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diff --git a/2850.txt b/2850.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7461a2d --- /dev/null +++ b/2850.txt @@ -0,0 +1,21772 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wars of the Jews or History of the +Destruction of Jerusalem, 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: The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem + +Author: Flavius Josephus + +Translator: William Whiston + +Release Date: January 10, 2009 [EBook #2850] + +Last Updated: August 3, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WARS OF THE JEWS *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed, and David Widger + + + + +THE WARS OF THE JEWS + +OR HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM + +By Flavius Josephus + + +Translated by William Whiston + + + + + +Contents + + PREFACE + + + + BOOK I. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER 5. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + CHAPTER 11. + + CHAPTER 12. + + CHAPTER 13. + + CHAPTER 14. + + CHAPTER 15. + + CHAPTER 16. + + CHAPTER 17. + + CHAPTER 18. + + CHAPTER 19. + + CHAPTER 20. + + CHAPTER 21. + + CHAPTER 22. + + CHAPTER 23. + + CHAPTER 24. + + CHAPTER 25. + + CHAPTER 26. + + CHAPTER 27. + + CHAPTER 28. + + CHAPTER 29. + + CHAPTER 30. + + CHAPTER 31. + + CHAPTER 32. + + CHAPTER 33. + + BOOK 2. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER 5. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + CHAPTER 11. + + CHAPTER 12. + + CHAPTER 13. + + CHAPTER 14. + + CHAPTER 15. + + CHAPTER 16. + + CHAPTER 17. + + CHAPTER 18. + + CHAPTER 19. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 21. + + CHAPTER 22. + + BOOK III. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER 5. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + BOOK IV. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER V. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + CHAPTER 11. + + BOOK V. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER 5. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + CHAPTER 11. + + CHAPTER 12. + + CHAPTER 13. + + BOOK VI. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER 5. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + BOOK VII. + + CHAPTER 1. + + CHAPTER 2. + + CHAPTER 3. + + CHAPTER 4. + + CHAPTER V. + + CHAPTER 6. + + CHAPTER 7. + + CHAPTER 8. + + CHAPTER 9. + + CHAPTER 10. + + CHAPTER 11. + + + + + + + + +PREFACE + +1. 1 Whereas the war which the Jews made with the Romans hath been the +greatest of all those, not only that have been in our times, but, in a +manner, of those that ever were heard of; both of those wherein cities +have fought against cities, or nations against nations; while some men +who were not concerned in the affairs themselves have gotten together +vain and contradictory stories by hearsay, and have written them down +after a sophistical manner; and while those that were there present +have given false accounts of things, and this either out of a humor of +flattery to the Romans, or of hatred towards the Jews; and while their +writings contain sometimes accusations, and sometimes encomiums, but no +where the accurate truth of the facts; I have proposed to myself, +for the sake of such as live under the government of the Romans, to +translate those books into the Greek tongue, which I formerly composed +in the language of our country, and sent to the Upper Barbarians; 2 +Joseph, the son of Matthias, by birth a Hebrew, a priest also, and one +who at first fought against the Romans myself, and was forced to be +present at what was done afterwards, [am the author of this work]. + +2. Now at the time when this great concussion of affairs happened, the +affairs of the Romans were themselves in great disorder. Those Jews also +who were for innovations, then arose when the times were disturbed; they +were also in a flourishing condition for strength and riches, insomuch +that the affairs of the East were then exceeding tumultuous, while some +hoped for gain, and others were afraid of loss in such troubles; for the +Jews hoped that all of their nation which were beyond Euphrates would +have raised an insurrection together with them. The Gauls also, in the +neighborhood of the Romans, were in motion, and the Geltin were +not quiet; but all was in disorder after the death of Nero. And the +opportunity now offered induced many to aim at the royal power; and the +soldiery affected change, out of the hopes of getting money. I thought +it therefore an absurd thing to see the truth falsified in affairs of +such great consequence, and to take no notice of it; but to suffer those +Greeks and Romans that were not in the wars to be ignorant of these +things, and to read either flatteries or fictions, while the Parthians, +and the Babylonians, and the remotest Arabians, and those of our nation +beyond Euphrates, with the Adiabeni, by my means, knew accurately both +whence the war begun, what miseries it brought upon us, and after what +manner it ended. + +3. It is true, these writers have the confidence to call their accounts +histories; wherein yet they seem to me to fail of their own purpose, +as well as to relate nothing that is sound. For they have a mind to +demonstrate the greatness of the Romans, while they still diminish and +lessen the actions of the Jews, as not discerning how it cannot be that +those must appear to be great who have only conquered those that were +little. Nor are they ashamed to overlook the length of the war, the +multitude of the Roman forces who so greatly suffered in it, or the +might of the commanders, whose great labors about Jerusalem will be +deemed inglorious, if what they achieved be reckoned but a small matter. + +4. However, I will not go to the other extreme, out of opposition to +those men who extol the Romans nor will I determine to raise the actions +of my countrymen too high; but I will prosecute the actions of both +parties with accuracy. Yet shall I suit my language to the passions I am +under, as to the affairs I describe, and must be allowed to indulge some +lamentations upon the miseries undergone by my own country. For that it +was a seditious temper of our own that destroyed it, and that they were +the tyrants among the Jews who brought the Roman power upon us, who +unwillingly attacked us, and occasioned the burning of our holy temple, +Titus Caesar, who destroyed it, is himself a witness, who, during the +entire war, pitied the people who were kept under by the seditious, and +did often voluntarily delay the taking of the city, and allowed time to +the siege, in order to let the authors have opportunity for repentance. +But if any one makes an unjust accusation against us, when we speak so +passionately about the tyrants, or the robbers, or sorely bewail the +misfortunes of our country, let him indulge my affections herein, though +it be contrary to the rules for writing history; because it had so +come to pass, that our city Jerusalem had arrived at a higher degree of +felicity than any other city under the Roman government, and yet at last +fell into the sorest of calamities again. Accordingly, it appears to +me that the misfortunes of all men, from the beginning of the world, if +they be compared to these of the Jews 3 are not so considerable as they +were; while the authors of them were not foreigners neither. This makes +it impossible for me to contain my lamentations. But if any one be +inflexible in his censures of me, let him attribute the facts themselves +to the historical part, and the lamentations to the writer himself only. + +5. However, I may justly blame the learned men among the Greeks, who, +when such great actions have been done in their own times, which, upon +the comparison, quite eclipse the old wars, do yet sit as judges of +those affairs, and pass bitter censures upon the labors of the best +writers of antiquity; which moderns, although they may be superior +to the old writers in eloquence, yet are they inferior to them in +the execution of what they intended to do. While these also write new +histories about the Assyrians and Medes, as if the ancient writers had +not described their affairs as they ought to have done; although these +be as far inferior to them in abilities as they are different in their +notions from them. For of old every one took upon them to write what +happened in his own time; where their immediate concern in the actions +made their promises of value; and where it must be reproachful to write +lies, when they must be known by the readers to be such. But then, +an undertaking to preserve the memory Of what hath not been before +recorded, and to represent the affairs of one's own time to those that +come afterwards, is really worthy of praise and commendation. Now he is +to be esteemed to have taken good pains in earnest, not who does no more +than change the disposition and order of other men's works, but he +who not only relates what had not been related before, but composes an +entire body of history of his own: accordingly, I have been at great +charges, and have taken very great pains [about this history], though +I be a foreigner; and do dedicate this work, as a memorial of great +actions, both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians. But for some of our +own principal men, their mouths are wide open, and their tongues loosed +presently, for gain and law-suits, but quite muzzled up when they are +to write history, where they must speak truth and gather facts together +with a great deal of pains; and so they leave the writing such histories +to weaker people, and to such as are not acquainted with the actions of +princes. Yet shall the real truth of historical facts be preferred by +us, how much soever it be neglected among the Greek historians. + +6. To write concerning the Antiquities of the Jews, who they were +[originally], and how they revolted from the Egyptians, and what country +they traveled over, and what countries they seized upon afterward, +and how they were removed out of them, I think this not to be a fit +opportunity, and, on other accounts, also superfluous; and this because +many Jews before me have composed the histories of our ancestors very +exactly; as have some of the Greeks done it also, and have translated +our histories into their own tongue, and have not much mistaken the +truth in their histories. But then, where the writers of these affairs +and our prophets leave off, thence shall I take my rise, and begin my +history. Now as to what concerns that war which happened in my own time, +I will go over it very largely, and with all the diligence I am able; +but for what preceded mine own age, that I shall run over briefly. + +7. [For example, I shall relate] how Antiochus, who was named Epiphanes, +took Jerusalem by force, and held it three years and three months, and +was then ejected out of the country by the sons of Asamoneus: after +that, how their posterity quarreled about the government, and brought +upon their settlement the Romans and Pompey; how Herod also, the son of +Antipater, dissolved their government, and brought Sosins upon them; as +also how our people made a sedition upon Herod's death, while Augustus +was the Roman emperor, and Quintilius Varus was in that country; and +how the war broke out in the twelfth year of Nero, with what happened to +Cestius; and what places the Jews assaulted in a hostile manner in the +first sallies of the war. + +8. As also [I shall relate] how they built walls about the neighboring +cities; and how Nero, upon Cestius's defeat, was in fear of the entire +event of the war, and thereupon made Vespasian general in this war; and +how this Vespasian, with the elder of his sons 4 made an expedition into +the country of Judea; what was the number of the Roman army that he made +use of; and how many of his auxiliaries were cut off in all Galilee; +and how he took some of its cities entirely, and by force, and others +of them by treaty, and on terms. Now, when I am come so far, I shall +describe the good order of the Romans in war, and the discipline of +their legions; the amplitude of both the Galilees, with its nature, and +the limits of Judea. And, besides this, I shall particularly go over +what is peculiar to the country, the lakes and fountains that are in +them, and what miseries happened to every city as they were taken; and +all this with accuracy, as I saw the things done, or suffered in them. +For I shall not conceal any of the calamities I myself endured, since I +shall relate them to such as know the truth of them. + +9. After this, [I shall relate] how, When the Jews' affairs were +become very bad, Nero died, and Vespasian, when he was going to attack +Jerusalem, was called back to take the government upon him; what signs +happened to him relating to his gaining that government, and what +mutations of government then happened at Rome, and how he was +unwillingly made emperor by his soldiers; and how, upon his departure to +Egypt, to take upon him the government of the empire, the affairs of +the Jews became very tumultuous; as also how the tyrants rose up against +them, and fell into dissensions among themselves. + +10. Moreover, [I shall relate] how Titus marched out of Egypt into Judea +the second time; as also how, and where, and how many forces he got +together; and in what state the city was, by the means of the seditious, +at his coming; what attacks he made, and how many ramparts he cast up; +of the three walls that encompassed the city, and of their measures; +of the strength of the city, and the structure of the temple and holy +house; and besides, the measures of those edifices, and of the altar, +and all accurately determined. A description also of certain of +their festivals, and seven purifications of purity, 5 and the sacred +ministrations of the priests, with the garments of the priests, and +of the high priests; and of the nature of the most holy place of the +temple; without concealing any thing, or adding any thing to the known +truth of things. + +11. After this, I shall relate the barbarity of the tyrants towards the +people of their own nation, as well as the indulgence of the Romans in +sparing foreigners; and how often Titus, out of his desire to preserve +the city and the temple, invited the seditious to come to terms of +accommodation. I shall also distinguish the sufferings of the people, +and their calamities; how far they were afflicted by the sedition, and +how far by the famine, and at length were taken. Nor shall I omit to +mention the misfortunes of the deserters, nor the punishments inflicted +on the captives; as also how the temple was burnt, against the consent +of Caesar; and how many sacred things that had been laid up in the +temple were snatched out of the fire; the destruction also of the entire +city, with the signs and wonders that went before it; and the taking the +tyrants captives, and the multitude of those that were made slaves, +and into what different misfortunes they were every one distributed. +Moreover, what the Romans did to the remains of the wall; and how they +demolished the strong holds that were in the country; and how Titus +went over the whole country, and settled its affairs; together with his +return into Italy, and his triumph. + +12. I have comprehended all these things in seven books, and have left +no occasion for complaint or accusation to such as have been acquainted +with this war; and I have written it down for the sake of those that +love truth, but not for those that please themselves [with fictitious +relations]. And I will begin my account of these things with what I call +my First Chapter. + +WAR PREFACE FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ I have already observed more than once, that this History +of the Jewish War was Josephus's first work, and published about A.D. +75, when he was but thirty-eight years of age; and that when he wrote +it, he was not thoroughly acquainted with several circumstances of +history from the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, with which it begins, till +near his own times, contained in the first and former part of the +second book, and so committed many involuntary errors therein. That he +published his Antiquities eighteen years afterward, in the thirteenth +year of Domitian, A.D. 93, when he was much more completely acquainted +with those ancient times, and after he had perused those most authentic +histories, the First Book of Maccabees, and the Chronicles of the +Priesthood of John Hyrcanus, etc. That accordingly he then reviewed +those parts of this work, and gave the public a more faithful, complete, +and accurate account of the facts therein related; and honestly +corrected the errors he had before run into.] + + +2 (return) [ Who these Upper Barbarians, remote from the sea, were, +Josephus himself will inform us, sect. 2, viz. the Parthians and +Babylonians, and remotest Arabians [of the Jews among them]; besides the +Jews beyond Euphrates, and the Adiabeni, or Assyrians. Whence we also +learn that these Parthians, Babylonians, the remotest Arabians, [or at +least the Jews among them,] as also the Jews beyond Euphrates, and +the Adiabeni, or Assyrians, understood Josephus's Hebrew, or rather +Chaldaic, books of The Jewish War, before they were put into the Greek +language.] + + +3 (return) [ That these calamities of the Jews, who were our Savior's +murderers, were to be the greatest that had ever been since the beginning +of the world, our Savior had directly foretold, Matthew 24:21; Mark +13:19; Luke 21:23, 24; and that they proved to be such accordingly, +Josephus is here a most authentic witness.] + + +4 (return) [ Titus.] + + +5 (return) [ These seven, or rather five, degrees of purity, or +purification, are enumerated hereafter, B. V. ch. 5. sect. 6. The +Rabbins make ten degrees of them, as Reland there informs us.] + + + + + + + +BOOK I. + + + Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Sixty-Seven + Years. + + From The Taking Of Jerusalem By Antiochus Epiphanes, + To The Death Of Herod The Great. + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + How The City Jerusalem Was Taken, And The Temple Pillaged + [By Antiochus Epiphanes]. As Also Concerning The Actions Of + The Maccabees, Matthias And Judas; And Concerning The Death + Of Judas. + +1. At the same time that Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, had a +quarrel with the sixth Ptolemy about his right to the whole country of +Syria, a great sedition fell among the men of power in Judea, and they +had a contention about obtaining the government; while each of those +that were of dignity could not endure to be subject to their equals. +However, Onias, one of the high priests, got the better, and cast the +sons of Tobias out of the city; who fled to Antiochus, and besought +him to make use of them for his leaders, and to make an expedition into +Judea. The king being thereto disposed beforehand, complied with them, +and came upon the Jews with a great army, and took their city by force, +and slew a great multitude of those that favored Ptolemy, and sent out +his soldiers to plunder them without mercy. He also spoiled the temple, +and put a stop to the constant practice of offering a daily sacrifice +of expiation for three years and six months. But Onias, the high +priest, fled to Ptolemy, and received a place from him in the Nomus of +Heliopolis, where he built a city resembling Jerusalem, and a temple +that was like its temple 1 concerning which we shall speak more in its +proper place hereafter. + +2. Now Antiochus was not satisfied either with his unexpected taking +the city, or with its pillage, or with the great slaughter he had made +there; but being overcome with his violent passions, and remembering +what he had suffered during the siege, he compelled the Jews to dissolve +the laws of their country, and to keep their infants uncircumcised, +and to sacrifice swine's flesh upon the altar; against which they all +opposed themselves, and the most approved among them were put to death. +Bacchides also, who was sent to keep the fortresses, having these wicked +commands, joined to his own natural barbarity, indulged all sorts of the +extremest wickedness, and tormented the worthiest of the inhabitants, +man by man, and threatened their city every day with open destruction, +till at length he provoked the poor sufferers by the extremity of his +wicked doings to avenge themselves. + +3. Accordingly Matthias, the son of Asamoneus, one of the priests who +lived in a village called Modin, armed himself, together with his +own family, which had five sons of his in it, and slew Bacchides with +daggers; and thereupon, out of the fear of the many garrisons [of the +enemy], he fled to the mountains; and so many of the people followed +him, that he was encouraged to come down from the mountains, and to give +battle to Antiochus's generals, when he beat them, and drove them out of +Judea. So he came to the government by this his success, and became +the prince of his own people by their own free consent, and then died, +leaving the government to Judas, his eldest son. + +4. Now Judas, supposing that Antiochus would not lie still, gathered an +army out of his own countrymen, and was the first that made a league of +friendship with the Romans, and drove Epiphanes out of the country when +he had made a second expedition into it, and this by giving him a great +defeat there; and when he was warmed by this great success, he made an +assault upon the garrison that was in the city, for it had not been cut +off hitherto; so he ejected them out of the upper city, and drove the +soldiers into the lower, which part of the city was called the Citadel. +He then got the temple under his power, and cleansed the whole +place, and walled it round about, and made new vessels for sacred +ministrations, and brought them into the temple, because the former +vessels had been profaned. He also built another altar, and began to +offer the sacrifices; and when the city had already received its sacred +constitution again, Antiochus died; whose son Antiochus succeeded him in +the kingdom, and in his hatred to the Jews also. + +5. So this Antiochus got together fifty thousand footmen, and five +thousand horsemen, and fourscore elephants, and marched through Judea +into the mountainous parts. He then took Bethsura, which was a small +city; but at a place called Bethzacharis, where the passage was narrow, +Judas met him with his army. However, before the forces joined battle, +Judas's brother Eleazar, seeing the very highest of the elephants +adorned with a large tower, and with military trappings of gold to guard +him, and supposing that Antiochus himself was upon him, he ran a great +way before his own army, and cutting his way through the enemy's troops, +he got up to the elephant; yet could he not reach him who seemed to be +the king, by reason of his being so high; but still he ran his weapon +into the belly of the beast, and brought him down upon himself, and was +crushed to death, having done no more than attempted great things, and +showed that he preferred glory before life. Now he that governed the +elephant was but a private man; and had he proved to be Antiochus, +Eleazar had performed nothing more by this bold stroke than that it +might appear he chose to die, when he had the bare hope of thereby +doing a glorious action; nay, this disappointment proved an omen to his +brother [Judas] how the entire battle would end. It is true that the +Jews fought it out bravely for a long time, but the king's forces, +being superior in number, and having fortune on their side, obtained +the victory. And when a great many of his men were slain, Judas took the +rest with him, and fled to the toparchy of Gophna. So Antiochus went to +Jerusalem, and staid there but a few days, for he wanted provisions, +and so he went his way. He left indeed a garrison behind him, such as he +thought sufficient to keep the place, but drew the rest of his army off, +to take their winter-quarters in Syria. + +6. Now, after the king was departed, Judas was not idle; for as many of +his own nation came to him, so did he gather those that had escaped out +of the battle together, and gave battle again to Antiochus's generals +at a village called Adasa; and being too hard for his enemies in the +battle, and killing a great number of them, he was at last himself slain +also. Nor was it many days afterward that his brother John had a plot +laid against him by Antiochus's party, and was slain by them. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + Concerning The Successors Of Judas, Who Were Jonathan And + Simon, And John Hyrcanus. + +1. When Jonathan, who was Judas's brother, succeeded him, he behaved +himself with great circumspection in other respects, with relation to +his own people; and he corroborated his authority by preserving his +friendship with the Romans. He also made a league with Antiochus the +son. Yet was not all this sufficient for his security; for the tyrant +Trypho, who was guardian to Antiochus's son, laid a plot against +him; and besides that, endeavored to take off his friends, and caught +Jonathan by a wile, as he was going to Ptolemais to Antiochus, with +a few persons in his company, and put him in bonds, and then made an +expedition against the Jews; but when he was afterward driven away by +Simon, who was Jonathan's brother, and was enraged at his defeat, he put +Jonathan to death. + +2. However, Simon managed the public affairs after a courageous manner, +and took Gazara, and Joppa, and Jamnia, which were cities in his +neighborhood. He also got the garrison under, and demolished the +citadel. He was afterward an auxiliary to Antiochus, against Trypho, +whom he besieged in Dora, before he went on his expedition against the +Medes; yet could not he make the king ashamed of his ambition, though +he had assisted him in killing Trypho; for it was not long ere Antiochus +sent Cendebeus his general with an army to lay waste Judea, and to +subdue Simon; yet he, though he was now in years, conducted the war +as if he were a much younger man. He also sent his sons with a band of +strong men against Antiochus, while he took part of the army himself +with him, and fell upon him from another quarter. He also laid a great +many men in ambush in many places of the mountains, and was superior +in all his attacks upon them; and when he had been conqueror after so +glorious a manner, he was made high priest, and also freed the Jews from +the dominion of the Macedonians, after one hundred and seventy years of +the empire [of Seleucus]. + +3. This Simon also had a plot laid against him, and was slain at a feast +by his son-in-law Ptolemy, who put his wife and two sons into prison, +and sent some persons to kill John, who was also called Hyrcanus. 2 +But when the young man was informed of their coming beforehand, he +made haste to get to the city, as having a very great confidence in the +people there, both on account of the memory of the glorious actions of +his father, and of the hatred they could not but bear to the injustice +of Ptolemy. Ptolemy also made an attempt to get into the city by another +gate; but was repelled by the people, who had just then admitted of +Hyrcanus; so he retired presently to one of the fortresses that were +about Jericho, which was called Dagon. Now when Hyrcanus had received +the high priesthood, which his father had held before, and had offered +sacrifice to God, he made great haste to attack Ptolemy, that he might +afford relief to his mother and brethren. + +4. So he laid siege to the fortress, and was superior to Ptolemy in +other respects, but was overcome by him as to the just affection [he had +for his relations]; for when Ptolemy was distressed, he brought forth +his mother, and his brethren, and set them upon the wall, and beat them +with rods in every body's sight, and threatened, that unless he would +go away immediately, he would throw them down headlong; at which sight +Hyrcanus's commiseration and concern were too hard for his anger. But +his mother was not dismayed, neither at the stripes she received, nor +at the death with which she was threatened; but stretched out her hands, +and prayed her son not to be moved with the injuries that she suffered +to spare the wretch; since it was to her better to die by the means of +Ptolemy, than to live ever so long, provided he might be punished for +the injuries he done to their family. Now John's case was this: When +he considered the courage of his mother, and heard her entreaty, he set +about his attacks; but when he saw her beaten, and torn to pieces +with the stripes, he grew feeble, and was entirely overcome by his +affections. And as the siege was delayed by this means, the year of rest +came on, upon which the Jews rest every seventh year as they do on +every seventh day. On this year, therefore, Ptolemy was freed from being +besieged, and slew the brethren of John, with their mother, and fled to +Zeno, who was also called Cotylas, who was tyrant of Philadelphia. + +5. And now Antiochus was so angry at what he had suffered from Simon, +that he made an expedition into Judea, and sat down before Jerusalem and +besieged Hyrcanus; but Hyrcanus opened the sepulcher of David, who was +the richest of all kings, and took thence about three thousand talents +in money, and induced Antiochus, by the promise of three thousand +talents, to raise the siege. Moreover, he was the first of the Jews that +had money enough, and began to hire foreign auxiliaries also. + +6. However, at another time, when Antiochus was gone upon an expedition +against the Medes, and so gave Hyrcanus an opportunity of being revenged +upon him, he immediately made an attack upon the cities of Syria, as +thinking, what proved to be the case with them, that he should find them +empty of good troops. So he took Medaba and Samea, with the towns in +their neighborhood, as also Shechem, and Gerizzim; and besides these, +[he subdued] the nation of the Cutheans, who dwelt round about that +temple which was built in imitation of the temple at Jerusalem; he also +took a great many other cities of Idumea, with Adoreon and Marissa. +7. He also proceeded as far as Samaria, where is now the city Sebaste, +which was built by Herod the king, and encompassed it all round with a +wall, and set his sons, Aristobulus and Antigonus, over the siege; who +pushed it on so hard, that a famine so far prevailed within the city, +that they were forced to eat what never was esteemed food. They +also invited Antiochus, who was called Cyzicenus, to come to their +assistance; whereupon he got ready, and complied with their invitation, +but was beaten by Aristobulus and Antigonus; and indeed he was pursued +as far as Scythopolis by these brethren, and fled away from them. So +they returned back to Samaria, and shut the multitude again within the +wall; and when they had taken the city, they demolished it, and made +slaves of its inhabitants. And as they had still great success in their +undertakings, they did not suffer their zeal to cool, but marched with +an army as far as Scythopolis, and made an incursion upon it, and laid +waste all the country that lay within Mount Carmel. + +8. But then these successes of John and of his sons made them be envied, +and occasioned a sedition in the country; and many there were who got +together, and would not be at rest till they brake out into open war, +in which war they were beaten. So John lived the rest of his life very +happily, and administered the government after a most extraordinary +manner, and this for thirty-three entire years together. He died, +leaving five sons behind him. He was certainly a very happy man, and +afforded no occasion to have any complaint made of fortune on his +account. He it was who alone had three of the most desirable things in +the world,--the government of his nation, and the high priesthood, and +the gift of prophecy. For the Deity conversed with him, and he was +not ignorant of any thing that was to come afterward; insomuch that he +foresaw and foretold that his two eldest sons would not continue masters +of the government; and it will highly deserve our narration to describe +their catastrophe, and how far inferior these men were to their father +in felicity. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + How Aristobulus Was The First That Put A Diadem About His + Head; And After He Had Put His Mother And Brother To Death, + Died Himself, When He Had Reigned No More Than A Year. + +1. For after the death of their father, the elder of them, Aristobulus, +changed the government into a kingdom, and was the first that put a +diadem upon his head, four hundred seventy and one years and three +months after our people came down into this country, when they were set +free from the Babylonian slavery. Now, of his brethren, he appeared to +have an affection for Antigonus, who was next to him, and made him his +equal; but for the rest, he bound them, and put them in prison. He also +put his mother in bonds, for her contesting the government with him; +for John had left her to be the governess of public affairs. He also +proceeded to that degree of barbarity as to cause her to be pined to +death in prison. + +2. But vengeance circumvented him in the affair of his brother +Antigonus, whom he loved, and whom he made his partner in the kingdom; +for he slew him by the means of the calumnies which ill men about the +palace contrived against him. At first, indeed, Aristobulus would +not believe their reports, partly out of the affection he had for his +brother, and partly because he thought that a great part of these tales +were owing to the envy of their relaters: however, as Antigonus came +once in a splendid manner from the army to that festival, wherein our +ancient custom is to make tabernacles for God, it happened, in those +days, that Aristobulus was sick, and that, at the conclusion of the +feast, Antigonus came up to it, with his armed men about him; and this +when he was adorned in the finest manner possible; and that, in a great +measure, to pray to God on the behalf of his brother. Now at this very +time it was that these ill men came to the king, and told him in what +a pompous manner the armed men came, and with what insolence Antigonus +marched, and that such his insolence was too great for a private person, +and that accordingly he was come with a great band of men to kill him; +for that he could not endure this bare enjoyment of royal honor, when it +was in his power to take the kingdom himself. + +3. Now Aristobulus, by degrees, and unwillingly, gave credit to these +accusations; and accordingly he took care not to discover his suspicion +openly, though he provided to be secure against any accidents; so he +placed the guards of his body in a certain dark subterranean passage; +for he lay sick in a place called formerly the Citadel, though +afterwards its name was changed to Antonia; and he gave orders that if +Antigonus came unarmed, they should let him alone; but if he came to him +in his armor, they should kill him. He also sent some to let him know +beforehand that he should come unarmed. But, upon this occasion, the +queen very cunningly contrived the matter with those that plotted his +ruin, for she persuaded those that were sent to conceal the king's +message; but to tell Antigonus how his brother had heard he had got a +very the suit of armor made with fine martial ornaments, in Galilee; +and because his present sickness hindered him from coming and seeing all +that finery, he very much desired to see him now in his armor; because, +said he, in a little time thou art going away from me. + +4. As soon as Antigonus heard this, the good temper of his brother not +allowing him to suspect any harm from him, he came along with his armor +on, to show it to his brother; but when he was going along that dark +passage which was called Strato's Tower, he was slain by the body +guards, and became an eminent instance how calumny destroys all +good-will and natural affection, and how none of our good affections are +strong enough to resist envy perpetually. + +5. And truly any one would be surprised at Judas upon this occasion. He +was of the sect of the Essens, and had never failed or deceived men in +his predictions before. Now this man saw Antigonus as he was passing +along by the temple, and cried out to his acquaintance, [they were not a +few who attended upon him as his scholars,] "O strange!" said he, "it is +good for me to die now, since truth is dead before me, and somewhat that +I have foretold hath proved false; for this Antigonus is this day alive, +who ought to have died this day; and the place where he ought to be +slain, according to that fatal decree, was Strato's Tower, which is at +the distance of six hundred furlongs from this place; and yet four hours +of this day are over already; which point of time renders the prediction +impossible to be fill filled." And when the old man had said this, he +was dejected in his mind, and so continued. But in a little time news +came that Antigonus was slain in a subterraneous place, which was itself +also called Strato's Tower, by the same name with that Cesarea which lay +by the sea-side; and this ambiguity it was which caused the prophet's +disorder. + +6. Hereupon Aristobulus repented of the great crime he had been guilty +of, and this gave occasion to the increase of his distemper. He also +grew worse and worse, and his soul was constantly disturbed at the +thoughts of what he had done, till his very bowels being torn to pieces +by the intolerable grief he was under, he threw up a great quantity of +blood. And as one of those servants that attended him carried out that +blood, he, by some supernatural providence, slipped and fell down in the +very place where Antigonus had been slain; and so he spilt some of +the murderer's blood upon the spots of the blood of him that had been +murdered, which still appeared. Hereupon a lamentable cry arose among +the spectators, as if the servant had spilled the blood on purpose in +that place; and as the king heard that cry, he inquired what was the +cause of it; and while nobody durst tell him, he pressed them so much +the more to let him know what was the matter; so at length, when he had +threatened them, and forced them to speak out, they told; whereupon he +burst into tears, and groaned, and said, "So I perceive I am not like +to escape the all-seeing eye of God, as to the great crimes I have +committed; but the vengeance of the blood of my kinsman pursues me +hastily. O thou most impudent body! how long wilt thou retain a soul +that ought to die on account of that punishment it ought to suffer for a +mother and a brother slain! How long shall I myself spend my blood drop +by drop? let them take it all at once; and let their ghosts no longer be +disappointed by a few parcels of my bowels offered to them." As soon +as he had said these words, he presently died, when he had reigned no +longer than a year. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + What Actions Were Done By Alexander Janneus, Who Reigned + Twenty-Seven Years. + +1. And now the king's wife loosed the king's brethren, and made +Alexander king, who appeared both elder in age, and more moderate in his +temper than the rest; who, when he came to the government, slew one of +his brethren, as affecting to govern himself; but had the other of them +in great esteem, as loving a quiet life, without meddling with public +affairs. + +2. Now it happened that there was a battle between him and Ptolemy, who +was called Lathyrus, who had taken the city Asochis. He indeed slew a +great many of his enemies, but the victory rather inclined to Ptolemy. +But when this Ptolemy was pursued by his mother Cleopatra, and retired +into Egypt, Alexander besieged Gadara, and took it; as also he did +Amathus, which was the strongest of all the fortresses that were about +Jordan, and therein were the most precious of all the possessions of +Theodorus, the son of Zeno. Whereupon Theodorus marched against him, and +took what belonged to himself as well as the king's baggage, and slew +ten thousand of the Jews. However, Alexander recovered this blow, and +turned his force towards the maritime parts, and took Raphia and Gaza, +with Anthedon also, which was afterwards called Agrippias by king Herod. + +3. But when he had made slaves of the citizens of all these cities, the +nation of the Jews made an insurrection against him at a festival; for +at those feasts seditions are generally begun; and it looked as if he +should not be able to escape the plot they had laid for him, had not his +foreign auxiliaries, the Pisidians and Cilicians, assisted him; for as +to the Syrians, he never admitted them among his mercenary troops, on +account of their innate enmity against the Jewish nation. And when he +had slain more than six thousand of the rebels, he made an incursion +into Arabia; and when he had taken that country, together with the +Gileadires and Moabites, he enjoined them to pay him tribute, and +returned to Areathus; and as Theodorus was surprised at his great +success, he took the fortress, and demolished it. + +4. However, when he fought with Obodas, king of the Arabians, who had +laid an ambush for him near Golan, and a plot against him, he lost his +entire army, which was crowded together in a deep valley, and broken to +pieces by the multitude of camels. And when he had made his escape to +Jerusalem, he provoked the multitude, which hated him before, to make +an insurrection against him, and this on account of the greatness of the +calamity that he was under. However, he was then too hard for them; and, +in the several battles that were fought on both sides, he slew not fewer +than fifty thousand of the Jews in the interval of six years. Yet had +he no reason to rejoice in these victories, since he did but consume his +own kingdom; till at length he left off fighting, and endeavored to +come to a composition with them, by talking with his subjects. But this +mutability and irregularity of his conduct made them hate him still +more. And when he asked them why they so hated him, and what he should +do in order to appease them, they said, by killing himself; for that it +would be then all they could do to be reconciled to him, who had done +such tragical things to them, even when he was dead. At the same time +they invited Demetrius, who was called Eucerus, to assist them; and as +he readily complied with their requests, in hopes of great advantages, +and came with his army, the Jews joined with those their auxiliaries +about Shechem. + +5. Yet did Alexander meet both these forces with one thousand horsemen, +and eight thousand mercenaries that were on foot. He had also with him +that part of the Jews which favored him, to the number of ten thousand; +while the adverse party had three thousand horsemen, and fourteen +thousand footmen. Now, before they joined battle, the kings made +proclamation, and endeavored to draw off each other's soldiers, and make +them revolt; while Demetrius hoped to induce Alexander's mercenaries +to leave him, and Alexander hoped to induce the Jews that were with +Demetrius to leave him. But since neither the Jews would leave off their +rage, nor the Greeks prove unfaithful, they came to an engagement, and +to a close fight with their weapons. In which battle Demetrius was +the conqueror, although Alexander's mercenaries showed the greatest +exploits, both in soul and body. Yet did the upshot of this battle prove +different from what was expected, as to both of them; for neither did +those that invited Demetrius to come to them continue firm to him, +though he was conqueror; and six thousand Jews, out of pity to the +change of Alexander's condition, when he was fled to the mountains, +came over to him. Yet could not Demetrius bear this turn of affairs; but +supposing that Alexander was already become a match for him again, and +that all the nation would [at length] run to him, he left the country, +and went his way. + +6. However, the rest of the [Jewish] multitude did not lay aside their +quarrels with him, when the [foreign] auxiliaries were gone; but they +had a perpetual war with Alexander, until he had slain the greatest part +of them, and driven the rest into the city Berneselis; and when he had +demolished that city, he carried the captives to Jerusalem. Nay, his +rage was grown so extravagant, that his barbarity proceeded to the +degree of impiety; for when he had ordered eight hundred to be hung upon +crosses in the midst of the city, he had the throats of their wives and +children cut before their eyes; and these executions he saw as he +was drinking and lying down with his concubines. Upon which so deep a +surprise seized on the people, that eight thousand of his opposers +fled away the very next night, out of all Judea, whose flight was only +terminated by Alexander's death; so at last, though not till late, +and with great difficulty, he, by such actions, procured quiet to his +kingdom, and left off fighting any more. + +7. Yet did that Antiochus, who was also called Dionysius, become an +origin of troubles again. This man was the brother of Demetrius, and the +last of the race of the Seleucidae. 3 Alexander was afraid of him, when +he was marching against the Arabians; so he cut a deep trench between +Antipatris, which was near the mountains, and the shores of Joppa; he +also erected a high wall before the trench, and built wooden towers, +in order to hinder any sudden approaches. But still he was not able to +exclude Antiochus, for he burnt the towers, and filled up the trenches, +and marched on with his army. And as he looked upon taking his +revenge on Alexander, for endeavoring to stop him, as a thing of less +consequence, he marched directly against the Arabians, whose king +retired into such parts of the country as were fittest for engaging the +enemy, and then on the sudden made his horse turn back, which were in +number ten thousand, and fell upon Antiochus's army while they were in +disorder, and a terrible battle ensued. Antiochus's troops, so long as +he was alive, fought it out, although a mighty slaughter was made among +them by the Arabians; but when he fell, for he was in the forefront, in +the utmost danger, in rallying his troops, they all gave ground, and the +greatest part of his army were destroyed, either in the action or the +flight; and for the rest, who fled to the village of Cana, it happened +that they were all consumed by want of necessaries, a few only excepted. + +8. About this time it was that the people of Damascus, out of their +hatred to Ptolemy, the son of Menhens, invited Aretas [to take the +government], and made him king of Celesyria. This man also made an +expedition against Judea, and beat Alexander in battle; but afterwards +retired by mutual agreement. But Alexander, when he had taken +Pella, marched to Gerasa again, out of the covetous desire he had of +Theodorus's possessions; and when he had built a triple wall about the +garrison, he took the place by force. He also demolished Golan, and +Seleucia, and what was called the Valley of Antiochus; besides which, +he took the strong fortress of Gamala, and stripped Demetrius, who was +governor therein, of what he had, on account of the many crimes laid to +his charge, and then returned into Judea, after he had been three whole +years in this expedition. And now he was kindly received of the nation, +because of the good success he had. So when he was at rest from war, +he fell into a distemper; for he was afflicted with a quartan ague, and +supposed that, by exercising himself again in martial affairs, he +should get rid of this distemper; but by making such expeditions at +unseasonable times, and forcing his body to undergo greater hardships +than it was able to bear, he brought himself to his end. He died, +therefore, in the midst of his troubles, after he had reigned seven and +twenty years. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + + + Alexandra Reigns Nine Years, During Which Time The Pharisees + Were The Real Rulers Of The Nation. + +1. Now Alexander left the kingdom to Alexandra his wife, and depended +upon it that the Jews would now very readily submit to her, because she +had been very averse to such cruelty as he had treated them with, +and had opposed his violation of their laws, and had thereby got the +good-will of the people. Nor was he mistaken as to his expectations; for +this woman kept the dominion, by the opinion that the people had of her +piety; for she chiefly studied the ancient customs of her country, and +cast those men out of the government that offended against their holy +laws. And as she had two sons by Alexander, she made Hyrcanus the elder +high priest, on account of his age, as also, besides that, on account of +his inactive temper, no way disposing him to disturb the public. But +she retained the younger, Aristobulus, with her as a private person, by +reason of the warmth of his temper. + +2. And now the Pharisees joined themselves to her, to assist her in +the government. These are a certain sect of the Jews that appear more +religious than others, and seem to interpret the laws more accurately. +Now Alexandra hearkened to them to an extraordinary degree, as being +herself a woman of great piety towards God. But these Pharisees artfully +insinuated themselves into her favor by little and little, and became +themselves the real administrators of the public affairs: they banished +and reduced whom they pleased; they bound and loosed [men] at their +pleasure; 4 and, to say all at once, they had the enjoyment of the royal +authority, whilst the expenses and the difficulties of it belonged to +Alexandra. She was a sagacious woman in the management of great +affairs, and intent always upon gathering soldiers together; so that she +increased the army the one half, and procured a great body of foreign +troops, till her own nation became not only very powerful at home, but +terrible also to foreign potentates, while she governed other people, +and the Pharisees governed her. + +3. Accordingly, they themselves slew Diogenes, a person of figure, +and one that had been a friend to Alexander; and accused him as having +assisted the king with his advice, for crucifying the eight hundred men +[before mentioned.] They also prevailed with Alexandra to put to death +the rest of those who had irritated him against them. Now she was so +superstitious as to comply with their desires, and accordingly they slew +whom they pleased themselves. But the principal of those that were in +danger fled to Aristobulus, who persuaded his mother to spare the men on +account of their dignity, but to expel them out of the city, unless she +took them to be innocent; so they were suffered to go unpunished, and +were dispersed all over the country. But when Alexandra sent out her +army to Damascus, under pretense that Ptolemy was always oppressing +that city, she got possession of it; nor did it make any considerable +resistance. She also prevailed with Tigranes, king of Armenia, who lay +with his troops about Ptolemais, and besieged Cleopatra, 5 by agreements +and presents, to go away. Accordingly, Tigranes soon arose from +the siege, by reason of those domestic tumults which happened upon +Lucullus's expedition into Armenia. + +4. In the mean time, Alexandra fell sick, and Aristobulus, her younger +son, took hold of this opportunity, with his domestics, of which he had +a great many, who were all of them his friends, on account of the warmth +of their youth, and got possession of all the fortresses. He also used +the sums of money he found in them to get together a number of mercenary +soldiers, and made himself king; and besides this, upon Hyrcanus's +complaint to his mother, she compassionated his case, and put +Aristobulus's wife and sons under restraint in Antonia, which was a +fortress that joined to the north part of the temple. It was, as I have +already said, of old called the Citadel; but afterwards got the name of +Antonia, when Antony was [lord of the East], just as the other cities, +Sebaste and Agrippias, had their names changed, and these given them +from Sebastus and Agrippa. But Alexandra died before she could punish +Aristobulus for his disinheriting his brother, after she had reigned +nine years. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + When Hyrcanus Who Was Alexander's Heir, Receded From His + Claim To The Crown Aristobulus Is Made King; And Afterward + The Same Hyrcanus By The Means Of Antipater, Is Brought Back + By Abetas. At Last Pompey Is Made The Arbitrator Of The + Dispute Between The Brothers. + +1. Now Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom, and to him did his mother +commit it before she died; but Aristobulus was superior to him in power +and magnanimity; and when there was a battle between them, to decide +the dispute about the kingdom, near Jericho, the greatest part deserted +Hyrcanus, and went over to Aristobulus; but Hyrcanus, with those of his +party who staid with him, fled to Antonia, and got into his power the +hostages that might be for his preservation [which were Aristobulus's +wife, with her children]; but they came to an agreement before things +should come to extremities, that Aristobulus should be king, and +Hyrcanus should resign that up, but retain all the rest of his +dignities, as being the king's brother. Hereupon they were reconciled +to each other in the temple, and embraced one another in a very kind +manner, while the people stood round about them; they also changed their +houses, while Aristobulus went to the royal palace, and Hyrcanus retired +to the house of Aristobulus. + +2. Now those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus were +afraid upon his unexpected obtaining the government; and especially this +concerned Antipater 6 whom Aristobulus hated of old. He was by birth +an Idumean, and one of the principal of that nation, on account of his +ancestors and riches, and other authority to him belonging: he also +persuaded Hyrcanus to fly to Aretas, the king of Arabia, and to lay +claim to the kingdom; as also he persuaded Aretas to receive Hyrcanus, +and to bring him back to his kingdom: he also cast great reproaches upon +Aristobulus, as to his morals, and gave great commendations to Hyrcanus, +and exhorted Aretas to receive him, and told him how becoming a filing +it would be for him, who ruled so great a kingdom, to afford his +assistance to such as are injured; alleging that Hyrcanus was treated +unjustly, by being deprived of that dominion which belonged to him by +the prerogative of his birth. And when he had predisposed them both to +do what he would have them, he took Hyrcanus by night, and ran away from +the city, and, continuing his flight with great swiftness, he escaped to +the place called Petra, which is the royal seat of the king of Arabia, +where he put Hyrcanus into Aretas's hand; and by discoursing much with +him, and gaining upon him with many presents, he prevailed with him +to give him an army that might restore him to his kingdom. This +army consisted of fifty thousand footmen and horsemen, against which +Aristobulus was not able to make resistance, but was deserted in his +first onset, and was driven to Jerusalem; he also had been taken +at first by force, if Scaurus, the Roman general, had not come and +seasonably interposed himself, and raised the siege. This Scaurus was +sent into Syria from Armenia by Pompey the Great, when he fought against +Tigranes; so Scaurus came to Damascus, which had been lately taken by +Metellus and Lollius, and caused them to leave the place; and, upon his +hearing how the affairs of Judea stood, he made haste thither as to a +certain booty. + +3. As soon, therefore, as he was come into the country, there +came ambassadors from both the brothers, each of them desiring his +assistance; but Aristobulus's three hundred talents had more weight with +him than the justice of the cause; which sum, when Scaurus had received, +he sent a herald to Hyrcanus and the Arabians, and threatened them with +the resentment of the Romans and of Pompey, unless they would raise +the siege. So Aretas was terrified, and retired out of Judea to +Philadelphia, as did Scaurus return to Damascus again; nor was +Aristobulus satisfied with escaping [out of his brother's hands,] but +gathered all his forces together, and pursued his enemies, and fought +them at a place called Papyron, and slew about six thousand of them, +and, together with them Antipater's brother Phalion. + +4. When Hyrcanus and Antipater were thus deprived of their hopes from +the Arabians, they transferred the same to their adversaries; and +because Pompey had passed through Syria, and was come to Damascus, they +fled to him for assistance; and, without any bribes, they made the same +equitable pleas that they had used to Aretas, and besought him to hate +the violent behavior of Aristobulus, and to bestow the kingdom on him +to whom it justly belonged, both on account of his good character and +on account of his superiority in age. However, neither was Aristobulus +wanting to himself in this case, as relying on the bribes that Scaurus +had received: he was also there himself, and adorned himself after +a manner the most agreeable to royalty that he was able. But he soon +thought it beneath him to come in such a servile manner, and could not +endure to serve his own ends in a way so much more abject than he was +used to; so he departed from Diospolis. + +5. At this his behavior Pompey had great indignation; Hyrcanus also and +his friends made great intercessions to Pompey; so he took not only his +Roman forces, but many of his Syrian auxiliaries, and marched against +Aristobulus. But when he had passed by Pella and Scythopolis, and was +come to Corea, where you enter into the country of Judea, when you go +up to it through the Mediterranean parts, he heard that Aristobulus was +fled to Alexandrium, which is a strong hold fortified with the utmost +magnificence, and situated upon a high mountain; and he sent to him, and +commanded him to come down. Now his inclination was to try his fortune +in a battle, since he was called in such an imperious manner, rather +than to comply with that call. However, he saw the multitude were in +great fear, and his friends exhorted him to consider what the power of +the Romans was, and how it was irresistible; so he complied with their +advice, and came down to Pompey; and when he had made a long apology for +himself, and for the justness of his cause in taking the government, +he returned to the fortress. And when his brother invited him again [to +plead his cause], he came down and spake about the justice of it, and +then went away without any hinderance from Pompey; so he was between +hope and fear. And when he came down, it was to prevail with Pompey to +allow him the government entirely; and when he went up to the citadel, +it was that he might not appear to debase himself too low. However, +Pompey commanded him to give up his fortified places, and forced him to +write to every one of their governors to yield them up; they having +had this charge given them, to obey no letters but what were of his +own hand-writing. Accordingly he did what he was ordered to do; but had +still an indignation at what was done, and retired to Jerusalem, and +prepared to fight with Pompey. + +6. But Pompey did not give him time to make any preparations [for a +siege], but followed him at his heels; he was also obliged to make haste +in his attempt, by the death of Mithridates, of which he was informed +about Jericho. Now here is the most fruitful country of Judea, which +bears a vast number of palm trees 7 besides the balsam tree, whose +sprouts they cut with sharp stones, and at the incisions they gather the +juice, which drops down like tears. So Pompey pitched his camp in that +place one night, and then hasted away the next morning to Jerusalem; but +Aristobulus was so affrighted at his approach, that he came and met him +by way of supplication. He also promised him money, and that he would +deliver up both himself and the city into his disposal, and thereby +mitigated the anger of Pompey. Yet did not he perform any of the +conditions he had agreed to; for Aristobulus's party would not so much +as admit Gabinius into the city, who was sent to receive the money that +he had promised. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + How Pompey Had The City Of Jerusalem Delivered Up To Him But + Took The Temple By Force. How He Went Into The Holy Of + Holies; As Also What Were His Other Exploits In Judea. + +1. At this treatment Pompey was very angry, and took Aristobulus into +custody. And when he was come to the city, he looked about where he +might make his attack; for he saw the walls were so firm, that it would +be hard to overcome them; and that the valley before the walls was +terrible; and that the temple, which was within that valley, was itself +encompassed with a very strong wall, insomuch that if the city were +taken, that temple would be a second place of refuge for the enemy to +retire to. + +2. Now as he was long in deliberating about this matter, a sedition +arose among the people within the city; Aristobulus's party being +willing to fight, and to set their king at liberty, while the party of +Hyrcanus were for opening the gates to Pompey; and the dread people were +in occasioned these last to be a very numerous party, when they looked +upon the excellent order the Roman soldiers were in. So Aristobulus's +party was worsted, and retired into the temple, and cut off the +communication between the temple and the city, by breaking down the +bridge that joined them together, and prepared to make an opposition to +the utmost; but as the others had received the Romans into the city, and +had delivered up the palace to him, Pompey sent Piso, one of his great +officers, into that palace with an army, who distributed a garrison +about the city, because he could not persuade any one of those that had +fled to the temple to come to terms of accommodation; he then disposed +all things that were round about them so as might favor their attacks, +as having Hyrcanus's party very ready to afford them both counsel and +assistance. + +3. But Pompey himself filled up the ditch that was on the north side of +the temple, and the entire valley also, the army itself being obliged to +carry the materials for that purpose. And indeed it was a hard thing to +fill up that valley, by reason of its immense depth, especially as +the Jews used all the means possible to repel them from their superior +situation; nor had the Romans succeeded in their endeavors, had not +Pompey taken notice of the seventh days, on which the Jews abstain +from all sorts of work on a religious account, and raised his bank, but +restrained his soldiers from fighting on those days; for the Jews only +acted defensively on sabbath days. But as soon as Pompey had filled +up the valley, he erected high towers upon the bank, and brought those +engines which they had fetched from Tyre near to the wall, and tried +to batter it down; and the slingers of stones beat off those that stood +above them, and drove them away; but the towers on this side of the +city made very great resistance, and were indeed extraordinary both for +largeness and magnificence. + +4. Now here it was that, upon the many hardships which the Romans +underwent, Pompey could not but admire not only at the other instances +of the Jews' fortitude, but especially that they did not at all intermit +their religious services, even when they were encompassed with darts +on all sides; for, as if the city were in full peace, their daily +sacrifices and purifications, and every branch of their religious +worship, was still performed to God with the utmost exactness. Nor +indeed when the temple was actually taken, and they were every day +slain about the altar, did they leave off the instances of their Divine +worship that were appointed by their law; for it was in the third +month of the siege before the Romans could even with great difficulty +overthrow one of the towers, and get into the temple. Now he that first +of all ventured to get over the wall, was Faustus Cornelius the son of +Sylla; and next after him were two centurions, Furius and Fabius; and +every one of these was followed by a cohort of his own, who encompassed +the Jews on all sides, and slew them, some of them as they were running +for shelter to the temple, and others as they, for a while, fought in +their own defense. + +5. And now did many of the priests, even when they saw their enemies +assailing them with swords in their hands, without any disturbance, go +on with their Divine worship, and were slain while they were offering +their drink-offerings, and burning their incense, as preferring the +duties about their worship to God before their own preservation. The +greatest part of them were slain by their own countrymen, of the adverse +faction, and an innumerable multitude threw themselves down precipices; +nay, some there were who were so distracted among the insuperable +difficulties they were under, that they set fire to the buildings that +were near to the wall, and were burnt together with them. Now of the +Jews were slain twelve thousand; but of the Romans very few were slain, +but a greater number was wounded. + +6. But there was nothing that affected the nation so much, in the +calamities they were then under, as that their holy place, which had +been hitherto seen by none, should be laid open to strangers; for +Pompey, and those that were about him, went into the temple itself 8 +whither it was not lawful for any to enter but the high priest, and +saw what was reposited therein, the candlestick with its lamps, and the +table, and the pouring vessels, and the censers, all made entirely +of gold, as also a great quantity of spices heaped together, with two +thousand talents of sacred money. Yet did not he touch that money, nor +any thing else that was there reposited; but he commanded the ministers +about the temple, the very next day after he had taken it, to cleanse +it, and to perform their accustomed sacrifices. Moreover, he made +Hyrcanus high priest, as one that not only in other respects had showed +great alacrity, on his side, during the siege, but as he had been the +means of hindering the multitude that was in the country from fighting +for Aristobulus, which they were otherwise very ready to have done; +by which means he acted the part of a good general, and reconciled +the people to him more by benevolence than by terror. Now, among the +Captives, Aristobulus's father-in-law was taken, who was also his uncle: +so those that were the most guilty he punished with decollation; but +rewarded Faustus, and those with him that had fought so bravely, +with glorious presents, and laid a tribute upon the country, and upon +Jerusalem itself. + +7. He also took away from the nation all those cities that they had +formerly taken, and that belonged to Celesyria, and made them subject to +him that was at that time appointed to be the Roman president there; and +reduced Judea within its proper bounds. He also rebuilt Gadara, 9 that +had been demolished by the Jews, in order to gratify one Demetrius, +who was of Gadara, and was one of his own freed-men. He also made other +cities free from their dominion, that lay in the midst of the country, +such, I mean, as they had not demolished before that time; Hippos, and +Scythopolis, as also Pella, and Samaria, and Marissa; and besides these +Ashdod, and Jamnia, and Arethusa; and in like manner dealt he with the +maritime cities, Gaza, and Joppa, and Dora, and that which was +anciently called Strato's Tower, but was afterward rebuilt with the +most magnificent edifices, and had its name changed to Cesarea, by king +Herod. All which he restored to their own citizens, and put them under +the province of Syria; which province, together with Judea, and the +countries as far as Egypt and Euphrates, he committed to Scaurus as +their governor, and gave him two legions to support him; while he made +all the haste he could himself to go through Cilicia, in his way +to Rome, having Aristobulus and his children along with him as his +captives. They were two daughters and two sons; the one of which sons, +Alexander, ran away as he was going; but the younger, Antigonus, with +his sisters, were carried to Rome. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + Alexander, The Son Of Aristobulus, Who Ran Away From Pompey, + Makes An Expedition Against Hyrcanus; But Being Overcome By + Gabinius He Delivers Up The Fortresses To Him. After This + Aristobulus Escapes From Rome And Gathers An Army Together; + But Being Beaten By The Romans, He Is Brought Back To Rome; + With Other Things Relating To Gabinius, Crassus And Cassius. + +1. In the mean time, Scaurus made an expedition into Arabia, but was +stopped by the difficulty of the places about Petra. However, he laid +waste the country about Pella, though even there he was under great +hardship; for his army was afflicted with famine. In order to supply +which want, Hyrcanus afforded him some assistance, and sent him +provisions by the means of Antipater; whom also Scaurus sent to Aretas, +as one well acquainted with him, to induce him to pay him money to buy +his peace. The king of Arabia complied with the proposal, and gave him +three hundred talents; upon which Scaurus drew his army out of Arabia 10 + +2. But as for Alexander, that son of Aristobulus who ran away from +Pompey, in some time he got a considerable band of men together, and lay +heavy upon Hyrcanus, and overran Judea, and was likely to overturn +him quickly; and indeed he had come to Jerusalem, and had ventured to +rebuild its wall that was thrown down by Pompey, had not Gabinius, who +was sent as successor to Scaurus into Syria, showed his bravery, as in +many other points, so in making an expedition against Alexander; who, as +he was afraid that he would attack him, so he got together a large army, +composed of ten thousand armed footmen, and fifteen hundred horsemen. +He also built walls about proper places; Alexandrium, and Hyrcanium, and +Machaerus, that lay upon the mountains of Arabia. + +3. However, Gabinius sent before him Marcus Antonius, and followed +himself with his whole army; but for the select body of soldiers that +were about Antipater, and another body of Jews under the command of +Malichus and Pitholaus, these joined themselves to those captains +that were about Marcus Antonius, and met Alexander; to which body came +Gabinius with his main army soon afterward; and as Alexander was not +able to sustain the charge of the enemies' forces, now they were joined, +he retired. But when he was come near to Jerusalem, he was forced to +fight, and lost six thousand men in the battle; three thousand of which +fell down dead, and three thousand were taken alive; so he fled with the +remainder to Alexandrium. + +4. Now when Gabinius was come to Alexandrium, because he found a great +many there en-camped, he tried, by promising them pardon for their +former offenses, to induce them to come over to him before it came to a +fight; but when they would hearken to no terms of accommodation, he +slew a great number of them, and shut up a great number of them in the +citadel. Now Marcus Antonius, their leader, signalized himself in this +battle, who, as he always showed great courage, so did he never show it +so much as now; but Gabinius, leaving forces to take the citadel, went +away himself, and settled the cities that had not been demolished, +and rebuilt those that had been destroyed. Accordingly, upon his +injunctions, the following cities were restored: Scythopolis, and +Samaria, and Anthedon, and Apollonia, and Jamnia, and Raphia, and +Mariassa, and Adoreus, and Gamala, and Ashdod, and many others; while +a great number of men readily ran to each of them, and became their +inhabitants. + +5. When Gabinius had taken care of these cities, he returned to +Alexandrium, and pressed on the siege. So when Alexander despaired of +ever obtaining the government, he sent ambassadors to him, and prayed +him to forgive what he had offended him in, and gave up to him the +remaining fortresses, Hyrcanium and Machaerus, as he put Alexandrium +into his hands afterwards; all which Gabinius demolished, at the +persuasion of Alexander's mother, that they might not be receptacles of +men in a second war. She was now there in order to mollify Gabinius, out +of her concern for her relations that were captives at Rome, which were +her husband and her other children. After this Gabinius brought Hyrcanus +to Jerusalem, and committed the care of the temple to him; but ordained +the other political government to be by an aristocracy. He also parted +the whole nation into five conventions, assigning one portion to +Jerusalem, another to Gadara, that another should belong to Amathus, a +fourth to Jericho, and to the fifth division was allotted Sepphoris, +a city of Galilee. So the people were glad to be thus freed from +monarchical government, and were governed for the future by all +aristocracy. + +6. Yet did Aristobulus afford another foundation for new disturbances. +He fled away from Rome, and got together again many of the Jews that +were desirous of a change, such as had borne an affection to him of old; +and when he had taken Alexandrium in the first place, he attempted to +build a wall about it; but as soon as Gabinius had sent an army against +him under Siscuria, and Antonius, and Servilius, he was aware of it, +and retreated to Machaerus. And as for the unprofitable multitude, he +dismissed them, and only marched on with those that were armed, being to +the number of eight thousand, among whom was Pitholaus, who had been the +lieutenant at Jerusalem, but deserted to Aristobulus with a thousand +of his men; so the Romans followed him, and when it came to a battle, +Aristobulus's party for a long time fought courageously; but at length +they were overborne by the Romans, and of them five thousand fell down +dead, and about two thousand fled to a certain little hill, but the +thousand that remained with Aristobulus brake through the Roman army, +and marched together to Machaerus; and when the king had lodged the +first night upon its ruins, he was in hopes of raising another army, if +the war would but cease a while; accordingly, he fortified that strong +hold, though it was done after a poor manner. But the Romans falling +upon him, he resisted, even beyond his abilities, for two days, and then +was taken, and brought a prisoner to Gabinius, with Antigonus his son, +who had fled away together with him from Rome; and from Gabinius he was +carried to Rome again. Wherefore the senate put him under confinement, +but returned his children back to Judea, because Gabinius informed them +by letters that he had promised Aristobulus's mother to do so, for her +delivering the fortresses up to him. + +7. But now as Gabinius was marching to the war against the Parthians, +he was hindered by Ptolemy, whom, upon his return from Euphrates, he +brought back into Egypt, making use of Hyrcanus and Antipater to provide +every thing that was necessary for this expedition; for Antipater +furnished him with money, and weapons, and corn, and auxiliaries; he +also prevailed with the Jews that were there, and guarded the avenues at +Pelusium, to let them pass. But now, upon Gabinius's absence, the other +part of Syria was in motion, and Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, +brought the Jews to revolt again. Accordingly, he got together a very +great army, and set about killing all the Romans that were in the +country; hereupon Gabinius was afraid, [for he was come back already out +of Egypt, and obliged to come back quickly by these tumults,] and +sent Antipater, who prevailed with some of the revolters to be quiet. +However, thirty thousand still continued with Alexander, who was himself +eager to fight also; accordingly, Gabinius went out to fight, when +the Jews met him; and as the battle was fought near Mount Tabor, ten +thousand of them were slain, and the rest of the multitude dispersed +themselves, and fled away. So Gabinius came to Jerusalem, and settled +the government as Antipater would have it; thence he marched, and fought +and beat the Nabateans: as for Mithridates and Orsanes, who fled out of +Parthin, he sent them away privately, but gave it out among the soldiers +that they had run away. + +8. In the mean time, Crassus came as successor to Gabinius in Syria. He +took away all the rest of the gold belonging to the temple of Jerusalem, +in order to furnish himself for his expedition against the Parthians. +He also took away the two thousand talents which Pompey had not touched; +but when he had passed over Euphrates, he perished himself, and his army +with him; concerning which affairs this is not a proper time to speak +[more largely]. + +9. But now Cassius, after Crassus, put a stop to the Parthians, who were +marching in order to enter Syria. Cassius had fled into that province, +and when he had taken possession of the same, he made a hasty march into +Judea; and, upon his taking Taricheae, he carried thirty thousand Jews +into slavery. He also slew Pitholaus, who had supported the seditious +followers of Aristobulus; and it was Antipater who advised him so to +do. Now this Antipater married a wife of an eminent family among the +Arabisus, whose name was Cypros, and had four sons born to him by her, +Phasaelus and Herod, who was afterwards king, and, besides these, Joseph +and Pheroras; and he had a daughter whose name was Salome. Now as he +made himself friends among the men of power every where, by the kind +offices he did them, and the hospitable manner that he treated them; +so did he contract the greatest friendship with the king of Arabia, by +marrying his relation; insomuch that when he made war with Aristobulus, +he sent and intrusted his children with him. So when Cassius had forced +Alexander to come to terms and to be quiet, he returned to Euphrates, +in order to prevent the Parthians from repassing it; concerning which +matter we shall speak elsewhere. 11 + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + Aristobulus Is Taken Off By Pompey's Friends, As Is His Son + Alexander By Scipio. Antipater Cultivates A Friendship With + Caesar, After Pompey's Death; He Also Performs Great Actions + In That War, Wherein He Assisted Mithridates. + +1. Now, upon the flight of Pompey and of the senate beyond the Ionian +Sea, Caesar got Rome and the empire under his power, and released +Aristobulus from his bonds. He also committed two legions to him, and +sent him in haste into Syria, as hoping that by his means he should +easily conquer that country, and the parts adjoining to Judea. But envy +prevented any effect of Aristobulus's alacrity, and the hopes of Caesar; +for he was taken off by poison given him by those of Pompey's party; +and, for a long while, he had not so much as a burial vouchsafed him +in his own country; but his dead body lay [above ground], preserved in +honey, until it was sent to the Jews by Antony, in order to be buried in +the royal sepulchers. + +2. His son Alexander also was beheaded by Scipio at Antioch, and that +by the command of Pompey, and upon an accusation laid against him before +his tribunal, for the mischiefs he had done to the Romans. But Ptolemy, +the son of Menneus, who was then ruler of Chalcis, under Libanus, took +his brethren to him by sending his son Philippio for them to Ascalon, +who took Antigonus, as well as his sisters, away from Aristobulus's +wife, and brought them to his father; and falling in love with the +younger daughter, he married her, and was afterwards slain by his father +on her account; for Ptolemy himself, after he had slain his son, married +her, whose name was Alexandra; on the account of which marriage he took +the greater care of her brother and sister. + +3. Now, after Pompey was dead, Antipater changed sides, and cultivated +a friendship with Caesar. And since Mithridates of Pergamus, with +the forces he led against Egypt, was excluded from the avenues about +Pelusium, and was forced to stay at Asealon, he persuaded the Arabians, +among whom he had lived, to assist him, and came himself to him, at the +head of three thousand armed men. He also encouraged the men of power in +Syria to come to his assistance, as also of the inhabitants of Libanus, +Ptolemy, and Jamblicus, and another Ptolemy; by which means the cities +of that country came readily into this war; insomuch that Mithridates +ventured now, in dependence upon the additional strength that he had +gotten by Antipater, to march forward to Pelusium; and when they refused +him a passage through it, he besieged the city; in the attack of which +place Antipater principally signalized himself, for he brought down that +part of the wall which was over against him, and leaped first of all +into the city, with the men that were about him. + +4. Thus was Pelusium taken. But still, as they were marching on, those +Egyptian Jews that inhabited the country called the country of Onias +stopped them. Then did Antipater not only persuade them not to stop +them, but to afford provisions for their army; on which account even +the people about Memphis would not fight against them, but of their +own accord joined Mithridates. Whereupon he went round about Delta, and +fought the rest of the Egyptians at a place called the Jews' Camp; nay, +when he was in danger in the battle with all his right wing, Antipater +wheeled about, and came along the bank of the river to him; for he +had beaten those that opposed him as he led the left wing. After which +success he fell upon those that pursued Mithridates, and slew a great +many of them, and pursued the remainder so far that he took their camp, +while he lost no more than fourscore of his own men; as Mithridates +lost, during the pursuit that was made after him, about eight hundred. +He was also himself saved unexpectedly, and became an unreproachable +witness to Caesar of the great actions of Antipater. + +5. Whereupon Caesar encouraged Antipater to undertake other hazardous +enterprises for him, and that by giving him great commendations and +hopes of reward. In all which enterprises he readily exposed himself to +many dangers, and became a most courageous warrior; and had many wounds +almost all over his body, as demonstrations of his valor. And when +Caesar had settled the affairs of Egypt, and was returning into Syria +again, he gave him the privilege of a Roman citizen, and freedom from +taxes, and rendered him an object of admiration by the honors and marks +of friendship he bestowed upon him. On this account it was that he also +confirmed Hyrcanus in the high priesthood. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + Caesar Makes Antipater Procurator Of Judea; As Does + Antipater Appoint Phasaelus To Be Governor Of Jerusalem, And + Herod Governor Of Galilee; Who, In Some Time, Was Called To + Answer For Himself [Before The Sanhedrim], Where He Is + Acquitted. Sextus Caesar Is Treacherously Killed By Bassus + And Is Succeeded By Marcus. + +1. About this time it was that Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, +came to Caesar, and became, in a surprising manner, the occasion of +Antipater's further advancement; for whereas he ought to have lamented +that his father appeared to have been poisoned on account of his +quarrels with Pompey, and to have complained of Scipio's barbarity +towards his brother, and not to mix any invidious passion when he +was suing for mercy; besides those things, he came before Caesar, and +accused Hyrcanus and Antipater, how they had driven him and his brethren +entirely out of their native country, and had acted in a great many +instances unjustly and extravagantly with relation to their nation; and +that as to the assistance they had sent him into Egypt, it was not done +out of good-will to him, but out of the fear they were in from former +quarrels, and in order to gain pardon for their friendship to [his +enemy] Pompey. + +2. Hereupon Antipater threw away his garments, and showed the multitude +of the wounds he had, and said, that as to his good-will to Caesar, he +had no occasion to say a word, because his body cried aloud, though he +said nothing himself; that he wondered at Antigonus's boldness, while +he was himself no other than the son of an enemy to the Romans, and of +a fugitive, and had it by inheritance from his father to be fond of +innovations and seditions, that he should undertake to accuse other +men before the Roman governor, and endeavor to gain some advantages to +himself, when he ought to be contented that he was suffered to live; +for that the reason of his desire of governing public affairs was not so +much because he was in want of it, but because, if he could once obtain +the same, he might stir up a sedition among the Jews, and use what he +should gain from the Romans to the disservice of those that gave it him. + +3. When Caesar heard this, he declared Hyrcanus to be the most worthy +of the high priesthood, and gave leave to Antipater to choose what +authority he pleased; but he left the determination of such dignity to +him that bestowed the dignity upon him; so he was constituted procurator +of all Judea, and obtained leave, moreover, to rebuild 12 those walls of +his country that had been thrown down. These honorary grants Caesar sent +orders to have engraved in the Capitol, that they might stand there as +indications of his own justice, and of the virtue of Antipater. + +4. But as soon as Antipater had conducted Caesar out of Syria he +returned to Judea, and the first thing he did was to rebuild that wall +of his own country [Jerusalem] which Pompey had overthrown, and then to +go over the country, and to quiet the tumults that were therein; where +he partly threatened, and partly advised, every one, and told them +that in case they would submit to Hyrcanus, they would live happily and +peaceably, and enjoy what they possessed, and that with universal peace +and quietness; but that in case they hearkened to such as had some +frigid hopes by raising new troubles to get themselves some gain, they +should then find him to be their lord instead of their procurator; and +find Hyrcanus to be a tyrant instead of a king; and both the Romans and +Caesar to be their enemies, instead of rulers; for that they would not +suffer him to be removed from the government, whom they had made their +governor. And, at the same time that he said this, he settled the +affairs of the country by himself, because he saw that Hyrcanus was +inactive, and not fit to manage the affairs of the kingdom. So he +constituted his eldest son, Phasaelus, governor of Jerusalem, and of the +parts about it; he also sent his next son, Herod, who was very young, 13 +with equal authority into Galilee. + +5. Now Herod was an active man, and soon found proper materials for his +active spirit to work upon. As therefore he found that Hezekias, the +head of the robbers, ran over the neighboring parts of Syria with a +great band of men, he caught him and slew him, and many more of the +robbers with him; which exploit was chiefly grateful to the Syrians, +insomuch that hymns were sung in Herod's commendation, both in the +villages and in the cities, as having procured their quietness, and +having preserved what they possessed to them; on which occasion he +became acquainted with Sextus Caesar, a kinsman of the great Caesar, +and president of Syria. A just emulation of his glorious actions excited +Phasaelus also to imitate him. Accordingly, he procured the good-will of +the inhabitants of Jerusalem, by his own management of the city affairs, +and did not abuse his power in any disagreeable manner; whence it came +to pass that the nation paid Antipater the respects that were due only +to a king, and the honors they all yielded him were equal to the honors +due to an absolute lord; yet did he not abate any part of that good-will +or fidelity which he owed to Hyrcanus. + +6. However, he found it impossible to escape envy in such his +prosperity; for the glory of these young men affected even Hyrcanus +himself already privately, though he said nothing of it to any body; but +what he principally was grieved at was the great actions of Herod, and +that so many messengers came one before another, and informed him of the +great reputation he got in all his undertakings. There were also many +people in the royal palace itself who inflamed his envy at him; those, I +mean, who were obstructed in their designs by the prudence either of +the young men, or of Antipater. These men said, that by committing the +public affairs to the management of Antipater and of his sons, he +sat down with nothing but the bare name of a king, without any of its +authority; and they asked him how long he would so far mistake himself, +as to breed up kings against his own interest; for that they did not now +conceal their government of affairs any longer, but were plainly lords +of the nation, and had thrust him out of his authority; that this was +the case when Herod slew so many men without his giving him any command +to do it, either by word of mouth, or by his letter, and this in +contradiction to the law of the Jews; who therefore, in case he be not a +king, but a private man, still ought to come to his trial, and answer it +to him, and to the laws of his country, which do not permit any one to +be killed till he hath been condemned in judgment. + +7. Now Hyrcanus was, by degrees, inflamed with these discourses, and at +length could bear no longer, but he summoned Herod to take his trial. +Accordingly, by his father's advice, and as soon as the affairs of +Galilee would give him leave, he came up to [Jerusalem], when he had +first placed garrisons in Galilee; however, he came with a sufficient +body of soldiers, so many indeed that he might not appear to have with +him an army able to overthrow Hyrcanus's government, nor yet so few as +to expose him to the insults of those that envied him. However, Sextus +Caesar was in fear for the young man, lest he should be taken by +his enemies, and brought to punishment; so he sent some to denounce +expressly to Hyrcanus that he should acquit Herod of the capital charge +against him; who acquitted him accordingly, as being otherwise inclined +also so to do, for he loved Herod. + +8. But Herod, supposing that he had escaped punishment without the +consent of the king, retired to Sextus, to Damascus, and got every thing +ready, in order not to obey him if he should summon him again; whereupon +those that were evil-disposed irritated Hyrcanus, and told him that +Herod was gone away in anger, and was prepared to make war upon him; and +as the king believed what they said, he knew not what to do, since he +saw his antagonist was stronger than he was himself. And now, since +Herod was made general of Coelesyria and Samaria by Sextus Caesar, he +was formidable, not only from the good-will which the nation bore him, +but by the power he himself had; insomuch that Hyrcanus fell into the +utmost degree of terror, and expected he would presently march against +him with his army. + +9. Nor was he mistaken in the conjecture he made; for Herod got his army +together, out of the anger he bare him for his threatening him with the +accusation in a public court, and led it to Jerusalem, in order to throw +Hyrcanus down from his kingdom; and this he had soon done, unless his +father and brother had gone out together and broken the force of his +fury, and this by exhorting him to carry his revenge no further than to +threatening and affrighting, but to spare the king, under whom he had +been advanced to such a degree of power; and that he ought not to be so +much provoked at his being tried, as to forget to be thankful that +he was acquitted; nor so long to think upon what was of a melancholy +nature, as to be ungrateful for his deliverance; and if we ought to +reckon that God is the arbitrator of success in war, an unjust cause +is of more disadvantage than an army can be of advantage; and that +therefore he ought not to be entirely confident of success in a case +where he is to fight against his king, his supporter, and one that had +often been his benefactor, and that had never been severe to him, any +otherwise than as he had hearkened to evil counselors, and this no +further than by bringing a shadow of injustice upon him. So Herod was +prevailed upon by these arguments, and supposed that what he had already +done was sufficient for his future hopes, and that he had enough shown +his power to the nation. + +10. In the mean time, there was a disturbance among the Romans about +Apamia, and a civil war occasioned by the treacherous slaughter of +Sextus Caesar, by Cecilius Bassus, which he perpetrated out of his +good-will to Pompey; he also took the authority over his forces; but as +the rest of Caesar's commanders attacked Bassus with their whole army, +in order to punish him for the murder of Caesar, Antipater also sent +them assistance by his sons, both on account of him that was murdered, +and on account of that Caesar who was still alive, both of which were +their friends; and as this war grew to be of a considerable length, +Marcus came out of Italy as successor to Sextus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + + + Herod Is Made Procurator Of All Syria; Malichus Is Afraid Of + Him, And Takes Antipater Off By Poison; Whereupon The + Tribunes Of The Soldiers Are Prevailed With To Kill Him. + +1. There, was at this time a mighty war raised among the Romans upon the +sudden and treacherous slaughter of Caesar by Cassius and Brutus, after +he had held the government for three years and seven months. 14 Upon +this murder there were very great agitations, and the great men were +mightily at difference one with another, and every one betook himself to +that party where they had the greatest hopes of their own, of advancing +themselves. Accordingly, Cassius came into Syria, in order to receive +the forces that were at Apamia, where he procured a reconciliation +between Bassus and Marcus, and the legions which were at difference with +him; so he raised the siege of Apamia, and took upon him the command of +the army, and went about exacting tribute of the cities, and demanding +their money to such a degree as they were not able to bear. + +2. So he gave command that the Jews should bring in seven hundred +talents; whereupon Antipater, out of his dread of Cassius's threats, +parted the raising of this sum among his sons, and among others of his +acquaintance, and to be done immediately; and among them he required +one Malichus, who was at enmity with him, to do his part also, which +necessity forced him to do. Now Herod, in the first place, mitigated the +passion of Cassius, by bringing his share out of Galilee, which was a +hundred talents, on which account he was in the highest favor with him; +and when he reproached the rest for being tardy, he was angry at the +cities themselves; so he made slaves of Gophna and Emmaus, and two +others of less note; nay, he proceeded as if he would kill Malichus, +because he had not made greater haste in exacting his tribute; but +Antipater prevented the ruin of this man, and of the other cities, and +got into Cassius's favor by bringing in a hundred talents immediately. +15 + +3. However, when Cassius was gone Malichus forgot the kindness that +Antipater had done him, and laid frequent plots against him that +had saved him, as making haste to get him out of the way, who was an +obstacle to his wicked practices; but Antipater was so much afraid of +the power and cunning of the man, that he went beyond Jordan, in order +to get an army to guard himself against his treacherous designs; but +when Malichus was caught in his plot, he put upon Antipater's sons by +his impudence, for he thoroughly deluded Phasaelus, who was the guardian +of Jerusalem, and Herod who was intrusted with the weapons of war, and +this by a great many excuses and oaths, and persuaded them to procure +his reconciliation to his father. Thus was he preserved again by +Antipater, who dissuaded Marcus, the then president of Syria, from +his resolution of killing Malichus, on account of his attempts for +innovation. + +4. Upon the war between Cassius and Brutus on one side, against the +younger Caesar [Augustus] and Antony on the other, Cassius and Marcus +got together an army out of Syria; and because Herod was likely to have +a great share in providing necessaries, they then made him procurator of +all Syria, and gave him an army of foot and horse. Cassius promised him +also, that after the war was over, he would make him king of Judea. But +it so happened that the power and hopes of his son became the cause of +his perdition; for as Malichus was afraid of this, he corrupted one +of the king's cup-bearers with money to give a poisoned potion to +Antipater; so he became a sacrifice to Malichus's wickedness, and died +at a feast. He was a man in other respects active in the management +of affairs, and one that recovered the government to Hyrcanus, and +preserved it in his hands. + +5. However, Malichus, when he was suspected of poisoning Antipater, and +when the multitude was angry with him for it, denied it, and made the +people believe he was not guilty. He also prepared to make a greater +figure, and raised soldiers; for he did not suppose that Herod would +be quiet, who indeed came upon him with an army presently, in order to +revenge his father's death; but, upon hearing the advice of his brother +Phasaelus, not to punish him in an open manner, lest the multitude +should fall into a sedition, he admitted of Malichus's apology, and +professed that he cleared him of that suspicion; he also made a pompous +funeral for his father. + +6. So Herod went to Samaria, which was then in a tumult, and settled the +city in peace; after which at the [Pentecost] festival, he returned +to Jerusalem, having his armed men with him: hereupon Hyrcanus, at the +request of Malichus, who feared his reproach, forbade them to introduce +foreigners to mix themselves with the people of the country while they +were purifying themselves; but Herod despised the pretense, and him that +gave that command, and came in by night. Upon which Malithus came to +him, and bewailed Antipater; Herod also made him believe [he admitted +of his lamentations as real], although he had much ado to restrain his +passion at him; however, he did himself bewail the murder of his father +in his letters to Cassius, who, on other accounts, also hated Malichus. +Cassius sent him word back that he should avenge his father's death upon +him, and privately gave order to the tribunes that were under him, that +they should assist Herod in a righteous action he was about. + +7. And because, upon the taking of Laodicea by Cassius, the men of power +were gotten together from all quarters, with presents and crowns in +their hands, Herod allotted this time for the punishment of Malichus. +When Malichus suspected that, and was at Tyre, he resolved to withdraw +his son privately from among the Tyrians, who was a hostage there, while +he got ready to fly away into Judea; the despair he was in of escaping +excited him to think of greater things; for he hoped that he should +raise the nation to a revolt from the Romans, while Cassius was busy +about the war against Antony, and that he should easily depose Hyrcanus, +and get the crown for himself. + +8. But fate laughed at the hopes he had; for Herod foresaw what he +was so zealous about, and invited both Hyrcanus and him to supper; but +calling one of the principal servants that stood by him to him, he +sent him out, as though it were to get things ready for supper, but in +reality to give notice beforehand about the plot that was laid against +him; accordingly they called to mind what orders Cassius had given +them, and went out of the city with their swords in their hands upon the +sea-shore, where they encompassed Malichus round about, and killed him +with many wounds. Upon which Hyrcanus was immediately affrighted, till +he swooned away and fell down at the surprise he was in; and it was +with difficulty that he was recovered, when he asked who it was that had +killed Malichus. And when one of the tribunes replied that it was done +by the command of Cassius, "Then," said he, "Cassius hath saved both me +and my country, by cutting off one that was laying plots against them +both." Whether he spake according to his own sentiments, or whether his +fear was such that he was obliged to commend the action by saying so, +is uncertain; however, by this method Herod inflicted punishment upon +Malichus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + + + Phasaelus Is Too Hard For Felix; Herod Also Overcomes + Antigonus In Rattle; And The Jews Accuse Both Herod And + Phasaelus But Antonius Acquits Them, And Makes Them + Tetrarchs. + +1. When Cassius was gone out of Syria, another sedition arose at +Jerusalem, wherein Felix assaulted Phasaelus with an army, that he might +revenge the death of Malichus upon Herod, by falling upon his brother. +Now Herod happened then to be with Fabius, the governor of Damascus, +and as he was going to his brother's assistance, he was detained by +sickness; in the mean time, Phasaelus was by himself too hard for Felix, +and reproached Hyrcanus on account of his ingratitude, both for what +assistance he had afforded Malichus, and for overlooking Malichus's +brother, when he possessed himself of the fortresses; for he had gotten +a great many of them already, and among them the strongest of them all, +Masada. + +2. However, nothing could be sufficient for him against the force of +Herod, who, as soon as he was recovered, took the other fortresses +again, and drove him out of Masada in the posture of a supplicant; he +also drove away Marion, the tyrant of the Tyrians, out of Galilee, when +he had already possessed himself of three fortified places; but as to +those Tyrians whom he had caught, he preserved them all alive; nay, some +of them he gave presents to, and so sent them away, and thereby procured +good-will to himself from the city, and hatred to the tyrant. Marion had +indeed obtained that tyrannical power of Cassius, who set tyrants +over all Syria 16 and out of hatred to Herod it was that he assisted +Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, and principally on Fabius's account, +whom Antigonus had made his assistant by money, and had him accordingly +on his side when he made his descent; but it was Ptolemy, the kinsman of +Antigonus, that supplied all that he wanted. + +3. When Herod had fought against these in the avenues of Judea, he +was conqueror in the battle, and drove away Antigonus, and returned to +Jerusalem, beloved by every body for the glorious action he had done; +for those who did not before favor him did join themselves to him now, +because of his marriage into the family of Hyrcanus; for as he had +formerly married a wife out of his own country of no ignoble blood, +who was called Doris, of whom he begat Antipater; so did he now marry +Mariamne, the daughter of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, and the +granddaughter of Hyrcanus, and was become thereby a relation of the +king. + +4. But when Caesar and Antony had slain Cassius near Philippi, and +Caesar was gone to Italy, and Antony to Asia, amongst the rest of the +cities which sent ambassadors to Antony unto Bithynia, the great men of +the Jews came also, and accused Phasaelus and Herod, that they kept the +government by force, and that Hyrcanus had no more than an honorable +name. Herod appeared ready to answer this accusation; and having made +Antony his friend by the large sums of money which he gave him, he +brought him to such a temper as not to hear the others speak against +him; and thus did they part at this time. + +5. However, after this, there came a hundred of the principal men among +the Jews to Daphne by Antioch to Antony, who was already in love with +Cleopatra to the degree of slavery; these Jews put those men that were +the most potent, both in dignity and eloquence, foremost, and accused +the brethren. 17 But Messala opposed them, and defended the brethren, +and that while Hyrcanus stood by him, on account of his relation to +them. When Antony had heard both sides, he asked Hyrcanus which party +was the fittest to govern, who replied that Herod and his party were +the fittest. Antony was glad of that answer, for he had been formerly +treated in an hospitable and obliging manner by his father Antipater, +when he marched into Judea with Gabinius; so he constituted the brethren +tetrarchs, and committed to them the government of Judea. + +6. But when the ambassadors had indignation at this procedure, Antony +took fifteen of them, and put them into custody, whom he was also going +to kill presently, and the rest he drove away with disgrace; on which +occasion a still greater tumult arose at Jerusalem; so they sent again a +thousand ambassadors to Tyre, where Antony now abode, as he was marching +to Jerusalem; upon these men who made a clamor he sent out the governor +of Tyre, and ordered him to punish all that he could catch of them, and +to settle those in the administration whom he had made tetrarchs. + +7. But before this, Herod and Hyrcanus went out upon the sea-shore, and +earnestly desired of these ambassadors that they would neither bring +ruin upon themselves, nor war upon their native country, by their rash +contentions; and when they grew still more outrageous, Antony sent out +armed men, and slew a great many, and wounded more of them; of whom +those that were slain were buried by Hyrcanus, as were the wounded +put under the care of physicians by him; yet would not those that +had escaped be quiet still, but put the affairs of the city into such +disorder, and so provoked Antony, that he slew those whom he had in +bonds also. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + + + The Parthians Bring Antigonus Back Into Judea, And Cast + Hyrcanus And Phasaelus Into Prison. The Flight Of Herod, And + The Taking Of Jerusalem And What Hyrcanus And Phasaelus + Suffered. + +1. Now two years afterward, when Barzapharnes, a governor among the +Parthians, and Paeorus, the king's son, had possessed themselves of +Syria, and when Lysanias had already succeeded upon the death of his +father Ptolemy, the son of Menneus, in the government [of Chalcis], he +prevailed with the governor, by a promise of a thousand talents, and +five hundred women, to bring back Antigonus to his kingdom, and to turn +Hyrcanus out of it. Pacorus was by these means induced so to do, and +marched along the sea-coast, while he ordered Barzapharnes to fall upon +the Jews as he went along the Mediterranean part of the country; but +of the maritime people, the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus, although +those of Ptolemais and Sidon had received him; so he committed a troop +of his horse to a certain cup-bearer belonging to the royal family, +of his own name [Pacorus], and gave him orders to march into Judea, in +order to learn the state of affairs among their enemies, and to help +Antigonus when he should want his assistance. + +2. Now as these men were ravaging Carmel, many of the Jews ran together +to Antigonus, and showed themselves ready to make an incursion into +the country; so he sent them before into that place called Drymus, [the +woodland 18 ] to seize upon the place; whereupon a battle was fought +between them, and they drove the enemy away, and pursued them, and ran +after them as far as Jerusalem, and as their numbers increased, they +proceeded as far as the king's palace; but as Hyrcanus and Phasaelus +received them with a strong body of men, there happened a battle in the +market-place, in which Herod's party beat the enemy, and shut them up +in the temple, and set sixty men in the houses adjoining as a guard to +them. But the people that were tumultuous against the brethren came in, +and burnt those men; while Herod, in his rage for killing them, attacked +and slew many of the people, till one party made incursions on the other +by turns, day by day, in the way of ambushes, and slaughters were made +continually among them. + +3. Now when that festival which we call Pentecost was at hand, all the +places about the temple, and the whole city, was full of a multitude of +people that were come out of the country, and which were the greatest +part of them armed also, at which time Phasaelus guarded the wall, and +Herod, with a few, guarded the royal palace; and when he made an assault +upon his enemies, as they were out of their ranks, on the north quarter +of the city, he slew a very great number of them, and put them all to +flight; and some of them he shut up within the city, and others within +the outward rampart. In the mean time, Antigonus desired that Pacorus +might be admitted to be a reconciler between them; and Phasaelus was +prevailed upon to admit the Parthian into the city with five hundred +horse, and to treat him in an hospitable manner, who pretended that he +came to quell the tumult, but in reality he came to assist Antigonus; +however, he laid a plot for Phasaelus, and persuaded him to go as an +ambassador to Barzapharnes, in order to put an end to the war, although +Herod was very earnest with him to the contrary, and exhorted him to +kill the plotter, but not expose himself to the snares he had laid for +him, because the barbarians are naturally perfidious. However, +Pacorus went out and took Hyrcanus with him, that he might be the less +suspected; he also 19 left some of the horsemen, called the Freemen, +with Herod, and conducted Phasaelus with the rest. + +4. But now, when they were come to Galilee, they found that the people +of that country had revolted, and were in arms, who came very cunningly +to their leader, and besought him to conceal his treacherous intentions +by an obliging behavior to them; accordingly, he at first made them +presents; and afterward, as they went away, laid ambushes for them; and +when they were come to one of the maritime cities called Ecdippon, they +perceived that a plot was laid for them; for they were there informed +of the promise of a thousand talents, and how Antigonus had devoted the +greatest number of the women that were there with them, among the five +hundred, to the Parthians; they also perceived that an ambush was always +laid for them by the barbarians in the night time; they had also been +seized on before this, unless they had waited for the seizure of Herod +first at Jerusalem, because if he were once informed of this treachery +of theirs, he would take care of himself; nor was this a mere report, +but they saw the guards already not far off them. + +5. Nor would Phasaelus think of forsaking Hyrcanus and flying away, +although Ophellius earnestly persuaded him to it; for this man had +learned the whole scheme of the plot from Saramalla, the richest of +all the Syrians. But Phasaelus went up to the Parfilian governor, and +reproached him to his face for laying this treacherous plot against +them, and chiefly because he had done it for money; and he promised him +that he would give him more money for their preservation, than Antigonus +had promised to give for the kingdom. But the sly Parthian endeavored to +remove all this suspicion by apologies and by oaths, and then went [to +the other] Pacorus; immediately after which those Parthians who were +left, and had it in charge, seized upon Phasaelus and Hyrcanus, who +could do no more than curse their perfidiousness and their perjury. + +6. In the mean time, the cup-bearer was sent [back], and laid a plot how +to seize upon Herod, by deluding him, and getting him out of the city, +as he was commanded to do. But Herod suspected the barbarians from the +beginning; and having then received intelligence that a messenger, +who was to bring him the letters that informed him of the treachery +intended, had fallen among the enemy, he would not go out of the city; +though Pacorus said very positively that he ought to go out, and meet +the messengers that brought the letters, for that the enemy had not +taken them, and that the contents of them were not accounts of any plots +upon them, but of what Phasaelus had done; yet had he heard from others +that his brother was seized; and Alexandra 20 the shrewdest woman in the +world, Hyrcanus's daughter, begged of him that he would not go out, nor +trust himself to those barbarians, who now were come to make an attempt +upon him openly. + +7. Now as Pacorus and his friends were considering how they might bring +their plot to bear privately, because it was not possible to circumvent +a man of so great prudence by openly attacking him, Herod prevented +them, and went off with the persons that were the most nearly related to +him by night, and this without their enemies being apprized of it. But +as soon as the Parthians perceived it, they pursued after them; and as +he gave orders for his mother, and sister, and the young woman who was +betrothed to him, with her mother, and his youngest brother, to make the +best of their way, he himself, with his servants, took all the care they +could to keep off the barbarians; and when at every assault he had slain +a great many of them, he came to the strong hold of Masada. + +8. Nay, he found by experience that the Jews fell more heavily upon him +than did the Parthians, and created him troubles perpetually, and this +ever since he was gotten sixty furlongs from the city; these sometimes +brought it to a sort of a regular battle. Now in the place where Herod +beat them, and killed a great number of them, there he afterward built +a citadel, in memory of the great actions he did there, and adorned it +with the most costly palaces, and erected very strong fortifications, +and called it, from his own name, Herodium. Now as they were in their +flight, many joined themselves to him every day; and at a place called +Thressa of Idumea his brother Joseph met him, and advised him to ease +himself of a great number of his followers, because Masada would not +contain so great a multitude, which were above nine thousand. Herod +complied with this advice, and sent away the most cumbersome part of his +retinue, that they might go into Idumea, and gave them provisions +for their journey; but he got safe to the fortress with his nearest +relations, and retained with him only the stoutest of his followers; and +there it was that he left eight hundred of his men as a guard for the +women, and provisions sufficient for a siege; but he made haste himself +to Petra of Arabia. + +9. As for the Parthians in Jerusalem, they betook themselves to +plundering, and fell upon the houses of those that were fled, and upon +the king's palace, and spared nothing but Hyrcanus's money, which was +not above three hundred talents. They lighted on other men's money also, +but not so much as they hoped for; for Herod having a long while had +a suspicion of the perfidiousness of the barbarians, had taken care to +have what was most splendid among his treasures conveyed into Idumea, +as every one belonging to him had in like manner done also. But the +Parthians proceeded to that degree of injustice, as to fill all the +country with war without denouncing it, and to demolish the city +Marissa, and not only to set up Antigonus for king, but to deliver +Phasaelus and Hyrcanus bound into his hands, in order to their being +tormented by him. Antigonus himself also bit off Hyrcanus's ears with +his own teeth, as he fell down upon his knees to him, that so he might +never be able upon any mutation of affairs to take the high priesthood +again, for the high priests that officiated were to be complete, and +without blemish. + +10. However, he failed in his purpose of abusing Phasaelus, by reason of +his courage; for though he neither had the command of his sword nor of +his hands, he prevented all abuses by dashing his head against a stone; +so he demonstrated himself to be Herod's own brother, and Hyrcanus a +most degenerate relation, and died with great bravery, and made the end +of his life agreeable to the actions of it. There is also another +report about his end, viz. that he recovered of that stroke, and that +a surgeon, who was sent by Antigonus to heal him, filled the wound with +poisonous ingredients, and so killed him; whichsoever of these deaths +he came to, the beginning of it was glorious. It is also reported that +before he expired he was informed by a certain poor woman how Herod had +escaped out of their hands, and that he said thereupon, "I now die with +comfort, since I leave behind me one alive that will avenge me of mine +enemies." + +11. This was the death of Phasaelus; but the Parthians, although they +had failed of the women they chiefly desired, yet did they put the +government of Jerusalem into the hands of Antigonus, and took away +Hyrcanus, and bound him, and carried him to Parthia. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + + + When Herod Is Rejected In Arabia, He Makes Haste To Rome + Where Antony And Caesar Join Their Interest To Make Him King + . + +1. Now Herod did the more zealously pursue his journey into Arabia, as +making haste to get money of the king, while his brother was yet alive; +by which money alone it was that he hoped to prevail upon the covetous +temper of the barbarians to spare Phasaelus; for he reasoned thus with +himself:--that if the Arabian king was too forgetful of his father's +friendship with him, and was too covetous to make him a free gift, he +would however borrow of him as much as might redeem his brother, and +put into his hands, as a pledge, the son of him that was to be redeemed. +Accordingly he led his brother's son along with him, who was of the age +of seven years. Now he was ready to give three hundred talents for his +brother, and intended to desire the intercession of the Tyrians, to get +them accepted; however, fate had been too quick for his diligence; +and since Phasaelus was dead, Herod's brotherly love was now in vain. +Moreover, he was not able to find any lasting friendship among the +Arabians; for their king, Malichus, sent to him immediately, and +commanded him to return back out of his country, and used the name of +the Parthians as a pretense for so doing, as though these had denounced +to him by their ambassadors to cast Herod out of Arabia; while in +reality they had a mind to keep back what they owed to Antipater, and +not be obliged to make requitals to his sons for the free gifts the +father had made them. He also took the impudent advice of those who, +equally with himself, were willing to deprive Herod of what Antipater +had deposited among them; and these men were the most potent of all whom +he had in his kingdom. + +2. So when Herod had found that the Arabians were his enemies, and this +for those very reasons whence he hoped they would have been the most +friendly, and had given them such an answer as his passion suggested, +he returned back, and went for Egypt. Now he lodged the first evening at +one of the temples of that country, in order to meet with those whom he +left behind; but on the next day word was brought him, as he was going +to Rhinocurura, that his brother was dead, and how he came by his death; +and when he had lamented him as much as his present circumstances could +bear, he soon laid aside such cares, and proceeded on his journey. But +now, after some time, the king of Arabia repented of what he had done, +and sent presently away messengers to call him back: Herod had prevented +them, and was come to Pelusium, where he could not obtain a passage from +those that lay with the fleet, so he besought their captains to let him +go by them; accordingly, out of the reverence they bore to the fame and +dignity of the man, they conducted him to Alexandria; and when he came +into the city, he was received by Cleopatra with great splendor, +who hoped he might be persuaded to be commander of her forces in the +expedition she was now about; but he rejected the queen's solicitations, +and being neither afrighted at the height of that storm which then +happened, nor at the tumults that were now in Italy, he sailed for Rome. + +3. But as he was in peril about Pamphylia, and obliged to cast out +the greatest part of the ship's lading, he with difficulty got safe +to Rhodes, a place which had been grievously harassed in the war with +Cassius. He was there received by his friends, Ptolemy and Sappinius; +and although he was then in want of money, he fitted up a three-decked +ship of very great magnitude, wherein he and his friends sailed to +Brundusium, 21 and went thence to Rome with all speed; where he first +of all went to Antony, on account of the friendship his father had with +him, and laid before him the calamities of himself and his family; and +that he had left his nearest relations besieged in a fortress, and +had sailed to him through a storm, to make supplication to him for +assistance. + +4. Hereupon Antony was moved to compassion at the change that had been +made in Herod's affairs, and this both upon his calling to mind how +hospitably he had been treated by Antipater, but more especially on +account of Herod's own virtue; so he then resolved to get him made king +of the Jews, whom he had himself formerly made tetrarch. The contest +also that he had with Antigonus was another inducement, and that of no +less weight than the great regard he had for Herod; for he looked upon +Antigonus as a seditious person, and an enemy of the Romans; and as for +Caesar, Herod found him better prepared than Antony, as remembering +very fresh the wars he had gone through together with his father, the +hospitable treatment he had met with from him, and the entire good-will +he had showed to him; besides the activity which he saw in Herod +himself. So he called the senate together, wherein Messalas, and after +him Atratinus, produced Herod before them, and gave a full account of +the merits of his father, and his own good-will to the Romans. At the +same time they demonstrated that Antigonus was their enemy, not only +because he soon quarreled with them, but because he now overlooked the +Romans, and took the government by the means of the Parthians. These +reasons greatly moved the senate; at which juncture Antony came in, and +told them that it was for their advantage in the Parthian war that Herod +should be king; so they all gave their votes for it. And when the senate +was separated, Antony and Caesar went out, with Herod between them; +while the consul and the rest of the magistrates went before them, in +order to offer sacrifices, and to lay the decree in the Capitol. Antony +also made a feast for Herod on the first day of his reign. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + + + Antigonus Besieges Those That Were In Masada, Whom Herod + Frees From Confinement When He Came Back From Rome, And + Presently Marches To Jerusalem Where He Finds Silo Corrupted + By Bribes. + +1. Now during this time Antigonus besieged those that were in Masada, +who had all other necessaries in sufficient quantity, but were in want +of water; on which account Joseph, Herod's brother, was disposed to run +away to the Arabians, with two hundred of his own friends, because he +had heard that Malichus repented of his offenses with regard to Herod; +and he had been so quick as to have been gone out of the fortress +already, unless, on that very night when he was going away, there had +fallen a great deal of rain, insomuch that his reservoirs were full of +water, and so he was under no necessity of running away. After which, +therefore, they made an irruption upon Antigonus's party, and slew a +great many of them, some in open battles, and some in private ambush; +nor had they always success in their attempts, for sometimes they were +beaten, and ran away. + +2. In the mean time Ventidius, the Roman general, was sent out of Syria, +to restrain the incursions of the Parthians; and after he had done that, +he came into Judea, in pretense indeed to assist Joseph and his party, +but in reality to get money of Antigonus; and when he had pitched his +camp very near to Jerusalem, as soon as he had got money enough, he went +away with the greatest part of his forces; yet still did he leave Silo +with some part of them, lest if he had taken them all away, his taking +of bribes might have been too openly discovered. Now Antigonus hoped +that the Parthians would come again to his assistance, and therefore +cultivated a good understanding with Silo in the mean time, lest any +interruption should be given to his hopes. + +3. Now by this time Herod had sailed out of Italy, and was come to +Ptolemais; and as soon as he had gotten together no small army of +foreigners, and of his own countrymen, he marched through Galilee +against Antigonus, wherein he was assisted by Ventidius and Silo, both +whom Dellius, 22 a person sent by Antony, persuaded to bring Herod +[into his kingdom]. Now Ventidius was at this time among the cities, and +composing the disturbances which had happened by means of the Parthians, +as was Silo in Judea corrupted by the bribes that Antigonus had given +him; yet was not Herod himself destitute of power, but the number of his +forces increased every day as he went along, and all Galilee, with few +exceptions, joined themselves to him. So he proposed to himself to set +about his most necessary enterprise, and that was Masada, in order to +deliver his relations from the siege they endured. But still Joppa stood +in his way, and hindered his going thither; for it was necessary to take +that city first, which was in the enemies' hands, that when he should +go to Jerusalem, no fortress might be left in the enemies' power behind +him. Silo also willingly joined him, as having now a plausible occasion +of drawing off his forces [from Jerusalem]; and when the Jews pursued +him, and pressed upon him, [in his retreat,] Herod made all excursion +upon them with a small body of his men, and soon put them to flight, and +saved Silo when he was in distress. + +4. After this Herod took Joppa, and then made haste to Masada to free +his relations. Now, as he was marching, many came in to him, induced by +their friendship to his father, some by the reputation he had already +gained himself, and some in order to repay the benefits they had +received from them both; but still what engaged the greatest number on +his side, was the hopes from him when he should be established in his +kingdom; so that he had gotten together already an army hard to be +conquered. But Antigonus laid an ambush for him as he marched out, +in which he did little or no harm to his enemies. However, he easily +recovered his relations again that were in Masada, as well as the +fortress Ressa, and then marched to Jerusalem, where the soldiers that +were with Silo joined themselves to his own, as did many out of the +city, from a dread of his power. + +5. Now when he had pitched his camp on the west side of the city, the +guards that were there shot their arrows and threw their darts at them, +while others ran out in companies, and attacked those in the forefront; +but Herod commanded proclamation to be made at the wall, that he was +come for the good of the people and the preservation of the city, +without any design to be revenged on his open enemies, but to grant +oblivion to them, though they had been the most obstinate against him. +Now the soldiers that were for Antigonus made a contrary clamor, and did +neither permit any body to hear that proclamation, nor to change their +party; so Antigonus gave order to his forces to beat the enemy from the +walls; accordingly, they soon threw their darts at them from the towers, +and put them to flight. + +6. And here it was that Silo discovered he had taken bribes; for he set +many of the soldiers to clamor about their want of necessaries, and to +require their pay, in order to buy themselves food, and to demand that +he would lead them into places convenient for their winter quarters; +because all the parts about the city were laid waste by the means of +Antigonus's army, which had taken all things away. By this he moved the +army, and attempted to get them off the siege; but Herod went to the +captains that were under Silo, and to a great many of the soldiers, and +begged of them not to leave him, who was sent thither by Caesar, and +Antony, and the senate; for that he would take care to have their wants +supplied that very day. After the making of which entreaty, he went +hastily into the country, and brought thither so great an abundance +of necessaries, that he cut off all Silo's pretenses; and in order to +provide that for the following days they should not want supplies, he +sent to the people that were about Samaria [which city had joined itself +to him] to bring corn, and wine, and oil, and cattle to Jericho. When +Antigonus heard of this, he sent some of his party with orders to +hinder, and lay ambushes for these collectors of corn. This command was +obeyed, and a great multitude of armed men were gathered together about +Jericho, and lay upon the mountains, to watch those that brought the +provisions. Yet was Herod not idle, but took with him ten cohorts, five +of them were Romans, and five were Jewish cohorts, together with +some mercenary troops intermixed among them, and besides those a few +horsemen, and came to Jericho; and when he came, he found the city +deserted, but that there were five hundred men, with their wives and +children, who had taken possession of the tops of the mountains; these +he took, and dismissed them, while the Romans fell upon the rest of the +city, and plundered it, having found the houses full of all sorts of +good things. So the king left a garrison at Jericho, and came back, and +sent the Roman army into those cities which were come over to him, to +take their winter quarters there, viz. into Judea, [or Idumea,] and +Galilee, and Samaria. Antigonus also by bribes obtained of Silo to let a +part of his army be received at Lydda, as a compliment to Antonius. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + + + Herod Takes Sepphoris And Subdues The Robbers That Were In + The Caves; He After That Avenges Himself Upon Machaerus, As + Upon An Enemy Of His And Goes To Antony As He Was Besieging + Samosata. + +1. So the Romans lived in plenty of all things, and rested from war. +However, Herod did not lie at rest, but seized upon Idumea, and kept it, +with two thousand footmen, and four hundred horsemen; and this he did by +sending his brother Joseph thither, that no innovation might be made by +Antigonus. He also removed his mother, and all his relations, who had +been in Masada, to Samaria; and when he had settled them securely, he +marched to take the remaining parts of Galilee, and to drive away the +garrisons placed there by Antigonus. + +2. But when Herod had reached Sepphoris, 23 in a very great snow, he +took the city without any difficulty; the guards that should have kept +it flying away before it was assaulted; where he gave an opportunity +to his followers that had been in distress to refresh themselves, there +being in that city a great abundance of necessaries. After which he +hasted away to the robbers that were in the caves, who overran a great +part of the country, and did as great mischief to its inhabitants as +a war itself could have done. Accordingly, he sent beforehand three +cohorts of footmen, and one troop of horsemen, to the village Arbela, +and came himself forty days afterwards 24 with the rest of his forces +Yet were not the enemy affrighted at his assault but met him in arms; +for their skill was that of warriors, but their boldness was the +boldness of robbers: when therefore it came to a pitched battle, +they put to flight Herod's left wing with their right one; but Herod, +wheeling about on the sudden from his own right wing, came to their +assistance, and both made his own left wing return back from its flight, +and fell upon the pursuers, and cooled their courage, till they could +not bear the attempts that were made directly upon them, and so turned +back and ran away. 3. But Herod followed them, and slew them as he +followed them, and destroyed a great part of them, till those that +remained were scattered beyond the river [Jordan;] and Galilee was +freed from the terrors they had been under, excepting from those that +remained, and lay concealed in caves, which required longer time ere +they could be conquered. In order to which Herod, in the first place, +distributed the fruits of their former labors to the soldiers, and gave +every one of them a hundred and fifty drachmae of silver, and a great +deal more to their commanders, and sent them into their winter quarters. +He also sent to his youngest brother Pheroas, to take care of a good +market for them, where they might buy themselves provisions, and to +build a wall about Alexandrium; who took care of both those injunctions +accordingly. + +4. In the mean time Antony abode at Athens, while Ventidius called for +Silo and Herod to come to the war against the Parthians, but ordered +them first to settle the affairs of Judea; so Herod willingly dismissed +Silo to go to Ventidius, but he made an expedition himself against those +that lay in the caves. Now these caves were in the precipices of craggy +mountains, and could not be come at from any side, since they had only +some winding pathways, very narrow, by which they got up to them; but +the rock that lay on their front had beneath it valleys of a vast depth, +and of an almost perpendicular declivity; insomuch that the king +was doubtful for a long time what to do, by reason of a kind of +impossibility there was of attacking the place. Yet did he at length +make use of a contrivance that was subject to the utmost hazard; for he +let down the most hardy of his men in chests, and set them at the mouths +of the dens. Now these men slew the robbers and their families, and when +they made resistance, they sent in fire upon them [and burnt them]; and +as Herod was desirous of saving some of them, he had proclamation made, +that they should come and deliver themselves up to him; but not one of +them came willingly to him; and of those that were compelled to come, +many preferred death to captivity. And here a certain old man, the +father of seven children, whose children, together with their mother, +desired him to give them leave to go out, upon the assurance and right +hand that was offered them, slew them after the following manner: He +ordered every one of them to go out, while he stood himself at the +cave's mouth, and slew that son of his perpetually who went out. Herod +was near enough to see this sight, and his bowels of compassion were +moved at it, and he stretched out his right hand to the old man, and +besought him to spare his children; yet did not he relent at all upon +what he said, but over and above reproached Herod on the lowness of +his descent, and slew his wife as well as his children; and when he had +thrown their dead bodies down the precipice, he at last threw himself +down after them. + +5. By this means Herod subdued these caves, and the robbers that were +in them. He then left there a part of his army, as many as he thought +sufficient to prevent any sedition, and made Ptolemy their general, and +returned to Samaria; he led also with him three thousand armed footmen, +and six hundred horsemen, against Antigonus. Now here those that used +to raise tumults in Galilee, having liberty so to do upon his departure, +fell unexpectedly upon Ptolemy, the general of his forces, and slew him; +they also laid the country waste, and then retired to the bogs, and +to places not easily to be found. But when Herod was informed of this +insurrection, he came to the assistance of the country immediately, and +destroyed a great number of the seditions, and raised the sieges of all +those fortresses they had besieged; he also exacted the tribute of a +hundred talents of his enemies, as a penalty for the mutations they had +made in the country. + +6. By this time [the Parthians being already driven out of the country, +and Pacorus slain] Ventidius, by Antony's command, sent a thousand +horsemen, and two legions, as auxiliaries to Herod, against Antigonus. +Now Antigonus besought Machaerus, who was their general, by letter, to +come to his assistance, and made a great many mournful complaints about +Herod's violence, and about the injuries he did to the kingdom; and +promised to give him money for such his assistance; but he complied not +with his invitation to betray his trust, for he did not contemn him that +sent him, especially while Herod gave him more money [than the other +offered]. So he pretended friendship to Antigonus, but came as a spy to +discover his affairs; although he did not herein comply with Herod, who +dissuaded him from so doing. But Antigonus perceived what his intentions +were beforehand, and excluded him out of the city, and defended himself +against him as against an enemy, from the walls; till Machaerus was +ashamed of what he had done, and retired to Emmaus to Herod; and as he +was in a rage at his disappointment, he slew all the Jews whom he met +with, without sparing those that were for Herod, but using them all as +if they were for Antigonus. + +7. Hereupon Herod was very angry at him, and was going to fight against +Machaerus as his enemy; but he restrained his indignation, and marched +to Antony to accuse Machaerus of maladministration. But Machaerus was +made sensible of his offenses, and followed after the king immediately, +and earnestly begged and obtained that he would be reconciled to him. +However, Herod did not desist from his resolution of going to Antony; +but when he heard that he was besieging Samosata 25 with a great army, +which is a strong city near to Euphrates, he made the greater haste; +as observing that this was a proper opportunity for showing at once his +courage, and for doing what would greatly oblige Antony. Indeed, when he +came, he soon made an end of that siege, and slew a great number of the +barbarians, and took from them a large prey; insomuch that Antony, who +admired his courage formerly, did now admire it still more. Accordingly, +he heaped many more honors upon him, and gave him more assured hopes +that he should gain his kingdom; and now king Antiochus was forced to +deliver up Samosata. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 17. + + + The Death Of Joseph [Herod's Brother] Which Had Been + Signified To Herod In Dreams. How Herod Was Preserved Twice + After A Wonderful Manner. He Cuts Off The Head Of Pappus, + Who Was The Murderer Of His Brother And Sends That Head To + [His Other Brother] Pheroras, And In No Long Time He + Besieges Jerusalem And Marries Mariamne. + +1. In the mean time, Herod's affairs in Judea were in an ill state. He +had left his brother Joseph with full power, but had charged him to make +no attempts against Antigonus till his return; for that Machaerus would +not be such an assistant as he could depend on, as it appeared by what +he had done already; but as soon as Joseph heard that his brother was +at a very great distance, he neglected the charge he had received, and +marched towards Jericho with five cohorts, which Machaerus sent with +him. This movement was intended for seizing on the corn, as it was +now in the midst of summer; but when his enemies attacked him in the +mountains, and in places which were difficult to pass, he was both +killed himself, as he was very bravely fighting in the battle, and the +entire Roman cohorts were destroyed; for these cohorts were new-raised +men, gathered out of Syria, and here was no mixture of those called +veteran soldiers among them, who might have supported those that were +unskillful in war. + +2. This victory was not sufficient for Antigonus; but he proceeded to +that degree of rage, as to treat the dead body of Joseph barbarously; +for when he had got possession of the bodies of those that were slain, +he cut off his head, although his brother Pheroras would have given +fifty talents as a price of redemption for it. And now the affairs of +Galilee were put in such disorder after this victory of Antigonus's, +that those of Antigonus's party brought the principal men that were +on Herod's side to the lake, and there drowned them. There was a great +change made also in Idumea, where Machaerus was building a wall about +one of the fortresses, which was called Gittha. But Herod had not yet +been informed of these things; for after the taking of Samosata, and +when Antony had set Sosius over the affairs of Syria, and had given him +orders to assist Herod against Antigonus, he departed into Egypt; but +Sosius sent two legions before him into Judea to assist Herod, and +followed himself soon after with the rest of his army. + +3. Now when Herod was at Daphne, by Antioch, he had some dreams which +clearly foreboded his brother's death; and as he leaped out of his bed +in a disturbed manner, there came messengers that acquainted him with +that calamity. So when he had lamented this misfortune for a while, he +put off the main part of his mourning, and made haste to march against +his enemies; and when he had performed a march that was above his +strength, and was gone as far as Libanus, he got him eight hundred men +of those that lived near to that mountain as his assistants, and joined +with them one Roman legion, with which, before it was day, he made an +irruption into Galilee, and met his enemies, and drove them back to +the place which they had left. He also made an immediate and continual +attack upon the fortress. Yet was he forced by a most terrible storm to +pitch his camp in the neighboring villages before he could take it. But +when, after a few days' time, the second legion, that came from Antony, +joined themselves to him, the enemy were affrighted at his power, and +left their fortifications in the night time. + +4. After this he marched through Jericho, as making what haste he +could to be avenged on his brother's murderers; where happened to him +a providential sign, out of which, when he had unexpectedly escaped, +he had the reputation of being very dear to God; for that evening there +feasted with him many of the principal men; and after that feast was +over, and all the guests were gone out, the house fell down immediately. +And as he judged this to be a common signal of what dangers he should +undergo, and how he should escape them in the war that he was going +about, he, in the morning, set forward with his army, when about six +thousand of his enemies came running down from the mountains, and began +to fight with those in his forefront; yet durst they not be so very bold +as to engage the Romans hand to hand, but threw stones and darts at them +at a distance; by which means they wounded a considerable number; in +which action Herod's own side was wounded with a dart. + +5. Now as Antigonus had a mind to appear to exceed Herod, not only in +the courage, but in the number of his men, he sent Pappus, one of his +companions, with an army against Samaria, whose fortune it was to oppose +Machaerus; but Herod overran the enemy's country, and demolished five +little cities, and destroyed two thousand men that were in them, +and burned their houses, and then returned to his camp; but his +head-quarters were at the village called Cana. + +6. Now a great multitude of Jews resorted to him every day, both out of +Jericho and the other parts of the country. Some were moved so to do +out of their hatred to Antigonus, and some out of regard to the glorious +actions Herod had done; but others were led on by an unreasonable desire +of change; so he fell upon them immediately. As for Pappus and his +party, they were not terrified either at their number or at their zeal, +but marched out with great alacrity to fight them; and it came to a +close fight. Now other parts of their army made resistance for a while; +but Herod, running the utmost hazard, out of the rage he was in at the +murder of his brother, that he might be avenged on those that had been +the authors of it, soon beat those that opposed him; and after he had +beaten them, he always turned his force against those that stood to it +still, and pursued them all; so that a great slaughter was made, while +some were forced back into that village whence they came out; he also +pressed hard upon the hindermost, and slew a vast number of them; he +also fell into the village with the enemy, where every house was filled +with armed men, and the upper rooms were crowded above with soldiers for +their defense; and when he had beaten those that were on the outside, +he pulled the houses to pieces, and plucked out those that were within; +upon many he had the roofs shaken down, whereby they perished by heaps; +and as for those that fled out of the ruins, the soldiers received them +with their swords in their hands; and the multitude of those slain and +lying on heaps was so great, that the conquerors could not pass along +the roads. Now the enemy could not bear this blow, so that when the +multitude of them which was gathered together saw that those in the +village were slain, they dispersed themselves, and fled away; upon the +confidence of which victory, Herod had marched immediately to Jerusalem, +unless he tad been hindered by the depth of winter's [coming on]. This +was the impediment that lay in the way of this his entire glorious +progress, and was what hindered Antigonus from being now conquered, who +was already disposed to forsake the city. + +7. Now when at the evening Herod had already dismissed his friends to +refresh themselves after their fatigue, and when he was gone himself, +while he was still hot in his armor, like a common soldier, to bathe +himself, and had but one servant that attended him, and before he was +gotten into the bath, one of the enemies met him in the face with a +sword in his hand, and then a second, and then a third, and after that +more of them; these were men who had run away out of the battle into +the bath in their armor, and they had lain there for some time in, great +terror, and in privacy; and when they saw the king, they trembled for +fear, and ran by him in a flight, although he was naked, and endeavored +to get off into the public road. Now there was by chance nobody else at +hand that might seize upon these men; and for Herod, he was contented to +have come to no harm himself, so that they all got away in safety. + +8. But on the next day Herod had Pappus's head cut off, who was the +general for Antigonus, and was slain in the battle, and sent it to his +brother Pheroras, by way of punishment for their slain brother; for he +was the man that slew Joseph. Now as winter was going off, Herod marched +to Jerusalem, and brought his army to the wall of it; this was the third +year since he had been made king at Rome; so he pitched his camp before +the temple, for on that side it might be besieged, and there it was +that Pompey took the city. So he parted the work among the army, and +demolished the suburbs, end raised three banks, and gave orders to +have towers built upon those banks, and left the most laborious of his +acquaintance at the works. But he went himself to Samaria, to take the +daughter of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, to wife, who had +been betrothed to him before, as we have already said; and thus he +accomplished this by the by, during the siege of the city, for he had +his enemies in great contempt already. + +9. When he had thus married Mariamne, he came back to Jerusalem with a +greater army. Sosius also joined him with a large army, both of horsemen +and footmen, which he sent before him through the midland parts, while +he marched himself along Phoenicia; and when the whole army was gotten +together, which were eleven regiments of footmen, and six thousand +horsemen, besides the Syrian auxiliaries, which were no small part +of the army, they pitched their camp near to the north wall. Herod's +dependence was upon the decree of the senate, by which he was made king; +and Sosius relied upon Antony, who sent the army that was under him to +Herod's assistance. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 18. + + + How Herod And Sosius Took Jerusalem By Force; And What Death + Antigonus Came To. Also Concerning Cleopatra's Avaricious + Temper. + +1. Now the multitude of the Jews that were in the city were divided into +several factions; for the people that crowded about the temple, being +the weaker part of them, gave it out that, as the times were, he was the +happiest and most religious man who should die first. But as to the +more bold and hardy men, they got together in bodies, and fell a robbing +others after various manners, and these particularly plundered the +places that were about the city, and this because there was no food left +either for the horses or the men; yet some of the warlike men, who were +used to fight regularly, were appointed to defend the city during the +siege, and these drove those that raised the banks away from the +wall; and these were always inventing some engine or another to be a +hinderance to the engines of the enemy; nor had they so much success any +way as in the mines under ground. + +2. Now as for the robberies which were committed, the king contrived +that ambushes should be so laid, that they might restrain their +excursions; and as for the want of provisions, he provided that they +should be brought to them from great distances. He was also too hard +for the Jews, by the Romans' skill in the art of war; although they were +bold to the utmost degree, now they durst not come to a plain battle +with the Romans, which was certain death; but through their mines under +ground they would appear in the midst of them on the sudden, and before +they could batter down one wall, they built them another in its +stead; and to sum up all at once, they did not show any want either of +painstaking or of contrivances, as having resolved to hold out to the +very last. Indeed, though they had so great an army lying round about +them, they bore a siege of five months, till some of Herod's chosen men +ventured to get upon the wall, and fell into the city, as did Sosius's +centurions after them; and now they first of all seized upon what +was about the temple; and upon the pouring in of the army, there was +slaughter of vast multitudes every where, by reason of the rage the +Romans were in at the length of this siege, and by reason that the Jews +who were about Herod earnestly endeavored that none of their adversaries +might remain; so they were cut to pieces by great multitudes, as they +were crowded together in narrow streets, and in houses, or were running +away to the temple; nor was there any mercy showed either to infants, or +to the aged, or to the weaker sex; insomuch that although the king sent +about and desired them to spare the people, nobody could be persuaded +to withhold their right hand from slaughter, but they slew people of all +ages, like madmen. Then it was that Antigonus, without any regard to his +former or to his present fortune, came down from the citadel, and fell +at Sosius's feet, who without pitying him at all, upon the change of his +condition, laughed at him beyond measure, and called him Antigona. 26 +Yet did he not treat him like a woman, or let him go free, but put him +into bonds, and kept him in custody. + +3. But Herod's concern at present, now he had gotten his enemies under +his power, was to restrain the zeal of his foreign auxiliaries; for the +multitude of the strange people were very eager to see the temple, and +what was sacred in the holy house itself; but the king endeavored to +restrain them, partly by his exhortations, partly by his threatenings, +nay, partly by force, as thinking the victory worse than a defeat to +him, if any thing that ought not to be seen were seen by them. He also +forbade, at the same time, the spoiling of the city, asking Sosius in +the most earnest manner, whether the Romans, by thus emptying the city +of money and men, had a mind to leave him king of a desert,--and told +him that he judged the dominion of the habitable earth too small a +compensation for the slaughter of so many citizens. And when Sosius said +that it was but just to allow the soldiers this plunder as a reward for +what they suffered during the siege, Herod made answer, that he would +give every one of the soldiers a reward out of his own money. So he +purchased the deliverance of his country, and performed his promises to +them, and made presents after a magnificent manner to each soldier, +and proportionably to their commanders, and with a most royal bounty +to Sosius himself, whereby nobody went away but in a wealthy condition. +Hereupon Sosius dedicated a crown of gold to God, and then went away +from Jerusalem, leading Antigonus away in bonds to Antony; then did the +axe bring him to his end, 27 who still had a fond desire of life, and +some frigid hopes of it to the last, but by his cowardly behavior well +deserved to die by it. + +4. Hereupon king Herod distinguished the multitude that was in the city; +and for those that were of his side, he made them still more his friends +by the honors he conferred on them; but for those of Antigonus's party, +he slew them; and as his money ran low, he turned all the ornaments he +had into money, and sent it to Antony, and to those about him. Yet could +he not hereby purchase an exemption from all sufferings; for Antony was +now bewitched by his love to Cleopatra, and was entirely conquered by +her charms. Now Cleopatra had put to death all her kindred, till no +one near her in blood remained alive, and after that she fell a slaying +those no way related to her. So she calumniated the principal men among +the Syrians to Antony, and persuaded him to have them slain, that so she +might easily gain to be mistress of what they had; nay, she extended her +avaricious humor to the Jews and Arabians, and secretly labored to have +Herod and Malichus, the kings of both those nations, slain by his order. + +5. Now is to these her injunctions to Antony, he complied in part; for +though he esteemed it too abominable a thing to kill such good and great +kings, yet was he thereby alienated from the friendship he had for +them. He also took away a great deal of their country; nay, even the +plantation of palm trees at Jericho, where also grows the balsam tree, +and bestowed them upon her; as also all the cities on this side the +river Eleutherus, Tyre and Sidon 28 excepted. And when she was become +mistress of these, and had conducted Antony in his expedition against +the Parthians as far as Euphrates, she came by Apamia and Damascus +into Judea and there did Herod pacify her indignation at him by large +presents. He also hired of her those places that had been torn away from +his kingdom, at the yearly rent of two hundred talents. He conducted her +also as far as Pelusium, and paid her all the respects possible. Now it +was not long after this that Antony was come back from Parthia, and led +with him Artabazes, Tigranes's son, captive, as a present for Cleopatra; +for this Parthian was presently given her, with his money, and all the +prey that was taken with him. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 19. + + + How Antony At The Persuasion Of Cleopatra Sent Herod To + Fight Against The Arabians; And Now After Several Battles, + He At Length Got The Victory. As Also Concerning A Great + Earthquake. + +1. Now when the war about Actium was begun, Herod prepared to come to +the assistance of Antony, as being already freed from his troubles in +Judea, and having gained Hyrcania, which was a place that was held by +Antigonus's sister. However, he was cunningly hindered from partaking of +the hazards that Antony went through by Cleopatra; for since, as we +have already noted, she had laid a plot against the kings [of Judea +and Arabia], she prevailed with Antony to commit the war against the +Arabians to Herod; that so, if he got the better, she might become +mistress of Arabia, or, if he were worsted, of Judea; and that she might +destroy one of those kings by the other. + +2. However, this contrivance tended to the advantage of Herod; for at +the very first he took hostages from the enemy, and got together a great +body of horse, and ordered them to march against them about Diespous; +and he conquered that army, although it fought resolutely against him. +After which defeat, the Arabians were in great motion, and assembled +themselves together at Kanatha, a city of Celesyria, in vast multitudes, +and waited for the Jews. And when Herod was come thither, he tried to +manage this war with particular prudence, and gave orders that they +should build a wall about their camp; yet did not the multitude comply +with those orders, but were so emboldened by their foregoing victory, +that they presently attacked the Arabians, and beat them at the first +onset, and then pursued them; yet were there snares laid for Herod in +that pursuit; while Athenio, who was one of Cleopatra's generals, and +always an antagonist to Herod, sent out of Kanatha the men of that +country against him; for, upon this fresh onset, the Arabians took +courage, and returned back, and both joined their numerous forces about +stony places, that were hard to be gone over, and there put Herod's men +to the rout, and made a great slaughter of them; but those that escaped +out of the battle fled to Ormiza, where the Arabians surrounded their +camp, and took it, with all the men in it. 3. In a little time after +this calamity, Herod came to bring them succors; but he came too late. +Now the occasion of that blow was this, that the officers would not obey +orders; for had not the fight begun so suddenly, Athenio had not found +a proper season for the snares he laid for Herod: however, he was even +with the Arabians afterward, and overran their country, and did them +more harm than their single victory could compensate. But as he +was avenging himself on his enemies, there fell upon him another +providential calamity; for in the seventh 29 year of his reign, when the +war about Actium was at the height, at the beginning of the spring, the +earth was shaken, and destroyed an immense number of cattle, with thirty +thousand men; but the army received no harm, because it lay in the open +air. In the mean time, the fame of this earthquake elevated the Arabians +to greater courage, and this by augmenting it to a fabulous height, as +is constantly the case in melancholy accidents, and pretending that all +Judea was overthrown. Upon this supposal, therefore, that they should +easily get a land that was destitute of inhabitants into their power, +they first sacrificed those ambassadors who were come to them from the +Jews, and then marched into Judea immediately. Now the Jewish nation +were affrighted at this invasion, and quite dispirited at the greatness +of their calamities one after another; whom yet Herod got together, and +endeavored to encourage to defend themselves by the following speech +which he made to them: + +4. "The present dread you are under seems to me to have seized upon +you very unreasonably. It is true, you might justly be dismayed at +that providential chastisement which hath befallen you; but to suffer +yourselves to be equally terrified at the invasion of men is unmanly. As +for myself, I am so far from being affrighted at our enemies after this +earthquake, that I imagine that God hath thereby laid a bait for the +Arabians, that we may be avenged on them; for their present invasion +proceeds more from our accidental misfortunes, than that they have any +great dependence on their weapons, or their own fitness for action. +Now that hope which depends not on men's own power, but on others' ill +success, is a very ticklish thing; for there is no certainty among men, +either in their bad or good fortunes; but we may easily observe that +fortune is mutable, and goes from one side to another; and this you may +readily learn from examples among yourselves; for when you were once +victors in the former fight, your enemies overcame you at last; and very +likely it will now happen so, that these who think themselves sure of +beating you will themselves be beaten. For when men are very confident, +they are not upon their guard, while fear teaches men to act with +caution; insomuch that I venture to prove from your very timorousness +that you ought to take courage; for when you were more bold than you +ought to have been, and than I would have had you, and marched on, +Athenio's treachery took place; but your present slowness and seeming +dejection of mind is to me a pledge and assurance of victory. And +indeed it is proper beforehand to be thus provident; but when we come +to action, we ought to erect our minds, and to make our enemies, be they +ever so wicked, believe that neither any human, no, nor any providential +misfortune, can ever depress the courage of Jews while they are alive; +nor will any of them ever overlook an Arabian, or suffer such a one to +become lord of his good things, whom he has in a manner taken captive, +and that many times also. And do not you disturb yourselves at the +quaking of inanimate creatures, nor do you imagine that this earthquake +is a sign of another calamity; for such affections of the elements are +according to the course of nature, nor does it import any thing further +to men, than what mischief it does immediately of itself. Perhaps there +may come some short sign beforehand in the case of pestilences, and +famines, and earthquakes; but these calamities themselves have their +force limited by themselves [without foreboding any other calamity]. And +indeed what greater mischief can the war, though it should be a violent +one, do to us than the earthquake hath done? Nay, there is a signal of +our enemies' destruction visible, and that a very great one also; and +this is not a natural one, nor derived from the hand of foreigners +neither, but it is this, that they have barbarously murdered our +ambassadors, contrary to the common law of mankind; and they have +destroyed so many, as if they esteemed them sacrifices for God, in +relation to this war. But they will not avoid his great eye, nor his +invincible right hand; and we shall be revenged of them presently, in +case we still retain any of the courage of our forefathers, and rise up +boldly to punish these covenant-breakers. Let every one therefore go on +and fight, not so much for his wife or his children, or for the +danger his country is in, as for these ambassadors of ours; those dead +ambassadors will conduct this war of ours better than we ourselves who +are alive. And if you will be ruled by me, I will myself go before +you into danger; for you know this well enough, that your courage is +irresistible, unless you hurt yourselves by acting rashly." 30 + +5. When Herod had encouraged them by this speech, and he saw with +what alacrity they went, he offered sacrifice to God; and after that +sacrifice, he passed over the river Jordan with his army, and pitched +his camp about Philadelphia, near the enemy, and about a fortification +that lay between them. He then shot at them at a distance, and was +desirous to come to an engagement presently; for some of them had been +sent beforehand to seize upon that fortification: but the king sent some +who immediately beat them out of the fortification, while he himself +went in the forefront of the army, which he put in battle-array every +day, and invited the Arabians to fight. But as none of them came out +of their camp, for they were in a terrible fright, and their general, +Elthemus, was not able to say a word for fear,--so Herod came upon +them, and pulled their fortification to pieces, by which means they were +compelled to come out to fight, which they did in disorder, and so that +the horsemen and foot-men were mixed together. They were indeed superior +to the Jews in number, but inferior in their alacrity, although they +were obliged to expose themselves to danger by their very despair of +victory. + +6. Now while they made opposition, they had not a great number slain; +but as soon as they turned their backs, a great many were trodden to +pieces by the Jews, and a great many by themselves, and so perished, +till five thousand were fallen down dead in their flight, while the rest +of the multitude prevented their immediate death, by crowding into the +fortification. Herod encompassed these around, and besieged them; and +while they were ready to be taken by their enemies in arms, they had +another additional distress upon them, which was thirst and want of +water; for the king was above hearkening to their ambassadors; and when +they offered five hundred talents, as the price of their redemption, +he pressed still harder upon them. And as they were burnt up by their +thirst, they came out and voluntarily delivered themselves up by +multitudes to the Jews, till in five days' time four thousand of them +were put into bonds; and on the sixth day the multitude that were left +despaired of saving themselves, and came out to fight: with these Herod +fought, and slew again about seven thousand, insomuch that he punished +Arabia so severely, and so far extinguished the spirits of the men, that +he was chosen by the nation for their ruler. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 20. + + + Herod Is Confirmed In His Kingdom By Caesar, And Cultivates + A Friendship With The Emperor By Magnificent Presents; While + Caesar Returns His Kindness By Bestowing On Him That Part Of + His Kingdom Which Had Been Taken Away From It By Cleopatra + With The Addition Of Zenodoruss Country Also. + +1. But now Herod was under immediate concern about a most important +affair, on account of his friendship with Antony, who was already +overcome at Actium by Caesar; yet he was more afraid than hurt; for +Caesar did not think he had quite undone Antony, while Herod continued +his assistance to him. However, the king resolved to expose himself to +dangers: accordingly he sailed to Rhodes, where Caesar then abode, and +came to him without his diadem, and in the habit and appearance of a +private person, but in his behavior as a king. So he concealed nothing +of the truth, but spoke thus before his face: "O Caesar, as I was made +king of the Jews by Antony, so do I profess that I have used my royal +authority in the best manner, and entirely for his advantage; nor will I +conceal this further, that thou hadst certainly found me in arms, and an +inseparable companion of his, had not the Arabians hindered me. However, +I sent him as many auxiliaries as I was able, and many ten thousand +[cori] of corn. Nay, indeed, I did not desert my benefactor after the +bow that was given him at Actium; but I gave him the best advice I was +able, when I was no longer able to assist him in the war; and I told him +that there was but one way of recovering his affairs, and that was to +kill Cleopatra; and I promised him that, if she were once dead, I would +afford him money and walls for his security, with an army and myself +to assist him in his war against thee: but his affections for Cleopatra +stopped his ears, as did God himself also who hath bestowed the +government on thee. I own myself also to be overcome together with +him; and with his last fortune I have laid aside my diadem, and am come +hither to thee, having my hopes of safety in thy virtue; and I desire +that thou wilt first consider how faithful a friend, and not whose +friend, I have been." + +2. Caesar replied to him thus: "Nay, thou shalt not only be in safety, +but thou shalt be a king; and that more firmly than thou wast before; +for thou art worthy to reign over a great many subjects, by reason +of the fastness of thy friendship; and do thou endeavor to be equally +constant in thy friendship to me, upon my good success, which is what I +depend upon from the generosity of thy disposition. However, Antony hath +done well in preferring Cleopatra to thee; for by this means we have +gained thee by her madness, and thus thou hast begun to be my friend +before I began to be thine; on which account Quintus Didius hath written +to me that thou sentest him assistance against the gladiators. I do +therefore assure thee that I will confirm the kingdom to thee by decree: +I shall also endeavor to do thee some further kindness hereafter, that +thou mayst find no loss in the want of Antony." + +3. When Caesar had spoken such obliging things to the king, and had put +the diadem again about his head, he proclaimed what he had bestowed on +him by a decree, in which he enlarged in the commendation of the man +after a magnificent manner. Whereupon Herod obliged him to be kind +to him by the presents he gave him, and he desired him to forgive +Alexander, one of Antony's friends, who was become a supplicant to him. +But Caesar's anger against him prevailed, and he complained of the many +and very great offenses the man whom he petitioned for had been guilty +of; and by that means he rejected his petition. After this Caesar went +for Egypt through Syria, when Herod received him with royal and rich +entertainments; and then did he first of all ride along with Caesar, as +he was reviewing his army about Ptolemais, and feasted him with all +his friends, and then distributed among the rest of the army what was +necessary to feast them withal. He also made a plentiful provision of +water for them, when they were to march as far as Pelusium, through a +dry country, which he did also in like manner at their return thence; +nor were there any necessaries wanting to that army. It was therefore +the opinion, both of Caesar and of his soldiers, that Herod's kingdom +was too small for those generous presents he made them; for which +reason, when Caesar was come into Egypt, and Cleopatra and Antony were +dead, he did not only bestow other marks of honor upon him, but made an +addition to his kingdom, by giving him not only the country which had +been taken from him by Cleopatra, but besides that, Gadara, and Hippos, +and Samaria; and moreover, of the maritime cities, Gaza 31 and Anthedon, +and Joppa, and Strato's Tower. He also made him a present of four +hundred Galls [Galatians] as a guard for his body, which they had been +to Cleopatra before. Nor did any thing so strongly induce Caesar to make +these presents as the generosity of him that received them. + +4. Moreover, after the first games at Actium, he added to his kingdom +both the region called Trachonitis, and what lay in its neighborhood, +Batanea, and the country of Auranitis; and that on the following +occasion: Zenodorus, who had hired the house of Lysanias, had all along +sent robbers out of Trachonitis among the Damascenes; who thereupon had +recourse to Varro, the president of Syria, and desired of him that he +would represent the calamity they were in to Caesar. When Caesar was +acquainted with it, he sent back orders that this nest of robbers should +be destroyed. Varro therefore made an expedition against them, and +cleared the land of those men, and took it away from Zenodorus. Caesar +did also afterward bestow it on Herod, that it might not again become +a receptacle for those robbers that had come against Damascus. He +also made him a procurator of all Syria, and this on the tenth year +afterward, when he came again into that province; and this was so +established, that the other procurators could not do any thing in the +administration without his advice: but when Zenodorus was dead, Caesar +bestowed on him all that land which lay between Trachonitis and Galilee. +Yet, what was still of more consequence to Herod, he was beloved by +Caesar next after Agrippa, and by Agrippa next after Caesar; whence he +arrived at a very great degree of felicity. Yet did the greatness of his +soul exceed it, and the main part of his magnanimity was extended to the +promotion of piety. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 21. + + + Of The [Temple And] Cities That Were Built By Herod And + Erected From The Very Foundations; As Also Of Those Other + Edifices That Were Erected By Him; And What Magnificence He + Showed To Foreigners; And How Fortune Was In All Things + Favorable To Him. + +1. Accordingly, in the fifteenth year of his reign, Herod rebuilt the +temple, and encompassed a piece of land about it with a wall, which land +was twice as large as that before enclosed. The expenses he laid +out upon it were vastly large also, and the riches about it were +unspeakable. A sign of which you have in the great cloisters that were +erected about the temple, and the citadel which was on its north side. +The cloisters he built from the foundation, but the citadel 32 he +repaired at a vast expense; nor was it other than a royal palace, which +he called Antonia, in honor of Antony. He also built himself a palace in +the Upper city, containing two very large and most beautiful apartments; +to which the holy house itself could not be compared [in largeness]. The +one apartment he named Caesareum, and the other Agrippium, from his [two +great] friends. + +2. Yet did he not preserve their memory by particular buildings only, +with their names given them, but his generosity went as far as entire +cities; for when he had built a most beautiful wall round a country in +Samaria, twenty furlongs long, and had brought six thousand inhabitants +into it, and had allotted to it a most fruitful piece of land, and in +the midst of this city, thus built, had erected a very large temple to +Caesar, and had laid round about it a portion of sacred land of three +furlongs and a half, he called the city Sebaste, from Sebastus, or +Augustus, and settled the affairs of the city after a most regular +manner. + +3. And when Caesar had further bestowed upon him another additional +country, he built there also a temple of white marble, hard by the +fountains of Jordan: the place is called Panium, where is a top of a +mountain that is raised to an immense height, and at its side, beneath, +or at its bottom, a dark cave opens itself; within which there is a +horrible precipice, that descends abruptly to a vast depth; it contains +a mighty quantity of water, which is immovable; and when any body lets +down any thing to measure the depth of the earth beneath the water, no +length of cord is sufficient to reach it. Now the fountains of Jordan +rise at the roots of this cavity outwardly; and, as some think, this +is the utmost origin of Jordan: but we shall speak of that matter more +accurately in our following history. + +4. But the king erected other places at Jericho also, between the +citadel Cypros and the former palace, such as were better and more +useful than the former for travelers, and named them from the same +friends of his. To say all at once, there was not any place of his +kingdom fit for the purpose that was permitted to be without somewhat +that was for Caesar's honor; and when he had filled his own country with +temples, he poured out the like plentiful marks of his esteem into his +province, and built many cities which he called Cesareas. + +5. And when he observed that there was a city by the sea-side that was +much decayed, [its name was Strato's Tower,] but that the place, by the +happiness of its situation, was capable of great improvements from his +liberality, he rebuilt it all with white stone, and adorned it with +several most splendid palaces, wherein he especially demonstrated his +magnanimity; for the case was this, that all the sea-shore between Dora +and Joppa, in the middle, between which this city is situated, had no +good haven, insomuch that every one that sailed from Phoenicia for Egypt +was obliged to lie in the stormy sea, by reason of the south winds that +threatened them; which wind, if it blew but a little fresh, such vast +waves are raised, and dash upon the rocks, that upon their retreat the +sea is in a great ferment for a long way. But the king, by the expenses +he was at, and the liberal disposal of them, overcame nature, and built +a haven larger than was the Pyrecum 33 [at Athens]; and in the inner +retirements of the water he built other deep stations [for the ships +also]. + +6. Now although the place where he built was greatly opposite to his +purposes, yet did he so fully struggle with that difficulty, that the +firmness of his building could not easily be conquered by the sea; and +the beauty and ornament of the works were such, as though he had not had +any difficulty in the operation; for when he had measured out as large a +space as we have before mentioned, he let down stones into twenty fathom +water, the greatest part of which were fifty feet in length, and nine in +depth, and ten in breadth, and some still larger. But when the haven was +filled up to that depth, he enlarged that wall which was thus already +extant above the sea, till it was two hundred feet wide; one hundred of +which had buildings before it, in order to break the force of the waves, +whence it was called Procumatia, or the first breaker of the waves; but +the rest of the space was under a stone wall that ran round it. On this +wall were very large towers, the principal and most beautiful of which +was called Drusium, from Drusus, who was son-in-law to Caesar. + +7. There were also a great number of arches, where the mariners dwelt; +and all the places before them round about was a large valley, or walk, +for a quay [or landing-place] to those that came on shore; but the +entrance was on the north, because the north wind was there the most +gentle of all the winds. At the mouth of the haven were on each side +three great Colossi, supported by pillars, where those Colossi that are +on your left hand as you sail into the port are supported by a solid +tower; but those on the right hand are supported by two upright stones +joined together, which stones were larger than that tower which was on +the other side of the entrance. Now there were continual edifices joined +to the haven, which were also themselves of white stone; and to this +haven did the narrow streets of the city lead, and were built at equal +distances one from another. And over against the mouth of the haven, +upon an elevation, there was a temple for Caesar, which was excellent +both in beauty and largeness; and therein was a Colossus of Caesar, not +less than that of Jupiter Olympius, which it was made to resemble. +The other Colossus of Rome was equal to that of Juno at Argos. So he +dedicated the city to the province, and the haven to the sailors there; +but the honor of the building he ascribed to Caesar, 34 and named it +Cesarea accordingly. + +8. He also built the other edifices, the amphitheater, and theater, and +market-place, in a manner agreeable to that denomination; and appointed +games every fifth year, and called them, in like manner, Caesar's +Games; and he first himself proposed the largest prizes upon the hundred +ninety-second olympiad; in which not only the victors themselves, but +those that came next to them, and even those that came in the third +place, were partakers of his royal bounty. He also rebuilt Anthedon, +a city that lay on the coast, and had been demolished in the wars, and +named it Agrippeum. Moreover, he had so very great a kindness for his +friend Agrippa, that he had his name engraved upon that gate which he +had himself erected in the temple. + +9. Herod was also a lover of his father, if any other person ever was +so; for he made a monument for his father, even that city which he built +in the finest plain that was in his kingdom, and which had rivers and +trees in abundance, and named it Antipatris. He also built a wall about +a citadel that lay above Jericho, and was a very strong and very +fine building, and dedicated it to his mother, and called it Cypros. +Moreover, he dedicated a tower that was at Jerusalem, and called it +by the name of his brother Phasaelus, whose structure, largeness, and +magnificence we shall describe hereafter. He also built another city in +the valley that leads northward from Jericho, and named it Phasaelis. + +10. And as he transmitted to eternity his family and friends, so did he +not neglect a memorial for himself, but built a fortress upon a mountain +towards Arabia, and named it from himself, Herodium 35 and he called +that hill that was of the shape of a woman's breast, and was sixty +furlongs distant from Jerusalem, by the same name. He also bestowed much +curious art upon it, with great ambition, and built round towers all +about the top of it, and filled up the remaining space with the most +costly palaces round about, insomuch that not only the sight of the +inner apartments was splendid, but great wealth was laid out on the +outward walls, and partitions, and roofs also. Besides this, he brought +a mighty quantity of water from a great distance, and at vast charges, +and raised an ascent to it of two hundred steps of the whitest marble, +for the hill was itself moderately high, and entirely factitious. He +also built other palaces about the roots of the hill, sufficient to +receive the furniture that was put into them, with his friends also, +insomuch that, on account of its containing all necessaries, the +fortress might seem to be a city, but, by the bounds it had, a palace +only. + +11. And when he had built so much, he showed the greatness of his soul +to no small number of foreign cities. He built palaces for exercise at +Tripoli, and Damascus, and Ptolemais; he built a wall about Byblus, +as also large rooms, and cloisters, and temples, and market-places at +Berytus and Tyre, with theatres at Sidon and Damascus. He also built +aqueducts for those Laodiceans who lived by the sea-side; and for those +of Ascalon he built baths and costly fountains, as also cloisters round +a court, that were admirable both for their workmanship and largeness. +Moreover, he dedicated groves and meadows to some people; nay, not a few +cities there were who had lands of his donation, as if they were parts +of his own kingdom. He also bestowed annual revenues, and those for ever +also, on the settlements for exercises, and appointed for them, as well +as for the people of Cos, that such rewards should never be wanting. He +also gave corn to all such as wanted it, and conferred upon Rhodes large +sums of money for building ships; and this he did in many places, +and frequently also. And when Apollo's temple had been burnt down, he +rebuilt it at his own charges, after a better manner than it was before. +What need I speak of the presents he made to the Lycians and Samnians? +or of his great liberality through all Ionia? and that according +to every body's wants of them. And are not the Athenians, and +Lacedemonians, and Nicopolitans, and that Pergamus which is in Mysia, +full of donations that Herod presented them withal? And as for that +large open place belonging to Antioch in Syria, did not he pave it with +polished marble, though it were twenty furlongs long? and this when +it was shunned by all men before, because it was full of dirt and +filthiness, when he besides adorned the same place with a cloister of +the same length. + +12. It is true, a man may say, these were favors peculiar to those +particular places on which he bestowed his benefits; but then what +favors he bestowed on the Eleans was a donation not only in common to +all Greece, but to all the habitable earth, as far as the glory of the +Olympic games reached. For when he perceived that they were come to +nothing, for want of money, and that the only remains of ancient Greece +were in a manner gone, he not only became one of the combatants in that +return of the fifth-year games, which in his sailing to Rome he happened +to be present at, but he settled upon them revenues of money for +perpetuity, insomuch that his memorial as a combatant there can never +fail. It would be an infinite task if I should go over his payments +of people's debts, or tributes, for them, as he eased the people of +Phasaelis, of Batanea, and of the small cities about Cilicia, of those +annual pensions they before paid. However, the fear he was in much +disturbed the greatness of his soul, lest he should be exposed to envy, +or seem to hunt after greater filings than he ought, while he bestowed +more liberal gifts upon these cities than did their owners themselves. + +13. Now Herod had a body suited to his soul, and was ever a most +excellent hunter, where he generally had good success, by the means of +his great skill in riding horses; for in one day he caught forty wild +beasts: 36 that country breeds also bears, and the greatest part of it +is replenished with stags and wild asses. He was also such a warrior as +could not be withstood: many men, therefore, there are who have stood +amazed at his readiness in his exercises, when they saw him throw the +javelin directly forward, and shoot the arrow upon the mark. And then, +besides these performances of his depending on his own strength of mind +and body, fortune was also very favorable to him; for he seldom failed +of success in his wars; and when he failed, he was not himself the +occasion of such failings, but he either was betrayed by some, or the +rashness of his own soldiers procured his defeat. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 22. + + + The Murder Of Aristobulus And Hyrcanus, The High Priests, As + Also Of Mariamne The Queen. + +1. However, fortune was avenged on Herod in his external great +successes, by raising him up domestical troubles; and he began to have +wild disorders in his family, on account of his wife, of whom he was so +very fond. For when he came to the government, he sent away her whom +he had before married when he was a private person, and who was born at +Jerusalem, whose name was Doris, and married Mariamne, the daughter of +Alexander, the son of Aristobulus; on whose account disturbances arose +in his family, and that in part very soon, but chiefly after his return +from Rome. For, first of all, he expelled Antipater the son of Doris, +for the sake of his sons by Mariamne, out of the city, and permitted him +to come thither at no other times than at the festivals. After this +he slew his wife's grandfather, Hyrcanus, when he was returned out of +Parthin to him, under this pretense, that he suspected him of plotting +against him. Now this Hyrcanus had been carried captive to Barzapharnes, +when he overran Syria; but those of his own country beyond Euphrates +were desirous he would stay with them, and this out of the commiseration +they had for his condition; and had he complied with their desires, +when they exhorted him not to go over the river to Herod, he had not +perished: but the marriage of his granddaughter [to Herod] was his +temptation; for as he relied upon him, and was over-fond of his own +country, he came back to it. Herod's provocation was this,--not that +Hyrcanus made any attempt to gain the kingdom, but that it was fitter +for him to be their king than for Herod. + +2. Now of the five children which Herod had by Mariamne, two of them +were daughters, and three were sons; and the youngest of these sons was +educated at Rome, and there died; but the two eldest he treated as those +of royal blood, on account of the nobility of their mother, and because +they were not born till he was king. But then what was stronger than all +this was the love that he bare to Mariamne, and which inflamed him every +day to a great degree, and so far conspired with the other motives, that +he felt no other troubles, on account of her he loved so entirely. But +Mariamne's hatred to him was not inferior to his love to her. She had +indeed but too just a cause of indignation from what he had done, +while her boldness proceeded from his affection to her; so she openly +reproached him with what he had done to her grandfather Hyrcanus, and to +her brother Aristobulus; for he had not spared this Aristobulus, though +he were but a child; for when he had given him the high priesthood at +the age of seventeen, he slew him quickly after he had conferred that +dignity upon him; but when Aristobulus had put on the holy vestments, +and had approached to the altar at a festival, the multitude, in great +crowds, fell into tears; whereupon the child was sent by night to +Jericho, and was there dipped by the Galls, at Herod's command, in a +pool till he was drowned. + +3. For these reasons Mariamne reproached Herod, and his sister and +mother, after a most contumelious manner, while he was dumb on account +of his affection for her; yet had the women great indignation at her, +and raised a calumny against her, that she was false to his bed; +which thing they thought most likely to move Herod to anger. They also +contrived to have many other circumstances believed, in order to make +the thing more credible, and accused her of having sent her picture into +Egypt to Antony, and that her lust was so extravagant, as to have thus +showed herself, though she was absent, to a man that ran mad after +women, and to a man that had it in his power to use violence to her. +This charge fell like a thunderbolt upon Herod, and put him into +disorder; and that especially, because his love to her occasioned him to +be jealous, and because he considered with himself that Cleopatra was a +shrewd woman, and that on her account Lysanias the king was taken off, +as well as Malichus the Arabian; for his fear did not only extend to the +dissolving of his marriage, but to the danger of his life. + +4. When therefore he was about to take a journey abroad, he committed +his wife to Joseph, his sister Salome's husband, as to one who would be +faithful to him, and bare him good-will on account of their kindred; he +also gave him a secret injunction, that if Antony slew him, he should +slay her. But Joseph, without any ill design, and only in order to +demonstrate the king's love to his wife, how he could not bear to think +of being separated from her, even by death itself, discovered this grand +secret to her; upon which, when Herod was come back, and as they talked +together, and he confirmed his love to her by many oaths, and assured +her that he had never such an affection for any other woman as he had +for her--"Yes," says she, "thou didst, to be sure, demonstrate thy love +to me by the injunctions thou gavest Joseph, when thou commandedst him +to kill me." 37 + +5. When he heard that this grand secret was discovered, he was like a +distracted man, and said that Joseph would never have disclosed that +injunction of his, unless he had debauched her. His passion also made +him stark mad, and leaping out of his bed, he ran about the palace after +a wild manner; at which time his sister Salome took the opportunity +also to blast her reputation, and confirmed his suspicion about Joseph; +whereupon, out of his ungovernable jealousy and rage, he commanded both +of them to be slain immediately; but as soon as ever his passion was +over, he repented of what he had done, and as soon as his anger was +worn off, his affections were kindled again. And indeed the flame of his +desires for her was so ardent, that he could not think she was dead, but +would appear, under his disorders, to speak to her as if she were +still alive, till he were better instructed by time, when his grief and +trouble, now she was dead, appeared as great as his affection had been +for her while she was living. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 23. + + + Calumnies Against The Sons Of Mariamne. Antipateris + Preferred Before Them. They Are Accused Before Caesar, And + Herod Is Reconciled To Them. + +1. Now Mariamne's sons were heirs to that hatred which had been borne +their mother; and when they considered the greatness of Herod's crime +towards her, they were suspicious of him as of an enemy of theirs; and +this first while they were educated at Rome, but still more when they +were returned to Judea. This temper of theirs increased upon them +as they grew up to be men; and when they were Come to an age fit for +marriage, the one of them married their aunt Salome's daughter, which +Salome had been the accuser of their mother; the other married the +daughter of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia. And now they used boldness +in speaking, as well as bore hatred in their minds. Now those that +calumniated them took a handle from such their boldness, and certain +of them spake now more plainly to the king that there were treacherous +designs laid against him by both his sons; and he that was son-in-law to +Archelaus, relying upon his father-in-law, was preparing to fly away, in +order to accuse Herod before Caesar; and when Herod's head had been long +enough filled with these calumnies, he brought Antipater, whom he had by +Doris, into favor again, as a defense to him against his other sons, and +began all the ways he possibly could to prefer him before them. + +2. But these sons were not able to bear this change in their affairs; +but when they saw him that was born of a mother of no family, the +nobility of their birth made them unable to contain their indignation; +but whensoever they were uneasy, they showed the anger they had at +it. And as these sons did day after day improve in that their anger, +Antipater already exercised all his own abilities, which were very +great, in flattering his father, and in contriving many sorts of +calumnies against his brethren, while he told some stories of them +himself, and put it upon other proper persons to raise other stories +against them, till at length he entirely cut his brethren off from all +hopes of succeeding to the kingdom; for he was already publicly put into +his father's will as his successor. Accordingly, he was sent with royal +ornaments, and other marks of royalty, to Caesar, excepting the diadem. +He was also able in time to introduce his mother again into Mariamne's +bed. The two sorts of weapons he made use of against his brethren were +flattery and calumny, whereby he brought matters privately to such a +pass, that the king had thoughts of putting his sons to death. + +3. So the father drew Alexander as far as Rome, and charged him with an +attempt of poisoning him before Caesar. Alexander could hardly speak for +lamentation; but having a judge that was more skillful than Antipater, +and more wise than Herod, he modestly avoided laying any imputation upon +his father, but with great strength of reason confuted the calumnies +laid against him; and when he had demonstrated the innocency of his +brother, who was in the like danger with himself, he at last bewailed +the craftiness of Antipater, and the disgrace they were under. He was +enabled also to justify himself, not only by a clear conscience, which +he carried within him, but by his eloquence; for he was a shrewd man +in making speeches. And upon his saying at last, that if his father +objected this crime to them, it was in his power to put them to death, +he made all the audience weep; and he brought Caesar to that pass, as +to reject the accusations, and to reconcile their father to them +immediately. But the conditions of this reconciliation were these, +that they should in all things be obedient to their father, and that he +should have power to leave the kingdom to which of them he pleased. + +4. After this the king came back from Rome, and seemed to have forgiven +his sons upon these accusations; but still so that he was not without +his suspicions of them. They were followed by Antipater, who was the +fountain-head of those accusations; yet did not he openly discover his +hatred to them, as revering him that had reconciled them. But as Herod +sailed by Cilicia, he touched at Eleusa, 38 where Archelaus treated them +in the most obliging manner, and gave him thanks for the deliverance of +his son-in-law, and was much pleased at their reconciliation; and this +the more, because he had formerly written to his friends at Rome that +they should be assisting to Alexander at his trial. So he conducted +Herod as far as Zephyrium, and made him presents to the value of thirty +talents. + +5. Now when Herod was come to Jerusalem, he gathered the people +together, and presented to them his three sons, and gave them an +apologetic account of his absence, and thanked God greatly, and +thanked Caesar greatly also, for settling his house when it was under +disturbances, and had procured concord among his sons, which was of +greater consequence than the kingdom itself,--"and which I will render +still more firm; for Caesar hath put into my power to dispose of the +government, and to appoint my successor. Accordingly, in way of requital +for his kindness, and in order to provide for mine own advantage, I do +declare that these three sons of mine shall be kings. And, in the first +place, I pray for the approbation of God to what I am about; and, in the +next place, I desire your approbation also. The age of one of them, and +the nobility of the other two, shall procure them the succession. Nay, +indeed, my kingdom is so large that it may be sufficient for more kings. +Now do you keep those in their places whom Caesar hath joined, and their +father hath appointed; and do not you pay undue or unequal respects to +them, but to every one according to the prerogative of their births; +for he that pays such respects unduly, will thereby not make him that is +honored beyond what his age requires so joyful, as he will make him +that is dishonored sorrowful. As for the kindred and friends that are +to converse with them, I will appoint them to each of them, and will so +constitute them, that they may be securities for their concord; as +well knowing that the ill tempers of those with whom they converse will +produce quarrels and contentions among them; but that if these with +whom they converse be of good tempers, they will preserve their natural +affections for one another. But still I desire that not these only, but +all the captains of my army, have for the present their hopes placed on +me alone; for I do not give away my kingdom to these my sons, but give +them royal honors only; whereby it will come to pass that they will +enjoy the sweet parts of government as rulers themselves, but that the +burden of administration will rest upon myself whether I will or not. +And let every one consider what age I am of, how I have conducted my +life, and what piety I have exercised; for my age is not so great that +men may soon expect the end of my life; nor have I indulged such a +luxurious way of living as cuts men off when they are young; and we +have been so religious towards God, that we [have reason to hope we] may +arrive at a very great age. But for such as cultivate a friendship with +my sons, so as to aim at my destruction, they shall be punished by me +on their account. I am not one who envy my own children, and therefore +forbid men to pay them great respect; but I know that such [extravagant] +respects are the way to make them insolent. And if every one that comes +near them does but revolve this in his mind, that if he prove a good +man, he shall receive a reward from me, but that if he prove seditious, +his ill-intended complaisance shall get him nothing from him to whom it +is shown, I suppose they will all be of my side, that is, of my sons' +side; for it will be for their advantage that I reign, and that I be +at concord with them. But do you, O my good children, reflect upon +the holiness of nature itself, by whose means natural affection is +preserved, even among wild beasts; in the next place, reflect upon +Caesar, who hath made this reconciliation among us; and in the third +place, reflect upon me, who entreat you to do what I have power to +command you,--continue brethren. I give you royal garments, and royal +honors; and I pray to God to preserve what I have determined, in case +you be at concord one with another." When the king had thus spoken, and +had saluted every one of his sons after an obliging manner, he dismissed +the multitude; some of which gave their assent to what he had said, and +wished it might take effect accordingly; but for those who wished for a +change of affairs, they pretended they did not so much as hear what he +said. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 24. + + + The Malice Of Antipater And Doris. Alexander Is Very Uneasy + On Glaphyras Account. Herod Pardons Pheroras, Whom He + Suspected, And Salome Whom He Knew To Make Mischief Among + Them. Herod's Eunuchs Are Tortured And Alexander Is Bound. + +1. But now the quarrel that was between them still accompanied these +brethren when they parted, and the suspicions they had one of the +other grew worse. Alexander and Aristobulus were much grieved that the +privilege of the first-born was confirmed to Antipater; as was Antipater +very angry at his brethren that they were to succeed him. But then this +last being of a disposition that was mutable and politic, he knew how to +hold his tongue, and used a great deal of cunning, and thereby concealed +the hatred he bore to them; while the former, depending on the nobility +of their births, had every thing upon their tongues which was in their +minds. Many also there were who provoked them further, and many of their +[seeming] friends insinuated themselves into their acquaintance, to +spy out what they did. Now every thing that was said by Alexander was +presently brought to Antipater, and from Antipater it was brought to +Herod with additions. Nor could the young man say any thing in the +simplicity of his heart, without giving offense, but what he said was +still turned to calumny against him. And if he had been at any time a +little free in his conversation, great imputations were forged from +the smallest occasions. Antipater also was perpetually setting some to +provoke him to speak, that the lies he raised of him might seem to have +some foundation of truth; and if, among the many stories that were given +out, but one of them could be proved true, that was supposed to imply +the rest to be true also. And as to Antipater's friends, they were all +either naturally so cautious in speaking, or had been so far bribed to +conceal their thoughts, that nothing of these grand secrets got abroad +by their means. Nor should one be mistaken if he called the life of +Antipater a mystery of wickedness; for he either corrupted Alexander's +acquaintance with money, or got into their favor by flatteries; by which +two means he gained all his designs, and brought them to betray their +master, and to steal away, and reveal what he either did or said. Thus +did he act a part very cunningly in all points, and wrought himself a +passage by his calumnies with the greatest shrewdness; while he put on +a face as if he were a kind brother to Alexander and Aristobulus, but +suborned other men to inform of what they did to Herod. And when any +thing was told against Alexander, he would come in, and pretend [to be +of his side], and would begin to contradict what was said; but would +afterward contrive matters so privately, that the king should have an +indignation at him. His general aim was this,--to lay a plot, and to +make it believed that Alexander lay in wait to kill his father; for +nothing afforded so great a confirmation to these calumnies as did +Antipater's apologies for him. + +2. By these methods Herod was inflamed, and as much as his natural +affection to the young men did every day diminish, so much did it +increase towards Antipater. The courtiers also inclined to the same +conduct, some of their own accord, and others by the king's injunction, +as particularly did Ptolemy, the king's dearest friend, as also the +king's brethren, and all his children; for Antipater was all in all; and +what was the bitterest part of all to Alexander, Antipater's mother was +also all in all; she was one that gave counsel against them, and was +more harsh than a step-mother, and one that hated the queen's sons more +than is usual to hate sons-in-law. All men did therefore already pay +their respects to Antipater, in hopes of advantage; and it was the +king's command which alienated every body [from the brethren], he having +given this charge to his most intimate friends, that they should not +come near, nor pay any regard, to Alexander, or to his friends. Herod +was also become terrible, not only to his domestics about the court, but +to his friends abroad; for Caesar had given such a privilege to no other +king as he had given to him, which was this,--that he might fetch back +any one that fled from him, even out of a city that was not under +his own jurisdiction. Now the young men were not acquainted with the +calumnies raised against them; for which reason they could not guard +themselves against them, but fell under them; for their father did not +make any public complaints against either of them; though in a little +time they perceived how things were by his coldness to them, and by the +great uneasiness he showed upon any thing that troubled him. Antipater +had also made their uncle Pheroras to be their enemy, as well as their +aunt Salome, while he was always talking with her, as with a wife, +and irritating her against them. Moreover, Alexander's wife, Glaphyra, +augmented this hatred against them, by deriving her nobility and +genealogy [from great persons], and pretending that she was a lady +superior to all others in that kingdom, as being derived by her father's +side from Temenus, and by her mother's side from Darius, the son of +Hystaspes. She also frequently reproached Herod's sister and wives with +the ignobility of their descent; and that they were every one chosen by +him for their beauty, but not for their family. Now those wives of his +were not a few; it being of old permitted to the Jews to marry many +wives, 39 and this king delighting in many; all which hated Alexander, +on account of Glaphyra's boasting and reproaches. + +3. Nay, Aristobulus had raised a quarrel between himself and Salome, who +was his mother-in-law, besides the anger he had conceived at Glaphyra's +reproaches; for he perpetually upbraided his wife with the meanness +of her family, and complained, that as he had married a woman of a low +family, so had his brother Alexander married one of royal blood. At +this Salome's daughter wept, and told it her with this addition, that +Alexander threatened the mothers of his other brethren, that when he +should come to the crown, he would make them weave with their maidens, +and would make those brothers of his country schoolmasters; and brake +this jest upon them, that they had been very carefully instructed, to +fit them for such an employment. Hereupon Salome could not contain her +anger, but told all to Herod; nor could her testimony be suspected, +since it was against her own son-in-law There was also another calumny +that ran abroad and inflamed the king's mind; for he heard that these +sons of his were perpetually speaking of their mother, and, among their +lamentations for her, did not abstain from cursing him; and that when +he made presents of any of Mariamne's garments to his later wives, these +threatened that in a little time, instead of royal garments, they would +clothe theft in no better than hair-cloth. + +4. Now upon these accounts, though Herod was somewhat afraid of the +young men's high spirit, yet did he not despair of reducing them to a +better mind; but before he went to Rome, whither he was now going by +sea, he called them to him, and partly threatened them a little, as a +king; but for the main, he admonished them as a father, and exhorted +them to love their brethren, and told them that he would pardon their +former offenses, if they would amend for the time to come. But they +refuted the calumnies that had been raised of them, and said they +were false, and alleged that their actions were sufficient for their +vindication; and said withal, that he himself ought to shut his ears +against such tales, and not be too easy in believing them, for that +there would never be wanting those that would tell lies to their +disadvantage, as long as any would give ear to them. + +5. When they had thus soon pacified him, as being their father, they got +clear of the present fear they were in. Yet did they see occasion for +sorrow in some time afterward; for they knew that Salome, as well as +their uncle Pheroras, were their enemies; who were both of them heavy +and severe persons, and especially Pheroras, who was a partner with +Herod in all the affairs of the kingdom, excepting his diadem. He had +also a hundred talents of his own revenue, and enjoyed the advantage +of all the land beyond Jordan, which he had received as a gift from his +brother, who had asked of Caesar to make him a tetrarch, as he was made +accordingly. Herod had also given him a wife out of the royal family, +who was no other than his own wife's sister, and after her death had +solemnly espoused to him his own eldest daughter, with a dowry of three +hundred talents; but Pheroras refused to consummate this royal marriage, +out of his affection to a maidservant of his. Upon which account Herod +was very angry, and gave that daughter in marriage to a brother's son +of his, [Joseph,] who was slain afterward by the Parthians; but in some +time he laid aside his anger against Pheroras, and pardoned him, as one +not able to overcome his foolish passion for the maid-servant. + +6. Nay, Pheroras had been accused long before, while the queen +[Mariamne] was alive, as if he were in a plot to poison Herod; and there +came then so great a number of informers, that Herod himself, though he +was an exceeding lover of his brethren, was brought to believe what was +said, and to be afraid of it also. And when he had brought many of those +that were under suspicion to the torture, he came at last to Pheroras's +own friends; none of which did openly confess the crime, but they owned +that he had made preparation to take her whom he loved, and run away to +the Parthians. Costobarus also, the husband of Salome, to whom the king +had given her in marriage, after her former husband had been put to +death for adultery, was instrumental in bringing about this contrivance +and flight of his. Nor did Salome escape all calumny upon herself; for +her brother Pheroras accused her that she had made an agreement to marry +Silleus, the procurator of Obodas, king of Arabia, who was at bitter +enmity with Herod; but when she was convicted of this, and of all that +Pheroras had accused her of, she obtained her pardon. The king also +pardoned Pheroras himself the crimes he had been accused of. + +7. But the storm of the whole family was removed to Alexander, and all +of it rested upon his head. There were three eunuchs who were in the +highest esteem with the king, as was plain by the offices they were in +about him; for one of them was appointed to be his butler, another of +them got his supper ready for him, and the third put him into bed, and +lay down by him. Now Alexander had prevailed with these men, by large +gifts, to let him use them after an obscene manner; which, when it was +told to the king, they were tortured, and found guilty, and presently +confessed the criminal conversation he had with them. They also +discovered the promises by which they were induced so to do, and how +they were deluded by Alexander, who had told them that they ought not to +fix their hopes upon Herod, an old man, and one so shameless as to color +his hair, unless they thought that would make him young again; but that +they ought to fix their attention to him who was to be his successor +in the kingdom, whether he would or not; and who in no long time would +avenge himself on his enemies, and make his friends happy and blessed, +and themselves in the first place; that the men of power did already pay +respects to Alexander privately, and that the captains of the soldiery, +and the officers, did secretly come to him. + +8. These confessions did so terrify Herod, that he durst not immediately +publish them; but he sent spies abroad privately, by night and by day, +who should make a close inquiry after all that was done and said; and +when any were but suspected [of treason], he put them to death, insomuch +that the palace was full of horribly unjust proceedings; for every body +forged calumnies, as they were themselves in a state of enmity or hatred +against others; and many there were who abused the king's bloody passion +to the disadvantage of those with whom they had quarrels, and lies +were easily believed, and punishments were inflicted sooner than the +calumnies were forged. He who had just then been accusing another was +accused himself, and was led away to execution together with him whom +he had convicted; for the danger the king was in of his life made +examinations be very short. He also proceeded to such a degree of +bitterness, that he could not look on any of those that were not accused +with a pleasant countenance, but was in the most barbarous disposition +towards his own friends. Accordingly, he forbade a great many of them to +come to court, and to those whom he had not power to punish actually +he spake harshly. But for Antipater, he insulted Alexander, now he was +under his misfortunes, and got a stout company of his kindred together, +and raised all sorts of calumny against him; and for the king, he was +brought to such a degree of terror by those prodigious slanders and +contrivances, that he fancied he saw Alexander coming to him with a +drawn sword in his hand. So he caused him to be seized upon immediately, +and bound, and fell to examining his friends by torture, many of whom +died [under the torture], but would discover nothing, nor say any thing +against their consciences; but some of them, being forced to speak +falsely by the pains they endured, said that Alexander, and his brother +Aristobulus, plotted against him, and waited for an opportunity to kill +him as he was hunting, and then fly away to Rome. These accusations +though they were of an incredible nature, and only framed upon the great +distress they were in, were readily believed by the king, who thought it +some comfort to him, after he had bound his son, that it might appear he +had not done it unjustly. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 25. + + + Archelaus Procures A Reconciliation Between Alexander + Pheroras, And Herod. + +1. Now as to Alexander, since he perceived it impossible to persuade his +father [that he was innocent], he resolved to meet his calamities, how +severe soever they were; so he composed four books against his enemies, +and confessed that he had been in a plot; but declared withal that the +greatest part [of the courtiers] were in a plot with him, and chiefly +Pheroras and Salome; nay, that Salome once came and forced him to lie +with her in the night time, whether he would or no. These books were put +into Herod's hands, and made a great clamor against the men in power. +And now it was that Archelaus came hastily into Judea, as being +affrighted for his son-in-law and his daughter; and he came as a proper +assistant, and in a very prudent manner, and by a stratagem he obliged +the king not to execute what he had threatened; for when he was come to +him, he cried out, "Where in the world is this wretched son-in-law of +mine? Where shall I see the head of him which contrived to murder his +father, which I will tear to pieces with my own hands? I will do the +same also to my daughter, who hath such a fine husband; for although she +be not a partner in the plot, yet, by being the wife of such a creature, +she is polluted. And I cannot but admire at thy patience, against whom +this plot is laid, if Alexander be still alive; for as I came with what +haste I could from Cappadocia, I expected to find him put to death for +his crimes long ago; but still, in order to make an examination with +thee about my daughter, whom, out of regard to thee and by dignity, I +had espoused to him in marriage; but now we must take counsel about them +both; and if thy paternal affection be so great, that thou canst not +punish thy son, who hath plotted against thee, let us change our right +hands, and let us succeed one to the other in expressing our rage upon +this occasion." + +2. When he had made this pompous declaration, he got Herod to remit of +his anger, though he were in disorder, who thereupon gave him the books +which Alexander had composed to be read by him; and as he came to every +head, he considered of it, together with Herod. So Archelaus took hence +the occasion for that stratagem which he made use of, and by degrees +he laid the blame on those men whose names were in these books, and +especially upon Pheroras; and when he saw that the king believed him [to +be in earnest], he said, "We must consider whether the young man be not +himself plotted against by such a number of wicked wretches, and not +thou plotted against by the young man; for I cannot see any occasion for +his falling into so horrid a crime, since he enjoys the advantages of +royalty already, and has the expectation of being one of thy successors; +I mean this, unless there were some persons that persuade him to it, and +such persons as make an ill use of the facility they know there is +to persuade young men; for by such persons, not only young men are +sometimes imposed upon, but old men also, and by them sometimes are the +most illustrious families and kingdoms overturned." + +3. Herod assented to what he had said, and, by degrees, abated of +his anger against Alexander, but was more angry at Pheroras; for the +principal subject of the four books was Pheroras; who perceiving that +the king's inclinations changed on a sudden, and that Archelaus's +friendship could do every thing with him, and that he had no honorable +method of preserving himself, he procured his safety by his impudence. +So he left Alexander, and had recourse to Archelaus, who told him that +he did not see how he could get him excused, now he was directly caught +in so many crimes, whereby it was evidently demonstrated that he had +plotted against the king, and had been the cause of those misfortunes +which the young man was now under, unless he would moreover leave off +his cunning knavery, and his denials of what he was charged withal, and +confess the charge, and implore pardon of his brother, who still had a +kindness for him; but that if he would do so, he would afford him all +the assistance he was able. + +4. With this advice Pheroras complied, and putting himself into such a +habit as might most move compassion, he came with black cloth upon his +body, and tears in his eyes, and threw himself down at Herod's feet, and +begged his pardon for what he had done, and confessed that he had acted +very wickedly, and was guilty of every thing that he had been accused +of, and lamented that disorder of his mind, and distraction which his +love to a woman, he said, had brought him to. So when Archelaus had +brought Pheroras to accuse and bear witness against himself, he then +made an excuse for him, and mitigated Herod's anger towards him, and +this by using certain domestical examples; for that when he had suffered +much greater mischiefs from a brother of his own, he prefered the +obligations of nature before the passion of revenge; because it is in +kingdoms as it is in gross bodies, where some member or other is ever +swelled by the body's weight, in which case it is not proper to cut off +such member, but to heal it by a gentle method of cure. + +5. Upon Arehelaus's saying this, and much more to the same purpose, +Herod's displeasure against Pheroras was mollified; yet did he persevere +in his own indignation against Alexander, and said he would have his +daughter divorced, and taken away from him, and this till he had brought +Herod to that pass, that, contrary to his former behavior to him, +he petitioned Archelaus for the young man, and that he would let his +daughter continue espoused to him: but Archelaus made him strongly +believe that he would permit her to be married to any one else, but not +to Alexander, because he looked upon it as a very valuable advantage, +that the relation they had contracted by that affinity, and the +privileges that went along with it, might be preserved. And when the +king said that his son would take it for a great favor to him, if he +would not dissolve that marriage, especially since they had already +children between the young man and her, and since that wife of his was +so well beloved by him, and that as while she remains his wife she would +be a great preservative to him, and keep him from offending, as he had +formerly done; so if she should be once torn away from him, she would be +the cause of his falling into despair, because such young men's attempts +are best mollified when they are diverted from them by settling their +affections at home. So Arehelaus complied with what Herod desired, but +not without difficulty, and was both himself reconciled to the young +man, and reconciled his father to him also. However, he said he must, +by all means, be sent to Rome to discourse with Caesar, because he had +already written a full account to him of this whole matter. + +6. Thus a period was put to Archelaus's stratagem, whereby he +delivered his son-in-law out of the dangers he was in; but when these +reconciliations were over, they spent their time in feastings and +agreeable entertainments. And when Archelaus was going away, Herod made +him a present of seventy talents, with a golden throne set with precious +stones, and some eunuchs, and a concubine who was called Pannychis. +He also paid due honors to every one of his friends according to their +dignity. In like manner did all the king's kindred, by his command, make +glorious presents to Archelaus; and so he was conducted on his way by +Herod and his nobility as far as Antioch. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 26. + + + How Eurycles <a href="#linknote-40" name="linknoteref-40" + id="linknoteref-40">40</a> Calumniated The Sons Of Mariamne; And How + Euaratus Of Cos's Apology For Them Had No Effect. + +1. Now a little afterward there came into Judea a man that was much +superior to Arehelaus's stratagems, who did not only overturn that +reconciliation that had been so wisely made with Alexander, but proved +the occasion of his ruin. He was a Lacedemonian, and his name was +Eurycles. He was so corrupt a man, that out of the desire of getting +money, he chose to live under a king, for Greece could not suffice his +luxury. He presented Herod with splendid gifts, as a bait which he +laid in order to compass his ends, and quickly received them back again +manifold; yet did he esteem bare gifts as nothing, unless he imbrued the +kingdom in blood by his purchases. Accordingly, he imposed upon the king +by flattering him, and by talking subtlely to him, as also by the lying +encomiums which he made upon him; for as he soon perceived Herod's blind +side, so he said and did every thing that might please him, and thereby +became one of his most intimate friends; for both the king and all that +were about him had a great regard for this Spartan, on account of his +country. 41 + +2. Now as soon as this fellow perceived the rotten parts of the family, +and what quarrels the brothers had one with another, and in what +disposition the father was towards each of them, he chose to take his +lodging at the first in the house of Antipater, but deluded Alexander +with a pretense of friendship to him, and falsely claimed to be an old +acquaintance of Archelaus; for which reason he was presently admitted +into Alexander's familiarity as a faithful friend. He also soon +recommended himself to his brother Aristobulus. And when he had thus +made trial of these several persons, he imposed upon one of them by one +method, and upon another by another. But he was principally hired by +Antipater, and so betrayed Alexander, and this by reproaching Antipater, +because, while he was the eldest son he overlooked the intrigues of +those who stood in the way of his expectations; and by reproaching +Alexander, because he who was born of a queen, and was married to a +king's daughter, permitted one that was born of a mean woman to lay +claim to the succession, and this when he had Archelaus to support him +in the most complete manner. Nor was his advice thought to be other +than faithful by the young man, because of his pretended friendship +with Archelaus; on which account it was that Alexander lamented to him +Antipater's behavior with regard to himself, and this without concealing +any thing from him; and how it was no wonder if Herod, after he had +killed their mother, should deprive them of her kingdom. Upon this +Eurycles pretended to commiserate his condition, and to grieve with him. +He also, by a bait that he laid for him, procured Aristobulus to say the +same things. Thus did he inveigle both the brothers to make complaints +of their father, and then went to Antipater, and carried these grand +secrets to him. He also added a fiction of his own, as if his brothers +had laid a plot against him, and were almost ready to come upon him with +their drawn swords. For this intelligence he received a great sum of +money, and on that account he commended Antipater before his father, and +at length undertook the work of bringing Alexander and Aristobulus to +their graves, and accused them before their father. So he came to Herod, +and told him that he would save his life, as a requital for the favors +he had received from him, and would preserve his light [of life] by way +of retribution for his kind entertainment; for that a sword had been +long whetted, and Alexander's right hand had been long stretched out +against him; but that he had laid impediments in his way, prevented his +speed, and that by pretending to assist him in his design: how Alexander +said that Herod was not contented to reign in a kingdom that belonged to +others, and to make dilapidations in their mother's government after +he had killed her; but besides all this, that he introduced a spurious +successor, and proposed to give the kingdom of their ancestors to that +pestilent fellow Antipater:--that he would now appease the ghosts of +Hyrcanus and Mariamne, by taking vengeance on him; for that it was not +fit for him to take the succession to the government from such a father +without bloodshed: that many things happen every day to provoke him so +to do, insomuch that he can say nothing at all, but it affords occasion +for calumny against him; for that if any mention be made of nobility +of birth, even in other cases, he is abused unjustly, while his father +would say that nobody, to be sure, is of noble birth but Alexander, and +that his father was inglorious for want of such nobility. If they be +at any time hunting, and he says nothing, he gives offense; and if he +commends any body, they take it in way of jest. That they always find +their father unmercifully severe, and have no natural affection for +any of them but for Antipater; on which accounts, if this plot does not +take, he is very willing to die; but that in case he kill his father, he +hath sufficient opportunities for saving himself. In the first place, he +hath Archelaus his father-in-law to whom he can easily fly; and in the +next place, he hath Caesar, who had never known Herod's character to +this day; for that he shall not appear then before him with that dread +he used to do when his father was there to terrify him; and that he +will not then produce the accusations that concerned himself alone, +but would, in the first place, openly insist on the calamities of their +nation, and how they are taxed to death, and in what ways of luxury and +wicked practices that wealth is spent which was gotten by bloodshed; +what sort of persons they are that get our riches, and to whom those +cities belong upon whom he bestows his favors; that he would have +inquiry made what became of his grandfather [Hyrcanus], and his mother +[Mariamne], and would openly proclaim the gross wickedness that was in +the kingdom; on which accounts he should not be deemed a parricide. + +3. When Eurycles had made this portentous speech, he greatly commended +Antipater, as the only child that had an affection for his father, +and on that account was an impediment to the other's plot against him. +Hereupon the king, who had hardly repressed his anger upon the former +accusations, was exasperated to an incurable degree. At which time +Antipater took another occasion to send in other persons to his +father to accuse his brethren, and to tell him that they had privately +discoursed with Jucundus and Tyrannus, who had once been masters of +the horse to the king, but for some offenses had been put out of +that honorable employment. Herod was in a very great rage at these +informations, and presently ordered those men to be tortured; yet did +not they confess any thing of what the king had been informed; but a +certain letter was produced, as written by Alexander to the governor of +a castle, to desire him to receive him and Aristobulus into the castle +when he had killed his father, and to give them weapons, and what other +assistance he could, upon that occasion. Alexander said that this letter +was a forgery of Diophantus. This Diophantus was the king's secretary, a +bold man, and cunning in counterfeiting any one's hand; and after he had +counterfeited a great number, he was at last put to death for it. +Herod did also order the governor of the castle to be tortured, but got +nothing out of him of what the accusations suggested. + +4. However, although Herod found the proofs too weak, he gave order to +have his sons kept in custody; for till now they had been at liberty. +He also called that pest of his family, and forger of all this vile +accusation, Eurycles, his savior and benefactor, and gave him a reward +of fifty talents. Upon which he prevented any accurate accounts that +could come of what he had done, by going immediately into Cappadocia, +and there he got money of Archelaus, having the impudence to pretend +that he had reconciled Herod to Alexander. He thence passed over into +Greece, and used what he had thus wickedly gotten to the like wicked +purposes. Accordingly, he was twice accused before Caesar, that he had +filled Achaia with sedition, and had plundered its cities; and so he was +sent into banishment. And thus was he punished for what wicked actions +he had been guilty of about Aristobulus and Alexander. + +5. But it will now be worth while to put Euaratus of Cos in opposition +to this Spartan; for as he was one of Alexander's most intimate friends, +and came to him in his travels at the same time that Eurycles came; +so the king put the question to him, whether those things of which +Alexander was accused were true? He assured him upon oath that he had +never heard any such things from the young men; yet did this testimony +avail nothing for the clearing those miserable creatures; for Herod was +only disposed and most ready to hearken to what made against them, and +every one was most agreeable to him that would believe they were guilty, +and showed their indignation at them. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 27. + + + Herod By Caesars Direction Accuses His Sons At Eurytus. They + Are Not Produced Before The Courts But Yet Are Condemned; + And In A Little Time They Are Sent To Sebaste, And Strangled + There. + +1. Moreover, Salome exasperated Herod's cruelty against his sons; for +Aristobulus was desirous to bring her, who was his mother-in-law and his +aunt, into the like dangers with themselves; so he sent to her to take +care of her own safety, and told her that the king was preparing to put +her to death, on account of the accusation that was laid against her, as +if when she formerly endeavored to marry herself to Sylleus the Arabian, +she had discovered the king's grand secrets to him, who was the king's +enemy; and this it was that came as the last storm, and entirely sunk +the young men when they were in great danger before. For Salome came +running to the king, and informed him of what admonition had been given +her; whereupon he could bear no longer, but commanded both the young +men to be bound, and kept the one asunder from the other. He also sent +Volumnius, the general of his army, to Caesar immediately, as also his +friend Olympus with him, who carried the informations in writing along +with them. Now as soon as they had sailed to Rome, and delivered the +king's letters to Caesar, Caesar was mightily troubled at the case of +the young men; yet did not he think he ought to take the power from the +father of condemning his sons; so he wrote back to him, and appointed +him to have the power over his sons; but said withal, that he would do +well to make an examination into this matter of the plot against him in +a public court, and to take for his assessors his own kindred, and the +governors of the province. And if those sons be found guilty, to put +them to death; but if they appear to have thought of no more than flying +away from him, that he should moderate their punishment. + +2. With these directions Herod complied, and came to Berytus, where +Caesar had ordered the court to be assembled, and got the judicature +together. The presidents sat first, as Caesar's letters had appointed, +who were Saturninus and Pedanius, and their lieutenants that were with +them, with whom was the procurator Volumnius also; next to them sat the +king's kinsmen and friends, with Salome also, and Pheroras; after whom +sat the principal men of all Syria, excepting Archelaus; for Herod had a +suspicion of him, because he was Alexander's father-in-law. Yet did not +he produce his sons in open court; and this was done very cunningly, +for he knew well enough that had they but appeared only, they would +certainly have been pitied; and if withal they had been suffered to +speak, Alexander would easily have answered what they were accused of; +but they were in custody at Platane, a village of the Sidontans. + +3. So the king got up, and inveighed against his sons, as if they were +present; and as for that part of the accusation that they had plotted +against him, he urged it but faintly, because he was destitute of +proofs; but he insisted before the assessors on the reproaches, and +jests, and injurious carriage, and ten thousand the like offenses +against him, which were heavier than death itself; and when nobody +contradicted him, he moved them to pity his case, as though he had been +condemned himself, now he had gained a bitter victory against his sons. +So he asked every one's sentence, which sentence was first of all given +by Saturninus, and was this: That he condemned the young men, but not +to death; for that it was not fit for him, who had three sons of his +own now present, to give his vote for the destruction of the sons of +another. The two lieutenants also gave the like vote; some others there +were also who followed their example; but Volumnius began to vote on the +more melancholy side, and all those that came after him condemned the +young men to die, some out of flattery, and some out of hatred to Herod; +but none out of indignation at their crimes. And now all Syria and Judea +was in great expectation, and waited for the last act of this tragedy; +yet did nobody, suppose that Herod would be so barbarous as to murder +his children: however, he carried them away to Tyre, and thence sailed +to Cesarea, and deliberated with himself what sort of death the young +men should suffer. + +4. Now there was a certain old soldier of the king's, whose name +was Tero, who had a son that was very familiar with and a friend to +Alexander, and who himself particularly loved the young men. This +soldier was in a manner distracted, out of the excess of the indignation +he had at what was doing; and at first he cried out aloud, as he went +about, that justice was trampled under foot; that truth was perished, +and nature confounded; and that the life of man was full of iniquity, +and every thing else that passion could suggest to a man who spared +not his own life; and at last he ventured to go to the king, and said, +"Truly I think thou art a most miserable man, when thou hearkenest to +most wicked wretches, against those that ought to be dearest to thee; +since thou hast frequently resolved that Pheroras and Salome should be +put to death, and yet believest them against thy sons; while these, +by cutting off the succession of thine own sons, leave all wholly +to Antipater, and thereby choose to have thee such a king as may be +thoroughly in their own power. However, consider whether this death of +Antipater's brethren will not make him hated by the soldiers; for there +is nobody but commiserates the young men; and of the captains, a great +many show their indignation at it openly." Upon his saying this, he +named those that had such indignation; but the king ordered those men, +with Tero himself and his son, to be seized upon immediately. + +5. At which time there was a certain barber, whose name was Trypho. This +man leaped out from among the people in a kind of madness, and accused +himself, and said, "This Tero endeavored to persuade me also to cut thy +throat with my razor, when I trimmed thee, and promised that Alexander +should give me large presents for so doing." When Herod heard this, he +examined Tero, with his son and the barber, by the torture; but as the +others denied the accusation, and he said nothing further, Herod gave +order that Tero should be racked more severely; but his son, out of pity +to his father, promised to discover the whole to the king, if he would +grant [that his father should be no longer tortured]. When he had agreed +to this, he said that his father, at the persuasion of Alexander, had an +intention to kill him. Now some said this was forged, in order to free +his father from his torments; and some said it was true. + +6. And now Herod accused the captains and Tero in an assembly of the +people, and brought the people together in a body against them; and +accordingly there were they put to death, together with [Trypho] the +barber; they were killed by the pieces of wood and the stones that were +thrown at them. He also sent his sons to Sebaste, a city not far from +Cesarea, and ordered them to be there strangled; and as what he had +ordered was executed immediately, so he commanded that their dead +bodies should be brought to the fortress Alexandrium, to be buried with +Alexander, their grandfather by the mother's side. And this was the end +of Alexander and Aristobulus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 28. + + + How Antipater Is Hated Of All Men; And How The King Espouses + The Sons Of Those That Had Been Slain To His Kindred; But + That Antipater Made Him Change Them For Other Women. Of + Herod's Marriages, And Children. + +1. But an intolerable hatred fell upon Antipater from the nation, though +he had now an indisputable title to the succession, because they all +knew that he was the person who contrived all the calumnies against +his brethren. However, he began to be in a terrible fear, as he saw the +posterity of those that had been slain growing up; for Alexander had two +sons by Glaphyra, Tigranes and Alexander; and Aristobulus had Herod, +and Agrippa, and Aristobulus, his sons, with Herodias and Mariamne, +his daughters, and all by Bernice, Salome's daughter. As for Glaphyra, +Herod, as soon as he had killed Alexander, sent her back, together with +her portion, to Cappadocia. He married Bernice, Aristobulus's daughter, +to Antipater's uncle by his mother, and it was Antipater who, in +order to reconcile her to him, when she had been at variance with him, +contrived this match; he also got into Pheroras's favor, and into +the favor of Caesar's friends, by presents, and other ways of +obsequiousness, and sent no small sums of money to Rome; Saturninus +also, and his friends in Syria, were all well replenished with the +presents he made them; yet the more he gave, the more he was hated, as +not making these presents out of generosity, but spending his money out +of fear. Accordingly, it so fell out that the receivers bore him no more +good-will than before, but that those to whom he gave nothing were his +more bitter enemies. However, he bestowed his money every day more and +more profusely, on observing that, contrary to his expectations, the +king was taking care about the orphans, and discovering at the same time +his repentance for killing their fathers, by his commiseration of those +that sprang from them. + +2. Accordingly, Herod got together his kindred and friends, and set +before them the children, and, with his eyes full of tears, said thus +to them: "It was an unlucky fate that took away from me these +children's fathers, which children are recommended to me by that natural +commiseration which their orphan condition requires; however, I will +endeavor, though I have been a most unfortunate father, to appear a +better grandfather, and to leave these children such curators after +myself as are dearest to me. I therefore betroth thy daughter, Pheroras, +to the elder of these brethren, the children of Alexander, that thou +mayst be obliged to take care of them. I also betroth to thy son, +Antipater, the daughter of Aristobulus; be thou therefore a father to +that orphan; and my son Herod [Philip] shall have her sister, whose +grandfather, by the mother's side, was high priest. And let every one +that loves me be of my sentiments in these dispositions, which none that +hath an affection for me will abrogate. And I pray God that he will join +these children together in marriage, to the advantage of my kingdom, and +of my posterity; and may he look down with eyes more serene upon them +than he looked upon their fathers." + +3. While he spake these words he wept, and joined the children's +right hands together; after which he embraced them every one after an +affectionate manner, and dismissed the assembly. Upon this, Antipater +was in great disorder immediately, and lamented publicly at what was +done; for he supposed that this dignity which was conferred on these +orphans was for his own destruction, even in his father's lifetime, and +that he should run another risk of losing the government, if Alexander's +sons should have both Archelaus [a king], and Pheroras a tetrarch, to +support them. He also considered how he was himself hated by the nation, +and how they pitied these orphans; how great affection the Jews bare +to those brethren of his when they were alive, and how gladly they +remembered them now they had perished by his means. So he resolved by +all the ways possible to get these espousals dissolved. + +4. Now he was afraid of going subtlely about this matter with his +father, who was hard to be pleased, and was presently moved upon the +least suspicion: so he ventured to go to him directly, and to beg of +him before his face not to deprive him of that dignity which he had been +pleased to bestow upon him; and that he might not have the bare name of +a king, while the power was in other persons; for that he should never +be able to keep the government, if Alexander's son was to have both his +grandfather Archelaus and Pheroras for his curators; and he besought him +earnestly, since there were so many of the royal family alive, that he +would change those [intended] marriages. Now the king had nine wives, 42 +and children by seven of them; Antipater was himself born of Doris, and +Herod Philip of Mariamne, the high priest's daughter; Antipas also and +Archelaus were by Malthace, the Samaritan, as was his daughter Olympias, +which his brother Joseph's 43 son had married. By Cleopatra of Jerusalem +he had Herod and Philip; and by Pallas, Phasaelus; he had also two +daughters, Roxana and Salome, the one by Phedra, and the other by Elpis; +he had also two wives that had no children, the one his first cousin, +and the other his niece; and besides these he had two daughters, the +sisters of Alexander and Aristobulus, by Mariamne. Since, therefore, +the royal family was so numerous, Antipater prayed him to change these +intended marriages. + +5. When the king perceived what disposition he was in towards these +orphans, he was angry at it, and a suspicion came into his mind as to +those sons whom he had put to death, whether that had not been brought +about by the false tales of Antipater; so that at that time he made +Antipater a long and a peevish answer, and bid him begone. Yet was he +afterwards prevailed upon cunningly by his flatteries, and changed the +marriages; he married Aristobulus's daughter to him, and his son to +Pheroras's daughter. + +6. Now one may learn, in this instance, how very much this flattering +Antipater could do,--even what Salome in the like circumstances could +not do; for when she, who was his sister, and who, by the means of +Julia, Caesar's wife, earnestly desired leave to be married to Sylleus +the Arabian, Herod swore he would esteem her his bitter enemy, unless +she would leave off that project: he also caused her, against her own +consent, to be married to Alexas, a friend of his, and that one of +her daughters should be married to Alexas's son, and the other to +Antipater's uncle by the mother's side. And for the daughters the king +had by Mariamne, the one was married to Antipater, his sister's son, and +the other to his brother's son, Phasaelus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 29. + + + Antipater Becomes Intolerable. He Is Sent To Rome, And + Carries Herod's Testament With Him; Pheroras Leaves His + Brother, That He May Keep His Wife. He Dies At Home. + +1. Now when Antipater had cut off the hopes of the orphans, and had +contracted such affinities as would be most for his own advantage, he +proceeded briskly, as having a certain expectation of the kingdom; and +as he had now assurance added to his wickedness, he became intolerable; +for not being able to avoid the hatred of all people, he built his +security upon the terror he struck into them. Pheroras also assisted him +in his designs, looking upon him as already fixed in the kingdom. +There was also a company of women in the court, which excited new +disturbances; for Pheroras's wife, together with her mother and sister, +as also Antipater's mother, grew very impudent in the palace. She also +was so insolent as to affront the king's two daughters, 44 on which +account the king hated her to a great degree; yet although these women +were hated by him, they domineered over others: there was only Salome +who opposed their good agreement, and informed the king of their +meetings, as not being for the advantage of his affairs. And when those +women knew what calumnies she had raised against them, and how much +Herod was displeased, they left off their public meetings, and friendly +entertainments of one another; nay, on the contrary, they pretended +to quarrel one with another when the king was within hearing. The like +dissimulation did Antipater make use of; and when matters were public, +he opposed Pheroras; but still they had private cabals and merry +meetings in the night time; nor did the observation of others do any +more than confirm their mutual agreement. However, Salome knew every +thing they did, and told every thing to Herod. + +2. But he was inflamed with anger at them, and chiefly at Pheroras's +wife; for Salome had principally accused her. So he got an assembly of +his friends and kindred together, and there accused this woman of many +things, and particularly of the affronts she had offered his daughters; +and that she had supplied the Pharisees with money, by way of rewards +for what they had done against him, and had procured his brother to +become his enemy, by giving him love potions. At length he turned his +speech to Pheroras, and told him that he would give him his choice of +these two things: Whether he would keep in with his brother, or with his +wife? And when Pheroras said that he would die rather than forsake his +wife, Herod, not knowing what to do further in that matter, turned his +speech to Antipater, and charged him to have no intercourse either with +Pheroras's wife, or with Pheroras himself, or with any one belonging +to her. Now though Antipater did not transgress that his injunction +publicly, yet did he in secret come to their night meetings; and because +he was afraid that Salome observed what he did, he procured, by the +means of his Italian friends, that he might go and live at Rome; for +when they wrote that it was proper for Antipater to be sent to Caesar +for some time, Herod made no delay, but sent him, and that with a +splendid attendance, and a great deal of money, and gave him his +testament to carry with him,--wherein Antipater had the kingdom +bequeathed to him, and wherein Herod was named for Antipater's +successor; that Herod, I mean, who was the son of Mariamne, the high +priest's daughter. + +3. Sylleus also, the Arabian, sailed to Rome, without any regard to +Caesar's injunctions, and this in order to oppose Antipater with all +his might, as to that law-suit which Nicolaus had with him before. This +Sylleus had also a great contest with Aretas his own king; for he had +slain many others of Aretas's friends, and particularly Sohemus, the +most potent man in the city Petra. Moreover, he had prevailed with +Phabatus, who was Herod's steward, by giving him a great sum of money, +to assist him against Herod; but when Herod gave him more, he induced +him to leave Sylleus, and by this means he demanded of him all that +Caesar had required of him to pay. But when Sylleus paid nothing of what +he was to pay, and did also accuse Phabatus to Caesar, and said that he +was not a steward for Caesar's advantage, but for Herod's, Phabatus was +angry at him on that account, but was still in very great esteem with +Herod, and discovered Sylleus's grand secrets, and told the king that +Sylleus had corrupted Corinthus, one of the guards of his body, by +bribing him, and of whom he must therefore have a care. Accordingly, the +king complied; for this Corinthus, though he was brought up in Herod's +kingdom, yet was he by birth an Arabian; so the king ordered him to be +taken up immediately, and not only him, but two other Arabians, who were +caught with him; the one of them was Sylleus's friend, the other the +head of a tribe. These last, being put to the torture, confessed that +they had prevailed with Corinthus, for a large sum of money, to kill +Herod; and when they had been further examined before Saturninus, the +president of Syria, they were sent to Rome. + +4. However, Herod did not leave off importuning Pheroras, but proceeded +to force him to put away his wife; 45 yet could he not devise any way +by which he could bring the woman herself to punishment, although he +had many causes of hatred to her; till at length he was in such great +uneasiness at her, that he cast both her and his brother out of his +kingdom. Pheroras took this injury very patiently, and went away into +his own tetrarchy, [Perea beyond Jordan,] and sware that there should +be but one end put to his flight, and that should be Herod's death; +and that he would never return while he was alive. Nor indeed would he +return when his brother was sick, although he earnestly sent for him to +come to him, because he had a mind to leave some injunctions with him +before he died; but Herod unexpectedly recovered. A little afterward +Pheroras himself fell sick, when Herod showed great moderation; for +he came to him, and pitied his case, and took care of him; but his +affection for him did him no good, for Pheroras died a little afterward. +Now though Herod had so great an affection for him to the last day +of his life, yet was a report spread abroad that he had killed him +by poison. However, he took care to have his dead body carried to +Jerusalem, and appointed a very great mourning to the whole nation for +him, and bestowed a most pompous funeral upon him. And this was the end +that one of Alexander's and Aristobulus's murderers came to. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 30. + + + When Herod Made Inquiry About Pheroras's Death A Discovery + Was Made That Antipater Had Prepared A Poisonous Draught For + Him. Herod Casts Doris And Her Accomplices, As Also + Mariamne, Out Of The Palace And Blots Her Son Herod Out Of + His Testament. + +1. But now the punishment was transferred unto the original author, +Antipater, and took its rise from the death of Pheroras; for certain of +his freed-men came with a sad countenance to the king, and told him that +his brother had been destroyed by poison, and that his wife had brought +him somewhat that was prepared after an unusual manner, and that, upon +his eating it, he presently fell into his distemper; that Antipater's +mother and sister, two days before, brought a woman out of Arabia that +was skillful in mixing such drugs, that she might prepare a love potion +for Pheroras; and that instead of a love potion, she had given him +deadly poison; and that this was done by the management of Sylleus, who +was acquainted with that woman. + +2. The king was deeply affected with so many suspicions, and had the +maid-servants and some of the free women also tortured; one of which +cried out in her agonies, "May that God that governs the earth and +the heaven punish this author of all these our miseries, Antipater's +mother!" The king took a handle from this confession, and proceeded to +inquire further into the truth of the matter. So this woman discovered +the friendship of Antipater's mother to Pheroras, and Antipater's women, +as also their secret meetings, and that Pheroras and Antipater had drunk +with them for a whole night together as they returned from the king, +and would not suffer any body, either man-servant or maidservant, to be +there; while one of the free women discovered the matter. + +3. Upon this Herod tortured the maid-servants every one by themselves +separately, who all unanimously agreed in the foregoing discoveries, +and that accordingly by agreement they went away, Antipater to Rome, and +Pheroras to Perea; for that they oftentimes talked to one another thus: +That after Herod had slain Alexander and Aristobulus, he would fall upon +them, and upon their wives, because, after he Mariamne and her children +he would spare nobody; and that for this reason it was best to get as +far off the wild beast as they were able:--and that Antipater oftentimes +lamented his own case before his mother, and said to her, that he had +already gray hairs upon his head, and that his father grew younger again +every day, and that perhaps death would overtake him before he should +begin to be a king in earnest; and that in case Herod should die, which +yet nobody knew when it would be, the enjoyment of the succession could +certainly be but for a little time; for that these heads of Hydra, the +sons of Alexander and Aristobulus, were growing up: that he was deprived +by his father of the hopes of being succeeded by his children, for that +his successor after his death was not to be any one of his own sons, +but Herod the son of Mariamne: that in this point Herod was plainly +distracted, to think that his testament should therein take place; for +he would take care that not one of his posterity should remain, because +he was of all fathers the greatest hater of his children. Yet does he +hate his brother still worse; whence it was that he a while ago gave +himself a hundred talents, that he should not have any intercourse with +Pheroras. And when Pheroras said, Wherein have we done him any harm? +Antipater replied, "I wish he would but deprive us of all we have, and +leave us naked and alive only; but it is indeed impossible to escape +this wild beast, who is thus given to murder, who will not permit us to +love any person openly, although we be together privately; yet may we be +so openly too, if we have but the courage and the hands of men." + +4. These things were said by the women upon the torture; as also that +Pheroras resolved to fly with them to Perea. Now Herod gave credit to +all they said, on account of the affair of the hundred talents; for he +had no discourse with any body about them, but only with Antipater. So +he vented his anger first of all against Antipater's mother, and took +away from her all the ornaments which he had given her, which cost a +great many talents, and cast her out of the palace a second time. He +also took care of Pheroras's women after their tortures, as being now +reconciled to them; but he was in great consternation himself, and +inflamed upon every suspicion, and had many innocent persons led to +the torture, out of his fear lest he should leave any guilty person +untortured. + +5. And now it was that he betook himself to examine Antipater of +Samaria, who was the steward of [his son] Antipater; and upon torturing +him, he learned that Antipater had sent for a potion of deadly poison +for him out of Egypt, by Antiphilus, a companion of his; that Theudio, +the uncle of Antipater, had it from him, and delivered it to Pheroras; +for that Antipater had charged him to take his father off while he was +at Rome, and so free him from the suspicion of doing it himself: that +Pheroras also committed this potion to his wife. Then did the king send +for her, and bid her bring to him what she had received immediately. So +she came out of her house as if she would bring it with her, but +threw herself down from the top of the house, in order to prevent any +examination and torture from the king. However, it came to pass, as it +seems by the providence of God, when he intended to bring Antipater to +punishment, that she fell not upon her head, but upon other parts of her +body, and escaped. The king, when she was brought to him, took care of +her, [for she was at first quite senseless upon her fall,] and asked +her why she had thrown herself down; and gave her his oath, that if she +would speak the real truth, he would excuse her from punishment; but +that if she concealed any thing, he would have her body torn to pieces +by torments, and leave no part of it to be buried. + +6. Upon this the woman paused a little, and then said, "Why do I spare +to speak of these grand secrets, now Pheroras is dead? that would only +tend to save Antipater, who is all our destruction. Hear then, O king, +and be thou, and God himself, who cannot be deceived, witnesses to the +truth of what I am going to say. When thou didst sit weeping by Pheroras +as he was dying," then it was that he called me to him, and said, "My +dear wife, I have been greatly mistaken as to the disposition of my +brother towards me, and have hated him that is so affectionate to me, +and have contrived to kill him who is in such disorder for me before I +am dead. As for myself, I receive the recompence of my impiety; but do +thou bring what poison was left with us by Antipater, and which thou +keepest in order to destroy him, and consume it immediately in the fire +in my sight, that I may not be liable to the avenger in the invisible +world." This I brought as he bid me, and emptied the greatest part of +it into the fire, but reserved a little of it for my own use against +uncertain futurity, and out of my fear of thee. + +7. When she had said this, she brought the box, which had a small +quantity of this potion in it: but the king let her alone, and +transferred the tortures to Antiphilus's mother and brother; who both +confessed that Antiphilus brought the box out of Egypt, and that they +had received the potion from a brother of his, who was a physician at +Alexandria. Then did the ghosts of Alexander and Aristobulus go round +all the palace, and became the inquisitors and discoverers of what could +not otherwise have been found out and brought such as were the freest +from suspicion to be examined; whereby it was discovered that Mariamne, +the high priest's daughter, was conscious of this plot; and her very +brothers, when they were tortured, declared it so to be. Whereupon +the king avenged this insolent attempt of the mother upon her son, and +blotted Herod, whom he had by her, out of his tretament, who had been +before named therein as successor to Antipater. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 31. + + + Antipater Is Convicted By Bathyllus; But He Still Returns + From Rome Without Knowing It. Herod Brings Him To His Trial. + +1. After these things were over, Bathyllus came under examination, in +order to convict Antipater, who proved the concluding attestation to +Antipater's designs; for indeed he was no other than his freed-man. This +man came, and brought another deadly potion, the poison of asps, and +the juices of other serpents, that if the first potion did not do the +business, Pheroras and his wife might be armed with this also to destroy +the king. He brought also an addition to Antipater's insolent attempt +against his father, which was the letters which he wrote against his +brethren, Archelaus and Philip, which were the king's sons, and educated +at Rome, being yet youths, but of generous dispositions. Antipater set +himself to get rid of these as soon as he could, that they might not be +prejudicial to his hopes; and to that end he forged letters against them +in the name of his friends at Rome. Some of these he corrupted by bribes +to write how they grossly reproached their father, and did openly bewail +Alexander and Aristobulus, and were uneasy at their being recalled; for +their father had already sent for them, which was the very thing that +troubled Antipater. + +2. Nay, indeed, while Antipater was in Judea, and before he was upon +his journey to Rome, he gave money to have the like letters against them +sent from Rome, and then came to his father, who as yet had no suspicion +of him, and apologized for his brethren, and alleged on their behalf +that some of the things contained in those letters were false, and +others of them were only youthful errors. Yet at the same time that he +expended a great deal of his money, by making presents to such as wrote +against his brethren, did he aim to bring his accounts into confusion, +by buying costly garments, and carpets of various contextures, with +silver and gold cups, and a great many more curious things, that so, +among the view great expenses laid out upon such furniture, he might +conceal the money he had used in hiring men [to write the letters]; +for he brought in an account of his expenses, amounting to two hundred +talents, his main pretense for which was file law-suit he had been in +with Sylleus. So while all his rogueries, even those of a lesser sort +also, were covered by his greater villainy, while all the examinations +by torture proclaimed his attempt to murder his father, and the letters +proclaimed his second attempt to murder his brethren; yet did no one of +those that came to Rome inform him of his misfortunes in Judea, although +seven months had intervened between his conviction and his return, so +great was the hatred which they all bore to him. And perhaps they were +the ghosts of those brethren of his that had been murdered that stopped +the mouths of those that intended to have told him. He then wrote from +Rome, and informed his [friends] that he would soon come to them, and +how he was dismissed with honor by Caesar. + +3. Now the king, being desirous to get this plotter against him into +his hands, and being also afraid lest he should some way come to the +knowledge how his affairs stood, and be upon his guard, he dissembled +his anger in his epistle to him, as in other points he wrote kindly to +him, and desired him to make haste, because if he came quickly, he would +then lay aside the complaints he had against his mother; for Antipater +was not ignorant that his mother had been expelled out of the palace. +However, he had before received a letter, which contained an account of +the death of Pheroras, at Tarentum, 46 and made great lamentations at +it; for which some commended him, as being for his own uncle; though +probably this confusion arose on account of his having thereby failed in +his plot [on his father's life]; and his tears were more for the loss +of him that was to have been subservient therein, than for [an uncle] +Pheroras: moreover, a sort of fear came upon him as to his designs, lest +the poison should have been discovered. However, when he was in Cilicia, +he received the forementioned epistle from his father, and made great +haste accordingly. But when he had sailed to Celenderis, a suspicion +came into his mind relating to his mother's misfortunes; as if his soul +foreboded some mischief to itself. Those therefore of his friends which +were the most considerate advised him not rashly to go to his father, +till he had learned what were the occasions why his mother had been +ejected, because they were afraid that he might be involved in the +calumnies that had been cast upon his mother: but those that were less +considerate, and had more regard to their own desires of seeing their +native country, than to Antipater's safety, persuaded him to make haste +home, and not, by delaying his journey, afford his father ground for an +ill suspicion, and give a handle to those that raised stories against +him; for that in case any thing had been moved to his disadvantage, it +was owing to his absence, which durst not have been done had he been +present. And they said it was absurd to deprive himself of certain +happiness, for the sake of an uncertain suspicion, and not rather to +return to his father, and take the royal authority upon him, which was +in a state of fluctuation on his account only. Antipater complied with +this last advice, for Providence hurried him on [to his destruction]. So +he passed over the sea, and landed at Sebastus, the haven of Cesarea. + +4. And here he found a perfect and unexpected solitude, while ever body +avoided him, and nobody durst come at him; for he was equally hated by +all men; and now that hatred had liberty to show itself, and the dread +men were in at the king's anger made men keep from him; for the whole +city [of Jerusalem] was filled with the rumors about Antipater, and +Antipater himself was the only person who was ignorant of them; for as +no man was dismissed more magnificently when he began his voyage to Rome +so was no man now received back with greater ignominy. And indeed he +began already to suspect what misfortunes there were in Herod's family; +yet did he cunningly conceal his suspicion; and while he was inwardly +ready to die for fear, he put on a forced boldness of countenance. Nor +could he now fly any whither, nor had he any way of emerging out of the +difficulties which encompassed him; nor indeed had he even there any +certain intelligence of the affairs of the royal family, by reason +of the threats the king had given out: yet had he some small hopes +of better tidings; for perhaps nothing had been discovered; or if any +discovery had been made, perhaps he should be able to clear himself by +impudence and artful tricks, which were the only things he relied upon +for his deliverance. + +5. And with these hopes did he screen himself, till he came to the +palace, without any friends with him; for these were affronted, and shut +out at the first gate. Now Varus, the president of Syria, happened to +be in the palace [at this juncture]; so Antipater went in to his father, +and, putting on a bold face, he came near to salute him. But Herod +Stretched out his hands, and turned his head away from him, and cried +out, "Even this is an indication of a parricide, to be desirous to +get me into his arms, when he is under such heinous accusations. God +confound thee, thou vile wretch; do not thou touch me, till thou hast +cleared thyself of these crimes that are charged upon thee. I appoint +thee a court where thou art to be judged, and this Varus, who is very +seasonably here, to be thy judge; and get thou thy defense ready against +tomorrow, for I give thee so much time to prepare suitable excuses for +thyself." And as Antipater was so confounded, that he was able to make +no answer to this charge, he went away; but his mother and wife came +to him, and told him of all the evidence they had gotten against him. +Hereupon he recollected himself, and considered what defense he should +make against the accusations. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 32. + + + Antipater Is Accused Before Varus, And Is Convicted Of + Laying A Plot [Against His Father] By The Strongest + Evidence. Herod Puts Off His Punishment Till He Should Be + Recovered, And In The Mean Time Alters His Testament. + +1. Now the day following the king assembled a court of his kinsmen and +friends, and called in Antipater's friends also. Herod himself, with +Varus, were the presidents; and Herod called for all the witnesses, and +ordered them to be brought in; among whom some of the domestic servants +of Antipater's mother were brought in also, who had but a little while +before been caught, as they were carrying the following letter from her +to her son: "Since all those things have been already discovered to +thy father, do not thou come to him, unless thou canst procure some +assistance from Caesar." When this and the other witnesses were +introduced, Antipater came in, and falling on his face before his +father's feet, he said, "Father, I beseech thee, do not condemn me +beforehand, but let thy ears be unbiassed, and attend to my defense; for +if thou wilt give me leave, I will demonstrate that I am innocent." + +2. Hereupon Herod cried out to him to hold his peace, and spake thus +to Varus: "I cannot but think that thou, Varus, and every other upright +judge, will determine that Antipater is a vile wretch. I am also afraid +that thou wilt abhor my ill fortune, and judge me also myself worthy +of all sorts of calamity for begetting such children; while yet I ought +rather to be pitied, who have been so affectionate a father to such +wretched sons; for when I had settled the kingdom on my former sons, +even when they were young, and when, besides the charges of their +education at Rome, I had made them the friends of Caesar, and made them +envied by other kings, I found them plotting against me. These have been +put to death, and that, in great measure, for the sake of Antipater; +for as he was then young, and appointed to be my successor, I took care +chiefly to secure him from danger: but this profligate wild beast, when +he had been over and above satiated with that patience which I showed +him, he made use of that abundance I had given him against myself; for I +seemed to him to live too long, and he was very uneasy at the old age +I was arrived at; nor could he stay any longer, but would be a king by +parricide. And justly I am served by him for bringing him back out of +the country to court, when he was of no esteem before, and for thrusting +out those sons of mine that were born of the queen, and for making him a +successor to my dominions. I confess to thee, O Varus, the great folly I +was guilty for I provoked those sons of mine to act against me, and cut +off their just expectations for the sake of Antipater; and indeed what +kindness did I do them; that could equal what I have done to Antipater? +to I have, in a manner, yielded up my royal while I am alive, and whom I +have openly named for the successor to my dominions in my testament, and +given him a yearly revenue of his own of fifty talents, and supplied him +with money to an extravagant degree out of my own revenue; and' when +he was about to sail to Rome, I gave him three talents, and recommended +him, and him alone of all my children, to Caesar, as his father's +deliverer. Now what crimes were those other sons of mine guilty of like +these of Antipater? and what evidence was there brought against them so +strong as there is to demonstrate this son to have plotted against +me? Yet does this parricide presume to speak for himself, and hopes +to obscure the truth by his cunning tricks. Thou, O Varus, must guard +thyself against him; for I know the wild beast, and I foresee how +plausibly he will talk, and his counterfeit lamentation. This was he who +exhorted me to have a care of Alexander when he was alive, and not to +intrust my body with all men! This was he who came to my very bed, and +looked about lest any one should lay snares for me! This was he who took +care of my sleep, and secured me from fear of danger, who comforted me +under the trouble I was in upon the slaughter of my sons, and looked to +see what affection my surviving brethren bore me! This was my protector, +and the guardian of my body! And when I call to mind, O Varus, his +craftiness upon every occasion, and his art of dissembling, I can hardly +believe that I am still alive, and I wonder how I have escaped such a +deep plotter of mischief. However, since some fate or other makes my +house desolate, and perpetually raises up those that are dearest to me +against me, I will, with tears, lament my hard fortune, and privately +groan under my lonesome condition; yet am I resolved that no one who +thirsts after my blood shall escape punishment, although the evidence +should extend itself to all my sons." + +3. Upon Herod's saying this, he was interrupted by the confusion he was +in; but ordered Nicolaus, one of his friends, to produce the evidence +against Antipater. But in the mean time Antipater lifted up his head, +[for he lay on the ground before his father's feet,] and cried out +aloud, "Thou, O father, hast made my apology for me; for how can I be +a parricide, whom thou thyself confessest to have always had for +thy guardian? Thou callest my filial affection prodigious lies and +hypocrisy! how then could it be that I, who was so subtle in other +matters, should here be so mad as not to understand that it was not easy +that he who committed so horrid a crime should be concealed from men, +but impossible that he should be concealed from the Judge of heaven, who +sees all things, and is present every where? or did not I know what end +my brethren came to, on whom God inflicted so great a punishment for +their evil designs against thee? And indeed what was there that could +possibly provoke me against thee? Could the hope of being king do it? +I was a king already. Could I suspect hatred from thee? No. Was not I +beloved by thee? And what other fear could I have? Nay, by preserving +thee safe, I was a terror to others. Did I want money? No; for who was +able to expend so much as myself? Indeed, father, had I been the most +execrable of all mankind, and had I had the soul of the most cruel +wild beast, must I not have been overcome with the benefits thou hadst +bestowed upon me? whom, as thou thyself sayest, thou broughtest [into +the palace]; whom thou didst prefer before so many of thy sons; whom +thou madest a king in thine own lifetime, and, by the vast magnitude of +the other advantages thou bestowedst on me, thou madest me an object of +envy. O miserable man! that thou shouldst undergo this bitter absence, +and thereby afford a great opportunity for envy to arise against thee, +and a long space for such as were laying designs against thee! Yet was +I absent, father, on thy affairs, that Sylleus might not treat thee with +contempt in thine old age. Rome is a witness to my filial affection, and +so is Caesar, the ruler of the habitable earth, who oftentimes called me +Philopater. 47 Take here the letters he hath sent thee, they are more +to be believed than the calumnies raised here; these letters are my only +apology; these I use as the demonstration of that natural affection I +have to thee. Remember that it was against my own choice that I sailed +[to Rome], as knowing the latent hatred that was in the kingdom against +me. It was thou, O father, however unwillingly, who hast been my ruin, +by forcing me to allow time for calumnies against me, and envy at me. +However, I am come hither, and am ready to hear the evidence there +is against me. If I be a parricide, I have passed by land and by sea, +without suffering any misfortune on either of them: but this method of +trial is no advantage to me; for it seems, O father, that I am already +condemned, both before God and before thee; and as I am already +condemned, I beg that thou wilt not believe the others that have been +tortured, but let fire be brought to torment me; let the racks march +through my bowels; have no regard to any lamentations that this polluted +body can make; for if I be a parricide, I ought not to die without +torture." Thus did Antipater cry out with lamentation and weeping, and +moved all the rest, and Varus in particular, to commiserate his case. +Herod was the only person whose passion was too strong to permit him to +weep, as knowing that the testimonies against him were true. + +4. And now it was that, at the king's command, Nicolaus, when he +had premised a great deal about the craftiness of Antipater, and had +prevented the effects of their commiseration to him, afterwards +brought in a bitter and large accusation against him, ascribing all +the wickedness that had been in the kingdom to him, and especially the +murder of his brethren; and demonstrated that they had perished by the +calumnies he had raised against them. He also said that he had laid +designs against them that were still alive, as if they were laying plots +for the succession; and [said he] how can it be supposed that he who +prepared poison for his father should abstain from mischief as to his +brethren? He then proceeded to convict him of the attempt to poison +Herod, and gave an account in order of the several discoveries that +had been made; and had great indignation as to the affair of Pheroras, +because Antipater had been for making him murder his brother, and had +corrupted those that were dearest to the king, and filled the whole +palace with wickedness; and when he had insisted on many other +accusations, and the proofs for them, he left off. + +5. Then Varus bid Antipater make his defense; but he lay along in +silence, and said no more but this, "God is my witness that I am +entirely innocent." So Varus asked for the potion, and gave it to be +drunk by a condemned malefactor, who was then in prison, who died upon +the spot. So Varus, when he had had a very private discourse with Herod, +and had written an account of this assembly to Caesar, went away, after +a day's stay. The king also bound Antipater, and sent away to inform +Caesar of his misfortunes. + +6. Now after this it was discovered that Antipater had laid a plot +against Salome also; for one of Antiphilus's domestic servants came, +and brought letters from Rome, from a maid-servant of Julia, [Caesar's +wife,] whose name was Acme. By her a message was sent to the king, that +she had found a letter written by Salome, among Julia's papers, and had +sent it to him privately, out of her good-will to him. This letter of +Salome contained the most bitter reproaches of the king, and the highest +accusations against him. Antipater had forged this letter, and had +corrupted Acme, and persuaded her to send it to Herod. This was proved +by her letter to Antipater, for thus did this woman write to him: "As +thou desirest, I have written a letter to thy father, and have sent that +letter, and am persuaded that the king will not spare his sister when he +reads it. Thou wilt do well to remember what thou hast promised when all +is accomplished." + +7. When this epistle was discovered, and what the epistle forged against +Salome contained, a suspicion came into the king's mind, that perhaps +the letters against Alexander were also forged: he was moreover greatly +disturbed, and in a passion, because he had almost slain his sister on +Antipater's account. He did no longer delay therefore to bring him +to punishment for all his crimes; yet when he was eagerly pursuing +Antipater, he was restrained by a severe distemper he fell into. +However, he sent all account to Caesar about Acme, and the contrivances +against Salome; he sent also for his testament, and altered it, and +therein made Antipas king, as taking no care of Archelaus and Philip, +because Antipater had blasted their reputations with him; but he +bequeathed to Caesar, besides other presents that he gave him, a +thousand talents; as also to his wife, and children, and friends, and +freed-men about five hundred: he also bequeathed to all others a great +quantity of land, and of money, and showed his respects to Salome +his sister, by giving her most splendid gifts. And this was what was +contained in his testament, as it was now altered. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 33. + + + The Golden Eagle Is Cut To Pieces. Herod's Barbarity When He + Was Ready To Die. He Attempts To Kill Himself. He Commands + Antipater To Be Slain. He Survives Him Five Days And Then + Dies. + +1. Now Herod's distemper became more and more severe to him, and this +because these his disorders fell upon him in his old age, and when he +was in a melancholy condition; for he was already seventy years of age, +and had been brought by the calamities that happened to him about +his children, whereby he had no pleasure in life, even when he was in +health; the grief also that Antipater was still alive aggravated his +disease, whom he resolved to put to death now not at random, but as soon +as he should be well again, and resolved to have him slain [in a public +manner]. + +2. There also now happened to him, among his other calamities, a +certain popular sedition. There were two men of learning in the city +[Jerusalem,] who were thought the most skillful in the laws of their +country, and were on that account had in very great esteem all over the +nation; they were, the one Judas, the son of Sepphoris, and the other +Matthias, the son of Margalus. There was a great concourse of the young +men to these men when they expounded the laws, and there got together +every day a kind of an army of such as were growing up to be men. +Now when these men were informed that the king was wearing away +with melancholy, and with a distemper, they dropped words to their +acquaintance, how it was now a very proper time to defend the cause +of God, and to pull down what had been erected contrary to the laws of +their country; for it was unlawful there should be any such thing in +the temple as images, or faces, or the like representation of any animal +whatsoever. Now the king had put up a golden eagle over the great gate +of the temple, which these learned men exhorted them to cut down; and +told them, that if there should any danger arise, it was a glorious +thing to die for the laws of their country; because that the soul was +immortal, and that an eternal enjoyment of happiness did await such as +died on that account; while the mean-spirited, and those that were not +wise enough to show a right love of their souls, preferred a death by a +disease, before that which is the result of a virtuous behavior. + +3. At the same time that these men made this speech to their disciples, +a rumor was spread abroad that the king was dying, which made the +young men set about the work with greater boldness; they therefore let +themselves down from the top of the temple with thick cords, and this at +midday, and while a great number of people were in the temple, and cut +down that golden eagle with axes. This was presently told to the king's +captain of the temple, who came running with a great body of soldiers, +and caught about forty of the young men, and brought them to the king. +And when he asked them, first of all, whether they had been so hardy as +to cut down the golden eagle, they confessed they had done so; and when +he asked them by whose command they had done it, they replied, at the +command of the law of their country; and when he further asked them how +they could be so joyful when they were to be put to death, they replied, +because they should enjoy greater happiness after they were dead. 48 + +4. At this the king was in such an extravagant passion, that he overcame +his disease [for the time,] and went out, and spake to the people; +wherein he made a terrible accusation against those men, as being guilty +of sacrilege, and as making greater attempts under pretense of their +law, and he thought they deserved to be punished as impious persons. +Whereupon the people were afraid lest a great number should be found +guilty and desired that when he had first punished those that put them +upon this work, and then those that were caught in it, he would leave +off his anger as to the rest. With this the king complied, though not +without difficulty, and ordered those that had let themselves down, +together with their Rabbins, to be burnt alive, but delivered the rest +that were caught to the proper officers, to be put to death by them. + +5. After this, the distemper seized upon his whole body, and greatly +disordered all its parts with various symptoms; for there was a gentle +fever upon him, and an intolerable itching over all the surface of his +body, and continual pains in his colon, and dropsical turnouts about +his feet, and an inflammation of the abdomen, and a putrefaction of his +privy member, that produced worms. Besides which he had a difficulty of +breathing upon him, and could not breathe but when he sat upright, and +had a convulsion of all his members, insomuch that the diviners said +those diseases were a punishment upon him for what he had done to the +Rabbins. Yet did he struggle with his numerous disorders, and still +had a desire to live, and hoped for recovery, and considered of several +methods of cure. Accordingly, he went over Jordan, and made use of those +hot baths at Callirrhoe, which ran into the lake Asphaltites, but are +themselves sweet enough to be drunk. And here the physicians thought +proper to bathe his whole body in warm oil, by letting it down into a +large vessel full of oil; whereupon his eyes failed him, and he came and +went as if he was dying; and as a tumult was then made by his servants, +at their voice he revived again. Yet did he after this despair of +recovery, and gave orders that each soldier should have fifty drachmae +a-piece, and that his commanders and friends should have great sums of +money given them. + +6. He then returned back and came to Jericho, in such a melancholy state +of body as almost threatened him with present death, when he proceeded +to attempt a horrid wickedness; for he got together the most illustrious +men of the whole Jewish nation, out of every village, into a place +called the Hippodrome, and there shut them in. He then called for his +sister Salome, and her husband Alexas, and made this speech to them: +"I know well enough that the Jews will keep a festival upon my death +however, it is in my power to be mourned for on other accounts, and to +have a splendid funeral, if you will but be subservient to my commands. +Do you but take care to send soldiers to encompass these men that are +now in custody, and slay them immediately upon my death, and then all +Judea, and every family of them, will weep at it, whether they will or +no." + +7. These were the commands he gave them; when there came letters from +his ambassadors at Rome, whereby information was given that Acme was put +to death at Caesar's command, and that Antipater was condemned to die; +however, they wrote withal, that if Herod had a mind rather to banish +him, Caesar permitted him so to do. So he for a little while revived, +and had a desire to live; but presently after he was overborne by his +pains, and was disordered by want of food, and by a convulsive cough, +and endeavored to prevent a natural, death; so he took an apple, and +asked for a knife for he used to pare apples and eat them; he then +looked round about to see that there was nobody to hinder him, and lift +up his right hand as if he would stab himself; but Achiabus, his first +cousin, came running to him, and held his hand, and hindered him from +so doing; on which occasion a very great lamentation was made in the +palace, as if the king were expiring. As soon as ever Antipater heard +that, he took courage, and with joy in his looks, besought his keepers, +for a sum of money, to loose him and let him go; but the principal +keeper of the prison did not only obstruct him in that his intention, +but ran and told the king what his design was; hereupon the king cried +out louder than his distemper would well bear, and immediately sent some +of his guards and slew Antipater; he also gave order to have him +buried at Hyrcanium, and altered his testament again, and therein made +Archelaus, his eldest son, and the brother of Antipas, his successor, +and made Antipas tetrarch. + +8. So Herod, having survived the slaughter of his son five days, died, +having reigned thirty-four years since he had caused Antigonus to be +slain, and obtained his kingdom; but thirty-seven years since he had +been made king by the Romans. Now as for his fortune, it was prosperous +in all other respects, if ever any other man could be so, since, from a +private man, he obtained the kingdom, and kept it so long, and left +it to his own sons; but still in his domestic affairs he was a most +unfortunate man. Now, before the soldiers knew of his death, Salome and +her husband came out and dismissed those that were in bonds, whom the +king had commanded to be slain, and told them that he had altered his +mind, and would have every one of them sent to their own homes. When +these men were gone, Salome, told the soldiers [the king was dead], and +got them and the rest of the multitude together to an assembly, in the +amphitheater at Jericho, where Ptolemy, who was intrusted by the king +with his signet ring, came before them, and spake of the happiness the +king had attained, and comforted the multitude, and read the epistle +which had been left for the soldiers, wherein he earnestly exhorted them +to bear good-will to his successor; and after he had read the epistle, +he opened and read his testament, wherein Philip was to inherit +Trachonitis, and the neighboring countries, and Antipas was to be +tetrarch, as we said before, and Archelaus was made king. He had also +been commanded to carry Herod's ring to Caesar, and the settlements +he had made, sealed up, because Caesar was to be lord of all the +settlements he had made, and was to confirm his testament; and he +ordered that the dispositions he had made were to be kept as they were +in his former testament. + +9. So there was an acclamation made to Archelaus, to congratulate him +upon his advancement; and the soldiers, with the multitude, went round +about in troops, and promised him their good-will, and besides, prayed +God to bless his government. After this, they betook themselves to +prepare for the king's funeral; and Archelaus omitted nothing of +magnificence therein, but brought out all the royal ornaments to augment +the pomp of the deceased. There was a bier all of gold, embroidered with +precious stones, and a purple bed of various contexture, with the dead +body upon it, covered with purple; and a diadem was put upon his head, +and a crown of gold above it, and a sceptre in his right hand; and near +to the bier were Herod's sons, and a multitude of his kindred; next to +which came his guards, and the regiment of Thracians, the Germans also +and Gauls, all accounted as if they were going to war; but the rest of +the army went foremost, armed, and following their captains and officers +in a regular manner; after whom five hundred of his domestic servants +and freed-men followed, with sweet spices in their hands: and the body +was carried two hundred furlongs, to Herodium, where he had given order +to be buried. And this shall suffice for the conclusion of the life of +Herod. + +WAR BOOK 1 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ I see little difference in the several accounts in Josephus +about the Egyptian temple Onion, of which large complaints are made by +his commentators. Onias, it seems, hoped to have made it very like that +at Jerusalem, and of the same dimensions; and so he appears to have +really done, as far as he was able and thought proper. Of this temple, +see Antiq. B. XIII. ch. 3. sect. 1--3, and Of the War, B. VII. ch. 10. +sect. 8.] + + +2 (return) [ Why this John, the son of Simon, the high priest and +governor of the Jews, was called Hyrcanus, Josephus no where informs +us; nor is he called other than John at the end of the First Book of the +Maccabees. However, Sixtus Seuensis, when he gives us an epitome of +the Greek version of the book here abridged by Josephus, or of the +Chronicles of this John Hyrcanus, then extant, assures us that he was +called Hyrcanus from his conquest of one of that name. See Authent. Rec. +Part I. p. 207. But of this younger Antiochus, see Dean Aldrich's note +here.] + + +3 (return) [ Josephus here calls this Antiochus the last of the +Seleucidae, although there remained still a shadow of another king of +that family, Antiochus Asiaticus, or Commagenus, who reigned, or rather +lay hid, till Pompey quite turned him out, as Dean Aldrich here notes +from Appian and Justin.] + + +4 (return) [ Matthew 16:19; 18:18. Here we have the oldest and most +authentic Jewish exposition of binding and loosing, for punishing or +absolving men, not for declaring actions lawful or unlawful, as some +more modern Jews and Christians vainly pretend.] + + +5 (return) [ Strabo, B. XVI. p. 740, relates, that this Selene Cleopatra +was besieged by Tigranes, not in Ptolemais, as here, but after she had +left Syria, in Seleucia, a citadel in Mesopotamia; and adds, that when +he had kept her a while in prison, he put her to death. Dean Aldrich +supposes here that Strabo contradicts Josephus, which does not appear +to me; for although Josephus says both here and in the Antiquities, B. +XIII. ch. 16. sect. 4, that Tigranes besieged her now in Ptolemais, +and that he took the city, as the Antiquities inform us, yet does he +no where intimate that he now took the queen herself; so that both the +narrations of Strabo and Josephus may still be true notwithstanding.] + + +6 (return) [ That this Antipater, the father of Herod the Great was an +Idumean, as Josephus affirms here, see the note on Antiq. B. XIV. ch. +15. sect. 2. It is somewhat probable, as Hapercamp supposes, and partly +Spanheim also, that the Latin is here the truest; that Pompey did him +Hyrcanus, as he would have done the others from Aristobulus, sect. 6, +although his remarkable abstinence from the 2000 talents that were in +the Jewish temple, when he took it a little afterward, ch. 7. sect. 6, +and Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 4. sect. 4, will to Greek all which agree he did +not take them.] + + +7 (return) [ Of the famous palm trees and balsam about Jericho and +Engaddl, see the notes in Havercamp's edition, both here and B. II. ch. +9. sect. 1. They are somewhat too long to be transcribed in this place.] + + +8 (return) [ Thus says Tacitus: Cn. Pompelna first of all subdued the +Jews, and went into their temple, by right of conquest, Hist. B. V. +ch. 9. Nor did he touch any of its riches, as has been observed on the +parallel place of the Antiquities, B. XIV. ch. 4. sect. 4, out of Cicero +himself.] + + +9 (return) [ The coin of this Gadara, still extant, with its date from +this era, is a certain evidence of this its rebuilding by Pompey, as +Spanheim here assures us.] + + +10 (return) [ Take the like attestation to the truth of this submission +of Aretas, king of Arabia, to Scaurus the Roman general, in the words of +Dean Aldrich. "Hence [says he] is derived that old and famous Denarius +belonging to the Emillian family [represented in Havercamp's edition], +wherein Aretas appears in a posture of supplication, and taking hold of +a camel's bridle with his left hand, and with his right hand presenting +a branch of the frankincense tree, with this inscription, M. SCAURUS EX +S.C.; and beneath, REX ARETAS."] + + +11 (return) [ This citation is now wanting.] + + +12 (return) [ What is here noted by Hudson and Spanheim, that this grant +of leave to rebuild the walls of the cities of Judea was made by Julius +Caesar, not as here to Antipater, but to Hyrcanas, Antiq. B. XIV. ch. +8. sect. 5, has hardly an appearance of a contradiction; Antipater being +now perhaps considered only as Hyrcanus's deputy and minister; although +he afterwards made a cipher of Hyrcanus, and, under great decency of +behavior to him, took the real authority to himself.] + + +13 (return) [ Or twenty-five years of age. See note on Antiq. B. I. ch. +12. sect. 3; and on B. XIV. ch. 9. sect. 2; and Of the War, B. II. +ch. 11. sect. 6; and Polyb. B. XVII. p. 725. Many writers of the Roman +history give an account of this murder of Sextus Caesar, and of the war +of Apamia upon that occasion. They are cited in Dean Aldrich's note.] + + +14 (return) [ In the Antiquities, B. XIV. ch. 11. sect. 1, the duration +of the reign of Julius Caesar is three years six months; but here three +years seven months, beginning nightly, says Dean Aldrich, from his +second dictatorship. It is probable the real duration might be three +years and between six and seven months.] + + +15 (return) [ It appears evidently by Josephus's accounts, both here and +in his Antiquities, B. XIV. ch. 11. sect. 2, that this Cassius, one of +Caesar's murderers, was a bitter oppressor, and exactor of tribute +in Judea. These seven hundred talents amount to about three hundred +thousand pounds sterling, and are about half the yearly revenues of king +Herod afterwards. See the note on Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 11. sect. 4. It +also appears that Galilee then paid no more than one hundred talents, or +the seventh part of the entire sum to be levied in all the country.] + + +16 (return) [ Here we see that Cassius set tyrants over all Syria; so +that his assisting to destroy Caesar does not seem to have proceeded +from his true zeal for public liberty, but from a desire to be a tyrant +himself.] + + +17 (return) [ Phasaelus and Herod.] + + +18 (return) [ This large and noted wood, or woodland, belonging +to Carmel, called Apago by the Septuagint, is mentioned in the Old +Testament, 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 37:24, and by I Strabo, B. XVI. p. 758, +as both Aldrich and Spanheim here remark very pertinently.] + + +19 (return) [ These accounts, both here and Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 13. sect. +5, that the Parthians fought chiefly on horseback, and that only +some few of their soldiers were free-men, perfectly agree with Trogus +Pompeius, in Justin, B. XLI. 2, 3, as Dean Aldrich well observes on this +place.] + + +20 (return) [ Mariamac here, in the copies.] + + +21 (return) [ This Brentesium or Brundusium has coin still preserved, on +which is written, as Spanheim informs us.] + + +22 (return) [ This Dellius is famous, or rather infamous, in the history +of Mark Antony, as Spanheim and Aldrich here note, from the coins, from +Plutarch and Dio.] + + +23 (return) [ This Sepphoris, the metropolis of Galilee, so often +mentioned by Josephus, has coins still remaining, as Spanheim here +informs us.] + + +24 (return) [ This way of speaking, "after forty days," is interpreted +by Josephus himself, "on the fortieth day," Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 15. sect. +4. In like manner, when Josephus says, ch. 33. sect. 8, that Herod lived +"after" he had ordered Antipater to be slain "five days;" this is by +himself interpreted, Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 8. sect. 1, that he died "on +the fifth day afterward." So also what is in this book, ch. 13. sect. +1, "after two years," is, Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 13. sect. 3, "on the second +year." And Dean Aldrich here notes that this way of speaking is familiar +to Josephus.] + + +25 (return) [ This Samosata, the metropolis of Commagena, is well known +from its coins, as Spanheim here assures us. Dean Aldrich also confirms +what Josephus here notes, that Herod was a great means of taking the +city by Antony, and that from Plutarch and Dio.] + + +26 (return) [ That is, a woman, not, a man.] + + +27 (return) [ This death of Antigonus is confirmed by Plutarch and. +Straho; the latter of whom is cited for it by Josephus himself, Antiq. +B. XV. ch. 1. sect. 2, as Dean Aldrich here observes.] + + +28 (return) [ This ancient liberty of Tyre and Sidon under the Romans, +taken notice of by Josephus, both here and Antiq. B. XV. ch. 4. sect. 1, +is confirmed by the testimony of Sirabe, B. XVI. p. 757, as Dean Aldrich +remarks; although, as he justly adds, this liberty lasted but a little +while longer, when Augtus took it away from them.] + + +29 (return) [ This seventh year of the reign of Herod [from the conquest +or death of Antigonus], with the great earthquake in the beginning of +the same spring, which are here fully implied to be not much before the +fight at Actium, between Octavius and Antony, and which is known from +the Roman historians to have been in the beginning of September, in the +thirty-first year before the Christian era, determines the chronology +of Josephus as to the reign of Herod, viz. that he began in the year 37, +beyond rational contradiction. Nor is it quite unworthy of our notice, +that this seventh year of the reign of Herod, or the thirty-first before +the Christian era, contained the latter part of a Sabbatic year, on +which Sabbatic year, therefore, it is plain this great earthquake +happened in Judea.] + + +30 (return) [ This speech of Herod is set down twice by Josephus, here +and Antiq. B. XV. ch. 5. sect. 3, to the very same purpose, but by no +means in the same words; whence it appears that the sense was Herod's, +but the composition Josephus's.] + + +31 (return) [ Since Josephus, both here and in his Antiq. B. XV. ch. +7. sect. 3, reckons Gaza, which had been a free city, among the cities +given Herod by Augustus, and yet implies that Herod had made Costobarus +a governor of it before, Antiq. B. XV. ch. 7. sect. 9, Hardain has some +pretense for saying that Josephus here contradicted himself. But perhaps +Herod thought he had sufficient authority to put a governor into Gaza, +after he was made tetrarch or king, in times of war, before the city was +entirely delivered into his hands by Augustus.] + + +32 (return) [ This fort was first built, as it is supposed, by John +Hyrcanus; see Prid. at the year 107; and called "Baris," the Tower or +Citadel. It was afterwards rebuilt, with great improvements, by Herod, +under the government of Antonius, and was named from him "the Tower of +Antoni;" and about the time when Herod rebuilt the temple, he seems to +have put his last hand to it. See Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 5. sect. 4; Of +the War, B. I. ch. 3. sect. 3; ch. 5. sect. 4. It lay on the northwest +side of the temple, and was a quarter as large.] + + +33 (return) [ That Josephus speaks truth, when he assures us that the +haven of this Cesarea was made by Herod not less, nay rather larger, +than that famous haven at Athens, called the Pyrecum, will appear, says +Dean Aldrich, to him who compares the descriptions of that at Athens in +Thucydides and Pausanias, with this of Cesarea in Josephus here, and in +the Antiq. B. XV. ch. 9. sect. 6, and B. XVII. ch. 9. sect. 1.] + + +34 (return) [ These buildings of cities by the name of Caesar, and +institution of solemn games in honor of Augustus Caesar, as here, and +in the Antiquities, related of Herod by Josephus, the Roman historians +attest to, as things then frequent in the provinces of that empire, as +Dean Aldrich observes on this chapter.] + + +35 (return) [ There were two cities, or citadels, called Herodium, in +Judea, and both mentioned by Josephus, not only here, but Antiq. B. XIV. +ch. 13. sect. 9; B. XV. ch. 9. sect. 6; Of the War, B. I. ch. 13. sect. +8; B. III. ch. 3. sect. 5. One of them was two hundred, and the other +sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem. One of them is mentioned by +Pliny, Hist. Nat. B. V. ch. 14., as Dean Aldrich observes here.] + + +36 (return) [ Here seems to be a small defect in the copies, which +describe the wild beasts which were hunted in a certain country by +Herod, without naming any such country at all.] + + +37 (return) [ Here is either a defect or a great mistake in Josephus's +present copies or memory; for Mariamne did not now reproach Herod with +this his first injunction to Joseph to kill her, if he himself were +slain by Antony, but that he had given the like command a second time +to Soemus also, when he was afraid of being slain by Augustus. Antiq. B. +XV. ch. 3. sect. 5, etc.] + + +38 (return) [ That this island Eleusa, afterward called Sebaste, +near Cilicia, had in it the royal palace of this Archelaus, king of +Cappadocia, Strabo testifies, B. XV. p. 671. Stephanus of Byzantiam +also calls it "an island of Cilicia, which is now Sebaste;" both whose +testimonies are pertinently cited here by Dr. Hudson. See the same +history, Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 10. sect. 7.] + + +39 (return) [ That it was an immemorial custom among the Jews, and their +forefathers, the patriarchs, to have sometimes more wives or wives and +concubines, than one at the same the and that this polygamy was not +directly forbidden in the law of Moses is evident; but that polygamy +was ever properly and distinctly permitted in that law of Moses, in the +places here cited by Dean Aldrich, Deuteronomy 17:16, 17, or 21:15, or +indeed any where else, does not appear to me. And what our Savior says +about the common Jewish divorces, which may lay much greater claim to +such a permission than polygamy, seems to me true in this case also; +that Moses, "for the hardness of their hearts," suffered them to have +several wives at the same time, but that "from the beginning it was not +so," Matthew 19:8; Mark 10:5.] + + +40 (return) [ This vile fellow, Eurycles the Lacedemonian, seems to +have been the same who is mentioned by Plutarch, as [twenty-live years +before] a companion to Mark Antony, and as living with Herod; whence he +might easily insinuate himself into the acquaintance of Herod's sons, +Antipater and Alexander, as Usher, Hudson, and Spanheim justly suppose. +The reason why his being a Spartan rendered him acceptable to the Jews +as we here see he was, is visible from the public records of the Jews +and Spartans, owning those Spartans to be of kin to the Jews, and +derived from their common ancestor Abraham, the first patriarch of the +Jewish nation, Antiq. B. XII. ch. 4. sect. 10; B. XIII. ch. 5. sect. 8; +and 1 Macc. 12:7.] + + +41 (return) [ See the preceding note.] + + +42 (return) [ Dean Aldrich takes notice here, that these nine wives of +Herod were alive at the same time; and that if the celebrated Mariamne, +who was now dead, be reckoned, those wives were in all ten. Yet it is +remarkable that he had no more than fifteen children by them all.] + + +43 (return) [ To prevent confusion, it may not be amiss, with Dean +Aldrich, to distinguish between four Josephs in the history of Herod. +1. Joseph, Herod's uncle, and the [second] husband of his sister Salome, +slain by Herod, on account of Mariamne. 2. Joseph, Herod's quaestor, or +treasurer, slain on the same account. 3. Joseph, Herod's brother, slain +in battle against Antigonus. 4. Joseph, Herod's nephew, the husband of +Olympias, mentioned in this place.] + + +44 (return) [ These daughters of Herod, whom Pheroras's wife affronted, +were Salome and Roxana, two virgins, who were born to him of his two +wives, Elpide and Phedra. See Herod's genealogy, Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 1. +sect. 3.] + + +45 (return) [ This strange obstinacy of Pheroras in retaining his wife, +who was one of a low family, and refusing to marry one nearly related to +Herod, though he so earnestly desired it, as also that wife's admission +to the counsels of the other great court ladies, together with Herod's +own importunity as to Pheroras's divorce and other marriage, all so +remarkable here, or in the Antiquities XVII. ch. 2. sect. 4; and ch. 3. +be well accounted for, but on the supposal that Pheroras believed, and +Herod suspected, that the Pharisees' prediction, as if the crown of +Judea should be translated from Herod to Pheroras's posterity and that +most probably to Pheroras's posterity by this his wife, also would prove +true. See Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 2. sect. 4; and ch. 3. sect. 1.] + + +46 (return) [ This Tarentum has coins still extant, as Reland informs us +here in his note.] + + +47 (return) [ A lover of his father.] + + +48 (return) [ Since in these two sections we have an evident account of +the Jewish opinions in the days of Josephus, about a future happy state, +and the resurrection of the dead, as in the New Testament, John 11:24, +I shall here refer to the other places in Josephus, before he became a +catholic Christian, which concern the same matters. Of the War, B. II. +ch. 8. sect. 10, 11; B. III. ch. 8. sect. 4; B. VII. ch. 6. sect. 7; +Contr. Apion, B. II. sect. 30; where we may observe, that none of these +passages are in his Books of Antiquities, written peculiarly for the use +of the Gentiles, to whom he thought it not proper to insist on topics +so much out of their way as these were. Nor is this observation to be +omitted here, especially on account of the sensible difference we +have now before us in Josephus's reason of the used by the Rabbins to +persuade their scholars to hazard their lives for the vindication of +God's law against images, by Moses, as well as of the answers those +scholars made to Herod, when they were caught, and ready to die for +the same; I mean as compared with the parallel arguments and answers +represented in the Antiquities, B. XVII. ch. 6. sect, 2, 3. A like +difference between Jewish and Gentile notions the reader will find in my +notes on Antiquities, B. III. ch. 7. sect. 7; B. XV. ch. 9. sect. 1. See +the like also in the case of the three Jewish sects in the Antiquities, +B. XIII. ch. 5. sect. 9, and ch. 10. sect. 4, 5; B. XVIII. ch. 1. sect. +5; and compared with this in his Wars of the Jews, B. II. ch. 8. sect. +2-14. Nor does St. Paul himself reason to Gentiles at Athens, Acts +17:16-34, as he does to Jews in his Epistles.] + + + + + + + +BOOK II. + + + Containing The Interval Of Sixty-Nine Years. + + From The Death Of Herod Till Vespasian Was Sent To Subdue + The Jews By Nero. + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + Archelaus Makes A Funeral Feast For The People, On The + Account Of Herod. After Which A Great Tumult Is Raised By + The Multitude And He Sends The Soldiers Out Upon Them, Who + Destroy About Three Thousand Of Them. + +1. Now the necessity which Archelaus was under of taking a journey to +Rome was the occasion of new disturbances; for when he had mourned for +his father seven days, 1 and had given a very expensive funeral feast to +the multitude, [which custom is the occasion of poverty to many of the +Jews, because they are forced to feast the multitude; for if any one +omits it, he is not esteemed a holy person,] he put on a white garment, +and went up to the temple, where the people accosted him with various +acclamations. He also spake kindly to the multitude from an elevated +seat and a throne of gold, and returned them thanks for the zeal they +had shown about his father's funeral, and the submission they had made +to him, as if he were already settled in the kingdom; but he told them +withal, that he would not at present take upon him either the authority +of a king, or the names thereto belonging, until Caesar, who is made +lord of this whole affair by the testament, confirm the succession; for +that when the soldiers would have set the diadem on his head at Jericho, +he would not accept of it; but that he would make abundant requitals, +not to the soldiers only, but to the people, for their alacrity and +good-will to him, when the superior lords [the Romans] should have given +him a complete title to the kingdom; for that it should be his study to +appear in all things better than his father. + +2. Upon this the multitude were pleased, and presently made a trial of +what he intended, by asking great things of him; for some made a clamor +that he would ease them in their taxes; others, that he would take off +the duties upon commodities; and some, that he would loose those +that were in prison; in all which cases he answered readily to their +satisfaction, in order to get the good-will of the multitude; after +which he offered [the proper] sacrifices, and feasted with his friends. +And here it was that a great many of those that desired innovations +came in crowds towards the evening, and began then to mourn on their own +account, when the public mourning for the king was over. These lamented +those that were put to death by Herod, because they had cut down the +golden eagle that had been over the gate of the temple. Nor was this +mourning of a private nature, but the lamentations were very great, the +mourning solemn, and the weeping such as was loudly heard all over the +city, as being for those men who had perished for the laws of their +country, and for the temple. They cried out that a punishment ought to +be inflicted for these men upon those that were honored by Herod; and +that, in the first place, the man whom he had made high priest should +be deprived; and that it was fit to choose a person of greater piety and +purity than he was. + +3. At these clamors Archelaus was provoked, but restrained himself from +taking vengeance on the authors, on account of the haste he was in of +going to Rome, as fearing lest, upon his making war on the multitude, +such an action might detain him at home. Accordingly, he made trial to +quiet the innovators by persuasion, rather than by force, and sent his +general in a private way to them, and by him exhorted them to be quiet. +But the seditious threw stones at him, and drove him away, as he came +into the temple, and before he could say any thing to them. The like +treatment they showed to others, who came to them after him, many of +which were sent by Archelaus, in order to reduce them to sobriety, and +these answered still on all occasions after a passionate manner; and it +openly appeared that they would not be quiet, if their numbers were but +considerable. And indeed, at the feast of unleavened bread, which was +now at hand, and is by the Jews called the Passover, and used to be +celebrated with a great number of sacrifices, an innumerable multitude +of the people came out of the country to worship; some of these stood +in the temple bewailing the Rabbins [that had been put to death], +and procured their sustenance by begging, in order to support their +sedition. At this Archelaus was affrighted, and privately sent a +tribune, with his cohort of soldiers, upon them, before the disease +should spread over the whole multitude, and gave orders that they should +constrain those that began the tumult, by force, to be quiet. At these +the whole multitude were irritated, and threw stones at many of the +soldiers, and killed them; but the tribune fled away wounded, and had +much ado to escape so. After which they betook themselves to their +sacrifices, as if they had done no mischief; nor did it appear to +Archelaus that the multitude could be restrained without bloodshed; so +he sent his whole army upon them, the footmen in great multitudes, by +the way of the city, and the horsemen by the way of the plain, who, +falling upon them on the sudden, as they were offering their sacrifices, +destroyed about three thousand of them; but the rest of the multitude +were dispersed upon the adjoining mountains: these were followed by +Archelaus's heralds, who commanded every one to retire to their own +homes, whither they all went, and left the festival. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + Archelaus Goes To Rome With A Great Number Of His Kindred. + He Is There Accused Before Caesar By Antipater; But Is + Superior To His Accusers In Judgment By The Means Of That + Defense Which Nicolaus Made For Him. + +1. Archelaus went down now to the sea-side, with his mother and his +friends, Poplas, and Ptolemy, and Nicolaus, and left behind him Philip, +to be his steward in the palace, and to take care of his domestic +affairs. Salome went also along with him with her sons, as did also the +king's brethren and sons-in-law. These, in appearance, went to give him +all the assistance they were able, in order to secure his succession, +but in reality to accuse him for his breach of the laws by what he had +done at the temple. + +2. But as they were come to Cesarea, Sabinus, the procurator of Syria, +met them; he was going up to Judea, to secure Herod's effects; but +Varus, [president of Syria,] who was come thither, restrained him from +going any farther. This Varus Archelaus had sent for, by the earnest +entreaty of Ptolemy. At this time, indeed, Sabinus, to gratify Varus, +neither went to the citadels, nor did he shut up the treasuries where +his father's money was laid up, but promised that he would lie still, +until Caesar should have taken cognizance of the affair. So he abode at +Cesarea; but as soon as those that were his hinderance were gone, +when Varus was gone to Antioch, and Archelaus was sailed to Rome, he +immediately went on to Jerusalem, and seized upon the palace. And when +he had called for the governors of the citadels, and the stewards [of +the king's private affairs], he tried to sift out the accounts of the +money, and to take possession of the citadels. But the governors of +those citadels were not unmindful of the commands laid upon them by +Archelaus, and continued to guard them, and said the custody of them +rather belonged to Caesar than to Archelaus. + +3. In the mean time, Antipas went also to Rome, to strive for the +kingdom, and to insist that the former testament, wherein he was named +to be king, was valid before the latter testament. Salome had also +promised to assist him, as had many of Archelaus's kindred, who sailed +along with Archelaus himself also. He also carried along with him his +mother, and Ptolemy, the brother of Nicolaus, who seemed one of great +weight, on account of the great trust Herod put in him, he having been +one of his most honored friends. However, Antipas depended chiefly +upon Ireneus, the orator; upon whose authority he had rejected such as +advised him to yield to Archelaus, because he was his elder brother, and +because the second testament gave the kingdom to him. The inclinations +also of all Archelaus's kindred, who hated him, were removed to Antipas, +when they came to Rome; although in the first place every one rather +desired to live under their own laws [without a king], and to be under +a Roman governor; but if they should fail in that point, these desired +that Antipas might be their king. + +4. Sabinus did also afford these his assistance to the same purpose by +letters he sent, wherein he accused Archelaus before Caesar, and highly +commended Antipas. Salome also, and those with her, put the crimes which +they accused Archelaus of in order, and put them into Caesar's hands; +and after they had done that, Archelaus wrote down the reasons of his +claim, and, by Ptolemy, sent in his father's ring, and his father's +accounts. And when Caesar had maturely weighed by himself what both had +to allege for themselves, as also had considered of the great burden of +the kingdom, and largeness of the revenues, and withal the number of the +children Herod had left behind him, and had moreover read the letters he +had received from Varus and Sabinus on this occasion, he assembled the +principal persons among the Romans together, [in which assembly Caius, +the son of Agrippa, and his daughter Julias, but by himself adopted +for his own son, sat in the first seat,] and gave the pleaders leave to +speak. + +5. Then stood up Salome's son, Antipater, [who of all Archelaus's +antagonists was the shrewdest pleader,] and accused him in the following +speech: That Archelaus did in words contend for the kingdom, but that +in deeds he had long exercised royal authority, and so did but insult +Caesar in desiring to be now heard on that account, since he had not +staid for his determination about the succession, and since he had +suborned certain persons, after Herod's death, to move for putting the +diadem upon his head; since he had set himself down in the throne, and +given answers as a king, and altered the disposition of the army, and +granted to some higher dignities; that he had also complied in all +things with the people in the requests they had made to him as to their +king, and had also dismissed those that had been put into bonds by his +father for most important reasons. Now, after all this, he desires the +shadow of that royal authority, whose substance he had already seized to +himself, and so hath made Caesar lord, not of things, but of words. He +also reproached him further, that his mourning for his father was only +pretended, while he put on a sad countenance in the day time, but drank +to great excess in the night; from which behavior, he said, the late +disturbance among the multitude came, while they had an indignation +thereat. And indeed the purport of his whole discourse was to aggravate +Archelaus's crime in slaying such a multitude about the temple, which +multitude came to the festival, but were barbarously slain in the midst +of their own sacrifices; and he said there was such a vast number of +dead bodies heaped together in the temple, as even a foreign war, that +should come upon them [suddenly], before it was denounced, could not +have heaped together. And he added, that it was the foresight his father +had of that his barbarity which made him never give him any hopes of the +kingdom, but when his mind was more infirm than his body, and he was not +able to reason soundly, and did not well know what was the character of +that son, whom in his second testament he made his successor; and this +was done by him at a time when he had no complaints to make of him whom +he had named before, when he was sound in body, and when his mind was +free from all passion. That, however, if any one should suppose Herod's +judgment, when he was sick, was superior to that at another time, yet +had Archelaus forfeited his kingdom by his own behavior, and those his +actions, which were contrary to the law, and to its disadvantage. +Or what sort of a king will this man be, when he hath obtained the +government from Caesar, who hath slain so many before he hath obtained +it! + +6. When Antipater had spoken largely to this purpose, and had produced a +great number of Archelaus's kindred as witnesses, to prove every part of +the accusation, he ended his discourse. Then stood up Nicolaus to plead +for Archelaus. He alleged that the slaughter in the temple could not +be avoided; that those that were slain were become enemies not to +Archelaus's kingdom, only, but to Caesar, who was to determine about +him. He also demonstrated that Archelaus's accusers had advised him +to perpetrate other things of which he might have been accused. But he +insisted that the latter testament should, for this reason, above all +others, be esteemed valid, because Herod had therein appointed Caesar to +be the person who should confirm the succession; for he who showed such +prudence as to recede from his own power, and yield it up to the lord +of the world, cannot be supposed mistaken in his judgment about him +that was to be his heir; and he that so well knew whom to choose for +arbitrator of the succession could not be unacquainted with him whom he +chose for his successor. + +7. When Nicolaus had gone through all he had to say, Archelaus came, +and fell down before Caesar's knees, without any noise;--upon which he +raised him up, after a very obliging manner, and declared that truly +he was worthy to succeed his father. However, he still made no firm +determination in his case; but when he had dismissed those assessors +that had been with him that day, he deliberated by himself about the +allegations which he had heard, whether it were fit to constitute any +of those named in the testaments for Herod's successor, or whether the +government should be parted among all his posterity, and this because of +the number of those that seemed to stand in need of support therefrom. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + The Jews Fight A Great Battle With Sabinus's Soldiers, And A + Great Destruction Is Made At Jerusalem. + +1. Now before Caesar had determined any thing about these affairs, +Malthace, Arehelaus's mother, fell sick and died. Letters also were +brought out of Syria from Varus, about a revolt of the Jews. This was +foreseen by Varus, who accordingly, after Archelaus was sailed, went +up to Jerusalem to restrain the promoters of the sedition, since it was +manifest that the nation would not be at rest; so he left one of those +legions which he brought with him out of Syria in the city, and went +himself to Antioch. But Sabinus came, after he was gone, and gave them +an occasion of making innovations; for he compelled the keepers of the +citadels to deliver them up to him, and made a bitter search after the +king's money, as depending not only on the soldiers which were left by +Varus, but on the multitude of his own servants, all which he armed and +used as the instruments of his covetousness. Now when that feast, which +was observed after seven weeks, and which the Jews called Pentecost, [i. +e. the 50th day,] was at hand, its name being taken from the number +of the days [after the passover], the people got together, but not on +account of the accustomed Divine worship, but of the indignation they +had ['at the present state of affairs']. Wherefore an immense multitude +ran together, out of Galilee, and Idumea, and Jericho, and Perea, that +was beyond Jordan; but the people that naturally belonged to Judea +itself were above the rest, both in number, and in the alacrity of the +men. So they distributed themselves into three parts, and pitched their +camps in three places; one at the north side of the temple, another at +the south side, by the Hippodrome, and the third part were at the palace +on the west. So they lay round about the Romans on every side, and +besieged them. + +2. Now Sabinus was affrighted, both at their multitude, and at their +courage, and sent messengers to Varus continually, and besought him to +come to his succor quickly; for that if he delayed, his legion would be +cut to pieces. As for Sabinus himself, he got up to the highest tower +of the fortress, which was called Phasaelus; it is of the same name with +Herod's brother, who was destroyed by the Parthians; and then he made +signs to the soldiers of that legion to attack the enemy; for his +astonishment was so great, that he durst not go down to his own men. +Hereupon the soldiers were prevailed upon, and leaped out into the +temple, and fought a terrible battle with the Jews; in which, while +there were none over their heads to distress them, they were too hard +for them, by their skill, and the others' want of skill, in war; but +when once many of the Jews had gotten up to the top of the cloisters, +and threw their darts downwards, upon the heads of the Romans, +there were a great many of them destroyed. Nor was it easy to avenge +themselves upon those that threw their weapons from on high, nor was it +more easy for them to sustain those who came to fight them hand to hand. + +3. Since therefore the Romans were sorely afflicted by both these +circumstances, they set fire to the cloisters, which were works to be +admired, both on account of their magnitude and costliness. Whereupon +those that were above them were presently encompassed with the flame, +and many of them perished therein; as many of them also were destroyed +by the enemy, who came suddenly upon them; some of them also threw +themselves down from the walls backward, and some there were who, from +the desperate condition they were in, prevented the fire, by killing +themselves with their own swords; but so many of them as crept out from +the walls, and came upon the Romans, were easily mastered by them, by +reason of the astonishment they were under; until at last some of the +Jews being destroyed, and others dispersed by the terror they were in, +the soldiers fell upon the treasure of God, which was now deserted, and +plundered about four hundred talents, Of which sum Sabinus got together +all that was not carried away by the soldiers. + +4. However, this destruction of the works [about the temple], and of the +men, occasioned a much greater number, and those of a more warlike sort, +to get together, to oppose the Romans. These encompassed the palace +round, and threatened to deploy all that were in it, unless they went +their ways quickly; for they promised that Sabinus should come to no +harm, if he would go out with his legion. There were also a great many +of the king's party who deserted the Romans, and assisted the Jews; yet +did the most warlike body of them all, who were three thousand of the +men of Sebaste, go over to the Romans. Rufus also, and Gratus, their +captains, did the same, [Gratus having the foot of the king's party +under him, and Rufus the horse,] each of whom, even without the forces +under them, were of great weight, on account of their strength and +wisdom, which turn the scales in war. Now the Jews in the siege, and +tried to break down walls of the fortress, and cried out to Sabinus and +his party, that they should go their ways, and not prove a hinderance to +them, now they hoped, after a long time, to recover that ancient liberty +which their forefathers had enjoyed. Sabinus indeed was well contented +to get out of the danger he was in, but he distrusted the assurances the +Jews gave him, and suspected such gentle treatment was but a bait laid +as a snare for them: this consideration, together with the hopes he had +of succor from Varus, made him bear the siege still longer. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + Herod's Veteran Soldiers Become Tumultuous. The Robberies Of + Judas. Simon And Athronoeus Take The Name Of King Upon Them. + +1. At this time there were great disturbances in the country, and that +in many places; and the opportunity that now offered itself induced a +great many to set up for kings. And indeed in Idumea two thousand of +Herod's veteran soldiers got together, and armed and fought against +those of the king's party; against whom Achiabus, the king's first +cousin, fought, and that out of some of the places that were the most +strongly fortified; but so as to avoid a direct conflict with them in +the plains. In Sepphoris also, a city of Galilee, there was one Judas +[the son of that arch-robber Hezekias, who formerly overran the country, +and had been subdued by king Herod]; this man got no small multitude +together, and brake open the place where the royal armor was laid up, +and armed those about him, and attacked those that were so earnest to +gain the dominion. + +2. In Perea also, Simon, one of the servants to the king, relying upon +the handsome appearance and tallness of his body, put a diadem upon his +own head also; he also went about with a company of robbers that he had +gotten together, and burnt down the royal palace that was at Jericho, +and many other costly edifices besides, and procured himself very easily +spoils by rapine, as snatching them out of the fire. And he had soon +burnt down all the fine edifices, if Gratus, the captain of the foot +of the king's party, had not taken the Trachonite archers, and the +most warlike of Sebaste, and met the man. His footmen were slain in the +battle in abundance; Gratus also cut to pieces Simon himself, as he was +flying along a strait valley, when he gave him an oblique stroke upon +his neck, as he ran away, and brake it. The royal palaces that were +near Jordan at Betharamptha were also burnt down by some other of the +seditious that came out of Perea. + +3. At this time it was that a certain shepherd ventured to set himself +up for a king; he was called Athrongeus. It was his strength of body +that made him expect such a dignity, as well as his soul, which despised +death; and besides these qualifications, he had four brethren like +himself. He put a troop of armed men under each of these his brethren, +and made use of them as his generals and commanders, when he made his +incursions, while he did himself act like a king, and meddled only with +the more important affairs; and at this time he put a diadem about his +head, and continued after that to overrun the country for no little time +with his brethren, and became their leader in killing both the Romans +and those of the king's party; nor did any Jew escape him, if any gain +could accrue to him thereby. He once ventured to encompass a whole troop +of Romans at Emmaus, who were carrying corn and weapons to their legion; +his men therefore shot their arrows and darts, and thereby slew their +centurion Arius, and forty of the stoutest of his men, while the rest +of them, who were in danger of the same fate, upon the coming of Gratus, +with those of Sebaste, to their assistance, escaped. And when these +men had thus served both their own countrymen and foreigners, and that +through this whole war, three of them were, after some time, subdued; +the eldest by Archelaus, the two next by falling into the hands of +Gratus and Ptolemeus; but the fourth delivered himself up to Archelaus, +upon his giving him his right hand for his security. However, this their +end was not till afterward, while at present they filled all Judea with +a piratic war. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + + + Varus Composes The Tumults In Judea And Crucifies About Two + Thousand Of The Seditious. + +1. Upon Varus's reception of the letters that were written by Sabinus +and the captains, he could not avoid being afraid for the whole legion +[he had left there]. So he made haste to their relief, and took with +him the other two legions, with the four troops of horsemen to them +belonging, and marched to Ptolenlais; having given orders for the +auxiliaries that were sent by the kings and governors of cities to +meet him there. Moreover, he received from the people of Berytus, as he +passed through their city, fifteen hundred armed men. Now as soon as the +other body of auxiliaries were come to Ptolemais, as well as Aretas the +Arabian, [who, out of the hatred he bore to Herod, brought a great army +of horse and foot,] Varus sent a part of his army presently to Galilee, +which lay near to Ptolemais, and Caius, one of his friends, for their +captain. This Caius put those that met him to flight, and took the city +Sepphoris, and burnt it, and made slaves of its inhabitants; but as for +Varus himself, he marched to Samaria with his whole army, where he did +not meddle with the city itself, because he found that it had made no +commotion during these troubles, but pitched his camp about a certain +village which was called Aras. It belonged to Ptolemy, and on that +account was plundered by the Arabians, who were very angry even at +Herod's friends also. He thence marched on to the village Sampho, +another fortified place, which they plundered, as they had done the +other. As they carried off all the money they lighted upon belonging +to the public revenues, all was now full of fire and blood-shed, and +nothing could resist the plunders of the Arabians. Emnaus was also +burnt, upon the flight of its inhabitants, and this at the command of +Varus, out of his rage at the slaughter of those that were about Arias. + +2. Thence he marched on to Jerusalem, and as soon as he was but seen by +the Jews, he made their camps disperse themselves; they also went away, +and fled up and down the country. But the citizens received him, and +cleared themselves of having any hand in this revolt, and said that +they had raised no commotions, but had only been forced to admit the +multitude, because of the festival, and that they were rather besieged +together with the Romans, than assisted those that had revolted. There +had before this met him Joseph, the first cousin of Archelaus, and +Gratus, together with Rufus, who led those of Sebaste, as well as the +king's army: there also met him those of the Roman legion, armed after +their accustomed manner; for as to Sabinus, he durst not come into +Varus's sight, but was gone out of the city before this, to the +sea-side. But Varus sent a part of his army into the country, against +those that had been the authors of this commotion, and as they caught +great numbers of them, those that appeared to have been the least +concerned in these tumults he put into custody, but such as were the +most guilty he crucified; these were in number about two thousand. + +3. He was also informed that there continued in Idumea ten thousand +men still in arms; but when he found that the Arabians did not act like +auxiliaries, but managed the war according to their own passions, and +did mischief to the country otherwise than he intended, and this out of +their hatred to Herod, he sent them away, but made haste, with his own +legions, to march against those that had revolted; but these, by the +advice of Achiabus, delivered themselves up to him before it came to a +battle. Then did Varus forgive the multitude their offenses, but sent +their captains to Caesar to be examined by him. Now Caesar forgave the +rest, but gave orders that certain of the king's relations [for some of +those that were among them were Herod's kinsmen] should be put to death, +because they had engaged in a war against a king of their own family. +When therefore Varus had settled matters at Jerusalem after this manner, +and had left the former legion there as a garrison, he returned to +Antioch. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + The Jews Greatly Complain Of Archelaus And Desire That They + May Be Made Subject To Roman Governors. But When Caesar Had + Heard What They Had To Say, He Distributed Herod's Dominions + Among His Sons According To His Own Pleasure. + +1. But now came another accusation from the Jews against Archelaus at +Rome, which he was to answer to. It was made by those ambassadors who, +before the revolt, had come, by Varus's permission, to plead for the +liberty of their country; those that came were fifty in number, but +there were more than eight thousand of the Jews at Rome who supported +them. And when Caesar had assembled a council of the principal Romans in +Apollo's 2 temple, that was in the palace, [this was what he had himself +built and adorned, at a vast expense,] the multitude of the Jews stood +with the ambassadors, and on the other side stood Archelaus, with his +friends; but as for the kindred of Archelaus, they stood on neither +side; for to stand on Archelaus's side, their hatred to him, and envy at +him, would not give them leave, while yet they were afraid to be seen by +Caesar with his accusers. Besides these, there were present Archelaus's +brother Philip, being sent thither beforehand, out of kindness by +Varus, for two reasons: the one was this, that he might be assisting +to Archelaus; and the other was this, that in case Caesar should make +a distribution of what Herod possessed among his posterity, he might +obtain some share of it. + +2. And now, upon the permission that was given the accusers to speak, +they, in the first place, went over Herod's breaches of their law, and +said that he was not a king, but the most barbarous of all tyrants, and +that they had found him to be such by the sufferings they underwent from +him; that when a very great number had been slain by him, those that +were left had endured such miseries, that they called those that +were dead happy men; that he had not only tortured the bodies of his +subjects, but entire cities, and had done much harm to the cities of his +own country, while he adorned those that belonged to foreigners; and he +shed the blood of Jews, in order to do kindnesses to those people that +were out of their bounds; that he had filled the nation full of poverty, +and of the greatest iniquity, instead of that happiness and those laws +which they had anciently enjoyed; that, in short, the Jews had borne +more calamities from Herod, in a few years, than had their forefathers +during all that interval of time that had passed since they had come out +of Babylon, and returned home, in the reign of Xerxes 3 that, however, +the nation was come to so low a condition, by being inured to hardships, +that they submitted to his successor of their own accord, though he +brought them into bitter slavery; that accordingly they readily called +Archelaus, though he was the son of so great a tyrant, king, after the +decease of his father, and joined with him in mourning for the death of +Herod, and in wishing him good success in that his succession; while +yet this Archelaus, lest he should be in danger of not being thought the +genuine son of Herod, began his reign with the murder of three thousand +citizens; as if he had a mind to offer so many bloody sacrifices to God +for his government, and to fill the temple with the like number of dead +bodies at that festival: that, however, those that were left after so +many miseries, had just reason to consider now at last the calamities +they had undergone, and to oppose themselves, like soldiers in war, to +receive those stripes upon their faces [but not upon their backs, as +hitherto]. Whereupon they prayed that the Romans would have compassion +upon the [poor] remains of Judea, and not expose what was left of them +to such as barbarously tore them to pieces, and that they would join +their country to Syria, and administer the government by their own +commanders, whereby it would [soon] be demonstrated that those who are +now under the calumny of seditious persons, and lovers of war, know how +to bear governors that are set over them, if they be but tolerable ones. +So the Jews concluded their accusation with this request. Then rose up +Nicolaus, and confuted the accusations which were brought against the +kings, and himself accused the Jewish nation, as hard to be ruled, and +as naturally disobedient to kings. He also reproached all those kinsmen +of Archelaus who had left him, and were gone over to his accusers. + +3. So Caesar, after he had heard both sides, dissolved the assembly for +that time; but a few days afterward, he gave the one half of Herod's +kingdom to Archelaus, by the name of Ethnarch, and promised to make him +king also afterward, if he rendered himself worthy of that dignity. But +as to the other half, he divided it into two tetrarchies, and gave them +to two other sons of Herod, the one of them to Philip, and the other to +that Antipas who contested the kingdom with Archelaus. Under this +last was Perea and Galilee, with a revenue of two hundred talents; but +Batanea, and Trachonitis, and Auranitis, and certain parts of Zeno's +house about Jamnia, with a revenue of a hundred talents, were made +subject to Philip; while Idumea, and all Judea, and Samaria were parts +of the ethnarchy of Archelaus, although Samaria was eased of one quarter +of its taxes, out of regard to their not having revolted with the rest +of the nation. He also made subject to him the following cities, viz. +Strato's Tower, and Sebaste, and Joppa, and Jerusalem; but as to the +Grecian cities, Gaza, and Gadara, and Hippos, he cut them off from the +kingdom, and added them to Syria. Now the revenue of the country that +was given to Archelaus was four hundred talents. Salome also, besides +what the king had left her in his testaments, was now made mistress of +Jamnia, and Ashdod, and Phasaelis. Caesar did moreover bestow upon her +the royal palace of Ascalon; by all which she got together a revenue of +sixty talents; but he put her house under the ethnarchy of Archelaus. +And for the rest of Herod's offspring, they received what was bequeathed +to them in his testaments; but, besides that, Caesar granted to Herod's +two virgin daughters five hundred thousand [drachmae] of silver, and +gave them in marriage to the sons of Pheroras: but after this family +distribution, he gave between them what had been bequeathed to him by +Herod, which was a thousand talents, reserving to himself only some +inconsiderable presents, in honor of the deceased. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + The History Of The Spurious Alexander. Archelaus Is Banished + And Glaphyra Dies, After What Was To Happen To Both Of Them + Had Been Showed Them In Dreams. + +1. In the meantime, there was a man, who was by birth a Jew, but brought +up at Sidon with one of the Roman freed-men, who falsely pretended, +on account of the resemblance of their countenances, that he was that +Alexander who was slain by Herod. This man came to Rome, in hopes of not +being detected. He had one who was his assistant, of his own nation, and +who knew all the affairs of the kingdom, and instructed him to say how +those that were sent to kill him and Aristobulus had pity upon them, +and stole them away, by putting bodies that were like theirs in their +places. This man deceived the Jews that were at Crete, and got a great +deal of money of them for traveling in splendor; and thence sailed to +Melos, where he was thought so certainly genuine, that he got a great +deal more money, and prevailed with those that had treated him to sail +along with him to Rome. So he landed at Dicearchia, [Puteoli,] and got +very large presents from the Jews who dwelt there, and was conducted by +his father's friends as if he were a king; nay, the resemblance in +his countenance procured him so much credit, that those who had seen +Alexander, and had known him very well, would take their oaths that he +was the very same person. Accordingly, the whole body of the Jews that +were at Rome ran out in crowds to see him, and an innumerable multitude +there was which stood in the narrow places through which he was carried; +for those of Melos were so far distracted, that they carried him in a +sedan, and maintained a royal attendance for him at their own proper +charges. + +2. But Caesar, who knew perfectly well the lineaments of Alexander's +face, because he had been accused by Herod before him, discerned the +fallacy in his countenance, even before he saw the man. However, he +suffered the agreeable fame that went of him to have some weight with +him, and sent Celadus, one who well knew Alexander, and ordered him +to bring the young man to him. But when Caesar saw him, he immediately +discerned a difference in his countenance; and when he had discovered +that his whole body was of a more robust texture, and like that of a +slave, he understood the whole was a contrivance. But the impudence of +what he said greatly provoked him to be angry at him; for when he was +asked about Aristobulus, he said that he was also preserved alive, and +was left on purpose in Cyprus, for fear of treachery, because it would +be harder for plotters to get them both into their power while they were +separate. Then did Caesar take him by himself privately, and said to +him, "I will give thee thy life, if thou wilt discover who it was that +persuaded thee to forge such stories." So he said that he would discover +him, and followed Caesar, and pointed to that Jew who abused the +resemblance of his face to get money; for that he had received more +presents in every city than ever Alexander did when he was alive. Caesar +laughed at the contrivance, and put this spurious Alexander among his +rowers, on account of the strength of his body, but ordered him that +persuaded him to be put to death. But for the people of Melos, they had +been sufficiently punished for their folly, by the expenses they had +been at on his account. + +3. And now Archelaus took possession of his ethnarchy, and used not the +Jews only, but the Samaritans also, barbarously; and this out of his +resentment of their old quarrels with him. Whereupon they both of them +sent ambassadors against him to Caesar; and in the ninth year of his +government he was banished to Vienna, a city of Gaul, and his effects +were put into Caesar's treasury. But the report goes, that before he was +sent for by Caesar, he seemed to see nine ears of corn, full and large, +but devoured by oxen. When, therefore, he had sent for the diviners, +and some of the Chaldeans, and inquired of them what they thought it +portended; and when one of them had one interpretation, and another had +another, Simon, one of the sect of Essens, said that he thought the +ears of corn denoted years, and the oxen denoted a mutation of things, +because by their ploughing they made an alteration of the country. That +therefore he should reign as many years as there were ears of corn; and +after he had passed through various alterations of fortune, should +die. Now five days after Archelaus had heard this interpretation he was +called to his trial. + +4. I cannot also but think it worthy to be recorded what dream Glaphyra, +the daughter of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, had, who had at first +been wife to Alexander, who was the brother of Archelaus, concerning +whom we have been discoursing. This Alexander was the son of Herod the +king, by whom he was put to death, as we have already related. This +Glaphyra was married, after his death, to Juba, king of Libya; and, +after his death, was returned home, and lived a widow with her father. +Then it was that Archelaus, the ethnarch, saw her, and fell so deeply +in love with her, that he divorced Mariamne, who was then his wife, +and married her. When, therefore, she was come into Judea, and had been +there for a little while, she thought she saw Alexander stand by her, +and that he said to her; "Thy marriage with the king of Libya might have +been sufficient for thee; but thou wast not contented with him, but art +returned again to my family, to a third husband; and him, thou impudent +woman, hast thou chosen for thine husband, who is my brother. However, I +shall not overlook the injury thou hast offered me; I shall [soon] have +thee again, whether thou wilt or no." Now Glaphyra hardly survived the +narration of this dream of hers two days. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + Archelaus's Ethnarchy Is Reduced Into A [Roman] Province. + The Sedition Of Judas Of Galilee. The Three Sects. + +1. And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and +Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a +procurator, having the power of [life and] death put into his hands by +Caesar. Under his administration it was that a certain Galilean, whose +name was Judas, prevailed with his countrymen to revolt, and said they +were cowards if they would endure to pay a tax to the Romans and would +after God submit to mortal men as their lords. This man was a teacher +of a peculiar sect of his own, and was not at all like the rest of those +their leaders. + +2. For there are three philosophical sects among the Jews. The followers +of the first of which are the Pharisees; of the second, the Sadducees; +and the third sect, which pretends to a severer discipline, are called +Essens. These last are Jews by birth, and seem to have a greater +affection for one another than the other sects have. These Essens reject +pleasures as an evil, but esteem continence, and the conquest over +our passions, to be virtue. They neglect wedlock, but choose out other +persons children, while they are pliable, and fit for learning, and +esteem them to be of their kindred, and form them according to their own +manners. They do not absolutely deny the fitness of marriage, and the +succession of mankind thereby continued; but they guard against the +lascivious behavior of women, and are persuaded that none of them +preserve their fidelity to one man. + +3. These men are despisers of riches, and so very communicative as +raises our admiration. Nor is there any one to be found among them who +hath more than another; for it is a law among them, that those who come +to them must let what they have be common to the whole order,--insomuch +that among them all there is no appearance of poverty, or excess of +riches, but every one's possessions are intermingled with every other's +possessions; and so there is, as it were, one patrimony among all the +brethren. They think that oil is a defilement; and if any one of them be +anointed without his own approbation, it is wiped off his body; for they +think to be sweaty is a good thing, as they do also to be clothed in +white garments. They also have stewards appointed to take care of their +common affairs, who every one of them have no separate business for any, +but what is for the uses of them all. + +4. They have no one certain city, but many of them dwell in every city; +and if any of their sect come from other places, what they have lies +open for them, just as if it were their own; and they go in to such as +they never knew before, as if they had been ever so long acquainted with +them. For which reason they carry nothing at all with them when they +travel into remote parts, though still they take their weapons with +them, for fear of thieves. Accordingly, there is, in every city where +they live, one appointed particularly to take care of strangers, and +to provide garments and other necessaries for them. But the habit and +management of their bodies is such as children use who are in fear of +their masters. Nor do they allow of the change of garments or of shoes +till be first torn to pieces, or worn out by time. Nor do they either +buy or sell any thing to one another; but every one of them gives what +he hath to him that wanteth it, and receives from him again in lieu of +it what may be convenient for himself; and although there be no requital +made, they are fully allowed to take what they want of whomsoever they +please. + +5. And as for their piety towards God, it is very extraordinary; for +before sun-rising they speak not a word about profane matters, but put +up certain prayers which they have received from their forefathers, as +if they made a supplication for its rising. After this every one of them +are sent away by their curators, to exercise some of those arts wherein +they are skilled, in which they labor with great diligence till the +fifth hour. After which they assemble themselves together again into one +place; and when they have clothed themselves in white veils, they then +bathe their bodies in cold water. And after this purification is over, +they every one meet together in an apartment of their own, into which it +is not permitted to any of another sect to enter; while they go, after +a pure manner, into the dining-room, as into a certain holy temple, and +quietly set themselves down; upon which the baker lays them loaves in +order; the cook also brings a single plate of one sort of food, and sets +it before every one of them; but a priest says grace before meat; and it +is unlawful for any one to taste of the food before grace be said. The +same priest, when he hath dined, says grace again after meat; and when +they begin, and when they end, they praise God, as he that bestows their +food upon them; after which they lay aside their [white] garments, and +betake themselves to their labors again till the evening; then they +return home to supper, after the same manner; and if there be any +strangers there, they sit down with them. Nor is there ever any clamor +or disturbance to pollute their house, but they give every one leave to +speak in their turn; which silence thus kept in their house appears +to foreigners like some tremendous mystery; the cause of which is that +perpetual sobriety they exercise, and the same settled measure of +meat and drink that is allotted them, and that such as is abundantly +sufficient for them. + +6. And truly, as for other things, they do nothing but according to the +injunctions of their curators; only these two things are done among them +at everyone's own free-will, which are to assist those that want it, +and to show mercy; for they are permitted of their own accord to afford +succor to such as deserve it, when they stand in need of it, and to +bestow food on those that are in distress; but they cannot give any +thing to their kindred without the curators. They dispense their anger +after a just manner, and restrain their passion. They are eminent for +fidelity, and are the ministers of peace; whatsoever they say also is +firmer than an oath; but swearing is avoided by them, and they esteem it +worse than perjury 4 for they say that he who cannot be believed without +[swearing by] God is already condemned. They also take great pains in +studying the writings of the ancients, and choose out of them what is +most for the advantage of their soul and body; and they inquire after +such roots and medicinal stones as may cure their distempers. + +7. But now if any one hath a mind to come over to their sect, he is not +immediately admitted, but he is prescribed the same method of living +which they use for a year, while he continues excluded'; and they give +him also a small hatchet, and the fore-mentioned girdle, and the white +garment. And when he hath given evidence, during that time, that he can +observe their continence, he approaches nearer to their way of living, +and is made a partaker of the waters of purification; yet is he not +even now admitted to live with them; for after this demonstration of his +fortitude, his temper is tried two more years; and if he appear to be +worthy, they then admit him into their society. And before he is allowed +to touch their common food, he is obliged to take tremendous oaths, +that, in the first place, he will exercise piety towards God, and then +that he will observe justice towards men, and that he will do no harm to +any one, either of his own accord, or by the command of others; that he +will always hate the wicked, and be assistant to the righteous; that +he will ever show fidelity to all men, and especially to those +in authority, because no one obtains the government without God's +assistance; and that if he be in authority, he will at no time whatever +abuse his authority, nor endeavor to outshine his subjects either in his +garments, or any other finery; that he will be perpetually a lover of +truth, and propose to himself to reprove those that tell lies; that he +will keep his hands clear from theft, and his soul from unlawful gains; +and that he will neither conceal any thing from those of his own sect, +nor discover any of their doctrines to others, no, not though anyone +should compel him so to do at the hazard of his life. Moreover, he +swears to communicate their doctrines to no one any otherwise than as +he received them himself; that he will abstain from robbery, and will +equally preserve the books belonging to their sect, and the names of the +angels 5 [or messengers]. These are the oaths by which they secure their +proselytes to themselves. + +8. But for those that are caught in any heinous sins, they cast them out +of their society; and he who is thus separated from them does often die +after a miserable manner; for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken, +and by the customs he hath been engaged in, he is not at liberty to +partake of that food that he meets with elsewhere, but is forced to eat +grass, and to famish his body with hunger, till he perish; for which +reason they receive many of them again when they are at their last gasp, +out of compassion to them, as thinking the miseries they have endured +till they came to the very brink of death to be a sufficient punishment +for the sins they had been guilty of. + +9. But in the judgments they exercise they are most accurate and just, +nor do they pass sentence by the votes of a court that is fewer than +a hundred. And as to what is once determined by that number, it is +unalterable. What they most of all honor, after God himself, is the name +of their legislator [Moses], whom if any one blaspheme he is punished +capitally. They also think it a good thing to obey their elders, and the +major part. Accordingly, if ten of them be sitting together, no one of +them will speak while the other nine are against it. They also avoid +spitting in the midst of them, or on the right side. Moreover, they are +stricter than any other of the Jews in resting from their labors on the +seventh day; for they not only get their food ready the day before, that +they may not be obliged to kindle a fire on that day, but they will not +remove any vessel out of its place, nor go to stool thereon. Nay, on +other days they dig a small pit, a foot deep, with a paddle [which kind +of hatchet is given them when they are first admitted among them]; and +covering themselves round with their garment, that they may not affront +the Divine rays of light, they ease themselves into that pit, after +which they put the earth that was dug out again into the pit; and even +this they do only in the more lonely places, which they choose out for +this purpose; and although this easement of the body be natural, yet +it is a rule with them to wash themselves after it, as if it were a +defilement to them. + +10. Now after the time of their preparatory trial is over, they are +parted into four classes; and so far are the juniors inferior to the +seniors, that if the seniors should be touched by the juniors, they must +wash themselves, as if they had intermixed themselves with the company +of a foreigner. They are long-lived also, insomuch that many of them +live above a hundred years, by means of the simplicity of their diet; +nay, as I think, by means of the regular course of life they observe +also. They contemn the miseries of life, and are above pain, by the +generosity of their mind. And as for death, if it will be for their +glory, they esteem it better than living always; and indeed our war with +the Romans gave abundant evidence what great souls they had in their +trials, wherein, although they were tortured and distorted, burnt and +torn to pieces, and went through all kinds of instruments of torment, +that they might be forced either to blaspheme their legislator, or to +eat what was forbidden them, yet could they not be made to do either of +them, no, nor once to flatter their tormentors, or to shed a tear; +but they smiled in their very pains, and laughed those to scorn who +inflicted the torments upon them, and resigned up their souls with great +alacrity, as expecting to receive them again. + +11. For their doctrine is this: That bodies are corruptible, and that +the matter they are made of is not permanent; but that the souls are +immortal, and continue for ever; and that they come out of the most +subtile air, and are united to their bodies as to prisons, into which +they are drawn by a certain natural enticement; but that when they are +set free from the bonds of the flesh, they then, as released from a long +bondage, rejoice and mount upward. And this is like the opinions of the +Greeks, that good souls have their habitations beyond the ocean, in a +region that is neither oppressed with storms of rain or snow, or with +intense heat, but that this place is such as is refreshed by the gentle +breathing of a west wind, that is perpetually blowing from the ocean; +while they allot to bad souls a dark and tempestuous den, full of +never-ceasing punishments. And indeed the Greeks seem to me to have +followed the same notion, when they allot the islands of the blessed to +their brave men, whom they call heroes and demi-gods; and to the souls +of the wicked, the region of the ungodly, in Hades, where their fables +relate that certain persons, such as Sisyphus, and Tantalus, and Ixion, +and Tityus, are punished; which is built on this first supposition, +that souls are immortal; and thence are those exhortations to virtue and +dehortations from wickedness collected; whereby good men are bettered +in the conduct of their life by the hope they have of reward after their +death; and whereby the vehement inclinations of bad men to vice are +restrained, by the fear and expectation they are in, that although +they should lie concealed in this life, they should suffer immortal +punishment after their death. These are the Divine doctrines of the +Essens 6 about the soul, which lay an unavoidable bait for such as have +once had a taste of their philosophy. + +12. There are also those among them who undertake to foretell things +to come, 7 by reading the holy books, and using several sorts of +purifications, and being perpetually conversant in the discourses of the +prophets; and it is but seldom that they miss in their predictions. + +13. Moreover, there is another order of Essens, 8 who agree with the +rest as to their way of living, and customs, and laws, but differ from +them in the point of marriage, as thinking that by not marrying they +cut off the principal part of human life, which is the prospect of +succession; nay, rather, that if all men should be of the same opinion, +the whole race of mankind would fail. However, they try their spouses +for three years; and if they find that they have their natural +purgations thrice, as trials that they are likely to be fruitful, they +then actually marry them. But they do not use to accompany with their +wives when they are with child, as a demonstration that they do not many +out of regard to pleasure, but for the sake of posterity. Now the women +go into the baths with some of their garments on, as the men do with +somewhat girded about them. And these are the customs of this order of +Essens. + +14. But then as to the two other orders at first mentioned, the +Pharisees are those who are esteemed most skillful in the exact +explication of their laws, and introduce the first sect. These ascribe +all to fate [or providence], and to God, and yet allow, that to act what +is right, or the contrary, is principally in the power of men, although +fate does co-operate in every action. They say that all souls are +incorruptible, but that the souls of good men only are removed into +other bodies,--but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal +punishment. But the Sadducees are those that compose the second order, +and take away fate entirely, and suppose that God is not concerned in +our doing or not doing what is evil; and they say, that to act what is +good, or what is evil, is at men's own choice, and that the one or the +other belongs so to every one, that they may act as they please. They +also take away the belief of the immortal duration of the soul, and the +punishments and rewards in Hades. Moreover, the Pharisees are friendly +to one another, and are for the exercise of concord, and regard for the +public; but the behavior of the Sadducees one towards another is in some +degree wild, and their conversation with those that are of their own +party is as barbarous as if they were strangers to them. And this is +what I had to say concerning the philosophic sects among the Jews. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + The Death Of Salome. The Cities Which Herod And Philip + Built. Pilate Occasions Disturbances. Tiberius Puts Agrippa + Into Bonds But Caius Frees Him From Them, And Makes Him + King. Herod Antipas Is Banished. + +1. And now as the ethnarchy of Archelaus was fallen into a Roman +province, the other sons of Herod, Philip, and that Herod who was called +Antipas, each of them took upon them the administration of their own +tetrarchies; for when Salome died, she bequeathed to Julia, the wife of +Augustus, both her toparchy, and Jamriga, as also her plantation of palm +trees that were in Phasaelis. But when the Roman empire was translated +to Tiberius, the son of Julia, upon the death of Augustus, who had +reigned fifty-seven years, six months, and two days, both Herod and +Philip continued in their tetrarchies; and the latter of them built the +city Cesarea, at the fountains of Jordan, and in the region of Paneas; +as also the city Julias, in the lower Gaulonitis. Herod also built the +city Tiberius in Galilee, and in Perea [beyond Jordan] another that was +also called Julias. + +2. Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent +by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem. +This excited a very great tumult among the Jews when it was day; +for those that were near them were astonished at the sight of them, as +indications that their laws were trodden under foot; for those laws do +not permit any sort of image to be brought into the city. Nay, besides +the indignation which the citizens had themselves at this procedure, +a vast number of people came running out of the country. These came +zealously to Pilate to Cesarea, and besought him to carry those ensigns +out of Jerusalem, and to preserve them their ancient laws inviolable; +but upon Pilate's denial of their request, they fell 9 down prostrate +upon the ground, and continued immovable in that posture for five days +and as many nights. + +3. On the next day Pilate sat upon his tribunal, in the open +market-place, and called to him the multitude, as desirous to give them +an answer; and then gave a signal to the soldiers, that they should all +by agreement at once encompass the Jews with their weapons; so the band +of soldiers stood round about the Jews in three ranks. The Jews were +under the utmost consternation at that unexpected sight. Pilate also +said to them that they should be cut in pieces, unless they would admit +of Caesar's images, and gave intimation to the soldiers to draw their +naked swords. Hereupon the Jews, as it were at one signal, fell down in +vast numbers together, and exposed their necks bare, and cried out +that they were sooner ready to be slain, than that their law should be +transgressed. Hereupon Pilate was greatly surprised at their prodigious +superstition, and gave order that the ensigns should be presently +carried out of Jerusalem. + +4. After this he raised another disturbance, by expending that sacred +treasure which is called Corban 10 upon aqueducts, whereby he brought +water from the distance of four hundred furlongs. At this the multitude +had indignation; and when Pilate was come to Jerusalem, they came +about his tribunal, and made a clamor at it. Now when he was apprized +aforehand of this disturbance, he mixed his own soldiers in their armor +with the multitude, and ordered them to conceal themselves under the +habits of private men, and not indeed to use their swords, but with +their staves to beat those that made the clamor. He then gave the signal +from his tribunal [to do as he had bidden them]. Now the Jews were so +sadly beaten, that many of them perished by the stripes they received, +and many of them perished as trodden to death by themselves; by which +means the multitude was astonished at the calamity of those that were +slain, and held their peace. + +5. In the mean time Agrippa, the son of that Aristobulus who had +been slain by his father Herod, came to Tiberius, to accuse Herod the +tetrarch; who not admitting of his accusation, he staid at Rome, and +cultivated a friendship with others of the men of note, but principally +with Caius the son of Germanicus, who was then but a private person. +Now this Agrippa, at a certain time, feasted Caius; and as he was very +complaisant to him on several other accounts, he at length stretched out +his hands, and openly wished that Tiberius might die, and that he might +quickly see him emperor of the world. This was told to Tiberius by +one of Agrippa's domestics, who thereupon was very angry, and ordered +Agrippa to be bound, and had him very ill-treated in the prison for six +months, until Tiberius died, after he had reigned twenty-two years, six +months, and three days. + +6. But when Caius was made Caesar, he released Agrippa from his bonds, +and made him king of Philip's tetrarchy, who was now dead; but when +Agrippa had arrived at that degree of dignity, he inflamed the ambitious +desires of Herod the tetrarch, who was chiefly induced to hope for the +royal authority by his wife Herodias, who reproached him for his sloth, +and told him that it was only because he would not sail to Caesar +that he was destitute of that great dignity; for since Caesar had made +Agrippa a king, from a private person, much mole would he advance him +from a tetrarch to that dignity. These arguments prevailed with Herod, +so that he came to Caius, by whom he was punished for his ambition, by +being banished into Spain; for Agrippa followed him, in order to accuse +him; to whom also Caius gave his tetrarchy, by way of addition. So Herod +died in Spain, whither his wife had followed him. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + Caius Commands That His Statue Should Be Set Up In The + Temple Itself; And What Petronius Did Thereupon. + +1. Now Caius Caesar did so grossly abuse the fortune he had arrived at, +as to take himself to be a god, and to desire to be so called also, and +to cut off those of the greatest nobility out of his country. He also +extended his impiety as far as the Jews. Accordingly, he sent Petronius +with an army to Jerusalem, to place his statues in the temple, 11 and +commanded him that, in case the Jews would not admit of them, he should +slay those that opposed it, and carry all the rest of the nation into +captivity: but God concerned himself with these his commands. However, +Petronius marched out of Antioch into Judea, with three legions, and +many Syrian auxiliaries. Now as to the Jews, some of them could not +believe the stories that spake of a war; but those that did believe them +were in the utmost distress how to defend themselves, and the terror +diffused itself presently through them all; for the army was already +come to Ptolemais. + +2. This Ptolemais is a maritime city of Galilee, built in the great +plain. It is encompassed with mountains: that on the east side, sixty +furlongs off, belongs to Galilee; but that on the south belongs to +Carmel, which is distant from it a hundred and twenty furlongs; and that +on the north is the highest of them all, and is called by the people of +the country, The Ladder of the Tyrians, which is at the distance of +a hundred furlongs. The very small river Belus 12 runs by it, at the +distance of two furlongs; near which there is Menmon's monument, 13 and +hath near it a place no larger than a hundred cubits, which deserves +admiration; for the place is round and hollow, and affords such sand +as glass is made of; which place, when it hath been emptied by the many +ships there loaded, it is filled again by the winds, which bring into +it, as it were on purpose, that sand which lay remote, and was no more +than bare common sand, while this mine presently turns it into glassy +sand. And what is to me still more wonderful, that glassy sand which is +superfluous, and is once removed out of the place, becomes bare common +sand again. And this is the nature of the place we are speaking of. + +3. But now the Jews got together in great numbers with their wives and +children into that plain that was by Ptolemais, and made supplication to +Petronius, first for their laws, and, in the next place, for themselves. +So he was prevailed upon by the multitude of the supplicants, and by +their supplications, and left his army and the statues at Ptolemais, and +then went forward into Galilee, and called together the multitude +and all the men of note to Tiberias, and showed them the power of the +Romans, and the threatenings of Caesar; and, besides this, proved +that their petition was unreasonable, because while all the nations +in subjection to them had placed the images of Caesar in their several +cities, among the rest of their gods, for them alone to oppose it, was +almost like the behavior of revolters, and was injurious to Caesar. + +4. And when they insisted on their law, and the custom of their country, +and how it was not only not permitted them to make either an image of +God, or indeed of a man, and to put it in any despicable part of their +country, much less in the temple itself, Petronius replied, "And am +not I also," said he, "bound to keep the law of my own lord? For if I +transgress it, and spare you, it is but just that I perish; while he +that sent me, and not I, will commence a war against you; for I am under +command as well as you." Hereupon the whole multitude cried out that +they were ready to suffer for their law. Petronius then quieted them, +and said to them, "Will you then make war against Caesar?" The Jews +said, "We offer sacrifices twice every day for Caesar, and for the Roman +people;" but that if he would place the images among them, he must first +sacrifice the whole Jewish nation; and that they were ready to expose +themselves, together with their children and wives, to be slain. At +this Petronius was astonished, and pitied them, on account of the +inexpressible sense of religion the men were under, and that courage +of theirs which made them ready to die for it; so they were dismissed +without success. + +5. But on the following days he got together the men of power privately, +and the multitude publicly, and sometimes he used persuasions to them, +and sometimes he gave them his advice; but he chiefly made use of +threatenings to them, and insisted upon the power of the Romans, and the +anger of Caius; and besides, upon the necessity he was himself under [to +do as he was enjoined]. But as they could be no way prevailed upon, and +he saw that the country was in danger of lying without tillage; [for it +was about seed time that the multitude continued for fifty days together +idle;] so he at last got them together, and told them that it was +best for him to run some hazard himself; "for either, by the Divine +assistance, I shall prevail with Caesar, and shall myself escape the +danger as well as you, which will be matter of joy to us both; or, in +case Caesar continue in his rage, I will be ready to expose my own +life for such a great number as you are." Whereupon he dismissed the +multitude, who prayed greatly for his prosperity; and he took the army +out of Ptolemais, and returned to Antioch; from whence he presently sent +an epistle to Caesar, and informed him of the irruption he had made into +Judea, and of the supplications of the nation; and that unless he had a +mind to lose both the country and the men in it, he must permit them +to keep their law, and must countermand his former injunction. Caius +answered that epistle in a violent-way, and threatened to have Petronius +put to death for his being so tardy in the execution of what he had +commanded. But it happened that those who brought Caius's epistle were +tossed by a storm, and were detained on the sea for three months, +while others that brought the news of Caius's death had a good voyage. +Accordingly, Petronins received the epistle concerning Caius seven and +twenty days before he received that which was against himself. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + + + Concerning The Government Of Claudius, And The Reign Of + Agrippa. Concerning The Deaths Of Agrippa And Of Herod And + What Children They Both Left Behind Them. + +1. Now when Caius had reigned three years and eight months, and had been +slain by treachery, Claudius was hurried away by the armies that were at +Rome to take the government upon him; but the senate, upon the reference +of the consuls, Sentis Saturninus, and Pomponius Secundus, gave orders +to the three regiments of soldiers that staid with them to keep the city +quiet, and went up into the capitol in great numbers, and resolved to +oppose Claudius by force, on account of the barbarous treatment they +had met with from Caius; and they determined either to settle the nation +under an aristocracy, as they had of old been governed, or at least to +choose by vote such a one for emperor as might be worthy of it. + +2. Now it happened that at this time Agrippa sojourned at Rome, and that +both the senate called him to consult with them, and at the same time +Claudius sent for him out of the camp, that he might be serviceable to +him, as he should have occasion for his service. So he, perceiving that +Claudius was in effect made Caesar already, went to him, who sent him as +an ambassador to the senate, to let them know what his intentions were: +that, in the first place, it was without his seeking that he was hurried +away by the soldiers; moreover, that he thought it was not just to +desert those soldiers in such their zeal for him, and that if he should +do so, his own fortune would be in uncertainty; for that it was a +dangerous case to have been once called to the empire. He added further, +that he would administer the government as a good prince, and not like +a tyrant; for that he would be satisfied with the honor of being called +emperor, but would, in every one of his actions, permit them all to +give him their advice; for that although he had not been by nature +for moderation, yet would the death of Caius afford him a sufficient +demonstration how soberly he ought to act in that station. + +3. This message was delivered by Agrippa; to which the senate replied, +that since they had an army, and the wisest counsels on their side, +they would not endure a voluntary slavery. And when Claudius heard what +answer the senate had made, he sent Agrippa to them again, with the +following message: That he could not bear the thoughts of betraying them +that had given their oaths to be true to him; and that he saw he must +fight, though unwillingly, against such as he had no mind to fight; +that, however, [if it must come to that,] it was proper to choose a +place without the city for the war, because it was not agreeable to +piety to pollute the temples of their own city with the blood of their +own countrymen, and this only on occasion of their imprudent conduct. +And when Agrippa had heard this message, he delivered it to the +senators. + +4. In the mean time, one of the soldiers belonging to the senate drew +his sword, and cried out, "O my fellow soldiers, what is the meaning of +this choice of ours, to kill our brethren, and to use violence to our +kindred that are with Claudius? while we may have him for our emperor +whom no one can blame, and who hath so many just reasons [to lay claim +to the government]; and this with regard to those against whom we are +going to fight." When he had said this, he marched through the whole +senate, and carried all the soldiers along with him. Upon which all +the patricians were immediately in a great fright at their being thus +deserted. But still, because there appeared no other way whither they +could turn themselves for deliverance, they made haste the same way with +the soldiers, and went to Claudius. But those that had the greatest luck +in flattering the good fortune of Claudius betimes met them before the +walls with their naked swords, and there was reason to fear that those +that came first might have been in danger, before Claudius could know +what violence the soldiers were going to offer them, had not Agrippa ran +before, and told him what a dangerous thing they were going about, and +that unless he restrained the violence of these men, who were in a fit +of madness against the patricians, he would lose those on whose account +it was most desirable to rule, and would be emperor over a desert. + +5. When Claudius heard this, he restrained the violence of the soldiery, +and received the senate into the camp, and treated them after an +obliging manner, and went out with them presently to offer their +thank-offerings to God, which were proper upon, his first coming to +the empire. Moreover, he bestowed on Agrippa his whole paternal kingdom +immediately, and added to it, besides those countries that had been +given by Augustus to Herod, Trachonitis and Auranitis, and still besides +these, that kingdom which was called the kingdom of Lysanius. This gift +he declared to the people by a decree, but ordered the magistrates to +have the donation engraved on tables of brass, and to be set up in the +capitol. He bestowed on his brother Herod, who was also his son-in-law, +by marrying [his daughter] Bernice, the kingdom of Chalcis. + +6. So now riches flowed in to Agrippa by his enjoyment of so large a +dominion; nor did he abuse the money he had on small matters, but +he began to encompass Jerusalem with such a wall, which, had it been +brought to perfection, had made it impracticable for the Romans to take +it by siege; but his death, which happened at Cesarea, before he had +raised the walls to their due height, prevented him. He had then reigned +three years, as he had governed his tetrarchies three other years. +He left behind him three daughters, born to him by Cypros, Bernice, +Mariamne, and Drusilla, and a son born of the same mother, whose name +was Agrippa: he was left a very young child, so that Claudius made the +country a Roman province, and sent Cuspius Fadus to be its procurator, +and after him Tiberius Alexander, who, making no alterations of the +ancient laws, kept the nation in tranquillity. Now after this, Herod the +king of Chalcis died, and left behind him two sons, born to him of his +brother's daughter Bernice; their names were Bernie Janus and Hyrcanus. +[He also left behind him] Aristobulus, whom he had by his former wife +Mariamne. There was besides another brother of his that died a private +person, his name was also Aristobulus, who left behind him a daughter, +whose name was Jotape: and these, as I have formerly said, were +the children of Aristobulus the son of Herod, which Aristobulus and +Alexander were born to Herod by Mariamne, and were slain by him. But as +for Alexander's posterity, they reigned in Armenia. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + + + Many Tumults Under Cumanus, Which Were Composed By + Quadratus. Felix Is Procurator Of Judea. Agrippa Is Advanced + From Chalcis To A Greater Kingdom. + +1 Now after the death of Herod, king of Chalcis, Claudius set Agrippa, +the son of Agrippa, over his uncle's kingdom, while Cumanus took upon +him the office of procurator of the rest, which was a Roman province, +and therein he succeeded Alexander; under which Cumanus began the +troubles, and the Jews' ruin came on; for when the multitude were come +together to Jerusalem, to the feast of unleavened bread, and a Roman +cohort stood over the cloisters of the temple, [for they always were +armed, and kept guard at the festivals, to prevent any innovation which +the multitude thus gathered together might make,] one of the soldiers +pulled back his garment, and cowering down after an indecent manner, +turned his breech to the Jews, and spake such words as you might expect +upon such a posture. At this the whole multitude had indignation, and +made a clamor to Cumanus, that he would punish the soldier; while +the rasher part of the youth, and such as were naturally the most +tumultuous, fell to fighting, and caught up stones, and threw them at +the soldiers. Upon which Cumanus was afraid lest all the people should +make an assault upon him, and sent to call for more armed men, who, when +they came in great numbers into the cloisters, the Jews were in a very +great consternation; and being beaten out of the temple, they ran into +the city; and the violence with which they crowded to get out was so +great, that they trod upon each other, and squeezed one another, till +ten thousand of them were killed, insomuch that this feast became the +cause of mourning to the whole nation, and every family lamented their +own relations. + +2. Now there followed after this another calamity, which arose from +a tumult made by robbers; for at the public road at Beth-boron, one +Stephen, a servant of Caesar, carried some furniture, which the robbers +fell upon and seized. Upon this Cumanus sent men to go round about to +the neighboring villages, and to bring their inhabitants to him bound, +as laying it to their charge that they had not pursued after the +thieves, and caught them. Now here it was that a certain soldier, +finding the sacred book of the law, tore it to pieces, and threw it into +the fire. 14 Hereupon the Jews were in great disorder, as if their whole +country were in a flame, and assembled themselves so many of them by +their zeal for their religion, as by an engine, and ran together with +united clamor to Cesarea, to Cumanus, and made supplication to him that +he would not overlook this man, who had offered such an affront to God, +and to his law; but punish him for what he had done. Accordingly, he, +perceiving that the multitude would not be quiet unless they had a +comfortable answer from him, gave order that the soldier should be +brought, and drawn through those that required to have him punished, to +execution, which being done, the Jews went their ways. + +3. After this there happened a fight between the Galileans and the +Samaritans; it happened at a village called Geman, which is situate in +the great plain of Samaria; where, as a great number of Jews were going +up to Jerusalem to the feast [of tabernacles,] a certain Galilean was +slain; and besides, a vast number of people ran together out of Galilee, +in order to fight with the Samaritans. But the principal men among +them came to Cumanus, and besought him that, before the evil became +incurable, he would come into Galilee, and bring the authors of this +murder to punishment; for that there was no other way to make the +multitude separate without coming to blows. However, Cumanus postponed +their supplications to the other affairs he was then about, and sent the +petitioners away without success. + +4. But when the affair of this murder came to be told at Jerusalem, it +put the multitude into disorder, and they left the feast; and without +any generals to conduct them, they marched with great violence to +Samaria; nor would they be ruled by any of the magistrates that were set +over them, but they were managed by one Eleazar, the son of Dineus, and +by Alexander, in these their thievish and seditious attempts. These +men fell upon those that were in the neighborhood of the Acrabatene +toparchy, and slew them, without sparing any age, and set the villages +on fire. + +5. But Cumanus took one troop of horsemen, called the troop of Sebaste, +out of Cesarea, and came to the assistance of those that were spoiled; +he also seized upon a great number of those that followed Eleazar, and +slew more of them. And as for the rest of the multitude of those that +went so zealously to fight with the Samaritans, the rulers of Jerusalem +ran out clothed with sackcloth, and having ashes on their head, and +begged of them to go their ways, lest by their attempt to revenge +themselves upon the Samaritans they should provoke the Romans to come +against Jerusalem; to have compassion upon their country and temple, +their children and their wives, and not bring the utmost dangers of +destruction upon them, in order to avenge themselves upon one Galilean +only. The Jews complied with these persuasions of theirs, and dispersed +themselves; but still there were a great number who betook themselves +to robbing, in hopes of impunity; and rapines and insurrections of the +bolder sort happened over the whole country. And the men of power among +the Samaritans came to Tyre, to Ummidius Quadratus, 15 the president of +Syria, and desired that they that had laid waste the country might be +punished: the great men also of the Jews, and Jonathan the son of Ananus +the high priest, came thither, and said that the Samaritans were +the beginners of the disturbance, on account of that murder they had +committed; and that Cumanus had given occasion to what had happened, by +his unwillingness to punish the original authors of that murder. + +6. But Quadratus put both parties off for that time, and told them, that +when he should come to those places, he would make a diligent inquiry +after every circumstance. After which he went to Cesarea, and crucified +all those whom Cumanus had taken alive; and when from thence he was come +to the city Lydda, he heard the affair of the Samaritans, and sent for +eighteen of the Jews, whom he had learned to have been concerned in that +fight, and beheaded them; but he sent two others of those that were of +the greatest power among them, and both Jonathan and Ananias, the high +priests, as also Artanus the son of this Ananias, and certain others +that were eminent among the Jews, to Caesar; as he did in like manner +by the most illustrious of the Samaritans. He also ordered that Cumanus +[the procurator] and Celer the tribune should sail to Rome, in order to +give an account of what had been done to Caesar. When he had finished +these matters, he went up from Lydda to Jerusalem, and finding the +multitude celebrating their feast of unleavened bread without any +tumult, he returned to Antioch. + +7. Now when Caesar at Rome had heard what Cumanus and the Samaritans +had to say, [where it was done in the hearing of Agrippa, who zealously +espoused the cause of the Jews, as in like manner many of the great men +stood by Cumanus,] he condemned the Samaritans, and commanded that three +of the most powerful men among them should be put to death; he banished +Cumanus, and sent Celer bound to Jerusalem, to be delivered over to the +Jews to be tormented; that he should be drawn round the city, and then +beheaded. + +8. After this Caesar sent Felix, 16 the brother of Pallas, to be +procurator of Galilee, and Samaria, and Perea, and removed Agrippa from +Chalcis unto a greater kingdom; for he gave him the tetrarchy which +had belonged to Philip, which contained Batanae, Trachonitis, and +Gaulonitis: he added to it the kingdom of Lysanias, and that province +[Abilene] which Varus had governed. But Claudius himself, when he had +administered the government thirteen years, eight months, and twenty +days, died, and left Nero to be his successor in the empire, whom he had +adopted by his Wife Agrippina's delusions, in order to be his successor, +although he had a son of his own, whose name was Britannicus, by +Messalina his former wife, and a daughter whose name was Octavia, whom +he had married to Nero; he had also another daughter by Petina, whose +name was Antonia. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + + + Nero Adds Four Cities To Agrippas Kingdom; But The Other + Parts Of Judea Were Under Felix. The Disturbances Which Were + Raised By The Sicarii The Magicians And An Egyptian False + Prophet. The Jews And Syrians Have A Contest At Cesarea. + +1. Now as to the many things in which Nero acted like a madman, out of +the extravagant degree of the felicity and riches which he enjoyed, and +by that means used his good fortune to the injury of others; and after +what manner he slew his brother, and wife, and mother, from whom his +barbarity spread itself to others that were most nearly related to him; +and how, at last, he was so distracted that he became an actor in +the scenes, and upon the theater,--I omit to say any more about them, +because there are writers enough upon those subjects every where; but +I shall turn myself to those actions of his time in which the Jews were +concerned. + +2. Nero therefore bestowed the kingdom of the Lesser Armenia upon +Aristobulus, Herod's son, 17 and he added to Agrippa's kingdom four +cities, with the toparchies to them belonging; I mean Abila, and that +Julias which is in Perea, Tarichea also, and Tiberias of Galilee; but +over the rest of Judea he made Felix procurator. This Felix took Eleazar +the arch-robber, and many that were with him, alive, when they had +ravaged the country for twenty years together, and sent them to Rome; +but as to the number of the robbers whom he caused to be crucified, and +of those who were caught among them, and whom he brought to punishment, +they were a multitude not to be enumerated. + +3. When the country was purged of these, there sprang up another sort of +robbers in Jerusalem, which were called Sicarii, who slew men in the +day time, and in the midst of the city; this they did chiefly at +the festivals, when they mingled themselves among the multitude, and +concealed daggers under their garments, with which they stabbed those +that were their enemies; and when any fell down dead, the murderers +became a part of those that had indignation against them; by which means +they appeared persons of such reputation, that they could by no means +be discovered. The first man who was slain by them was Jonathan the high +priest, after whose death many were slain every day, while the fear men +were in of being so served was more afflicting than the calamity itself; +and while every body expected death every hour, as men do in war, so men +were obliged to look before them, and to take notice of their enemies at +a great distance; nor, if their friends were coming to them, durst +they trust them any longer; but, in the midst of their suspicions and +guarding of themselves, they were slain. Such was the celerity of the +plotters against them, and so cunning was their contrivance. + +4. There was also another body of wicked men gotten together, not so +impure in their actions, but more wicked in their intentions, which +laid waste the happy state of the city no less than did these murderers. +These were such men as deceived and deluded the people under pretense +of Divine inspiration, but were for procuring innovations and changes +of the government; and these prevailed with the multitude to act like +madmen, and went before them into the wilderness, as pretending that +God would there show them the signals of liberty. But Felix thought this +procedure was to be the beginning of a revolt; so he sent some horsemen +and footmen both armed, who destroyed a great number of them. + +5. But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more +mischief than the former; for he was a cheat, and pretended to be a +prophet also, and got together thirty thousand men that were deluded by +him; these he led round about from the wilderness to the mount which +was called the Mount of Olives, and was ready to break into Jerusalem +by force from that place; and if he could but once conquer the Roman +garrison and the people, he intended to domineer over them by the +assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city +with him. But Felix prevented his attempt, and met him with his Roman +soldiers, while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them, +insomuch that when it came to a battle, the Egyptian ran away, with a +few others, while the greatest part of those that were with him were +either destroyed or taken alive; but the rest of the multitude were +dispersed every one to their own homes, and there concealed themselves. + +6. Now when these were quieted, it happened, as it does in a diseased +body, that another part was subject to an inflammation; for a company +of deceivers and robbers got together, and persuaded the Jews to revolt, +and exhorted them to assert their liberty, inflicting death on those +that continued in obedience to the Roman government, and saying, that +such as willingly chose slavery ought to be forced from such their +desired inclinations; for they parted themselves into different bodies, +and lay in wait up and down the country, and plundered the houses of the +great men, and slew the men themselves, and set the villages on fire; +and this till all Judea was filled with the effects of their madness. +And thus the flame was every day more and more blown up, till it came to +a direct war. + +7. There was also another disturbance at Cesarea,--those Jews who were +mixed with the Syrians that lived there rising a tumult against them. +The Jews pretended that the city was theirs, and said that he who built +it was a Jew, meaning king Herod. The Syrians confessed also that its +builder was a Jew; but they still said, however, that the city was a +Grecian city; for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not +design it for Jews. On which account both parties had a contest with +one another; and this contest increased so much, that it came at last to +arms, and the bolder sort of them marched out to fight; for the elders +of the Jews were not able to put a stop to their own people that were +disposed to be tumultuous, and the Greeks thought it a shame for them +to be overcome by the Jews. Now these Jews exceeded the others in +riches and strength of body; but the Grecian part had the advantage +of assistance from the soldiery; for the greatest part of the Roman +garrison was raised out of Syria; and being thus related to the Syrian +part, they were ready to assist it. However, the governors of the city +were concerned to keep all quiet, and whenever they caught those that +were most for fighting on either side, they punished them with stripes +and bands. Yet did not the sufferings of those that were caught affright +the remainder, or make them desist; but they were still more and more +exasperated, and deeper engaged in the sedition. And as Felix came once +into the market-place, and commanded the Jews, when they had beaten the +Syrians, to go their ways, and threatened them if they would not, and +they would not obey him, he sent his soldiers out upon them, and slew +a great many of them, upon which it fell out that what they had was +plundered. And as the sedition still continued, he chose out the most +eminent men on both sides as ambassadors to Nero, to argue about their +several privileges. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 14. + + + Festus Succeeds Felix Who Is Succeeded By Albinus As He Is + By Florus; Who By The Barbarity Of His Government Forces The + Jews Into The War. + +1. Now it was that Festus succeeded Felix as procurator, and made it his +business to correct those that made disturbances in the country. So he +caught the greatest part of the robbers, and destroyed a great many of +them. But then Albinus, who succeeded Festus, did not execute his office +as the other had done; nor was there any sort of wickedness that could +be named but he had a hand in it. Accordingly, he did not only, in his +political capacity, steal and plunder every one's substance, nor did he +only burden the whole nation with taxes, but he permitted the relations +of such as were in prison for robbery, and had been laid there, either +by the senate of every city, or by the former procurators, to redeem +them for money; and no body remained in the prisons as a malefactor but +he who gave him nothing. At this time it was that the enterprises of +the seditious at Jerusalem were very formidable; the principal men +among them purchasing leave of Albinus to go on with their seditious +practices; while that part of the people who delighted in disturbances +joined themselves to such as had fellowship with Albinus; and every one +of these wicked wretches were encompassed with his own band of robbers, +while he himself, like an arch-robber, or a tyrant, made a figure among +his company, and abused his authority over those about him, in order +to plunder those that lived quietly. The effect of which was this, that +those who lost their goods were forced to hold their peace, when they +had reason to show great indignation at what they had suffered; but +those who had escaped were forced to flatter him that deserved to be +punished, out of the fear they were in of suffering equally with the +others. Upon the Whole, nobody durst speak their minds, but tyranny +was generally tolerated; and at this time were those seeds sown which +brought the city to destruction. + +2. And although such was the character of Albinus, yet did Gessius +Florus 18 who succeeded him, demonstrate him to have been a most +excellent person, upon the comparison; for the former did the greatest +part of his rogueries in private, and with a sort of dissimulation; but +Gessius did his unjust actions to the harm of the nation after a pompous +manner; and as though he had been sent as an executioner to punish +condemned malefactors, he omitted no sort of rapine, or of vexation; +where the case was really pitiable, he was most barbarous, and in things +of the greatest turpitude he was most impudent. Nor could any one outdo +him in disguising the truth; nor could any one contrive more subtle ways +of deceit than he did. He indeed thought it but a petty offense to get +money out of single persons; so he spoiled whole cities, and ruined +entire bodies of men at once, and did almost publicly proclaim it all +the country over, that they had liberty given them to turn robbers, upon +this condition, that he might go shares with them in the spoils they +got. Accordingly, this his greediness of gain was the occasion that +entire toparchies were brought to desolation, and a great many of the +people left their own country, and fled into foreign provinces. + +3. And truly, while Cestius Gallus was president of the province of +Syria, nobody durst do so much as send an embassage to him against +Florus; but when he was come to Jerusalem, upon the approach of the +feast of unleavened bread, the people came about him not fewer in number +than three millions 19 these besought him to commiserate the calamities +of their nation, and cried out upon Florus as the bane of their country. +But as he was present, and stood by Cestius, he laughed at their words. +However, Cestius, when he had quieted the multitude, and had assured +them that he would take care that Florus should hereafter treat them in +a more gentle manner, returned to Antioch. Florus also conducted him +as far as Cesarea, and deluded him, though he had at that very time the +purpose of showing his anger at the nation, and procuring a war upon +them, by which means alone it was that he supposed he might conceal his +enormities; for he expected that if the peace continued, he should have +the Jews for his accusers before Caesar; but that if he could procure +them to make a revolt, he should divert their laying lesser crimes to +his charge, by a misery that was so much greater; he therefore did every +day augment their calamities, in order to induce them to a rebellion. + +4. Now at this time it happened that the Grecians at Cesarea had been +too hard for the Jews, and had obtained of Nero the government of the +city, and had brought the judicial determination: at the same time began +the war, in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero, and the seventeenth +of the reign of Agrippa, in the month of Artemisius [Jyar.] Now the +occasion of this war was by no means proportionable to those heavy +calamities which it brought upon us. For the Jews that dwelt at Cesarea +had a synagogue near the place, whose owner was a certain Cesarean +Greek: the Jews had endeavored frequently to have purchased the +possession of the place, and had offered many times its value for its +price; but as the owner overlooked their offers, so did he raise +other buildings upon the place, in way of affront to them, and made +working-shops of them, and left them but a narrow passage, and such as +was very troublesome for them to go along to their synagogue. Whereupon +the warmer part of the Jewish youth went hastily to the workmen, and +forbade them to build there; but as Florus would not permit them to use +force, the great men of the Jews, with John the publican, being in the +utmost distress what to do, persuaded Florus, with the offer of eight +talents, to hinder the work. He then, being intent upon nothing but +getting money, promised he would do for them all they desired of him, +and then went away from Cesarea to Sebaste, and left the sedition to +take its full course, as if he had sold a license to the Jews to fight +it out. + +5. Now on the next day, which was the seventh day of the week, when the +Jews were crowding apace to their synagogue, a certain man of Cesarea, +of a seditious temper, got an earthen vessel, and set it with the bottom +upward, at the entrance of that synagogue, and sacrificed birds. This +thing provoked the Jews to an incurable degree, because their laws were +affronted, and the place was polluted. Whereupon the sober and moderate +part of the Jews thought it proper to have recourse to their governors +again, while the seditious part, and such as were in the fervor of their +youth, were vehemently inflamed to fight. The seditions also among the +Gentiles of Cesarea stood ready for the same purpose; for they had, by +agreement, sent the man to sacrifice beforehand [as ready to support +him;] so that it soon came to blows. Hereupon Jucundus, the master of +the horse, who was ordered to prevent the fight, came thither, and took +away the earthen vessel, and endeavored to put a stop to the sedition; +but when 20 he was overcome by the violence of the people of Cesarea, +the Jews caught up their books of the law, and retired to Narbata, which +was a place to them belonging, distant from Cesarea sixty furlongs. +But John, and twelve of the principal men with him, went to Florus, to +Sebaste, and made a lamentable complaint of their case, and besought +him to help them; and with all possible decency, put him in mind of the +eight talents they had given him; but he had the men seized upon, and +put in prison, and accused them for carrying the books of the law out of +Cesarea. + +6. Moreover, as to the citizens of Jerusalem, although they took this +matter very ill, yet did they restrain their passion; but Florus acted +herein as if he had been hired, and blew up the war into a flame, and +sent some to take seventeen talents out of the sacred treasure, and +pretended that Caesar wanted them. At this the people were in confusion +immediately, and ran together to the temple, with prodigious clamors, +and called upon Caesar by name, and besought him to free them from the +tyranny of Florus. Some also of the seditious cried out upon Florus, and +cast the greatest reproaches upon him, and carried a basket about, and +begged some spills of money for him, as for one that was destitute of +possessions, and in a miserable condition. Yet was not he made ashamed +hereby of his love of money, but was more enraged, and provoked to get +still more; and instead of coming to Cesarea, as he ought to have done, +and quenching the flame of war, which was beginning thence, and so +taking away the occasion of any disturbances, on which account it was +that he had received a reward [of eight talents], he marched hastily +with an army of horsemen and footmen against Jerusalem, that he might +gain his will by the arms of the Romans, and might, by his terror, and +by his threatenings, bring the city into subjection. + +7. But the people were desirous of making Florus ashamed of his attempt, +and met his soldiers with acclamations, and put themselves in order +to receive him very submissively. But he sent Capito, a centurion, +beforehand, with fifty soldiers, to bid them go back, and not now make +a show of receiving him in an obliging manner, whom they had so foully +reproached before; and said that it was incumbent on them, in case they +had generous souls, and were free speakers, to jest upon him to his +face, and appear to be lovers of liberty, not only in words, but with +their weapons also. With this message was the multitude amazed; and +upon the coming of Capito's horsemen into the midst of them, they were +dispersed before they could salute Florus, or manifest their submissive +behavior to him. Accordingly, they retired to their own houses, and +spent that night in fear and confusion of face. + +8. Now at this time Florus took up his quarters at the palace; and on +the next day he had his tribunal set before it, and sat upon it, when +the high priests, and the men of power, and those of the greatest +eminence in the city, came all before that tribunal; upon which Florus +commanded them to deliver up to him those that had reproached him, and +told them that they should themselves partake of the vengeance to them +belonging, if they did not produce the criminals; but these demonstrated +that the people were peaceably disposed, and they begged forgiveness for +those that had spoken amiss; for that it was no wonder at all that in +so great a multitude there should be some more daring than they ought to +be, and, by reason of their younger age, foolish also; and that it was +impossible to distinguish those that offended from the rest, while every +one was sorry for what he had done, and denied it out of fear of what +would follow: that he ought, however, to provide for the peace of the +nation, and to take such counsels as might preserve the city for the +Romans, and rather for the sake of a great number of innocent people to +forgive a few that were guilty, than for the sake of a few of the wicked +to put so large and good a body of men into disorder. + +9. Florus was more provoked at this, and called out aloud to the +soldiers to plunder that which was called the Upper Market-place, and to +slay such as they met with. So the soldiers, taking this exhortation of +their commander in a sense agreeable to their desire of gain, did not +only plunder the place they were sent to, but forcing themselves into +every house, they slew its inhabitants; so the citizens fled along +the narrow lanes, and the soldiers slew those that they caught, and +no method of plunder was omitted; they also caught many of the quiet +people, and brought them before Florus, whom he first chastised with +stripes, and then crucified. Accordingly, the whole number of those that +were destroyed that day, with their wives and children, [for they did +not spare even the infants themselves,] was about three thousand and six +hundred. And what made this calamity the heavier was this new method +of Roman barbarity; for Florus ventured then to do what no one had done +before, that is, to have men of the equestrian order whipped 21 and +nailed to the cross before his tribunal; who, although they were by +birth Jews, yet were they of Roman dignity notwithstanding. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 15. + + + Concerning Bernice's Petition To Florus, To Spare The Jews, + But In Vain; As Also How, After The Seditious Flame Was + Quenched, It Was Kindled Again By Florus. + +1. About this very time king Agrippa was going to Alexandria, to +congratulate Alexander upon his having obtained the government of Egypt +from Nero; but as his sister Bernice was come to Jerusalem, and saw the +wicked practices of the soldiers, she was sorely affected at it, and +frequently sent the masters of her horse and her guards to Florus, and +begged of him to leave off these slaughters; but he would not comply +with her request, nor have any regard either to the multitude of those +already slain, or to the nobility of her that interceded, but only to +the advantage he should make by this plundering; nay, this violence of +the soldiers brake out to such a degree of madness, that it spent itself +on the queen herself; for they did not only torment and destroy those +whom they had caught under her very eyes, but indeed had killed herself +also, unless she had prevented them by flying to the palace, and had +staid there all night with her guards, which she had about her for fear +of an insult from the soldiers. Now she dwelt then at Jerusalem, in +order to perform a vow 22 which she had made to God; for it is usual +with those that had been either afflicted with a distemper, or with any +other distresses, to make vows; and for thirty days before they are to +offer their sacrifices, to abstain from wine, and to shave the hair of +their head. Which things Bernice was now performing, and stood barefoot +before Florus's tribunal, and besought him [to spare the Jews]. Yet +could she neither have any reverence paid to her, nor could she escape +without some danger of being slain herself. + +2. This happened upon the sixteenth day of the month Artemisius [Jyar]. +Now, on the next day, the multitude, who were in a great agony, ran +together to the Upper Market-place, and made the loudest lamentations +for those that had perished; and the greatest part of the cries were +such as reflected on Florus; at which the men of power were affrighted, +together with the high priests, and rent their garments, and fell down +before each of them, and besought them to leave off, and not to provoke +Florus to some incurable procedure, besides what they had already +suffered. Accordingly, the multitude complied immediately, out of +reverence to those that had desired it of them, and out of the hope they +had that Florus would do them no more injuries. + +3. So Florus was troubled that the disturbances were over, and +endeavored to kindle that flame again, and sent for the high priests, +with the other eminent persons, and said the only demonstration that the +people would not make any other innovations should be this, that they +must go out and meet the soldiers that were ascending from Cesarea, +whence two cohorts were coming; and while these men were exhorting +the multitude so to do, he sent beforehand, and gave directions to the +centurions of the cohorts, that they should give notice to those that +were under them not to return the Jews' salutations; and that if they +made any reply to his disadvantage, they should make use of their +weapons. Now the high priests assembled the multitude in the temple, and +desired them to go and meet the Romans, and to salute the cohorts very +civilly, before their miserable case should become incurable. Now +the seditious part would not comply with these persuasions; but the +consideration of those that had been destroyed made them incline to +those that were the boldest for action. + +4. At this time it was that every priest, and every servant of God, +brought out the holy vessels, and the ornamental garments wherein they +used to minister in sacred things. The harpers also, and the singers of +hymns, came out with their instruments of music, and fell down before +the multitude, and begged of them that they would preserve those holy +ornaments to them, and not provoke the Romans to carry off those sacred +treasures. You might also see then the high priests themselves, with +dust sprinkled in great plenty upon their heads, with bosoms deprived of +any covering but what was rent; these besought every one of the eminent +men by name, and the multitude in common, that they would not for a +small offense betray their country to those that were desirous to have +it laid waste; saying, "What benefit will it bring to the soldiers to +have a salutation from the Jews? or what amendment of your affairs will +it bring you, if you do not now go out to meet them? and that if they +saluted them civilly, all handle would be cut off from Florus to begin +a war; that they should thereby gain their country, and freedom from all +further sufferings; and that, besides, it would be a sign of great +want of command of themselves, if they should yield to a few seditious +persons, while it was fitter for them who were so great a people to +force the others to act soberly." + +5. By these persuasions, which they used to the multitude and to the +seditious, they restrained some by threatenings, and others by the +reverence that was paid them. After this they led them out, and they met +the soldiers quietly, and after a composed manner, and when they were +come up with them, they saluted them; but when they made no answer, +the seditious exclaimed against Florus, which was the signal given for +falling upon them. The soldiers therefore encompassed them presently, +and struck them with their clubs; and as they fled away, the horsemen +trampled them down, so that a great many fell down dead by the strokes +of the Romans, and more by their own violence in crushing one another. +Now there was a terrible crowding about the gates, and while every +body was making haste to get before another, the flight of them all was +retarded, and a terrible destruction there was among those that fell +down, for they were suffocated, and broken to pieces by the multitude of +those that were uppermost; nor could any of them be distinguished by +his relations in order to the care of his funeral; the soldiers also who +beat them, fell upon those whom they overtook, without showing them any +mercy, and thrust the multitude through the place called Bezetha, 23 as +they forced their way, in order to get in and seize upon the temple, and +the tower Antonia. Florus also being desirous to get those places into +his possession, brought such as were with him out of the king's palace, +and would have compelled them to get as far as the citadel [Antonia;] +but his attempt failed, for the people immediately turned back upon him, +and stopped the violence of his attempt; and as they stood upon the tops +of their houses, they threw their darts at the Romans, who, as they were +sorely galled thereby, because those weapons came from above, and they +were not able to make a passage through the multitude, which stopped up +the narrow passages, they retired to the camp which was at the palace. + +6. But for the seditious, they were afraid lest Florus should come +again, and get possession of the temple, through Antonia; so they got +immediately upon those cloisters of the temple that joined to Antonia, +and cut them down. This cooled the avarice of Florus; for whereas he +was eager to obtain the treasures of God [in the temple], and on that +account was desirous of getting into Antonia, as soon as the cloisters +were broken down, he left off his attempt; he then sent for the high +priests and the sanhedrim, and told them that he was indeed himself +going out of the city, but that he would leave them as large a garrison +as they should desire. Hereupon they promised that they would make no +innovations, in case he would leave them one band; but not that which +had fought with the Jews, because the multitude bore ill-will against +that band on account of what they had suffered from it; so he changed +the band as they desired, and, with the rest of his forces, returned to +Cesarea. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 16. + + + Cestius Sends Neopolitanus The Tribune To See In What + Condition The Affairs Of The Jews Were. Agrippa Makes A + Speech To The People Of The Jews That He May Divert Them + From Their Intentions Of Making War With The Romans. + +1. However, Florus contrived another way to oblige the Jews to begin +the war, and sent to Cestius, and accused the Jews falsely of revolting +[from the Roman government], and imputed the beginning of the former +fight to them, and pretended they had been the authors of that +disturbance, wherein they were only the sufferers. Yet were not the +governors of Jerusalem silent upon this occasion, but did themselves +write to Cestius, as did Bernice also, about the illegal practices of +which Florus had been guilty against the city; who, upon reading both +accounts, consulted with his captains [what he should do]. Now some +of them thought it best for Cestius to go up with his army, either to +punish the revolt, if it was real, or to settle the Roman affairs on a +surer foundation, if the Jews continued quiet under them; but he thought +it best himself to send one of his intimate friends beforehand, to +see the state of affairs, and to give him a faithful account of the +intentions of the Jews. Accordingly, he sent one of his tribunes, whose +name was Neopolitanus, who met with king Agrippa as he was returning +from Alexandria, at Jamnia, and told him who it was that sent him, and +on what errands he was sent. + +2. And here it was that the high priests, and men of power among the +Jews, as well as the sanhedrim, came to congratulate the king [upon his +safe return]; and after they had paid him their respects, they lamented +their own calamities, and related to him what barbarous treatment +they had met with from Florus. At which barbarity Agrippa had great +indignation, but transferred, after a subtle manner, his anger towards +those Jews whom he really pitied, that he might beat down their high +thoughts of themselves, and would have them believe that they had +not been so unjustly treated, in order to dissuade them from avenging +themselves. So these great men, as of better understanding than the +rest, and desirous of peace, because of the possessions they had, +understood that this rebuke which the king gave them was intended +for their good; but as to the people, they came sixty furlongs out of +Jerusalem, and congratulated both Agrippa and Neopolitanus; but the +wives of those that had been slain came running first of all and +lamenting. The people also, when they heard their mourning, fell into +lamentations also, and besought Agrippa to assist them: they also +cried out to Neopolitanus, and complained of the many miseries they had +endured under Florus; and they showed them, when they were come into the +city, how the market-place was made desolate, and the houses plundered. +They then persuaded Neopolitanus, by the means of Agrippa, that he would +walk round the city, with one only servant, as far as Siloam, that he +might inform himself that the Jews submitted to all the rest of the +Romans, and were only displeased at Florus, by reason of his exceeding +barbarity to them. So he walked round, and had sufficient experience +of the good temper the people were in, and then went up to the temple, +where he called the multitude together, and highly commended them for +their fidelity to the Romans, and earnestly exhorted them to keep the +peace; and having performed such parts of Divine worship at the temple +as he was allowed to do, he returned to Cestius. + +3. But as for the multitude of the Jews, they addressed themselves to +the king, and to the high priests, and desired they might have leave to +send ambassadors to Nero against Florus, and not by their silence afford +a suspicion that they had been the occasions of such great slaughters +as had been made, and were disposed to revolt, alleging that they +should seem to have been the first beginners of the war, if they did not +prevent the report by showing who it was that began it; and it appeared +openly that they would not be quiet, if any body should hinder them +from sending such an embassage. But Agrippa, although he thought it +too dangerous a thing for them to appoint men to go as the accusers of +Florus, yet did he not think it fit for him to overlook them, as +they were in a disposition for war. He therefore called the multitude +together into a large gallery, and placed his sister Bernice in the +house of the Asamoneans, that she might be seen by them, [which house +was over the gallery, at the passage to the upper city, where the bridge +joined the temple to the gallery,] and spake to them as follows: + +4.24 "Had I perceived that you were all zealously disposed to go to war +with the Romans, and that the purer and more sincere part of the people +did not propose to live in peace, I had not come out to you, nor been +so bold as to give you counsel; for all discourses that tend to persuade +men to do what they ought to do are superfluous, when the hearers are +agreed to do the contrary. But because some are earnest to go to war +because they are young, and without experience of the miseries it +brings, and because some are for it out of an unreasonable expectation +of regaining their liberty, and because others hope to get by it, and +are therefore earnestly bent upon it, that in the confusion of your +affairs they may gain what belongs to those that are too weak to resist +them, I have thought proper to get you all together, and to say to +you what I think to be for your advantage; that so the former may grow +wiser, and change their minds, and that the best men may come to no harm +by the ill conduct of some others. And let not any one be tumultuous +against me, in case what they hear me say do not please them; for as +to those that admit of no cure, but are resolved upon a revolt, it +will still be in their power to retain the same sentiments after my +exhortation is over; but still my discourse will fall to the ground, +even with a relation to those that have a mind to hear me, unless +you will all keep silence. I am well aware that many make a tragical +exclamation concerning the injuries that have been offered you by your +procurators, and concerning the glorious advantages of liberty; but +before I begin the inquiry, who you are that must go to war, and who +they are against whom you must fight, I shall first separate those +pretenses that are by some connected together; for if you aim at +avenging yourselves on those that have done you injury, why do you +pretend this to be a war for recovering your liberty? but if you think +all servitude intolerable, to what purpose serve your complaint against +your particular governors? for if they treated you with moderation, it +would still be equally an unworthy thing to be in servitude. Consider +now the several cases that may be supposed, how little occasion there is +for your going to war. Your first occasion is the accusations you have +to make against your procurators; now here you ought to be submissive +to those in authority, and not give them any provocation; but when +you reproach men greatly for small offenses, you excite those whom you +reproach to be your adversaries; for this will only make them leave off +hurting you privately, and with some degree of modesty, and to lay what +you have waste openly. Now nothing so much damps the force of strokes as +bearing them with patience; and the quietness of those who are injured +diverts the injurious persons from afflicting. But let us take it for +granted that the Roman ministers are injurious to you, and are incurably +severe; yet are they not all the Romans who thus injure you; nor hath +Caesar, against whom you are going to make war, injured you: it is not +by their command that any wicked governor is sent to you; for they who +are in the west cannot see those that are in the east; nor indeed is it +easy for them there even to hear what is done in these parts. Now it is +absurd to make war with a great many for the sake of one, to do so with +such mighty people for a small cause; and this when these people are not +able to know of what you complain: nay, such crimes as we complain of +may soon be corrected, for the same procurator will not continue +for ever; and probable it is that the successors will come with more +moderate inclinations. But as for war, if it be once begun, it is not +easily laid down again, nor borne without calamities coming therewith. +However, as to the desire of recovering your liberty, it is unseasonable +to indulge it so late; whereas you ought to have labored earnestly in +old time that you might never have lost it; for the first experience of +slavery was hard to be endured, and the struggle that you might never +have been subject to it would have been just; but that slave who hath +been once brought into subjection, and then runs away, is rather a +refractory slave than a lover of liberty; for it was then the proper +time for doing all that was possible, that you might never have admitted +the Romans [into your city], when Pompey came first into the country. +But so it was, that our ancestors and their kings, who were in much +better circumstances than we are, both as to money, and strong bodies, +and [valiant] souls, did not bear the onset of a small body of the Roman +army. And yet you, who have now accustomed yourselves to obedience from +one generation to another, and who are so much inferior to those who +first submitted, in your circumstances will venture to oppose the entire +empire of the Romans. While those Athenians, who, in order to preserve +the liberty of Greece, did once set fire to their own city; who pursued +Xerxes, that proud prince, when he sailed upon the land, and walked upon +the sea, and could not be contained by the seas, but conducted such an +army as was too broad for Europe; and made him run away like a fugitive +in a single ship, and brake so great a part of Asia at the Lesser +Salamis; are yet at this time servants to the Romans; and those +injunctions which are sent from Italy become laws to the principal +governing city of Greece. Those Lacedemonians also who got the great +victories at Thermopylae and Platea, and had Agesilaus [for their king], +and searched every corner of Asia, are contented to admit the same +lords. Those Macedonians also, who still fancy what great men their +Philip and Alexander were, and see that the latter had promised them +the empire over the world, these bear so great a change, and pay their +obedience to those whom fortune hath advanced in their stead. Moreover, +ten thousand ether nations there are who had greater reason than we to +claim their entire liberty, and yet do submit. You are the only people +who think it a disgrace to be servants to those to whom all the world +hath submitted. What sort of an army do you rely on? What are the arms +you depend on? Where is your fleet, that may seize upon the Roman +seas? and where are those treasures which may be sufficient for your +undertakings? Do you suppose, I pray you, that you are to make war with +the Egyptians, and with the Arabians? Will you not carefully reflect +upon the Roman empire? Will you not estimate your own weakness? Hath not +your army been often beaten even by your neighboring nations, while the +power of the Romans is invincible in all parts of the habitable earth? +nay, rather they seek for somewhat still beyond that; for all Euphrates +is not a sufficient boundary for them on the east side, nor the Danube +on the north; and for their southern limit, Libya hath been searched +over by them, as far as countries uninhabited, as is Cadiz their limit +on the west; nay, indeed, they have sought for another habitable earth +beyond the ocean, and have carried their arms as far as such British +islands as were never known before. What therefore do you pretend to? +Are you richer than the Gauls, stronger than the Germans, wiser than +the Greeks, more numerous than all men upon the habitable earth? What +confidence is it that elevates you to oppose the Romans? Perhaps it will +be said, It is hard to endure slavery. Yes; but how much harder is this +to the Greeks, who were esteemed the noblest of all people under the +sun! These, though they inhabit in a large country, are in subjection to +six bundles of Roman rods. It is the same case with the Macedonians, +who have juster reason to claim their liberty than you have. What is +the case of five hundred cities of Asia? Do they not submit to a single +governor, and to the consular bundle of rods? What need I speak of the +Henlochi, and Colchi and the nation of Tauri, those that inhabit the +Bosphorus, and the nations about Pontus, and Meotis, who formerly +knew not so much as a lord of their own, but are now subject to three +thousand armed men, and where forty long ships keep the sea in peace, +which before was not navigable, and very tempestuous? How strong a plea +may Bithynia, and Cappadocia, and the people of Pamphylia, the Lycians, +and Cilicians, put in for liberty! But they are made tributary without +an army. What are the circumstances of the Thracians, whose country +extends in breadth five days' journey, and in length seven, and is of a +much more harsh constitution, and much more defensible, than yours, and +by the rigor of its cold sufficient to keep off armies from attacking +them? do not they submit to two thousand men of the Roman garrisons? Are +not the Illyrlans, who inhabit the country adjoining, as far as Dalmatia +and the Danube, governed by barely two legions? by which also they put a +stop to the incursions of the Daeians. And for the Dalmatians, who have +made such frequent insurrections in order to regain their liberty, and +who could never before be so thoroughly subdued, but that they always +gathered their forces together again, revolted, yet are they now very +quiet under one Roman legion. Moreover, great advantages might provoke +any people to revolt, the Gauls might do it best of all, as being so +thoroughly walled round by nature; on the east side by the Alps, on the +north by the river Rhine, on the south by the Pyrenean mountains, and +on the west by the ocean. Now although these Gauls have such obstacles +before them to prevent any attack upon them, and have no fewer than +three hundred and five nations among them, nay have, as one may say, +the fountains of domestic happiness within themselves, and send out +plentiful streams of happiness over almost the whole world, these bear +to be tributary to the Romans, and derive their prosperous condition +from them; and they undergo this, not because they are of effeminate +minds, or because they are of an ignoble stock, as having borne a war +of eighty years in order to preserve their liberty; but by reason of +the great regard they have to the power of the Romans, and their good +fortune, which is of greater efficacy than their arms. These Gauls, +therefore, are kept in servitude by twelve hundred soldiers, which are +hardly so many as are their cities; nor hath the gold dug out of the +mines of Spain been sufficient for the support of a war to preserve +their liberty, nor could their vast distance from the Romans by land +and by sea do it; nor could the martial tribes of the Lusitanians and +Spaniards escape; no more could the ocean, with its tide, which yet was +terrible to the ancient inhabitants. Nay, the Romans have extended their +arms beyond the pillars of Hercules, and have walked among the clouds, +upon the Pyrenean mountains, and have subdued these nations. And one +legion is a sufficient guard for these people, although they were so +hard to be conquered, and at a distance so remote from Rome. Who is +there among you that hath not heard of the great number of the Germans? +You have, to be sure, yourselves seen them to be strong and tall, and +that frequently, since the Romans have them among their captives every +where; yet these Germans, who dwell in an immense country, who have +minds greater than their bodies, and a soul that despises death, and +who are in rage more fierce than wild beasts, have the Rhine for the +boundary of their enterprises, and are tamed by eight Roman legions. +Such of them as were taken captive became their servants; and the rest +of the entire nation were obliged to save themselves by flight. Do you +also, who depend on the walls of Jerusalem, consider what a wall the +Britons had; for the Romans sailed away to them, an subdued them while +they were encompassed by the ocean, and inhabited an island that is not +less than the [continent of this] habitable earth; and four legions are +a sufficient guard to so large an island And why should I speak much +more about this matter, while the Parthians, that most warlike body +of men, and lords of so many nations, and encompassed with such mighty +forces, send hostages to the Romans? whereby you may see, if you please, +even in Italy, the noblest nation of the East, under the notion of +peace, submitting to serve them. Now when almost all people under the +sun submit to the Roman arms, will you be the only people that make war +against them? and this without regarding the fate of the Carthaginians, +who, in the midst of their brags of the great Hannibal, and the nobility +of their Phoenician original, fell by the hand of Scipio. Nor indeed +have the Cyrenians, derived from the Lacedemonians, nor the Marmaridite, +a nation extended as far as the regions uninhabitable for want of +water, nor have the Syrtes, a place terrible to such as barely hear +it described, the Nasamons and Moors, and the immense multitude of the +Numidians, been able to put a stop to the Roman valor. And as for the +third part of the habitable earth, [Africa,] whose nations are so many +that it is not easy to number them, and which is bounded by the Atlantic +Sea and the pillars of Hercules, and feeds an innumerable multitude +of Ethiopians, as far as the Red Sea, these have the Romans subdued +entirely. And besides the annual fruits of the earth, which maintain +the multitude of the Romans for eight months in the year, this, over and +above, pays all sorts of tribute, and affords revenues suitable to +the necessities of the government. Nor do they, like you, esteem such +injunctions a disgrace to them, although they have but one Roman legion +that abides among them. And indeed what occasion is there for showing +you the power of the Romans over remote countries, when it is so easy to +learn it from Egypt, in your neighborhood? This country is extended as +far as the Ethiopians, and Arabia the Happy, and borders upon India; it +hath seven millions five hundred thousand men, besides the inhabitants +of Alexandria, as may be learned from the revenue of the poll tax; yet +it is not ashamed to submit to the Roman government, although it hath +Alexandria as a grand temptation to a revolt, by reason it is so full of +people and of riches, and is besides exceeding large, its length being +thirty furlongs, and its breadth no less than ten; and it pays more +tribute to the Romans in one month than you do in a year; nay, besides +what it pays in money, it sends corn to Rome that supports it for four +months [in the year]: it is also walled round on all sides, either by +almost impassable deserts, or seas that have no havens, or by rivers, +or by lakes; yet have none of these things been found too strong for +the Roman good fortune; however, two legions that lie in that city are a +bridle both for the remoter parts of Egypt, and for the parts inhabited +by the more noble Macedonians. Where then are those people whom you are +to have for your auxiliaries? Must they come from the parts of the world +that are uninhabited? for all that are in the habitable earth are [under +the] Romans. Unless any of you extend his hopes as far as beyond the +Euphrates, and suppose that those of your own nation that dwell in +Adiabene will come to your assistance; but certainly these will not +embarrass themselves with an unjustifiable war, nor, if they should +follow such ill advice, will the Parthians permit them so to do; for +it is their concern to maintain the truce that is between them and the +Romans, and they will be supposed to break the covenants between them, +if any under their government march against the Romans. What remains, +therefore, is this, that you have recourse to Divine assistance; but +this is already on the side of the Romans; for it is impossible that so +vast an empire should be settled without God's providence. Reflect upon +it, how impossible it is for your zealous observations of your religious +customs to be here preserved, which are hard to be observed even when +you fight with those whom you are able to conquer; and how can you +then most of all hope for God's assistance, when, by being forced to +transgress his law, you will make him turn his face from you? and if you +do observe the custom of the sabbath days, and will not be revealed +on to do any thing thereon, you will easily be taken, as were your +forefathers by Pompey, who was the busiest in his siege on those days on +which the besieged rested. But if in time of war you transgress the law +of your country, I cannot tell on whose account you will afterward go +to war; for your concern is but one, that you do nothing against any of +your forefathers; and how will you call upon God to assist you, when you +are voluntarily transgressing against his religion? Now all men that go +to war do it either as depending on Divine or on human assistance; but +since your going to war will cut off both those assistances, those that +are for going to war choose evident destruction. What hinders you from +slaying your children and wives with your own hands, and burning this +most excellent native city of yours? for by this mad prank you will, +however, escape the reproach of being beaten. But it were best, O +my friends, it were best, while the vessel is still in the haven, to +foresee the impending storm, and not to set sail out of the port into +the middle of the hurricanes; for we justly pity those who fall into +great misfortunes without fore-seeing them; but for him who rushes +into manifest ruin, he gains reproaches [instead of commiseration]. +But certainly no one can imagine that you can enter into a war as by +agreement, or that when the Romans have got you under their power, they +will use you with moderation, or will not rather, for an example to +other nations, burn your holy city, and utterly destroy your whole +nation; for those of you who shall survive the war will not be able to +find a place whither to flee, since all men have the Romans for their +lords already, or are afraid they shall have hereafter. Nay, indeed, the +danger concerns not those Jews that dwell here only, but those of +them which dwell in other cities also; for there is no people upon the +habitable earth which have not some portion of you among them, whom your +enemies will slay, in case you go to war, and on that account also; and +so every city which hath Jews in it will be filled with slaughter for +the sake of a few men, and they who slay them will be pardoned; but if +that slaughter be not made by them, consider how wicked a thing it is to +take arms against those that are so kind to you. Have pity, therefore, +if not on your children and wives, yet upon this your metropolis, and +its sacred walls; spare the temple, and preserve the holy house, with +its holy furniture, for yourselves; for if the Romans get you under +their power, they will no longer abstain from them, when their former +abstinence shall have been so ungratefully requited. I call to witness +your sanctuary, and the holy angels of God, and this country common +to us all, that I have not kept back any thing that is for your +preservation; and if you will follow that advice which you ought to do, +you will have that peace which will be common to you and to me; but if +you indulge four passions, you will run those hazards which I shall be +free from." + +5. When Agrippa had spoken thus, both he and his sister wept, and by +their tears repressed a great deal of the violence of the people; but +still they cried out, that they would not fight against the Romans, but +against Florus, on account of what they had suffered by his means. To +which Agrippa replied, that what they had already done was like such as +make war against the Romans; "for you have not paid the tribute which is +due to Caesar 25 and you have cut off the cloisters [of the temple] from +joining to the tower Antonia. You will therefore prevent any occasion +of revolt if you will but join these together again, and if you will but +pay your tribute; for the citadel does not now belong to Florus, nor are +you to pay the tribute money to Florus." + + + + + + +CHAPTER 17. + + + How The War Of The Jews With The Romans Began, And + Concerning Manahem. + +1. This advice the people hearkened to, and went up into the temple with +the king and Bernice, and began to rebuild the cloisters; the rulers +also and senators divided themselves into the villages, and collected +the tributes, and soon got together forty talents, which was the sum +that was deficient. And thus did Agrippa then put a stop to that war +which was threatened. Moreover, he attempted to persuade the multitude +to obey Florus, until Caesar should send one to succeed him; but they +were hereby more provoked, and cast reproaches upon the king, and +got him excluded out of the city; nay, some of the seditious had the +impudence to throw stones at him. So when the king saw that the violence +of those that were for innovations was not to be restrained, and being +very angry at the contumelies he had received, he sent their rulers, +together with their men of power, to Florus, to Cesarea, that he might +appoint whom he thought fit to collect the tribute in the country, while +he retired into his own kingdom. + +2. And at this time it was that some of those that principally excited +the people to go to war made an assault upon a certain fortress called +Masada. They took it by treachery, and slew the Romans that were there, +and put others of their own party to keep it. At the same time Eleazar, +the son of Ananias the high priest, a very bold youth, who was at that +time governor of the temple, persuaded those that officiated in the +Divine service to receive no gift or sacrifice for any foreigner. +And this was the true beginning of our war with the Romans; for they +rejected the sacrifice of Caesar on this account; and when many of the +high priests and principal men besought them not to omit the sacrifice, +which it was customary for them to offer for their princes, they would +not be prevailed upon. These relied much upon their multitude, for the +most flourishing part of the innovators assisted them; but they had the +chief regard to Eleazar, the governor of the temple. + +3. Hereupon the men of power got together, and conferred with the high +priests, as did also the principal of the Pharisees; and thinking all +was at stake, and that their calamities were becoming incurable, took +counsel what was to be done. Accordingly, they determined to try what +they could do with the seditious by words, and assembled the people +before the brazen gate, which was that gate of the inner temple [court +of the priests] which looked toward the sun-rising. And, in the first +place, they showed the great indignation they had at this attempt for a +revolt, and for their bringing so great a war upon their country; after +which they confuted their pretense as unjustifiable, and told them that +their forefathers had adorned their temple in great part with donations +bestowed on them by foreigners, and had always received what had been +presented to them from foreign nations; and that they had been so +far from rejecting any person's sacrifice [which would be the highest +instance of impiety,] that they had themselves placed those donation +about the temple which were still visible, and had remained there so +long a time; that they did now irritate the Romans to take arms against +them, and invited them to make war upon them, and brought up novel rules +of a strange Divine worship, and determined to run the hazard of +having their city condemned for impiety, while they would not allow any +foreigner, but Jews only, either to sacrifice or to worship therein. +And if such a law should be introduced in the case of a single private +person only, he would have indignation at it, as an instance of +inhumanity determined against him; while they have no regard to the +Romans or to Caesar, and forbid even their oblations to be received +also; that however they cannot but fear, lest, by thus rejecting their +sacrifices, they shall not be allowed to offer their own; and that this +city will lose its principality, unless they grow wiser quickly, and +restore the sacrifices as formerly, and indeed amend the injury [they +have offered foreigners] before the report of it comes to the ears of +those that have been injured. + +4. And as they said these things, they produced those priests that were +skillful in the customs of their country, who made the report that all +their forefathers had received the sacrifices from foreign nations. But +still not one of the innovators would hearken to what was said; nay, +those that ministered about the temple would not attend their Divine +service, but were preparing matters for beginning the war. So the men of +power perceiving that the sedition was too hard for them to subdue, and +that the danger which would arise from the Romans would come upon them +first of all, endeavored to save themselves, and sent ambassadors, some +to Florus, the chief of which was Simon the son of Ananias; and others +to Agrippa, among whom the most eminent were Saul, and Antipas, and +Costobarus, who were of the king's kindred; and they desired of them +both that they would come with an army to the city, and cut off the +seditious before it should be too hard to be subdued. Now this terrible +message was good news to Florus; and because his design was to have a +war kindled, he gave the ambassadors no answer at all. But Agrippa was +equally solicitous for those that were revolting, and for those against +whom the war was to be made, and was desirous to preserve the Jews for +the Romans, and the temple and metropolis for the Jews; he was also +sensible that it was not for his own advantage that the disturbances +should proceed; so he sent three thousand horsemen to the assistance +of the people out of Auranitis, and Batanea, and Trachonitis, and these +under Darius, the master of his horse, and Philip the son of Jacimus, +the general of his army. + +5. Upon this the men of power, with the high priests, as also all the +part of the multitude that were desirous of peace, took courage, and +seized upon the upper city [Mount Sion;] for the seditious part had the +lower city and the temple in their power; so they made use of stones and +slings perpetually against one another, and threw darts continually +on both sides; and sometimes it happened that they made incursions +by troops, and fought it out hand to hand, while the seditious were +superior in boldness, but the king's soldiers in skill. These last +strove chiefly to gain the temple, and to drive those out of it who +profaned it; as did the seditious, with Eleazar, besides what they +had already, labor to gain the upper city. Thus were there perpetual +slaughters on both sides for seven days' time; but neither side would +yield up the parts they had seized on. + +6. Now the next day was the festival of Xylophory; upon which the custom +was for every one to bring wood for the altar [that there might never be +a want of fuel for that fire which was unquenchable and always burning]. +Upon that day they excluded the opposite party from the observation of +this part of religion. And when they had joined to themselves many of +the Sicarii, who crowded in among the weaker people, [that was the name +for such robbers as had under their bosoms swords called Sicae,] they +grew bolder, and carried their undertaking further; insomuch that the +king's soldiers were overpowered by their multitude and boldness; and +so they gave way, and were driven out of the upper city by force. The +others then set fire to the house of Ananias the high priest, and to the +palaces of Agrippa and Bernice; after which they carried the fire to +the place where the archives were reposited, and made haste to burn the +contracts belonging to their creditors, and thereby to dissolve their +obligations for paying their debts; and this was done in order to +gain the multitude of those who had been debtors, and that they might +persuade the poorer sort to join in their insurrection with safety +against the more wealthy; so the keepers of the records fled away, and +the rest set fire to them. And when they had thus burnt down the nerves +of the city, they fell upon their enemies; at which time some of the men +of power, and of the high priests, went into the vaults under ground, +and concealed themselves, while others fled with the king's soldiers +to the upper palace, and shut the gates immediately; among whom were +Ananias the high priest, and the ambassadors that had been sent to +Agrippa. And now the seditious were contented with the victory they had +gotten, and the buildings they had burnt down, and proceeded no further. + +7. But on the next day, which was the fifteenth of the month Lous, [Ab,] +they made an assault upon Antonia, and besieged the garrison which was +in it two days, and then took the garrison, and slew them, and set the +citadel on fire; after which they marched to the palace, whither the +king's soldiers were fled, and parted themselves into four bodies, and +made an attack upon the walls. As for those that were within it, no one +had the courage to sally out, because those that assaulted them were +so numerous; but they distributed themselves into the breast-works and +turrets, and shot at the besiegers, whereby many of the robbers fell +under the walls; nor did they cease to fight one with another either by +night or by day, while the seditious supposed that those within would +grow weary for want of food, and those without supposed the others would +do the like by the tediousness of the siege. + +8. In the mean time, one Manahem, the son of Judas, that was called the +Galilean, [who was a very cunning sophister, and had formerly reproached +the Jews under Cyrenius, that after God they were subject to the +Romans,] took some of the men of note with him, and retired to Masada, +where he broke open king Herod's armory, and gave arms not only to his +own people, but to other robbers also. These he made use of for a guard, +and returned in the state of a king to Jerusalem; he became the leader +of the sedition, and gave orders for continuing the siege; but they +wanted proper instruments, and it was not practicable to undermine the +wall, because the darts came down upon them from above. But still they +dug a mine from a great distance under one of the towers, and made it +totter; and having done that, they set on fire what was combustible, and +left it; and when the foundations were burnt below, the tower fell down +suddenly. Yet did they then meet with another wall that had been built +within, for the besieged were sensible beforehand of what they were +doing, and probably the tower shook as it was undermining; so they +provided themselves of another fortification; which when the besiegers +unexpectedly saw, while they thought they had already gained the place, +they were under some consternation. However, those that were within sent +to Manahem, and to the other leaders of the sedition, and desired +they might go out upon a capitulation: this was granted to the king's +soldiers and their own countrymen only, who went out accordingly; but +the Romans that were left alone were greatly dejected, for they were not +able to force their way through such a multitude; and to desire them to +give them their right hand for their security, they thought it would be +a reproach to them; and besides, if they should give it them, they durst +not depend upon it; so they deserted their camp, as easily taken, +and ran away to the royal towers,--that called Hippicus, that called +Phasaelus, and that called Mariamne. But Manahem and his party fell upon +the place whence the soldiers were fled, and slew as many of them as +they could catch, before they got up to the towers, and plundered what +they left behind them, and set fire to their camp. This was executed on +the sixth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul]. + +9. But on the next day the high priest was caught where he had concealed +himself in an aqueduct; he was slain, together with Hezekiah his +brother, by the robbers: hereupon the seditious besieged the towers, and +kept them guarded, lest any one of the soldiers should escape. Now the +overthrow of the places of strength, and the death of the high priest +Ananias, so puffed up Manahem, that he became barbarously cruel; and +as he thought he had no antagonist to dispute the management of affairs +with him, he was no better than an insupportable tyrant; but Eleazar +and his party, when words had passed between them, how it was not proper +when they revolted from the Romans, out of the desire of liberty, to +betray that liberty to any of their own people, and to bear a lord, +who, though he should be guilty of no violence, was yet meaner than +themselves; as also, that in case they were obliged to set some one over +their public affairs, it was fitter they should give that privilege to +any one rather than to him; they made an assault upon him in the temple; +for he went up thither to worship in a pompous manner, and adorned +with royal garments, and had his followers with him in their armor. But +Eleazar and his party fell violently upon him, as did also the rest of +the people; and taking up stones to attack him withal, they threw them +at the sophister, and thought, that if he were once ruined, the entire +sedition would fall to the ground. Now Manahem and his party made +resistance for a while; but when they perceived that the whole multitude +were falling upon them, they fled which way every one was able; those +that were caught were slain, and those that hid themselves were searched +for. A few there were of them who privately escaped to Masada, among +whom was Eleazar, the son of Jairus, who was of kin to Manahem, and +acted the part of a tyrant at Masada afterward. As for Manahem himself, +he ran away to the place called Ophla, and there lay skulking in +private; but they took him alive, and drew him out before them all; they +then tortured him with many sorts of torments, and after all slew him, +as they did by those that were captains under him also, and particularly +by the principal instrument of his tyranny, whose name was Apsalom. + +10. And, as I said, so far truly the people assisted them, while they +hoped this might afford some amendment to the seditious practices; but +the others were not in haste to put an end to the war, but hoped to +prosecute it with less danger, now they had slain Manahem. It is +true, that when the people earnestly desired that they would leave +off besieging the soldiers, they were the more earnest in pressing it +forward, and this till Metilius, who was the Roman general, sent to +Eleazar, and desired that they would give them security to spare their +lives only; but agreed to deliver up their arms, and what else they had +with them. The others readily complied with their petition, sent to them +Gorion, the son of Nicodemus, and Ananias, the son of Sadduk, and Judas, +the son of Jonathan, that they might give them the security Of their +right hands, and of their oaths; after which Metilius brought down his +soldiers; which soldiers, while they were in arms, were not meddled with +by any of the seditious, nor was there any appearance of treachery; but +as soon as, according to the articles of capitulation, they had all laid +down their shields and their swords, and were under no further suspicion +of any harm, but were going away, Eleazar's men attacked them after a +violent manner, and encompassed them round, and slew them, while they +neither defended themselves, nor entreated for mercy, but only cried out +upon the breach of their articles of capitulation and their oaths. And +thus were all these men barbarously murdered, excepting Metilius; for +when he entreated for mercy, and promised that he would turn Jew, and +be circumcised, they saved him alive, but none else. This loss to the +Romans was but light, there being no more than a few slain out of an +immense army; but still it appeared to be a prelude to the Jews' own +destruction, while men made public lamentation when they saw that such +occasions were afforded for a war as were incurable; that the city +was all over polluted with such abominations, from which it was but +reasonable to expect some vengeance, even though they should escape +revenge from the Romans; so that the city was filled with sadness, and +every one of the moderate men in it were under great disturbance, +as likely themselves to undergo punishment for the wickedness of the +seditious; for indeed it so happened that this murder was perpetrated on +the sabbath day, on which day the Jews have a respite from their works +on account of Divine worship. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 18. + + + The Calamities And Slaughters That Came Upon The Jews. + +1. Now the people of Cesarea had slain the Jews that were among them +on the very same day and hour [when the soldiers were slain], which +one would think must have come to pass by the direction of Providence; +insomuch that in one hour's time above twenty thousand Jews were killed, +and all Cesarea was emptied of its Jewish inhabitants; for Florus caught +such as ran away, and sent them in bonds to the galleys. Upon which +stroke that the Jews received at Cesarea, the whole nation was greatly +enraged; so they divided themselves into several parties, and laid waste +the villages of the Syrians, and their neighboring cities, Philadelphia, +and Sebonitis, and Gerasa, and Pella, and Scythopolis, and after them +Gadara, and Hippos; and falling upon Gaulonitis, some cities they +destroyed there, and some they set on fire, and then went to Kedasa, +belonging to the Tyrians, and to Ptolemais, and to Gaba, and to Cesarea; +nor was either Sebaste [Samaria] or Askelon able to oppose the violence +with which they were attacked; and when they had burnt these to the +ground; they entirely demolished Anthedon and Gaza; many also of the +villages that were about every one of those cities were plundered, and +an immense slaughter was made of the men who were caught in them. + +2. However, the Syrians were even with the Jews in the multitude of +the men whom they slew; for they killed those whom they caught in their +cities, and that not only out of the hatred they bare them, as formerly, +but to prevent the danger under which they were from them; so that the +disorders in all Syria were terrible, and every city was divided into +two armies, encamped one against another, and the preservation of the +one party was in the destruction of the other; so the day time was spent +in shedding of blood, and the night in fear, which was of the two the +more terrible; for when the Syrians thought they had ruined the Jews, +they had the Judaizers in suspicion also; and as each side did not care +to slay those whom they only suspected on the other, so did they +greatly fear them when they were mingled with the other, as if they were +certainly foreigners. Moreover, greediness of gain was a provocation to +kill the opposite party, even to such as had of old appeared very mild +and gentle towards them; for they without fear plundered the effects of +the slain, and carried off the spoils of those whom they slew to their +own houses, as if they had been gained in a set battle; and he was +esteemed a man of honor who got the greatest share, as having prevailed +over the greatest number of his enemies. It was then common to see +cities filled with dead bodies, still lying unburied, and those of old +men, mixed with infants, all dead, and scattered about together; women +also lay amongst them, without any covering for their nakedness: you +might then see the whole province full of inexpressible calamities, +while the dread of still more barbarous practices which were threatened +was every where greater than what had been already perpetrated. + +3. And thus far the conflict had been between Jews and foreigners; but +when they made excursions to Scythopolis, they found Jew that acted as +enemies; for as they stood in battle-array with those of Scythopolis, +and preferred their own safety before their relation to us, they fought +against their own countrymen; nay, their alacrity was so very great, +that those of Scythopolis suspected them. These were afraid, therefore, +lest they should make an assault upon the city in the night time, and, +to their great misfortune, should thereby make an apology for themselves +to their own people for their revolt from them. So they commanded them, +that in case they would confirm their agreement and demonstrate their +fidelity to them, who were of a different nation, they should go out of +the city, with their families to a neighboring grove; and when they had +done as they were commanded, without suspecting any thing, the people of +Scythopolis lay still for the interval of two days, to tempt them to be +secure; but on the third night they watched their opportunity, and cut +all their throats, some as they lay unguarded, and some as they lay +asleep. The number that was slain was above thirteen thousand, and then +they plundered them of all that they had. + +4. It will deserve our relation what befell Simon; he was the son of +one Saul, a man of reputation among the Jews. This man was distinguished +from the rest by the strength of his body, and the boldness of his +conduct, although he abused them both to the mischieving of his +countrymen; for he came every day and slew a great many of the Jews of +Scythopolis, and he frequently put them to flight, and became himself +alone the cause of his army's conquering. But a just punishment overtook +him for the murders he had committed upon those of the same nation with +him; for when the people of Scythopolis threw their darts at them in the +grove, he drew his sword, but did not attack any of the enemy; for he +saw that he could do nothing against such a multitude; but he cried out +after a very moving manner, and said, "O you people of Scythopolis, I +deservedly suffer for what I have done with relation to you, when I gave +you such security of my fidelity to you, by slaying so many of those +that were related to me. Wherefore we very justly experience the +perfidiousness of foreigners, while we acted after a most wicked manner +against our own nation. I will therefore die, polluted wretch as I am, +by mine own hands; for it is not fit I should die by the hand of our +enemies; and let the same action be to me both a punishment for my great +crimes, and a testimony of my courage to my commendation, that so no one +of our enemies may have it to brag of, that he it was that slew me, +and no one may insult upon me as I fall." Now when he had said this, he +looked round about him upon his family with eyes of commiseration and +of rage [that family consisted of a wife and children, and his aged +parents]; so, in the first place, he caught his father by his grey +hairs, and ran his sword through him, and after him he did the same to +his mother, who willingly received it; and after them he did the like +to his wife and children, every one almost offering themselves to his +sword, as desirous to prevent being slain by their enemies; so when he +had gone over all his family, he stood upon their bodies to be seen +by all, and stretching out his right hand, that his action might be +observed by all, he sheathed his entire sword into his own bowels. This +young man was to be pitied, on account of the strength of his body and +the courage of his soul; but since he had assured foreigners of his +fidelity [against his own countrymen], he suffered deservedly. + +5. Besides this murder at Scythopolis, the other cities rose up against +the Jews that were among them; those of Askelon slew two thousand five +hundred, and those of Ptolemais two thousand, and put not a few into +bonds; those of Tyre also put a great number to death, but kept a +greater number in prison; moreover, those of Hippos, and those of +Gadara, did the like while they put to death the boldest of the Jews, +but kept those of whom they were afraid in custody; as did the rest of +the cities of Syria, according as they every one either hated them or +were afraid of them; only the Antiochtans the Sidontans, and Apamians +spared those that dwelt with them, and would not endure either to kill +any of the Jews, or to put them in bonds. And perhaps they spared them, +because their own number was so great that they despised their +attempts. But I think the greatest part of this favor was owing to their +commiseration of those whom they saw to make no innovations. As for the +Gerasans, they did no harm to those that abode with them; and for those +who had a mind to go away, they conducted them as far as their borders +reached. + +6. There was also a plot laid against the Jews in Agrippa's kingdom; for +he was himself gone to Cestius Gallus, to Antioch, but had left one +of his companions, whose name was Noarus, to take care of the public +affairs; which Noarus was of kin to king Sohemus. 26 Now there came +certain men seventy in number, out of Batanea, who were the most +considerable for their families and prudence of the rest of the people; +these desired to have an army put into their hands, that if any tumult +should happen, they might have about them a guard sufficient to restrain +such as might rise up against them. This Noarus sent out some of the +king's armed men by night, and slew all those [seventy] men; which bold +action he ventured upon without the consent of Agrippa, and was such +a lover of money, that he chose to be so wicked to his own countrymen, +though he brought ruin on the kingdom thereby; and thus cruelly did he +treat that nation, and this contrary to the laws also, until Agrippa +was informed of it, who did not indeed dare to put him to death, out +of regard to Sohemus; but still he put an end to his procuratorship +immediately. But as to the seditious, they took the citadel which +was called Cypros, and was above Jericho, and cut the throats of the +garrison, and utterly demolished the fortifications. This was about +the same time that the multitude of the Jews that were at Machaerus +persuaded the Romans who were in garrison to leave the place, and +deliver it up to them. These Romans being in great fear, lest the place +should be taken by force, made an agreement with them to depart upon +certain conditions; and when they had obtained the security they +desired, they delivered up the citadel, into which the people of +Machaerus put a garrison for their own security, and held it in their +own power. + +7. But for Alexandria, the sedition of the people of the place against +the Jews was perpetual, and this from that very time when Alexander [the +Great], upon finding the readiness of the Jews in assisting him against +the Egyptians, and as a reward for such their assistance, gave them +equal privileges in this city with the Grecians themselves; which +honorary reward Continued among them under his successors, who also set +apart for them a particular place, that they might live without being +polluted [by the Gentiles], and were thereby not so much intermixed with +foreigners as before; they also gave them this further privilege, that +they should be called Macedonians. Nay, when the Romans got possession +of Egypt, neither the first Caesar, nor any one that came after him, +thought of diminishing the honors which Alexander had bestowed on the +Jews. But still conflicts perpetually arose with the Grecians; and +although the governors did every day punish many of them, yet did +the sedition grow worse; but at this time especially, when there were +tumults in other places also, the disorders among them were put into a +greater flame; for when the Alexandrians had once a public assembly, to +deliberate about an embassage they were sending to Nero, a great number +of Jews came flocking to the theater; but when their adversaries saw +them, they immediately cried out, and called them their enemies, and +said they came as spies upon them; upon which they rushed out, and laid +violent hands upon them; and as for the rest, they were slain as they +ran away; but there were three men whom they caught, and hauled them +along, in order to have them burnt alive; but all the Jews came in a +body to defend them, who at first threw stones at the Grecians, but +after that they took lamps, and rushed with violence into the theater, +and threatened that they would burn the people to a man; and this they +had soon done, unless Tiberius Alexander, the governor of the city, had +restrained their passions. However, this man did not begin to teach them +wisdom by arms, but sent among them privately some of the principal men, +and thereby entreated them to be quiet, and not provoke the Roman +army against them; but the seditious made a jest of the entreaties of +Tiberius, and reproached him for so doing. + +8. Now when he perceived that those who were for innovations would not +be pacified till some great calamity should overtake them, he sent out +upon them those two Roman legions that were in the city, and together +with them five thousand other soldiers, who, by chance, were come +together out of Libya, to the ruin of the Jews. They were also permitted +not only to kill them, but to plunder them of what they had, and to set +fire to their houses. These soldiers rushed violently into that part of +the city that was called Delta, where the Jewish people lived together, +and did as they were bidden, though not without bloodshed on their own +side also; for the Jews got together, and set those that were the best +armed among them in the forefront, and made a resistance for a great +while; but when once they gave back, they were destroyed unmercifully; +and this their destruction was complete, some being caught in the open +field, and others forced into their houses, which houses were first +plundered of what was in them, and then set on fire by the Romans; +wherein no mercy was shown to the infants, and no regard had to the +aged; but they went on in the slaughter of persons of every age, till +all the place was overflowed with blood, and fifty thousand of them +lay dead upon heaps; nor had the remainder been preserved, had they not +be-taken themselves to supplication. So Alexander commiserated their +condition, and gave orders to the Romans to retire; accordingly, +these being accustomed to obey orders, left off killing at the first +intimation; but the populace of Alexandria bare so very great hatred to +the Jews, that it was difficult to recall them, and it was a hard thing +to make them leave their dead bodies. + +9. And this was the miserable calamity which at this time befell the +Jews at Alexandria. Hereupon Cestius thought fit no longer to lie still, +while the Jews were everywhere up in arms; so he took out of Antioch +the twelfth legion entire, and out of each of the rest he selected two +thousand, with six cohorts of footmen, and four troops of horsemen, +besides those auxiliaries which were sent by the kings; of which +Antiochus sent two thousand horsemen, and three thousand footmen, with +as many archers; and Agrippa sent the same number of footmen, and one +thousand horsemen; Sohemus also followed with four thousand, a third +part whereof were horsemen, but most part were archers, and thus did +he march to Ptolemais. There were also great numbers of auxiliaries +gathered together from the [free] cities, who indeed had not the same +skill in martial affairs, but made up in their alacrity and in their +hatred to the Jews what they wanted in skill. There came also along with +Cestius Agrippa himself, both as a guide in his march over the country, +and a director what was fit to be done; so Cestius took part of his +forces, and marched hastily to Zabulon, a strong city of Galilee, which +was called the City of Men, and divides the country of Ptolemais from +our nation; this he found deserted by its men, the multitude having fled +to the mountains, but full of all sorts of good things; those he gave +leave to the soldiers to plunder, and set fire to the city, although it +was of admirable beauty, and had its houses built like those in Tyre, +and Sidon, and Berytus. After this he overran all the country, and +seized upon whatsoever came in his way, and set fire to the villages +that were round about them, and then returned to Ptolemais. But when the +Syrians, and especially those of Berytus, were busy in plundering, +the Jews pulled up their courage again, for they knew that Cestius was +retired, and fell upon those that were left behind unexpectedly, and +destroyed about two thousand of them. 27 + +10. And now Cestius himself marched from Ptolemais, and came to Cesarea; +but he sent part of his army before him to Joppa, and gave order, that +if they could take that city [by surprise] they should keep it; but that +in case the citizens should perceive they were coming to attack them, +that they then should stay for him, and for the rest of the army. So +some of them made a brisk march by the sea-side, and some by land, and +so coming upon them on both sides, they took the city with ease; and as +the inhabitants had made no provision beforehand for a flight, nor had +gotten any thing ready for fighting, the soldiers fell upon them, and +slew them all, with their families, and then plundered and burnt the +city. The number of the slain was eight thousand four hundred. In +like manner, Cestius sent also a considerable body of horsemen to the +toparchy of Narbatene, that adjoined to Cesarea, who destroyed the +country, and slew a great multitude of its people; they also plundered +what they had, and burnt their villages. + +11. But Cestius sent Gallus, the commander of the twelfth legion, into +Galilee, and delivered to him as many of his forces as he supposed +sufficient to subdue that nation. He was received by the strongest city +of Galilee, which was Sepphoris, with acclamations of joy; which wise +conduct of that city occasioned the rest of the cities to be in quiet; +while the seditious part and the robbers ran away to that mountain +which lies in the very middle of Galilee, and is situated over against +Sepphoris; it is called Asamon. So Gallus brought his forces against +them; but while those men were in the superior parts above the Romans, +they easily threw their darts upon the Romans, as they made their +approaches, and slew about two hundred of them. But when the Romans had +gone round the mountains, and were gotten into the parts above their +enemies, the others were soon beaten; nor could they who had only light +armor on sustain the force of them that fought them armed all over; nor +when they were beaten could they escape the enemies' horsemen; insomuch +that only some few concealed themselves in certain places hard to be +come at, among the mountains, while the rest, above two thousand in +number, were slain. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 19. + + + What Cestius Did Against The Jews; And How, Upon His + Besieging Jerusalem, He Retreated From The City Without Any + Just Occasion In The World. As Also What Severe Calamities + He Under Went From The Jews In His Retreat. + +1. And now Gallus, seeing nothing more that looked towards an innovation +in Galilee, returned with his army to Cesarea: but Cestius removed with +his whole army, and marched to Antipatris; and when he was informed that +there was a great body of Jewish forces gotten together in a certain +tower called Aphek, he sent a party before to fight them; but this party +dispersed the Jews by affrighting them before it came to a battle: so +they came, and finding their camp deserted, they burnt it, as well +as the villages that lay about it. But when Cestius had marched from +Antipatris to Lydda, he found the city empty of its men, for the whole +multitude 28 were gone up to Jerusalem to the feast of tabernacles; +yet did he destroy fifty of those that showed themselves, and burnt the +city, and so marched forwards; and ascending by Betboron, he pitched +his camp at a certain place called Gabao, fifty furlongs distant from +Jerusalem. + +2. But as for the Jews, when they saw the war approaching to their +metropolis, they left the feast, and betook themselves to their arms; +and taking courage greatly from their multitude, went in a sudden and +disorderly manner to the fight, with a great noise, and without any +consideration had of the rest of the seventh day, although the Sabbath +29 was the day to which they had the greatest regard; but that rage +which made them forget the religious observation [of the sabbath] +made them too hard for their enemies in the fight: with such violence +therefore did they fall upon the Romans, as to break into their ranks, +and to march through the midst of them, making a great slaughter as they +went, insomuch that unless the horsemen, and such part of the footmen as +were not yet tired in the action, had wheeled round, and succored that +part of the army which was not yet broken, Cestius, with his whole army, +had been in danger: however, five hundred and fifteen of the Romans were +slain, of which number four hundred were footmen, and the rest horsemen, +while the Jews lost only twenty-two, of whom the most valiant were the +kinsmen of Monobazus, king of Adiabene, and their names were Monobazus +and Kenedeus; and next to them were Niger of Perea, and Silas of +Babylon, who had deserted from king Agrippa to the Jews; for he had +formerly served in his army. When the front of the Jewish army had been +cut off, the Jews retired into the city; but still Simon, the son of +Giora, fell upon the backs of the Romans, as they were ascending up +Bethoron, and put the hindmost of the army into disorder, and carried +off many of the beasts that carried the weapons of war, and led Shem +into the city. But as Cestius tarried there three days, the Jews seized +upon the elevated parts of the city, and set watches at the entrances +into the city, and appeared openly resolved not to rest when once the +Romans should begin to march. + +3. And now when Agrippa observed that even the affairs of the Romans +were likely to be in danger, while such an immense multitude of their +enemies had seized upon the mountains round about, he determined to try +what the Jews would agree to by words, as thinking that he should either +persuade them all to desist from fighting, or, however, that he should +cause the sober part of them to separate themselves from the opposite +party. So he sent Borceus and Phebus, the persons of his party that were +the best known to them, and promised them that Cestius should give them +his right hand, to secure them of the Romans' entire forgiveness of what +they had done amiss, if they would throw away their arms, and come over +to them; but the seditious, fearing lest the whole multitude, in +hopes of security to themselves, should go over to Agrippa, resolved +immediately to fall upon and kill the ambassadors; accordingly they +slew Phebus before he said a word, but Borceus was only wounded, and so +prevented his fate by flying away. And when the people were very angry +at this, they had the seditious beaten with stones and clubs, and drove +them before them into the city. + +4. But now Cestius, observing that the disturbances that were begun +among the Jews afforded him a proper opportunity to attack them, took +his whole army along with him, and put the Jews to flight, and pursued +them to Jerusalem. He then pitched his camp upon the elevation called +Scopus, [or watch-tower,] which was distant seven furlongs from +the city; yet did not he assault them in three days' time, out of +expectation that those within might perhaps yield a little; and in the +mean time he sent out a great many of his soldiers into neighboring +villages, to seize upon their corn. And on the fourth day, which was the +thirtieth of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri,] when he had put his army +in array, he brought it into the city. Now for the people, they were +kept under by the seditious; but the seditious themselves were greatly +affrighted at the good order of the Romans, and retired from the +suburbs, and retreated into the inner part of the city, and into the +temple. But when Cestius was come into the city, he set the part called +Bezetha, which is called Cenopolis, [or the new city,] on fire; as he +did also to the timber market; after which he came into the upper city, +and pitched his camp over against the royal palace; and had he but at +this very time attempted to get within the walls by force, he had won +the city presently, and the war had been put an end to at once; but +Tyrannius Priseus, the muster-master of the army, and a great number of +the officers of the horse, had been corrupted by Florus, and diverted +him from that his attempt; and that was the occasion that this war +lasted so very long, and thereby the Jews were involved in such +incurable calamities. + +5. In the mean time, many of the principal men of the city were +persuaded by Ananus, the son of Jonathan, and invited Cestius into the +city, and were about to open the gates for him; but he overlooked this +offer, partly out of his anger at the Jews, and partly because he did +not thoroughly believe they were in earnest; whence it was that he +delayed the matter so long, that the seditious perceived the treachery, +and threw Ananus and those of his party down from the wall, and, +pelting them with stones, drove them into their houses; but they stood +themselves at proper distances in the towers, and threw their darts at +those that were getting over the wall. Thus did the Romans make their +attack against the wall for five days, but to no purpose. But on the +next day Cestius took a great many of his choicest men, and with them +the archers, and attempted to break into the temple at the northern +quarter of it; but the Jews beat them off from the cloisters, and +repulsed them several times when they were gotten near to the wall, till +at length the multitude of the darts cut them off, and made them retire; +but the first rank of the Romans rested their shields upon the wall, +and so did those that were behind them, and the like did those that were +still more backward, and guarded themselves with what they call Testudo, +[the back of] a tortoise, upon which the darts that were thrown fell, +and slided off without doing them any harm; so the soldiers undermined +the wall, without being themselves hurt, and got all things ready for +setting fire to the gate of the temple. + +6. And now it was that a horrible fear seized upon the seditious, +insomuch that many of them ran out of the city, as though it were to be +taken immediately; but the people upon this took courage, and where the +wicked part of the city gave ground, thither did they come, in order to +set open the gates, and to admit Cestius 30 as their benefactor, who, +had he but continued the siege a little longer, had certainly taken the +city; but it was, I suppose, owing to the aversion God had already at +the city and the sanctuary, that he was hindered from putting an end to +the war that very day. + +7. It then happened that Cestius was not conscious either how the +besieged despaired of success, nor how courageous the people were for +him; and so he recalled his soldiers from the place, and by despairing +of any expectation of taking it, without having received any disgrace, +he retired from the city, without any reason in the world. But when the +robbers perceived this unexpected retreat of his, they resumed their +courage, and ran after the hinder parts of his army, and destroyed a +considerable number of both their horsemen and footmen; and now Cestius +lay all night at the camp which was at Scopus; and as he went off +farther next day, he thereby invited the enemy to follow him, who still +fell upon the hindmost, and destroyed them; they also fell upon the +flank on each side of the army, and threw darts upon them obliquely, +nor durst those that were hindmost turn back upon those who wounded them +behind, as imagining that the multitude of those that pursued them was +immense; nor did they venture to drive away those that pressed upon them +on each side, because they were heavy with their arms, and were afraid +of breaking their ranks to pieces, and because they saw the Jews were +light, and ready for making incursions upon them. And this was the +reason why the Romans suffered greatly, without being able to revenge +themselves upon their enemies; so they were galled all the way, and +their ranks were put into disorder, and those that were thus put out of +their ranks were slain; among whom were Priscus, the commander of the +sixth legion, and Longinus, the tribune, and Emilius Secundus, the +commander of a troop of horsemen. So it was not without difficulty that +they got to Gabao, their former camp, and that not without the loss of +a great part of their baggage. There it was that Cestius staid two +days, and was in great distress to know what he should do in these +circumstances; but when on the third day he saw a still much greater +number of enemies, and all the parts round about him full of Jews, he +understood that his delay was to his own detriment, and that if he staid +any longer there, he should have still more enemies upon him. + +8. That therefore he might fly the faster, he gave orders to cast away +what might hinder his army's march; so they killed the mules and other +creatures, excepting those that carried their darts and machines, which +they retained for their own use, and this principally because they were +afraid lest the Jews should seize upon them. He then made his army march +on as far as Bethoron. Now the Jews did not so much press upon them when +they were in large open places; but when they were penned up in their +descent through narrow passages, then did some of them get before, and +hindered them from getting out of them; and others of them thrust the +hinder-most down into the lower places; and the whole multitude extended +themselves over against the neck of the passage, and covered the Roman +army with their darts. In which circumstances, as the footmen knew not +how to defend themselves, so the danger pressed the horsemen still more, +for they were so pelted, that they could not march along the road in +their ranks, and the ascents were so high, that the cavalry were not +able to march against the enemy; the precipices also and valleys into +which they frequently fell, and tumbled down, were such on each side of +them, that there was neither place for their flight, nor any contrivance +could be thought of for their defense; till the distress they were at +last in was so great, that they betook themselves to lamentations, and +to such mournful cries as men use in the utmost despair: the joyful +acclamations of the Jews also, as they encouraged one another, echoed +the sounds back again, these last composing a noise of those that at +once rejoiced and were in a rage. Indeed, things were come to such a +pass, that the Jews had almost taken Cestius's entire army prisoners, +had not the night come on, when the Romans fled to Bethoron, and the +Jews seized upon all the places round about them, and watched for their +coming out [in the morning]. + +9. And then it was that Cestius, despairing of obtaining room for a +public march, contrived how he might best run away; and when he had +selected four hundred of the most courageous of his soldiers, he placed +them at the strongest of their fortifications, and gave order, that when +they went up to the morning guard, they should erect their ensigns, that +the Jews might be made to believe that the entire army was there still, +while he himself took the rest of his forces with him, and marched, +without any noise, thirty furlongs. But when the Jews perceived, in the +morning, that the camp was empty, they ran upon those four hundred who +had deluded them, and immediately threw their darts at them, and slew +them; and then pursued after Cestius. But he had already made use of a +great part of the night in his flight, and still marched quicker when it +was day; insomuch that the soldiers, through the astonishment and +fear they were in, left behind them their engines for sieges, and for +throwing of stones, and a great part of the instruments of war. So the +Jews went on pursuing the Romans as far as Antipatris; after which, +seeing they could not overtake them, they came back, and took the +engines, and spoiled the dead bodies, and gathered the prey together +which the Romans had left behind them, and came back running and singing +to their metropolis; while they had themselves lost a few only, but had +slain of the Romans five thousand and three hundred footmen, and three +hundred and eighty horsemen. This defeat happened on the eighth day of +the month Dius, [Marchesvan,] in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 20. + + + Cestius Sends Ambassadors To Nero. The People Of Damascus + Slay Those Jews That Lived With Them. The People Of + Jerusalem After They Had [Left Off] Pursuing Cestius, Return + To The City And Get Things Ready For Its Defense And Make A + Great Many Generals For Their Armies And Particularly + Josephus The Writer Of These Books. Some Account Of His + Administration. + +1. After this calamity had befallen Cestius, many of the most eminent +of the Jews swam away from the city, as from a ship when it was going to +sink; Costobarus, therefore, and Saul, who were brethren, together with +Philip, the son of Jacimus, who was the commander of king Agrippa's +forces, ran away from the city, and went to Cestius. But then how +Antipas, who had been besieged with them in the king's palace, but would +not fly away with them, was afterward slain by the seditious, we shall +relate hereafter. However, Cestius sent Saul and his friends, at their +own desire, to Achaia, to Nero, to inform him of the great distress they +were in, and to lay the blame of their kindling the war upon Florus, as +hoping to alleviate his own danger, by provoking his indignation against +Florus. + +2. In the mean time, the people of Damascus, when they were informed +of the destruction of the Romans, set about the slaughter of those Jews +that were among them; and as they had them already cooped up together in +the place of public exercises, which they had done out of the suspicion +they had of them, they thought they should meet with no difficulty in +the attempt; yet did they distrust their own wives, which were almost +all of them addicted to the Jewish religion; on which account it was +that their greatest concern was, how they might conceal these things +from them; so they came upon the Jews, and cut their throats, as being +in a narrow place, in number ten thousand, and all of them unarmed, and +this in one hour's time, without any body to disturb them. + +3. But as to those who had pursued after Cestius, when they were +returned back to Jerusalem, they overbore some of those that favored +the Romans by violence, and some them persuaded [by en-treaties] to +join with them, and got together in great numbers in the temple, and +appointed a great many generals for the war. Joseph also, the son of +Gorion, 31 and Ananus the high priest, were chosen as governors of all +affairs within the city, and with a particular charge to repair the +walls of the city; for they did not ordain Eleazar the son of Simon to +that office, although he had gotten into his possession the prey they +had taken from the Romans, and the money they had taken from Cestius, +together with a great part of the public treasures, because they saw +he was of a tyrannical temper, and that his followers were, in their +behavior, like guards about him. However, the want they were in of +Eleazar's money, and the subtle tricks used by him, brought all so +about, that the people were circumvented, and submitted themselves to +his authority in all public affairs. + +4. They also chose other generals for Idumea; Jesus, the son of +Sapphias, one of the high priests; and Eleazar, the son of Ananias, the +high priest; they also enjoined Niger, the then governor of Idumea, +32 who was of a family that belonged to Perea, beyond Jordan, and +was thence called the Peraite, that he should be obedient to those +fore-named commanders. Nor did they neglect the care of other parts of +the country; but Joseph the son of Simon was sent as general to Jericho, +as was Manasseh to Perea, and John, the Esscue, to the toparchy of +Thamna; Lydda was also added to his portion, and Joppa, and Emmaus. +But John, the son of Matthias, was made governor of the toparchies of +Gophnitica and Acrabattene; as was Josephus, the son of Matthias, of +both the Galilees. Gamala also, which was the strongest city in those +parts, was put under his command. + +5. So every one of the other commanders administered the affairs of his +portion with that alacrity and prudence they were masters of; but as +to Josephus, when he came into Galilee, his first care was to gain the +good-will of the people of that country, as sensible that he should +thereby have in general good success, although he should fail in other +points. And being conscious to himself that if he communicated part of +his power to the great men, he should make them his fast friends; and +that he should gain the same favor from the multitude, if he executed +his commands by persons of their own country, and with whom they were +well acquainted; he chose out seventy of the most prudent men, and those +elders in age, and appointed them to be rulers of all Galilee, as he +chose seven judges in every city to hear the lesser quarrels; for as to +the greater causes, and those wherein life and death were concerned, he +enjoined they should be brought to him and the seventy 33 elders. + +6. Josephus also, when he had settled these rules for determining causes +by the law, with regard to the people's dealings one with another, +betook himself to make provisions for their safety against external +violence; and as he knew the Romans would fall upon Galilee, he built +walls in proper places about Jotapata, and Bersabee, and Selamis; and +besides these, about Caphareccho, and Japha, and Sigo, and what they +call Mount Tabor, and Taricheae, and Tiberias. Moreover, he built walls +about the caves near the lake of Gennesar, which places lay in the Lower +Galilee; the same he did to the places of Upper Galilee, as well as to +the rock called the Rock of the Achabari, and to Seph, and Jamnith, and +Meroth; and in Gaulonitis he fortified Seleucia, and Sogane, and Gamala; +but as to those of Sepphoris, they were the only people to whom he gave +leave to build their own walls, and this because he perceived they were +rich and wealthy, and ready to go to war, without standing in need of +any injunctions for that purpose. The case was the same with Gischala, +which had a wall built about it by John the son of Levi himself, but +with the consent of Josephus; but for the building of the rest of the +fortresses, he labored together with all the other builders, and was +present to give all the necessary orders for that purpose. He also got +together an army out of Galilee, of more than a hundred thousand young +men, all of which he armed with the old weapons which he had collected +together and prepared for them. + +7. And when he had considered that the Roman power became invincible, +chiefly by their readiness in obeying orders, and the constant exercise +of their arms, he despaired of teaching these his men the use of their +arms, which was to be obtained by experience; but observing that +their readiness in obeying orders was owing to the multitude of their +officers, he made his partitions in his army more after the Roman +manner, and appointed a great many subalterns. He also distributed the +soldiers into various classes, whom he put under captains of tens, and +captains of hundreds, and then under captains of thousands; and besides +these, he had commanders of larger bodies of men. He also taught them to +give the signals one to another, and to call and recall the soldiers by +the trumpets, how to expand the wings of an army, and make them wheel +about; and when one wing hath had success, to turn again and assist +those that were hard set, and to join in the defense of what had most +suffered. He also continually instructed them in what concerned the +courage of the soul, and the hardiness of the body; and, above all, he +exercised them for war, by declaring to them distinctly the good order +of the Romans, and that they were to fight with men who, both by the +strength of their bodies and courage of their souls, had conquered in a +manner the whole habitable earth. He told them that he should make trial +of the good order they would observe in war, even before it came to any +battle, in case they would abstain from the crimes they used to +indulge themselves in, such as theft, and robbery, and rapine, and from +defrauding their own countrymen, and never to esteem the harm done +to those that were so near of kin to them to be any advantage to +themselves; for that wars are then managed the best when the warriors +preserve a good conscience; but that such as are ill men in private life +will not only have those for enemies which attack them, but God himself +also for their antagonist. + +8. And thus did he continue to admonish them. Now he chose for the war +such an army as was sufficient, i.e. sixty thousand footmen, and two +hundred and fifty horsemen; 34 and besides these, on which he put the +greatest trust, there were about four thousand five hundred mercenaries; +he had also six hundred men as guards of his body. Now the cities easily +maintained the rest of his army, excepting the mercenaries, for every +one of the cities enumerated above sent out half their men to the army, +and retained the other half at home, in order to get provisions for +them; insomuch that the one part went to the war, and the other part to +their work, and so those that sent out their corn were paid for it by +those that were in arms, by that security which they enjoyed from them. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 21. + + + Concerning John Of Gichala. Josephus Uses Stratagems Against + The Plots John Laid Against Him And Recovers Certain Cities + Which Had Revolted From Him. + +1. Now as Josephus was thus engaged in the administration of the affairs +of Galilee, there arose a treacherous person, a man of Gischala, the son +of Levi, whose name was John. His character was that of a very cunning +and very knavish person, beyond the ordinary rate of the other men +of eminence there, and for wicked practices he had not his fellow +any where. Poor he was at first, and for a long time his wants were a +hinderance to him in his wicked designs. He was a ready liar, and yet +very sharp in gaining credit to his fictions: he thought it a point of +virtue to delude people, and would delude even such as were the dearest +to him. He was a hypocritical pretender to humanity, but where he had +hopes of gain, he spared not the shedding of blood: his desires were +ever carried to great things, and he encouraged his hopes from those +mean wicked tricks which he was the author of. He had a peculiar knack +at thieving; but in some time he got certain companions in his impudent +practices; at first they were but few, but as he proceeded on in his +evil course, they became still more and more numerous. He took care that +none of his partners should be easily caught in their rogueries, but +chose such out of the rest as had the strongest constitutions of body, +and the greatest courage of soul, together with great skill in martial +affairs; as he got together a band of four hundred men, who came +principally out of the country of Tyre, and were vagabonds that had +run away from its villages; and by the means of these he laid waste +all Galilee, and irritated a considerable number, who were in great +expectation of a war then suddenly to arise among them. + +2. However, John's want of money had hitherto restrained him in his +ambition after command, and in his attempts to advance himself. But when +he saw that Josephus was highly pleased with the activity of his temper, +he persuaded him, in the first place, to intrust him with the repairing +of the walls of his native city, [Gischala,] in which work he got a +great deal of money from the rich citizens. He after that contrived a +very shrewd trick, and pretending that the Jews who dwelt in Syria were +obliged to make use of oil that was made by others than those of their +own nation, he desired leave of Josephus to send oil to their borders; +so he bought four amphorae with such Tyrian money as was of the value of +four Attic drachmae, and sold every half-amphora at the same price. And +as Galilee was very fruitful in oil, and was peculiarly so at that time, +by sending away great quantities, and having the sole privilege so +to do, he gathered an immense sum of money together, which money he +immediately used to the disadvantage of him who gave him that privilege; +and, as he supposed, that if he could once overthrow Josephus, he should +himself obtain the government of Galilee; so he gave orders to the +robbers that were under his command to be more zealous in their thievish +expeditions, that by the rise of many that desired innovations in the +country, he might either catch their general in his snares, as he came +to the country's assistance, and then kill him; or if he should overlook +the robbers, he might accuse him for his negligence to the people of the +country. He also spread abroad a report far and near that Josephus was +delivering up the administration of affairs to the Romans; and many such +plots did he lay, in order to ruin him. + +3. Now at the same time that certain young men of the village Dabaritta, +who kept guard in the Great Plain laid snares for Ptolemy, who was +Agrippa's and Bernice's steward, and took from him all that he had with +him; among which things there were a great many costly garments, and no +small number of silver cups, and six hundred pieces of gold; yet were +they not able to conceal what they had stolen, but brought it all to +Josephus, to Taricheae. Hereupon he blamed them for the violence they +had offered to the king and queen, and deposited what they brought to +him with Eneas, the most potent man of Taricheae, with an intention of +sending the things back to the owners at a proper time; which act of +Josephus brought him into the greatest danger; for those that had stolen +the things had an indignation at him, both because they gained no share +of it for themselves, and because they perceived beforehand what was +Josephus's intention, and that he would freely deliver up what had cost +them so much pains to the king and queen. These ran away by night to +their several villages, and declared to all men that Josephus was going +to betray them: they also raised great disorders in all the neighboring +cities, insomuch that in the morning a hundred thousand armed men came +running together; which multitude was crowded together in the hippodrome +at Taricheae, and made a very peevish clamor against him; while some +cried out, that they should depose the traitor; and others, that they +should burn him. Now John irritated a great many, as did also one Jesus, +the son of Sapphias, who was then governor of Tiberias. Then it was that +Josephus's friends, and the guards of his body, were so affrighted at +this violent assault of the multitude, that they all fled away but four; +and as he was asleep, they awaked him, as the people were going to +set fire to the house. And although those four that remained with him +persuaded him to run away, he was neither surprised at his being himself +deserted, nor at the great multitude that came against him, but leaped +out to them with his clothes rent, and ashes sprinkled on his head, with +his hands behind him, and his sword hanging at his neck. At this sight +his friends, especially those of Taricheae, commiserated his condition; +but those that came out of the country, and those in their neighborhood, +to whom his government seemed burdensome, reproached him, and bid him +produce the money which belonged to them all immediately, and to confess +the agreement he had made to betray them; for they imagined, from the +habit in which he appeared, that he would deny nothing of what they +suspected concerning him, and that it was in order to obtain pardon that +he had put himself entirely into so pitiable a posture. But this humble +appearance was only designed as preparatory to a stratagem of his, who +thereby contrived to set those that were so angry at him at variance one +with another about the things they were angry at. However, he promised +he would confess all: hereupon he was permitted to speak, when he said, +"I did neither intend to send this money back to Agrippa, nor to gain it +myself; for I did never esteem one that was your enemy to be my friend, +nor did I look upon what would tend to your disadvantage to be my +advantage. But, O you people of Tarieheae, I saw that your city stood in +more need than others of fortifications for your security, and that it +wanted money in order for the building it a wall. I was also afraid lest +the people of Tiberias and other cities should lay a plot to seize upon +these spoils, and therefore it was that I intended to retain this money +privately, that I might encompass you with a wall. But if this does not +please you, I will produce what was brought me, and leave it to you to +plunder it; but if I have conducted myself so well as to please you, you +may if you please punish your benefactor." + +4. Hereupon the people of Taricheae loudly commended him; but those +of Tiberias, with the rest of the company, gave him hard names, and +threatened what they would do to him; so both sides left off quarrelling +with Josephus, and fell on quarrelling with one another. So he grew +bold upon the dependence he had on his friends, which were the people of +Taricheae, and about forty thousand in number, and spake more freely to +the whole multitude, and reproached them greatly for their rashness; and +told them, that with this money he would build walls about Taricheae, +and would put the other cities in a state of security also; for that +they should not want money, if they would but agree for whose benefit +it was to be procured, and would not suffer themselves to be irritated +against him who procured it for them. + +5. Hereupon the rest of the multitude that had been deluded retired; +but yet so that they went away angry, and two thousand of them made an +assault upon him in their armor; and as he was already gone to his own +house, they stood without and threatened him. On which occasion Josephus +again used a second stratagem to escape them; for he got upon the top of +his house, and with his right hand desired them to be silent, and said +to them, "I cannot tell what you would have, nor can hear what you say, +for the confused noise you make;" but he said that he would comply with +all their demands, in case they would but send some of their number +in to him that might talk with him about it. And when the principal of +them, with their leaders, heard this, they came into the house. He then +drew them to the most retired part of the house, and shut the door of +that hall where he put them, and then had them whipped till every one of +their inward parts appeared naked. In the mean time the multitude stood +round the house, and supposed that he had a long discourse with those +that were gone in about what they claimed of him. He had then the doors +set open immediately, and sent the men out all bloody, which so terribly +affrighted those that had before threatened him, that they threw away +their arms and ran away. + +6. But as for John, his envy grew greater [upon this escape of +Josephus], and he framed a new plot against him; he pretended to be +sick, and by a letter desired that Josephus would give him leave to use +the hot baths that were at Tiberias, for the recovery of his health. +Hereupon Josephus, who hitherto suspected nothing of John's plots +against him, wrote to the governors of the city, that they would provide +a lodging and necessaries for John; which favors, when he had made use +of, in two days' time he did what he came about; some he corrupted with +delusive frauds, and others with money, and so persuaded them to revolt +from Josephus. This Silas, who was appointed guardian of the city by +Josephus, wrote to him immediately, and informed him of the plot against +him; which epistle when Josephus had received, he marched with great +diligence all night, and came early in the morning to Tiberias; at which +time the rest of the multitude met him. But John, who suspected that his +coming was not for his advantage, sent however one of his friends, and +pretended that he was sick, and that being confined to his bed, he could +not come to pay him his respects. But as soon as Josephus had got the +people of Tiberias together in the stadium, and tried to discourse with +them about the letters that he had received, John privately sent some +armed men, and gave them orders to slay him. But when the people saw +that the armed men were about to draw their swords, they cried out; at +which cry Josephus turned himself about, and when he saw that the +swords were just at his throat, he marched away in great haste to the +sea-shore, and left off that speech which he was going to make to the +people, upon an elevation of six cubits high. He then seized on a ship +which lay in the haven, and leaped into it, with two of his guards, and +fled away into the midst of the lake. + +7. But now the soldiers he had with him took up their arms immediately, +and marched against the plotters; but Josephus was afraid lest a civil +war should be raised by the envy of a few men, and bring the city to +ruin; so he sent some of his party to tell them, that they should do no +more than provide for their own safety; that they should not kill any +body, nor accuse any for the occasion they had afforded [of disorder]. +Accordingly, these men obeyed his orders, and were quiet; but the people +of the neighboring country, when they were informed of this plot, and of +the plotter, they got together in great multitudes to oppose John. But +he prevented their attempt, and fled away to Gischala, his native +city, while the Galileans came running out of their several cities to +Josephus; and as they were now become many ten thousands of armed men, +they cried out, that they were come against John the common plotter +against their interest, and would at the same time burn him, and that +city which had received him. Hereupon Josephus told them that he took +their good-will to him kindly, but still he restrained their fury, +and intended to subdue his enemies by prudent conduct, rather than by +slaying them; so he excepted those of every city which had joined in +this revolt with John, by name, who had readily been shown him by these +that came from every city, and caused public proclamation to be made, +that he would seize upon the effects of those that did not forsake +John within five days' time, and would burn both their houses and their +families with fire. Whereupon three thousand of John's party left him +immediately, who came to Josephus, and threw their arms down at his +feet. John then betook himself, together with his two thousand Syrian +runagates, from open attempts, to more secret ways of treachery. +Accordingly, he privately sent messengers to Jerusalem, to accuse +Josephus, as having to great power, and to let them know that he would +soon come as a tyrant to their metropolis, unless they prevented him. +This accusation the people were aware of beforehand, but had no regard +to it. However, some of the grandees, out of envy, and some of the +rulers also, sent money to John privately, that he might be able to get +together mercenary soldiers, in order to fight Josephus; they also made +a decree of themselves, and this for recalling him from his government, +yet did they not think that decree sufficient; so they sent withal two +thousand five hundred armed men, and four persons of the highest rank +amongst them; Joazar the son of Nomicus, and Ananias the son of Sadduk, +as also Simon and Judas the sons of Jonathan, all very able men in +speaking, that these persons might withdraw the good-will of the people +from Josephus. These had it in charge, that if he would voluntarily +come away, they should permit him to [come and] give an account of +his conduct; but if he obstinately insisted upon continuing in his +government, they should treat him as an enemy. Now Josephus's friends +had sent him word that an army was coming against him, but they gave +him no notice beforehand what the reason of their coming was, that being +only known among some secret councils of his enemies; and by this means +it was that four cities revolted from him immediately, Sepphoris, and +Gamala, and Gischala, and Tiberias. Yet did he recover these cities +without war; and when he had routed those four commanders by stratagems, +and had taken the most potent of their warriors, he sent them to +Jerusalem; and the people [of Galilee] had great indignation at them, +and were in a zealous disposition to slay, not only these forces, but +those that sent them also, had not these forces prevented it by running +away. + +8. Now John was detained afterward within the walls of Gischala, by +the fear he was in of Josephus; but within a few days Tiberias revolted +again, the people within it inviting king Agrippa [to return to the +exercise of his authority there]. And when he did not come at the +time appointed, and when a few Roman horsemen appeared that day, +they expelled Josephus out of the city. Now this revolt of theirs was +presently known at Taricheae; and as Josephus had sent out all the +soldiers that were with him to gather corn, he knew not how either to +march out alone against the revolters, or to stay where he was, because +he was afraid the king's soldiers might prevent him if he tarried, and +might get into the city; for he did not intend to do any thing on +the next day, because it was the sabbath day, and would hinder his +proceeding. So he contrived to circumvent the revolters by a stratagem; +and in the first place he ordered the gates of Taricheae to be shut, +that nobody might go out and inform [those of Tiberias], for whom it +was intended, what stratagem he was about; he then got together all the +ships that were upon the lake, which were found to be two hundred and +thirty, and in each of them he put no more than four mariners. So he +sailed to Tiberias with haste, and kept at such a distance from the +city, that it was not easy for the people to see the vessels, and +ordered that the empty vessels should float up and down there, while +himself, who had but seven of his guards with him, and those unarmed +also, went so near as to be seen; but when his adversaries, who were +still reproaching him, saw him from the walls, they were so astonished +that they supposed all the ships were full of armed men, and threw down +their arms, and by signals of intercession they besought him to spare +the city. + +9. Upon this Josephus threatened them terribly, and reproached them, +that when they were the first that took up arms against the Romans, they +should spend their force beforehand in civil dissensions, and do what +their enemies desired above all things; and that besides they should +endeavor so hastily to seize upon him, who took care of their safety, +and had not been ashamed to shut the gates of their city against +him that built their walls; that, however, he would admit of any +intercessors from them that might make some excuse for them, and with +whom he would make such agreements as might be for the city's security. +Hereupon ten of the most potent men of Tiberias came down to him +presently; and when he had taken them into one of his vessels, he +ordered them to be carried a great way off from the city. He then +commanded that fifty others of their senate, such as were men of the +greatest eminence, should come to him, that they also might give him +some security on their behalf. After which, under one new pretense or +another, he called forth others, one after another, to make the leagues +between them. He then gave order to the masters of those vessels which +he had thus filled to sail away immediately for Taricheae, and to +confine those men in the prison there; till at length he took all their +senate, consisting of six hundred persons, and about two thousand of the +populace, and carried them away to Taricheae. 35 + +10. And when the rest of the people cried out, that it was one Clitus +that was the chief author of this revolt, they desired him to spend +his anger upon him [only]; but Josephus, whose intention it was to slay +nobody, commanded one Levius, belonging to his guards, to go out of the +vessel, in order to cut off both Clitus's hands; yet was Levius afraid +to go out by himself alone to such a large body of enemies, and refused +to go. Now Clitus saw that Josephus was in a great passion in the ship, +and ready to leap out of it, in order to execute the punishment himself; +he begged therefore from the shore, that he would leave him one of his +hands; which Josephus agreed to, upon condition that he would himself +cutoff the other hand; accordingly he drew his sword, and with his +right hand cut off his left, so great was the fear he was in of +Josephus himself. And thus he took the people of Tiberias prisoners, +and recovered the city again with empty ships and seven of his guard. +Moreover, a few days afterward he retook Gischala, which had revolted +with the people of Sepphoris, and gave his soldiers leave to plunder +it; yet did he get all the plunder together, and restored it to the +inhabitants; and the like he did to the inhabitants of Sepphoris and +Tiberias. For when he had subdued those cities, he had a mind, by +letting them be plundered, to give them some good instruction, while at +the same time he regained their good-will by restoring them their money +again. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 22. + + + The Jews Make All Ready For The War; And Simon, The Son Of + Gioras, Falls To Plundering. + +1. And thus were the disturbances of Galilee quieted, when, upon their +ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, they betook themselves to +make preparations for the war with the Romans. Now in Jerusalem the +high priest Artanus, and as many of the men of power as were not in the +interest of the Romans, both repaired the walls, and made a great many +warlike instruments, insomuch that in all parts of the city darts and +all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the +young men were engaged in exercises, without any regularity, and all +places were full of tumultuous doings; yet the moderate sort were +exceedingly sad; and a great many there were who, out of the prospect +they had of the calamities that were coming upon them, made great +lamentations. There were also such omens observed as were understood to +be forerunners of evils by such as loved peace, but were by those that +kindled the war interpreted so as to suit their own inclinations; and +the very state of the city, even before the Romans came against it, was +that of a place doomed to destruction. However, Ananus's concern was +this, to lay aside, for a while, the preparations for the war, and to +persuade the seditious to consult their own interest, and to restrain +the madness of those that had the name of zealots; but their violence +was too hard for him; and what end he came to we shall relate hereafter. + +2. But as for the Acrabbene toparchy, Simon, the son of Gioras, got a +great number of those that were fond of innovations together, and betook +himself to ravage the country; nor did he only harass the rich men's +houses, but tormented their bodies, and appeared openly and beforehand +to affect tyranny in his government. And when an army was sent against +him by Artanus, and the other rulers, he and his band retired to the +robbers that were at Masada, and staid there, and plundered the country +of Idumea with them, till both Ananus and his other adversaries were +slain; and until the rulers of that country were so afflicted with the +multitude of those that were slain, and with the continual ravage of +what they had, that they raised an army, and put garrisons into the +villages, to secure them from those insults. And in this state were the +affairs of Judea at that time. + +WAR BOOK 2 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ Hear Dean Aldrich's note on this place: "The law or Custom +of the Jews [says he] requires seven days' mourning for the dead," +Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 8. sect. 4; whence the author of the Book of +Ecclesiasticus, ch. 22:12, assigns seven days as the proper time of +mourning for the dead, and, ch. 38:17, enjoins men to mourn for the +dead, that they may not be evil spoken of; for, as Josephus says +presently, if any one omits this mourning [funeral feast], he is not +esteemed a holy person. How it is certain that such a seven days' +mourning has been customary from times of the greatest antiquity, +Genesis 1:10. Funeral feasts are also mentioned as of considerable +antiquity, Ezekiel 24:17; Jeremiah 16:7; Prey. 31:6; Deuteronomy 26:14; +Josephus, Of the War B. III. ch. 9. sect. 5.] + + +2 (return) [ This holding a council in the temple of Apollo, in the +emperor's palace at Rome, by Augustus, and even the building of this +temple magnificently by himself in that palace, are exactly agreeable +to Augustus, in his elder years, as Aldrich and from Suttonius and +Propertius.] + + +3 (return) [ Here we have a strong confirmation that it was Xerxes, and +not Artaxerxes, under whom the main part of the Jews returned out of the +Babylonian captivity, i.e. in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The same +thing is in the Antiquities, B. XI. ch.6] + + +4 (return) [ This practice of the Essens, in refusing to swear, +and esteeming swearing in ordinary occasions worse than perjury, is +delivered here in general words, as are the parallel injunctions of our +Savior, Matthew 6:34; 23:16; and of St. James, 5:12; but all admit of +particular exceptions for solemn causes, and on great and necessary +occasions. Thus these very Essens, who here do so zealously avoid +swearing, are related, in the very next section, to admit none till they +take tremendous oaths to perform their several duties to God, and to +their neighbor, without supposing they thereby break this rule, Not to +swear at all. The case is the same in Christianity, as we learn from the +Apostolical Constitutions, which although they agree with Christ and St. +James, in forbidding to swear in general, ch. 5:12; 6:2, 3; yet do they +explain it elsewhere, by avoiding to swear falsely, and to swear often +and in vain, ch. 2:36; and again, by "not swearing at all," but withal +adding, that "if that cannot be avoided, to swear truly," ch. 7:3; which +abundantly explain to us the nature of the measures of this general +injunction.] + + +5 (return) [ This mention of the "names of angels," so particularly +preserved by the Essens, [if it means more than those "messengers" which +were employed to bring, them the peculiar books of their Sect,] looks +like a prelude to that "worshipping of angels," blamed by St. Paul, as +superstitious and unlawful, in some such sort of people as these Essens +were, Colossians 2:8; as is the prayer to or towards the sun for his +rising every morning, mentioned before, sect. 5, very like those not +much later observances made mention of in the preaching of Peter, +Authent. Rec. Part II. p. 669, and regarding a kind of worship of +angels, of the month, and of the moon, and not celebrating the new +moons, or other festivals, unless the moon appeared. Which, indeed, +seems to me the earliest mention of any regard to the phases in fixing +the Jewish calendar, of which the Talmud and later Rabbins talk so much, +and upon so very little ancient foundation.] + + +6 (return) [ Of these Jewish or Essene [and indeed Christian] doctrines +concerning souls, both good and bad, in Hades, see that excellent +discourse, or homily, of our Josephus concerning Hades, at the end of +the volume.] + + +7 (return) [ Dean Aldrich reckons up three examples of this gift of +prophecy in several of these Essens out of Josephus himself, viz. in the +History of the War, B. I. ch. 3. sect. 5, Judas foretold the death of +Antigonus at Strato's Tower; B. II. ch. 7. sect. 3, Simon foretold that +Archelaus should reign but nine or ten years; and Antiq. B. XV. ch. 10. +sect. 4, 5, Menuhem foretold that Herod should be king, and should reign +tyrannically, and that for more than twenty or even thirty years. All +which came to pass accordingly.] + + +8 (return) [ There is so much more here about the Essens than is cited +from Josephus in Porphyry and Eusebius, and yet so much less about +the Pharisees and Sadducees, the two other Jewish sects, than would +naturally be expected in proportion to the Essens or third sect, nay, +than seems to be referred to by himself elsewhere, that one is tempted +to suppose Josephus had at first written less of the one, and more of +the two others, than his present copies afford us; as also, that, by +some unknown accident, our present copies are here made up of the larger +edition in the first case, and of the smaller in the second. See the +note in Havercamp's edition. However, what Josephus says in the name of +the Pharisees, that only the souls of good men go out of one body into +another, although all souls be immortal, and still the souls of the +bad are liable to eternal punishment; as also what he says afterwards, +Antiq. B. XVIII. ch. 1. sect. 3, that the soul's vigor is immortal, and +that under the earth they receive rewards or punishments according as +their lives have been virtuous or vicious in the present world; that to +the bad is allotted an eternal prison, but that the good are permitted +to live again in this world; are nearly agreeable to the doctrines of +Christianity. Only Josephus's rejection of the return of the wicked into +other bodies, or into this world, which he grants to the good, looks +somewhat like a contradiction to St. Paul's account of the doctrine +of the Jews, that they "themselves allowed that there should be a +resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust," Acts 24:15. Yet +because Josephus's account is that of the Pharisees, and St. Patti's +that of the Jews in general, and of himself the contradiction is not +very certain.] + + +9 (return) [ We have here, in that Greek MS. which was once Alexander +Petavius's, but is now in the library at Leyden, two most remarkable +additions to the common copies, though declared worth little remark by +the editor; which, upon the mention of Tiberius's coming to the empire, +inserts first the famous testimony of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ, +as it stands verbatim in the Antiquities, B. XVIII. ch. 3. sect. 3, with +some parts of that excellent discourse or homily of Josephus concerning +Hades, annexed to the work. But what is here principally to be noted +is this, that in this homily, Josephus having just mentioned Christ, +as "God the Word, and the Judge of the world, appointed by the Father," +etc., adds, that "he had himself elsewhere spoken about him more nicely +or particularly."] + + +10 (return) [ This use of corban, or oblation, as here applied to the +sacred money dedicated to God in the treasury of the temple, illustrates +our Savior's words, Mark 7:11, 12.] + + +11 (return) [ Tacitus owns that Caius commanded the Jews to place his +effigies in their temple, though he be mistaken when he adds that the +Jews thereupon took arms.] + + +12 (return) [ This account of a place near the mouth of the river Belus +in Phoenicia, whence came that sand out of which the ancients made their +glass, is a known thing in history, particularly in Tacitus and Strabo, +and more largely in Pliny.] + + +13 (return) [ This Memnon had several monuments, and one of them +appears, both by Strabo and Diodorus, to have been in Syria, and not +improbably in this very place.] + + +14 (return) [ Reland notes here, that the Talmud in recounting ten sad +accidents for which the Jews ought to rend their garments, reckons this +for one, "When they hear that the law of God is burnt."] + + +15 (return) [ This Ummidius, or Numidius, or, as Tacitus calls him, +Vinidius Quadratus, is mentioned in an ancient inscription, still +preserved, as Spanhelm here informs us, which calls him Urnmidius +Quadratus.] + + +16 (return) [ Take the character of this Felix [who is well known from +the Acts of the Apostles, particularly from his trembling when St. Paul +discoursed of "righteousness, chastity, and judgment to come,"] Acts +24:5; and no wonder, when we have elsewhere seen that he lived in +adultery with Drusilla, another man's wife, [Antiq. B. XX. ch. 7. +sect. 1: in the words of Tacitus, produced here by Dean Aldrich: "Felix +exercised," says Tacitas, "the authority of a king, with the disposition +of a slave, and relying upon the great power of his brother Pallas +at court, thought he might safely be guilty of all kinds of wicked +practices." Observe also the time when he was made procurator, A.D. 52; +that when St. Paul pleaded his cause before him, A.D. 58, he might have +been "many years a judge unto that nation," as St. Paul says he had +then been, Acts 24:10. But as to what Tacitus here says, that before the +death of Cumanus, Felix was procurator over Samaria only, does not well +agree with St. Paul's words, who would hardly have called Samaria a +Jewish nation. In short, since what Tacitus here says is about countries +very remote from Rome, where he lived; since what he says of two Roman +procurators, the one over Galilee, the other over Samaria at the same +time, is without example elsewhere; and since Josephus, who lived +at that very time in Judea, appears to have known nothing of this +procuratorship of Felix, before the death of Cumanus; I much suspect +the story itself as nothing better than a mistake of Tacitus, especially +when it seems not only omitted, but contradicted by Josephus; as any one +may find that compares their histories together. Possibly Felix might +have been a subordinate judge among the Jews some time before under +Cumanus, but that he was in earnest a procurator of Samaria before I +do not believe. Bishop Pearson, as well as Bishop Lloyd, quote this +account, but with a doubtful clause: confides Tacito, "If we may believe +Tacitus." Pears. Anhal. Paulin. p. 8; Marshall's Tables, at A.D. 49.] + + +17 (return) [ i.e. Herod king of Chalcis.] + + +18 (return) [ Not long after this beginning of Florus, the wickedest of +all the Roman procurators of Judea, and the immediate occasion of the +Jewish war, at the twelfth year of Nero, and the seventeenth of Agrippa, +or A.D. 66, the history in the twenty books of Josephus's Antiquities +ends, although Josephus did not finish these books till the thirteenth +of Domitian, or A.D. 93, twenty-seven years afterward; as he did not +finish their Appendix, containing an account of his own life, till +Agrippa was dead, which happened in the third year of Trajan, or A. D. +100, as I have several times observed before.] + + +19 (return) [ Here we may note, that three millions of the Jews were +present at the passover, A.D. 65; which confirms what Josephus elsewhere +informs us of, that at a passover a little later they counted two +hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred paschal lambs, which, at +twelve to each lamb, which is no immoderate calculation, come to three +millions and seventy-eight thousand. See B. VI. ch. 9. sect. 3.] + + +20 (return) [ Take here Dr. Hudson's very pertinent note. "By this +action," says he, "the killing of a bird over an earthen vessel, the +Jews were exposed as a leprous people; for that was to be done by the +law in the cleansing of a leper, Leviticus 14. It is also known that +the Gentiles reproached the Jews as subject to the leprosy, and believed +that they were driven out of Egypt on that account. This that eminent +person Mr. Reland suggested to me."] + + +21 (return) [ Here we have examples of native Jews who were of the +equestrian order among the Romans, and so ought never to have been +whipped or crucified, according to the Roman laws. See almost the like +case in St. Paul himself, Acts 22:25-29.] + + +22 (return) [ This vow which Bernice [here and elsewhere called queen, +not only as daughter and sister to two kings, Agrippa the Great, and +Agrippa junior, but the widow of Herod king of Chalcis] came now to +accomplish at Jerusalem was not that of a Nazarite, but such a one as +religious Jews used to make, in hopes of any deliverance from a disease, +or other danger, as Josephus here intimates. However, these thirty days' +abode at Jerusalem, for fasting and preparation against the oblation +of a proper sacrifice, seems to be too long, unless it were wholly +voluntary in this great lady. It is not required in the law of Moses +relating to Nazarites, Numbers 6., and is very different from St. Paul's +time for such preparation, which was but one day, Acts 21:26. So we want +already the continuation of the Antiquities to afford us light here, as +they have hitherto done on so many occasions elsewhere. Perhaps in this +age the traditions of the Pharisees had obliged the Jews to this degree +of rigor, not only as to these thirty days' preparation, but as to the +going barefoot all that time, which here Bernice submitted to also. For +we know that as God's and our Savior's yoke is usually easy, and his +burden comparatively light, in such positive injunctions, Matthew 11:30, +so did the scribes and Pharisees sometimes "bind upon men heavy burdens, +and grievous to be borne," even when they themselves "would not touch +them with one of their fingers," Matthew 23:4; Luke 11:46. However, +Noldius well observes, De Herod. No. 404, 414, that Juvenal, in his +sixth satire, alludes to this remarkable penance or submission of this +Bernice to Jewish discipline, and jests upon her for it; as do Tacitus, +Dio, Suetonius, and Sextus Aurelius mention her as one well known at +Rome.--Ibid.] + + +23 (return) [ I take this Bezetha to be that small hill adjoining to the +north side of the temple, whereon was the hospital with five porticoes +or cloisters, and beneath which was the sheep pool of Bethesda; into +which an angel or messenger, at a certain season, descended, and where +he or they who were the "first put into the pool" were cured, John 5:1 +etc. This situation of Bezetha, in Josephus, on the north side of the +temple, and not far off the tower Antonia, exactly agrees to the place +of the same pool at this day; only the remaining cloisters are but +three. See Maundrel, p. 106. The entire buildings seem to have been +called the New City, and this part, where was the hospital, peculiarly +Bezetha or Bethesda. See ch. 19. sect. 4.] + + +24 (return) [ In this speech of king Agrippa we have an authentic +account of the extent and strength of the Roman empire when the Jewish +war began. And this speech with other circumstances in Josephus, +demonstrate how wise and how great a person Agrippa was, and why +Josephus elsewhere calls him a most wonderful or admirable man, +Contr. Ap. I. 9. He is the same Agrippa who said to Paul, "Almost thou +persuadest me to be a Christian," Acts 26;28; and of whom St. Paul said, +"He was expert in all the customs and questions of the Jews," yet. 3. +See another intimation of the limits of the same Roman empire, Of the +War, B. III. ch. 5. sect. 7. But what seems to me very remarkable here +is this, that when Josephus, in imitation of the Greeks and Romans, for +whose use he wrote his Antiquities, did himself frequently he into their +they appear, by the politeness of their composition, and their flights +of oratory, to be not the real speeches of the persons concerned, who +usually were no orators, but of his own elegant composure, the speech +before us is of another nature, full of undeniable facts, and composed +in a plain and unartful, but moving way; so it appears to be king +Agrippa's own speech, and to have been given Josephus by Agrippa +himself, with whom Josephus had the greatest friendship. Nor may we omit +Agrippa's constant doctrine here, that this vast Roman empire was raised +and supported by Divine Providence, and that therefore it was in vain +for the Jews, or any others, to think of destroying it. Nor may we +neglect to take notice of Agrippa's solemn appeal to the angels here +used; the like appeals to which we have in St. Paul, 1 Timothy 5:22, and +by the apostles in general, in the form of the ordination of bishops, +Constitut. Apost. VIII. 4.] + + +25 (return) [ Julius Caesar had decreed that the Jews of Jerusalem +should pay an annual tribute to the Romans, excepting the city Joppa, +and for the sabbatical year; as Spanheim observes from the Antiq. B. +XIV. ch. 10. sect. 6.] + + +26 (return) [ Of this Sohemus we have mention made by Tacitus. We also +learn from Dio that his father was king of the Arabians of Iturea, +[which Iturea is mentioned by St. Luke, ch. 3:1.] both whose testimonies +are quoted here by Dr. Hudson. See Noldius, No. 371.] + + +27 (return) [ Spanheim notes on the place, that this later Antiochus, +who was called Epiphaues, is mentioned by Dio, LIX. p. 645, and that he +is mentioned by Josephus elsewhere twice also, B.V. ch. 11. sect. 3; and +Antiq. B. XIX. ch. 8. sect. I.] + + +28 (return) [ Here we have an eminent example of that Jewish language, +which Dr. Wail truly observes, we several times find used in the sacred +writings; I mean, where the words "all" or "whole multitude," etc. are +used for much the greatest part only; but not so as to include every +person, without exception; for when Josephus had said that "the whole +multitude" [Footnote all the males] of Lydda were gone to the feast of +tabernacles, he immediately adds, that, however, no fewer than fifty +of them appeared, and were slain by the Romans. Other examples somewhat +like this I have observed elsewhere in Josephus, but, as I think, none +so remarkable as this. See Wall's Critical Observations on the Old +Testament, p. 49, 50.] + + +29 (return) [ We have also, in this and the next section, two eminent +facts to be observed, viz. the first example, that I remember, in +Josephus, of the onset of the Jews' enemies upon their country when +their males were gone up to Jerusalem to one of their three sacred +festivals; which, during the theocracy, God had promised to preserve +them from, Exodus 34:24. The second fact is this, the breach of the +sabbath by the seditions Jews in an offensive fight, contrary to the +universal doctrine and practice of their nation in these ages, and even +contrary to what they themselves afterward practiced in the rest of this +war. See the note on Antiq. B. XVI. ch. 2. sect. 4.] + + +30 (return) [ There may another very important, and very providential, +reason be here assigned for this strange and foolish retreat of Cestius; +which, if Josephus had been now a Christian, he might probably have +taken notice of also; and that is, the affording the Jewish Christians +in the city an opportunity of calling to mind the prediction and caution +given them by Christ about thirty-three years and a half before, that +"when they should see the abomination of desolation" [the idolatrous +Roman armies, with the images of their idols in their ensigns, ready +to lay Jerusalem desolate] "stand where it ought not;" or, "in the holy +place;" or, "when they should see Jerusalem any one instance of a more +unpolitic, but more providential, compassed with armies;" they should +then "flee to the mound conduct than this retreat of Cestius visible +during this whole rains." By complying with which those Jewish +Christians fled I siege of Jerusalem; which yet was providentially such +a "great to the mountains of Perea, and escaped this destruction. See +tribulation, as had not been from the beginning of the world to that +time; no, Lit. Accompl. of Proph. p. 69, 70. Nor was there, perhaps, nor +ever should be."--Ibid. p. 70, 71.] + + +31 (return) [ From this name of Joseph the son of Gorion, or Gorion +the son of Joseph, as B. IV. ch. 3. sect. 9, one of the governors of +Jerusalem, who was slain at the beginning of the tumults by the zealots, +B. IV. ch. 6. sect. 1, the much later Jewish author of a history of that +nation takes his title, and yet personates our true Josephus, the son of +Matthias; but the cheat is too gross to be put upon the learned world.] + + +32 (return) [ We may observe here, that the Idumeans, as having been +proselytes of justice since the days of John Hyrcanus, during about one +hundred and ninety-five years, were now esteemed as part of the Jewish +nation, and these provided of a Jewish commander accordingly. See the +note upon Antiq. B. XIII.. ch. 9. sect. 1.] + + +33 (return) [ We see here, and in Josephus's account of his own life, +sect. 14, how exactly he imitated his legislator Moses, or perhaps only +obeyed what he took to be his perpetual law, in appointing seven lesser +judges, for smaller causes, in particular cities, and perhaps for +the first hearing of greater causes, with the liberty of an appeal to +seventy-one supreme judges, especially in those causes where life and +death were concerned; as Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 14; and of his Life, +sect. 14. See also Of the War, B. IV. ch. 5. sect. 4. Moreover, we find, +sect. 7, that he imitated Moses, as well as the Romans, in the number +and distribution of the subaltern officers of his army, as Exodus 18:25; +Deuteronomy 1:15; and in his charge against the offenses common among +soldiers, as Denteronomy 13:9; in all which he showed his great wisdom +and piety, and skillful conduct in martial affairs. Yet may we discern +in his very high character of Artanus the high priest, B. IV. ch. 5. +sect. 2, who seems to have been the same who condemned St. James, bishop +of Jerusalem, to be stoned, under Albinus the procurator, that when +he wrote these books of the War, he was not so much as an Ebionite +Christian; otherwise he would not have failed, according to his usual +custom, to have reckoned this his barbarous murder as a just punishment +upon him for that his cruelty to the chief, or rather only Christian +bishop of the circumcision. Nor, had he been then a Christian, could he +immediately have spoken so movingly of the causes of the destruction +of Jerusalem, without one word of either the condemnation of James, +or crucifixion of Christ, as he did when he was become a Christian +afterward.] + + +34 (return) [ I should think that an army of sixty thousand footmen +should require many more than two hundred and fifty horsemen; and we +find Josephus had more horsemen under his command than two hundred and +fifty in his future history. I suppose the number of the thousands is +dropped in our present copies.] + + +35 (return) [ I cannot but think this stratagem of Josephus, which is +related both here and in his Life, sect. 32, 33, to be one of the finest +that ever was invented and executed by any warrior whatsoever.] + + + + + + + +BOOK III. + + + Containing The Interval Of About One Year. + + From Vespasian's Coming To Subdue The Jews To The Taking Of + Gamala. + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + Vespasian Is Sent Into Syria By Nero In Order To Make War + With The Jews. + +1. When Nero was informed of the Romans' ill success in Judea, a +concealed consternation and terror, as is usual in such cases, fell upon +him; although he openly looked very big, and was very angry, and +said that what had happened was rather owing to the negligence of the +commander, than to any valor of the enemy: and as he thought it fit +for him, who bare the burden of the whole empire, to despise such +misfortunes, he now pretended so to do, and to have a soul superior to +all such sad accidents whatsoever. Yet did the disturbance that was in +his soul plainly appear by the solicitude he was in [how to recover his +affairs again]. + +2. And as he was deliberating to whom he should commit the care of the +East, now it was in so great a commotion, and who might be best able +to punish the Jews for their rebellion, and might prevent the same +distemper from seizing upon the neighboring nations also,--he found +no one but Vespasian equal to the task, and able to undergo the great +burden of so mighty a war, seeing he was growing an old man already in +the camp, and from his youth had been exercised in warlike exploits: he +was also a man that had long ago pacified the west, and made it subject +to the Romans, when it had been put into disorder by the Germans; he had +also recovered to them Britain by his arms, which had been little known +before 1 whereby he procured to his father Claudius to have a triumph +bestowed on him without any sweat or labor of his own. + +3. So Nero esteemed these circumstances as favorable omens, and saw that +Vespasian's age gave him sure experience, and great skill, and that +he had his sons as hostages for his fidelity to himself, and that the +flourishing age they were in would make them fit instruments under +their father's prudence. Perhaps also there was some interposition +of Providence, which was paving the way for Vespasian's being himself +emperor afterwards. Upon the whole, he sent this man to take upon him +the command of the armies that were in Syria; but this not without great +encomiums and flattering compellations, such as necessity required, and +such as might mollify him into complaisance. So Vespasian sent his son +Titus from Achaia, where he had been with Nero, to Alexandria, to bring +back with him from thence the fifth and the tenth legions, while he +himself, when he had passed over the Hellespont, came by land into +Syria, where he gathered together the Roman forces, with a considerable +number of auxiliaries from the kings in that neighborhood. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + A Great Slaughter About Ascalon. Vespasian Comes To + Ptolemais. + +1. Now the Jews, after they had beaten Cestius, were so much elevated +with their unexpected success, that they could not govern their zeal, +but, like people blown up into a flame by their good fortune, carried +the war to remoter places. Accordingly, they presently got together a +great multitude of all their most hardy soldiers, and marched away for +Ascalon. This is an ancient city that is distant from Jerusalem five +hundred and twenty furlongs, and was always an enemy to the Jews; on +which account they determined to make their first effort against it, and +to make their approaches to it as near as possible. This excursion was +led on by three men, who were the chief of them all, both for strength +and sagacity; Niger, called the Persite, Silas of Babylon, and besides +them John the Essene. Now Ascalon was strongly walled about, but had +almost no assistance to be relied on [near them], for the garrison +consisted of one cohort of footmen, and one troop of horsemen, whose +captain was Antonius. + +2. These Jews, therefore, out of their anger, marched faster than +ordinary, and, as if they had come but a little way, approached very +near the city, and were come even to it; but Antonius, who was not +unapprized of the attack they were going to make upon the city, drew out +his horsemen beforehand, and being neither daunted at the multitude, +nor at the courage of the enemy, received their first attacks with great +bravery; and when they crowded to the very walls, he beat them off. Now +the Jews were unskillful in war, but were to fight with those who were +skillful therein; they were footmen to fight with horsemen; they were +in disorder, to fight those that were united together; they were poorly +armed, to fight those that were completely so; they were to fight more +by their rage than by sober counsel, and were exposed to soldiers that +were exactly obedient; and did every thing they were bidden upon the +least intimation. So they were easily beaten; for as soon as ever +their first ranks were once in disorder, they were put to flight by the +enemy's cavalry, and those of them that came behind such as crowded to +the wall fell upon their own party's weapons, and became one another's +enemies; and this so long till they were all forced to give way to the +attacks of the horsemen, and were dispersed all the plain over, which +plain was wide, and all fit for the horsemen; which circumstance was +very commodious for the Romans, and occasioned the slaughter of the +greatest number of the Jews; for such as ran away, they could overrun +them, and make them turn back; and when they had brought them back after +their flight, and driven them together, they ran them through, and slew +a vast number of them, insomuch that others encompassed others of them, +and drove them before them whithersoever they turned themselves, and +slew them easily with their arrows; and the great number there were of +the Jews seemed a solitude to themselves, by reason of the distress they +were in, while the Romans had such good success with their small number, +that they seemed to themselves to be the greater multitude. And as the +former strove zealously under their misfortunes, out of the shame of +a sudden flight, and hopes of the change in their success, so did the +latter feel no weariness by reason of their good fortune; insomuch that +the fight lasted till the evening, till ten thousand men of the Jews' +side lay dead, with two of their generals, John and Silas, and the +greater part of the remainder were wounded, with Niger, their remaining +general, who fled away together to a small city of Idumea, called +Sallis. Some few also of the Romans were wounded in this battle. + +3. Yet were not the spirits of the Jews broken by so great a calamity, +but the losses they had sustained rather quickened their resolution for +other attempts; for, overlooking the dead bodies which lay under their +feet, they were enticed by their former glorious actions to venture on +a second destruction; so when they had lain still so little a while that +their wounds were not yet thoroughly cured, they got together all their +forces, and came with greater fury, and in much greater numbers, to +Ascalon. But their former ill fortune followed them, as the consequence +of their unskilfulness, and other deficiencies in war; for Antonius laid +ambushes for them in the passages they were to go through, where they +fell into snares unexpectedly, and where they were encompassed about +with horsemen, before they could form themselves into a regular body for +fighting, and were above eight thousand of them slain; so all the rest +of them ran away, and with them Niger, who still did a great many bold +exploits in his flight. However, they were driven along together by the +enemy, who pressed hard upon them, into a certain strong tower belonging +to a village called Bezedeh However, Antonius and his party, that they +might neither spend any considerable time about this tower, which was +hard to be taken, nor suffer their commander, and the most courageous +man of them all, to escape from them, they set the wall on fire; and as +the tower was burning, the Romans went away rejoicing, as taking it for +granted that Niger was destroyed; but he leaped out of the tower into a +subterraneous cave, in the innermost part of it, and was preserved; and +on the third day afterward he spake out of the ground to those that with +great lamentation were searching for him, in order to give him a decent +funeral; and when he was come out, he filled all the Jews with an +unexpected joy, as though he were preserved by God's providence to be +their commander for the time to come. + +4. And now Vespasian took along with him his army from Antioch, [which +is the metropolis of Syria, and without dispute deserves the place of +the third city in the habitable earth that was under the Roman empire, +2 both in magnitude, and other marks of prosperity,] where he found king +Agrippa, with all his forces, waiting for his coming, and marched to +Ptolemais. At this city also the inhabitants of Sepphoris of Galilee met +him, who were for peace with the Romans. These citizens had beforehand +taken care of their own safety, and being sensible of the power of the +Romans, they had been with Cestius Gallus before Vespasian came, and had +given their faith to him, and received the security of his right hand, +and had received a Roman garrison; and at this time withal they received +Vespasian, the Roman general, very kindly, and readily promised that +they would assist him against their own countrymen. Now the general +delivered them, at their desire, as many horsemen and footmen as he +thought sufficient to oppose the incursions of the Jews, if they should +come against them. And indeed the danger of losing Sepphoris would be no +small one, in this war that was now beginning, seeing it was the largest +city of Galilee, and built in a place by nature very strong, and might +be a security of the whole nation's [fidelity to the Romans]. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + A Description Of Galilee, Samaria, And Judea. + +1. Now Phoenicia and Syria encompass about the Galilees, which are two, +and called the Upper Galilee and the Lower. They are bounded toward the +sun-setting, with the borders of the territory belonging to Ptolemais, +and by Carmel; which mountain had formerly belonged to the Galileans, +but now belonged to the Tyrians; to which mountain adjoins Gaba, +which is called the City of Horsemen, because those horsemen that were +dismissed by Herod the king dwelt therein; they are bounded on the south +with Samaria and Scythopolis, as far as the river Jordan; on the east +with Hippeae and Gadaris, and also with Ganlonitis, and the borders of +the kingdom of Agrippa; its northern parts are bounded by Tyre, and the +country of the Tyrians. As for that Galilee which is called the Lower, +it, extends in length from Tiberias to Zabulon, and of the maritime +places Ptolemais is its neighbor; its breadth is from the village called +Xaloth, which lies in the great plain, as far as Bersabe, from which +beginning also is taken the breadth of the Upper Galilee, as far as the +village Baca, which divides the land of the Tyrians from it; its length +is also from Meloth to Thella, a village near to Jordan. + +2. These two Galilees, of so great largeness, and encompassed with +so many nations of foreigners, have been always able to make a strong +resistance on all occasions of war; for the Galileans are inured to war +from their infancy, and have been always very numerous; nor hath the +country been ever destitute of men of courage, or wanted a numerous set +of them; for their soil is universally rich and fruitful, and full of +the plantations of trees of all sorts, insomuch that it invites the +most slothful to take pains in its cultivation, by its fruitfulness; +accordingly, it is all cultivated by its inhabitants, and no part of it +lies idle. Moreover, the cities lie here very thick, and the very +many villages there are here are every where so full of people, by +the richness of their soil, that the very least of them contain above +fifteen thousand inhabitants. + +3. In short, if any one will suppose that Galilee is inferior to Perea +in magnitude, he will be obliged to prefer it before it in its strength; +for this is all capable of cultivation, and is every where fruitful; but +for Perea, which is indeed much larger in extent, the greater part of +it is desert and rough, and much less disposed for the production of the +milder kinds of fruits; yet hath it a moist soil [in other parts], and +produces all kinds of fruits, and its plains are planted with trees of +all sorts, while yet the olive tree, the vine, and the palm tree are +chiefly cultivated there. It is also sufficiently watered with torrents, +which issue out of the mountains, and with springs that never fail to +run, even when the torrents fail them, as they do in the dog-days. Now +the length of Perea is from Machaerus to Pella, and its breadth from +Philadelphia to Jordan; its northern parts are bounded by Pella, as we +have already said, as well as its Western with Jordan; the land of Moab +is its southern border, and its eastern limits reach to Arabia, and +Silbonitis, and besides to Philadelphene and Gerasa. + +4. Now as to the country of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee; +it begins at a village that is in the great plain called Ginea, and +ends at the Acrabbene toparchy, and is entirely of the same nature with +Judea; for both countries are made up of hills and valleys, and are +moist enough for agriculture, and are very fruitful. They have abundance +of trees, and are full of autumnal fruit, both that which grows wild, +and that which is the effect of cultivation. They are not naturally +watered by many rivers, but derive their chief moisture from rain-water, +of which they have no want; and for those rivers which they have, all +their waters are exceeding sweet: by reason also of the excellent grass +they have, their cattle yield more milk than do those in other places; +and, what is the greatest sign of excellency and of abundance, they each +of them are very full of people. + +5. In the limits of Samaria and Judea lies the village Anuath, which is +also named Borceos. This is the northern boundary of Judea. The southern +parts of Judea, if they be measured lengthways, are bounded by a Village +adjoining to the confines of Arabia; the Jews that dwell there call it +Jordan. However, its breadth is extended from the river Jordan to Joppa. +The city Jerusalem is situated in the very middle; on which account some +have, with sagacity enough, called that city the Navel of the country. +Nor indeed is Judea destitute of such delights as come from the sea, +since its maritime places extend as far as Ptolemais: it was parted into +eleven portions, of which the royal city Jerusalem was the supreme, and +presided over all the neighboring country, as the head does over the +body. As to the other cities that were inferior to it, they presided +over their several toparchies; Gophna was the second of those cities, +and next to that Acrabatta, after them Thamna, and Lydda, and Emmaus, +and Pella, and Idumea, and Engaddi, and Herodium, and Jericho; and after +them came Jamnia and Joppa, as presiding over the neighboring people; +and besides these there was the region of Gamala, and Gaulonitis, +and Batanea, and Trachonitis, which are also parts of the kingdom of +Agrippa. This [last] country begins at Mount Libanus, and the fountains +of Jordan, and reaches breadthways to the lake of Tiberias; and in +length is extended from a village called Arpha, as far as Julias. Its +inhabitants are a mixture of Jews and Syrians. And thus have I, with +all possible brevity, described the country of Judea, and those that lie +round about it. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + Josephus Makes An Attempt Upon Sepphoris But Is Repelled. + Titus Comes With A Great Army To Ptolemais. + +1. Now the auxiliaries which were sent to assist the people of +Sepphoris, being a thousand horsemen, and six thousand footmen, under +Placidus the tribune, pitched their camp in two bodies in the great +plain. The foot were put into the city to be a guard to it, but the +horse lodged abroad in the camp. These last, by marching continually one +way or other, and overrunning the parts of the adjoining country, were +very troublesome to Josephus and his men; they also plundered all the +places that were out of the city's liberty, and intercepted such as +durst go abroad. On this account it was that Josephus marched against +the city, as hoping to take what he had lately encompassed with so +strong a wall, before they revolted from the rest of the Galileans, that +the Romans would have much ado to take it; by which means he proved too +weak, and failed of his hopes, both as to the forcing the place, and as +to his prevailing with the people of Sepphoris to deliver it up to him. +By this means he provoked the Romans to treat the country according to +the law of war; nor did the Romans, out of the anger they bore at this +attempt, leave off, either by night or by day, burning the places in +the plain, and stealing away the cattle that were in the country, and +killing whatsoever appeared capable of fighting perpetually, and leading +the weaker people as slaves into captivity; so that Galilee was all over +filled with fire and blood; nor was it exempted from any kind of misery +or calamity, for the only refuge they had was this, that when they were +pursued, they could retire to the cities which had walls built them by +Josephus. + +2. But as to Titus, he sailed over from Achaia to Alexandria, and that +sooner than the winter season did usually permit; so he took with him +those forces he was sent for, and marching with great expedition, he +came suddenly to Ptolemais, and there finding his father, together with +the two legions, the fifth and the tenth, which were the most eminent +legions of all, he joined them to that fifteenth legion which was with +his father; eighteen cohorts followed these legions; there came also +five cohorts from Cesarea, with one troop of horsemen, and five other +troops of horsemen from Syria. Now these ten cohorts had severally a +thousand footmen, but the other thirteen cohorts had no more than six +hundred footmen apiece, with a hundred and twenty horsemen. There were +also a considerable number of auxiliaries got together, that came from +the kings Antiochus, and Agrippa, and Sohemus, each of them contributing +one thousand footmen that were archers, and a thousand horsemen. +Malchus also, the king of Arabia, sent a thousand horsemen, besides five +thousand footmen, the greatest part of which were archers; so that +the whole army, including the auxiliaries sent by the kings, as well +horsemen as footmen, when all were united together, amounted to sixty +thousand, besides the servants, who, as they followed in vast numbers, +so because they had been trained up in war with the rest, ought not +to be distinguished from the fighting men; for as they were in their +masters' service in times of peace, so did they undergo the like dangers +with them in times of war, insomuch that they were inferior to none, +either in skill or in strength, only they were subject to their masters. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + + + A Description Of The Roman Armies And Roman Camps And Of + Other Particulars For Which The Romans Are Commended. + +1. Now here one cannot but admire at the precaution of the Romans, in +providing themselves of such household servants, as might not only serve +at other times for the common offices of life, but might also be of +advantage to them in their wars. And, indeed, if any one does but attend +to the other parts of their military discipline, he will be forced +to confess that their obtaining so large a dominion hath been the +acquisition of their valor, and not the bare gift of fortune; for they +do not begin to use their weapons first in time of war, nor do they then +put their hands first into motion, while they avoided so to do in times +of peace; but, as if their weapons did always cling to them, they have +never any truce from warlike exercises; nor do they stay till times of +war admonish them to use them; for their military exercises differ not +at all from the real use of their arms, but every soldier is every day +exercised, and that with great diligence, as if it were in time of war, +which is the reason why they bear the fatigue of battles so easily; for +neither can any disorder remove them from their usual regularity, +nor can fear affright them out of it, nor can labor tire them; which +firmness of conduct makes them always to overcome those that have not +the same firmness; nor would he be mistaken that should call those their +exercises unbloody battles, and their battles bloody exercises. Nor +can their enemies easily surprise them with the suddenness of their +incursions; for as soon as they have marched into an enemy's land, they +do not begin to fight till they have walled their camp about; nor is the +fence they raise rashly made, or uneven; nor do they all abide in it, +nor do those that are in it take their places at random; but if it +happens that the ground is uneven, it is first leveled: their camp is +also four-square by measure, and carpenters are ready, in great numbers, +with their tools, to erect their buildings for them. 3 + +2. As for what is within the camp, it is set apart for tents, but the +outward circumference hath the resemblance to a wall, and is adorned +with towers at equal distances, where between the towers stand the +engines for throwing arrows and darts, and for slinging stones, and +where they lay all other engines that can annoy the enemy, all ready for +their several operations. They also erect four gates, one at every side +of the circumference, and those large enough for the entrance of the +beasts, and wide enough for making excursions, if occasion should +require. They divide the camp within into streets, very conveniently, +and place the tents of the commanders in the middle; but in the very +midst of all is the general's own tent, in the nature of a temple, +insomuch, that it appears to be a city built on the sudden, with its +market-place, and place for handicraft trades, and with seats for the +officers superior and inferior, where, if any differences arise, their +causes are heard and determined. The camp, and all that is in it, is +encompassed with a wall round about, and that sooner than one would +imagine, and this by the multitude and the skill of the laborers; and, +if occasion require, a trench is drawn round the whole, whose depth is +four cubits, and its breadth equal. + +3. When they have thus secured themselves, they live together by +companies, with quietness and decency, as are all their other affairs +managed with good order and security. Each company hath also their wood, +and their corn, and their water brought them, when they stand in need +of them; for they neither sup nor dine as they please themselves singly, +but all together. Their times also for sleeping, and watching, and +rising are notified beforehand by the sound of trumpets, nor is any +thing done without such a signal; and in the morning the soldiery go +every one to their centurions, and these centurions to their tribunes, +to salute them; with whom all the superior officers go to the general +of the whole army, who then gives them of course the watchword and other +orders, to be by them carried to all that are under their command; which +is also observed when they go to fight, and thereby they turn themselves +about on the sudden, when there is occasion for making sallies, as they +come back when they are recalled in crowds also. + +4. Now when they are to go out of their camp, the trumpet gives a sound, +at which time nobody lies still, but at the first intimation they take +down their tents, and all is made ready for their going out; then do the +trumpets sound again, to order them to get ready for the march; then do +they lay their baggage suddenly upon their mules, and other beasts of +burden, and stand, as at the place of starting, ready to march; when +also they set fire to their camp, and this they do because it will be +easy for them to erect another camp, and that it may not ever be of use +to their enemies. Then do the trumpets give a sound the third time, that +they are to go out, in order to excite those that on any account are +a little tardy, that so no one may be out of his rank when the army +marches. Then does the crier stand at the general's right hand, and asks +them thrice, in their own tongue, whether they be now ready to go out +to war or not? To which they reply as often, with a loud and cheerful +voice, saying, "We are ready." And this they do almost before the +question is asked them: they do this as filled with a kind of martial +fury, and at the same time that they so cry out, they lift up their +right hands also. + +5. When, after this, they are gone out of their camp, they all march +without noise, and in a decent manner, and every one keeps his own rank, +as if they were going to war. The footmen are armed with breastplates +and head-pieces, and have swords on each side; but the sword which is +upon their left side is much longer than the other, for that on the +right side is not longer than a span. Those foot-men also that are +chosen out from the rest to be about the general himself have a lance +and a buckler, but the rest of the foot soldiers have a spear and a long +buckler, besides a saw and a basket, a pick-axe and an axe, a thong of +leather and a hook, with provisions for three days, so that a footman +hath no great need of a mule to carry his burdens. The horsemen have +a long sword on their right sides, axed a long pole in their hand; a +shield also lies by them obliquely on one side of their horses, with +three or more darts that are borne in their quiver, having broad +points, and not smaller than spears. They have also head-pieces and +breastplates, in like manner as have all the footmen. And for those that +are chosen to be about the general, their armor no way differs from +that of the horsemen belonging to other troops; and he always leads the +legions forth to whom the lot assigns that employment. + +6. This is the manner of the marching and resting of the Romans, as also +these are the several sorts of weapons they use. But when they are to +fight, they leave nothing without forecast, nor to be done off-hand, but +counsel is ever first taken before any work is begun, and what hath been +there resolved upon is put in execution presently; for which reason they +seldom commit any errors; and if they have been mistaken at any time, +they easily correct those mistakes. They also esteem any errors they +commit upon taking counsel beforehand to be better than such rash +success as is owing to fortune only; because such a fortuitous advantage +tempts them to be inconsiderate, while consultation, though it may +sometimes fail of success, hath this good in it, that it makes men more +careful hereafter; but for the advantages that arise from chance, +they are not owing to him that gains them; and as to what melancholy +accidents happen unexpectedly, there is this comfort in them, that they +had however taken the best consultations they could to prevent them. + +7. Now they so manage their preparatory exercises of their weapons, that +not the bodies of the soldiers only, but their souls may also become +stronger: they are moreover hardened for war by fear; for their laws +inflict capital punishments, not only for soldiers running away from the +ranks, but for slothfulness and inactivity, though it be but in a lesser +degree; as are their generals more severe than their laws, for they +prevent any imputation of cruelty toward those under condemnation, by +the great rewards they bestow on the valiant soldiers; and the readiness +of obeying their commanders is so great, that it is very ornamental in +peace; but when they come to a battle, the whole army is but one body, +so well coupled together are their ranks, so sudden are their turnings +about, so sharp their hearing as to what orders are given them, so quick +their sight of the ensigns, and so nimble are their hands when they set +to work; whereby it comes to pass that what they do is done quickly, and +what they suffer they bear with the greatest patience. Nor can we find +any examples where they have been conquered in battle, when they came +to a close fight, either by the multitude of the enemies, or by their +stratagems, or by the difficulties in the places they were in; no, nor +by fortune neither, for their victories have been surer to them than +fortune could have granted them. In a case, therefore, where counsel +still goes before action, and where, after taking the best advice, +that advice is followed by so active an army, what wonder is it that +Euphrates on the east, the ocean on the west, the most fertile regions +of Libya on the south, and the Danube and the Rhine on the north, are +the limits of this empire? One might well say that the Roman possessions +are not inferior to the Romans themselves. + +8. This account I have given the reader, not so much with the intention +of commending the Romans, as of comforting those that have been +conquered by them, and for the deterring others from attempting +innovations under their government. This discourse of the Roman military +conduct may also perhaps be of use to such of the curious as are +ignorant of it, and yet have a mind to know it. I return now from this +digression. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + Placidus Attempts To Take Jotapata And Is Beaten Off. + Vespasian Marches Into Galilee. + +1. And now Vespasian, with his son Titus, had tarried some time at +Ptolemais, and had put his army in order. But when Placidus, who had +overrun Galilee, and had besides slain a number of those whom he had +caught, [which were only the weaker part of the Galileans, and such +as were of timorous souls,] saw that the warriors ran always to those +cities whose walls had been built by Josephus, he marched furiously +against Jotapata, which was of them all the strongest, as supposing he +should easily take it by a sudden surprise, and that he should thereby +obtain great honor to himself among the commanders, and bring a great +advantage to them in their future campaign; because if this strongest +place of them all were once taken, the rest would be so affrighted as to +surrender themselves. But he was mightily mistaken in his undertaking; +for the men of Jotapata were apprized of his coming to attack them, and +came out of the city, and expected him there. So they fought the Romans +briskly when they least expected it, being both many in number, and +prepared for fighting, and of great alacrity, as esteeming their +country, their wives, and their children to be in danger, and easily put +the Romans to flight, and wounded many of them, and slew seven of them; +4 because their retreat was not made in a disorderly manner, because +the strokes only touched the surface of their bodies, which were covered +with their armor in all parts, and because the Jews did rather throw +their weapons upon them from a great distance, than venture to come hand +to hand with them, and had only light armor on, while the others were +completely armed. However, three men of the Jews' side were slain, and +a few wounded; so Placidus, finding himself unable to assault the city, +ran away. + +2. But as Vespasian had a great mind to fall upon Galilee, he marched +out of Ptolemais, having put his army into that order wherein the Romans +used to march. He ordered those auxiliaries which were lightly armed, +and the archers, to march first, that they might prevent any sudden +insults from the enemy, and might search out the woods that looked +suspiciously, and were capable of ambuscades. Next to these followed +that part of the Romans which was completely armed, both footmen and +horsemen. Next to these followed ten out of every hundred, carrying +along with them their arms, and what was necessary to measure out a camp +withal; and after them, such as were to make the road even and straight, +and if it were any where rough and hard to be passed over, to plane it, +and to cut down the woods that hindered their march, that the army might +not be in distress, or tired with their march. Behind these he set +such carriages of the army as belonged both to himself and to the other +commanders, with a considerable number of their horsemen for their +security. After these he marched himself, having with him a select body +of footmen, and horsemen, and pikemen. After these came the peculiar +cavalry of his own legion, for there were a hundred and twenty horsemen +that peculiarly belonged to every legion. Next to these came the mules +that carried the engines for sieges, and the other warlike machines +of that nature. After these came the commanders of the cohorts and +tribunes, having about them soldiers chosen out of the rest. Then came +the ensigns encompassing the eagle, which is at the head of every Roman +legion, the king, and the strongest of all birds, which seems to them a +signal of dominion, and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom +they march; these sacred ensigns are followed by the trumpeters. Then +came the main army in their squadrons and battalions, with six men in +depth, which were followed at last by a centurion, who, according to +custom, observed the rest. As for the servants of every legion, they +all followed the footmen, and led the baggage of the soldiers, which +was borne by the mules and other beasts of burden. But behind all the +legions came the whole multitude of the mercenaries; and those that +brought up the rear came last of all for the security of the whole army, +being both footmen, and those in their armor also, with a great number +of horsemen. + +3. And thus did Vespasian march with his army, and came to the bounds of +Galilee, where he pitched his camp and restrained his soldiers, who +were eager for war; he also showed his army to the enemy, in order +to affright them, and to afford them a season for repentance, to see +whether they would change their minds before it came to a battle, and at +the same time he got things ready for besieging their strong minds. And +indeed this sight of the general brought many to repent of their revolt, +and put them all into a consternation; for those that were in Josephus's +camp, which was at the city called Garis, not far from Sepphoris, when +they heard that the war was come near them, and that the Romans would +suddenly fight them hand to hand, dispersed themselves and fled, not +only before they came to a battle, but before the enemy ever came in +sight, while Josephus and a few others were left behind; and as he saw +that he had not an army sufficient to engage the enemy, that the spirits +of the Jews were sunk, and that the greater part would willingly come to +terms, if they might be credited, he already despaired of the success of +the whole war, and determined to get as far as he possibly could out +of danger; so he took those that staid along with him, and fled to +Tiberias. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + Vespasian, When He Had Taken The City Gadaea Marches To + Jotapata. After A Long Siege The City Is Betrayed By A + Deserter, And Taken By Vespasian. + +1. So Vespasian marched to the city Gadara, and took it upon the first +onset, because he found it destitute of any considerable number of men +grown up and fit for war. He came then into it, and slew all the youth, +the Romans having no mercy on any age whatsoever; and this was done out +of the hatred they bore the nation, and because of the iniquity they had +been guilty of in the affair of Cestius. He also set fire not only to +the city itself, but to all the villas and small cities that were round +about it; some of them were quite destitute of inhabitants, and out of +some of them he carried the inhabitants as slaves into captivity. + +2. As to Josephus, his retiring to that city which he chose as the most +fit for his security, put it into great fear; for the people of Tiberias +did not imagine that he would have run away, unless he had entirely +despaired of the success of the war. And indeed, as to that point, they +were not mistaken about his opinion; for he saw whither the affairs of +the Jews would tend at last, and was sensible that they had but one way +of escaping, and that was by repentance. However, although he expected +that the Romans would forgive him, yet did he choose to die many times +over, rather than to betray his country, and to dishonor that supreme +command of the army which had been intrusted with him, or to live +happily under those against whom he was sent to fight. He determined, +therefore, to give an exact account of affairs to the principal men at +Jerusalem by a letter, that he might not, by too much aggrandizing the +power of the enemy, make them too timorous; nor, by relating that their +power beneath the truth, might encourage them to stand out when they +were perhaps disposed to repentance. He also sent them word, that if +they thought of coming to terms, they must suddenly write him an answer; +or if they resolved upon war, they must send him an army sufficient +to fight the Romans. Accordingly, he wrote these things, and sent +messengers immediately to carry his letter to Jerusalem. + +3. Now Vespasian was very desirous of demolishing Jotapata, for he had +gotten intelligence that the greatest part of the enemy had retired +thither, and that it was, on other accounts, a place of great security +to them. Accordingly, he sent both foot-men and horsemen to level the +road, which was mountainous and rocky, not without difficulty to be +traveled over by footmen, but absolutely impracticable for horsemen. Now +these workmen accomplished what they were about in four days' time, +and opened a broad way for the army. On the fifth day, which was the +twenty-first of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] Josephus prevented him, +and came from Tiberias, and went into Jotapata, and raised the drooping +spirits of the Jews. And a certain deserter told this good news to +Vespasian, that Josephus had removed himself thither, which made him +make haste to the city, as supposing that with taking that he should +take all Judea, in case he could but withal get Josephus under his +power. So he took this news to be of the vastest advantage to him, and +believed it to be brought about by the providence of God, that he who +appeared to be the most prudent man of all their enemies, had, of his +own accord, shut himself up in a place of sure custody. Accordingly, he +sent Placidus with a thousand horsemen, and Ebutius a decurion, a person +that was of eminency both in council and in action, to encompass the +city round, that Josephus might not escape away privately. + +4. Vespasian also, the very next day, took his whole army and followed +them, and by marching till late in the evening, arrived then at +Jotapata; and bringing his army to the northern side of the city, he +pitched his camp on a certain small hill which was seven furlongs from +the city, and still greatly endeavored to be well seen by the enemy, to +put them into a consternation; which was indeed so terrible to the Jews +immediately, that no one of them durst go out beyond the wall. Yet did +the Romans put off the attack at that time, because they had marched all +the day, although they placed a double row of battalions round the +city, with a third row beyond them round the whole, which consisted of +cavalry, in order to stop up every way for an exit; which thing making +the Jews despair of escaping, excited them to act more boldly; for +nothing makes men fight so desperately in war as necessity. + +5. Now when the next day an assault was made by the Romans, the Jews at +first staid out of the walls and opposed them, and met them, as having +formed themselves a camp before the city walls. But when Vespasian had +set against them the archers and slingers, and the whole multitude that +could throw to a great distance, he permitted them to go to work, while +he himself, with the footmen, got upon an acclivity, whence the city +might easily be taken. Josephus was then in fear for the city, and +leaped out, and all the Jewish multitude with him; these fell together +upon the Romans in great numbers, and drove them away from the wall, and +performed a great many glorious and bold actions. Yet did they suffer +as much as they made the enemy suffer; for as despair of deliverance +encouraged the Jews, so did a sense of shame equally encourage the +Romans. These last had skill as well as strength; the other had only +courage, which armed them, and made them fight furiously. And when the +fight had lasted all day, it was put an end to by the coming on of the +night. They had wounded a great many of the Romans, and killed of them +thirteen men; of the Jews' side seventeen were slain, and six hundred +wounded. + +6. On the next day the Jews made another attack upon the Romans, and +went out of the walls and fought a much more desperate battle with them +than before. For they were now become more courageous than formerly, and +that on account of the unexpected good opposition they had made the day +before, as they found the Romans also to fight more desperately; for a +sense of shame inflamed these into a passion, as esteeming their failure +of a sudden victory to be a kind of defeat. Thus did the Romans try to +make an impression upon the Jews till the fifth day continually, while +the people of Jotapata made sallies out, and fought at the walls most +desperately; nor were the Jews affrighted at the strength of the enemy, +nor were the Romans discouraged at the difficulties they met with in +taking the city. + +7. Now Jotapata is almost all of it built on a precipice, having on +all the other sides of it every way valleys immensely deep and steep, +insomuch that those who would look down would have their sight fail them +before it reaches to the bottom. It is only to be come at on the north +side, where the utmost part of the city is built on the mountain, as it +ends obliquely at a plain. This mountain Josephus had encompassed with +a wall when he fortified the city, that its top might not be capable +of being seized upon by the enemies. The city is covered all round with +other mountains, and can no way be seen till a man comes just upon it. +And this was the strong situation of Jotapata. + +8. Vespasian, therefore, in order to try how he might overcome the +natural strength of the place, as well as the bold defense of the Jews, +made a resolution to prosecute the siege with vigor. To that end he +called the commanders that were under him to a council of war, and +consulted with them which way the assault might be managed to the best +advantage. And when the resolution was there taken to raise a bank +against that part of the wall which was practicable, he sent his whole +army abroad to get the materials together. So when they had cut down +all the trees on the mountains that adjoined to the city, and had gotten +together a vast heap of stones, besides the wood they had cut down, some +of them brought hurdles, in order to avoid the effects of the darts that +were shot from above them. These hurdles they spread over their banks, +under cover whereof they formed their bank, and so were little or +nothing hurt by the darts that were thrown upon them from the wall, +while others pulled the neighboring hillocks to pieces, and perpetually +brought earth to them; so that while they were busy three sorts of ways, +nobody was idle. However, the Jews cast great stones from the walls upon +the hurdles which protected the men, with all sorts of darts also; and +the noise of what could not reach them was yet so terrible, that it was +some impediment to the workmen. + +9. Vespasian then set the engines for throwing stones and darts round +about the city. The number of the engines was in all a hundred and +sixty, and bid them fall to work, and dislodge those that were upon the +wall. At the same time such engines as were intended for that purpose +threw at once lances upon them with a great noise, and stones of the +weight of a talent were thrown by the engines that were prepared for +that purpose, together with fire, and a vast multitude of arrows, which +made the wall so dangerous, that the Jews durst not only not come +upon it, but durst not come to those parts within the walls which were +reached by the engines; for the multitude of the Arabian archers, as +well also as all those that threw darts and slung stones, fell to work +at the same time with the engines. Yet did not the others lie still, +when they could not throw at the Romans from a higher place; for they +then made sallies out of the city, like private robbers, by parties, and +pulled away the hurdles that covered the workmen, and killed them when +they were thus naked; and when those workmen gave way, these cast away +the earth that composed the bank, and burnt the wooden parts of it, +together with the hurdles, till at length Vespasian perceived that the +intervals there were between the works were of disadvantage to him; +for those spaces of ground afforded the Jews a place for assaulting the +Romans. So he united the hurdles, and at the same time joined one part +of the army to the other, which prevented the private excursions of the +Jews. + +10. And when the bank was now raised, and brought nearer than ever to +the battlements that belonged to the walls, Josephus thought it would be +entirely wrong in him if he could make no contrivances in opposition +to theirs, and that might be for the city's preservation; so he got +together his workmen, and ordered them to build the wall higher; and +while they said that this was impossible to be done while so many darts +were thrown at them, he invented this sort of cover for them: He bid +them fix piles, and expand before them the raw hides of oxen newly +killed, that these hides by yielding and hollowing themselves when the +stones were thrown at them might receive them, for that the other darts +would slide off them, and the fire that was thrown would be quenched by +the moisture that was in them. And these he set before the workmen, and +under them these workmen went on with their works in safety, and raised +the wall higher, and that both by day and by night, till it was twenty +cubits high. He also built a good number of towers upon the wall, and +fitted it to strong battlements. This greatly discouraged the Romans, +who in their own opinions were already gotten within the walls, while +they were now at once astonished at Josephus's contrivance, and at the +fortitude of the citizens that were in the city. + +11. And now Vespasian was plainly irritated at the great subtlety of +this stratagem, and at the boldness of the citizens of Jotapata; for +taking heart again upon the building of this wall, they made fresh +sallies upon the Romans, and had every day conflicts with them by +parties, together with all such contrivances, as robbers make use of, +and with the plundering of all that came to hand, as also with the +setting fire to all the other works; and this till Vespasian made his +army leave off fighting them, and resolved to lie round the city, and +to starve them into a surrender, as supposing that either they would +be forced to petition him for mercy by want of provisions, or if they +should have the courage to hold out till the last, they should perish +by famine: and he concluded he should conquer them the more easily in +fighting, if he gave them an interval, and then fell upon them when they +were weakened by famine; but still he gave orders that they should guard +against their coming out of the city. + +12. Now the besieged had plenty of corn within the city, and indeed of +all necessaries, but they wanted water, because there was no fountain in +the city, the people being there usually satisfied with rain water; yet +is it a rare thing in that country to have rain in summer, and at +this season, during the siege, they were in great distress for some +contrivance to satisfy their thirst; and they were very sad at this time +particularly, as if they were already in want of water entirely, for +Josephus seeing that the city abounded with other necessaries, and that +the men were of good courage, and being desirous to protract the siege +to the Romans longer than they expected, ordered their drink to be given +them by measure; but this scanty distribution of water by measure was +deemed by them as a thing more hard upon them than the want of it; +and their not being able to drink as much as they would made them more +desirous of drinking than they otherwise had been; nay, they were as +much disheartened hereby as if they were come to the last degree of +thirst. Nor were the Romans unacquainted with the state they were in, +for when they stood over against them, beyond the wall, they could see +them running together, and taking their water by measure, which made +them throw their javelins thither the place being within their reach, +and kill a great many of them. + +13. Hereupon Vespasian hoped that their receptacles of water would in +no long time be emptied, and that they would be forced to deliver up +the city to him; but Josephus being minded to break such his hope, gave +command that they should wet a great many of their clothes, and hang +them out about the battlements, till the entire wall was of a sudden all +wet with the running down of the water. At this sight the Romans were +discouraged, and under consternation, when they saw them able to throw +away in sport so much water, when they supposed them not to have enough +to drink themselves. This made the Roman general despair of taking the +city by their want of necessaries, and to betake himself again to arms, +and to try to force them to surrender, which was what the Jews greatly +desired; for as they despaired of either themselves or their city being +able to escape, they preferred a death in battle before one by hunger +and thirst. + +14. However, Josephus contrived another stratagem besides the foregoing, +to get plenty of what they wanted. There was a certain rough and uneven +place that could hardly be ascended, and on that account was not guarded +by the soldiers; so Josephus sent out certain persons along the western +parts of the valley, and by them sent letters to whom he pleased of the +Jews that were out of the city, and procured from them what necessaries +soever they wanted in the city in abundance; he enjoined them also to +creep generally along by the watch as they came into the city, and to +cover their backs with such sheep-skins as had their wool upon them, +that if any one should spy them out in the night time, they might +be believed to be dogs. This was done till the watch perceived their +contrivance, and encompassed that rough place about themselves. + +15. And now it was that Josephus perceived that the city could not hold +out long, and that his own life would be in doubt if he continued in it; +so he consulted how he and the most potent men of the city might fly +out of it. When the multitude understood this, they came all round about +him, and begged of him not to overlook them while they entirely depended +on him, and him alone; for that there was still hope of the city's +deliverance, if he would stay with them, because every body would +undertake any pains with great cheerfulness on his account, and in that +case there would be some comfort for them also, though they should be +taken: that it became him neither to fly from his enemies, nor to desert +his friends, nor to leap out of that city, as out of a ship that was +sinking in a storm, into which he came when it was quiet and in a calm; +for that by going away he would be the cause of drowning the city, +because nobody would then venture to oppose the enemy when he was once +gone, upon whom they wholly confided. 16. Hereupon Josephus avoided +letting them know that he was to go away to provide for his own safety, +but told them that he would go out of the city for their sakes; for that +if he staid with them, he should be able to do them little good while +they were in a safe condition; and that if they were once taken, he +should only perish with them to no purpose; but that if he were once +gotten free from this siege, he should be able to bring them very great +relief; for that he would then immediately get the Galileans together, +out of the country, in great multitudes, and draw the Romans off their +city by another war. That he did not see what advantage he could bring +to them now, by staying among them, but only provoke the Romans to +besiege them more closely, as esteeming it a most valuable thing to take +him; but that if they were once informed that he was fled out of the +city, they would greatly remit of their eagerness against it. Yet did +not this plea move the people, but inflamed them the more to hang about +him. Accordingly, both the children and the old men, and the women with +their infants, came mourning to him, and fell down before him, and all +of them caught hold of his feet, and held him fast, and besought him, +with great lamentations, that he would take his share with them in +their fortune; and I think they did this, not that they envied his +deliverance, but that they hoped for their own; for they could not think +they should suffer any great misfortune, provided Josephus would but +stay with them. + +17. Now Josephus thought, that if he resolved to stay, it would be +ascribed to their entreaties; and if he resolved to go away by force, he +should be put into custody. His commiseration also of the people under +their lamentations had much broken that his eagerness to leave them; so +he resolved to stay, and arming himself with the common despair of +the citizens, he said to them, "Now is the time to begin to fight in +earnest, when there is no hope of deliverance left. It is a brave +thing to prefer glory before life, and to set about some such noble +undertaking as may be remembered by late posterity." Having said +this, he fell to work immediately, and made a sally, and dispersed the +enemies' out-guards, and ran as far as the Roman camp itself, and pulled +the coverings of their tents to pieces, that were upon their banks, and +set fire to their works. And this was the manner in which he never left +off fighting, neither the next day, nor the day after it, but went on +with it for a considerable number of both days and nights. + +18. Upon this, Vespasian, when he saw the Romans distressed by these +sallies, [though they were ashamed to be made to run away by the Jews; +and when at any time they made the Jews run away, their heavy armor +would not let them pursue them far; while the Jews, when they had +performed any action, and before they could be hurt themselves, still +retired into the city,] ordered his armed men to avoid their onset, +and not fight it out with men under desperation, while nothing is more +courageous than despair; but that their violence would be quenched when +they saw they failed of their purposes, as fire is quenched when +it wants fuel; and that it was proper for the Romans to gain their +victories as cheap as they could, since they are not forced to fight, +but only to enlarge their own dominions. So he repelled the Jews in +great measure by the Arabian archers, and the Syrian slingers, and by +those that threw stones at them, nor was there any intermission of the +great number of their offensive engines. Now the Jews suffered greatly +by these engines, without being able to escape from them; and when these +engines threw their stones or javelins a great way, and the Jews were +within their reach, they pressed hard upon the Romans, and fought +desperately, without sparing either soul or body, one part succoring +another by turns, when it was tired down. + +19. When, therefore, Vespasian looked upon himself as in a manner +besieged by these sallies of the Jews, and when his banks were now not +far from the walls, he determined to make use of his battering ram. +This battering ram is a vast beam of wood like the mast of a ship, its +forepart is armed with a thick piece of iron at the head of it, which +is so carved as to be like the head of a ram, whence its name is taken. +This ram is slung in the air by ropes passing over its middle, and is +hung like the balance in a pair of scales from another beam, and braced +by strong beams that pass on both sides of it, in the nature of a cross. +When this ram is pulled backward by a great number of men with united +force, and then thrust forward by the same men, with a mighty noise, it +batters the walls with that iron part which is prominent. Nor is there +any tower so strong, or walls so broad, that can resist any more than +its first batteries, but all are forced to yield to it at last. This was +the experiment which the Roman general betook himself to, when he was +eagerly bent upon taking the city; but found lying in the field so +long to be to his disadvantage, because the Jews would never let him be +quiet. So these Romans brought the several engines for galling an enemy +nearer to the walls, that they might reach such as were upon the wall, +and endeavored to frustrate their attempts; these threw stones and +javelins at them; in the like manner did the archers and slingers come +both together closer to the wall. This brought matters to such a pass +that none of the Jews durst mount the walls, and then it was that the +other Romans brought the battering ram that was cased with hurdles all +over, and in the tipper part was secured by skins that covered it, and +this both for the security of themselves and of the engine. Now, at the +very first stroke of this engine, the wall was shaken, and a terrible +clamor was raised by the people within the city, as if they were already +taken. + +20. And now, when Josephus saw this ram still battering the same place, +and that the wall would quickly be thrown down by it, he resolved to +elude for a while the force of the engine. With this design he gave +orders to fill sacks with chaff, and to hang them down before that place +where they saw the ram always battering, that the stroke might be turned +aside, or that the place might feel less of the strokes by the yielding +nature of the chaff. This contrivance very much delayed the attempts +of the Romans, because, let them remove their engine to what part they +pleased, those that were above it removed their sacks, and placed them +over against the strokes it made, insomuch that the wall was no way +hurt, and this by diversion of the strokes, till the Romans made an +opposite contrivance of long poles, and by tying hooks at their ends, +cut off the sacks. Now when the battering ram thus recovered its force, +and the wall having been but newly built, was giving way, Josephus and +those about him had afterward immediate recourse to fire, to defend +themselves withal; whereupon they took what materials soever they had +that were but dry, and made a sally three ways, and set fire to the +machines, and the hurdles, and the banks of the Romans themselves; nor +did the Romans well know how to come to their assistance, being at once +under a consternation at the Jews' boldness, and being prevented by the +flames from coming to their assistance; for the materials being dry with +the bitumen and pitch that were among them, as was brimstone also, the +fire caught hold of every thing immediately, and what cost the Romans a +great deal of pains was in one hour consumed. + +21. And here a certain Jew appeared worthy of our relation and +commendation; he was the son of Sameas, and was called Eleazar, and was +born at Saab, in Galilee. This man took up a stone of a vast bigness, +and threw it down from the wall upon the ram, and this with so great a +force, that it broke off the head of the engine. He also leaped down, +and took up the head of the ram from the midst of them, and without any +concern carried it to the top of the wall, and this while he stood as a +fit mark to be pelted by all his enemies. Accordingly, he received the +strokes upon his naked body, and was wounded with five darts; nor did he +mind any of them while he went up to the top of the wall, where he stood +in the sight of them all, as an instance of the greatest boldness; after +which he drew himself on a heap with his wounds upon him, and fell down +together with the head of the ram. Next to him, two brothers showed +their courage; their names were Netir and Philip, both of them of the +village Ruma, and both of them Galileans also; these men leaped upon the +soldiers of the tenth legion, and fell upon the Romans with such a noise +and force as to disorder their ranks, and to put to flight all upon +whomsoever they made their assaults. + +22. After these men's performances, Josephus, and the rest of the +multitude with him, took a great deal of fire, and burnt both the +machines and their coverings, with the works belonging to the fifth and +to the tenth legion, which they put to flight; when others followed them +immediately, and buried those instruments and all their materials under +ground. However, about the evening, the Romans erected the battering ram +again, against that part of the wall which had suffered before; where a +certain Jew that defended the city from the Romans hit Vespasian with a +dart in his foot, and wounded him a little, the distance being so great, +that no mighty impression could be made by the dart thrown so far off. +However, this caused the greatest disorder among the Romans; for when +those who stood near him saw his blood, they were disturbed at it, and +a report went abroad, through the whole army, that the general was +wounded, while the greatest part left the siege, and came running +together with surprise and fear to the general; and before them all +came Titus, out of the concern he had for his father, insomuch that the +multitude were in great confusion, and this out of the regard they had +for their general, and by reason of the agony that the son was in. Yet +did the father soon put an end to the son's fear, and to the disorder +the army was under, for being superior to his pains, and endeavoring +soon to be seen by all that had been in a fright about him, he excited +them to fight the Jews more briskly; for now every body was willing to +expose himself to danger immediately, in order to avenge their general; +and then they encouraged one another with loud voices, and ran hastily +to the walls. + +23. But still Josephus and those with him, although they fell down dead +one upon another by the darts and stones which the engines threw upon +them, yet did not they desert the wall, but fell upon those who managed +the ram, under the protection of the hurdles, with fire, and iron +weapons, and stones; and these could do little or nothing, but fell +themselves perpetually, while they were seen by those whom they could +not see, for the light of their own flame shone about them, and made +them a most visible mark to the enemy, as they were in the day time, +while the engines could not be seen at a great distance, and so what was +thrown at them was hard to be avoided; for the force with which these +engines threw stones and darts made them hurt several at a time, and the +violent noise of the stones that were cast by the engines was so great, +that they carried away the pinnacles of the wall, and broke off the +corners of the towers; for no body of men could be so strong as not to +be overthrown to the last rank by the largeness of the stones. And any +one may learn the force of the engines by what happened this very night; +for as one of those that stood round about Josephus was near the wall, +his head was carried away by such a stone, and his skull was flung as +far as three furlongs. In the day time also, a woman with child had her +belly so violently struck, as she was just come out of her house, that +the infant was carried to the distance of half a furlong, so great was +the force of that engine. The noise of the instruments themselves was +very terrible, the sound of the darts and stones that were thrown by +them was so also; of the same sort was that noise the dead bodies made, +when they were dashed against the wall; and indeed dreadful was the +clamor which these things raised in the women within the city, which was +echoed back at the same time by the cries of such as were slain; while +the whole space of ground whereon they fought ran with blood, and the +wall might have been ascended over by the bodies of the dead carcasses; +the mountains also contributed to increase the noise by their echoes; +nor was there on that night any thing of terror wanting that could +either affect the hearing or the sight: yet did a great part of those +that fought so hard for Jotapata fall manfully, as were a great part of +them wounded. However, the morning watch was come ere the wall yielded +to the machines employed against it, though it had been battered without +intermission. However, those within covered their bodies with their +armor, and raised works over against that part which was thrown down, +before those machines were laid by which the Romans were to ascend into +the city. + +24. In the morning Vespasian got his army together, in order to take the +city [by storm], after a little recreation upon the hard pains they had +been at the night before; and as he was desirous to draw off those that +opposed him from the places where the wall had been thrown down, he made +the most courageous of the horsemen get off their horses, and placed +them in three ranks over against those ruins of the wall, but covered +with their armor on every side, and with poles in their hands, that +so these might begin their ascent as soon as the instruments for such +ascent were laid; behind them he placed the flower of the footmen; but +for the rest of the horse, he ordered them to extend themselves over +against the wall, upon the whole hilly country, in order to prevent any +from escaping out of the city when it should be taken; and behind these +he placed the archers round about, and commanded them to have their +darts ready to shoot. The same command he gave to the slingers, and to +those that managed the engines, and bid them to take up other ladders, +and have them ready to lay upon those parts of the wall which were yet +untouched, that the besieged might be engaged in trying to hinder their +ascent by them, and leave the guard of the parts that were thrown down, +while the rest of them should be overborne by the darts cast at them, +and might afford his men an entrance into the city. + +25. But Josephus, understanding the meaning of Vespasian's contrivance, +set the old men, together with those that were tired out, at the sound +parts of the wall, as expecting no harm from those quarters, but set the +strongest of his men at the place where the wall was broken down, and +before them all six men by themselves, among whom he took his share +of the first and greatest danger. He also gave orders, that when the +legions made a shout, they should stop their ears, that they might not +be affrighted at it, and that, to avoid the multitude of the enemy's +darts, they should bend down on their knees, and cover themselves with +their shields, and that they should retreat a little backward for a +while, till the archers should have emptied their quivers; but that When +the Romans should lay their instruments for ascending the walls, they +should leap out on the sudden, and with their own instruments should +meet the enemy, and that every one should strive to do his best, +in order not to defend his own city, as if it were possible to be +preserved, but in order to revenge it, when it was already destroyed; +and that they should set before their eyes how their old men were to be +slain, and their children and wives were to be killed immediately by the +enemy; and that they would beforehand spend all their fury, on account +of the calamities just coming upon them, and pour it out on the actors. + +26. And thus did Josephus dispose of both his bodies of men; but then +for the useless part of the citizens, the women and children, when they +saw their city encompassed by a threefold army, [for none of the usual +guards that had been fighting before were removed,] when they also saw, +not only the walls thrown down, but their enemies with swords in their +hands, as also the hilly country above them shining with their weapons, +and the darts in the hands of the Arabian archers, they made a final +and lamentable outcry of the destruction, as if the misery were not only +threatened, but actually come upon them already. But Josephus ordered +the women to be shut up in their houses, lest they should render the +warlike actions of the men too effeminate, by making them commiserate +their condition, and commanded them to hold their peace, and threatened +them if they did not, while he came himself before the breach, where his +allotment was; for all those who brought ladders to the other places, +he took no notice of them, but earnestly waited for the shower of arrows +that was coming. + +27. And now the trumpetersAnd now the trumpeters of the several Roman legions sounded +together, and the army made a terrible shout; and the darts, as +by order, flew so fast, that they intercepted the light. However, +Josephus's men remembered the charges he had given them, they stopped +their ears at the sounds, and covered their bodies against the darts; +and as to the engines that were set ready to go to work, the Jews ran +out upon them, before those that should have used them were gotten +upon them. And now, on the ascending of the soldiers, there was a great +conflict, and many actions of the hands and of the soul were exhibited; +while the Jews did earnestly endeavor, in the extreme danger they were +in, not to show less courage than those who, without being in danger, +fought so stoutly against them; nor did they leave struggling with +the Romans till they either fell down dead themselves, or killed +their antagonists. But the Jews grew weary with defending themselves +continually, and had not enough to come in their places, and succor +them; while, on the side of the Romans, fresh men still succeeded +those that were tired; and still new men soon got upon the machines for +ascent, in the room of those that were thrust down; those encouraging +one another, and joining side to side with their shields, which were a +protection to them, they became a body of men not to be broken; and as +this band thrust away the Jews, as though they were themselves but one +body, they began already to get upon the wall. + +28. Then did Josephus take necessity for his counselor in this utmost +distress, [which necessity is very sagacious in invention when it is +irritated by despair,] and gave orders to pour scalding oil upon those +whose shields protected them. Whereupon they soon got it ready, being +many that brought it, and what they brought being a great quantity also, +and poured it on all sides upon the Romans, and threw down upon them +their vessels as they were still hissing from the heat of the fire: this +so burnt the Romans, that it dispersed that united band, who now tumbled +clown from the wall with horrid pains, for the oil did easily run down +the whole body from head to foot, under their entire armor, and fed upon +their flesh like flame itself, its fat and unctuous nature rendering it +soon heated and slowly cooled; and as the men were cooped up in their +head-pieces and breastplates, they could no way get free from this +burning oil; they could only leap and roll about in their pains, as they +fell down from the bridges they had laid. And as they thus were beaten +back, and retired to their own party, who still pressed them forward, +they were easily wounded by those that were behind them. + +29. However, in this ill success of the Romans, their courage did +not fail them, nor did the Jews want prudence to oppose them; for the +Romans, although they saw their own men thrown down, and in a miserable +condition, yet were they vehemently bent against those that poured +the oil upon them; while every one reproached the man before him as a +coward, and one that hindered him from exerting himself; and while the +Jews made use of another stratagem to prevent their ascent, and poured +boiling fenugreek upon the boards, in order to make them slip and fall +down; by which means neither could those that were coming up, nor +those that were going down, stand on their feet; but some of them fell +backward upon the machines on which they ascended, and were trodden +upon; many of them fell down upon the bank they had raised, and when +they were fallen upon it were slain by the Jews; for when the Romans +could not keep their feet, the Jews being freed from fighting hand to +hand, had leisure to throw their darts at them. So the general called +off those soldiers in the evening that had suffered so sorely, of whom +the number of the slain was not a few, while that of the wounded was +still greater; but of the people of Jotapata no more than six men were +killed, although more than three hundred were carried off wounded. This +fight happened on the twentieth day of the month Desius [Sivan]. 30. +Hereupon Vespasian comforted his army on occasion of what happened, and +as he found them angry indeed, but rather wanting somewhat to do than +any further exhortations, he gave orders to raise the banks still +higher, and to erect three towers, each fifty feet high, and that they +should cover them with plates of iron on every side, that they might +be both firm by their weight, and not easily liable to be set on fire. +These towers he set upon the banks, and placed upon them such as could +shoot darts and arrows, with the lighter engines for throwing stones and +darts also; and besides these, he set upon them the stoutest men among +the slingers, who not being to be seen by reason of the height they +stood upon, and the battlements that protected them, might throw their +weapons at those that were upon the wall, and were easily seen by them. +Hereupon the Jews, not being easily able to escape those darts that were +thrown down upon their heads, nor to avenge themselves on those whom +they could not see, and perceiving that the height of the towers was so +great, that a dart which they threw with their hand could hardly reach +it, and that the iron plates about them made it very hard to come at +them by fire, they ran away from the walls, and fled hastily out of the +city, and fell upon those that shot at them. And thus did the people of +Jotapata resist the Romans, while a great number of them were every day +killed, without their being able to retort the evil upon their enemies; +nor could they keep them out of the city without danger to themselves. + +31. About this time it was that Vespasian sent out Trajan against a city +called Japha, that lay near to Jotapata, and that desired innovations, +and was puffed up with the unexpected length of the opposition of +Jotapata. This Trajan was the commander of the tenth legion, and to him +Vespasian committed one thousand horsemen, and two thousand footmen. +When Trajan came to the city, he found it hard to be taken, for besides +the natural strength of its situation, it was also secured by a double +wall; but when he saw the people of this city coming out of it, and +ready to fight him, he joined battle with them, and after a short +resistance which they made, he pursued after them; and as they fled to +their first wall, the Romans followed them so closely, that they fell +in together with them: but when the Jews were endeavoring to get again +within their second wall, their fellow citizens shut them out, as being +afraid that the Romans would force themselves in with them. It was +certainly God therefore who brought the Romans to punish the Galileans, +and did then expose the people of the city every one of them manifestly +to be destroyed by their bloody enemies; for they fell upon the gates in +great crowds, and earnestly calling to those that kept them, and that +by their names also, yet had they their throats cut in the very midst of +their supplications; for the enemy shut the gates of the first wall, and +their own citizens shut the gates of the second, so they were enclosed +between two walls, and were slain in great numbers together; many of +them were run through by swords of their own men, and many by their own +swords, besides an immense number that were slain by the Romans. Nor +had they any courage to revenge themselves; for there was added to the +consternation they were in from the enemy, their being betrayed by their +own friends, which quite broke their spirits; and at last they died, +cursing not the Romans, but their own citizens, till they were all +destroyed, being in number twelve thousand. So Trajan gathered that the +city was empty of people that could fight, and although there should a +few of them be therein, he supposed that they would be too timorous to +venture upon any opposition; so he reserved the taking of the city to +the general. Accordingly, he sent messengers to Vespasian, and desired +him to send his son Titus to finish the victory he had gained. Vespasian +hereupon imagining there might be some pains still necessary, sent his +son with an army of five hundred horsemen, and one thousand footmen. So +he came quickly to the city, and put his army in order, and set Trajan +over the left wing, while he had the right himself, and led them to the +siege: and when the soldiers brought ladders to be laid against the wall +on every side, the Galileans opposed them from above for a while; but +soon afterward they left the walls. Then did Titus's men leap into the +city, and seized upon it presently; but when those that were in it were +gotten together, there was a fierce battle between them; for the men of +power fell upon the Romans in the narrow streets, and the women threw +whatsoever came next to hand at them, and sustained a fight with them +for six hours' time; but when the fighting men were spent, the rest of +the multitude had their throats cut, partly in the open air, and partly +in their own houses, both young and old together. So there were no males +now remaining, besides infants, which, with the women, were carried as +slaves into captivity; so that the number of the slain, both now in the +city and at the former fight, was fifteen thousand, and the captives +were two thousand one hundred and thirty. This calamity befell the +Galileans on the twenty-fifth day of the month Desius [Sivan.] 32. Nor +did the Samaritans escape their share of misfortunes at this time; for +they assembled themselves together upon the mountain called Gerizzim, +which is with them a holy mountain, and there they remained; which +collection of theirs, as well as the courageous minds they showed, could +not but threaten somewhat of war; nor were they rendered wiser by +the miseries that had come upon their neighboring cities. They also, +notwithstanding the great success the Romans had, marched on in an +unreasonable manner, depending on their own weakness, and were disposed +for any tumult upon its first appearance. Vespasian therefore thought +it best to prevent their motions, and to cut off the foundation of their +attempts. For although all Samaria had ever garrisons settled among +them, yet did the number of those that were come to Mount Gerizzim, and +their conspiracy together, give ground for fear what they would be at; +he therefore sent thither Cerealis, the commander of the fifth legion, +with six hundred horsemen, and three thousand footmen, who did not think +it safe to go up to the mountain, and give them battle, because many of +the enemy were on the higher part of the ground; so he encompassed all +the lower part of the mountain with his army, and watched them all that +day. Now it happened that the Samaritans, who were now destitute of +water, were inflamed with a violent heat, [for it was summer time, and +the multitude had not provided themselves with necessaries,] insomuch +that some of them died that very day with heat, while others of them +preferred slavery before such a death as that was, and fled to the +Romans; by whom Cerealis understood that those which still staid +there were very much broken by their misfortunes. So he went up to the +mountain, and having placed his forces round about the enemy, he, in the +first place, exhorted them to take the security of his right hand, and +come to terms with him, and thereby save themselves; and assured them, +that if they would lay down their arms, he would secure them from any +harm; but when he could not prevail with them, he fell upon them and +slew them all, being in number eleven thousand and six hundred. This was +done on the twenty-seventh day of the month Desius [Sivan]. And these +were the calamities that befell the Samaritans at this time. + +33. But as the people of Jotapata still held out manfully, and bore +up under their miseries beyond all that could be hoped for, on the +forty-seventh day [of the siege] the banks cast up by the Romans were +become higher than the wall; on which day a certain deserter went to +Vespasian, and told him how few were left in the city, and how weak they +were, and that they had been so worn out with perpetual watching, and as +perpetual fighting, that they could not now oppose any force that came +against them, and that they might be taken by stratagem, if any one +would attack them; for that about the last watch of the night, when they +thought they might have some rest from the hardships they were under, +and when a morning sleep used to come upon them, as they were thoroughly +weary, he said the watch used to fall asleep; accordingly his advice +was, that they should make their attack at that hour. But Vespasian had +a suspicion about this deserter, as knowing how faithful the Jews were +to one another, and how much they despised any punishments that could be +inflicted on them; this last because one of the people of Jotapata had +undergone all sorts of torments, and though they made him pass through a +fiery trial of his enemies in his examination, yet would he inform them +nothing of the affairs within the city, and as he was crucified, smiled +at them. However, the probability there was in the relation itself +did partly confirm the truth of what the deserter told them, and they +thought he might probably speak truth. However, Vespasian thought they +should be no great sufferers if the report was a sham; so he commanded +them to keep the man in custody, and prepared the army for taking the +city. + +34. According to which resolution they marched without noise, at the +hour that had been told them, to the wall; and it was Titus himself that +first got upon it, with one of his tribunes, Domitius Sabinus, and had +a few of the fifteenth legion along with him. So they cut the throats of +the watch, and entered the city very quietly. After these came Cerealis +the tribune, and Placidus, and led on those that were tinder them. Now +when the citadel was taken, and the enemy were in the very midst of the +city, and when it was already day, yet was not the taking of the city +known by those that held it; for a great many of them were fast asleep, +and a great mist, which then by chance fell upon the city, hindered +those that got up from distinctly seeing the case they were in, till the +whole Roman army was gotten in, and they were raised up only to find the +miseries they were under; and as they were slaying, they perceived the +city was taken. And for the Romans, they so well remembered what they +had suffered during the siege, that they spared none, nor pitied any, +but drove the people down the precipice from the citadel, and slew them +as they drove them down; at which time the difficulties of the place +hindered those that were still able to fight from defending themselves; +for as they were distressed in the narrow streets, and could not keep +their feet sure along the precipice, they were overpowered with the +crowd of those that came fighting them down from the citadel. This +provoked a great many, even of those chosen men that were about +Josephus, to kill themselves with their own hands; for when they saw +that they could kill none of the Romans, they resolved to prevent being +killed by the Romans, and got together in great numbers in the utmost +parts of the city, and killed themselves. + +35. However, such of the watch as at the first perceived they were +taken, and ran away as fast as they could, went up into one of +the towers on the north side of the city, and for a while defended +themselves there; but as they were encompassed with a multitude of +enemies, they tried to use their right hands when it was too late, and +at length they cheerfully offered their necks to be cut off by those +that stood over them. And the Romans might have boasted that the +conclusion of that siege was without blood [on their side] if there had +not been a centurion, Antonius, who was slain at the taking of the city. +His death was occasioned by the following treachery; for there was one +of those that were fled into the caverns, which were a great number, +who desired that this Antonius would reach him his right hand for his +security, and would assure him that he would preserve him, and give +him his assistance in getting up out of the cavern; accordingly, he +incautiously reached him his right hand, when the other man prevented +him, and stabbed him under his loins with a spear, and killed him +immediately. + +36. And on this day it was that the Romans slew all the multitude +that appeared openly; but on the following days they searched the +hiding-places, and fell upon those that were under ground, and in the +caverns, and went thus through every age, excepting the infants and +the women, and of these there were gathered together as captives twelve +hundred; and as for those that were slain at the taking of the city, +and in the former fights, they were numbered to be forty thousand. So +Vespasian gave order that the city should be entirely demolished, and +all the fortifications burnt down. And thus was Jotapata taken, in the +thirteenth year of the reign of Nero, on the first day of the month +Panemus [Tamuz]. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + How Josephus Was Discovered By A Woman, And Was Willing To + Deliver Himself Up To The Romans; And What Discourse He Had + With His Own Men, When They Endeavored To Hinder Him; And + What He Said To Vespasian, When He Was Brought To Him; And + After What Manner Vespasian Used Him Afterward. + +1. And now the Romans searched for Josephus, both out of the hatred they +bore him, and because their general was very desirous to have him taken; +for he reckoned that if he were once taken, the greatest part of the war +would be over. They then searched among the dead, and looked into the +most concealed recesses of the city; but as the city was first taken, +he was assisted by a certain supernatural providence; for he withdrew +himself from the enemy when he was in the midst of them, and leaped into +a certain deep pit, whereto there adjoined a large den at one side of +it, which den could not be seen by those that were above ground; +and there he met with forty persons of eminency that had concealed +themselves, and with provisions enough to satisfy them for not a few +days. So in the day time he hid himself from the enemy, who had seized +upon all places, and in the night time he got up out of the den and +looked about for some way of escaping, and took exact notice of the +watch; but as all places were guarded every where on his account, that +there was no way of getting off unseen, he went down again into the den. +Thus he concealed himself two days; but on the third day, when they +had taken a woman who had been with them, he was discovered. Whereupon +Vespasian sent immediately and zealously two tribunes, Paulinus and +Gallicanus, and ordered them to give Josephus their right hands as a +security for his life, and to exhort him to come up. + +2. So they came and invited the man to come up, and gave him assurances +that his life should be preserved: but they did not prevail with him; +for he gathered suspicions from the probability there was that one who +had done so many things against the Romans must suffer for it, though +not from the mild temper of those that invited him. However, he was +afraid that he was invited to come up in order to be punished, until +Vespasian sent besides these a third tribune, Nicanor, to him; he +was one that was well known to Josephus, and had been his familiar +acquaintance in old time. When he was come, he enlarged upon the natural +mildness of the Romans towards those they have once conquered; and told +him that he had behaved himself so valiantly, that the commanders rather +admired than hated him; that the general was very desirous to have him +brought to him, not in order to punish him, for that he could do though +he should not come voluntarily, but that he was determined to preserve a +man of his courage. He moreover added this, that Vespasian, had he been +resolved to impose upon him, would not have sent to him a friend of his +own, nor put the fairest color upon the vilest action, by pretending +friendship and meaning perfidiousness; nor would he have himself +acquiesced, or come to him, had it been to deceive him. + +3. Now as Josephus began to hesitate with himself about Nicanor's +proposal, the soldiery were so angry, that they ran hastily to set fire +to the den; but the tribune would not permit them so to do, as being +very desirous to take the man alive. And now, as Nicanor lay hard at +Josephus to comply, and he understood how the multitude of the enemies +threatened him, he called to mind the dreams which he had dreamed in the +night time, whereby God had signified to him beforehand both the +future calamities of the Jews, and the events that concerned the Roman +emperors. Now Josephus was able to give shrewd conjectures about the +interpretation of such dreams as have been ambiguously delivered by God. +Moreover, he was not unacquainted with the prophecies contained in +the sacred books, as being a priest himself, and of the posterity of +priests: and just then was he in an ecstasy; and setting before him the +tremendous images of the dreams he had lately had, he put up a secret +prayer to God, and said, "Since it pleaseth thee, who hast created the +Jewish nation, to depress the same, and since all their good fortune is +gone over to the Romans, and since thou hast made choice of this soul +of mine to foretell what is to come to pass hereafter, I willingly give +them my hands, and am content to live. And I protest openly that I do +not go over to the Romans as a deserter of the Jews, but as a minister +from thee." + +4. When he had said this, he complied with Nicanor's invitation. But +when those Jews who had fled with him understood that he yielded to +those that invited him to come up, they came about him in a body, and +cried out, "Nay, indeed, now may the laws of our forefathers, which +God ordained himself, well groan to purpose; that God we mean who hath +created the souls of the Jews of such a temper, that they despise death. +O Josephus! art thou still fond of life? and canst thou bear to see the +light in a state of slavery? How soon hast thou forgotten thyself! How +many hast thou persuaded to lose their lives for liberty! Thou +hast therefore had a false reputation for manhood, and a like false +reputation for wisdom, if thou canst hope for preservation from those +against whom thou hast fought so zealously, and art however willing +to be preserved by them, if they be in earnest. But although the good +fortune of the Romans hath made thee forget thyself, we ought to take +care that the glory of our forefathers may not be tarnished. We will +lend thee our right hand and a sword; and if thou wilt die willingly, +thou wilt die as general of the Jews; but if unwillingly, thou wilt die +as a traitor to them." As soon as they said this, they began to thrust +their swords at him, and threatened they would kill him, if he thought +of yielding himself to the Romans. + +5. Upon this Josephus was afraid of their attacking him, and yet thought +he should be a betrayer of the commands of God, if he died before they +were delivered. So he began to talk like a philosopher to them in the +distress he was then in, when he said thus to them: "O my friends, why +are we so earnest to kill ourselves? and why do we set our soul and +body, which are such dear companions, at such variance? Can any one +pretend that I am not the man I was formerly? Nay, the Romans are +sensible how that matter stands well enough. It is a brave thing to die +in war; but so that it be according to the law of war, by the hand of +conquerors. If, therefore, I avoid death from the sword of the Romans, +I am truly worthy to be killed by my own sword, and my own hand; but if +they admit of mercy, and would spare their enemy, how much more ought +we to have mercy upon ourselves, and to spare ourselves? For it is +certainly a foolish thing to do that to ourselves which we quarrel with +them for doing to us. I confess freely that it is a brave thing to die +for liberty; but still so that it be in war, and done by those who take +that liberty from us; but in the present case our enemies do neither +meet us in battle, nor do they kill us. Now he is equally a coward who +will not die when he is obliged to die, and he who will die when he is +not obliged so to do. What are we afraid of, when we will not go up +to the Romans? Is it death? If so, what we are afraid of, when we +but suspect our enemies will inflict it on us, shall we inflict it on +ourselves for certain? But it may be said we must be slaves. And are we +then in a clear state of liberty at present? It may also be said that +it is a manly act for one to kill himself. No, certainly, but a most +unmanly one; as I should esteem that pilot to be an arrant coward, who, +out of fear of a storm, should sink his ship of his own accord. Now +self-murder is a crime most remote from the common nature of all +animals, and an instance of impiety against God our Creator; nor indeed +is there any animal that dies by its own contrivance, or by its own +means, for the desire of life is a law engraven in them all; on which +account we deem those that openly take it away from us to be our +enemies, and those that do it by treachery are punished for so doing. +And do not you think that God is very angry when a man does injury to +what he hath bestowed on him? For from him it is that we have received +our being, and we ought to leave it to his disposal to take that being +away from us. The bodies of all men are indeed mortal, and are created +out of corruptible matter; but the soul is ever immortal, and is a +portion of the divinity that inhabits our bodies. Besides, if any one +destroys or abuses a depositum he hath received from a mere man, he is +esteemed a wicked and perfidious person; but then if any one cast out +of his body this Divine depositum, can we imagine that he who is thereby +affronted does not know of it? Moreover, our law justly ordains that +slaves which run away from their master shall be punished, though the +masters they run away from may have been wicked masters to them. And +shall we endeavor to run away from God, who is the best of all masters, +and not guilty of impeity? Do not you know that those who depart out of +this life according to the law of nature, and pay that debt which was +received from God, when he that lent it us is pleased to require it back +again, enjoy eternal fame; that their houses and their posterity are +sure, that their souls are pure and obedient, and obtain a most holy +place in heaven, from whence, in the revolutions of ages, they are again +sent into pure bodies; while the souls of those whose hands have acted +madly against themselves are received by the darkest place in Hades, +and while God, who is their Father, punishes those that offend against +either of them in their posterity? for which reason God hates such +doings, and the crime is punished by our most wise legislator. +Accordingly, our laws determine that the bodies of such as kill +themselves should be exposed till the sun be set, without burial, +although at the same time it be allowed by them to be lawful to bury our +enemies [sooner]. The laws of other nations also enjoin such men's +hands to be cut off when they are dead, which had been made use of in +destroying themselves when alive, while they reckoned that as the +body is alien from the soul, so is the hand alien from the body. It is +therefore, my friends, a right thing to reason justly, and not add to +the calamities which men bring upon us impiety towards our Creator. If +we have a mind to preserve ourselves, let us do it; for to be preserved +by those our enemies, to whom we have given so many demonstrations of +our courage, is no way inglorious; but if we have a mind to die, it is +good to die by the hand of those that have conquered us. For my part, I +will not run over to our enemies' quarters, in order to be a traitor to +myself; for certainly I should then be much more foolish than those that +deserted to the enemy, since they did it in order to save themselves, +and I should do it for destruction, for my own destruction. However, I +heartily wish the Romans may prove treacherous in this matter; for if, +after their offer of their right hand for security, I be slain by +them, I shall die cheerfully, and carry away with me the sense of their +perfidiousness, as a consolation greater than victory itself." + +6. Now these and many the like motives did Josephus use to these men to +prevent their murdering themselves; but desperation had shut their ears, +as having long ago devoted themselves to die, and they were irritated at +Josephus. They then ran upon him with their swords in their hands, one +from one quarter, and another from another, and called him a coward, and +everyone of them appeared openly as if he were ready to smite him; +but he calling to one of them by name, and looking like a general to +another, and taking a third by the hand, and making a fourth ashamed +of himself, by praying him to forbear, and being in this condition +distracted with various passions, [as he well might in the great +distress he was then in,] he kept off every one of their swords +from killing him, and was forced to do like such wild beasts as are +encompassed about on every side, who always turn themselves against +those that last touched them. Nay, some of their right hands were +debilitated by the reverence they bare to their general in these his +fatal calamities, and their swords dropped out of their hands; and not +a few of them there were, who, when they aimed to smite him with their +swords, they were not thoroughly either willing or able to do it. + +7. However, in this extreme distress, he was not destitute of his usual +sagacity; but trusting himself to the providence of God, he put his life +into hazard [in the manner following]: "And now," said he, "since it is +resolved among you that you will die, come on, let us commit our mutual +deaths to determination by lot. He whom the lot falls to first, let him +be killed by him that hath the second lot, and thus fortune shall make +its progress through us all; nor shall any of us perish by his own right +hand, for it would be unfair if, when the rest are gone, somebody should +repent and save himself." This proposal appeared to them to be very +just; and when he had prevailed with them to determine this matter by +lots, he drew one of the lots for himself also. He who had the first +lot laid his neck bare to him that had the next, as supposing that the +general would die among them immediately; for they thought death, if +Josephus might but die with them, was sweeter than life; yet was he with +another left to the last, whether we must say it happened so by chance, +or whether by the providence of God. And as he was very desirous neither +to be condemned by the lot, nor, if he had been left to the last, to +imbrue his right hand in the blood of his countrymen, he persuaded him +to trust his fidelity to him, and to live as well as himself. + +8. Thus Josephus escaped in the war with the Romans, and in this his own +war with his friends, and was led by Nicanor to Vespasian. But now all +the Romans ran together to see him; and as the multitude pressed one +upon another about their general, there was a tumult of a various kind; +while some rejoiced that Josephus was taken, and some threatened him, +and some crowded to see him very near; but those that were more remote +cried out to have this their enemy put to death, while those that were +near called to mind the actions he had done, and a deep concern +appeared at the change of his fortune. Nor were there any of the Roman +commanders, how much soever they had been enraged at him before, but +relented when they came to the sight of him. Above all the rest, Titus's +own valor, and Josephus's own patience under his afflictions, made him +pity him, as did also the commiseration of his age, when he recalled +to mind that but a little while ago he was fighting, but lay now in the +hands of his enemies, which made him consider the power of fortune, +and how quick is the turn of affairs in war, and how no state of men is +sure; for which reason he then made a great many more to be of the same +pitiful temper with himself, and induced them to commiserate Josephus. +He was also of great weight in persuading his father to preserve him. +However, Vespasian gave strict orders that he should be kept with great +caution, as though he would in a very little time send him to Nero. 5 + +9. When Josephus heard him give those orders, he said that he had +somewhat in his mind that he would willingly say to himself alone. When +therefore they were all ordered to withdraw, excepting Titus and two of +their friends, he said, "Thou, O Vespasian, thinkest no more than +that thou hast taken Josephus himself captive; but I come to thee as a +messenger of greater tidings; for had not I been sent by God to thee, +I knew what was the law of the Jews in this case? and how it becomes +generals to die. Dost thou send me to Nero? For why? Are Nero's +successors till they come to thee still alive? Thou, O Vespasian, art +Caesar and emperor, thou, and this thy son. Bind me now still faster, +and keep me for thyself, for thou, O Caesar, are not only lord over me, +but over the land and the sea, and all mankind; and certainly I deserve +to be kept in closer custody than I now am in, in order to be punished, +if I rashly affirm any thing of God." When he had said this, Vespasian +at present did not believe him, but supposed that Josephus said this as +a cunning trick, in order to his own preservation; but in a little time +he was convinced, and believed what he said to be true, God himself +erecting his expectations, so as to think of obtaining the empire, and +by other signs fore-showing his advancement. He also found Josephus to +have spoken truth on other occasions; for one of those friends that were +present at that secret conference said to Josephus, "I cannot but wonder +how thou couldst not foretell to the people of Jotapata that they should +be taken, nor couldst foretell this captivity which hath happened to +thyself, unless what thou now sayest be a vain thing, in order to avoid +the rage that is risen against thyself." To which Josephus replied, "I +did foretell to the people of Jotapata that they would be taken on the +forty-seventh day, and that I should be caught alive by the Romans." +Now when Vespasian had inquired of the captives privately about these +predictions, he found them to be true, and then he began to believe +those that concerned himself. Yet did he not set Josephus at liberty +from his hands, but bestowed on him suits of clothes, and other precious +gifts; he treated him also in a very obliging manner, and continued so +to do, Titus still joining his interest in the honors that were done +him. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + How Joppa Was Taken, And Tiberias Delivered Up. + +1. Now Vespasian returned to Ptolemais on the fourth day of the month +Panemus, [Tamus] and from thence he came to Cesarea, which lay by the +sea-side. This was a very great city of Judea, and for the greatest part +inhabited by Greeks: the citizens here received both the Roman army and +its general, with all sorts of acclamations and rejoicings, and this +partly out of the good-will they bore to the Romans, but principally out +of the hatred they bore to those that were conquered by them; on which +account they came clamoring against Josephus in crowds, and desired +he might be put to death. But Vespasian passed over this petition +concerning him, as offered by the injudicious multitude, with a bare +silence. Two of the legions also he placed at Cesarea, that they might +there take their winter-quarters, as perceiving the city very fit for +such a purpose; but he placed the tenth and the fifth at Scythopolis, +that he might not distress Cesarea with the entire army. This place was +warm even in winter, as it was suffocating hot in the summer time, by +reason of its situation in a plain, and near to the sea [of Galilee]. + +2. In the mean time, there were gathered together as well such as had +seditiously got out from among their enemies, as those that had escaped +out of the demolished cities, which were in all a great number, and +repaired Joppa, which had been left desolate by Cestius, that it might +serve them for a place of refuge; and because the adjoining region had +been laid waste in the war, and was not capable of supporting them, they +determined to go off to sea. They also built themselves a great many +piratical ships, and turned pirates upon the seas near to Syria, and +Phoenicia, and Egypt, and made those seas unnavigable to all men. Now +as soon as Vespasian knew of their conspiracy, he sent both footmen and +horsemen to Joppa, which was unguarded in the night time; however, those +that were in it perceived that they should be attacked, and were afraid +of it; yet did they not endeavor to keep the Romans out, but fled to +their ships, and lay at sea all night, out of the reach of their darts. + +3. Now Joppa is not naturally a haven, for it ends in a rough shore, +where all the rest of it is straight, but the two ends bend towards each +other, where there are deep precipices, and great stones that jut out +into the sea, and where the chains wherewith Andromeda was bound have +left their footsteps, which attest to the antiquity of that fable. But +the north wind opposes and beats upon the shore, and dashes mighty +waves against the rocks which receive them, and renders the haven more +dangerous than the country they had deserted. Now as those people of +Joppa were floating about in this sea, in the morning there fell a +violent wind upon them; it is called by those that sail there "the +black north wind," and there dashed their ships one against another, +and dashed some of them against the rocks, and carried many of them by +force, while they strove against the opposite waves, into the main sea; +for the shore was so rocky, and had so many of the enemy upon it, that +they were afraid to come to land; nay, the waves rose so very high, that +they drowned them; nor was there any place whither they could fly, nor +any way to save themselves; while they were thrust out of the sea, by +the violence of the wind, if they staid where they were, and out of the +city by the violence of the Romans. And much lamentation there was when +the ships were dashed against one another, and a terrible noise when +they were broken to pieces; and some of the multitude that were in +them were covered with waves, and so perished, and a great many were +embarrassed with shipwrecks. But some of them thought that to die +by their own swords was lighter than by the sea, and so they killed +themselves before they were drowned; although the greatest part of them +were carried by the waves, and dashed to pieces against the abrupt +parts of the rocks, insomuch that the sea was bloody a long way, and the +maritime parts were full of dead bodies; for the Romans came upon those +that were carried to the shore, and destroyed them; and the number of +the bodies that were thus thrown out of the sea was four thousand and +two hundred. The Romans also took the city without opposition, and +utterly demolished it. + +4. And thus was Joppa taken twice by the Romans in a little time; but +Vespasian, in order to prevent these pirates from coming thither any +more, erected a camp there, where the citadel of Joppa had been, and +left a body of horse in it, with a few footmen, that these last might +stay there and guard the camp, and the horsemen might spoil the country +that lay round it, and might destroy the neighboring villages and +smaller cities. So these troops overran the country, as they were +ordered to do, and every day cut to pieces and laid desolate the whole +region. + +5. But now, when the fate of Jotapata was related at Jerusalem, a great +many at the first disbelieved it, on account of the vastness of the +calamity, and because they had no eye-witness to attest the truth +of what was related about it; for not one person was saved to be a +messenger of that news, but a fame was spread abroad at random that the +city was taken, as such fame usually spreads bad news about. However, +the truth was known by degrees, from the places near Jotapata, and +appeared to all to be too true. Yet were there fictitious stories added +to what was really done; for it was reported that Josephus was slain +at the taking of the city, which piece of news filled Jerusalem full of +sorrow. In every house also, and among all to whom any of the slain +were allied, there was a lamentation for them; but the mourning for the +commander was a public one; and some mourned for those that had lived +with them, others for their kindred, others for their friends, and +others for their brethren, but all mourned for Josephus; insomuch that +the lamentation did not cease in the city before the thirtieth day; +and a great many hired mourners, with their pipes, who should begin the +melancholy ditties for them. + +6. But as the truth came out in time, it appeared how the affairs of +Jotapata really stood; yet was it found that the death of Josephus was +a fiction; and when they understood that he was alive, and was among the +Romans, and that the commanders treated him at another rate than they +treated captives, they were as vehemently angry at him now as they had +showed their good-will before, when he appeared to have been dead. He +was also abused by some as having been a coward, and by others as a +deserter; and the city was full of indignation at him, and of reproaches +cast upon him; their rage was also aggravated by their afflictions, and +more inflamed by their ill success; and what usually becomes an occasion +of caution to wise men, I mean affliction, became a spur to them to +venture on further calamities, and the end of one misery became still +the beginning of another; they therefore resolved to fall on the Romans +the more vehemently, as resolving to be revenged on him in revenging +themselves on the Romans. And this was the state of Jerusalem as to the +troubles which now came upon it. + +7. But Vespasian, in order to see the kingdom of Agrippa, while the king +persuaded himself so to do, [partly in order to his treating the general +and his army in the best and most splendid manner his private affairs +would enable him to do, and partly that he might, by their means, +correct such things as were amiss in his government,] he removed from +that Cesarea which was by the sea-side, and went to that which is called +Cesarea Philippi 6 and there he refreshed his army for twenty days, +and was himself feasted by king Agrippa, where he also returned public +thanks to God for the good success he had had in his undertakings. But +as soon as he was informed that Tiberias was fond of innovations, and +that Taricheae had revolted, both which cities were parts of the kingdom +of Agrippa, and was satisfied within himself that the Jews were every +where perverted [from their obedience to their governors], he thought it +seasonable to make an expedition against these cities, and that for the +sake of Agrippa, and in order to bring his cities to reason. So he sent +away his son Titus to [the other] Cesarea, that he might bring the army +that lay there to Seythopous, which is the largest city of Decapolis, +and in the neighborhood of Tiberias, whither he came, and where he +waited for his son. He then came with three legions, and pitched his +camp thirty furlongs off Tiberias, at a certain station easily seen +by the innovators; it is named Sennabris. He also sent Valerian, a +decurion, with fifty horsemen, to speak peaceably to those that were in +the city, and to exhort them to give him assurances of their fidelity; +for he had heard that the people were desirous of peace, but were +obliged by some of the seditious part to join with them, and so were +forced to fight for them. When Valerian had marched up to the place, and +was near the wall, he alighted off his horse, and made those that were +with him to do the same, that they might not be thought to come to +skirmish with them; but before they could come to a discourse one with +another, the most potent men among the seditious made a sally upon them +armed; their leader was one whose name was Jesus, the son of Shaphat, +the principal head of a band of robbers. Now Valerian, neither thinking +it safe to fight contrary to the commands of the general, though he +were secure of a victory, and knowing that it was a very hazardous +undertaking for a few to fight with many, for those that were unprovided +to fight those that were ready, and being on other accounts surprised at +this unexpected onset of the Jews, he ran away on foot, as did five of +the rest in like manner, and left their horses behind them; which horses +Jesus led away into the city, and rejoiced as if they had taken them in +battle, and not by treachery. + +8. Now the seniors of the people, and such as were of principal +authority among them, fearing what would be the issue of this matter, +fled to the camp of the Romans; they then took their king along with +them, and fell down before Vespasian, to supplicate his favor, and +besought him not to overlook them, nor to impute the madness of a few to +the whole city, to spare a people that have been ever civil and +obliging to the Romans; but to bring the authors of this revolt to due +punishment, who had hitherto so watched them, that though they were +zealous to give them the security of their right hands of a long time, +yet could they not accomplish the same. With these supplications the +general complied, although he were very angry at the whole city about +the carrying off his horses, and this because he saw that Agrippa +was under a great concern for them. So when Vespasian and Agrippa had +accepted of their right hands by way of security, Jesus and his party +thought it not safe for them to continue at Tiberias, so they ran +away to Taricheae. The next day Vespasian sent Trajan before with some +horsemen to the citadel, to make trial of the multitude, whether they +were all disposed for peace; and as soon as he knew that the people were +of the same mind with the petitioner, he took his army, and went to the +city; upon which the citizens opened to him their gates, and met him +with acclamations of joy, and called him their savior and benefactor. +But as the army was a great while in getting in at the gates, they were +so narrow, Vespasian commanded the south wall to be broken down, and +so made a broad passage for their entrance. However, he charged them to +abstain from rapine and injustice, in order to gratify the king; and on +his account spared the rest of the wall, while the king undertook for +them that they should continue [faithful to the Romans] for the time to +come. And thus did he restore this city to a quiet state, after it had +been grievously afflicted by the sedition. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + How Taricheae Was Taken. A Description Of The River Jordan, + And Of The Country Of Gennesareth. + +1. And now Vespasian pitched his camp between this city and Taricheae, +but fortified his camp more strongly, as suspecting that he should be +forced to stay there, and have a long war; for all the innovators had +gotten together at Taricheae, as relying upon the strength of the city, +and on the lake that lay by it. This lake is called by the people of +the country the Lake of Gennesareth. The city itself is situated like +Tiberias, at the bottom of a mountain, and on those sides which are not +washed by the sea, had been strongly fortified by Josephus, though not +so strongly as Tiberias; for the wall of Tiberias had been built at the +beginning of the Jews' revolt, when he had great plenty of money, and +great power, but Taricheae partook only the remains of that liberality, +Yet had they a great number of ships gotten ready upon the lake, that, +in case they were beaten at land, they might retire to them; and they +were so fitted up, that they might undertake a Sea-fight also. But as +the Romans were building a wall about their camp, Jesus and his party +were neither affrighted at their number, nor at the good order they were +in, but made a sally upon them; and at the very first onset the builders +of the wall were dispersed; and these pulled what little they had before +built to pieces; but as soon as they saw the armed men getting together, +and before they had suffered any thing themselves, they retired to their +own men. But then the Romans pursued them, and drove them into their +ships, where they launched out as far as might give them the opportunity +of reaching the Romans with what they threw at them, and then cast +anchor, and brought their ships close, as in a line of battle, and +thence fought the enemy from the sea, who were themselves at land. But +Vespasian hearing that a great multitude of them were gotten together in +the plain that was before the city, he thereupon sent his son, with six +hundred chosen horsemen, to disperse them. + +2. But when Titus perceived that the enemy was very numerous, he sent to +his father, and informed him that he should want more forces. But as +he saw a great many of the horsemen eager to fight, and that before any +succors could come to them, and that yet some of them were privately +under a sort of consternation at the multitude of the Jews, he stood in +a place whence he might be heard, and said to them, "My brave Romans! +for it is right for me to put you in mind of what nation you are, in the +beginning of my speech, that so you may not be ignorant who you are, and +who they are against whom we are going to fight. For as to us, Romans, +no part of the habitable earth hath been able to escape our hands +hitherto; but as for the Jews, that I may speak of them too, though they +have been already beaten, yet do they not give up the cause; and a sad +thing it would be for us to grow wealthy under good success, when they +bear up under their misfortunes. As to the alacrity which you show +publicly, I see it, and rejoice at it; yet am I afraid lest the +multitude of the enemy should bring a concealed fright upon some of you: +let such a one consider again, who we are that are to fight, and who +those are against whom we are to fight. Now these Jews, though they be +very bold and great despisers of death, are but a disorderly body, and +unskillful in war, and may rather be called a rout than an army; while I +need say nothing of our skill and our good order; for this is the reason +why we Romans alone are exercised for war in time of peace, that we may +not think of number for number when we come to fight with our enemies: +for what advantage should we reap by our continual sort of warfare, if +we must still be equal in number to such as have not been used to war. +Consider further, that you are to have a conflict with men in effect +unarmed, while you are well armed; with footmen, while you are horsemen; +with those that have no good general, while you have one; and as these +advantages make you in effect manifold more than you are, so do +their disadvantages mightily diminish their number. Now it is not +the multitude of men, though they be soldiers, that manages wars with +success, but it is their bravery that does it, though they be but a +few; for a few are easily set in battle-array, and can easily assist one +another, while over-numerous armies are more hurt by themselves than by +their enemies. It is boldness and rashness, the effects of madness, that +conduct the Jews. Those passions indeed make a great figure when they +succeed, but are quite extinguished upon the least ill success; but we +are led on by courage, and obedience, and fortitude, which shows itself +indeed in our good fortune, but still does not for ever desert us in our +ill fortune. Nay, indeed, your fighting is to be on greater motives than +those of the Jews; for although they run the hazard of war for liberty, +and for their country, yet what can be a greater motive to us than +glory? and that it may never be said, that after we have got dominion +of the habitable earth, the Jews are able to confront us. We must also +reflect upon this, that there is no fear of our suffering any incurable +disaster in the present case; for those that are ready to assist us +are many, and at hand also; yet it is in our power to seize upon this +victory ourselves; and I think we ought to prevent the coming of those +my father is sending to us for our assistance, that our success may be +peculiar to ourselves, and of greater reputation to us. And I cannot but +think this an opportunity wherein my father, and I, and you shall be +all put to the trial, whether he be worthy of his former glorious +performances, whether I be his son in reality, and whether you be really +my soldiers; for it is usual for my father to conquer; and for myself, I +should not bear the thoughts of returning to him if I were once taken +by the enemy. And how will you be able to avoid being ashamed, if you do +not show equal courage with your commander, when he goes before you into +danger? For you know very well that I shall go into the danger first, +and make the first attack upon the enemy. Do not you therefore desert +me, but persuade yourselves that God will be assisting to my onset. Know +this also before we begin, that we shall now have better success than we +should have, if we were to fight at a distance." + +3. As Titus was saying this, an extraordinary fury fell upon the men; +and as Trajan was already come before the fight began, with four hundred +horsemen, they were uneasy at it, because the reputation of the victory +would be diminished by being common to so many. Vespasian had also sent +both Antonius and Silo, with two thousand archers, and had given it them +in charge to seize upon the mountain that was over against the city, +and repel those that were upon the wall; which archers did as they were +commanded, and prevented those that attempted to assist them that way; +And now Titus made his own horse march first against the enemy, as did +the others with a great noise after him, and extended themselves upon +the plain as wide as the enemy which confronted them; by which means +they appeared much more numerous than they really were. Now the Jews, +although they were surprised at their onset, and at their good order, +made resistance against their attacks for a little while; but when they +were pricked with their long poles, and overborne by the violent noise +of the horsemen, they came to be trampled under their feet; many also of +them were slain on every side, which made them disperse themselves, +and run to the city, as fast as every one of them were able. So Titus +pressed upon the hindmost, and slew them; and of the rest, some he fell +upon as they stood on heaps, and some he prevented, and met them in the +mouth, and run them through; many also he leaped upon as they fell one +upon another, and trod them down, and cut off all the retreat they had +to the wall, and turned them back into the plain, till at last they +forced a passage by their multitude, and got away, and ran into the +city. + +4. But now there fell out a terrible sedition among them within the +city; for the inhabitants themselves, who had possessions there, and +to whom the city belonged, were not disposed to fight from the very +beginning; and now the less so, because they had been beaten; but the +foreigners, which were very numerous, would force them to fight so much +the more, insomuch that there was a clamor and a tumult among them, as +all mutually angry one at another. And when Titus heard this tumult, for +he was not far from the wall, he cried out, "Fellow soldiers, now is the +time; and why do we make any delay, when God is giving up the Jews to +us? Take the victory which is given you: do not you hear what a noise +they make? Those that have escaped our hands are in an uproar against +one another. We have the city if we make haste; but besides haste, we +must undergo some labor, and use some courage; for no great thing uses +to be accomplished without danger: accordingly, we must not only prevent +their uniting again, which necessity will soon compel them to do, but we +must also prevent the coming of our own men to our assistance, that, as +few as we are, we may conquer so great a multitude, and may ourselves +alone take the city." + +5. As soon as ever Titus had said this, he leaped upon his horse, and +rode apace down to the lake; by which lake he marched, and entered +into the city the first of them all, as did the others soon after him. +Hereupon those that were upon the walls were seized with a terror at the +boldness of the attempt, nor durst any one venture to fight with him, +or to hinder him; so they left guarding the city, and some of those that +were about Jesus fled over the country, while others of them ran down +to the lake, and met the enemy in the teeth, and some were slain as they +were getting up into the ships, but others of them as they attempted +to overtake those that were already gone aboard. There was also a great +slaughter made in the city, while those foreigners that had not fled +away already made opposition; but the natural inhabitants were killed +without fighting: for in hopes of Titus's giving them his right hand for +their security, and out of a consciousness that they had not given any +consent to the war, they avoided fighting, till Titus had slain the +authors of this revolt, and then put a stop to any further slaughters, +out of commiseration of these inhabitants of the place. But for those +that had fled to the lake, upon seeing the city taken, they sailed as +far as they possibly could from the enemy. + +6. Hereupon Titus sent one of his horsemen to his father, and let him +know the good news of what he had done; at which, as was natural, he was +very joyful, both on account of the courage and glorious actions of his +son; for he thought that now the greatest part of the war was over. He +then came thither himself, and set men to guard the city, and gave them +command to take care that nobody got privately out of it, but to kill +such as attempted so to do. And on the next day he went down to the +lake, and commanded that vessels should be fitted up, in order to pursue +those that had escaped in the ships. These vessels were quickly gotten +ready accordingly, because there was great plenty of materials, and a +great number of artificers also. + +7. Now this lake of Gennesareth is so called from the country adjoining +to it. Its breadth is forty furlongs, and its length one hundred and +forty; its waters are sweet, and very agreeable for drinking, for they +are finer than the thick waters of other fens; the lake is also pure, +and on every side ends directly at the shores, and at the sand; it is +also of a temperate nature when you draw it up, and of a more gentle +nature than river or fountain water, and yet always cooler than one +could expect in so diffuse a place as this is. Now when this water +is kept in the open air, it is as cold as that snow which the country +people are accustomed to make by night in summer. There are several +kinds of fish in it, different both to the taste and the sight from +those elsewhere. It is divided into two parts by the river Jordan. Now +Panium is thought to be the fountain of Jordan, but in reality it is +carried thither after an occult manner from the place called Phiala: +this place lies as you go up to Trachonitis, and is a hundred and twenty +furlongs from Cesarea, and is not far out of the road on the right hand; +and indeed it hath its name of Phiala [vial or bowl] very justly, from +the roundness of its circumference, as being round like a wheel; its +water continues always up to its edges, without either sinking or +running over. And as this origin of Jordan was formerly not known, it +was discovered so to be when Philip was tetrarch of Trachonitis; for +he had chaff thrown into Phiala, and it was found at Paninto, where the +ancients thought the fountain-head of the river was, whither it had been +therefore carried [by the waters]. As for Panium itself, its natural +beauty had been improved by the royal liberality of Agrippa, and adorned +at his expenses. Now Jordan's visible stream arises from this cavern, +and divides the marshes and fens of the lake Semechonitis; when it hath +run another hundred and twenty furlongs, it first passes by the city +Julias, and then passes through the middle of the lake Gennesareth; +after which it runs a long way over a desert, and then makes its exit +into the lake Asphaltites. + +8. The country also that lies over against this lake hath the same name +of Gennesareth; its nature is wonderful as well as its beauty; its +soil is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it, and the +inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there; for the temper +of the air is so well mixed, that it agrees very well with those several +sorts, particularly walnuts, which require the coldest air, flourish +there in vast plenty; there are palm trees also, which grow best in hot +air; fig trees also and olives grow near them, which yet require an air +that is more temperate. One may call this place the ambition of nature, +where it forces those plants that are naturally enemies to one another +to agree together; it is a happy contention of the seasons, as if +every one of them laid claim to this country; for it not only nourishes +different sorts of autumnal fruit beyond men's expectation, but +preserves them a great while; it supplies men with the principal fruits, +with grapes and figs continually, during ten months of the year 7 and +the rest of the fruits as they become ripe together through the whole +year; for besides the good temperature of the air, it is also watered +from a most fertile fountain. The people of the country call it +Capharnaum. Some have thought it to be a vein of the Nile, because it +produces the Coracin fish as well as that lake does which is near to +Alexandria. The length of this country extends itself along the banks +of this lake that bears the same name for thirty furlongs, and is in +breadth twenty, And this is the nature of that place. + +9. But now, when the vessels were gotten ready, Vespasian put upon +ship-board as many of his forces as he thought sufficient to be too hard +for those that were upon the lake, and set sail after them. Now these +which were driven into the lake could neither fly to the land, where +all was in their enemies' hand, and in war against them; nor could they +fight upon the level by sea, for their ships were small and fitted only +for piracy; they were too weak to fight with Vespasian's vessels, and +the mariners that were in them were so few, that they were afraid to +come near the Romans, who attacked them in great numbers. However, as +they sailed round about the vessels, and sometimes as they came near +them, they threw stones at the Romans when they were a good way off, +or came closer and fought them; yet did they receive the greatest harm +themselves in both cases. As for the stones they threw at the Romans, +they only made a sound one after another, for they threw them against +such as were in their armor, while the Roman darts could reach the Jews +themselves; and when they ventured to come near the Romans, they became +sufferers themselves before they could do any harm to the ether, +and were drowned, they and their ships together. As for those that +endeavored to come to an actual fight, the Romans ran many of them +through with their long poles. Sometimes the Romans leaped into their +ships, with swords in their hands, and slew them; but when some of them +met the vessels, the Romans caught them by the middle, and destroyed at +once their ships and themselves who were taken in them. And for such as +were drowning in the sea, if they lifted their heads up above the water, +they were either killed by darts, or caught by the vessels; but if, +in the desperate case they were in, they attempted to swim to their +enemies, the Romans cut off either their heads or their hands; and +indeed they were destroyed after various manners every where, till the +rest being put to flight, were forced to get upon the land, while the +vessels encompassed them about [on the sea]: but as many of these were +repulsed when they were getting ashore, they were killed by the darts +upon the lake; and the Romans leaped out of their vessels, and destroyed +a great many more upon the land: one might then see the lake all bloody, +and full of dead bodies, for not one of them escaped. And a terrible +stink, and a very sad sight there was on the following days over that +country; for as for the shores, they were full of shipwrecks, and of +dead bodies all swelled; and as the dead bodies were inflamed by the +sun, and putrefied, they corrupted the air, insomuch that the misery +was not only the object of commiseration to the Jews, but to those that +hated them, and had been the authors of that misery. This was the upshot +of the sea-fight. The number of the slain, including those that were +killed in the city before, was six thousand and five hundred. + +10. After this fight was over, Vespasian sat upon his tribunal +at Taricheae, in order to distinguish the foreigners from the old +inhabitants; for those foreigners appear to have begun the war. So he +deliberated with the other commanders, whether he ought to save those +old inhabitants or not. And when those commanders alleged that the +dismission of them would be to his own disadvantage, because, when they +were once set at liberty, they would not be at rest, since they would be +people destitute of proper habitations, and would be able to compel such +as they fled to fight against us, Vespasian acknowledged that they did +not deserve to be saved, and that if they had leave given them to fly +away, they would make use of it against those that gave them that leave. +But still he considered with himself after what manner they should be +slain 8 for if he had them slain there, he suspected the people of the +country would thereby become his enemies; for that to be sure they would +never bear it, that so many that had been supplicants to him should +be killed; and to offer violence to them, after he had given them +assurances of their lives, he could not himself bear to do it. However, +his friends were too hard for him, and pretended that nothing against +Jews could be any impiety, and that he ought to prefer what was +profitable before what was fit to be done, where both could not be made +consistent. So he gave them an ambiguous liberty to do as they advised, +and permitted the prisoners to go along no other road than that which +led to Tiberias only. So they readily believed what they desired to be +true, and went along securely, with their effects, the way which was +allowed them, while the Romans seized upon all the road that led to +Tiberias, that none of them might go out of it, and shut them up in the +city. Then came Vespasian, and ordered them all to stand in the stadium, +and commanded them to kill the old men, together with the others that +were useless, which were in number a thousand and two hundred. Out of +the young men he chose six thousand of the strongest, and sent them to +Nero, to dig through the Isthmus, and sold the remainder for slaves, +being thirty thousand and four hundred, besides such as he made a +present of to Agrippa; for as to those that belonged to his kingdom, he +gave him leave to do what he pleased with them; however, the king sold +these also for slaves; but for the rest of the multitude, who were +Trachonites, and Gaulanites, and of Hippos, and some of Gadara, the +greatest part of them were seditious persons and fugitives, who were of +such shameful characters, that they preferred war before peace. These +prisoners were taken on the eighth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul]. + +WAR BOOK 3 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ Take the confirmation of this in the words of Suetonius, +here produced by Dr. Hudson: "In the reign of Claudius," says he, +"Vespasian, for the sake of Narcissus, was sent as a lieutenant of a +legion into Germany. Thence he removed into Britain battles with the +enemy." In Vesp. sect. 4. We may also here note from Josephus, that +Claudius the emperor, who triumphed for the conquest of Britain, was +enabled so to do by Vespasian's conduct and bravery, and that he is here +styled "the father of Vespasian."] + + +2 (return) [ Spanheim and Reland both agree, that the two cities here +esteemed greater than Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, were Rome and +Alexandria; nor is there any occasion for doubt in so plain a case.] + + +3 (return) [ This description of the exact symmetry and regularity of +the Roman army, and of the Roman encampments, with the sounding their +trumpets, etc. and order of war, described in this and the next chapter, +is so very like to the symmetry and regularity of the people of Israel +in the wilderness, [see Description of the Temples, ch. 9.,] that one +cannot well avoid the supposal, that the one was the ultimate pattern +of the other, and that the tactics of the ancients were taken from the +rules given by God to Moses. And it is thought by some skillful in +these matters, that these accounts of Josephus, as to the Roman camp and +armor, and conduct in war, are preferable to those in the Roman authors +themselves.] + + +4 (return) [ I cannot but here observe an Eastern way of speaking, +frequent among them, but not usual among us, where the word "only" +or "alone" is not set down, but perhaps some way supplied in the +pronunciation. Thus Josephus here says, that those of Jotapata slew +seven of the Romans as they were marching off, because the Romans' +retreat was regular, their bodies were covered over with their armor, +and the Jews fought at some distance; his meaning is clear, that these +were the reasons why they slew only, or no more than seven. I have met +with many the like examples in the Scriptures, in Josephus, etc.; but +did not note down the particular places. This observation ought to be +borne in mind upon many occasions.] + + +5 (return) [ These public mourners, hired upon the supposed death of +Josephus, and the real death of many more, illustrate some passages in +the Bible, which suppose the same custom, as Matthew 11:17, where the +reader may consult the notes of Grotius.] + + +6 (return) [ Of this Cesarea Philippi [twice mentioned in our New +Testament, Matthew 16:13; Mark 8;27: there are coins still extant, +Spanheim here informs us.] + + +7 (return) [ I do not know where to find the law of Moses here mentioned +by Josephus, and afterwards by Eleazar, 13. VII. ch. 8. sect. 7, and +almost implied in B. I. ch. 13. sect. 10, by Josephus's commendation of +Phasaelus for doing so; I mean, whereby Jewish generals and people were +obliged to kill themselves, rather than go into slavery under heathens. +I doubt this would have been no better than "self-murder;" and I believe +it was rather some vain doctrine, or interpretation, of the rigid +Pharisees, or Essens, or Herodiaus, than a just consequence from any law +of God delivered by Moses. + +(It may be worth our while to observe here, that near this lake of +Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months of the year. +We may observe also, that in Cyril of Jerusalem, Cateehes. 