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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2849-h.zip b/2849-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f7f336 --- /dev/null +++ b/2849-h.zip diff --git a/2849-h/2849-h.htm b/2849-h/2849-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7d0457 --- /dev/null +++ b/2849-h/2849-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4356 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Against Apion by Flavius Josephus + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Against Apion, by Flavius Josephus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Against Apion + +Author: Flavius Josephus + +Translator: William Whiston + +Release Date: December 6, 2008 [EBook #2849] +Last Updated: January 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGAINST APION *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + AGAINST APION. <br /> + </h1> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1" id="linknoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> + </p> + <h2> + By Flavius Josephus + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by William Whiston + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> BOOK 1. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> APION BOOK 1 FOOTNOTES </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkB2H_4_0001"> BOOK II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkB2H_4_0002"> APION BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + BOOK 1. + </h2> + <p> + 1. I Suppose that by my books of the Antiquity of the Jews, most excellent + Epaphroditus, <a href="#linknote-2" name="linknoteref-2" id="linknoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> + have made it evident to those who peruse them, that our Jewish nation is + of very great antiquity, and had a distinct subsistence of its own + originally; as also, I have therein declared how we came to inhabit this + country wherein we now live. Those Antiquities contain the history of five + thousand years, and are taken out of our sacred books, but are translated + by me into the Greek tongue. However, since I observe a considerable + number of people giving ear to the reproaches that are laid against us by + those who bear ill-will to us, and will not believe what I have written + concerning the antiquity of our nation, while they take it for a plain + sign that our nation is of a late date, because they are not so much as + vouchsafed a bare mention by the most famous historiographers among the + Grecians. I therefore have thought myself under an obligation to write + somewhat briefly about these subjects, in order to convict those that + reproach us of spite and voluntary falsehood, and to correct the ignorance + of others, and withal to instruct all those who are desirous of knowing + the truth of what great antiquity we really are. As for the witnesses whom + I shall produce for the proof of what I say, they shall be such as are + esteemed to be of the greatest reputation for truth, and the most skillful + in the knowledge of all antiquity by the Greeks themselves. I will also + show, that those who have written so reproachfully and falsely about us + are to be convicted by what they have written themselves to the contrary. + I shall also endeavor to give an account of the reasons why it hath so + happened, that there have not been a great number of Greeks who have made + mention of our nation in their histories. I will, however, bring those + Grecians to light who have not omitted such our history, for the sake of + those that either do not know them, or pretend not to know them already. + </p> + <p> + 2. And now, in the first place, I cannot but greatly wonder at those men, + who suppose that we must attend to none but Grecians, when we are + inquiring about the most ancient facts, and must inform ourselves of their + truth from them only, while we must not believe ourselves nor other men; + for I am convinced that the very reverse is the truth of the case. I mean + this,—if we will not be led by vain opinions, but will make inquiry + after truth from facts themselves; for they will find that almost all + which concerns the Greeks happened not long ago; nay, one may say, is of + yesterday only. I speak of the building of their cities, the inventions of + their arts, and the description of their laws; and as for their care about + the writing down of their histories, it is very near the last thing they + set about. However, they acknowledge themselves so far, that they were the + Egyptians, the Chaldeans, and the Phoenicians (for I will not now reckon + ourselves among them) that have preserved the memorials of the most + ancient and most lasting traditions of mankind; for almost all these + nations inhabit such countries as are least subject to destruction from + the world about them; and these also have taken especial care to have + nothing omitted of what was [remarkably] done among them; but their + history was esteemed sacred, and put into public tables, as written by men + of the greatest wisdom they had among them. But as for the place where the + Grecians inhabit, ten thousand destructions have overtaken it, and blotted + out the memory of former actions; so that they were ever beginning a new + way of living, and supposed that every one of them was the origin of their + new state. It was also late, and with difficulty, that they came to know + the letters they now use; for those who would advance their use of these + letters to the greatest antiquity pretend that they learned them from the + Phoenicians and from Cadmus; yet is nobody able to demonstrate that they + have any writing preserved from that time, neither in their temples, nor + in any other public monuments. This appears, because the time when those + lived who went to the Trojan war, so many years afterward, is in great + doubt, and great inquiry is made, whether the Greeks used their letters at + that time; and the most prevailing opinion, and that nearest the truth, + is, that their present way of using those letters was unknown at that + time. However, there is not any writing which the Greeks agree to be + genuine among them ancienter than Homer's Poems, who must plainly he + confessed later than the siege of Troy; nay, the report goes, that even he + did not leave his poems in writing, but that their memory was preserved in + songs, and they were put together afterward, and that this is the reason + of such a number of variations as are found in them. <a href="#linknote-3" + name="linknoteref-3" id="linknoteref-3"><small>3</small></a> As for those + who set themselves about writing their histories, I mean such as Cadmus of + Miletus, and Acusilaus of Argos, and any others that may be mentioned as + succeeding Acusilaus, they lived but a little while before the Persian + expedition into Greece. But then for those that first introduced + philosophy, and the consideration of things celestial and divine among + them, such as Pherceydes the Syrian, and Pythagoras, and Thales, all with + one consent agree, that they learned what they knew of the Egyptians and + Chaldeans, and wrote but little And these are the things which are + supposed to be the oldest of all among the Greeks; and they have much ado + to believe that the writings ascribed to those men are genuine. + </p> + <p> + 3. How can it then be other than an absurd thing, for the Greeks to be so + proud, and to vaunt themselves to be the only people that are acquainted + with antiquity, and that have delivered the true accounts of those early + times after an accurate manner? Nay, who is there that cannot easily + gather from the Greek writers themselves, that they knew but little on any + good foundation when they set to write, but rather wrote their histories + from their own conjectures? Accordingly, they confute one another in their + own books to purpose, and are not ashamed. to give us the most + contradictory accounts of the same things; and I should spend my time to + little purpose, if I should pretend to teach the Greeks that which they + know better than I already, what a great disagreement there is between + Hellanicus and Acusilaus about their genealogies; in how many eases + Acusilaus corrects Hesiod: or after what manner Ephorus demonstrates + Hellanicus to have told lies in the greatest part of his history; as does + Timeus in like manner as to Ephorus, and the succeeding writers do to + Timeus, and all the later writers do to Herodotus nor could Timeus agree + with Antiochus and Philistius, or with Callias, about the Sicilian + History, no more than do the several writers of the Athide follow one + another about the Athenian affairs; nor do the historians the like, that + wrote the Argolics, about the affairs of the Argives. And now what need I + say any more about particular cities and smaller places, while in the most + approved writers of the expedition of the Persians, and of the actions + which were therein performed, there are so great differences? Nay, + Thucydides himself is accused of some as writing what is false, although + he seems to have given us the exactest history of the affairs of his own + time. <a href="#linknote-4" name="linknoteref-4" id="linknoteref-4"><small>4</small></a> + </p> + <p> + 4. As for the occasions of so great disagreement of theirs, there may be + assigned many that are very probable, if any have a mind to make an + inquiry about them; but I ascribe these contradictions chiefly to two + causes, which I will now mention, and still think what I shall mention in + the first place to be the principal of all. For if we remember that in the + beginning the Greeks had taken no care to have public records of their + several transactions preserved, this must for certain have afforded those + that would afterward write about those ancient transactions the + opportunity of making mistakes, and the power of making lies also; for + this original recording of such ancient transactions hath not only been + neglected by the other states of Greece, but even among the Athenians + themselves also, who pretend to be Aborigines, and to have applied + themselves to learning, there are no such records extant; nay, they say + themselves that the laws of Draco concerning murders, which are now extant + in writing, are the most ancient of their public records; which Draco yet + lived but a little before the tyrant Pisistratus. <a href="#linknote-5" + name="linknoteref-5" id="linknoteref-5"><small>5</small></a> For as to the + Arcadians, who make such boasts of their antiquity, what need I speak of + them in particular, since it was still later before they got their + letters, and learned them, and that with difficulty also. <a + href="#linknote-6" name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6"><small>6</small></a> + </p> + <p> + 5. There must therefore naturally arise great differences among writers, + when they had no original records to lay for their foundation, which might + at once inform those who had an inclination to learn, and contradict those + that would tell lies. However, we are to suppose a second occasion besides + the former of these contradictions; it is this: That those who were the + most zealous to write history were not solicitous for the discovery of + truth, although it was very easy for them always to make such a + profession; but their business was to demonstrate that they could write + well, and make an impression upon mankind thereby; and in what manner of + writing they thought they were able to exceed others, to that did they + apply themselves, Some of them betook themselves to the writing of + fabulous narrations; some of them endeavored to please the cities or the + kings, by writing in their commendation; others of them fell to finding + faults with transactions, or with the writers of such transactions, and + thought to make a great figure by so doing. And indeed these do what is of + all things the most contrary to true history; for it is the great + character of true history that all concerned therein both speak and write + the same things; while these men, by writing differently about the same + things, think they shall be believed to write with the greatest regard to + truth. We therefore [who are Jews] must yield to the Grecian writers as to + language and eloquence of composition; but then we shall give them no such + preference as to the verity of ancient history, and least of all as to + that part which concerns the affairs of our own several countries. + </p> + <p> + 6. As to the care of writing down the records from the earliest antiquity + among the Egyptians and Babylonians; that the priests were intrusted + therewith, and employed a philosophical concern about it; that they were + the Chaldean priests that did so among the Babylonians; and that the + Phoenicians, who were mingled among the Greeks, did especially make use of + their letters, both for the common affairs of life, and for the delivering + down the history of common transactions, I think I may omit any proof, + because all men allow it so to be. But now as to our forefathers, that + they took no less care about writing such records, [for I will not say + they took greater care than the others I spoke of,] and that they + committed that matter to their high priests and to their prophets, and + that these records have been written all along down to our own times with + the utmost accuracy; nay, if it be not too bold for me to say it, our + history will be so written hereafter;—I shall endeavor briefly to + inform you. + </p> + <p> + 7. For our forefathers did not only appoint the best of these priests, and + those that attended upon the Divine worship, for that design from the + beginning, but made provision that the stock of the priests should + continue unmixed and pure; for he who is partaker of the priesthood must + propagate of a wife of the same nation, without having any regard to + money, or any other dignities; but he is to make a scrutiny, and take his + wife's genealogy from the ancient tables, and procure many witnesses to + it. <a href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" id="linknoteref-7"><small>7</small></a> + And this is our practice not only in Judea, but wheresoever any body of + men of our nation do live; and even there an exact catalogue of our + priests' marriages is kept; I mean at Egypt and at Babylon, or in any + other place of the rest of the habitable earth, whithersoever our priests + are scattered; for they send to Jerusalem the ancient names of their + parents in writing, as well as those of their remoter ancestors, and + signify who are the witnesses also. But if any war falls out, such as have + fallen out a great many of them already, when Antiochus Epiphanes made an + invasion upon our country, as also when Pompey the Great and Quintilius + Varus did so also, and principally in the wars that have happened in our + own times, those priests that survive them compose new tables of genealogy + out of the old records, and examine the circumstances of the women that + remain; for still they do not admit of those that have been captives, as + suspecting that they had conversation with some foreigners. But what is + the strongest argument of our exact management in this matter is what I am + now going to say, that we have the names of our high priests from father + to son set down in our records for the interval of two thousand years; and + if any of these have been transgressors of these rules, they are + prohibited to present themselves at the altar, or to be partakers of any + other of our purifications; and this is justly, or rather necessarily + done, because every one is not permitted of his own accord to be a writer, + nor is there any disagreement in what is written; they being only prophets + that have written the original and earliest accounts of things as they + learned them of God himself by inspiration; and others have written what + hath happened in their own times, and that in a very distinct manner also. + </p> + <p> + 8. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing + from and contradicting one another, [as the Greeks have,] but only + twenty-two books, <a href="#linknote-8" name="linknoteref-8" + id="linknoteref-8"><small>8</small></a> which contain the records of all + the past times; which are justly believed to be divine; and of them five + belong to Moses, which contain his laws and the traditions of the origin + of mankind till his death. This interval of time was little short of three + thousand years; but as to the time from the death of Moses till the reign + of Artaxerxes king of Persia, who reigned after Xerxes, the prophets, who + were after Moses, wrote down what was done in their times in thirteen + books. The remaining four books contain hymns to God, and precepts for the + conduct of human life. It is true, our history hath been written since + Artaxerxes very particularly, but hath not been esteemed of the like + authority with the former by our forefathers, because there hath not been + an exact succession of prophets since that time; and how firmly we have + given credit to these books of our own nation is evident by what we do; + for during so many ages as have already passed, no one has been so bold as + either to add any thing to them, to take any thing from them, or to make + any change in them; but it is become natural to all Jews immediately, and + from their very birth, to esteem these books to contain Divine doctrines, + and to persist in them, and, if occasion be willingly to die for them. For + it is no new thing for our captives, many of them in number, and + frequently in time, to be seen to endure racks and deaths of all kinds + upon the theatres, that they may not be obliged to say one word against + our laws and the records that contain them; whereas there are none at all + among the Greeks who would undergo the least harm on that account, no, nor + in case all the writings that are among them were to be destroyed; for + they take them to be such discourses as are framed agreeably to the + inclinations of those that write them; and they have justly the same + opinion of the ancient writers, since they see some of the present + generation bold enough to write about such affairs, wherein they were not + present, nor had concern enough to inform themselves about them from those + that knew them; examples of which may be had in this late war of ours, + where some persons have written histories, and published them, without + having been in the places concerned, or having been near them when the + actions were done; but these men put a few things together by hearsay, and + insolently abuse the world, and call these writings by the name of + Histories. + </p> + <p> + 9. As for myself, I have composed a true history of that whole war, and of + all the particulars that occurred therein, as having been concerned in all + its transactions; for I acted as general of those among us that are named + Galileans, as long as it was possible for us to make any opposition. I was + then seized on by the Romans, and became a captive. Vespasian also and + Titus had me kept under a guard, and forced me to attend them continually. + At the first I was put into bonds, but was set at liberty afterward, and + sent to accompany Titus when he came from Alexandria to the siege of + Jerusalem; during which time there was nothing done which escaped my + knowledge; for what happened in the Roman camp I saw, and wrote down + carefully; and what informations the deserters brought [out of the city], + I was the only man that understood them. Afterward I got leisure at Rome; + and when all my materials were prepared for that work, I made use of some + persons to assist me in learning the Greek tongue, and by these means I + composed the history of those transactions. And I was so well assured of + the truth of what I related, that I first of all appealed to those that + had the supreme command in that war, Vespasian and Titus, as witnesses for + me, for to them I presented those books first of all, and after them to + many of the Romans who had been in the war. I also sold them to many of + our own men who understood the Greek philosophy; among whom were Julius + Archelaus, Herod [king of Chalcis], a person of great gravity, and king + Agrippa himself, a person that deserved the greatest admiration. Now all + these men bore their testimony to me, that I had the strictest regard to + truth; who yet would not have dissembled the matter, nor been silent, if + I, out of ignorance, or out of favor to any side, either had given false + colors to actions, or omitted any of them. + </p> + <p> + 10. There have been indeed some bad men, who have attempted to calumniate + my history, and took it to be a kind of scholastic performance for the + exercise of young men. A strange sort of accusation and calumny this! + since every one that undertakes to deliver the history of actions truly + ought to know them accurately himself in the first place, as either having + been concerned in them himself, or been informed of them by such as knew + them. Now both these methods of knowledge I may very properly pretend to + in the composition of both my works; for, as I said, I have translated the + Antiquities out of our sacred books; which I easily could do, since I was + a priest by my birth, and have studied that philosophy which is contained + in those writings: and for the History of the War, I wrote it as having + been an actor myself in many of its transactions, an eye-witness in the + greatest part of the rest, and was not unacquainted with any thing + whatsoever that was either said or done in it. How impudent then must + those deserve to be esteemed that undertake to contradict me about the + true state of those affairs! who, although they pretend to have made use + of both the emperors' own memoirs, yet could not they he acquainted with + our affairs who fought against them. + </p> + <p> + 11. This digression I have been obliged to make out of necessity, as being + desirous to expose the vanity of those that profess to write histories; + and I suppose I have sufficiently declared that this custom of + transmitting down the histories of ancient times hath been better + preserved by those nations which are called Barbarians, than by the Greeks + themselves. I am now willing, in the next place, to say a few things to + those that endeavor to prove that our constitution is but of late time, + for this reason, as they pretend, that the Greek writers have said nothing + about us; after which I shall produce testimonies for our antiquity out of + the writings of foreigners; I shall also demonstrate that such as cast + reproaches upon our nation do it very unjustly. + </p> + <p> + 12. As for ourselves, therefore, we neither inhabit a maritime country, + nor do we delight in merchandise, nor in such a mixture with other men as + arises from it; but the cities we dwell in are remote from the sea, and + having a fruitful country for our habitation, we take pains in cultivating + that only. Our principal care of all is this, to educate our children + well; and we think it to be the most necessary business of our whole life + to observe the laws that have been given us, and to keep those rules of + piety that have been delivered down to us. Since, therefore, besides what + we have already taken notice of, we have had a peculiar way of living of + our own, there was no occasion offered us in ancient ages for intermixing + among the Greeks, as they had for mixing among the Egyptians, by their + intercourse of exporting and importing their several goods; as they also + mixed with the Phoenicians, who lived by the sea-side, by means of their + love of lucre in trade and merchandise. Nor did our forefathers betake + themselves, as did some others, to robbery; nor did they, in order to gain + more wealth, fall into foreign wars, although our country contained many + ten thousands of men of courage sufficient for that purpose. For this + reason it was that the Phoenicians themselves came soon by trading and + navigation to be known to the Grecians, and by their means the Egyptians + became known to the Grecians also, as did all those people whence the + Phoenicians in long voyages over the seas carried wares to the Grecians. + The Medes also and the Persians, when they were lords of Asia, became well + known to them; and this was especially true of the Persians, who led their + armies as far as the other continent [Europe]. The Thracians were also + known to them by the nearness of their countries, and the Scythians by the + means of those that sailed to Pontus; for it was so in general that all + maritime nations, and those that inhabited near the eastern or western + seas, became most known to those that were desirous to be writers; but + such as had their habitations further from the sea were for the most part + unknown to them which things appear to have happened as to Europe also, + where the city of Rome, that hath this long time been possessed of so much + power, and hath performed such great actions in war, is yet never + mentioned by Herodotus, nor by Thucydides, nor by any one of their + contemporaries; and it was very late, and with great difficulty, that the + Romans became known to the Greeks. Nay, those that were reckoned the most + exact historians [and Ephorus for one] were so very ignorant of the Gauls + and the Spaniards, that he supposed the Spaniards, who inhabit so great a + part of the western regions of the earth, to be no more than one city. + Those historians also have ventured to describe such customs as were made + use of by them, which they never had either done or said; and the reason + why these writers did not know the truth of their affairs was this, that + they had not any commerce together; but the reason why they wrote such + falsities was this, that they had a mind to appear to know things which + others had not known. How can it then be any wonder, if our nation was no + more known to many of the Greeks, nor had given them any occasion to + mention them in their writings, while they were so remote from the sea, + and had a conduct of life so peculiar to themselves? + </p> + <p> + 13. Let us now put the case, therefore, that we made use of this argument + concerning the Grecians, in order to prove that their nation was not + ancient, because nothing is said of them in our records: would not they + laugh at us all, and probably give the same reasons for our silence that I + have now alleged, and would produce their neighbor nations as witnesses to + their own antiquity? Now the very same thing will I endeavor to do; for I + will bring the Egyptians and the Phoenicians as my principal witnesses, + because nobody can complain Of their testimony as false, on account that + they are known to have borne the greatest ill-will towards us; I mean this + as to the Egyptians in general all of them, while of the Phoenicians it is + known the Tyrians have been most of all in the same ill disposition + towards us: yet do I confess that I cannot say the same of the Chaldeans, + since our first leaders and ancestors were derived from them; and they do + make mention of us Jews in their records, on account of the kindred there + is between us. Now when I shall have made my assertions good, so far as + concerns the others, I will demonstrate that some of the Greek writers + have made mention of us Jews also, that those who envy us may not have + even this pretense for contradicting what I have said about our nation. + </p> + <p> + 14. I shall begin with the writings of the Egyptians; not indeed of those + that have written in the Egyptian language, which it is impossible for me + to do. But Manetho was a man who was by birth an Egyptian, yet had he made + himself master of the Greek learning, as is very evident; for he wrote the + history of his own country in the Greek tongue, by translating it, as he + saith himself, out of their sacred records; he also finds great fault with + Herodotus for his ignorance and false relations of Egyptian affairs. Now + this Manetho, in the second book of his Egyptian History, writes + concerning us in the following manner. I will set down his very words, as + if I were to bring the very man himself into a court for a witness: "There + was a king of ours whose name was Timaus. Under him it came to pass, I + know not how, that God was averse to us, and there came, after a + surprising manner, men of ignoble birth out of the eastern parts, and had + boldness enough to make an expedition into our country, and with ease + subdued it by force, yet without our hazarding a battle with them. So when + they had gotten those that governed us under their power, they afterwards + burnt down our cities, and demolished the temples of the gods, and used + all the inhabitants after a most barbarous manner; nay, some they slew, + and led their children and their wives into slavery. At length they made + one of themselves king, whose name was Salatis; he also lived at Memphis, + and made both the upper and lower regions pay tribute, and left garrisons + in places that were the most proper for them. He chiefly aimed to secure + the eastern parts, as fore-seeing that the Assyrians, who had then the + greatest power, would be desirous of that kingdom, and invade them; and as + he found in the Saite Nomos, [Sethroite,] a city very proper for this + purpose, and which lay upon the Bubastic channel, but with regard to a + certain theologic notion was called Avaris, this he rebuilt, and made very + strong by the walls he built about it, and by a most numerous garrison of + two hundred and forty thousand armed men whom he put into it to keep it. + Thither Salatis came in summer time, partly to gather his corn, and pay + his soldiers their wages, and partly to exercise his armed men, and + thereby to terrify foreigners. When this man had reigned thirteen years, + after him reigned another, whose name was Beon, for forty-four years; + after him reigned another, called Apachnas, thirty-six years and seven + months; after him Apophis reigned sixty-one years, and then Janins fifty + years and one month; after all these reigned Assis forty-nine years and + two months. And these six were the first rulers among them, who were all + along making war with the Egyptians, and were very desirous gradually to + destroy them to the very roots. This whole nation was styled Hycsos, that + is, Shepherd-kings: for the first syllable Hyc, according to the sacred + dialect, denotes a king, as is Sos a shepherd; but this according to the + ordinary dialect; and of these is compounded Hycsos: but some say that + these people were Arabians." Now in another copy it is said that this word + does not denote Kings, but, on the contrary, denotes Captive Shepherds, + and this on account of the particle Hyc; for that Hyc, with the + aspiration, in the Egyptian tongue again denotes Shepherds, and that + expressly also; and this to me seems the more probable opinion, and more + agreeable to ancient history. [But Manetho goes on]: "These people, whom + we have before named kings, and called shepherds also, and their + descendants," as he says, "kept possession of Egypt five hundred and + eleven years." After these, he says, "That the kings of Thebais and the + other parts of Egypt made an insurrection against the shepherds, and that + there a terrible and long war was made between them." He says further, + "That under a king, whose name was Alisphragmuthosis, the shepherds were + subdued by him, and were indeed driven out of other parts of Egypt, but + were shut up in a place that contained ten thousand acres; this place was + named Avaris." Manetho says, "That the shepherds built a wall round all + this place, which was a large and a strong wall, and this in order to keep + all their possessions and their prey within a place of strength, but that + Thummosis the son of Alisphragmuthosis made an attempt to take them by + force and by siege, with four hundred and eighty thousand men to lie + rotund about them, but that, upon his despair of taking the place by that + siege, they came to a composition with them, that they should leave Egypt, + and go, without any harm to be done to them, whithersoever they would; and + that, after this composition was made, they went away with their whole + families and effects, not fewer in number than two hundred and forty + thousand, and took their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, for + Syria; but that as they were in fear of the Assyrians, who had then the + dominion over Asia, they built a city in that country which is now called + Judea, and that large enough to contain this great number of men, and + called it Jerusalem." <a href="#linknote-9" name="linknoteref-9" + id="linknoteref-9"><small>9</small></a> Now Manetho, in another book of + his, says, "That this nation, thus called Shepherds, were also called + Captives, in their sacred books." And this account of his is the truth; + for feeding of sheep was the employment of our forefathers in the most + ancient ages <a href="#linknote-10" name="linknoteref-10" + id="linknoteref-10"><small>10</small></a> and as they led such a wandering + life in feeding sheep, they were called Shepherds. Nor was it without + reason that they were called Captives by the Egyptians, since one of our + ancestors, Joseph, told the king of Egypt that he was a captive, and + afterward sent for his brethren into Egypt by the king's permission. But + as for these matters, I shall make a more exact inquiry about them + elsewhere. <a href="#linknote-11" name="linknoteref-11" id="linknoteref-11"><small>11</small></a> + </p> + <p> + 15. But now I shall produce the Egyptians as witnesses to the antiquity of + our nation. I shall therefore here bring in Manetho again, and what he + writes as to the order of the times in this case; and thus he speaks: + "When this people or shepherds were gone out of Egypt to Jerusalem, + Tethtoosis the king of Egypt, who drove them out, reigned afterward + twenty-five years and four months, and then died; after him his son + Chebron took the kingdom for thirteen years; after whom came Amenophis, + for twenty years and seven months; then came his sister Amesses, for + twenty-one years and nine months; after her came Mephres, for twelve years + and nine months; after him was Mephramuthosis, for twenty-five years and + ten months; after him was Thmosis, for nine years and eight months; after + him came Amenophis, for thirty years and ten months; after him came Orus, + for thirty-six years and five months; then came his daughter Acenchres, + for twelve years and one month; then was her brother Rathotis, for nine + years; then was Acencheres, for twelve years and five months; then came + another Acencheres, for twelve years and three months; after him Armais, + for four years and one month; after him was Ramesses, for one year and + four months; after him came Armesses Miammoun, for sixty-six years and two + months; after him Amenophis, for nineteen years and six months; after him + came Sethosis, and Ramesses, who had an army of horse, and a naval force. + This king appointed his brother, Armais, to be his deputy over Egypt." [In + another copy it stood thus: "After him came Sethosis, and Ramesses, two + brethren, the former of whom had a naval force, and in a hostile manner + destroyed those that met him upon the sea; but as he slew Ramesses in no + long time afterward, so he appointed another of his brethren to be his + deputy over Egypt.] He also gave him all the other authority of a king, + but with these only injunctions, that he should not wear the diadem, nor + be injurious to the queen, the mother of his children, and that he should + not meddle with the other concubines of the king; while he made an + expedition against Cyprus, and Phoenicia, and besides against the + Assyrians and the Medes. He then subdued them all, some by his arms, some + without fighting, and some by the terror of his great army; and being + puffed up by the great successes he had had, he went on still the more + boldly, and overthrew the cities and countries that lay in the eastern + parts. But after some considerable time, Armais, who was left in Egypt, + did all those very things, by way of opposition, which his brother had + forbid him to do, without fear; for he used violence to the queen, and + continued to make use of the rest of the concubines, without sparing any + of them; nay, at the persuasion of his friends he put on the diadem, and + set up to oppose his brother. But then he who was set over the priests of + Egypt wrote letters to Sethosis, and informed him of all that had + happened, and how his brother had set up to oppose him: he therefore + returned back to Pelusium immediately, and recovered his kingdom again. + The country also was called from his name Egypt; for Manetho says, that + Sethosis was himself called Egyptus, as was his brother Armais called + Danaus." + </p> + <p> + 16. This is Manetho's account. And evident it is from the number of years + by him set down belonging to this interval, if they be summed up together, + that these shepherds, as they are here called, who were no other than our + forefathers, were delivered out of Egypt, and came thence, and inhabited + this country, three hundred and ninety-three years before Danaus came to + Argos; although the Argives look upon him <a href="#linknote-12" + name="linknoteref-12" id="linknoteref-12"><small>12</small></a> as their + most ancient king Manetho, therefore, hears this testimony to two points + of the greatest consequence to our purpose, and those from the Egyptian + records themselves. In the first place, that we came out of another + country into Egypt; and that withal our deliverance out of it was so + ancient in time as to have preceded the siege of Troy almost a thousand + years; but then, as to those things which Manetbo adds, not from the + Egyptian records, but, as he confesses himself, from some stories of an + uncertain original, I will disprove them hereafter particularly, and shall + demonstrate that they are no better than incredible fables. + </p> + <p> + 17. I will now, therefore, pass from these records, and come to those that + belong to the Phoenicians, and concern our nation, and shall produce + attestations to what I have said out of them. There are then records among + the Tyrians that take in the history of many years, and these are public + writings, and are kept with great exactness, and include accounts of the + facts done among them, and such as concern their transactions with other + nations also, those I mean which were worth remembering. Therein it was + recorded that the temple was built by king Solomon at Jerusalem, one + hundred forty-three years and eight months before the Tyrians built + Carthage; and in their annals the building of our temple is related; for + Hirom, the king of Tyre, was the friend of Solomon our king, and had such + friendship transmitted down to him from his forefathers. He thereupon was + ambitious to contribute to the splendor of this edifice of Solomon, and + made him a present of one hundred and twenty talents of gold. He also cut + down the most excellent timber out of that mountain which is called + Libanus, and sent it to him for adorning its roof. Solomon also not only + made him many other presents, by way of requital, but gave him a country + in Galilee also, that was called Chabulon. <a href="#linknote-13" + name="linknoteref-13" id="linknoteref-13"><small>13</small></a> But there + was another passion, a philosophic inclination of theirs, which cemented + the friendship that was betwixt them; for they sent mutual problems to one + another, with a desire to have them unriddled by each other; wherein + Solomon was superior to Hirom, as he was wiser than he in other respects: + and many of the epistles that passed between them are still preserved + among the Tyrians. Now, that this may not depend on my bare word, I will + produce for a witness Dius, one that is believed to have written the + Phoenician History after an accurate manner. This Dius, therefore, writes + thus, in his Histories of the Phoenicians: "Upon the death of Abibalus, + his son Hirom took the kingdom. This king raised banks at the eastern + parts of the city, and enlarged it; he also joined the temple of Jupiter + Olympius, which stood before in an island by itself, to the city, by + raising a causeway between them, and adorned that temple with donations of + gold. He moreover went up to Libanus, and had timber cut down for the + building of temples. They say further, that Solomon, when he was king of + Jerusalem, sent problems to Hirom to be solved, and desired he would send + others back for him to solve, and that he who could not solve the problems + proposed to him should pay money to him that solved them. And when Hirom + had agreed to the proposals, but was not able to solve the problems, he + was obliged to pay a great deal of money, as a penalty for the same. As + also they relate, that one OEabdemon, a man of Tyre, did solve the + problems, and propose others which Solomon could not solve, upon which he + was obliged to repay a great deal of money to Hirom." These things are + attested to by Dius, and confirm what we have said upon the same subjects + before. + </p> + <p> + 18. And now I shall add Menander the Ephesian, as an additional witness. + This Menander wrote the Acts that were done both by the Greeks and + Barbarians, under every one of the Tyrian kings, and had taken much pains + to learn their history out of their own records. Now when he was writing + about those kings that had reigned at Tyre, he came to Hirom, and says + thus: "Upon the death of Abibalus, his son Hirom took the kingdom; he + lived fifty-three years, and reigned thirty-four. He raised a bank on that + called the Broad Place, and dedicated that golden pillar which is in + Jupiter's temple; he also went and cut down timber from the mountain + called Libanus, and got timber Of cedar for the roofs of the temples. He + also pulled down the old temples, and built new ones; besides this, he + consecrated the temples of Hercules and of Astarte. He first built + Hercules's temple in the month Peritus, and that of Astarte when he made + his expedition against the Tityans, who would not pay him their tribute; + and when he had subdued them to himself, he returned home. Under this king + there was a younger son of Abdemon, who mastered the problems which + Solomon king of Jerusalem had recommended to be solved." Now the time from + this king to the building of Carthage is thus calculated: "Upon the death + of Hirom, Baleazarus his son took the kingdom; he lived forty-three years, + and reigned seven years: after him succeeded his son Abdastartus; he lived + twenty-nine years, and reigned nine years. Now four sons of his nurse + plotted against him and slew him, the eldest of whom reigned twelve years: + after them came Astartus, the son of Deleastartus; he lived fifty-four + years, and reigned twelve years: after him came his brother Aserymus; he + lived fifty-four years, and reigned nine years: he was slain by his + brother Pheles, who took the kingdom and reigned but eight months, though + he lived fifty years: he was slain by Ithobalus, the priest of Astarte, + who reigned thirty-two years, and lived sixty-eight years: he was + succeeded by his son Badezorus, who lived forty-five years, and reigned + six years: he was succeeded by Matgenus his son; he lived thirty-two + years, and reigned nine years: Pygmalion succeeded him; he lived fifty-six + years, and reigned forty-seven years. Now in the seventh year of his + reign, his sister fled away from him, and built the city Carthage in + Libya." So the whole time from the reign of Hirom, till the building of + Carthage, amounts to the sum of one hundred fifty-five years and eight + months. Since then the temple was built at Jerusalem in the twelfth year + of the reign of Hirom, there were from the building of the temple, until + the building of Carthage, one hundred forty-three years and eight months. + Wherefore, what occasion is there for alleging any more testimonies out of + the Phoenician histories [on the behalf of our nation], since what I have + said is so thoroughly confirmed already? and to be sure our ancestors came + into this country long before the building of the temple; for it was not + till we had gotten possession of the whole land by war that we built our + temple. And this is the point that I have clearly proved out of our sacred + writings in my Antiquities. + </p> + <p> + 19. I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the Chaldean + histories, which records have a great agreement with our books in oilier + things also. Berosus shall be witness to what I say: he was by birth a + Chaldean, well known by the learned, on account of his publication of the + Chaldean books of astronomy and philosophy among the Greeks. This Berosus, + therefore, following the most ancient records of that nation, gives us a + history of the deluge of waters that then happened, and of the destruction + of mankind thereby, and agrees with Moses's narration thereof. He also + gives us an account of that ark wherein Noah, the origin of our race, was + preserved, when it was brought to the highest part of the Armenian + mountains; after which he gives us a catalogue of the posterity of Noah, + and adds the years of their chronology, and at length comes down to + Nabolassar, who was king of Babylon, and of the Chaldeans. And when he was + relating the acts of this king, he describes to us how he sent his son + Nabuchodonosor against Egypt, and against our land, with a great army, + upon his being informed that they had revolted from him; and how, by that + means, he subdued them all, and set our temple that was at Jerusalem on + fire; nay, and removed our people entirely out of their own country, and + transferred them to Babylon; when it so happened that our city was + desolate during the interval of seventy years, until the days of Cyrus + king of Persia. He then says, "That this Babylonian king conquered Egypt, + and Syria, and Phoenicia, and Arabia, and exceeded in his exploits all + that had reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldea." A little after which + Berosus subjoins what follows in his History of Ancient Times. I will set + down Berosus's own accounts, which are these: "When Nabolassar, father of + Nabuchodonosor, heard that the governor whom he had set over Egypt, and + over the parts of Celesyria and Phoenicia, had revolted from him, he was + not able to bear it any longer; but committing certain parts of his army + to his son Nabuchodonosor, who was then but young, he sent him against the + rebel: Nabuchodonosor joined battle with him, and conquered him, and + reduced the country under his dominion again. Now it so fell out that his + father Nabolassar fell into a distemper at this time, and died in the city + of Babylon, after he had reigned twenty-nine years. But as he understood, + in a little time, that his father Nabolassar was dead, he set the affairs + of Egypt and the other countries in order, and committed the captives he + had taken from the Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and of the nations + belonging to Egypt, to some of his friends, that they might conduct that + part of the forces that had on heavy armor, with the rest of his baggage, + to Babylonia; while he went in haste, having but a few with him, over the + desert to Babylon; whither, when he was come, he found the public affairs + had been managed by the Chaldeans, and that the principal person among + them had preserved the kingdom for him. Accordingly, he now entirely + obtained all his father's dominions. He then came, and ordered the + captives to be placed as colonies in the most proper places of Babylonia; + but for himself, he adorned the temple of Belus, and the other temples, + after an elegant manner, out of the spoils he had taken in this war. He + also rebuilt the old city, and added another to it on the outside, and so + far restored Babylon, that none who should besiege it afterwards might + have it in their power to divert the river, so as to facilitate an + entrance into it; and this he did by building three walls about the inner + city, and three about the outer. Some of these walls he built of burnt + brick and bitumen, and some of brick only. So when he had thus fortified + the city with walls, after an excellent manner, and had adorned the gates + magnificently, he added a new palace to that which his father had dwelt + in, and this close by it also, and that more eminent in its height, and in + its great splendor. It would perhaps require too long a narration, if any + one were to describe it. However, as prodigiously large and as magnificent + as it was, it was finished in fifteen days. Now in this palace he erected + very high walks, supported by stone pillars, and by planting what was + called a pensile paradise, and replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he + rendered the prospect an exact resemblance of a mountainous country. This + he did to please his queen, because she had been brought up in Media, and + was fond of a mountainous situation." + </p> + <p> + 20. This is what Berosus relates concerning the forementioned king, as he + relates many other things about him also in the third book of his Chaldean + History; wherein he complains of the Grecian writers for supposing, + without any foundation, that Babylon was built by Semiramis, <a + href="#linknote-14" name="linknoteref-14" id="linknoteref-14"><small>14</small></a> + queen of Assyria, and for her false pretense to those wonderful edifices + thereto buildings at Babylon, do no way contradict those ancient and + relating, as if they were her own workmanship; as indeed in these affairs + the Chaldean History cannot but be the most credible. Moreover, we meet + with a confirmation of what Berosus says in the archives of the + Phoenicians, concerning this king Nabuchodonosor, that he conquered all + Syria and Phoenicia; in which case Philostratus agrees with the others in + that history which he composed, where he mentions the siege of Tyre; as + does Megasthenes also, in the fourth book of his Indian History, wherein + he pretends to prove that the forementioned king of the Babylonians was + superior to Hercules in strength and the greatness of his exploits; for he + says that he conquered a great part of Libya, and conquered Iberia also. + Now as to what I have said before about the temple at Jerusalem, that it + was fought against by the Babylonians, and burnt by them, but was opened + again when Cyrus had taken the kingdom of Asia, shall now be demonstrated + from what Berosus adds further upon that head; for thus he says in his + third book: "Nabuchodonosor, after he had begun to build the forementioned + wall, fell sick, and departed this life, when he had reigned forty-three + years; whereupon his son Evilmerodach obtained the kingdom. He governed + public affairs after an illegal and impure manner, and had a plot laid + against him by Neriglissoor, his sister's husband, and was slain by him + when he had reigned but two years. After he was slain, Neriglissoor, the + person who plotted against him, succeeded him in the kingdom, and reigned + four years; his son Laborosoarchod obtained the kingdom, though he was but + a child, and kept it nine mouths; but by reason of the very ill temper and + ill practices he exhibited to the world, a plot was laid against him also + by his friends, and he was tormented to death. After his death, the + conspirators got together, and by common consent put the crown upon the + head of Nabonnedus, a man of Babylon, and one who belonged to that + insurrection. In his reign it was that the walls of the city of Babylon + were curiously built with burnt brick and bitumen; but when he was come to + the seventeenth year of his reign, Cyrus came out of Persia with a great + army; and having already conquered all the rest of Asia, he came hastily + to Babylonia. When Nabonnedus perceived he was coming to attack him, he + met him with his forces, and joining battle with him was beaten, and fled + away with a few of his troops with him, and was shut up within the city + Borsippus. Hereupon Cyrus took Babylon, and gave order that the outer + walls of the city should be demolished, because the city had proved very + troublesome to him, and cost him a great deal of pains to take it. He then + marched away to Borsippus, to besiege Nabonnedus; but as Nabonnedus did + not sustain the siege, but delivered himself into his hands, he was at + first kindly used by Cyrus, who gave him Carmania, as a place for him to + inhabit in, but sent him out of Babylonia. Accordingly Nabonnedus spent + the rest of his time in that country, and there died." + </p> + <p> + 21. These accounts agree with the true histories in our books; for in them + it is written that Nebuchadnezzar, in the eighteenth year of his reign, + laid our temple desolate, and so it lay in that state of obscurity for + fifty years; but that in the second year of the reign of Cyrus its + foundations were laid, and it was finished again in the second year of + Darius. I will now add the records of the Phoenicians; for it will not be + superfluous to give the reader demonstrations more than enough on this + occasion. In them we have this enumeration of the times of their several + kings: "Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre for thirteen years in the days of + Ithobal, their king; after him reigned Baal, ten years; after him were + judges appointed, who judged the people: Ecnibalus, the son of Baslacus, + two months; Chelbes, the son of Abdeus, ten months; Abbar, the high + priest, three months; Mitgonus and Gerastratus, the sons of Abdelemus, + were judges six years; after whom Balatorus reigned one year; after his + death they sent and fetched Merbalus from Babylon, who reigned four years; + after his death they sent for his brother Hirom, who reigned twenty years. + Under his reign Cyrus became king of Persia." So that the whole interval + is fifty-four years besides three months; for in the seventh year of the + reign of Nebuchadnezzar he began to besiege Tyre, and Cyrus the Persian + took the kingdom in the fourteenth year of Hirom. So that the records of + the Chaldeans and Tyrians agree with our writings about this temple; and + the testimonies here produced are an indisputable and undeniable + attestation to the antiquity of our nation. And I suppose that what I have + already said may be sufficient to such as are not very contentious. + </p> + <p> + 22. But now it is proper to satisfy the inquiry of those that disbelieve + the records of barbarians, and think none but Greeks to be worthy of + credit, and to produce many of these very Greeks who were acquainted with + our nation, and to set before them such as upon occasion have made mention + of us in their own writings. Pythagoras, therefore, of Samos, lived in + very ancient times, and was esteemed a person superior to all philosophers + in wisdom and piety towards God. Now it is plain that he did not only know + our doctrines, but was in very great measure a follower and admirer of + them. There is not indeed extant any writing that is owned for his <a + href="#linknote-15" name="linknoteref-15" id="linknoteref-15"><small>15</small></a> + but many there are who have written his history, of whom Hermippus is the + most celebrated, who was a person very inquisitive into all sorts of + history. Now this Hermippus, in his first book concerning Pythagoras, + speaks thus: "That Pythagoras, upon the death of one of his associates, + whose name was Calliphon, a Crotonlate by birth, affirmed that this man's + soul conversed with him both night and day, and enjoined him not to pass + over a place where an ass had fallen down; as also not to drink of such + waters as caused thirst again; and to abstain from all sorts of + reproaches." After which he adds thus: "This he did and said in imitation + of the doctrines of the Jews and Thracians, which he transferred into his + own philosophy." For it is very truly affirmed of this Pythagoras, that he + took a great many of the laws of the Jews into his own philosophy. Nor was + our nation unknown of old to several of the Grecian cities, and indeed was + thought worthy of imitation by some of them. This is declared by + Theophrastus, in his writings concerning laws; for he says that "the laws + of the Tyrians forbid men to swear foreign oaths." Among which he + enumerates some others, and particularly that called Corban: which oath + can only be found among the Jews, and declares what a man may call "A + thing devoted to God." Nor indeed was Herodotus of Halicarnassus + unacquainted with our nation, but mentions it after a way of his own, when + he saith thus, in the second book concerning the Colchians. His words are + these: "The only people who were circumcised in their privy members + originally, were the Colchians, the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians; but the + Phoenicians and those Syrians that are in Palestine confess that they + learned it from the Egyptians. And for those Syrians who live about the + rivers Thermodon and Parthenius, and their neighbors the Macrones, they + say they have lately learned it from the Colchians; for these are the only + people that are circumcised among mankind, and appear to have done the + very same thing with the Egyptians. But as for the Egyptians and + Ethiopians themselves, I am not able to say which of them received it from + the other." This therefore is what Herodotus says, that "the Syrians that + are in Palestine are circumcised." But there are no inhabitants of + Palestine that are circumcised excepting the Jews; and therefore it must + be his knowledge of them that enabled him to speak so much concerning + them. Cherilus also, a still ancienter writer, and a poet, <a + href="#linknote-16" name="linknoteref-16" id="linknoteref-16"><small>16</small></a> + makes mention of our nation, and informs us that it came to the assistance + of king Xerxes, in his expedition against Greece. For in his enumeration + of all those nations, he last of all inserts ours among the rest, when he + says, "At the last there passed over a people, wonderful to be beheld; for + they spake the Phoenician tongue with their mouths; they dwelt in the + Solymean mountains, near a broad lake: their heads were sooty; they had + round rasures on them; their heads and faces were like nasty horse-heads + also, that had been hardened in the smoke." I think, therefore, that it is + evident to every body that Cherilus means us, because the Solymean + mountains are in our country, wherein we inhabit, as is also the lake + called Asphaltitis; for this is a broader and larger lake than any other + that is in Syria: and thus does Cherilus make mention of us. But now that + not only the lowest sort of the Grecians, but those that are had in the + greatest admiration for their philosophic improvements among them, did not + only know the Jews, but when they lighted upon any of them, admired them + also, it is easy for any one to know. For Clearchus, who was the scholar + of Aristotle, and inferior to no one of the Peripatetics whomsoever, in + his first book concerning sleep, says that "Aristotle his master related + what follows of a Jew," and sets down Aristotle's own discourse with him. + The account is this, as written down by him: "Now, for a great part of + what this Jew said, it would be too long to recite it; but what includes + in it both wonder and philosophy it may not be amiss to discourse of. Now, + that I may be plain with thee, Hyperochides, I shall herein seem to thee + to relate wonders, and what will resemble dreams themselves. Hereupon + Hyperochides answered modestly, and said, For that very reason it is that + all of us are very desirous of hearing what thou art going to say. Then + replied Aristotle, For this cause it will be the best way to imitate that + rule of the Rhetoricians, which requires us first to give an account of + the man, and of what nation he was, that so we may not contradict our + master's directions. Then said Hyperochides, Go on, if it so pleases thee. + This man then, [answered Aristotle,] was by birth a Jew, and came from + Celesyria; these Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are + named by the Indians Calami, and by the Syrians Judaei, and took their + name from the country they inhabit, which is called Judea; but for the + name of their city, it is a very awkward one, for they call it Jerusalem. + Now this man, when he was hospitably treated by a great many, came down + from the upper country to the places near the sea, and became a Grecian, + not only in his language, but in his soul also; insomuch that when we + ourselves happened to be in Asia about the same places whither he came, he + conversed with us, and with other philosophical persons, and made a trial + of our skill in philosophy; and as he had lived with many learned men, he + communicated to us more information than he received from us." This is + Aristotle's account of the matter, as given us by Clearchus; which + Aristotle discoursed also particularly of the great and wonderful + fortitude of this Jew in his diet, and continent way of living, as those + that please may learn more about him from Clearchus's book itself; for I + avoid setting down any more than is sufficient for my purpose. Now + Clearchus said this by way of digression, for his main design was of + another nature. But for Hecateus of Abdera, who was both a philosopher, + and one very useful ill an active life, he was contemporary with king + Alexander in his youth, and afterward was with Ptolemy, the son of Lagus; + he did not write about the Jewish affairs by the by only, but composed an + entire book concerning the Jews themselves; out of which book I am willing + to run over a few things, of which I have been treating by way of epitome. + And, in the first place, I will demonstrate the time when this Hecateus + lived; for he mentions the fight that was between Ptolemy and Demetrius + about Gaza, which was fought in the eleventh year after the death of + Alexander, and in the hundred and seventeenth olympiad, as Castor says in + his history. For when he had set down this olympiad, he says further, that + "in this olympiad Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, beat in battle Demetrius, the + son of Antigonus, who was named Poliorcetes, at Gaza." Now, it is agreed + by all, that Alexander died in the hundred and fourteenth olympiad; it is + therefore evident that our nation flourished in his time, and in the time + of Alexander. Again, Hecateus says to the same purpose, as follows: + "Ptolemy got possession of the places in Syria after that battle at Gaza; + and many, when they heard of Ptolemy's moderation and humanity, went along + with him to Egypt, and were willing to assist him in his affairs; one of + whom [Hecateus says] was Hezekiah <a href="#linknote-17" + name="linknoteref-17" id="linknoteref-17"><small>17</small></a> the high + priest of the Jews; a man of about sixty-six years of age, and in great + dignity among his own people. He was a very sensible man, and could speak + very movingly, and was very skillful in the management of affairs, if any + other man ever were so; although, as he says, all the priests of the Jews + took tithes of the products of the earth, and managed public affairs, and + were in number not above fifteen hundred at the most." Hecateus mentions + this Hezekiah a second time, and says, that "as he was possessed of so + great a dignity, and was become familiar with us, so did he take certain + of those that were with him, and explained to them all the circumstances + of their people; for he had all their habitations and polity down in + writing." Moreover, Hecateus declares again, "what regard we have for our + laws, and that we resolve to endure any thing rather than transgress them, + because we think it right for us to do so." Whereupon he adds, that + "although they are in a bad reputation among their neighbors, and among + all those that come to them, and have been often treated injuriously by + the kings and governors of Persia, yet can they not be dissuaded from + acting what they think best; but that when they are stripped on this + account, and have torments inflicted upon them, and they are brought to + the most terrible kinds of death, they meet them after an extraordinary + manner, beyond all other people, and will not renounce the religion of + their forefathers." Hecateus also produces demonstrations not a few of + this their resolute tenaciousness of their laws, when he speaks thus: + "Alexander was once at Babylon, and had an intention to rebuild the temple + of Belus that was fallen to decay, and in order thereto, he commanded all + his soldiers in general to bring earth thither. But the Jews, and they + only, would not comply with that command; nay, they underwent stripes and + great losses of what they had on this account, till the king forgave them, + and permitted them to live in quiet." He adds further, that "when the + Macedonians came to them into that country, and demolished the [old] + temples and the altars, they assisted them in demolishing them all <a + href="#linknote-18" name="linknoteref-18" id="linknoteref-18"><small>18</small></a> + but [for not assisting them in rebuilding them] they either underwent + losses, or sometimes obtained forgiveness." He adds further, that "these + men deserve to be admired on that account." He also speaks of the mighty + populousness of our nation, and says that "the Persians formerly carried + away many ten thousands of our people to Babylon, as also that not a few + ten thousands were removed after Alexander's death into Egypt and + Phoenicia, by reason of the sedition that was arisen in Syria." The same + person takes notice in his history, how large the country is which we + inhabit, as well as of its excellent character, and says, that "the land + in which the Jews inhabit contains three millions of arourae, <a + href="#linknote-19" name="linknoteref-19" id="linknoteref-19"><small>19</small></a> + and is generally of a most excellent and most fruitful soil; nor is Judea + of lesser dimensions." The same man describe our city Jerusalem also + itself as of a most excellent structure, and very large, and inhabited + from the most ancient times. He also discourses of the multitude of men in + it, and of the construction of our temple, after the following manner: + "There are many strong places and villages [says he] in the country of + Judea; but one strong city there is, about fifty furlongs in + circumference, which is inhabited by a hundred and twenty thousand men, or + thereabouts; they call it Jerusalem. There is about the middle of the city + a wall of stone, whose length is five hundred feet, and the breadth a + hundred cubits, with double cloisters; wherein there is a square altar, + not made of hewn stone, but composed of white stones gathered together, + having each side twenty cubits long, and its altitude ten cubits. Hard by + it is a large edifice, wherein there is an altar and a candlestick, both + of gold, and in weight two talents: upon these there is a light that is + never extinguished, either by night or by day. There is no image, nor any + thing, nor any donations therein; nothing at all is there planted, neither + grove, nor any thing of that sort. The priests abide therein both nights + and days, performing certain purifications, and drinking not the least + drop of wine while they are in the temple." Moreover, he attests that we + Jews went as auxiliaries along with king Alexander, and after him with his + successors. I will add further what he says he learned when he was himself + with the same army, concerning the actions of a man that was a Jew. His + words are these: "As I was myself going to the Red Sea, there followed us + a man, whose name was Mosollam; he was one of the Jewish horsemen who + conducted us; he was a person of great courage, of a strong body, and by + all allowed to be the most skillful archer that was either among the + Greeks or barbarians. Now this man, as people were in great numbers + passing along the road, and a certain augur was observing an augury by a + bird, and requiring them all to stand still, inquired what they staid for. + Hereupon the augur showed him the bird from whence he took his augury, and + told him that if the bird staid where he was, they ought all to stand + still; but that if he got up, and flew onward, they must go forward; but + that if he flew backward, they must retire again. Mosollam made no reply, + but drew his bow, and shot at the bird, and hit him, and killed him; and + as the augur and some others were very angry, and wished imprecations upon + him, he answered them thus: Why are you so mad as to take this most + unhappy bird into your hands? for how can this bird give us any true + information concerning our march, who could not foresee how to save + himself? for had he been able to foreknow what was future, he would not + have come to this place, but would have been afraid lest Mosollam the Jew + should shoot at him, and kill him." But of Hecateus's testimonies we have + said enough; for as to such as desire to know more of them, they may + easily obtain them from his book itself. However, I shall not think it too + much for me to name Agatharchides, as having made mention of us Jews, + though in way of derision at our simplicity, as he supposes it to be; for + when he was discoursing of the affairs of Stratonice, "how she came out of + Macedonia into Syria, and left her husband Demetrius, while yet Seleueus + would not marry her as she expected, but during the time of his raising an + army at Babylon, stirred up a sedition about Antioch; and how, after that, + the king came back, and upon his taking of Antioch, she fled to Seleucia, + and had it in her power to sail away immediately yet did she comply with a + dream which forbade her so to do, and so was caught and put to death." + When Agatharehides had premised this story, and had jested upon Stratonice + for her superstition, he gives a like example of what was reported + concerning us, and writes thus: "There are a people called Jews, and dwell + in a city the strongest of all other cities, which the inhabitants call + Jerusalem, and are accustomed to rest on every seventh day <a + href="#linknote-20" name="linknoteref-20" id="linknoteref-20"><small>20</small></a> + on which times they make no use of their arms, nor meddle with husbandry, + nor take care of any affairs of life, but spread out their hands in their + holy places, and pray till the evening. Now it came to pass, that when + Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, came into this city with his army, that these + men, in observing this mad custom of theirs, instead of guarding the city, + suffered their country to submit itself to a bitter lord; and their law + was openly proved to have commanded a foolish practice. <a + href="#linknote-21" name="linknoteref-21" id="linknoteref-21"><small>21</small></a> + This accident taught all other men but the Jews to disregard such dreams + as these were, and not to follow the like idle suggestions delivered as a + law, when, in such uncertainty of human reasonings, they are at a loss + what they should do." Now this our procedure seems a ridiculous thing to + Agatharehides, but will appear to such as consider it without prejudice a + great thing, and what deserved a great many encomiums; I mean, when + certain men constantly prefer the observation of their laws, and their + religion towards God, before the preservation of themselves and their + country. + </p> + <p> + 23. Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation, not because + they knew nothing of us, but because they envied us, or for some other + unjustifiable reasons, I think I can demonstrate by particular instances; + for Hieronymus, who wrote the History of Alexander's Successors, lived at + the same time with Hecateus, and was a friend of king Antigonus, and + president of Syria. Now it is plain that Hecateus wrote an entire book + concerning us, while Hieronymus never mentions us in his history, although + he was bred up very near to the places where we live. Thus different from + one another are the inclinations of men; while the one thought we deserved + to be carefully remembered, as some ill-disposed passion blinded the + other's mind so entirely, that he could not discern the truth. And now + certainly the foregoing records of the Egyptians, and Chaldeans, and + Phoenicians, together with so many of the Greek writers, will be + sufficient for the demonstration of our antiquity. Moreover, besides those + forementioned, Theophilus, and Theodotus, and Mnaseas, and Aristophanes, + and Hermogenes, Euhemerus also, and Conon, and Zopyrion, and perhaps many + others, [for I have not lighted upon all the Greek books,] have made + distinct mention of us. It is true, many of the men before mentioned have + made great mistakes about the true accounts of our nation in the earliest + times, because they had not perused our sacred books; yet have they all of + them afforded their testimony to our antiquity, concerning which I am now + treating. However, Demetrius Phalereus, and the elder Philo, with + Eupolemus, have not greatly missed the truth about our affairs; whose + lesser mistakes ought therefore to be forgiven them; for it was not in + their power to understand our writings with the utmost accuracy. + </p> + <p> + 24. One particular there is still remaining behind of what I at first + proposed to speak to, and that is, to demonstrate that those calumnies and + reproaches which some have thrown upon our nation, are lies, and to make + use of those writers' own testimonies against themselves; and that in + general this self-contradiction hath happened to many other authors by + reason of their ill-will to some people, I conclude, is not unknown to + such as have read histories with sufficient care; for some of them have + endeavored to disgrace the nobility of certain nations, and of some of the + most glorious cities, and have cast reproaches upon certain forms of + government. Thus hath Theopompus abused the city of Athens, Polycrates + that of Lacedemon, as hath he hat wrote the Tripoliticus [for he is not + Theopompus, as is supposed by some] done by the city of Thebes. Timeils + also hath greatly abused the foregoing people and others also; and this + ill-treatment they use chiefly when they have a contest with men of the + greatest reputation; some out of envy and malice, and others as supposing + that by this foolish talking of theirs they may be thought worthy of being + remembered themselves; and indeed they do by no means fail of their hopes, + with regard to the foolish part of mankind, but men of sober judgment + still condemn them of great malignity. + </p> + <p> + 25. Now the Egyptians were the first that cast reproaches upon us; in + order to please which nation, some others undertook to pervert the truth, + while they would neither own that our forefathers came into Egypt from + another country, as the fact was, nor give a true account of our departure + thence. And indeed the Egyptians took many occasions to hate us and envy + us: in the first place, because our ancestors had had the dominion over + their country? and when they were delivered from them, and gone to their + own country again, they lived there in prosperity. In the next place, the + difference of our religion from theirs hath occasioned great enmity + between us, while our way of Divine worship did as much exceed that which + their laws appointed, as does the nature of God exceed that of brute + beasts; for so far they all agree through the whole country, to esteem + such animals as gods, although they differ one from another in the + peculiar worship they severally pay to them. And certainly men they are + entirely of vain and foolish minds, who have thus accustomed themselves + from the beginning to have such bad notions concerning their gods, and + could not think of imitating that decent form of Divine worship which we + made use of, though, when they saw our institutions approved of by many + others, they could not but envy us on that account; for some of them have + proceeded to that degree of folly and meanness in their conduct, as not to + scruple to contradict their own ancient records, nay, to contradict + themselves also in their writings, and yet were so blinded by their + passions as not to discern it. + </p> + <p> + 26. And now I will turn my discourse to one of their principal writers, + whom I have a little before made use of as a witness to our antiquity; I + mean Manetho. <a href="#linknote-22" name="linknoteref-22" + id="linknoteref-22"><small>22</small></a> He promised to interpret the + Egyptian history out of their sacred writings, and premised this: that + "our people had come into Egypt, many ten thousands in number, and subdued + its inhabitants;" and when he had further confessed that "we went out of + that country afterward, and settled in that country which is now called + Judea, and there built Jerusalem and its temple." Now thus far he followed + his ancient records; but after this he permits himself, in order to appear + to have written what rumors and reports passed abroad about the Jews, and + introduces incredible narrations, as if he would have the Egyptian + multitude, that had the leprosy and other distempers, to have been mixed + with us, as he says they were, and that they were condemned to fly out of + Egypt together; for he mentions Amenophis, a fictitious king's name, + though on that account he durst not set down the number of years of his + reign, which yet he had accurately done as to the other kings he mentions; + he then ascribes certain fabulous stories to this king, as having in a + manner forgotten how he had already related that the departure of the + shepherds for Jerusalem had been five hundred and eighteen years before; + for Tethmosis was king when they went away. Now, from his days, the reigns + of the intermediate kings, according to Manethe, amounted to three hundred + and ninety-three years, as he says himself, till the two brothers Sethos + and Hermeus; the one of whom, Sethos, was called by that other name of + Egyptus, and the other, Hermeus, by that of Danaus. He also says that + Sethos east the other out of Egypt, and reigned fifty-nine years, as did + his eldest son Rhampses reign after him sixty-six years. When Manethe + therefore had acknowledged that our forefathers were gone out of Egypt so + many years ago, he introduces his fictitious king Amenophis, and says + thus: "This king was desirous to become a spectator of the gods, as had + Orus, one of his predecessors in that kingdom, desired the same before + him; he also communicated that his desire to his namesake Amenophis, who + was the son of Papis, and one that seemed to partake of a divine nature, + both as to wisdom and the knowledge of futurities." Manethe adds, "how + this namesake of his told him that he might see the gods, if he would + clear the whole country of the lepers and of the other impure people; that + the king was pleased with this injunction, and got together all that had + any defect in their bodies out of Egypt; and that their number was eighty + thousand; whom he sent to those quarries which are on the east side of the + Nile, that they might work in them, and might be separated from the rest + of the Egyptians." He says further, that "there were some of the learned + priests that were polluted with the leprosy; but that still this + Amenophis, the wise man and the prophet, was afraid that the gods would be + angry at him and at the king, if there should appear to have been violence + offered them; who also added this further, [out of his sagacity about + futurities,] that certain people would come to the assistance of these + polluted wretches, and would conquer Egypt, and keep it in their + possession thirteen years; that, however, he durst not tell the king of + these things, but that he left a writing behind him about all those + matters, and then slew himself, which made the king disconsolate." After + which he writes thus verbatim: "After those that were sent to work in the + quarries had continued in that miserable state for a long while, the king + was desired that he would set apart the city Avaris, which was then left + desolate of the shepherds, for their habitation and protection; which + desire he granted them. Now this city, according to the ancient theology, + was Typho's city. But when these men were gotten into it, and found the + place fit for a revolt, they appointed themselves a ruler out of the + priests of Hellopolis, whose name was Osarsiph, and they took their oaths + that they would be obedient to him in all things. He then, in the first + place, made this law for them, That they should neither worship the + Egyptian gods, nor should abstain from any one of those sacred animals + which they have in the highest esteem, but kill and destroy them all; that + they should join themselves to nobody but to those that were of this + confederacy. When he had made such laws as these, and many more such as + were mainly opposite to the customs of the Egyptians, <a + href="#linknote-23" name="linknoteref-23" id="linknoteref-23"><small>23</small></a> + he gave order that they should use the multitude of the hands they had in + building walls about their City, and make themselves ready for a war with + king Amenophis, while he did himself take into his friendship the other + priests, and those that were polluted with them, and sent ambassadors to + those shepherds who had been driven out of the land by Tefilmosis to the + city called Jerusalem; whereby he informed them of his own affairs, and of + the state of those others that had been treated after such an ignominious + manner, and desired that they would come with one consent to his + assistance in this war against Egypt. He also promised that he would, in + the first place, bring them back to their ancient city and country Avaris, + and provide a plentiful maintenance for their multitude; that he would + protect them and fight for them as occasion should require, and would + easily reduce the country under their dominion. These shepherds were all + very glad of this message, and came away with alacrity all together, being + in number two hundred thousand men; and in a little time they came to + Avaris. And now Amenophis the king of Egypt, upon his being informed of + their invasion, was in great confusion, as calling to mind what Amenophis, + the son of Papis, had foretold him; and, in the first place, he assembled + the multitude of the Egyptians, and took counsel with their leaders, and + sent for their sacred animals to him, especially for those that were + principally worshipped in their temples, and gave a particular charge to + the priests distinctly, that they should hide the images of their gods + with the utmost care he also sent his son Sethos, who was also named + Ramesses, from his father Rhampses, being but five years old, to a friend + of his. He then passed on with the rest of the Egyptians, being three + hundred thousand of the most warlike of them, against the enemy, who met + them. Yet did he not join battle with them; but thinking that would be to + fight against the gods, he returned back and came to Memphis, where he + took Apis and the other sacred animals which he had sent for to him, and + presently marched into Ethiopia, together with his whole army and + multitude of Egyptians; for the king of Ethiopia was under an obligation + to him, on which account he received him, and took care of all the + multitude that was with him, while the country supplied all that was + necessary for the food of the men. He also allotted cities and villages + for this exile, that was to be from its beginning during those fatally + determined thirteen years. Moreover, he pitched a camp for his Ethiopian + army, as a guard to king Amenophis, upon the borders of Egypt. And this + was the state of things in Ethiopia. But for the people of Jerusalem, when + they came down together with the polluted Egyptians, they treated the men + in such a barbarous manner, that those who saw how they subdued the + forementioned country, and the horrid wickedness they were guilty of, + thought it a most dreadful thing; for they did not only set the cities and + villages on fire but were not satisfied till they had been guilty of + sacrilege, and destroyed the images of the gods, and used them in roasting + those sacred animals that used to be worshipped, and forced the priests + and prophets to be the executioners and murderers of those animals, and + then ejected them naked out of the country. It was also reported that the + priest, who ordained their polity and their laws, was by birth of + Hellopolls, and his name Osarsiph, from Osyris, who was the god of + Hellopolls; but that when he was gone over to these people, his name was + changed, and he was called Moses." + </p> + <p> + 27. This is what the Egyptians relate about the Jews, with much more, + which I omit for the sake of brevity. But still Manetho goes on, that + "after this, Amenophis returned back from Ethiopia with a great army, as + did his son Ahampses with another army also, and that both of them joined + battle with the shepherds and the polluted people, and beat them, and slew + a great many of them, and pursued them to the bounds of Syria." These and + the like accounts are written by Manetho. But I will demonstrate that he + trifles, and tells arrant lies, after I have made a distinction which will + relate to what I am going to say about him; for this Manetho had granted + and confessed that this nation was not originally Egyptian, but that they + had come from another country, and subdued Egypt, and then went away again + out of it. But that those Egyptians who were thus diseased in their bodies + were not mingled with us afterward, and that Moses who brought the people + out was not one of that company, but lived many generations earlier, I + shall endeavor to demonstrate from Manetho's own accounts themselves. + </p> + <p> + 28. Now, for the first occasion of this fiction, Manetho supposes what is + no better than a ridiculous thing; for he says that, "King Amenophis + desired to see the gods." What gods, I pray, did he desire to see? If he + meant the gods whom their laws ordained to be worshipped, the ox, the + goat, the crocodile, and the baboon, he saw them already; but for the + heavenly gods, how could he see them, and what should occasion this his + desire? To be sure? it was because another king before him had already + seen them. He had then been informed what sort of gods they were, and + after what manner they had been seen, insomuch that he did not stand in + need of any new artifice for obtaining this sight. However, the prophet by + whose means the king thought to compass his design was a wise man. If so, + how came he not to know that such his desire was impossible to be + accomplished? for the event did not succeed. And what pretense could there + be to suppose that the gods would not be seen by reason of the people's + maims in their bodies, or leprosy? for the gods are not angry at the + imperfection of bodies, but at wicked practices; and as to eighty thousand + lepers, and those in an ill state also, how is it possible to have them + gathered together in one day? nay, how came the king not to comply with + the prophet? for his injunction was, that those that were maimed should be + expelled out of Egypt, while the king only sent them to work in the + quarries, as if he were rather in want of laborers, than intended to purge + his country. He says further, that, "this prophet slew himself, as + foreseeing the anger of the gods, and those events which were to come upon + Egypt afterward; and that he left this prediction for the king in + writing." Besides, how came it to pass that this prophet did not foreknow + his own death at the first? nay, how came he not to contradict the king in + his desire to see the gods immediately? how came that unreasonable dread + upon him of judgments that were not to happen in his lifetime? or what + worse thing could he suffer, out of the fear of which he made haste to + kill himself? But now let us see the silliest thing of all:—The + king, although he had been informed of these things, and terrified with + the fear of what was to come, yet did not he even then eject these maimed + people out of his country, when it had been foretold him that he was to + clear Egypt of them; but, as Manetho says, "he then, upon their request, + gave them that city to inhabit, which had formerly belonged to the + shepherds, and was called Avaris; whither when they were gone in crowds," + he says, "they chose one that had formerly been priest of Hellopolls; and + that this priest first ordained that they should neither worship the gods, + nor abstain from those animals that were worshipped by the Egyptians, but + should kill and eat them all, and should associate with nobody but those + that had conspired with them; and that he bound the multitude by oaths to + be sure to continue in those laws; and that when he had built a wall about + Avaris, he made war against the king." Manetho adds also, that "this + priest sent to Jerusalem to invite that people to come to his assistance, + and promised to give them Avaris; for that it had belonged to the + forefathers of those that were coming from Jerusalem, and that when they + were come, they made a war immediately against the king, and got + possession of