dr. +Hudson rightly observes. See Luke 17:11; John 4:4. See also +Josephus in his own Life, sect. 52, where that journey is +determined to three days. + +(12) Our Savior had foretold that the Jews' rejection of his +gospel would bring upon them, among other miseries, these three, +which they themselves here show they expected would be the +consequences of their present tumults and seditions: the utter +subversion of their country, the conflagration of their temple, +and the slavery of themselves, their wives, and children See Luke +21:6-24. + +(13) This Simon, a friend of Felix, a Jew, born in Cyprus, though +he pretended to be a magician, and seems to have been wicked +enough, could hardly be that famous Simon the magician, in the +Acts of the Apostles, 8:9, etc., as some are ready to suppose. +This Simon mentioned in the Acts was not properly a Jew, but a +Samaritan, of the town of Gittae, in the country of Samaria, as +the Apostolical Constitutions, VI. 7, the Recognitions of +Clement, II. 6, and Justin Martyr, himself born in the country of +Samaria, Apology, I. 34, inform us. He was also the author, not +of any ancient Jewish, but of the first Gentile heresies, as the +forementioned authors assure us. So I suppose him a different +person from the other. I mean this only upon the hypothesis that +Josephus was not misinformed as to his being a Cypriot Jew; for +otherwise the time, the name, the profession, and the wickedness +of them both would strongly incline one to believe them the very +same. As to that Drusilla, the sister of Agrippa, junior, as +Josephus informs us here, and a Jewess, as St. Luke informs us, +Acts 24:24, whom this Simon mentioned by Josephus persuaded to +leave her former husband, Azizus, king of Emesa, a proselyte of +justice, and to marry Felix, the heathen procurator of Judea, +Tacitus, Hist. V. 9, supposes her to be a heathen; and the +grand-daughter of Antonius and Cleopatra, contrary both to St. +Luke and Josephus. Now Tacitus lived somewhat too remote, both as +to time and place, to be compared with either of those Jewish +writers, in a matter concerning the Jews in Judea in their own +days, and concerning a sister of Agrippa, junior, with which +Agrippa Josephus was himself so well acquainted. It is probable +that Tacitus may say true, when he informs us that this Felix +(who had in all three wives, or queens, as Suetonius in Claudius, +sect. 28, assures us) did once marry such a grandchild of +Antonius and Cleopatra; and finding the name of one of them to +have been Drusilla, he mistook her for that other wife, whose +name he did not know. + +(14) This eruption of Vesuvius was one of the greatest we have in +history. See Bianchini's curious and important observations on +this Vesuvius, and its seven several great eruptions, with their +remains vitrified, and still existing, in so many different +strata under ground, till the diggers came to the antediluvian +waters, with their proportionable interstices, implying the +deluge to have been above two thousand five hundred years before +the Christian era, according to our exactest chronology. + +(15) This is now wanting. + +(16) This also is now wanting. + +(17) This duration of the reign of Claudius agrees with Dio, as +Dr. Hudson here remarks; as he also remarks that Nero's name, +which was at first L. Domitius Aenobarbus, after Claudius had +adopted him was Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus. This +Soleus as [own Life, sect. 11, as also] by Dio Cassius andTaeims, +as Dr. Hudson informs us. + +(18) This agrees with Josephus's frequent accounts elsewhere in +his own Life, that Tibetans, and Taricheae, and Gamala were under +this Agrippa, junior, till Justus, the son of Pistus, seized for +the Jews, upon the breaking out of the war. + +(19) This treacherous and barbarous murder of the good high +priest Jonathan, by the contrivance of this wicked procurator, +Felix, was the immediate occasion of the ensuing murders by the +Sicarii or ruffians, and one great cause of the following horrid +cruelties and miseries of the Jewish nation, as Josephus here +supposes; whose excellent reflection on the gross wickedness of +that nation, as the direct cause of their terrible destruction, +is well worthy the attention of every Jewish and of every +Christian reader. And since we are soon coming to the catalogue +of the Jewish high priests, it may not be amiss, with Reland, to +insert this Jonathan among them, and to transcribe his particular +catalogue of the last twenty-eight high priests, taken out of +Josephus, and begin with Ananelus, who was +made by Herod the Great. See Antiq. B. XV. ch. 2. sect. 4, +and the note there. +1. Ananelus. +2. Aristobulus. +3. Jesus, the son of Fabus. +4. Simon, the son of Boethus. +5. Marthias, the son of Theophiltu. +6. Joazar, the son of Boethus. +7. Eleazar, the son of Boethus. +8. Jesus, the son of Sic. +9. [Annas, or] Ananus, the son of Seth. +10. Ismael, the son of Fabus. +11. Eleazar, the son of Ananus. +12. Simon, the son of Camithus. +13. Josephus Caiaphas, the son-in-law to Ananus. +14. Jonathan, the son of Ananus. +15. Theophilus, his brother, and son of Ananus. +16. Simon, the son of Boethus. +17. Matthias, the brother of Jonathan, and son of Ananus. +18. Aljoneus. +19. Josephus, the son of Camydus. +20. Ananias, the son of Nebedeus. +21. Jonathas. +22. Ismael, the son of Fabi. +23. Joseph Cabi, the son of Simon. +24. Ananus, the son of Artanus. +25. Jesus, the son of Damnetas. +26. Jesus, the son of Gamaliel. +27. Matthias, the son of Theophilus. +28. Phannias, the son of Samuel. +As for Ananus and Joseph Caiaphas, here mentioned about the +middle of this catalogue, they are no other than those Annas and +Caiaphas so often mentioned in the four Gospels; and that +Ananias, the son of Nebedeus, was that high priest before whom +St. Paul pleaded his