18. sect. 3, +which was delivered not long before Easter, there were no fresh leaves +of fig trees, nor bunches of fresh grapes in Judea; so that when St. +Mark says, ch. 11. ver. 13, that our Savior, soon after the same time of +the year, came and "found leaves" on a fig tree near Jerusalem, but "no +figs, because the time of" new "figs" ripening "was not yet," he says +very true; nor were they therefore other than old leaves which our +Savior saw, and old figs which he expected, and which even with us +commonly hang on the trees all winter long.)] + + +8 (return) [ This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian +ever did in this whole war, as he did it with great reluctance also. +It was done both after public assurance given of sparing the prisoners' +lives, and when all knew and confessed that these prisoners were no way +guilty of any sedition against the Romans. Nor indeed did Titus now give +his consent, so far as appears, nor ever act of himself so barbarously; +nay, soon after this, Titus grew quite weary of shedding blood, and of +punishing the innocent with the guilty, and gave the people of Gischala +leave to keep the Jewish sabbath, B. IV. ch. 2. sect. 3, 5, in the midst +of their siege. Nor was Vespasian disposed to do what he did, till his +officers persuaded him, and that from two principal topics, viz. that +nothing could be unjust that was done against Jews; and that when both +cannot be consistent, advantage must prevail over justice. Admirable +court doctrines these!] + + + + + + + +BOOK IV. + + + Containing The Interval Of About One Year. + + + From The Siege Of Gamala To The Coming Of Titus To Besiege + Jerusalem. + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + The Siege And Taking Of Gamala. + +1. Now all those Galileans who, after the taking of Jotapata, had +revolted from the Romans, did, upon the conquest of Taricheae, deliver +themselves up to them again. And the Romans received all the fortresses +and the cities, excepting Gischala and those that had seized upon Mount +Tabor; Gamala also, which is a city over against Taricheae, but on the +other side of the lake, conspired with them. This city lay upon the +borders of Agrippa's kingdom, as also did Sogana and Seleucia. And these +were both parts of Gaulanitis; for Sogana was a part of that called +the Upper Gaulanitis, as was Gamala of the Lower; while Seleucia was +situated at the lake Semechouitis, which lake is thirty furlongs in +breadth, and sixty in length; its marshes reach as far as the place +Daphne, which in other respects is a delicious place, and hath such +fountains as supply water to what is called Little Jordan, under the +temple of the golden calf, 1 where it is sent into Great Jordan. Now +Agrippa had united Sogana and Seleucia by leagues to himself, at the +very beginning of the revolt from the Romans; yet did not Gamala accede +to them, but relied upon the difficulty of the place, which was greater +than that of Jotapata, for it was situated upon a rough ridge of a high +mountain, with a kind of neck in the middle: where it begins to ascend, +it lengthens itself, and declines as much downward before as behind, +insomuch that it is like a camel in figure, from whence it is so named, +although the people of the country do not pronounce it accurately. Both +on the side and the face there are abrupt parts divided from the rest, +and ending in vast deep valleys; yet are the parts behind, where they +are joined to the mountain, somewhat easier of ascent than the other; +but then the people belonging to the place have cut an oblique ditch +there, and made that hard to be ascended also. On its acclivity, which +is straight, houses are built, and those very thick and close to one +another. The city also hangs so strangely, that it looks as if it would +fall down upon itself, so sharp is it at the top. It is exposed to the +south, and its southern mount, which reaches to an immense height, was +in the nature of a citadel to the city; and above that was a precipice, +not walled about, but extending itself to an immense depth. There was +also a spring of water within the wall, at the utmost limits of the +city. + +2. As this city was naturally hard to be taken, so had Josephus, by +building a wall about it, made it still stronger, as also by ditches and +mines under ground. The people that were in it were made more bold by +the nature of the place than the people of Jotapata had been, but it +had much fewer fighting men in it; and they had such a confidence in +the situation of the place, that they thought the enemy could not be too +many for them; for the city had been filled with those that had fled +to it for safety, on account of its strength; on which account they +had been able to resist those whom Agrippa sent to besiege it for seven +months together. + +3. But Vespasian removed from Emmaus, where he had last pitched his +camp before the city Tiberias, [now Emmaus, if it be interpreted, may +be rendered "a warm bath," for therein is a spring of warm water, useful +for healing,] and came to Gamala; yet was its situation such that he was +not able to encompass it all round with soldiers to watch it; but where +the places were practicable, he set men to watch it, and seized upon the +mountain which was over it. And as the legions, according to their usual +custom, were fortifying their camp upon that mountain, he began to cast +up banks at the bottom, at the part towards the east, where the highest +tower of the whole city was, and where the fifteenth legion pitched +their camp; while the fifth legion did duty over against the midst of +the city, and whilst the tenth legion filled up the ditches and the +valleys. Now at this time it was that as king Agrippa was come nigh +the walls, and was endeavoring to speak to those that were on the walls +about a surrender, he was hit with a stone on his right elbow by one of +the slingers; he was then immediately surrounded with his own men. But +the Romans were excited to set about the siege, by their indignation +on the king's account, and by their fear on their own account, as +concluding that those men would omit no kinds of barbarity against +foreigners and enemies, who where so enraged against one of their own +nation, and one that advised them to nothing but what was for their own +advantage. + +4. Now when the banks were finished, which was done on the sudden, both +by the multitude of hands, and by their being accustomed to such work, +they brought the machines; but Chares and Joseph, who were the most +potent men in the city, set their armed men in order, though already +in a fright, because they did not suppose that the city could hold out +long, since they had not a sufficient quantity either of water, or of +other necessaries. However, these their leaders encouraged them, and +brought them out upon the wall, and for a while indeed they drove away +those that were bringing the machines; but when those machines threw +darts and stones at them, they retired into the city; then did the +Romans bring battering rams to three several places, and made the wall +shake [and fall]. They then poured in over the parts of the wall that +were thrown down, with a mighty sound of trumpets and noise of armor, +and with a shout of the soldiers, and brake in by force upon those that +were in the city; but these men fell upon the Romans for some time, at +their first entrance, and prevented their going any further, and with +great courage beat them back; and the Romans were so overpowered by the +greater multitude of the people, who beat them on every side, that they +were obliged to run into the upper parts of the city. Whereupon the +people turned about, and fell upon their enemies, who had attacked them, +and thrust them down to the lower parts, and as they were distressed +by the narrowness and difficulty of the place, slew them; and as these +Romans could neither beat those back that were above them, nor escape +the force of their own men that were forcing their way forward, they +were compelled to fly into their enemies' houses, which were low; but +these houses being thus full, of soldiers, whose weight they could not +bear, fell down suddenly; and when one house fell, it shook down a great +many of those that were under it, as did those do to such as were under +them. By this means a vast number of the Romans perished; for they were +so terribly distressed, that although they saw the houses subsiding, +they were compelled to leap upon the tops of them; so that a great many +were ground to powder by these ruins, and a great many of those that +got from under them lost some of their limbs, but still a greater number +were suffocated by the dust that arose from those ruins. The people +of Gamala supposed this to be an assistance afforded them by God, and +without regarding what damage they suffered themselves, they pressed +forward, and thrust the enemy upon the tops of their houses; and when +they stumbled in the sharp and narrow streets, and were perpetually +falling down, they threw their stones or darts at them, and slew them. +Now the very ruins afforded them stones enow; and for iron weapons, +the dead men of the enemies' side afforded them what they wanted; for +drawing the swords of those that were dead, they made use of them to +despatch such as were only half dead; nay, there were a great number +who, upon their falling down from the tops of the houses, stabbed +themselves, and died after that manner; nor indeed was it easy for those +that were beaten back to fly away; for they were so unacquainted with +the ways, and the dust was so thick, that they wandered about without +knowing one another, and fell down dead among the crowd. + +5. Those therefore that were able to find the ways out of the city +retired. But now Vespasian always staid among those that were hard set; +for he was deeply affected with seeing the ruins of the city falling +upon his army, and forgot to take care of his own preservation. He went +up gradually towards the highest parts of the city before he was aware, +and was left in the midst of dangers, having only a very few with him; +for even his son Titus was not with him at that time, having been then +sent into Syria to Mucianus. However, he thought it not safe to fly, +nor did he esteem it a fit thing for him to do; but calling to mind the +actions he had done from his youth, and recollecting his courage, as if +he had been excited by a divine fury, he covered himself and those that +were with him with their shields, and formed a testudo over both their +bodies and their armor, and bore up against the enemy's attacks, who +came running down from the top of the city; and without showing any +dread at the multitude of the men or of their darts, he endured all, +until the enemy took notice of that divine courage that was within him, +and remitted of their attacks; and when they pressed less zealously upon +him, he retired, though without showing his back to them till he was +gotten out of the walls of the city. Now a great number of the Romans +fell in this battle, among whom was Ebutius, the decurion, a man who +appeared not only in this engagement, wherein he fell, but every where, +and in former engagements, to be of the truest courage, and one that had +done very great mischief to the Jews. But there was a centurion whose +name was Gallus, who, during this disorder, being encompassed about, +he and ten other soldiers privately crept into the house of a certain +person, where he heard them talking at supper, what the people intended +to do against the Romans, or about themselves [for both the man himself +and those with him were Syrians]. So he got up in the night time, and +cut all their throats, and escaped, together with his soldiers, to the +Romans. + +6. And now Vespasian comforted his army, which was much dejected by +reflecting on their ill success, and because they had never before +fallen into such a calamity, and besides this, because they were greatly +ashamed that they had left their general alone in great dangers. As to +what concerned himself, he avoided to say any thing, that he might by +no means seem to complain of it; but he said that "we ought to bear +manfully what usually falls out in war, and this, by considering what +the nature of war is, and how it can never be that we must conquer +without bloodshed on our own side; for there stands about us that +fortune which is of its own nature mutable; that while they had killed +so many ten thousands of the Jews, they had now paid their small share +of the reckoning to fate; and as it is the part of weak people to be too +much puffed up with good success, so is it the part of cowards to be too +much affrighted at that which is ill; for the change from the one to the +other is sudden on both sides; and he is the best warrior who is of a +sober mind under misfortunes, that he may continue in that temper, and +cheerfully recover what had been lost formerly; and as for what had now +happened, it was neither owing to their own effeminacy, nor to the valor +of the Jews, but the difficulty of the place was the occasion of their +advantage, and of our disappointment. Upon reflecting on which matter +one might blame your zeal as perfectly ungovernable; for when the enemy +had retired to their highest fastnesses, you ought to have restrained +yourselves, and not, by presenting yourselves at the top of the city, to +be exposed to dangers; but upon your having obtained the lower parts of +the city, you ought to have provoked those that had retired thither to +a safe and settled battle; whereas, in rushing so hastily upon victory, +you took no care of your safety. But this incautiousness in war, and +this madness of zeal, is not a Roman maxim. While we perform all that +we attempt by skill and good order, that procedure is the part of +barbarians, and is what the Jews chiefly support themselves by. We ought +therefore to return to our own virtue, and to be rather angry than any +longer dejected at this unlucky misfortune, and let every one seek for +his own consolation from his own hand; for by this means he will avenge +those that have been destroyed, and punish those that have killed them. +For myself, I will endeavor, as I have now done, to go first before +you against your enemies in every engagement, and to be the last that +retires from it." + +7. So Vespasian encouraged his army by this speech; but for the people +of Gamala, it happened that they took courage for a little while, upon +such great and unaccountable success as they had had. But when they +considered with themselves that they had now no hopes of any terms of +accommodation, and reflecting upon it that they could not get away, and +that their provisions began already to be short, they were exceedingly +cast down, and their courage failed them; yet did they not neglect what +might be for their preservation, so far as they were able, but the most +courageous among them guarded those parts of the wall that were beaten +down, while the more infirm did the same to the rest of the wall that +still remained round the city. And as the Romans raised their banks, and +attempted to get into the city a second time, a great many of them fled +out of the city through impracticable valleys, where no guards were +placed, as also through subterraneous caverns; while those that were +afraid of being caught, and for that reason staid in the city, perished +for want of food; for what food they had was brought together from all +quarters, and reserved for the fighting men. + +8. And these were the hard circumstances that the people of Gamala +were in. But now Vespasian went about other work by the by, during this +siege, and that was to subdue those that had seized upon Mount Tabor, a +place that lies in the middle between the great plain and Scythopolis, +whose top is elevated as high as thirty furlongs 2 and is hardly to be +ascended on its north side; its top is a plain of twenty-six furlongs, +and all encompassed with a wall. Now Josephus erected this so long a +wall in forty days' time, and furnished it with other materials, and +with water from below, for the inhabitants only made use of rain water. +As therefore there was a great multitude of people gotten together +upon this mountain, Vespasian sent Placidus with six hundred horsemen +thither. Now, as it was impossible for him to ascend the mountain, he +invited many of them to peace, by the offer of his right hand for their +security, and of his intercession for them. Accordingly they came down, +but with a treacherous design, as well as he had the like treacherous +design upon them on the other side; for Placidus spoke mildly to them, +as aiming to take them, when he got them into the plain; they also came +down, as complying with his proposals, but it was in order to fall upon +him when he was not aware of it: however, Placidus's stratagem was too +hard for theirs; for when the Jews began to fight, he pretended to run +away, and when they were in pursuit of the Romans, he enticed them +a great way along the plain, and then made his horsemen turn back; +whereupon he beat them, and slew a great number of them, and cut off the +retreat of the rest of the multitude, and hindered their return. So they +left Tabor, and fled to Jerusalem, while the people of the country came +to terms with him, for their water failed them, and so they delivered up +the mountain and themselves to Placidus. + +9. But of the people of Gamala, those that were of the bolder sort fled +away and hid themselves, while the more infirm perished by famine; but +the men of war sustained the siege till the two and twentieth day of +the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri,] when three soldiers of the fifteenth +legion, about the morning watch, got under a high tower that was near +them, and undermined it, without making any noise; nor when they either +came to it, which was in the night time, nor when they were under it, +did those that guarded it perceive them. These soldiers then upon their +coming avoided making a noise, and when they had rolled away five of its +strongest stones, they went away hastily; whereupon the tower fell down +on a sudden, with a very great noise, and its guard fell headlong +with it; so that those that kept guard at other places were under such +disturbance, that they ran away; the Romans also slew many of those that +ventured to oppose them, among whom was Joseph, who was slain by a dart, +as he was running away over that part of the wall that was broken down: +but as those that were in the city were greatly affrighted at the noise, +they ran hither and thither, and a great consternation fell upon them, +as though all the enemy had fallen in at once upon them. Then it was +that Chares, who was ill, and under the physician's hands, gave up the +ghost, the fear he was in greatly contributing to make his distemper +fatal to him. But the Romans so well remembered their former ill +success, that they did not enter the city till the three and twentieth +day of the forementioned month. + +10. At which time Titus, who was now returned, out of the indignation +he had at the destruction the Romans had undergone while he was absent, +took two hundred chosen horsemen and some footmen with him, and entered +without noise into the city. Now as the watch perceived that he was +coming, they made a noise, and betook themselves to their arms; and as +that his entrance was presently known to those that were in the city, +some of them caught hold of their children and their wives, and drew +them after them, and fled away to the citadel, with lamentations +and cries, while others of them went to meet Titus, and were killed +perpetually; but so many of them as were hindered from running up to +the citadel, not knowing what in the world to do, fell among the Roman +guards, while the groans of those that were killed were prodigiously +great every where, and blood ran down over all the lower parts of the +city, from the upper. But then Vespasian himself came to his assistance +against those that had fled to the citadel, and brought his whole army +with him; now this upper part of the city was every way rocky, and +difficult of ascent, and elevated to a vast altitude, and very full of +people on all sides, and encompassed with precipices, whereby the Jews +cut off those that came up to them, and did much mischief to others +by their darts, and the large stones which they rolled down upon them, +while they were themselves so high that the enemy's darts could hardly +reach them. However, there arose such a Divine storm against them as +was instrumental to their destruction; this carried the Roman darts +upon them, and made those which they threw return back, and drove them +obliquely away from them; nor could the Jews indeed stand upon their +precipices, by reason of the violence of the wind, having nothing that +was stable to stand upon, nor could they see those that were ascending +up to them; so the Romans got up and surrounded them, and some they slew +before they could defend themselves, and others as they were delivering +up themselves; and the remembrance of those that were slain at their +former entrance into the city increased their rage against them now; +a great number also of those that were surrounded on every side, +and despaired of escaping, threw their children and their wives, and +themselves also, down the precipices, into the valley beneath, which, +near the citadel, had been dug hollow to a vast depth; but so it +happened, that the anger of the Romans appeared not to be so extravagant +as was the madness of those that were now taken, while the Romans +slew but four thousand, whereas the number of those that had thrown +themselves down was found to be five thousand: nor did any one escape +except two women, who were the daughters of Philip, and Philip himself +was the son of a certain eminent man called Jacimus, who had been +general of king Agrippa's army; and these did therefore escape, because +they lay concealed from the rage of the Romans when the city was taken; +for otherwise they spared not so much as the infants, of which many were +flung down by them from the citadel. And thus was Gamala taken on the +three and twentieth day of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri,] whereas +the city had first revolted on the four and twentieth day of the month +Gorpieus [Elul]. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + The Surrender Of Gischala; While John Flies Away From It To + Jerusalem. + +1. Now no place of Galilee remained to be taken but the small city of +Gischala, whose multitude yet were desirous of peace; for they were +generally husbandmen, and always applied themselves to cultivate the +fruits of the earth. However, there were a great number that belonged to +a band of robbers, that were already corrupted, and had crept in among +them, and some of the governing part of the citizens were sick of the +same distemper. It was John, the son of a certain man whose name was +Levi, that drew them into this rebellion, and encouraged them in it. He +was a cunning knave, and of a temper that could put on various shapes; +very rash in expecting great things, and very sagacious in bringing +about what he hoped for. It was known to every body that he was fond of +war, in order to thrust himself into authority; and the seditious part +of the people of Gischala were under his management, by whose means the +populace, who seemed ready to send ambassadors in order to surrender, +waited for the coming of the Romans in battle-array. Vespasian sent +against them Titus, with a thousand horsemen, but withdrew the tenth +legion to Scythopolis, while he returned to Cesarea with the two other +legions, that he might allow them to refresh themselves after their long +and hard campaign, thinking withal that the plenty which was in those +cities would improve their bodies and their spirits, against the +difficulties they were to go through afterwards; for he saw there would +be occasion for great pains about Jerusalem, which was not yet taken, +because it was the royal city, and the principal city of the whole +nation, and because those that had run away from the war in other places +got all together thither. It was also naturally strong, and the walls +that were built round it made him not a little concerned about it. +Moreover, he esteemed the men that were in it to be so courageous and +bold, that even without the consideration of the walls, it would be +hard to subdue them; for which reason he took care of and exercised his +soldiers beforehand for the work, as they do wrestlers before they begin +their undertaking. + +2. Now Titus, as he rode out to Gischala, found it would be easy for him +to take the city upon the first onset; but knew withal, that if he took +it by force, the multitude would be destroyed by the soldiers without +mercy. [Now he was already satiated with the shedding of blood, and +pitied the major part, who would then perish, without distinction, +together with the guilty.] So he was rather desirous the city might be +surrendered up to him on terms. Accordingly, when he saw the wall full +of those men that were of the corrupted party, he said to them, That he +could not but wonder what it was they depended on, when they alone +staid to fight the Romans, after every other city was taken by them, +especially when they have seen cities much better fortified than theirs +is overthrown by a single attack upon them; while as many as have +intrusted themselves to the security of the Romans' right hands, which +he now offers to them, without regarding their former insolence, do +enjoy their own possessions in safety; for that while they had hopes +of recovering their liberty, they might be pardoned; but that their +continuance still in their opposition, when they saw that to be +impossible, was inexcusable; for that if they will not comply with such +humane offers, and right hands for security, they should have experience +of such a war as would spare nobody, and should soon be made sensible +that their wall would be but a trifle, when battered by the Roman +machines; in depending on which they demonstrate themselves to be the +only Galileans that were no better than arrogant slaves and captives. + +3. Now none of the populace durst not only make a reply, but durst not +so much as get upon the wall, for it was all taken up by the robbers, +who were also the guard at the gates, in order to prevent any of the +rest from going out, in order to propose terms of submission, and from +receiving any of the horsemen into the city. But John returned +Titus this answer: That for himself he was content to hearken to his +proposals, and that he would either persuade or force those that refused +them. Yet he said that Titus ought to have such regard to the Jewish +law, as to grant them leave to celebrate that day, which was the seventh +day of the week, on which it was unlawful not only to remove their +arms, but even to treat of peace also; and that even the Romans were not +ignorant how the period of the seventh day was among them a cessation +from all labors; and that he who should compel them to transgress +the law about that day would be equally guilty with those that +were compelled to transgress it: and that this delay could be of no +disadvantage to him; for why should any body think of doing any thing in +the night, unless it was to fly away? which he might prevent by placing +his camp round about them; and that they should think it a great point +gained, if they might not be obliged to transgress the laws of their +country; and that it would be a right thing for him, who designed to +grant them peace, without their expectation of such a favor, to preserve +the laws of those they saved inviolable. Thus did this man put a trick +upon Titus, not so much out of regard to the seventh day as to his own +preservation, for he was afraid lest he should be quite deserted if the +city should be taken, and had his hopes of life in that night, and +in his flight therein. Now this was the work of God, who therefore +preserved this John, that he might bring on the destruction of +Jerusalem; as also it was his work that Titus was prevailed with by this +pretense for a delay, and that he pitched his camp further off the +city at Cydessa. This Cydessa was a strong Mediterranean village of the +Tyrians, which always hated and made war against the Jews; it had also +a great number of inhabitants, and was well fortified, which made it a +proper place for such as were enemies to the Jewish nation. + +4. Now, in the night time, when John saw that there was no Roman guard +about the city, he seized the opportunity directly, and, taking with him +not only the armed men that were about him, but a considerable number +of those that had little to do, together with their families, he fled to +Jerusalem. And indeed, though the man was making haste to get away, and +was tormented with fears of being a captive, or of losing his life, yet +did he prevail with himself to take out of the city along with him a +multitude of women and children, as far as twenty furlongs; but there he +left them as he proceeded further on his journey, where those that were +left behind made sad lamentations; for the farther every one of them was +come from his own people, the nearer they thought themselves to be to +their enemies. They also affrighted themselves with this thought, that +those who would carry them into captivity were just at hand, and still +turned themselves back at the mere noise they made themselves in this +their hasty flight, as if those from whom they fled were just upon them. +Many also of them missed their ways, and the earnestness of such as +aimed to outgo the rest threw down many of them. And indeed there was a +miserable destruction made of the women and children; while some of them +took courage to call their husbands and kinsmen back, and to beseech +them, with the bitterest lamentations, to stay for them; but John's +exhortation, who cried out to them to save themselves, and fly away, +prevailed. He said also, that if the Romans should seize upon those +whom they left behind, they would be revenged on them for it. So this +multitude that run thus away was dispersed abroad, according as each of +them was able to run, one faster or slower than another. + +5. Now on the next day Titus came to the wall, to make the agreement; +whereupon the people opened their gates to him, and came out to him, +with their children and wives, and made acclamations of joy to him, as +to one that had been their benefactor, and had delivered the city out +of custody; they also informed him of John's flight, and besought him +to spare them, and to come in, and bring the rest of those that were +for innovations to punishment. But Titus, not so much regarding the +supplications of the people, sent part of his horsemen to pursue after +John, but they could not overtake him, for he was gotten to Jerusalem +before; they also slew six thousand of the women and children who went +out with him, but returned back, and brought with them almost three +thousand. However, Titus was greatly displeased that he had not been +able to bring this John, who had deluded him, to punishment; yet he had +captives enough, as well as the corrupted part of the city, to satisfy +his anger, when it missed of John. So he entered the city in the midst +of acclamations of joy; and when he had given orders to the soldiers +to pull down a small part of the wall, as of a city taken in war, he +repressed those that had disturbed the city rather by threatenings than +by executions; for he thought that many would accuse innocent persons, +out of their own private animosities and quarrels, if he should attempt +to distinguish those that were worthy of punishment from the rest; and +that it was better to let a guilty person alone in his fears, that to +destroy with him any one that did not deserve it; for that probably such +a one might be taught prudence, by the fear of the punishment he had +deserved, and have a shame upon him for his former offenses, when he had +been forgiven; but that the punishment of such as have been once put +to death could never be retrieved. However, he placed a garrison in the +city for its security, by which means he should restrain those that were +for innovations, and should leave those that were peaceably disposed +in greater security. And thus was all Galilee taken, but this not till +after it had cost the Romans much pains before it could be taken by +them. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + Concerning John Of Gischala. Concerning The Zealots And The + High Priest Ananus; As Also How The Jews Raise Seditions One + Against Another [In Jerusalem]. + +1. Now upon John's entry into Jerusalem, the whole body of the people +were in an uproar, and ten thousand of them crowded about every one of +the fugitives that were come to them, and inquired of them what miseries +had happened abroad, when their breath was so short, and hot, and quick, +that of itself it declared the great distress they were in; yet did they +talk big under their misfortunes, and pretended to say that they had not +fled away from the Romans, but came thither in order to fight them with +less hazard; for that it would be an unreasonable and a fruitless thing +for them to expose themselves to desperate hazards about Gischala, and +such weak cities, whereas they ought to lay up their weapons and their +zeal, and reserve it for their metropolis. But when they related to them +the taking of Gischala, and their decent departure, as they pretended, +from that place, many of the people understood it to be no better than a +flight; and especially when the people were told of those that were made +captives, they were in great confusion, and guessed those things to be +plain indications that they should be taken also. But for John, he was +very little concerned for those whom he had left behind him, but went +about among all the people, and persuaded them to go to war, by the +hopes he gave them. He affirmed that the affairs of the Romans were in +a weak condition, and extolled his own power. He also jested upon the +ignorance of the unskillful, as if those Romans, although they should +take to themselves wings, could never fly over the wall of Jerusalem, +who found such great difficulties in taking the villages of Galilee, and +had broken their engines of war against their walls. + +2. These harangues of John's corrupted a great part of the young men, +and puffed them up for the war; but as to the more prudent part, and +those in years, there was not a man of them but foresaw what was coming, +and made lamentation on that account, as if the city was already undone; +and in this confusion were the people. But then it must be observed, +that the multitude that came out of the country were at discord before +the Jerusalem sedition began; for Titus went from Gischala to Cesates, +and Vespasian from Cesarea to Jamnia and Azotus, and took them both; and +when he had put garrisons into them, he came back with a great number +of the people, who were come over to him, upon his giving them his right +hand for their preservation. There were besides disorders and civil wars +in every city; and all those that were at quiet from the Romans turned +their hands one against another. There was also a bitter contest between +those that were fond of war, and those that were desirous for peace. At +the first this quarrelsome temper caught hold of private families, who +could not agree among themselves; after which those people that were the +dearest to one another brake through all restraints with regard to each +other, and every one associated with those of his own opinion, and began +already to stand in opposition one to another; so that seditions arose +every where, while those that were for innovations, and were desirous of +war, by their youth and boldness, were too hard for the aged and prudent +men. And, in the first place, all the people of every place betook +themselves to rapine; after which they got together in bodies, in +order to rob the people of the country, insomuch that for barbarity and +iniquity those of the same nation did no way differ from the Romans; +nay, it seemed to be a much lighter thing to be ruined by the Romans +than by themselves. + +3. Now the Roman garrisons, which guarded the cities, partly out of +their uneasiness to take such trouble upon them, and partly out of the +hatred they bare to the Jewish nation, did little or nothing towards +relieving the miserable, till the captains of these troops of robbers, +being satiated with rapines in the country, got all together from all +parts, and became a band of wickedness, and all together crept into +Jerusalem, which was now become a city without a governor, and, as the +ancient custom was, received without distinction all that belonged to +their nation; and these they then received, because all men supposed +that those who came so fast into the city came out of kindness, and for +their assistance, although these very men, besides the seditions they +raised, were otherwise the direct cause of the city's destruction also; +for as they were an unprofitable and a useless multitude, they spent +those provisions beforehand which might otherwise have been sufficient +for the fighting men. Moreover, besides the bringing on of the war, they +were the occasions of sedition and famine therein. + +4. There were besides these other robbers that came out of the country, +and came into the city, and joining to them those that were worse than +themselves, omitted no kind of barbarity; for they did not measure their +courage by their rapines and plunderings only, but preceded as far as +murdering men; and this not in the night time or privately, or with +regard to ordinary men, but did it openly in the day time, and began +with the most eminent persons in the city; for the first man they +meddled with was Antipas, one of the royal lineage, and the most potent +man in the whole city, insomuch that the public treasures were committed +to his care; him they took and confined; as they did in the next place +to Levias, a person of great note, with Sophas, the son of Raguel, both +which were of royal lineage also. And besides these, they did the +same to the principal men of the country. This caused a terrible +consternation among the people, and everyone contented himself with +taking care of his own safety, as they would do if the city had been +taken in war. + +5. But these were not satisfied with the bonds into which they had put +the men forementioned; nor did they think it safe for them to keep +them thus in custody long, since they were men very powerful, and had +numerous families of their own that were able to avenge them. Nay, +they thought the very people would perhaps be so moved at these unjust +proceedings, as to rise in a body against them; it was therefore +resolved to have them slain accordingly, they sent one John, who was the +most bloody-minded of them all, to do that execution: this man was also +called "the son of Dorcas," 3 in the language of our country. Ten more +men went along with him into the prison, with their swords drawn, and +so they cut the throats of those that were in custody there. The grand +lying pretence these men made for so flagrant an enormity was this, +that these men had had conferences with the Romans for a surrender of +Jerusalem to them; and so they said they had slain only such as were +traitors to their common liberty. Upon the whole, they grew the more +insolent upon this bold prank of theirs, as though they had been the +benefactors and saviors of the city. + +6. Now the people were come to that degree of meanness and fear, and +these robbers to that degree of madness, that these last took upon them +to appoint high priests. 4 So when they had disannulled the succession, +according to those families out of which the high priests used to be +made, they ordained certain unknown and ignoble persons for that office, +that they might have their assistance in their wicked undertakings; for +such as obtained this highest of all honors, without any desert, were +forced to comply with those that bestowed it on them. They also set +the principal men at variance one with another, by several sorts of +contrivances and tricks, and gained the opportunity of doing what they +pleased, by the mutual quarrels of those who might have obstructed +their measures; till at length, when they were satiated with the unjust +actions they had done towards men, they transferred their contumelious +behavior to God himself, and came into the sanctuary with polluted feet. + +7. And now the multitude were going to rise against them already; for +Ananus, the ancientest of the high priests, persuaded them to it. He was +a very prudent man, and had perhaps saved the city if he could but have +escaped the hands of those that plotted against him. These men made the +temple of God a strong hold for them, and a place whither they might +resort, in order to avoid the troubles they feared from the people; +the sanctuary was now become a refuge, and a shop of tyranny. They +also mixed jesting among the miseries they introduced, which was more +intolerable than what they did; for in order to try what surprise +the people would be under, and how far their own power extended, they +undertook to dispose of the high priesthood by casting lots for it, +whereas, as we have said already, it was to descend by succession in a +family. The pretense they made for this strange attempt was an ancient +practice, while they said that of old it was determined by lot; but in +truth, it was no better than a dissolution of an undeniable law, and +a cunning contrivance to seize upon the government, derived from those +that presumed to appoint governors as they themselves pleased. + +8. Hereupon they sent for one of the pontifical tribes, which is called +Eniachim, 5 and cast lots which of it should be the high priest. By +fortune the lot so fell as to demonstrate their iniquity after the +plainest manner, for it fell upon one whose name was Phannias, the son +of Samuel, of the village Aphtha. He was a man not only unworthy of the +high priesthood, but that did not well know what the high priesthood +was, such a mere rustic was he! yet did they hail this man, without his +own consent, out of the country, as if they were acting a play upon the +stage, and adorned him with a counterfeit tree; they also put upon him +the sacred garments, and upon every occasion instructed him what he was +to do. This horrid piece of wickedness was sport and pastime with them, +but occasioned the other priests, who at a distance saw their law made +a jest of, to shed tears, and sorely lament the dissolution of such a +sacred dignity. + +9. And now the people could no longer bear the insolence of this +procedure, but did all together run zealously, in order to overthrow +that tyranny; and indeed they were Gorion the son of Josephus, and +Symeon the son of Gamaliel, 6 who encouraged them, by going up and down +when they were assembled together in crowds, and as they saw them +alone, to bear no longer, but to inflict punishment upon these pests +and plagues of their freedom, and to purge the temple of these bloody +polluters of it. The best esteemed also of the high priests, Jesus the +son of Gamalas, and Ananus the son of Ananus when they were at their +assemblies, bitterly reproached the people for their sloth, and excited +them against the zealots; for that was the name they went by, as if they +were zealous in good undertakings, and were not rather zealous in the +worst actions, and extravagant in them beyond the example of others. + +10. And now, when the multitude were gotten together to an assembly, and +every one was in indignation at these men's seizing upon the sanctuary, +at their rapine and murders, but had not yet begun their attacks upon +them, [the reason of which was this, that they imagined it to be a +difficult thing to suppress these zealots, as indeed the case was,] +Ananus stood in the midst of them, and casting his eyes frequently at +the temple, and having a flood of tears in his eyes, he said, "Certainly +it had been good for me to die before I had seen the house of God full +of so many abominations, or these sacred places, that ought not to be +trodden upon at random, filled with the feet of these blood-shedding +villains; yet do I, who am clothed with the vestments of the high +priesthood, and am called by that most venerable name [of high priest], +still live, and am but too fond of living, and cannot endure to undergo +a death which would be the glory of my old age; and if I were the only +person concerned, and as it were in a desert, I would give up my life, +and that alone for God's sake; for to what purpose is it to live among +a people insensible of their calamities, and where there is no notion +remaining of any remedy for the miseries that are upon them? for when +you are seized upon, you bear it! and when you are beaten, you are +silent! and when the people are murdered, nobody dare so much as send +out a groan openly! O bitter tyranny that we are under! But why do I +complain of the tyrants? Was it not you, and your sufferance of them, +that have nourished them? Was it not you that overlooked those that +first of all got together, for they were then but a few, and by your +silence made them grow to be many; and by conniving at them when they +took arms, in effect armed them against yourselves? You ought to have +then prevented their first attempts, when they fell a reproaching your +relations; but by neglecting that care in time, you have encouraged +these wretches to plunder men. When houses were pillaged, nobody said +a word, which was the occasion why they carried off the owners of those +houses; and when they were drawn through the midst of the city, nobody +came to their assistance. They then proceeded to put those whom you have +betrayed into their hands into bonds. I do not say how many and of what +characters those men were whom they thus served; but certainly they were +such as were accused by none, and condemned by none; and since nobody +succored them when they were put into bonds, the consequence was, that +you saw the same persons slain. We have seen this also; so that still +the best of the herd of brute animals, as it were, have been still led +to be sacrificed, when yet nobody said one word, or moved his right hand +for their preservation. Will you bear, therefore, will you bear to see +your sanctuary trampled on? and will you lay steps for these profane +wretches, upon which they may mount to higher degrees of insolence? Will +not you pluck them down from their exaltation? for even by this time +they had proceeded to higher enormities, if they had been able to +overthrow any thing greater than the sanctuary. They have seized upon +the strongest place of the whole city; you may call it the temple, if +you please, though it be like a citadel or fortress. Now, while you have +tyranny in so great a degree walled in, and see your enemies over your +heads, to what purpose is it to take counsel? and what have you to +support your minds withal? Perhaps you wait for the Romans, that they +may protect our holy places: are our matters then brought to that pass? +and are we come to that degree of misery, that our enemies themselves +are expected to pity us? O wretched creatures! will not you rise up and +turn upon those that strike you? which you may observe in wild beasts +themselves, that they will avenge themselves on those that strike +them. Will you not call to mind, every one of you, the calamities you +yourselves have suffered? nor lay before your eyes what afflictions you +yourselves have undergone? and will not such things sharpen your souls +to revenge? Is therefore that most honorable and most natural of our +passions utterly lost, I mean the desire of liberty? Truly we are in +love with slavery, and in love with those that lord it over us, as if +we had received that principle of subjection from our ancestors; yet did +they undergo many and great wars for the sake of liberty, nor were they +so far overcome by the power of the Egyptians, or the Medes, but that +still they did what they thought fit, notwithstanding their commands to +the contrary. And what occasion is there now for a war with the Romans? +[I meddle not with determining whether it be an advantageous and +profitable war or not.] What pretense is there for it? Is it not that +we may enjoy our liberty? Besides, shall we not bear the lords of the +habitable earth to be lords over us, and yet bear tyrants of our own +country? Although I must say that submission to foreigners may be borne, +because fortune hath already doomed us to it, while submission to wicked +people of our own nation is too unmanly, and brought upon us by our own +consent. However, since I have had occasion to mention the Romans, I +will not conceal a thing that, as I am speaking, comes into my mind, and +affects me considerably; it is this, that though we should be taken by +them, [God forbid the event should be so!] yet can we undergo nothing +that will be harder to be borne than what these men have already brought +upon us. How then can we avoid shedding of tears, when we see the Roman +donations in our temple, while we withal see those of our own nation +taking our spoils, and plundering our glorious metropolis, and +slaughtering our men, from which enormities those Romans themselves +would have abstained? to see those Romans never going beyond the bounds +allotted to profane persons, nor venturing to break in upon any of our +sacred customs; nay, having a horror on their minds when they view at a +distance those sacred walls; while some that have been born in this very +country, and brought up in our customs, and called Jews, do walk about +in the midst of the holy places, at the very time when their hands are +still warm with the slaughter of their own countrymen. Besides, can +any one be afraid of a war abroad, and that with such as will have +comparatively much greater moderation than our own people have? For +truly, if we may suit our words to the things they represent, it is +probable one may hereafter find the Romans to be the supporters of our +laws, and those within ourselves the subverters of them. And now I am +persuaded that every one of you here comes satisfied before I speak that +these overthrowers of our liberties deserve to be destroyed, and that +nobody can so much as devise a punishment that they have not deserved by +what they have done, and that you are all provoked against them by those +their wicked actions, whence you have suffered so greatly. But perhaps +many of you are affrighted at the multitude of those zealots, and at +their audaciousness, as well as at the advantage they have over us in +their being higher in place than we are; for these circumstances, as +they have been occasioned by your negligence, so will they become still +greater by being still longer neglected; for their multitude is every +day augmented, by every ill man's running away to those that are like to +themselves, and their audaciousness is therefore inflamed, because they +meet with no obstruction to their designs. And for their higher place, +they will make use of it for engines also, if we give them time to do +so; but be assured of this, that if we go up to fight them, they will +be made tamer by their own consciences, and what advantages they have in +the height of their situation they will lose by the opposition of their +reason; perhaps also God himself, who hath been affronted by them, will +make what they throw at us return against themselves, and these +impious wretches will be killed by their own darts: let us but make our +appearance before them, and they will come to nothing. However, it is a +right thing, if there should be any danger in the attempt, to die before +these holy gates, and to spend our very lives, if not for the sake of +our children and wives, yet for God's sake, and for the sake of his +sanctuary. I will assist you both with my counsel and with my hand; nor +shall any sagacity of ours be wanting for your support; nor shall you +see that I will be sparing of my body neither." + +11. By these motives Ananus encouraged the multitude to go against the +zealots, although he knew how difficult it would be to disperse them, +because of their multitude, and their youth, and the courage of their +souls; but chiefly because of their consciousness of what they had done, +since they would not yield, as not so much as hoping for pardon at the +last for those their enormities. However, Ananus resolved to undergo +whatever sufferings might come upon him, rather than overlook things, +now they were in such great confusion. So the multitude cried out +to him, to lead them on against those whom he had described in his +exhortation to them, and every one of them was most readily disposed to +run any hazard whatsoever on that account. + +12. Now while Ananus was choosing out his men, and putting those that +were proper for his purpose in array for fighting, the zealots got +information of his undertaking, [for there were some who went to them, +and told them all that the people were doing,] and were irritated at +it, and leaping out of the temple in crowds, and by parties, spared none +whom they met with. Upon this Ananus got the populace together on the +sudden, who were more numerous indeed than the zealots, but inferior +to them in arms, because they had not been regularly put into array for +fighting; but the alacrity that every body showed supplied all their +defects on both sides, the citizens taking up so great a passion as was +stronger than arms, and deriving a degree of courage from the temple +more forcible than any multitude whatsoever; and indeed these citizens +thought it was not possible for them to dwell in the city, unless they +could cut off the robbers that were in it. The zealots also thought that +unless they prevailed, there would be no punishment so bad but it +would be inflicted on them. So their conflicts were conducted by their +passions; and at the first they only cast stones at each other in the +city, and before the temple, and threw their javelins at a distance; but +when either of them were too hard for the other, they made use of their +swords; and great slaughter was made on both sides, and a great number +were wounded. As for the dead bodies of the people, their relations +carried them out to their own houses; but when any of the zealots were +wounded, he went up into the temple, and defiled that sacred floor +with his blood, insomuch that one may say it was their blood alone +that polluted our sanctuary. Now in these conflicts the robbers always +sallied out of the temple, and were too hard for their enemies; but +the populace grew very angry, and became more and more numerous, and +reproached those that gave back, and those behind would not afford room +to those that were going off, but forced them on again, till at length +they made their whole body to turn against their adversaries, and the +robbers could no longer oppose them, but were forced gradually to retire +into the temple; when Ananus and his party fell into it at the same time +together with them. 7 This horribly affrighted the robbers, because +it deprived them of the first court; so they fled into the inner court +immediately, and shut the gates. Now Ananus did not think fit to make +any attack against the holy gates, although the other threw their stones +and darts at them from above. He also deemed it unlawful to introduce +the multitude into that court before they were purified; he therefore +chose out of them all by lot six thousand armed men, and placed them as +guards in the cloisters; so there was a succession of such guards +one after another, and every one was forced to attend in his course; +although many of the chief of the city were dismissed by those that then +took on them the government, upon their hiring some of the poorer sort, +and sending them to keep the guard in their stead. + +13. Now it was John who, as we told you, ran away from Gischala, and was +the occasion of all these being destroyed. He was a man of great craft, +and bore about him in his soul a strong passion after tyranny, and at +a distance was the adviser in these actions; and indeed at this time he +pretended to be of the people's opinion, and went all about with Ananus +when he consulted the great men every day, and in the night time also +when he went round the watch; but he divulged their secrets to the +zealots, and every thing that the people deliberated about was by his +means known to their enemies, even before it had been well agreed upon +by themselves. And by way of contrivance how he might not be brought +into suspicion, he cultivated the greatest friendship possible with +Ananus, and with the chief of the people; yet did this overdoing of his +turn against him, for he flattered them so extravagantly, that he was +but the more suspected; and his constant attendance every where, even +when he was not invited to be present, made him strongly suspected of +betraying their secrets to the enemy; for they plainly perceived +that they understood all the resolutions taken against them at their +consultations. Nor was there any one whom they had so much reason to +suspect of that discovery as this John; yet was it not easy to get quit +of him, so potent was he grown by his wicked practices. He was also +supported by many of those eminent men, who were to be consulted upon +all considerable affairs; it was therefore thought reasonable to oblige +him to give them assurance of his good-will upon oath; accordingly John +took such an oath readily, that he would be on the people's side, and +would not betray any of their counsels or practices to their enemies, +and would assist them in overthrowing those that attacked them, and that +both by his hand and his advice. So Ananus and his party believed his +oath, and did now receive him to their consultations without further +suspicion; nay, so far did they believe him, that they sent him as +their ambassador into the temple to the zealots, with proposals of +accommodation; for they were very desirous to avoid the pollution of the +temple as much as they possibly could, and that no one of their nation +should be slain therein. + +14. But now this John, as if his oath had been made to the zealots, and +for confirmation of his good-will to them, and not against them, went +into the temple, and stood in the midst of them, and spake as follows: +That he had run many hazards on their accounts, and in order to let them +know of every thing that was secretly contrived against them by Ananus +and his party; but that both he and they should be cast into the most +imminent danger, unless some providential assistance were afforded them; +for that Ananus made no longer delay, but had prevailed with the people +to send ambassadors to Vespasian, to invite him to come presently and +take the city; and that he had appointed a fast for the next day against +them, that they might obtain admission into the temple on a religious +account, or gain it by force, and fight with them there; that he did not +see how long they could either endure a siege, or how they could fight +against so many enemies. He added further, that it was by the +providence of God he was himself sent as an ambassador to them for an +accommodation; for that Artanus did therefore offer them such proposals, +that he might come upon them when they were unarmed; that they ought +to choose one of these two methods, either to intercede with those that +guarded them, to save their lives, or to provide some foreign assistance +for themselves; that if they fostered themselves with the hopes of +pardon, in case they were subdued, they had forgotten what desperate +things they had done, or could suppose, that as soon as the actors +repented, those that had suffered by them must be presently reconciled +to them; while those that have done injuries, though they pretend to +repent of them, are frequently hated by the others for that sort of +repentance; and that the sufferers, when they get the power into their +hands, are usually still more severe upon the actors; that the friends +and kindred of those that had been destroyed would always be laying +plots against them; and that a large body of people were very angry +on account of their gross breaches of their laws, and [illegal] +judicatures, insomuch that although some part might commiserate them, +those would be quite overborne by the majority. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + The Idumeans Being Sent For By The Zealots, Came Immediately + To Jerusalem; And When They Were Excluded Out Of The City, + They Lay All Night There. Jesus One Of The High Priests + Makes A Speech To Them; And Simon The Idumean Makes A Reply + To It. + +1. Now, by this crafty speech, John made the zealots afraid; yet durst +he not directly name what foreign assistance he meant, but in a covert +way only intimated at the Idumeans. But now, that he might particularly +irritate the leaders of the zealots, he calumniated Ananus, that he was +about a piece of barbarity, and did in a special manner threaten them. +These leaders were Eleazar, the son of Simon, who seemed the most +plausible man of them all, both in considering what was fit to be done, +and in the execution of what he had determined upon, and Zacharias, the +son of Phalek; both of whom derived their families from the priests. +Now when these two men had heard, not only the common threatenings which +belonged to them all, but those peculiarly leveled against themselves; +and besides, how Artanus and his party, in order to secure their own +dominion, had invited the Romans to come to them, for that also was +part of John's lie; they hesitated a great while what they should do, +considering the shortness of the time by which they were straitened; +because the people were prepared to attack them very soon, and because +the suddenness of the plot laid against them had almost cut off all +their hopes of getting any foreign assistance; for they might be under +the height of their afflictions before any of their confederates could +be informed of it. However, it was resolved to call in the Idumeans; so +they wrote a short letter to this effect: That Ananus had imposed on +the people, and was betraying their metropolis to the Romans; that +they themselves had revolted from the rest, and were in custody in the +temple, on account of the preservation of their liberty; that there was +but a small time left wherein they might hope for their deliverance; and +that unless they would come immediately to their assistance, they should +themselves be soon in the power of Artanus, and the city would be in the +power of the Romans. They also charged the messengers to tell many more +circumstances to the rulers of the Idumeans. Now there were two active +men proposed for the carrying this message, and such as were able to +speak, and to persuade them that things were in this posture, and, what +was a qualification still more necessary than the former, they were very +swift of foot; for they knew well enough that these would immediately +comply with their desires, as being ever a tumultuous and disorderly +nation, always on the watch upon every motion, delighting in mutations; +and upon your flattering them ever so little, and petitioning them, they +soon take their arms, and put themselves into motion, and make haste to +a battle, as if it were to a feast. There was indeed occasion for quick +despatch in the carrying of this message, in which point the messengers +were no way defective. Both their names were Ananias; and they soon came +to the rulers of the Idumeans. + +2. Now these rulers were greatly surprised at the contents of the +letter, and at what those that came with it further told them; whereupon +they ran about the nation like madmen, and made proclamation that the +people should come to war; so a multitude was suddenly got together, +sooner indeed than the time appointed in the proclamation, and every +body caught up their arms, in order to maintain the liberty of their +metropolis; and twenty thousand of them were put into battle-array, and +came to Jerusalem, under four commanders, John, and Jacob the son of +Sosas; and besides these were Simon, the son of Cathlas, and Phineas, +the son of Clusothus. + +3. Now this exit of the messengers was not known either to Ananus or to +the guards, but the approach of the Idumeans was known to him; for as +he knew of it before they came, he ordered the gates to be shut against +them, and that the walls should be guarded. Yet did not he by any means +think of fighting against them, but, before they came to blows, to try +what persuasions would do. Accordingly, Jesus, the eldest of the high +priests next to Artanus, stood upon the tower that was over against +them, and said thus: "Many troubles indeed, and those of various kinds, +have fallen upon this city, yet in none of them have I so much wondered +at her fortune as now, when you are come to assist wicked men, and +this after a manner very extraordinary; for I see that you are come to +support the vilest of men against us, and this with so great alacrity, +as you could hardly put on the like, in case our metropolis had called +you to her assistance against barbarians. And if I had perceived that +your army was composed of men like unto those who invited them, I had +not deemed your attempt so absurd; for nothing does so much cement the +minds of men together as the alliance there is between their manners. +But now for these men who have invited you, if you were to examine +them one by one, every one of them would be found to have deserved ten +thousand deaths; for the very rascality and offscouring of the whole +country, who have spent in debauchery their own substance, and, by way +of trial beforehand, have madly plundered the neighboring villages and +cities, in the upshot of all, have privately run together into this holy +city. They are robbers, who by their prodigious wickedness have profaned +this most sacred floor, and who are to be now seen drinking themselves +drunk in the sanctuary, and expending the spoils of those whom they have +slaughtered upon their unsatiable bellies. As for the multitude that +is with you, one may see them so decently adorned in their armor, as +it would become them to be had their metropolis called them to her +assistance against foreigners. What can a man call this procedure of +yours but the sport of fortune, when he sees a whole nation coming to +protect a sink of wicked wretches? I have for a good while been in doubt +what it could possibly be that should move you to do this so suddenly; +because certainly you would not take on your armor on the behalf of +robbers, and against a people of kin to you, without some very great +cause for your so doing. But we have an item that the Romans are +pretended, and that we are supposed to be going to betray this city +to them; for some of your men have lately made a clamor about those +matters, and have said they are come to set their metropolis free. Now +we cannot but admire at these wretches in their devising such a lie +as this against us; for they knew there was no other way to irritate +against us men that were naturally desirous of liberty, and on that +account the best disposed to fight against foreign enemies, but by +framing a tale as if we were going to betray that most desirable thing, +liberty. But you ought to consider what sort of people they are that +raise this calumny, and against what sort of people that calumny is +raised, and to gather the truth of things, not by fictitious speeches, +but out of the actions of both parties; for what occasion is there for +us to sell ourselves to the Romans, while it was in our power not to +have revolted from them at the first, or when we had once revolted, to +have returned under their dominion again, and this while the neighboring +countries were not yet laid waste? whereas it is not an easy thing to +be reconciled to the Romans, if we were desirous of it, now they have +subdued Galilee, and are thereby become proud and insolent; and to +endeavor to please them at the time when they are so near us, would +bring such a reproach upon us as were worse than death. As for myself, +indeed, I should have preferred peace with them before death; but now we +have once made war upon them, and fought with them, I prefer death, with +reputation, before living in captivity under them. But further, whether +do they pretend that we, who are the rulers of the people, have sent +thus privately to the Romans, or hath it been done by the common +suffrages of the people? If it be ourselves only that have done it, let +them name those friends of ours that have been sent, as our servants, to +manage this treachery. Hath any one been caught as he went out on this +errand, or seized upon as he came back? Are they in possession of our +letters? How could we be concealed from such a vast number of our fellow +citizens, among whom we are conversant every hour, while what is done +privately in the country is, it seems, known by the zealots, who are but +few in number, and under confinement also, and are not able to come out +of the temple into the city. Is this the first time that they are become +sensible how they ought to be punished for their insolent actions? For +while these men were free from the fear they are now under, there was +no suspicion raised that any of us were traitors. But if they lay +this charge against the people, this must have been done at a public +consultation, and not one of the people must have dissented from the +rest of the assembly; in which case the public fame of this matter would +have come to you sooner than any particular indication. But how could +that be? Must there not then have been ambassadors sent to confirm +the agreements? And let them tell us who this ambassador was that was +ordained for that purpose. But this is no other than a pretense of such +men as are loath to die, and are laboring to escape those punishments +that hang over them; for if fate had determined that this city was to be +betrayed into its enemies' hands, no other than these men that accuse +us falsely could have the impudence to do it, there being no wickedness +wanting to complete their impudent practices but this only, that they +become traitors. And now you Idumeans are come hither already with +your arms, it is your duty, in the first place, to be assisting to your +metropolis, and to join with us in cutting off those tyrants that have +infringed the rules of our regular tribunals, that have trampled upon +our laws, and made their swords the arbitrators of right and wrong; for +they have seized upon men of great eminence, and under no accusation, +as they stood in the midst of the market-place, and tortured them with +putting them into bonds, and, without bearing to hear what they had to +say, or what supplications they made, they destroyed them. You may, if +you please, come into the city, though not in the way of war, and take +a view of the marks still remaining of what I now say, and may see the +houses that have been depopulated by their rapacious hands, with those +wives and families that are in black, mourning for their slaughtered +relations; as also you may hear their groans and lamentations all the +city over; for there is nobody but hath tasted of the incursions of +these profane wretches, who have proceeded to that degree of madness, +as not only to have transferred their impudent robberies out of the +country, and the remote cities, into this city, the very face and head +of the whole nation, but out of the city into the temple also; for that +is now made their receptacle and refuge, and the fountain-head whence +their preparations are made against us. And this place, which is adored +by the habitable world, and honored by such as only know it by report, +as far as the ends of the earth, is trampled upon by these wild beasts +born among ourselves. They now triumph in the desperate condition they +are already in, when they hear that one people is going to fight against +another people, and one city against another city, and that your nation +hath gotten an army together against its own bowels. Instead of which +procedure, it were highly fit and reasonable, as I said before, for you +to join with us in cutting off these wretches, and in particular to +be revenged on them for putting this very cheat upon you; I mean, for +having the impudence to invite you to assist them, of whom they ought to +have stood in fear, as ready to punish them. But if you have some regard +to these men's invitation of you, yet may you lay aside your arms, and +come into the city under the notion of our kindred, and take upon you +a middle name between that of auxiliaries and of enemies, and so become +judges in this case. However, consider what these men will gain by being +called into judgment before you, for such undeniable and such flagrant +crimes, who would not vouchsafe to hear such as had no accusations laid +against them to speak a word for themselves. However, let them gain this +advantage by your coming. But still, if you will neither take our part +in that indignation we have at these men, nor judge between us, the +third thing I have to propose is this, that you let us both alone, +and neither insult upon our calamities, nor abide with these plotters +against their metropolis; for though you should have ever so great a +suspicion that some of us have discoursed with the Romans, it is in your +power to watch the passages into the city; and in case any thing that we +have been accused of is brought to light, then to come and defend your +metropolis, and to inflict punishment on those that are found guilty; +for the enemy cannot prevent you who are so near to the city. But if, +after all, none of these proposals seem acceptable and moderate, do not +you wonder that the gates are shut against you, while you bear your arms +about you." + +4. Thus spake Jesus; yet did not the multitude of the Idumeans give any +attention to what he said, but were in a rage, because they did not meet +with a ready entrance into the city. The generals also had indignation +at the offer of laying down their arms, and looked upon it as equal to +a captivity, to throw them away at any man's injunction whomsoever. +But Simon, the son of Cathlas, one of their commanders, with much ado +quieted the tumult of his own men, and stood so that the high priests +might hear him, and said as follows: "I can no longer wonder that the +patrons of liberty are under custody in the temple, since there are +those that shut the gates of our common city 8 to their own nation, and +at the same time are prepared to admit the Romans into it; nay, perhaps +are disposed to crown the gates with garlands at their coming, while +they speak to the Idumeans from their own towers, and enjoin them to +throw down their arms which they have taken up for the preservation of +its liberty. And while they will not intrust the guard of our metropolis +to their kindred, profess to make them judges of the differences that +are among them; nay, while they accuse some men of having slain others +without a legal trial, they do themselves condemn a whole nation after +an ignominious manner, and have now walled up that city from their +own nation, which used to be open to even all foreigners that came to +worship there. We have indeed come in great haste to you, and to a war +against our own countrymen; and the reason why we have made such haste +is this, that we may preserve that freedom which you are so unhappy +as to betray. You have probably been guilty of the like crimes against +those whom you keep in custody, and have, I suppose, collected together +the like plausible pretenses against them also that you make use of +against us; after which you have gotten the mastery of those within the +temple, and keep them in custody, while they are only taking care of +the public affairs. You have also shut the gates of the city in general +against nations that are the most nearly related to you; and while you +give such injurious commands to others, you complain that you have been +tyrannized over by them, and fix the name of unjust governors upon such +as are tyrannized over by yourselves. Who can bear this your abuse of +words, while they have a regard to the contrariety of your actions, +unless you mean this, that those Idumeans do now exclude you out of +your metropolis, whom you exclude from the sacred offices of your own +country? One may indeed justly complain of those that are besieged in +the temple, that when they had courage enough to punish those tyrants +whom you call eminent men, and free from any accusations, because of +their being your companions in wickedness, they did not begin with you, +and thereby cut off beforehand the most dangerous parts of this treason. +But if these men have been more merciful than the public necessity +required, we that are Idumeans will preserve this house of God, and will +fight for our common country, and will oppose by war as well those that +attack them from abroad, as those that betray them from within. Here +will we abide before the walls in our armor, until either the Romans +grow weary in waiting for you, or you become friends to liberty, and +repent of what you have done against it." + +5. And now did the Idumeans make an acclamation to what Simon had said; +but Jesus went away sorrowful, as seeing that the Idumeans were against +all moderate counsels, and that the city was besieged on both sides. Nor +indeed were the minds of the Idumeans at rest; for they were in a rage +at the injury that had been offered them by their exclusion out of the +city; and when they thought the zealots had been strong, but saw nothing +of theirs to support them, they were in doubt about the matter, and many +of them repented that they had come thither. But the shame that would +attend them in case they returned without doing any thing at all, so far +overcame that their repentance, that they lay all night before the wall, +though in a very bad encampment; for there broke out a prodigious storm +in the night, with the utmost violence, and very strong winds, with +the largest showers of rain, with continued lightnings, terrible +thunderings, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that +was in an earthquake. These things were a manifest indication that some +destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was +put into this disorder; and any one would guess that these wonders +foreshowed some grand calamities that were coming. + +6. Now the opinion of the Idumeans and of the citizens was one and the +same. The Idumeans thought that God was angry at their taking arms, and +that they would not escape punishment for their making war upon their +metropolis. Ananus and his party thought that they had conquered without +fighting, and that God acted as a general for them; but truly they +proved both ill conjectures at what was to come, and made those events +to be ominous to their enemies, while they were themselves to undergo +the ill effects of them; for the Idumeans fenced one another by uniting +their bodies into one band, and thereby kept themselves warm, and +connecting their shields over their heads, were not so much hurt by the +rain. But the zealots were more deeply concerned for the danger these +men were in than they were for themselves, and got together, and looked +about them to see whether they could devise any means of assisting them. +The hotter sort of them thought it best to force their guards with their +arms, and after that to fall into the midst of the city, and publicly +open the gates to those that came to their assistance; as supposing the +guards would be in disorder, and give way at such an unexpected attempt +of theirs, especially as the greater part of them were unarmed and +unskilled in the affairs of war; and that besides the multitude of the +citizens would not be easily gathered together, but confined to +their houses by the storm: and that if there were any hazard in their +undertaking, it became them to suffer any thing whatsoever themselves, +rather than to overlook so great a multitude as were miserably perishing +on their account. But the more prudent part of them disapproved of this +forcible method, because they saw not only the guards about them very +numerous, but the walls of the city itself carefully watched, by reason +of the Idumeans. They also supposed that Ananus would be every where, +and visit the guards every hour; which indeed was done upon other +nights, but was omitted that night, not by reason of any slothfulness +of Ananus, but by the overbearing appointment of fate, that so both he +might himself perish, and the multitude of the guards might perish with +him; for truly, as the night was far gone, and the storm very terrible, +Ananus gave the guards in the cloisters leave to go to sleep; while it +came into the heads of the zealots to make use of the saws belonging to +the temple, and to cut the bars of the gates to pieces. The noise of the +wind, and that not inferior sound of the thunder, did here also conspire +with their designs, that the noise of the saws was not heard by the +others. + +7. So they secretly went out of the temple to the wall of the city, and +made use of their saws, and opened that gate which was over against the +Idumeans. Now at first there came a fear upon the Idumeans themselves, +which disturbed them, as imagining that Ananus and his party were coming +to attack them, so that every one of them had his right hand upon his +sword, in order to defend himself; but they soon came to know who they +were that came to them, and were entered the city. And had the Idumeans +then fallen upon the city, nothing could have hindered them from +destroying the people every man of them, such was the rage they were in +at that time; but as they first of all made haste to get the zealots out +of custody, which those that brought them in earnestly desired them to +do, and not to overlook those for whose sakes they were come, in the +midst of their distresses, nor to bring them into a still greater +danger; for that when they had once seized upon the guards, it would +be easy for them to fall upon the city; but that if the city were once +alarmed, they would not then be able to overcome those guards, because +as soon as they should perceive they were there, they would put +themselves in order to fight them, and would hinder their coming into +the temple. + + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + The Cruelty Of The Idumeans When They Were Gotten Into The + Temple During The Storm; And Of The Zealots. Concerning The + Slaughter Of Ananus, And Jesus, And Zacharias; And How The + Idumeans Retired Home. + +1. This advice pleased the Idumeans, and they ascended through the +city to the temple. The zealots were also in great expectation of +their coming, and earnestly waited for them. When therefore these were +entering, they also came boldly out of the inner temple, and mixing +themselves among the Idumeans, they attacked the guards; and some of +those that were upon the watch, but were fallen asleep, they killed as +they were asleep; but as those that were now awakened made a cry, the +whole multitude arose, and in the amazement they were in caught hold of +their arms immediately, and betook themselves to their own defense; and +so long as they thought they were only the zealots who attacked them, +they went on boldly, as hoping to overpower them by their numbers; but +when they saw others pressing in upon them also, they perceived the +Idumeans were got in; and the greatest part of them laid aside +their arms, together with their courage, and betook themselves to +lamentations. But some few of the younger sort covered themselves +with their armor, and valiantly received the Idumeans, and for a while +protected the multitude of old men. Others, indeed, gave a signal to +those that were in the city of the calamities they were in; but when +these were also made sensible that the Idumeans were come in, none of +them durst come to their assistance, only they returned the terrible +echo of wailing, and lamented their misfortunes. A great howling of the +women was excited also, and every one of the guards were in danger +of being killed. The zealots also joined in the shouts raised by the +Idumeans; and the storm itself rendered the cry more terrible; nor did +the Idumeans spare any body; for as they are naturally a most barbarous +and bloody nation, and had been distressed by the tempest, they made use +of their weapons against those that had shut the gates against them, and +acted in the same manner as to those that supplicated for their lives, +and to those that fought them, insomuch that they ran through those with +their swords who desired them to remember the relation there was between +them, and begged of them to have regard to their common temple. Now +there was at present neither any place for flight, nor any hope of +preservation; but as they were driven one upon another in heaps, so +were they slain. Thus the greater part were driven together by force, as +there was now no place of retirement, and the murderers were upon them; +and, having no other way, threw themselves down headlong into the city; +whereby, in my opinion, they underwent a more miserable destruction than +that which they avoided, because that was a voluntary one. And now the +outer temple was all of it overflowed with blood; and that day, as it +came on, they saw eight thousand five hundred dead bodies there. + +2. But the rage of the Idumeans was not satiated by these slaughters; +but they now betook themselves to the city, and plundered every house, +and slew every one they met; and for the other multitude, they esteemed +it needless to go on with killing them, but they sought for the high +priests, and the generality went with the greatest zeal against them; +and as soon as they caught them they slew them, and then standing upon +their dead bodies, in way of jest, upbraided Ananus with his kindness to +the people, and Jesus with his speech made to them from the wall. Nay, +they proceeded to that degree of impiety, as to cast away their dead +bodies without burial, although the Jews used to take so much care of +the burial of men, that they took down those that were condemned and +crucified, and buried them before the going down of the sun. I should +not mistake if I said that the death of Ananus was the beginning of the +destruction of the city, and that from this very day may be dated the +overthrow of her wall, and the ruin of her affairs, whereon they saw +their high priest, and the procurer of their preservation, slain in the +midst of their city. He was on other accounts also a venerable, and a +very just man; and besides the grandeur of that nobility, and dignity, +and honor of which he was possessed, he had been a lover of a kind +of parity, even with regard to the meanest of the people; he was +a prodigious lover of liberty, and an admirer of a democracy in +government; and did ever prefer the public welfare before his own +advantage, and preferred peace above all things; for he was thoroughly +sensible that the Romans were not to be conquered. He also foresaw +that of necessity a war would follow, and that unless the Jews made up +matters with them very dexterously, they would be destroyed; to say +all in a word, if Ananus had survived, they had certainly compounded +matters; for he was a shrewd man in speaking and persuading the people, +and had already gotten the mastery of those that opposed his designs, or +were for the war. And the Jews had then put abundance of delays in the +way of the Romans, if they had had such a general as he was. Jesus +was also joined with him; and although he was inferior to him upon the +comparison, he was superior to the rest; and I cannot but think that it +was because God had doomed this city to destruction, as a polluted city, +and was resolved to purge his sanctuary by fire, that he cut off these +their great defenders and well-wishers, while those that a little before +had worn the sacred garments, and had presided over the public worship; +and had been esteemed venerable by those that dwelt on the whole +habitable earth when they came into our city, were cast out naked, and +seen to be the food of dogs and wild beasts. And I cannot but imagine +that virtue itself groaned at these men's case, and lamented that she +was here so terribly conquered by wickedness. And this at last was the +end of Ananus and Jesus. + +3. Now after these were slain, the zealots and the multitude of the +Idumeans fell upon the people as upon a flock of profane animals, and +cut their throats; and for the ordinary sort, they were destroyed in +what place soever they caught them. But for the noblemen and the youth, +they first caught them and bound them, and shut them up in prison, and +put off their slaughter, in hopes that some of them would turn over to +their party; but not one of them would comply with their desires, but +all of them preferred death before being enrolled among such wicked +wretches as acted against their own country. But this refusal of theirs +brought upon them terrible torments; for they were so scourged and +tortured, that their bodies were not able to sustain their torments, +till at length, and with difficulty, they had the favor to be slain. +Those whom they caught in the day time were slain in the night, and then +their bodies were carried out and thrown away, that there might be room +for other prisoners; and the terror that was upon the people was so +great, that no one had courage enough either to weep openly for the dead +man that was related to him, or to bury him; but those that were shut up +in their own houses could only shed tears in secret, and durst not even +groan without great caution, lest any of their enemies should hear them; +for if they did, those that mourned for others soon underwent the same +death with those whom they mourned for. Only in the night time they +would take up a little dust, and throw it upon their bodies; and even +some that were the most ready to expose themselves to danger would do it +in the day time: and there were twelve thousand of the better sort who +perished in this manner. + +4. And now these zealots and Idumeans were quite weary of barely killing +men, so they had the impudence of setting up fictitious tribunals and +judicatures for that purpose; and as they intended to have Zacharias 9 +the son of Baruch, one of the most eminent of the citizens, slain, so +what provoked them against him was, that hatred of wickedness and love +of liberty which were so eminent in him: he was also a rich man, so that +by taking him off, they did not only hope to seize his effects, but +also to get rid of a mall that had great power to destroy them. So they +called together, by a public proclamation, seventy of the principal men +of the populace, for a show, as if they were real judges, while they had +no proper authority. Before these was Zacharias accused of a design +to betray their polity to the Romans, and having traitorously sent to +Vespasian for that purpose. Now there appeared no proof or sign of +what he was accused; but they affirmed themselves that they were well +persuaded that so it was, and desired that such their affirmation might +be taken for sufficient evidence. Now when Zacharias clearly saw that +there was no way remaining for his escape from them, as having been +treacherously called before them, and then put in prison, but not with +any intention of a legal trial, he took great liberty of speech in that +despair of his life he was under. Accordingly he stood up, and laughed +at their pretended accusation, and in a few words confuted the crimes +laid to his charge; after which he turned his speech to his accusers, +and went over distinctly all their transgressions of the law, and made +heavy lamentation upon the confusion they had brought public affairs +to: in the mean time, the zealots grew tumultuous, and had much ado to +abstain from drawing their swords, although they designed to preserve +the appearance and show of judicature to the end. They were also +desirous, on other accounts, to try the judges, whether they would be +mindful of what was just at their own peril. Now the seventy judges +brought in their verdict that the person accused was not guilty, as +choosing rather to die themselves with him, than to have his death laid +at their doors; hereupon there arose a great clamor of the zealots +upon his acquittal, and they all had indignation at the judges for not +understanding that the authority that was given them was but in jest. +So two of the boldest of them fell upon Zacharias in the middle of the +temple, and slew him; and as he fell down dead, they bantered him, +and said, "Thou hast also our verdict, and this will prove a more sure +acquittal to thee than the other." They also threw him down from the +temple immediately into the valley beneath it. Moreover, they struck the +judges with the backs of their swords, by way of abuse, and thrust them +out of the court of the temple, and spared their lives with no other +design than that, when they were dispersed among the people in the city, +they might become their messengers, to let them know they were no better +than slaves. + +5. But by this time the Idumeans repented of their coming, and were +displeased at what had been done; and when they were assembled together +by one of the zealots, who had come privately to them, he declared +to them what a number of wicked pranks they had themselves done in +conjunction with those that invited them, and gave a particular account +of what mischiefs had been done against their metropolis. He said that +they had taken arms, as though the high priests were betraying their +metropolis to the Romans, but had found no indication of any such +treachery; but that they had succored those that had pretended to +believe such a thing, while they did themselves the works of war and +tyranny, after an insolent manner. It had been indeed their business to +have hindered them from such their proceedings at the first, but seeing +they had once been partners with them in shedding the blood of their +own countrymen, it was high time to put a stop to such crimes, and not +continue to afford any more assistance to such as are subverting the +laws of their forefathers; for that if any had taken it ill that the +gates had been shut against them, and they had not been permitted to +come into the city, yet that those who had excluded them have been +punished, and Ananus is dead, and that almost all those people had been +destroyed in one night's time. That one may perceive many of themselves +now repenting for what they had done, and might see the horrid barbarity +of those that had invited them, and that they had no regard to such as +had saved them; that they were so impudent as to perpetrate the vilest +things, under the eyes of those that had supported them, and that their +wicked actions would be laid to the charge of the Idumeans, and would +be so laid to their charge till somebody obstructs their proceedings, or +separates himself from the same wicked action; that they therefore ought +to retire home, since the imputation of treason appears to be a Calumny, +and that there was no expectation of the coming of the Romans at this +time, and that the government of the city was secured by such walls as +cannot easily be thrown down; and, by avoiding any further fellowship +with these bad men, to make some excuse for themselves, as to what they +had been so far deluded, as to have been partners with them hitherto. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + How The Zealots When They Were Freed From The Idumeans, Slew + A Great Many More Of The Citizens; And How Vespasian + Dissuaded The Romans When They Were Very Earnest To March + Against The Jews From Proceeding In The War At That Time. + +1. The Idumeans complied with these persuasions; and, in the first +place, they set those that were in the prisons at liberty, being about +two thousand of the populace, who thereupon fled away immediately to +Simon, one whom we shall speak of presently. After which these Idumeans +retired from Jerusalem, and went home; which departure of theirs was +a great surprise to both parties; for the people, not knowing of their +repentance, pulled up their courage for a while, as eased of so many of +their enemies, while the zealots grew more insolent not as deserted by +their confederates, but as freed from such men as might hinder their +designs, and plot some stop to their wickedness. Accordingly, they +made no longer any delay, nor took any deliberation in their enormous +practices, but made use of the shortest methods for all their executions +and what they had once resolved upon, they put in practice sooner than +any one could imagine. But their thirst was chiefly after the blood +of valiant men, and men of good families; the one sort of which they +destroyed out of envy, the other out of fear; for they thought their +whole security lay in leaving no potent men alive; on which account they +slew Gorion, a person eminent in dignity, and on account of his family +also; he was also for democracy, and of as great boldness and freedom +of spirit as were any of the Jews whosoever; the principal thing that +ruined him, added to his other advantages, was his free speaking. Nor +did Niger of Peres escape their hands; he had been a man of great valor +in their war with the Romans, but was now drawn through the middle of +the city, and, as he went, he frequently cried out, and showed the scars +of his wounds; and when he was drawn out of the gates, and despaired of +his preservation, he besought them to grant him a burial; but as they +had threatened him beforehand not to grant him any spot of earth for a +grave, which he chiefly desired of them, so did they slay him [without +permitting him to be buried]. Now when they were slaying him, he made +this imprecation upon them, that they might undergo both famine and +pestilence in this war, and besides all that, they might come to the +mutual slaughter of one another; all which imprecations God confirmed +against these impious men, and was what came most justly upon them, +when not long afterward they tasted of their own madness in their mutual +seditions one against another. So when this Niger was killed, their +fears of being overturned were diminished; and indeed there was no part +of the people but they found out some pretense to destroy them; for +some were therefore slain, because they had had differences with some of +them; and as to those that had not opposed them in times of peace, they +watched seasonable opportunities to gain some accusation against +them; and if any one did not come near them at all, he was under their +suspicion as a proud man; if any one came with boldness, he was esteemed +a contemner of them; and if any one came as aiming to oblige them, he +was supposed to have some treacherous plot against them; while the only +punishment of crimes, whether they were of the greatest or smallest +sort, was death. Nor could any one escape, unless he were very +inconsiderable, either on account of the meanness of his birth, or on +account of his fortune. + +2. And now all the rest of the commanders of the Romans deemed this +sedition among their enemies to be of great advantage to them, and were +very earnest to march to the city, and they urged Vespasian, as their +lord and general in all cases, to make haste, and said to him, that "the +providence of God is on our side, by setting our enemies at variance +against one another; that still the change in such cases may be sudden, +and the Jews may quickly be at one again, either because they may be +tired out with their civil miseries, or repent them of such doings." But +Vespasian replied, that they were greatly mistaken in what they thought +fit to be done, as those that, upon the theater, love to make a show +of their hands, and of their weapons, but do it at their own hazard, +without considering, what was for their advantage, and for their +security; for that if they now go and attack the city immediately, "they +shall but occasion their enemies to unite together, and shall convert +their force, now it is in its height, against themselves. But if they +stay a while, they shall have fewer enemies, because they will be +consumed in this sedition: that God acts as a general of the Romans +better than he can do, and is giving the Jews up to them without any +pains of their own, and granting their army a victory without any +danger; that therefore it is their best way, while their enemies +are destroying each other with their own hands, and falling into the +greatest of misfortunes, which is that of sedition, to sit still as +spectators of the dangers they run into, rather than to fight hand to +hand with men that love murdering, and are mad one against another. But +if any one imagines that the glory of victory, when it is gotten without +fighting, will be more insipid, let him know this much, that a glorious +success, quietly obtained, is more profitable than the dangers of +a battle; for we ought to esteem these that do what is agreeable to +temperance and prudence no less glorious than those that have gained +great reputation by their actions in war: that he shall lead on his army +with greater force when their enemies are diminished, and his own army +refreshed after the continual labors they had undergone. However, that +this is not a proper time to propose to ourselves the glory of victory; +for that the Jews are not now employed in making of armor or building of +walls, nor indeed in getting together auxiliaries, while the advantage +will be on their side who give them such opportunity of delay; but +that the Jews are vexed to pieces every day by their civil wars and +dissensions, and are under greater miseries than, if they were once +taken, could be inflicted on them by us. Whether therefore any one +hath regard to what is for our safety, he ought to suffer these Jews to +destroy one another; or whether he hath regard to the greater glory of +the action, we ought by no means to meddle with those men, now they are +afflicted with a distemper at home; for should we now conquer them, it +would be said the conquest was not owing to our bravery, but to their +sedition." 10 + +3. And now the commanders joined in their approbation of what Vespasian +had said, and it was soon discovered how wise an opinion he had given. +And indeed many there were of the Jews that deserted every day, and fled +away from the zealots, although their flight was very difficult, since +they had guarded every passage out of the city, and slew every one that +was caught at them, as taking it for granted they were going over to the +Romans; yet did he who gave them money get clear off, while he only that +gave them none was voted a traitor. So the upshot was this, that the +rich purchased their flight by money, while none but the poor were +slain. Along all the roads also vast numbers of dead bodies lay in +heaps, and even many of those that were so zealous in deserting at +length chose rather to perish within the city; for the hopes of burial +made death in their own city appear of the two less terrible to them. +But these zealots came at last to that degree of barbarity, as not to +bestow a burial either on those slain in the city, or on those that lay +along the roads; but as if they had made an agreement to cancel both the +laws of their country and the laws of nature, and, at the same time +that they defiled men with their wicked actions, they would pollute the +Divinity itself also, they left the dead bodies to putrefy under the +sun; and the same punishment was allotted to such as buried any as +to those that deserted, which was no other than death; while he that +granted the favor of a grave to another would presently stand in need +of a grave himself. To say all in a word, no other gentle passion was so +entirely lost among them as mercy; for what were the greatest objects of +pity did most of all irritate these wretches, and they transferred their +rage from the living to those that had been slain, and from the dead +to the living. Nay, the terror was so very great, that he who survived +called them that were first dead happy, as being at rest already; as did +those that were under torture in the prisons, declare, that, upon +this comparison, those that lay unburied were the happiest. These men, +therefore, trampled upon all the laws of men, and laughed at the laws +of God; and for the oracles of the prophets, they ridiculed them as +the tricks of jugglers; yet did these prophets foretell many things +concerning [the rewards of] virtue, and [punishments of] vice, which +when these zealots violated, they occasioned the fulfilling of those +very prophecies belonging to their own country; for there was a certain +ancient oracle of those men, that the city should then be taken and +the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should invade the +Jews, and their own hand should pollute the temple of God. Now while +these zealots did not [quite] disbelieve these predictions, they made +themselves the instruments of their accomplishment. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + How John Tyrannized Over The Rest; And What Mischiefs The + Zealots Did At Masada. How Also Vespasian Took Gadara; And + What Actions Were Performed By Placidus. + +1. By this time John was beginning to tyrannize, and thought it beneath +him to accept of barely the same honors that others had; and joining to +himself by degrees a party of the wickedest of them all, he broke +off from the rest of the faction. This was brought about by his still +disagreeing with the opinions of others, and giving out injunctions +of his own, in a very imperious manner; so that it was evident he was +setting up a monarchical power. Now some submitted to him out of their +fear of him, and others out of their good-will to him; for he was a +shrewd man to entice men to him, both by deluding them and putting +cheats upon them. Nay, many there were that thought they should be safer +themselves, if the causes of their past insolent actions should now be +reduced to one head, and not to a great many. His activity was so great, +and that both in action and in counsel, that he had not a few guards +about him; yet was there a great party of his antagonists that left him; +among whom envy at him weighed a great deal, while they thought it a +very heavy thing to be in subjection to one that was formerly their +equal. But the main reason that moved men against him was the dread of +monarchy, for they could not hope easily to put an end to his power, +if he had once obtained it; and yet they knew that he would have this +pretense always against them, that they had opposed him when he was +first advanced; while every one chose rather to suffer any thing +whatsoever in war, than that, when they had been in a voluntary slavery +for some time, they should afterward perish. So the sedition was divided +into two parts, and John reigned in opposition to his adversaries over +one of them: but for their leaders, they watched one another, nor +did they at all, or at least very little, meddle with arms in their +quarrels; but they fought earnestly against the people, and contended +one with another which of them should bring home the greatest prey. But +because the city had to struggle with three of the greatest misfortunes, +war, and tyranny, and sedition, it appeared, upon the comparison, +that the war was the least troublesome to the populace of them all. +Accordingly, they ran away from their own houses to foreigners, and +obtained that preservation from the Romans which they despaired to +obtain among their own people. + +2. And now a fourth misfortune arose, in order to bring our nation to +destruction. There was a fortress of very great strength not far +from Jerusalem, which had been built by our ancient kings, both as +a repository for their effects in the hazards of war, and for the +preservation of their bodies at the same time. It was called Masada. +Those that were called Sicarii had taken possession of it formerly, +but at this time they overran the neighboring countries, aiming only +to procure to themselves necessaries; for the fear they were then in +prevented their further ravages. But when once they were informed +that the Roman army lay still, and that the Jews were divided between +sedition and tyranny, they boldly undertook greater matters; and at the +feast of unleavened bread, which the Jews celebrate in memory of their +deliverance from the Egyptian bondage, when they were sent back into +the country of their forefathers, they came down by night, without +being discovered by those that could have prevented them, and overran a +certain small city called Engaddi:--in which expedition they prevented +those citizens that could have stopped them, before they could arm +themselves, and fight them. They also dispersed them, and cast them +out of the city. As for such as could not run away, being women and +children, they slew of them above seven hundred. Afterward, when they +had carried every thing out of their houses, and had seized upon all +the fruits that were in a flourishing condition, they brought them into +Masada. And indeed these men laid all the villages that were about the +fortress waste, and made the whole country desolate; while there came to +them every day, from all parts, not a few men as corrupt as themselves. +At that time all the other regions of Judea that had hitherto been at +rest were in motion, by means of the robbers. Now as it is in a human +body, if the principal part be inflamed, all the members are subject to +the same distemper; so, by means of the sedition and disorder that +was in the metropolis,. had the wicked men that were in the country +opportunity to ravage the same. Accordingly, when every one of them had +plundered their own villages, they then retired into the desert; yet +were these men that now got together, and joined in the conspiracy by +parties, too small for an army, and too many for a gang of thieves: and +thus did they fall upon the holy places 11 and the cities; yet did it +now so happen that they were sometimes very ill treated by those upon +whom they fell with such violence, and were taken by them as men are +taken in war: but still they prevented any further punishment as do +robbers, who, as soon as their ravages [are discovered], run their +way. Nor was there now any part of Judea that was not in a miserable +condition, as well as its most eminent city also. + +3. These things were told Vespasian by deserters; for although the +seditious watched all the passages out of the city, and destroyed all, +whosoever they were, that came thither, yet were there some that had +concealed themselves, and when they had fled to the Romans, persuaded +their general to come to their city's assistance, and save the remainder +of the people; informing him withal, that it was upon account of the +people's good-will to the Romans that many of them were already slain, +and the survivors in danger of the same treatment. Vespasian did indeed +already pity the calamities these men were in, and arose, in appearance, +as though he was going to besiege Jerusalem, but in reality to deliver +them from a [worse] siege they were already under. However, he was +obliged first to overthrow what remained elsewhere, and to leave nothing +out of Jerusalem behind him that might interrupt him in that siege. +Accordingly, he marched against Gadara, the metropolis of Perea, which +was a place of strength, and entered that city on the fourth day of the +month Dystrus [Adar]; for the men of power had sent an embassage to +him, without the knowledge of the seditious, to treat about a surrender; +which they did out of the desire they had of peace, and for saving their +effects, because many of the citizens of Gadara were rich men. This +embassy the opposite party knew nothing of, but discovered it as +Vespasian was approaching near the city. However, they despaired of +keeping possession of the city, as being inferior in number to their +enemies who were within the city, and seeing the Romans very near to +the city; so they resolved to fly, but thought it dishonorable to do it +without shedding some blood, and revenging themselves on the authors +of this surrender; so they seized upon Dolesus, [a person not only the +first in rank and family in that city, but one that seemed the occasion +of sending such an embassy,] and slew him, and treated his dead body +after a barbarous manner, so very violent was their anger at him, and +then ran out of the city. And as now the Roman army was just upon them, +the people of Gadara admitted Vespasian with joyful acclamations, and +received from him the security of his right hand, as also a garrison +of horsemen and footmen, to guard them against the excursions of the +runagates; for as to their wall, they had pulled it down before +the Romans desired them so to do, that they might thereby give them +assurance that they were lovers of peace, and that, if they had a mind, +they could not now make war against them. + +4. And now Vespasian sent Placidus against those that had fled from +Gadara, with five hundred horsemen, and three thousand footmen, while he +returned himself to Cesarea, with the rest of the army. But as soon +as these fugitives saw the horsemen that pursued them just upon their +backs, and before they came to a close fight, they ran together to a +certain village, which was called Bethennabris, where finding a great +multitude of young men, and arming them, partly by their own consent, +partly by force, they rashly and suddenly assaulted Placidus and the +troops that were with him. These horsemen at the first onset gave way a +little, as contriving to entice them further off the wall; and when they +had drawn them into a place fit for their purpose, they made their horse +encompass them round, and threw their darts at them. So the horsemen cut +off the flight of the fugitives, while the foot terribly destroyed those +that fought against them; for those Jews did no more than show their +courage, and then were destroyed; for as they fell upon the Romans when +they were joined close together, and, as it were, walled about with +their entire armor, they were not able to find any place where the darts +could enter, nor were they any way able to break their ranks, while they +were themselves run through by the Roman darts, and, like the wildest +of wild beasts, rushed upon the point of others' swords; so some of them +were destroyed, as cut with their enemies' swords upon their faces, and +others were dispersed by the horsemen. + +5. Now Placidus's concern was to exclude them in their flight from +getting into the village; and causing his horse to march continually on +that side of them, he then turned short upon them, and at the same time +his men made use of their darts, and easily took their aim at those that +were the nearest to them, as they made those that were further off turn +back by the terror they were in, till at last the most courageous of +them brake through those horsemen and fled to the wall of the village. +And now those that guarded the wall were in great doubt what to do; +for they could not bear the thoughts of excluding those that came from +Gadara, because of their own people that were among them; and yet, if +they should admit them, they expected to perish with them, which came +to pass accordingly; for as they were crowding together at the wall, the +Roman horsemen were just ready to fall in with them. However, the guards +prevented them, and shut the gates, when Placidus made an assault upon +them, and fighting courageously till it was dark, he got possession +of the wall, and of the people that were in the city, when the useless +multitude were destroyed; but those that were more potent ran away, and +the soldiers plundered the houses, and set the village on fire. As for +those that ran out of the village, they stirred up such as were in the +country, and exaggerating their own calamities, and telling them that +the whole army of the Romans were upon them, they put them into great +fear on every side; so they got in great numbers together, and fled to +Jericho, for they knew no other place that could afford them any hope of +escaping, it being a city that had a strong wall, and a great multitude +of inhabitants. But Placidus, relying much upon his horsemen, and his +former good success, followed them, and slew all that he overtook, +as far as Jordan; and when he had driven the whole multitude to the +river-side, where they were stopped by the current, [for it had been +augmented lately by rains, and was not fordable,] he put his soldiers +in array over against them; so the necessity the others were in provoked +them to hazard a battle, because there was no place whither they could +flee. They then extended themselves a very great way along the banks of +the river, and sustained the darts that were thrown at them, as well as +the attacks of the horsemen, who beat many of them, and pushed them into +the current. At which fight, hand to hand, fifteen thousand of them were +slain, while the number of those that were unwillingly forced to leap +into Jordan was prodigious. There were besides two thousand and two +hundred taken prisoners. A mighty prey was taken also, consisting of +asses, and sheep, and camels, and oxen. + +6. Now this destruction that fell upon the Jews, as it was not inferior +to any of the rest in itself, so did it still appear greater than it +really was; and this, because not only the whole country through which +they fled was filled with slaughter, and Jordan could not be passed +over, by reason of the dead bodies that were in it, but because the lake +Asphaltites was also full of dead bodies, that were carried down into +it by the river. And now Placidus, after this good success that he had, +fell violently upon the neighboring smaller cities and villages; when he +took Abila, and Julias, and Bezemoth, and all those that lay as far as +the lake Asphaltites, and put such of the deserters into each of them as +he thought proper. He then put his soldiers on board the ships, and +slew such as had fled to the lake, insomuch that all Perea had +either surrendered themselves, or were taken by the Romans, as far as +Machaerus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + How Vespasian Upon Hearing Of Some Commotions In Gall, <a + href="#link4note-12" name="link4noteref-12" id="link4noteref-12">12</a> + Made Haste To Finish The Jewish War. A Description Of + Jericho, And Of The Great Plain; With An Account Besides Of + The Lake Asphaltites. + +1. In the mean time, an account came that there were commotions in Gall, +and that Vindex, together with the men of power in that country, had +revolted from Nero; which affair is more accurately described elsewhere. +This report, thus related to Vespasian, excited him to go on briskly +with the war; for he foresaw already the civil wars which were coming +upon them, nay, that the very government was in danger; and he thought, +if he could first reduce the eastern parts of the empire to peace, he +should make the fears for Italy the lighter; while therefore the winter +was his hinderance [from going into the field], he put garrisons into +the villages and smaller cities for their security; he put decurions +also into the villages, and centurions into the cities: he besides +this rebuilt many of the cities that had been laid waste; but at the +beginning of the spring he took the greatest part of his army, and led +it from Cesarea to Antipatris, where he spent two days in settling the +affairs of that city, and then, on the third day, he marched on, laying +waste and burning all the neighboring villages. And when he had laid +waste all the places about the toparchy of Thamnas, he passed on to +Lydda and Jamnia; and when both these cities had come over to him, +he placed a great many of those that had come over to him [from other +places] as inhabitants therein, and then came to Emmaus, where he seized +upon the passage which led thence to their metropolis, and fortified his +camp, and leaving the fifth legion therein, he came to the toparchy of +Bethletephon. He then destroyed that place, and the neighboring places, +by fire, and fortified, at proper places, the strong holds all about +Idumea; and when he had seized upon two villages, which were in the very +midst of Idumea, Betaris and Caphartobas, he slew above ten thousand of +the people, and carried into captivity above a thousand, and drove away +the rest of the multitude, and placed no small part of his own forces +in them, who overran and laid waste the whole mountainous country; while +he, with the rest of his forces, returned to Emmaus, whence he came down +through the country of Samaria, and hard by the city, by others called +Neapolis, [or Sichem,] but by the people of that country Mabortha, to +Corea, where he pitched his camp, on the second day of the month Desius +[Sivan]; and on the day following he came to Jericho; on which day +Trajan, one of his commanders, joined him with the forces he brought out +of Perea, all the places beyond Jordan being subdued already. + +2. Hereupon a great multitude prevented their approach, and came out +of Jericho, and fled to those mountainous parts that lay over against +Jerusalem, while that part which was left behind was in a great measure +destroyed; they also found the city desolate. It is situated in a plain; +but a naked and barren mountain, of a very great length, hangs over it, +which extends itself to the land about Scythopolis northward, but as far +as the country of Sodom, and the utmost limits of the lake Asphaltites, +southward. This mountain is all of it very uneven and uninhabited, by +reason of its barrenness: there is an opposite mountain that is situated +over against it, on the other side of Jordan; this last begins at +Julias, and the northern quarters, and extends itself southward as far +as Somorrhon, 13 which is the bounds of Petra, in Arabia. In this ridge +of mountains there is one called the Iron Mountain, that runs in length +as far as Moab. Now the region that lies in the middle between these +ridges of mountains is called the Great Plain; it reaches from the +village Ginnabris, as far as the lake Asphaltites; its length is two +hundred and thirty furlongs, and its breadth a hundred and twenty, and +it is divided in the midst by Jordan. It hath two lakes in it, that of +Asphaltites, and that of Tiberias, whose natures are opposite to each +other; for the former is salt and unfruitful, but that of Tiberias is +sweet and fruitful. This plain is much burnt up in summer time, and, by +reason of the extraordinary heat, contains a very unwholesome air; it is +all destitute of water excepting the river Jordan, which water of Jordan +is the occasion why those plantations of palm trees that are near its +banks are more flourishing, and much more fruitful, as are those that +are remote from it not so flourishing, or fruitful. + +3. Notwithstanding which, there is a fountain by Jericho, that runs +plentifully, and is very fit for watering the ground; it arises near +the old city, which Joshua, the son of Naue, the general of the Hebrews, +took the first of all the cities of the land of Canaan, by right of war. +The report is, that this fountain, at the beginning, caused not only the +blasting of the earth and the trees, but of the children born of women, +and that it was entirely of a sickly and corruptive nature to all +things whatsoever; but that it was made gentle, and very wholesome and +fruitful, by the prophet Elisha. This prophet was familiar with Elijah, +and was his successor, who, when he once was the guest of the people at +Jericho, and the men of the place had treated him very kindly, he both +made them amends as well as the country, by a lasting favor; for he went +out of the city to this fountain, and threw into the current an earthen +vessel full of salt; after which he stretched out his righteous hand +unto heaven, and, pouring out a mild drink-offering, he made this +supplication, That the current might be mollified, and that the veins of +fresh water might be opened; that God also would bring into the place +a more temperate and fertile air for the current, and would bestow upon +the people of that country plenty of the fruits of the earth, and a +succession of children; and that this prolific water might never fail +them, while they continued to be righteous. To these prayers Elisha +14 joined proper operations of his hands, after a skillful manner, and +changed the fountain; and that water, which had been the occasion of +barrenness and famine before, from that time did supply a numerous +posterity, and afforded great abundance to the country. Accordingly, the +power of it is so great in watering the ground, that if it do but once +touch a country, it affords a sweeter nourishment than other waters do, +when they lie so long upon them, till they are satiated with them. For +which reason, the advantage gained from other waters, when they flow in +great plenty, is but small, while that of this water is great when it +flows even in little quantities. Accordingly, it waters a larger space +of ground than any other waters do, and passes along a plain of seventy +furlongs long, and twenty broad; wherein it affords nourishment to those +most excellent gardens that are thick set with trees. There are in it +many sorts of palm trees that are watered by it, different from each +other in taste and name; the better sort of them, when they are pressed, +yield an excellent kind of honey, not much inferior in sweetness to +other honey. This country withal produces honey from bees; it also bears +that balsam which is the most precious of all the fruits in that place, +cypress trees also, and those that bear myrobalanum; so that he who +should pronounce this place to be divine would not be mistaken, wherein +is such plenty of trees produced as are very rare, and of the must +excellent sort. And indeed, if we speak of those other fruits, it will +not be easy to light on any climate in the habitable earth that can +well be compared to it, what is here sown comes up in such clusters; +the cause of which seems to me to be the warmth of the air, and the +fertility of the waters; the warmth calling forth the sprouts, and +making them spread, and the moisture making every one of them take root +firmly, and supplying that virtue which it stands in need of in summer +time. Now this country is then so sadly burnt up, that nobody cares to +come at it; and if the water be drawn up before sun-rising, and after +that exposed to the air, it becomes exceeding cold, and becomes of a +nature quite contrary to the ambient air; as in winter again it becomes +warm; and if you go into it, it appears very gentle. The ambient air is +here also of so good a temperature, that the people of the country are +clothed in linen-only, even when snow covers the rest of Judea. This +place is one hundred and fifty furlongs from Jerusalem, and sixty from +Jordan. The country, as far as Jerusalem, is desert and stony; but that +as far as Jordan and the lake Asphaltites lies lower indeed, though it +be equally desert and barren. But so much shall suffice to have said +about Jericho, and of the great happiness of its situation. + +4. The nature of the lake Asphaltites is also worth describing. It is, +as I have said already, bitter and unfruitful. It is so light [or thick] +that it bears up the heaviest things that are thrown into it; nor is it +easy for any one to make things sink therein to the bottom, if he had a +mind so to do. Accordingly, when Vespasian went to see it, he commanded +that some who could not swim should have their hands tied behind them, +and be thrown into the deep, when it so happened that they all swam as +if a wind had forced them upwards. Moreover, the change of the color of +this lake is wonderful, for it changes its appearance thrice every +day; and as the rays of the sun fall differently upon it, the light is +variously reflected. However, it casts up black clods of bitumen in many +parts of it; these swim at the top of the water, and resemble both in +shape and bigness headless bulls; and when the laborers that belong to +the lake come to it, and catch hold of it as it hangs together, they +draw it into their ships; but when the ship is full, it is not easy to +cut off the rest, for it is so tenacious as to make the ship hang upon +its clods till they set it loose with the menstrual blood of women, and +with urine, to which alone it yields. This bitumen is not only +useful for the caulking of ships, but for the cure of men's bodies; +accordingly, it is mixed in a great many medicines. The length of this +lake is five hundred and eighty furlongs, where it is extended as far as +Zoar in Arabia; and its breadth is a hundred and fifty. The country of +Sodom borders upon it. It was of old a most happy land, both for the +fruits it bore and the riches of its cities, although it be now all +burnt up. It is related how, for the impiety of its inhabitants, it +was burnt by lightning; in consequence of which there are still the +remainders of that Divine fire, and the traces [or shadows] of the +five cities are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing in their +fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but +if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes. +And thus what is related of this land of Sodom hath these marks of +credibility which our very sight affords us. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + That Vespasian, After He Had Taken Gadara Made Preparation + For The Siege Of Jerusalem; But That, Upon His Hearing Of + The Death Of Nero, He Changed His Intentions. As Also + Concerning Simon Of Geras. + +1. And now Vespasian had fortified all the places round about Jerusalem, +and erected citadels at Jericho and Adida, and placed garrisons in them +both, partly out of his own Romans, and partly out of the body of his +auxiliaries. He also sent Lucius Annius to Gerasa, and delivered to him +a body of horsemen, and a considerable number of footmen. So when he had +taken the city, which he did at the first onset, he slew a thousand of +those young men who had not prevented him by flying away; but he took +their families captive, and permitted his soldiers to plunder them of +their effects; after which he set fire to their houses, and went away to +the adjoining villages, while the men of power fled away, and the weaker +part were destroyed, and what was remaining was all burnt down. And now +the war having gone through all the mountainous country, and all the +plain country also, those that were at Jerusalem were deprived of +the liberty of going out of the city; for as to such as had a mind to +desert, they were watched by the zealots; and as to such as were not yet +on the side of the Romans, their army kept them in, by encompassing the +city round about on all sides. + +2. Now as Vespasian was returned to Cesarea, and was getting ready with +all his army to march directly to Jerusalem, he was informed that Nero +was dead, after he had reigned thirteen years and eight days. But as to +any narration after what manner he abused his power in the government, +and committed the management of affairs to those vile wretches, +Nymphidius and Tigellinus, his unworthy freed-men; and how he had a plot +laid against him by them, and was deserted by all his guards, and ran +away with four of his most trusty freed-men, and slew himself in the +suburbs of Rome; and how those that occasioned his death were in no long +time brought themselves to punishment; how also the war in Gall ended; +and how Galba was made emperor 16 and returned out of Spain to Rome; and +how he was accused by the soldiers as a pusillanimous person, and slain +by treachery in the middle of the market-place at Rome, and Otho was +made emperor; with his expedition against the commanders of Vitellius, +and his destruction thereupon; and besides what troubles there were +under Vitellius, and the fight that was about the capitol; as also how +Antonius Primus and Mucianus slew Vitellius, and his German legions, and +thereby put an end to that civil war; I have omitted to give an exact +account of them, because they are well known by all, and they are +described by a great number of Greek and Roman authors; yet for the sake +of the connexion of matters, and that my history may not be incoherent, +I have just touched upon every thing briefly. Wherefore Vespasian put +off at first his expedition against Jerusalem, and stood waiting whither +the empire would be transferred after the death of Nero. Moreover, when +he heard that Galba was made emperor, he attempted nothing till he also +should send him some directions about the war: however, he sent his son +Titus to him, to salute him, and to receive his commands about the Jews. +Upon the very same errand did king Agrippa sail along with Titus to +Galba; but as they were sailing in their long ships by the coasts of +Achaia, for it was winter time, they heard that Galba was slain, before +they could get to him, after he had reigned seven months and as many +days. After whom Otho took the government, and undertook the management +of public affairs. So Agrippa resolved to go on to Rome without any +terror; on account of the change in the government; but Titus, by a +Divine impulse, sailed back from Greece to Syria, and came in great +haste to Cesarea, to his father. And now they were both in suspense +about the public affairs, the Roman empire being then in a fluctuating +condition, and did not go on with their expedition against the Jews, but +thought that to make any attack upon foreigners was now unseasonable, on +account of the solicitude they were in for their own country. + +3. And now there arose another war at Jerusalem. There was a son of +Giora, one Simon, by birth of Gerasa, a young man, not so cunning +indeed as John [of Gisehala], who had already seized upon the city, but +superior in strength of body and courage; on which account, when he had +been driven away from that Acrabattene toparchy, which he once had, by +Ananus the high priest, he came to those robbers who had seized upon +Masada. At the first they suspected him, and only permitted him to come +with the women he brought with him into the lower part of the fortress, +while they dwelt in the upper part of it themselves. However, his manner +so well agreed with theirs, and he seemed so trusty a man, that he went +out with them, and ravaged and destroyed the country with them about +Masada; yet when he persuaded them to undertake greater things, he could +not prevail with them so to do; for as they were accustomed to dwell in +that citadel, they were afraid of going far from that which was +their hiding-place; but he affecting to tyrannize, and being fond of +greatness, when he had heard of the death of Ananus, he left them, and +went into the mountainous part of the country. So he proclaimed liberty +to those in slavery, and a reward to those already free, and got +together a set of wicked men from all quarters. + +4. And as he had now a strong body of men about him, he overran the +villages that lay in the mountainous country, and when there were still +more and more that came to him, he ventured to go down into the lower +parts of the country, and since he was now become formidable to the +cities, many of the men of power were corrupted by him; so that his army +was no longer composed of slaves and robbers, but a great many of the +populace were obedient to him as to their king. He then overran the +Acrabattene toparchy, and the places that reached as far as the Great +Idumea; for he built a wall at a certain village called Nain, and made +use of that as a fortress for his own party's security; and at the +valley called Paran, he enlarged many of the caves, and many others he +found ready for his purpose; these he made use of as repositories for +his treasures, and receptacles for his prey, and therein he laid up the +fruits that he had got by rapine; and many of his partizans had their +dwelling in them; and he made no secret of it that he was exercising his +men beforehand, and making preparations for the assault of Jerusalem. + +5. Whereupon the zealots, out of the dread they were in of his attacking +them, and being willing to prevent one that was growing up to oppose +them, went out against him with their weapons. Simon met them, and +joining battle with them, slew a considerable number of them, and drove +the rest before him into the city, but durst not trust so much upon his +forces as to make an assault upon the walls; but he resolved first to +subdue Idumea, and as he had now twenty thousand armed men, he marched +to the borders of their country. Hereupon the rulers of the Idumeans +got together on the sudden the most warlike part of their people, about +twenty-five thousand in number, and permitted the rest to be a guard +to their own country, by reason of the incursions that were made by the +Sicarii that were at Masada. Thus they received Simon at their borders, +where they fought him, and continued the battle all that day; and the +dispute lay whether they had conquered him, or been conquered by him. So +he went back to Nain, as did the Idumeans return home. Nor was it long +ere Simon came violently again upon their country; when he pitched his +camp at a certain village called Thecoe, and sent Eleazar, one of his +companions, to those that kept garrison at Herodium, and in order to +persuade them to surrender that fortress to him. The garrison received +this man readily, while they knew nothing of what he came about; but as +soon as he talked of the surrender of the place, they fell upon him with +their drawn swords, till he found that he had no place for flight, when +he threw himself down from the wall into the valley beneath; so he died +immediately: but the Idumeans, who were already much afraid of Simon's +power, thought fit to take a view of the enemy's army before they +hazarded a battle with them. + +6. Now there was one of their commanders named Jacob, who offered to +serve them readily upon that occasion, but had it in his mind to betray +them. He went therefore from the village Alurus, wherein the army of the +Idumeans were gotten together, and came to Simon, and at the very first +he agreed to betray his country to him, and took assurances upon oath +from him that he should always have him in esteem, and then promised him +that he would assist him in subduing all Idumea under him; upon which +account he was feasted after an obliging manner by Simon, and elevated +by his mighty promises; and when he was returned to his own men, he at +first belied the army of Simon, and said it was manifold more in number +than what it was; after which, he dexterously persuaded the commanders, +and by degrees the whole multitude, to receive Simon, and to surrender +the whole government up to him without fighting. And as he was doing +this, he invited Simon by his messengers, and promised him to disperse +the Idumeans, which he performed also; for as soon as their army was +nigh them, he first of all got upon his horse, and fled, together with +those whom he had corrupted; hereupon a terror fell upon the whole +multitude; and before it came to a close fight, they broke their ranks, +and every one retired to his own home. + +7. Thus did Simon unexpectedly march into Idumea, without bloodshed, and +made a sudden attack upon the city Hebron, and took it; wherein he got +possession of a great deal of prey, and plundered it of a vast quantity +of fruit. Now the people of the country say that it is an ancienter +city, not only than any in that country, but than Memphis in Egypt, and +accordingly its age is reckoned at two thousand and three hundred +years. They also relate that it had been the habitation of Abram, the +progenitor of the Jews, after he had removed out of Mesopotamia; and +they say that his posterity descended from thence into Egypt, whose +monuments are to this very time showed in that small city; the fabric of +which monuments are of the most excellent marble, and wrought after the +most elegant manner. There is also there showed, at the distance of six +furlongs from the city, a very large turpentine tree 17 and the report +goes, that this tree has continued ever since the creation of the world. +Thence did Simon make his progress over all Idumea, and did not only +ravage the cities and villages, but lay waste the whole country; for, +besides those that were completely armed, he had forty thousand men that +followed him, insomuch that he had not provisions enough to suffice such +a multitude. Now, besides this want of provisions that he was in, he +was of a barbarous disposition, and bore great anger at this nation, by +which means it came to pass that Idumea was greatly depopulated; and as +one may see all the woods behind despoiled of their leaves by locusts, +after they have been there, so was there nothing left behind Simon's +army but a desert. Some places they burnt down, some they utterly +demolished, and whatsoever grew in the country, they either trod it +down or fed upon it, and by their marches they made the ground that was +cultivated harder and more untractable than that which was barren. In +short, there was no sign remaining of those places that had been laid +waste, that ever they had had a being. + +8. This success of Simon excited the zealots afresh; and though they +were afraid to fight him openly in a fair battle, yet did they lay +ambushes in the passes, and seized upon his wife, with a considerable +number of her attendants; whereupon they came back to the city +rejoicing, as if they had taken Simon himself captive, and were +in present expectation that he would lay down his arms, and make +supplication to them for his wife; but instead of indulging any merciful +affection, he grew very angry at them for seizing his beloved wife; so +he came to the wall of Jerusalem, and, like wild beasts when they are +wounded, and cannot overtake those that wounded them, he vented his +spleen upon all persons that he met with. Accordingly, he caught all +those that were come out of the city gates, either to gather herbs +or sticks, who were unarmed and in years; he then tormented them and +destroyed them, out of the immense rage he was in, and was almost ready +to taste the very flesh of their dead bodies. He also cut off the hands +of a great many, and sent them into the city to astonish his enemies, +and in order to make the people fall into a sedition, and desert those +that had been the authors of his wife's seizure. He also enjoined them +to tell the people that Simon swore by the God of the universe, who sees +all things, that unless they will restore him his wife, he will break +down their wall, and inflict the like punishment upon all the citizens, +without sparing any age, and without making any distinction between the +guilty and the innocent. These threatenings so greatly affrighted, not +the people only, but the zealots themselves also, that they sent his +wife back to him; when he became a little milder, and left off his +perpetual blood-shedding. + +9. But now sedition and civil war prevailed, not only over Judea, but +in Italy also; for now Galba was slain in the midst of the Roman +market-place; then was Otho made emperor, and fought against Vitellius, +who set up for emperor also; for the legions in Germany had chosen him. +But when he gave battle to Valens and Cecinna, who were Vitellius's +generals, at Betriacum, in Gaul, Otho gained the advantage on the first +day, but on the second day Vitellius's soldiers had the victory; and +after much slaughter Otho slew himself, when he had heard of this defeat +at Brixia, and after he had managed the public affairs three months and +two days. 18 Otho's army also came over to Vitellius's generals, and he +came himself down to Rome with his army. But in the mean time Vespasian +removed from Cesarea, on the fifth day of the month Desius, [Sivan,] and +marched against those places of Judea which were not yet overthrown. +So he went up to the mountainous country, and took those two toparchies +that were called the Gophnitick and Acrabattene toparchies. After +which he took Bethel and Ephraim, two small cities; and when he had put +garrisons into them, he rode as far as Jerusalem, in which march he took +many prisoners, and many captives; but Cerealis, one of his commanders, +took a body of horsemen and footmen, and laid waste that part of +Idumea which was called the Upper Idumea, and attacked Caphethra, which +pretended to be a small city, and took it at the first onset, and burnt +it down. He also attacked Caphatabira, and laid siege to it, for it had +a very strong wall; and when he expected to spend a long time in that +siege, those that were within opened their gates on the sudden, and came +to beg pardon, and surrendered themselves up to him. When Cerealis had +conquered them, he went to Hebron, another very ancient city. I have +told you already that this city is situated in a mountainous country not +far off Jerusalem; and when he had broken into the city by force, what +multitude and young men were left therein he slew, and burnt down the +city; so that as now all the places were taken, excepting Herodlum, and +Masada, and Machaerus, which were in the possession of the robbers, so +Jerusalem was what the Romans at present aimed at. + +10. And now, as soon as Simon had set his wife free, and recovered her +from the zealots, he returned back to the remainders of Idumea, and +driving the nation all before him from all quarters, he compelled a +great number of them to retire to Jerusalem; he followed them himself +also to the city, and encompassed the wall all round again; and when he +lighted upon any laborers that were coming thither out of the country, +he slew them. Now this Simon, who was without the wall, was a greater +terror to the people than the Romans themselves, as were the zealots who +were within it more heavy upon them than both of the other; and during +this time did the mischievous contrivances and courage [of John] corrupt +the body of the Galileans; for these Galileans had advanced this John, +and made him very potent, who made them suitable requital from the +authority he had obtained by their means; for he permitted them to do +all things that any of them desired to do, while their inclination to +plunder was insatiable, as was their zeal in searching the houses of the +rich; and for the murdering of the men, and abusing of the women, it was +sport to them. They also devoured what spoils they had taken, together +with their blood, and indulged themselves in feminine wantonness, +without any disturbance, till they were satiated therewith; while they +decked their hair, and put on women's garments, and were besmeared over +with ointments; and that they might appear very comely, they had paints +under their eyes, and imitated not only the ornaments, but also the +lusts of women, and were guilty of such intolerable uncleanness, that +they invented unlawful pleasures of that sort. And thus did they roll +themselves up and down the city, as in a brothel-house, and defiled it +entirely with their impure actions; nay, while their faces looked like +the faces of women, they killed with their right hands; and when their +gait was effeminate, they presently attacked men, and became warriors, +and drew their swords from under their finely dyed cloaks, and ran every +body through whom they alighted upon. However, Simon waited for such as +ran away from John, and was the more bloody of the two; and he who had +escaped the tyrant within the wall was destroyed by the other that lay +before the gates, so that all attempts of flying and deserting to the +Romans were cut off, as to those that had a mind so to do. + +11. Yet did the army that was under John raise a sedition against him, +and all the Idumeans separated themselves from the tyrant, and attempted +to destroy him, and this out of their envy at his power, and hatred of +his cruelty; so they got together, and slew many of the zealots, and +drove the rest before them into that royal palace that was built by +Grapte, who was a relation of Izates, the king of Adiabene; the Idumeans +fell in with them, and drove the zealots out thence into the temple, and +betook themselves to plunder John's effects; for both he himself was in +that palace, and therein had he laid up the spoils he had acquired by +his tyranny. In the mean time, the multitude of those zealots that were +dispersed over the city ran together to the temple unto those that fled +thither, and John prepared to bring them down against the people and the +Idumeans, who were not so much afraid of being attacked by them [because +they were themselves better soldiers than they] as at their madness, +lest they should privately sally out of the temple and get among them, +and not only destroy them, but set the city on fire also. So they +assembled themselves together, and the high priests with them, and took +counsel after what manner they should avoid their assault. Now it was +God who turned their opinions to the worst advice, and thence they +devised such a remedy to get themselves free as was worse than the +disease itself. Accordingly, in order to overthrow John, they determined +to admit Simon, and earnestly to desire the introduction of a second +tyrant into the city; which resolution they brought to perfection, and +sent Matthias, the high priest, to beseech this Simon to come in to +them, of whom they had so often been afraid. Those also that had fled +from the zealots in Jerusalem joined in this request to him, out of +the desire they had of preserving their houses and their effects. +Accordingly he, in an arrogant manner, granted them his lordly +protection, and came into the city, in order to deliver it from the +zealots. The people also made joyful acclamations to him, as their +savior and their preserver; but when he was come in, with his army, he +took care to secure his own authority, and looked upon those that had +invited him in to be no less his enemies than those against whom the +invitation was intended. + +12. And thus did Simon get possession of Jerusalem, in the third year +of the war, in the month Xanthicus [Nisan]; whereupon John, with his +multitude of zealots, as being both prohibited from coming out of the +temple, and having lost their power in the city, [for Simon and +his party had plundered them of what they had,] were in despair of +deliverance. Simon also made an assault upon the temple, with the +assistance of the people, while the others stood upon the cloisters and +the battlements, and defended themselves from their assaults. However, +a considerable number of Simon's party fell, and many were carried off +wounded; for the zealots threw their darts easily from a superior place, +and seldom failed of hitting their enemies; but having the advantage of +situation, and having withal erected four very large towers aforehand, +that their darts might come from higher places, one at the north-east +corner of the court, one above the Xystus, the third at another corner +over against the lower city, and the last was erected above the top of +the Pastophoria, where one of the priests stood of course, and gave a +signal beforehand, with a trumpet 19 at the beginning of every seventh +day, in the evening twilight, as also at the evening when that day was +finished, as giving notice to the people when they were to leave off +work, and when they were to go to work again. These men also set their +engines to cast darts and stones withal, upon those towers, with their +archers and slingers. And now Simon made his assault upon the temple +more faintly, by reason that the greatest part of his men grew weary of +that work; yet did he not leave off his opposition, because his army +was superior to the others, although the darts which were thrown by the +engines were carried a great way, and slew many of those that fought for +him. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + How The Soldiers, Both In Judea And Egypt, Proclaimed + Vespasian Emperor; And How Vespasian Released Josephus From + His Bonds. + +1. Now about this very time it was that heavy calamities came about Rome +on all sides; for Vitellius was come from Germany with his soldiery, and +drew along with him a great multitude of other men besides. And when the +spaces allotted for soldiers could not contain them, he made all Rome +itself his camp, and filled all the houses with his armed men; which +men, when they saw the riches of Rome with those eyes which had never +seen such riches before, and found themselves shone round about on all +sides with silver and gold, they had much ado to contain their covetous +desires, and were ready to betake themselves to plunder, and to the +slaughter of such as should stand in their way. And this was the state +of affairs in Italy at that time. + +2. But when Vespasian had overthrown all the places that were near to +Jerusalem, he returned to Cesarea, and heard of the troubles that were +at Rome, and that Vitellius was emperor. This produced indignation in +him, although he well knew how to be governed as well as to govern, +and could not, with any satisfaction, own him for his lord who acted so +madly, and seized upon the government as if it were absolutely destitute +of a governor. And as this sorrow of his was violent, he was not able to +support the torments he was under, nor to apply himself further in other +wars, when his native country was laid waste; but then, as much as his +passion excited him to avenge his country, so much was he restrained +by the consideration of his distance therefrom; because fortune might +prevent him, and do a world of mischief before he could himself sail +over the sea to Italy, especially as it was still the winter season; so +he restrained his anger, how vehement soever it was at this time. + +3. But now his commanders and soldiers met in several companies, and +consulted openly about changing the public affairs; and, out of their +indignation, cried out, how "at Rome there are soldiers that live +delicately, and when they have not ventured so much as to hear the fame +of war, they ordain whom they please for our governors, and in hopes +of gain make them emperors; while you, who have gone through so many +labors, and are grown into years under your helmets, give leave to +others to use such a power, when yet you have among yourselves one +more worthy to rule than any whom they have set up. Now what juster +opportunity shall they ever have of requiting their generals, if they +do not make use of this that is now before them? while there is so much +juster reasons for Vespasian's being emperor than for Vitellius; as they +are themselves more deserving than those that made the other emperors; +for that they have undergone as great wars as have the troops that come +from Germany; nor are they inferior in war to those that have brought +that tyrant to Rome, nor have they undergone smaller labors than +they; for that neither will the Roman senate, nor people, bear such a +lascivious emperor as Vitellius, if he be compared with their chaste +Vespasian; nor will they endure a most barbarous tyrant, instead of +a good governor, nor choose one that hath no child 20 to preside over +them, instead of him that is a father; because the advancement of men's +own children to dignities is certainly the greatest security kings can +have for themselves. Whether, therefore, we estimate the capacity +of governing from the skill of a person in years, we ought to have +Vespasian, or whether from the strength of a young man, we ought to have +Titus; for by this means we shall have the advantage of both their ages, +for that they will afford strength to those that shall be made emperors, +they having already three legions, besides other auxiliaries from the +neighboring kings, and will have further all the armies in the east to +support them, as also those in Europe, so they as they are out of the +distance and dread of Vitellius, besides such auxiliaries as they may +have in Italy itself; that is, Vespasian's brother, 21 and his other son +[Domitian]; the one of whom will bring in a great many of those +young men that are of dignity, while the other is intrusted with the +government of the city, which office of his will be no small means of +Vespasian's obtaining the government. Upon the whole, the case may be +such, that if we ourselves make further delays, the senate may choose an +emperor, whom the soldiers, who are the saviors of the empire, will have +in contempt." + +4. These were the discourses the soldiers had in their several +companies; after which they got together in a great body, and, +encouraging one another, they declared Vespasian emperor, 22 and +exhorted him to save the government, which was now in danger. Now +Vespasian's concern had been for a considerable time about the public, +yet did he not intend to set up for governor himself, though his actions +showed him to deserve it, while he preferred that safety which is in a +private life before the dangers in a state of such dignity; but when he +refused the empire, the commanders insisted the more earnestly upon his +acceptance; and the soldiers came about him, with their drawn swords +in their hands, and threatened to kill him, unless he would now live +according to his dignity. And when he had shown his reluctance a great +while, and had endeavored to thrust away this dominion from him, he at +length, being not able to persuade them, yielded to their solicitations +that would salute him emperor. + +5. So upon the exhortations of Mucianus, and the other commanders, that +he would accept of the empire, and upon that of the rest of the army, +who cried out that they were willing to be led against all his opposers, +he was in the first place intent upon gaining the dominion over +Alexandria, as knowing that Egypt was of the greatest consequence, in +order to obtain the entire government, because of its supplying of corn +[to Rome]; which corn, if he could be master of, he hoped to dethrone +Vitellius, supposing he should aim to keep the empire by force [for he +would not be able to support himself, if the multitude at Rome should +once be in want of food]; and because he was desirous to join the two +legions that were at Alexandria to the other legions that were with him. +He also considered with himself, that he should then have that country +for a defense to himself against the uncertainty of fortune; for Egypt +23 is hard to be entered by land, and hath no good havens by sea. It +hath on the west the dry deserts of Libya; and on the south Siene, that +divides it from Ethiopia, as well as the cataracts of the Nile, that +cannot be sailed over; and on the east the Red Sea extended as far as +Coptus; and it is fortified on the north by the land that reaches to +Syria, together with that called the Egyptian Sea, having no havens in +it for ships. And thus is Egypt walled about on every side. Its length +between Pelusium and Siene is two thousand furlongs, and the passage by +sea from Plinthine to Pelusium is three thousand six hundred furlongs. +Its river Nile is navigable as far as the city called Elephantine, the +forenamed cataracts hindering ships from going any farther, The haven +also of Alexandria is not entered by the mariners without difficulty, +even in times of peace; for the passage inward is narrow, and full of +rocks that lie under the water, which oblige the mariners to turn from +a straight direction: its left side is blocked up by works made by men's +hands on both sides; on its right side lies the island called Pharus, +which is situated just before the entrance, and supports a very great +tower, that affords the sight of a fire to such as sail within three +hundred furlongs of it, that ships may cast anchor a great way off in +the night time, by reason of the difficulty of sailing nearer. About +this island are built very great piers, the handiwork of men, against +which, when the sea dashes itself, and its waves are broken against +those boundaries, the navigation becomes very troublesome, and the +entrance through so narrow a passage is rendered dangerous; yet is the +haven itself, when you are got into it, a very safe one, and of thirty +furlongs in largeness; into which is brought what the country wants in +order to its happiness, as also what abundance the country affords more +than it wants itself is hence distributed into all the habitable earth. + +6. Justly, therefore, did Vespasian desire to obtain that government, +in order to corroborate his attempts upon the whole empire; so he +immediately sent to Tiberius Alexander, who was then governor of Egypt +and of Alexandria, and informed him what the army had put upon him, +and how he, being forced to accept of the burden of the government, was +desirous to have him for his confederate and supporter. Now as soon as +ever Alexander had read this letter, he readily obliged the legions +and the multitude to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, both which +willingly complied with him, as already acquainted with the courage +of the man, from that his conduct in their neighborhood. Accordingly +Vespasian, looking upon himself as already intrusted with the +government, got all things ready for his journey [to Rome]. Now fame +carried this news abroad more suddenly than one could have thought, that +he was emperor over the east, upon which every city kept festivals, and +celebrated sacrifices and oblations for such good news; the legions +also that were in Mysia and Pannonia, who had been in commotion a little +before, on account of this insolent attempt of Vitellius, were very +glad to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, upon his coming to +the empire. Vespasian then removed from Cesarea to Berytus, where +many embassages came to him from Syria, and many from other provinces, +bringing with them from every city crowns, and the congratulations of +the people. Mucianus came also, who was the president of the province, +and told him with what alacrity the people [received the news of his +advancement], and how the people of every city had taken the oath of +fidelity to him. + +7. So Vespasian's good fortune succeeded to his wishes every where, and +the public affairs were, for the greatest part, already in his hands; +upon which he considered that he had not arrived at the government +without Divine Providence, but that a righteous kind of fate had brought +the empire under his power; for as he called to mind the other signals, +which had been a great many every where, that foretold he should obtain +the government, so did he remember what Josephus had said to him when he +ventured to foretell his coming to the empire while Nero was alive; so +he was much concerned that this man was still in bonds with him. He then +called for Mucianus, together with his other commanders and friends, +and, in the first place, he informed them what a valiant man Josephus +had been, and what great hardships he had made him undergo in the siege +of Jotapata. After that he related those predictions of his 24 which he +had then suspected as fictions, suggested out of the fear he was in, +but which had by time been demonstrated to be Divine. "It is a shameful +thing [said he] that this man, who hath foretold my coming to the empire +beforehand, and been the minister of a Divine message to me, should +still be retained in the condition of a captive or prisoner." So he +called for Josephus, and commanded that he should be set at liberty; +whereupon the commanders promised themselves glorious things, from this +requital Vespasian made to a stranger. Titus was then present with +his father, and said, "O father, it is but just that the scandal [of a +prisoner] should be taken off Josephus, together with his iron chain. +For if we do not barely loose his bonds, but cut them to pieces, he will +be like a man that had never been bound at all." For that is the usual +method as to such as have been bound without a cause. This advice was +agreed to by Vespasian also; so there came a man in, and cut the chain +to pieces; while Josephus received this testimony of his integrity for +a reward, and was moreover esteemed a person of credit as to futurities +also. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + + + That Upon The Conquest And Slaughter Of Vitellius Vespasian + Hastened His Journey To Rome; But Titus His Son Returned To + Jerusalem. + +1. And now, when Vespasian had given answers to the embassages, and had +disposed of the places of power justly, 25 and according to every one's +deserts, he came to Antioch, and consulting which way he had best take, +he preferred to go for Rome, rather than to march to Alexandria, because +he saw that Alexandria was sure to him already, but that the affairs at +Rome were put into disorder by Vitellius; so he sent Mucianus to Italy, +and committed a considerable army both of horsemen and footmen to him; +yet was Mucianus afraid of going by sea, because it was the middle of +winter, and so he led his army on foot through Cappadocia and Phrygia. + +2. In the mean time, Antonius Primus took the third of the legions that +were in Mysia, for he was president of that province, and made haste, in +order to fight Vitellius; whereupon Vitellius sent away Cecinna, with +a great army, having a mighty confidence in him, because of his having +beaten Otho. This Cecinna marched out of Rome in great haste, and found +Antonius about Cremona in Gall, which city is in the borders of Italy; +but when he saw there that the enemy were numerous and in good order, he +durst not fight them; and as he thought a retreat dangerous, so he began +to think of betraying his army to Antonius. Accordingly, he assembled +the centurions and tribunes that were under his command, and persuaded +them to go over to Antonius, and this by diminishing the reputation of +Vitellius, and by exaggerating the power of Vespasian. He also told them +that with the one there was no more than the bare name of dominion, but +with the other was the power of it; and that it was better for them to +prevent necessity, and gain favor, and, while they were likely to be +overcome in battle, to avoid the danger beforehand, and go over to +Antonius willingly; that Vespasian was able of himself to subdue what +had not yet submitted without their assistance, while Vitellius could +not preserve what he had already with it. + +3. Cecinna said this, and much more to the same purpose, and persuaded +them to comply with him; and both he and his army deserted; but still +the very same night the soldiers repented of what they had done, and a +fear seized on them, lest perhaps Vitellius who sent them should get the +better; and drawing their swords, they assaulted Cecinna, in order to +kill him; and the thing had been done by them, if the tribunes had not +fallen upon their knees, and besought them not to do it; so the soldiers +did not kill him, but put him in bonds, as a traitor, and were about to +send him to Vitellius. When [Antonius] Primus heard of this, he raised +up his men immediately, and made them put on their armor, and led them +against those that had revolted; hereupon they put themselves in order +of battle, and made a resistance for a while, but were soon beaten, and +fled to Cremona; then did Primus take his horsemen, and cut off their +entrance into the city, and encompassed and destroyed a great multitude +of them before the city, and fell into the city together with the rest, +and gave leave to his soldiers to plunder it. And here it was that many +strangers, who were merchants, as well as many of the people of that +country, perished, and among them Vitellius's whole army, being thirty +thousand and two hundred, while Antonius lost no more of those that came +with him from Mysia than four thousand and five hundred: he then loosed +Cecinna, and sent him to Vespasian to tell him the good news. So he +came, and was received by him, and covered the scandal of his treachery +by the unexpected honors he received from Vespasian. + +4. And now, upon the news that Antonius was approaching, Sabinus took +courage at Rome, and assembled those cohorts of soldiers that kept watch +by night, and in the night time seized upon the capitol; and, as the +day came on, many men of character came over to him, with Domitian, +his brother's son, whose encouragement was of very great weight for the +compassing the government. Now Vitellius was not much concerned at this +Primus, but was very angry with those that had revolted with Sabinus; +and thirsting, out of his own natural barbarity, after noble blood, +he sent out that part of the army which came along with him to fight +against the capitol; and many bold actions were done on this side, and +on the side of those that held the temple. But at last, the soldiers +that came from Germany, being too numerous for the others, got the hill +into their possession, where Domitian, with many other of the principal +Romans, providentially escaped, while the rest of the multitude were +entirely cut to pieces, and Sabinus himself was brought to Vitellius, +and then slain; the soldiers also plundered the temple of its ornaments, +and set it on fire. But now within a day's time came Antonius, with his +army, and were met by Vitellius and his army; and having had a battle +in three several places, the last were all destroyed. Then did Vitellius +come out of the palace, in his cups, and satiated with an extravagant +and luxurious meal, as in the last extremity, and being drawn along +through the multitude, and abused with all sorts of torments, had his +head cut off in the midst of Rome, having retained the government eight +months and five days 26 and had he lived much longer, I cannot but think +the empire would not have been sufficient for his lust. Of the others +that were slain, were numbered above fifty thousand. This battle was +fought on the third day of the month Apelleus [Casleu]; on the next day +Mucianus came into the city with his army, and ordered Antonius and his +men to leave off killing; for they were still searching the houses, +and killed many of Vitellius's soldiers, and many of the populace, as +supposing them to be of his party, preventing by their rage any accurate +distinction between them and others. He then produced Domitian, and +recommended him to the multitude, until his father should come himself; +so the people being now freed from their fears, made acclamations of +joy for Vespasian, as for their emperor, and kept festival days for his +confirmation, and for the destruction of Vitellius. + +5. And now, as Vespasian was come to Alexandria, this good news +came from Rome, and at the same time came embassies from all his own +habitable earth, to congratulate him upon his advancement; and though +this Alexandria was the greatest of all cities next to Rome, it proved +too narrow to contain the multitude that then came to it. So upon this +confirmation of Vespasian's entire government, which was now settled, +and upon the unexpected deliverance of the public affairs of the Romans +from ruin, Vespasian turned his thoughts to what remained unsubdued in +Judea. However, he himself made haste to go to Rome, as the winter was +now almost over, and soon set the affairs of Alexandria in order, +but sent his son Titus, with a select part of his army, to destroy +Jerusalem. So Titus marched on foot as far as Nicopolis, which is +distant twenty furlongs from Alexandria; there he put his army on board +some long ships, and sailed upon the river along the Mendesian Nomus, +as far as the city Tumuis; there he got out of the ships, and walked +on foot, and lodged all night at a small city called Tanis. His second +station was Heracleopolis, and his third Pelusium; he then refreshed his +army at that place for two days, and on the third passed over the mouths +of the Nile at Pelusium; he then proceeded one station over the desert, +and pitched his camp at the temple of the Casian Jupiter, 27 and on the +next day at Ostracine. This station had no water, but the people of +the country make use of water brought from other places. After this he +rested at Rhinocolura, and from thence he went to Raphia, which was +his fourth station. This city is the beginning of Syria. For his fifth +station he pitched his camp at Gaza; after which he came to Ascalon, and +thence to Jamnia, and after that to Joppa, and from Joppa to Cesarea, +having taken a resolution to gather all his other forces together at +that place. + +WAR BOOK 4 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ Here we have the exact situation of Jeroboam's "at the exit +of Little Jordan into Great Jordan, near the place called Daphne," but +of old Dan. See the note in Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 8. sect. 4. But Reland +suspects flint here we should read Dan instead of there being no where +else mention of a place called Daphne.] + + +2 (return) [ These numbers in Josephus of thirty furlongs' ascent to the +top of Mount Tabor, whether we estimate it by winding and gradual, or +by the perpendicular altitude, and of twenty-six furlongs' circumference +upon the top, as also fifteen furlongs for this ascent in Polybius, with +Geminus's perpendicular altitude of almost fourteen furlongs, here noted +by Dr. Hudson, do none of' them agree with the authentic testimony of +Mr. Maundrell, an eye-witness, p. 112, who says he was not an hour in +getting up to the top of this Mount Tabor, and that the area of the top +is an oval of about two furlongs in length, and one in breadth. So I +rather suppose Josephus wrote three furlongs for the ascent or altitude, +instead of thirty; and six furlongs for the circumference at the +top, instead of twenty-six,--since a mountain of only three furlongs +perpendicular altitude may easily require near an hour's ascent, and the +circumference of an oval of the foregoing quantity is near six furlongs. +Nor certainly could such a vast circumference as twenty-six furlongs, +or three miles and a quarter, at that height be encompassed with a +wall, including a trench and other fortifications, [perhaps those still +remaining, ibid.] in the small interval of forty days, as Josephus here +says they were by himself.] + + +3 (return) [ This name Dorcas in Greek, was Tabitha in Hebrew or Syriac, +as Acts 9:36. Accordingly, some of the manuscripts set it down here +Tabetha or Tabeta. Nor can the context in Josephus be made out by +supposing the reading to have been this: "The son of Tabitha; which, in +the language of our country, denotes Dorcas" [or a doe].] + + +4 (return) [ Here we may discover the utter disgrace and ruin of the +high priesthood among the Jews, when undeserving, ignoble, and vile +persons were advanced to that holy office by the seditious; which sort +of high priests, as Josephus well remarks here, were thereupon obliged +to comply with and assist those that advanced them in their impious +practices. The names of these high priests, or rather ridiculous +and profane persons, were Jesus the son of Damneus, Jesus the son of +Gamaliel, Matthias the son of Theophilus, and that prodigious ignoramus +Phannias, the son of Samuel; all whom we shall meet with in Josephus's +future history of this war; nor do we meet with any other so much as +pretended high priest after Phannias, till Jerusalem was taken and +destroyed.] + + +5 (return) [ This tribe or course of the high priests, or priests, here +called Eniachim, seems to the learned Mr. Lowth, one well versed in +Josephus, to be that 1 Chronicles 24:12, "the course of Jakim," where +some copies have "the course of Eliakim;" and I think this to be by no +means an improbable conjecture.] + + +6 (return) [ This Symeon, the son of Gamaliel, is mentioned as the +president of the Jewish sanhedrim, and one that perished in the +destruction of Jerusalem, by the Jewish Rabbins, as Reland observes on +this place. He also tells us that those Rabbins mention one Jesus +the son of Gamala, as once a high priest, but this long before the +destruction of Jerusalem; so that if he were the same person with this +Jesus the son of Gamala, Josephus, he must have lived to be very old, or +they have been very bad chronologers.] + + +7 (return) [ It is worth noting here, that this Ananus, the best of the +Jews at this time, and the high priest, who was so very uneasy at the +profanation of the Jewish courts of the temple by the zealots, did not +however scruple the profanation of the "court of the Gentiles;" as in +our Savior's days it was very much profaned by the Jews; and made a +market-place, nay, a "den of thieves," without scruple, Matthew 21:12, +13; Mark 11:15-17. Accordingly Josephus himself, when he speaks of the +two inner courts, calls them both hagia or holy places; but, so far as +I remember, never gives that character of the court of the Gentiles. See +B. V. ch. 9. sect. 2.] + + +8 (return) [ This appellation of Jerusalem given it here by Simon, the +general of the Idumeans, "the common city" of the Idumeans, who were +proselytes of justice, as well as of the original native Jews, greatly +confirms that maxim of the Rabbins, here set down by Reland, that +"Jerusalem was not assigned, or appropriated, to the tribe of Benjamin +or Judah, but every tribe had equal right to it [at their coming to +worship there at the several festivals]." See a little before, ch. 3. +sect. 3, or "worldly worship," as the author to the Hebrews calls the +sanctuary, "a worldly sanctuary."] + + +9 (return) [ Some commentators are ready to suppose that this +"Zacharias, the son of Baruch," here most unjustly slain by the Jews +in the temple, was the very same person with "Zacharias, the son of +Barachias," whom our Savior says the Jews "slew between the temple and +the altar," Matthew 23:35. This is a somewhat strange exposition; since +Zechariah the prophet was really "the son of Barachiah," and "grandson +of Iddo, Zechariah 1:1; and how he died, we have no other account than +that before us in St. Matthew: while this "Zacharias" was "the son of +Baruch." Since the slaughter was past when our Savior spake these +words, the Jews had then already slain him; whereas this slaughter of +"Zacharias, the son of Baruch," in Josephus, was then about thirty-four +years future. And since the slaughter was "between the temple and the +altar," in the court of the priests, one of the most sacred and remote +parts of the whole temple; while this was, in Josephus's own words, in +the middle of the temple, and much the most probably in the court of +Israel only [for we have had no intimation that the zealots had at this +time profaned the court of the priests. See B. V. ch. 1. sect. 2]. +Nor do I believe that our Josephus, who always insists on the peculiar +sacredness of the inmost court, and of the holy house that was in it, +would have omitted so material an aggravation of this barbarous murder, +as perpetrated in. a place so very holy, had that been the true place of +it. See Antiq. B. XI. ch. 7. sect. 1, and the note here on B. V. ch. 1. +sect. 2.] + + +10 (return) [ This prediction, that the city [Jerusalem] should then "be +taken, and the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should +invade Jews, and their own hands should pollute that temple;" or, as +it is B. VI. ch. 2. sect. 1, "when any one should begin to slay his +countrymen in the city;" is wanting in our present copies of the Old +Testament. See Essay on the Old Test. p. 104--112. But this prediction, +as Josephus well remarks here, though, with the other predictions of +the prophets, it was now laughed at by the seditious, was by their very +means soon exactly fulfilled. However, I cannot but here take notice +of Grotius's positive assertion upon Matthew 26:9, here quoted by Dr. +Hudson, that "it ought to be taken for granted, as a certain truth, that +many predictions of the Jewish prophets were preserved, not in writing, +but by memory." Whereas, it seems to me so far from certain, that I +think it has no evidence nor probability at all.] + + +11 (return) [ By these hiera, or "holy places," as distinct from cities, +must be meant "proseuchae," or "houses of prayer," out of cities; of +which we find mention made in the New Testament and other authors. See +Luke 6:12; Acts 16:13, 16; Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 10. sect. 23; his Life, +sect. 51. "In qua te quero proseucha?" Juvenal Sat. III. yet. 296. They +were situated sometimes by the sides of rivers, Acts 16:13, or by +the sea-side, Antiq. B. XIV. ch. 10. sect. 23. So did the seventy-two +interpreters go to pray every morning by the sea-side before they went +to their work, B. XII. ch. 2. sect. 12.] + + +12 (return) [ Gr. Galatia, and so everywhere.] + + +13 (return) [ Whether this Somorrhon, or Somorrha, ought not to be here +written Gomorrha, as some MSS. in a manner have it, [for the place meant +by Josephus seems to be near Segor, or Zoar, at the very south of +the Dead Sea, hard by which stood Sodom and Gomorrha,] cannot now be +certainly determined, but seems by no means improbable.] + + +14 (return) [ This excellent prayer of Elisha is wanting in our copies, +2 Kings 2:21, 22, though it be referred to also in the Apostolical +Constitutions, B. VII. ch. 37., and the success of it is mentioned in +them all.] + + +16 (return) [ Of these Roman affairs and tumults under Galba, Otho, and +Vitellius, here only touched upon by Josephus, see Tacitus, Suelonius, +and Dio, more largely. However, we may observe with Ottius, that +Josephus writes the name of the second of them not Otto, with many +others, but Otho, with the coins. See also the note on ch. 11. sect. 4.] + + +17 (return) [ Some of the ancients call this famous tree, or grove, an +oak others, a turpentine tree, or grove. It has been very famous in all +the past ages, and is so, I suppose, at this day; and that particularly +for an eminent mart or meeting of merchants there every year, as the +travelers inform us.] + + +18 (return) [ Puetonius differs hardly three days from Josephus, and +says Otho perished on the ninety-fifth day of his reign. In Anthon. See +the note on ch. 11. sect. 4.] + + +19 (return) [ This beginning and ending the observation of the Jewish +seventh day, or sabbath, with a priest's blowing of a trumpet, is +remarkable, and no where else mentioned, that I know of. Nor is Reland's +conjecture here improbable, that this was the very place that has +puzzled our commentators so long, called "Musach Sabbati," the "Covert +of the Sabbath," if that be the true reading, 2 Kings 16:18, because +here the proper priest stood dry, under a "covering," to proclaim the +beginning and ending of every Jewish sabbath.] + + +20 (return) [ The Roman authors that now remain say Vitellius had +children, whereas Josephus introduces here the Roman soldiers in Judea +saying he had none. Which of these assertions was the truth I know not. +Spanheim thinks he hath given a peculiar reason for calling Vitellius +"childless," though he really had children, Diss. de Num. p. 649, 650; +to which it appears very difficult to give our assent.] + + +21 (return) [ This brother of Vespasian was Flavius Sabinus, as +Suetonius informs us, in Vitell. sect. 15, and in Vespas. sect. 2. He is +also named by Josephus presently ch. 11. sect; 4.] + + +22 (return) [ It is plain by the nature of the thing, as well as by +Josephus and Eutropius, that Vespasian was first of all saluted emperor +in Judea, and not till some time afterward in Egypt. Whence Tacitus's +and Suetonius's present copies must be correct text, when they both say +that he was first proclaimed in Egypt, and that on the calends of July, +while they still say it was the fifth of the Nones or Ides of the same +July before he was proclaimed in Judea. I suppose the month they there +intended was June, and not July, as the copies now have it; nor does +Tacitus's coherence imply less. See Essay on the Revelation, p. 136.] + + +23 (return) [ Here we have an authentic description of the bounds and +circumstances of Egypt, in the days of Vespasian and Titus.] + + +24 (return) [ As Daniel was preferred by Darius and Cyrus, on account of +his having foretold the destruction of the Babylonian monarchy by their +means, and the consequent exaltation of the Medes and Persians, Daniel +5:6 or rather, as Jeremiah, when he was a prisoner, was set at liberty, +and honorably treated by Nebuzaradan, at the command of Nebuchadnezzar, +on account of his having foretold the destruction of Jerusalem by the +Babylonians, Jeremiah 40:1-7; so was our Josephus set at liberty, and +honorably treated, on account of his having foretold the advancement +of Vespasian and Titus to the Roman empire. All these are most eminent +instances of the interposition of Divine Providence, and of the +certainty of Divine predictions in the great revolutions of the four +monarchies. Several such-like examples there are, both in the sacred and +other histories, as in the case of Joseph in Egypt. and of Jaddua the +high priest, in the days of Alexander the Great, etc.] + + +25 (return) [ This is well observed by Josephus, that Vespasian, in +order to secure his success, and establish his government at first, +distributed his offices and places upon the foot of justice, and +bestowed them on such as best deserved them, and were best fit for +them. Which wise conduct in a mere heathen ought to put those rulers +and ministers of state to shame, who, professing Christianity, act +otherwise, and thereby expose themselves and their kingdoms to vice and +destruction.] + + +26 (return) [ The numbers in Josephus, ch. 9. sect. 2, 9, for Galba +seven months seven days, for Otho three months two days, and here +for Vitellius eight months five days, do not agree with any Roman +historians, who also disagree among themselves. And, indeed, Sealiger +justly complains, as Dr. Hudson observes on ch. 9. sect. 2, that this +period is very confused and uncertain in the ancient authors. They were +probably some of them contemporary together for some time; one of the +best evidences we have, I mean Ptolemy's Canon, omits them all, as if +they did not all together reign one whole year, nor had a single Thoth, +or new-year's day, [which then fell upon August 6,] in their entire +reigns. Dio also, who says that Vitellius reigned a year within ten +days, does yet estimate all their reigns together at no more than one +year, one month, and two days.] + + +27 (return) [ There are coins of this Casian Jupiter still extant.] + + + + + + + +BOOK V. + + + Containing The Interval Of Near Six Months. + + + From The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem, To The Great + Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced. + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + Concerning The Seditions At Jerusalem And What Terrible + Miseries Afflicted The City By Their Means. + +1. When therefore Titus had marched over that desert which lies between +Egypt and Syria, in the manner forementioned, he came to Cesarea, having +resolved to set his forces in order at that place, before he began the +war. Nay, indeed, while he was assisting his father at Alexandria, in +settling that government which had been newly conferred upon them by +God, it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived, and +parted into three factions, and that one faction fought against the +other; which partition in such evil cases may be said to be a good +thing, and the effect of Divine justice. Now as to the attack the +zealots made upon the people, and which I esteem the beginning of the +city's destruction, it hath been already explained after an accurate +manner; as also whence it arose, and to how great a mischief it was +increased. But for the present sedition, one should not mistake if he +called it a sedition begotten by another sedition, and to be like a +wild beast grown mad, which, for want of food from abroad, fell now upon +eating its own flesh. + +2. For Eleazar, the son of Simon, who made the first separation of the +zealots from the people, and made them retire into the temple, appeared +very angry at John's insolent attempts, which he made everyday upon the +people; for this man never left off murdering; but the truth was, that +he could not bear to submit to a tyrant who set up after him. So he +being desirous of gaining the entire power and dominion to himself, +revolted from John, and took to his assistance Judas the son of +Chelcias, and Simon the son of Ezron, who were among the men of greatest +power. There was also with him Hezekiah, the son of Chobar, a person of +eminence. Each of these were followed by a great many of the zealots; +these seized upon the inner court of the temple 1 and laid their arms +upon the holy gates, and over the holy fronts of that court. And because +they had plenty of provisions, they were of good courage, for there +was a great abundance of what was consecrated to sacred uses, and they +scrupled not the making use of them; yet were they afraid, on account of +their small number; and when they had laid up their arms there, they did +not stir from the place they were in. Now as to John, what advantage +he had above Eleazar in the multitude of his followers, the like +disadvantage he had in the situation he was in, since he had his enemies +over his head; and as he could not make any assault upon them without +some terror, so was his anger too great to let them be at rest; nay, +although he suffered more mischief from Eleazar and his party than he +could inflict upon them, yet would he not leave off assaulting them, +insomuch that there were continual sallies made one against another, as +well as darts thrown at one another, and the temple was defiled every +where with murders. + +3. But now the tyrant Simon, the son of Gioras, whom the people had +invited in, out of the hopes they had of his assistance in the great +distresses they were in, having in his power the upper city, and a great +part of the lower, did now make more vehement assaults upon John and +his party, because they were fought against from above also; yet was he +beneath their situation when he attacked them, as they were beneath the +attacks of the others above them. Whereby it came to pass that John did +both receive and inflict great damage, and that easily, as he was fought +against on both sides; and the same advantage that Eleazar and his party +had over him, since he was beneath them, the same advantage had he, by +his higher situation, over Simon. On which account he easily repelled +the attacks that were made from beneath, by the weapons thrown from +their hands only; but was obliged to repel those that threw their +darts from the temple above him, by his engines of war; for he had such +engines as threw darts, and javelins, and stones, and that in no small +number, by which he did not only defend himself from such as fought +against him, but slew moreover many of the priests, as they were about +their sacred ministrations. For notwithstanding these men were mad with +all sorts of impiety, yet did they still admit those that desired to +offer their sacrifices, although they took care to search the people of +their own country beforehand, and both suspected and watched them; while +they were not so much afraid of strangers, who, although they had gotten +leave of them, how cruel soever they were, to come into that court, were +yet often destroyed by this sedition; for those darts that were thrown +by the engines came with that force, that they went over all the +buildings, and reached as far as the altar, and the temple itself, and +fell upon the priests, and those 2 that were about the sacred offices; +insomuch that many persons who came thither with great zeal from the +ends of the earth, to offer sacrifices at this celebrated place, which +was esteemed holy by all mankind, fell down before their own sacrifices +themselves, and sprinkled that altar which was venerable among all men, +both Greeks and Barbarians, with their own blood; till the dead bodies +of strangers were mingled together with those of their own country, and +those of profane persons with those of the priests, and the blood of all +sorts of dead carcasses stood in lakes in the holy courts themselves. +And now, "O most wretched city, what misery so great as this didst thou +suffer from the Romans, when they came to purify thee from thy intestine +hatred! 'For thou couldst be no longer a place fit for God, nor couldst +thou long continue in being, after thou hadst been a sepulcher for +the bodies of thy own people, and hadst made the holy house itself a +burying-place in this civil war of thine. Yet mayst thou again grow +better, if perchance thou wilt hereafter appease the anger of that God +who is the author of thy destruction." But I must restrain myself from +these passions by the rules of history, since this is not a proper time +for domestical lamentations, but for historical narrations; I therefore +return to the operations that follow in this sedition. 3 + +4. And now there were three treacherous factions in the city, the one +parted from the other. Eleazar and his party, that kept the sacred +first-fruits, came against John in their cups. Those that were with John +plundered the populace, and went out with zeal against Simon. This +Simon had his supply of provisions from the city, in opposition to the +seditious. When, therefore, John was assaulted on both sides, he made +his men turn about, throwing his darts upon those citizens that came +up against him, from the cloisters he had in his possession, while he +opposed those that attacked him from the temple by his engines of war. +And if at any time he was freed from those that were above him, which +happened frequently, from their being drunk and tired, he sallied out +with a great number upon Simon and his party; and this he did always in +such parts of the city as he could come at, till he set on fire those +houses that were full of corn, and of all other provisions. 4 The same +thing was done by Simon, when, upon the other's retreat, he attacked the +city also; as if they had, on purpose, done it to serve the Romans, +by destroying what the city had laid up against the siege, and by thus +cutting off the nerves of their own power. Accordingly, it so came to +pass, that all the places that were about the temple were burnt down, +and were become an intermediate desert space, ready for fighting on both +sides of it; and that almost all that corn was burnt, which would have +been sufficient for a siege of many years. So they were taken by the +means of the famine, which it was impossible they should have been, +unless they had thus prepared the way for it by this procedure. + +5. And now, as the city was engaged in a war on all sides, from these +treacherous crowds of wicked men, the people of the city, between them, +were like a great body torn in pieces. The aged men and the women were +in such distress by their internal calamities, that they wished for +the Romans, and earnestly hoped for an external war, in order to their +delivery from their domestical miseries. The citizens themselves were +under a terrible consternation and fear; nor had they any opportunity of +taking counsel, and of changing their conduct; nor were there any hopes +of coming to an agreement with their enemies; nor could such as had a +mind flee away; for guards were set at all places, and the heads of +the robbers, although they were seditious one against another in other +respects, yet did they agree in killing those that were for peace with +the Romans, or were suspected of an inclination to desert them, as their +common enemies. They agreed in nothing but this, to kill those that were +innocent. The noise also of those that were fighting was incessant, both +by day and by night; but the lamentations of those that mourned exceeded +the other; nor was there ever any occasion for them to leave off +their lamentations, because their calamities came perpetually one upon +another, although the deep consternation they were in prevented their +outward wailing; but being constrained by their fear to conceal their +inward passions, they were inwardly tormented, without daring to open +their lips in groans. Nor was any regard paid to those that were still +alive, by their relations; nor was there any care taken of burial for +those that were dead; the occasion of both which was this, that every +one despaired of himself; for those that were not among the seditious +had no great desires of any thing, as expecting for certain that they +should very soon be destroyed; but for the seditious themselves, they +fought against each other, while they trod upon the dead bodies as they +lay heaped one upon another, and taking up a mad rage from those dead +bodies that were under their feet, became the fiercer thereupon. They, +moreover, were still inventing somewhat or other that was pernicious +against themselves; and when they had resolved upon any thing, they +executed it without mercy, and omitted no method of torment or of +barbarity. Nay, John abused the sacred materials, 5 and employed them in +the construction of his engines of war; for the people and the priests +had formerly determined to support the temple, and raise the holy house +twenty cubits higher; for king Agrippa had at a very great expense, and +with very great pains, brought thither such materials as were proper for +that purpose, being pieces of timber very well worth seeing, both for +their straightness and their largeness; but the war coming on, and +interrupting the work, John had them cut, and prepared for the building +him towers, he finding them long enough to oppose from them those his +adversaries that thought him from the temple that was above him. He also +had them brought and erected behind the inner court over against the +west end of the cloisters, where alone he could erect them; whereas the +other sides of that court had so many steps as would not let them come +nigh enough the cloisters. + +6. Thus did John hope to be too hard for his enemies by these engines +constructed by his impiety; but God himself demonstrated that his pains +would prove of no use to him, by bringing the Romans upon him, before +he had reared any of his towers; for Titus, when he had gotten together +part of his forces about him, and had ordered the rest to meet him at +Jerusalem, marched out of Cesarea. He had with him those three legions +that had accompanied his father when he laid Judea waste, together with +that twelfth legion which had been formerly beaten with Cestius; which +legion, as it was otherwise remarkable for its valor, so did it march +on now with greater alacrity to avenge themselves on the Jews, as +remembering what they had formerly suffered from them. Of these legions +he ordered the fifth to meet him, by going through Emmaus, and the tenth +to go up by Jericho; he also moved himself, together with the rest; +besides whom, marched those auxiliaries that came from the kings, being +now more in number than before, together with a considerable number that +came to his assistance from Syria. Those also that had been selected out +of these four legions, and sent with Mucianus to Italy, had their places +filled up out of these soldiers that came out of Egypt with Titus; who +were two thousand men, chosen out of the armies at Alexandria. There +followed him also three thousand drawn from those that guarded the river +Euphrates; as also there came Tiberius Alexander, who was a friend of +his, most valuable, both for his good-will to him, and for his prudence. +He had formerly been governor of Alexandria, but was now thought worthy +to be general of the army [under Titus]. The reason of this was, that he +had been the first who encouraged Vespasian very lately to accept this +his new dominion, and joined himself to him with great fidelity, when +things were uncertain, and fortune had not yet declared for him. He also +followed Titus as a counselor, very useful to him in this war, both by +his age and skill in such affairs. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + How Titus Marched To Jerusalem, And How He Was In Danger As + He Was Taking A View Of The City Of The Place Also Where He + Pitched His Camp + +1. Now, as Titus was upon his march into the enemy's country, the +auxiliaries that were sent by the kings marched first, having all the +other auxiliaries with them; after whom followed those that were to +prepare the roads and measure out the camp; then came the commander's +baggage, and after that the other soldiers, who were completely armed +to support them; then came Titus himself, having with him another select +body; and then came the pikemen; after whom came the horse belonging to +that legion. All these came before the engines; and after these engines +came the tribunes and the leaders of the cohorts, with their select +bodies; after these came the ensigns, with the eagle; and before those +ensigns came the trumpeters belonging to them; next these came the main +body of the army in their ranks, every rank being six deep; the servants +belonging to every legion came after these; and before these last their +baggage; the mercenaries came last, and those that guarded them brought +up the rear. Now Titus, according to the Roman usage, went in the +front of the army after a decent manner, and marched through Samaria to +Gophna, a city that had been formerly taken by his father, and was then +garrisoned by Roman soldiers; and when he had lodged there one night, he +marched on in the morning; and when he had gone as far as a day's march, +he pitched his camp at that valley which the Jews, in their own tongue, +call "the Valley of Thorns," near a certain village called Gabaothsath, +which signifies "the Hill of Saul," being distant from Jerusalem about +thirty furlongs. 6 There it was that he chose out six hundred select +horsemen, and went to take a view of the city, to observe what strength +it was of, and how courageous the Jews were; whether, when they saw him, +and before they came to a direct battle, they would be affrighted and +submit; for he had been informed what was really true, that the people +who were fallen under the power of the seditious and the robbers were +greatly desirous of peace; but being too weak to rise up against the +rest, they lay still. + +2. Now, so long as he rode along the straight road which led to the wall +of the city, nobody appeared out of the gates; but when he went out of +that road, and declined towards the tower Psephinus, and led the band of +horsemen obliquely, an immense number of the Jews leaped out suddenly at +the towers called the "Women's Towers," through that gate which was over +against the monuments of queen Helena, and intercepted his horse; and +standing directly opposite to those that still ran along the road, +hindered them from joining those that had declined out of it. They +intercepted Titus also, with a few other. Now it was here impossible for +him to go forward, because all the places had trenches dug in them from +the wall, to preserve the gardens round about, and were full of gardens +obliquely situated, and of many hedges; and to return back to his own +men, he saw it was also impossible, by reason of the multitude of the +enemies that lay between them; many of whom did not so much as know that +the king was in any danger, but supposed him still among them. So he +perceived that his preservation must be wholly owing to his own courage, +and turned his horse about, and cried out aloud to those that were about +him to follow him, and ran with violence into the midst of his enemies, +in order to force his way through them to his own men. And hence we may +principally learn, that both the success of wars, and the dangers that +kings 7 are in, are under the providence of God; for while such a number +of darts were thrown at Titus, when he had neither his head-piece on, +nor his breastplate, [for, as I told you, he went out not to fight, but +to view the city,] none of them touched his body, but went aside without +hurting him; as if all of them missed him on purpose, and only made a +noise as they passed by him. So he diverted those perpetually with his +sword that came on his side, and overturned many of those that directly +met him, and made his horse ride over those that were overthrown. The +enemy indeed made a shout at the boldness of Caesar, and exhorted one +another to rush upon him. Yet did these against whom he marched fly +away, and go off from him in great numbers; while those that were in the +same danger with him kept up close to him, though they were wounded both +on their backs and on their sides; for they had each of them but this +one hope of escaping, if they could assist Titus in opening himself a +way, that he might not be encompassed round by his enemies before he got +away from them. Now there were two of those that were with him, but at +some distance; the one of which the enemy compassed round, and slew +him with their darts, and his horse also; but the other they slew as +he leaped down from his horse, and carried off his horse with them. But +Titus escaped with the rest, and came safe to the camp. So this +success of the Jews' first attack raised their minds, and gave them an +ill-grounded hope; and this short inclination of fortune, on their side, +made them very courageous for the future. + +3. But now, as soon as that legion that had been at Emmaus was joined to +Caesar at night, he removed thence, when it was day, and came to a place +called Seopus; from whence the city began already to be seen, and a +plain view might be taken of the great temple. Accordingly, this place, +on the north quarter of the city, and joining thereto, was a plain, and +very properly named Scopus, [the prospect,] and was no more than seven +furlongs distant from it. And here it was that Titus ordered a camp +to be fortified for two legions that were to be together; but ordered +another camp to be fortified, at three furlongs farther distance behind +them, for the fifth legion; for he thought that, by marching in the +night, they might be tired, and might deserve to be covered from the +enemy, and with less fear might fortify themselves; and as these were +now beginning to build, the tenth legion, who came through Jericho, +was already come to the place, where a certain party of armed men had +formerly lain, to guard that pass into the city, and had been taken +before by Vespasian. These legions had orders to encamp at the distance +of six furlongs from Jerusalem, at the mount called the Mount of Olives +8 which lies over against the city on the east side, and is parted from +it by a deep valley, interposed between them, which is named Cedron. + +4. Now when hitherto the several parties in the city had been dashing +one against another perpetually, this foreign war, now suddenly +come upon them after a violent manner, put the first stop to their +contentions one against another; and as the seditious now saw with +astonishment the Romans pitching three several camps, they began to +think of an awkward sort of concord, and said one to another, "What do +we here, and what do we mean, when we suffer three fortified walls to be +built to coop us in, that we shall not be able to breathe freely? while +the enemy is securely building a kind of city in opposition to us, and +while we sit still within our own walls, and become spectators only of +what they are doing, with our hands idle, and our armor laid by, as if +they were about somewhat that was for our good and advantage. We are, it +seems, [so did they cry out,] only courageous against ourselves, +while the Romans are likely to gain the city without bloodshed by our +sedition." Thus did they encourage one another when they were gotten +together, and took their armor immediately, and ran out upon the tenth +legion, and fell upon the Romans with great eagerness, and with a +prodigious shout, as they were fortifying their camp. These Romans were +caught in different parties, and this in order to perform their several +works, and on that account had in great measure laid aside their arms; +for they thought the Jews would not have ventured to make a sally upon +them; and had they been disposed so to do, they supposed their sedition +would have distracted them. So they were put into disorder unexpectedly; +when some of them left their works they were about, and immediately +marched off, while many ran to their arms, but were smitten and slain +before they could turn back upon the enemy. The Jews became still more +and more in number, as encouraged by the good success of those that +first made the attack; and while they had such good fortune, they seemed +both to themselves and to the enemy to be many more than they really +were. The disorderly way of their fighting at first put the Romans also +to a stand, who had been constantly used to fight skillfully in good +order, and with keeping their ranks, and obeying the orders that were +given them; for which reason the Romans were caught unexpectedly, and +were obliged to give way to the assaults that were made upon them. Now +when these Romans were overtaken, and turned back upon the Jews, they +put a stop to their career; yet when they did not take care enough of +themselves through the vehemency of their pursuit, they were wounded +by them; but as still more and more Jews sallied out of the city, the +Romans were at length brought into confusion, and put to flight, and +ran away from their camp. Nay, things looked as though the entire legion +would have been in danger, unless Titus had been informed of the case +they were in, and had sent them succors immediately. So he reproached +them for their cowardice, and brought those back that were running away, +and fell himself upon the Jews on their flank, with those select troops +that were with him, and slew a considerable number, and wounded more of +them, and put them all to flight, and made them run away hastily down +the valley. Now as these Jews suffered greatly in the declivity of the +valley, so when they were gotten over it, they turned about, and stood +over against the Romans, having the valley between them, and there +fought with them. Thus did they continue the fight till noon; but when +it was already a little after noon, Titus set those that came to the +assistance of the Romans with him, and those that belonged to the +cohorts, to prevent the Jews from making any more sallies, and then sent +the rest of the legion to the upper part of the mountain, to fortify +their camp. + +5. This march of the Romans seemed to the Jews to be a flight; and as +the watchman who was placed upon the wall gave a signal by shaking his +garment, there came out a fresh multitude of Jews, and that with such +mighty violence, that one might compare it to the running of the most +terrible wild beasts. To say the truth, none of those that opposed them +could sustain the fury with which they made their attacks; but, as if +they had been cast out of an engine, they brake the enemies' ranks to +pieces, who were put to flight, and ran away to the mountain; none but +Titus himself, and a few others with him, being left in the midst of the +acclivity. Now these others, who were his friends, despised the danger +they were in, and were ashamed to leave their general, earnestly +exhorting him to give way to these Jews that are fond of dying, and not +to run into such dangers before those that ought to stay before him; +to consider what his fortune was, and not, by supplying the place of a +common soldier, to venture to turn back upon the enemy so suddenly; and +this because he was general in the war, and lord of the habitable +earth, on whose preservation the public affairs do all depend. These +persuasions Titus seemed not so much as to hear, but opposed those that +ran upon him, and smote them on the face; and when he had forced them to +go back, he slew them: he also fell upon great numbers as they marched +down the hill, and thrust them forward; while those men were so amazed +at his courage and his strength, that they could not fly directly to the +city, but declined from him on both sides, and pressed after those that +fled up the hill; yet did he still fall upon their flank, and put a stop +to their fury. In the mean time, a disorder and a terror fell again upon +those that were fortifying their camp at the top of the hill, upon their +seeing those beneath them running away; insomuch that the whole legion +was dispersed, while they thought that the sallies of the Jews upon them +were plainly insupportable, and that Titus was himself put to flight; +because they took it for granted, that, if he had staid, the rest would +never have fled for it. Thus were they encompassed on every side by +a kind of panic fear, and some dispersed themselves one way, and some +another, till certain of them saw their general in the very midst of an +action, and being under great concern for him, they loudly proclaimed +the danger he was in to the entire legion; and now shame made them turn +back, and they reproached one another that they did worse than run away, +by deserting Caesar. So they used their utmost force against the Jews, +and declining from the straight declivity, they drove them on heaps into +the bottom of the valley. Then did the Jews turn about and fight them; +but as they were themselves retiring, and now, because the Romans had +the advantage of the ground, and were above the Jews, they drove them +all into the valley. Titus also pressed upon those that were near him, +and sent the legion again to fortify their camp; while he, and those +that were with him before, opposed the enemy, and kept them from doing +further mischief; insomuch that, if I may be allowed neither to add any +thing out of flattery, nor to diminish any thing out of envy, but to +speak the plain truth, Caesar did twice deliver that entire legion when +it was in jeopardy, and gave them a quiet opportunity of fortifying +their camp. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + How The Sedition Was Again Revived Within Jerusalem And Yet + The Jews Contrived Snares For The Romans. How Titus Also + Threatened His Soldiers For Their Ungovernable Rashness. + +1. As now the war abroad ceased for a while, the sedition within was +revived; and on the feast of unleavened bread, which was now come, it +being the fourteenth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan,] when it is +believed the Jews were first freed from the Egyptians, Eleazar and +his party opened the gates of this [inmost court of the] temple, and +admitted such of the people as were desirous to worship God into it. +9 But John made use of this festival as a cloak for his treacherous +designs, and armed the most inconsiderable of his own party, the greater +part of whom were not purified, with weapons concealed under their +garments, and sent them with great zeal into the temple, in order to +seize upon it; which armed men, when they were gotten in, threw their +garments away, and presently appeared in their armor. Upon which there +was a very great disorder and disturbance about the holy house; while +the people, who had no concern in the sedition, supposed that this +assault was made against all without distinction, as the zealots thought +it was made against themselves only. So these left off guarding the +gates any longer, and leaped down from their battlements before they +came to an engagement, and fled away into the subterranean caverns of +the temple; while the people that stood trembling at the altar, and +about the holy house, were rolled on heaps together, and trampled upon, +and were beaten both with wooden and with iron weapons without mercy. +Such also as had differences with others slew many persons that were +quiet, out of their own private enmity and hatred, as if they were +opposite to the seditious; and all those that had formerly offended +any of these plotters were now known, and were now led away to the +slaughter; and when they had done abundance of horrid mischief to the +guiltless, they granted a truce to the guilty, and let those go off that +came out of the caverns. These followers of John also did now seize upon +this inner temple, and upon all the warlike engines therein, and then +ventured to oppose Simon. And thus that sedition, which had been divided +into three factions, was now reduced to two. + +2. But Titus, intending to pitch his camp nearer to the city than +Scopus, placed as many of his choice horsemen and footmen as he thought +sufficient opposite to the Jews, to prevent their sallying out upon +them, while he gave orders for the whole army to level the distance, as +far as the wall of the city. So they threw down all the hedges and walls +which the inhabitants had made about their gardens and groves of trees, +and cut down all the fruit trees that lay between them and the wall +of the city, and filled up all the hollow places and the chasms, and +demolished the rocky precipices with iron instruments; and thereby made +all the place level from Scopus to Herod's monuments, which adjoined to +the pool called the Serpent's Pool. + +3. Now at this very time the Jews contrived the following stratagem +against the Romans. The bolder sort of the seditious went out at the +towers, called the Women's Towers, as if they had been ejected out of +the city by those who were for peace, and rambled about as if they +were afraid of being assaulted by the Romans, and were in fear of one +another; while those that stood upon the wall, and seemed to be of the +people's side, cried out aloud for peace, and entreated they might +have security for their lives given them, and called for the Romans, +promising to open the gates to them; and as they cried out after that +manner, they threw stones at their own people, as though they would +drive them away from the gates. These also pretended that they were +excluded by force, and that they petitioned those that were within to +let them in; and rushing upon the Romans perpetually, with violence, +they then came back, and seemed to be in great disorder. Now the Roman +soldiers thought this cunning stratagem of theirs was to be believed +real, and thinking they had the one party under their power, and could +punish them as they pleased, and hoping that the other party would open +their gates to them, set to the execution of their designs accordingly. +But for Titus himself, he had this surprising conduct of the Jews +in suspicion; for whereas he had invited them to come to terms of +accommodation, by Josephus, but one day before, he could then receive +no civil answer from them; so he ordered the soldiers to stay where +they were. However, some of them that were set in the front of the works +prevented him, and catching up their arms ran to the gates; whereupon +those that seemed to have been ejected at the first retired; but as soon +as the soldiers were gotten between the towers on each side of the gate, +the Jews ran out and encompassed them round, and fell upon them behind, +while that multitude which stood upon the wall threw a heap of stones +and darts of all kinds at them, insomuch that they slew a considerable +number, and wounded many more; for it was not easy for the Romans to +escape, by reason those behind them pressed them forward; besides which, +the shame they were under for being mistaken, and the fear they were +in of their commanders, engaged them to persevere in their mistake; +wherefore they fought with their spears a great while, and received many +blows from the Jews, though indeed they gave them as many blows again, +and at last repelled those that had encompassed them about, while the +Jews pursued them as they retired, and followed them, and threw darts at +them as far as the monuments of queen Helena. + +4. After this these Jews, without keeping any decorum, grew insolent +upon their good fortune, and jested upon the Romans for being deluded by +the trick they had put upon them, and making a noise with beating their +shields, leaped for gladness, and made joyful exclamations; while these +soldiers were received with threatenings by their officers, and with +indignation by Caesar himself, [who spake to them thus]: These Jews, +who are only conducted by their madness, do every thing with care and +circumspection; they contrive stratagems, and lay ambushes, and fortune +gives success to their stratagems, because they are obedient, and +preserve their goodwill and fidelity to one another; while the Romans, +to whom fortune uses to be ever subservient, by reason of their good +order, and ready submission to their commanders, have now had ill +success by their contrary behavior, and by not being able to restrain +their hands from action, they have been caught; and that which is the +most to their reproach, they have gone on without their commanders, +in the very presence of Caesar. "Truly," says Titus, "the laws of war +cannot but groan heavily, as will my father also himself, when he shall +be informed of this wound that hath been given us, since he who is grown +old in wars did never make so great a mistake. Our laws of war do also +ever inflict capital punishment on those that in the least break into +good order, while at this time they have seen an entire army run into +disorder. However, those that have been so insolent shall be made +immediately sensible, that even they who conquer among the Romans +without orders for fighting are to be under disgrace." When Titus had +enlarged upon this matter before the commanders, it appeared evident +that he would execute the law against all those that were concerned; so +these soldiers' minds sunk down in despair, as expecting to be put to +death, and that justly and quickly. However, the other legions came +round about Titus, and entreated his favor to these their fellow +soldiers, and made supplication to him, that he would pardon the +rashness of a few, on account of the better obedience of all the rest; +and promised for them that they should make amends for their present +fault, by their more virtuous behavior for the time to come. + +5. So Caesar complied with their desires, and with what prudence +dictated to him also; for he esteemed it fit to punish single persons +by real executions, but that the punishment of great multitudes should +proceed no further than reproofs; so he was reconciled to the soldiers, +but gave them a special charge to act more wisely for the future; and +he considered with himself how he might be even with the Jews for their +stratagem. And now when the space between the Romans and the wall had +been leveled, which was done in four days, and as he was desirous to +bring the baggage of the army, with the rest of the multitude that +followed him, safely to the camp, he set the strongest part of his army +over against that wall which lay on the north quarter of the city, and +over against the western part of it, and made his army seven deep, with +the foot-men placed before them, and the horsemen behind them, each of +the last in three ranks, whilst the archers stood in the midst in seven +ranks. And now as the Jews were prohibited, by so great a body of men, +from making sallies upon the Romans, both the beasts that bare the +burdens, and belonged to the three legions, and the rest of the +multitude, marched on without any fear. But as for Titus himself, he was +but about two furlongs distant from the wall, at that part of it +where was the corner 10 and over against that tower which was called +Psephinus, at which tower the compass of the wall belonging to the north +bended, and extended itself over against the west; but the other part of +the army fortified itself at the tower called Hippicus, and was distant, +in like manner, by two furlongs from the city. However, the tenth legion +continued in its own place, upon the Mount of Olives. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + The Description Of Jerusalem. + +1. The city of Jerusalem was fortified with three walls, on such parts +as were not encompassed with unpassable valleys; for in such places it +had but one wall. The city was built upon two hills, which are opposite +to one another, and have a valley to divide them asunder; at which +valley the corresponding rows of houses on both hills end. Of these +hills, that which contains the upper city is much higher, and in length +more direct. Accordingly, it was called the "Citadel," by king David; he +was the father of that Solomon who built this temple at the first; but +it is by us called the "Upper Market-place." But the other hill, which +was called "Acra," and sustains the lower city, is of the shape of a +moon when she is horned; over against this there was a third hill, but +naturally lower than Acra, and parted formerly from the other by a broad +valley. However, in those times when the Asamoneans reigned, they +filled up that valley with earth, and had a mind to join the city to the +temple. They then took off part of the height of Acra, and reduced it +to be of less elevation than it was before, that the temple might be +superior to it. Now the Valley of the Cheesemongers, as it was called, +and was that which we told you before distinguished the hill of the +upper city from that of the lower, extended as far as Siloam; for that +is the name of a fountain which hath sweet water in it, and this in +great plenty also. But on the outsides, these hills are surrounded by +deep valleys, and by reason of the precipices to them belonging on both +sides they are every where unpassable. + +2. Now, of these three walls, the old one was hard to be taken, both by +reason of the valleys, and of that hill on which it was built, and which +was above them. But besides that great advantage, as to the place where +they were situated, it was also built very strong; because David and +Solomon, and the following kings, were very zealous about this work. +Now that wall began on the north, at the tower called "Hippicus," and +extended as far as the "Xistus," a place so called, and then, joining to +the council-house, ended at the west cloister of the temple. But if +we go the other way westward, it began at the same place, and extended +through a place called "Bethso," to the gate of the Essens; and after +that it went southward, having its bending above the fountain Siloam, +where it also bends again towards the east at Solomon's pool, and +reaches as far as a certain place which they called "Ophlas," where it +was joined to the eastern cloister of the temple. The second wall took +its beginning from that gate which they called "Gennath," which belonged +to the first wall; it only encompassed the northern quarter of the city, +and reached as far as the tower Antonia. The beginning of the third wall +was at the tower Hippicus, whence it reached as far as the north quarter +of the city, and the tower Psephinus, and then was so far extended till +it came over against the monuments of Helena, which Helena was queen of +Adiabene, the daughter of Izates; it then extended further to a great +length, and passed by the sepulchral caverns of the kings, and bent +again at the tower of the corner, at the monument which is called the +"Monument of the Fuller," and joined to the old wall at the valley +called the "Valley of Cedron." It was Agrippa who encompassed the parts +added to the old city with this wall, which had been all naked before; +for as the city grew more populous, it gradually crept beyond its old +limits, and those parts of it that stood northward of the temple, +and joined that hill to the city, made it considerably larger, and +occasioned that hill, which is in number the fourth, and is called +"Bezetha," to be inhabited also. It lies over against the tower Antonia, +but is divided from it by a deep valley, which was dug on purpose, and +that in order to hinder the foundations of the tower of Antonia from +joining to this hill, and thereby affording an opportunity for getting +to it with ease, and hindering the security that arose from its superior +elevation; for which reason also that depth of the ditch made the +elevation of the towers more remarkable. This new-built part of the +city was called "Bezetha," in our language, which, if interpreted in the +Grecian language, may be called "the New City." Since, therefore, its +inhabitants stood in need of a covering, the father of the present king, +and of the same name with him, Agrippa, began that wall we spoke of; but +he left off building it when he had only laid the foundations, out of +the fear he was in of Claudius Caesar, lest he should suspect that +so strong a wall was built in order to make some innovation in public +affairs; for the city could no way have been taken if that wall had +been finished in the manner it was begun; as its parts were connected +together by stones twenty cubits long, and ten cubits broad, which could +never have been either easily undermined by any iron tools, or shaken +by any engines. The wall was, however, ten cubits wide, and it would +probably have had a height greater than that, had not his zeal who began +it been hindered from exerting itself. After this, it was erected with +great diligence by the Jews, as high as twenty cubits, above which it +had battlements of two cubits, and turrets of three cubits altitude, +insomuch that the entire altitude extended as far as twenty-five cubits. + +3. Now the towers that were upon it were twenty cubits in breadth, and +twenty cubits in height; they were square and solid, as was the wall +itself, wherein the niceness of the joints, and the beauty of the +stones, were no way inferior to those of the holy house itself. Above +this solid altitude of the towers, which was twenty cubits, there were +rooms of great magnificence, and over them upper rooms, and cisterns to +receive rain-water. They were many in number, and the steps by which you +ascended up to them were every one broad: of these towers then the +third wall had ninety, and the spaces between them were each two hundred +cubits; but in the middle wall were forty towers, and the old wall was +parted into sixty, while the whole compass of the city was thirty-three +furlongs. Now the third wall was all of it wonderful; yet was the tower +Psephinus elevated above it at the north-west corner, and there Titus +pitched his own tent; for being seventy cubits high it both afforded a +prospect of Arabia at sun-rising, as well as it did of the utmost limits +of the Hebrew possessions at the sea westward. Moreover, it was an +octagon, and over against it was the tower Hipplicus, and hard by two +others were erected by king Herod, in the old wall. These were for +largeness, beauty, and strength beyond all that were in the habitable +earth; for besides the magnanimity of his nature, and his magnificence +towards the city on other occasions, he built these after such an +extraordinary manner, to gratify his own private affections, and +dedicated these towers to the memory of those three persons who had been +the dearest to him, and from whom he named them. They were his brother, +his friend, and his wife. This wife he had slain, out of his love [and +jealousy], as we have already related; the other two he lost in war, as +they were courageously fighting. Hippicus, so named from his friend, +was square; its length and breadth were each twenty-five cubits, and its +height thirty, and it had no vacuity in it. Over this solid building, +which was composed of great stones united together, there was a +reservoir twenty cubits deep, over which there was a house of two +stories, whose height was twenty-five cubits, and divided into several +parts; over which were battlements of two cubits, and turrets all round +of three cubits high, insomuch that the entire height added together +amounted to fourscore cubits. The second tower, which he named from his +brother Phasaelus, had its breadth and its height equal, each of them +forty cubits; over which was its solid height of forty cubits; over +which a cloister went round about, whose height was ten cubits, and it +was covered from enemies by breast-works and bulwarks. There was also +built over that cloister another tower, parted into magnificent rooms, +and a place for bathing; so that this tower wanted nothing that +might make it appear to be a royal palace. It was also adorned with +battlements and turrets, more than was the foregoing, and the entire +altitude was about ninety cubits; the appearance of it resembled the +tower of Pharus, which exhibited a fire to such as sailed to Alexandria, +but was much larger than it in compass. This was now converted to a +house, wherein Simon exercised his tyrannical authority. The third tower +was Mariamne, for that was his queen's name; it was solid as high as +twenty cubits; its breadth and its length were twenty cubits, and were +equal to each other; its upper buildings were more magnificent, and had +greater variety, than the other towers had; for the king thought it most +proper for him to adorn that which was denominated from his wife, better +than those denominated from men, as those were built stronger than this +that bore his wife's name. The entire height of this tower was fifty +cubits. + +4. Now as these towers were so very tall, they appeared much taller by +the place on which they stood; for that very old wall wherein they were +was built on a high hill, and was itself a kind of elevation that was +still thirty cubits taller; over which were the towers situated, and +thereby were made much higher to appearance. The largeness also of the +stones was wonderful; for they were not made of common small stones, +nor of such large ones only as men could carry, but they were of white +marble, cut out of the rock; each stone was twenty cubits in length, and +ten in breadth, and five in depth. They were so exactly united to +one another, that each tower looked like one entire rock of stone, so +growing naturally, and afterward cut by the hand of the artificers into +their present shape and corners; so little, or not at all, did their +joints or connexion appear low as these towers were themselves on the +north side of the wall, the king had a palace inwardly thereto adjoined, +which exceeds all my ability to describe it; for it was so very curious +as to want no cost nor skill in its construction, but was entirely +walled about to the height of thirty cubits, and was adorned with towers +at equal distances, and with large bed-chambers, that would contain beds +for a hundred guests a-piece, in which the variety of the stones is not +to be expressed; for a large quantity of those that were rare of that +kind was collected together. Their roofs were also wonderful, both for +the length of the beams, and the splendor of their ornaments. The number +of the rooms was also very great, and the variety of the figures that +were about them was prodigious; their furniture was complete, and the +greatest part of the vessels that were put in them was of silver and +gold. There were besides many porticoes, one beyond another, round +about, and in each of those porticoes curious pillars; yet were all +the courts that were exposed to the air every where green. There were, +moreover, several groves of trees, and long walks through them, with +deep canals, and cisterns, that in several parts were filled with +brazen statues, through which the water ran out. There were withal many +dove-courts 11 of tame pigeons about the canals. But indeed it is not +possible to give a complete description of these palaces; and the very +remembrance of them is a torment to one, as putting one in mind what +vastly rich buildings that fire which was kindled by the robbers hath +consumed; for these were not burnt by the Romans, but by these internal +plotters, as we have already related, in the beginning of their +rebellion. That fire began at the tower of Antonia, and went on to the +palaces, and consumed the upper parts of the three towers themselves. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + + + A Description Of The Temple. + +1. Now this temple, as I have already said, was built upon a strong +hill. At first the plain at the top was hardly sufficient for the holy +house and the altar, for the ground about it was very uneven, and like +a precipice; but when king Solomon, who was the person that built the +temple, had built a wall to it on its east side, there was then added +one cloister founded on a bank cast up for it, and on the other parts +the holy house stood naked. But in future ages the people added new +banks, 12 and the hill became a larger plain. They then broke down the +wall on the north side, and took in as much as sufficed afterward for +the compass of the entire temple. And when they had built walls on three +sides of the temple round about, from the bottom of the hill, and had +performed a work that was greater than could be hoped for, [in which +work long ages were spent by them, as well as all their sacred treasures +were exhausted, which were still replenished by those tributes which +were sent to God from the whole habitable earth,] they then encompassed +their upper courts with cloisters, as well as they [afterward] did the +lowest [court of the] temple. The lowest part of this was erected to the +height of three hundred cubits, and in some places more; yet did not +the entire depth of the foundations appear, for they brought earth, and +filled up the valleys, as being desirous to make them on a level with +the narrow streets of the city; wherein they made use of stones of forty +cubits in magnitude; for the great plenty of money they then had, and +the liberality of the people, made this attempt of theirs to succeed to +an incredible degree; and what could not be so much as hoped for as ever +to be accomplished, was, by perseverance and length of time, brought to +perfection. + +2. Now for the works that were above these foundations, these were not +unworthy of such foundations; for all the cloisters were double, and +the pillars to them belonging were twenty-five cubits in height, and +supported the cloisters. These pillars were of one entire stone each of +them, and that stone was white marble; and the roofs were adorned with +cedar, curiously graven. The natural magnificence, and excellent polish, +and the harmony of the joints in these cloisters, afforded a prospect +that was very remarkable; nor was it on the outside adorned with any +work of the painter or engraver. The cloisters [of the outmost court] +were in breadth thirty cubits, while the entire compass of it was by +measure six furlongs, including the tower of Antonia; those entire +courts that were exposed to the air were laid with stones of all sorts. +When you go through these [first] cloisters, unto the second [court of +the] temple, there was a partition made of stone all round, whose height +was three cubits: its construction was very elegant; upon it stood +pillars, at equal distances from one another, declaring the law of +purity, some in Greek, and some in Roman letters, that "no foreigner +should go within that sanctuary" for that second [court of the] temple +was called "the Sanctuary," and was ascended to by fourteen steps from +the first court. This court was four-square, and had a wall about it +peculiar to itself; the height of its buildings, although it were on the +outside forty cubits, 13 was hidden by the steps, and on the inside that +height was but twenty-five cubits; for it being built over against a +higher part of the hill with steps, it was no further to be entirely +discerned within, being covered by the hill itself. Beyond these +thirteen steps there was the distance of ten cubits; this was all plain; +whence there were other steps, each of five cubits a-piece, that led to +the gates, which gates on the north and south sides were eight, on each +of those sides four, and of necessity two on the east. For since there +was a partition built for the women on that side, as the proper place +wherein they were to worship, there was a necessity for a second gate +for them: this gate was cut out of its wall, over against the first +gate. There was also on the other sides one southern and one northern +gate, through which was a passage into the court of the women; for as +to the other gates, the women were not allowed to pass through them; +nor when they went through their own gate could they go beyond their own +wall. This place was allotted to the women of our own country, and +of other countries, provided they were of the same nation, and that +equally. The western part of this court had no gate at all, but the wall +was built entire on that side. But then the cloisters which were betwixt +the gates extended from the wall inward, before the chambers; for they +were supported by very fine and large pillars. These cloisters were +single, and, excepting their magnitude, were no way inferior to those of +the lower court. + +3. Now nine of these gates were on every side covered over with gold and +silver, as were the jambs of their doors and their lintels; but there +was one gate that was without the [inward court of the] holy house, +which was of Corinthian brass, and greatly excelled those that were only +covered over with silver and gold. Each gate had two doors, whose height +was severally thirty cubits, and their breadth fifteen. However, they +had large spaces within of thirty cubits, and had on each side rooms, +and those, both in breadth and in length, built like towers, and their +height was above forty cubits. Two pillars did also support these rooms, +and were in circumference twelve cubits. Now the magnitudes of the other +gates were equal one to another; but that over the Corinthian gate, +which opened on the east over against the gate of the holy house itself, +was much larger; for its height was fifty cubits; and its doors were +forty cubits; and it was adorned after a most costly manner, as having +much richer and thicker plates of silver and gold upon them than the +other. These nine gates had that silver and gold poured upon them by +Alexander, the father of Tiberius. Now there were fifteen steps, which +led away from the wall of the court of the women to this greater gate; +whereas those that led thither from the other gates were five steps +shorter. + +4. As to the holy house itself, which was placed in the midst [of the +inmost court], that most sacred part of the temple, it was ascended to +by twelve steps; and in front its height and its breadth were equal, and +each a hundred cubits, though it was behind forty cubits narrower; for +on its front it had what may be styled shoulders on each side, that +passed twenty cubits further. Its first gate was seventy cubits high, +and twenty-five cubits broad; but this gate had no doors; for it +represented the universal visibility of heaven, and that it cannot be +excluded from any place. Its front was covered with gold all over, and +through it the first part of the house, that was more inward, did all of +it appear; which, as it was very large, so did all the parts about the +more inward gate appear to shine to those that saw them; but then, as +the entire house was divided into two parts within, it was only the +first part of it that was open to our view. Its height extended all +along to ninety cubits in height, and its length was fifty cubits, and +its breadth twenty. But that gate which was at this end of the first +part of the house was, as we have already observed, all over covered +with gold, as was its whole wall about it; it had also golden vines +above it, from which clusters of grapes hung as tall as a man's height. +But then this house, as it was divided into two parts, the inner part +was lower than the appearance of the outer, and had golden doors of +fifty-five cubits altitude, and sixteen in breadth; but before these +doors there was a veil of equal largeness with the doors. It was a +Babylonian curtain, embroidered with blue, and fine linen, and scarlet, +and purple, and of a contexture that was truly wonderful. Nor was this +mixture of colors without its mystical interpretation, but was a kind +of image of the universe; for by the scarlet there seemed to be +enigmatically signified fire, by the fine flax the earth, by the blue +the air, and by the purple the sea; two of them having their colors the +foundation of this resemblance; but the fine flax and the purple have +their own origin for that foundation, the earth producing the one, and +the sea the other. This curtain had also embroidered upon it all that +was mystical in the heavens, excepting that of the [twelve] signs, +representing living creatures. + +5. When any persons entered into the temple, its floor received them. +This part of the temple therefore was in height sixty cubits, and its +length the same; whereas its breadth was but twenty cubits: but still +that sixty cubits in length was divided again, and the first part of it +was cut off at forty cubits, and had in it three things that were very +wonderful and famous among all mankind, the candlestick, the table [of +shew-bread], and the altar of incense. Now the seven lamps signified the +seven planets; for so many there were springing out of the candlestick. +Now the twelve loaves that were upon the table signified the circle of +the zodiac and the year; but the altar of incense, by its thirteen kinds +of sweet-smelling spices with which the sea replenished it, signified +that God is the possessor of all things that are both in the +uninhabitable and habitable parts of the earth, and that they are all to +be dedicated to his use. But the inmost part of the temple of all was of +twenty cubits. This was also separated from the outer part by a veil. In +this there was nothing at all. It was inaccessible and inviolable, and +not to be seen by any; and was called the Holy of Holies. Now, about the +sides of the lower part of the temple, there were little houses, with +passages out of one into another; there were a great many of them, and +they were of three stories high; there were also entrances on each side +into them from the gate of the temple. But the superior part of the +temple had no such little houses any further, because the temple was +there narrower, and forty cubits higher, and of a smaller body than the +lower parts of it. Thus we collect that the whole height, including the +sixty cubits from the floor, amounted to a hundred cubits. + +6. Now the outward face of the temple in its front wanted nothing that +was likely to surprise either men's minds or their eyes; for it was +covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first +rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those +who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as +they would have done at the sun's own rays. But this temple appeared to +strangers, when they were coming to it at a distance, like a mountain +covered with snow; for as to those parts of it that were not gilt, they +were exceeding white. On its top it had spikes with sharp points, to +prevent any pollution of it by birds sitting upon it. Of its stones, +some of them were forty-five cubits in length, five in height, and six +in breadth. Before this temple stood the altar, fifteen cubits high, +and equal both in length and breadth; each of which dimensions was fifty +cubits. The figure it was built in was a square, and it had corners like +horns; and the passage up to it was by an insensible acclivity. It was +formed without any iron tool, nor did any such iron tool so much as +touch it at any time. There was also a wall of partition, about a cubit +in height, made of fine stones, and so as to be grateful to the sight; +this encompassed the holy house and the altar, and kept the people that +were on the outside off from the priests. Moreover, those that had the +gonorrhea and the leprosy were excluded out of the city entirely; women +also, when their courses were upon them, were shut out of the temple; +nor when they were free from that impurity, were they allowed to go +beyond the limit before-mentioned; men also, that were not thoroughly +pure, were prohibited to come into the inner [court of the] temple; nay, +the priests themselves that were not pure were prohibited to come into +it also. + +7. Now all those of the stock of the priests that could not minister +by reason of some defect in their bodies, came within the partition, +together with those that had no such imperfection, and had their share +with them by reason of their stock, but still made use of none except +their own private garments; for nobody but he that officiated had on his +sacred garments; but then those priests that were without any blemish +upon them went up to the altar clothed in fine linen. They abstained +chiefly from wine, out of this fear, lest otherwise they should +transgress some rules of their ministration. The high priest did also go +up with them; not always indeed, but on the seventh days and new moons, +and if any festivals belonging to our nation, which we celebrate every +year, happened. When he officiated, he had on a pair of breeches that +reached beneath his privy parts to his thighs, and had on an inner +garment of linen, together with a blue garment, round, without seam, +with fringe work, and reaching to the feet. There were also golden bells +that hung upon the fringes, and pomegranates intermixed among them. The +bells signified thunder, and the pomegranates lightning. But that girdle +that tied the garment to the breast was embroidered with five rows of +various colors, of gold, and purple, and scarlet, as also of fine linen +and blue, with which colors we told you before the veils of the temple +were embroidered also. The like embroidery was upon the ephod; but the +quantity of gold therein was greater. Its figure was that of a stomacher +for the breast. There were upon it two golden buttons like small +shields, which buttoned the ephod to the garment; in these buttons were +enclosed two very large and very excellent sardonyxes, having the names +of the tribes of that nation engraved upon them: on the other part there +hung twelve stones, three in a row one way, and four in the other; a +sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; a carbuncle, a jasper, and a sapphire; +an agate, an amethyst, and a ligure; an onyx, a beryl, and a chrysolite; +upon every one of which was again engraved one of the forementioned +names of the tribes. A mitre also of fine linen encompassed his head, +which was tied by a blue ribbon, about which there was another golden +crown, in which was engraven the sacred name [of God]: it consists of +four vowels. However, the high priest did not wear these garments at +other times, but a more plain habit; he only did it when he went into +the most sacred part of the temple, which he did but once in a year, +on that day when our custom is for all of us to keep a fast to God. And +thus much concerning the city and the temple; but for the customs and +laws hereto relating, we shall speak more accurately another time; for +there remain a great many things thereto relating which have not been +here touched upon. + +8. Now as to the tower of Antonia, it was situated at the corner of two +cloisters of the court of the temple; of that on the west, and that on +the north; it was erected upon a rock of fifty cubits in height, and +was on a great precipice; it was the work of king Herod, wherein he +demonstrated his natural magnanimity. In the first place, the +rock itself was covered over with smooth pieces of stone, from its +foundation, both for ornament, and that any one who would either try to +get up or to go down it might not be able to hold his feet upon it. Next +to this, and before you come to the edifice of the tower itself, there +was a wall three cubits high; but within that wall all the space of the +tower of Antonia itself was built upon, to the height of forty cubits. +The inward parts had the largeness and form of a palace, it being parted +into all kinds of rooms and other conveniences, such as courts, and +places for bathing, and broad spaces for camps; insomuch that, by having +all conveniences that cities wanted, it might seem to be composed of +several cities, but by its magnificence it seemed a palace. And as the +entire structure resembled that of a tower, it contained also four other +distinct towers at its four corners; whereof the others were but fifty +cubits high; whereas that which lay upon the southeast corner was +seventy cubits high, that from thence the whole temple might be viewed; +but on the corner where it joined to the two cloisters of the temple, +it had passages down to them both, through which the guard [for there +always lay in this tower a Roman legion] went several ways among the +cloisters, with their arms, on the Jewish festivals, in order to watch +the people, that they might not there attempt to make any innovations; +for the temple was a fortress that guarded the city, as was the tower +of Antonia a guard to the temple; and in that tower were the guards +of those three 14. There was also a peculiar fortress belonging to the +upper city, which was Herod's palace; but for the hill Bezetha, it was +divided from the tower Antonia, as we have already told you; and as that +hill on which the tower of Antonia stood was the highest of these three, +so did it adjoin to the new city, and was the only place that hindered +the sight of the temple on the north. And this shall suffice at present +to have spoken about the city and the walls about it, because I have +proposed to myself to make a more accurate description of it elsewhere. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + Concerning The Tyrants Simon And John. How Also As Titus Was + Going Round The Wall Of This City Nicanor Was Wounded By A + Dart; Which Accident Provoked Titus To Press On The Siege. + +1. Now the warlike men that were in the city, and the multitude of the +seditious that were with Simon, were ten thousand, besides the Idumeans. +Those ten thousand had fifty commanders, over whom this Simon was +supreme. The Idumeans that paid him homage were five thousand, and had +eight commanders, among whom those of greatest fame were Jacob the son +of Sosas, and Simon the son of Cathlas. Jotre, who had seized upon the +temple, had six thousand armed men under twenty commanders; the zealots +also that had come over to him, and left off their opposition, were +two thousand four hundred, and had the same commander that they had +formerly, Eleazar, together with Simon the son of Arinus. Now, while +these factions fought one against another, the people were their prey +on both sides, as we have said already; and that part of the people who +would not join with them in their wicked practices were plundered by +both factions. Simon held the upper city, and the great wall as far as +Cedron, and as much of the old wall as bent from Siloam to the east, +and which went down to the palace of Monobazus, who was king of the +Adiabeni, beyond Euphrates; he also held that fountain, and the Acra, +which was no other than the lower city; he also held all that reached to +the palace of queen Helena, the mother of Monobazus. But John held the +temple, and the parts thereto adjoining, for a great way, as also Ophla, +and the valley called "the Valley of Cedron;" and when the parts that +were interposed between their possessions were burnt by them, they left +a space wherein they might fight with each other; for this internal +sedition did not cease even when the Romans were encamped near their +very wall. But although they had grown wiser at the first onset the +Romans made upon them, this lasted but a while; for they returned to +their former madness, and separated one from another, and fought it out, +and did everything that the besiegers could desire them to do; for they +never suffered any thing that was worse from the Romans than they made +each other suffer; nor was there any misery endured by the city after +these men's actions that could be esteemed new. But it was most of all +unhappy before it was overthrown, while those that took it did it a +greater kindness for I venture to affirm that the sedition destroyed the +city, and the Romans destroyed the sedition, which it was a much harder +thing to do than to destroy the walls; so that we may justly ascribe our +misfortunes to our own people, and the just vengeance taken on them to +the Romans; as to which matter let every one determine by the actions on +both sides. + +2. Now when affairs within the city were in this posture, Titus went +round the city on the outside with some chosen horsemen, and looked +about for a proper place where he might make an impression upon the +walls; but as he was in doubt where he could possibly make an attack on +any side, [for the place was no way accessible where the valleys were, +and on the other side the first wall appeared too strong to be shaken by +the engines,] he thereupon thought it best to make his assault upon +the monument of John the high priest; for there it was that the first +fortification was lower, and the second was not joined to it, the +builders neglecting to build strong where the new city was not much +inhabited; here also was an easy passage to the third wall, through +which he thought to take the upper city, and, through the tower of +Antonia, the temple itself But at this time, as he was going round about +the city, one of his friends, whose name was Nicanor, was wounded with a +dart on his left shoulder, as he approached, together with Josephus, too +near the wall, and attempted to discourse to those that were upon the +wall, about terms of peace; for he was a person known by them. On this +account it was that Caesar, as soon as he knew their vehemence, that +they would not hear even such as approached them to persuade them to +what tended to their own preservation, was provoked to press on the +siege. He also at the same time gave his soldiers leave to set the +suburbs on fire, and ordered that they should bring timber together, and +raise banks against the city; and when he had parted his army into three +parts, in order to set about those works, he placed those that shot +darts and the archers in the midst of the banks that were then raising; +before whom he placed those engines that threw javelins, and darts, and +stones, that he might prevent the enemy from sallying out upon their +works, and might hinder those that were upon the wall from being able +to obstruct them. So the trees were now cut down immediately, and the +suburbs left naked. But now while the timber was carrying to raise the +banks, and the whole army was earnestly engaged in their works, the Jews +were not, however, quiet; and it happened that the people of Jerusalem, +who had been hitherto plundered and murdered, were now of good courage, +and supposed they should have a breathing time, while the others were +very busy in opposing their enemies without the city, and that they +should now be avenged on those that had been the authors of their +miseries, in case the Romans did but get the victory. + +3. However, John staid behind, out of his fear of Simon, even while his +own men were earnest in making a sally upon their enemies without. Yet +did not Simon lie still, for he lay near the place of the siege; he +brought his engines of war, and disposed of them at due distances upon +the wall, both those which they took from Cestius formerly, and those +which they got when they seized the garrison that lay in the tower +Antonia. But though they had these engines in their possession, they had +so little skill in using them, that they were in great measure useless +to them; but a few there were who had been taught by deserters how to +use them, which they did use, though after an awkward manner. So they +cast stones and arrows at those that were making the banks; they also +ran out upon them by companies, and fought with them. Now those that +were at work covered themselves with hurdles spread over their banks, +and their engines were opposed to them when they made their excursions. +The engines, that all the legions had ready prepared for them, were +admirably contrived; but still more extraordinary ones belonged to the +tenth legion: those that threw darts and those that threw stones were +more forcible and larger than the rest, by which they not only repelled +the excursions of the Jews, but drove those away that were upon the +walls also. Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a +talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave +was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the +way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the +Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a +white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great +noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness; +accordingly the watchmen that sat upon the towers gave them notice when +the engine was let go, and the stone came from it, and cried out aloud, +in their own country language, The Stone Cometh 15 so those that were in +its way stood off, and threw themselves down upon the ground; by which +means, and by their thus guarding themselves, the stone fell down +and did them no harm. But the Romans contrived how to prevent that by +blacking the stone, who then could aim at them with success, when the +stone was not discerned beforehand, as it had been till then; and so +they destroyed many of them at one blow. Yet did not the Jews, under all +this distress, permit the Romans to raise their banks in quiet; but they +shrewdly and boldly exerted themselves, and repelled them both by night +and by day. + +4. And now, upon the finishing the Roman works, the workmen measured +the distance there was from the wall, and this by lead and a line, which +they threw to it from their banks; for they could not measure it any +otherwise, because the Jews would shoot at them, if they came to measure +it themselves; and when they found that the engines could reach the +wall, they brought them thither. Then did Titus set his engines at +proper distances, so much nearer to the wall, that the Jews might not +be able to repel them, and gave orders they should go to work; and when +thereupon a prodigious noise echoed round about from three places, and +that on the sudden there was a great noise made by the citizens that +were within the city, and no less a terror fell upon the seditious +themselves; whereupon both sorts, seeing the common danger they were in, +contrived to make a like defense. So those of different factions cried +out one to another, that they acted entirely as in concert with their +enemies; whereas they ought however, notwithstanding God did not grant +them a lasting concord, in their present circumstances, to lay aside +their enmities one against another, and to unite together against the +Romans. Accordingly, Simon gave those that came from the temple leave, +by proclamation, to go upon the wall; John also himself, though he could +not believe Simon was in earnest, gave them the same leave. So on both +sides they laid aside their hatred and their peculiar quarrels, and +formed themselves into one body; they then ran round the walls, and +having a vast number of torches with them, they threw them at the +machines, and shot darts perpetually upon those that impelled those +engines which battered the wall; nay, the bolder sort leaped out by +troops upon the hurdles that covered the machines, and pulled them to +pieces, and fell upon those that belonged to them, and beat them, not +so much by any skill they had, as principally by the boldness of their +attacks. However, Titus himself still sent assistance to those that were +the hardest set, and placed both horsemen and archers on the several +sides of the engines, and thereby beat off those that brought the fire +to them; he also thereby repelled those that shot stones or darts from +the towers, and then set the engines to work in good earnest; yet did +not the wall yield to these blows, excepting where the battering ram of +the fifteenth legion moved the corner of a tower, while the wall itself +continued unhurt; for the wall was not presently in the same danger with +the tower, which was extant far above it; nor could the fall of that +part of the tower easily break down any part of the wall itself together +with it. + +5. And now the Jews intermitted their sallies for a while; but when they +observed the Romans dispersed all abroad at their works, and in their +several camps, [for they thought the Jews had retired out of weariness +and fear,] they all at once made a sally at the tower Hippicus, through +an obscure gate, and at the same time brought fire to burn the works, +and went boldly up to the Romans, and to their very fortifications +themselves, where, at the cry they made, those that were near them came +presently to their assistance, and those farther off came running after +them; and here the boldness of the Jews was too hard for the good order +of the Romans; and as they beat those whom they first fell upon, so they +pressed upon those that were now gotten together. So this fight about +the machines was very hot, while the one side tried hard to set them +on fire, and the other side to prevent it; on both sides there was a +confused cry made, and many of those in the forefront of the battle +were slain. However, the Jews were now too hard for the Romans, by the +furious assaults they made like madmen; and the fire caught hold of the +works, and both all those works, and the engines themselves, had been in +danger of being burnt, had not many of these select soldiers that came +from Alexandria opposed themselves to prevent it, and had they not +behaved themselves with greater courage than they themselves supposed +they could have done; for they outdid those in this fight that had +greater reputation than themselves before. This was the state of things +till Caesar took the stoutest of his horsemen, and attacked the enemy, +while he himself slew twelve of those that were in the forefront of the +Jews; which death of these men, when the rest of the multitude saw, they +gave way, and he pursued them, and drove them all into the city, and +saved the works from the fire. Now it happened at this fight that a +certain Jew was taken alive, who, by Titus's order, was crucified before +the wall, to see whether the rest of them would be affrighted, and +abate of their obstinacy. But after the Jews were retired, John, who was +commander of the Idumeans, and was talking to a certain soldier of his +acquaintance before the wall, was wounded by a dart shot at him by an +Arabian, and died immediately, leaving the greatest lamentation to the +Jews, and sorrow to the seditious. For he was a man of great eminence, +both for his actions and his conduct also. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + How One Of The Towers Erected By The Romans Fell Down Of Its + Own Accord; And How The Romans After Great Slaughter Had + Been Made Got Possession Of The First Wall. How Also Titus + Made His Assaults Upon The Second Wall; As Also Concerning + Longinus The Roman, And Castor The Jew. + +1. Now, on the next night, a surprising disturbance fell upon the +Romans; for whereas Titus had given orders for the erection of three +towers of fifty cubits high, that by setting men upon them at every +bank, he might from thence drive those away who were upon the wall, it +so happened that one of these towers fell down about midnight; and as +its fall made a very great noise, fear fell upon the army, and they, +supposing that the enemy was coming to attack them, ran all to their +arms. Whereupon a disturbance and a tumult arose among the legions, +and as nobody could tell what had happened, they went on after a +disconsolate manner; and seeing no enemy appear, they were afraid one of +another, and every one demanded of his neighbor the watchword with great +earnestness, as though the Jews had invaded their camp. And now were +they like people under a panic fear, till Titus was informed of what +had happened, and gave orders that all should be acquainted with it; +and then, though with some difficulty, they got clear of the disturbance +they had been under. + +2. Now these towers were very troublesome to the Jews, who otherwise +opposed the Romans very courageously; for they shot at them out of their +lighter engines from those towers, as they did also by those that threw +darts, and the archers, and those that flung stones. For neither could +the Jews reach those that were over them, by reason of their height; and +it was not practicable to take them, nor to overturn them, they were so +heavy, nor to set them on fire, because they were covered with plates of +iron. So they retired out of the reach of the darts, and did no longer +endeavor to hinder the impression of their rams, which, by continually +beating upon the wall, did gradually prevail against it; so that +the wall already gave way to the Nico, for by that name did the Jews +themselves call the greatest of their engines, because it conquered all +things. And now they were for a long while grown weary of fighting, +and of keeping guards, and were retired to lodge in the night time at a +distance from the wall. It was on other accounts also thought by them +to be superfluous to guard the wall, there being besides that two other +fortifications still remaining, and they being slothful, and their +counsels having been ill concerted on all occasions; so a great many +grew lazy and retired. Then the Romans mounted the breach, where +Nico had made one, and all the Jews left the guarding that wall, and +retreated to the second wall; so those that had gotten over that wall +opened the gates, and received all the army within it. And thus did the +Romans get possession of this first wall, on the fifteenth day of the +siege, which was the seventh day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] when +they demolished a great part of it, as well as they did of the northern +parts of the city, which had been demolished also by Cestius formerly. + +3. And now Titus pitched his camp within the city, at that place which +was called "the Camp of the Assyrians," having seized upon all that +lay as far as Cedron, but took care to be out of the reach of the Jews' +darts. He then presently began his attacks, upon which the Jews divided +themselves into several bodies, and courageously defended that wall; +while John and his faction did it from the tower of Antonia, and from +the northern cloister of the temple, and fought the Romans before the +monuments of king Alexander; and Sireoh's army also took for their share +the spot of ground that was near John's monument, and fortified it as +far as to that gate where water was brought in to the tower Hippicus. +However, the Jews made violent sallies, and that frequently also, and in +bodies together out of the gates, and there fought the Romans; and when +they were pursued all together to the wall, they were beaten in those +fights, as wanting the skill of the Romans. But when they fought them +from the walls, they were too hard for them; the Romans being encouraged +by their power, joined to their skill, as were the Jews by their +boldness, which was nourished by the fear they were in, and that +hardiness which is natural to our nation under calamities; they were +also encouraged still by the hope of deliverance, as were the Romans by +their hopes of subduing them in a little time. Nor did either side grow +weary; but attacks and rightings upon the wall, and perpetual sallies +out in bodies, were there all the day long; nor were there any sort of +warlike engagements that were not then put in use. And the night itself +had much ado to part them, when they began to fight in the morning; nay, +the night itself was passed without sleep on both sides, and was more +uneasy than the day to them, while the one was afraid lest the wall +should be taken, and the other lest the Jews should make sallies upon +their camps; both sides also lay in their armor during the night time, +and thereby were ready at the first appearance of light to go to the +battle. Now among the Jews the ambition was who should undergo the first +dangers, and thereby gratify their commanders. Above all, they had a +great veneration and dread of Simon; and to that degree was he regarded +by every one of those that were under him, that at his command they were +very ready to kill themselves with their own hands. What made the Romans +so courageous was their usual custom of conquering and disuse of being +defeated, their constant wars, and perpetual warlike exercises, and +the grandeur of their dominion; and what was now their chief +encouragement--Titus who was present every where with them all; for +it appeared a terrible thing to grow weary while Caesar was there, +and fought bravely as well as they did, and was himself at once an +eye-witness of such as behaved themselves valiantly, and he who was to +reward them also. It was, besides, esteemed an advantage at present +to have any one's valor known by Caesar; on which account many of them +appeared to have more alacrity than strength to answer it. And now, as +the Jews were about this time standing in array before the wall, and +that in a strong body, and while both parties were throwing their darts +at each other, Longinus, one of the equestrian order, leaped out of the +army of the Romans, and leaped into the very midst of the army of the +Jews; and as they dispersed themselves upon the attack, he slew two of +their men of the greatest courage; one of them he struck in his mouth as +he was coming to meet him, the other was slain by him by that very dart +which he drew out of the body of the other, with which he ran this man +through his side as he was running away from him; and when he had done +this, he first of all ran out of the midst of his enemies to his own +side. So this man signalized himself for his valor, and many there were +who were ambitious of gaining the like reputation. And now the Jews were +unconcerned at what they suffered themselves from the Romans, and were +only solicitous about what mischief they could do them; and death itself +seemed a small matter to them, if at the same time they could but kill +any one of their enemies. But Titus took care to secure his own soldiers +from harm, as well as to have them overcome their enemies. He also said +that inconsiderate violence was madness, and that this alone was the +true courage that was joined with good conduct. He therefore commanded +his men to take care, when they fought their enemies, that they received +no harm from them at the same time, and thereby show themselves to be +truly valiant men. + +4. And now Titus brought one of his engines to the middle tower of the +north part of the wall, in which a certain crafty Jew, whose name was +Castor, lay in ambush, with ten others like himself, the rest being fled +away by reason of the archers. These men lay still for a while, as in +great fear, under their breastplates; but when the tower was shaken, +they arose, and Castor did then stretch out his hand, as a petitioner, +and called for Caesar, and by his voice moved his compassion, and begged +of him to have mercy upon them; and Titus, in the innocency of his +heart, believing him to be in earnest, and hoping that the Jews did now +repent, stopped the working of the battering ram, and forbade them to +shoot at the petitioners, and bid Castor say what he had a mind to say +to him. He said that he would come down, if he would give him his right +hand for his security. To which Titus replied, that he was well pleased +with such his agreeable conduct, and would be well pleased if all +the Jews would be of his mind, and that he was ready to give the like +security to the city. Now five of the ten dissembled with him, and +pretended to beg for mercy, while the rest cried out aloud that they +would never be slaves to the Romans, while it was in their power to die +in a state of freedom. Now while these men were quarrelling for a long +while, the attack was delayed; Castor also sent to Simon, and told him +that they might take some time for consultation about what was to be +done, because he would elude the power of the Romans for a considerable +time. And at the same time that he sent thus to him, he appeared openly +to exhort those that were obstinate to accept of Titus's hand for their +security; but they seemed very angry at it, and brandished their naked +swords upon the breast-works, and struck themselves upon their breast, +and fell down as if they had been slain. Hereupon Titus, and those with +him, were amazed at the courage of the men; and as they were not able +to see exactly what was done, they admired at their great fortitude, +and pitied their calamity. During this interval, a certain person shot +a dart at Castor, and wounded him in his nose; whereupon he presently +pulled out the dart, and showed it to Titus, and complained that this +was unfair treatment; so Caesar reproved him that shot the dart, and +sent Josephus, who then stood by him, to give his right hand to Castor. +But Josephus said that he would not go to him, because these pretended +petitioners meant nothing that was good; he also restrained those +friends of his who were zealous to go to him. But still there was one +Eneas, a deserter, who said he would go to him. Castor also called to +them, that somebody should come and receive the money which he had with +him; this made Eneas the more earnestly to run to him with his bosom +open. Then did Castor take up a great stone, and threw it at him, which +missed him, because he guarded himself against it; but still it wounded +another soldier that was coming to him. When Caesar understood that this +was a delusion, he perceived that mercy in war is a pernicious thing, +because such cunning tricks have less place under the exercise of +greater severity. So he caused the engine to work more strongly than +before, on account of his anger at the deceit put upon him. But Castor +and his companions set the tower on fire when it began to give way, and +leaped through the flame into a hidden vault that was under it, which +made the Romans further suppose that they were men of great courage, as +having cast themselves into the fire. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + How The Romans Took The Second Wall Twice, And Got All Ready + For Taking The Third Wall. + +1. Now Caesar took this wall there on the fifth day after he had taken +the first; and when the Jews had fled from him, he entered into it with +a thousand armed men, and those of his choice troops, and this at a +place where were the merchants of wool, the braziers, and the market +for cloth, and where the narrow streets led obliquely to the wall. +Wherefore, if Titus had either demolished a larger part of the wall +immediately, or had come in, and, according to the law of war, had laid +waste what was left, his victory would not, I suppose, have been mixed +with any loss to himself. But now, out of the hope he had that he should +make the Jews ashamed of their obstinacy, by not being willing, when he +was able, to afflict them more than he needed to do, he did not widen +the breach of the wall, in order to make a safer retreat upon occasion; +for he did not think they would lay snares for him that did them such a +kindness. When therefore he came in, he did not permit his soldiers to +kill any of those they caught, nor to set fire to their houses neither; +nay, he gave leave to the seditious, if they had a mind, to fight +without any harm to the people, and promised to restore the people's +effects to them; for he was very desirous to preserve the city for his +own sake, and the temple for the sake of the city. As to the people, he +had them of a long time ready to comply with his proposals; but as to +the fighting men, this humanity of his seemed a mark of his weakness, +and they imagined that he made these proposals because he was not able +to take the rest of the city. They also threatened death to the people, +if they should any one of them say a word about a surrender. They +moreover cut the throats of such as talked of a peace, and then attacked +those Romans that were come within the wall. Some of them they met in +the narrow streets, and some they fought against from their houses, +while they made a sudden sally out at the upper gates, and assaulted +such Romans as were beyond the wall, till those that guarded the wall +were so affrighted, that they leaped down from their towers, and retired +to their several camps: upon which a great noise was made by the Romans +that were within, because they were encompassed round on every side by +their enemies; as also by them that were without, because they were in +fear for those that were left in the city. Thus did the Jews grow more +numerous perpetually, and had great advantages over the Romans, by their +full knowledge of those narrow lanes; and they wounded a great many +of them, and fell upon them, and drove them out of the city. Now these +Romans were at present forced to make the best resistance they could; +for they were not able, in great numbers, to get out at the breach in +the wall, it was so narrow. It is also probable that all those that +were gotten within had been cut to pieces, if Titus had not sent them +succors; for he ordered the archers to stand at the upper ends of these +narrow lanes, and he stood himself where was the greatest multitude of +his enemies, and with his darts he put a stop to them; as with him +did Domitius Sabinus also, a valiant man, and one that in this battle +appeared so to be. Thus did Caesar continue to shoot darts at the Jews +continually, and to hinder them from coming upon his men, and this until +all his soldiers had retreated out of the city. + +2. And thus were the Romans driven out, after they had possessed +themselves of the second wall. Whereupon the fighting men that were +in the city were lifted up in their minds, and were elevated upon this +their good success, and began to think that the Romans would never +venture to come into the city any more; and that if they kept within it +themselves, they should not be any more conquered. For God had blinded +their minds for the transgressions they had been guilty of, nor could +they see how much greater forces the Romans had than those that were now +expelled, no more than they could discern how a famine was creeping upon +them; for hitherto they had fed themselves out of the public miseries, +and drank the blood of the city. But now poverty had for a long time +seized upon the better part, and a great many had died already for want +of necessaries; although the seditious indeed supposed the destruction +of the people to be an easement to themselves; for they desired that +none others might be preserved but such as were against a peace with the +Romans, and were resolved to live in opposition to them, and they were +pleased when the multitude of those of a contrary opinion were consumed, +as being then freed from a heavy burden. And this was their disposition +of mind with regard to those that were within the city, while they +covered themselves with their armor, and prevented the Romans, when they +were trying to get into the city again, and made a wall of their own +bodies over against that part of the wall that was cast down. Thus did +they valiantly defend themselves for three days; but on the fourth day +they could not support themselves against the vehement assaults of Titus +but were compelled by force to fly whither they had fled before; so +he quietly possessed himself again of that wall, and demolished it +entirely. And when he had put a garrison into the towers that were on +the south parts of the city, he contrived how he might assault the third +wall. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + Titus When The Jews Were Not At All Mollified By His Leaving + Off The Siege For A While, Set Himself Again To Prosecute + The Same; But Soon Sent Josephus To Discourse With His Own + Countrymen About Peace. + +1. A Resolution was now taken by Titus to relax the siege for a little +while, and to afford the seditious an interval for consideration, and to +see whether the demolishing of their second wall would not make them +a little more compliant, or whether they were not somewhat afraid of +a famine, because the spoils they had gotten by rapine would not be +sufficient for them long; so he made use of this relaxation in order to +compass his own designs. Accordingly, as the usual appointed time when +he must distribute subsistence money to the soldiers was now come, he +gave orders that the commanders should put the army into battle-array, +in the face of the enemy, and then give every one of the soldiers their +pay. So the soldiers, according to custom, opened the cases wherein +their arms before lay covered, and marched with their breastplates on, +as did the horsemen lead their horses in their fine trappings. Then did +the places that were before the city shine very splendidly for a great +way; nor was there any thing so grateful to Titus's own men, or so +terrible to the enemy, as that sight. For the whole old wall, and the +north side of the temple, were full of spectators, and one might see +the houses full of such as looked at them; nor was there any part of the +city which was not covered over with their multitudes; nay, a very great +consternation seized upon the hardiest of the Jews themselves, when they +saw all the army in the same place, together with the fineness of their +arms, and the good order of their men. And I cannot but think that +the seditious would have changed their minds at that sight, unless the +crimes they had committed against the people had been so horrid, that +they despaired of forgiveness from the Romans; but as they believed +death with torments must be their punishment, if they did not go on in +the defense of the city, they thought it much better to die in war. Fate +also prevailed so far over them, that the innocent were to perish with +the guilty, and the city was to be destroyed with the seditious that +were in it. + +2. Thus did the Romans spend four days in bringing this +subsistence-money to the several legions. But on the fifth day, when +no signs of peace appeared to come from the Jews, Titus divided his +legions, and began to raise banks, both at the tower of Antonia and at +John's monument. Now his designs were to take the upper city at that +monument, and the temple at the tower of Antonia; for if the temple were +not taken, it would be dangerous to keep the city itself; so at each of +these parts he raised him banks, each legion raising one. As for those +that wrought at John's monument, the Idumeans, and those that were in +arms with Simon, made sallies upon them, and put some stop to them; +while John's party, and the multitude of zealots with them, did the like +to those that were before the tower of Antonia. These Jews were now too +hard for the Romans, not only in direct fighting, because they stood +upon the higher ground, but because they had now learned to use their +own engines; for their continual use of them one day after another did +by degrees improve their skill about them; for of one sort of engines +for darts they had three hundred, and forty for stones; by the means of +which they made it more tedious for the Romans to raise their banks. But +then Titus, knowing that the city would be either saved or destroyed for +himself, did not only proceed earnestly in the siege, but did not omit +to have the Jews exhorted to repentance; so he mixed good counsel +with his works for the siege. And being sensible that exhortations are +frequently more effectual than arms, he persuaded them to surrender the +city, now in a manner already taken, and thereby to save themselves, and +sent Josephus to speak to them in their own language; for he imagined +they might yield to the persuasion of a countryman of their own. + +3. So Josephus went round about the wall, and tried to find a place that +was out of the reach of their darts, and yet within their hearing, +and besought them, in many words, to spare themselves, to spare their +country and their temple, and not to be more obdurate in these cases +than foreigners themselves; for that the Romans, who had no relation +to those things, had a reverence for their sacred rites and places, +although they belonged to their enemies, and had till now kept their +hands off from meddling with them; while such as were brought up under +them, and, if they be preserved, will be the only people that will reap +the benefit of them, hurry on to have them destroyed. That certainly +they have seen their strongest walls demolished, and that the wall still +remaining was weaker than those that were already taken. That they must +know the Roman power was invincible, and that they had been used to +serve them; for, that in case it be allowed a right thing to fight for +liberty, that ought to have been done at first; but for them that have +once fallen under the power of the Romans, and have now submitted +to them for so many long years, to pretend to shake off that yoke +afterward, was the work of such as had a mind to die miserably, not of +such as were lovers of liberty. Besides, men may well enough grudge at +the dishonor of owning ignoble masters over them, but ought not to do so +to those who have all things under their command; for what part of the +world is there that hath escaped the Romans, unless it be such as are +of no use for violent heat, or for violent cold? And evident it is that +fortune is on all hands gone over to them; and that God, when he had +gone round the nations with this dominion, is now settled in Italy. +That, moreover, it is a strong and fixed law, even among brute beasts, +as well as among men, to yield to those that are too strong for them; +and to suffer those to have the dominion who are too hard for the rest +in war; for which reason it was that their forefathers, who were far +superior to them, both in their souls and bodies, and other advantages, +did yet submit to the Romans, which they would not have suffered, had +they not known that God was with them. As for themselves, what can they +depend on in this their opposition, when the greatest part of their city +is already taken? and when those that are within it are under greater +miseries than if they were taken, although their walls be still +standing? For that the Romans are not unacquainted with that famine +which is in the city, whereby the people are already consumed, and the +fighting men will in a little time be so too; for although the Romans +should leave off the siege, and not fall upon the city with their swords +in their hands, yet was there an insuperable war that beset them within, +and was augmented every hour, unless they were able to wage war with +famine, and fight against it, or could alone conquer their natural +appetites. He added this further, how right a thing it was to change +their conduct before their calamities were become incurable, and to have +recourse to such advice as might preserve them, while opportunity was +offered them for so doing; for that the Romans would not be mindful +of their past actions to their disadvantage, unless they persevered in +their insolent behavior to the end; because they were naturally mild in +their conquests, and preferred what was profitable, before what their +passions dictated to them; which profit of theirs lay not in leaving the +city empty of inhabitants, nor the country a desert; on which account +Caesar did now offer them his right hand for their security. Whereas, +if he took the city by force, he would not save any of them, and +this especially, if they rejected his offers in these their utmost +distresses; for the walls that were already taken could not but assure +them that the third wall would quickly be taken also. And though their +fortifications should prove too strong for the Romans to break through +them, yet would the famine fight for the Romans against them. + +4. While Josephus was making this exhortation to the Jews, many of them +jested upon him from the wall, and many reproached him; nay, some threw +their darts at him: but when he could not himself persuade them by such +open good advice, he betook himself to the histories belonging to their +own nation, and cried out aloud, "O miserable creatures! are you so +unmindful of those that used to assist you, that you will fight by your +weapons and by your hands against the Romans? When did we ever conquer +any other nation by such means? and when was it that God, who is the +Creator of the Jewish people, did not avenge them when they had been +injured? Will not you turn again, and look back, and consider whence it +is that you fight with such violence, and how great a Supporter you have +profanely abused? Will not you recall to mind the prodigious things done +for your forefathers and this holy place, and how great enemies of yours +were by him subdued under you? I even tremble myself in declaring the +works of God before your ears, that are unworthy to hear them; however, +hearken to me, that you may be informed how you fight not only against +the Romans, but against God himself. In old times there was one Necao, +king of Egypt, who was also called Pharaoh; he came with a prodigious +army of soldiers, and seized queen Sarah, the mother of our nation. +What did Abraham our progenitor then do? Did he defend himself from +this injurious person by war, although he had three hundred and eighteen +captains under him, and an immense army under each of them? Indeed he +deemed them to be no number at all without God's assistance, and only +spread out his hands towards this holy place, 16 which you have now +polluted, and reckoned upon him as upon his invincible supporter, +instead of his own army. Was not our queen sent back, without any +defilement, to her husband, the very next evening?