all Egypt." He says also that "the Egyptians came with an + army of two hundred thousand men, and that Amenophis, the king of Egypt, + not thinking that he ought to fight against the gods, ran away presently + into Ethiopia, and committed Apis and certain other of their sacred + animals to the priests, and commanded them to take care of preserving + them." He says further, that, "the people of Jerusalem came accordingly + upon the Egyptians, and overthrew their cities, and burnt their temples, + and slew their horsemen, and, in short, abstained from no sort of + wickedness nor barbarity; and for that priest who settled their polity and + their laws," he says, "he was by birth of Hellopolis, and his name was + Osarsiph, from Osyris the god of Hellopolis, but that he changed his name, + and called himself Moses." He then says that "on the thirteenth year + afterward, Amenophis, according to the fatal time of the duration of his + misfortunes, came upon them out of Ethiopia with a great army, and joining + battle with the shepherds and with the polluted people, overcame them in + battle, and slew a great many of them, and pursued them as far as the + bounds of Syria." + </p> + <p> + 29. Now Manetho does not reflect upon the improbability of his lie; for + the leprous people, and the multitude that was with them, although they + might formerly have been angry at the king, and at those that had treated + them so coarsely, and this according to the prediction of the prophet; yet + certainly, when they were come out of the mines, and had received of the + king a city, and a country, they would have grown milder towards him. + However, had they ever so much hated him in particular, they might have + laid a private plot against himself, but would hardly have made war + against all the Egyptians; I mean this on the account of the great kindred + they who were so numerous must have had among them. Nay still, if they had + resolved to fight with the men, they would not have had impudence enough + to fight with their gods; nor would they have ordained laws quite contrary + to those of their own country, and to those in which they had been bred up + themselves. Yet are we beholden to Manethe, that he does not lay the + principal charge of this horrid transgression upon those that came from + Jerusalem, but says that the Egyptians themselves were the most guilty, + and that they were their priests that contrived these things, and made the + multitude take their oaths for doing so. But still how absurd is it to + suppose that none of these people's own relations or friends should be + prevailed with to revolt, nor to undergo the hazards of war with them, + while these polluted people were forced to send to Jerusalem, and bring + their auxiliaries from thence! What friendship, I pray, or what relation + was there formerly between them that required this assistance? On the + contrary, these people were enemies, and greatly differed from them in + their customs. He says, indeed, that they complied immediately, upon their + praising them that they should conquer Egypt; as if they did not + themselves very well know that country out of which they had been driven + by force. Now had these men been in want, or lived miserably, perhaps they + might have undertaken so hazardous an enterprise; but as they dwelt in a + happy city, and had a large country, and one better than Egypt itself, how + came it about that, for the sake of those that had of old been their + enemies, of those that were maimed in their bodies, and of those whom none + of their own relations would endure, they should run such hazards in + assisting them? For they could not foresee that the king would run away + from them: on the contrary, he saith himself that "Amenophis's son had + three hundred thousand men with him, and met them at Pelusium." Now, to be + sure, those that came could not be ignorant of this; but for the king's + repentance and flight, how could they possibly guess at it? He then says, + that "those who came from Jerusalem, and made this invasion, got the + granaries of Egypt into their possession, and perpetrated many of the most + horrid actions there." And thence he reproaches them, as though he had not + himself introduced them as enemies, or as though he might accuse such as + were invited from another place for so doing, when the natural Egyptians + themselves had done the same things before their coming, and had taken + oaths so to do. However, "Amenophis, some time afterward, came upon them, + and conquered them in battle, and slew his enemies, and drove them before + him as far as Syria." As if Egypt were so easily taken by people that came + from any place whatsoever, and as if those that had conquered it by war, + when they were informed that Amenophis was alive, did neither fortify the + avenues out of Ethiopia into it, although they had great advantages for + doing it, nor did get their other forces ready for their defense! but that + he followed them over the sandy desert, and slew them as far as Syria; + while yet it is rot an easy thing for an army to pass over that country, + even without fighting. + </p> + <p> + 30. Our nation, therefore, according to Manetho, was not derived from + Egypt, nor were any of the Egyptians mingled with us. For it is to be + supposed that many of the leprous and distempered people were dead in the + mines, since they had been there a long time, and in so ill a condition; + many others must be dead in the battles that happened afterward, and more + still in the last battle and flight after it. + </p> + <p> + 31. It now remains that I debate with Manetho about Moses. Now the + Egyptians acknowledge him to have been a wonderful and a divine person; + nay, they would willingly lay claim to him themselves, though after a most + abusive and incredible manner, and pretend that he was of Heliopolis, and + one of the priests of that place, and was ejected out of it among the + rest, on account of his leprosy; although it had been demonstrated out of + their records that he lived five hundred and eighteen years earlier, and + then brought our forefathers out of Egypt into the country that is now + inhabited by us. But now that he was not subject in his body to any such + calamity, is evident from what he himself tells us; for he forbade those + that had the leprosy either to continue in a city, or to inhabit in a + village, but commanded that they should go about by themselves with their + clothes rent; and declares that such as either touch them, or live under + the same roof with them, should be esteemed unclean; nay, more, if any one + of their disease be healed, and he recover his natural constitution again, + he appointed them certain purifications, and washings with spring water, + and the shaving off all their hair, and enjoins that they shall offer many + sacrifices, and those of several kinds, and then at length to be admitted + into the holy city; although it were to be expected that, on the contrary, + if he had been under the same calamity, he should have taken care of such + persons beforehand, and have had them treated after a kinder manner, as + affected with a concern for those that were to be under the like + misfortunes with himself. Nor was it only those leprous people for whose + sake he made these laws, but also for such as should be maimed in the + smallest part of their body, who yet are not permitted by him to officiate + as priests; nay, although any priest, already initiated, should have such + a calamity fall upon him afterward, he ordered him to be deprived of his + honor of officiating. How can it then be supposed that Moses should ordain + such laws against himself, to his own reproach and damage who so ordained + them? Nor indeed is that other notion of Manetho at all probable, wherein + he relates the change of his name, and says that "he was formerly called + Osarsiph;" and this a name no way agreeable to the other, while his true + name was Mosses, and signifies a person who is preserved out of the water, + for the Egyptians call water Moil. I think, therefore, I have made it + sufficiently evident that Manetho, while he followed his ancient records, + did not much mistake the truth of the history; but that when he had + recourse to fabulous stories, without any certain author, he either forged + them himself, without any probability, or else gave credit to some men who + spake so out of their ill-will to us. + </p> + <p> + 32. And now I have done with Manetho, I will inquire into what Cheremon + says. For he also, when he pretended to write the Egyptian history, sets + down the same name for this king that Manetho did, Amenophis, as also of + his son Ramesses, and then goes on thus: "The goddess Isis appeared to + Amenophis in his sleep, and blamed him that her temple had been demolished + in the war. But that Phritiphantes, the sacred scribe, said to him, that + in case he would purge Egypt of the men that had pollutions upon them, he + should be no longer troubled with such frightful apparitions. That + Amenophis accordingly chose out two hundred and fifty thousand of those + that were thus diseased, and cast them out of the country: that Moses and + Joseph were scribes, and Joseph was a sacred scribe; that their names were + Egyptian originally; that of Moses had been Tisithen, and that of Joseph, + Peteseph: that these two came to Pelusium, and lighted upon three hundred + and eighty thousand that had been left there by Amenophis, he not being + willing to carry them into Egypt; that these scribes made a league of + friendship with them, and made with them an expedition against Egypt: that + Amenophis could not sustain their attacks, but fled into Ethiopia, and + left his wife with child behind him, who lay concealed in certain caverns, + and there brought forth a son, whose name was Messene, and who, when he + was grown up to man's estate, pursued the Jews into Syria, being about two + hundred thousand, and then received his father Amenophis out of Ethiopia." + </p> + <p> + 33. This is the account Cheremon gives us. Now I take it for granted that + what I have said already hath plainly proved the falsity of both these + narrations; for had there been any real truth at the bottom, it was + impossible they should so greatly disagree about the particulars. But for + those that invent lies, what they write will easily give us very different + accounts, while they forge what they please out of their own heads. Now + Manetho says that the king's desire of seeing the gods was the origin of + the ejection of the polluted people; but Cheremon feigns that it was a + dream of his own, sent upon him by Isis, that was the occasion of it. + Manetho says that the person who foreshowed this purgation of Egypt to the + king was Amenophis; but this man says it was Phritiphantes. As to the + numbers of the multitude that were expelled, they agree exceedingly well + <a href="#linknote-24" name="linknoteref-24" id="linknoteref-24"><small>24</small></a> + the former reckoning them eighty thousand, and the latter about two + hundred and fifty thousand! Now, for Manetho, he describes those polluted + persons as sent first to work in the quarries, and says that the city + Avaris was given them for their habitation. As also he relates that it was + not till after they had made war with the rest of the Egyptians, that they + invited the people of Jerusalem to come to their assistance; while + Cheremon says only that they were gone out of Egypt, and lighted upon + three hundred and eighty thousand men about Pelusium, who had been left + there by Amenophis, and so they invaded Egypt with them again; that + thereupon Amenophis fled into Ethiopia. But then this Cheremon commits a + most ridiculous blunder in not informing us who this army of so many ten + thousands were, or whence they came; whether they were native Egyptians, + or whether they came from a foreign country. Nor indeed has this man, who + forged a dream from Isis about the leprous people, assigned the reason why + the king would not bring them into Egypt. Moreover, Cheremon sets down + Joseph as driven away at the same time with Moses, who yet died four + generations <a href="#linknote-25" name="linknoteref-25" + id="linknoteref-25"><small>25</small></a> before Moses, which four + generations make almost one hundred and seventy years. Besides all this, + Ramesses, the son of Amenophis, by Manetho's account, was a young man, and + assisted his father in his war, and left the country at the same time with + him, and fled into Ethiopia. But Cheremon makes him to have been born in a + certain cave, after his father was dead, and that he then overcame the + Jews in battle, and drove them into Syria, being in number about two + hundred thousand. O the levity of the man! for he had neither told us who + these three hundred and eighty thousand were, nor how the four hundred and + thirty thousand perished; whether they fell in war, or went over to + Ramesses. And, what is the strangest of all, it is not possible to learn + out of him who they were whom he calls Jews, or to which of these two + parties he applies that denomination, whether to the two hundred and fifty + thousand leprous people, or to the three hundred and eighty thousand that + were about Pelusium. But perhaps it will be looked upon as a silly thing + in me to make any larger confutation of such writers as sufficiently + confute themselves; for had they been only confuted by other men, it had + been more tolerable. + </p> + <p> + 34. I shall now add to these accounts about Manethoand Cheremon somewhat + about Lysimachus, who hath taken the same topic of falsehood with those + forementioned, but hath gone far beyond them in the incredible nature of + his forgeries; which plainly demonstrates that he contrived them out of + his virulent hatred of our nation. His words are these: "The people of the + Jews being leprous and scabby, and subject to certain other kinds of + distempers, in the days of Bocchoris, king of Egypt, they fled to the + temples, and got their food there by begging: and as the numbers were very + great that were fallen under these diseases, there arose a scarcity in + Egypt. Hereupon Bocehoris, the king of Egypt, sent some to consult the + oracle of [Jupiter] Hammon about his scarcity. The god's answer was this, + that he must purge his temples of impure and impious men, by expelling + them out of those temples into desert places; but as to the scabby and + leprous people, he must drown them, and purge his temples, the sun having + an indignation at these men being suffered to live; and by this means the + land will bring forth its fruits. Upon Bocchoris's having received these + oracles, he called for their priests, and the attendants upon their + altars, and ordered them to make a collection of the impure people, and to + deliver them to the soldiers, to carry them away into the desert; but to + take the leprous people, and wrap them in sheets of lead, and let them + down into the sea. Hereupon the scabby and leprous people were drowned, + and the rest were gotten together, and sent into desert places, in order + to be exposed to destruction. In this case they assembled themselves + together, and took counsel what they should do, and determined that, as + the night was coming on, they should kindle fires and lamps, and keep + watch; that they also should fast the next night, and propitiate the gods, + in order to obtain deliverance from them. That on the next day there was + one Moses, who advised them that they should venture upon a journey, and + go along one road till they should come to places fit for habitation: that + he charged them to have no kind regards for any man, nor give good counsel + to any, but always to advise them for the worst; and to overturn all those + temples and altars of the gods they should meet with: that the rest + commended what he had said with one consent, and did what they had + resolved on, and so traveled over the desert. But that the difficulties of + the journey being over, they came to a country inhabited, and that there + they abused the men, and plundered and burnt their temples; and then came + into that land which is called Judea, and there they built a city, and + dwelt therein, and that their city was named Hierosyla, from this their + robbing of the temples; but that still, upon the success they had + afterwards, they in time changed its denomination, that it might not be a + reproach to them, and called the city Hierosolyma, and themselves + Hierosolymites." + </p> + <p> + 35. Now this man did not discover and mention the same king with the + others, but feigned a newer name, and passing by the dream and the + Egyptian prophet, he brings him to [Jupiter] Hammon, in order to gain + oracles about the scabby and leprous people; for he says that the + multitude of Jews were gathered together at the temples. Now it is + uncertain whether he ascribes this name to these lepers, or to those that + were subject to such diseases among the Jews only; for he describes them + as a people of the Jews. What people does he mean? foreigners, or those of + that country? Why then' dost thou call them Jews, if they were Egyptians? + But if they were foreigners, why dost thou not tell us whence they came? + And how could it be that, after the king had drowned many of them in the + sea, and ejected the rest into desert places, there should be still so + great a multitude remaining? Or after what manner did they pass over the + desert, and get the land which we now dwell in, and build our city, and + that temple which hath been so famous among all mankind? And besides, he + ought to have spoken more about our legislator than by giving us his bare + name; and to have informed us of what nation he was, and what parents he + was derived from; and to have assigned the reasons why he undertook to + make such laws concerning the gods, and concerning matters of injustice + with regard to men during that journey. For in case the people were by + birth Egyptians, they would not on the sudden have so easily changed the + customs of their country; and in case they had been foreigners, they had + for certain some laws or other which had been kept by them from long + custom. It is true, that with regard to those who had ejected them, they + might have sworn never to bear good-will to them, and might have had a + plausible reason for so doing. But if these men resolved to wage an + implacable war against all men, in case they had acted as wickedly as he + relates of them, and this while they wanted the assistance of all men, + this demonstrates a kind of mad conduct indeed; but not of the men + themselves, but very greatly so of him that tells such lies about them. He + hath also impudence enough to say that a name, implying "Robbers of the + temples," <a href="#linknote-26" name="linknoteref-26" id="linknoteref-26"><small>26</small></a> + was given to their city, and that this name was afterward changed. The + reason of which is plain, that the former name brought reproach and hatred + upon them in the times of their posterity, while, it seems, those that + built the city thought they did honor to the city by giving it such a + name. So we see that this fine fellow had such an unbounded inclination to + reproach us, that he did not understand that robbery of temples is not + expressed By the same word and name among the Jews as it is among the + Greeks. But why should a man say any more to a person who tells such + impudent lies? However, since this book is arisen to a competent length, I + will make another beginning, and endeavor to add what still remains to + perfect my design in the following book. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + APION BOOK 1 FOOTNOTES + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ This first book has a wrong + title. It is not written against Apion, as is the first part of the second + book, but against those Greeks in general who would not believe Josephus's + former accounts of the very ancient state of the Jewish nation, in his 20 + books of Antiquities; and particularly against Agatharelddes, Manetho, + Cheremon, and Lysimachus. it is one of the most learned, excellent, and + useful books of all antiquity; and upon Jerome's perusal of this and the + following book, he declares that it seems to him a miraculous thing "how + one that was a Hebrew, who had been from his infancy instructed in sacred + learning, should be able to pronounce such a number of testimonies out of + profane authors, as if he had read over all the Grecian libraries," Epist. + 8. ad Magnum; and the learned Jew, Manasseh-Ben-Israel, esteemed these two + books so excellent, as to translate them into the Hebrew; this we learn + from his own catalogue of his works, which I have seen. As to the time and + place when and where these two books were written, the learned have not + hitherto been able to determine them any further than that they were + written some time after his Antiquities, or some time after A.D. 93; which + indeed is too obvious at their entrance to be overlooked by even a + careless peruser, they being directly intended against those that would + not believe what he had advanced in those books con-the great of the + Jewish nation As to the place, they all imagine that these two books were + written where the former were, I mean at Rome; and I confess that I myself + believed both those determinations, till I came to finish my notes upon + these books, when I met with plain indications that they were written not + at Rome, but in Judea, and this after the third of Trajan, or A.D. 100.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ Take Dr. Hudson's note + here, which as it justly contradicts the common opinion that Josephus + either died under Domitian, or at least wrote nothing later than his days, + so does it perfectly agree to my own determination, from Justus of + Tiberias, that he wrote or finished his own Life after the third of + Trajan, or A.D. 100. To which Noldius also agrees, de Herod, No. 383 + [Epaphroditus]. "Since Florius Josephus," says Dr. Hudson, "wrote [or + finished] his books of Antiquities on the thirteenth of Domitian, [A.D. + 93,] and after that wrote the Memoirs of his own Life, as an appendix to + the books of Antiquities, and at last his two books against Apion, and yet + dedicated all those writings to Epaphroditus; he can hardly be that + Epaphroditus who was formerly secretary to Nero, and was slain on the + fourteenth [or fifteenth] of Domitian, after he had been for a good while + in banishment; but another Epaphroditas, a freed-man, and procurator of + Trajan, as says Grotius on Luke 1:3."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ The preservation of Homer's + Poems by memory, and not by his own writing them down, and that thence + they were styled Rhapsodies, as sung by him, like ballads, by parts, and + not composed and connected together in complete works, are opinions well + known from the ancient commentators; though such supposal seems to myself, + as well as to Fabricius Biblioth. Grace. I. p. 269, and to others, highly + improbable. Nor does Josephus say there were no ancienter writings among + the Greeks than Homer's Poems, but that they did not fully own any + ancienter writings pretending to such antiquity, which is trite.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ It well deserves to be + considered, that Josephus here says how all the following Greek historians + looked on Herodotus as a fabulous author; and presently, sect. 14, how + Manetho, the most authentic writer of the Egyptian history, greatly + complains of his mistakes in the Egyptian affairs; as also that Strabo, B. + XI. p. 507, the most accurate geographer and historian, esteemed him such; + that Xenophon, the much more accurate historian in the affairs of Cyrus, + implies that Herodotus's account of that great man is almost entirely + romantic. See the notes on Antiq. B. XI. ch. 2. sect. 1, and Hutchinson's + Prolegomena to his edition of Xenophon's, that we have already seen in the + note on Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 10. sect. 3, how very little Herodotus knew + about the Jewish affairs and country, and that he greatly affected what we + call the marvelous, as Monsieur Rollin has lately and justly determined; + whence we are not always to depend on the authority of Herodotus, where it + is unsupported by other evidence, but ought to compare the other evidence + with his, and if it preponderate, to prefer it before his. I do not mean + by this that Herodotus willfully related what he believed to be false, [as + Cteeias seems to have done,] but that he often wanted evidence, and + sometimes preferred what was marvelous to what was best attested as really + true.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ About the days of Cyrus and + Daniel.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ It is here well worth our + observation, what the reasons are that such ancient authors as Herodotus, + Josephus, and others have been read to so little purpose by many learned + critics; viz. that their main aim has not been chronology or history, but + philology, to know words, and not things, they not much entering + oftentimes into the real contents of their authors, and judging which were + the most accurate discoverers of truth, and most to be depended on in the + several histories, but rather inquiring who wrote the finest style, and + had the greatest elegance in their expressions; which are things of small + consequence in comparison of the other. Thus you will sometimes find great + debates among the learned, whether Herodotus or Thucydides were the finest + historian in the Ionic and Attic ways of writing; which signify little as + to the real value of each of their histories; while it would be of much + more moment to let the reader know, that as the consequence of Herodotus's + history, which begins so much earlier, and reaches so much wider, than + that of Thucydides, is therefore vastly greater; so is the most part of + Thucydides, which belongs to his own times, and fell under his own + observation, much the most certain.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ Of this accuracy of the + Jews before and in our Savior's time, in carefully preserving their + genealogies all along, particularly those of the priests, see Josephus's + Life, sect. 1. This accuracy. seems to have ended at the destruction of + Jerusalem by Titus, or, however, at that by Adrian.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-8" id="linknote-8"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ Which were these twenty-two + sacred books of the Old Testament, see the Supplement to the Essay of the + Old Testament, p. 25-29, viz. those we call canonical, all excepting the + Canticles; but still with this further exception, that the book of + apocryphal Esdras be taken into that number instead of our canonical Ezra, + which seems to be no more than a later epitome of the other; which two + books of Canticles and Ezra it no way appears that our Josephus ever saw.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-9" id="linknote-9"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ Here we have an account of + the first building of the city of Jerusalem, according to Manetho, when + the Phoenician shepherds were expelled out of Egypt about thirty-seven + years before Abraham came out of Harsh.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-10" id="linknote-10"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 10 (<a href="#linknoteref-10">return</a>)<br /> [ Genesis 46;32, 34; 47:3, + 4.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-11" id="linknote-11"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 11 (<a href="#linknoteref-11">return</a>)<br /> [ In our copies of the book + of Genesis and of Joseph, this Joseph never calls himself "a captive," + when he was with the king of Egypt, though he does call himself "a + servant," "a slave," or "captive," many times in the Testament of the + Twelve Patriarchs, under Joseph, sect. 1, 11, 13-16.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-12" id="linknote-12"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 12 (<a href="#linknoteref-12">return</a>)<br /> [ Of this Egyptian + chronology of Manetho, as mistaken by Josephus, and of these Phoenician + shepherds, as falsely supposed by him, and others after him, to have been + the Israelites in Egypt, see Essay on the Old Testament, Appendix, p. + 182-188. And note here, that when Josephus tells us that the Greeks or + Argives looked on this Danaus as "a most ancient," or "the most ancient," + king of Argos, he need not be supposed to mean, in the strictest sense, + that they had no one king so ancient as he; for it is certain that they + owned nine kings before him, and Inachus at the head of them. See + Authentic Records, Part II. p. 983, as Josephus could not but know very + well; but that he was esteemed as very ancient by them, and that they knew + they had been first of all denominated "Danai" from this very ancient king + Danaus. Nor does this superlative degree always imply the "most ancient" + of all without exception, but is sometimes to be rendered "very ancient" + only, as is the case in the like superlative degrees of other words also.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-13" id="linknote-13"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 13 (<a href="#linknoteref-13">return</a>)<br /> [ Authentic Records, Part + II. p. 983, as Josephus could not but know very well; but that he was + esteemed as very ancient by them, and that they knew they had been first + of all denominated "Danai" from this very ancient king Danaus. Nor does + this superlative degree always imply the "most ancient" of all without + exception, but is sometimes to be rendered "very ancient" only, as is the + case in the like superlative degrees of other words also.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-14" id="linknote-14"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 14 (<a href="#linknoteref-14">return</a>)<br /> [ This number in Josephus, + that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in the eighteenth year of his + reign, is a mistake in the nicety of chronology; for it was in the + nineteenth. The true number here for the year of Darius, in which the + second temple was finished, whether the second with our present copies, or + the sixth with that of Syncellus, or the tenth with that of Eusebius, is + very uncertain; so we had best follow Josephus's own account elsewhere, + Antiq.;B. XI. ch. 3. sect. 4, which shows us that according to his copy of + the Old Testament, after the second of Cyrus, that work was interrupted + till the second of Darius, when in seven years it was finished in the + ninth of Darius.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-15" id="linknote-15"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 15 (<a href="#linknoteref-15">return</a>)<br /> [ This is a thing well + known by the learned, that we are not secure that we have any genuine + writings of Pythagoras; those Golden Verses, which are his best remains, + being generally supposed to have been written not by himself, but by some + of his scholars only, in agreement with what Josephus here affirms of + him.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-16" id="linknote-16"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 16 (<a href="#linknoteref-16">return</a>)<br /> [ Whether these verses of + Cherilus, the heathen poet, in the days of Xerxes, belong to the Solymi in + Pisidia, that were near a small lake, or to the Jews that dwelt on the + Solymean or Jerusalem mountains, near the great and broad lake + Asphaltitis, that were a strange people, and spake the Phoenician tongue, + is not agreed on by the learned. If is yet certain that Josephus here, and + Eusebius, Prep. IX. 9. p. 412, took them to be Jews; and I confess I + cannot but very much incline to the same opinion. The other Solymi were + not a strange people, but heathen idolaters, like the other parts of + Xerxes's army; and that these spake the Phoenician tongue is next to + impossible, as the Jews certainly did; nor is there the least evidence for + it elsewhere. Nor was the lake adjoining to the mountains of the Solvmi at + all large or broad, in comparison of the Jewish lake Asphaltitis; nor + indeed were these so considerable a people as the Jews, nor so likely to + be desired by Xerxes for his army as the Jews, to whom he was always very + favorable. As for the rest of Cherilus's description, that "their heads + were sooty; that they had round rasures on their heads; that their heads + and faces were like nasty horse-heads, which had been hardened in the + smoke;" these awkward characters probably fitted the Solymi of Pisidi no + better than they did the Jews in Judea. And indeed this reproachful + language, here given these people, is to me a strong indication that they + were the poor despicable Jews, and not the Pisidian Solymi celebrated in + Homer, whom Cherilus here describes; nor are we to expect that either + Cherilus or Hecateus, or any other pagan writers cited by Josephus and + Eusebius, made no mistakes in the Jewish history. If by comparing their + testimonies with the more authentic records of that nation we find them + for the main to confirm the same, as we almost always do, we ought to be + satisfied, and not expect that they ever had an exact knowledge of all the + circumstances of the Jewish affairs, which indeed it was almost always + impossible for them to have. See sect. 23.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-17" id="linknote-17"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 17 (<a href="#linknoteref-17">return</a>)<br /> [ This Hezekiah, who is + here called a high priest, is not named in Josephus's catalogue; the real + high priest at that time being rather Onias, as Archbishop Usher supposes. + However, Josephus often uses the word high priests in the plural number, + as living many at the same time. See the note on Antiq. B. XX. ch. 8. + sect. 8.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-18" id="linknote-18"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 18 (<a href="#linknoteref-18">return</a>)<br /> [ So I read the text with + Havercamp, though the place be difficult.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-19" id="linknote-19"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 19 (<a href="#linknoteref-19">return</a>)<br /> [ This number of arourae or + Egyptian acres, 3,000,000, each aroura containing a square of 100 Egyptian + cubits, [being about three quarters of an English acre, and just twice the + area of the court of the Jewish tabernacle,] as contained in the country + of Judea, will be about one third of the entire number of arourae in the + whole land of Judea, supposing it 160 measured miles long and 70 such + miles broad; which estimation, for the fruitful parts of it, as perhaps + here in Hecateus, is not therefore very wide from the truth. The fifty + furlongs in compass for the city Jerusalem presently are not very wide + from the truth also, as Josephus himself describes it, who, Of the War, B. + V. ch. 4. sect. 3. makes its wall thirty-three furlongs, besides the + suburbs and gardens; nay, he says, B. V. ch. 12. sect. 2, that Titus's + wall about it at some small distance, after the gardens and suburbs were + destroyed, was not less than thirty-nine furlongs. Nor perhaps were its + constant inhabitants, in the days of Hecateus, many more than these + 120,000, because room was always to be left for vastly greater numbers + which came up at the three great festivals; to say nothing of the probable + increase in their number between the days of Hecateus and Josephus, which + was at least three hundred years. But see a more authentic account of some + of these measures in my Description of the Jewish Temples. However, we are + not to expect that such heathens as Cherilus or Hecateus, or the rest that + are cited by Josephus and Eusebius, could avoid making many mistakes in + the Jewish history, while yet they strongly confirm the same history in + the general, and are most valuable attestations to those more authentic + accounts we have in the Scriptures and Josephus concerning them.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-20" id="linknote-20"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 20 (<a href="#linknoteref-20">return</a>)<br /> [ A glorious testimony this + of the observation of the sabbath by the Jews. See Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 2. + sect. 4, and ch. 6. sect. 2; the Life, sect. 54; and War, B. IV. ch. 9. + sect. 12.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-21" id="linknote-21"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 21 (<a href="#linknoteref-21">return</a>)<br /> [ Not their law, but the + superstitious interpretation of their leaders which neither the Maccabees + nor our blessed Savior did ever approve of.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-22" id="linknote-22"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 22 (<a href="#linknoteref-22">return</a>)<br /> [ In reading this and the + remaining sections of this book, and some parts of the next, one may + easily perceive that our usually cool and candid author, Josephus, was too + highly offended with the impudent calumnies of Manethe, and the other + bitter enemies of the Jews, with whom he had now to deal, and was thereby + betrayed into a greater heat and passion than ordinary, and that by + consequence he does not hear reason with his usual fairness and + impartiality; he seems to depart sometimes from the brevity and sincerity + of a faithful historian, which is his grand character, and indulges the + prolixity and colors of a pleader and a disputant: accordingly, I confess, + I always read these sections with less pleasure than I do the rest of his + writings, though I fully believe the reproaches cast on the Jews, which he + here endeavors to confute and expose, were wholly groundless and + unreasonable.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-23" id="linknote-23"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 23 (<a href="#linknoteref-23">return</a>)<br /> [ This is a very valuable + testimony of Manetho, that the laws of Osarsiph, or Moses, were not made + in compliance with, but in opposition to, the customs of the Egyptians. + See the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-24" id="linknote-24"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 24 (<a href="#linknoteref-24">return</a>)<br /> [ By way of irony, I + suppose.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-25" id="linknote-25"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 25 (<a href="#linknoteref-25">return</a>)<br /> [ Here we see that Josephus + esteemed a generation between Joseph and Moses to be about forty-two or + forty-three years; which, if taken between the earlier children, well + agrees with the duration of human life in those ages. See Antheat. Rec. + Part II. pages 966, 1019, 1020.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-26" id="linknote-26"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 26 (<a href="#linknoteref-26">return</a>)<br /> [ That is the meaning of + Hierosyla in Greek, not in Hebrew.] + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /><br /> <a name="linkB2H_4_0001" id="linkB2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + BOOK II. + </h2> + <p> + 1. In the former book, most honored Epaphroditus, I have demonstrated our + antiquity, and confirmed the truth of what I have said, from the writings + of the Phoenicians, and Chaldeans, and Egyptians. I have, moreover, + produced many of the Grecian writers as witnesses thereto. I have also + made a refutation of Manetho and Cheremon, and of certain others of our + enemies. I shall now <a href="#linkBnote-1" name="linkBnoteref-1" + id="linkBnoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> therefore begin a confutation of + the remaining authors who have written any thing against us; although I + confess I have had a doubt upon me about Apion <a href="#linkBnote-2" + name="linkBnoteref-2" id="linkBnoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> the + grammarian, whether I ought to take the trouble of confuting him or not; + for some of his writings contain much the same accusations which the + others have laid against us, some things that he hath added are very + frigid and contemptible, and for the greatest part of what he says, it is + very scurrilous, and, to speak no more than the plain truth, it shows him + to be a very unlearned person, and what he lays together looks like the + work of a man of very bad morals, and of one no better in his whole life + than a mountebank. Yet, because there are a great many men so very + foolish, that they are rather caught by such orations than by what is + written with care, and take pleasure in reproaching other men, and cannot + abide to hear them commended, I thought it to be necessary not to let this + man go off without examination, who had written such an accusation against + us, as if he would bring us to make an answer in open court. For I also + have observed, that many men are very much delighted when they see a man + who first began to reproach another, to be himself exposed to contempt on + account of the vices he hath himself been guilty of. However, it is not a + very easy thing to go over this man's discourse, nor to know plainly what + he means; yet does he seem, amidst a great confusion and disorder in his + falsehoods, to produce, in the first place, such things as resemble what + we have examined already, and relate to the departure of our forefathers + out of Egypt; and, in the second place, he accuses those Jews that are + inhabitants of Alexandria; as, in the third place, he mixes with those + things such accusations as concern the sacred purifications, with the + other legal rites used in the temple. + </p> + <p> + 2. Now although I cannot but think that I have already demonstrated, and + that abundantly more than was necessary, that our fathers were not + originally Egyptians, nor were thence expelled, either on account of + bodily diseases, or any other calamities of that sort; yet will I briefly + take notice of what Apion adds upon that subject; for in his third book, + which relates to the affairs of Egypt, he speaks thus: "I have heard of + the ancient men of Egypt, that Moses was of Heliopolis, and that he + thought himself obliged to follow the customs of his forefathers, and + offered his prayers in the open air, towards the city walls; but that he + reduced them all to be directed towards sun-rising, which was agreeable to + the situation of Heliopolis; that he also set up pillars instead of + gnomons, <a href="#linkBnote-3" name="linkBnoteref-3" id="linkBnoteref-3"><small>3</small></a> + under which was represented a cavity like that of a boat, and the shadow + that fell from their tops fell down upon that cavity, that it might go + round about the like course as the sun itself goes round in the other." + This is that wonderful relation which we have given us by this grammarian. + But that it is a false one is so plain, that it stands in need of few + words to prove it, but is manifest from the works of Moses; for when he + erected the first tabernacle to God, he did himself neither give order for + any such kind of representation to be made at it, nor ordain that those + that came after him should make such a one. Moreover, when in a future age + Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem, he avoided all such needless + decorations as Apion hath here devised. He says further, how he had "heard + of the ancient men, that Moses was of Hellopolis." To be sure that was, + because being a younger man himself, he believed those that by their elder + age were acquainted and conversed with him. Now this grammarian, as he + was, could not certainly tell which was the poet Homer's country, no more + than he could which was the country of Pythagoras, who lived comparatively + but a little while ago; yet does he thus easily determine the age of + Moses, who preceded them such a vast number of years, as depending on his + ancient men's relation, which shows how notorious a liar he was. But then + as to this chronological determination of the time when he says he brought + the leprous people, the blind, and the lame out of Egypt, see how well + this most accurate grammarian of ours agrees with those that have written + before him! Manetho says that the Jews departed out of Egypt, in the reign + of Tethmosis, three hundred ninety-three years before Danaus fled to + Argos; Lysimaehus says it was under king Bocchoris, that is, one thousand + seven hundred years ago; Molo and some others determined it as every one + pleased: but this Apion of ours, as deserving to be believed before them, + hath determined it exactly to have been in the seventh olympiad, and the + first year of that olympiad; the very same year in which he says that + Carthage was built by the Phoenicians. The reason why he added this + building of Carthage was, to be sure, in order, as he thought, to + strengthen his assertion by so evident a character of chronology. But he + was not aware that this character confutes his assertion; for if we may + give credit to the Phoenician records as to the time of the first coming + of their colony to Carthage, they relate that Hirom their king was above a + hundred and fifty years earlier than the building of Carthage; concerning + whom I have formerly produced testimonials out of those Phoenician + records, as also that this Hirom was a friend of Solomon when he was + building the temple of Jerusalem, and gave him great assistance in his + building that temple; while still Solomon himself built that temple six + hundred and twelve years after the Jews came out of Egypt. As for the + number of those that were expelled out of Egypt, he hath contrived to have + the very same number with Lysimaehus, and says they were a hundred and ten + thousand. He then assigns a certain wonderful and plausible occasion for + the name of Sabbath; for he says that "when the Jews had traveled a six + days' journey, they had buboes in their groins; and that on this account + it was that they rested on the seventh day, as having got safely to that + country which is now called Judea; that then they preserved the language + of the Egyptians, and called that day the Sabbath, for that malady of + buboes on their groin was named Sabbatosis by the Egyptians." And would + not a man now laugh at this fellow's trifling, or rather hate his + impudence in writing thus? We must, it seems, fake it for granted that all + these hundred and ten thousand men must have these buboes. But, for + certain, if those men had been blind and lame, and had all sorts of + distempers upon them, as Apion says they had, they could not have gone one + single day's journey; but if they had been all able to travel over a large + desert, and, besides that, to fight and conquer those that opposed them, + they had not all of them had buboes on their groins after the sixth day + was over; for no such distemper comes naturally and of necessity upon + those that travel; but still, when there are many ten thousands in a camp + together, they constantly march a settled space [in a day]. Nor is it at + all probable that such a thing should happen by chance; this would be + prodigiously absurd to be supposed. However, our admirable author Apion + hath before told us that "they came to Judea in six days' time;" and + again, that "Moses went up to a mountain that lay between Egypt and + Arabia, which was called Sinai, and was concealed there forty days, and + that when he came down from thence he gave laws to the Jews." But, then, + how was it possible for them to tarry forty days in a desert place where + there was no water, and at the same time to pass all over the country + between that and Judea in the six days? And as for this grammatical + translation of the word Sabbath, it either contains an instance of his + great impudence or gross ignorance; for the words Sabbo and Sabbath are + widely different from one another; for the word Sabbath in the Jewish + language denotes rest from all sorts of work; but the word Sabbo, as he + affirms, denotes among the Egyptians the malady of a bubo in the groin. + </p> + <p> + 3. This is that novel account which the Egyptian Apion gives us concerning + the Jews' departure out of Egypt, and is no better than a contrivance of + his own. But why should we wonder at the lies he tells about our + forefathers, when he affirms them to be of Egyptian original, when he lies + also about himself? for although he was born at Oasis in Egypt, he + pretends to be, as a man may say, the top man of all the Egyptians; yet + does he forswear his real country and progenitors, and by falsely + pretending to be born at Alexandria, cannot deny the <a href="#linkBnote-4" + name="linkBnoteref-4" id="linkBnoteref-4"><small>4</small></a> pravity of + his family; for you see how justly he calls those Egyptians whom he hates, + and endeavors to reproach; for had he not deemed Egyptians to be a name of + great reproach, he would not have avoided the name of an Egyptian himself; + as we know that those who brag of their own countries value themselves + upon the denomination they acquire thereby, and reprove such as unjustly + lay claim thereto. As for the Egyptians' claim to be of our kindred, they + do it on one of the following accounts; I mean, either as they value + themselves upon it, and pretend to bear that relation to us; or else as + they would draw us in to be partakers of their own infamy. But this fine + fellow Apion seems to broach this reproachful appellation against us, + [that we were originally Egyptians,] in order to bestow it on the + Alexandrians, as a reward for the privilege they had given him of being a + fellow citizen with them: he also is apprized of the ill-will the + Alexandrians bear to those Jews who are their fellow citizens, and so + proposes to himself to reproach them, although he must thereby include all + the other Egyptians also; while in both cases he is no better than an + impudent liar. + </p> + <p> + 4. But let us now see what those heavy and wicked crimes are which Apion + charges upon the Alexandrian Jews. "They came [says he] out of Syria, and + inhabited near the tempestuous sea, and were in the neighborhood of the + dashing of the waves." Now if the place of habitation includes any thing + that is reproached, this man reproaches not his own real country, [Egypt,] + but what he pretends to be his own country, Alexandria; for all are agreed + in this, that the part of that city which is near the sea is the best part + of all for habitation. Now if the Jews gained that part of the city by + force, and have kept it hitherto without impeachment, this is a mark of + their valor; but in reality it was Alexander himself that gave them that + place for their habitation, when they obtained equal privileges there with + the Macedonians. Nor call I devise what Apion would have said, had their + habitation been at Necropolis? and not been fixed hard by the royal palace + [as it is]; nor had their nation had the denomination of Macedonians given + them till this very day [as they have]. Had this man now read the epistles + of king Alexander, or those of Ptolemy the son of Lagus, or met with the + writings of the succeeding kings, or that pillar which is still standing + at Alexandria, and contains the privileges which the great [Julius] Caesar + bestowed upon the Jews; had this man, I say, known these records, and yet + hath the impudence to write in contradiction to them, he hath shown + himself to be a wicked man; but if he knew nothing of these records, he + hath shown himself to be a man very ignorant: nay, when lie appears to + wonder how Jews could be called Alexandrians, this is another like + instance of his ignorance; for all such as are called out to be colonies, + although they be ever so far remote from one another in their original, + receive their names from those that bring them to their new habitations. + And what occasion is there to speak of others, when those of us Jews that + dwell at Antioch are named Antiochians, because Seleucns the founder of + that city gave them the privileges belonging thereto? After the like + manner do those Jews that inhabit Ephesus, and the other cities of Ionia, + enjoy the same name with those that were originally born there, by the + grant of the succeeding princes; nay, the kindness and humanity of the + Romans hath been so great, that it hath granted leave to almost all others + to take the same name of Romans upon them; I mean not particular men only, + but entire and large nations themselves also; for those anciently named + Iberi, and Tyrrheni, and Sabini, are now called Romani. And if Apion + reject this way of obtaining the privilege of a citizen of Alexandria, let + him abstain from calling himself an Alexandrian hereafter; for otherwise, + how can he who was born in the very heart of Egypt be an Alexandrian, if + this way of accepting such a privilege, of which he would have us + deprived, be once abrogated? although indeed these Romans, who are now the + lords of the habitable earth, have forbidden the Egyptians to have the + privileges of any city whatsoever; while this fine fellow, who is willing + to partake of such a privilege himself as he is forbidden to make use of, + endeavors by calumnies to deprive those of it that have justly received + it; for Alexander did not therefore get some of our nation to Alexandria, + because he wanted inhabitants for this his city, on whose building he had + bestowed so much pains; but this was given to our people as a reward, + because he had, upon a careful trial, found them all to have been men of + virtue and fidelity to him; for, as Hecateus says concerning us, + "Alexander honored our nation to such a degree, that, for the equity and + the fidelity which the Jews exhibited to him, he permitted them to hold + the country of Samaria free from tribute. Of the same mind also was + Ptolemy the son of Lagus, as to those Jews who dwelt at Alexandria." For + he intrusted the fortresses of Egypt into their hands, as believing they + would keep them faithfully and valiantly for him; and when he was desirous + to secure the government of Cyrene, and the other cities of Libya, to + himself, he sent a party of Jews to inhabit in them. And for his successor + Ptolemy, who was called Philadelphus, he did not only set all those of our + nation free who were captives under him, but did frequently give money + [for their ransom]; and, what was his greatest work of all, he had a great + desire of knowing our laws, and of obtaining the books of our sacred + Scriptures; accordingly, he desired that such men might be sent him as + might interpret our law to him; and, in order to have them well compiled, + he committed that care to no ordinary persons, but ordained that Demetrius + Phalereus, and Andreas, and Aristeas; the first, Demetrius, the most + learned person of his age, and the others, such as were intrusted with the + guard of his body; should take care of this matter: nor would he certainly + have been so desirous of learning our law, and the philosophy of our + nation, had he despised the men that made use of it, or had he not indeed + had them in great admiration. + </p> + <p> + 5. Now this Apion was unacquainted with almost all the kings of those + Macedonians whom he pretends to have been his progenitors, who were yet + very well affected towards us; for the third of those Ptolemies, who was + called Euergetes, when he had gotten possession of all Syria by force, did + not offer his thank-offerings to the Egyptian gods for his victory, but + came to Jerusalem, and according to our own laws offered many sacrifices + to God, and dedicated to him such gifts as were suitable to such a + victory: and as for Ptolemy Philometer and his wife Cleopatra, they + committed their whole kingdom to the Jews, when Onias and Dositheus, both + Jews, whose names are laughed at by Apion, were the generals of their + whole army. But certainly, instead of reproaching them, he ought to admire + their actions, and return them thanks for saving Alexandria, whose citizen + he pretends to be; for when these Alexandrians were making war with + Cleopatra the queen, and were in danger of being utterly ruined, these + Jews brought them to terms of agreement, and freed them from the miseries + of a civil war. "But then [says Apion] Onias brought a small army + afterward upon the city at the time when Thorruns the Roman ambassador was + there present." Yes, do I venture to say, and that he did rightly and very + justly in so doing; for that Ptolemy who was called Physco, upon the death + of his brother Philometer, came from Cyrene, and would have ejected + Cleopatra as well as her sons out of their kingdom, that he might obtain + it for himself unjustly. <a href="#linkBnote-5" name="linkBnoteref-5" + id="linkBnoteref-5"><small>5</small></a> For this cause then it was that + Onias undertook a war against him on Cleopatra's account; nor would he + desert that trust the royal family had reposed in him in their distress. + Accordingly, God gave a remarkable attestation to his righteous procedure; + for when Ptolemy Physco <a href="#linkBnote-6" name="linkBnoteref-6" + id="linkBnoteref-6"><small>6</small></a> had the presumption to fight + against Onias's army, and had caught all the Jews that were in the city + [Alexandria], with their children and wives, and exposed them naked and in + bonds to his elephants, that they might be trodden upon and destroyed, and + when he had made those elephants drunk for that purpose, the event proved + contrary to his preparations; for these elephants left the Jews who were + exposed to them, and fell violently upon Physco's friends, and slew a + great number of them; nay, after this Ptolemy saw a terrible ghost, which + prohibited his hurting those men; his very concubine, whom he loved so + well, [some call her Ithaca, and others Irene,] making supplication to + him, that he would not perpetrate so great a wickedness. So he complied + with her request, and repented of what he either had already done, or was + about to do; whence it is well known that the Alexandrian Jews do with + good reason celebrate this day, on the account that they had thereon been + vouchsafed such an evident deliverance from God. However, Apion, the + common calumniator of men, hath the presumption to accuse the Jews for + making this war against Physco, when he ought to have commended them for + the same. This man also makes mention of Cleopatra, the last queen of + Alexandria, and abuses us, because she was ungrateful to us; whereas he + ought to have reproved her, who indulged herself in all kinds of injustice + and wicked practices, both with regard to her nearest relations and + husbands who had loved her, and, indeed, in general with regard to all the + Romans, and those emperors that were her benefactors; who also had her + sister Arsinoe slain in a temple, when she had done her no harm: moreover, + she had her brother slain by private treachery, and she destroyed the gods + of her country and the sepulchers of her progenitors; and while she had + received her kingdom from the first Caesar, she had the impudence to rebel + against his son: <a href="#linkBnote-7" name="linkBnoteref-7" + id="linkBnoteref-7"><small>7</small></a> and successor; nay, she corrupted + Antony with her love-tricks, and rendered him an enemy to his country, and + made him treacherous to his friends, and [by his means] despoiled some of + their royal authority, and forced others in her madness to act wickedly. + But what need I enlarge upon this head any further, when she left Antony + in his fight at sea, though he were her husband, and the father of their + common children, and compelled him to resign up his government, with the + army, and to follow her [into Egypt]? nay, when last of all Caesar had + taken Alexandria, she came to that pitch of cruelty, that she declared she + had some hope of preserving her affairs still, in case she could kill the + Jews, though it were with her own hand; to such a degree of barbarity and + perfidiousness had she arrived. And doth any one think that we cannot + boast ourselves of any thing, if, as Apion says, this queen did not at a + time of famine distribute wheat among us? However, she at length met with + the punishment she deserved. As for us Jews, we appeal to the great Caesar + what assistance we brought him, and what fidelity we showed to him against + the Egyptians; as also to the senate and its decrees, and the epistles of + Augustus Caesar, whereby our merits [to the Romans] are justified. Apion + ought to have looked upon those epistles, and in particular to have + examined the testimonies given on our behalf, under Alexander and all the + Ptolemies, and the decrees of the senate and of the greatest Roman + emperors. And if Germanicus was not able to make a distribution of corn to + all the inhabitants of Alexandria, that only shows what a barren time it + was, and how great a want there was then of corn, but tends nothing to the + accusation of the Jews; for what all the emperors have thought of the + Alexandrian Jews is well known, for this distribution of wheat was no + otherwise omitted with regard to the Jews, than it was with regard to the + other inhabitants of Alexandria. But they still were desirous to preserve + what the kings had formerly intrusted to their care, I mean the custody of + the river; nor did those kings think them unworthy of having the entire + custody thereof, upon all occasions. + </p> + <p> + 6. But besides this, Apion objects to us thus: "If the Jews [says he] be + citizens of Alexandria, why do they not worship the same gods with the + Alexandrians?" To which I give this answer: Since you are yourselves + Egyptians, why do you fight it out one against another, and have + implacable wars about your religion? At this rate we must not call you all + Egyptians, nor indeed in general men, because you breed up with great care + beasts of a nature quite contrary to that of men, although the nature of + all men seems to be one and the same. Now if there be such differences in + opinion among you Egyptians, why are you surprised that those who came to + Alexandria from another country, and had original laws of their own + before, should persevere in the observance of those laws? But still he + charges us with being the authors of sedition; which accusation, if it be + a just one, why is it not laid against us all, since we are known to be + all of one mind. Moreover, those that search into such matters will soon + discover that the authors of sedition have been such citizens of + Alexandria as Apion is; for while they were the Grecians and Macedonians + who were ill possession of this city, there was no sedition raised against + us, and we were permitted to observe our ancient solemnities; but when the + number of the Egyptians therein came to be considerable, the times grew + confused, and then these seditions brake out still more and more, while + our people continued uncorrupted. These Egyptians, therefore, were the + authors of these troubles, who having not the constancy of Macedonians, + nor the prudence of Grecians, indulged all of them the evil manners of the + Egyptians, and continued their ancient hatred against us; for what is here + so presumptuously charged upon us, is owing to the differences that are + amongst themselves; while many of them have not obtained the privileges of + citizens in proper times, but style those who are well known to have had + that privilege extended to them all no other than foreigners: for it does + not appear that any of the kings have ever formerly bestowed those + privileges of citizens upon Egyptians, no more than have the emperors done + it more lately; while it was Alexander who introduced us into this city at + first, the kings augmented our privileges therein, and the Romans have + been pleased to preserve them always inviolable. Moreover, Apion would lay + a blot upon us, because we do not erect images for our emperors; as if + those emperors did not know this before, or stood in need of Apion as + their defender; whereas he ought rather to have admired the magnanimity + and modesty of the Romans, whereby they do not compel those that are + subject to them to transgress the laws of their countries, but are willing + to receive the honors due to them after such a manner as those who are to + pay them esteem consistent with piety and with their own laws; for they do + not thank people for conferring honors upon them, When they are compelled + by violence so to do. Accordingly, since the Grecians and some other + nations think it a right thing to make images, nay, when they have painted + the pictures of their parents, and wives, and children, they exult for + joy; and some there are who take pictures for themselves of such persons + as were no way related to them; nay, some take the pictures of such + servants as they were fond of; what wonder is it then if such as these + appear willing to pay the same respect to their princes and lords? But + then our legislator hath forbidden us to make images, not by way of + denunciation beforehand, that the Roman authority was not to be honored, + but as despising a thing that was neither necessary nor useful for either + God or man; and he forbade them, as we shall prove hereafter, to make + these images for any part of the animal creation, and much less for God + himself, who is no part of such animal creation. Yet hath our legislator + no where forbidden us to pay honors to worthy men, provided they be of + another kind, and inferior to those we pay to God; with which honors we + willingly testify our respect to our emperors, and to the people of Rome; + we also offer perpetual sacrifices for them; nor do we only offer them + every day at the common expenses of all the Jews, but although we offer no + other such sacrifices out of our common expenses, no, not for our own + children, yet do we this as a peculiar honor to the emperors, and to them + alone, while we do the same to no other person whomsoever. And let this + suffice for an answer in general to Apion, as to what he says with + relation to the Alexandrian Jews. + </p> + <p> + 7. However, I cannot but admire those other authors who furnished this man + with such his materials; I mean Possidonius and Apollonius [the son of] + Molo, <a href="#linkBnote-8" name="linkBnoteref-8" id="linkBnoteref-8"><small>8</small></a> + who, while they accuse us for not worshipping the same gods whom others + worship, they think themselves not guilty of impiety when they tell lies + of us, and frame absurd and reproachful stories about our temple; whereas + it is a most shameful thing for freemen to forge lies on any occasion, and + much more so to forge them about our temple, which was so famous over all + the world, and was preserved so sacred by us; for Apion hath the impudence + to pretend that, "the Jews placed an ass's head in their holy place;" and + he affirms that this was discovered when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled our + temple, and found that ass's head there made of gold, and worth a great + deal of money. To this my first answer shall be this, that had there been + any such thing among us, an Egyptian ought by no means to have thrown it + in our teeth, since an ass is not a more contemptible animal than <a + href="#linkBnote-9" name="linkBnoteref-9" id="linkBnoteref-9"><small>9</small></a> + and goats, and other such creatures, which among them are gods. But + besides this answer, I say further, how comes it about that Apion does not + understand this to be no other than a palpable lie, and to be confuted by + the thing itself as utterly incredible? For we Jews are always governed by + the same laws, in which we constantly persevere; and although many + misfortunes have befallen our city, as the like have befallen others, and + although Theos [Epiphanes], and Pompey the Great, and Licinius Crassus, + and last of all Titus Caesar, have conquered us in war, and gotten + possession of our temple; yet have they none of them found any such thing + there, nor indeed any thing but what was agreeable to the strictest piety; + although what they found we are not at liberty to reveal to other nations. + But for Antiochus [Epiphanes], he had no just cause for that ravage in our + temple that he made; he only came to it when he wanted money, without + declaring himself our enemy, and attacked us while we were his associates + and his friends; nor did he find any thing there that was ridiculous. This + is attested by many worthy writers; Polybius of Megalopolis, Strabo of + Cappadocia, Nicolaus of Damascus, Timagenes, Castor the chronotoger, and + Apollodorus; <a href="#linkBnote-10" name="linkBnoteref-10" + id="linkBnoteref-10"><small>10</small></a> who all say that it was out of + Antiochus's want of money that he broke his league with the Jews, and + despoiled their temple when it was full of gold and silver. Apion ought to + have had a regard to these facts, unless he had himself had either an + ass's heart or a dog's impudence; of such a dog I mean as they worship; + for he had no other external reason for the lies he tells of us. As for us + Jews, we ascribe no honor or power to asses, as do the Egyptians to + crocodiles and asps, when they esteem such as are seized upon by the + former, or bitten by the latter, to be happy persons, and persons worthy + of God. Asses are the same with us which they are with other wise men, + viz. creatures that bear the burdens that we lay upon them; but if they + come to our thrashing-floors and eat our corn, or do not perform what we + impose upon them, we beat them with a great many stripes, because it is + their business to minister to us in our husbandry affairs. But this Apion + of ours was either perfectly unskillful in the composition of such + fallacious discourses, or however, when he begun [somewhat better], he was + not able to persevere in what he had undertaken, since he hath no manner + of success in those reproaches he casts upon us. + </p> + <p> + 8. He adds another Grecian fable, in order to reproach us. In reply to + which, it would be enough to say, that they who presume to speak about + Divine worship ought not to be ignorant of this plain truth, that it is a + degree of less impurity to pass through temples, than to forge wicked + calumnies of its priests. Now such men as he are more zealous to justify a + sacrilegious king, than to write what is just and what is true about us, + and about our temple; for when they are desirous of gratifying Antiochus, + and of concealing that perfidiousness and sacrilege which he was guilty + of, with regard to our nation, when he wanted money, they endeavor to + disgrace us, and tell lies even relating to futurities. Apion becomes + other men's prophet upon this occasion, and says that "Antiochus found in + our temple a bed, and a man lying upon it, with a small table before him, + full of dainties, from the [fishes of the] sea, and the fowls of the dry + land; that this man was amazed at these dainties thus set before him; that + he immediately adored the king, upon his coming in, as hoping that he + would afford him all possible assistance; that he fell down upon his + knees, and stretched out to him his right hand, and begged to be released; + and that when the king bid him sit down, and tell him who he was, and why + he dwelt there, and what was the meaning of those various sorts of food + that were set before him the man made a lamentable complaint, and with + sighs, and tears in his eyes, gave him this account of the distress he was + in; and said that he was a Greek and that as he went over this province, + in order to get his living, he was seized upon by foreigners, on a sudden, + and brought to this temple, and shut up therein, and was seen by nobody, + but was fattened by these curious provisions thus set before him; and that + truly at the first such unexpected advantages seemed to him matter of + great joy; that after a while, they brought a suspicion him, and at length + astonishment, what their meaning should be; that at last he inquired of + the servants that came to him and was by them informed that it was in + order to the fulfilling a law of the Jews, which they must not tell him, + that he was thus fed; and that they did the same at a set time every year: + that they used to catch a Greek foreigner, and fat him thus up every year, + and then lead him to a certain wood, and kill him, and sacrifice with + their accustomed solemnities, and taste of his entrails, and take an oath + upon this sacrificing a Greek, that they would ever be at enmity with the + Greeks; and that then they threw the remaining parts of the miserable + wretch into a certain pit." Apion adds further, that, "the man said there + were but a few days to come ere he was to be slain, and implored of + Antiochus that, out of the reverence he bore to the Grecian gods, he would + disappoint the snares the Jews laid for his blood, and would deliver him + from the miseries with which he was encompassed." <a href="#linkBnote-11" + name="linkBnoteref-11" id="linkBnoteref-11"><small>11</small></a> Now this + is such a most tragical fable as is full of nothing but cruelty and + impudence; yet does it not excuse Antiochus of his sacrilegious attempt, + as those who write it in his vindication are willing to suppose; for he + could not presume beforehand that he should meet with any such thing in + coming to the temple, but must have found it unexpectedly. He was + therefore still an impious person, that was given to unlawful pleasures, + and had no regard to God in his actions. But [as for Apion], he hath done + whatever his extravagant love of lying hath dictated to him, as it is most + easy to discover by a consideration of his writings; for the difference of + our laws is known not to regard the Grecians only, but they are + principally opposite to the Egyptians, and to some other nations also for + while it so falls out that men of all countries come sometimes and sojourn + among us, how comes it about that we take an oath, and conspire only + against the Grecians, and that by the effusion of their blood also? Or how + is it possible that all the Jews should get together to these sacrifices, + and the entrails of one man should be sufficient for so many thousands to + taste of them, as Apion pretends? Or why did not the king carry this man, + whosoever he was, and whatsoever was his name, [which is not set down in + Apion's book,] with great pomp back into his own country? when he might + thereby have been esteemed a religious person himself, and a mighty lover + of the Greeks, and might thereby have procured himself great assistance + from all men against that hatred the Jews bore to him. But I leave this + matter; for the proper way of confuting fools is not to use bare words, + but to appeal to the things themselves that make against them. Now, then, + all such as ever saw the construction of our temple, of what nature it + was, know well enough how the purity of it was never to be profaned; for + it had four several courts <a href="#linkBnote-12" name="linkBnoteref-12" + id="linkBnoteref-12"><small>12</small></a> encompassed with cloisters + round about, every one of which had by our law a peculiar degree of + separation from the rest. Into the first court every body was allowed to + go, even foreigners, and none but women, during their courses, were + prohibited to pass through it; all the Jews went into the second court, as + well as their wives, when they were free from all uncleanness; into the + third court went in the Jewish men, when they were clean and purified; + into the fourth went the priests, having on their sacerdotal garments; but + for the most sacred place, none went in but the high priests, clothed in + their peculiar garments. Now there is so great caution used about these + offices of religion, that the priests are appointed to go into the temple + but at certain hours; for in the morning, at the opening of the inner + temple, those that are to officiate receive the sacrifices, as they do + again at noon, till the doors are shut. Lastly, it is not so much as + lawful to carry any vessel into the holy house; nor is there any thing + therein, but the altar [of incense], the table [of shew-bread], the + censer, and the candlestick, which are all written in the law; for there + is nothing further there, nor are there any mysteries performed that may + not be spoken of; nor is there any feasting within the place. For what I + have now said is publicly known, and supported by the testimony of the + whole people, and their operations are very manifest; for although there + be four courses of the priests, and every one of them have above five + thousand men in them, yet do they officiate on certain days only; and when + those days are over, other priests succeed in the performance of their + sacrifices, and assemble together at mid-day, and receive the keys of the + temple, and the vessels by tale, without any thing relating to food or + drink being carried into the temple; nay, we are not allowed to offer such + things at the altar, excepting what is prepared for the sacrifices. + </p> + <p> + 9. What then can we say of Apion, but that he examined nothing that + concerned these things, while still he uttered incredible words about + them? but it is a great shame for a grammarian not to be able to write + true history. Now if he knew the purity of our temple, he hath entirely + omitted to take notice of it; but he forges a story about the seizing of a + Grecian, about ineffable food, and the most delicious preparation of + dainties; and pretends that strangers could go into a place whereinto the + noblest men among the Jews are not allowed to enter, unless they be + priests. This, therefore, is the utmost degree of impiety, and a voluntary + lie, in order to the delusion of those who will not examine into the truth + of matters; whereas such unspeakable mischiefs as are above related have + been occasioned by such calumnies that are raised upon us. + </p> + <p> + 10. Nay, this miracle or piety derides us further, and adds the following + pretended facts to his former fable; for he says that this man related + how, "while the Jews were once in a long war with the Idumeans, there came + a man out of one of the cities of the Idumeans, who there had worshipped + Apollo. This man, whose name is said to have been Zabidus, came to the + Jews, and promised that he would deliver Apollo, the god of Dora, into + their hands, and that he would come to our temple, if they would all come + up with him, and bring the whole multitude of the Jews with them; that + Zabidus made him a certain wooden instrument, and put it round about him, + and set three rows of lamps therein, and walked after such a manner, that + he appeared to those that stood a great way off him to be a kind of star, + walking upon the earth; that the Jews were terribly affrighted at so + surprising an appearance, and stood very quiet at a distance; and that + Zabidus, while they continued so very quiet, went into the holy house, and + carried off that golden head of an ass, [for so facetiously does he + write,] and then went his way back again to Dora in great haste." And say + you so, sir! as I may reply; then does Apion load the ass, that is, + himself, and lays on him a burden of fooleries and lies; for he writes of + places that have no being, and not knowing the cities he speaks of, he + changes their situation; for Idumea borders upon our country, and is near + to Gaza, in which there is no such city as Dora; although there be, it is + true, a city named Dora in Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel, but it is four + days' journey from Idumea. Now, then, why does this man accuse us, because + we have not gods in common with other nations, if our fathers were so + easily prevailed upon to have Apollo come to them, and thought they saw + him walking upon the earth, and the stars with him? for certainly those + who have so many festivals, wherein they light lamps, must yet, at this + rate, have never seen a candlestick! But still it seems that while Zabidus + took his journey over the country, where were so many ten thousands of + people, nobody met him. He also, it seems, even in a time of war, found + the walls of Jerusalem destitute of guards. I omit the rest. Now the doors + of the holy house were seventy <a href="#linkBnote-13" + name="linkBnoteref-13" id="linkBnoteref-13"><small>13</small></a> cubits + high, and twenty cubits broad; they were all plated over with gold, and + almost of solid gold itself, and there were no fewer than twenty <a + href="#linkBnote-14" name="linkBnoteref-14" id="linkBnoteref-14"><small>14</small></a> + men required to shut them every day; nor was it lawful ever to leave them + open, though it seems this lamp-bearer of ours opened them easily, or + thought he opened them, as he thought he had the ass's head in his hand. + Whether, therefore, he returned it to us again, or whether Apion took it, + and brought it into the temple again, that Antiochus might find it, and + afford a handle for a second fable of Apion's, is uncertain. + </p> + <p> + 11. Apion also tells a false story, when he mentions an oath of ours, as + if we "swore by God, the Maker of the heaven, and earth, and sea, to bear + no good will to any foreigner, and particularly to none of the Greeks." + Now this liar ought to have said directly that, "we would bear no + good-will to any foreigner, and particularly to none of the Egyptians." + For then his story about the oath would have squared with the rest of his + original forgeries, in case our forefathers had been driven away by their + kinsmen, the Egyptians, not on account of any wickedness they had been + guilty of, but on account of the calamities they were under; for as to the + Grecians, we were rather remote from them in place, than different from + them in our institutions, insomuch that we have no enmity with them, nor + any jealousy of them. On the contrary, it hath so happened that many of + them have come over to our laws, and some of them have continued in their + observation, although others of them had not courage enough to persevere, + and so departed from them again; nor did any body ever hear this oath + sworn by us: Apion, it seems, was the only person that heard it, for he + indeed was the first composer of it. + </p> + <p> + 12. However, Apion deserves to be admired for his great prudence, as to + what I am going to say, which is this, "That there is a plain mark among + us, that we neither have just laws, nor worship God as we ought to do, + because we are not governors, but are rather in subjection to Gentiles, + sometimes to one nation, and sometimes to another; and that our city hath + been liable to several calamities, while their city [Alexandria] hath been + of old time an imperial city, and not used to be in subjection to the + Romans." But now this man had better leave off this bragging, for every + body but himself would think that Apion said what he hath said against + himself; for there are very few nations that have had the good fortune to + continue many generations in the principality, but still the mutations in + human affairs have put them into subjection under others; and most nations + have been often subdued, and brought into subjection by others. Now for + the Egyptians, perhaps they are the only nation that have had this + extraordinary privilege, to have never served any of those monarchs who + subdued Asia and Europe, and this on account, as they pretend, that the + gods fled into their country, and saved themselves by being changed into + the shapes of wild beasts! Whereas these Egyptians <a href="#linkBnote-15" + name="linkBnoteref-15" id="linkBnoteref-15"><small>15</small></a> are the + very people that appear to have never, in all the past ages, had one day + of freedom, no, not so much as from their own lords. For I will not + reproach them with relating the manner how the Persians used them, and + this not once only, but many times, when they laid their cities waste, + demolished their temples, and cut the throats of those animals whom they + esteemed to be gods; for it is not reasonable to imitate the clownish + ignorance of Apion, who hath no regard to the misfortunes of the + Athenians, or of the Lacedemonians, the latter of whom were styled by all + men the most courageous, and the former the most religious of the + Grecians. I say nothing of such kings as have been famous for piety, + particularly of one of them, whose name was Cresus, nor what calamities he + met with in his life; I say nothing of the citadel of Athens, of the + temple at Ephesus, of that at Delphi, nor of ten thousand others which + have been burnt down, while nobody cast reproaches on those that were the + sufferers, but on those that were the actors therein. But now we have met + with Apion, an accuser of our nation, though one that still forgets the + miseries of his own people, the Egyptians; but it is that Sesostris who + was once so celebrated a king of Egypt that hath blinded him. Now we will + not brag of our kings, David and Solomon, though they conquered many + nations; accordingly we will let them alone. However, Apion is ignorant of + what every body knows, that the Egyptians were servants to the Persians, + and afterwards to the Macedonians, when they were lords of Asia, and were + no better than slaves, while we have enjoyed liberty formerly; nay, more + than that, have had the dominion of the cities that lie round about us, + and this nearly for a hundred and twenty years together, until Pompeius + Magnus. And when all the kings every where were conquered by the Romans, + our ancestors were the only people who continued to be esteemed their + confederates and friends, on account of their fidelity to them.