own cause, Acts 24. + +(20) Of these Jewish impostors and false prophets, with many +other circumstances and miseries of the Jews, till their utter +destruction, foretold by our Savior, see Lit. Accompl. of Proph. +p. 58-75. Of this Egyptian impostor, and the number of his +followers, in Josephus, see Acts 21:38. + +(21) The wickedness here was very peculiar and extraordinary, +that the high priests should so oppress their brethren the +priests, as to starve the poorest of them to death. See the like +presently, ch. 9. sect. 2. Such fatal crimes are covetousness and +tyranny in the clergy, as well as in the laity, in all ages. + +(22) We have here one eminent example of Nero's mildness and +goodness in his government towards the Jews, during the first +five years of his reign, so famous in antiquity; we have perhaps +another in Josephus's own Life, sect. 3; and a third, though of a +very different nature here, in sect. 9, just before. However, +both the generous acts of kindness were obtained of Nero by his +queen Poppea, who was a religious lady, and perhaps privately a +Jewish proselyte, and so were not owing entirely to Nero's own +goodness. + +(23) It hence evidently appears that Sadducees might be high +priests in the days of Josephus, and that these Sadducees were +usually very severe and inexorable judges, while the Pharisees +were much milder, and more merciful, as appears by Reland's +instances in his note on this place, and on Josephus's Life, +sect. 31, and those taken from the New Testament, from Josephus +himself, and from the Rabbins; nor do we meet with any Sadducees +later than this high priest in all Josephus. + +(24) Of this condemnation of James the Just, and its causes, as +also that he did not die till long afterwards, see Prim. Christ. +Revived, vol. III. ch. 43-46. The sanhedrim condemned our Savior, +but could not put him to death without the approbation of the +Roman procurator; nor could therefore Ananias and his sanhedrim +do more here, since they never had Albinus's approbation for the +putting this James to death. + +(25) This Ananias was not the son of Nebedeus, as I take it, but +he who was called Annas or Ananus the elder, the ninth in the +catalogue, and who had been esteemed high priest for a long time; +and, besides Caiaphas, his son-in-law, had five of his own sons +high priests after him, which were those of numbers 11, 14, 15, +17, 24, in the foregoing catalogue. Nor ought we to pass slightly +over what Josephus here says of Annas, or Ananias, that he was +high priest a long time before his children were so; he was the +son of Seth, and is set down first for high priest in the +foregoing catalogue, under number 9. He was made by Quirinus, and +continued till Ismael, the 10th in number, for about twenty-three +years, which long duration of his high priesthood, joined to the +successions of his son-in-law, and five children of his own, made +him a sort of perpetual high priest, and was perhaps the occasion +that former high priests kept their titles ever afterwards; for I +believe it is hardly met with be fore him. + +(26) This insolent petition of some of the Levites, to wear the +sacerdotal garments when they sung hymns to God in the temple, +was very probably owing to the great depression and contempt the +haughty high priests had now brought their brethren the priests +into; of which see ch. 8. sect. 8, and ch. 9, sect. 2. + +(27) Of these cloisters of Solomon, see the description of the +temple, ch. 13. They seem, by Josephus's words, to have been +built from the bottom of the valley. + +(28) See the Life at the beginning of the volume. + +(29) What Josephus here declares his intention to do, if God +permitted, to give the public again an abridgement of the Jewish +War hear of it elsewhere, whether he performed what he now +intended or not. Some of the reasons of this design of his might +possibly be, his observation of the many errors he had been +guilty of in the two first of those seven books of the War, which +were written when he was comparatively young, and less acquainted +with the Jewish antiquities than he now was, and in which +abridgement we might have hoped to find those many passages which +himself, as well as those several passages which others refer to, +as written by him, but which are not extant in his present works. +However, since many of his own references to what he had written +elsewhere, as well as most of his own errors, belong to such +early times as could not well come into this abridgement of the +Jewish War; and since none of those that quote things not now +extant in his works, including himself as well as others, ever +cite any such abridgement; I am forced rather to suppose that he +never did publish any such work at all; I mean, as distinct from +his own Life, written by himself, for an appendix to these +Antiquities, and this at least seven years after these +Antiquities were finished. Nor indeed does it appear to me that +Josephus ever published that other work here mentioned, as +intended by him for the public also: I mean the three or four +books concerning God and his essence, and concerning the Jewish +laws; why, according to them, some things were permitted the +Jews, and others prohibited; which last seems to be the same work +which Josephus had also promised, if God permitted, at the +conclusion of his preface to these Antiquities; nor do I suppose +that he ever published any of them. The death of all his friends +at court, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, and the coming of those +he had no acquaintance with to the crown, I mean Nerva and +Trajan, together with his removal from Rome to Judea, with what +followed it, might easily interrupt such his intentions, and +prevent his publication of those works. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Antiquities of the Jews + |