<a + href="#linkBnote-16" name="linkBnoteref-16" id="linkBnoteref-16"><small>16</small></a> + </p> + <p> + 13. "But," says Apion, "we Jews have not had any wonderful men amongst us, + not any inventors of arts, nor any eminent for wisdom." He then enumerates + Socrates, and Zeno, and Cleanthes, and some others of the same sort; and, + after all, he adds himself to them, which is the most wonderful thing of + all that he says, and pronounces Alexandria to be happy, because it hath + such a citizen as he is in it; for he was the fittest man to be a witness + to his own deserts, although he hath appeared to all others no better than + a wicked mountebank, of a corrupt life and ill discourses; on which + account one may justly pity Alexandria, if it should value itself upon + such a citizen as he is. But as to our own men, we have had those who have + been as deserving of commendation as any other whosoever, and such as have + perused our Antiquities cannot be ignorant of them. + </p> + <p> + 14. As to the other things which he sets down as blameworthy, it may + perhaps be the best way to let them pass without apology, that he may be + allowed to be his own accuser, and the accuser of the rest of the + Egyptians. However, he accuses us for sacrificing animals, and for + abstaining from swine's flesh, and laughs at us for the circumcision of + our privy members. Now as for our slaughter of tame animals for + sacrifices, it is common to us and to all other men; but this Apion, by + making it a crime to sacrifice them, demonstrates himself to be an + Egyptian; for had he been either a Grecian or a Macedonian, [as he + pretends to be,] he had not shown any uneasiness at it; for those people + glory in sacrificing whole hecatombs to the gods, and make use of those + sacrifices for feasting; and yet is not the world thereby rendered + destitute of cattle, as Apion was afraid would come to pass. Yet if all + men had followed the manners of the Egyptians, the world had certainly + been made desolate as to mankind, but had been filled full of the wildest + sort of brute beasts, which, because they suppose them to be gods, they + carefully nourish. However, if any one should ask Apion which of the + Egyptians he thinks to be the most wise and most pious of them all, he + would certainly acknowledge the priests to be so; for the histories say + that two things were originally committed to their care by their kings' + injunctions, the worship of the gods, and the support of wisdom and + philosophy. Accordingly, these priests are all circumcised, and abstain + from swine's flesh; nor does any one of the other Egyptians assist them in + slaying those sacrifices they offer to the gods. Apion was therefore quite + blinded in his mind, when, for the sake of the Egyptians, he contrived to + reproach us, and to accuse such others as not only make use of that + conduct of life which he so much abuses, but have also taught other men to + be circumcised, as says Herodotus; which makes me think that Apion is + hereby justly punished for his casting such reproaches on the laws of his + own country; for he was circumcised himself of necessity, on account of an + ulcer in his privy member; and when he received no benefit by such + circumcision, but his member became putrid, he died in great torment. Now + men of good tempers ought to observe their own laws concerning religion + accurately, and to persevere therein, but not presently to abuse the laws + of other nations, while this Apion deserted his own laws, and told lies + about ours. And this was the end of Apion's life, and this shall be the + conclusion of our discourse about him. + </p> + <p> + 15. But now, since Apollonius Molo, and Lysimachus, and some others, write + treatises about our lawgiver Moses, and about our laws, which are neither + just nor true, and this partly out of ignorance, but chiefly out of + ill-will to us, while they calumniate Moses as an impostor and deceiver, + and pretend that our laws teach us wickedness, but nothing that is + virtuous, I have a mind to discourse briefly, according to my ability, + about our whole constitution of government, and about the particular + branches of it. For I suppose it will thence become evident, that the laws + we have given us are disposed after the best manner for the advancement of + piety, for mutual communion with one another, for a general love of + mankind, as also for justice, and for sustaining labors with fortitude, + and for a contempt of death. And I beg of those that shall peruse this + writing of mine, to read it without partiality; for it is not my purpose + to write an encomium upon ourselves, but I shall esteem this as a most + just apology for us, and taken from those our laws, according to which we + lead our lives, against the many and the lying objections that have been + made against us. Moreover, since this Apollonius does not do like Apion, + and lay a continued accusation against us, but does it only by starts, and + up and clown his discourse, while he sometimes reproaches us as atheists, + and man-haters, and sometimes hits us in the teeth with our want of + courage, and yet sometimes, on the contrary, accuses us of too great + boldness and madness in our conduct; nay, he says that we are the weakest + of all the barbarians, and that this is the reason why we are the only + people who have made no improvements in human life; now I think I shall + have then sufficiently disproved all these his allegations, when it shall + appear that our laws enjoin the very reverse of what he says, and that we + very carefully observe those laws ourselves. And if I he compelled to make + mention of the laws of other nations, that are contrary to ours, those + ought deservedly to thank themselves for it, who have pretended to + depreciate our laws in comparison of their own; nor will there, I think, + be any room after that for them to pretend either that we have no such + laws ourselves, an epitome of which I will present to the reader, or that + we do not, above all men, continue in the observation of them. + </p> + <p> + 16. To begin then a good way backward, I would advance this, in the first + place, that those who have been admirers of good order, and of living + under common laws, and who began to introduce them, may well have this + testimony that they are better than other men, both for moderation and + such virtue as is agreeable to nature. Indeed their endeavor was to have + every thing they ordained believed to be very ancient, that they might not + be thought to imitate others, but might appear to have delivered a regular + way of living to others after them. Since then this is the case, the + excellency of a legislator is seen in providing for the people's living + after the best manner, and in prevailing with those that are to use the + laws he ordains for them, to have a good opinion of them, and in obliging + the multitude to persevere in them, and to make no changes in them, + neither in prosperity nor adversity. Now I venture to say, that our + legislator is the most ancient of all the legislators whom we have ally + where heard of; for as for the Lycurguses, and Solons, and Zaleucus + Locrensis, and all those legislators who are so admired by the Greeks, + they seem to be of yesterday, if compared with our legislator, insomuch as + the very name of a law was not so much as known in old times among the + Grecians. Homer is a witness to the truth of this observation, who never + uses that term in all his poems; for indeed there was then no such thing + among them, but the multitude was governed by wise maxims, and by the + injunctions of their king. It was also a long time that they continued in + the use of these unwritten customs, although they were always changing + them upon several occasions. But for our legislator, who was of so much + greater antiquity than the rest, [as even those that speak against us upon + all occasions do always confess,] he exhibited himself to the people as + their best governor and counselor, and included in his legislation the + entire conduct of their lives, and prevailed with them to receive it, and + brought it so to pass, that those that were made acquainted with his laws + did most carefully observe them. + </p> + <p> + 17. But let us consider his first and greatest work; for when it was + resolved on by our forefathers to leave Egypt, and return to their own + country, this Moses took the many tell thousands that were of the people, + and saved them out of many desperate distresses, and brought them home in + safety. And certainly it was here necessary to travel over a country + without water, and full of sand, to overcome their enemies, and, during + these battles, to preserve their children, and their wives, and their + prey; on all which occasions he became an excellent general of an army, + and a most prudent counselor, and one that took the truest care of them + all; he also so brought it about, that the whole multitude depended upon + him. And while he had them always obedient to what he enjoined, he made no + manner of use of his authority for his own private advantage, which is the + usual time when governors gain great powers to themselves, and pave the + way for tyranny, and accustom the multitude to live very dissolutely; + whereas, when our legislator was in so great authority, he, on the + contrary, thought he ought to have regard to piety, and to show his great + good-will to the people; and by this means he thought he might show the + great degree of virtue that was in him, and might procure the most lasting + security to those who had made him their governor. When he had therefore + come to such a good resolution, and had performed such wonderful exploits, + we had just reason to look upon ourselves as having him for a divine + governor and counselor. And when he had first persuaded himself <a + href="#linkBnote-17" name="linkBnoteref-17" id="linkBnoteref-17"><small>17</small></a> + that his actions and designs were agreeable to God's will, he thought it + his duty to impress, above all things, that notion upon the multitude; for + those who have once believed that God is the inspector of their lives, + will not permit themselves in any sin. And this is the character of our + legislator: he was no impostor, no deceiver, as his revilers say, though + unjustly, but such a one as they brag Minos <a href="#linkBnote-18" + name="linkBnoteref-18" id="linkBnoteref-18"><small>18</small></a> to have + been among the Greeks, and other legislators after him; for some of them + suppose that they had their laws from Jupiter, while Minos said that the + revelation of his laws was to be referred to Apollo, and his oracle at + Delphi, whether they really thought they were so derived, or supposed, + however, that they could persuade the people easily that so it was. But + which of these it was who made the best laws, and which had the greatest + reason to believe that God was their author, it will be easy, upon + comparing those laws themselves together, to determine; for it is time + that we come to that point. <a href="#linkBnote-19" name="linkBnoteref-19" + id="linkBnoteref-19"><small>19</small></a> Now there are innumerable + differences in the particular customs and laws that are among all mankind, + which a man may briefly reduce under the following heads: Some legislators + have permitted their governments to be under monarchies, others put them + under oligarchies, and others under a republican form; but our legislator + had no regard to any of these forms, but he ordained our government to be + what, by a strained expression, may be termed a Theocracy, <a + href="#linkBnote-20" name="linkBnoteref-20" id="linkBnoteref-20"><small>20</small></a> + by ascribing the authority and the power to God, and by persuading all the + people to have a regard to him, as the author of all the good things that + were enjoyed either in common by all mankind, or by each one in + particular, and of all that they themselves obtained by praying to him in + their greatest difficulties. He informed them that it was impossible to + escape God's observation, even in any of our outward actions, or in any of + our inward thoughts. Moreover, he represented God as unbegotten, <a + href="#linkBnote-21" name="linkBnoteref-21" id="linkBnoteref-21"><small>21</small></a> + and immutable, through all eternity, superior to all mortal conceptions in + pulchritude; and, though known to us by his power, yet unknown to us as to + his essence. I do not now explain how these notions of God are the + sentiments of the wisest among the Grecians, and how they were taught them + upon the principles that he afforded them. However, they testify, with + great assurance, that these notions are just, and agreeable to the nature + of God, and to his majesty; for Pythagoras, and Anaxagoras, and Plato, and + the Stoic philosophers that succeeded them, and almost all the rest, are + of the same sentiments, and had the same notions of the nature of God; yet + durst not these men disclose those true notions to more than a few, + because the body of the people were prejudiced with other opinions + beforehand. But our legislator, who made his actions agree to his laws, + did not only prevail with those that were his contemporaries to agree with + these his notions, but so firmly imprinted this faith in God upon all + their posterity, that it never could be removed. The reason why the + constitution of this legislation was ever better directed to the utility + of all than other legislations were, is this, that Moses did not make + religion a part of virtue, but he saw and he ordained other virtues to be + parts of religion; I mean justice, and fortitude, and temperance, and a + universal agreement of the members of the community with one another; for + all our actions and studies, and all our words, [in Moses's settlement,] + have a reference to piety towards God; for he hath left none of these in + suspense, or undetermined. For there are two ways of coming at any sort of + learning and a moral conduct of life; the one is by instruction in words, + the other by practical exercises. Now other lawgivers have separated these + two ways in their opinions, and choosing one of those ways of instruction, + or that which best pleased every one of them, neglected the other. Thus + did the Lacedemonians and the Cretians teach by practical exercises, but + not by words; while the Athenians, and almost all the other Grecians, made + laws about what was to be done, or left undone, but had no regard to the + exercising them thereto in practice. + </p> + <p> + 18. But for our legislator, he very carefully joined these two methods of + instruction together; for he neither left these practical exercises to go + on without verbal instruction, nor did he permit the hearing of the law to + proceed without the exercises for practice; but beginning immediately from + the earliest infancy, and the appointment of every one's diet, he left + nothing of the very smallest consequence to be done at the pleasure and + disposal of the person himself. Accordingly, he made a fixed rule of law + what sorts of food they should abstain from, and what sorts they should + make use of; as also, what communion they should have with others what + great diligence they should use in their occupations, and what times of + rest should be interposed, that, by living under that law as under a + father and a master, we might be guilty of no sin, neither voluntary nor + out of ignorance; for he did not suffer the guilt of ignorance to go on + without punishment, but demonstrated the law to be the best and the most + necessary instruction of all others, permitting the people to leave off + their other employments, and to assemble together for the hearing of the + law, and learning it exactly, and this not once or twice, or oftener, but + every week; which thing all the other legislators seem to have neglected. + </p> + <p> + 19. And indeed the greatest part of mankind are so far from living + according to their own laws, that they hardly know them; but when they + have sinned, they learn from others that they have transgressed the law. + Those also who are in the highest and principal posts of the government, + confess they are not acquainted with those laws, and are obliged to take + such persons for their assessors in public administrations as profess to + have skill in those laws; but for our people, if any body do but ask any + one of them about our laws, he will more readily tell them all than he + will tell his own name, and this in consequence of our having learned them + immediately as soon as ever we became sensible of any thing, and of our + having them as it were engraven on our souls. Our transgressors of them + are but few, and it is impossible, when any do offend, to escape + punishment. + </p> + <p> + 20. And this very thing it is that principally creates such a wonderful + agreement of minds amongst us all; for this entire agreement of ours in + all our notions concerning God, and our having no difference in our course + of life and manners, procures among us the most excellent concord of these + our manners that is any where among mankind; for no other people but the + Jews have avoided all discourses about God that any way contradict one + another, which yet are frequent among other nations; and this is true not + only among ordinary persons, according as every one is affected, but some + of the philosophers have been insolent enough to indulge such + contradictions, while some of them have undertaken to use such words as + entirely take away the nature of God, as others of them have taken away + his providence over mankind. Nor can any one perceive amongst us any + difference in the conduct of our lives, but all our works are common to us + all. We have one sort of discourse concerning God, which is conformable to + our law, and affirms that he sees all things; as also we have but one way + of speaking concerning the conduct of our lives, that all other things + ought to have piety for their end; and this any body may hear from our + women, and servants themselves. + </p> + <p> + 21. And, indeed, hence hath arisen that accusation which some make against + us, that we have not produced men that have been the inventors of new + operations, or of new ways of speaking; for others think it a fine thing + to persevere in nothing that has been delivered down from their + forefathers, and these testify it to be an instance of the sharpest wisdom + when these men venture to transgress those traditions; whereas we, on the + contrary, suppose it to be our only wisdom and virtue to admit no actions + nor supposals that are contrary to our original laws; which procedure of + ours is a just and sure sign that our law is admirably constituted; for + such laws as are not thus well made are convicted upon trial to want + amendment. + </p> + <p> + 22. But while we are ourselves persuaded that our law was made agreeably + to the will of God, it would be impious for us not to observe the same; + for what is there in it that any body would change? and what can be + invented that is better? or what can we take out of other people's laws + that will exceed it? Perhaps some would have the entire settlement of our + government altered. And where shall we find a better or more righteous + constitution than ours, while this makes us esteem God to be the Governor + of the universe, and permits the priests in general to be the + administrators of the principal affairs, and withal intrusts the + government over the other priests to the chief high priest himself? which + priests our legislator, at their first appointment, did not advance to + that dignity for their riches, or any abundance of other possessions, or + any plenty they had as the gifts of fortune; but he intrusted the + principal management of Divine worship to those that exceeded others in an + ability to persuade men, and in prudence of conduct. These men had the + main care of the law and of the other parts of the people's conduct + committed to them; for they were the priests who were ordained to be the + inspectors of all, and the judges in doubtful cases, and the punishers of + those that were condemned to suffer punishment. + </p> + <p> + 23. What form of government then can be more holy than this? what more + worthy kind of worship can be paid to God than we pay, where the entire + body of the people are prepared for religion, where an extraordinary + degree of care is required in the priests, and where the whole polity is + so ordered as if it were a certain religious solemnity? For what things + foreigners, when they solemnize such festivals, are not able to observe + for a few days' time, and call them Mysteries and Sacred Ceremonies, we + observe with great pleasure and an unshaken resolution during our whole + lives. What are the things then that we are commanded or forbidden? They + are simple, and easily known. The first command is concerning God, and + affirms that God contains all things, and is a Being every way perfect and + happy, self-sufficient, and supplying all other beings; the beginning, the + middle, and the end of all things. He is manifest in his works and + benefits, and more conspicuous than any other being whatsoever; but as to + his form and magnitude, he is most obscure. All materials, let them be + ever so costly, are unworthy to compose an image for him, and all arts are + unartful to express the notion we ought to have of him. We can neither see + nor think of any thing like him, nor is it agreeable to piety to form a + resemblance of him. We see his works, the light, the heaven, the earth, + the sun and the moon, the waters, the generations of animals, the + productions of fruits. These things hath God made, not with hands, nor + with labor, nor as wanting the assistance of any to cooperate with him; + but as his will resolved they should be made and be good also, they were + made and became good immediately. All men ought to follow this Being, and + to worship him in the exercise of virtue; for this way of worship of God + is the most holy of all others. + </p> + <p> + 24. There ought also to be but one temple for one God; for likeness is the + constant foundation of agreement. This temple ought to be common to all + men, because he is the common God of all men. High priests are to be + continually about his worship, over whom he that is the first by his birth + is to be their ruler perpetually. His business must be to offer sacrifices + to God, together with those priests that are joined with him, to see that + the laws be observed, to determine controversies, and to punish those that + are convicted of injustice; while he that does not submit to him shall be + subject to the same punishment, as if he had been guilty of impiety + towards God himself. When we offer sacrifices to him, we do it not in + order to surfeit ourselves, or to be drunken; for such excesses are + against the will of God, and would be an occasion of injuries and of + luxury; but by keeping ourselves sober, orderly, and ready for our other + occupations, and being more temperate than others. And for our duty at the + sacrifices <a href="#linkBnote-22" name="linkBnoteref-22" + id="linkBnoteref-22"><small>22</small></a> themselves, we ought, in the + first place, to pray for the common welfare of all, and after that for our + own; for we are made for fellowship one with another, and he who prefers + the common good before what is peculiar to himself is above all acceptable + to God. And let our prayers and supplications be made humbly to God, not + [so much] that he would give us what is good, [for he hath already given + that of his own accord, and hath proposed the same publicly to all,] as + that we may duly receive it, and when we have received it, may preserve + it. Now the law has appointed several purifications at our sacrifices, + whereby we are cleansed after a funeral, after what sometimes happens to + us in bed, and after accompanying with our wives, and upon many other + occasions, which it would be too long now to set down. And this is our + doctrine concerning God and his worship, and is the same that the law + appoints for our practice. + </p> + <p> + 25. But, then, what are our laws about marriage? That law owns no other + mixture of sexes but that which nature hath appointed, of a man with his + wife, and that this be used only for the procreation of children. But it + abhors the mixture of a male with a male; and if any one do that, death is + its punishment. It commands us also, when we marry, not to have regard to + portion, nor to take a woman by violence, nor to persuade her deceitfully + and knavishly; but to demand her in marriage of him who hath power to + dispose of her, and is fit to give her away by the nearness of his + kindred; for, says the Scripture, "A woman is inferior to her husband in + all things." <a href="#linkBnote-23" name="linkBnoteref-23" + id="linkBnoteref-23"><small>23</small></a> Let her, therefore, be obedient + to him; not so that he should abuse her, but that she may acknowledge her + duty to her husband; for God hath given the authority to the husband. A + husband, therefore, is to lie only with his wife whom he hath married; but + to have to do with another man's wife is a wicked thing, which, if any one + ventures upon, death is inevitably his punishment: no more can he avoid + the same who forces a virgin betrothed to another man, or entices another + man's wife. The law, moreover, enjoins us to bring up all our offspring, + and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten, or to destroy it + afterward; and if any woman appears to have so done, she will be a + murderer of her child, by destroying a living creature, and diminishing + human kind; if any one, therefore, proceeds to such fornication or murder, + he cannot be clean. Moreover, the law enjoins, that after the man and wife + have lain together in a regular way, they shall bathe themselves; for + there is a defilement contracted thereby, both in soul and body, as if + they had gone into another country; for indeed the soul, by being united + to the body, is subject to miseries, and is not freed therefrom again but + by death; on which account the law requires this purification to be + entirely performed. + </p> + <p> + 26. Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the + births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; + but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be + immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those + children up in learning, and to exercise them in the laws, and make them + acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their + imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the laws from + their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense + for their ignorance of them. + </p> + <p> + 27. Our law hath also taken care of the decent burial of the dead, but + without any extravagant expenses for their funerals, and without the + erection of any illustrious monuments for them; but hath ordered that + their nearest relations should perform their obsequies; and hath showed it + to be regular, that all who pass by when any one is buried should + accompany the funeral, and join in the lamentation. It also ordains that + the house and its inhabitants should be purified after the funeral is + over, that every one may thence learn to keep at a great distance from the + thoughts of being pure, if he hath been once guilty of murder. + </p> + <p> + 28. The law ordains also, that parents should be honored immediately after + God himself, and delivers that son who does not requite them for the + benefits he hath received from them, but is deficient on any such + occasion, to be stoned. It also says that the young men should pay due + respect to every elder, since God is the eldest of all beings. It does not + give leave to conceal any thing from our friends, because that is not true + friendship which will not commit all things to their fidelity: it also + forbids the revelation of secrets, even though an enmity arise between + them. If any judge takes bribes, his punishment is death: he that + overlooks one that offers him a petition, and this when he is able to + relieve him, he is a guilty person. What is not by any one intrusted to + another ought not to be required back again. No one is to touch another's + goods. He that lends money must not demand usury for its loan. These, and + many more of the like sort, are the rules that unite us in the bands of + society one with another. + </p> + <p> + 29. It will be also worth our while to see what equity our legislator + would have us exercise in our intercourse with strangers; for it will + thence appear that he made the best provision he possibly could, both that + we should not dissolve our own constitution, nor show any envious mind + towards those that would cultivate a friendship with us. Accordingly, our + legislator admits all those that have a mind to observe our laws so to do; + and this after a friendly manner, as esteeming that a true union which not + only extends to our own stock, but to those that would live after the same + manner with us; yet does he not allow those that come to us by accident + only to be admitted into communion with us. + </p> + <p> + 30. However, there are other things which our legislator ordained for us + beforehand, which of necessity we ought to do in common to all men; as to + afford fire, and water, and food to such as want it; to show them the + roads; not to let any one lie unburied. He also would have us treat those + that are esteemed our enemies with moderation; for he doth not allow us to + set their country on fire, nor permit us to cut down those trees that bear + fruit; nay, further, he forbids us to spoil those that have been slain in + war. He hath also provided for such as are taken captive, that they may + not be injured, and especially that the women may not be abused. Indeed he + hath taught us gentleness and humanity so effectually, that he hath not + despised the care of brute beasts, by permitting no other than a regular + use of them, and forbidding any other; and if any of them come to our + houses, like supplicants, we are forbidden to slay them; nor may we kill + the dams, together with their young ones; but we are obliged, even in an + enemy's country, to spare and not kill those creatures that labor for + mankind. Thus hath our lawgiver contrived to teach us an equitable conduct + every way, by using us to such laws as instruct us therein; while at the + same time he hath ordained that such as break these laws should be + punished, without the allowance of any excuse whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + 31. Now the greatest part of offenses with us are capital; as if any one + be guilty of adultery; if any one force a virgin; if any one be so + impudent as to attempt sodomy with a male; or if, upon another's making an + attempt upon him, he submits to be so used. There is also a law for slaves + of the like nature, that can never be avoided. Moreover, if any one cheats + another in measures or weights, or makes a knavish bargain and sale, in + order to cheat another; if any one steals what belongs to another, and + takes what he never deposited; all these have punishments allotted them; + not such as are met with among other nations, but more severe ones. And as + for attempts of unjust behavior towards parents, or for impiety against + God, though they be not actually accomplished, the offenders are destroyed + immediately. However, the reward for such as live exactly according to the + laws is not silver or gold; it is not a garland of olive branches or of + small age, nor any such public sign of commendation; but every good man + hath his own conscience bearing witness to himself, and by virtue of our + legislator's prophetic spirit, and of the firm security God himself + affords such a one, he believes that God hath made this grant to those + that observe these laws, even though they be obliged readily to die for + them, that they shall come into being again, and at a certain revolution + of things shall receive a better life than they had enjoyed before. Nor + would I venture to write thus at this time, were it not well known to all + by our actions that many of our people have many a time bravely resolved + to endure any sufferings, rather than speak one word against our law. + </p> + <p> + 32. Nay, indeed, in case it had so fallen out, that our nation had not + been so thoroughly known among all men as they are, and our voluntary + submission to our laws had not been so open and manifest as it is, but + that somebody had pretended to have written these laws himself, and had + read them to the Greeks, or had pretended that he had met with men out of + the limits of the known world, that had such reverent notions of God, and + had continued a long time in the firm observance of such laws as ours, I + cannot but suppose that all men would admire them on a reflection upon the + frequent changes they had therein been themselves subject to; and this + while those that have attempted to write somewhat of the same kind for + politic government, and for laws, are accused as composing monstrous + things, and are said to have undertaken an impossible task upon them. And + here I will say nothing of those other philosophers who have undertaken + any thing of this nature in their writings. But even Plato himself, who is + so admired by the Greeks on account of that gravity in his manners, and + force in his words, and that ability he had to persuade men beyond all + other philosophers, is little better than laughed at and exposed to + ridicule on that account, by those that pretend to sagacity in political + affairs; although he that shall diligently peruse his writings will find + his precepts to be somewhat gentle, and pretty near to the customs of the + generality of mankind. Nay, Plato himself confesseth that it is not safe + to publish the true notion concerning God among the ignorant multitude. + Yet do some men look upon Plato's discourses as no better than certain + idle words set off with great artifice. However, they admire Lycurgus as + the principal lawgiver, and all men celebrate Sparta for having continued + in the firm observance of his laws for a very long time. So far then we + have gained, that it is to be confessed a mark of virtue to submit to + laws. <a href="#linkBnote-24" name="linkBnoteref-24" id="linkBnoteref-24"><small>24</small></a> + But then let such as admire this in the Lacedemonians compare that + duration of theirs with more than two thousand years which our political + government hath continued; and let them further consider, that though the + Lacedemonians did seem to observe their laws exactly while they enjoyed + their liberty, yet that when they underwent a change of their fortune, + they forgot almost all those laws; while we, having been under ten + thousand changes in our fortune by the changes that happened among the + kings of Asia, have never betrayed our laws under the most pressing + distresses we have been in; nor have we neglected them either out of sloth + or for a livelihood. <a href="#linkBnote-25" name="linkBnoteref-25" + id="linkBnoteref-25"><small>25</small></a> if any one will consider it, + the difficulties and labors laid upon us have been greater than what + appears to have been borne by the Lacedemonian fortitude, while they + neither ploughed their land, nor exercised any trades, but lived in their + own city, free from all such pains-taking, in the enjoyment of plenty, and + using such exercises as might improve their bodies, while they made use of + other men as their servants for all the necessaries of life, and had their + food prepared for them by the others; and these good and humane actions + they do for no other purpose but this, that by their actions and their + sufferings they may be able to conquer all those against whom they make + war. I need not add this, that they have not been fully able to observe + their laws; for not only a few single persons, but multitudes of them, + have in heaps neglected those laws, and have delivered themselves, + together with their arms, into the hands of their enemies. + </p> + <p> + 33. Now as for ourselves, I venture to say that no one can tell of so + many; nay, not of more than one or two that have betrayed our laws, no, + not out of fear of death itself; I do not mean such an easy death as + happens in battles, but that which comes with bodily torments, and seems + to be the severest kind of death of all others. Now I think those that + have conquered us have put us to such deaths, not out of their hatred to + us when they had subdued us, but rather out of their desire of seeing a + surprising sight, which is this, whether there be such men in the world + who believe that no evil is to them so great as to be compelled to do or + to speak any thing contrary to their own laws. Nor ought men to wonder at + us, if we are more courageous in dying for our laws than all other men + are; for other men do not easily submit to the easier things in which we + are instituted; I mean working with our hands, and eating but little, and + being contented to eat and drink, not at random, or at every one's + pleasure, or being under inviolable rules in lying with our wives, in + magnificent furniture, and again in the observation of our times of rest; + while those that can use their swords in war, and can put their enemies to + flight when they attack them, cannot bear to submit to such laws about + their way of living: whereas our being accustomed willingly to submit to + laws in these instances, renders us fit to show our fortitude upon other + occasions also. + </p> + <p> + 34. Yet do the Lysimachi and the Molones, and some other writers, + [unskillful sophists as they are, and the deceivers of young men,] + reproach us as the vilest of all mankind. Now I have no mind to make an + inquiry into the laws of other nations; for the custom of our country is + to keep our own laws, but not to bring accusations against the laws of + others. And indeed our legislator hath expressly forbidden us to laugh at + and revile those that are esteemed gods by other people? on account of the + very name of God ascribed to them. But since our antagonists think to run + us down upon the comparison of their religion and ours, it is not possible + to keep silence here, especially while what I shall say to confute these + men will not be now first said, but hath been already said by many, and + these of the highest reputation also; for who is there among those that + have been admired among the Greeks for wisdom, who hath not greatly blamed + both the most famous poets, and most celebrated legislators, for spreading + such notions originally among the body of the people concerning the gods? + such as these, that they may be allowed to be as numerous as they have a + mind to have them; that they are begotten one by another, and that after + all the kinds of generation you can imagine. They also distinguish them in + their places and ways of living as they would distinguish several sorts of + animals; as some to be under the earth; as some to be in the sea; and the + ancientest of them all to be bound in hell; and for those to whom they + have allotted heaven, they have set over them one, who in title is their + father, but in his actions a tyrant and a lord; whence it came to pass + that his wife, and brother, and daughter [which daughter he brought forth + from his own head] made a conspiracy against him to seize upon him and + confine hint, as he had himself seized upon and confined his own father + before. + </p> + <p> + 35. And justly have the wisest men thought these notions deserved severe + rebukes; they also laugh at them for determining that we ought to believe + some of the gods to be beardless and young, and others of them to be old, + and to have beards accordingly; that some are set to trades; that one god + is a smith, and another goddess is a weaver; that one god is a warrior, + and fights with men; that some of them are harpers, or delight in archery; + and besides, that mutual seditions arise among them, and that they quarrel + about men, and this so far, that they not only lay hands upon one another, + but that they are wounded by men, and lament, and take on for such their + afflictions. But what is the grossest of all in point of lasciviousness, + are those unbounded lusts ascribed to almost all of them, and their + amours; which how can it be other than a most absurd supposal, especially + when it reaches to the male gods, and to the female goddesses also? + Moreover, the chief of all their gods, and their first father himself, + overlooks those goddesses whom he hath deluded and begotten with child, + and suffers them to be kept in prison, or drowned in the sea. He is also + so bound up by fate, that he cannot save his own offspring, nor can he + bear their deaths without shedding of tears. These are fine things indeed! + as are the rest that follow. Adulteries truly are so impudently looked on + in heaven by the gods, that some of them have confessed they envied those + that were found in the very act. And why should they not do so, when the + eldest of them, who is their king also, hath not been able to restrain + himself in the violence of his lust, from lying with his wife, so long as + they might get into their bedchamber? Now some of the gods are servants to + men, and will sometimes be builders for a reward, and sometimes will be + shepherds; while others of them, like malefactors, are bound in a prison + of brass. And what sober person is there who would not be provoked at such + stories, and rebuke those that forged them, and condemn the great + silliness of those that admit them for true? Nay, others there are that + have advanced a certain timorousness and fear, as also madness and fraud, + and any other of the vilest passions, into the nature and form of gods, + and have persuaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the better sort of + them; on which account they have been absolutely forced to esteem some + gods as the givers of good things, and to call others of them averters of + evil. They also endeavor to move them, as they would the vilest of men, by + gifts and presents, as looking for nothing else than to receive some great + mischief from them, unless they pay them such wages. + </p> + <p> + 36. Wherefore it deserves our inquiry what should be the occasion of this + unjust management, and of these scandals about the Deity. And truly I + suppose it to be derived from the imperfect knowledge the heathen + legislators had at first of the true nature of God; nor did they explain + to the people even so far as they did comprehend of it: nor did they + compose the other parts of their political settlements according to it, + but omitted it as a thing of very little consequence, and gave leave both + to the poets to introduce what gods they pleased, and those subject to all + sorts of passions, and to the orators to procure political decrees from + the people for the admission of such foreign gods as they thought proper. + The painters also, and statuaries of Greece, had herein great power, as + each of them could contrive a shape [proper for a god]; the one to be + formed out of clay, and the other by making a bare picture of such a one. + But those workmen that were principally admired, had the use of ivory and + of gold as the constant materials for their new statues [whereby it comes + to pass that some temples are quite deserted, while others are in great + esteem, and adorned with all the rites of all kinds of purification]. + Besides this, the first gods, who have long flourished in the honors done + them, are now grown old [while those that flourished after them are come + in their room as a second rank, that I may speak the most honorably of + them I can]: nay, certain other gods there are who are newly introduced, + and newly worshipped [as we, by way of digression, have said already, and + yet have left their places of worship desolate]; and for their temples, + some of them are already left desolate, and others are built anew, + according to the pleasure of men; whereas they ought to have their opinion + about God, and that worship which is due to him, always and immutably the + same. + </p> + <p> + 37. But now, this Apollonius Molo was one of these foolish and proud men. + However, nothing that I have said was unknown to those that were real + philosophers among the Greeks, nor were they unacquainted with those + frigid pretensions of allegories [which had been alleged for such things]; + on which account they justly despised them, but have still agreed with us + as to the true and becoming notions of God; whence it was that Plato would + not have political settlements admit to of any one of the other poets, and + dismisses even Homer himself, with a garland on his head, and with + ointment poured upon him, and this because he should not destroy the right + notions of God with his fables. Nay, Plato principally imitated our + legislator in this point, that he enjoined his citizens to have he main + regard to this precept, "That every one of them should learn their laws + accurately." He also ordained, that they should not admit of foreigners + intermixing with their own people at random; and provided that the + commonwealth should keep itself pure, and consist of such only as + persevered in their own laws. Apollonius Molo did no way consider this, + when he made it one branch of his accusation against us, that we do not + admit of such as have different notions about God, nor will we have + fellowship with those that choose to observe a way of living different + from ourselves, yet is not this method peculiar to us, but common to all + other men; not among the ordinary Grecians only, but among such of those + Grecians as are of the greatest reputation among them. Moreover, the + Lacedemonians continued in their way of expelling foreigners, and would + not indeed give leave to their own people to travel abroad, as suspecting + that those two things would introduce a dissolution of their own laws: and + perhaps there may be some reason to blame the rigid severity of the + Lacedemonians, for they bestowed the privilege of their city on no + foreigners, nor indeed would give leave to them to stay among them; + whereas we, though we do not think fit to imitate other institutions, yet + do we willingly admit of those that desire to partake of ours, which, I + think, I may reckon to be a plain indication of our humanity, and at the + same time of our magnanimity also. + </p> + <p> + 38. But I shall say no more of the Lacedemonians. As for the Athenians, + who glory in having made their city to be common to all men, what their + behavior was Apollonius did not know, while they punished those that did + but speak one word contrary to the laws about the gods, without any mercy; + for on what other account was it that Socrates was put to death by them? + For certainly he neither betrayed their city to its enemies, nor was he + guilty of any sacrilege with regard to any of their temples; but it was on + this account, that he swore certain new oaths <a href="#linkBnote-26" + name="linkBnoteref-26" id="linkBnoteref-26"><small>26</small></a> and that + he affirmed either in earnest, or, as some say, only in jest, that a + certain demon used to make signs to him [what he should not do]. For these + reasons he was condemned to drink poison, and kill himself. His accuser + also complained that he corrupted the young men, by inducing them to + despise the political settlement and laws of their city: and thus was + Socrates, the citizen of Athens, punished. There was also Anaxagoras, who, + although he was of Clazomente, was within a few suffrages of being + condemned to die, because he said the sun, which the Athenians thought to + be a god, was a ball of fire. They also made this public proclamation, + "That they would give a talent to any one who would kill Diagoras of + Melos," because it was reported of him that he laughed at their mysteries. + Protagoras also, who was thought to have written somewhat that was not + owned for truth by the Athenians about the gods, had been seized upon, and + put to death, if he had not fled away immediately. Nor need we at all + wonder that they thus treated such considerable men, when they did not + spare even women also; for they very lately slew a certain priestess, + because she was accused by somebody that she initiated people into the + worship of strange gods, it having been forbidden so to do by one of their + laws; and a capital punishment had been decreed to such as introduced a + strange god; it being manifest, that they who make use of such a law do + not believe those of other nations to be really gods, otherwise they had + not envied themselves the advantage of more gods than they already had. + And this was the happy administration of the affairs of the Athenians! Now + as to the Scythians, they take a pleasure in killing men, and differ but + little from brute beasts; yet do they think it reasonable to have their + institutions observed. They also slew Anacharsis, a person greatly admired + for his wisdom among the Greeks, when he returned to them, because he + appeared to come fraught with Grecian customs. One may also find many to + have been punished among the Persians, on the very same account. And to be + sure Apollonius was greatly pleased with the laws of the Persians, and was + an admirer of them, because the Greeks enjoyed the advantage of their + courage, and had the very same opinion about the gods which they had. This + last was exemplified in the temples which they burnt, and their courage in + coming, and almost entirely enslaving the Grecians. However, Apollonius + has imitated all the Persian institutions, and that by his offering + violence to other men's wives, and gelding his own sons. Now, with us, it + is a capital crime, if any one does thus abuse even a brute beast; and as + for us, neither hath the fear of our governors, nor a desire of following + what other nations have in so great esteem, been able to withdraw us from + our own laws; nor have we exerted our courage in raising up wars to + increase our wealth, but only for the observation of our laws; and when we + with patience bear other losses, yet when any persons would compel us to + break our laws, then it is that we choose to go to war, though it be + beyond our ability to pursue it, and bear the greatest calamities to the + last with much fortitude. And, indeed, what reason can there be why we + should desire to imitate the laws of other nations, while we see they are + not observed by their own legislators <a href="#linkBnote-27" + name="linkBnoteref-27" id="linkBnoteref-27"><small>27</small></a> And why + do not the Lacedemonians think of abolishing that form of their government + which suffers them not to associate with any others, as well as their + contempt of matrimony? And why do not the Eleans and Thebans abolish that + unnatural and impudent lust, which makes them lie with males? For they + will not show a sufficient sign of their repentance of what they of old + thought to be very excellent, and very advantageous in their practices, + unless they entirely avoid all such actions for the time to come: nay, + such things are inserted into the body of their laws, and had once such a + power among the Greeks, that they ascribed these sodomitical practices to + the gods themselves, as a part of their good character; and indeed it was + according to the same manner that the gods married their own sisters. This + the Greeks contrived as an apology for their own absurd and unnatural + pleasures. + </p> + <p> + 39. I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many ways of escaping + them the greatest part of the legislators have afforded malefactors, by + ordaining that, for adulteries, fines in money should be allowed, and for + corrupting <a href="#linkBnote-28" name="linkBnoteref-28" + id="linkBnoteref-28"><small>28</small></a> [virgins] they need only marry + them as also what excuses they may have in denying the facts, if any one + attempts to inquire into them; for amongst most other nations it is a + studied art how men may transgress their laws; but no such thing is + permitted amongst us; for though we be deprived of our wealth, of our + cities, or of the other advantages we have, our law continues immortal; + nor can any Jew go so far from his own country, nor be so aftrighted at + the severest lord, as not to be more aftrighted at the law than at him. + If, therefore, this be the disposition we are under, with regard to the + excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this concession, that our + laws are most excellent; and if still they imagine, that though we so + firmly adhere to them, yet are they bad laws notwithstanding, what + penalties then do they deserve to undergo who do not observe their own + laws, which they esteem so far superior to them? Whereas, therefore, + length of time is esteemed to be the truest touchstone in all cases, I + would make that a testimonial of the excellency of our laws, and of that + belief thereby delivered to us concerning God. For as there hath been a + very long time for this comparison, if any one will but compare its + duration with the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he will + find our legislator to have been the ancientest of them all. + </p> + <p> + 40. We have already demonstrated that our laws have been such as have + always inspired admiration and imitation into all other men; nay, the + earliest Grecian philosophers, though in appearance they observed the laws + of their own countries, yet did they, in their actions, and their + philosophic doctrines, follow our legislator, and instructed men to live + sparingly, and to have friendly communication one with another. Nay, + further, the multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination of a + long time to follow our religious observances; for there is not any city + of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, + whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come, and by + which our fasts and lighting up lamps, and many of our prohibitions as to + our food, are not observed; they also endeavor to imitate our mutual + concord with one another, and the charitable distribution of our goods, + and our diligence in our trades, and our fortitude in undergoing the + distresses we are in, on account of our laws; and, what is here matter of + the greatest admiration, our law hath no bait of pleasure to allure men to + it, but it prevails by its own force; and as God himself pervades all the + world, so hath our law passed through all the world also. So that if any + one will but reflect on his own country, and his own family, he will have + reason to give credit to what I say. It is therefore but just, either to + condemn all mankind of indulging a wicked disposition, when they have been + so desirous of imitating laws that are to them foreign and evil in + themselves, rather than following laws of their own that are of a better + character, or else our accusers must leave off their spite against us. Nor + are we guilty of any envious behavior towards them, when we honor our own + legislator, and believe what he, by his prophetic authority, hath taught + us concerning God. For though we should not be able ourselves to + understand the excellency of our own laws, yet would the great multitude + of those that desire to imitate them, justify us, in greatly valuing + ourselves upon them. + </p> + <p> + 41. But as for the [distinct] political laws by which we are governed, I + have delivered them accurately in my books of Antiquities; and have only + mentioned them now, so far as was necessary to my present purpose, without + proposing to myself either to blame the laws of other nations, or to make + an encomium upon our own; but in order to convict those that have written + about us unjustly, and in an impudent affectation of disguising the truth. + And now I think I have sufficiently completed what I proposed in writing + these books. For whereas our accusers have pretended that our nation are a + people of very late original, I have demonstrated that they are exceeding + ancient; for I have produced as witnesses thereto many ancient writers, + who have made mention of us in their books, while they had said that no + such writer had so done. Moreover, they had said that we were sprung from + the Egyptians, while I have proved that we came from another country into + Egypt: while they had told lies of us, as if we were expelled thence on + account of diseases on our bodies, it has appeared, on the contrary, that + we returned to our country by our own choice, and with sound and strong + bodies. Those accusers reproached our legislator as a vile fellow; whereas + God in old time bare witness to his virtuous conduct; and since that + testimony of God, time itself hath been discovered to have borne witness + to the same thing. + </p> + <p> + 42. As to the laws themselves, more words are unnecessary, for they are + visible in their own nature, and appear to teach not impiety, but the + truest piety in the world. They do not make men hate one another, but + encourage people to communicate what they have to one another freely; they + are enemies to injustice, they take care of righteousness, they banish + idleness and expensive living, and instruct men to be content with what + they have, and to be laborious in their calling; they forbid men to make + war from a desire of getting more, but make men courageous in defending + the laws; they are inexorable in punishing malefactors; they admit no + sophistry of words, but are always established by actions themselves, + which actions we ever propose as surer demonstrations than what is + contained in writing only: on which account I am so bold as to say that we + are become the teachers of other men, in the greatest number of things, + and those of the most excellent nature only; for what is more excellent + than inviolable piety? what is more just than submission to laws? and what + is more advantageous than mutual love and concord? and this so far that we + are to be neither divided by calamities, nor to become injurious and + seditious in prosperity; but to contemn death when we are in war, and in + peace to apply ourselves to our mechanical occupations, or to our tillage + of the ground; while we in all things and all ways are satisfied that God + is the inspector and governor of our actions. If these precepts had either + been written at first, or more exactly kept by any others before us, we + should have owed them thanks as disciples owe to their masters; but if it + be visible that we have made use of them more than any other men, and if + we have demonstrated that the original invention of them is our own, let + the Apions, and the Molons, with all the rest of those that delight in + lies and reproaches, stand confuted; but let this and the foregoing book + be dedicated to thee, Epaphroditus, who art so great a lover of truth, and + by thy means to those that have been in like manner desirous to be + acquainted with the affairs of our nation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkB2H_4_0002" id="linkB2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + APION BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-1" id="linkBnote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ The former part of this + second book is written against the calumnies of Apion, and then, more + briefly, against the like calumnies of Apollonius Molo. But after that, + Josephus leaves off any more particular reply to those adversaries of the + Jews, and gives us a large and excellent description and vindication of + that theocracy which was settled for the Jewish nation by Moses, their + great legislator.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-2" id="linkBnote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ Called by Tiberius + Cymbalum Mundi, The drum of the world.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-3" id="linkBnote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ This seems to have been + the first dial that had been made in Egypt, and was a little before the + time that Ahaz made his [first] dial in Judea, and about anno 755, in the + first year of the seventh olympiad, as we shall see presently. See 2 Kings + 20:11; Isaiah 38:8.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-4" id="linkBnote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ The burial-place for dead + bodies, as I suppose.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-5" id="linkBnote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ Here begins a great defect + in the Greek copy; but the old Latin version fully supplies that defect.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-6" id="linkBnote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ What error is here + generally believed to have been committed by our Josephus in ascribing a + deliverance of the Jews to the reign of Ptolemy Physco, the seventh of + those Ptolemus, which has been universally supposed to have happened under + Ptolemy Philopater, the fourth of them, is no better than a gross error of + the moderns, and not of Josephus, as I have fully proved in the Authentic. + Rec. Part I. p. 200-201, whither I refer the inquisitive reader.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-7" id="linkBnote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ Sister's son, and adopted + son.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-8" id="linkBnote-8"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 8 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ Called more properly Molo, + or Apollonius Molo, as hereafter; for Apollonins, the son of Molo, was + another person, as Strabo informs us, lib. xiv.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-9" id="linkBnote-9"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 9 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ Furones in the Latin, + which what animal it denotes does not now appear.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-10" id="linkBnote-10"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 10 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-10">return</a>)<br /> [ It is great pity that + these six pagan authors, here mentioned to have described the famous + profanation of the Jewish temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, should be all + lost; I mean so far of their writings as contained that description; + though it is plain Josephus perused them all as extant in his time.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-11" id="linkBnote-11"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 11 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-11">return</a>)<br /> [ It is remarkable that + Josephus here, and, I think, no where else, reckons up four distinct + courts of the temple; that of the Gentiles, that of the women of Israel, + that of the men of Israel, and that of the priests; as also that the court + of the women admitted of the men, [I suppose only of the husbands of those + wives that were therein,] while the court of the men did not admit any + women into it at all.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-12" id="linkBnote-12"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 12 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-12">return</a>)<br /> [ Judea, in the Greek, by + a gross mistake of the transcribers.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-13" id="linkBnote-13"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 13 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-13">return</a>)<br /> [ Seven in the Greek, by a + like gross mistake of the transcribers. See of the War, B. V. ch. 5. sect. + 4.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-14" id="linkBnote-14"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 14 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-14">return</a>)<br /> [ Two hundred in the + Greek, contrary to the twenty in the War, B. VII. ch, 5. sect. 3.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-15" id="linkBnote-15"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 15 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-15">return</a>)<br /> [ This notorious disgrace + belonging peculiarly to the people of Egypt, ever since the times of the + old prophets of the Jews, noted both sect. 4 already, and here, may be + confirmed by the testimony of Isidorus, an Egyptian of Pelusium, Epist. + lib. i. Ep. 489. And this is a remarkable completion of the ancient + prediction of God by Ezekiel 29:14, 15, "that the Egyptians should be a + base kingdom, the basest of the kingdoms," and that, "it should not exalt + itself any more above the nations."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-16" id="linkBnote-16"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 16 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-16">return</a>)<br /> [ The truth of which still + further appears by the present observation of Josephus, that these + Egyptians had never, in all the past ages since Sesostris, had one day of + liberty, no, not so much as to have been free from despotic power under + any of the monarchies to that day. And all this has been found equally + true in the latter ages, under the Romans, Saracens, Mamelukes, and Turks, + from the days of Josephus till the present ago also.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-17" id="linkBnote-17"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 17 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-17">return</a>)<br /> [ This language, that + Moses, "persuaded himself" that what he did was according to God's will, + can mean no more, by Josephus's own constant notions elsewhere, than that + he was "firmly persuaded," that he had "fully satisfied himself" that so + it was, viz. by the many revelations he had received from God, and the + numerous miracles God had enabled him to work, as he both in these very + two books against Apion, and in his Antiquities, most clearly and + frequently assures us. This is further evident from several passages + lower, where he affirms that Moses was no impostor nor deceiver, and where + he assures that Moses's constitution of government was no other than a + theocracy; and where he says they are to hope for deliverance out of their + distresses by prayer to God, and that withal it was owing in part to this + prophetic spirit of Moses that the Jews expected a resurrection from the + dead. See almost as strange a use of the like words, "to persuade God," + Antiq. B. VI. ch. 5. sect. 6.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-18" id="linkBnote-18"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 18 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-18">return</a>)<br /> [ That is, Moses really + was, what the heathen legislators pretended to be, under a Divine + direction; nor does it yet appear that these pretensions to a supernatural + conduct, either in these legislators or oracles, were mere delusions of + men without any demoniacal impressions, nor that Josephus took them so to + be; as the ancientest and contemporary authors did still believe them to + be supernatural.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-19" id="linkBnote-19"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 19 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-19">return</a>)<br /> [ This whole very large + passage is corrected by Dr. Hudson from Eusebius's citation of it, Prep. + Evangel. viii. 8, which is here not a little different from the present + MSS. of Josephus.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-20" id="linkBnote-20"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 20 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-20">return</a>)<br /> [ This expression itself, + that "Moses ordained the Jewish government to be a theocracy," may be + illustrated by that parallel expression in the Antiquities, B. III. ch. 8. + sect. 9, that "Moses left it to God to be present at his sacrifices when + he pleased; and when he pleased, to be absent." Both ways of speaking + sound harsh in the ears of Jews and Christians, as do several others which + Josephus uses to the heathens; but still they were not very improper in + him, when he all along thought fit to accommodate himself, both in his + Antiquities, and in these his books against Apion, all written for the use + of the Greeks and Romans, to their notions and language, and this as far + as ever truth would give him leave. Though it be very observable withal, + that he never uses such expressions in his books of the War, written + originally for the Jews beyond Euphrates, and in their language, in all + these cases. However, Josephus directly supposes the Jewish settlement, + under Moses, to be a Divine settlement, and indeed no other than a real + theocracy.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-21" id="linkBnote-21"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 21 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-21">return</a>)<br /> [ These excellent accounts + of the Divine attributes, and that God is not to be at all known in his + essence, as also some other clear expressions about the resurrection of + the dead, and the state of departed souls, etc., in this late work of + Josephus, look more like the exalted notions of the Essens, or rather + Ebionite Christians, than those of a mere Jew or Pharisee. The following + large accounts also of the laws of Moses, seem to me to show a regard to + the higher interpretations and improvements of Moses's laws, derived from + Jesus Christ, than to the bare letter of them in the Old Testament, whence + alone Josephus took them when he wrote his Antiquities; nor, as I think, + can some of these laws, though generally excellent in their kind, be + properly now found either in the copies of the Jewish Pentateuch, or in + Philo, or in Josephus himself, before he became a Nazarene or Ebionite + Christian; nor even all of them among the laws of catholic Christianity + themselves. I desire, therefore, the learned reader to consider, whether + some of these improvements or interpretations might not be peculiar to the + Essens among the Jews, or rather to the Nazarenes or Ebionites among the + Christians, though we have indeed but imperfect accounts of those + Nazarenes or Ebionite Christians transmitted down to us at this day.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-22" id="linkBnote-22"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 22 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-22">return</a>)<br /> [ We may here observe how + known a thing it was among the Jews and heathens, in this and many other + instances, that sacrifices were still accompanied with prayers; whence + most probably came those phrases of "the sacrifice of prayer, the + sacrifice of praise, the sacrifice of thanksgiving." However, those + ancient forms used at sacrifices are now generally lost, to the no small + damage of true religion. It is here also exceeding remarkable, that + although the temple at Jerusalem was built as the only place where the + whole nation of the Jews were to offer their sacrifices, yet is there no + mention of the "sacrifices" themselves, but of "prayers" only, in + Solomon's long and famous form of devotion at its dedication, 1 Kings 8.; + 2 Chronicles 6. See also many passages cited in the Apostolical + Constitutions, VII. 37, and Of the War, above, B. VII. ch. 5. sect. 6.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-23" id="linkBnote-23"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 23 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-23">return</a>)<br /> [ This text is no where in + our present copies of the Old Testament.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-24" id="linkBnote-24"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 24 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-24">return</a>)<br /> [ It may not be amiss to + set down here a very remarkable testimony of the great philosopher Cicero, + as to the preference of "laws to philosophy:—I will," says he, + "boldly declare my opinion, though the whole world be offended at it. I + prefer this little book of the Twelve Tables alone to all the volumes of + the philosophers. I find it to be not only of more weight,' but also much + more useful."—Oratore.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-25" id="linkBnote-25"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 25 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-25">return</a>)<br /> [ we have observed our + times of rest, and sorts of food allowed us [Footnote during our + distresses].] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-26" id="linkBnote-26"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 26 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-26">return</a>)<br /> [ See what those novel + oaths were in Dr. Hudson's note, viz. to swear by an oak, by a goat, and + by a dog, as also by a gander, as say Philostratus and others. This + swearing strange oaths was also forbidden by the Tyrians, B. I. sect. 22, + as Spanheim here notes.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-27" id="linkBnote-27"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 27 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-27">return</a>)<br /> [ Why Josephus here should + blame some heathen legislators, when they allowed so easy a composition + for simple fornication, as an obligation to marry the virgin that was + corrupted, is hard to say, seeing he had himself truly informed us that it + was a law of the Jews, Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 23, as it is the law of + Christianity also: see Horeb Covenant, p. 61. I am almost ready to suspect + that, for, we should here read, and that corrupting wedlock, or other + men's wives, is the crime for which these heathens wickedly allowed this + composition in money.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkBnote-28" id="linkBnote-28"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 28 (<a href="#linkBnoteref-28">return</a>)<br /> [ Or "for corrupting other + men's wives the same allowance."] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Against Apion, by Flavius Josephus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGAINST APION *** + +***** This file should be named 2849-h.htm or 2849-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/4/2849/ + +Produced by David Reed, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Against Apion + +Author: Flavius Josephus + +Translator: William Whiston + +Posting Date: December 6, 2008 [EBook #2849] +Release Date: October, 2001 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGAINST APION *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed + + + + + +AGAINST APION. + +[1] + +By Flavius Josephus + + +Translated by William Whiston + + + + +BOOK 1. + +1. I Suppose that by my books of the Antiquity of the Jews, most +excellent Epaphroditus, [2] have made it evident to those who peruse +them, that our Jewish nation is of very great antiquity, and had a +distinct subsistence of its own originally; as also, I have therein +declared how we came to inhabit this country wherein we now live. Those +Antiquities contain the history of five thousand years, and are taken +out of our sacred books, but are translated by me into the Greek tongue. +However, since I observe a considerable number of people giving ear to +the reproaches that are laid against us by those who bear ill-will to +us, and will not believe what I have written concerning the antiquity of +our nation, while they take it for a plain sign that our nation is of a +late date, because they are not so much as vouchsafed a bare mention by +the most famous historiographers among the Grecians. I therefore have +thought myself under an obligation to write somewhat briefly about +these subjects, in order to convict those that reproach us of spite and +voluntary falsehood, and to correct the ignorance of others, and withal +to instruct all those who are desirous of knowing the truth of what +great antiquity we really are. As for the witnesses whom I shall produce +for the proof of what I say, they shall be such as are esteemed to be +of the greatest reputation for truth, and the most skillful in the +knowledge of all antiquity by the Greeks themselves. I will also show, +that those who have written so reproachfully and falsely about us are +to be convicted by what they have written themselves to the contrary. +I shall also endeavor to give an account of the reasons why it hath so +happened, that there have not been a great number of Greeks who have +made mention of our nation in their histories. I will, however, bring +those Grecians to light who have not omitted such our history, for the +sake of those that either do not know them, or pretend not to know them +already. + +2. And now, in the first place, I cannot but greatly wonder at those +men, who suppose that we must attend to none but Grecians, when we are +inquiring about the most ancient facts, and must inform ourselves of +their truth from them only, while we must not believe ourselves nor +other men; for I am convinced that the very reverse is the truth of the +case. I mean this,--if we will not be led by vain opinions, but will +make inquiry after truth from facts themselves; for they will find that +almost all which concerns the Greeks happened not long ago; nay, one may +say, is of yesterday only. I speak of the building of their cities, the +inventions of their arts, and the description of their laws; and as for +their care about the writing down of their histories, it is very near +the last thing they set about. However, they acknowledge themselves so +far, that they were the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, and the Phoenicians +(for I will not now reckon ourselves among them) that have preserved the +memorials of the most ancient and most lasting traditions of mankind; +for almost all these nations inhabit such countries as are least subject +to destruction from the world about them; and these also have taken +especial care to have nothing omitted of what was [remarkably] done +among them; but their history was esteemed sacred, and put into public +tables, as written by men of the greatest wisdom they had among +them. But as for the place where the Grecians inhabit, ten thousand +destructions have overtaken it, and blotted out the memory of former +actions; so that they were ever beginning a new way of living, and +supposed that every one of them was the origin of their new state. It +was also late, and with difficulty, that they came to know the letters +they now use; for those who would advance their use of these letters +to the greatest antiquity pretend that they learned them from the +Phoenicians and from Cadmus; yet is nobody able to demonstrate that they +have any writing preserved from that time, neither in their temples, nor +in any other public monuments. This appears, because the time when those +lived who went to the Trojan war, so many years afterward, is in great +doubt, and great inquiry is made, whether the Greeks used their letters +at that time; and the most prevailing opinion, and that nearest the +truth, is, that their present way of using those letters was unknown at +that time. However, there is not any writing which the Greeks agree to +be genuine among them ancienter than Homer's Poems, who must plainly he +confessed later than the siege of Troy; nay, the report goes, that +even he did not leave his poems in writing, but that their memory was +preserved in songs, and they were put together afterward, and that this +is the reason of such a number of variations as are found in them. [3] +As for those who set themselves about writing their histories, I mean +such as Cadmus of Miletus, and Acusilaus of Argos, and any others that +may be mentioned as succeeding Acusilaus, they lived but a little while +before the Persian expedition into Greece. But then for those that first +introduced philosophy, and the consideration of things celestial and +divine among them, such as Pherceydes the Syrian, and Pythagoras, and +Thales, all with one consent agree, that they learned what they knew +of the Egyptians and Chaldeans, and wrote but little And these are the +things which are supposed to be the oldest of all among the Greeks; and +they have much ado to believe that the writings ascribed to those men +are genuine. + +3. How can it then be other than an absurd thing, for the Greeks to +be so proud, and to vaunt themselves to be the only people that are +acquainted with antiquity, and that have delivered the true accounts +of those early times after an accurate manner? Nay, who is there that +cannot easily gather from the Greek writers themselves, that they knew +but little on any good foundation when they set to write, but rather +wrote their histories from their own conjectures? Accordingly, they +confute one another in their own books to purpose, and are not ashamed. +to give us the most contradictory accounts of the same things; and I +should spend my time to little purpose, if I should pretend to teach +the Greeks that which they know better than I already, what a great +disagreement there is between Hellanicus and Acusilaus about their +genealogies; in how many eases Acusilaus corrects Hesiod: or after what +manner Ephorus demonstrates Hellanicus to have told lies in the greatest +part of his history; as does Timeus in like manner as to Ephorus, and +the succeeding writers do to Timeus, and all the later writers do to +Herodotus nor could Timeus agree with Antiochus and Philistius, or +with Callias, about the Sicilian History, no more than do the several +writers of the Athide follow one another about the Athenian affairs; nor +do the historians the like, that wrote the Argolics, about the affairs +of the Argives. And now what need I say any more about particular cities +and smaller places, while in the most approved writers of the expedition +of the Persians, and of the actions which were therein performed, there +are so great differences? Nay, Thucydides himself is accused of some as +writing what is false, although he seems to have given us the exactest +history of the affairs of his own time. [4] + +4. As for the occasions of so great disagreement of theirs, there may +be assigned many that are very probable, if any have a mind to make an +inquiry about them; but I ascribe these contradictions chiefly to two +causes, which I will now mention, and still think what I shall mention +in the first place to be the principal of all. For if we remember that +in the beginning the Greeks had taken no care to have public records +of their several transactions preserved, this must for certain +have afforded those that would afterward write about those ancient +transactions the opportunity of making mistakes, and the power of making +lies also; for this original recording of such ancient transactions hath +not only been neglected by the other states of Greece, but even among +the Athenians themselves also, who pretend to be Aborigines, and to have +applied themselves to learning, there are no such records extant; nay, +they say themselves that the laws of Draco concerning murders, which +are now extant in writing, are the most ancient of their public records; +which Draco yet lived but a little before the tyrant Pisistratus. [5] +For as to the Arcadians, who make such boasts of their antiquity, what +need I speak of them in particular, since it was still later before they +got their letters, and learned them, and that with difficulty also. [6] + +5. There must therefore naturally arise great differences among writers, +when they had no original records to lay for their foundation, which +might at once inform those who had an inclination to learn, and +contradict those that would tell lies. However, we are to suppose a +second occasion besides the former of these contradictions; it is +this: That those who were the most zealous to write history were not +solicitous for the discovery of truth, although it was very easy +for them always to make such a profession; but their business was to +demonstrate that they could write well, and make an impression upon +mankind thereby; and in what manner of writing they thought they were +able to exceed others, to that did they apply themselves, Some of them +betook themselves to the writing of fabulous narrations; some of them +endeavored to please the cities or the kings, by writing in their +commendation; others of them fell to finding faults with transactions, +or with the writers of such transactions, and thought to make a great +figure by so doing. And indeed these do what is of all things the most +contrary to true history; for it is the great character of true history +that all concerned therein both speak and write the same things; while +these men, by writing differently about the same things, think they +shall be believed to write with the greatest regard to truth. We +therefore [who are Jews] must yield to the Grecian writers as to +language and eloquence of composition; but then we shall give them no +such preference as to the verity of ancient history, and least of all as +to that part which concerns the affairs of our own several countries. + +6. As to the care of writing down the records from the earliest +antiquity among the Egyptians and Babylonians; that the priests were +intrusted therewith, and employed a philosophical concern about it; that +they were the Chaldean priests that did so among the Babylonians; and +that the Phoenicians, who were mingled among the Greeks, did especially +make use of their letters, both for the common affairs of life, and for +the delivering down the history of common transactions, I think I may +omit any proof, because all men allow it so to be. But now as to our +forefathers, that they took no less care about writing such records, +[for I will not say they took greater care than the others I spoke of,] +and that they committed that matter to their high priests and to their +prophets, and that these records have been written all along down to our +own times with the utmost accuracy; nay, if it be not too bold for me +to say it, our history will be so written hereafter;--I shall endeavor +briefly to inform you. + +7. For our forefathers did not only appoint the best of these priests, +and those that attended upon the Divine worship, for that design from +the beginning, but made provision that the stock of the priests should +continue unmixed and pure; for he who is partaker of the priesthood must +propagate of a wife of the same nation, without having any regard to +money, or any other dignities; but he is to make a scrutiny, and take +his wife's genealogy from the ancient tables, and procure many witnesses +to it. [7] And this is our practice not only in Judea, but wheresoever +any body of men of our nation do live; and even there an exact catalogue +of our priests' marriages is kept; I mean at Egypt and at Babylon, or +in any other place of the rest of the habitable earth, whithersoever our +priests are scattered; for they send to Jerusalem the ancient names of +their parents in writing, as well as those of their remoter ancestors, +and signify who are the witnesses also. But if any war falls out, +such as have fallen out a great many of them already, when Antiochus +Epiphanes made an invasion upon our country, as also when Pompey the +Great and Quintilius Varus did so also, and principally in the wars that +have happened in our own times, those priests that survive them +compose new tables of genealogy out of the old records, and examine the +circumstances of the women that remain; for still they do not admit of +those that have been captives, as suspecting that they had conversation +with some foreigners. But what is the strongest argument of our exact +management in this matter is what I am now going to say, that we have +the names of our high priests from father to son set down in our records +for the interval of two thousand years; and if any of these have been +transgressors of these rules, they are prohibited to present themselves +at the altar, or to be partakers of any other of our purifications; and +this is justly, or rather necessarily done, because every one is +not permitted of his own accord to be a writer, nor is there any +disagreement in what is written; they being only prophets that have +written the original and earliest accounts of things as they learned +them of God himself by inspiration; and others have written what hath +happened in their own times, and that in a very distinct manner also. + +8. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, +disagreeing from and contradicting one another, [as the Greeks have,] +but only twenty-two books, [8] which contain the records of all the past +times; which are justly believed to be divine; and of them five belong +to Moses, which contain his laws and the traditions of the origin of +mankind till his death. This interval of time was little short of three +thousand years; but as to the time from the death of Moses till the +reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, who reigned after Xerxes, the +prophets, who were after Moses, wrote down what was done in their times +in thirteen books. The remaining four books contain hymns to God, and +precepts for the conduct of human life. It is true, our history hath +been written since Artaxerxes very particularly, but hath not been +esteemed of the like authority with the former by our forefathers, +because there hath not been an exact succession of prophets since that +time; and how firmly we have given credit to these books of our own +nation is evident by what we do; for during so many ages as have already +passed, no one has been so bold as either to add any thing to them, +to take any thing from them, or to make any change in them; but it is +become natural to all Jews immediately, and from their very birth, to +esteem these books to contain Divine doctrines, and to persist in them, +and, if occasion be willingly to die for them. For it is no new thing +for our captives, many of them in number, and frequently in time, to +be seen to endure racks and deaths of all kinds upon the theatres, that +they may not be obliged to say one word against our laws and the records +that contain them; whereas there are none at all among the Greeks who +would undergo the least harm on that account, no, nor in case all the +writings that are among them were to be destroyed; for they take them to +be such discourses as are framed agreeably to the inclinations of those +that write them; and they have justly the same opinion of the ancient +writers, since they see some of the present generation bold enough to +write about such affairs, wherein they were not present, nor had concern +enough to inform themselves about them from those that knew them; +examples of which may be had in this late war of ours, where some +persons have written histories, and published them, without having been +in the places concerned, or having been near them when the actions were +done; but these men put a few things together by hearsay, and insolently +abuse the world, and call these writings by the name of Histories. + +9. As for myself, I have composed a true history of that whole war, and +of all the particulars that occurred therein, as having been concerned +in all its transactions; for I acted as general of those among us that +are named Galileans, as long as it was possible for us to make any +opposition. I was then seized on by the Romans, and became a captive. +Vespasian also and Titus had me kept under a guard, and forced me to +attend them continually. At the first I was put into bonds, but was +set at liberty afterward, and sent to accompany Titus when he came +from Alexandria to the siege of Jerusalem; during which time there was +nothing done which escaped my knowledge; for what happened in the +Roman camp I saw, and wrote down carefully; and what informations the +deserters brought [out of the city], I was the only man that understood +them. Afterward I got leisure at Rome; and when all my materials were +prepared for that work, I made use of some persons to assist me in +learning the Greek tongue, and by these means I composed the history +of those transactions. And I was so well assured of the truth of what +I related, that I first of all appealed to those that had the supreme +command in that war, Vespasian and Titus, as witnesses for me, for to +them I presented those books first of all, and after them to many of the +Romans who had been in the war. I also sold them to many of our own men +who understood the Greek philosophy; among whom were Julius Archelaus, +Herod [king of Chalcis], a person of great gravity, and king Agrippa +himself, a person that deserved the greatest admiration. Now all these +men bore their testimony to me, that I had the strictest regard to +truth; who yet would not have dissembled the matter, nor been silent, if +I, out of ignorance, or out of favor to any side, either had given false +colors to actions, or omitted any of them. + +10. There have been indeed some bad men, who have attempted to +calumniate my history, and took it to be a kind of scholastic +performance for the exercise of young men. A strange sort of accusation +and calumny this! since every one that undertakes to deliver the history +of actions truly ought to know them accurately himself in the first +place, as either having been concerned in them himself, or been informed +of them by such as knew them. Now both these methods of knowledge I may +very properly pretend to in the composition of both my works; for, as I +said, I have translated the Antiquities out of our sacred books; which I +easily could do, since I was a priest by my birth, and have studied that +philosophy which is contained in those writings: and for the History +of the War, I wrote it as having been an actor myself in many of its +transactions, an eye-witness in the greatest part of the rest, and was +not unacquainted with any thing whatsoever that was either said or +done in it. How impudent then must those deserve to be esteemed that +undertake to contradict me about the true state of those affairs! +who, although they pretend to have made use of both the emperors' own +memoirs, yet could not they he acquainted with our affairs who fought +against them. + +11. This digression I have been obliged to make out of necessity, as +being desirous to expose the vanity of those that profess to write +histories; and I suppose I have sufficiently declared that this custom +of transmitting down the histories of ancient times hath been better +preserved by those nations which are called Barbarians, than by the +Greeks themselves. I am now willing, in the next place, to say a few +things to those that endeavor to prove that our constitution is but of +late time, for this reason, as they pretend, that the Greek writers have +said nothing about us; after which I shall produce testimonies for our +antiquity out of the writings of foreigners; I shall also demonstrate +that such as cast reproaches upon our nation do it very unjustly. + +12. As for ourselves, therefore, we neither inhabit a maritime country, +nor do we delight in merchandise, nor in such a mixture with other men +as arises from it; but the cities we dwell in are remote from the sea, +and having a fruitful country for our habitation, we take pains in +cultivating that only. Our principal care of all is this, to educate our +children well; and we think it to be the most necessary business of +our whole life to observe the laws that have been given us, and to +keep those rules of piety that have been delivered down to us. Since, +therefore, besides what we have already taken notice of, we have had a +peculiar way of living of our own, there was no occasion offered us in +ancient ages for intermixing among the Greeks, as they had for mixing +among the Egyptians, by their intercourse of exporting and importing +their several goods; as they also mixed with the Phoenicians, who +lived by the sea-side, by means of their love of lucre in trade and +merchandise. Nor did our forefathers betake themselves, as did some +others, to robbery; nor did they, in order to gain more wealth, fall +into foreign wars, although our country contained many ten thousands of +men of courage sufficient for that purpose. For this reason it was that +the Phoenicians themselves came soon by trading and navigation to be +known to the Grecians, and by their means the Egyptians became known +to the Grecians also, as did all those people whence the Phoenicians in +long voyages over the seas carried wares to the Grecians. The Medes also +and the Persians, when they were lords of Asia, became well known to +them; and this was especially true of the Persians, who led their armies +as far as the other continent [Europe]. The Thracians were also known to +them by the nearness of their countries, and the Scythians by the +means of those that sailed to Pontus; for it was so in general that all +maritime nations, and those that inhabited near the eastern or western +seas, became most known to those that were desirous to be writers; but +such as had their habitations further from the sea were for the most +part unknown to them which things appear to have happened as to Europe +also, where the city of Rome, that hath this long time been possessed +of so much power, and hath performed such great actions in war, is yet +never mentioned by Herodotus, nor by Thucydides, nor by any one of their +contemporaries; and it was very late, and with great difficulty, that +the Romans became known to the Greeks. Nay, those that were reckoned the +most exact historians [and Ephorus for one] were so very ignorant of the +Gauls and the Spaniards, that he supposed the Spaniards, who inhabit so +great a part of the western regions of the earth, to be no more than one +city. Those historians also have ventured to describe such customs as +were made use of by them, which they never had either done or said; and +the reason why these writers did not know the truth of their affairs was +this, that they had not any commerce together; but the reason why they +wrote such falsities was this, that they had a mind to appear to know +things which others had not known. How can it then be any wonder, if our +nation was no more known to many of the Greeks, nor had given them any +occasion to mention them in their writings, while they were so remote +from the sea, and had a conduct of life so peculiar to themselves? + +13. Let us now put the case, therefore, that we made use of this +argument concerning the Grecians, in order to prove that their nation +was not ancient, because nothing is said of them in our records: would +not they laugh at us all, and probably give the same reasons for our +silence that I have now alleged, and would produce their neighbor +nations as witnesses to their own antiquity? Now the very same +thing will I endeavor to do; for I will bring the Egyptians and the +Phoenicians as my principal witnesses, because nobody can complain Of +their testimony as false, on account that they are known to have borne +the greatest ill-will towards us; I mean this as to the Egyptians in +general all of them, while of the Phoenicians it is known the Tyrians +have been most of all in the same ill disposition towards us: yet do +I confess that I cannot say the same of the Chaldeans, since our first +leaders and ancestors were derived from them; and they do make mention +of us Jews in their records, on account of the kindred there is between +us. Now when I shall have made my assertions good, so far as concerns +the others, I will demonstrate that some of the Greek writers have made +mention of us Jews also, that those who envy us may not have even this +pretense for contradicting what I have said about our nation. + +14. I shall begin with the writings of the Egyptians; not indeed of +those that have written in the Egyptian language, which it is impossible +for me to do. But Manetho was a man who was by birth an Egyptian, yet +had he made himself master of the Greek learning, as is very evident; +for he wrote the history of his own country in the Greek tongue, by +translating it, as he saith himself, out of their sacred records; +he also finds great fault with Herodotus for his ignorance and false +relations of Egyptian affairs. Now this Manetho, in the second book of +his Egyptian History, writes concerning us in the following manner. I +will set down his very words, as if I were to bring the very man himself +into a court for a witness: "There was a king of ours whose name was +Timaus. Under him it came to pass, I know not how, that God was averse +to us, and there came, after a surprising manner, men of ignoble birth +out of the eastern parts, and had boldness enough to make an expedition +into our country, and with ease subdued it by force, yet without +our hazarding a battle with them. So when they had gotten those that +governed us under their power, they afterwards burnt down our cities, +and demolished the temples of the gods, and used all the inhabitants +after a most barbarous manner; nay, some they slew, and led their +children and their wives into slavery. At length they made one of +themselves king, whose name was Salatis; he also lived at Memphis, and +made both the upper and lower regions pay tribute, and left garrisons +in places that were the most proper for them. He chiefly aimed to secure +the eastern parts, as fore-seeing that the Assyrians, who had then the +greatest power, would be desirous of that kingdom, and invade them; and +as he found in the Saite Nomos, [Sethroite,] a city very proper for this +purpose, and which lay upon the Bubastic channel, but with regard to a +certain theologic notion was called Avaris, this he rebuilt, and made +very strong by the walls he built about it, and by a most numerous +garrison of two hundred and forty thousand armed men whom he put into +it to keep it. Thither Salatis came in summer time, partly to gather his +corn, and pay his soldiers their wages, and partly to exercise his +armed men, and thereby to terrify foreigners. When this man had reigned +thirteen years, after him reigned another, whose name was Beon, for +forty-four years; after him reigned another, called Apachnas, thirty-six +years and seven months; after him Apophis reigned sixty-one years, and +then Janins fifty years and one month; after all these reigned Assis +forty-nine years and two months. And these six were the first rulers +among them, who were all along making war with the Egyptians, and were +very desirous gradually to destroy them to the very roots. This whole +nation was styled Hycsos, that is, Shepherd-kings: for the first +syllable Hyc, according to the sacred dialect, denotes a king, as is Sos +a shepherd; but this according to the ordinary dialect; and of these is +compounded Hycsos: but some say that these people were Arabians." Now +in another copy it is said that this word does not denote Kings, but, +on the contrary, denotes Captive Shepherds, and this on account of the +particle Hyc; for that Hyc, with the aspiration, in the Egyptian tongue +again denotes Shepherds, and that expressly also; and this to me seems +the more probable opinion, and more agreeable to ancient history. [But +Manetho goes on]: "These people, whom we have before named kings, +and called shepherds also, and their descendants," as he says, "kept +possession of Egypt five hundred and eleven years." After these, he +says, "That the kings of Thebais and the other parts of Egypt made an +insurrection against the shepherds, and that there a terrible and long +war was made between them." He says further, "That under a king, whose +name was Alisphragmuthosis, the shepherds were subdued by him, and were +indeed driven out of other parts of Egypt, but were shut up in a place +that contained ten thousand acres; this place was named Avaris." Manetho +says, "That the shepherds built a wall round all this place, which was a +large and a strong wall, and this in order to keep all their possessions +and their prey within a place of strength, but that Thummosis the son +of Alisphragmuthosis made an attempt to take them by force and by siege, +with four hundred and eighty thousand men to lie rotund about them, but +that, upon his despair of taking the place by that siege, they came to a +composition with them, that they should leave Egypt, and go, without any +harm to be done to them, whithersoever they would; and that, after +this composition was made, they went away with their whole families and +effects, not fewer in number than two hundred and forty thousand, and +took their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, for Syria; but +that as they were in fear of the Assyrians, who had then the dominion +over Asia, they built a city in that country which is now called Judea, +and that large enough to contain this great number of men, and called +it Jerusalem." [9] Now Manetho, in another book of his, says, "That +this nation, thus called Shepherds, were also called Captives, in their +sacred books." And this account of his is the truth; for feeding of +sheep was the employment of our forefathers in the most ancient ages +[10] and as they led such a wandering life in feeding sheep, they +were called Shepherds. Nor was it without reason that they were called +Captives by the Egyptians, since one of our ancestors, Joseph, told the +king of Egypt that he was a captive, and afterward sent for his brethren +into Egypt by the king's permission. But as for these matters, I shall +make a more exact inquiry about them elsewhere. [11] + +15. But now I shall produce the Egyptians as witnesses to the antiquity +of our nation. I shall therefore here bring in Manetho again, and what +he writes as to the order of the times in this case; and thus he speaks: +"When this people or shepherds were gone out of Egypt to Jerusalem, +Tethtoosis the king of Egypt, who drove them out, reigned afterward +twenty-five years and four months, and then died; after him his son +Chebron took the kingdom for thirteen years; after whom came Amenophis, +for twenty years and seven months; then came his sister Amesses, for +twenty-one years and nine months; after her came Mephres, for twelve +years and nine months; after him was Mephramuthosis, for twenty-five +years and ten months; after him was Thmosis, for nine years and eight +months; after him came Amenophis, for thirty years and ten months; +after him came Orus, for thirty-six years and five months; then came his +daughter Acenchres, for twelve years and one month; then was her brother +Rathotis, for nine years; then was Acencheres, for twelve years and five +months; then came another Acencheres, for twelve years and three months; +after him Armais, for four years and one month; after him was Ramesses, +for one year and four months; after him came Armesses Miammoun, for +sixty-six years and two months; after him Amenophis, for nineteen years +and six months; after him came Sethosis, and Ramesses, who had an army +of horse, and a naval force. This king appointed his brother, Armais, +to be his deputy over Egypt." [In another copy it stood thus: "After +him came Sethosis, and Ramesses, two brethren, the former of whom had a +naval force, and in a hostile manner destroyed those that met him +upon the sea; but as he slew Ramesses in no long time afterward, so he +appointed another of his brethren to be his deputy over Egypt.] He +also gave him all the other authority of a king, but with these only +injunctions, that he should not wear the diadem, nor be injurious to the +queen, the mother of his children, and that he should not meddle with +the other concubines of the king; while he made an expedition against +Cyprus, and Phoenicia, and besides against the Assyrians and the Medes. +He then subdued them all, some by his arms, some without fighting, and +some by the terror of his great army; and being puffed up by the great +successes he had had, he went on still the more boldly, and overthrew +the cities and countries that lay in the eastern parts. But after some +considerable time, Armais, who was left in Egypt, did all those very +things, by way of opposition, which his brother had forbid him to do, +without fear; for he used violence to the queen, and continued to make +use of the rest of the concubines, without sparing any of them; nay, at +the persuasion of his friends he put on the diadem, and set up to oppose +his brother. But then he who was set over the priests of Egypt wrote +letters to Sethosis, and informed him of all that had happened, and +how his brother had set up to oppose him: he therefore returned back to +Pelusium immediately, and recovered his kingdom again. The country also +was called from his name Egypt; for Manetho says, that Sethosis was +himself called Egyptus, as was his brother Armais called Danaus." + +16. This is Manetho's account. And evident it is from the number of +years by him set down belonging to this interval, if they be summed up +together, that these shepherds, as they are here called, who were +no other than our forefathers, were delivered out of Egypt, and came +thence, and inhabited this country, three hundred and ninety-three years +before Danaus came to Argos; although the Argives look upon him [12] as +their most ancient king Manetho, therefore, hears this testimony to two +points of the greatest consequence to our purpose, and those from the +Egyptian records themselves. In the first place, that we came out of +another country into Egypt; and that withal our deliverance out of it +was so ancient in time as to have preceded the siege of Troy almost a +thousand years; but then, as to those things which Manetbo adds, not +from the Egyptian records, but, as he confesses himself, from some +stories of an uncertain original, I will disprove them hereafter +particularly, and shall demonstrate that they are no better than +incredible fables. + +17. I will now, therefore, pass from these records, and come to those +that belong to the Phoenicians, and concern our nation, and shall +produce attestations to what I have said out of them. There are then +records among the Tyrians that take in the history of many years, +and these are public writings, and are kept with great exactness, and +include accounts of the facts done among them, and such as concern their +transactions with other nations also, those I mean which were worth +remembering. Therein it was recorded that the temple was built by king +Solomon at Jerusalem, one hundred forty-three years and eight months +before the Tyrians built Carthage; and in their annals the building of +our temple is related; for Hirom, the king of Tyre, was the friend of +Solomon our king, and had such friendship transmitted down to him +from his forefathers. He thereupon was ambitious to contribute to the +splendor of this edifice of Solomon, and made him a present of one +hundred and twenty talents of gold. He also cut down the most excellent +timber out of that mountain which is called Libanus, and sent it to +him for adorning its roof. Solomon also not only made him many other +presents, by way of requital, but gave him a country in Galilee +also, that was called Chabulon. [13] But there was another passion, a +philosophic inclination of theirs, which cemented the friendship that +was betwixt them; for they sent mutual problems to one another, with +a desire to have them unriddled by each other; wherein Solomon was +superior to Hirom, as he was wiser than he in other respects: and many +of the epistles that passed between them are still preserved among the +Tyrians. Now, that this may not depend on my bare word, I will produce +for a witness Dius, one that is believed to have written the Phoenician +History after an accurate manner. This Dius, therefore, writes thus, in +his Histories of the Phoenicians: "Upon the death of Abibalus, his son +Hirom took the kingdom. This king raised banks at the eastern parts +of the city, and enlarged it; he also joined the temple of Jupiter +Olympius, which stood before in an island by itself, to the city, by +raising a causeway between them, and adorned that temple with donations +of gold. He moreover went up to Libanus, and had timber cut down for the +building of temples. They say further, that Solomon, when he was king +of Jerusalem, sent problems to Hirom to be solved, and desired he would +send others back for him to solve, and that he who could not solve the +problems proposed to him should pay money to him that solved them. And +when Hirom had agreed to the proposals, but was not able to solve the +problems, he was obliged to pay a great deal of money, as a penalty +for the same. As also they relate, that one OEabdemon, a man of Tyre, did +solve the problems, and propose others which Solomon could not solve, +upon which he was obliged to repay a great deal of money to Hirom." +These things are attested to by Dius, and confirm what we have said upon +the same subjects before. + +18. And now I shall add Menander the Ephesian, as an additional witness. +This Menander wrote the Acts that were done both by the Greeks and +Barbarians, under every one of the Tyrian kings, and had taken much +pains to learn their history out of their own records. Now when he was +writing about those kings that had reigned at Tyre, he came to Hirom, +and says thus: "Upon the death of Abibalus, his son Hirom took the +kingdom; he lived fifty-three years, and reigned thirty-four. He raised +a bank on that called the Broad Place, and dedicated that golden pillar +which is in Jupiter's temple; he also went and cut down timber from the +mountain called Libanus, and got timber Of cedar for the roofs of +the temples. He also pulled down the old temples, and built new ones; +besides this, he consecrated the temples of Hercules and of Astarte. He +first built Hercules's temple in the month Peritus, and that of Astarte +when he made his expedition against the Tityans, who would not pay him +their tribute; and when he had subdued them to himself, he returned +home. Under this king there was a younger son of Abdemon, who mastered +the problems which Solomon king of Jerusalem had recommended to be +solved." Now the time from this king to the building of Carthage is +thus calculated: "Upon the death of Hirom, Baleazarus his son took the +kingdom; he lived forty-three years, and reigned seven years: after him +succeeded his son Abdastartus; he lived twenty-nine years, and reigned +nine years. Now four sons of his nurse plotted against him and slew him, +the eldest of whom reigned twelve years: after them came Astartus, +the son of Deleastartus; he lived fifty-four years, and reigned twelve +years: after him came his brother Aserymus; he lived fifty-four years, +and reigned nine years: he was slain by his brother Pheles, who took the +kingdom and reigned but eight months, though he lived fifty years: he +was slain by Ithobalus, the priest of Astarte, who reigned thirty-two +years, and lived sixty-eight years: he was succeeded by his son +Badezorus, who lived forty-five years, and reigned six years: he was +succeeded by Matgenus his son; he lived thirty-two years, and reigned +nine years: Pygmalion succeeded him; he lived fifty-six years, and +reigned forty-seven years. Now in the seventh year of his reign, his +sister fled away from him, and built the city Carthage in Libya." So +the whole time from the reign of Hirom, till the building of Carthage, +amounts to the sum of one hundred fifty-five years and eight months. +Since then the temple was built at Jerusalem in the twelfth year of the +reign of Hirom, there were from the building of the temple, until the +building of Carthage, one hundred forty-three years and eight months. +Wherefore, what occasion is there for alleging any more testimonies out +of the Phoenician histories [on the behalf of our nation], since what +I have said is so thoroughly confirmed already? and to be sure our +ancestors came into this country long before the building of the temple; +for it was not till we had gotten possession of the whole land by war +that we built our temple. And this is the point that I have clearly +proved out of our sacred writings in my Antiquities. + +19. I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the +Chaldean histories, which records have a great agreement with our books +in oilier things also. Berosus shall be witness to what I say: he was +by birth a Chaldean, well known by the learned, on account of his +publication of the Chaldean books of astronomy and philosophy among the +Greeks. This Berosus, therefore, following the most ancient records +of that nation, gives us a history of the deluge of waters that then +happened, and of the destruction of mankind thereby, and agrees with +Moses's narration thereof. He also gives us an account of that ark +wherein Noah, the origin of our race, was preserved, when it was brought +to the highest part of the Armenian mountains; after which he gives us +a catalogue of the posterity of Noah, and adds the years of their +chronology, and at length comes down to Nabolassar, who was king of +Babylon, and of the Chaldeans. And when he was relating the acts of +this king, he describes to us how he sent his son Nabuchodonosor against +Egypt, and against our land, with a great army, upon his being informed +that they had revolted from him; and how, by that means, he subdued them +all, and set our temple that was at Jerusalem on fire; nay, and removed +our people entirely out of their own country, and transferred them +to Babylon; when it so happened that our city was desolate during the +interval of seventy years, until the days of Cyrus king of Persia. He +then says, "That this Babylonian king conquered Egypt, and Syria, and +Phoenicia, and Arabia, and exceeded in his exploits all that had +reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldea." A little after which Berosus +subjoins what follows in his History of Ancient Times. I will set down +Berosus's own accounts, which are these: "When Nabolassar, father of +Nabuchodonosor, heard that the governor whom he had set over Egypt, and +over the parts of Celesyria and Phoenicia, had revolted from him, he was +not able to bear it any longer; but committing certain parts of his army +to his son Nabuchodonosor, who was then but young, he sent him against +the rebel: Nabuchodonosor joined battle with him, and conquered him, and +reduced the country under his dominion again. Now it so fell out that +his father Nabolassar fell into a distemper at this time, and died in +the city of Babylon, after he had reigned twenty-nine years. But as he +understood, in a little time, that his father Nabolassar was dead, he +set the affairs of Egypt and the other countries in order, and committed +the captives he had taken from the Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, +and of the nations belonging to Egypt, to some of his friends, that they +might conduct that part of the forces that had on heavy armor, with the +rest of his baggage, to Babylonia; while he went in haste, having but a +few with him, over the desert to Babylon; whither, when he was come, he +found the public affairs had been managed by the Chaldeans, and that +the principal person among them had preserved the kingdom for him. +Accordingly, he now entirely obtained all his father's dominions. He +then came, and ordered the captives to be placed as colonies in the most +proper places of Babylonia; but for himself, he adorned the temple of +Belus, and the other temples, after an elegant manner, out of the +spoils he had taken in this war. He also rebuilt the old city, and added +another to it on the outside, and so far restored Babylon, that none who +should besiege it afterwards might have it in their power to divert +the river, so as to facilitate an entrance into it; and this he did by +building three walls about the inner city, and three about the outer. +Some of these walls he built of burnt brick and bitumen, and some of +brick only. So when he had thus fortified the city with walls, after an +excellent manner, and had adorned the gates magnificently, he added a +new palace to that which his father had dwelt in, and this close by it +also, and that more eminent in its height, and in its great splendor. It +would perhaps require too long a narration, if any one were to describe +it. However, as prodigiously large and as magnificent as it was, it was +finished in fifteen days. Now in this palace he erected very high walks, +supported by stone pillars, and by planting what was called a pensile +paradise, and replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he rendered the +prospect an exact resemblance of a mountainous country. This he did to +please his queen, because she had been brought up in Media, and was fond +of a mountainous situation." + +20. This is what Berosus relates concerning the forementioned king, as +he relates many other things about him also in the third book of his +Chaldean History; wherein he complains of the Grecian writers for +supposing, without any foundation, that Babylon was built by Semiramis, +[14] queen of Assyria, and for her false pretense to those wonderful +edifices thereto buildings at Babylon, do no way contradict those +ancient and relating, as if they were her own workmanship; as indeed +in these affairs the Chaldean History cannot but be the most credible. +Moreover, we meet with a confirmation of what Berosus says in the +archives of the Phoenicians, concerning this king Nabuchodonosor, that +he conquered all Syria and Phoenicia; in which case Philostratus agrees +with the others in that history which he composed, where he mentions +the siege of Tyre; as does Megasthenes also, in the fourth book of his +Indian History, wherein he pretends to prove that the forementioned +king of the Babylonians was superior to Hercules in strength and the +greatness of his exploits; for he says that he conquered a great part +of Libya, and conquered Iberia also. Now as to what I have said before +about the temple at Jerusalem, that it was fought against by the +Babylonians, and burnt by them, but was opened again when Cyrus had +taken the kingdom of Asia, shall now be demonstrated from what Berosus +adds further upon that head; for thus he says in his third book: +"Nabuchodonosor, after he had begun to build the forementioned wall, +fell sick, and departed this life, when he had reigned forty-three +years; whereupon his son Evilmerodach obtained the kingdom. He governed +public affairs after an illegal and impure manner, and had a plot laid +against him by Neriglissoor, his sister's husband, and was slain by him +when he had reigned but two years. After he was slain, Neriglissoor, +the person who plotted against him, succeeded him in the kingdom, and +reigned four years; his son Laborosoarchod obtained the kingdom, though +he was but a child, and kept it nine mouths; but by reason of the very +ill temper and ill practices he exhibited to the world, a plot was laid +against him also by his friends, and he was tormented to death. After +his death, the conspirators got together, and by common consent put +the crown upon the head of Nabonnedus, a man of Babylon, and one who +belonged to that insurrection. In his reign it was that the walls of the +city of Babylon were curiously built with burnt brick and bitumen; but +when he was come to the seventeenth year of his reign, Cyrus came out of +Persia with a great army; and having already conquered all the rest of +Asia, he came hastily to Babylonia. When Nabonnedus perceived he was +coming to attack him, he met him with his forces, and joining battle +with him was beaten, and fled away with a few of his troops with him, +and was shut up within the city Borsippus. Hereupon Cyrus took Babylon, +and gave order that the outer walls of the city should be demolished, +because the city had proved very troublesome to him, and cost him a +great deal of pains to take it. He then marched away to Borsippus, to +besiege Nabonnedus; but as Nabonnedus did not sustain the siege, but +delivered himself into his hands, he was at first kindly used by Cyrus, +who gave him Carmania, as a place for him to inhabit in, but sent him +out of Babylonia. Accordingly Nabonnedus spent the rest of his time in +that country, and there died." + +21. These accounts agree with the true histories in our books; for in +them it is written that Nebuchadnezzar, in the eighteenth year of +his reign, laid our temple desolate, and so it lay in that state of +obscurity for fifty years; but that in the second year of the reign of +Cyrus its foundations were laid, and it was finished again in the second +year of Darius. I will now add the records of the Phoenicians; for it +will not be superfluous to give the reader demonstrations more than +enough on this occasion. In them we have this enumeration of the times +of their several kings: "Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre for thirteen years +in the days of Ithobal, their king; after him reigned Baal, ten years; +after him were judges appointed, who judged the people: Ecnibalus, the +son of Baslacus, two months; Chelbes, the son of Abdeus, ten months; +Abbar, the high priest, three months; Mitgonus and Gerastratus, the sons +of Abdelemus, were judges six years; after whom Balatorus reigned one +year; after his death they sent and fetched Merbalus from Babylon, who +reigned four years; after his death they sent for his brother Hirom, who +reigned twenty years. Under his reign Cyrus became king of Persia." So +that the whole interval is fifty-four years besides three months; for +in the seventh year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar he began to besiege +Tyre, and Cyrus the Persian took the kingdom in the fourteenth year of +Hirom. So that the records of the Chaldeans and Tyrians agree with our +writings about this temple; and the testimonies here produced are an +indisputable and undeniable attestation to the antiquity of our nation. +And I suppose that what I have already said may be sufficient to such as +are not very contentious. + +22. But now it is proper to satisfy the inquiry of those that disbelieve +the records of barbarians, and think none but Greeks to be worthy of +credit, and to produce many of these very Greeks who were acquainted +with our nation, and to set before them such as upon occasion have made +mention of us in their own writings. Pythagoras, therefore, of Samos, +lived in very ancient times, and was esteemed a person superior to all +philosophers in wisdom and piety towards God. Now it is plain that +he did not only know our doctrines, but was in very great measure a +follower and admirer of them. There is not indeed extant any writing +that is owned for his [15] but many there are who have written his +history, of whom Hermippus is the most celebrated, who was a person very +inquisitive into all sorts of history. Now this Hermippus, in his first +book concerning Pythagoras, speaks thus: "That Pythagoras, upon the +death of one of his associates, whose name was Calliphon, a Crotonlate +by birth, affirmed that this man's soul conversed with him both night +and day, and enjoined him not to pass over a place where an ass had +fallen down; as also not to drink of such waters as caused thirst again; +and to abstain from all sorts of reproaches." After which he adds thus: +"This he did and said in imitation of the doctrines of the Jews and +Thracians, which he transferred into his own philosophy." For it is very +truly affirmed of this Pythagoras, that he took a great many of the laws +of the Jews into his own philosophy. Nor was our nation unknown of +old to several of the Grecian cities, and indeed was thought worthy +of imitation by some of them. This is declared by Theophrastus, in his +writings concerning laws; for he says that "the laws of the Tyrians +forbid men to swear foreign oaths." Among which he enumerates some +others, and particularly that called Corban: which oath can only be +found among the Jews, and declares what a man may call "A thing devoted +to God." Nor indeed was Herodotus of Halicarnassus unacquainted with our +nation, but mentions it after a way of his own, when he saith thus, in +the second book concerning the Colchians. His words are these: "The only +people who were circumcised in their privy members originally, were the +Colchians, the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians; but the Phoenicians and +those Syrians that are in Palestine confess that they learned it from +the Egyptians. And for those Syrians who live about the rivers Thermodon +and Parthenius, and their neighbors the Macrones, they say they have +lately learned it from the Colchians; for these are the only people that +are circumcised among mankind, and appear to have done the very same +thing with the Egyptians. But as for the Egyptians and Ethiopians +themselves, I am not able to say which of them received it from the +other." This therefore is what Herodotus says, that "the Syrians that +are in Palestine are circumcised." But there are no inhabitants of +Palestine that are circumcised excepting the Jews; and therefore it must +be his knowledge of them that enabled him to speak so much concerning +them. Cherilus also, a still ancienter writer, and a poet, [16] makes +mention of our nation, and informs us that it came to the assistance of +king Xerxes, in his expedition against Greece. For in his enumeration of +all those nations, he last of all inserts ours among the rest, when he +says, "At the last there passed over a people, wonderful to be beheld; +for they spake the Phoenician tongue with their mouths; they dwelt in +the Solymean mountains, near a broad lake: their heads were sooty; +they had round rasures on them; their heads and faces were like nasty +horse-heads also, that had been hardened in the smoke." I think, +therefore, that it is evident to every body that Cherilus means us, +because the Solymean mountains are in our country, wherein we inhabit, +as is also the lake called Asphaltitis; for this is a broader and +larger lake than any other that is in Syria: and thus does Cherilus make +mention of us. But now that not only the lowest sort of the Grecians, +but those that are had in the greatest admiration for their philosophic +improvements among them, did not only know the Jews, but when they +lighted upon any of them, admired them also, it is easy for any one to +know. For Clearchus, who was the scholar of Aristotle, and inferior +to no one of the Peripatetics whomsoever, in his first book concerning +sleep, says that "Aristotle his master related what follows of a Jew," +and sets down Aristotle's own discourse with him. The account is this, +as written down by him: "Now, for a great part of what this Jew said, it +would be too long to recite it; but what includes in it both wonder and +philosophy it may not be amiss to discourse of. Now, that I may be plain +with thee, Hyperochides, I shall herein seem to thee to relate wonders, +and what will resemble dreams themselves. Hereupon Hyperochides answered +modestly, and said, For that very reason it is that all of us are very +desirous of hearing what thou art going to say. Then replied Aristotle, +For this cause it will be the best way to imitate that rule of the +Rhetoricians, which requires us first to give an account of the man, +and of what nation he was, that so we may not contradict our master's +directions. Then said Hyperochides, Go on, if it so pleases thee. +This man then, [answered Aristotle,] was by birth a Jew, and came from +Celesyria; these Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are +named by the Indians Calami, and by the Syrians Judaei, and took their +name from the country they inhabit, which is called Judea; but for +the name of their city, it is a very awkward one, for they call it +Jerusalem. Now this man, when he was hospitably treated by a great many, +came down from the upper country to the places near the sea, and became +a Grecian, not only in his language, but in his soul also; insomuch that +when we ourselves happened to be in Asia about the same places whither +he came, he conversed with us, and with other philosophical persons, and +made a trial of our skill in philosophy; and as he had lived with many +learned men, he communicated to us more information than he received +from us." This is Aristotle's account of the matter, as given us by +Clearchus; which Aristotle discoursed also particularly of the great +and wonderful fortitude of this Jew in his diet, and continent way of +living, as those that please may learn more about him from Clearchus's +book itself; for I avoid setting down any more than is sufficient for +my purpose. Now Clearchus said this by way of digression, for his main +design was of another nature. But for Hecateus of Abdera, who was both a +philosopher, and one very useful ill an active life, he was contemporary +with king Alexander in his youth, and afterward was with Ptolemy, the +son of Lagus; he did not write about the Jewish affairs by the by only, +but composed an entire book concerning the Jews themselves; out of +which book I am willing to run over a few things, of which I have been +treating by way of epitome. And, in the first place, I will demonstrate +the time when this Hecateus lived; for he mentions the fight that +was between Ptolemy and Demetrius about Gaza, which was fought in the +eleventh year after the death of Alexander, and in the hundred and +seventeenth olympiad, as Castor says in his history. For when he had set +down this olympiad, he says further, that "in this olympiad Ptolemy, the +son of Lagus, beat in battle Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, who was +named Poliorcetes, at Gaza." Now, it is agreed by all, that Alexander +died in the hundred and fourteenth olympiad; it is therefore evident +that our nation flourished in his time, and in the time of Alexander. +Again, Hecateus says to the same purpose, as follows: "Ptolemy got +possession of the places in Syria after that battle at Gaza; and many, +when they heard of Ptolemy's moderation and humanity, went along with +him to Egypt, and were willing to assist him in his affairs; one of whom +[Hecateus says] was Hezekiah [17] the high priest of the Jews; a man of +about sixty-six years of age, and in great dignity among his own people. +He was a very sensible man, and could speak very movingly, and was very +skillful in the management of affairs, if any other man ever were so; +although, as he says, all the priests of the Jews took tithes of the +products of the earth, and managed public affairs, and were in number +not above fifteen hundred at the most." Hecateus mentions this Hezekiah +a second time, and says, that "as he was possessed of so great a +dignity, and was become familiar with us, so did he take certain of +those that were with him, and explained to them all the circumstances +of their people; for he had all their habitations and polity down in +writing." Moreover, Hecateus declares again, "what regard we have for +our laws, and that we resolve to endure any thing rather than transgress +them, because we think it right for us to do so." Whereupon he adds, +that "although they are in a bad reputation among their neighbors, +and among all those that come to them, and have been often treated +injuriously by the kings and governors of Persia, yet can they not +be dissuaded from acting what they think best; but that when they are +stripped on this account, and have torments inflicted upon them, and +they are brought to the most terrible kinds of death, they meet them +after an extraordinary manner, beyond all other people, and will not +renounce the religion of their forefathers." Hecateus also produces +demonstrations not a few of this their resolute tenaciousness of their +laws, when he speaks thus: "Alexander was once at Babylon, and had an +intention to rebuild the temple of Belus that was fallen to decay, and +in order thereto, he commanded all his soldiers in general to bring +earth thither. But the Jews, and they only, would not comply with that +command; nay, they underwent stripes and great losses of what they had +on this account, till the king forgave them, and permitted them to live +in quiet." He adds further, that "when the Macedonians came to them +into that country, and demolished the [old] temples and the altars, they +assisted them in demolishing them all [18] but [for not assisting them +in rebuilding them] they either underwent losses, or sometimes obtained +forgiveness." He adds further, that "these men deserve to be admired on +that account." He also speaks of the mighty populousness of our nation, +and says that "the Persians formerly carried away many ten thousands of +our people to Babylon, as also that not a few ten thousands were removed +after Alexander's death into Egypt and Phoenicia, by reason of the +sedition that was arisen in Syria." The same person takes notice in his +history, how large the country is which we inhabit, as well as of its +excellent character, and says, that "the land in which the Jews inhabit +contains three millions of arourae, [19] and is generally of a most +excellent and most fruitful soil; nor is Judea of lesser dimensions." +The same man describe our city Jerusalem also itself as of a most +excellent structure, and very large, and inhabited from the most ancient +times. He also discourses of the multitude of men in it, and of the +construction of our temple, after the following manner: "There are many +strong places and villages [says he] in the country of Judea; but one +strong city there is, about fifty furlongs in circumference, which is +inhabited by a hundred and twenty thousand men, or thereabouts; they +call it Jerusalem. There is about the middle of the city a wall of +stone, whose length is five hundred feet, and the breadth a hundred +cubits, with double cloisters; wherein there is a square altar, not made +of hewn stone, but composed of white stones gathered together, having +each side twenty cubits long, and its altitude ten cubits. Hard by it +is a large edifice, wherein there is an altar and a candlestick, both +of gold, and in weight two talents: upon these there is a light that is +never extinguished, either by night or by day. There is no image, nor +any thing, nor any donations therein; nothing at all is there planted, +neither grove, nor any thing of that sort. The priests abide therein +both nights and days, performing certain purifications, and drinking +not the least drop of wine while they are in the temple." Moreover, he +attests that we Jews went as auxiliaries along with king Alexander, +and after him with his successors. I will add further what he says he +learned when he was himself with the same army, concerning the actions +of a man that was a Jew. His words are these: "As I was myself going to +the Red Sea, there followed us a man, whose name was Mosollam; he was +one of the Jewish horsemen who conducted us; he was a person of great +courage, of a strong body, and by all allowed to be the most skillful +archer that was either among the Greeks or barbarians. Now this man, as +people were in great numbers passing along the road, and a certain +augur was observing an augury by a bird, and requiring them all to stand +still, inquired what they staid for. Hereupon the augur showed him the +bird from whence he took his augury, and told him that if the bird staid +where he was, they ought all to stand still; but that if he got up, and +flew onward, they must go forward; but that if he flew backward, they +must retire again. Mosollam made no reply, but drew his bow, and shot at +the bird, and hit him, and killed him; and as the augur and some others +were very angry, and wished imprecations upon him, he answered them +thus: Why are you so mad as to take this most unhappy bird into your +hands? for how can this bird give us any true information concerning our +march, who could not foresee how to save himself? for had he been able +to foreknow what was future, he would not have come to this place, but +would have been afraid lest Mosollam the Jew should shoot at him, and +kill him." But of Hecateus's testimonies we have said enough; for as to +such as desire to know more of them, they may easily obtain them from +his book itself. However, I shall not think it too much for me to name +Agatharchides, as having made mention of us Jews, though in way of +derision at our simplicity, as he supposes it to be; for when he was +discoursing of the affairs of Stratonice, "how she came out of Macedonia +into Syria, and left her husband Demetrius, while yet Seleueus would not +marry her as she expected, but during the time of his raising an army at +Babylon, stirred up a sedition about Antioch; and how, after that, the +king came back, and upon his taking of Antioch, she fled to Seleucia, +and had it in her power to sail away immediately yet did she comply with +a dream which forbade her so to do, and so was caught and put to +death." When Agatharehides had premised this story, and had jested upon +Stratonice for her superstition, he gives a like example of what was +reported concerning us, and writes thus: "There are a people called +Jews, and dwell in a city the strongest of all other cities, which the +inhabitants call Jerusalem, and are accustomed to rest on every seventh +day [20] on which times they make no use of their arms, nor meddle with +husbandry, nor take care of any affairs of life, but spread out their +hands in their holy places, and pray till the evening. Now it came to +pass, that when Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, came into this city with his +army, that these men, in observing this mad custom of theirs, instead of +guarding the city, suffered their country to submit itself to a bitter +lord; and their law was openly proved to have commanded a foolish +practice. [21] This accident taught all other men but the Jews to +disregard such dreams as these were, and not to follow the like idle +suggestions delivered as a law, when, in such uncertainty of human +reasonings, they are at a loss what they should do." Now this our +procedure seems a ridiculous thing to Agatharehides, but will appear to +such as consider it without prejudice a great thing, and what deserved +a great many encomiums; I mean, when certain men constantly prefer the +observation of their laws, and their religion towards God, before the +preservation of themselves and their country. + +23. Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation, not +because they knew nothing of us, but because they envied us, or for some +other unjustifiable reasons, I think I can demonstrate by particular +instances; for Hieronymus, who wrote the History of Alexander's +Successors, lived at the same time with Hecateus, and was a friend of +king Antigonus, and president of Syria. Now it is plain that Hecateus +wrote an entire book concerning us, while Hieronymus never mentions us +in his history, although he was bred up very near to the places where we +live. Thus different from one another are the inclinations of men; +while the one thought we deserved to be carefully remembered, as some +ill-disposed passion blinded the other's mind so entirely, that he could +not discern the truth. And now certainly the foregoing records of the +Egyptians, and Chaldeans, and Phoenicians, together with so many of +the Greek writers, will be sufficient for the demonstration of our +antiquity. Moreover, besides those forementioned, Theophilus, and +Theodotus, and Mnaseas, and Aristophanes, and Hermogenes, Euhemerus +also, and Conon, and Zopyrion, and perhaps many others, [for I have not +lighted upon all the Greek books,] have made distinct mention of us. It +is true, many of the men before mentioned have made great mistakes about +the true accounts of our nation in the earliest times, because they had +not perused our sacred books; yet have they all of them afforded their +testimony to our antiquity, concerning which I am now treating. However, +Demetrius Phalereus, and the elder Philo, with Eupolemus, have not +greatly missed the truth about our affairs; whose lesser mistakes +ought therefore to be forgiven them; for it was not in their power to +understand our writings with the utmost accuracy. + +24. One particular there is still remaining behind of what I at first +proposed to speak to, and that is, to demonstrate that those calumnies +and reproaches which some have thrown upon our nation, are lies, and to +make use of those writers' own testimonies against themselves; and that +in general this self-contradiction hath happened to many other authors +by reason of their ill-will to some people, I conclude, is not unknown +to such as have read histories with sufficient care; for some of them +have endeavored to disgrace the nobility of certain nations, and of some +of the most glorious cities, and have cast reproaches upon certain +forms of government. Thus hath Theopompus abused the city of Athens, +Polycrates that of Lacedemon, as hath he hat wrote the Tripoliticus +[for he is not Theopompus, as is supposed by some] done by the city of +Thebes. Timeils also hath greatly abused the foregoing people and others +also; and this ill-treatment they use chiefly when they have a contest +with men of the greatest reputation; some out of envy and malice, and +others as supposing that by this foolish talking of theirs they may be +thought worthy of being remembered themselves; and indeed they do by no +means fail of their hopes, with regard to the foolish part of mankind, +but men of sober judgment still condemn them of great malignity. + +25. Now the Egyptians were the first that cast reproaches upon us; +in order to please which nation, some others undertook to pervert the +truth, while they would neither own that our forefathers came into Egypt +from another country, as the fact was, nor give a true account of our +departure thence. And indeed the Egyptians took many occasions to hate +us and envy us: in the first place, because our ancestors had had the +dominion over their country? and when they were delivered from them, and +gone to their own country again, they lived there in prosperity. In the +next place, the difference of our religion from theirs hath occasioned +great enmity between us, while our way of Divine worship did as much +exceed that which their laws appointed, as does the nature of God +exceed that of brute beasts; for so far they all agree through the whole +country, to esteem such animals as gods, although they differ one +from another in the peculiar worship they severally pay to them. And +certainly men they are entirely of vain and foolish minds, who have +thus accustomed themselves from the beginning to have such bad notions +concerning their gods, and could not think of imitating that decent +form of Divine worship which we made use of, though, when they saw our +institutions approved of by many others, they could not but envy us on +that account; for some of them have proceeded to that degree of folly +and meanness in their conduct, as not to scruple to contradict their own +ancient records, nay, to contradict themselves also in their writings, +and yet were so blinded by their passions as not to discern it. + +26. And now I will turn my discourse to one of their principal writers, +whom I have a little before made use of as a witness to our antiquity; I +mean Manetho. [22] He promised to interpret the Egyptian history out of +their sacred writings, and premised this: that "our people had come into +Egypt, many ten thousands in number, and subdued its inhabitants;" +and when he had further confessed that "we went out of that country +afterward, and settled in that country which is now called Judea, and +there built Jerusalem and its temple." Now thus far he followed his +ancient records; but after this he permits himself, in order to appear +to have written what rumors and reports passed abroad about the Jews, +and introduces incredible narrations, as if he would have the Egyptian +multitude, that had the leprosy and other distempers, to have been mixed +with us, as he says they were, and that they were condemned to fly out +of Egypt together; for he mentions Amenophis, a fictitious king's name, +though on that account he durst not set down the number of years of +his reign, which yet he had accurately done as to the other kings he +mentions; he then ascribes certain fabulous stories to this king, +as having in a manner forgotten how he had already related that the +departure of the shepherds for Jerusalem had been five hundred and +eighteen years before; for Tethmosis was king when they went away. +Now, from his days, the reigns of the intermediate kings, according to +Manethe, amounted to three hundred and ninety-three years, as he says +himself, till the two brothers Sethos and Hermeus; the one of whom, +Sethos, was called by that other name of Egyptus, and the other, +Hermeus, by that of Danaus. He also says that Sethos east the other out +of Egypt, and reigned fifty-nine years, as did his eldest son Rhampses +reign after him sixty-six years. When Manethe therefore had acknowledged +that our forefathers were gone out of Egypt so many years ago, he +introduces his fictitious king Amenophis, and says thus: "This king +was desirous to become a spectator of the gods, as had Orus, one of +his predecessors in that kingdom, desired the same before him; he also +communicated that his desire to his namesake Amenophis, who was the son +of Papis, and one that seemed to partake of a divine nature, both as +to wisdom and the knowledge of futurities." Manethe adds, "how this +namesake of his told him that he might see the gods, if he would clear +the whole country of the lepers and of the other impure people; that the +king was pleased with this injunction, and got together all that had any +defect in their bodies out of Egypt; and that their number was eighty +thousand; whom he sent to those quarries which are on the east side of +the Nile, that they might work in them, and might be separated from the +rest of the Egyptians." He says further, that "there were some of the +learned priests that were polluted with the leprosy; but that still this +Amenophis, the wise man and the prophet, was afraid that the gods would +be angry at him and at the king, if there should appear to have been +violence offered them; who also added this further, [out of his sagacity +about futurities,] that certain people would come to the assistance of +these polluted wretches, and would conquer Egypt, and keep it in their +possession thirteen years; that, however, he durst not tell the king +of these things, but that he left a writing behind him about all those +matters, and then slew himself, which made the king disconsolate." After +which he writes thus verbatim: "After those that were sent to work in +the quarries had continued in that miserable state for a long while, the +king was desired that he would set apart the city Avaris, which was then +left desolate of the shepherds, for their habitation and protection; +which desire he granted them. Now this city, according to the ancient +theology, was Typho's city. But when these men were gotten into it, and +found the place fit for a revolt, they appointed themselves a ruler out +of the priests of Hellopolis, whose name was Osarsiph, and they took +their oaths that they would be obedient to him in all things. He then, +in the first place, made this law for them, That they should neither +worship the Egyptian gods, nor should abstain from any one of those +sacred animals which they have in the highest esteem, but kill and +destroy them all; that they should join themselves to nobody but to +those that were of this confederacy. When he had made such laws as +these, and many more such as were mainly opposite to the customs of the +Egyptians, [23] he gave order that they should use the multitude of the +hands they had in building walls about their City, and make themselves +ready for a war with king Amenophis, while he did himself take into his +friendship the other priests, and those that were polluted with them, +and sent ambassadors to those shepherds who had been driven out of the +land by Tefilmosis to the city called Jerusalem; whereby he informed +them of his own affairs, and of the state of those others that had been +treated after such an ignominious manner, and desired that they would +come with one consent to his assistance in this war against Egypt. He +also promised that he would, in the first place, bring them back +to their ancient city and country Avaris, and provide a plentiful +maintenance for their multitude; that he would protect them and fight +for them as occasion should require, and would easily reduce the +country under their dominion. These shepherds were all very glad of this +message, and came away with alacrity all together, being in number two +hundred thousand men; and in a little time they came to Avaris. And now +Amenophis the king of Egypt, upon his being informed of their invasion, +was in great confusion, as calling to mind what Amenophis, the son +of Papis, had foretold him; and, in the first place, he assembled the +multitude of the Egyptians, and took counsel with their leaders, and +sent for their sacred animals to him, especially for those that were +principally worshipped in their temples, and gave a particular charge to +the priests distinctly, that they should hide the images of their gods +with the utmost care he also sent his son Sethos, who was also named +Ramesses, from his father Rhampses, being but five years old, to a +friend of his. He then passed on with the rest of the Egyptians, being +three hundred thousand of the most warlike of them, against the enemy, +who met them. Yet did he not join battle with them; but thinking +that would be to fight against the gods, he returned back and came to +Memphis, where he took Apis and the other sacred animals which he had +sent for to him, and presently marched into Ethiopia, together with +his whole army and multitude of Egyptians; for the king of Ethiopia was +under an obligation to him, on which account he received him, and took +care of all the multitude that was with him, while the country supplied +all that was necessary for the food of the men. He also allotted cities +and villages for this exile, that was to be from its beginning during +those fatally determined thirteen years. Moreover, he pitched a camp for +his Ethiopian army, as a guard to king Amenophis, upon the borders of +Egypt. And this was the state of things in Ethiopia. But for the people +of Jerusalem, when they came down together with the polluted Egyptians, +they treated the men in such a barbarous manner, that those who saw how +they subdued the forementioned country, and the horrid wickedness they +were guilty of, thought it a most dreadful thing; for they did not only +set the cities and villages on fire but were not satisfied till they had +been guilty of sacrilege, and destroyed the images of the gods, and used +them in roasting those sacred animals that used to be worshipped, and +forced the priests and prophets to be the executioners and murderers of +those animals, and then ejected them naked out of the country. It was +also reported that the priest, who ordained their polity and their laws, +was by birth of Hellopolls, and his name Osarsiph, from Osyris, who was +the god of Hellopolls; but that when he was gone over to these people, +his name was changed, and he was called Moses." + +27. This is what the Egyptians relate about the Jews, with much more, +which I omit for the sake of brevity. But still Manetho goes on, that +"after this, Amenophis returned back from Ethiopia with a great army, +as did his son Ahampses with another army also, and that both of them +joined battle with the shepherds and the polluted people, and beat them, +and slew a great many of them, and pursued them to the bounds of +Syria." These and the like accounts are written by Manetho. But I will +demonstrate that he trifles, and tells arrant lies, after I have made a +distinction which will relate to what I am going to say about him; +for this Manetho had granted and confessed that this nation was not +originally Egyptian, but that they had come from another country, and +subdued Egypt, and then went away again out of it. But that those +Egyptians who were thus diseased in their bodies were not mingled with +us afterward, and that Moses who brought the people out was not one of +that company, but lived many generations earlier, I shall endeavor to +demonstrate from Manetho's own accounts themselves. + +28. Now, for the first occasion of this fiction, Manetho supposes what +is no better than a ridiculous thing; for he says that, "King Amenophis +desired to see the gods." What gods, I pray, did he desire to see? If +he meant the gods whom their laws ordained to be worshipped, the ox, the +goat, the crocodile, and the baboon, he saw them already; but for the +heavenly gods, how could he see them, and what should occasion this his +desire? To be sure? it was because another king before him had already +seen them. He had then been informed what sort of gods they were, and +after what manner they had been seen, insomuch that he did not stand in +need of any new artifice for obtaining this sight. However, the prophet +by whose means the king thought to compass his design was a wise man. +If so, how came he not to know that such his desire was impossible to +be accomplished? for the event did not succeed. And what pretense could +there be to suppose that the gods would not be seen by reason of the +people's maims in their bodies, or leprosy? for the gods are not angry +at the imperfection of bodies, but at wicked practices; and as to eighty +thousand lepers, and those in an ill state also, how is it possible to +have them gathered together in one day? nay, how came the king not to +comply with the prophet? for his injunction was, that those that were +maimed should be expelled out of Egypt, while the king only sent them +to work in the quarries, as if he were rather in want of laborers, than +intended to purge his country. He says further, that, "this prophet slew +himself, as foreseeing the anger of the gods, and those events which +were to come upon Egypt afterward; and that he left this prediction for +the king in writing." Besides, how came it to pass that this prophet +did not foreknow his own death at the first? nay, how came he not to +contradict the king in his desire to see the gods immediately? how came +that unreasonable dread upon him of judgments that were not to happen +in his lifetime? or what worse thing could he suffer, out of the fear +of which he made haste to kill himself? But now let us see the silliest +thing of all:--The king, although he had been informed of these things, +and terrified with the fear of what was to come, yet did not he even +then eject these maimed people out of his country, when it had been +foretold him that he was to clear Egypt of them; but, as Manetho says, +"he then, upon their request, gave them that city to inhabit, which had +formerly belonged to the shepherds, and was called Avaris; whither when +they were gone in crowds," he says, "they chose one that had formerly +been priest of Hellopolls; and that this priest first ordained that they +should neither worship the gods, nor abstain from those animals that +were worshipped by the Egyptians, but should kill and eat them all, and +should associate with nobody but those that had conspired with them; +and that he bound the multitude by oaths to be sure to continue in +those laws; and that when he had built a wall about Avaris, he made +war against the king." Manetho adds also, that "this priest sent to +Jerusalem to invite that people to come to his assistance, and promised +to give them Avaris; for that it had belonged to the forefathers of +those that were coming from Jerusalem, and that when they were come, +they made a war immediately against the king, and got possession of +all Egypt." He says also that "the Egyptians came with an army of +two hundred thousand men, and that Amenophis, the king of Egypt, not +thinking that he ought to fight against the gods, ran away presently +into Ethiopia, and committed Apis and certain other of their sacred +animals to the priests, and commanded them to take care of preserving +them." He says further, that, "the people of Jerusalem came accordingly +upon the Egyptians, and overthrew their cities, and burnt their temples, +and slew their horsemen, and, in short, abstained from no sort of +wickedness nor barbarity; and for that priest who settled their polity +and their laws," he says, "he was by birth of Hellopolis, and his name +was Osarsiph, from Osyris the god of Hellopolis, but that he changed his +name, and called himself Moses." He then says that "on the thirteenth +year afterward, Amenophis, according to the fatal time of the duration +of his misfortunes, came upon them out of Ethiopia with a great army, +and joining battle with the shepherds and with the polluted people, +overcame them in battle, and slew a great many of them, and pursued them +as far as the bounds of Syria." + +29. Now Manetho does not reflect upon the improbability of his lie; for +the leprous people, and the multitude that was with them, although +they might formerly have been angry at the king, and at those that had +treated them so coarsely, and this according to the prediction of the +prophet; yet certainly, when they were come out of the mines, and had +received of the king a city, and a country, they would have grown milder +towards him. However, had they ever so much hated him in particular, +they might have laid a private plot against himself, but would hardly +have made war against all the Egyptians; I mean this on the account of +the great kindred they who were so numerous must have had among them. +Nay still, if they had resolved to fight with the men, they would not +have had impudence enough to fight with their gods; nor would they have +ordained laws quite contrary to those of their own country, and to +those in which they had been bred up themselves. Yet are we beholden +to Manethe, that he does not lay the principal charge of this horrid +transgression upon those that came from Jerusalem, but says that the +Egyptians themselves were the most guilty, and that they were their +priests that contrived these things, and made the multitude take their +oaths for doing so. But still how absurd is it to suppose that none +of these people's own relations or friends should be prevailed with +to revolt, nor to undergo the hazards of war with them, while these +polluted people were forced to send to Jerusalem, and bring their +auxiliaries from thence! What friendship, I pray, or what relation +was there formerly between them that required this assistance? On the +contrary, these people were enemies, and greatly differed from them in +their customs. He says, indeed, that they complied immediately, upon +their praising them that they should conquer Egypt; as if they did not +themselves very well know that country out of which they had been driven +by force. Now had these men been in want, or lived miserably, perhaps +they might have undertaken so hazardous an enterprise; but as they dwelt +in a happy city, and had a large country, and one better than Egypt +itself, how came it about that, for the sake of those that had of old +been their enemies, of those that were maimed in their bodies, and of +those whom none of their own relations would endure, they should run +such hazards in assisting them? For they could not foresee that the +king would run away from them: on the contrary, he saith himself that +"Amenophis's son had three hundred thousand men with him, and met them +at Pelusium." Now, to be sure, those that came could not be ignorant of +this; but for the king's repentance and flight, how could they possibly +guess at it? He then says, that "those who came from Jerusalem, and made +this invasion, got the granaries of Egypt into their possession, and +perpetrated many of the most horrid actions there." And thence he +reproaches them, as though he had not himself introduced them as +enemies, or as though he might accuse such as were invited from another +place for so doing, when the natural Egyptians themselves had done the +same things before their coming, and had taken oaths so to do. However, +"Amenophis, some time afterward, came upon them, and conquered them +in battle, and slew his enemies, and drove them before him as far as +Syria." As if Egypt were so easily taken by people that came from any +place whatsoever, and as if those that had conquered it by war, when +they were informed that Amenophis was alive, did neither fortify the +avenues out of Ethiopia into it, although they had great advantages for +doing it, nor did get their other forces ready for their defense! but +that he followed them over the sandy desert, and slew them as far as +Syria; while yet it is rot an easy thing for an army to pass over that +country, even without fighting. + +30. Our nation, therefore, according to Manetho, was not derived from +Egypt, nor were any of the Egyptians mingled with us. For it is to be +supposed that many of the leprous and distempered people were dead +in the mines, since they had been there a long time, and in so ill +a condition; many others must be dead in the battles that happened +afterward, and more still in the last battle and flight after it. + +31. It now remains that I debate with Manetho about Moses. Now the +Egyptians acknowledge him to have been a wonderful and a divine person; +nay, they would willingly lay claim to him themselves, though after +a most abusive and incredible manner, and pretend that he was of +Heliopolis, and one of the priests of that place, and was ejected out +of it among the rest, on account of his leprosy; although it had +been demonstrated out of their records that he lived five hundred and +eighteen years earlier, and then brought our forefathers out of Egypt +into the country that is now inhabited by us. But now that he was +not subject in his body to any such calamity, is evident from what he +himself tells us; for he forbade those that had the leprosy either to +continue in a city, or to inhabit in a village, but commanded that they +should go about by themselves with their clothes rent; and declares that +such as either touch them, or live under the same roof with them, should +be esteemed unclean; nay, more, if any one of their disease be healed, +and he recover his natural constitution again, he appointed them certain +purifications, and washings with spring water, and the shaving off all +their hair, and enjoins that they shall offer many sacrifices, and those +of several kinds, and then at length to be admitted into the holy city; +although it were to be expected that, on the contrary, if he had been +under the same calamity, he should have taken care of such persons +beforehand, and have had them treated after a kinder manner, as affected +with a concern for those that were to be under the like misfortunes with +himself. Nor was it only those leprous people for whose sake he made +these laws, but also for such as should be maimed in the smallest part +of their body, who yet are not permitted by him to officiate as priests; +nay, although any priest, already initiated, should have such a calamity +fall upon him afterward, he ordered him to be deprived of his honor of +officiating. How can it then be supposed that Moses should ordain such +laws against himself, to his own reproach and damage who so ordained +them? Nor indeed is that other notion of Manetho at all probable, +wherein he relates the change of his name, and says that "he was +formerly called Osarsiph;" and this a name no way agreeable to the +other, while his true name was Mosses, and signifies a person who is +preserved out of the water, for the Egyptians call water Moil. I think, +therefore, I have made it sufficiently evident that Manetho, while he +followed his ancient records, did not much mistake the truth of the +history; but that when he had recourse to fabulous stories, without any +certain author, he either forged them himself, without any probability, +or else gave credit to some men who spake so out of their ill-will to +us. + +32. And now I have done with Manetho, I will inquire into what Cheremon +says. For he also, when he pretended to write the Egyptian history, sets +down the same name for this king that Manetho did, Amenophis, as also of +his son Ramesses, and then goes on thus: "The goddess Isis appeared +to Amenophis in his sleep, and blamed him that her temple had been +demolished in the war. But that Phritiphantes, the sacred scribe, said +to him, that in case he would purge Egypt of the men that had pollutions +upon them, he should be no longer troubled with such frightful +apparitions. That Amenophis accordingly chose out two hundred and fifty +thousand of those that were thus diseased, and cast them out of the +country: that Moses and Joseph were scribes, and Joseph was a sacred +scribe; that their names were Egyptian originally; that of Moses had +been Tisithen, and that of Joseph, Peteseph: that these two came to +Pelusium, and lighted upon three hundred and eighty thousand that had +been left there by Amenophis, he not being willing to carry them into +Egypt; that these scribes made a league of friendship with them, and +made with them an expedition against Egypt: that Amenophis could not +sustain their attacks, but fled into Ethiopia, and left his wife with +child behind him, who lay concealed in certain caverns, and there +brought forth a son, whose name was Messene, and who, when he was grown +up to man's estate, pursued the Jews into Syria, being about two hundred +thousand, and then received his father Amenophis out of Ethiopia." + +33. This is the account Cheremon gives us. Now I take it for granted +that what I have said already hath plainly proved the falsity of both +these narrations; for had there been any real truth at the bottom, it +was impossible they should so greatly disagree about the particulars. +But for those that invent lies, what they write will easily give us very +different accounts, while they forge what they please out of their own +heads. Now Manetho says that the king's desire of seeing the gods was +the origin of the ejection of the polluted people; but Cheremon feigns +that it was a dream of his own, sent upon him by Isis, that was the +occasion of it. Manetho says that the person who foreshowed this +purgation of Egypt to the king was Amenophis; but this man says it was +Phritiphantes. As to the numbers of the multitude that were expelled, +they agree exceedingly well [24] the former reckoning them eighty +thousand, and the latter about two hundred and fifty thousand! Now, for +Manetho, he describes those polluted persons as sent first to work in +the quarries, and says that the city Avaris was given them for their +habitation. As also he relates that it was not till after they had made +war with the rest of the Egyptians, that they invited the people of +Jerusalem to come to their assistance; while Cheremon says only that +they were gone out of Egypt, and lighted upon three hundred and eighty +thousand men about Pelusium, who had been left there by Amenophis, and +so they invaded Egypt with them again; that thereupon Amenophis fled +into Ethiopia. But then this Cheremon commits a most ridiculous blunder +in not informing us who this army of so many ten thousands were, or +whence they came; whether they were native Egyptians, or whether they +came from a foreign country. Nor indeed has this man, who forged a dream +from Isis about the leprous people, assigned the reason why the king +would not bring them into Egypt. Moreover, Cheremon sets down Joseph as +driven away at the same time with Moses, who yet died four generations +[25] before Moses, which four generations make almost one hundred and +seventy years. Besides all this, Ramesses, the son of Amenophis, by +Manetho's account, was a young man, and assisted his father in his war, +and left the country at the same time with him, and fled into Ethiopia. +But Cheremon makes him to have been born in a certain cave, after his +father was dead, and that he then overcame the Jews in battle, and +drove them into Syria, being in number about two hundred thousand. O the +levity of the man! for he had neither told us who these three hundred +and eighty thousand were, nor how the four hundred and thirty thousand +perished; whether they fell in war, or went over to Ramesses. And, what +is the strangest of all, it is not possible to learn out of him who they +were whom he calls Jews, or to which of these two parties he applies +that denomination, whether to the two hundred and fifty thousand leprous +people, or to the three hundred and eighty thousand that were about +Pelusium. But perhaps it will be looked upon as a silly thing in me +to make any larger confutation of such writers as sufficiently confute +themselves; for had they been only confuted by other men, it had been +more tolerable. + +34. I shall now add to these accounts about Manethoand Cheremon somewhat +about Lysimachus, who hath taken the same topic of falsehood with those +forementioned, but hath gone far beyond them in the incredible nature of +his forgeries; which plainly demonstrates that he contrived them out of +his virulent hatred of our nation. His words are these: "The people of +the Jews being leprous and scabby, and subject to certain other kinds +of distempers, in the days of Bocchoris, king of Egypt, they fled to the +temples, and got their food there by begging: and as the numbers were +very great that were fallen under these diseases, there arose a scarcity +in Egypt. Hereupon Bocehoris, the king of Egypt, sent some to consult +the oracle of [Jupiter] Hammon about his scarcity. The god's answer +was this, that he must purge his temples of impure and impious men, by +expelling them out of those temples into desert places; but as to the +scabby and leprous people, he must drown them, and purge his temples, +the sun having an indignation at these men being suffered to live; and +by this means the land will bring forth its fruits. Upon Bocchoris's +having received these oracles, he called for their priests, and the +attendants upon their altars, and ordered them to make a collection of +the impure people, and to deliver them to the soldiers, to carry them +away into the desert; but to take the leprous people, and wrap them in +sheets of lead, and let them down into the sea. Hereupon the scabby and +leprous people were drowned, and the rest were gotten together, and sent +into desert places, in order to be exposed to destruction. In this case +they assembled themselves together, and took counsel what they should +do, and determined that, as the night was coming on, they should kindle +fires and lamps, and keep watch; that they also should fast the next +night, and propitiate the gods, in order to obtain deliverance from +them. That on the next day there was one Moses, who advised them that +they should venture upon a journey, and go along one road till they +should come to places fit for habitation: that he charged them to have +no kind regards for any man, nor give good counsel to any, but always to +advise them for the worst; and to overturn all those temples and altars +of the gods they should meet with: that the rest commended what he +had said with one consent, and did what they had resolved on, and so +traveled over the desert. But that the difficulties of the journey being +over, they came to a country inhabited, and that there they abused the +men, and plundered and burnt their temples; and then came into that land +which is called Judea, and there they built a city, and dwelt therein, +and that their city was named Hierosyla, from this their robbing of the +temples; but that still, upon the success they had afterwards, they in +time changed its denomination, that it might not be a reproach to them, +and called the city Hierosolyma, and themselves Hierosolymites." + +35. Now this man did not discover and mention the same king with the +others, but feigned a newer name, and passing by the dream and the +Egyptian prophet, he brings him to [Jupiter] Hammon, in order to gain +oracles about the scabby and leprous people; for he says that the +multitude of Jews were gathered together at the temples. Now it is +uncertain whether he ascribes this name to these lepers, or to those +that were subject to such diseases among the Jews only; for he describes +them as a people of the Jews. What people does he mean? foreigners, or +those of that country? Why then' dost thou call them Jews, if they were +Egyptians? But if they were foreigners, why dost thou not tell us whence +they came? And how could it be that, after the king had drowned many of +them in the sea, and ejected the rest into desert places, there should +be still so great a multitude remaining? Or after what manner did they +pass over the desert, and get the land which we now dwell in, and build +our city, and that temple which hath been so famous among all mankind? +And besides, he ought to have spoken more about our legislator than by +giving us his bare name; and to have informed us of what nation he was, +and what parents he was derived from; and to have assigned the reasons +why he undertook to make such laws concerning the gods, and concerning +matters of injustice with regard to men during that journey. For in case +the people were by birth Egyptians, they would not on the sudden have so +easily changed the customs of their country; and in case they had been +foreigners, they had for certain some laws or other which had been kept +by them from long custom. It is true, that with regard to those who had +ejected them, they might have sworn never to bear good-will to them, +and might have had a plausible reason for so doing. But if these men +resolved to wage an implacable war against all men, in case they had +acted as wickedly as he relates of them, and this while they wanted the +assistance of all men, this demonstrates a kind of mad conduct indeed; +but not of the men themselves, but very greatly so of him that tells +such lies about them. He hath also impudence enough to say that a name, +implying "Robbers of the temples," [26] was given to their city, and +that this name was afterward changed. The reason of which is plain, that +the former name brought reproach and hatred upon them in the times of +their posterity, while, it seems, those that built the city thought they +did honor to the city by giving it such a name. So we see that this fine +fellow had such an unbounded inclination to reproach us, that he did not +understand that robbery of temples is not expressed By the same word and +name among the Jews as it is among the Greeks. But why should a man say +any more to a person who tells such impudent lies? However, since this +book is arisen to a competent length, I will make another beginning, and +endeavor to add what still remains to perfect my design in the following +book. + + + + +APION BOOK 1 FOOTNOTES + +[1] This first book has a wrong title. It is not written against Apion, +as is the first part of the second book, but against those Greeks in +general who would not believe Josephus's former accounts of the very +ancient state of the Jewish nation, in his 20 books of Antiquities; and +particularly against Agatharelddes, Manetho, Cheremon, and Lysimachus. +it is one of the most learned, excellent, and useful books of all +antiquity; and upon Jerome's perusal of this and the following book, +he declares that it seems to him a miraculous thing "how one that was +a Hebrew, who had been from his infancy instructed in sacred learning, +should be able to pronounce such a number of testimonies out of profane +authors, as if he had read over all the Grecian libraries," Epist. 8. +ad Magnum; and the learned Jew, Manasseh-Ben-Israel, esteemed these two +books so excellent, as to translate them into the Hebrew; this we learn +from his own catalogue of his works, which I have seen. As to the time +and place when and where these two books were written, the learned have +not hitherto been able to determine them any further than that they were +written some time after his Antiquities, or some time after A.D. 93; +which indeed is too obvious at their entrance to be overlooked by even a +careless peruser, they being directly intended against those that would +not believe what he had advanced in those books con-the great of the +Jewish nation As to the place, they all imagine that these two books +were written where the former were, I mean at Rome; and I confess that +I myself believed both those determinations, till I came to finish my +notes upon these books, when I met with plain indications that they were +written not at Rome, but in Judea, and this after the third of Trajan, +or A.D. 100. + +[2] Take Dr. Hudson's note here, which as it justly contradicts the +common opinion that Josephus either died under Domitian, or at least +wrote nothing later than his days, so does it perfectly agree to my own +determination, from Justus of Tiberias, that he wrote or finished his +own Life after the third of Trajan, or A.D. 100. To which Noldius also +agrees, de Herod, No. 383 [Epaphroditus]. "Since Florius Josephus," +says Dr. Hudson, "wrote [or finished] his books of Antiquities on the +thirteenth of Domitian, [A.D. 93,] and after that wrote the Memoirs of +his own Life, as an appendix to the books of Antiquities, and at last +his two books against Apion, and yet dedicated all those writings +to Epaphroditus; he can hardly be that Epaphroditus who was formerly +secretary to Nero, and was slain on the fourteenth [or fifteenth] of +Domitian, after he had been for a good while in banishment; but another +Epaphroditas, a freed-man, and procurator of Trajan, as says Grotius on +Luke 1:3." + +[3] The preservation of Homer's Poems by memory, and not by his own +writing them down, and that thence they were styled Rhapsodies, as sung +by him, like ballads, by parts, and not composed and connected +together in complete works, are opinions well known from the ancient +commentators; though such supposal seems to myself, as well as to +Fabricius Biblioth. Grace. I. p. 269, and to others, highly improbable. +Nor does Josephus say there were no ancienter writings among the Greeks +than Homer's Poems, but that they did not fully own any ancienter +writings pretending to such antiquity, which is trite. + +[4] It well deserves to be considered, that Josephus here says how all +the following Greek historians looked on Herodotus as a fabulous author; +and presently, sect. 14, how Manetho, the most authentic writer of the +Egyptian history, greatly complains of his mistakes in the Egyptian +affairs; as also that Strabo, B. XI. p. 507, the most accurate +geographer and historian, esteemed him such; that Xenophon, the +much more accurate historian in the affairs of Cyrus, implies that +Herodotus's account of that great man is almost entirely romantic. See +the notes on Antiq. B. XI. ch. 2. sect. 1, and Hutchinson's Prolegomena +to his edition of Xenophon's, that we have already seen in the note on +Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 10. sect. 3, how very little Herodotus knew about +the Jewish affairs and country, and that he greatly affected what we +call the marvelous, as Monsieur Rollin has lately and justly determined; +whence we are not always to depend on the authority of Herodotus, where +it is unsupported by other evidence, but ought to compare the other +evidence with his, and if it preponderate, to prefer it before his. I do +not mean by this that Herodotus willfully related what he believed to +be false, [as Cteeias seems to have done,] but that he often wanted +evidence, and sometimes preferred what was marvelous to what was best +attested as really true. + +[5]About the days of Cyrus and Daniel. + +[6] It is here well worth our observation, what the reasons are that +such ancient authors as Herodotus, Josephus, and others have been read +to so little purpose by many learned critics; viz. that their main aim +has not been chronology or history, but philology, to know words, and +not things, they not much entering oftentimes into the real contents of +their authors, and judging which were the most accurate discoverers of +truth, and most to be depended on in the several histories, but rather +inquiring who wrote the finest style, and had the greatest elegance in +their expressions; which are things of small consequence in comparison +of the other. Thus you will sometimes find great debates among the +learned, whether Herodotus or Thucydides were the finest historian in +the Ionic and Attic ways of writing; which signify little as to the real +value of each of their histories; while it would be of much more moment +to let the reader know, that as the consequence of Herodotus's history, +which begins so much earlier, and reaches so much wider, than that +of Thucydides, is therefore vastly greater; so is the most part of +Thucydides, which belongs to his own times, and fell under his own +observation, much the most certain. + +[7] Of this accuracy of the Jews before and in our Savior's time, in +carefully preserving their genealogies all along, particularly those of +the priests, see Josephus's Life, sect. 1. This accuracy. seems to have +ended at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, or, however, at that by +Adrian. + +[8] Which were these twenty-two sacred books of the Old Testament, see +the Supplement to the Essay of the Old Testament, p. 25-29, viz. those +we call canonical, all excepting the Canticles; but still with this +further exception, that the book of apocryphal Esdras be taken into that +number instead of our canonical Ezra, which seems to be no more than a +later epitome of the other; which two books of Canticles and Ezra it no +way appears that our Josephus ever saw. + +[9] Here we have an account of the first building of the city of +Jerusalem, according to Manetho, when the Phoenician shepherds were +expelled out of Egypt about thirty-seven years before Abraham came out +of Harsh. + +[10] Genesis 46;32, 34; 47:3, 4. + +[11] In our copies of the book of Genesis and of Joseph, this Joseph +never calls himself "a captive," when he was with the king of Egypt, +though he does call himself "a servant," "a slave," or "captive," many +times in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, under Joseph, sect. 1, +11, 13-16. + +[12] Of this Egyptian chronology of Manetho, as mistaken by Josephus, +and of these Phoenician shepherds, as falsely supposed by him, and +others after him, to have been the Israelites in Egypt, see Essay on the +Old Testament, Appendix, p. 182-188. And note here, that when Josephus +tells us that the Greeks or Argives looked on this Danaus as "a most +ancient," or "the most ancient," king of Argos, he need not be supposed +to mean, in the strictest sense, that they had no one king so ancient as +he; for it is certain that they owned nine kings before him, and Inachus +at the head of them. See Authentic Records, Part II. p. 983, as Josephus +could not but know very well; but that he was esteemed as very ancient +by them, and that they knew they had been first of all denominated +"Danai" from this very ancient king Danaus. Nor does this superlative +degree always imply the "most ancient" of all without exception, but is +sometimes to be rendered "very ancient" only, as is the case in the like +superlative degrees of other words also. + +[13] Authentic Records, Part II. p. 983, as Josephus could not but know +very well; but that he was esteemed as very ancient by them, and that +they knew they had been first of all denominated "Danai" from this very +ancient king Danaus. Nor does this superlative degree always imply the +"most ancient" of all without exception, but is sometimes to be rendered +"very ancient" only, as is the case in the like superlative degrees of +other words also. + +[14] This number in Josephus, that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple +in the eighteenth year of his reign, is a mistake in the nicety of +chronology; for it was in the nineteenth. The true number here for the +year of Darius, in which the second temple was finished, whether the +second with our present copies, or the sixth with that of Syncellus, +or the tenth with that of Eusebius, is very uncertain; so we had best +follow Josephus's own account elsewhere, Antiq.;B. XI. ch. 3. sect. 4, +which shows us that according to his copy of the Old Testament, after +the second of Cyrus, that work was interrupted till the second of +Darius, when in seven years it was finished in the ninth of Darius. + +[15] This is a thing well known by the learned, that we are not secure +that we have any genuine writings of Pythagoras; those Golden Verses, +which are his best remains, being generally supposed to have been +written not by himself, but by some of his scholars only, in agreement +with what Josephus here affirms of him. + +[16] Whether these verses of Cherilus, the heathen poet, in the days of +Xerxes, belong to the Solymi in Pisidia, that were near a small lake, or +to the Jews that dwelt on the Solymean or Jerusalem mountains, near the +great and broad lake Asphaltitis, that were a strange people, and +spake the Phoenician tongue, is not agreed on by the learned. If is yet +certain that Josephus here, and Eusebius, Prep. IX. 9. p. 412, took them +to be Jews; and I confess I cannot but very much incline to the same +opinion. The other Solymi were not a strange people, but heathen +idolaters, like the other parts of Xerxes's army; and that these spake +the Phoenician tongue is next to impossible, as the Jews certainly +did; nor is there the least evidence for it elsewhere. Nor was the +lake adjoining to the mountains of the Solvmi at all large or broad, +in comparison of the Jewish lake Asphaltitis; nor indeed were these so +considerable a people as the Jews, nor so likely to be desired by Xerxes +for his army as the Jews, to whom he was always very favorable. As for +the rest of Cherilus's description, that "their heads were sooty; that +they had round rasures on their heads; that their heads and faces were +like nasty horse-heads, which had been hardened in the smoke;" these +awkward characters probably fitted the Solymi of Pisidi no better than +they did the Jews in Judea. And indeed this reproachful language, here +given these people, is to me a strong indication that they were the poor +despicable Jews, and not the Pisidian Solymi celebrated in Homer, whom +Cherilus here describes; nor are we to expect that either Cherilus or +Hecateus, or any other pagan writers cited by Josephus and Eusebius, +made no mistakes in the Jewish history. If by comparing their +testimonies with the more authentic records of that nation we find them +for the main to confirm the same, as we almost always do, we ought to be +satisfied, and not expect that they ever had an exact knowledge of all +the circumstances of the Jewish affairs, which indeed it was almost +always impossible for them to have. See sect. 23. + +[17] This Hezekiah, who is here called a high priest, is not named in +Josephus's catalogue; the real high priest at that time being rather +Onias, as Archbishop Usher supposes. However, Josephus often uses the +word high priests in the plural number, as living many at the same time. +See the note on Antiq. B. XX. ch. 8. sect. 8. + +[18] So I read the text with Havercamp, though the place be difficult. + +[19] This number of arourae or Egyptian acres, 3,000,000, each aroura +containing a square of 100 Egyptian cubits, [being about three quarters +of an English acre, and just twice the area of the court of the Jewish +tabernacle,] as contained in the country of Judea, will be about one +third of the entire number of arourae in the whole land of Judea, +supposing it 160 measured miles long and 70 such miles broad; which +estimation, for the fruitful parts of it, as perhaps here in Hecateus, +is not therefore very wide from the truth. The fifty furlongs in compass +for the city Jerusalem presently are not very wide from the truth also, +as Josephus himself describes it, who, Of the War, B. V. ch. 4. sect. 3. +makes its wall thirty-three furlongs, besides the suburbs and gardens; +nay, he says, B. V. ch. 12. sect. 2, that Titus's wall about it at some +small distance, after the gardens and suburbs were destroyed, was +not less than thirty-nine furlongs. Nor perhaps were its constant +inhabitants, in the days of Hecateus, many more than these 120,000, +because room was always to be left for vastly greater numbers which came +up at the three great festivals; to say nothing of the probable increase +in their number between the days of Hecateus and Josephus, which was at +least three hundred years. But see a more authentic account of some of +these measures in my Description of the Jewish Temples. However, we are +not to expect that such heathens as Cherilus or Hecateus, or the +rest that are cited by Josephus and Eusebius, could avoid making many +mistakes in the Jewish history, while yet they strongly confirm the same +history in the general, and are most valuable attestations to those more +authentic accounts we have in the Scriptures and Josephus concerning +them. + +[20] A glorious testimony this of the observation of the sabbath by the +Jews. See Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 2. sect. 4, and ch. 6. sect. 2; the Life, +sect. 54; and War, B. IV. ch. 9. sect. 12. + +[21] Not their law, but the superstitious interpretation of their +leaders which neither the Maccabees nor our blessed Savior did ever +approve of. + +[22] In reading this and the remaining sections of this book, and some +parts of the next, one may easily perceive that our usually cool and +candid author, Josephus, was too highly offended with the impudent +calumnies of Manethe, and the other bitter enemies of the Jews, with +whom he had now to deal, and was thereby betrayed into a greater heat +and passion than ordinary, and that by consequence he does not hear +reason with his usual fairness and impartiality; he seems to depart +sometimes from the brevity and sincerity of a faithful historian, which +is his grand character, and indulges the prolixity and colors of a +pleader and a disputant: accordingly, I confess, I always read these +sections with less pleasure than I do the rest of his writings, though +I fully believe the reproaches cast on the Jews, which he here endeavors +to confute and expose, were wholly groundless and unreasonable. + +[23] This is a very valuable testimony of Manetho, that the laws of +Osarsiph, or Moses, were not made in compliance with, but in opposition +to, the customs of the Egyptians. See the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. +sect. 9. + +[24] By way of irony, I suppose. + +[25] Here we see that Josephus esteemed a generation between Joseph +and Moses to be about forty-two or forty-three years; which, if taken +between the earlier children, well agrees with the duration of human +life in those ages. See Antheat. Rec. Part II. pages 966, 1019, 1020. + +[26] That is the meaning of Hierosyla in Greek, not in Hebrew. + + + + +BOOK II. + + +1. In the former book, most honored Epaphroditus, I have demonstrated +our antiquity, and confirmed the truth of what I have said, from the +writings of the Phoenicians, and Chaldeans, and Egyptians. I have, +moreover, produced many of the Grecian writers as witnesses thereto. +I have also made a refutation of Manetho and Cheremon, and of certain +others of our enemies. I shall now [1] therefore begin a confutation of +the remaining authors who have written any thing against us; although +I confess I have had a doubt upon me about Apion [2] the grammarian, +whether I ought to take the trouble of confuting him or not; for some +of his writings contain much the same accusations which the others have +laid against us, some things that he hath added are very frigid and +contemptible, and for the greatest part of what he says, it is very +scurrilous, and, to speak no more than the plain truth, it shows him +to be a very unlearned person, and what he lays together looks like the +work of a man of very bad morals, and of one no better in his whole +life than a mountebank. Yet, because there are a great many men so very +foolish, that they are rather caught by such orations than by what +is written with care, and take pleasure in reproaching other men, and +cannot abide to hear them commended, I thought it to be necessary not +to let this man go off without examination, who had written such an +accusation against us, as if he would bring us to make an answer in open +court. For I also have observed, that many men are very much delighted +when they see a man who first began to reproach another, to be himself +exposed to contempt on account of the vices he hath himself been +guilty of. However, it is not a very easy thing to go over this man's +discourse, nor to know plainly what he means; yet does he seem, amidst a +great confusion and disorder in his falsehoods, to produce, in the first +place, such things as resemble what we have examined already, and relate +to the departure of our forefathers out of Egypt; and, in the second +place, he accuses those Jews that are inhabitants of Alexandria; as, in +the third place, he mixes with those things such accusations as concern +the sacred purifications, with the other legal rites used in the temple. + +2. Now although I cannot but think that I have already demonstrated, +and that abundantly more than was necessary, that our fathers were not +originally Egyptians, nor were thence expelled, either on account +of bodily diseases, or any other calamities of that sort; yet will I +briefly take notice of what Apion adds upon that subject; for in his +third book, which relates to the affairs of Egypt, he speaks thus: "I +have heard of the ancient men of Egypt, that Moses was of Heliopolis, +and that he thought himself obliged to follow the customs of his +forefathers, and offered his prayers in the open air, towards the city +walls; but that he reduced them all to be directed towards sun-rising, +which was agreeable to the situation of Heliopolis; that he also set +up pillars instead of gnomons, [3] under which was represented a cavity +like that of a boat, and the shadow that fell from their tops fell down +upon that cavity, that it might go round about the like course as the +sun itself goes round in the other." This is that wonderful relation +which we have given us by this grammarian. But that it is a false one +is so plain, that it stands in need of few words to prove it, but +is manifest from the works of Moses; for when he erected the first +tabernacle to God, he did himself neither give order for any such kind +of representation to be made at it, nor ordain that those that came +after him should make such a one. Moreover, when in a future age Solomon +built his temple in Jerusalem, he avoided all such needless decorations +as Apion hath here devised. He says further, how he had "heard of the +ancient men, that Moses was of Hellopolis." To be sure that was, because +being a younger man himself, he believed those that by their elder age +were acquainted and conversed with him. Now this grammarian, as he was, +could not certainly tell which was the poet Homer's country, no +more than he could which was the country of Pythagoras, who lived +comparatively but a little while ago; yet does he thus easily determine +the age of Moses, who preceded them such a vast number of years, as +depending on his ancient men's relation, which shows how notorious a +liar he was. But then as to this chronological determination of the time +when he says he brought the leprous people, the blind, and the lame out +of Egypt, see how well this most accurate grammarian of ours agrees with +those that have written before him! Manetho says that the Jews departed +out of Egypt, in the reign of Tethmosis, three hundred ninety-three +years before Danaus fled to Argos; Lysimaehus says it was under king +Bocchoris, that is, one thousand seven hundred years ago; Molo and some +others determined it as every one pleased: but this Apion of ours, as +deserving to be believed before them, hath determined it exactly to have +been in the seventh olympiad, and the first year of that olympiad; +the very same year in which he says that Carthage was built by the +Phoenicians. The reason why he added this building of Carthage was, +to be sure, in order, as he thought, to strengthen his assertion by +so evident a character of chronology. But he was not aware that this +character confutes his assertion; for if we may give credit to the +Phoenician records as to the time of the first coming of their colony +to Carthage, they relate that Hirom their king was above a hundred and +fifty years earlier than the building of Carthage; concerning whom I +have formerly produced testimonials out of those Phoenician records, as +also that this Hirom was a friend of Solomon when he was building the +temple of Jerusalem, and gave him great assistance in his building that +temple; while still Solomon himself built that temple six hundred and +twelve years after the Jews came out of Egypt. As for the number of +those that were expelled out of Egypt, he hath contrived to have the +very same number with Lysimaehus, and says they were a hundred and ten +thousand. He then assigns a certain wonderful and plausible occasion for +the name of Sabbath; for he says that "when the Jews had traveled a six +days' journey, they had buboes in their groins; and that on this account +it was that they rested on the seventh day, as having got safely to that +country which is now called Judea; that then they preserved the language +of the Egyptians, and called that day the Sabbath, for that malady of +buboes on their groin was named Sabbatosis by the Egyptians." And +would not a man now laugh at this fellow's trifling, or rather hate his +impudence in writing thus? We must, it seems, fake it for granted that +all these hundred and ten thousand men must have these buboes. But, +for certain, if those men had been blind and lame, and had all sorts of +distempers upon them, as Apion says they had, they could not have gone +one single day's journey; but if they had been all able to travel over a +large desert, and, besides that, to fight and conquer those that opposed +them, they had not all of them had buboes on their groins after the +sixth day was over; for no such distemper comes naturally and of +necessity upon those that travel; but still, when there are many ten +thousands in a camp together, they constantly march a settled space [in +a day]. Nor is it at all probable that such a thing should happen by +chance; this would be prodigiously absurd to be supposed. However, our +admirable author Apion hath before told us that "they came to Judea in +six days' time;" and again, that "Moses went up to a mountain that lay +between Egypt and Arabia, which was called Sinai, and was concealed +there forty days, and that when he came down from thence he gave laws to +the Jews." But, then, how was it possible for them to tarry forty days +in a desert place where there was no water, and at the same time to pass +all over the country between that and Judea in the six days? And as for +this grammatical translation of the word Sabbath, it either contains an +instance of his great impudence or gross ignorance; for the words Sabbo +and Sabbath are widely different from one another; for the word Sabbath +in the Jewish language denotes rest from all sorts of work; but the word +Sabbo, as he affirms, denotes among the Egyptians the malady of a bubo +in the groin. + +3. This is that novel account which the Egyptian Apion gives us +concerning the Jews' departure out of Egypt, and is no better than a +contrivance of his own. But why should we wonder at the lies he tells +about our forefathers, when he affirms them to be of Egyptian original, +when he lies also about himself? for although he was born at Oasis +in Egypt, he pretends to be, as a man may say, the top man of all the +Egyptians; yet does he forswear his real country and progenitors, and by +falsely pretending to be born at Alexandria, cannot deny the [4] pravity +of his family; for you see how justly he calls those Egyptians whom he +hates, and endeavors to reproach; for had he not deemed Egyptians to +be a name of great reproach, he would not have avoided the name of an +Egyptian himself; as we know that those who brag of their own countries +value themselves upon the denomination they acquire thereby, and reprove +such as unjustly lay claim thereto. As for the Egyptians' claim to be of +our kindred, they do it on one of the following accounts; I mean, either +as they value themselves upon it, and pretend to bear that relation +to us; or else as they would draw us in to be partakers of their own +infamy. But this fine fellow Apion seems to broach this reproachful +appellation against us, [that we were originally Egyptians,] in order +to bestow it on the Alexandrians, as a reward for the privilege they had +given him of being a fellow citizen with them: he also is apprized of +the ill-will the Alexandrians bear to those Jews who are their fellow +citizens, and so proposes to himself to reproach them, although he must +thereby include all the other Egyptians also; while in both cases he is +no better than an impudent liar. + +4. But let us now see what those heavy and wicked crimes are which Apion +charges upon the Alexandrian Jews. "They came [says he] out of Syria, +and inhabited near the tempestuous sea, and were in the neighborhood of +the dashing of the waves." Now if the place of habitation includes any +thing that is reproached, this man reproaches not his own real country, +[Egypt,] but what he pretends to be his own country, Alexandria; for all +are agreed in this, that the part of that city which is near the sea is +the best part of all for habitation. Now if the Jews gained that part of +the city by force, and have kept it hitherto without impeachment, this +is a mark of their valor; but in reality it was Alexander himself that +gave them that place for their habitation, when they obtained equal +privileges there with the Macedonians. Nor call I devise what Apion +would have said, had their habitation been at Necropolis? and not been +fixed hard by the royal palace [as it is]; nor had their nation had +the denomination of Macedonians given them till this very day [as they +have]. Had this man now read the epistles of king Alexander, or those +of Ptolemy the son of Lagus, or met with the writings of the succeeding +kings, or that pillar which is still standing at Alexandria, and +contains the privileges which the great [Julius] Caesar bestowed upon +the Jews; had this man, I say, known these records, and yet hath the +impudence to write in contradiction to them, he hath shown himself to +be a wicked man; but if he knew nothing of these records, he hath shown +himself to be a man very ignorant: nay, when lie appears to wonder how +Jews could be called Alexandrians, this is another like instance of his +ignorance; for all such as are called out to be colonies, although they +be ever so far remote from one another in their original, receive their +names from those that bring them to their new habitations. And what +occasion is there to speak of others, when those of us Jews that dwell +at Antioch are named Antiochians, because Seleucns the founder of that +city gave them the privileges belonging thereto? After the like manner +do those Jews that inhabit Ephesus, and the other cities of Ionia, enjoy +the same name with those that were originally born there, by the grant +of the succeeding princes; nay, the kindness and humanity of the Romans +hath been so great, that it hath granted leave to almost all others to +take the same name of Romans upon them; I mean not particular men only, +but entire and large nations themselves also; for those anciently named +Iberi, and Tyrrheni, and Sabini, are now called Romani. And if Apion +reject this way of obtaining the privilege of a citizen of Alexandria, +let him abstain from calling himself an Alexandrian hereafter; for +otherwise, how can he who was born in the very heart of Egypt be an +Alexandrian, if this way of accepting such a privilege, of which he +would have us deprived, be once abrogated? although indeed these +Romans, who are now the lords of the habitable earth, have forbidden the +Egyptians to have the privileges of any city whatsoever; while this fine +fellow, who is willing to partake of such a privilege himself as he is +forbidden to make use of, endeavors by calumnies to deprive those of it +that have justly received it; for Alexander did not therefore get some +of our nation to Alexandria, because he wanted inhabitants for this +his city, on whose building he had bestowed so much pains; but this was +given to our people as a reward, because he had, upon a careful trial, +found them all to have been men of virtue and fidelity to him; for, as +Hecateus says concerning us, "Alexander honored our nation to such a +degree, that, for the equity and the fidelity which the Jews exhibited +to him, he permitted them to hold the country of Samaria free from +tribute. Of the same mind also was Ptolemy the son of Lagus, as to those +Jews who dwelt at Alexandria." For he intrusted the fortresses of Egypt +into their hands, as believing they would keep them faithfully and +valiantly for him; and when he was desirous to secure the government of +Cyrene, and the other cities of Libya, to himself, he sent a party of +Jews to inhabit in them. And for his successor Ptolemy, who was called +Philadelphus, he did not only set all those of our nation free who were +captives under him, but did frequently give money [for their ransom]; +and, what was his greatest work of all, he had a great desire of +knowing our laws, and of obtaining the books of our sacred Scriptures; +accordingly, he desired that such men might be sent him as might +interpret our law to him; and, in order to have them well compiled, he +committed that care to no ordinary persons, but ordained that Demetrius +Phalereus, and Andreas, and Aristeas; the first, Demetrius, the most +learned person of his age, and the others, such as were intrusted with +the guard of his body; should take care of this matter: nor would he +certainly have been so desirous of learning our law, and the philosophy +of our nation, had he despised the men that made use of it, or had he +not indeed had them in great admiration. + +5. Now this Apion was unacquainted with almost all the kings of those +Macedonians whom he pretends to have been his progenitors, who were yet +very well affected towards us; for the third of those Ptolemies, who was +called Euergetes, when he had gotten possession of all Syria by force, +did not offer his thank-offerings to the Egyptian gods for his victory, +but came to Jerusalem, and according to our own laws offered many +sacrifices to God, and dedicated to him such gifts as were suitable to +such a victory: and as for Ptolemy Philometer and his wife Cleopatra, +they committed their whole kingdom to the Jews, when Onias and +Dositheus, both Jews, whose names are laughed at by Apion, were the +generals of their whole army. But certainly, instead of reproaching +them, he ought to admire their actions, and return them thanks for +saving Alexandria, whose citizen he pretends to be; for when these +Alexandrians were making war with Cleopatra the queen, and were in +danger of being utterly ruined, these Jews brought them to terms of +agreement, and freed them from the miseries of a civil war. "But then +[says Apion] Onias brought a small army afterward upon the city at the +time when Thorruns the Roman ambassador was there present." Yes, do I +venture to say, and that he did rightly and very justly in so doing; +for that Ptolemy who was called Physco, upon the death of his brother +Philometer, came from Cyrene, and would have ejected Cleopatra as well +as her sons out of their kingdom, that he might obtain it for himself +unjustly. [5] For this cause then it was that Onias undertook a war +against him on Cleopatra's account; nor would he desert that trust the +royal family had reposed in him in their distress. Accordingly, God gave +a remarkable attestation to his righteous procedure; for when Ptolemy +Physco [6] had the presumption to fight against Onias's army, and had +caught all the Jews that were in the city [Alexandria], with their +children and wives, and exposed them naked and in bonds to his +elephants, that they might be trodden upon and destroyed, and when +he had made those elephants drunk for that purpose, the event proved +contrary to his preparations; for these elephants left the Jews who were +exposed to them, and fell violently upon Physco's friends, and slew +a great number of them; nay, after this Ptolemy saw a terrible ghost, +which prohibited his hurting those men; his very concubine, whom +he loved so well, [some call her Ithaca, and others Irene,] making +supplication to him, that he would not perpetrate so great a wickedness. +So he complied with her request, and repented of what he either had +already done, or was about to do; whence it is well known that the +Alexandrian Jews do with good reason celebrate this day, on the account +that they had thereon been vouchsafed such an evident deliverance from +God. However, Apion, the common calumniator of men, hath the presumption +to accuse the Jews for making this war against Physco, when he ought +to have commended them for the same. This man also makes mention of +Cleopatra, the last queen of Alexandria, and abuses us, because she was +ungrateful to us; whereas he ought to have reproved her, who indulged +herself in all kinds of injustice and wicked practices, both with regard +to her nearest relations and husbands who had loved her, and, indeed, in +general with regard to all the Romans, and those emperors that were her +benefactors; who also had her sister Arsinoe slain in a temple, when +she had done her no harm: moreover, she had her brother slain by private +treachery, and she destroyed the gods of her country and the sepulchers +of her progenitors; and while she had received her kingdom from the +first Caesar, she had the impudence to rebel against his son: [7] and +successor; nay, she corrupted Antony with her love-tricks, and rendered +him an enemy to his country, and made him treacherous to his friends, +and [by his means] despoiled some of their royal authority, and forced +others in her madness to act wickedly. But what need I enlarge upon this +head any further, when she left Antony in his fight at sea, though he +were her husband, and the father of their common children, and compelled +him to resign up his government, with the army, and to follow her [into +Egypt]? nay, when last of all Caesar had taken Alexandria, she came to +that pitch of cruelty, that she declared she had some hope of preserving +her affairs still, in case she could kill the Jews, though it were with +her own hand; to such a degree of barbarity and perfidiousness had she +arrived. And doth any one think that we cannot boast ourselves of +any thing, if, as Apion says, this queen did not at a time of famine +distribute wheat among us? However, she at length met with the +punishment she deserved. As for us Jews, we appeal to the great Caesar +what assistance we brought him, and what fidelity we showed to him +against the Egyptians; as also to the senate and its decrees, and the +epistles of Augustus Caesar, whereby our merits [to the Romans] are +justified. Apion ought to have looked upon those epistles, and in +particular to have examined the testimonies given on our behalf, under +Alexander and all the Ptolemies, and the decrees of the senate and of +the greatest Roman emperors. And if Germanicus was not able to make a +distribution of corn to all the inhabitants of Alexandria, that only +shows what a barren time it was, and how great a want there was then of +corn, but tends nothing to the accusation of the Jews; for what all the +emperors have thought of the Alexandrian Jews is well known, for this +distribution of wheat was no otherwise omitted with regard to the Jews, +than it was with regard to the other inhabitants of Alexandria. But they +still were desirous to preserve what the kings had formerly intrusted to +their care, I mean the custody of the river; nor did those kings think +them unworthy of having the entire custody thereof, upon all occasions. + +6. But besides this, Apion objects to us thus: "If the Jews [says he] be +citizens of Alexandria, why do they not worship the same gods with the +Alexandrians?" To which I give this answer: Since you are yourselves +Egyptians, why do you fight it out one against another, and have +implacable wars about your religion? At this rate we must not call you +all Egyptians, nor indeed in general men, because you breed up with +great care beasts of a nature quite contrary to that of men, although +the nature of all men seems to be one and the same. Now if there be such +differences in opinion among you Egyptians, why are you surprised that +those who came to Alexandria from another country, and had original laws +of their own before, should persevere in the observance of those laws? +But still he charges us with being the authors of sedition; which +accusation, if it be a just one, why is it not laid against us all, +since we are known to be all of one mind. Moreover, those that search +into such matters will soon discover that the authors of sedition have +been such citizens of Alexandria as Apion is; for while they were the +Grecians and Macedonians who were ill possession of this city, there +was no sedition raised against us, and we were permitted to observe our +ancient solemnities; but when the number of the Egyptians therein came +to be considerable, the times grew confused, and then these seditions +brake out still more and more, while our people continued uncorrupted. +These Egyptians, therefore, were the authors of these troubles, who +having not the constancy of Macedonians, nor the prudence of Grecians, +indulged all of them the evil manners of the Egyptians, and continued +their ancient hatred against us; for what is here so presumptuously +charged upon us, is owing to the differences that are amongst +themselves; while many of them have not obtained the privileges of +citizens in proper times, but style those who are well known to have +had that privilege extended to them all no other than foreigners: for it +does not appear that any of the kings have ever formerly bestowed those +privileges of citizens upon Egyptians, no more than have the emperors +done it more lately; while it was Alexander who introduced us into +this city at first, the kings augmented our privileges therein, and the +Romans have been pleased to preserve them always inviolable. Moreover, +Apion would lay a blot upon us, because we do not erect images for our +emperors; as if those emperors did not know this before, or stood in +need of Apion as their defender; whereas he ought rather to have admired +the magnanimity and modesty of the Romans, whereby they do not +compel those that are subject to them to transgress the laws of their +countries, but are willing to receive the honors due to them after such +a manner as those who are to pay them esteem consistent with piety and +with their own laws; for they do not thank people for conferring honors +upon them, When they are compelled by violence so to do. Accordingly, +since the Grecians and some other nations think it a right thing to make +images, nay, when they have painted the pictures of their parents, and +wives, and children, they exult for joy; and some there are who take +pictures for themselves of such persons as were no way related to them; +nay, some take the pictures of such servants as they were fond of; +what wonder is it then if such as these appear willing to pay the +same respect to their princes and lords? But then our legislator hath +forbidden us to make images, not by way of denunciation beforehand, that +the Roman authority was not to be honored, but as despising a thing that +was neither necessary nor useful for either God or man; and he forbade +them, as we shall prove hereafter, to make these images for any part of +the animal creation, and much less for God himself, who is no part of +such animal creation. Yet hath our legislator no where forbidden us to +pay honors to worthy men, provided they be of another kind, and inferior +to those we pay to God; with which honors we willingly testify our +respect to our emperors, and to the people of Rome; we also offer +perpetual sacrifices for them; nor do we only offer them every day at +the common expenses of all the Jews, but although we offer no other such +sacrifices out of our common expenses, no, not for our own children, yet +do we this as a peculiar honor to the emperors, and to them alone, while +we do the same to no other person whomsoever. And let this suffice for +an answer in general to Apion, as to what he says with relation to the +Alexandrian Jews. + +7. However, I cannot but admire those other authors who furnished this +man with such his materials; I mean Possidonius and Apollonius [the son +of] Molo, [8] who, while they accuse us for not worshipping the same +gods whom others worship, they think themselves not guilty of impiety +when they tell lies of us, and frame absurd and reproachful stories +about our temple; whereas it is a most shameful thing for freemen to +forge lies on any occasion, and much more so to forge them about our +temple, which was so famous over all the world, and was preserved so +sacred by us; for Apion hath the impudence to pretend that, "the Jews +placed an ass's head in their holy place;" and he affirms that this was +discovered when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled our temple, and found that +ass's head there made of gold, and worth a great deal of money. To this +my first answer shall be this, that had there been any such thing among +us, an Egyptian ought by no means to have thrown it in our teeth, since +an ass is not a more contemptible animal than [9] and goats, and other +such creatures, which among them are gods. But besides this answer, I +say further, how comes it about that Apion does not understand this to +be no other than a palpable lie, and to be confuted by the thing itself +as utterly incredible? For we Jews are always governed by the same laws, +in which we constantly persevere; and although many misfortunes have +befallen our city, as the like have befallen others, and although Theos +[Epiphanes], and Pompey the Great, and Licinius Crassus, and last of +all Titus Caesar, have conquered us in war, and gotten possession of +our temple; yet have they none of them found any such thing there, nor +indeed any thing but what was agreeable to the strictest piety; although +what they found we are not at liberty to reveal to other nations. But +for Antiochus [Epiphanes], he had no just cause for that ravage in our +temple that he made; he only came to it when he wanted money, without +declaring himself our enemy, and attacked us while we were his +associates and his friends; nor did he find any thing there that +was ridiculous. This is attested by many worthy writers; Polybius of +Megalopolis, Strabo of Cappadocia, Nicolaus of Damascus, Timagenes, +Castor the chronotoger, and Apollodorus; [10] who all say that it was +out of Antiochus's want of money that he broke his league with the Jews, +and despoiled their temple when it was full of gold and silver. Apion +ought to have had a regard to these facts, unless he had himself had +either an ass's heart or a dog's impudence; of such a dog I mean as they +worship; for he had no other external reason for the lies he tells of +us. As for us Jews, we ascribe no honor or power to asses, as do the +Egyptians to crocodiles and asps, when they esteem such as are seized +upon by the former, or bitten by the latter, to be happy persons, and +persons worthy of God. Asses are the same with us which they are with +other wise men, viz. creatures that bear the burdens that we lay upon +them; but if they come to our thrashing-floors and eat our corn, or do +not perform what we impose upon them, we beat them with a great many +stripes, because it is their business to minister to us in our husbandry +affairs. But this Apion of ours was either perfectly unskillful in the +composition of such fallacious discourses, or however, when he +begun [somewhat better], he was not able to persevere in what he had +undertaken, since he hath no manner of success in those reproaches he +casts upon us. + +8. He adds another Grecian fable, in order to reproach us. In reply to +which, it would be enough to say, that they who presume to speak about +Divine worship ought not to be ignorant of this plain truth, that it is +a degree of less impurity to pass through temples, than to forge wicked +calumnies of its priests. Now such men as he are more zealous to justify +a sacrilegious king, than to write what is just and what is true about +us, and about our temple; for when they are desirous of gratifying +Antiochus, and of concealing that perfidiousness and sacrilege which +he was guilty of, with regard to our nation, when he wanted money, they +endeavor to disgrace us, and tell lies even relating to futurities. +Apion becomes other men's prophet upon this occasion, and says that +"Antiochus found in our temple a bed, and a man lying upon it, with a +small table before him, full of dainties, from the [fishes of the] +sea, and the fowls of the dry land; that this man was amazed at these +dainties thus set before him; that he immediately adored the king, +upon his coming in, as hoping that he would afford him all possible +assistance; that he fell down upon his knees, and stretched out to him +his right hand, and begged to be released; and that when the king bid +him sit down, and tell him who he was, and why he dwelt there, and what +was the meaning of those various sorts of food that were set before him +the man made a lamentable complaint, and with sighs, and tears in his +eyes, gave him this account of the distress he was in; and said that he +was a Greek and that as he went over this province, in order to get his +living, he was seized upon by foreigners, on a sudden, and brought +to this temple, and shut up therein, and was seen by nobody, but was +fattened by these curious provisions thus set before him; and that truly +at the first such unexpected advantages seemed to him matter of great +joy; that after a while, they brought a suspicion him, and at length +astonishment, what their meaning should be; that at last he inquired of +the servants that came to him and was by them informed that it was in +order to the fulfilling a law of the Jews, which they must not tell him, +that he was thus fed; and that they did the same at a set time every +year: that they used to catch a Greek foreigner, and fat him thus up +every year, and then lead him to a certain wood, and kill him, and +sacrifice with their accustomed solemnities, and taste of his entrails, +and take an oath upon this sacrificing a Greek, that they would ever be +at enmity with the Greeks; and that then they threw the remaining parts +of the miserable wretch into a certain pit." Apion adds further, that, +"the man said there were but a few days to come ere he was to be slain, +and implored of Antiochus that, out of the reverence he bore to the +Grecian gods, he would disappoint the snares the Jews laid for his +blood, and would deliver him from the miseries with which he was +encompassed." Now this is such a most tragical fable as is full of +nothing but cruelty and impudence; yet does it not excuse Antiochus of +his sacrilegious attempt, as those who write it in his vindication are +willing to suppose; for he could not presume beforehand that he should +meet with any such thing in coming to the temple, but must have found it +unexpectedly. He was therefore still an impious person, that was given +to unlawful pleasures, and had no regard to God in his actions. But [as +for Apion], he hath done whatever his extravagant love of lying hath +dictated to him, as it is most easy to discover by a consideration of +his writings; for the difference of our laws is known not to regard the +Grecians only, but they are principally opposite to the Egyptians, and +to some other nations also for while it so falls out that men of all +countries come sometimes and sojourn among us, how comes it about that +we take an oath, and conspire only against the Grecians, and that by the +effusion of their blood also? Or how is it possible that all the Jews +should get together to these sacrifices, and the entrails of one man +should be sufficient for so many thousands to taste of them, as Apion +pretends? Or why did not the king carry this man, whosoever he was, and +whatsoever was his name, [which is not set down in Apion's book,] with +great pomp back into his own country? when he might thereby have been +esteemed a religious person himself, and a mighty lover of the Greeks, +and might thereby have procured himself great assistance from all men +against that hatred the Jews bore to him. But I leave this matter; +for the proper way of confuting fools is not to use bare words, but to +appeal to the things themselves that make against them. Now, then, all +such as ever saw the construction of our temple, of what nature it was, +know well enough how the purity of it was never to be profaned; for it +had four several courts [12] encompassed with cloisters round about, +every one of which had by our law a peculiar degree of separation +from the rest. Into the first court every body was allowed to go, even +foreigners, and none but women, during their courses, were prohibited +to pass through it; all the Jews went into the second court, as well as +their wives, when they were free from all uncleanness; into the third +court went in the Jewish men, when they were clean and purified; into +the fourth went the priests, having on their sacerdotal garments; but +for the most sacred place, none went in but the high priests, clothed in +their peculiar garments. Now there is so great caution used about these +offices of religion, that the priests are appointed to go into the +temple but at certain hours; for in the morning, at the opening of the +inner temple, those that are to officiate receive the sacrifices, as +they do again at noon, till the doors are shut. Lastly, it is not so +much as lawful to carry any vessel into the holy house; nor is there any +thing therein, but the altar [of incense], the table [of shew-bread], +the censer, and the candlestick, which are all written in the law; for +there is nothing further there, nor are there any mysteries performed +that may not be spoken of; nor is there any feasting within the place. +For what I have now said is publicly known, and supported by the +testimony of the whole people, and their operations are very manifest; +for although there be four courses of the priests, and every one of them +have above five thousand men in them, yet do they officiate on certain +days only; and when those days are over, other priests succeed in the +performance of their sacrifices, and assemble together at mid-day, and +receive the keys of the temple, and the vessels by tale, without any +thing relating to food or drink being carried into the temple; nay, we +are not allowed to offer such things at the altar, excepting what is +prepared for the sacrifices. + +9. What then can we say of Apion, but that he examined nothing that +concerned these things, while still he uttered incredible words about +them? but it is a great shame for a grammarian not to be able to write +true history. Now if he knew the purity of our temple, he hath entirely +omitted to take notice of it; but he forges a story about the seizing of +a Grecian, about ineffable food, and the most delicious preparation of +dainties; and pretends that strangers could go into a place whereinto +the noblest men among the Jews are not allowed to enter, unless they +be priests. This, therefore, is the utmost degree of impiety, and a +voluntary lie, in order to the delusion of those who will not examine +into the truth of matters; whereas such unspeakable mischiefs as are +above related have been occasioned by such calumnies that are raised +upon us. + +10. Nay, this miracle or piety derides us further, and adds the +following pretended facts to his former fable; for he says that this man +related how, "while the Jews were once in a long war with the Idumeans, +there came a man out of one of the cities of the Idumeans, who there had +worshipped Apollo. This man, whose name is said to have been Zabidus, +came to the Jews, and promised that he would deliver Apollo, the god of +Dora, into their hands, and that he would come to our temple, if they +would all come up with him, and bring the whole multitude of the Jews +with them; that Zabidus made him a certain wooden instrument, and put it +round about him, and set three rows of lamps therein, and walked after +such a manner, that he appeared to those that stood a great way off +him to be a kind of star, walking upon the earth; that the Jews were +terribly affrighted at so surprising an appearance, and stood very quiet +at a distance; and that Zabidus, while they continued so very quiet, +went into the holy house, and carried off that golden head of an ass, +[for so facetiously does he write,] and then went his way back again +to Dora in great haste." And say you so, sir! as I may reply; then +does Apion load the ass, that is, himself, and lays on him a burden of +fooleries and lies; for he writes of places that have no being, and not +knowing the cities he speaks of, he changes their situation; for Idumea +borders upon our country, and is near to Gaza, in which there is no +such city as Dora; although there be, it is true, a city named Dora in +Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel, but it is four days' journey from Idumea. +[12] Now, then, why does this man accuse us, because we have not gods in +common with other nations, if our fathers were so easily prevailed upon +to have Apollo come to them, and thought they saw him walking upon the +earth, and the stars with him? for certainly those who have so many +festivals, wherein they light lamps, must yet, at this rate, have never +seen a candlestick! But still it seems that while Zabidus took his +journey over the country, where were so many ten thousands of people, +nobody met him. He also, it seems, even in a time of war, found the +walls of Jerusalem destitute of guards. I omit the rest. Now the doors +of the holy house were seventy [13] cubits high, and twenty cubits +broad; they were all plated over with gold, and almost of solid gold +itself, and there were no fewer than twenty [14] men required to shut +them every day; nor was it lawful ever to leave them open, though it +seems this lamp-bearer of ours opened them easily, or thought he +opened them, as he thought he had the ass's head in his hand. Whether, +therefore, he returned it to us again, or whether Apion took it, and +brought it into the temple again, that Antiochus might find it, and +afford a handle for a second fable of Apion's, is uncertain. + +11. Apion also tells a false story, when he mentions an oath of ours, +as if we "swore by God, the Maker of the heaven, and earth, and sea, +to bear no good will to any foreigner, and particularly to none of the +Greeks." Now this liar ought to have said directly that, "we would +bear no good-will to any foreigner, and particularly to none of the +Egyptians." For then his story about the oath would have squared with +the rest of his original forgeries, in case our forefathers had been +driven away by their kinsmen, the Egyptians, not on account of any +wickedness they had been guilty of, but on account of the calamities +they were under; for as to the Grecians, we were rather remote from them +in place, than different from them in our institutions, insomuch that we +have no enmity with them, nor any jealousy of them. On the contrary, it +hath so happened that many of them have come over to our laws, and some +of them have continued in their observation, although others of them had +not courage enough to persevere, and so departed from them again; nor +did any body ever hear this oath sworn by us: Apion, it seems, was the +only person that heard it, for he indeed was the first composer of it. + +12. However, Apion deserves to be admired for his great prudence, as to +what I am going to say, which is this, "That there is a plain mark among +us, that we neither have just laws, nor worship God as we ought to do, +because we are not governors, but are rather in subjection to Gentiles, +sometimes to one nation, and sometimes to another; and that our city +hath been liable to several calamities, while their city [Alexandria] +hath been of old time an imperial city, and not used to be in subjection +to the Romans." But now this man had better leave off this bragging, +for every body but himself would think that Apion said what he hath said +against himself; for there are very few nations that have had the good +fortune to continue many generations in the principality, but still the +mutations in human affairs have put them into subjection under others; +and most nations have been often subdued, and brought into subjection +by others. Now for the Egyptians, perhaps they are the only nation that +have had this extraordinary privilege, to have never served any of +those monarchs who subdued Asia and Europe, and this on account, as they +pretend, that the gods fled into their country, and saved themselves by +being changed into the shapes of wild beasts! Whereas these Egyptians +[15] are the very people that appear to have never, in all the past +ages, had one day of freedom, no, not so much as from their own lords. +For I will not reproach them with relating the manner how the Persians +used them, and this not once only, but many times, when they laid their +cities waste, demolished their temples, and cut the throats of those +animals whom they esteemed to be gods; for it is not reasonable to +imitate the clownish ignorance of Apion, who hath no regard to the +misfortunes of the Athenians, or of the Lacedemonians, the latter of +whom were styled by all men the most courageous, and the former the +most religious of the Grecians. I say nothing of such kings as have been +famous for piety, particularly of one of them, whose name was Cresus, +nor what calamities he met with in his life; I say nothing of the +citadel of Athens, of the temple at Ephesus, of that at Delphi, nor +of ten thousand others which have been burnt down, while nobody cast +reproaches on those that were the sufferers, but on those that were +the actors therein. But now we have met with Apion, an accuser of our +nation, though one that still forgets the miseries of his own people, +the Egyptians; but it is that Sesostris who was once so celebrated a king +of Egypt that hath blinded him. Now we will not brag of our kings, David +and Solomon, though they conquered many nations; accordingly we will let +them alone. However, Apion is ignorant of what every body knows, that +the Egyptians were servants to the Persians, and afterwards to the +Macedonians, when they were lords of Asia, and were no better than +slaves, while we have enjoyed liberty formerly; nay, more than that, +have had the dominion of the cities that lie round about us, and this +nearly for a hundred and twenty years together, until Pompeius Magnus. +And when all the kings every where were conquered by the Romans, our +ancestors were the only people who continued to be esteemed their +confederates and friends, on account of their fidelity to them.[16] + +13. "But," says Apion, "we Jews have not had any wonderful men amongst +us, not any inventors of arts, nor any eminent for wisdom." He then +enumerates Socrates, and Zeno, and Cleanthes, and some others of the +same sort; and, after all, he adds himself to them, which is the most +wonderful thing of all that he says, and pronounces Alexandria to be +happy, because it hath such a citizen as he is in it; for he was +the fittest man to be a witness to his own deserts, although he hath +appeared to all others no better than a wicked mountebank, of a +corrupt life and ill discourses; on which account one may justly pity +Alexandria, if it should value itself upon such a citizen as he is. +But as to our own men, we have had those who have been as deserving +of commendation as any other whosoever, and such as have perused our +Antiquities cannot be ignorant of them. + +14. As to the other things which he sets down as blameworthy, it may +perhaps be the best way to let them pass without apology, that he may +be allowed to be his own accuser, and the accuser of the rest of the +Egyptians. However, he accuses us for sacrificing animals, and for +abstaining from swine's flesh, and laughs at us for the circumcision +of our privy members. Now as for our slaughter of tame animals for +sacrifices, it is common to us and to all other men; but this Apion, +by making it a crime to sacrifice them, demonstrates himself to be +an Egyptian; for had he been either a Grecian or a Macedonian, [as he +pretends to be,] he had not shown any uneasiness at it; for those people +glory in sacrificing whole hecatombs to the gods, and make use of those +sacrifices for feasting; and yet is not the world thereby rendered +destitute of cattle, as Apion was afraid would come to pass. Yet if all +men had followed the manners of the Egyptians, the world had certainly +been made desolate as to mankind, but had been filled full of the +wildest sort of brute beasts, which, because they suppose them to be +gods, they carefully nourish. However, if any one should ask Apion which +of the Egyptians he thinks to be the most wise and most pious of them +all, he would certainly acknowledge the priests to be so; for the +histories say that two things were originally committed to their care +by their kings' injunctions, the worship of the gods, and the support of +wisdom and philosophy. Accordingly, these priests are all circumcised, +and abstain from swine's flesh; nor does any one of the other Egyptians +assist them in slaying those sacrifices they offer to the gods. Apion +was therefore quite blinded in his mind, when, for the sake of the +Egyptians, he contrived to reproach us, and to accuse such others as not +only make use of that conduct of life which he so much abuses, but have +also taught other men to be circumcised, as says Herodotus; which makes +me think that Apion is hereby justly punished for his casting such +reproaches on the laws of his own country; for he was circumcised +himself of necessity, on account of an ulcer in his privy member; and +when he received no benefit by such circumcision, but his member became +putrid, he died in great torment. Now men of good tempers ought to +observe their own laws concerning religion accurately, and to persevere +therein, but not presently to abuse the laws of other nations, while +this Apion deserted his own laws, and told lies about ours. And this +was the end of Apion's life, and this shall be the conclusion of our +discourse about him. + +15. But now, since Apollonius Molo, and Lysimachus, and some others, +write treatises about our lawgiver Moses, and about our laws, which are +neither just nor true, and this partly out of ignorance, but chiefly +out of ill-will to us, while they calumniate Moses as an impostor and +deceiver, and pretend that our laws teach us wickedness, but nothing +that is virtuous, I have a mind to discourse briefly, according to +my ability, about our whole constitution of government, and about the +particular branches of it. For I suppose it will thence become evident, +that the laws we have given us are disposed after the best manner for +the advancement of piety, for mutual communion with one another, for a +general love of mankind, as also for justice, and for sustaining labors +with fortitude, and for a contempt of death. And I beg of those that +shall peruse this writing of mine, to read it without partiality; for +it is not my purpose to write an encomium upon ourselves, but I shall +esteem this as a most just apology for us, and taken from those our +laws, according to which we lead our lives, against the many and the +lying objections that have been made against us. Moreover, since this +Apollonius does not do like Apion, and lay a continued accusation +against us, but does it only by starts, and up and clown his discourse, +while he sometimes reproaches us as atheists, and man-haters, and +sometimes hits us in the teeth with our want of courage, and yet +sometimes, on the contrary, accuses us of too great boldness and +madness in our conduct; nay, he says that we are the weakest of all the +barbarians, and that this is the reason why we are the only people who +have made no improvements in human life; now I think I shall have then +sufficiently disproved all these his allegations, when it shall appear +that our laws enjoin the very reverse of what he says, and that we very +carefully observe those laws ourselves. And if I he compelled to make +mention of the laws of other nations, that are contrary to ours, those +ought deservedly to thank themselves for it, who have pretended to +depreciate our laws in comparison of their own; nor will there, I think, +be any room after that for them to pretend either that we have no such +laws ourselves, an epitome of which I will present to the reader, or +that we do not, above all men, continue in the observation of them. + +16. To begin then a good way backward, I would advance this, in the +first place, that those who have been admirers of good order, and of +living under common laws, and who began to introduce them, may well have +this testimony that they are better than other men, both for moderation +and such virtue as is agreeable to nature. Indeed their endeavor was to +have every thing they ordained believed to be very ancient, that +they might not be thought to imitate others, but might appear to have +delivered a regular way of living to others after them. Since then this +is the case, the excellency of a legislator is seen in providing for the +people's living after the best manner, and in prevailing with those that +are to use the laws he ordains for them, to have a good opinion of +them, and in obliging the multitude to persevere in them, and to make no +changes in them, neither in prosperity nor adversity. Now I venture to +say, that our legislator is the most ancient of all the legislators whom +we have ally where heard of; for as for the Lycurguses, and Solons, and +Zaleucus Locrensis, and all those legislators who are so admired by the +Greeks, they seem to be of yesterday, if compared with our legislator, +insomuch as the very name of a law was not so much as known in old times +among the Grecians. Homer is a witness to the truth of this observation, +who never uses that term in all his poems; for indeed there was then no +such thing among them, but the multitude was governed by wise maxims, +and by the injunctions of their king. It was also a long time that they +continued in the use of these unwritten customs, although they were +always changing them upon several occasions. But for our legislator, +who was of so much greater antiquity than the rest, [as even those that +speak against us upon all occasions do always confess,] he exhibited +himself to the people as their best governor and counselor, and included +in his legislation the entire conduct of their lives, and prevailed with +them to receive it, and brought it so to pass, that those that were made +acquainted with his laws did most carefully observe them. + +17. But let us consider his first and greatest work; for when it was +resolved on by our forefathers to leave Egypt, and return to their +own country, this Moses took the many tell thousands that were of the +people, and saved them out of many desperate distresses, and brought +them home in safety. And certainly it was here necessary to travel over +a country without water, and full of sand, to overcome their enemies, +and, during these battles, to preserve their children, and their wives, +and their prey; on all which occasions he became an excellent general of +an army, and a most prudent counselor, and one that took the truest +care of them all; he also so brought it about, that the whole multitude +depended upon him. And while he had them always obedient to what he +enjoined, he made no manner of use of his authority for his own private +advantage, which is the usual time when governors gain great powers to +themselves, and pave the way for tyranny, and accustom the multitude +to live very dissolutely; whereas, when our legislator was in so great +authority, he, on the contrary, thought he ought to have regard to +piety, and to show his great good-will to the people; and by this means +he thought he might show the great degree of virtue that was in him, and +might procure the most lasting security to those who had made him their +governor. When he had therefore come to such a good resolution, and +had performed such wonderful exploits, we had just reason to look upon +ourselves as having him for a divine governor and counselor. And when +he had first persuaded himself [17] that his actions and designs were +agreeable to God's will, he thought it his duty to impress, above all +things, that notion upon the multitude; for those who have once believed +that God is the inspector of their lives, will not permit themselves +in any sin. And this is the character of our legislator: he was no +impostor, no deceiver, as his revilers say, though unjustly, but such +a one as they brag Minos [18] to have been among the Greeks, and other +legislators after him; for some of them suppose that they had their laws +from Jupiter, while Minos said that the revelation of his laws was to +be referred to Apollo, and his oracle at Delphi, whether they really +thought they were so derived, or supposed, however, that they could +persuade the people easily that so it was. But which of these it was who +made the best laws, and which had the greatest reason to believe +that God was their author, it will be easy, upon comparing those laws +themselves together, to determine; for it is time that we come to that +point. [19] Now there are innumerable differences in the particular +customs and laws that are among all mankind, which a man may briefly +reduce under the following heads: Some legislators have permitted their +governments to be under monarchies, others put them under oligarchies, +and others under a republican form; but our legislator had no regard +to any of these forms, but he ordained our government to be what, by a +strained expression, may be termed a Theocracy, [20] by ascribing the +authority and the power to God, and by persuading all the people to have +a regard to him, as the author of all the good things that were enjoyed +either in common by all mankind, or by each one in particular, and of +all that they themselves obtained by praying to him in their greatest +difficulties. He informed them that it was impossible to escape God's +observation, even in any of our outward actions, or in any of our +inward thoughts. Moreover, he represented God as unbegotten, [21] and +immutable, through all eternity, superior to all mortal conceptions in +pulchritude; and, though known to us by his power, yet unknown to us as +to his essence. I do not now explain how these notions of God are the +sentiments of the wisest among the Grecians, and how they were taught +them upon the principles that he afforded them. However, they testify, +with great assurance, that these notions are just, and agreeable to the +nature of God, and to his majesty; for Pythagoras, and Anaxagoras, and +Plato, and the Stoic philosophers that succeeded them, and almost all +the rest, are of the same sentiments, and had the same notions of the +nature of God; yet durst not these men disclose those true notions to +more than a few, because the body of the people were prejudiced with +other opinions beforehand. But our legislator, who made his actions +agree to his laws, did not only prevail with those that were his +contemporaries to agree with these his notions, but so firmly imprinted +this faith in God upon all their posterity, that it never could be +removed. The reason why the constitution of this legislation was ever +better directed to the utility of all than other legislations were, is +this, that Moses did not make religion a part of virtue, but he saw and +he ordained other virtues to be parts of religion; I mean justice, and +fortitude, and temperance, and a universal agreement of the members of +the community with one another; for all our actions and studies, and all +our words, [in Moses's settlement,] have a reference to piety towards +God; for he hath left none of these in suspense, or undetermined. +For there are two ways of coming at any sort of learning and a moral +conduct of life; the one is by instruction in words, the other by +practical exercises. Now other lawgivers have separated these two ways +in their opinions, and choosing one of those ways of instruction, or +that which best pleased every one of them, neglected the other. Thus did +the Lacedemonians and the Cretians teach by practical exercises, but not +by words; while the Athenians, and almost all the other Grecians, made +laws about what was to be done, or left undone, but had no regard to the +exercising them thereto in practice. + +18. But for our legislator, he very carefully joined these two methods +of instruction together; for he neither left these practical exercises +to go on without verbal instruction, nor did he permit the hearing of +the law to proceed without the exercises for practice; but beginning +immediately from the earliest infancy, and the appointment of every +one's diet, he left nothing of the very smallest consequence to be done +at the pleasure and disposal of the person himself. Accordingly, he made +a fixed rule of law what sorts of food they should abstain from, and +what sorts they should make use of; as also, what communion they +should have with others what great diligence they should use in their +occupations, and what times of rest should be interposed, that, by +living under that law as under a father and a master, we might be guilty +of no sin, neither voluntary nor out of ignorance; for he did not suffer +the guilt of ignorance to go on without punishment, but demonstrated +the law to be the best and the most necessary instruction of all others, +permitting the people to leave off their other employments, and to +assemble together for the hearing of the law, and learning it exactly, +and this not once or twice, or oftener, but every week; which thing all +the other legislators seem to have neglected. + +19. And indeed the greatest part of mankind are so far from living +according to their own laws, that they hardly know them; but when they +have sinned, they learn from others that they have transgressed the law. +Those also who are in the highest and principal posts of the government, +confess they are not acquainted with those laws, and are obliged to take +such persons for their assessors in public administrations as profess to +have skill in those laws; but for our people, if any body do but ask any +one of them about our laws, he will more readily tell them all than he +will tell his own name, and this in consequence of our having learned +them immediately as soon as ever we became sensible of any thing, and of +our having them as it were engraven on our souls. Our transgressors of +them are but few, and it is impossible, when any do offend, to escape +punishment. + +20. And this very thing it is that principally creates such a wonderful +agreement of minds amongst us all; for this entire agreement of ours +in all our notions concerning God, and our having no difference in our +course of life and manners, procures among us the most excellent concord +of these our manners that is any where among mankind; for no other +people but the Jews have avoided all discourses about God that any way +contradict one another, which yet are frequent among other nations; and +this is true not only among ordinary persons, according as every one +is affected, but some of the philosophers have been insolent enough to +indulge such contradictions, while some of them have undertaken to use +such words as entirely take away the nature of God, as others of them +have taken away his providence over mankind. Nor can any one perceive +amongst us any difference in the conduct of our lives, but all our works +are common to us all. We have one sort of discourse concerning God, +which is conformable to our law, and affirms that he sees all things; +as also we have but one way of speaking concerning the conduct of our +lives, that all other things ought to have piety for their end; and this +any body may hear from our women, and servants themselves. + +21. And, indeed, hence hath arisen that accusation which some make +against us, that we have not produced men that have been the inventors +of new operations, or of new ways of speaking; for others think it a +fine thing to persevere in nothing that has been delivered down from +their forefathers, and these testify it to be an instance of the +sharpest wisdom when these men venture to transgress those traditions; +whereas we, on the contrary, suppose it to be our only wisdom and virtue +to admit no actions nor supposals that are contrary to our original +laws; which procedure of ours is a just and sure sign that our law +is admirably constituted; for such laws as are not thus well made are +convicted upon trial to want amendment. + +22. But while we are ourselves persuaded that our law was made agreeably +to the will of God, it would be impious for us not to observe the same; +for what is there in it that any body would change? and what can be +invented that is better? or what can we take out of other people's laws +that will exceed it? Perhaps some would have the entire settlement +of our government altered. And where shall we find a better or more +righteous constitution than ours, while this makes us esteem God to be +the Governor of the universe, and permits the priests in general to be +the administrators of the principal affairs, and withal intrusts the +government over the other priests to the chief high priest himself? +which priests our legislator, at their first appointment, did not +advance to that dignity for their riches, or any abundance of other +possessions, or any plenty they had as the gifts of fortune; but he +intrusted the principal management of Divine worship to those that +exceeded others in an ability to persuade men, and in prudence of +conduct. These men had the main care of the law and of the other parts +of the people's conduct committed to them; for they were the priests who +were ordained to be the inspectors of all, and the judges in doubtful +cases, and the punishers of those that were condemned to suffer +punishment. + +23. What form of government then can be more holy than this? what more +worthy kind of worship can be paid to God than we pay, where the entire +body of the people are prepared for religion, where an extraordinary +degree of care is required in the priests, and where the whole polity is +so ordered as if it were a certain religious solemnity? For what things +foreigners, when they solemnize such festivals, are not able to observe +for a few days' time, and call them Mysteries and Sacred Ceremonies, we +observe with great pleasure and an unshaken resolution during our whole +lives. What are the things then that we are commanded or forbidden? They +are simple, and easily known. The first command is concerning God, and +affirms that God contains all things, and is a Being every way perfect +and happy, self-sufficient, and supplying all other beings; the +beginning, the middle, and the end of all things. He is manifest in +his works and benefits, and more conspicuous than any other being +whatsoever; but as to his form and magnitude, he is most obscure. All +materials, let them be ever so costly, are unworthy to compose an image +for him, and all arts are unartful to express the notion we ought to +have of him. We can neither see nor think of any thing like him, nor is +it agreeable to piety to form a resemblance of him. We see his works, +the light, the heaven, the earth, the sun and the moon, the waters, the +generations of animals, the productions of fruits. These things hath God +made, not with hands, nor with labor, nor as wanting the assistance of +any to cooperate with him; but as his will resolved they should be made +and be good also, they were made and became good immediately. All +men ought to follow this Being, and to worship him in the exercise of +virtue; for this way of worship of God is the most holy of all others. + +24. There ought also to be but one temple for one God; for likeness is +the constant foundation of agreement. This temple ought to be common to +all men, because he is the common God of all men. High priests are to +be continually about his worship, over whom he that is the first by his +birth is to be their ruler perpetually. His business must be to offer +sacrifices to God, together with those priests that are joined with him, +to see that the laws be observed, to determine controversies, and to +punish those that are convicted of injustice; while he that does not +submit to him shall be subject to the same punishment, as if he had been +guilty of impiety towards God himself. When we offer sacrifices to him, +we do it not in order to surfeit ourselves, or to be drunken; for +such excesses are against the will of God, and would be an occasion of +injuries and of luxury; but by keeping ourselves sober, orderly, and +ready for our other occupations, and being more temperate than others. +And for our duty at the sacrifices [22] themselves, we ought, in the +first place, to pray for the common welfare of all, and after that for +our own; for we are made for fellowship one with another, and he who +prefers the common good before what is peculiar to himself is above all +acceptable to God. And let our prayers and supplications be made humbly +to God, not [so much] that he would give us what is good, [for he +hath already given that of his own accord, and hath proposed the same +publicly to all,] as that we may duly receive it, and when we have +received it, may preserve it. Now the law has appointed several +purifications at our sacrifices, whereby we are cleansed after +a funeral, after what sometimes happens to us in bed, and after +accompanying with our wives, and upon many other occasions, which it +would be too long now to set down. And this is our doctrine concerning +God and his worship, and is the same that the law appoints for our +practice. + +25. But, then, what are our laws about marriage? That law owns no other +mixture of sexes but that which nature hath appointed, of a man with his +wife, and that this be used only for the procreation of children. But it +abhors the mixture of a male with a male; and if any one do that, death +is its punishment. It commands us also, when we marry, not to have +regard to portion, nor to take a woman by violence, nor to persuade her +deceitfully and knavishly; but to demand her in marriage of him who hath +power to dispose of her, and is fit to give her away by the nearness +of his kindred; for, says the Scripture, "A woman is inferior to her +husband in all things." [23] Let her, therefore, be obedient to him; not +so that he should abuse her, but that she may acknowledge her duty to +her husband; for God hath given the authority to the husband. A husband, +therefore, is to lie only with his wife whom he hath married; but to +have to do with another man's wife is a wicked thing, which, if any one +ventures upon, death is inevitably his punishment: no more can he +avoid the same who forces a virgin betrothed to another man, or entices +another man's wife. The law, moreover, enjoins us to bring up all our +offspring, and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten, or +to destroy it afterward; and if any woman appears to have so done, she +will be a murderer of her child, by destroying a living creature, +and diminishing human kind; if any one, therefore, proceeds to such +fornication or murder, he cannot be clean. Moreover, the law enjoins, +that after the man and wife have lain together in a regular way, they +shall bathe themselves; for there is a defilement contracted thereby, +both in soul and body, as if they had gone into another country; for +indeed the soul, by being united to the body, is subject to miseries, +and is not freed therefrom again but by death; on which account the law +requires this purification to be entirely performed. + +26. Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the +births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to +excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should +be immediately directed to sobriety. It also commands us to bring those +children up in learning, and to exercise them in the laws, and make +them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their +imitation of them, and that they might be nourished up in the laws from +their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have any pretense +for their ignorance of them. + +27. Our law hath also taken care of the decent burial of the dead, but +without any extravagant expenses for their funerals, and without the +erection of any illustrious monuments for them; but hath ordered that +their nearest relations should perform their obsequies; and hath showed +it to be regular, that all who pass by when any one is buried should +accompany the funeral, and join in the lamentation. It also ordains that +the house and its inhabitants should be purified after the funeral is +over, that every one may thence learn to keep at a great distance from +the thoughts of being pure, if he hath been once guilty of murder. + +28. The law ordains also, that parents should be honored immediately +after God himself, and delivers that son who does not requite them for +the benefits he hath received from them, but is deficient on any such +occasion, to be stoned. It also says that the young men should pay due +respect to every elder, since God is the eldest of all beings. It does +not give leave to conceal any thing from our friends, because that is +not true friendship which will not commit all things to their fidelity: +it also forbids the revelation of secrets, even though an enmity arise +between them. If any judge takes bribes, his punishment is death: he +that overlooks one that offers him a petition, and this when he is able +to relieve him, he is a guilty person. What is not by any one intrusted +to another ought not to be required back again. No one is to touch +another's goods. He that lends money must not demand usury for its loan. +These, and many more of the like sort, are the rules that unite us in +the bands of society one with another. + +29. It will be also worth our while to see what equity our legislator +would have us exercise in our intercourse with strangers; for it will +thence appear that he made the best provision he possibly could, both +that we should not dissolve our own constitution, nor show any +envious mind towards those that would cultivate a friendship with us. +Accordingly, our legislator admits all those that have a mind to observe +our laws so to do; and this after a friendly manner, as esteeming that +a true union which not only extends to our own stock, but to those that +would live after the same manner with us; yet does he not allow those +that come to us by accident only to be admitted into communion with us. + +30. However, there are other things which our legislator ordained for us +beforehand, which of necessity we ought to do in common to all men; as +to afford fire, and water, and food to such as want it; to show them +the roads; not to let any one lie unburied. He also would have us treat +those that are esteemed our enemies with moderation; for he doth not +allow us to set their country on fire, nor permit us to cut down those +trees that bear fruit; nay, further, he forbids us to spoil those that +have been slain in war. He hath also provided for such as are taken +captive, that they may not be injured, and especially that the women +may not be abused. Indeed he hath taught us gentleness and humanity +so effectually, that he hath not despised the care of brute beasts, +by permitting no other than a regular use of them, and forbidding any +other; and if any of them come to our houses, like supplicants, we are +forbidden to slay them; nor may we kill the dams, together with their +young ones; but we are obliged, even in an enemy's country, to spare and +not kill those creatures that labor for mankind. Thus hath our lawgiver +contrived to teach us an equitable conduct every way, by using us +to such laws as instruct us therein; while at the same time he hath +ordained that such as break these laws should be punished, without the +allowance of any excuse whatsoever. + +31. Now the greatest part of offenses with us are capital; as if any +one be guilty of adultery; if any one force a virgin; if any one be so +impudent as to attempt sodomy with a male; or if, upon another's making +an attempt upon him, he submits to be so used. There is also a law for +slaves of the like nature, that can never be avoided. Moreover, if any +one cheats another in measures or weights, or makes a knavish bargain +and sale, in order to cheat another; if any one steals what belongs to +another, and takes what he never deposited; all these have punishments +allotted them; not such as are met with among other nations, but more +severe ones. And as for attempts of unjust behavior towards parents, or +for impiety against God, though they be not actually accomplished, the +offenders are destroyed immediately. However, the reward for such as +live exactly according to the laws is not silver or gold; it is not a +garland of olive branches or of small age, nor any such public sign of +commendation; but every good man hath his own conscience bearing witness +to himself, and by virtue of our legislator's prophetic spirit, and of +the firm security God himself affords such a one, he believes that God +hath made this grant to those that observe these laws, even though they +be obliged readily to die for them, that they shall come into being +again, and at a certain revolution of things shall receive a better life +than they had enjoyed before. Nor would I venture to write thus at this +time, were it not well known to all by our actions that many of our +people have many a time bravely resolved to endure any sufferings, +rather than speak one word against our law. + +32. Nay, indeed, in case it had so fallen out, that our nation had not +been so thoroughly known among all men as they are, and our voluntary +submission to our laws had not been so open and manifest as it is, but +that somebody had pretended to have written these laws himself, and had +read them to the Greeks, or had pretended that he had met with men out +of the limits of the known world, that had such reverent notions of God, +and had continued a long time in the firm observance of such laws +as ours, I cannot but suppose that all men would admire them on a +reflection upon the frequent changes they had therein been themselves +subject to; and this while those that have attempted to write somewhat +of the same kind for politic government, and for laws, are accused +as composing monstrous things, and are said to have undertaken an +impossible task upon them. And here I will say nothing of those other +philosophers who have undertaken any thing of this nature in their +writings. But even Plato himself, who is so admired by the Greeks on +account of that gravity in his manners, and force in his words, and that +ability he had to persuade men beyond all other philosophers, is little +better than laughed at and exposed to ridicule on that account, by those +that pretend to sagacity in political affairs; although he that shall +diligently peruse his writings will find his precepts to be somewhat +gentle, and pretty near to the customs of the generality of mankind. +Nay, Plato himself confesseth that it is not safe to publish the true +notion concerning God among the ignorant multitude. Yet do some men look +upon Plato's discourses as no better than certain idle words set off +with great artifice. However, they admire Lycurgus as the principal +lawgiver, and all men celebrate Sparta for having continued in the firm +observance of his laws for a very long time. So far then we have gained, +that it is to be confessed a mark of virtue to submit to laws. [24] But +then let such as admire this in the Lacedemonians compare that duration +of theirs with more than two thousand years which our political +government hath continued; and let them further consider, that though +the Lacedemonians did seem to observe their laws exactly while they +enjoyed their liberty, yet that when they underwent a change of their +fortune, they forgot almost all those laws; while we, having been under +ten thousand changes in our fortune by the changes that happened among +the kings of Asia, have never betrayed our laws under the most pressing +distresses we have been in; nor have we neglected them either out +of sloth or for a livelihood. [25] if any one will consider it, the +difficulties and labors laid upon us have been greater than what appears +to have been borne by the Lacedemonian fortitude, while they neither +ploughed their land, nor exercised any trades, but lived in their own +city, free from all such pains-taking, in the enjoyment of plenty, and +using such exercises as might improve their bodies, while they made use +of other men as their servants for all the necessaries of life, and had +their food prepared for them by the others; and these good and humane +actions they do for no other purpose but this, that by their actions and +their sufferings they may be able to conquer all those against whom they +make war. I need not add this, that they have not been fully able to +observe their laws; for not only a few single persons, but multitudes of +them, have in heaps neglected those laws, and have delivered themselves, +together with their arms, into the hands of their enemies. + +33. Now as for ourselves, I venture to say that no one can tell of so +many; nay, not of more than one or two that have betrayed our laws, no, +not out of fear of death itself; I do not mean such an easy death as +happens in battles, but that which comes with bodily torments, and seems +to be the severest kind of death of all others. Now I think those that +have conquered us have put us to such deaths, not out of their hatred to +us when they had subdued us, but rather out of their desire of seeing a +surprising sight, which is this, whether there be such men in the world +who believe that no evil is to them so great as to be compelled to do or +to speak any thing contrary to their own laws. Nor ought men to wonder +at us, if we are more courageous in dying for our laws than all other +men are; for other men do not easily submit to the easier things in +which we are instituted; I mean working with our hands, and eating but +little, and being contented to eat and drink, not at random, or at every +one's pleasure, or being under inviolable rules in lying with our wives, +in magnificent furniture, and again in the observation of our times of +rest; while those that can use their swords in war, and can put their +enemies to flight when they attack them, cannot bear to submit to such +laws about their way of living: whereas our being accustomed willingly +to submit to laws in these instances, renders us fit to show our +fortitude upon other occasions also. + +34. Yet do the Lysimachi and the Molones, and some other writers, +[unskillful sophists as they are, and the deceivers of young men,] +reproach us as the vilest of all mankind. Now I have no mind to make an +inquiry into the laws of other nations; for the custom of our country is +to keep our own laws, but not to bring accusations against the laws of +others. And indeed our legislator hath expressly forbidden us to laugh +at and revile those that are esteemed gods by other people? on account +of the very name of God ascribed to them. But since our antagonists +think to run us down upon the comparison of their religion and ours, it +is not possible to keep silence here, especially while what I shall say +to confute these men will not be now first said, but hath been already +said by many, and these of the highest reputation also; for who is there +among those that have been admired among the Greeks for wisdom, who +hath not greatly blamed both the most famous poets, and most celebrated +legislators, for spreading such notions originally among the body of the +people concerning the gods? such as these, that they may be allowed to +be as numerous as they have a mind to have them; that they are begotten +one by another, and that after all the kinds of generation you can +imagine. They also distinguish them in their places and ways of living +as they would distinguish several sorts of animals; as some to be under +the earth; as some to be in the sea; and the ancientest of them all to +be bound in hell; and for those to whom they have allotted heaven, they +have set over them one, who in title is their father, but in his actions +a tyrant and a lord; whence it came to pass that his wife, and brother, +and daughter [which daughter he brought forth from his own head] made +a conspiracy against him to seize upon him and confine hint, as he had +himself seized upon and confined his own father before. + +35. And justly have the wisest men thought these notions deserved +severe rebukes; they also laugh at them for determining that we ought to +believe some of the gods to be beardless and young, and others of them +to be old, and to have beards accordingly; that some are set to trades; +that one god is a smith, and another goddess is a weaver; that one god +is a warrior, and fights with men; that some of them are harpers, or +delight in archery; and besides, that mutual seditions arise among them, +and that they quarrel about men, and this so far, that they not only lay +hands upon one another, but that they are wounded by men, and lament, +and take on for such their afflictions. But what is the grossest of all +in point of lasciviousness, are those unbounded lusts ascribed to almost +all of them, and their amours; which how can it be other than a most +absurd supposal, especially when it reaches to the male gods, and to the +female goddesses also? Moreover, the chief of all their gods, and their +first father himself, overlooks those goddesses whom he hath deluded and +begotten with child, and suffers them to be kept in prison, or drowned +in the sea. He is also so bound up by fate, that he cannot save his own +offspring, nor can he bear their deaths without shedding of tears. These +are fine things indeed! as are the rest that follow. Adulteries truly +are so impudently looked on in heaven by the gods, that some of them +have confessed they envied those that were found in the very act. And +why should they not do so, when the eldest of them, who is their king +also, hath not been able to restrain himself in the violence of his +lust, from lying with his wife, so long as they might get into their +bedchamber? Now some of the gods are servants to men, and will sometimes +be builders for a reward, and sometimes will be shepherds; while others +of them, like malefactors, are bound in a prison of brass. And what +sober person is there who would not be provoked at such stories, and +rebuke those that forged them, and condemn the great silliness of those +that admit them for true? Nay, others there are that have advanced a +certain timorousness and fear, as also madness and fraud, and any other +of the vilest passions, into the nature and form of gods, and have +persuaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the better sort of them; +on which account they have been absolutely forced to esteem some gods as +the givers of good things, and to call others of them averters of evil. +They also endeavor to move them, as they would the vilest of men, by +gifts and presents, as looking for nothing else than to receive some +great mischief from them, unless they pay them such wages. + +36. Wherefore it deserves our inquiry what should be the occasion of +this unjust management, and of these scandals about the Deity. And truly +I suppose it to be derived from the imperfect knowledge the heathen +legislators had at first of the true nature of God; nor did they explain +to the people even so far as they did comprehend of it: nor did they +compose the other parts of their political settlements according to it, +but omitted it as a thing of very little consequence, and gave leave +both to the poets to introduce what gods they pleased, and those subject +to all sorts of passions, and to the orators to procure political +decrees from the people for the admission of such foreign gods as they +thought proper. The painters also, and statuaries of Greece, had herein +great power, as each of them could contrive a shape [proper for a god]; +the one to be formed out of clay, and the other by making a bare picture +of such a one. But those workmen that were principally admired, had the +use of ivory and of gold as the constant materials for their new statues +[whereby it comes to pass that some temples are quite deserted, while +others are in great esteem, and adorned with all the rites of all kinds +of purification]. Besides this, the first gods, who have long flourished +in the honors done them, are now grown old [while those that flourished +after them are come in their room as a second rank, that I may speak the +most honorably of them I can]: nay, certain other gods there are who +are newly introduced, and newly worshipped [as we, by way of digression, +have said already, and yet have left their places of worship desolate]; +and for their temples, some of them are already left desolate, and +others are built anew, according to the pleasure of men; whereas they +ought to have their opinion about God, and that worship which is due to +him, always and immutably the same. + +37. But now, this Apollonius Molo was one of these foolish and proud +men. However, nothing that I have said was unknown to those that were +real philosophers among the Greeks, nor were they unacquainted with +those frigid pretensions of allegories [which had been alleged for such +things]; on which account they justly despised them, but have still +agreed with us as to the true and becoming notions of God; whence it was +that Plato would not have political settlements admit to of any one of +the other poets, and dismisses even Homer himself, with a garland on his +head, and with ointment poured upon him, and this because he should not +destroy the right notions of God with his fables. Nay, Plato principally +imitated our legislator in this point, that he enjoined his citizens +to have he main regard to this precept, "That every one of them should +learn their laws accurately." He also ordained, that they should not +admit of foreigners intermixing with their own people at random; and +provided that the commonwealth should keep itself pure, and consist of +such only as persevered in their own laws. Apollonius Molo did no way +consider this, when he made it one branch of his accusation against us, +that we do not admit of such as have different notions about God, nor +will we have fellowship with those that choose to observe a way of +living different from ourselves, yet is not this method peculiar to us, +but common to all other men; not among the ordinary Grecians only, but +among such of those Grecians as are of the greatest reputation among +them. Moreover, the Lacedemonians continued in their way of expelling +foreigners, and would not indeed give leave to their own people to +travel abroad, as suspecting that those two things would introduce a +dissolution of their own laws: and perhaps there may be some reason to +blame the rigid severity of the Lacedemonians, for they bestowed the +privilege of their city on no foreigners, nor indeed would give leave +to them to stay among them; whereas we, though we do not think fit to +imitate other institutions, yet do we willingly admit of those that +desire to partake of ours, which, I think, I may reckon to be a plain +indication of our humanity, and at the same time of our magnanimity +also. + +38. But I shall say no more of the Lacedemonians. As for the Athenians, +who glory in having made their city to be common to all men, what their +behavior was Apollonius did not know, while they punished those that +did but speak one word contrary to the laws about the gods, without any +mercy; for on what other account was it that Socrates was put to death +by them? For certainly he neither betrayed their city to its enemies, +nor was he guilty of any sacrilege with regard to any of their temples; +but it was on this account, that he swore certain new oaths [26] and +that he affirmed either in earnest, or, as some say, only in jest, that +a certain demon used to make signs to him [what he should not do]. For +these reasons he was condemned to drink poison, and kill himself. His +accuser also complained that he corrupted the young men, by inducing +them to despise the political settlement and laws of their city: and +thus was Socrates, the citizen of Athens, punished. There was also +Anaxagoras, who, although he was of Clazomente, was within a few +suffrages of being condemned to die, because he said the sun, which the +Athenians thought to be a god, was a ball of fire. They also made this +public proclamation, "That they would give a talent to any one who would +kill Diagoras of Melos," because it was reported of him that he laughed +at their mysteries. Protagoras also, who was thought to have written +somewhat that was not owned for truth by the Athenians about the +gods, had been seized upon, and put to death, if he had not fled away +immediately. Nor need we at all wonder that they thus treated such +considerable men, when they did not spare even women also; for they very +lately slew a certain priestess, because she was accused by somebody +that she initiated people into the worship of strange gods, it having +been forbidden so to do by one of their laws; and a capital punishment +had been decreed to such as introduced a strange god; it being manifest, +that they who make use of such a law do not believe those of other +nations to be really gods, otherwise they had not envied themselves the +advantage of more gods than they already had. And this was the happy +administration of the affairs of the Athenians! Now as to the Scythians, +they take a pleasure in killing men, and differ but little from brute +beasts; yet do they think it reasonable to have their institutions +observed. They also slew Anacharsis, a person greatly admired for his +wisdom among the Greeks, when he returned to them, because he appeared +to come fraught with Grecian customs. One may also find many to have +been punished among the Persians, on the very same account. And to be +sure Apollonius was greatly pleased with the laws of the Persians, and +was an admirer of them, because the Greeks enjoyed the advantage of +their courage, and had the very same opinion about the gods which they +had. This last was exemplified in the temples which they burnt, and +their courage in coming, and almost entirely enslaving the Grecians. +However, Apollonius has imitated all the Persian institutions, and that +by his offering violence to other men's wives, and gelding his own sons. +Now, with us, it is a capital crime, if any one does thus abuse even a +brute beast; and as for us, neither hath the fear of our governors, nor +a desire of following what other nations have in so great esteem, been +able to withdraw us from our own laws; nor have we exerted our courage +in raising up wars to increase our wealth, but only for the observation +of our laws; and when we with patience bear other losses, yet when any +persons would compel us to break our laws, then it is that we choose to +go to war, though it be beyond our ability to pursue it, and bear the +greatest calamities to the last with much fortitude. And, indeed, what +reason can there be why we should desire to imitate the laws of other +nations, while we see they are not observed by their own legislators +[27] And why do not the Lacedemonians think of abolishing that form of +their government which suffers them not to associate with any others, +as well as their contempt of matrimony? And why do not the Eleans and +Thebans abolish that unnatural and impudent lust, which makes them lie +with males? For they will not show a sufficient sign of their repentance +of what they of old thought to be very excellent, and very advantageous +in their practices, unless they entirely avoid all such actions for the +time to come: nay, such things are inserted into the body of their laws, +and had once such a power among the Greeks, that they ascribed these +sodomitical practices to the gods themselves, as a part of their good +character; and indeed it was according to the same manner that the gods +married their own sisters. This the Greeks contrived as an apology for +their own absurd and unnatural pleasures. + +39. I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many ways of +escaping them the greatest part of the legislators have afforded +malefactors, by ordaining that, for adulteries, fines in money should be +allowed, and for corrupting [28] [virgins] they need only marry them +as also what excuses they may have in denying the facts, if any one +attempts to inquire into them; for amongst most other nations it is +a studied art how men may transgress their laws; but no such thing is +permitted amongst us; for though we be deprived of our wealth, of our +cities, or of the other advantages we have, our law continues immortal; +nor can any Jew go so far from his own country, nor be so aftrighted at +the severest lord, as not to be more aftrighted at the law than at him. +If, therefore, this be the disposition we are under, with regard to the +excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this concession, that +our laws are most excellent; and if still they imagine, that though we +so firmly adhere to them, yet are they bad laws notwithstanding, what +penalties then do they deserve to undergo who do not observe their own +laws, which they esteem so far superior to them? Whereas, therefore, +length of time is esteemed to be the truest touchstone in all cases, I +would make that a testimonial of the excellency of our laws, and of that +belief thereby delivered to us concerning God. For as there hath been +a very long time for this comparison, if any one will but compare its +duration with the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he +will find our legislator to have been the ancientest of them all. + +40. We have already demonstrated that our laws have been such as have +always inspired admiration and imitation into all other men; nay, the +earliest Grecian philosophers, though in appearance they observed the +laws of their own countries, yet did they, in their actions, and their +philosophic doctrines, follow our legislator, and instructed men to live +sparingly, and to have friendly communication one with another. Nay, +further, the multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination +of a long time to follow our religious observances; for there is not +any city of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor any nation +whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not +come, and by which our fasts and lighting up lamps, and many of our +prohibitions as to our food, are not observed; they also endeavor +to imitate our mutual concord with one another, and the charitable +distribution of our goods, and our diligence in our trades, and our +fortitude in undergoing the distresses we are in, on account of our +laws; and, what is here matter of the greatest admiration, our law hath +no bait of pleasure to allure men to it, but it prevails by its own +force; and as God himself pervades all the world, so hath our law passed +through all the world also. So that if any one will but reflect on his +own country, and his own family, he will have reason to give credit to +what I say. It is therefore but just, either to condemn all mankind +of indulging a wicked disposition, when they have been so desirous of +imitating laws that are to them foreign and evil in themselves, rather +than following laws of their own that are of a better character, or else +our accusers must leave off their spite against us. Nor are we guilty of +any envious behavior towards them, when we honor our own legislator, and +believe what he, by his prophetic authority, hath taught us concerning +God. For though we should not be able ourselves to understand the +excellency of our own laws, yet would the great multitude of those that +desire to imitate them, justify us, in greatly valuing ourselves upon +them. + +41. But as for the [distinct] political laws by which we are governed, I +have delivered them accurately in my books of Antiquities; and have +only mentioned them now, so far as was necessary to my present purpose, +without proposing to myself either to blame the laws of other nations, +or to make an encomium upon our own; but in order to convict those +that have written about us unjustly, and in an impudent affectation of +disguising the truth. And now I think I have sufficiently completed +what I proposed in writing these books. For whereas our accusers have +pretended that our nation are a people of very late original, I have +demonstrated that they are exceeding ancient; for I have produced as +witnesses thereto many ancient writers, who have made mention of us +in their books, while they had said that no such writer had so done. +Moreover, they had said that we were sprung from the Egyptians, while I +have proved that we came from another country into Egypt: while they had +told lies of us, as if we were expelled thence on account of diseases +on our bodies, it has appeared, on the contrary, that we returned to +our country by our own choice, and with sound and strong bodies. Those +accusers reproached our legislator as a vile fellow; whereas God in old +time bare witness to his virtuous conduct; and since that testimony of +God, time itself hath been discovered to have borne witness to the same +thing. + +42. As to the laws themselves, more words are unnecessary, for they are +visible in their own nature, and appear to teach not impiety, but the +truest piety in the world. They do not make men hate one another, but +encourage people to communicate what they have to one another freely; +they are enemies to injustice, they take care of righteousness, they +banish idleness and expensive living, and instruct men to be content +with what they have, and to be laborious in their calling; they forbid +men to make war from a desire of getting more, but make men courageous +in defending the laws; they are inexorable in punishing malefactors; +they admit no sophistry of words, but are always established by actions +themselves, which actions we ever propose as surer demonstrations than +what is contained in writing only: on which account I am so bold as to +say that we are become the teachers of other men, in the greatest number +of things, and those of the most excellent nature only; for what is more +excellent than inviolable piety? what is more just than submission to +laws? and what is more advantageous than mutual love and concord? and +this so far that we are to be neither divided by calamities, nor to +become injurious and seditious in prosperity; but to contemn death +when we are in war, and in peace to apply ourselves to our mechanical +occupations, or to our tillage of the ground; while we in all things +and all ways are satisfied that God is the inspector and governor of +our actions. If these precepts had either been written at first, or more +exactly kept by any others before us, we should have owed them thanks as +disciples owe to their masters; but if it be visible that we have made +use of them more than any other men, and if we have demonstrated that +the original invention of them is our own, let the Apions, and the +Molons, with all the rest of those that delight in lies and reproaches, +stand confuted; but let this and the foregoing book be dedicated to +thee, Epaphroditus, who art so great a lover of truth, and by thy means +to those that have been in like manner desirous to be acquainted with +the affairs of our nation. + + + + +APION BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES + +[1] The former part of this second book is written against the calumnies +of Apion, and then, more briefly, against the like calumnies of +Apollonius Molo. But after that, Josephus leaves off any more particular +reply to those adversaries of the Jews, and gives us a large and +excellent description and vindication of that theocracy which was +settled for the Jewish nation by Moses, their great legislator. + +[2] Called by Tiberius Cymbalum Mundi, The drum of the world. + +[3] This seems to have been the first dial that had been made in Egypt, +and was a little before the time that Ahaz made his [first] dial in +Judea, and about anno 755, in the first year of the seventh olympiad, as +we shall see presently. See 2 Kings 20:11; Isaiah 38:8. + +[4] The burial-place for dead bodies, as I suppose. + +[5] Here begins a great defect in the Greek copy; but the old Latin +version fully supplies that defect. + +[6] What error is here generally believed to have been committed by our +Josephus in ascribing a deliverance of the Jews to the reign of Ptolemy +Physco, the seventh of those Ptolemus, which has been universally +supposed to have happened under Ptolemy Philopater, the fourth of them, +is no better than a gross error of the moderns, and not of Josephus, as +I have fully proved in the Authentic. Rec. Part I. p. 200-201, whither I +refer the inquisitive reader. + +[7] Sister's son, and adopted son. + +[8] Called more properly Molo, or Apollonius Molo, as hereafter; for +Apollonins, the son of Molo, was another person, as Strabo informs us, +lib. xiv. + +[9] Furones in the Latin, which what animal it denotes does not now +appear. + +[10] It is great pity that these six pagan authors, here mentioned to +have described the famous profanation of the Jewish temple by Antiochus +Epiphanes, should be all lost; I mean so far of their writings as +contained that description; though it is plain Josephus perused them all +as extant in his time. + +[11] It is remarkable that Josephus here, and, I think, no where else, +reckons up four distinct courts of the temple; that of the Gentiles, +that of the women of Israel, that of the men of Israel, and that of the +priests; as also that the court of the women admitted of the men, [I +suppose only of the husbands of those wives that were therein,] while +the court of the men did not admit any women into it at all. + +[12] Judea, in the Greek, by a gross mistake of the transcribers. + +[13] Seven in the Greek, by a like gross mistake of the transcribers. +See of the War, B. V. ch. 5. sect. 4. + +[14] Two hundred in the Greek, contrary to the twenty in the War, B. +VII. ch, 5. sect. 3. + +[15] This notorious disgrace belonging peculiarly to the people of +Egypt, ever since the times of the old prophets of the Jews, noted +both sect. 4 already, and here, may be confirmed by the testimony of +Isidorus, an Egyptian of Pelusium, Epist. lib. i. Ep. 489. And this is a +remarkable completion of the ancient prediction of God by Ezekiel 29:14, +15, "that the Egyptians should be a base kingdom, the basest of the +kingdoms," and that, "it should not exalt itself any more above the +nations." + +[16] The truth of which still further appears by the present observation +of Josephus, that these Egyptians had never, in all the past ages since +Sesostris, had one day of liberty, no, not so much as to have been free +from despotic power under any of the monarchies to that day. And all +this has been found equally true in the latter ages, under the Romans, +Saracens, Mamelukes, and Turks, from the days of Josephus till the +present ago also. + +[17] This language, that Moses, "persuaded himself" that what he did was +according to God's will, can mean no more, by Josephus's own constant +notions elsewhere, than that he was "firmly persuaded," that he had +"fully satisfied himself" that so it was, viz. by the many revelations +he had received from God, and the numerous miracles God had enabled him +to work, as he both in these very two books against Apion, and in his +Antiquities, most clearly and frequently assures us. This is further +evident from several passages lower, where he affirms that Moses was no +impostor nor deceiver, and where he assures that Moses's constitution of +government was no other than a theocracy; and where he says they are to +hope for deliverance out of their distresses by prayer to God, and that +withal it was owing in part to this prophetic spirit of Moses that the +Jews expected a resurrection from the dead. See almost as strange a use +of the like words, "to persuade God," Antiq. B. VI. ch. 5. sect. 6. + +[18] That is, Moses really was, what the heathen legislators pretended +to be, under a Divine direction; nor does it yet appear that these +pretensions to a supernatural conduct, either in these legislators or +oracles, were mere delusions of men without any demoniacal impressions, +nor that Josephus took them so to be; as the ancientest and contemporary +authors did still believe them to be supernatural. + +[19] This whole very large passage is corrected by Dr. Hudson from +Eusebius's citation of it, Prep. Evangel. viii. 8, which is here not a +little different from the present MSS. of Josephus. + +[20] This expression itself, that "Moses ordained the Jewish government +to be a theocracy," may be illustrated by that parallel expression in +the Antiquities, B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9, that "Moses left it to God to +be present at his sacrifices when he pleased; and when he pleased, to +be absent." Both ways of speaking sound harsh in the ears of Jews and +Christians, as do several others which Josephus uses to the heathens; +but still they were not very improper in him, when he all along thought +fit to accommodate himself, both in his Antiquities, and in these his +books against Apion, all written for the use of the Greeks and Romans, +to their notions and language, and this as far as ever truth would give +him leave. Though it be very observable withal, that he never uses such +expressions in his books of the War, written originally for the Jews +beyond Euphrates, and in their language, in all these cases. However, +Josephus directly supposes the Jewish settlement, under Moses, to be a +Divine settlement, and indeed no other than a real theocracy. + +[21] These excellent accounts of the Divine attributes, and that God +is not to be at all known in his essence, as also some other clear +expressions about the resurrection of the dead, and the state of +departed souls, etc., in this late work of Josephus, look more like the +exalted notions of the Essens, or rather Ebionite Christians, than those +of a mere Jew or Pharisee. The following large accounts also of the laws +of Moses, seem to me to show a regard to the higher interpretations and +improvements of Moses's laws, derived from Jesus Christ, than to the +bare letter of them in the Old Testament, whence alone Josephus took +them when he wrote his Antiquities; nor, as I think, can some of these +laws, though generally excellent in their kind, be properly now found +either in the copies of the Jewish Pentateuch, or in Philo, or in +Josephus himself, before he became a Nazarene or Ebionite Christian; nor +even all of them among the laws of catholic Christianity themselves. I +desire, therefore, the learned reader to consider, whether some of these +improvements or interpretations might not be peculiar to the Essens +among the Jews, or rather to the Nazarenes or Ebionites among the +Christians, though we have indeed but imperfect accounts of those +Nazarenes or Ebionite Christians transmitted down to us at this day. + +[22] We may here observe how known a thing it was among the Jews and +heathens, in this and many other instances, that sacrifices were still +accompanied with prayers; whence most probably came those phrases of +"the sacrifice of prayer, the sacrifice of praise, the sacrifice of +thanksgiving." However, those ancient forms used at sacrifices are now +generally lost, to the no small damage of true religion. It is here also +exceeding remarkable, that although the temple at Jerusalem was built +as the only place where the whole nation of the Jews were to offer their +sacrifices, yet is there no mention of the "sacrifices" themselves, but +of "prayers" only, in Solomon's long and famous form of devotion at its +dedication, 1 Kings 8.; 2 Chronicles 6. See also many passages cited in +the Apostolical Constitutions, VII. 37, and Of the War, above, B. VII. +ch. 5. sect. 6. + +[23] This text is no where in our present copies of the Old Testament. + +[24] It may not be amiss to set down here a very remarkable testimony +of the great philosopher Cicero, as to the preference of "laws to +philosophy:--I will," says he, "boldly declare my opinion, though the +whole world be offended at it. I prefer this little book of the Twelve +Tables alone to all the volumes of the philosophers. I find it to be not +only of more weight,' but also much more useful."--Oratore. + +[25] we have observed our times of rest, and sorts of food allowed us +[during our distresses]. + +[26] See what those novel oaths were in Dr. Hudson's note, viz. to +swear by an oak, by a goat, and by a dog, as also by a gander, as say +Philostratus and others. This swearing strange oaths was also forbidden +by the Tyrians, B. I. sect. 22, as Spanheim here notes. + +[27] Why Josephus here should blame some heathen legislators, when they +allowed so easy a composition for simple fornication, as an obligation +to marry the virgin that was corrupted, is hard to say, seeing he had +himself truly informed us that it was a law of the Jews, Antiq. B. +IV. ch. 8. sect. 23, as it is the law of Christianity also: see Horeb +Covenant, p. 61. I am almost ready to suspect that, for, we should here +read, and that corrupting wedlock, or other men's wives, is the crime +for which these heathens wickedly allowed this composition in money. + +[28] Or "for corrupting other men's wives the same allowance." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Against Apion, by Flavius Josephus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGAINST APION *** + +***** This file should be named 2849.txt or 2849.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/4/2849/ + +Produced by David Reed + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + + + + + +Against Apion.(1) + +by Flavius Josephus + + + + +Translated by William Whiston + + + + +BOOK 1. + +1. I Suppose that by my books of the Antiquity of the Jews, most +excellent Epaphroditus, (2) have made it evident to those who +peruse them, that our Jewish nation is of very great antiquity, +and had a distinct subsistence of its own originally; as also, I +have therein declared how we came to inhabit this country wherein +we now live. Those Antiquities contain the history of five +thousand years, and are taken out of our sacred books, but are +translated by me into the Greek tongue. However, since I observe +a considerable number of people giving ear to the reproaches that +are laid against us by those who bear ill-will to us, and will +not believe what I have written concerning the antiquity of our +nation, while they take it for a plain sign that our nation is of +a late date, because they are not so much as vouchsafed a bare +mention by the most famous historiographers among the Grecians. I +therefore have thought myself under an obligation to write +somewhat briefly about these subjects, in order to convict those +that reproach us of spite and voluntary falsehood, and to correct +the ignorance of others, and withal to instruct all those who are +desirous of knowing the truth of what great antiquity we really +are. As for the witnesses whom I shall produce for the proof of +what I say, they shall be such as are esteemed to be of the +greatest reputation for truth, and the most skillful in the +knowledge of all antiquity by the Greeks themselves. I will also +show, that those who have written so reproachfully and falsely +about us are to be convicted by what they have written themselves +to the contrary. I shall also endeavor to give an account of the +reasons why it hath so happened, that there have not been a great +number of Greeks who have made mention of our nation in their +histories. I will, however, bring those Grecians to light who +have not omitted such our history, for the sake of those that +either do not know them, or pretend not to know them already. + +2. And now, in the first place, I cannot but greatly wonder at +those men, who suppose that we must attend to none but Grecians, +when we are inquiring about the most ancient facts, and must +inform ourselves of their truth from them only, while we must not +believe ourselves nor other men; for I am convinced that the very +reverse is the truth of the case. I mean this, - if we will not +be led by vain opinions, but will make inquiry after truth from +facts themselves; for they will find that almost all which +concerns the Greeks happened not long ago; nay, one may say, is +of yesterday only. I speak of the building of their cities, the +inventions of their arts, and the description of their laws; and +as for their care about the writing down of their histories, it +is very near the last thing they set about. However, they +acknowledge themselves so far, that they were the Egyptians, the +Chaldeans, and the Phoenicians (for I will not now reckon +ourselves among them) that have preserved the memorials of the +most ancient and most lasting traditions of mankind; for almost +all these nations inhabit such countries as are least subject to +destruction from the world about them; and these also have taken +especial care to have nothing omitted of what was [remarkably] +done among them; but their history was esteemed sacred, and put +into public tables, as written by men of the greatest wisdom they +had among them. But as for the place where the Grecians inhabit, +ten thousand destructions have overtaken it, and blotted out the +memory of former actions; so that they were ever beginning a new +way of living, and supposed that every one of them was the origin +of their new state. It was also late, and with difficulty, that +they came to know the letters they now use; for those who would +advance their use of these letters to the greatest antiquity +pretend that they learned them from the Phoenicians and from +Cadmus; yet is nobody able to demonstrate that they have any +writing preserved from that time, neither in their temples, nor +in any other public monuments. This appears, because the time +when those lived who went to the Trojan war, so many years +afterward, is in great doubt, and great inquiry is made, whether +the Greeks used their letters at that time; and the most +prevailing opinion, and that nearest the truth, is, that their +present way of using those letters was unknown at that time. +However, there is not any writing which the Greeks agree to he +genuine among them ancienter than Homer's Poems, who must plainly +he confessed later than the siege of Troy; nay, the report goes, +that even he did not leave his poems in writing, but that their +memory was preserved in songs, and they were put together +afterward, and that this is the reason of such a number of +variations as are found in them. (3) As for those who set +themselves about writing their histories, I mean such as Cadmus +of Miletus, and Acusilaus of Argos, and any others that may be +mentioned as succeeding Acusilaus, they lived but a little while +before the Persian expedition into Greece. But then for those +that first introduced philosophy, and the consideration of things +celestial and divine among them, such as Pherceydes the Syrian, +and Pythagoras, and Thales, all with one consent agree, that they +learned what they knew of the Egyptians and Chaldeans, and wrote +but little And these are the things which are supposed to be the +oldest of all among the Greeks; and they have much ado to believe +that the writings ascribed to those men are genuine. + +3. How can it then be other than an absurd thing, for the Greeks +to be so proud, and to vaunt themselves to be the only people +that are acquainted with antiquity, and that have delivered the +true accounts of those early times after an accurate manner? Nay, +who is there that cannot easily gather from the Greek writers +themselves, that they knew but little on any good foundation when +they set to write, but rather wrote their histories from their +own conjectures? Accordingly, they confute one another in their +own books to purpose, and are not ashamed. to give us the most +contradictory accounts of the same things; and I should spend my +time to little purpose, if I should pretend to teach the Greeks +that which they know better than I already, what a great +disagreement there is between Hellanicus and Acusilaus about +their genealogies; in how many eases Acusilaus corrects Hesiod: +or after what manner Ephorus demonstrates Hellanicus to have told +lies in the greatest part of his history; as does Timeus in like +manner as to Ephorus, and the succeeding writers do to Timeus, +and all the later writers do to Herodotus (3) nor could Timeus +agree with Antiochus and Philistius, or with Callias, about the +Sicilian History, no more than do the several writers of the +Athide follow one another about the Athenian affairs; nor do the +historians the like, that wrote the Argolics, about the affairs +of the Argives. And now what need I say any more about particular +cities and smaller places, while in the most approved writers of +the expedition of the Persians, and of the actions which were +therein performed, there are so great differences? Nay, +Thucydides himself is accused of some as writing what is false, +although he seems to have given us the exactest history of the +affairs of his own time. (4) + +4. As for the occasions of so great disagreement of theirs, there +may be assigned many that are very probable, if any have a mind +to make an inquiry about them; but I ascribe these contradictions +chiefly to two causes, which I will now mention, and still think +what I shall mention in the first place to be the principal of +all. For if we remember that in the beginning the Greeks had +taken no care to have public records of their several +transactions preserved, this must for certain have afforded those +that would afterward write about those ancient transactions the +opportunity of making mistakes, and the power of making lies +also; for this original recording of such ancient transactions +hath not only been neglected by the other states of Greece, but +even among the Athenians themselves also, who pretend to be +Aborigines, and to have applied themselves to learning, there are +no such records extant; nay, they say themselves that the laws of +Draco concerning murders, which are now extant in writing, are +the most ancient of their public records; which Draco yet lived +but a little before the tyrant Pisistratus. (5) For as to the +Arcadians, who make such boasts of their antiquity, what need I +speak of them in particular, since it was still later before they +got their letters, and learned them, and that with difficulty +also. (6) + +5. There must therefore naturally arise great differences among +writers, when they had no original records to lay for their +foundation, which might at once inform those who had an +inclination to learn, and contradict those that would tell lies. +However, we are to suppose a second occasion besides the former +of these contradictions; it is this: That those who were the most +zealous to write history were not solicitous for the discovery of +truth, although it was very easy for them always to make such a +profession; but their business was to demonstrate that they could +write well, and make an impression upon mankind thereby; and in +what manner of writing they thought they were able to exceed +others, to that did they apply themselves, Some of them betook +themselves to the writing of fabulous narrations; some of them +endeavored to please the cities or the kings, by writing in their +commendation; others of them fell to finding faults with +transactions, or with the writers of such transactions, and +thought to make a great figure by so doing. And indeed these do +what is of all things the most contrary to true history; for it +is the great character of true history that all concerned therein +both speak and write the same things; while these men, by writing +differently about the same things, think they shall be believed +to write with the greatest regard to truth. We therefore [who are +Jews] must yield to the Grecian writers as to language and +eloquence of composition; but then we shall give them no such +preference as to the verity of ancient history, and least of all +as to that part which concerns the affairs of our own several +countries. + +6. As to the care of writing down the records from the earliest +antiquity among the Egyptians and Babylonians; that the priests +were intrusted therewith, and employed a philosophical concern +about it; that they were the Chaldean priests that did so among +the Babylonians; and that the Phoenicians, who were mingled among +the Greeks, did especially make use of their letters, both for +the common affairs of life, and for the delivering down the +history of common transactions, I think I may omit any proof, +because all men allow it so to be. But now as to our forefathers, +that they took no less care about writing such records, (for I +will not say they took greater care than the others I spoke of,) +and that they committed that matter to their high priests and to +their prophets, and that these records have been written all +along down to our own times with the utmost accuracy; nay, if it +be not too bold for me to say it, our history will be so written +hereafter; - I shall endeavor briefly to inform you. + +7. For our forefathers did not only appoint the best of these +priests, and those that attended upon the Divine worship, for +that design from the beginning, but made provision that the stock +of the priests should continue unmixed and pure; for he who is +partaker of the priesthood must propagate of a wife of the same +nation, without having any regard to money, or any other +dignities; but he is to make a scrutiny, and take his wife's +genealogy from the ancient tables, and procure many witnesses to +it. (7) And this is our practice not only in Judea, but +wheresoever any body of men of our nation do live; and even there +an exact catalogue of our priests' marriages is kept; I mean at +Egypt and at Babylon, or in any other place of the rest of the +habitable earth, whithersoever our priests are scattered; for +they send to Jerusalem the ancient names of their parents in +writing, as well as those of their remoter ancestors, and signify +who are the witnesses also. But if any war falls out, such as +have fallen out a great many of them already, when Antiochus +Epiphanes made an invasion upon our country, as also when Pompey +the Great and Quintilius Varus did so also, and principally in +the wars that have happened in our own times, those priests that +survive them compose new tables of genealogy out of the old +records, and examine the circumstances of the women that remain; +for still they do not admit of those that have been captives, as +suspecting that they had conversation with some foreigners. But +what is the strongest argument of our exact management in this +matter is what I am now going to say, that we have the names of +our high priests from father to son set down in our records for +the interval of two thousand years; and if any of these have been +transgressors of these rules, they are prohibited to present +themselves at the altar, or to be partakers of any other of our +purifications; and this is justly, or rather necessarily done, +because every one is not permitted of his own accord to be a +writer, nor is there any disagreement in what is written; they +being only prophets that have written the original and earliest +accounts of things as they learned them of God himself by +inspiration; and others have written what hath happened in their +own times, and that in a very distinct manner also. + +8. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, +disagreeing from and contradicting one another, [as the Greeks +have,] but only twenty-two books, (8) which contain the records +of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine; +and of them five belong to Moses, which contain his laws and the +traditions of the origin of mankind till his death. This interval +of time was little short of three thousand years; but as to the +time from the death of Moses till the reign of Artaxerxes king of +Persia, who reigned after Xerxes, the prophets, who were after +Moses, wrote down what was done in their times in thirteen books. +The remaining four books contain hymns to God, and precepts for +the conduct of human life. It is true, our history hath been +written since Artaxerxes very particularly, but hath not been +esteemed of the like authority with the former by our +forefathers, because there hath not been an exact succession of +prophets since that time; and how firmly we have given credit to +these books of our own nation is evident by what we do; for +during so many ages as have already passed, no one has been so +bold as either to add any thing to them, to take any thing from +them, or to make any change in them; but it is become natural to +all Jews immediately, and from their very birth, to esteem these +books to contain Divine doctrines, and to persist in them, and, +if occasion be willingly to die for them. For it is no new thing +for our captives, many of them in number, and frequently in time, +to be seen to endure racks and deaths of all kinds upon the +theatres, that they may not be obliged to say one word against +our laws and the records that contain them; whereas there are +none at all among the Greeks who would undergo the least harm on +that account, no, nor in case all the writings that are among +them were to be destroyed; for they take them to be such +discourses as are framed agreeably to the inclinations of those +that write them; and they have justly the same opinion of the +ancient writers, since they see some of the present generation +bold enough to write about such affairs, wherein they were not +present, nor had concern enough to inform themselves about them +from those that knew them; examples of which may be had in this +late war of ours, where some persons have written histories, and +published them, without having been in the places concerned, or +having been near them when the actions were done; but these men +put a few things together by hearsay, and insolently abuse the +world, and call these writings by the name of Histories. + +9. As for myself, I have composed a true history of that whole +war, and of all the particulars that occurred therein, as having +been concerned in all its transactions; for I acted as general of +those among us that are named Galileans, as long as it was +possible for us to make any opposition. I was then seized on by +the Romans, and became a captive. Vespasian also and Titus had me +kept under a guard, and forced me to attend them continually. At +the first I was put into bonds, but was set at liberty afterward, +and sent to accompany Titus when he came from Alexandria to the +siege of Jerusalem; during which time there was nothing done +which escaped my knowledge; for what happened in the Roman camp I +saw, and wrote down carefully; and what informations the +deserters brought [out of the city], I was the only man that +understood them. Afterward I got leisure at Rome; and when all my +materials were prepared for that work, I made use of some persons +to assist me in learning the Greek tongue, and by these means I +composed the history of those transactions. And I was so well +assured of the truth of what I related, that I first of all +appealed to those that had the supreme command in that war, +Vespasian and Titus, as witnesses for me, for to them I presented +those books first of all, and after them to many of the Romans +who had been in the war. I also sold them to many of our own men +who understood the Greek philosophy; among whom were Julius +Archelaus, Herod [king of Chalcis], a person of great gravity, +and king Agrippa himself, a person that deserved the greatest +admiration. Now all these men bore their testimony to me, that I +had the strictest regard to truth; who yet would not have +dissembled the matter, nor been silent, if I, out of ignorance, +or out of favor to any side, either had given false colors to +actions, or omitted any of them. + +10. There have been indeed some bad men, who have attempted to +calumniate my history, and took it to be a kind of scholastic +performance for the exercise of young men. A strange sort of +accusation and calumny this! since every one that undertakes to +deliver the history of actions truly ought to know them +accurately himself in the first place, as either having been +concerned in them himself, or been informed of them by such as +knew them. Now both these methods of knowledge I may very +properly pretend to in the composition of both my works; for, as +I said, I have translated the Antiquities out of our sacred +books; which I easily could do, since I was a priest by my birth, +and have studied that philosophy which is contained in those +writings: and for the History of the War, I wrote it as having +been an actor myself in many of its transactions, an eye-witness +in the greatest part of the rest, and was not unacquainted with +any thing whatsoever that was either said or done in it. How +impudent then must those deserve to be esteemed that undertake to +contradict me about the true state of those affairs! who, +although they pretend to have made use of both the emperors' own +memoirs, yet could not they he acquainted with our affairs who +fought against them. + +11. This digression I have been obliged to make out of necessity, +as being desirous to expose the vanity of those that profess to +write histories; and I suppose I have sufficiently declared that +this custom of transmitting down the histories of ancient times +hath been better preserved by those nations which are called +Barbarians, than by the Greeks themselves. I am now willing, in +the next place, to say a few things to those that endeavor to +prove that our constitution is but of late time, for this reason, +as they pretend, that the Greek writers have said nothing about +us; after which I shall produce testimonies for our antiquity out +of the writings of foreigners; I shall also demonstrate that such +as cast reproaches upon our nation do it very unjustly. + +12. As for ourselves, therefore, we neither inhabit a maritime +country, nor do we delight in merchandise, nor in such a mixture +with other men as arises from it; but the cities we dwell in are +remote from the sea, and having a fruitful country for our +habitation, we take pains in cultivating that only. Our principal +care of all is this, to educate our children well; and we think +it to be the most necessary business of our whole life to observe +the laws that have been given us, and to keep those rules of +piety that have been delivered down to us. Since, therefore, +besides what we have already taken notice of, we have had a +peculiar way of living of our own, there was no occasion offered +us in ancient ages for intermixing among the Greeks, as they had +for mixing among the Egyptians, by their intercourse of exporting +and importing their several goods; as they also mixed with the +Phoenicians, who lived by the sea-side, by means of their love of +lucre in trade and merchandise. Nor did our forefathers betake +themselves, as did some others, to robbery; nor did they, in +order to gain more wealth, fall into foreign wars, although our +country contained many ten thousands of men of courage sufficient +for that purpose. For this reason it was that the Phoenicians +themselves came soon by trading and navigation to be known to the +Grecians, and by their means the Egyptians became known to the +Grecians also, as did all those people whence the Phoenicians in +long voyages over the seas carried wares to the Grecians. The +Medes also and the Persians, when they were lords of Asia, became +well known to them; and this was especially true of the Persians, +who led their armies as far as the other continent [Europe]. The +Thracians were also known to them by the nearness of their +countries, and the Scythians by the means of those that sailed to +Pontus; for it was so in general that all maritime nations, and +those that inhabited near the eastern or western seas, became +most known to those that were desirous to be writers; but such as +had their habitations further from the sea were for the most part +unknown to them which things appear to have happened as to Europe +also, where the city of Rome, that hath this long time been +possessed of so much power, and hath performed such great actions +in war, is yet never mentioned by Herodotus, nor by Thucydides, +nor by any one of their contemporaries; and it was very late, and +with great difficulty, that the Romans became known to the +Greeks. Nay, those that were reckoned the most exact historians +(and Ephorus for one) were so very ignorant of the Gauls and the +Spaniards, that he supposed the Spaniards, who inhabit so great a +part of the western regions of the earth, to be no more than one +city. Those historians also have ventured to describe such +customs as were made use of by them, which they never had either +done or said; and the reason why these writers did not know the +truth of their affairs was this, that they had not any commerce +together; but the reason why they wrote such falsities was this, +that they had a mind to appear to know things which others had +not known. How can it then be any wonder, if our nation was no +more known to many of the Greeks, nor had given them any occasion +to mention them in their writings, while they were so remote from +the sea, and had a conduct of life so peculiar to themselves? + +13. Let us now put the case, therefore, that we made use of this +argument concerning the Grecians, in order to prove that their +nation was not ancient, because nothing is said of them in our +records: would not they laugh at us all, and probably give the +same reasons for our silence that I have now alleged, and would +produce their neighbor nations as witnesses to their own +antiquity? Now the very same thing will I endeavor to do; for I +will bring the Egyptians and the Phoenicians as my principal +witnesses, because nobody can complain Of their testimony as +false, on account that they are known to have borne the greatest +ill-will towards us; I mean this as to the Egyptians in general +all of them, while of the Phoenicians it is known the Tyrians +have been most of all in the same ill disposition towards us: yet +do I confess that I cannot say the same of the Chaldeans, since +our first leaders and ancestors were derived from them; and they +do make mention of us Jews in their records, on account of the +kindred there is between us. Now when I shall have made my +assertions good, so far as concerns the others, I will +demonstrate that some of the Greek writers have made mention of +us Jews also, that those who envy us may not have even this +pretense for contradicting what I have said about our nation. + +14. I shall begin with the writings of the Egyptians; not indeed +of those that have written in the Egyptian language, which it is +impossible for me to do. But Manetho was a man who was by birth +an Egyptian, yet had he made himself master of the Greek +learning, as is very evident; for he wrote the history of his own +country in the Greek tongue, by translating it, as he saith +himself, out of their sacred records; he also finds great fault +with Herodotus for his ignorance and false relations of Egyptian +affairs. Now this Manetho, in the second book of his Egyptian +History, writes concerning us in the following manner. I will set +down his very words, as if I were to bring the very man himself +into a court for a witness: "There was a king of ours whose name +was Timaus. Under him it came to pass, I know not how, that God +was averse to us, and there came, after a surprising manner, men +of ignoble birth out of the eastern parts, and had boldness +enough to make an expedition into our country, and with ease +subdued it by force, yet without our hazarding a battle with +them. So when they had gotten those that governed us under their +power, they afterwards burnt down our cities, and demolished the +temples of the gods, and used all the inhabitants after a most +barbarous manner; nay, some they slew, and led their children and +their wives into slavery. At length they made one of themselves +king, whose name was Salatis; he also lived at Memphis, and made +both the upper and lower regions pay tribute, and left garrisons +in places that were the most proper for them. He chiefly aimed to +secure the eastern parts, as fore-seeing that the Assyrians, who +had then the greatest power, would be desirous of that kingdom, +and invade them; and as he found in the Saite Nomos, [Sethroite,] +a city very proper for this purpose, and which lay upon the +Bubastic channel, but with regard to a certain theologic notion +was called Avaris, this he rebuilt, and made very strong by the +walls he built about it, and by a most numerous garrison of two +hundred and forty thousand armed men whom he put into it to keep +it. Thither Salatis came in summer time, partly to gather his +corn, and pay his soldiers their wages, and partly to exercise +his armed men, and thereby to terrify foreigners. When this man +had reigned thirteen years, after him reigned another, whose name +was Beon, for forty-four years; after him reigned another, called +Apachnas, thirty-six years and seven months; after him Apophis +reigned sixty-one years, and then Janins fifty years and one +month; after all these reigned Assis forty-nine years and two +months. And these six were the first rulers among them, who were +all along making war with the Egyptians, and were very desirous +gradually to destroy them to the very roots. This whole nation +was styled Hycsos, that is, Shepherd-kings: for the first +syllable Hyc, according to the sacred dialect, denotes a king, as +is Sos a shepherd; but this according to the ordinary dialect; +and of these is compounded Hycsos: but some say that these people +were Arabians." Now in another copy it is said that this word +does not denote Kings, but, on the contrary, denotes Captive +Shepherds, and this on account of the particle Hyc; for that Hyc, +with the aspiration, in the Egyptian tongue again denotes +Shepherds, and that expressly also; and this to me seems the more +probable opinion, and more agreeable to ancient history. [But +Manetho goes on]: "These people, whom we have before named kings, +and called shepherds also, and their descendants," as he says, +"kept possession of Egypt five hundred and eleven years." After +these, he says, "That the kings of Thebais and the other parts of +Egypt made an insurrection against the shepherds, and that there +a terrible and long war was made between them." He says further, +"That under a king, whose name was Alisphragmuthosis, the +shepherds were subdued by him, and were indeed driven out of +other parts of Egypt, but were shut up in a place that contained +ten thousand acres; this place was named Avaris." Manetho says, +"That the shepherds built a wall round all this place, which was +a large and a strong wall, and this in order to keep all their +possessions and their prey within a place of strength, but that +Thummosis the son of Alisphragmuthosis made an attempt to take +them by force and by siege, with four hundred and eighty thousand +men to lie rotund about them, but that, upon his despair of +taking the place by that siege, they came to a composition with +them, that they should leave Egypt, and go, without any harm to +be done to them, whithersoever they would; and that, after this +composition was made, they went away with their whole families +and effects, not fewer in number than two hundred and forty +thousand, and took their journey from Egypt, through the +wilderness, for Syria; but that as they were in fear of the +Assyrians, who had then the dominion over Asia, they built a city +in that country which is now called Judea, and that large enough +to contain this great number of men, and called it Jerusalem. (9) +Now Manetho, in another book of his, says, "That this nation, +thus called Shepherds, were also called Captives, in their sacred +books." And this account of his is the truth; for feeding of +sheep was the employment of our forefathers in the most ancient +ages (10) and as they led such a wandering life in feeding sheep, +they were called Shepherds. Nor was it without reason that they +were called Captives by the Egyptians, since one of our +ancestors, Joseph, told the king of Egypt that he was a captive, +and afterward sent for his brethren into Egypt by the king's +permission. But as for these matters, I shall make a more exact +inquiry about them elsewhere. (11) + +15. But now I shall produce the Egyptians as witnesses to the +antiquity of our nation. I shall therefore here bring in Manetho +again, and what he writes as to the order of the times in this +case; and thus he speaks: "When this people or shepherds were +gone out of Egypt to Jerusalem, Tethtoosis the king of Egypt, who +drove them out, reigned afterward twenty-five years and four +months, and then died; after him his son Chebron took the kingdom +for thirteen years; after whom came Amenophis, for twenty years +and seven months; then came his sister Amesses, for twenty-one +years and nine months; after her came Mephres, for twelve years +and nine months; after him was Mephramuthosis, for twenty-five +years and ten months; after him was Thmosis, for nine years and +eight months; after him came Amenophis, for thirty years and ten +months; after him came Orus, for thirty-six years and five +months; then came his daughter Acenchres, for twelve years and +one month; then was her brother Rathotis, for nine years; then +was Acencheres, for twelve years and five months; then came +another Acencheres, for twelve years and three months; after him +Armais, for four years and one month; after him was Ramesses, for +one year and four months; after him came Armesses Miammoun, for +sixty-six years and two months; after him Amenophis, for nineteen +years and six months; after him came Sethosis, and Ramesses, who +had an army of horse, and a naval force. This king appointed his +brother, Armais,, to be his deputy over Egypt." [In another copy +it stood thus: After him came Sethosis, and Ramesses, two +brethren, the former of whom had a naval force, and in a hostile +manner destroyed those that met him upon the sea; but as he slew +Ramesses in no long time afterward, so he appointed another of +his brethren to be his deputy over Egypt.] He also gave him all +the other authority of a king, but with these only injunctions, +that he should not wear the diadem, nor be injurious to the +queen, the mother of his children, and that he should not meddle +with the other concubines of the king; while he made an +expedition against Cyprus, and Phoenicia, and besides against the +Assyrians and the Medes. He then subdued them all, some by his +arms, some without fighting, and some by the terror of his great +army; and being puffed up by the great successes he had had, he +went on still the more boldly, and overthrew the cities and +countries that lay in the eastern parts. But after some +considerable time, Armais, who was left in Egypt, did all those +very things, by way of opposition, which his brother had forbid +him to do, without fear; for he used violence to the queen, and +continued to make use of the rest of the concubines, without +sparing any of them; nay, at the persuasion of his friends he put +on the diadem, and set up to oppose his brother. But then he who +was set over the priests of Egypt wrote letters to Sethosis, and +informed him of all that had happened, and how his brother had +set up to oppose him: he therefore returned back to Pelusium +immediately, and recovered his kingdom again. The country also +was called from his name Egypt; for Manetho says, that Sethosis +was himself called Egyptus, as was his brother Armais called +Danaus." + +16. This is Manetho's account. And evident it is from the number +of years by him set down belonging to this interval, if they be +summed up together, that these shepherds, as they are here +called, who were no other than our forefathers, were delivered +out of Egypt, and came thence, and inhabited this country, three +hundred and ninety-three years before Danaus came to Argos; +although the Argives look upon him (12) as their most ancient +king Manetho, therefore, hears this testimony to two points of +the greatest consequence to our purpose, and those from the +Egyptian records themselves. In the first place, that we came out +of another country into Egypt; and that withal our deliverance +out of it was so ancient in time as to have preceded the siege of +Troy almost a thousand years; but then, as to those things which +Manetbo adds, not from the Egyptian records, but, as he confesses +himself, from some stories of an uncertain original, I will +disprove them hereafter particularly, and shall demonstrate that +they are no better than incredible fables. + +17. I will now, therefore, pass from these records, and come to +those that belong to the Phoenicians, and concern our nation, and +shall produce attestations to what I have said out of them. There +are then records among the Tyrians that take in the history of +many years, and these are public writings, and are kept with +great exactness, and include accounts of the facts done among +them, and such as concern their transactions with other nations +also, those I mean which were worth remembering. Therein it was +recorded that the temple was built by king Solomon at Jerusalem, +one hundred forty-three years and eight months before the Tyrians +built Carthage; and in their annals the building of our temple is +related; for Hirom, the king of Tyre, was the friend of Solomon +our king, and had such friendship transmitted down to him from +his forefathers. He thereupon was ambitious to contribute to the +splendor of this edifice of Solomon, and made him a present of +one hundred and twenty talents of gold. He also cut down the most +excellent timber out of that mountain which is called Libanus, +and sent it to him for adorning its roof. Solomon also not only +made him many other presents, by way of requital, but gave him a +country in Galilee also, that was called Chabulon. (13) But there +was another passion, a philosophic inclination of theirs, which +cemented the friendship that was betwixt them; for they sent +mutual problems to one another, with a desire to have them +unriddled by each other; wherein Solomon was superior to Hirom, +as he was wiser than he in other respects: and many of the +epistles that passed between them are still preserved among the +Tyrians. Now, that this may not depend on my bare word, I will +produce for a witness Dius, one that is believed to have written +the Phoenician History after an accurate manner. This Dius, +therefore, writes thus, in his Histories of the Phoenicians: +"Upon the death of Abibalus, his son Hirom took the kingdom. This +king raised banks at the eastern parts of the city, and enlarged +it; he also joined the temple of Jupiter Olympius, which stood +before in an island by itself, to the city, by raising a causeway +between them, and adorned that temple with donations of gold. He +moreover went up to Libanus, and had timber cut down for the +building of temples. They say further, that Solomon, when he was +king of Jerusalem, sent problems to Hirom to be solved, and +desired he would send others back for him to solve, and that he +who could not solve the problems proposed to him should pay money +to him that solved them. And when Hirom had agreed to the +proposals, but was not able to solve the problems, he was obliged +to pay a great deal of money, as a penalty for the same. As also +they relate, that oneœAbdemon, a man of Tyre, did solve the +problems, and propose others which Solomon could not solve, upon +which he was obliged to repay a great deal of money to Hirom." +These things are attested to by Dius, and confirm what we have +said upon the same subjects before. + +18. And now I shall add Menander the Ephesian, as an additional +witness. This Menander wrote the Acts that were done both by the +Greeks and Barbarians, under every one of the Tyrian kings, and +had taken much pains to learn their history out of their own +records. Now when he was writing about those kings that had +reigned at Tyre, he came to Hirom, and says thus: "Upon the death +of Abibalus, his son Hirom took the kingdom; he lived fifty-three +years, and reigned thirty-four. He raised a bank on that called +the Broad Place, and dedicated that golden pillar which is in +Jupiter's temple; he also went and cut down timber from the +mountain called Libanus, and got timber Of cedar for the roofs of +the temples. He also pulled down the old temples, and built new +ones; besides this, he consecrated the temples of Hercules and of +Astarte. He first built Hercules's temple in the month Peritus, +and that of Astarte when he made his expedition against the +Tityans, who would not pay him their tribute; and when he had +subdued them to himself, he returned home. Under this king there +was a younger son of Abdemon, who mastered the problems which +Solomon king of Jerusalem had recommended to be solved." Now the +time from this king to the building of Carthage is thus +calculated: "Upon the death of Hirom, Baleazarus his son took the +kingdom; he lived forty-three years, and reigned seven years: +after him succeeded his son Abdastartus; he lived twenty-nine +years, and reigned nine years. Now four sons of his nurse plotted +against him and slew him, the eldest of whom reigned twelve +years: after them came Astartus, the son of Deleastartus; he +lived fifty-four years, and reigned twelve years: after him came +his brother Aserymus; he lived fifty-four years, and reigned nine +years: he was slain by his brother Pheles, who took the kingdom +and reigned but eight months, though he lived fifty years: he was +slain by Ithobalus, the priest of Astarte, who reigned thirty-two +years, and lived sixty-eight years: he was succeeded by his son +Badezorus, who lived forty-five years, and reigned six years: he +was succeeded by Matgenus his son; he lived thirty-two years, and +reigned nine years: Pygmalion succeeded him; he lived fifty-six +years, and reigned forty-seven years. Now in the seventh year of +his reign, his sister fled away from him, and built the city +Carthage in Libya." So the whole time from the reign of Hirom, +till the building of Carthage, amounts to the sum of one hundred +fifty-five years and eight months. Since then the temple was +built at Jerusalem in the twelfth year of the reign of Hirom, +there were from the building of the temple, until the building of +Carthage, one hundred forty-three years and eight months. +Wherefore, what occasion is there for alleging any more +testimonies out of the Phoenician histories [on the behalf of our +nation], since what I have said is so thoroughly confirmed +already? and to be sure our ancestors came into this country long +before the building of the temple; for it was not till we had +gotten possession of the whole land by war that we built our +temple. And this is the point that I have clearly proved out of +our sacred writings in my Antiquities. + +19. I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the +Chaldean histories, which records have a great agreement with our +books in oilier things also. Berosus shall be witness to what I +say: he was by birth a Chaldean, well known by the learned, on +account of his publication of the Chaldean books of astronomy and +philosophy among the Greeks. This Berosus, therefore, following +the most ancient records of that nation, gives us a history of +the deluge of waters that then happened, and of the destruction +of mankind thereby, and agrees with Moses's narration thereof. He +also gives us an account of that ark wherein Noah, the origin of +our race, was preserved, when it was brought to the highest part +of the Armenian mountains; after which he gives us a catalogue of +the posterity of Noah, and adds the years of their chronology, +and at length comes down to Nabolassar, who was king of Babylon, +and of the Chaldeans. And when he was relating the acts of this +king, he describes to us how he sent his son Nabuchodonosor +against Egypt, and against our land, with a great army, upon his +being informed that they had revolted from him; and how, by that +means, he subdued them all, and set our temple that was at +Jerusalem on fire; nay, and removed our people entirely out of +their own country, and transferred them to Babylon; when it so +happened that our city was desolate during the interval of +seventy years, until the days of Cyrus king of Persia. He then +says, "That this Babylonian king conquered Egypt, and Syria, and +Phoenicia, and Arabia, and exceeded in his exploits all that had +reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldea." A little after which +Berosus subjoins what follows in his History of Ancient Times. I +will set down Berosus's own accounts, which are these: "When +Nabolassar, father of Nabuchodonosor, heard that the governor +whom he had set over Egypt, and over the parts of Celesyria and +Phoenicia, had revolted from him, he was not able to bear it any +longer; but committing certain parts of his army to his son +Nabuchodonosor, who was then but young, he sent him against the +rebel: Nabuchodonosor joined battle with him, and conquered him, +and reduced the country under his dominion again. Now it so fell +out that his father Nabolassar fell into a distemper at this +time, and died in the city of Babylon, after he had reigned +twenty-nine years. But as he understood, in a little time, that +his father Nabolassar was dead, he set the affairs of Egypt and +the other countries in order, and committed the captives he had +taken from the Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and of the +nations belonging to Egypt, to some of his friends, that they +might conduct that part of the forces that had on heavy armor, +with the rest of his baggage, to Babylonia; while he went in +haste, having but a few with him, over the desert to Babylon; +whither, when he was come, he found the public affairs had been +managed by the Chaldeans, and that the principal person among +them had preserved the kingdom for him. Accordingly, he now +entirely obtained all his father's dominions. He then came, and +ordered the captives to be placed as colonies in the most proper +places of Babylonia; but for himself, he adorned the temple of +Belus, and the other temples, after an elegant manner, out of the +spoils he had taken in this war. He also rebuilt the old city, +and added another to it on the outside, and so far restored +Babylon, that none who should besiege it afterwards might have it +in their power to divert the river, so as to facilitate an +entrance into it; and this he did by building three walls about +the inner city, and three about the outer. Some of these walls he +built of burnt brick and bitumen, and some of brick only. So when +he had thus fortified the city with walls, after an excellent +manner, and had adorned the gates magnificently, he added a new +palace to that which his father had dwelt in, and this close by +it also, and that more eminent in its height, and in its great +splendor. It would perhaps require too long a narration, if any +one were to describe it. However, as prodigiously large and as +magnificent as it was, it was finished in fifteen days. Now in +this palace he erected very high walks, supported by stone +pillars, and by planting what was called a pensile paradise, and +replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he rendered the prospect +an exact resemblance of a mountainous country. This he did to +please his queen, because she had been brought up in Media, and +was fond of a mountainous situation." + +20. This is what Berosus relates concerning the forementioned +king, as he relates many other things about him also in the third +book of his Chaldean History; wherein he complains of the Grecian +writers for supposing, without any foundation, that Babylon was +built by Semiramis, (14) queen of Assyria, and for her false +pretense to those wonderful edifices thereto buildings at +Babylon, do no way contradict those ancient and relating, as if +they were her own workmanship; as indeed in these affairs the +Chaldean History cannot but be the most credible. Moreover, we +meet with a confirmation of what Berosus says in the archives of +the Phoenicians, concerning this king Nabuchodonosor, that he +conquered all Syria and Phoenicia; in which case Philostratus +agrees with the others in that history which he composed, where +he mentions the siege of Tyre; as does Megasthenes also, in the +fourth book of his Indian History, wherein he pretends to prove +that the forementioned king of the Babylonians was superior to +Hercules in strength and the greatness of his exploits; for he +says that he conquered a great part of Libya, and conquered +Iberia also. Now as to what I have said before about the temple +at Jerusalem, that it was fought against by the Babylonians, and +burnt by them, but was opened again when Cyrus had taken the +kingdom of Asia, shall now be demonstrated from what Berosus adds +further upon that head; for thus he says in his third book: +"Nabuchodonosor, after he had begun to build the forementioned +wall, fell sick, and departed this life, when he had reigned +forty-three years; whereupon his son Evilmerodach obtained the +kingdom. He governed public affairs after an illegal and impure +manner, and had a plot laid against him by Neriglissoor, his +sister's husband, and was slain by him when he had reigned but +two years. After he was slain, Neriglissoor, the person who +plotted against him, succeeded him in the kingdom, and reigned +four years; his son Laborosoarchod obtained the kingdom, though +he was but a child, and kept it nine mouths; but by reason of the +very ill temper and ill practices he exhibited to the world, a +plot was laid against him also by his friends, and he was +tormented to death. After his death, the conspirators got +together, and by common consent put the crown upon the head of +Nabonnedus, a man of Babylon, and one who belonged to that +insurrection. In his reign it was that the walls of the city of +Babylon were curiously built with burnt brick and bitumen; but +when he was come to the seventeenth year of his reign, Cyrus came +out of Persia with a great army; and having already conquered all +the rest of Asia, he came hastily to Babylonia. When Nabonnedus +perceived he was coming to attack him, he met him with his +forces, and joining battle with him was beaten, and fled away +with a few of his troops with him, and was shut up within the +city Borsippus. Hereupon Cyrus took Babylon, and gave order that +the outer walls of the city should be demolished, because the +city had proved very troublesome to him, and cost him a great +deal of pains to take it. He then marched away to Borsippus, to +besiege Nabonnedus; but as Nabonnedus did not sustain the siege, +but delivered himself into his hands, he was at first kindly used +by Cyrus, who gave him Carmania, as a place for him to inhabit +in, but sent him out of Babylonia. Accordingly Nabonnedus spent +the rest of his time in that country, and there died." + +21. These accounts agree with the true histories in our books; +for in them it is written that Nebuchadnezzar, in the eighteenth +year of his reign, laid our temple desolate, and so it lay in +that state of obscurity for fifty years; but that in the second +year of the reign of Cyrus its foundations were laid, and it was +finished again in the second year of Darius. I will now add the +records of the Phoenicians; for it will not be superfluous to +give the reader demonstrations more than enough on this occasion. +In them we have this enumeration of the times of their several +kings: "Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre for thirteen years in the +days of Ithobal, their king; after him reigned Baal, ten years; +after him were judges appointed, who judged the people: +Ecnibalus, the son of Baslacus, two months; Chelbes, the son of +Abdeus, ten months; Abbar, the high priest, three months; +Mitgonus and Gerastratus, the sons of Abdelemus, were judges six +years; after whom Balatorus reigned one year; after his death +they sent and fetched Merbalus from Babylon, who reigned four +years; after his death they sent for his brother Hirom, who +reigned twenty years. Under his reign Cyrus became king of +Persia." So that the whole interval is fifty-four years besides +three months; for in the seventh year of the reign of +Nebuchadnezzar he began to besiege Tyre, and Cyrus the Persian +took the kingdom in the fourteenth year of Hirom. So that the +records of the Chaldeans and Tyrians agree with our writings +about this temple; and the testimonies here produced are an +indisputable and undeniable attestation to the antiquity of our +nation. And I suppose that what I have already said may be +sufficient to such as are not very contentious. + +22. But now it is proper to satisfy the inquiry of those that +disbelieve the records of barbarians, and think none but Greeks +to be worthy of credit, and to produce many of these very Greeks +who were acquainted with our nation, and to set before them such +as upon occasion have made mention of us in their own writings. +Pythagoras, therefore, of Samos, lived in very ancient times, and +was esteemed a person superior to all philosophers in wisdom and +piety towards God. Now it is plain that he did not only know our +doctrines, but was in very great measure a follower and admirer +of them. There is not indeed extant any writing that is owned for +his (15) but many there are who have written his history, of whom +Hermippus is the most celebrated, who was a person very +inquisitive into all sorts of history. Now this Hermippus, in his +first book concerning Pythagoras, speaks thus: "That Pythagoras, +upon the death of one of his associates, whose name was +Calliphon, a Crotonlate by birth, affirmed that this man's soul +conversed with him both night and day, and enjoined him not to +pass over a place where an ass had fallen down; as also not to +drink of such waters as caused thirst again; and to abstain from +all sorts of reproaches." After which he adds thus: "This he did +and said in imitation of the doctrines of the Jews and Thracians, +which he transferred into his own philosophy." For it is very +truly affirmed of this Pythagoras, that he took a great many of +the laws of the Jews into his own philosophy. Nor was our nation +unknown of old to several of the Grecian cities, and indeed was +thought worthy of imitation by some of them. This is declared by +Theophrastus, in his writings concerning laws; for he says that +"the laws of the Tyrians forbid men to swear foreign oaths." +Among which he enumerates some others, and particularly that +called Corban: which oath can only be found among the Jews, and +declares what a man may call "A thing devoted to God." Nor indeed +was Herodotus of Halicarnassus unacquainted with our nation, but +mentions it after a way of his own, when he saith thus, in the +second book concerning the Colchians. His words are these: "The +only people who were circumcised in their privy members +originally, were the Colchians, the Egyptians, and the +Ethiopians; but the Phoenicians and those Syrians that are in +Palestine confess that they learned it from the Egyptians. And +for those Syrians who live about the rivers Thermodon and +Parthenius, and their neighbors the Macrones, they say they have +lately learned it from the Colchians; for these are the only +people that are circumcised among mankind, and appear to have +done the very same thing with the Egyptians. But as for the +Egyptians and Ethiopians themselves, I am not able to say which +of them received it from the other." This therefore is what +Herodotus says, that "the Syrians that are in Palestine are +circumcised." But there are no inhabitants of Palestine that are +circumcised excepting the Jews; and therefore it must be his +knowledge of them that enabled him to speak so much concerning +them. Cherilus also, a still ancienter writer, and a poet, (16) +makes mention of our nation, and informs us that it came to the +assistance of king Xerxes, in his expedition against Greece. For +in his enumeration of all those nations, he last of all inserts +ours among the rest, when he says," At the last there passed over +a people, wonderful to be beheld; for they spake the Phoenician +tongue with their mouths; they dwelt in the Solymean mountains, +near a broad lake: their heads were sooty; they had round rasures +on them; their heads and faces were like nasty horse-heads also, +that had been hardened in the smoke." I think, therefore, that it +is evident to every body that Cherilus means us, because the +Solymean mountains are in our country, wherein we inhabit, as is +also the lake called Asphaltitis; for this is a broader and +larger lake than any other that is in Syria: and thus does +Cherilus make mention of us. But now that not only the lowest +sort of the Grecians, but those that are had in the greatest +admiration for their philosophic improvements among them, did not +only know the Jews, but when they lighted upon any of them, +admired them also, it is easy for any one to know. For Clearchus, +who was the scholar of Aristotle, and inferior to no one of the +Peripatetics whomsoever, in his first book concerning sleep, says +that "Aristotle his master related what follows of a Jew," and +sets down Aristotle's own discourse with him. The account is +this, as written down by him: "Now, for a great part of what this +Jew said, it would be too long to recite it; but what includes in +it both wonder and philosophy it may not be amiss to discourse +of. Now, that I may be plain with thee, Hyperochides, I shall +herein seem to thee to relate wonders, and what will resemble +dreams themselves. Hereupon Hyperochides answered modestly, and +said, For that very reason it is that all of us are very desirous +of hearing what thou art going to say. Then replied Aristotle, +For this cause it will be the best way to imitate that rule of +the Rhetoricians, which requires us first to give an account of +the man, and of what nation he was, that so we may not contradict +our master's directions. Then said Hyperochides, Go on, if it so +pleases thee. This man then, [answered Aristotle,] was by birth a +Jew, and came from Celesyria; these Jews are derived from the +Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calami, and by +the Syrians Judaei, and took their name from the country they +inhabit, which is called Judea; but for the name of their city, +it is a very awkward one, for they call it Jerusalem. Now this +man, when he was hospitably treated by a great many, came down +from the upper country to the places near the sea, and became a +Grecian, not only in his language, but in his soul also; insomuch +that when we ourselves happened to be in Asia about the same +places whither he came, he conversed with us, and with other +philosophical persons, and made a trial of our skill in +philosophy; and as he had lived with many learned men, he +communicated to us more information than he received from us." +This is Aristotle's account of the matter, as given us by +Clearchus; which Aristotle discoursed also particularly of the +great and wonderful fortitude of this Jew in his diet, and +continent way of living, as those that please may learn more +about him from Clearchus's book itself; for I avoid setting down +any more than is sufficient for my purpose. Now Clearchus said +this by way of digression, for his main design was of another +nature. But for Hecateus of Abdera, who was both a philosopher, +and one very useful ill an active life, he was contemporary with +king Alexander in his youth, and afterward was with Ptolemy, the +son of Lagus; he did not write about the Jewish affairs by the by +only, but composed an entire book concerning the Jews themselves; +out of which book I am willing to run over a few things, of which +I have been treating by way of epitome. And, in the first place, +I will demonstrate the time when this Hecateus lived; for he +mentions the fight that was between Ptolemy and Demetrius about +Gaza, which was fought in the eleventh year after the death of +Alexander, and in the hundred and seventeenth olympiad, as Castor +says in his history. For when he had set down this olympiad, he +says further, that "in this olympiad Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, +beat in battle Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, who was named +Poliorcetes, at Gaza." Now, it is agreed by all, that Alexander +died in the hundred and fourteenth olympiad; it is therefore +evident that our nation flourished in his time, and in the time +of Alexander. Again, Hecateus says to the same purpose, as +follows: "Ptolemy got possession of the places in Syria after +that battle at Gaza; and many, when they heard of Ptolemy's +moderation and humanity, went along with him to Egypt, and were +willing to assist him in his affairs; one of whom (Hecateus says) +was Hezekiah (17) the high priest of the Jews; a man of about +sixty-six years of age, and in great dignity among his own +people. He was a very sensible man, and could speak very +movingly, and was very skillful in the management of affairs, if +any other man ever were so; although, as he says, all the priests +of the Jews took tithes of the products of the earth, and managed +public affairs, and were in number not above fifteen hundred at +the most." Hecateus mentions this Hezekiah a second time, and +says, that "as he was possessed of so great a dignity, and was +become familiar with us, so did he take certain of those that +were with him, and explained to them all the circumstances of +their people; for he had all their habitations and polity down in +writing." Moreover, Hecateus declares again, "what regard we have +for our laws, and that we resolve to endure any thing rather than +transgress them, because we think it right for us to do so." +Whereupon he adds, that "although they are in a bad reputation +among their neighbors, and among all those that come to them, and +have been often treated injuriously by the kings and governors of +Persia, yet can they not be dissuaded from acting what they think +best; but that when they are stripped on this account, and have +torments inflicted upon them, and they are brought to the most +terrible kinds of death, they meet them after an extraordinary +manner, beyond all other people, and will not renounce the +religion of their forefathers." Hecateus also produces +demonstrations not a few of this their resolute tenaciousness of +their laws, when he speaks thus: "Alexander was once at Babylon, +and had an intention to rebuild the temple of Belus that was +fallen to decay, and in order thereto, he commanded all his +soldiers in general to bring earth thither. But the Jews, and +they only, would not comply with that command; nay, they +underwent stripes and great losses of what they had on this +account, till the king forgave them, and permitted them to live +in quiet." He adds further, that "when the Macedonians came to +them into that country, and demolished the [old] temples and the +altars, they assisted them in demolishing them all (18) but [for +not assisting them in rebuilding them] they either underwent +losses, or sometimes obtained forgiveness." He adds further, that +"these men deserve to be admired on that account." He also speaks +of the mighty populousness of our nation, and says that "the +Persians formerly carried away many ten thousands of our people +to Babylon, as also that not a few ten thousands were removed +after Alexander's death into Egypt and Phoenicia, by reason of +the sedition that was arisen in Syria." The same person takes +notice in his history, how large the country is which we inhabit, +as well as of its excellent character, and says, that "the land +in which the Jews inhabit contains three millions of arourae, +(19) and is generally of a most excellent and most fruitful soil; +nor is Judea of lesser dimensions." The same man describe our +city Jerusalem also itself as of a most excellent structure, and +very large, and inhabited from the most ancient times. He also +discourses of the multitude of men in it, and of the construction +of our temple, after the following manner: "There are many strong +places and villages (says he) in the country of Judea; but one +strong city there is, about fifty furlongs in circumference, +which is inhabited by a hundred and twenty thousand men, or +thereabouts; they call it Jerusalem. There is about the middle of +the city a wall of stone, whose length is five hundred feet, and +the breadth a hundred cubits, with double cloisters; wherein +there is a square altar, not made of hewn stone, but composed of +white stones gathered together, having each side twenty cubits +long, and its altitude ten cubits. Hard by it is a large edifice, +wherein there is an altar and a candlestick, both of gold, and in +weight two talents: upon these there is a light that is never +extinguished, either by night or by day. There is no image, nor +any thing, nor any donations therein; nothing at all is there +planted, neither grove, nor any thing of that sort. The priests +abide therein both nights and days, performing certain +purifications, and drinking not the least drop of wine while they +are in the temple." Moreover, he attests that we Jews went as +auxiliaries along with king Alexander, and after him with his +successors. I will add further what he says he learned when he +was himself with the same army, concerning the actions of a man +that was a Jew. His words are these: "As I was myself going to +the Red Sea, there followed us a man, whose name was Mosollam; he +was one of the Jewish horsemen who conducted us; he was a person +of great courage, of a strong body, and by all allowed to be the +most skillful archer that was either among the Greeks or +barbarians. Now this man, as people were in great numbers passing +along the road, and a certain augur was observing an augury by a +bird, and requiring them all to stand still, inquired what they +staid for. Hereupon the augur showed him the bird from whence he +took his augury, and told him that if the bird staid where he +was, they ought all to stand still; but that if he got up, and +flew onward, they must go forward; but that if he flew backward, +they must retire again. Mosollam made no reply, but drew his bow, +and shot at the bird, and hit him, and killed him; and as the +augur and some others were very angry, and wished imprecations +upon him, he answered them thus: Why are you so mad as to take +this most unhappy bird into your hands? for how can this bird +give us any true information concerning our march, who could not +foresee how to save himself? for had he been able to foreknow +what was future, he would not have come to this place, but would +have been afraid lest Mosollam the Jew should shoot at him, and +kill him." But of Hecateus's testimonies we have said enough; for +as to such as desire to know more of them, they may easily obtain +them from his book itself. However, I shall not think it too much +for me to name Agatharchides, as having made mention of us Jews, +though in way of derision at our simplicity, as he supposes it to +be; for when he was discoursing of the affairs of Stratonice, +"how she came out of Macedonia into Syria, and left her husband +Demetrius, while yet Seleueus would not marry her as she +expected, but during the time of his raising an army at Babylon, +stirred up a sedition about Antioch; and how, after that, the +king came back, and upon his taking of Antioch, she fled to +Seleucia, and had it in her power to sail away immediately yet +did she comply with a dream which forbade her so to do, and so +was caught and put to death." When Agatharehides had premised +this story, and had jested upon Stratonice for her superstition, +he gives a like example of what was reported concerning us, and +writes thus: "There are a people called Jews, and dwell in a city +the strongest of all other cities, which the inhabitants call +Jerusalem, and are accustomed to rest on every seventh day (20) +on which times they make no use of their arms, nor meddle with +husbandry, nor take care of any affairs of life, but spread out +their hands in their holy places, and pray till the evening. Now +it came to pass, that when Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, came into +this city with his army, that these men, in observing this mad +custom of theirs, instead of guarding the city, suffered their +country to submit itself to a bitter lord; and their law was +openly proved to have commanded a foolish practice. (21) This +accident taught all other men but the Jews to disregard such +dreams as these were, and not to follow the like idle suggestions +delivered as a law, when, in such uncertainty of human +reasonings, they are at a loss what they should do." Now this our +procedure seems a ridiculous thing to Agatharehides, but will +appear to such as consider it without prejudice a great thing, +and what deserved a great many encomiums; I mean, when certain +men constantly prefer the observation of their laws, and their +religion towards God, before the preservation of themselves and +their country. + +23. Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation, not +because they knew nothing of us, but because they envied us, or +for some other unjustifiable reasons, I think I can demonstrate +by particular instances; for Hieronymus, who wrote the History of +[Alexander's Successors, lived at the same time with Hecateus, +and was a friend of king Antigonus, and president of Syria. Now +it is plain that Hecateus wrote an entire book concerning us, +while Hieronymus never mentions us in his history, although he +was bred up very near to the places where we live. Thus different +from one another are the inclinations of men; while the one +thought we deserved to be carefully remembered, as some +ill-disposed passion blinded the other's mind so entirely, that +he could not discern the truth. And now certainly the foregoing +records of the Egyptians, and Chaldeans, and Phoenicians, +together with so many of the Greek writers, will be sufficient +for the demonstration of our antiquity. Moreover, besides those +forementioned, Theophilus, and Theodotus, and Mnaseas, and +Aristophanes, and Hermogenes, Euhemerus also, and Conon, and +Zopyrion, and perhaps many others, (for I have not lighted upon +all the Greek books,) have made distinct mention of us. It is +true, many of the men before mentioned have made great mistakes +about the true accounts of our nation in the earliest times, +because they had not perused our sacred books; yet have they all +of them afforded their testimony to our antiquity, concerning +which I am now treating. However, Demetrius Phalereus, and the +elder Philo, with Eupolemus, have not greatly missed the truth +about our affairs; whose lesser mistakes ought therefore to be +forgiven them; for it was not in their power to understand our +writings with the utmost accuracy. + +24. One particular there is still remaining behind of what I at +first proposed to speak to, and that is, to demonstrate that +those calumnies and reproaches which some have thrown upon our +nation, are lies, and to make use of those writers' own +testimonies against themselves; and that in general this +self-contradiction hath happened to many other authors by reason +of their ill-will to some people, I conclude, is not unknown to +such as have read histories with sufficient care;for some of them +have endeavored to disgrace the nobility of certain nations, and +of some of the most glorious cities, and have cast reproaches +upon certain forms of government. Thus hath Theopompus abused the +city of Athens, Polycrates that of Lacedemon, as hath he hat +wrote the Tripoliticus (for he is not Theopompus, as is supposed +bys ome) done by the city of Thebes. Timeils also hath greatly +abused the foregoing people and others also; and this +ill-treatment they use chiefly when they have a contest with men +of the greatest reputation; some out of envy and malice, and +others as supposing that by this foolish talking of theirs they +may be thought worthy of being remembered themselves; and indeed +they do by no means fail of their hopes, with regard to the +foolish part of mankind, but men of sober judgment still condemn +them of great malignity. + +25. Now the Egyptians were the first that cast reproaches upon +us; in order to please which nation, some others undertook to +pervert the truth, while they would neither own that our +forefathers came into Egypt from another country, as the fact +was, nor give a true account of our departure thence. And indeed +the Egyptians took many occasions to hate us and envy us: in the +first place, because our ancestors had had the dominion over +their country? and when they were delivered from them, and gone +to their own country again, they lived there in prosperity. In +the next place, the difference of our religion from theirs hath +occasioned great enmity between us, while our way of Divine +worship did as much exceed that which their laws appointed, as +does the nature of God exceed that of brute beasts; for so far +they all agree through the whole country, to esteem such animals +as gods, although they differ one from another in the peculiar +worship they severally pay to them. And certainly men they are +entirely of vain and foolish minds, who have thus accustomed +themselves from the beginning to have such bad notions concerning +their gods, and could not think of imitating that decent form of +Divine worship which we made use of, though, when they saw our +institutions approved of by many others, they could not but envy +us on that account; for some of them have proceeded to that +degree of folly and meanness in their conduct, as not to scruple +to contradict their own ancient records, nay, to contradict +themselves also in their writings, and yet were so blinded by +their passions as not to discern it. + +26. And now I will turn my discourse to one of their principal +writers, whom I have a little before made use of as a witness to +our antiquity; I mean Manetho. (22) He promised to interpret the +Egyptian history out of their sacred writings, and premised this: +that "our people had come into Egypt, many ten thousands in +number, and subdued its inhabitants;" and when he had further +confessed that "we went out of that country afterward, and +settled in that country which is now called Judea, and there +built Jerusalem and its temple." Now thus far he followed his +ancient records; but after this he permits himself, in order to +appear to have written what rumors and reports passed abroad +about the Jews, and introduces incredible narrations, as if he +would have the Egyptian multitude, that had the leprosy and other +distempers, to have been mixed with us, as he says they were, and +that they were condemned to fly out of Egypt together; for he +mentions Amenophis, a fictitious king's name, though on that +account he durst not set down the number of years of his reign, +which yet he had accurately done as to the other kings he +mentions; he then ascribes certain fabulous stories to this king, +as having in a manner forgotten how he had already related that +the departure of the shepherds for Jerusalem had been five +hundred and eighteen years before; for Tethmosis was king when +they went away. Now, from his days, the reigns of the +intermediate kings, according to Manethe, amounted to three +hundred and ninety-three years, as he says himself, till the two +brothers Sethos and Hermeus; the one of whom, Sethos, was called +by that other name of Egyptus, and the other, Hermeus, by that of +Danaus. He also says that Sethos east the other out of Egypt, and +reigned fifty-nine years, as did his eldest son Rhampses reign +after him sixty-six years. When Manethe therefore had +acknowledged that our forefathers were gone out of Egypt so many +years ago, he introduces his fictitious king Amenophis, and says +thus: "This king was desirous to become a spectator of the gods, +as had Orus, one of his predecessors in that kingdom, desired the +same before him; he also communicated that his desire to his +namesake Amenophis, who was the son of Papis, and one that seemed +to partake of a divine nature, both as to wisdom and the +knowledge of futurities." Manethe adds, "how this namesake of his +told him that he might see the gods, if he would clear the whole +country of the lepers and of the other impure people; that the +king was pleased with this injunction, and got together all that +had any defect in their bodies out of Egypt; and that their +number was eighty thousand; whom he sent to those quarries which +are on the east side of the Nile, that they might work in them, +and might be separated from the rest of the Egyptians." He says +further, that "there were some of the learned priests that were +polluted with the leprosy; but that still this Amenophis, the +wise man and the prophet, was afraid that the gods would be angry +at him and at the king, if there should appear to have been +violence offered them; who also added this further, [out of his +sagacity about futurities,] that certain people would come to the +assistance of these polluted wretches, and would conquer Egypt, +and keep it in their possession thirteen years; that, however, he +durst not tell the king of these things, but that he left a +writing behind him about all those matters, and then slew +himself, which made the king disconsolate." After which he writes +thus verbatim: "After those that were sent to work in the +quarries had continued in that miserable state for a long while, +the king was desired that he would set apart the city Avaris, +which was then left desolate of the shepherds, for their +habitation and protection; which desire he granted them. Now this +city, according to the ancient theology, was Typho's city. But +when these men were gotten into it, and found the place fit for a +revolt, they appointed themselves a ruler out of the priests of +Hellopolis, whose name was Osarsiph, and they took their oaths +that they would be obedient to him in all things. He then, in the +first place, made this law for them, That they should neither +worship the Egyptian gods, nor should abstain from any one of +those sacred animals which they have in the highest esteem, but +kill and destroy them all; that they should join themselves to +nobody but to those that were of this confederacy. When he had +made such laws as these, and many more such as were mainly +opposite to the customs of the Egyptians, (23) he gave order that +they should use the multitude of the hands they had in building +walls about their City, and make themselves ready for a war with +king Amenophis, while he did himself take into his friendship the +other priests, and those that were polluted with them, and sent +ambassadors to those shepherds who had been driven out of the +land by Tefilmosis to the city called Jerusalem; whereby he +informed them of his own affairs, and of the state of those +others that had been treated after such an ignominious manner, +and desired that they would come with one consent to his +assistance in this war against Egypt. He also promised that he +would, in the first place, bring them back to their ancient city +and country Avaris, and provide a plentiful maintenance for their +multitude; that he would protect them and fight for them as +occasion should require, and would easily reduce the country +under their dominion. These shepherds were all very glad of this +message, and came away with alacrity all together, being in +number two hundred thousand men; and in a little time they came +to Avaris. And now Amenophis the king of Egypt, upon his being +informed of their invasion, was in great confusion, as calling to +mind what Amenophis, the son of Papis, had foretold him; and, in +the first place, he assembled the multitude of the Egyptians, and +took counsel with their leaders, and sent for their sacred +animals to him, especially for those that were principally +worshipped in their temples, and gave a particular charge to the +priests distinctly, that they should hide the images of their +gods with the utmost care he also sent his son Sethos, who was +also named Ramesses, from his father Rhampses, being but five +years old, to a friend of his. He then passed on with the rest of +the Egyptians, being three hundred thousand of the most warlike +of them, against the enemy, who met them. Yet did he not join +battle with them; but thinking that would be to fight against the +gods, he returned back and came to Memphis, where he took Apis +and the other sacred animals which he had sent for to him, and +presently marched into Ethiopia, together with his whole army and +multitude of Egyptians; for the king of Ethiopia was under an +obligation to him, on which account he received him, and took +care of all the multitude that was with him, while the country +supplied all that was necessary for the food of the men. He also +allotted cities and villages for this exile, that was to be from +its beginning during those fatally determined thirteen years. +Moreover, he pitched a camp for his Ethiopian army, as a guard to +king Amenophis, upon the borders of Egypt. And this was the state +of things in Ethiopia. But for the people of Jerusalem, when they +came down together with the polluted Egyptians, they treated the +men in such a barbarous manner, that those who saw how they +subdued the forementioned country, and the horrid wickedness they +were guilty of, thought it a most dreadful thing; for they did +not only set the cities and villages on fire but were not +satisfied till they had been guilty of sacrilege, and destroyed +the images of the gods, and used them in roasting those sacred +animals that used to be worshipped, and forced the priests and +prophets to be the executioners and murderers of those animals, +and then ejected them naked out of the country. It was also +reported that the priest, who ordained their polity and their +laws, was by birth of Hellopolls, and his name Osarsiph, from +Osyris, who was the god of Hellopolls; but that when he was gone +over to these people, his name was changed, and he was called +Moses." + +27. This is what the Egyptians relate about the Jews, with much +more, which I omit for the sake of brevity. But still Manetho +goes on, that "after this, Amenophis returned back from Ethiopia +with a great army, as did his son Ahampses with another army +also, and that both of them joined battle with the shepherds and +the polluted people, and beat them, and slew a great many of +them, and pursued them to the bounds of Syria." These and the +like accounts are written by Manetho. But I will demonstrate that +he trifles, and tells arrant lies, after I have made a +distinction which will relate to what I am going to say about +him; for this Manetho had granted and confessed that this nation +was not originally Egyptian, but that they had come from another +country, and subdued Egypt, and then went away again out of it. +But that. those Egyptians who were thus diseased in their bodies +were not mingled with us afterward, and that Moses who brought +the people out was not one of that company, but lived many +generations earlier, I shall endeavor to demonstrate from +Manetho's own accounts themselves. + +28. Now, for the first occasion of this fiction, Manetho supposes +what is no better than a ridiculous thing; for he says that" king +Amenophis desired to see the gods." What gods, I pray, did he +desire to see? If he meant the gods whom their laws ordained to +be worshipped, the ox, the goat, the crocodile, and the baboon, +he saw them already; but for the heavenly gods, how could he see +them, and what should occasion this his desire? To be sure? it +was because another king before him had already seen them. He had +then been informed what sort of gods they were, and after what +manner they had been seen, insomuch that he did not stand in need +of any new artifice for obtaining this sight. However, the +prophet by whose means the king thought to compass his design was +a wise man. If so, how came he not to know that such his desire +was impossible to be accomplished? for the event did not succeed. +And what pretense could there be to suppose that the gods would +not be seen by reason of the people's maims in their bodies, or +leprosy? for the gods are not angry at the imperfection of +bodies, but at wicked practices; and as to eighty thousand +lepers, and those in an ill state also, how is it possible to +have them gathered together in one day? nay, how came the king +not to comply with the prophet? for his injunction was, that +those that were maimed should be expelled out of Egypt, while the +king only sent them to work in the quarries, as if he were rather +in want of laborers, than intended to purge his country. He says +further, that" this prophet slew himself, as foreseeing the anger +of the gods, and those events which were to come upon Egypt +afterward; and that he left this prediction for the king in +writing." Besides, how came it to pass that this prophet did not +foreknow his own death at the first? nay, how came he not to +contradict the king in his desire to see the gods immediately? +how came that unreasonable dread upon him of judgments that were +not to happen in his lifetime? or what worse thing could he +suffer, out of the fear of which he made haste to kill himself? +But now let us see the silliest thing of all: - The king, +although he had been informed of these things, and terrified with +the fear of what was to come, yet did not he even then eject +these maimed people out of his country, when it had been foretold +him that he was to clear Egypt of them; but, as Manetho says, "he +then, upon their request, gave them that city to inhabit, which +had formerly belonged to the shepherds, and was called Avaris; +whither when they were gone in crowds," he says, "they chose one +that had formerly been priest of Hellopolls; and that this priest +first ordained that they should neither worship the gods, nor +abstain from those animals that were worshipped by the Egyptians, +but should kill and eat them all, and should associate with +nobody but those that had conspired with them; and that he bound +the multitude by oaths to be sure to continue in those laws; and +that when he had built a wall about Avaris, he made war against +the king." Manetho adds also, that "this priest sent to Jerusalem +to invite that people to come to his assistance, and promised to +give them Avaris; for that it had belonged to the forefathers of +those that were coming from Jerusalem, and that when they were +come, they made a war immediately against the king, and got +possession of all Egypt." He says also that "the Egyptians came +with an army of two hundred thousand men, and that Amenophis, the +king of Egypt, not thinking that he ought to fight against the +gods, ran away presently into Ethiopia, and committed Apis and +certain other of their sacred animals to the priests, and +commanded them to take care of preserving them." He says further, +that" the people of Jerusalem came accordingly upon the +Egyptians, and overthrew their cities, and burnt their temples, +and slew their horsemen, and, in short, abstained from no sort of +wickedness nor barbarity; and for that priest who settled their +polity and their laws," he says," he was by birth of Hellopolis, +and his name was Osarsiph, from Osyris the god of Hellopolis, but +that he changed his name, and called himself Moses." He then says +that "on the thirteenth year afterward, Amenophis, according to +the fatal time of the duration of his misfortunes, came upon them +out of Ethiopia with a great army, and joining battle with the +shepherds and with the polluted people, overcame them in battle, +and slew a great many of them, and pursued them as far as the +bounds of Syria." + +29. Now Manetho does not reflect upon the improbability of his +lie; for the leprous people, and the multitude that was with +them, although they might formerly have been angry at the king, +and at those that had treated them so coarsely, and this +according to the prediction of the prophet; yet certainly, when +they were come out of the mines, and had received of the king a +city, and a country, they would have grown milder towards him. +However, had they ever so much hated him in particular, they +might have laid a private plot against himself, but would hardly +have made war against all the Egyptians; I mean this on the +account of the great kindred they who were so numerous must have +had among them. Nay still, if they had resolved to fight with the +men, they would not have had impudence enough to fight with their +gods; nor would they have ordained laws quite contrary to those +of their own country, and to those in which they had been bred up +themselves. Yet are we beholden to Manethe, that he does not lay +the principal charge of this horrid transgression upon those that +came from Jerusalem, but says that the Egyptians themselves were +the most guilty, and that they were their priests that contrived +these things, and made the multitude take their oaths for doing +so. But still how absurd is it to suppose that none of these +people's own relations or friends should be prevailed with to +revolt, nor to undergo the hazards of war with them, while these +polluted people were forced to send to Jerusalem, and bring their +auxiliaries from thence! What friendship, I pray, or what +relation was there formerly between them that required this +assistance? On the contrary, these people were enemies, and +greatly differed from them in their customs. He says, indeed, +that they complied immediately, upon their praising them that +they should conquer Egypt; as if they did not themselves very +well know that country out of which they had been driven by +force. Now had these men been in want, or lived miserably, +perhaps they might have undertaken so hazardous an enterprise; +but as they dwelt in a happy city, and had a large country, and +one better than Egypt itself, how came it about that, for the +sake of those that had of old been their enemies, of those that +were maimed in their bodies, and of those whom none of their own +relations would endure, they should run such hazards in assisting +them? For they could not foresee that the king would run away +from them: on the contrary, he saith himself that "Amenophis's +son had three hundred thousand men with him, and met them at +Pelusium." Now, to be sure, those that came could not be ignorant +of this; but for the king's repentance and flight, how could they +possibly guess at it? He then says, that "those who came from +Jerusalem, and made this invasion, got the granaries of Egypt +into their possession, and perpetrated many of the most horrid +actions there." And thence he reproaches them, as though he had +not himself introduced them as enemies, or as though he might +accuse such as were invited from another place for so doing, when +the natural Egyptians themselves had done the same things before +their coming, and had taken oaths so to do. However, "Amenophis, +some time afterward, came upon them, and conquered them in +battle, and slew his enemies, and drove them before him as far as +Syria." As if Egypt were so easily taken by people that came from +any place whatsoever, and as if those that had conquered it by +war, when they were informed that Amenophis was alive, did +neither fortify the avenues out of Ethiopia into it, although +they had great advantages for doing it, nor did get their other +forces ready for their defense! but that he followed them over +the sandy desert, and slew them as far as Syria; while yet it is +rot an easy thing for an army to pass over that country, even +without fighting. + +30. Our nation, therefore, according to Manetho, was not derived +from Egypt, nor were any of the Egyptians mingled with us. For it +is to be supposed that many of the leprous and distempered people +were dead in the mines, since they had been there a long time, +and in so ill a condition; many others must be dead in the +battles that happened afterward, and more still in the last +battle and flight after it. + +31. It now remains that I debate with Manetho about Moses. Now +the Egyptians acknowledge him to have been a wonderful and a +divine person; nay, they would willingly lay claim to him +themselves, though after a most abusive and incredible manner, +and pretend that he was of Heliopolis, and one of the priests of +that place, and was ejected out of it among the rest, on account +of his leprosy; although it had been demonstrated out of their +records that he lived five hundred and eighteen years earlier, +and then brought our forefathers out of Egypt into the country +that is now inhabited by us. But now that he was not subject in +his body to any such calamity, is evident from what he himself +tells us; for he forbade those that had the leprosy either to +continue in a city, or to inhabit in a village, but commanded +that they should go about by themselves with their clothes rent; +and declares that such as either touch them, or live under the +same roof with them, should be esteemed unclean; nay, more, if +any one of their disease be healed, and he recover his natural +constitution again, he appointed them certain purifications, and +washings with spring water, and the shaving off all their hair, +and enjoins that they shall offer many sacrifices, and those of +several kinds, and then at length to be admitted into the holy +city; although it were to be expected that, on the contrary, if +he had been under the same calamity, he should have taken care of +such persons beforehand, and have had them treated after a kinder +manner, as affected with a concern for those that were to be +under the like misfortunes with himself. Nor ;was it only those +leprous people for whose sake he made these laws, but also for +such as should be maimed in the smallest part of their body, who +yet are not permitted by him to officiate as priests; nay, +although any priest, already initiated, should have such a +calamity fall upon him afterward, he ordered him to be deprived +of his honor of officiating. How can it then be supposed that +Moses should ordain such laws against himself, to his own +reproach and damage who so ordained them? Nor indeed is that +other notion of Manetho at all probable, wherein he relates the +change of his name, and says that "he was formerly called +Osarsiph;" and this a name no way agreeable to the other, while +his true name was Mosses, and signifies a person who is preserved +out of the water, for the Egyptians call water Moil. I think, +therefore, I have made it sufficiently evident that Manetho, +while he followed his ancient records, did not much mistake the +truth of the history; but that when he had recourse to fabulous +stories, without any certain author, he either forged them +himself, without any probability, or else gave credit to some men +who spake so out of their ill-will to us. + +32. And now I have done with Manetho, I will inquire into what +Cheremon says. For he also, when he pretended to write the +Egyptian history, sets down the same name for this king that +Manetho did, Amenophis, as also of his son Ramesses, and then +goes on thus: "The goddess Isis appeared to Amenophis in his +sleep, and blamed him that her temple had been demolished in the +war. But that Phritiphantes, the sacred scribe, said to him, that +in case he would purge Egypt of the men that had pollutions upon +them, he should be no longer troubled. with such frightful +apparitions. That Amenophis accordingly chose out two hundred and +fifty thousand of those that were thus diseased, and cast them +out of the country: that Moses and Joseph were scribes, and +Joseph was a sacred scribe; that their names were Egyptian +originally; that of Moses had been Tisithen, and that of Joseph, +Peteseph: that these two came to Pelusium, and lighted upon three +hundred and eighty thousand that had been left there by +Amenophis, he not being willing to carry them into Egypt; that +these scribes made a league of friendship with them, and made +with them an expedition against Egypt: that Amenophis could not +sustain their attacks, but fled into Ethiopia, and left his wife +with child behind him, who lay concealed in certain caverns, and +there brought forth a son, whose name was Messene, and who, when +he was grown up to man's estate, pursued the Jews into Syria, +being about two hundred thousand, and then received his father +Amenophis out of Ethiopia." + +33. This is the account Cheremon gives us. Now I take it for +granted that what I have said already hath plainly proved the +falsity of both these narrations; for had there been any real +truth at the bottom, it was impossible they should so greatly +disagree about the particulars. But for those that invent lies, +what they write will easily give us very different accounts, +while they forge what they please out of their own heads. Now +Manetho says that the king's desire of seeing the gods was the +origin of the ejection of the polluted people; but Cheremon +feigns that it was a dream of his own, sent upon him by Isis, +that was the occasion of it. Manetho says that the person who +foreshowed this purgation of Egypt to the king was Amenophis; but +this man says it was Phritiphantes. As to the numbers of the +multitude that were expelled, they agree exceedingly well (24) +the former reckoning them eighty thousand, and the latter about +two hundred and fifty thousand! Now, for Manetho, he describes +those polluted persons as sent first to work in the quarries, and +says that the city Avaris was given them for their habitation. As +also he relates that it was not till after they had made war with +the rest of the Egyptians, that they invited the people of +Jerusalem to come to their assistance; while Cheremon says only +that they were gone out of Egypt, and lighted upon three hundred +and eighty thousand men about Pelusium, who had been left there +by Amenophis, and so they invaded Egypt with them again; that +thereupon Amenophis fled into Ethiopia. But then this Cheremon +commits a most ridiculous blunder in not informing us who this +army of so many ten thousands were, or whence they came; whether +they were native Egyptians, or whether they came from a foreign +country. Nor indeed has this man, who forged a dream from Isis +about the leprous people, assigned the reason why the king would +not bring them into Egypt. Moreover, Cheremon sets down Joseph as +driven away at the same time with Moses, who yet died four +generations (25) before Moses, which four generations make almost +one hundred and seventy years. Besides all this, Ramesses, the +son of Amenophis, by Manetho's account, was a young man, and +assisted his father in his war, and left the country at the same +time with him, and fled into Ethiopia. But Cheremon makes him to +have been born in a certain cave, after his father was dead, and +that he then overcame the Jews in battle, and drove them into +Syria, being in number about two hundred thousand. O the levity +of the man! for he had neither told us who these three hundred +and eighty thousand were, nor how the four hundred and thirty +thousand perished; whether they fell in war, or went over to +Ramesses. And, what is the strangest of all, it is not possible +to learn out of him who they were whom he calls Jews, or to which +of these two parties he applies that denomination, whether to the +two hundred and fifty thousand leprous people, or to the three +hundred and eighty thousand that were about Pelusium. But perhaps +it will be looked upon as a silly thing in me to make any larger +confutation of such writers as sufficiently confute themselves; +for had they been only confuted by other men, it had been more +tolerable. + +34. I shall now add to these accounts about Manethoand Cheremon +somewhat about Lysimachus, who hath taken the same topic of +falsehood with those forementioned, but hath gone far beyond them +in the incredible nature of his forgeries; which plainly +demonstrates that he contrived them out of his virulent hatred of +our nation. His words are these: "The people of the Jews being +leprous and scabby, and subject to certain other kinds of +distempers, in the days of Bocchoris, king of Egypt, they fled to +the temples, and got their food there by begging: and as the +numbers were very great that were fallen under these diseases, +there arose a scarcity in Egypt. Hereupon Bocehoris, the king of +Egypt, sent some to consult the oracle of [Jupiter] Hammon about +his scarcity. The god's answer was this, that he must purge his +temples of impure and impious men, by expelling them out of those +temples into desert places; but as to the scabby and leprous +people, he must drown them, and purge his temples, the sun having +an indignation at these men being suffered to live; and by this +means the land will bring forth its fruits. Upon Bocchoris's +having received these oracles, he called for their priests, and +the attendants upon their altars, and ordered them to make a +collection of the impure people, and to deliver them to the +soldiers, to carry them away into the desert; but to take the +leprous people, and wrap them in sheets of lead, and let them +down into the sea. Hereupon the scabby and leprous people were +drowned, and the rest were gotten together, and sent into desert +places, in order to be exposed to destruction. In this case they +assembled themselves together, and took counsel what they should +do, and determined that, as the night was coming on, they should +kindle fires and lamps, and keep watch; that they also should +fast the next night, and propitiate the gods, in order to obtain +deliverance from them. That on the next day there was one Moses, +who advised them that they should venture upon a journey, and go +along one road till they should come to places fit for +habitation: that he charged them to have no kind regards for any +man, nor give good counsel to any, but always to advise them for +the worst; and to overturn all those temples and altars of the +gods they should meet with: that the rest commended what he had +said with one consent, and did what they had resolved on, and so +traveled over the desert. But that the difficulties of the +journey being over, they came to a country inhabited, and that +there they abused the men, and plundered and burnt their temples; +and then came into that land which is called Judea, and there +they built a city, and dwelt therein, and that their city was +named Hierosyla, from this their robbing of the temples; but that +still, upon the success they had afterwards, they in time changed +its denomination, that it might not be a reproach to them, and +called the city Hierosolyma, and themselves Hierosolymites." + +35. Now this man did not discover and mention the same king with +the others, but feigned a newer name, and passing by the dream +and the Egyptian prophet, he brings him to [Jupiter] Hammon, in +order to gain oracles about the scabby and leprous people; for he +says that the multitude of Jews were gathered together at the +temples. Now it is uncertain whether he ascribes this name to +these lepers, or to those that were subject to such diseases +among the Jews only; for he describes them as a people of the +Jews. What people does he mean? foreigners, or those of that +country? Why then' dost thou call them Jews, if they were +Egyptians? But if they were foreigners, why dost thou not tell us +whence they came? And how could it be that, after the king had +drowned many of them in the sea, and ejected the rest into desert +places, there should be still so great a multitude remaining? Or +after what manner did they pass over the desert, and get the land +which we now dwell in, and build our city, and that temple which +hath been so famous among all mankind? And besides, he ought to +have spoken more about our legislator than by giving us his bare +name; and to have informed us of what nation he was, and what +parents he was derived from; and to have assigned the reasons why +he undertook to make such laws concerning the gods, and +concerning matters of injustice with regard to men during that +journey. For in case the people were by birth Egyptians, they +would not on the sudden have so easily changed the customs of +their country; and in case they had been foreigners, they had for +certain some laws or other which had been kept by them from long +custom. It is true, that with regard to those who had ejected +them, they might have sworn never to bear good-will to them, and +might have had a plausible reason for so doing. But if these men +resolved to wage an implacable war against all men, in case they +had acted as wickedly as he relates of them, and this while they +wanted the assistance of all men, this demonstrates a kind of mad +conduct indeed; but not of the men themselves, but very greatly +so of him that tells such lies about them. He hath also impudence +enough to say that a name, implying "Robbers of the temples," +(26) was given to their city, and that this name was afterward +changed. The reason of which is plain, that the former name +brought reproach and hatred upon them in the times of their +posterity, while, it seems, those that built the city thought +they did honor to the city by giving it such a name. So we see +that this fine fellow had such an unbounded inclination to +reproach us, that he did not understand that robbery of temples +is not expressed By the same word and name among the Jews as it +is among the Greeks. But why should a man say any more to a +person who tells such impudent lies? However, since this book is +arisen to a competent length, I will make another beginning, and +endeavor to add what still remains to perfect my design in the +following book. + +APION BOOK 1 FOOTNOTES + +(1) This first book has a wrong title. It is not written against +Apion, as is the first part of the second book, but against those +Greeks in general who would not believe Josephus's former +accounts of the very ancient state of the Jewish nation, in his +20 books of Antiquities; and particularly against Agatharelddes, +Manetho, Cheremon, and Lysimachus. it is one of the most learned, +excellent, and useful books of all antiquity; and upon Jerome's +perusal of this and the following book, he declares that it seems +to him a miraculous thing "how one that was a Hebrew, who had +been from his infancy instructed in sacred learning, should be +able to pronounce such a number of testimonies out of profane +authors, as if he had read over all the Grecian libraries," +Epist. 8. ad Magnum; and the learned Jew, Manasseh-Ben-Israel, +esteemed these two books so excellent, as to translate them into +the Hebrew; this we learn from his own catalogue of his works, +which I have seen. As to the time and place when and where these +two books were written, the learned have not hitherto been able +to determine them any further than that they were written some +time after his Antiquities, or some time after A.D. 93; which +indeed is too obvious at their entrance to be overlooked by even +a careless peruser, they being directly intended against those +that would not believe what he had advanced in those books +con-the great of the Jewish nation As to the place, they all +imagine that these two books were written where the former were, +I mean at Rome; and I confess that I myself believed both those +determinations, till I came to finish my notes upon these books, +when I met with plain indications that they were written not at +Rome, but in Judea, and this after the third of Trajan, or A.D. +100. + +(2) Take Dr. Hudson's note here, which as it justly contradicts +the common opinion that Josephus either died under Domitian, or +at least wrote nothing later than his days, so does it perfectly +agree to my own determination, from Justus of Tiberias, that he +wrote or finished his own Life after the third of Trajan, or A.D. +100. To which Noldius also agrees, de Herod, No. 383 +[Epaphroditus]. "Since Florius Josephus," says Dr. Hudson, "wrote +[or finished] his books of Antiquities on the thirteenth of +Domitian, [A.D. 93,] and after that wrote the Memoirs of his own +Life, as an appendix to the books of Antiquities, and at last his +two books against Apion, and yet dedicated all those writings to +Epaphroditus; he can hardly be that Epaphroditus who was formerly +secretary to Nero, and was slain on the fourteenth [or fifteenth] +of Domitian, after he had been for a good while in banishment; +but another Epaphroditas, a freed-man, and procurator of Trajan, +as says Grotius on Luke 1:3. + +(3) The preservation of Homer's Poems by memory, and not by his +own writing them down, and that thence they were styled +Rhapsodies, as sung by him, like ballads, by parts, and not +composed and connected together in complete works, are opinions +well known from the ancient commentators; though such supposal +seems to myself, as well as to Fabricius Biblioth. Grace. I. p. +269, and to others, highly improbable. Nor does Josephus say +there were no ancienter writings among the Greeks than Homer's +Poems, but that they did not fully own any ancienter writings +pretending to such antiquity, which is trite. + +(4) It well deserves to be considered, that Josephus here says +how all the following Greek historians looked on Herodotus as a +fabulous author; and presently, sect. 14, how Manetho, the most +authentic writer of the Egyptian history, greatly complains of +his mistakes in the Egyptian affairs; as also that Strabo, B. XI. +p. 507, the most accurate geographer and historian, esteemed him +such; that Xenophon, the much more accurate historian in the +affairs of Cyrus, implies that Herodotus's account of that great +man is almost entirely romantic. See the notes on Antiq. B. XI. +ch. 2. sect. 1, and Hutchinson's Prolegomena to his edition of +Xenophon's, that we have already seen in the note on Antiq. B. +VIII. ch. 10. sect. 3, how very little Herodotus knew about the +Jewish affairs and country, and that he greatly affected what we +call the marvelous, as Monsieur Rollin has lately and justly +determined; whence we are not always to depend on the authority +of Herodotus, where it is unsupported by other evidence, but +ought to compare the other evidence with his, and if it +preponderate, to prefer it before his. I do not mean by this that +Herodotus willfully related what he believed to be false, (as +Cteeias seems to have done,) but that he often wanted evidence, +and sometimes preferred what was marvelous to what was best +attested as really true. + +(5)About the days of Cyrus and Daniel. + +(6) It is here well worth our observation, what the reasons are +that such ancient authors as Herodotus, Josephus, and others have +been read to so little purpose by many learned critics; viz. that +their main aim has not been chronology or history, but philology, +to know words, and not things, they not much entering oftentimes +into the real contents of their authors, and judging which were +the most accurate discoverers of truth, and most to be depended +on in the several histories, but rather inquiring who wrote the +finest style, and had the greatest elegance in their expressions; +which are things of small consequence in comparison of the other. +Thus you will sometimes find great debates among the learned, +whether Herodotus or Thucydides were the finest historian in the +Ionic and Attic ways of writing; which signify little as to the +real value of each of their histories; while it would be of much +more moment to let the reader know, that as the consequence of +Herodotus's history, which begins so much earlier, and reaches so +much wider, than that of Thucydides, is therefore vastly greater; +so is the most part of Thucydides, which belongs to his own +times, and fell under his own observation, much the most certain. + +(7) Of this accuracy of the Jews before and in our Savior's time, +in carefully preserving their genealogies all along, particularly +those of the priests, see Josephus's Life, sect. 1. This +accuracy. seems to have ended at the destruction of Jerusalem by +Titus, or, however, at that by Adrian. + +(8) Which were these twenty-two sacred books of the. Old +Testament, see the Supplement to the Essay of the Old Testament, +p. 25-29, viz. those we call canonical, all excepting the +Canticles; but still with this further exception, that the book +of apocryphal Esdras be taken into that number instead of our +canonical Ezra, which seems to be no more than a later epitome of +the other; which two books of Canticles and Ezra it no way +appears that our Josephus ever saw. + +(9) Here we have an account of the first building of the city of +Jerusalem, according to Manetho, when the Phoenician shepherds +were expelled out of Egypt about thirty-seven years before +Abraham came out of Harsh. + +(10) Genesis 46;32, 34; 47:3, 4. + +(11) In our copies of the book of Genesis and of Joseph, this +Joseph never calls himself "a captive," when he was with the king +of Egypt, though he does call himself "a servant," "a slave," or +"captive," many times in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, +under Joseph, sect. 1, 11, 13-16. + +(12) Of this Egyptian chronology of Manetho, as mistaken by +Josephus, and of these Phoenician shepherds, as falsely supposed +by him, and others after him, to have been the Israelites in +Egypt, see Essay on the Old Testament, Appendix, p. 182-188. And +note here, that when Josephus tells us that the Greeks or Argives +looked on this Danaus as "a most ancient," or "the most ancient," +king of Argos, he need not be supposed to mean, in the strictest +sense, that they had no one king so ancient as he; for it is +certain that they owned nine kings before him, and Inachus at the +head of them. See Authentic Records, Part II. p. 983, as Josephus +could not but know very well; but that he was esteemed as very +ancient by them, and that they knew they had been first of all +denominated "Danai" from this very ancient king Danaus. Nor does +this superlative degree always imply the "most ancient" of all +without exception, but is sometimes to be rendered "very ancient" +only, as is the case in the like superlative degrees of other +words also. + +(13) Authentic Records, Part II. p. 983, as Josephus could not +but know very well; but that he was esteemed as very ancient by +them, and that they knew they had been first of all denominated +"Danai" from this very ancient king Danaus. Nor does this +superlative degree always imply the "most ancient" of all without +exception, but is sometimes to be rendered "very ancient" only, +as is the case in the like superlative degrees of other words +also. + +(14) This number in Josephus, that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the +temple in the eighteenth year of his reign, is a mistake in the +nicety of chronology; for it was in the nineteenth. The true +number here for the year of Darius, in which the second temple +was finished, whether the second with our present copies, or the +sixth with that of Syncellus, or the tenth with that of Eusebius, +is very uncertain; so we had best follow Josephus's own account +elsewhere, Antiq. ;B. XI. ch. 3. sect. 4, which shows us that +according to his copy of the Old Testament, after the second of +Cyrus, that work was interrupted till the second of Darius, when +in seven years it was finished in the ninth of Darius. + +(15) This is a thing well known by the learned, that we are not +secure that we have any genuine writings of Pythagoras; those +Golden Verses, which are his best remains, being generally +supposed to have been written not by himself, but by some of his +scholars only, in agreement with what Josephus here affirms of +him. + +(16) Whether these verses of Cherilus, the heathen poet, in the +days of Xerxes, belong to the Solymi in Pisidia, that were near a +small lake, or to the Jews that dwelt on the Solymean or +Jerusalem mountains, near the great and broad lake Asphaltitis, +that were a strange people, and spake the Phoenician tongue, is +not agreed on by the learned. If is yet certain that Josephus +here, and Eusebius, Prep. IX. 9. p. 412, took them to be Jews; +and I confess I cannot but very much incline to the same opinion. +The other Solymi were not a strange people, but heathen +idolaters, like the other parts of Xerxes's army; and that these +spake the Phoenician tongue is next to impossible, as the Jews +certainly did; nor is there the least evidence for it elsewhere. +Nor was the lake adjoining to the mountains of the Solvmi at all +large or broad, in comparison of the Jewish lake Asphaltitis; nor +indeed were these so considerable a people as the Jews, nor so +likely to be desired by Xerxes for his army as the Jews, to whom +he was always very favorable. As for the rest of Cherilus's +description, that "their heads were sooty; that they had round +rasures on their heads; that their heads and faces were like +nasty horse-heads, which had been hardened in the smoke;" these +awkward characters probably fitted the Solymi of Pisidi no better +than they did the Jews in Judea. And indeed this reproachful +language, here given these people, is to me a strong indication +that they were the poor despicable Jews, and not the Pisidian +Solymi celebrated in Homer, whom Cherilus here describes; nor are +we to expect that either Cherilus or Hecateus, or any other pagan +writers cited by Josephus and Eusebius, made no mistakes in the +Jewish history. If by comparing their testimonies with the more +authentic records of that nation we find them for the main to +confirm the same, as we almost always do, we ought to be +satisfied, and not expect that they ever had an exact knowledge +of all the circumstances of the Jewish affairs, which indeed it +was almost always impossible for them to have. See sect. 23. + +(17) This Hezekiah, who is here called a high priest, is not +named in Josephus's catalogue; the real high priest at that time +being rather Onias, as Archbishop Usher supposes. However, +Josephus often uses the word high priests in the plural number, +as living many at the same time. See the note on Antiq. B. XX. +ch. 8. sect. 8. + +(18) So I read the text with Havercamp, though the place be +difficult. + +(19) This number of arourae or Egyptian acres, 3,000,000, each +aroura containing a square of 100 Egyptian cubits, (being about +three quarters of an English acre, and just twice the area of the +court of the Jewish tabernacle,) as contained in the country of +Judea, will be about one third of the entire number of arourae in +the whole land of Judea, supposing it 160 measured miles long and +70 such miles broad; which estimation, for the fruitful parts of +it, as perhaps here in Hecateus, is not therefore very wide from +the truth. The fifty furlongs in compass for the city Jerusalem +presently are not very wide from the truth also, as Josephus +himself describes it, who, Of the War, B. V. ch. 4. sect. 3. +makes its wall thirty-three furlongs, besides the suburbs and +gardens; nay, he says, B. V. ch. 12. sect. 2, that Titus's wall +about it at some small distance, after the gardens and suburbs +were destroyed, was not less than thirty-nine furlongs. Nor +perhaps were its constant inhabitants, in the days of Hecateus, +many more than these 120,000, because room was always to be left +for vastly greater numbers which came up at the three great +festivals; to say nothing of the probable increase in their +number between the days of Hecateus and Josephus, which was at +least three hundred years. But see a more authentic account of +some of these measures in my Description of the Jewish Temples. +However, we are not to expect that such heathens as Cherilus or +Hecateus, or the rest that are cited by Josephus and Eusebius, +could avoid making many mistakes in the Jewish history, while yet +they strongly confirm the same history in the general, and are +most valuable attestations to those more authentic accounts we +have in the Scriptures and Josephus concerning them. + +(20) A glorious testimony this of the observation of the sabbath +by the Jews. See Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 2. sect. 4, and ch. 6. sect. +2; the Life, sect. 54; and War, B. IV. ch. 9. sect. 12. + +(21) Not their law, but the superstitious interpretation of their +leaders which neither the Maccabees nor our blessed Savior did +ever approve of. + +(22) In reading this and the remaining sections of this book, and +some parts of the next, one may easily perceive that our usually +cool and candid author, Josephus, was too highly offended with +the impudent calumnies of Manethe, and the other bitter enemies +of the Jews, with whom he had now to deal, and was thereby +betrayed into a greater heat and passion than ordinary, and that +by consequence he does not hear reason with his usual fairness +and impartiality; he seems to depart sometimes from the brevity +and sincerity of a faithful historian, which is his grand +character, and indulges the prolixity and colors of a pleader and +a disputant: accordingly, I confess, I always read these sections +with less pleasure than I do the rest of his writings, though I +fully believe the reproaches cast on the Jews, which he here +endeavors to confute and expose, were wholly groundless and +unreasonable. + +(23) This is a very valuable testimony of Manetho, that the laws +of Osarsiph, or Moses, were not made in compliance with, but in +opposition to, the customs of the Egyptians. See the note on +Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9. + +(24) By way of irony, I suppose. + +(25) Here we see that Josephus esteemed a generation between +Joseph and Moses to be about forty-two or forty-three years; +which, if taken between the earlier children, well agrees with +the duration of human life in those ages. See Antheat. Rec. Part +II. pages 966, 1019, 1020. + +(26) That is the meaning of Hierosyla in Greek, not in Hebrew. + +BOOK II. + + 1. In the former book, most honored Epaphroditus, I have + demonstrated our antiquity, and confirmed the truth of what + I have said, from the writings of the Phoenicians, and + Chaldeans, and Egyptians. I have, moreover, produced many + of the Grecian writers as witnesses thereto. I have also made + a refutation of Manetho and Cheremon, and of certain others + of our enemies. I shall now (1) therefore begin a confutation + of the remaining authors who have written any thing against + us; although I confess I have had a doubt upon me about + Apion (2) the grammarian, whether I ought to take the + trouble of confuting him or not; for some of his writings + contain much the same accusations which the others have laid + against us, some things that he hath added are very frigid and + contemptible, and for the greatest part of what he says, it is + very scurrilous, and, to speak no more than the plain truth, it + shows him to be a very unlearned person, and what he lays + together looks like the work of a man of very bad morals, + and of one no better in his whole life than a mountebank. + Yet, because there are a great many men so very foolish, that + they are rather caught by such orations than by what is + written with care, and take pleasure in reproaching other + men, and cannot abide to hear them commended, I thought + it to be necessary not to let this man go off without + examination, who had written such an accusation against us, + as if he would bring us to make an answer in open court. For + I also have observed, that many men are very much delighted + when they see a man who first began to reproach another, to + be himself exposed to contempt on account of the vices he + hath himself been guilty of. However, it is not a very easy + thing to go over this man's discourse, nor to know plainly + what he means; yet does he seem, amidst a great confusion + and disorder in his falsehoods, to produce, in the first place, + such things as resemble what we have examined already, and + relate to the departure of our forefathers out of Egypt; and, + in the second place, he accuses those Jews that are + inhabitants of Alexandria; as, in the third place, he mixes + with those things such accusations as concern the sacred + purifications, with the other legal rites used in the temple. + + 2. Now although I cannot but think that I have already + demonstrated, and that abundantly more than was necessary, + that our fathers were not originally Egyptians, nor were + thence expelled, either on account of bodily diseases, or any + other calamities of that sort; yet will I briefly take notice +of + what Apion adds upon that subject; for in his third book, + which relates to the affairs of Egypt, he speaks thus: "I have + heard of the ancient men of Egypt, that Moses was of + Heliopolis, and that he thought himself obliged to follow the + customs of his forefathers, and offered his prayers in the + open air, towards the city walls; but that he reduced them all + to be directed towards sun-rising, which was agreeable to the + situation of Heliopolis; that he also set up pillars instead of + gnomons, (3) under which was represented a cavity like that + of a boat, and the shadow that fell from their tops fell down + upon that cavity, that it might go round about the like course + as the sun itself goes round in the other." This is that + wonderful relation which we have given us by this + grammarian. But that it is a false one is so plain, that it + stands in need of few words to prove it, but is manifest from + the works of Moses; for when he erected the first tabernacle + to God, he did himself neither give order for any such kind + of representation to be made at it, nor ordain that those that + came after him should make such a one. Moreover, when in + a future age Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem, he + avoided all such needless decorations as Apion hath here + devised. He says further, how he had "heard of the ancient + men, that Moses was of Hellopolis." To be sure that was, + because being a younger man himself, he believed those that + by their elder age were acquainted and conversed with him. + Now this grammarian, as he was, could not certainly tell + which was the poet Homer's country, no more than he could + which was the country of Pythagoras, who lived comparatively + but a little while ago; yet does he thus easily determine the + age of Moses, who preceded them such a vast number of + years, as depending on his ancient men's relation, which + shows how notorious a liar he was. But then as to this + chronological determination of the time when he says he + brought the leprous people, the blind, and the lame out of + Egypt, see how well this most accurate grammarian of ours + agrees with those that have written before him! Manetho says + that the Jews departed out of Egypt, in the reign of + Tethmosis, three hundred ninety-three years before Danaus + fled to Argos; Lysimaehus says it was under king Bocchoris, + that is, one thousand seven hundred years ago; Molo and + some others determined it as every one pleased: but this + Apion of ours, as deserving to be believed before them, hath + determined it exactly to have been in the seventh olympiad, + and the first year of that olympiad; the very same year in + which he says that Carthage was built by the Phoenicians. + The reason why he added this building of Carthage was, to + be sure, in order, as he thought, to strengthen his assertion + by so evident a character of chronology. But he was not + aware that this character confutes his assertion; for if we may + give credit to the Phoenician records as to the time of the + first coming of their colony to Carthage, they relate that + Hirom their king was above a hundred and fifty years earlier + than the building of Carthage; concerning whom I have + formerly produced testimonials out of those Phoenician + records, as also that this Hirom was a friend of Solomon + when he was building the temple of Jerusalem, and gave him + great assistance in his building that temple; while still + Solomon himself built that temple six hundred and twelve + years after the Jews came out of Egypt. As for the number of + those that were expelled out of Egypt, he hath contrived to + have the very same number with Lysimaehus, and says they + were a hundred and ten thousand. He then assigns a certain + wonderful and plausible occasion for the name of Sabbath; + for he says that "when the Jews had traveled a six days' + journey, they had buboes in their groins; and that on this + account it was that they rested on the seventh day, as having + got safely to that country which is now called Judea; that then + they preserved the language of the Egyptians, and called that + day the Sabbath, for that malady of buboes on their groin + was named Sabbatosis by the Egyptians." And would not a + man now laugh at this fellow's trifling, or rather hate his + impudence in writing thus? We must, it seems, fake it for + granted that all these hundred and ten thousand men must + have these buboes. But, for certain, if those men had been + blind and lame, and had all sorts of distempers upon them, as + Apion says they had, they could not have gone one single + day's journey; but if they had been all able to travel over a + large desert, and, besides that, to fight and conquer those + that opposed them, they had not all of them had buboes on + their groins after the sixth day was over; for no such + distemper comes naturally and of necessity upon those that + travel; but still, when there are many ten thousands in a camp + together, they constantly march a settled space [in a day]. + Nor is it at all probable that such a thing should happen by + chance; this would be prodigiously absurd to be supposed. + However, our admirable author Apion hath before told us + that "they came to Judea in six days' time;" and again, that + "Moses went up to a mountain that lay between Egypt and + Arabia, which was called Sinai, and was concealed there forty + days, and that when he came down from thence he gave laws + to the Jews." But, then, how was it possible for them to tarry + forty days in a desert place where there was no water, and at + the same time to pass all over the country between that and + Judea in the six days? And as for this grammatical translation + of the word Sabbath, it either contains an instance of his + great impudence or gross ignorance; for the words Sabbo and + Sabbath are widely different from one another; for the word + Sabbath in the Jewish language denotes rest from all sorts of + work; but the word Sabbo, as he affirms, denotes among the + Egyptians the malady of a bubo in the groin. + + 3. This is that novel account which the Egyptian Apion gives + us concerning the Jews' departure out of Egypt, and is no + better than a contrivance of his own. But why should we + wonder at the lies he tells about our forefathers, when he + affirms them to be of Egyptian original, when he lies also + about himself? for although he was born at Oasis in Egypt, + he pretends to be, as a man may say, the top man of all the + Egyptians; yet does he forswear his real country and + progenitors, and by falsely pretending to be born at + Alexandria, cannot deny the (4) pravity of his family; for you + see how justly he calls those Egyptians whom he hates, and + endeavors to reproach; for had he not deemed Egyptians to + be a name of great reproach, he would not have avoided the + name of an Egyptian himself; as we know that those who + brag of their own countries value themselves upon the + denomination they acquire thereby, and reprove such as + unjustly lay claim thereto. As for the Egyptians' claim to be + of our kindred, they do it on one of the following accounts; I + mean, either as they value themselves upon it, and pretend to + bear that relation to us; or else as they would draw us in to + be partakers of their own infamy. But this fine fellow Apion + seems to broach this reproachful appellation against us, [that + we were originally Egyptians,] in order to bestow it on the + Alexandrians, as a reward for the privilege they had given + him of being a fellow citizen with them: he also is apprized of + the ill-will the Alexandrians bear to those Jews who are their + fellow citizens, and so proposes to himself to reproach them, + although he must thereby include all the other Egyptians + also; while in both cases he is no better than an impudent + liar. + + 4. But let us now see what those heavy and wicked crimes are + which Apion charges upon the Alexandrian Jews. "They came + (says he) out of Syria, and inhabited near the tempestuous + sea, and were in the neighborhood of the dashing of the + waves." Now if the place of habitation includes any thing that + is reproached, this man reproaches not his own real country, + [Egypt,] but what he pretends to be his own country, + Alexandria; for all are agreed in this, that the part of that +city + which is near the sea is the best part of all for habitation. + Now if the Jews gained that part of the city by force, and + have kept it hitherto without impeachment, this is a mark of + their valor; but in reality it was Alexander himself that gave + them that place for their habitation, when they obtained + equal privileges there with the Macedonians. Nor call I devise + what Apion would have said, had their habitation been at + Necropolis? and not been fixed hard by the royal palace [as it + is]; nor had their nation had the denomination of + Macedonians given them till this very day [as they have]. Had + this man now read the epistles of king Alexander, or those of + Ptolemy the son of Lagus, or met with the writings of the + succeeding kings, or that pillar which is still standing at + Alexandria, and contains the privileges which the great + [Julius] Caesar bestowed upon the Jews; had this man, I say, + known these records, and yet hath the impudence to write in + contradiction to them, he hath shown himself to be a wicked + man; but if he knew nothing of these records, he hath shown + himself to be a man very ignorant: nay, when lie appears to + wonder how Jews could be called Alexandrians, this is + another like instance of his ignorance; for all such as are + called out to be colonies, although they be ever so far remote + from one another in their original, receive their names from + those that bring them to their new habitations. And what + occasion is there to speak of others, when those of us Jews + that dwell at Antioch are named Antiochians, because + Seleucns the founder of that city gave them the privileges + belonging thereto? After the like manner do those Jews that + inhabit Ephesus, and the other cities of Ionia, enjoy the same + name with those that were originally born there, by the grant + of the succeeding princes; nay, the kindness and humanity of + the Romans hath been so great, that it hath granted leave to + almost all others to take the same name of Romans upon + them; I mean not particular men only, but entire and large + nations themselves also; for those anciently named Iberi, and + Tyrrheni, and Sabini, are now called Romani. And if Apion + reject this way of obtaining the privilege of a citizen of + Alexandria, let him abstain from calling himself an + Alexandrian hereafter; for otherwise, how can he who was + born in the very heart of Egypt be an Alexandrian, if this way + of accepting such a privilege, of which he would have us + deprived, be once abrogated? although indeed these Romans, + who are now the lords of the habitable earth, have forbidden + the Egyptians to have the privileges of any city whatsoever; + while this fine fellow, who is willing to partake of such a + privilege himself as he is forbidden to make use of, endeavors + by calumnies to deprive those of it that have justly received + it; for Alexander did not therefore get some of our nation to + Alexandria, because he wanted inhabitants for this his city, on + whose building he had bestowed so much pains; but this was + given to our people as a reward, because he had, upon a + careful trial, found them all to have been men of virtue and + fidelity to him; for, as Hecateus says concerning us, + "Alexander honored our nation to such a degree, that, for the + equity and the fidelity which the Jews exhibited to him, he + permitted them to hold the country of Samaria free from + tribute. Of the same mind also was Ptolemy the son of Lagus, + as to those Jews who dwelt at Alexandria." For he intrusted + the fortresses of Egypt into their hands, as believing they + would keep them faithfully and valiantly for him; and when + he was desirous to secure the government of Cyrene, and the + other cities of Libya, to himself, he sent a party of Jews to + inhabit in them. And for his successor Ptolemy, who was + called Philadelphus, he did not only set all those of our + nation free who were captives under him, but did frequently + give money [for their ransom]; and, what was his greatest + work of all, he had a great desire of knowing our laws, and of + obtaining the books of our sacred Scriptures; accordingly, he + desired that such men might be sent him as might interpret + our law to him; and, in order to have them well compiled, he + committed that care to no ordinary persons, but ordained + that Demetrius Phalereus, and Andreas, and Aristeas; the + first, Demetrius, the most learned person of his age, and the + others, such as were intrusted with the guard of his body; + should take care of this matter: nor would he certainly have + been so desirous of learning our law, and the philosophy of + our nation, had he despised the men that made use of it, or + had he not indeed had them in great admiration. + + 5. Now this Apion was unacquainted with almost all the kings + of those Macedonians whom he pretends to have been his + progenitors, who were yet very well affected towards us; for + the third of those Ptolemies, who was called Euergetes, when + he had gotten possession of all Syria by force, did not offer + his thank-offerings to the Egyptian gods for his victory, but + came to Jerusalem, and according to our own laws offered + many sacrifices to God, and dedicated to him such gifts as + were suitable to such a victory: and as for Ptolemy + Philometer and his wife Cleopatra, they committed their + whole kingdom to the Jews, when Onias and Dositheus, both + Jews, whose names are laughed at by Apion, were the + generals of their whole army. But certainly, instead of + reproaching them, he ought to admire their actions, and + return them thanks for saving Alexandria, whose citizen he + pretends to be; for when these Alexandrians were making war + with Cleopatra the queen, and were in danger of being + utterly ruined, these Jews brought them to terms of + agreement, and freed them from the miseries of a civil war. + "But then (says Apion) Onias brought a small army afterward + upon the city at the time when Thorruns the Roman + ambassador was there present." Yes, do I venture to say, and + that he did rightly and very justly in so doing; for that + Ptolemy who was called Physco, upon the death of his + brother Philometer, came from Cyrene, and would have + ejected Cleopatra as well as her sons out of their kingdom, + that he might obtain it for himself unjustly. (5) For this +cause + then it was that Onias undertook a war against him on + Cleopatra's account; nor would he desert that trust the royal + family had reposed in him in their distress. Accordingly, God + gave a remarkable attestation to his righteous procedure; for + when Ptolemy Physco (6) had the presumption to fight + against Onias's army, and had caught all the Jews that were + in the city [Alexandria], with their children and wives, and + exposed them naked and in bonds to his elephants, that they + might be trodden upon and destroyed, and when he had + made those elephants drunk for that purpose, the event + proved contrary to his preparations; for these elephants left + the Jews who were exposed to them, and fell violently upon + Physco's friends, and slew a great number of them; nay, after + this Ptolemy saw a terrible ghost, which prohibited his hurting + those men; his very concubine, whom he loved so well, (some + call her Ithaca, and others Irene,) making supplication to + him, that he would not perpetrate so great a wickedness. So + he complied with her request, and repented of what he either + had already done, or was about to do; whence it is well + known that the Alexandrian Jews do with good reason + celebrate this day, on the account that they had thereon been + vouchsafed such an evident deliverance from God. However, + Apion, the common calumniator of men, hath the + presumption to accuse the Jews for making this war against + Physco, when he ought to have commended them for the + same. This man also makes mention of Cleopatra, the last + queen of Alexandria, and abuses us, because she was + ungrateful to us; whereas he ought to have reproved her, who + indulged herself in all kinds of injustice and wicked +practices, + both with regard to her nearest relations and husbands who + had loved her, and, indeed, in general with regard to all the + Romans, and those emperors that were her benefactors; who + also had her sister Arsinoe slain in a temple, when she had + done her no harm: moreover, she had her brother slain by + private treachery, and she destroyed the gods of her country + and the sepulchers of her progenitors; and while she had + received her kingdom from the first Caesar, she had the + impudence to rebel against his son: (7) and successor; nay, + she corrupted Antony with her love-tricks, and rendered him + an enemy to his country, and made him treacherous to his + friends, and [by his means] despoiled some of their royal + authority, and forced others in her madness to act wickedly. + But what need I enlarge upon this head any further, when + she left Antony in his fight at sea, though he were her + husband, and the father of their common children, and + compelled him to resign up his government, with the army, + and to follow her [into Egypt]? nay, when last of all Caesar + had taken Alexandria, she came to that pitch of cruelty, that + she declared she had some hope of preserving her affairs still, + in case she could kill the Jews, though it were with her own + hand; to such a degree of barbarity and perfidiousness had + she arrived. And doth any one think that we cannot boast + ourselves of any thing, if, as Apion says, this queen did not +at + a time of famine distribute wheat among us? However, she at + length met with the punishment she deserved. As for us Jews, + we appeal to the great Caesar what assistance we brought + him, and what fidelity we showed to him against the + Egyptians; as also to the senate and its decrees, and the + epistles of Augustus Caesar, whereby our merits [to the + Romans] are justified. Apion ought to have looked upon + those epistles, and in particular to have examined the + testimonies given on our behalf, under Alexander and all the + Ptolemies, and the decrees of the senate and of the greatest + Roman emperors. And if Germanicus was not able to make a + distribution of corn to all the inhabitants of Alexandria, that + only shows what a barren time it was, and how great a want + there was then of corn, but tends nothing to the accusation of + the Jews; for what all the emperors have thought of the + Alexandrian Jews is well known, for this distribution of wheat + was no otherwise omitted with regard to the Jews, than it was + with regard to the other inhabitants of Alexandria. But they + still were desirous to preserve what the kings had formerly + intrusted to their care, I mean the custody of the river; nor + did those kings think them unworthy of having the entire + custody thereof, upon all occasions. + + 6. But besides this, Apion objects to us thus: "If the Jews + (says he) be citizens of Alexandria, why do they not worship + the same gods with the Alexandrians?" To which I give this + answer: Since you are yourselves Egyptians, why do you fight + it out one against another, and have implacable wars about + your religion? At this rate we must not call you all Egyptians, + nor indeed in general men, because you breed up with great + care beasts of a nature quite contrary to that of men, + although the nature of all men seems to be one and the + same. Now if there be such differences in opinion among you + Egyptians, why are you surprised that those who came to + Alexandria from another country, and had original laws of + their own before, should persevere in the observance of those + laws? But still he charges us with being the authors of + sedition; which accusation, if it be a just one, why is it not + laid against us all, since we are known to be all of one mind. + Moreover, those that search into such matters will soon + discover that the authors of sedition have been such citizens + of Alexandria as Apion is; for while they were the Grecians + and Macedonians who were ill possession of this city, there + was no sedition raised against us, and we were permitted to + observe our ancient solemnities; but when the number of the + Egyptians therein came to be considerable, the times grew + confused, and then these seditions brake out still more and + more, while our people continued uncorrupted. These + Egyptians, therefore, were the authors of these troubles, who + having not the constancy of Macedonians, nor the prudence + of Grecians, indulged all of them the evil manners of the + Egyptians, and continued their ancient hatred against us; for + what is here so presumptuously charged upon us, is owing to + the differences that are amongst themselves; while many of + them have not obtained the privileges of citizens in proper + times, but style those who are well known to have had that + privilege extended to them all no other than foreigners: for it + does not appear that any of the kings have ever formerly + bestowed those privileges of citizens upon Egyptians, no more + than have the emperors done it more lately; while it was + Alexander who introduced us into this city at first, the kings + augmented our privileges therein, and the Romans have been + pleased to preserve them always inviolable. Moreover, Apion + would lay a blot upon us, because we do not erect images for + our emperors; as if those emperors did not know this before, + or stood in need of Apion as their defender; whereas he + ought rather to have admired the magnanimity and modesty + of the Romans, whereby they do not compel those that are + subject to them to transgress the laws of their countries, but + are willing to receive the honors due to them after such a + manner as those who are to pay them esteem consistent with + piety and with their own laws; for they do not thank people + for conferring honors upon them, When they are compelled + by violence so to do. Accordingly, since the Grecians and + some other nations think it a right thing to make images, nay, + when they have painted the pictures of their parents, and + wives, and children, they exult for joy; and some there are + who take pictures for themselves of such persons as were no + way related to them; nay, some take the pictures of such + servants as they were fond of; what wonder is it then if such + as these appear willing to pay the same respect to their + princes and lords? But then our legislator hath forbidden us + to make images, not by way of denunciation beforehand, that + the Roman authority was not to be honored, but as despising + a thing that was neither necessary nor useful for either God + or man; and he forbade them, as we shall prove hereafter, to + make these images for any part of the animal creation, and + much less for God himself, who is no part of such animal + creation. Yet hath our legislator no where forbidden us to + pay honors to worthy men, provided they be of another kind, + and inferior to those we pay to God; with which honors we + willingly testify our respect to our emperors, and to the + people of Rome; we also offer perpetual sacrifices for them; + nor do we only offer them every day at the common expenses + of all the Jews, but although we offer no other such sacrifices + out of our common expenses, no, not for our own children, + yet do we this as a peculiar honor to the emperors, and to + them alone, while we do the same to no other person + whomsoever. And let this suffice for an answer in general to + Apion, as to what he says with relation to the Alexandrian + Jews. + + 7. However, I cannot but admire those other authors who + furnished this man with such his materials; I mean + Possidonius and Apollonius [the son of] Molo, (8) who, while + they accuse us for not worshipping the same gods whom + others worship, they think themselves not guilty of impiety + when they tell lies of us, and frame absurd and reproachful + stories about our temple; whereas it is a most shameful thing + for freemen to forge lies on any occasion, and much more so + to forge them about our temple, which was so famous over + all the world, and was preserved so sacred by us; for Apion + hath the impudence to pretend that" the Jews placed an ass's + head in their holy place;" and he affirms that this was + discovered when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled our temple, + and found that ass's head there made of gold, and worth a + great deal of money. To this my first answer shall be this, + that had there been any such thing among us, an Egyptian + ought by no means to have thrown it in our teeth, since an + ass is not a more contemptible animal than (9) and goats, + and other such creatures, which among them are gods. But + besides this answer, I say further, how comes it about that + Apion does not understand this to be no other than a + palpable lie, and to be confuted by the thing itself as utterly + incredible? For we Jews are always governed by the same + laws, in which we constantly persevere; and although many + misfortunes have befallen our city, as the like have befallen + others, and although Theos [Epiphanes], and Pompey the + Great, and Licinius Crassus, and last of all Titus Caesar, have + conquered us in war, and gotten possession of our temple; + yet have they none of them found any such thing there, nor + indeed any thing but what was agreeable to the strictest piety; + although what they found we are not at liberty to reveal to + other nations. But for Antiochus [Epiphanes], he had no just + cause for that ravage in our temple that he made; he only + came to it when he wanted money, without declaring himself + our enemy, and attacked us while we were his associates and + his friends; nor did he find any thing there that was + ridiculous. This is attested by many worthy writers; Polybius + of Megalopolis, Strabo of Cappadocia, Nicolaus of Damascus, + Timagenes, Castor the chronotoger, and Apollodorus; (10) + who all say that it was out of Antiochus's want of money that + he broke his league with the Jews, and despoiled their temple + when it was full of gold and silver. Apion ought to have had + a regard to these facts, unless he had himself had either an + ass's heart or a dog's impudence; of such a dog I mean as + they worship; for he had no other external reason for the lies + he tells of us. As for us Jews, we ascribe no honor or power + to asses, as do the Egyptians to crocodiles and asps, when + they esteem such as are seized upon by the former, or bitten + by the latter, to be happy persons, and persons worthy of + God. Asses are the same with us which they are with other + wise men, viz. creatures that bear the burdens that we lay + upon them; but if they come to our thrashing-floors and eat + our corn, or do not perform what we impose upon them, we + beat them with a great many stripes, because it is their + business to minister to us in our husbandry affairs. But this + Apion of ours was either perfectly unskillful in the + composition of such fallacious discourses, or however, when + he begun [somewhat better], he was not able to persevere in + what he had undertaken, since he hath no manner of success + in those reproaches he casts upon us. + + 8. He adds another Grecian fable, in order to reproach us. In + reply to which, it would be enough to say, that they who + presume to speak about Divine worship ought not to be + ignorant of this plain truth, that it is a degree of less +impurity + to pass through temples, than to forge wicked calumnies of + its priests. Now such men as he are more zealous to justify a + sacrilegious king, than to write what is just and what is true + about us, and about our temple; for when they are desirous + of gratifying Antiochus, and of concealing that perfidiousness + and sacrilege which he was guilty of, with regard to our + nation, when he wanted money, they endeavor to disgrace us, + and tell lies even relating to futurities. Apion becomes other + men's prophet upon this occasion, and says that "Antiochus + found in our temple a bed, and a man lying upon it, with a + small table before him, full of dainties, from the [fishes of + the] sea, and the fowls of the dry land; that this man was + amazed at these dainties thus set before him; that he + immediately adored the king, upon his coming in, as hoping + that he would afford him all possible assistance; that he fell + down upon his knees, and stretched out to him his right + hand, and begged to be released; and that when the king bid + him sit down, and tell him who he was, and why he dwelt + there, and what was the meaning of those various sorts of + food that were set before him the man made a lamentable + complaint, and with sighs, and tears in his eyes, gave him this + account of the distress he was in; and said that he was a + Greek and that as he went over this province, in order to get + his living, he was seized upon by foreigners, on a sudden, and + brought to this temple, and shut up therein, and was seen by + nobody, but was fattened by these curious provisions thus set + before him; and that truly at the first such unexpected + advantages seemed to him matter of great joy; that after a + while, they brought a suspicion him, and at length + astonishment, what their meaning should be; that at last he + inquired of the servants that came to him and was by them + informed that it was in order to the fulfilling a law of the + Jews, which they must not tell him, that he was thus fed; and + that they did the same at a set time every year: that they used + to catch a Greek foreigner, and fat him thus up every year, + and then lead him to a certain wood, and kill him, and + sacrifice with their accustomed solemnities, and taste of his + entrails, and take an oath upon this sacrificing a Greek, that + they would ever be at enmity with the Greeks; and that then + they threw the remaining parts of the miserable wretch into a + certain pit." Apion adds further, that" the man said there + were but a few days to come ere he was to be slain, and + implored of Antiochus that, out of the reverence he bore to + the Grecian gods, he would disappoint the snares the Jews + laid for his blood, and would deliver him from the miseries + with which he was encompassed." Now this is such a most + tragical fable as is full of nothing but cruelty and impudence; + yet does it not excuse Antiochus of his sacrilegious attempt, + as those who write it in his vindication are willing to +suppose; + for he could not presume beforehand that he should meet + with any such thing in coming to the temple, but must have + found it unexpectedly. He was therefore still an impious + person, that was given to unlawful pleasures, and had no + regard to God in his actions. But [as for Apion], he hath + done whatever his extravagant love of lying hath dictated to + him, as it is most easy to discover by a consideration of his + writings; for the difference of our laws is known not to regard + the Grecians only, but they are principally opposite to the + Egyptians, and to some other nations also for while it so falls + out that men of all countries come sometimes and sojourn + among us, how comes it about that we take an oath, and + conspire only against the Grecians, and that by the effusion + of their blood also? Or how is it possible that all the Jews + should get together to these sacrifices, and the entrails of +one + man should be sufficient for so many thousands to taste of + them, as Apion pretends? Or why did not the king carry this + man, whosoever he was, and whatsoever was his name, + (which is not set down in Apion's book,) with great pomp + back into his own country? when he might thereby have been + esteemed a religious person himself, and a mighty lover of + the Greeks, and might thereby have procured himself great + assistance from all men against that hatred the Jews bore to + him. But I leave this matter; for the proper way of confuting + fools is not to use bare words, but to appeal to the things + themselves that make against them. Now, then, all such as + ever saw the construction of our temple, of what nature it + was, know well enough how the purity of it was never to be + profaned; for it had four several courts (12) encompassed + with cloisters round about, every one of which had by our law + a peculiar degree of separation from the rest. Into the first + court every body was allowed to go, even foreigners, and + none but women, during their courses, were prohibited to + pass through it; all the Jews went into the second court, as + well as their wives, when they were free from all uncleanness; + into the third court went in the Jewish men, when they were + clean and purified; into the fourth went the priests, having on + their sacerdotal garments; but for the most sacred place, + none went in but the high priests, clothed in their peculiar + garments. Now there is so great caution used about these + offices of religion, that the priests are appointed to go into + the temple but at certain hours; for in the morning, at the + opening of the inner temple, those that are to officiate + receive the sacrifices, as they do again at noon, till the +doors + are shut. Lastly, it is not so much as lawful to carry any +vessel + into the holy house; nor is there any thing therein, but the + altar [of incense], the table [of shew-bread], the censer, and + the candlestick, which are all written in the law; for there is + nothing further there, nor are there any mysteries performed + that may not be spoken of; nor is there any feasting within + the place. For what I have now said is publicly known, and + supported by the testimony of the whole people, and their + operations are very manifest; for although there be four + courses of the priests, and every one of them have above five + thousand men in them, yet do they officiate on certain days + only; and when those days are over, other priests succeed in + the performance of their sacrifices, and assemble together at + mid-day, and receive the keys of the temple, and the vessels + by tale, without any thing relating to food or drink being + carried into the temple; nay, we are not allowed to offer such + things at the altar, excepting what is prepared for the + sacrifices. + + 9. What then can we say of Apion, but that he examined + nothing that concerned these things, while still he uttered + incredible words about them? but it is a great shame for a + grammarian not to be able to write true history. Now if he + knew the purity of our temple, he hath entirely omitted to + take notice of it; but he forges a story about the seizing of a + Grecian, about ineffable food, and the most delicious + preparation of dainties; and pretends that strangers could go + into a place whereinto the noblest men among the Jews are + not allowed to enter, unless they be priests. This, therefore, +is + the utmost degree of impiety, and a voluntary lie, in order to + the delusion of those who will not examine into the truth of + matters; whereas such unspeakable mischiefs as are above + related have been occasioned by such calumnies that are + raised upon us. + + 10. Nay, this miracle or piety derides us further, and adds the + following pretended facts to his former fable; for be says that + this man related how, "while the Jews were once in a long + war with the Idumeans, there came a man out of one of the + cities of the Idumeans, who there had worshipped Apollo. + This man, whose name is said to have been Zabidus, came to + the Jews, and promised that he would deliver Apollo, the god + of Dora, into their hands, and that he would come to our + temple, if they would all come up with him, and bring the + whole multitude of the Jews with them; that Zabidus made + him a certain wooden instrument, and put it round about + him, and set three rows of lamps therein, and walked after + such a manner, that he appeared to those that stood a great + way off him to be a kind of star, walking upon the earth; that + the Jews were terribly affrighted at so surprising an + appearance, and stood very quiet at a distance; and that + Zabidus, while they continued so very quiet, went into the + holy house, and carried off that golden head of an ass, (for so + facetiously does he write,) and then went his way back again + to Dora in great haste." And say you so, sir! as I may reply; + then does Apion load the ass, that is, himself, and lays on + him a burden of fooleries and lies; for he writes of places + that have no being, and not knowing the cities he speaks of, + he changes their situation; for Idumea borders upon our + country, and is near to Gaza, in which there is no such city as + Dora; although there be, it is true, a city named Dora in + Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel, but it is four days' journey + from Idumea. (12) Now, then, why does this man accuse us, + because we have not gods in common with other nations, if + our fathers were so easily prevailed upon to have Apollo + come to them, and thought they saw him walking upon the + earth, and the stars with him? for certainly those who have so + many festivals, wherein they light lamps, must yet, at this + rate, have never seen a candlestick! But still it seems that + while Zabidus took his journey over the country, where were + so many ten thousands of people, nobody met him. He also, + it seems, even in a time of war, found the walls of Jerusalem + destitute of guards. I omit the rest. Now the doors of the holy + house were seventy (13) cubits high, and twenty cubits broad; + they were all plated over with gold, and almost of solid gold + itself, and there were no fewer than twenty (14) men required + to shut them every day; nor was it lawful ever to leave them + open, though it seems this lamp-bearer of ours opened them + easily, or thought he opened them, as he thought he had the + ass's head in his hand. Whether, therefore, he returned it to + us again, or whether Apion took it, and brought it into the + temple again, that Antiochus might find it, and afford a + handle for a second fable of Apion's, is uncertain. + + 11. Apion also tells a false story, when he mentions an oath + of ours, as if we "swore by God, the Maker of the heaven, + and earth, and sea, to bear no good will to any foreigner, and + particularly to none of the Greeks." Now this liar ought to + have said directly that" we would bear no good-will to any + foreigner, and particularly to none of the Egyptians." For + then his story about the oath would have squared with the + rest of his original forgeries, in case our forefathers had +been + driven away by their kinsmen, the Egyptians, not on account + of any wickedness they had been guilty of, but on account of + the calamities they were under; for as to the Grecians, we + were rather remote from them in place, than different from + them in our institutions, insomuch that we have no enmity + with them, nor any jealousy of them. On the contrary, it hath + so happened that many of them have come over to our laws, + and some of them have continued in their observation, + although others of them had not courage enough to + persevere, and so departed from them again; nor did any + body ever hear this oath sworn by us: Apion, it seems, was + the only person that heard it, for he indeed was the first + composer of it. + + 12. However, Apion deserves to be admired for his great + prudence, as to what I am going to say, which is this," That + there is a plain mark among us, that we neither have just + laws, nor worship God as we ought to do, because we are not + governors, but are rather in subjection to Gentiles, sometimes + to one nation, and sometimes to another; and that our city + hath been liable to several calamities, while their city + [Alexandria] hath been of old time an imperial city, and not + used to be in subjection to the Romans." But now this man + had better leave off this bragging, for every body but himself + would think that Apion said what he hath said against + himself; for there are very few nations that have had the + good fortune to continue many generations in the + principality, but still the mutations in human affairs have put + them into subjection under others; and most nations have + been often subdued, and brought into subjection by others. + Now for the Egyptians, perhaps they are the only nation that + have had this extraordinary privilege, to have never served + any of those monarchs who subdued Asia and Europe, and + this on account, as they pretend, that the gods fled into their + country, and saved themselves by being changed into the + shapes of wild beasts! Whereas these Egyptians (15) are the + very people that appear to have never, in all the past ages, + had one day of freedom, no, not so much as from their own + lords. For I will not reproach them with relating the manner + how the Persians used them, and this not once only, but + many times, when they laid their cities waste, demolished + their temples, and cut the throats of those animals whom + they esteemed to be gods; for it is not reasonable to imitate + the clownish ignorance of Apion, who hath no regard to the + misfortunes of the Athenians, or of the Lacedemonians, the + latter of whom were styled by all men the most courageous, + and the former the most religious of the Grecians. I say + nothing of such kings as have been famous for piety, + particularly of one of them, whose name was Cresus, nor + what calamities he met with in his life; I say nothing of the + citadel of Athens, of the temple at Ephesus, of that at + Delphi, nor of ten thousand others which have been burnt + down, while nobody cast reproaches on those that were the + sufferers, but on those that were the actors therein. But now + we have met with Apion, an accuser of our nation, though + one that still forgets the miseries of his own people, the + Egptians; but it is that Sesostris who was once so celebrated a + king of Egypt that hath blinded him. Now we will not brag of + our kings, David and Solomon, though they conquered many + nations; accordingly we will let them alone. However, Apion + is ignorant of what every body knows, that the Egyptians + were servants to the Persians, and afterwards to the + Macedonians, when they were lords of Asia, and were no + better than slaves, while we have enjoyed liberty formerly; + nay, more than that, have had the dominion of the cities that + lie round about us, and this nearly for a hundred and twenty + years together, until Pompeius Magnus. And when all the + kings every where were conquered by the Romans, our + ancestors were the only people who continued to be + esteemed their confederates and friends, on account of their + fidelity to them.(16) + + 13. "But," says Apion, "we Jews have not had any wonderful + men amongst us, not any inventors of arts, nor any eminent + for wisdom." He then enumerates Socrates, and Zeno, and + Cleanthes, and some others of the same sort; and, after all, + he adds himself to them, which is the most wonderful thing + of all that he says, and pronounces Alexandria to be happy, + because it hath such a citizen as he is in it; for he was the + fittest man to be a witness to his own deserts, although he + hath appeared to all others no better than a wicked + mountebank, of a corrupt life and ill discourses; on which + account one may justly pity Alexandria, if it should value + itself upon such a citizen as he is. But as to our own men, we + have had those who have been as deserving of commendation + as any other whosoever, and such as have perused our + Antiquities cannot be ignorant of them. + + 14. As to the other things which he sets down as + blameworthy, it may perhaps be the best way to let them pass + without apology, that he may be allowed to be his own + accuser, and the accuser of the rest of the Egyptians. + However, he accuses us for sacrificing animals, and for + abstaining from swine's flesh, and laughs at us for the + circumcision of our privy members. Now as for our slaughter + of tame animals for sacrifices, it is common to us and to all + other men; but this Apion, by making it a crime to sacrifice + them, demonstrates himself to be an Egyptian; for had he + been either a Grecian or a Macedonian, [as he pretends to + be,] he had not shown any uneasiness at it; for those people + glory in sacrificing whole hecatombs to the gods, and make + use of those sacrifices for feasting; and yet is not the world + thereby rendered destitute of cattle, as Apion was afraid + would come to pass. Yet if all men had followed the manners + of the Egyptians, the world had certainly been made desolate + as to mankind, but had been filled full of the wildest sort of + brute beasts, which, because they suppose them to be gods, + they carefully nourish. However, if any one should ask Apion + which of the Egyptians he thinks to he the most wise and + most pious of them all, he would certainly acknowledge the + priests to be so; for the histories say that two things were + originally committed to their care by their kings' injunctions, + the worship of the gods, and the support of wisdom and + philosophy. Accordingly, these priests are all circumcised, and + abstain from swine's flesh; nor does any one of the other + Egyptians assist them in slaying those sacrifices they offer to + the gods. Apion was therefore quite blinded in his mind, + when, for the sake of the Egyptians, he contrived to reproach + us, and to accuse such others as not only make use of that + conduct of life which he so much abuses, but have also taught + other men to be circumcised, as says Herodotus; which makes + me think that Apion is hereby justly punished for his casting + such reproaches on the laws of his own country; for he was + circumcised himself of necessity, on account of an ulcer in his + privy member; and when he received no benefit by such + circumcision, but his member became putrid, he died in great + torment. Now men of good tempers ought to observe their + own laws concerning religion accurately, and to persevere + therein, but not presently to abuse the laws of other nations, + while this Apion deserted his own laws, and told lies about + ours. And this was the end of Apion's life, and this shall be + the conclusion of our discourse about him. + + 15. But now, since Apollonius Molo, and Lysimachus, and + some others, write treatises about our lawgiver Moses, and + about our laws, which are neither just nor true, and this + partly out of ignorance, but chiefly out of ill-will to us, +while + they calumniate Moses as an impostor and deceiver, and + pretend that our laws teach us wickedness, but nothing that is + virtuous, I have a mind to discourse briefly, according to my + ability, about our whole constitution of government, and + about the particular branches of it. For I suppose it will + thence become evident, that the laws we have given us are + disposed after the best manner for the advancement of piety, + for mutual communion with one another, for a general love + of mankind, as also for justice, and for sustaining labors with + fortitude, and for a contempt of death. And I beg of those + that shall peruse this writing of mine, to read it without + partiality; for it is not my purpose to write an encomium + upon ourselves, but I shall esteem this as a most just apology + for us, and taken from those our laws, according to which we + lead our lives, against the many and the lying objections that + have been made against us. Moreover, since this Apollonius + does not do like Apion, and lay a continued accusation + against us, but does it only by starts, and up and clown his + discourse, while he sometimes reproaches us as atheists, and + man-haters, and sometimes hits us in the teeth with our want + of courage, and yet sometimes, on the contrary, accuses us of + too great boldness and madness in our conduct; nay, he says + that we are the weakest of all the barbarians, and that this is + the reason why we are the only people who have made no + improvements in human life; now I think I shall have then + sufficiently disproved all these his allegations, when it shall + appear that our laws enjoin the very reverse of what he says, + and that we very carefully observe those laws ourselves. And + if I he compelled to make mention of the laws of other + nations, that are contrary to ours, those ought deservedly to + thank themselves for it, who have pretended to depreciate + our laws in comparison of their own; nor will there, I think, + be any room after that for them to pretend either that we + have no such laws ourselves, an epitome of which I will + present to the reader, or that we do not, above all men, + continue in the observation of them. + + 16. To begin then a good way backward, I would advance + this, in the first place, that those who have been admirers of + good order, and of living under common laws, and who began + to introduce them, may well have this testimony that they are + better than other men, both for moderation and such virtue + as is agreeable to nature. Indeed their endeavor was to have + every thing they ordained believed to be very ancient, that + they might not be thought to imitate others, but might appear + to have delivered a regular way of living to others after them. + Since then this is the case, the excellency of a legislator is + seen in providing for the people's living after the best + manner, and in prevailing with those that are to use the laws + he ordains for them, to have a good opinion of them, and in + obliging the multitude to persevere in them, and to make no + changes in them, neither in prosperity nor adversity. Now I + venture to say, that our legislator is the most ancient of all + the legislators whom we have ally where heard of; for as for + the Lycurguses, and Solons, and Zaleucus Locrensis, and all + those legislators who are so admired by the Greeks, they + seem to be of yesterday, if compared with our legislator, + insomuch as the very name of a law was not so much as + known in old times among the Grecians. Homer is a witness + to the truth of this observation, who never uses that term in + all his poems; for indeed there was then no such thing among + them, but the multitude was governed by wise maxims, and + by the injunctions of their king. It was also a long time that + they continued in the use of these unwritten customs, + although they were always changing them upon several + occasions. But for our legislator, who was of so much greater + antiquity than the rest, (as even those that speak against us + upon all occasions do always confess,) he exhibited himself to + the people as their best governor and counselor, and included + in his legislation the entire conduct of their lives, and + prevailed with them to receive it, and brought it so to pass, + that those that were made acquainted with his laws did most + carefully observe them. + + 17. But let us consider his first and greatest work; for when +it + was resolved on by our forefathers to leave Egypt, and return + to their own country, this Moses took the many tell + thousands that were of the people, and saved them out of + many desperate distresses, and brought them home in safety. + And certainly it was here necessary to travel over a country + without water, and full of sand, to overcome their enemies, + and, during these battles, to preserve their children, and +their + wives, and their prey; on all which occasions he became an + excellent general of an army, and a most prudent counselor, + and one that took the truest care of them all; he also so + brought it about, that the whole multitude depended upon + him. And while he had them always obedient to what he + enjoined, he made no manner of use of his authority for his + own private advantage, which is the usual time when + governors gain great powers to themselves, and pave the way + for tyranny, and accustom the multitude to live very + dissolutely; whereas, when our legislator was in so great + authority, he, on the contrary, thought he ought to have + regard to piety, and to show his great good-will to the people; + and by this means he thought he might show the great degree + of virtue that was in him, and might procure the most lasting + security to those who had made him their governor. When he + had therefore come to such a good resolution, and had + performed such wonderful exploits, we had just reason to + look upon ourselves as having him for a divine governor and + counselor. And when he had first persuaded himself (17) that + his actions and designs were agreeable to God's will, he + thought it his duty to impress, above all things, that notion + upon the multitude; for those who have once believed that + God is the inspector of their lives, will not permit themselves + in any sin. And this is the character of our legislator: he was + no impostor, no deceiver, as his revilers say, though unjustly, + but such a one as they brag Minos (18) to have been among + the Greeks, and other legislators after him; for some of them + suppose that they had their laws from Jupiter, while Minos + said that the revelation of his laws was to be referred to + Apollo, and his oracle at Delphi, whether they really thought + they were so derived, or supposed, however, that they could + persuade the people easily that so it was. But which of these + it was who made the best laws, and which had the greatest + reason to believe that God was their author, it will be easy, + upon comparing those laws themselves together, to + determine; for it is time that we come to that point. (19) + Now there are innumerable differences in the particular + customs and laws that are among all mankind, which a man + may briefly reduce under the following heads: Some + legislators have permitted their governments to be under + monarchies, others put them under oligarchies, and others + under a republican form; but our legislator had no regard to + any of these forms, but he ordained our government to be + what, by a strained expression, may be termed a Theocracy, + (20) by ascribing the authority and the power to God, and by + persuading all the people to have a regard to him, as the + author of all the good things that were enjoyed either in + common by all mankind, or by each one in particular, and of + all that they themselves obtained by praying to him in their + greatest difficulties. He informed them that it was impossible + to escape God's observation, even in any of our outward + actions, or in any of our inward thoughts. Moreover, he + represented God as unbegotten, (21) and immutable, through + all eternity, superior to all mortal conceptions in +pulchritude; + and, though known to us by his power, yet unknown to us as + to his essence. I do not now explain how these notions of + God are the sentiments of the wisest among the Grecians, + and how they were taught them upon the principles that he + afforded them. However, they testify, with great assurance, + that these notions are just, and agreeable to the nature of + God, and to his majesty; for Pythagoras, and Anaxagoras, and + Plato, and the Stoic philosophers that succeeded them, and + almost all the rest, are of the same sentiments, and had the + same notions of the nature of God; yet durst not these men + disclose those true notions to more than a few, because the + body of the people were prejudiced with other opinions + beforehand. But our legislator, who made his actions agree + to his laws, did not only prevail with those that were his + contemporaries to agree with these his notions, but so firmly + imprinted this faith in God upon all their posterity, that it + never could be removed. The reason why the constitution of + this legislation was ever better directed to the utility of all + than other legislations were, is this, that Moses did not make + religion a part of virtue, but he saw and he ordained other + virtues to be parts of religion; I mean justice, and fortitude, + and temperance, and a universal agreement of the members + of the community with one another; for all our actions and + studies, and all our words, [in Moses's settlement,] have a + reference to piety towards God; for he hath left none of + these in suspense, or undetermined. For there are two ways + of coining at any sort of learning and a moral conduct of life; + the one is by instruction in words, the other by practical + exercises. Now other lawgivers have separated these two ways + in their opinions, and choosing one of those ways of + instruction, or that which best pleased every one of them, + neglected the other. Thus did the Lacedemonians and the + Cretians teach by practical exercises, but not by words; while + the Athenians, and almost all the other Grecians, made laws + about what was to be done, or left undone, but had no regard + to the exercising them thereto in practice. + + 18. But for our legislator, he very carefully joined these two + methods of instruction together; for he neither left these + practical exercises to go on without verbal instruction, nor +did + he permit the hearing of the law to proceed without the + exercises for practice; but beginning immediately from the + earliest infancy, and the appointment of every one's diet, he + left nothing of the very smallest consequence to be done at + the pleasure and disposal of the person himself. Accordingly, + he made a fixed rule of law what sorts of food they should + abstain from, and what sorts they should make use of; as also, + what communion they should have with others what great + diligence they should use in their occupations, and what times + of rest should be interposed, that, by living under that law as + under a father and a master, we might be guilty of no sin, + neither voluntary nor out of ignorance; for he did not suffer + the guilt of ignorance to go on without punishment, but + demonstrated the law to be the best and the most necessary + instruction of all others, permitting the people to leave off + their other employments, and to assemble together for the + hearing of the law, and learning it exactly, and this not once + or twice, or oftener, but every week; which thing all the other + legislators seem to have neglected. + + 19. And indeed the greatest part of mankind are so far from + living according to their own laws, that they hardly know + them; but when they have sinned, they learn from others that + they have transgressed the law. Those also who are in the + highest and principal posts of the government, confess they + are not acquainted with those laws, and are obliged to take + such persons for their assessors in public administrations as + profess to have skill in those laws; but for our people, if any + body do but ask any one of them about our laws, he will + more readily tell them all than he will tell his own name, and + this in consequence of our having learned them immediately + as soon as ever we became sensible of any thing, and of our + having them as it were engraven on our souls. Our + transgressors of them are but few, and it is impossible, when + any do offend, to escape punishment. + + 20. And this very thing it is that principally creates such a + wonderful agreement of minds amongst us all; for this entire + agreement of ours in all our notions concerning God, and our + having no difference in our course of life and manners, + procures among us the most excellent concord of these our + manners that is any where among mankind; for no other + people but the Jews have avoided all discourses about God + that any way contradict one another, which yet are frequent + among other nations; and this is true not only among + ordinary persons, according as every one is affected, but some + of the philosophers have been insolent enough to indulge + such contradictions, while some of them have undertaken to + use such words as entirely take away the nature of God, as + others of them have taken away his providence over mankind. + Nor can any one perceive amongst us any difference in the + conduct of our lives, but all our works are common to us all. + We have one sort of discourse concerning God, which is + conformable to our law, and affirms that he sees all things; as + also we have but one way of speaking concerning the conduct + of our lives, that all other things ought to have piety for +their + end; and this any body may hear from our women, and + servants themselves. + + 21. And, indeed, hence hath arisen that accusation which + some make against us, that we have not produced men that + have been the inventors of new operations, or of new ways of + speaking; for others think it a fine thing to persevere in + nothing that has been delivered down from their forefathers, + and these testify it to be an instance of the sharpest wisdom + when these men venture to transgress those traditions; + whereas we, on the contrary, suppose it to be our only + wisdom and virtue to admit no actions nor supposals that are + contrary to our original laws; which procedure of ours is a + just and sure sign that our law is admirably constituted; for + such laws as are not thus well made are convicted upon trial + to want amendment. + + 22. But while we are ourselves persuaded that our law was + made agreeably to the will of God, it would be impious for us + not to observe the same; for what is there in it that any body + would change? and what can be invented that is better? or + what can we take out of other people's laws that will exceed + it? Perhaps some would have the entire settlement of our + government altered. And where shall we find a better or + more righteous constitution than ours, while this makes us + esteem God to be the Governor of the universe, and permits + the priests in general to be the administrators of the +principal + affairs, and withal intrusts the government over the other + priests to the chief high priest himself? which priests our + legislator, at their first appointment, did not advance to that + dignity for their riches, or any abundance of other + possessions, or any plenty they had as the gifts of fortune; +but + he intrusted the principal management of Divine worship to + those that exceeded others in an ability to persuade men, and + in prudence of conduct. These men had the main care of the + law and of the other parts of the people's conduct committed + to them; for they were the priests who were ordained to be + the inspectors of all, and the judges in doubtful cases, and +the + punishers of those that were condemned to suffer + punishment. + + 23. What form of government then can be more holy than + this? what more worthy kind of worship can be paid to God + than we pay, where the entire body of the people are + prepared for religion, where an extraordinary degree of care + is required in the priests, and where the whole polity is so + ordered as if it were a certain religious solemnity? For what + things foreigners, when they solemnize such festivals, are not + able to observe for a few days' time, and call them Mysteries + and Sacred Ceremonies, we observe with great pleasure and + an unshaken resolution during our whole lives. What are the + things then that we are commanded or forbidden? They are + simple, and easily known. The first command is concerning + God, and affirms that God contains all things, and is a Being + every way perfect and happy, self-sufficient, and supplying all + other beings; the beginning, the middle, and the end of all + things. He is manifest in his works and benefits, and more + conspicuous than any other being whatsoever; but as to his + form and magnitude, he is most obscure. All materials, let + them be ever so costly, are unworthy to compose an image + for him, and all arts are unartful to express the notion we + ought to have of him. We can neither see nor think of any + thing like him, nor is it agreeable to piety to form a + resemblance of him. We see his works, the light, the heaven, + the earth, the sun and the moon, the waters, the generations + of animals, the productions of fruits. These things hath God + made, not with hands, nor with labor, nor as wanting the + assistance of any to cooperate with him; but as his will + resolved they should be made and be good also, they were + made and became good immediately. All men ought to follow + this Being, and to worship him in the exercise of virtue; for + this way of worship of God is the most holy of all others. + + 24. There ought also to be but one temple for one God; for + likeness is the constant foundation of agreement. This temple + ought to be common to all men, because he is the common + God of all men. High priests are to be continually about his + worship, over whom he that is the first by his birth is to be + their ruler perpetually. His business must be to offer + sacrifices to God, together with those priests that are joined + with him, to see that the laws be observed, to determine + controversies, and to punish those that are convicted of + injustice; while he that does not submit to him shall be + subject to the same punishment, as if he had been guilty of + impiety towards God himself. When we offer sacrifices to + him, we do it not in order to surfeit ourselves, or to be + drunken; for such excesses are against the will of God, and + would be an occasion of injuries and of luxury; but by + keeping ourselves sober, orderly, and ready for our other + occupations, and being more temperate than others. And for + our duty at the sacrifices (22) themselves, we ought, in the + first place, to pray for the common welfare of all, and after + that for our own; for we are made for fellowship one with + another, and he who prefers the common good before what is + peculiar to himself is above all acceptable to God. And let + our prayers and supplications be made humbly to God, not + [so much] that he would give us what is good, (for he hath + already given that of his own accord, and hath proposed the + same publicly to all,) as that we may duly receive it, and + when we have received it, may preserve it. Now the law has + appointed several purifications at our sacrifices, whereby we + are cleansed after a funeral, after what sometimes happens to + us in bed, and after accompanying with our wives, and upon + many other occasions, which it would be too long now to set + down. And this is our doctrine concerning God and his + worship, and is the same that the law appoints for our + practice. + + 25. But, then, what are our laws about marriage? That law + owns no other mixture of sexes but that which nature hath + appointed, of a man with his wife, and that this be used only + for the procreation of children. But it abhors the mixture of a + male with a male; and if any one do that, death is its + punishment. It commands us also, when we marry, not to + have regard to portion, nor to take a woman by violence, nor + to persuade her deceitfully and knavishly; but to demand her + in marriage of him who hath power to dispose of her, and is + fit to give her away by the nearness of his kindred; for, says + the Scripture, "A woman is inferior to her husband in all + things." (23) Let her, therefore, be obedient to him; not so + that he should abuse her, but that she may acknowledge her + duty to her husband; for God hath given the authority to the + husband. A husband, therefore, is to lie only with his wife + whom he hath married; but to have to do with another man's + wife is a wicked thing, which, if any one ventures upon, death + is inevitably his punishment: no more can he avoid the same + who forces a virgin betrothed to another man, or entices + another man's wife. The law, moreover, enjoins us to bring + up all our offspring, and forbids women to cause abortion of + what is begotten, or to destroy it afterward; and if any woman + appears to have so done, she will be a murderer of her child, + by destroying a living creature, and diminishing human kind; + if any one, therefore, proceeds to such fornication or murder, + he cannot be clean. Moreover, the law enjoins, that after the + man and wife have lain together in a regular way, they shall + bathe themselves; for there is a defilement contracted + thereby, both in soul and body, as if they had gone into + another country; for indeed the soul, by being united to the + body, is subject to miseries, and is not freed therefrom again + but by death; on which account the law requires this + purification to be entirely performed. + + 26. Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals + at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of + drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of + our education should be immediately directed to sobriety. It + also commands us to bring those children up in learning, and + to exercise them in the laws, and make them acquainted with + the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of + them, and that they might be nourished up in the laws from + their infancy, and might neither transgress them, nor have + any pretense for their ignorance of them. + + 27. Our law hath also taken care of the decent burial of the + dead, but without any extravagant expenses for their funerals, + and without the erection of any illustrious monuments for + them; but hath ordered that their nearest relations should + perform their obsequies; and hath showed it to be regular, + that all who pass by when any one is buried should + accompany the funeral, and join in the lamentation. It also + ordains that the house and its inhabitants should be purified + after the funeral is over, that every one may thence learn to + keep at a great distance from the thoughts of being pure, if + he hath been once guilty of murder. + + 28. The law ordains also, that parents should be honored + immediately after God himself, and delivers that son who + does not requite them for the benefits he hath received from + them, but is deficient on any such occasion, to be stoned. It + also says that the young men should pay due respect to every + elder, since God is the eldest of all beings. It does not give + leave to conceal any thing from our friends, because that is + not true friendship which will not commit all things to their + fidelity: it also forbids the revelation of secrets, even +though + an enmity arise between them. If any judge takes bribes, his + punishment is death: he that overlooks one that offers him a + petition, and this when he is able to relieve him, he is a +guilty + person. What is not by any one intrusted to another ought + not to be required back again. No one is to touch another's + goods. He that lends money must not demand usury for its + loan. These, and many more of the like sort, are the rules + that unite us in the bands of society one with another. + + 29. It will be also worth our while to see what equity our + legislator would have us exercise in our intercourse with + strangers; for it will thence appear that he made the best + provision he possibly could, both that we should not dissolve + our own constitution, nor show any envious mind towards + those that would cultivate a friendship with us. Accordingly, + our legislator admits all those that have a mind to observe + our laws so to do; and this after a friendly manner, as + esteeming that a true union which not only extends to our + own stock, but to those that would live after the same + manner with us; yet does he not allow those that come to us + by accident only to be admitted into communion with us. + + 30. However, there are other things which our legislator + ordained for us beforehand, which of necessity we ought to + do in common to all men; as to afford fire, and water, and + food to such as want it; to show them the roads; not to let + any one lie unburied. He also would have us treat those that + are esteemed our enemies with moderation; for he doth not + allow us to set their country on fire, nor permit us to cut + down those trees that bear fruit; nay, further, he forbids us +to + spoil those that have been slain in war. He hath also provided + for such as are taken captive, that they may not be injured, + and especially that the women may not be abused. Indeed he + hath taught us gentleness and humanity so effectually, that he + hath not despised the care of brute beasts, by permitting no + other than a regular use of them, and forbidding any other; + and if any of them come to our houses, like supplicants, we + are forbidden to slay them; nor may we kill the dams, + together with their young ones; but we are obliged, even in + an enemy's country, to spare and not kill those creatures that + labor for mankind. Thus hath our lawgiver contrived to teach + us an equitable conduct every way, by using us to such laws + as instruct us therein; while at the same time he hath + ordained that such as break these laws should be punished, + without the allowance of any excuse whatsoever. + + 31. Now the greatest part of offenses with us are capital; as +if + any one be guilty of adultery; if any one force a virgin; if +any + one be so impudent as to attempt sodomy with a male; or if, + upon another's making an attempt upon him, he submits to + be so used. There is also a law for slaves of the like nature, + that can never be avoided. Moreover, if any one cheats + another in measures or weights, or makes a knavish bargain + and sale, in order to cheat another; if any one steals what + belongs to another, and takes what he never deposited; all + these have punishments allotted them; not such as are met + with among other nations, but more severe ones. And as for + attempts of unjust behavior towards parents, or for impiety + against God, though they be not actually accomplished, the + offenders are destroyed immediately. However, the reward + for such as live exactly according to the laws is not silver or + gold; it is not a garland of olive branches or of small age, +nor + any such public sign of commendation; but every good man + hath his own conscience bearing witness to himself, and by + virtue of our legislator's prophetic spirit, and of the firm + security God himself affords such a one, he believes that God + hath made this grant to those that observe these laws, even + though they be obliged readily to die for them, that they shall + come into being again, and at a certain revolution of things + shall receive a better life than they had enjoyed before. Nor + would I venture to write thus at this time, were it not well + known to all by our actions that many of our people have + many a time bravely resolved to endure any sufferings, rather + than speak one word against our law. + + 32. Nay, indeed, in case it had so fallen out, that our nation + had not been so thoroughly known among all men as they + are, and our voluntary submission to our laws had not been + so open and manifest as it is, but that somebody had + pretended to have written these laws himself, and had read + them to the Greeks, or had pretended that he had met with + men out of the limits of the known world, that had such + reverent notions of God, and had continued a long time in + the firm observance of such laws as ours, I cannot but + suppose that all men would admire them on a reflection upon + the frequent changes they had therein been themselves + subject to; and this while those that have attempted to write + somewhat of the same kind for politic government, and for + laws, are accused as composing monstrous things, and are + said to have undertaken an impossible task upon them. And + here I will say nothing of those other philosophers who have + undertaken any thing of this nature in their writings. But + even Plato himself, who is so admired by the Greeks on + account of that gravity in his manners, and force in his words, + and that ability he had to persuade men beyond all other + philosophers, is little better than laughed at and exposed to + ridicule on that account, by those that pretend to sagacity in + political affairs; although he that shall diligently peruse his + writings will find his precepts to be somewhat gentle, and + pretty near to the customs of the generality of mankind. Nay, + Plato himself confesseth that it is not safe to publish the +true + notion concerning God among the ignorant multitude. Yet do + some men look upon Plato's discourses as no better than + certain idle words set off with great artifice. However, they + admire Lycurgus as the principal lawgiver, and all men + celebrate Sparta for having continued in the firm observance + of his laws for a very long time. So far then we have gained, + that it is to be confessed a mark of virtue to submit to laws. + (24) But then let such as admire this in the Lacedemonians + compare that duration of theirs with more than two thousand + years which our political government hath continued; and let + them further consider, that though the Lacedemonians did + seem to observe their laws exactly while they enjoyed their + liberty, yet that when they underwent a change of their + fortune, they forgot almost all those laws; while we, having + been under ten thousand changes in our fortune by the + changes that happened among the kings of Asia, have never + betrayed our laws under the most pressing distresses we have + been in; nor have we neglected them either out of sloth or + for a livelihood. (25) if any one will consider it, the + difficulties and labors laid upon us have been greater than + what appears to have been borne by the Lacedemonian + fortitude, while they neither ploughed their land, nor + exercised any trades, but lived in their own city, free from +all + such pains-taking, in the enjoyment of plenty, and using such + exercises as might improve their bodies, while they made use + of other men as their servants for all the necessaries of life, + and had their food prepared for them by the others; and + these good and humane actions they do for no other purpose + but this, that by their actions and their sufferings they may +be + able to conquer all those against whom they make war. I + need not add this, that they have not been fully able to + observe their laws; for not only a few single persons, but + multitudes of them, have in heaps neglected those laws, and + have delivered themselves, together with their arms, into the + hands of their enemies. + + 33. Now as for ourselves, I venture to say that no one can tell + of so many; nay, not of more than one or two that have + betrayed our laws, no, not out of fear of death itself; I do +not + mean such an easy death as happens in battles, but that + which comes with bodily torments, and seems to be the + severest kind of death of all others. Now I think those that + have conquered us have put us to such deaths, not out of + their hatred to us when they had subdued us, but rather out + of their desire of seeing a surprising sight, which is this, + whether there be such men in the world who believe that no + evil is to them so great as to be compelled to do or to speak + any thing contrary to their own laws. Nor ought men to + wonder at us, if we are more courageous in dying for our + laws than all other men are; for other men do not easily + submit to the easier things in which we are instituted; I mean + working with our hands, and eating but little, and being + contented to eat and drink, not at random, or at every one's + pleasure, or being under inviolable rules in lying with our + wives, in magnificent furniture, and again in the observation + of our times of rest; while those that can use their swords in + war, and can put their enemies to flight when they attack + them, cannot bear to submit to such laws about their way of + living: whereas our being accustomed willingly to submit to + laws in these instances, renders us fit to show our fortitude + upon other occasions also. + + 34. Yet do the Lysimachi and the Molones, and some other + writers, (unskillful sophists as they are, and the deceivers of + young men,) reproach us as the vilest of all mankind. Now I + have no mind to make an inquiry into the laws of other + nations; for the custom of our country is to keep our own + laws, but not to bring accusations against the laws of others. + And indeed our legislator hath expressly forbidden us to + laugh at and revile those that are esteemed gods by other + people? on account of the very name of God ascribed to + them. But since our antagonists think to run us down upon + the comparison of their religion and ours, it is not possible +to + keep silence here, especially while what I shall say to confute + these men will not be now first said, but hath been already + said by many, and these of the highest reputation also; for + who is there among those that have been admired among the + Greeks for wisdom, who hath not greatly blamed both the + most famous poets, and most celebrated legislators, for + spreading such notions originally among the body of the + people concerning the gods? such as these, that they may be + allowed to be as numerous as they have a mind to have them; + that they are begotten one by another, and that after all the + kinds of generation you can imagine. They also distinguish + them in their places and ways of living as they would + distinguish several sorts of animals; as some to be under the + earth; as some to be in the sea; and the ancientest of them + all to be bound in hell; and for those to whom they have + allotted heaven, they have set over them one, who in title is + their father, but in his actions a tyrant and a lord; whence it + came to pass that his wife, and brother, and daughter (which + daughter he brought forth from his own head) made a + conspiracy against him to seize upon him and confine hint, as + he had himself seized upon and confined his own father + before. + + 35. And justly have the wisest men thought these notions + deserved severe rebukes; they also laugh at them for + determining that we ought to believe some of the gods to be + beardless and young, and others of them to be old, and to + have beards accordingly; that some are set to trades; that one + god is a smith, and another goddess is a weaver; that one god + is a warrior, and fights with men; that some of them are + harpers, or delight in archery; and besides, that mutual + seditions arise among them, and that they quarrel about men, + and this so far, that they not only lay hands upon one + another, but that they are wounded by men, and lament, and + take on for such their afflictions. But what is the grossest of + all in point of lasciviousness, are those unbounded lusts + ascribed to almost all of them, and their amours; which how + can it be other than a most absurd supposal, especially when + it reaches to the male gods, and to the female goddesses + also? Moreover, the chief of all their gods, and their first + father himself, overlooks those goddesses whom he hath + deluded and begotten with child, and suffers them to be kept + in prison, or drowned in the sea. He is also so bound up by + fate, that he cannot save his own offspring, nor can he bear + their deaths without shedding of tears. These are fine things + indeed! as are the rest that follow. Adulteries truly are so + impudently looked on in heaven by the gods, that some of + them have confessed they envied those that were found in the + very act. And why should they not do so, when the eldest of + them, who is their king also, hath not been able to restrain + himself in the violence of his lust, from lying with his wife, +so + long as they might get into their bedchamber? Now some of + the gods are servants to men, and will sometimes be builders + for a reward, and sometimes will be shepherds; while others + of them, like malefactors, are bound in a prison of brass. And + what sober person is there who would not be provoked at + such stories, and rebuke those that forged them, and + condemn the great silliness of those that admit them for + true? Nay, others there are that have advanced a certain + timorousness and fear, as also madness and fraud, and any + other of the vilest passions, into the nature and form of gods, + and have persuaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the + better sort of them; on which account they have been + absolutely forced to esteem some gods as the givers of good + things, and to call others of them averters of evil. They also + endeavor to move them, as they would the vilest of men, by + gifts and presents, as looking for nothing else than to receive + some great mischief from them, unless they pay them such + wages. + + 36. Wherefore it deserves our inquiry what should be the + occasion of this unjust management, and of these scandals + about the Deity. And truly I suppose it to be derived from + the imperfect knowledge the heathen legislators had at first + of the true nature of God; nor did they explain to the people + even so far as they did comprehend of it: nor did they + compose the other parts of their political settlements + according to it, but omitted it as a thing of very little + consequence, and gave leave both to the poets to introduce + what gods they pleased, and those subject to all sorts of + passions, and to the orators to procure political decrees from + the people for the admission of such foreign gods as they + thought proper. The painters also, and statuaries of Greece, + had herein great power, as each of them could contrive a + shape [proper for a god]; the one to be formed out of clay, + and the other by making a bare picture of such a one. But + those workmen that were principally admired, had the use of + ivory and of gold as the constant materials for their new + statues [whereby it comes to pass that some temples are quite + deserted, while others are in great esteem, and adorned with + all the rites of all kinds of purification]. Besides this, the +first + gods, who have long flourished in the honors done them, are + now grown old [while those that flourished after them are + come in their room as a second rank, that I may speak the + most honorably of them I can]: nay, certain other gods there + are who are newly introduced, and newly worshipped [as we, + by way of digression, have said already, and yet have left +their + places of worship desolate]; and for their temples, some of + them are already left desolate, and others are built anew, + according to the pleasure of men; whereas they ought to have + their opinion about God, and that worship which is due to + him, always and immutably the same. + + 37. But now, this Apollonius Molo was one of these foolish + and proud men. However, nothing that I have said was + unknown to those that were real philosophers among the + Greeks, nor were they unacquainted with those frigid + pretensions of allegories [which had been alleged for such + things]; on which account they justly despised them, but have + still agreed with us as to the true and becoming notions of + God; whence it was that Plato would not have political + settlements admit to of any one of the other poets, and + dismisses even Homer himself, with a garland on his head, + and with ointment poured upon him, and this because he + should not destroy the right notions of God with his fables. + Nay, Plato principally imitated our legislator in this point, + that he enjoined his citizens to have he main regard to this + precept, "That every one of them should learn their laws + accurately." He also ordained, that they should not admit of + foreigners intermixing with their own people at random; and + provided that the commonwealth should keep itself pure, and + consist of such only as persevered in their own laws. + Apollonius Molo did no way consider this, when he made it + one branch of his accusation against us, that we do not admit + of such as have different notions about God, nor will we have + fellowship with those that choose to observe a way of living + different from ourselves, yet is not this method peculiar to +us, + but common to all other men; not among the ordinary + Grecians only, but among such of those Grecians as are of + the greatest reputation among them. Moreover, the + Lacedemonians continued in their way of expelling foreigners, + and would not indeed give leave to their own people to travel + abroad, as suspecting that those two things would introduce a + dissolution of their own laws: and perhaps there may be some + reason to blame the rigid severity of the Lacedemonians, for + they bestowed the privilege of their city on no foreigners, nor + indeed would give leave to them to stay among them; + whereas we, though we do not think fit to imitate other + institutions, yet do we willingly admit of those that desire to + partake of ours, which, I think, I may reckon to be a plain + indication of our humanity, and at the same time of our + magnanimity also. + + 38. But I shall say no more of the Lacedemonians. As for the + Athenians, who glory in having made their city to be common + to all men, what their behavior was Apollonius did not know, + while they punished those that did but speak one word + contrary to the laws about the gods, without any mercy; for + on what other account was it that Socrates was put to death + by them? For certainly he neither betrayed their city to its + enemies, nor was he guilty of any sacrilege with regard to any + of their temples; but it was on this account, that he swore + certain new oaths (26) and that he affirmed either in earnest, + or, as some say, only in jest, that a certain demon used to + make signs to him [what he should not do]. For these reasons + he was condemned to drink poison, and kill himself. His + accuser also complained that he corrupted the young men, by + inducing them to despise the political settlement and laws of + their city: and thus was Socrates, the citizen of Athens, + punished. There was also Anaxagoras, who, although he was + of Clazomente, was within a few suffrages of being + condemned to die, because he said the sun, which the + Athenians thought to be a god, was a ball of fire. They also + made this public proclamation," That they would give a talent + to any one who would kill Diagoras of Melos," because it was + reported of him that he laughed at their mysteries. + Protagoras also, who was thought to have written somewhat + that was not owned for truth by the Athenians about the + gods, had been seized upon, and put to death, if he had not + fled away immediately. Nor need we at all wonder that they + thus treated such considerable men, when they did not spare + even women also; for they very lately slew a certain priestess, + because she was accused by somebody that she initiated + people into the worship of strange gods, it having been + forbidden so to do by one of their laws; and a capital + punishment had been decreed to such as introduced a strange + god; it being manifest, that they who make use of such a law + do not believe those of other nations to be really gods, + otherwise they had not envied themselves the advantage of + more gods than they already had. And this was the happy + administration of the affairs of the Athenians! Now as to the + Scythians, they take a pleasure in killing men, and differ but + little from brute beasts; yet do they think it reasonable to + have their institutions observed. They also slew Anacharsis, a + person greatly admired for his wisdom among the Greeks, + when he returned to them, because he appeared to come + fraught with Grecian customs. One may also find many to + have been punished among the Persians, on the very same + account. And to be sure Apollonius was greatly pleased with + the laws of the Persians, and was an admirer of them, + because the Greeks enjoyed the advantage of their courage, + and had the very same opinion about the gods which they + had. This last was exemplified in the temples which they + burnt, and their courage in coming, and almost entirely + enslaving the Grecians. However, Apollonius has imitated all + the Persian institutions, and that by his offering violence to + other men's wives, and gelding his own sons. Now, with us, it + is a capital crime, if any one does thus abuse even a brute + beast; and as for us, neither hath the fear of our governors, + nor a desire of following what other nations have in so great + esteem, been able to withdraw us from our own laws; nor + have we exerted our courage in raising up wars to increase + our wealth, but only for the observation of our laws; and + when we with patience bear other losses, yet when any + persons would compel us to break our laws, then it is that we + choose to go to war, though it be beyond our ability to + pursue it, and bear the greatest calamities to the last with + much fortitude. And, indeed, what reason can there be why + we should desire to imitate the laws of other nations, while + we see they are not observed by their own legislators (27) + And why do not the Lacedemonians think of abolishing that + form of their government which suffers them not to associate + with any others, as well as their contempt of matrimony? And + why do not the Eleans and Thebans abolish that unnatural + and impudent lust, which makes them lie with males? For + they will not show a sufficient sign of their repentance of + what they of old thought to be very excellent, and very + advantageous in their practices, unless they entirely avoid all + such actions for the time to come: nay, such things are + inserted into the body of their laws, and had once such a + power among the Greeks, that they ascribed these + sodomitical practices to the gods themselves, as a part of + their good character; and indeed it was according to the same + manner that the gods married their own sisters. This the + Greeks contrived as an apology for their own absurd and + unnatural pleasures. + + 39. I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many + ways of escaping them the greatest part of the legislators + have afforded malefactors, by ordaining that, for adulteries, + fines in money should be allowed, and for corrupting (28) + [virgins] they need only marry them as also what excuses they + may have in denying the facts, if any one attempts to inquire + into them; for amongst most other nations it is a studied art + how men may transgress their laws; but no such thing is + permitted amongst us; for though we be deprived of our + wealth, of our cities, or of the other advantages we have, our + law continues immortal; nor can any Jew go so far from his + own country, nor be so aftrighted at the severest lord, as not + to be more aftrighted at the law than at him. If, therefore, + this be the disposition we are under, with regard to the + excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this + concession, that our laws are most excellent; and if still they + imagine, that though we so firmly adhere to them, yet are + they bad laws notwithstanding, what penalties then do they + deserve to undergo who do not observe their own laws, which + they esteem so far superior to them? Whereas, therefore, + length of time is esteemed to be the truest touchstone in all + cases, I would make that a testimonial of the excellency of + our laws, and of that belief thereby delivered to us + concerning God. For as there hath been a very long time for + this comparison, if any one will but compare its duration with + the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he will + find our legislator to have been the ancientest of them all. + + 40. We have already demonstrated that our laws have been + such as have always inspired admiration and imitation into all + other men; nay, the earliest Grecian philosophers, though in + appearance they observed the laws of their own countries, yet + did they, in their actions, and their philosophic doctrines, + follow our legislator, and instructed men to live sparingly, +and + to have friendly communication one with another. Nay, + further, the multitude of mankind itself have had a great + inclination of a long time to follow our religious observances; + for there is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the + barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of + resting on the seventh day hath not come, and by which our + fasts and lighting up lamps, and many of our prohibitions as + to our food, are not observed; they also endeavor to imitate + our mutual concord with one another, and the charitable + distribution of our goods, and our diligence in our trades, and + our fortitude in undergoing the distresses we are in, on + account of our laws; and, what is here matter of the greatest + admiration, our law hath no bait of pleasure to allure men to + it, but it prevails by its own force; and as God himself + pervades all the world, so hath our law passed through all the + world also. So that if any one will but reflect on his own + country, and his own family, he will have reason to give credit + to what I say. It is therefore but just, either to condemn all + mankind of indulging a wicked disposition, when they have + been so desirous of imitating laws that are to them foreign + and evil in themselves, rather than following laws of their + own that are of a better character, or else our accusers must + leave off their spite against us. Nor are we guilty of any + envious behavior towards them, when we honor our own + legislator, and believe what he, by his prophetic authority, + hath taught us concerning God. For though we should not be + able ourselves to understand the excellency of our own laws, + yet would the great multitude of those that desire to imitate + them, justify us, in greatly valuing ourselves upon them. + + 41. But as for the [distinct] political laws by which we are + governed, I have delivered them accurately in my books of + Antiquities; and have only mentioned them now, so far as + was necessary to my present purpose, without proposing to + myself either to blame the laws of other nations, or to make + an encomium upon our own; but in order to convict those + that have written about us unjustly, and in an impudent + affectation of disguising the truth. And now I think I have + sufficiently completed what I proposed in writing these books. + For whereas our accusers have pretended that our nation are + a people of very late original, I have demonstrated that they + are exceeding ancient; for I have produced as witnesses + thereto many ancient writers, who have made mention of us + in their books, while they had said that no such writer had so + done. Moreover, they had said that we were sprung from the + Egyptians, while I have proved that we came from another + country into Egypt: while they had told lies of us, as if we + were expelled thence on account of diseases on our bodies, it + has appeared, on the contrary, that we returned to our + country by our own choice, and with sound and strong bodies. + Those accusers reproached our legislator as a vile fellow; + whereas God in old time bare witness to his virtuous conduct; + and since that testimony of God, time itself hath been + discovered to have borne witness to the same thing. + + 42. As to the laws themselves, more words are unnecessary, + for they are visible in their own nature, and appear to teach + not impiety, but the truest piety in the world. They do not + make men hate one another, but encourage people to + communicate what they have to one another freely; they are + enemies to injustice, they take care of righteousness, they + banish idleness and expensive living, and instruct men to be + content with what they have, and to be laborious in their + calling; they forbid men to make war from a desire of getting + more, but make men courageous in defending the laws; they + are inexorable in punishing malefactors; they admit no + sophistry of words, but are always established by actions + themselves, which actions we ever propose as surer + demonstrations than what is contained in writing only: on + which account I am so bold as to say that we are become the + teachers of other men, in the greatest number of things, and + those of the most excellent nature only; for what is more + excellent than inviolable piety? what is more just than + submission to laws? and what is more advantageous than + mutual love and concord? and this so far that we are to be + neither divided by calamities, nor to become injurious and + seditious in prosperity; but to contemn death when we are in + war, and in peace to apply ourselves to our mechanical + occupations, or to our tillage of the ground; while we in all + things and all ways are satisfied that God is the inspector and + governor of our actions. If these precepts had either been + written at first, or more exactly kept by any others before us, + we should have owed them thanks as disciples owe to their + masters; but if it be visible that we have made use of them + more than any other men, and if we have demonstrated that + the original invention of them is our own, let the Apions, and + the Molons, with all the rest of those that delight in lies and + reproaches, stand confuted; but let this and the foregoing + book be dedicated to thee, Epaphroditus, who art so great a + lover of truth, and by thy means to those that have been in + like manner desirous to be acquainted with the affairs of our + nation. + + +APION BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES + +(1) The former part of this second book is written against the +calumnies of Apion, and then, more briefly, against the like +calumnies of Apollonius Molo. But after that, Josephus leaves off +any more particular reply to those adversaries of the Jews, and +gives us a large and excellent description and vindication of +that theocracy which was settled for the Jewish nation by Moses, +their great legislator. + +(2) Called by Tiberius Cymbalum Mundi, The drum of the world. + +(3) This seems to have been the first dial that had been made in +Egypt, and was a little before the time that Ahaz made his +[first] dial in Judea, and about anno 755, in the first year of +the seventh olympiad, as we shall see presently. See 2 Kings +20:11; Isaiah 38:8. + +(4) The burial-place for dead bodies, as I suppose. + +(5) Here begins a great defect in the Greek copy; but the old +Latin version fully supplies that defect. + +(6) What error is here generally believed to have been committed +by our Josephus in ascribing a deliverance of the Jews to the +reign of Ptolemy Physco, the seventh of those Ptolemus, which has +been universally supposed to have happened under Ptolemy +Philopater, the fourth of them, is no better than a gross error +of the moderns, and not of Josephus, as I have fully proved in +the Authentic. Rec. Part I. p. 200-201, whither I refer the +inquisitive reader. + +(7) Sister's son, and adopted son. + +(8) Called more properly Molo, or Apollonius Molo, as hereafter; +for Apollonins, the son of Molo, was another person, as Strabo +informs us, lib. xiv. + +(9) Furones in the Latin, which what animal it denotes does not +now appear. + +(10) It is great pity that these six pagan authors, here +mentioned to have described the famous profanation of the Jewish +temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, should be all lost; I mean so far +of their writings as contained that description; though it is +plain Josephus perused them all as extant in his time. + +(11) It is remarkable that Josephus here, and, I think, no where +else, reckons up four distinct courts of the temple; that of the +Gentiles, that of the women of Israel, that of the men of Israel, +and that of the priests; as also that the court of the women +admitted of the men, (I suppose only of the husbands of those +wives that were therein,) while the court of the men did not +admit any women into it at all. + +(12) Judea, in the Greek, by a gross mistake of the transcribers. + +(13) Seven in the Greek, by a like gross mistake of the +transcribers. See of the War, B. V. ch. 5. sect. 4. + +(14) Two hundred in the Greek, contrary to the twenty in the War, +B. VII. ch, 5. sect. 3. + +(15) This notorious disgrace belonging peculiarly to the people +of Egypt, ever since the times of the old prophets of the Jews, +noted both sect. 4 already, and here, may be confirmed by the +testimony of Isidorus, an Egyptian of Pelusium, Epist. lib. i. +Ep. 489. And this is a remarkable completion of the ancient +prediction of God by Ezekiel 29:14, 15, that the Egyptians should +be a base kingdom, the basest of the kingdoms," and that "it +should not exalt itself any more above the nations." + +(16) The truth of which still further appears by the present +observation of Josephus, that these Egyptians had never, in all +the past ages since Sesostris, had one day of liberty, no, not so +much as to have been free from despotic power under any of the +monarchies to that day. And all this bas been found equally true +in the latter ages, under the Romans, Saracens, Mamelukes, and +Turks, from the days of Josephus till the present ago also. + +(17) This language, that Moses, "persuaded himself" that what he +did was according to God's will, can mean no more, by Josephus's +own constant notions elsewhere, than that he was "firmly +persuaded," that he had "fully satisfied himself" that so it was, +viz. by the many revelations he had received from God, and the +numerous miracles God had enabled him to work, as he both in +these very two books against Apion, and in his Antiquities, most +clearly and frequently assures us. This is further evident from +several passages lower, where he affirms that Moses was no +impostor nor deceiver, and where he assures that Moses's +constitution of government was no other than a theocracy; and +where he says they are to hope for deliverance out of their +distresses by prayer to God, and that withal it was owing in part +to this prophetic spirit of Moses that the Jews expected a +resurrection from the dead. See almost as strange a use of the +like words, "to persuade God," Antiq. B. VI. ch. 5. sect. 6. + +(18) That is, Moses really was, what the heathen legislators +pretended to be, under a Divine direction; nor does it yet appear +that these pretensions to a supernatural conduct, either in these +legislators or oracles, were mere delusions of men without any +demoniacal impressions, nor that Josephus took them so to be; as +the ancientest and contemporary authors did still believe them to +be supernatural. + +(19) This whole very large passage is corrected by Dr. Hudson +from Eusebius's citation of it, Prep. Evangel. viii. 8, which is +here not a little different from the present MSS. of Josephus. + +(20) This expression itself, that "Moses ordained the Jewish +government to be a theocracy," may be illustrated by that +parallel expression in the Antiquities, B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9, +that "Moses left it to God to be present at his sacrifices when +he pleased; and when he pleased, to be absent." Both ways of +speaking sound harsh in the ears of Jews and Christians, as do +several others which Josephus uses to the heathens; but still +they were not very improper in him, when he all along thought fit +to accommodate himself, both in his Antiquities, and in these his +books against Apion, all written for the use of the Greeks and +Romans, to their notions and language, and this as far as ever +truth would give him leave. Though it be very observable withal, +that he never uses such expressions in his books of the War, +written originally for the Jews beyond Euphrates, and in their +language, in all these cases. However, Josephus directly supposes +the Jewish settlement, under Moses, to be a Divine settlement, +and indeed no other than a real theocracy. + +(21) These excellent accounts of the Divine attributes, and that +God is not to be at all known in his essence, as also some other +clear expressions about the resurrection of the dead, and the +state of departed souls, etc., in this late work of Josephus, +look more like the exalted notions of the Essens, or rather +Ebionite Christians, than those of a mere Jew or Pharisee. The +following large accounts also of the laws of Moses, seem to me to +show a regard to the higher interpretations and improvements of +Moses's laws, derived from Jesus Christ, than to the bare letter +of them in the Old Testament, whence alone Josephus took them +when he wrote his Antiquities; nor, as I think, can some of these +laws, though generally excellent in their kind, be properly now +found either in the copies of the Jewish Pentateuch, or in Philo, +or in Josephus himself, before he became a Nazarene or Ebionite +Christian; nor even all of them among the laws of catholic +Christianity themselves. I desire, therefore, the learned reader +to consider, whether some of these improvements or +interpretations might not be peculiar to the Essens among the +Jews, or rather to the Nazarenes or Ebionites among the +Christians, though we have indeed but imperfect accounts of those +Nazarenes or Ebionite Christians transmitted down to us at this +day. + +(22) We may here observe how known a thing it was among the Jews +and heathens, in this and many other instances, that sacrifices +were still accompanied with prayers; whence most probably came +those phrases of "the sacrifice of prayer, the sacrifice of +praise, the sacrifice of thanksgiving." However, those ancient +forms used at sacrifices are now generally lost, to the no small +damage of true religion. It is here also exceeding remarkable, +that although the temple at Jerusalem was built as the only place +where the whole nation of the Jews were to offer their +sacrifices, yet is there no mention of the "sacrifices" +themselves, but of "prayers" only, in Solomon's long and famous +form of devotion at its dedication, 1 Kings 8.; 2 Chronicles 6. +See also many passages cited in the Apostolical Constitutions, +VII. 37, and Of the War, above, B. VII. ch. 5. sect. 6. + +(23) This text is no where in our present copies of the Old +Testament. + +(24) It may not be amiss to set down here a very remarkable +testimony of the great philosopher Cicero, as to the preference +of "laws to philosophy: - I will," says he, "boldly declare my +opinion, though the whole world be offended at it. I prefer this +little book of the Twelve Tables alone to all the volumes of the +philosophers. I find it to be not only of more weight,' but also +much more useful." - Oratore. + +(25) we have observed our times of rest, and sorts of food +allowed us [during our distresses]. + +(26) See what those novel oaths were in Dr. Hudson's note, viz. +to swear by an oak, by a goat, and by a dog, as also by a gander, +as say Philostratus and others. This swearing strange oaths was +also forbidden by the Tyrians, B. I. sect. 22, as Spanheim here +notes. + +(27) Why Josephus here should blame some heathen legislators, +when they allowed so easy a composition for simple fornication, +as an obligation to marry the virgin that was corrupted, is hard +to say, seeing he had himself truly informed us that it was a law +of the Jews, Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 23, as it is the law of +Christianity also: see Horeb Covenant, p. 61. I am almost ready +to suspect that, for, we should here read, and that corrupting +wedlock, or other men's wives, is the crime for which these +heathens wickedly allowed this composition in money. + +(28) Or "for corrupting other men's wives the same allowance." + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Against Apion, by Flavius Josephus + diff --git a/old/agaap10.zip b/old/agaap10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1586f4d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/agaap10.zip |