--while the king of +Egypt fled away, adoring this place which you have defiled by shedding +thereon the blood of your own countrymen; and he also trembled at those +visions which he saw in the night season, and bestowed both silver and +gold on the Hebrews, as on a people beloved by God. Shall I say nothing, +or shall I mention the removal of our fathers into Egypt, who, when they +were used tyrannically, and were fallen under the power of foreign kings +for four hundred years together, and might have defended themselves by +war and by fighting, did yet do nothing but commit themselves to God! +Who is there that does not know that Egypt was overrun with all sorts of +wild beasts, and consumed by all sorts of distempers? how their land +did not bring forth its fruit? how the Nile failed of water? how the ten +plagues of Egypt followed one upon another? and how by those means our +fathers were sent away under a guard, without any bloodshed, and +without running any dangers, because God conducted them as his peculiar +servants? Moreover, did not Palestine groan 17 under the ravage the +Assyrians made, when they carried away our sacred ark? as did their idol +Dagon, and as also did that entire nation of those that carried it away, +how they were smitten with a loathsome distemper in the secret parts of +their bodies, when their very bowels came down together with what they +had eaten, till those hands that stole it away were obliged to bring it +back again, and that with the sound of cymbals and timbrels, and other +oblations, in order to appease the anger of God for their violation of +his holy ark. It was God who then became our General, and accomplished +these great things for our fathers, and this because they did not meddle +with war and fighting, but committed it to him to judge about their +affairs. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, brought along with him all +Asia, and encompassed this city round with his army, did he fall by the +hands of men? were not those hands lifted up to God in prayers, without +meddling with their arms, when an angel of God destroyed that prodigious +army in one night? when the Assyrian king, as he rose the next day, +found a hundred fourscore and five thousand dead bodies, and when he, +with the remainder of his army, fled away from the Hebrews, though they +were unarmed, and did not pursue them. You are also acquainted with the +slavery we were under at Babylon, where the people were captives for +seventy years; yet were they not delivered into freedom again before +God made Cyrus his gracious instrument in bringing it about; accordingly +they were set free by him, and did again restore the worship of their +Deliverer at his temple. And, to speak in general, we can produce no +example wherein our fathers got any success by war, or failed of success +when without war they committed themselves to God. When they staid at +home, they conquered, as pleased their Judge; but when they went out +to fight, they were always disappointed: for example, when the king of +Babylon besieged this very city, and our king Zedekiah fought against +him, contrary to what predictions were made to him by Jeremiah the +prophet, he was at once taken prisoner, and saw the city and the temple +demolished. Yet how much greater was the moderation of that king, than +is that of your present governors, and that of the people then under +him, than is that of you at this time! for when Jeremiah cried out +aloud, how very angry God was at them, because of their transgressions, +and told them they should be taken prisoners, unless they would +surrender up their city, neither did the king nor the people put him to +death; but for you, [to pass over what you have done within the city, +which I am not able to describe as your wickedness deserves,] you abuse +me, and throw darts at me, who only exhort you to save yourselves, as +being provoked when you are put in mind of your sins, and cannot bear +the very mention of those crimes which you every day perpetrate. For +another example, when Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, lay before +this city, and had been guilty of many indignities against God, and our +forefathers met him in arms, they then were slain in the battle, this +city was plundered by our enemies, and our sanctuary made desolate for +three years and six months. And what need I bring any more examples? +Indeed what can it be that hath stirred up an army of the Romans against +our nation? Is it not the impiety of the inhabitants? Whence did our +servitude commence? Was it not derived from the seditions that were +among our forefathers, when the madness of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, and +our mutual quarrels, brought Pompey upon this city, and when God reduced +those under subjection to the Romans who were unworthy of the liberty +they had enjoyed? After a siege, therefore, of three months, they were +forced to surrender themselves, although they had not been guilty of +such offenses, with regard to our sanctuary and our laws, as you have; +and this while they had much greater advantages to go to war than you +have. Do not we know what end Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, came +to, under whose reign God provided that this city should be taken again +upon account of the people's offenses? When Herod, the son of Antipater, +brought upon us Sosius, and Sosius brought upon us the Roman army, they +were then encompassed and besieged for six months, till, as a punishment +for their sins, they were taken, and the city was plundered by the +enemy. Thus it appears that arms were never given to our nation, but +that we are always given up to be fought against, and to be taken; for +I suppose that such as inhabit this holy place ought to commit the +disposal of all things to God, and then only to disregard the assistance +of men when they resign themselves up to their Arbitrator, who is above. +As for you, what have you done of those things that are recommended by +our legislator? and what have you not done of those things that he hath +condemned? How much more impious are you than those who were so quickly +taken! You have not avoided so much as those sins that are usually +done in secret; I mean thefts, and treacherous plots against men, and +adulteries. You are quarrelling about rapines and murders, and invent +strange ways of wickedness. Nay, the temple itself is become the +receptacle of all, and this Divine place is polluted by the hands of +those of our own country; which place hath yet been reverenced by the +Romans when it was at a distance from them, when they have suffered many +of their own customs to give place to our law. And, after all this, do +you expect Him whom you have so impiously abused to be your supporter? +To be sure then you have a right to be petitioners, and to call upon Him +to assist you, so pure are your hands! Did your king [Hezekiah] lift +up such hands in prayer to God against the king of Assyria, when he +destroyed that great army in one night? And do the Romans commit such +wickedness as did the king of Assyria, that you may have reason to hope +for the like vengeance upon them? Did not that king accept of money from +our king on this condition, that he should not destroy the city, and +yet, contrary to the oath he had taken, he came down to burn the temple? +while the Romans do demand no more than that accustomed tribute which +our fathers paid to their fathers; and if they may but once obtain that, +they neither aim to destroy this city, nor to touch this sanctuary; nay, +they will grant you besides, that your posterity shall be free, and your +possessions secured to you, and will preserve our holy laws inviolate +to you. And it is plain madness to expect that God should appear as well +disposed towards the wicked as towards the righteous, since he knows +when it is proper to punish men for their sins immediately; accordingly +he brake the power of the Assyrians the very first night that they +pitched their camp. Wherefore, had he judged that our nation was worthy +of freedom, or the Romans of punishment, he had immediately inflicted +punishment upon those Romans, as he did upon the Assyrians, when Pompey +began to meddle with our nation, or when after him Sosius came up +against us, or when Vespasian laid waste Galilee, or, lastly, when Titus +came first of all near to this city; although Magnus and Sosius did not +only suffer nothing, but took the city by force; as did Vespasian go +from the war he made against you to receive the empire; and as for +Titus, those springs that were formerly almost dried up when they were +under your power 18 since he is come, run more plentifully than they +did before; accordingly, you know that Siloam, as well as all the other +springs that were without the city, did so far fail, that water was sold +by distinct measures; whereas they now have such a great quantity of +water for your enemies, as is sufficient not only for drink both for +themselves and their cattle, but for watering their gardens also. +The same wonderful sign you had also experience of formerly, when the +forementioned king of Babylon made war against us, and when he took the +city, and burnt the temple; while yet I believe the Jews of that age +were not so impious as you are. Wherefore I cannot but suppose that God +is fled out of his sanctuary, and stands on the side of those against +whom you fight. Now even a man, if he be but a good man, will fly from +an impure house, and will hate those that are in it; and do you persuade +yourselves that God will abide with you in your iniquities, who sees all +secret things, and hears what is kept most private? Now what crime +is there, I pray you, that is so much as kept secret among you, or +is concealed by you? nay, what is there that is not open to your very +enemies? for you show your transgressions after a pompous manner, and +contend one with another which of you shall be more wicked than another; +and you make a public demonstration of your injustice, as if it were +virtue. However, there is a place left for your preservation, if you +be willing to accept of it; and God is easily reconciled to those that +confess their faults, and repent of them. O hard-hearted wretches as +you are! cast away all your arms, and take pity of your country already +going to ruin; return from your wicked ways, and have regard to the +excellency of that city which you are going to betray, to that excellent +temple with the donations of so many countries in it. Who could bear to +be the first that should set that temple on fire? who could be willing +that these things should be no more? and what is there that can better +deserve to be preserved? O insensible creatures, and more stupid than +are the stones themselves! And if you cannot look at these things with +discerning eyes, yet, however, have pity upon your families, and set +before every one of your eyes your children, and wives, and parents, +who will be gradually consumed either by famine or by war. I am sensible +that this danger will extend to my mother, and wife, and to that family +of mine who have been by no means ignoble, and indeed to one that hath +been very eminent in old time; and perhaps you may imagine that it is +on their account only that I give you this advice; if that be all, kill +them; nay, take my own blood as a reward, if it may but procure your +preservation; for I am ready to die, in case you will but return to a +sound mind after my death." + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + How A Great Many Of The People Earnestly Endeavored To + Desert To The Romans; As Also What Intolerable Things Those + That Staid Behind Suffered By Famine, And The Sad + Consequences Thereof. + +1. As Josephus was speaking thus with a loud voice, the seditious would +neither yield to what he said, nor did they deem it safe for them to +alter their conduct; but as for the people, they had a great inclination +to desert to the Romans; accordingly, some of them sold what they had, +and even the most precious things that had been laid up as treasures by +them, for every small matter, and swallowed down pieces of gold, that +they might not be found out by the robbers; and when they had escaped +to the Romans, went to stool, and had wherewithal to provide plentifully +for themselves; for Titus let a great number of them go away into the +country, whither they pleased. And the main reasons why they were so +ready to desert were these: That now they should be freed from those +miseries which they had endured in that city, and yet should not be in +slavery to the Romans: however, John and Simon, with their factions, did +more carefully watch these men's going out than they did the coming +in of the Romans; and if any one did but afford the least shadow of +suspicion of such an intention, his throat was cut immediately. + +2. But as for the richer sort, it proved all one to them whether they +staid in the city, or attempted to get out of it; for they were equally +destroyed in both cases; for every such person was put to death under +this pretense, that they were going to desert, but in reality that the +robbers might get what they had. The madness of the seditious did also +increase together with their famine, and both those miseries were +every day inflamed more and more; for there was no corn which any where +appeared publicly, but the robbers came running into, and searched +men's private houses; and then, if they found any, they tormented them, +because they had denied they had any; and if they found none, they +tormented them worse, because they supposed they had more carefully +concealed it. The indication they made use of whether they had any or +not was taken from the bodies of these miserable wretches; which, if +they were in good case, they supposed they were in no want at all of +food; but if they were wasted away, they walked off without searching +any further; nor did they think it proper to kill such as these, because +they saw they would very soon die of themselves for want of food. Many +there were indeed who sold what they had for one measure; it was of +wheat, if they were of the richer sort; but of barley, if they were +poorer. When these had so done, they shut themselves up in the inmost +rooms of their houses, and ate the corn they had gotten; some did it +without grinding it, by reason of the extremity of the want they were +in, and others baked bread of it, according as necessity and fear +dictated to them: a table was no where laid for a distinct meal, but +they snatched the bread out of the fire, half-baked, and ate it very +hastily. + +3. It was now a miserable case, and a sight that would justly bring +tears into our eyes, how men stood as to their food, while the more +powerful had more than enough, and the weaker were lamenting [for want +of it.] But the famine was too hard for all other passions, and it is +destructive to nothing so much as to modesty; for what was otherwise +worthy of reverence was in this case despised; insomuch that children +pulled the very morsels that their fathers were eating out of their very +mouths, and what was still more to be pitied, so did the mothers do +as to their infants; and when those that were most dear were perishing +under their hands, they were not ashamed to take from them the very last +drops that might preserve their lives: and while they ate after this +manner, yet were they not concealed in so doing; but the seditious every +where came upon them immediately, and snatched away from them what they +had gotten from others; for when they saw any house shut up, this was +to them a signal that the people within had gotten some food; whereupon +they broke open the doors, and ran in, and took pieces of what they were +eating almost up out of their very throats, and this by force: the old +men, who held their food fast, were beaten; and if the women hid what +they had within their hands, their hair was torn for so doing; nor was +there any commiseration shown either to the aged or to the infants, but +they lifted up children from the ground as they hung upon the morsels +they had gotten, and shook them down upon the floor. But still they were +more barbarously cruel to those that had prevented their coming in, and +had actually swallowed down what they were going to seize upon, as if +they had been unjustly defrauded of their right. They also invented +terrible methods of torments to discover where any food was, and they +were these to stop up the passages of the privy parts of the miserable +wretches, and to drive sharp stakes up their fundaments; and a man was +forced to bear what it is terrible even to hear, in order to make him +confess that he had but one loaf of bread, or that he might discover a +handful of barley-meal that was concealed; and this was done when these +tormentors were not themselves hungry; for the thing had been less +barbarous had necessity forced them to it; but this was done to keep +their madness in exercise, and as making preparation of provisions for +themselves for the following days. These men went also to meet those +that had crept out of the city by night, as far as the Roman guards, +to gather some plants and herbs that grew wild; and when those people +thought they had got clear of the enemy, they snatched from them what +they had brought with them, even while they had frequently entreated +them, and that by calling upon the tremendous name of God, to give them +back some part of what they had brought; though these would not give +them the least crumb, and they were to be well contented that they were +only spoiled, and not slain at the same time. + +4. These were the afflictions which the lower sort of people suffered +from these tyrants' guards; but for the men that were in dignity, and +withal were rich, they were carried before the tyrants themselves; some +of whom were falsely accused of laying treacherous plots, and so were +destroyed; others of them were charged with designs of betraying the +city to the Romans; but the readiest way of all was this, to suborn +somebody to affirm that they were resolved to desert to the enemy. And +he who was utterly despoiled of what he had by Simon was sent back again +to John, as of those who had been already plundered by Jotre, Simon got +what remained; insomuch that they drank the blood of the populace to one +another, and divided the dead bodies of the poor creatures between them; +so that although, on account of their ambition after dominion, they +contended with each other, yet did they very well agree in their wicked +practices; for he that did not communicate what he got by the miseries +of others to the other tyrant seemed to be too little guilty, and in one +respect only; and he that did not partake of what was so communicated to +him grieved at this, as at the loss of what was a valuable thing, that +he had no share in such barbarity. + +5. It is therefore impossible to go distinctly over every instance +of these men's iniquity. I shall therefore speak my mind here at once +briefly:--That neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, +nor did any age ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than +this was, from the beginning of the world. Finally, they brought +the Hebrew nation into contempt, that they might themselves appear +comparatively less impious with regard to strangers. They confessed +what was true, that they were the slaves, the scum, and the spurious +and abortive offspring of our nation, while they overthrew the city +themselves, and forced the Romans, whether they would or no, to gain a +melancholy reputation, by acting gloriously against them, and did almost +draw that fire upon the temple, which they seemed to think came too +slowly; and indeed when they saw that temple burning from the upper +city, they were neither troubled at it, nor did they shed any tears on +that account, while yet these passions were discovered among the Romans +themselves; which circumstances we shall speak of hereafter in their +proper place, when we come to treat of such matters. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + + + How The Jews Were Crucified Before The Walls Of The City + Concerning Antiochus Epiphanes; And How The Jews Overthrew + The Banks That Had Been Raised By The Romans. + +1. So now Titus's banks were advanced a great way, notwithstanding his +soldiers had been very much distressed from the wall. He then sent a +party of horsemen, and ordered they should lay ambushes for those that +went out into the valleys to gather food. Some of these were indeed +fighting men, who were not contented with what they got by rapine; +but the greater part of them were poor people, who were deterred from +deserting by the concern they were under for their own relations; +for they could not hope to escape away, together with their wives and +children, without the knowledge of the seditious; nor could they think +of leaving these relations to be slain by the robbers on their account; +nay, the severity of the famine made them bold in thus going out; so +nothing remained but that, when they were concealed from the robbers, +they should be taken by the enemy; and when they were going to be taken, +they were forced to defend themselves for fear of being punished; +as after they had fought, they thought it too late to make any +supplications for mercy; so they were first whipped, and then tormented +with all sorts of tortures, before they died, and were then crucified +before the wall of the city. This miserable procedure made Titus greatly +to pity them, while they caught every day five hundred Jews; nay, some +days they caught more: yet it did not appear to be safe for him to let +those that were taken by force go their way, and to set a guard over so +many he saw would be to make such as great deal them useless to him. The +main reason why he did not forbid that cruelty was this, that he hoped +the Jews might perhaps yield at that sight, out of fear lest they might +themselves afterwards be liable to the same cruel treatment. So the +soldiers, out of the wrath and hatred they bore the Jews, nailed those +they caught, one after one way, and another after another, to the +crosses, by way of jest, when their multitude was so great, that room +was wanting for the crosses, and crosses wanting for the bodies. 19 + +2. But so far were the seditious from repenting at this sad sight, that, +on the contrary, they made the rest of the multitude believe otherwise; +for they brought the relations of those that had deserted upon the +wall, with such of the populace as were very eager to go over upon the +security offered them, and showed them what miseries those underwent +who fled to the Romans; and told them that those who were caught were +supplicants to them, and not such as were taken prisoners. This sight +kept many of those within the city who were so eager to desert, till +the truth was known; yet did some of them run away immediately as unto +certain punishment, esteeming death from their enemies to be a quiet +departure, if compared with that by famine. So Titus commanded that the +hands of many of those that were caught should be cut off, that they +might not be thought deserters, and might be credited on account of the +calamity they were under, and sent them in to John and Simon, with this +exhortation, that they would now at length leave off [their madness], +and not force him to destroy the city, whereby they would have those +advantages of repentance, even in their utmost distress, that they would +preserve their own lives, and so find a city of their own, and that +temple which was their peculiar. He then went round about the banks that +were cast up, and hastened them, in order to show that his words +should in no long time be followed by his deeds. In answer to which the +seditious cast reproaches upon Caesar himself, and upon his father also, +and cried out, with a loud voice, that they contemned death, and +did well in preferring it before slavery; that they would do all the +mischief to the Romans they could while they had breath in them; and +that for their own city, since they were, as he said, to be destroyed, +they had no concern about it, and that the world itself was a better +temple to God than this. That yet this temple would be preserved by him +that inhabited therein, whom they still had for their assistant in this +war, and did therefore laugh at all his threatenings, which would come +to nothing, because the conclusion of the whole depended upon God only. +These words were mixed with reproaches, and with them they made a mighty +clamor. + +3. In the mean time Antiochus Epiphanes came to the city, having with +him a considerable number of other armed men, and a band called the +Macedonian band about him, all of the same age, tall, and just past +their childhood, armed, and instructed after the Macedonian manner, +whence it was that they took that name. Yet were many of them unworthy +of so famous a nation; for it had so happened, that the king of +Commagene had flourished more than any other kings that were under the +power of the Romans, till a change happened in his condition; and when +he was become an old man, he declared plainly that we ought not to call +any man happy before he is dead. But this son of his, who was then +come thither before his father was decaying, said that he could not but +wonder what made the Romans so tardy in making their attacks upon the +wall. Now he was a warlike man, and naturally bold in exposing himself +to dangers; he was also so strong a man, that his boldness seldom failed +of having success. Upon this Titus smiled, and said he would share the +pains of an attack with him. However, Antiochus went as he then was, and +with his Macedonians made a sudden assault upon the wall; and, indeed, +for his own part, his strength and skill were so great, that he guarded +himself from the Jewish darts, and yet shot his darts at them, while yet +the young men with him were almost all sorely galled; for they had so +great a regard to the promises that had been made of their courage, that +they would needs persevere in their fighting, and at length many of them +retired, but not till they were wounded; and then they perceived that +true Macedonians, if they were to be conquerors, must have Alexander's +good fortune also. + +4. Now as the Romans began to raise their banks on the twelfth day of +the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] so had they much ado to finish them by +the twenty-ninth day of the same month, after they had labored hard for +seventeen days continually. For there were now four great banks raised, +one of which was at the tower Antonia; this was raised by the fifth +legion, over against the middle of that pool which was called Struthius. +Another was cast up by the twelfth legion, at the distance of about +twenty cubits from the other. But the labors of the tenth legion, which +lay a great way off these, were on the north quarter, and at the pool +called Amygdalon; as was that of the fifteenth legion about thirty +cubits from it, and at the high priest's monument. And now, when the +engines were brought, John had from within undermined the space that was +over against the tower of Antonia, as far as the banks themselves, +and had supported the ground over the mine with beams laid across one +another, whereby the Roman works stood upon an uncertain foundation. +Then did he order such materials to be brought in as were daubed over +with pitch and bitumen, and set them on fire; and as the cross beams +that supported the banks were burning, the ditch yielded on the +sudden, and the banks were shaken down, and fell into the ditch with a +prodigious noise. Now at the first there arose a very thick smoke and +dust, as the fire was choked with the fall of the bank; but as the +suffocated materials were now gradually consumed, a plain flame brake +out; on which sudden appearance of the flame a consternation fell upon +the Romans, and the shrewdness of the contrivance discouraged them; and +indeed this accident coming upon them at a time when they thought they +had already gained their point, cooled their hopes for the time to +come. They also thought it would be to no purpose to take the pains +to extinguish the fire, since if it were extinguished, the banks were +swallowed up already [and become useless to them]. + +5. Two days after this, Simon and his party made an attempt to destroy +the other banks; for the Romans had brought their engines to bear there, +and began already to make the wall shake. And here one Tephtheus, of +Garsis, a city of Galilee, and Megassarus, one who was derived from some +of queen Mariamne's servants, and with them one from Adiabene, he was +the son of Nabateus, and called by the name of Chagiras, from the ill +fortune he had, the word signifying "a lame man," snatched some torches, +and ran suddenly upon the engines. Nor were there during this war any +men that ever sallied out of the city who were their superiors, either +in their boldness, or in the terror they struck into their enemies. For +they ran out upon the Romans, not as if they were enemies, but friends, +without fear or delay; nor did they leave their enemies till they had +rushed violently through the midst of them, and set their machines on +fire. And though they had darts thrown at them on every side, and were +on every side assaulted with their enemies' swords, yet did they not +withdraw themselves out of the dangers they were in, till the fire had +caught hold of the instruments; but when the flame went up, the Romans +came running from their camp to save their engines. Then did the +Jews hinder their succors from the wall, and fought with those that +endeavored to quench the fire, without any regard to the danger their +bodies were in. So the Romans pulled the engines out of the fire, while +the hurdles that covered them were on fire; but the Jews caught hold +of the battering rams through the flame itself, and held them fast, +although the iron upon them was become red hot; and now the fire spread +itself from the engines to the banks, and prevented those that came to +defend them; and all this while the Romans were encompassed round about +with the flame; and, despairing of saving their works from it, they +retired to their camp. Then did the Jews become still more and more +in number by the coming of those that were within the city to their +assistance; and as they were very bold upon the good success they +had had, their violent assaults were almost irresistible; nay, they +proceeded as far as the fortifications of the enemies' camp, and fought +with their guards. Now there stood a body of soldiers in array before +that camp, which succeeded one another by turns in their armor; and as +to those, the law of the Romans was terrible, that he who left his post +there, let the occasion be whatsoever it might be, he was to die for +it; so that body of soldiers, preferring rather to die in fighting +courageously, than as a punishment for their cowardice, stood firm; and +at the necessity these men were in of standing to it, many of the others +that had run away, out of shame, turned back again; and when they had +set the engines against the wall, they put the multitude from coming +more of them out of the city, [which they could the more easily do] +because they had made no provision for preserving or guarding their +bodies at this time; for the Jews fought now hand to hand with all that +came in their way, and, without any caution, fell against the points of +their enemies' spears, and attacked them bodies against bodies; for they +were now too hard for the Romans, not so much by their other warlike +actions, as by these courageous assaults they made upon them; and the +Romans gave way more to their boldness than they did to the sense of the +harm they had received from them. + +6. And now Titus was come from the tower of Antonia, whither he was +gone to look out for a place for raising other banks, and reproached the +soldiers greatly for permitting their own walls to be in danger, when +they had taken the wails of their enemies, and sustained the fortune +of men besieged, while the Jews were allowed to sally out against them, +though they were already in a sort of prison. He then went round about +the enemy with some chosen troops, and fell upon their flank himself; so +the Jews, who had been before assaulted in their faces, wheeled about to +Titus, and continued the fight. The armies also were now mixed one among +another, and the dust that was raised so far hindered them from seeing +one another, and the noise that was made so far hindered them from +hearing one another, that neither side could discern an enemy from a +friend. However, the Jews did not flinch, though not so much from their +real strength, as from their despair of deliverance. The Romans also +would not yield, by reason of the regard they had to glory, and to +their reputation in war, and because Caesar himself went into the danger +before them; insomuch that I cannot but think the Romans would in the +conclusion have now taken even the whole multitude of the Jews, so +very angry were they at them, had these not prevented the upshot of +the battle, and retired into the city. However, seeing the banks of the +Romans were demolished, these Romans were very much cast down upon the +loss of what had cost them so long pains, and this in one hour's time. +And many indeed despaired of taking the city with their usual engines of +war only. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 12. + + + Titus Thought Fit To Encompass The City Round With A Wall; + After Which The Famine Consumed The People By Whole Houses + And Families Together. + +1. And now did Titus consult with his commanders what was to be done. +Those that were of the warmest tempers thought he should bring the whole +army against the city and storm the wall; for that hitherto no more +than a part of their army had fought with the Jews; but that in case the +entire army was to come at once, they would not be able to sustain their +attacks, but would be overwhelmed by their darts. But of those that were +for a more cautious management, some were for raising their banks again; +and others advised to let the banks alone, but to lie still before the +city, to guard against the coming out of the Jews, and against their +carrying provisions into the city, and so to leave the enemy to the +famine, and this without direct fighting with them; for that despair was +not to be conquered, especially as to those who are desirous to die by +the sword, while a more terrible misery than that is reserved for them. +However, Titus did not think it fit for so great an army to lie entirely +idle, and that yet it was in vain to fight with those that would be +destroyed one by another; he also showed them how impracticable it was +to cast up any more banks, for want of materials, and to guard against +the Jews coming out still more impracticable; as also, that to encompass +the whole city round with his army was not very easy, by reason of its +magnitude, and the difficulty of the situation, and on other accounts +dangerous, upon the sallies the Jews might make out of the city. For +although they might guard the known passages out of the place, yet would +they, when they found themselves under the greatest distress, contrive +secret passages out, as being well acquainted with all such places; and +if any provisions were carried in by stealth, the siege would thereby be +longer delayed. He also owned that he was afraid that the length of time +thus to be spent would diminish the glory of his success; for though +it be true that length of time will perfect every thing, yet that to +do what we do in a little time is still necessary to the gaining +reputation. That therefore his opinion was, that if they aimed at +quickness joined with security, they must build a wall round about the +whole city; which was, he thought, the only way to prevent the Jews from +coming out any way, and that then they would either entirely despair of +saving the city, and so would surrender it up to him, or be still the +more easily conquered when the famine had further weakened them; for +that besides this wall, he would not lie entirely at rest afterward, but +would take care then to have banks raised again, when those that would +oppose them were become weaker. But that if any one should think such a +work to be too great, and not to be finished without much difficulty, he +ought to consider that it is not fit for Romans to undertake any small +work, and that none but God himself could with ease accomplish any great +thing whatsoever. + +2. These arguments prevailed with the commanders. So Titus gave orders +that the army should be distributed to their several shares of this +work; and indeed there now came upon the soldiers a certain divine fury, +so that they did not only part the whole wall that was to be built +among them, nor did only one legion strive with another, but the lesser +divisions of the army did the same; insomuch that each soldier was +ambitious to please his decurion, each decurion his centurion, each +centurion his tribune, and the ambition of the tribunes was to please +their superior commanders, while Caesar himself took notice of and +rewarded the like contention in those commanders; for he went round +about the works many times every day, and took a view of what was done. +Titus began the wall from the camp of the Assyrians, where his own camp +was pitched, and drew it down to the lower parts of Cenopolis; thence +it went along the valley of Cedron, to the Mount of Olives; it then +bent towards the south, and encompassed the mountain as far as the rock +called Peristereon, and that other hill which lies next it, and is over +the valley which reaches to Siloam; whence it bended again to the west, +and went down to the valley of the Fountain, beyond which it went up +again at the monument of Ananus the high priest, and encompassing that +mountain where Pompey had formerly pitched his camp, it returned back +to the north side of the city, and was carried on as far as a certain +village called "The House of the Erebinthi;" after which it encompassed +Herod's monument, and there, on the east, was joined to Titus's own +camp, where it began. Now the length of this wall was forty furlongs, +one only abated. Now at this wall without were erected thirteen places +to keep garrison in, whose circumferences, put together, amounted to +ten furlongs; the whole was completed in three days; so that what would +naturally have required some months was done in so short an interval as +is incredible. When Titus had therefore encompassed the city with this +wall, and put garrisons into proper places, he went round the wall, at +the first watch of the night, and observed how the guard was kept; the +second watch he allotted to Alexander; the commanders of legions took +the third watch. They also cast lots among themselves who should be upon +the watch in the night time, and who should go all night long round the +spaces that were interposed between the garrisons. + +3. So all hope of escaping was now cut off from the Jews, together with +their liberty of going out of the city. Then did the famine widen its +progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families; the +upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine, +and the lanes of the city were full of the dead bodies of the aged; the +children also and the young men wandered about the market-places like +shadows, all swelled with the famine, and fell down dead, wheresoever +their misery seized them. As for burying them, those that were sick +themselves were not able to do it; and those that were hearty and well +were deterred from doing it by the great multitude of those dead bodies, +and by the uncertainty there was how soon they should die themselves; +for many died as they were burying others, and many went to their +coffins before that fatal hour was come. Nor was there any lamentations +made under these calamities, nor were heard any mournful complaints; +but the famine confounded all natural passions; for those who were just +going to die looked upon those that were gone to rest before them with +dry eyes and open mouths. A deep silence also, and a kind of deadly +night, had seized upon the city; while yet the robbers were still more +terrible than these miseries were themselves; for they brake open those +houses which were no other than graves of dead bodies, and plundered +them of what they had; and carrying off the coverings of their bodies, +went out laughing, and tried the points of their swords in their dead +bodies; and, in order to prove what metal they were made of they thrust +some of those through that still lay alive upon the ground; but for +those that entreated them to lend them their right hand and their sword +to despatch them, they were too proud to grant their requests, and left +them to be consumed by the famine. Now every one of these died with +their eyes fixed upon the temple, and left the seditious alive behind +them. Now the seditious at first gave orders that the dead should be +buried out of the public treasury, as not enduring the stench of their +dead bodies. But afterwards, when they could not do that, they had them +cast down from the walls into the valleys beneath. + +4. However, when Titus, in going his rounds along those valleys, saw +them full of dead bodies, and the thick putrefaction running about them, +he gave a groan; and, spreading out his hands to heaven, called God to +witness that this was not his doing; and such was the sad case of +the city itself. But the Romans were very joyful, since none of the +seditious could now make sallies out of the city, because they were +themselves disconsolate, and the famine already touched them also. These +Romans besides had great plenty of corn and other necessaries out of +Syria, and out of the neighboring provinces; many of whom would stand +near to the wall of the city, and show the people what great quantities +of provisions they had, and so make the enemy more sensible of their +famine, by the great plenty, even to satiety, which they had themselves. +However, when the seditious still showed no inclinations of yielding, +Titus, out of his commiseration of the people that remained, and out +of his earnest desire of rescuing what was still left out of these +miseries, began to raise his banks again, although materials for them +were hard to be come at; for all the trees that were about the city had +been already cut down for the making of the former banks. Yet did the +soldiers bring with them other materials from the distance of ninety +furlongs, and thereby raised banks in four parts, much greater than the +former, though this was done only at the tower of Antonia. So Caesar +went his rounds through the legions, and hastened on the works, and +showed the robbers that they were now in his hands. But these men, and +these only, were incapable of repenting of the wickednesses they had +been guilty of; and separating their souls from their bodies, they used +them both as if they belonged to other folks, and not to themselves. For +no gentle affection could touch their souls, nor could any pain affect +their bodies, since they could still tear the dead bodies of the people +as dogs do, and fill the prisons with those that were sick. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 13. + + + The Great Slaughters And Sacrilege That Were In Jerusalem. + +1. Accordingly Simon would not suffer Matthias, by whose means he got +possession of the city, to go off without torment. This Matthias was the +son of Boethus, and was one of the high priests, one that had been very +faithful to the people, and in great esteem with them; he, when the +multitude were distressed by the zealots, among whom John was numbered, +persuaded the people to admit this Simon to come in to assist them, +while he had made no terms with him, nor expected any thing that was +evil from him. But when Simon was come in, and had gotten the city under +his power, he esteemed him that had advised them to admit him as his +enemy equally with the rest, as looking upon that advice as a piece +of his simplicity only; so he had him then brought before him, and +condemned to die for being on the side of the Romans, without giving him +leave to make his defense. He condemned also his three sons to die with +him; for as to the fourth, he prevented him by running away to Titus +before. And when he begged for this, that he might be slain before his +sons, and that as a favor, on account that he had procured the gates of +the city to be opened to him, he gave order that he should be slain the +last of them all; so he was not slain till he had seen his sons slain +before his eyes, and that by being produced over against the Romans; for +such a charge had Simon given to Artanus, the son of Bamadus, who was +the most barbarous of all his guards. He also jested upon him, and told +him that he might now see whether those to whom he intended to go over +would send him any succors or not; but still he forbade their dead +bodies should be buried. After the slaughter of these, a certain priest, +Ananias, the son of Masambalus, a person of eminency, as also Aristens, +the scribe of the sanhedrim, and born at Emmaus, and with them fifteen +men of figure among the people, were slain. They also kept Josephus's +father in prison, and made public proclamation, that no citizen +whosoever should either speak to him himself, or go into his company +among others, for fear he should betray them. They also slew such as +joined in lamenting these men, without any further examination. + +2. Now when Judas, the son of Judas, who was one of Simon's under +officers, and a person intrusted by him to keep one of the towers, saw +this procedure of Simon, he called together ten of those under him, that +were most faithful to him, [perhaps this was done partly out of pity +to those that had so barbarously been put to death, but principally in +order to provide for his own safety,] and spoke thus to them: "How long +shall we bear these miseries? or what hopes have we of deliverance by +thus continuing faithful to such wicked wretches? Is not the famine +already come against us? Are not the Romans in a manner gotten within +the city? Is not Simon become unfaithful to his benefactors? and +is there not reason to fear he will very soon bring us to the like +punishment, while the security the Romans offer us is sure? Come on, +let us surrender up this wall, and save ourselves and the city. Nor +will Simon be very much hurt, if, now he despairs of deliverance, he +be brought to justice a little sooner than he thinks on." Now these ten +were prevailed upon by those arguments; so he sent the rest of those +that were under him, some one way, and some another, that no discovery +might be made of what they had resolved upon. Accordingly, he called to +the Romans from the tower about the third hour; but they, some of them +out of pride, despised what he said, and others of them did not believe +him to be in earnest, though the greatest number delayed the matter, +as believing they should get possession of the city in a little time, +without any hazard. But when Titus was just coming thither with his +armed men, Simon was acquainted with the matter before he came, +and presently took the tower into his own custody, before it was +surrendered, and seized upon these men, and put them to death in the +sight of the Romans themselves; and when he had mangled their dead +bodies, he threw them down before the wall of the city. + +3. In the mean time, Josephus, as he was going round the city, had his +head wounded by a stone that was thrown at him; upon which he fell down +as giddy. Upon which fall of his the Jews made a sally, and he had been +hurried away into the city, if Caesar had not sent men to protect him +immediately; and as these men were fighting, Josephus was taken up, +though he heard little of what was done. So the seditious supposed they +had now slain that man whom they were the most desirous of killing, and +made thereupon a great noise, in way of rejoicing. This accident +was told in the city, and the multitude that remained became very +disconsolate at the news, as being persuaded that he was really dead, on +whose account alone they could venture to desert to the Romans. But when +Josephus's mother heard in prison that her son was dead, she said to +those that watched about her, That she had always been of opinion, since +the siege of Jotapata, [that he would be slain,] and she should never +enjoy him alive any more. She also made great lamentation privately to +the maid-servants that were about her, and said, That this was all the +advantage she had of bringing so extraordinary a person as this son into +the world; that she should not be able even to bury that son of hers, +by whom she expected to have been buried herself. However, this false +report did not put his mother to pain, nor afford merriment to the +robbers, long; for Josephus soon recovered of his wound, and came +out, and cried out aloud, That it would not be long ere they should +be punished for this wound they had given him. He also made a fresh +exhortation to the people to come out upon the security that would be +given them. This sight of Josephus encouraged the people greatly, and +brought a great consternation upon the seditious. + +4. Hereupon some of the deserters, having no other way, leaped down from +the wall immediately, while others of them went out of the city with +stones, as if they would fight them; but thereupon they fled away to the +Romans. But here a worse fate accompanied these than what they had found +within the city; and they met with a quicker despatch from the too great +abundance they had among the Romans, than they could have done from the +famine among the Jews; for when they came first to the Romans, they were +puffed up by the famine, and swelled like men in a dropsy; after which +they all on the sudden overfilled those bodies that were before empty, +and so burst asunder, excepting such only as were skillful enough to +restrain their appetites, and by degrees took in their food into bodies +unaccustomed thereto. Yet did another plague seize upon those that were +thus preserved; for there was found among the Syrian deserters a certain +person who was caught gathering pieces of gold out of the excrements +of the Jews' bellies; for the deserters used to swallow such pieces of +gold, as we told you before, when they came out, and for these did the +seditious search them all; for there was a great quantity of gold in the +city, insomuch that as much was now sold [in the Roman camp] for +twelve Attic [drams], as was sold before for twenty-five. But when this +contrivance was discovered in one instance, the fame of it filled their +several camps, that the deserters came to them full of gold. So the +multitude of the Arabians, with the Syrians, cut up those that came as +supplicants, and searched their bellies. Nor does it seem to me that any +misery befell the Jews that was more terrible than this, since in one +night's time about two thousand of these deserters were thus dissected. + +5. When Titus came to the knowledge of this wicked practice, he had like +to have surrounded those that had been guilty of it with his horse, and +have shot them dead; and he had done it, had not their number been so +very great, and those that were liable to this punishment would have +been manifold more than those whom they had slain. However, he called +together the commanders of the auxiliary troops he had with him, as well +as the commanders of the Roman legions, [for some of his own soldiers +had been also guilty herein, as he had been informed,] and had great +indignation against both sorts of them, and said to them, "What! have +any of my own soldiers done such things as this out of the uncertain +hope of gain, without regarding their own weapons, which are made of +silver and gold? Moreover, do the Arabians and Syrians now first of +all begin to govern themselves as they please, and to indulge their +appetites in a foreign war, and then, out of their barbarity in +murdering men, and out of their hatred to the Jews, get it ascribed to +the Romans?" for this infamous practice was said to be spread among some +of his own soldiers also. Titus then threatened that he would put such +men to death, if any of them were discovered to be so insolent as to +do so again; moreover, he gave it in charge to the legions, that they +should make a search after such as were suspected, and should bring +them to him. But it appeared that the love of money was too hard for all +their dread of punishment, and a vehement desire of gain is natural to +men, and no passion is so venturesome as covetousness; otherwise such +passions have certain bounds, and are subordinate to fear. But in +reality it was God who condemned the whole nation, and turned every +course that was taken for their preservation to their destruction. This, +therefore, which was forbidden by Caesar under such a threatening, was +ventured upon privately against the deserters, and these barbarians +would go out still, and meet those that ran away before any saw them, +and looking about them to see that no Roman spied them, they dissected +them, and pulled this polluted money out of their bowels; which money +was still found in a few of them, while yet a great many were destroyed +by the bare hope there was of thus getting by them, which miserable +treatment made many that were deserting to return back again into the +city. + +6. But as for John, when he could no longer plunder the people, +he betook himself to sacrilege, and melted down many of the sacred +utensils, which had been given to the temple; as also many of those +vessels which were necessary for such as ministered about holy things, +the caldrons, the dishes, and the tables; nay, he did not abstain from +those pouring vessels that were sent them by Augustus and his wife; for +the Roman emperors did ever both honor and adorn this temple; whereas +this man, who was a Jew, seized upon what were the donations of +foreigners, and said to those that were with him, that it was proper for +them to use Divine things, while they were fighting for the Divinity, +without fear, and that such whose warfare is for the temple should live +of the temple; on which account he emptied the vessels of that +sacred wine and oil, which the priests kept to be poured on the +burnt-offerings, and which lay in the inner court of the temple, and +distributed it among the multitude, who, in their anointing themselves +and drinking, used [each of them] above an hin of them. And here I +cannot but speak my mind, and what the concern I am under dictates to +me, and it is this: I suppose, that had the Romans made any longer delay +in coming against these villains, that the city would either have been +swallowed up by the ground opening upon them, or been overflowed by +water, or else been destroyed by such thunder as the country of Sodom +20 perished by, for it had brought forth a generation of men much more +atheistical than were those that suffered such punishments; for by their +madness it was that all the people came to be destroyed. + +7. And, indeed, why do I relate these particular calamities? while +Manneus, the son of Lazarus, came running to Titus at this very time, +and told him that there had been carried out through that one gate, +which was intrusted to his care, no fewer than a hundred and fifteen +thousand eight hundred and eighty dead bodies, in the interval between +the fourteenth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan,] when the Romans +pitched their camp by the city, and the first day of the month Panemus +[Tamuz]. This was itself a prodigious multitude; and though this man was +not himself set as a governor at that gate, yet was he appointed to pay +the public stipend for carrying these bodies out, and so was obliged of +necessity to number them, while the rest were buried by their relations; +though all their burial was but this, to bring them away, and cast them +out of the city. After this man there ran away to Titus many of the +eminent citizens, and told him the entire number of the poor that were +dead, and that no fewer than six hundred thousand were thrown out at the +gates, though still the number of the rest could not be discovered; and +they told him further, that when they were no longer able to carry out +the dead bodies of the poor, they laid their corpses on heaps in very +large houses, and shut them up therein; as also that a medimnus of wheat +was sold for a talent; and that when, a while afterward, it was not +possible to gather herbs, by reason the city was all walled about, some +persons were driven to that terrible distress as to search the common +sewers and old dunghills of cattle, and to eat the dung which they got +there; and what they of old could not endure so much as to see they now +used for food. When the Romans barely heard all this, they commiserated +their case; while the seditious, who saw it also, did not repent, +but suffered the same distress to come upon themselves; for they were +blinded by that fate which was already coming upon the city, and upon +themselves also. + +WAR BOOK 5 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ This appears to be the first time that the zealots ventured +to pollute this most sacred court of the temple, which was the court of +the priests, wherein the temple itself and the altar stood. So that the +conjecture of those that would interpret that Zacharias, who was slain +"between the temple and the altar" several months before, B. IV. ch. 5. +sect. 4, as if he were slain there by these zealots, is groundless, as I +have noted on that place already.] + + +2 (return) [ The Levites.] + + +3 (return) [ This is an excellent reflection of Josephus, including his +hopes of the restoration of the Jews upon their repentance, See +Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 46, which is the grand "Hope of Israel," as +Manasseh-ben-Israel, the famous Jewish Rabbi, styles it, in his small +but remarkable treatise on that subject, of which the Jewish prophets +are every where full. See the principal of those prophecies collected +together at the end of the Essay on the Revelation, p. 822, etc.] + + +4 (return) [ This destruction of such a vast quantity of corn and other +provisions, as was sufficient for many years was the direct occasion +of that terrible famine, which consumed incredible numbers of Jews in +Jerusalem during its siege. Nor probably could the Romans have taken +this city, after all, had not these seditious Jews been so infatuated as +thus madly to destroy, what Josephus here justly styles, "The nerves of +their power."] + + +5 (return) [ This timber, we see, was designed for the rebuilding those +twenty additional cubits of the holy house above the hundred, which had +fallen down some years before. See the note on Antiq. B. XV. ch. 11. +sect. 3.] + + +6 (return) [ There being no gate on the west, and only on the west, side +of the court of the priests, and so no steps there, this was the only +side that the seditious, under this John of Gischala, could bring their +engines close to the cloisters of that court end-ways, though upon the +floor of the court of Israel. See the scheme of that temple, in the +description of the temples hereto belonging.] + + +7 (return) [ We may here note, that Titus is here called "a king," and +"Caesar," by Josephus, even while he was no more than the emperor's son, +and general of the Roman army, and his father Vespasian was still alive; +just as the New Testament says "Archelaus reigned," or "was king," +Matthew 2:22, though he was properly no more than ethnarch, as Josephus +assures us, Antiq. B. XVII. ch. 11. sect. 4; Of the War, B. II. ch. 6. +sect. 3. Thus also the Jews called the Roman emperors "kings," though +they never took that title to themselves: "We have no king but Caesar," +John 19:15. "Submit to the king as supreme," 1 Peter 2:13, 17; which is +also the language of the Apostolical Constitutions, II. II, 31; IV. +13; V. 19; VI. 2, 25; VII. 16; VIII. 2, 13; and elsewhere in the New +Testament, Matthew 10:18; 17:25; 1 Timothy 2:2; and in Josephus also; +though I suspect Josephus particularly esteemed Titus as joint king with +his father ever since his divine dreams that declared them both such, B. +III. ch. 8. sect. 9.] + + +8 (return) [ This situation of the Mount of Olives, on the east of +Jerusalem, at about the distance of five or six furlongs, with the +valley of Cedron interposed between that mountain and the city, are +things well known both in the Old and New Testament, in Josephus +elsewhere, and in all the descriptions of Palestine.] + + +9 (return) [ Here we see the true occasion of those vast numbers of Jews +that were in Jerusalem during this siege by Titus, and perished therein; +that the siege began at the feast of the passover, when such prodigious +multitudes of Jews and proselytes of the gate were come from all parts +of Judea, and from other countries, in order to celebrate that great +festival. See the note B. VI. ch. 9. sect. 3. Tacitus himself informs +us, that the number of men, women, and children in Jerusalem, when it +was besieged by the Romans, as he had been informed. This information +must have been taken from the Romans: for Josephus never recounts the +numbers of those that were besieged, only he lets us know, that of the +vulgar, carried dead out of the gates, and buried at the public charges, +was the like number of 600,000, ch. viii. sect. 7. However, when +Cestius Gallus came first to the siege, that sum in Tacitus is no way +disagreeable to Josephus's history, though they were become much more +numerous when Titus encompassed the city at the passover. As to the +number that perished during this siege, Josephus assures us, as we +shall see hereafter, they were 1,100,000, besides 97,000 captives. But +Tacitus's history of the last part of this siege is not now extant; so +we cannot compare his parallel numbers with those of Josephus.] + + +10 (return) [ Perhaps, says Dr. Hudson, here was that gate, called the +"Gate of the Corner," in 2 Chronicles 26:9. See ch. 4. sect. 2] + + +11 (return) [ These dove-courts in Josephus, built by Herod the Great, +are, in the opinion of Reland, the very same that are mentioned by the +Talmudists, and named by them "Herod's dove courts." Nor is there any +reason to suppose otherwise, since in both accounts they were expressly +tame pigeons which were kept in them.] + + +12 (return) [ See the description of the temples hereto belonging, ch. +15. But note, that what Josephus here says of the original scantiness of +this Mount Moriah, that it was quite too little for the temple, and that +at first it held only one cloister or court of Solomon's building, and +that the foundations were forced to be added long afterwards by degrees, +to render it capable of the cloisters for the other courts, etc., is +without all foundation in the Scriptures, and not at all confirmed by +his exacter account in the Antiquities. All that is or can be true here +is this, that when the court of the Gentiles was long afterward to be +encompassed with cloisters, the southern foundation for these cloisters +was found not to be large or firm enough, and was raised, and that +additional foundation supported by great pillars and arches under +ground, which Josephus speaks of elsewhere, Antiq. B. XV. ch. 11. sect. +3, and which Mr. Maundrel saw, and describes, p. 100, as extant under +ground at this day.] + + +13 (return) [ What Josephus seems here to mean is this: that these +pillars, supporting the cloisters in the second court, had their +foundations or lowest parts as deep as the floor of the first or lowest +court; but that so far of those lowest parts as were equal to the +elevation of the upper floor above the lowest were, and must be, hidden +on the inside by the ground or rock itself, on which that upper +court was built; so that forty cubits visible below were reduced to +twenty-five visible above, and implies the difference of their heights +to be fifteen cubits. The main difficulty lies here, how fourteen or +fifteen steps should give an ascent of fifteen cubits, half a cubit +seeming sufficient for a single step. Possibly there were fourteen or +fifteen steps at the partition wall, and fourteen or fifteen more thence +into the court itself, which would bring the whole near to the just +proportion. See sect. 3, infra. But I determine nothing.] + + +14 (return) [ These three guards that lay in the tower of Antonia must +be those that guarded the city, the temple, and the tower of Antonia.] + + +15 (return) [ What should be the meaning of this signal or watchword, +when the watchmen saw a stone coming from the engine, "The Stone +Cometh," or what mistake there is in the reading, I cannot tell. The +MSS., both Greek and Latin, all agree in this reading; and I cannot +approve of any groundless conjectural alteration of the text from ro to +lop, that not the son or a stone, but that the arrow or dart cometh; +as hath been made by Dr. Hudson, and not corrected by Havercamp. Had +Josephus written even his first edition of these books of the war in +pure Hebrew, or had the Jews then used the pure Hebrew at Jerusalem, the +Hebrew word for a son is so like that for a stone, ben and eben, that +such a correction might have been more easily admitted. But Josephus +wrote his former edition for the use of the Jews beyond Euphrates, and +so in the Chaldee language, as he did this second edition in the Greek +language; and bar was the Chaldee word for son, instead of the Hebrew +ben, and was used not only in Chaldea, etc. but in Judea also, as the +New Testament informs us. Dio lets us know that the very Romans at Rome +pronounced the name of Simon the son of Giora, Bar Poras for Bar Gioras, +as we learn from Xiphiline, p. 217. Reland takes notice, "that many will +here look for a mystery, as though the meaning were, that the Son of God +came now to take vengeance on the sins of the Jewish nation;" which is +indeed the truth of the fact, but hardly what the Jews could now mean; +unless possibly by way of derision of Christ's threatening so often +made, that he would come at the head of the Roman army for their +destruction. But even this interpretation has but a very small degree of +probability. If I were to make an emendation by mere conjecture, I would +read instead of, though the likeness be not so great as in lo; because +that is the word used by Josephus just before, as has been already noted +on this very occasion, while, an arrow or dart, is only a poetical word, +and never used by Josephus elsewhere, and is indeed no way suitable +to the occasion, this engine not throwing arrows or darts, but great +stones, at this time.] + + +16 (return) [ Josephus supposes, in this his admirable speech to the +Jews, that not Abraham only, but Pharaoh king of Egypt, prayed towards +a temple at Jerusalem, or towards Jerusalem itself, in which were Mount +Sion and Mount Moriah, on which the tabernacle and temple did afterwards +stand; and this long before either the Jewish tabernacle or temple were +built. Nor is the famous command given by God to Abraham, to go two +or three days' journey, on purpose to offer up his son Isaac there, +unfavorable to such a notion.] + + +17 (return) [ Note here, that Josephus, in this his same admirable +speech, calls the Syrians, nay, even the Philistines, on the most south +part of Syria, Assyrians; which Reland observes as what was common among +the ancient writers. Note also, that Josephus might well put the Jews +in mind, as he does here more than once, of their wonderful and truly +miraculous deliverance from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, while the +Roman army, and himself with them, were now encamped upon and beyond +that very spot of ground where the Assyrian army lay seven hundred and +eighty years before, and which retained the very name of the Camp of the +Assyrians to that very day. See chap. 7. sect. 3, and chap. 12. sect. +2.] + + +18 (return) [ This drying up of the Jerusalem fountain of Siloam when +the Jews wanted it, and its flowing abundantly when the enemies of the +Jews wanted it, and these both in the days of Zedekiah and of Titus, +[and this last as a certain event well known by the Jews at that time, +as Josephus here tells them openly to their faces,] are very remarkable +instances of a Divine Providence for the punishment of the Jewish +nation, when they were grown very wicked, at both those times of the +destruction of Jerusalem.] + + +19 (return) [ Reland very properly takes notice here, how justly this +judgment came upon the Jews, when they were crucified in such multitudes +together, that the Romans wanted room for the crosses, and crosses +for the bodies of these Jews, since they had brought this judgment on +themselves by the crucifixion of their Messiah.] + + +20 (return) [ Josephus, both here and before, B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 4, +esteems the land of Sodom, not as part of the lake Asphaltites, or under +its waters, but near it only, as Tacitus also took the same notion from +him, Hist. V. ch. 6. 7, which the great Reland takes to be the very +truth, both in his note on this place, and in his Palestina, tom. I. p. +254-258; though I rather suppose part of that region of Pentapolis to be +now under the waters of the south part of that sea, but perhaps not the +whole country.] + + + + + + + + + + + +BOOK VI. + + + Containing The Interval Of About One Month. + + From The Great Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced To + The Taking Of Jerusalem By Titus. + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + That The Miseries Still Grew Worse; And How The Romans Made + An Assault Upon The Tower Of Antonia. + +1. Thus did the miseries of Jerusalem grow worse and worse every day, +and the seditious were still more irritated by the calamities they were +under, even while the famine preyed upon themselves, after it had preyed +upon the people. And indeed the multitude of carcasses that lay in +heaps one upon another was a horrible sight, and produced a pestilential +stench, which was a hinderance to those that would make sallies out of +the city, and fight the enemy: but as those were to go in battle-array, +who had been already used to ten thousand murders, and must tread upon +those dead bodies as they marched along, so were not they terrified, +nor did they pity men as they marched over them; nor did they deem this +affront offered to the deceased to be any ill omen to themselves; but +as they had their right hands already polluted with the murders of their +own countrymen, and in that condition ran out to fight with foreigners, +they seem to me to have cast a reproach upon God himself, as if he were +too slow in punishing them; for the war was not now gone on with as if +they had any hope of victory; for they gloried after a brutish manner +in that despair of deliverance they were already in. And now the +Romans, although they were greatly distressed in getting together their +materials, raised their banks in one and twenty days, after they had cut +down all the trees that were in the country that adjoined to the city, +and that for ninety furlongs round about, as I have already related. And +truly the very view itself of the country was a melancholy thing; for +those places which were before adorned with trees and pleasant gardens +were now become a desolate country every way, and its trees were all cut +down: nor could any foreigner that had formerly seen Judea and the most +beautiful suburbs of the city, and now saw it as a desert, but lament +and mourn sadly at so great a change: for the war had laid all the signs +of beauty quite waste: nor if any one that had known the place before, +had come on a sudden to it now, would he have known it again; but +though he were at the city itself, yet would he have inquired for it +notwithstanding. + +2. And now the banks were finished, they afforded a foundation for fear +both to the Romans and to the Jews; for the Jews expected that the city +would be taken, unless they could burn those banks, as did the Romans +expect that, if these were once burnt down, they should never be able to +take it; for there was a mighty scarcity of materials, and the bodies +of the soldiers began to fail with such hard labors, as did their souls +faint with so many instances of ill success; nay, the very calamities +themselves that were in the city proved a greater discouragement to the +Romans than those within the city; for they found the fighting men of +the Jews to be not at all mollified among such their sore afflictions, +while they had themselves perpetually less and less hopes of success, +and their banks were forced to yield to the stratagems of the enemy, +their engines to the firmness of their wall, and their closest fights +to the boldness of their attack; and, what was their greatest +discouragement of all, they found the Jews' courageous souls to be +superior to the multitude of the miseries they were under, by their +sedition, their famine, and the war itself; insomuch that they were +ready to imagine that the violence of their attacks was invincible, +and that the alacrity they showed would not be discouraged by their +calamities; for what would not those be able to bear if they should be +fortunate, who turned their very misfortunes to the improvement of their +valor! These considerations made the Romans to keep a stronger guard +about their banks than they formerly had done. + +3. But now John and his party took care for securing themselves +afterward, even in case this wall should be thrown down, and fell to +their work before the battering rams were brought against them. Yet did +they not compass what they endeavored to do, but as they were gone out +with their torches, they came back under great discouragement before +they came near to the banks; and the reasons were these: that, in the +first place, their conduct did not seem to be unanimous, but they went +out in distinct parties, and at distinct intervals, and after a slow +manner, and timorously, and, to say all in a word, without a Jewish +courage; for they were now defective in what is peculiar to our nation, +that is, in boldness, in violence of assault, and in running upon the +enemy all together, and in persevering in what they go about, though +they do not at first succeed in it; but they now went out in a more +languid manner than usual, and at the same time found the Romans set in +array, and more courageous than ordinary, and that they guarded their +banks both with their bodies and their entire armor, and this to such +a degree on all sides, that they left no room for the fire to get among +them, and that every one of their souls was in such good courage, that +they would sooner die than desert their ranks; for besides their notion +that all their hopes were cut off, in case these their works were once +burnt, the soldiers were greatly ashamed that subtlety should quite be +too hard for courage, madness for armor, multitude for skill, and Jews +for Romans. The Romans had now also another advantage, in that their +engines for sieges co-operated with them in throwing darts and stones as +far as the Jews, when they were coming out of the city; whereby the man +that fell became an impediment to him that was next to him, as did the +danger of going farther make them less zealous in their attempts; and +for those that had run under the darts, some of them were terrified by +the good order and closeness of the enemies' ranks before they came to a +close fight, and others were pricked with their spears, and turned back +again; at length they reproached one another for their cowardice, and +retired without doing any thing. This attack was made upon the first +day of the month Panemus [Tamuz.] So when the Jews were retreated, the +Romans brought their engines, although they had all the while stones +thrown at them from the tower of Antonia, and were assaulted by fire and +sword, and by all sorts of darts, which necessity afforded the Jews to +make use of; for although these had great dependence on their own wall, +and a contempt of the Roman engines, yet did they endeavor to hinder +the Romans from bringing them. Now these Romans struggled hard, on the +contrary, to bring them, as deeming that this zeal of the Jews was +in order to avoid any impression to be made on the tower of Antonia, +because its wall was but weak, and its foundations rotten. However, that +tower did not yield to the blows given it from the engines; yet did +the Romans bear the impressions made by the enemies' darts which were +perpetually cast at them, and did not give way to any of those dangers +that came upon them from above, and so they brought their engines to +bear. But then, as they were beneath the other, and were sadly wounded +by the stones thrown down upon them, some of them threw their shields +over their bodies, and partly with their hands, and partly with their +bodies, and partly with crows, they undermined its foundations, and with +great pains they removed four of its stones. Then night came upon both +sides, and put an end to this struggle for the present; however, that +night the wall was so shaken by the battering rams in that place where +John had used his stratagem before, and had undermined their banks, that +the ground then gave way, and the wall fell down suddenly. + +4. When this accident had unexpectedly happened, the minds of both +parties were variously affected; for though one would expect that +the Jews would be discouraged, because this fall of their wall was +unexpected by them, and they had made no provision in that case, yet +did they pull up their courage, because the tower of Antonia itself was +still standing; as was the unexpected joy of the Romans at this fall of +the wall soon quenched by the sight they had of another wall, which John +and his party had built within it. However, the attack of this second +wall appeared to be easier than that of the former, because it seemed +a thing of greater facility to get up to it through the parts of the +former wall that were now thrown down. This new wall appeared also to +be much weaker than the tower of Antonia, and accordingly the Romans +imagined that it had been erected so much on the sudden, that they +should soon overthrow it: yet did not any body venture now to go up to +this wall; for that such as first ventured so to do must certainly be +killed. + +5. And now Titus, upon consideration that the alacrity of soldiers in +war is chiefly excited by hopes and by good words, and that exhortations +and promises do frequently make men to forget the hazards they run, nay, +sometimes to despise death itself, got together the most courageous part +of his army, and tried what he could do with his men by these methods. +"O fellow soldiers," said he, "to make an exhortation to men to do what +hath no peril in it, is on that very account inglorious to such to whom +that exhortation is made; and indeed so it is in him that makes the +exhortation, an argument of his own cowardice also. I therefore think +that such exhortations ought then only to be made use of when affairs +are in a dangerous condition, and yet are worthy of being attempted by +every one themselves; accordingly, I am fully of the same opinion with +you, that it is a difficult task to go up this wall; but that it is +proper for those that desire reputation for their valor to struggle with +difficulties in such cases as will then appear, when I have particularly +shown that it is a brave thing to die with glory, and that the courage +here necessary shall not go unrewarded in those that first begin the +attempt. And let my first argument to move you to it be taken from +what probably some would think reasonable to dissuade you, I mean the +constancy and patience of these Jews, even under their ill successes; +for it is unbecoming you, who are Romans and my soldiers, who have +in peace been taught how to make wars, and who have also been used to +conquer in those wars, to be inferior to Jews, either in action of the +hand, or in courage of the soul, and this especially when you are at the +conclusion of your victory, and are assisted by God himself; for as to +our misfortunes, they have been owing to the madness of the Jews, while +their sufferings have been owing to your valor, and to the assistance +God hath afforded you; for as to the seditions they have been in, and +the famine they are under, and the siege they now endure, and the +fall of their walls without our engines, what can they all be but +demonstrations of God's anger against them, and of his assistance +afforded us? It will not therefore be proper for you, either to show +yourselves inferior to those to whom you are really superior, or to +betray that Divine assistance which is afforded you. And, indeed, how +can it be esteemed otherwise than a base and unworthy thing, that while +the Jews, who need not be much ashamed if they be deserted, because they +have long learned to be slaves to others, do yet despise death, that +they may be so no longer; and do make sallies into the very midst of +us frequently, not in hopes of conquering us, but merely for a +demonstration of their courage; we, who have gotten possession of almost +all the world that belongs to either land or sea, to whom it will be a +great shame if we do not conquer them, do not once undertake any attempt +against our enemies wherein there is much danger, but sit still idle, +with such brave arms as we have, and only wait till the famine and +fortune do our business themselves, and this when we have it in our +power, with some small hazard, to gain all that we desire! For if we go +up to this tower of Antonia, we gain the city; for if there should be +any more occasion for fighting against those within the city, which I do +not suppose there will, since we shall then be upon the top of the +hill 1 and be upon our enemies before they can have taken breath, these +advantages promise us no less than a certain and sudden victory. As for +myself, I shall at present wave any commendation of those who die in +war, 2 and omit to speak of the immortality of those men who are slain +in the midst of their martial bravery; yet cannot I forbear to imprecate +upon those who are of a contrary disposition, that they may die in time +of peace, by some distemper or other, since their souls are condemned to +the grave, together with their bodies. For what man of virtue is there +who does not know, that those souls which are severed from their fleshly +bodies in battles by the sword are received by the ether, that purest of +elements, and joined to that company which are placed among the stars; +that they become good demons, and propitious heroes, and show themselves +as such to their posterity afterwards? while upon those souls that wear +away in and with their distempered bodies comes a subterranean night +to dissolve them to nothing, and a deep oblivion to take away all the +remembrance of them, and this notwithstanding they be clean from all +spots and defilements of this world; so that, in this ease, the soul at +the same time comes to the utmost bounds of its life, and of its body, +and of its memorial also. But since he hath determined that death is to +come of necessity upon all men, a sword is a better instrument for that +purpose than any disease whatsoever. Why is it not then a very mean +thing for us not to yield up that to the public benefit which we must +yield up to fate? And this discourse have I made, upon the supposition +that those who at first attempt to go upon this wall must needs be +killed in the attempt, though still men of true courage have a chance to +escape even in the most hazardous undertakings. For, in the first +place, that part of the former wall that is thrown down is easily to be +ascended; and for the new-built wall, it is easily destroyed. Do you, +therefore, many of you, pull up your courage, and set about this work, +and do you mutually encourage and assist one another; and this your +bravery will soon break the hearts of your enemies; and perhaps such a +glorious undertaking as yours is may be accomplished without bloodshed. +For although it be justly to be supposed that the Jews will try to +hinder you at your first beginning to go up to them; yet when you have +once concealed yourselves from them, and driven them away by force, they +will not be able to sustain your efforts against them any longer, though +but a few of you prevent them, and get over the wall. As for that person +who first mounts the wall, I should blush for shame if I did not make +him to be envied of others, by those rewards I would bestow upon him. +If such a one escape with his life, he shall have the command of others +that are now but his equals; although it be true also that the greatest +rewards will accrue to such as die in the attempt." 3 + +6. Upon this speech of Titus, the rest of the multitude were afrighted +at so great a danger. But there was one, whose name was Sabinus, a +soldier that served among the cohorts, and a Syrian by birth, who +appeared to be of very great fortitude, both in the actions he had done, +and the courage of his soul he had shown; although any body would +have thought, before he came to his work, that he was of such a weak +constitution of body, that he was not fit to be a soldier; for his color +was black, his flesh was lean and thin, and lay close together; but +there was a certain heroic soul that dwelt in this small body, which +body was indeed much too narrow for that peculiar courage which was in +him. Accordingly he was the first that rose up, when he thus spake: "I +readily surrender up myself to thee, O Caesar; I first ascend the +wall, and I heartily wish that my fortune may follow my courage and +my resolution And if some ill fortune grudge me the success of my +undertaking, take notice that my ill success will not be unexpected, but +that I choose death voluntarily for thy sake." When he had said this, +and had spread out his shield over his head with his left hand, and had, +with his right hand, drawn his sword, he marched up to the wall, just +about the sixth hour of the day. There followed him eleven others, and +no more, that resolved to imitate his bravery; but still this was the +principal person of them all, and went first, as excited by a divine +fury. Now those that guarded the wall shot at them from thence, and cast +innumerable darts upon them from every side; they also rolled very large +stones upon them, which overthrew some of those eleven that were with +him. But as for Sabinus himself, he met the darts that were cast at him +and though he was overwhelmed with them, yet did he not leave off the +violence of his attack before he had gotten up on the top of the wall, +and had put the enemy to flight. For as the Jews were astonished at +his great strength, and the bravery of his soul, and as, withal, they +imagined more of them had got upon the wall than really had, they were +put to flight. And now one cannot but complain here of fortune, as still +envious at virtue, and always hindering the performance of glorious +achievements: this was the case of the man before us, when he had just +obtained his purpose; for he then stumbled at a certain large stone, and +fell down upon it headlong, with a very great noise. Upon which the Jews +turned back, and when they saw him to be alone, and fallen down also, +they threw darts at him from every side. However, he got upon his knee, +and covered himself with his shield, and at the first defended himself +against them, and wounded many of those that came near him; but he was +soon forced to relax his right hand, by the multitude of the wounds that +had been given him, till at length he was quite covered over with darts +before he gave up the ghost. He was one who deserved a better fate, by +reason of his bravery; but, as might be expected, he fell under so vast +an attempt. As for the rest of his partners, the Jews dashed three of +them to pieces with stones, and slew them as they were gotten up to the +top of the wall; the other eight being wounded, were pulled down, and +carried back to the camp. These things were done upon the third day of +the month Panemus [Tamuz]. + +7. Now two days afterward twelve of those men that were on the +forefront, and kept watch upon the banks, got together, and called to +them the standard-bearer of the fifth legion, and two others of a troop +of horsemen, and one trumpeter; these went without noise, about the +ninth hour of the night, through the ruins, to the tower of Antonia; and +when they had cut the throats of the first guards of the place, as they +were asleep, they got possession of the wall, and ordered the trumpeter +to sound his trumpet. Upon which the rest of the guard got up on the +sudden, and ran away, before any body could see how many they were that +were gotten up; for, partly from the fear they were in, and partly from +the sound of the trumpet which they heard, they imagined a great number +of the enemy were gotten up. But as soon as Caesar heard the signal, +he ordered the army to put on their armor immediately, and came thither +with his commanders, and first of all ascended, as did the chosen men +that were with him. And as the Jews were flying away to the temple, they +fell into that mine which John had dug under the Roman banks. Then +did the seditious of both the bodies of the Jewish army, as well that +belonging to John as that belonging to Simon, drive them away; and +indeed were no way wanting as to the highest degree of force and +alacrity; for they esteemed themselves entirely ruined if once the +Romans got into the temple, as did the Romans look upon the same thing +as the beginning of their entire conquest. So a terrible battle was +fought at the entrance of the temple, while the Romans were forcing +their way, in order to get possession of that temple, and the Jews were +driving them back to the tower of Antonia; in which battle the darts +were on both sides useless, as well as the spears, and both sides drew +their swords, and fought it out hand to hand. Now during this struggle +the positions of the men were undistinguished on both sides, and +they fought at random, the men being intermixed one with another, and +confounded, by reason of the narrowness of the place; while the noise +that was made fell on the ear after an indistinct manner, because it +was so very loud. Great slaughter was now made on both sides, and the +combatants trod upon the bodies and the armor of those that were dead, +and dashed them to pieces. Accordingly, to which side soever the battle +inclined, those that had the advantage exhorted one another to go on, as +did those that were beaten make great lamentation. But still there was +no room for flight, nor for pursuit, but disorderly revolutions and +retreats, while the armies were intermixed one with another; but those +that were in the first ranks were under the necessity of killing or +being killed, without any way for escaping; for those on both sides that +came behind forced those before them to go on, without leaving any space +between the armies. At length the Jews' violent zeal was too hard for +the Romans' skill, and the battle already inclined entirely that way; +for the fight had lasted from the ninth hour of the night till the +seventh hour of the day, While the Jews came on in crowds, and had the +danger the temple was in for their motive; the Romans having no more +here than a part of their army; for those legions, on which the soldiers +on that side depended, were not come up to them. So it was at present +thought sufficient by the Romans to take possession of the tower of +Antonia. + +8. But there was one Julian, a centurion, that came from Bithynia, a man +he was of great reputation, whom I had formerly seen in that war, and +one of the highest fame, both for his skill in war, his strength of +body, and the courage of his soul. This man, seeing the Romans giving +ground, and in a sad condition, [for he stood by Titus at the tower of +Antonia,] leaped out, and of himself alone put the Jews to flight, when +they were already conquerors, and made them retire as far as the corner +of the inner court of the temple; from him the multitude fled away in +crowds, as supposing that neither his strength nor his violent attacks +could be those of a mere man. Accordingly, he rushed through the midst +of the Jews, as they were dispersed all abroad, and killed those that he +caught. Nor, indeed, was there any sight that appeared more wonderful in +the eyes of Caesar, or more terrible to others, than this. However, he +was himself pursued by fate, which it was not possible that he, who was +but a mortal man, should escape; for as he had shoes all full of thick +and sharp nails 4 as had every one of the other soldiers, so when he ran +on the pavement of the temple, he slipped, and fell down upon his back +with a very great noise, which was made by his armor. This made those +that were running away to turn back; whereupon those Romans that were in +the tower of Antonia set up a great shout, as they were in fear for the +man. But the Jews got about him in crowds, and struck at him with their +spears and with their swords on all sides. Now he received a great +many of the strokes of these iron weapons upon his shield, and often +attempted to get up again, but was thrown down by those that struck at +him; yet did he, as he lay along, stab many of them with his sword. Nor +was he soon killed, as being covered with his helmet and his breastplate +in all those parts of his body where he might be mortally wounded; he +also pulled his neck close to his body, till all his other limbs were +shattered, and nobody durst come to defend him, and then he yielded to +his fate. Now Caesar was deeply affected on account of this man of so +great fortitude, and especially as he was killed in the sight of so many +people; he was desirous himself to come to his assistance, but the place +would not give him leave, while such as could have done it were too much +terrified to attempt it. Thus when Julian had struggled with death a +great while, and had let but few of those that had given him his mortal +wound go off unhurt, he had at last his throat cut, though not without +some difficulty, and left behind him a very great fame, not only among +the Romans, and with Caesar himself, but among his enemies also; then +did the Jews catch up his dead body, and put the Romans to flight again, +and shut them up in the tower of Antonia. Now those that most signalized +themselves, and fought most zealously in this battle of the Jewish side, +were one Alexas and Gyphtheus, of John's party, and of Simon's party +were Malachias, and Judas the son of Merto, and James the son of Sosas, +the commander of the Idumeans; and of the zealots, two brethren, Simon +and Judas, the sons of Jairus. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + How Titus Gave Orders To Demolish The Tower Of Antonia And + Then Persuaded Josephus To Exhort The Jews Again [To A + Surrender]. + +1. And now Titus gave orders to his soldiers that were with him to dig +up the foundations of the tower of Antonia, and make him a ready passage +for his army to come up; while he himself had Josephus brought to +him, [for he had been informed that on that very day, which was the +seventeenth day 5of Panemus, [Tamuz,] the sacrifice called "the Daily +Sacrifice" had failed, and had not been offered to God, for want of men +to offer it, and that the people were grievously troubled at it,] and +commanded him to say the same things to John that he had said before, +that if he had any malicious inclination for fighting, he might come out +with as many of his men as he pleased, in order to fight, without the +danger of destroying either his city or temple; but that he desired he +would not defile the temple, nor thereby offend against God. That he +might, if he pleased, offer the sacrifices which were now discontinued +by any of the Jews whom he should pitch upon. Upon this Josephus stood +in such a place where he might be heard, not by John only, but by many +more, and then declared to them what Caesar had given him in charge, +and this in the Hebrew language. 6 So he earnestly prayed them to spare +their own city, and to prevent that fire which was just ready to seize +upon the temple, and to offer their usual sacrifices to God therein. At +these words of his a great sadness and silence were observed among the +people. But the tyrant himself cast many reproaches upon Josephus, with +imprecations besides; and at last added this withal, that he did never +fear the taking of the city, because it was God's own city. In answer to +which Josephus said thus with a loud voice: "To be sure thou hast kept +this city wonderfully pure for God's sake; the temple also continues +entirely unpolluted! Nor hast thou been guilty of any impiety against +him for whose assistance thou hopest! He still receives his accustomed +sacrifices! Vile wretch that thou art! if any one should deprive thee of +thy daily food, thou wouldst esteem him to be an enemy to thee; but thou +hopest to have that God for thy supporter in this war whom thou hast +deprived of his everlasting worship; and thou imputest those sins to the +Romans, who to this very time take care to have our laws observed, and +almost compel these sacrifices to be still offered to God, which have +by thy means been intermitted! Who is there that can avoid groans and +lamentations at the amazing change that is made in this city? since +very foreigners and enemies do now correct that impiety which thou hast +occasioned; while thou, who art a Jew, and wast educated in our laws, +art become a greater enemy to them than the others. But still, John, it +is never dishonorable to repent, and amend what hath been done amiss, +even at the last extremity. Thou hast an instance before thee in +Jechoniah, 7 the king of the Jews, if thou hast a mind to save the +city, who, when the king of Babylon made war against him, did of his +own accord go out of this city before it was taken, and did undergo a +voluntary captivity with his family, that the sanctuary might not be +delivered up to the enemy, and that he might not see the house of God +set on fire; on which account he is celebrated among all the Jews, in +their sacred memorials, and his memory is become immortal, and will be +conveyed fresh down to our posterity through all ages. This, John, is +an excellent example in such a time of danger, and I dare venture to +promise that the Romans shall still forgive thee. And take notice that +I, who make this exhortation to thee, am one of thine own nation; I, +who am a Jew, do make this promise to thee. And it will become thee to +consider who I am that give thee this counsel, and whence I am derived; +for while I am alive I shall never be in such slavery, as to forego +my own kindred, or forget the laws of our forefathers. Thou hast +indignation at me again, and makest a clamor at me, and reproachest me; +indeed I cannot deny but I am worthy of worse treatment than all this +amounts to, because, in opposition to fate, I make this kind invitation +to thee, and endeavor to force deliverance upon those whom God hath +condemned. And who is there that does not know what the writings of the +ancient prophets contain in them,--and particularly that oracle which +is just now going to be fulfilled upon this miserable city? For they +foretold that this city should be then taken when somebody shall begin +the slaughter of his own countrymen. And are not both the city and the +entire temple now full of the dead bodies of your countrymen? It is God, +therefore, it is God himself who is bringing on this fire, to purge that +city and temple by means of the Romans, 8 and is going to pluck up this +city, which is full of your pollutions." + +2. As Josephus spoke these words, with groans and tears in his eyes, his +voice was intercepted by sobs. However, the Romans could not but pity +the affliction he was under, and wonder at his conduct. But for John, +and those that were with him, they were but the more exasperated against +the Romans on this account, and were desirous to get Josephus also into +their power: yet did that discourse influence a great many of the better +sort; and truly some of them were so afraid of the guards set by the +seditious, that they tarried where they were, but still were satisfied +that both they and the city were doomed to destruction. Some also there +were who, watching a proper opportunity when they might quietly get +away, fled to the Romans, of whom were the high priests Joseph and +Jesus, and of the sons of high priests three, whose father was Ishmael, +who was beheaded in Cyrene, and four sons of Matthias, as also one son +of the other Matthias, who ran away after his father's death, 9 and +whose father was slain by Simon the son of Gioras, with three of his +sons, as I have already related; many also of the other nobility went +over to the Romans, together with the high priests. Now Caesar not only +received these men very kindly in other respects, but, knowing they +would not willingly live after the customs of other nations, he sent +them to Gophna, and desired them to remain there for the present, and +told them, that when he was gotten clear of this war, he would restore +each of them to their possessions again; so they cheerfully retired to +that small city which was allotted them, without fear of any danger. +But as they did not appear, the seditious gave out again that these +deserters were slain by the Romans, which was done in order to deter +the rest from running away, by fear of the like treatment. This trick of +theirs succeeded now for a while, as did the like trick before; for the +rest were hereby deterred from deserting, by fear of the like treatment. + +3. However, when Titus had recalled those men from Gophna, he gave +orders that they should go round the wall, together with Josephus, +and show themselves to the people; upon which a great many fled to the +Romans. These men also got in a great number together, and stood before +the Romans, and besought the seditious, with groans and tears in their +eyes, in the first place to receive the Romans entirely into the city, +and save that their own place of residence again; but that, if they +would not agree to such a proposal, they would at least depart out of +the temple, and save the holy house for their own use; for that the +Romans would not venture to set the sanctuary on fire but under the most +pressing necessity. Yet did the seditious still more and more contradict +them; and while they cast loud and bitter reproaches upon these +deserters, they also set their engines for throwing of darts, and +javelins, and stones upon the sacred gates of the temple, at due +distances from one another, insomuch that all the space round about +within the temple might be compared to a burying-ground, so great was +the number of the dead bodies therein; as might the holy house itself +be compared to a citadel. Accordingly, these men rushed upon these holy +places in their armor, that were otherwise unapproachable, and that +while their hands were yet warm with the blood of their own people which +they had shed; nay, they proceeded to such great transgressions, that +the very same indignation which Jews would naturally have against +Romans, had they been guilty of such abuses against them, the Romans +now had against Jews, for their impiety in regard to their own religious +customs. Nay, indeed, there were none of the Roman soldiers who did not +look with a sacred horror upon the holy house, and adored it, and wished +that the robbers would repent before their miseries became incurable. + +4. Now Titus was deeply affected with this state of things, and +reproached John and his party, and said to them, "Have not you, vile +wretches that you are, by our permission, put up this partition-wall +before your sanctuary? Have not you been allowed to put up the pillars +thereto belonging, at due distances, and on it to engrave in Greek, +and in your own letters, this prohibition, that no foreigner should +go beyond that wall. 10 Have not we given you leave to kill such as +go beyond it, though he were a Roman? And what do you do now, you +pernicious villains? Why do you trample upon dead bodies in this temple? +and why do you pollute this holy house with the blood of both foreigners +and Jews themselves? I appeal to the gods of my own country, and to +every god that ever had any regard to this place; [for I do not suppose +it to be now regarded by any of them;] I also appeal to my own army, and +to those Jews that are now with me, and even to yourselves, that I do +not force you to defile this your sanctuary; and if you will but change +the place whereon you will fight, no Roman shall either come near your +sanctuary, or offer any affront to it; nay, I will endeavor to preserve +you your holy house, whether you will or not." 11 + +5. As Josephus explained these things from the mouth of Caesar, both the +robbers and the tyrant thought that these exhortations proceeded from +Titus's fear, and not from his good-will to them, and grew insolent +upon it. But when Titus saw that these men were neither to be moved by +commiseration towards themselves, nor had any concern upon them to have +the holy house spared, he proceeded unwillingly to go on again with the +war against them. He could not indeed bring all his army against them, +the place was so narrow; but choosing thirty soldiers of the most +valiant out of every hundred, and committing a thousand to each tribune, +and making Cerealis their commander-in-chief, he gave orders that they +should attack the guards of the temple about the ninth hour of that +night. But as he was now in his armor, and preparing to go down with +them, his friends would not let him go, by reason of the greatness of +the danger, and what the commanders suggested to them; for they said +that he would do more by sitting above in the tower of Antonia, as a +dispenser of rewards to those soldiers that signalized themselves in the +fight, than by coming down and hazarding his own person in the forefront +of them; for that they would all fight stoutly while Caesar looked upon +them. With this advice Caesar complied, and said that the only reason +he had for such compliance with the soldiers was this, that he might be +able to judge of their courageous actions, and that no valiant soldier +might lie concealed, and miss of his reward, and no cowardly soldier +might go unpunished; but that he might himself be an eye-witness, and +able to give evidence of all that was done, who was to be the disposer +of punishments and rewards to them. So he sent the soldiers about their +work at the hour forementioned, while he went out himself to a higher +place in the tower of Antonia, whence he might see what was done, and +there waited with impatience to see the event. + +6. However, the soldiers that were sent did not find the guards of the +temple asleep, as they hoped to have done; but were obliged to fight +with them immediately hand to hand, as they rushed with violence upon +them with a great shout. Now as soon as the rest within the temple heard +that shout of those that were upon the watch, they ran out in troops +upon them. Then did the Romans receive the onset of those that came +first upon them; but those that followed them fell upon their own +troops, and many of them treated their own soldiers as if they had +been enemies; for the great confused noise that was made on both sides +hindered them from distinguishing one another's voices, as did the +darkness of the night hinder them from the like distinction by the +sight, besides that blindness which arose otherwise also from the +passion and the fear they were in at the same time; for which reason +it was all one to the soldiers who it was they struck at. However, this +ignorance did less harm to the Romans than to the Jews, because they +were joined together under their shields, and made their sallies +more regularly than the others did, and each of them remembered their +watch-word; while the Jews were perpetually dispersed abroad, and made +their attacks and retreats at random, and so did frequently seem to one +another to be enemies; for every one of them received those of their own +men that came back in the dark as Romans, and made an assault upon them; +so that more of them were wounded by their own men than by the enemy, +till, upon the coming on of the day, the nature of the right was +discerned by the eye afterward. Then did they stand in battle-array in +distinct bodies, and cast their darts regularly, and regularly defended +themselves; nor did either side yield or grow weary. The Romans +contended with each other who should fight the most strenuously, both +single men and entire regiments, as being under the eye of Titus; and +every one concluded that this day would begin his promotion if he +fought bravely. What were the great encouragements of the Jews to act +vigorously were, their fear for themselves and for the temple, and the +presence of their tyrant, who exhorted some, and beat and threatened +others, to act courageously. Now, it so happened, that this fight was +for the most part a stationary one, wherein the soldiers went on and +came back in a short time, and suddenly; for there was no long space of +ground for either of their flights or pursuits. But still there was a +tumultuous noise among the Romans from the tower of Antonia, who loudly +cried out upon all occasions to their own men to press on courageously, +when they were too hard for the Jews, and to stay when they were +retiring backward; so that here was a kind of theater of war; for what +was done in this fight could not be concealed either from Titus, or from +those that were about him. At length it appeared that this fight, which +began at the ninth hour of the night, was not over till past the fifth +hour of the day; and that, in the same place where the battle began, +neither party could say they had made the other to retire; but both +the armies left the victory almost in uncertainty between them; wherein +those that signalized themselves on the Roman side were a great many, +but on the Jewish side, and of those that were with Simon, Judas the son +of Merto, and Simon the son of Josas; of the Idumeans, James and Simon, +the latter of whom was the son of Cathlas, and James was the son of +Sosas; of those that were with John, Gyphtheus and Alexas; and of the +zealots, Simon the son of Jairus. + +7. In the mean time, the rest of the Roman army had, in seven days' +time, overthrown [some] foundations of the tower of Antonia, and had +made a ready and broad way to the temple. Then did the legions come near +the first court, 12 and began to raise their banks. The one bank was +over against the north-west corner of the inner temple 13 another was at +that northern edifice which was between the two gates; and of the other +two, one was at the western cloister of the outer court of the temple; +the other against its northern cloister. However, these works were thus +far advanced by the Romans, not without great pains and difficulty, and +particularly by being obliged to bring their materials from the distance +of a hundred furlongs. They had further difficulties also upon them; +sometimes by their over-great security they were in that they should +overcome the Jewish snares laid for them, and by that boldness of the +Jews which their despair of escaping had inspired them withal; for some +of their horsemen, when they went out to gather wood or hay, let their +horses feed without having their bridles on during the time of foraging; +upon which horses the Jews sallied out in whole bodies, and seized them. +And when this was continually done, and Caesar believed what the truth +was, that the horses were stolen more by the negligence of his own men +than by the valor of the Jews, he determined to use greater severity to +oblige the rest to take care of their horses; so he commanded that +one of those soldiers who had lost their horses should be capitally +punished; whereby he so terrified the rest, that they preserved their +horses for the time to come; for they did not any longer let them go +from them to feed by themselves, but, as if they had grown to them, they +went always along with them when they wanted necessaries. Thus did the +Romans still continue to make war against the temple, and to raise their +banks against it. + +8. Now after one day had been interposed since the Romans ascended the +breach, many of the seditious were so pressed by the famine, upon the +present failure of their ravages, that they got together, and made an +attack on those Roman guards that were upon the Mount of Olives, and +this about the eleventh hour of the day, as supposing, first, that they +would not expect such an onset, and, in the next place, that they were +then taking care of their bodies, and that therefore they should easily +beat them. But the Romans were apprized of their coming to attack them +beforehand, and, running together from the neighboring camps on the +sudden, prevented them from getting over their fortification, or forcing +the wall that was built about them. Upon this came on a sharp fight, and +here many great actions were performed on both sides; while the Romans +showed both their courage and their skill in war, as did the Jews come +on them with immoderate violence and intolerable passion. The one part +were urged on by shame, and the other by necessity; for it seemed a very +shameful thing to the Romans to let the Jews go, now they were taken in +a kind of net; while the Jews had but one hope of saving themselves, and +that was in case they could by violence break through the Roman wall; +and one whose name was Pedanius, belonging to a party of horsemen, when +the Jews were already beaten and forced down into the valley together, +spurred his horse on their flank with great vehemence, and caught up a +certain young man belonging to the enemy by his ankle, as he was running +away; the man was, however, of a robust body, and in his armor; so +low did Pedanius bend himself downward from his horse, even as he was +galloping away, and so great was the strength of his right hand, and of +the rest of his body, as also such skill had he in horsemanship. So this +man seized upon that his prey, as upon a precious treasure, and carried +him as his captive to Caesar; whereupon Titus admired the man that had +seized the other for his great strength, and ordered the man that was +caught to be punished [with death] for his attempt against the Roman +wall, but betook himself to the siege of the temple, and to pressing on +the raising of the banks. + +9. In the mean time, the Jews were so distressed by the fights they had +been in, as the war advanced higher and higher, and creeping up to the +holy house itself, that they, as it were, cut off those limbs of their +body which were infected, in order to prevent the distemper's spreading +further; for they set the north-west cloister, which was joined to the +tower of Antonia, on fire, and after that brake off about twenty cubits +of that cloister, and thereby made a beginning in burning the sanctuary; +two days after which, or on the twenty-fourth day of the forenamed +month, [Panemus or Tamuz,] the Romans set fire to the cloister that +joined to the other, when the fire went fifteen cubits farther. The +Jews, in like manner, cut off its roof; nor did they entirely leave +off what they were about till the tower of Antonia was parted from the +temple, even when it was in their power to have stopped the fire; nay, +they lay still while the temple was first set on fire, and deemed this +spreading of the fire to be for their own advantage. However, the armies +were still fighting one against another about the temple, and the war +was managed by continual sallies of particular parties against one +another. + +10. Now there was at this time a man among the Jews, low of stature he +was, and of a despicable appearance; of no character either as to his +family, or in other respects: his name was Jonathan. He went out at the +high priest John's monument, and uttered many other insolent things to +the Romans, and challenged the best of them all to a single combat. But +many of those that stood there in the army huffed him, and many of them +[as they might well be] were afraid of him. Some of them also reasoned +thus, and that justly enough: that it was not fit to fight with a man +that desired to die, because those that utterly despaired of deliverance +had, besides other passions, a violence in attacking men that could not +be opposed, and had no regard to God himself; and that to hazard oneself +with a person, whom, if you overcome, you do no great matter, and +by whom it is hazardous that you may be taken prisoner, would be an +instance, not of manly courage, but of unmanly rashness. So there being +nobody that came out to accept the man's challenge, and the Jew cutting +them with a great number of reproaches, as cowards, [for he was a very +haughty man in himself, and a great despiser of the Romans,] one whose +name was Pudens, of the body of horsemen, out of his abomination of +the other's words, and of his impudence withal, and perhaps out of an +inconsiderate arrogance, on account of the other's lowness of stature, +ran out to him, and was too hard for him in other respects, but was +betrayed by his ill fortune; for he fell down, and as he was down, +Jonathan came running to him, and cut his throat, and then, standing +upon his dead body, he brandished his sword, bloody as it was, and shook +his shield with his left hand, and made many acclamations to the Roman +army, and exulted over the dead man, and jested upon the Romans; till +at length one Priscus, a centurion, shot a dart at him as he was leaping +and playing the fool with himself, and thereby pierced him through; +upon which a shout was set up both by the Jews and the Romans, though +on different accounts. So Jonathan grew giddy by the pain of his wounds, +and fell down upon the body of his adversary, as a plain instance how +suddenly vengeance may come upon men that have success in war, without +any just deserving the same. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + Concerning A Stratagem That Was Devised By The Jews, By + Which They Burnt Many Of The Romans; With Another + Description Of The Terrible Famine That Was In The City. + +1. But now the seditious that were in the temple did every day openly +endeavor to beat off the soldiers that were upon the banks, and on the +twenty-seventh day of the forenamed month [Panemus or Tamuz] contrived +such a stratagem as this: They filled that part of the western cloister +14 which was between the beams, and the roof under them, with dry +materials, as also with bitumen and pitch, and then retired from that +place, as though they were tired with the pains they had taken; at which +procedure of theirs, many of the most inconsiderate among the Romans, +who were carried away with violent passions, followed hard after them as +they were retiring, and applied ladders to the cloister, and got up to +it suddenly; but the prudent part of them, when they understood this +unaccountable retreat of the Jews, stood still where they were before. +However, the cloister was full of those that were gone up the ladders; +at which time the Jews set it all on fire; and as the flame burst out +every where on the sudden, the Romans that were out of the danger were +seized with a very great consternation, as were those that were in +the midst of the danger in the utmost distress. So when they perceived +themselves surrounded with the flames, some of them threw themselves +down backwards into the city, and some among their enemies [in the +temple]; as did many leap down to their own men, and broke their limbs +to pieces; but a great number of those that were going to take these +violent methods were prevented by the fire; though some prevented the +fire by their own swords. However, the fire was on the sudden carried +so far as to surround those who would have otherwise perished. As for +Caesar himself, he could not, however, but commiserate those that thus +perished, although they got up thither without any order for so doing, +since there was no way of giving the many relief. Yet was this some +comfort to those that were destroyed, that every body might see that +person grieve, for whose sake they came to their end; for he cried out +openly to them, and leaped up, and exhorted those that were about him to +do their utmost to relieve them; So every one of them died cheerfully, +as carrying along with him these words and this intention of Caesar as a +sepulchral monument. Some there were indeed who retired into the wall of +the cloister, which was broad, and were preserved out of the fire, but +were then surrounded by the Jews; and although they made resistance +against the Jews for a long time, yet were they wounded by them, and at +length they all fell down dead. + +2. At the last a young man among them, whose name was Longus, became a +decoration to this sad affair, and while every one of them that perished +were worthy of a memorial, this man appeared to deserve it beyond +all the rest. Now the Jews admired this man for his courage, and were +further desirous of having him slain; so they persuaded him to come down +to them, upon security given him for his life. But Cornelius his brother +persuaded him on the contrary, not to tarnish his own glory, nor that +of the Roman army. He complied with this last advice, and lifting up his +sword before both armies, he slew himself. Yet there was one Artorius +among those surrounded by the fire who escaped by his subtlety; for +when he had with a loud voice called to him Lucius, one of his fellow +soldiers that lay with him in the same tent, and said to him, "I do +leave thee heir of all I have, if thou wilt come and receive me." Upon +this he came running to receive him readily; Artorius then threw himself +down upon him, and saved his own life, while he that received him was +dashed so vehemently against the stone pavement by the other's weight, +that he died immediately. This melancholy accident made the Romans +sad for a while, but still it made them more upon their guard for the +future, and was of advantage to them against the delusions of the Jews, +by which they were greatly damaged through their unacquaintedness with +the places, and with the nature of the inhabitants. Now this cloister +was burnt down as far as John's tower, which he built in the war he made +against Simon over the gates that led to the Xystus. The Jews also cut +off the rest of that cloister from the temple, after they had destroyed +those that got up to it. But the next day the Romans burnt down the +northern cloister entirely, as far as the east cloister, whose common +angle joined to the valley that was called Cedron, and was built over +it; on which account the depth was frightful. And this was the state of +the temple at that time. + +3. Now of those that perished by famine in the city, the number was +prodigious, and the miseries they underwent were unspeakable; for if so +much as the shadow of any kind of food did any where appear, a war was +commenced presently, and the dearest friends fell a fighting one with +another about it, snatching from each other the most miserable supports +of life. Nor would men believe that those who were dying had no food, +but the robbers would search them when they were expiring, lest any one +should have concealed food in their bosoms, and counterfeited dying; +nay, these robbers gaped for want, and ran about stumbling and +staggering along like mad dogs, and reeling against the doors of the +houses like drunken men; they would also, in the great distress they +were in, rush into the very same houses two or three times in one and +the same day. Moreover, their hunger was so intolerable, that it obliged +them to chew every thing, while they gathered such things as the most +sordid animals would not touch, and endured to eat them; nor did they +at length abstain from girdles and shoes; and the very leather which +belonged to their shields they pulled off and gnawed: the very wisps +of old hay became food to some; and some gathered up fibres, and sold +a very small weight of them for four Attic [drachmae]. But why do I +describe the shameless impudence that the famine brought on men in their +eating inanimate things, while I am going to relate a matter of fact, +the like to which no history relates, 15 either among the Greeks or +Barbarians? It is horrible to speak of it, and incredible when heard. +I had indeed willingly omitted this calamity of ours, that I might not +seem to deliver what is so portentous to posterity, but that I have +innumerable witnesses to it in my own age; and besides, my country would +have had little reason to thank me for suppressing the miseries that she +underwent at this time. + +4. There was a certain woman that dwelt beyond Jordan, her name was +Mary; her father was Eleazar, of the village Bethezob, which signifies +the house of Hyssop. She was eminent for her family and her wealth, and +had fled away to Jerusalem with the rest of the multitude, and was with +them besieged therein at this time. The other effects of this woman had +been already seized upon, such I mean as she had brought with her out +of Perea, and removed to the city. What she had treasured up besides, as +also what food she had contrived to save, had been also carried off by +the rapacious guards, who came every day running into her house for that +purpose. This put the poor woman into a very great passion, and by +the frequent reproaches and imprecations she cast at these rapacious +villains, she had provoked them to anger against her; but none of them, +either out of the indignation she had raised against herself, or out of +commiseration of her case, would take away her life; and if she found +any food, she perceived her labors were for others, and not for herself; +and it was now become impossible for her any way to find any more food, +while the famine pierced through her very bowels and marrow, when also +her passion was fired to a degree beyond the famine itself; nor did she +consult with any thing but with her passion and the necessity she was +in. She then attempted a most unnatural thing; and snatching up her +son, who was a child sucking at her breast, she said, "O thou miserable +infant! for whom shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine, and +this sedition? As to the war with the Romans, if they preserve our +lives, we must be slaves. This famine also will destroy us, even before +that slavery comes upon us. Yet are these seditious rogues more terrible +than both the other. Come on; be thou my food, and be thou a fury to +these seditious varlets, and a by-word to the world, which is all that +is now wanting to complete the calamities of us Jews." As soon as she +had said this, she slew her son, and then roasted him, and eat the one +half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed. Upon this the +seditious came in presently, and smelling the horrid scent of this food, +they threatened her that they would cut her throat immediately if she +did not show them what food she had gotten ready. She replied that she +had saved a very fine portion of it for them, and withal uncovered +what was left of her son. Hereupon they were seized with a horror and +amazement of mind, and stood astonished at the sight, when she said to +them, "This is mine own son, and what hath been done was mine own +doing! Come, eat of this food; for I have eaten of it myself! Do not +you pretend to be either more tender than a woman, or more compassionate +than a mother; but if you be so scrupulous, and do abominate this my +sacrifice, as I have eaten the one half, let the rest be reserved for +me also." After which those men went out trembling, being never so much +affrighted at any thing as they were at this, and with some difficulty +they left the rest of that meat to the mother. Upon which the whole city +was full of this horrid action immediately; and while every body laid +this miserable case before their own eyes, they trembled, as if this +unheard of action had been done by themselves. So those that were thus +distressed by the famine were very desirous to die, and those already +dead were esteemed happy, because they had not lived long enough either +to hear or to see such miseries. + +5. This sad instance was quickly told to the Romans, some of whom could +not believe it, and others pitied the distress which the Jews were +under; but there were many of them who were hereby induced to a more +bitter hatred than ordinary against our nation. But for Caesar, he +excused himself before God as to this matter, and said that he had +proposed peace and liberty to the Jews, as well as an oblivion of all +their former insolent practices; but that they, instead of concord, +had chosen sedition; instead of peace, war; and before satiety and +abundance, a famine. That they had begun with their own hands to burn +down that temple which we have preserved hitherto; and that therefore +they deserved to eat such food as this was. That, however, this horrid +action of eating an own child ought to be covered with the overthrow of +their very country itself, and men ought not to leave such a city upon +the habitable earth to be seen by the sun, wherein mothers are thus fed, +although such food be fitter for the fathers than for the mothers to eat +of, since it is they that continue still in a state of war against us, +after they have undergone such miseries as these. And at the same time +that he said this, he reflected on the desperate condition these men +must be in; nor could he expect that such men could be recovered to +sobriety of mind, after they had endured those very sufferings, for the +avoiding whereof it only was probable they might have repented. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + When The Banks Were Completed And The Battering Rams + Brought, And Could Do Nothing, Titus Gave Orders To Set Fire + To The Gates Of The Temple; In No Long Time After Which The + Holy House Itself Was Burnt Down, Even Against His Consent. + +1. And now two of the legions had completed their banks on the eighth +day of the month Lous [Ab]. Whereupon Titus gave orders that the +battering rams should be brought, and set over against the western +edifice of the inner temple; for before these were brought, the firmest +of all the other engines had battered the wall for six days together +without ceasing, without making any impression upon it; but the vast +largeness and strong connexion of the stones were superior to that +engine, and to the other battering rams also. Other Romans did indeed +undermine the foundations of the northern gate, and after a world of +pains removed the outermost stones, yet was the gate still upheld by the +inner stones, and stood still unhurt; till the workmen, despairing of +all such attempts by engines and crows, brought their ladders to the +cloisters. Now the Jews did not interrupt them in so doing; but when +they were gotten up, they fell upon them, and fought with them; some of +them they thrust down, and threw them backwards headlong; others of +them they met and slew; they also beat many of those that went down the +ladders again, and slew them with their swords before they could bring +their shields to protect them; nay, some of the ladders they threw down +from above when they were full of armed men; a great slaughter was made +of the Jews also at the same time, while those that bare the ensigns +fought hard for them, as deeming it a terrible thing, and what would +tend to their great shame, if they permitted them to be stolen away. Yet +did the Jews at length get possession of these engines, and destroyed +those that had gone up the ladders, while the rest were so intimidated +by what those suffered who were slain, that they retired; although none +of the Romans died without having done good service before his death. Of +the seditious, those that had fought bravely in the former battles did +the like now, as besides them did Eleazar, the brother's son of Simon +the tyrant. But when Titus perceived that his endeavors to spare a +foreign temple turned to the damage of his soldiers, and then be killed, +he gave order to set the gates on fire. + +2. In the mean time, there deserted to him Ananus, who came from +Emmaus, the most bloody of all Simon's guards, and Archelaus, the son of +Magadatus, they hoping to be still forgiven, because they left the Jews +at a time when they were the conquerors. Titus objected this to these +men, as a cunning trick of theirs; and as he had been informed of their +other barbarities towards the Jews, he was going in all haste to +have them both slain. He told them that they were only driven to this +desertion because of the utmost distress they were in, and did not come +away of their own good disposition; and that those did not deserve to be +preserved, by whom their own city was already set on fire, out of which +fire they now hurried themselves away. However, the security he had +promised deserters overcame his resentments, and he dismissed them +accordingly, though he did not give them the same privileges that he +had afforded to others. And now the soldiers had already put fire to the +gates, and the silver that was over them quickly carried the flames to +the wood that was within it, whence it spread itself all on the sudden, +and caught hold on the cloisters. Upon the Jews seeing this fire all +about them, their spirits sunk together with their bodies, and they were +under such astonishment, that not one of them made any haste, either to +defend himself or to quench the fire, but they stood as mute spectators +of it only. However, they did not so grieve at the loss of what was now +burning, as to grow wiser thereby for the time to come; but as though +the holy house itself had been on fire already, they whetted their +passions against the Romans. This fire prevailed during that day and the +next also; for the soldiers were not able to burn all the cloisters that +were round about together at one time, but only by pieces. + +3. But then, on the next day, Titus commanded part of his army to +quench the fire, and to make a road for the more easy marching up of +the legions, while he himself gathered the commanders together. Of those +there were assembled the six principal persons: Tiberius Alexander, the +commander [under the general] of the whole army; with Sextus Cerealis, +the commander of the fifth legion; and Larcius Lepidus, the commander +of the tenth legion; and Titus Frigius, the commander of the fifteenth +legion: there was also with them Eternius, the leader of the two legions +that came from Alexandria; and Marcus Antonius Julianus, procurator of +Judea: after these came together all the rest of the procurators and +tribunes. Titus proposed to these that they should give him their advice +what should be done about the holy house. Now some of these thought +it would be the best way to act according to the rules of war, [and +demolish it,] because the Jews would never leave off rebelling while +that house was standing; at which house it was that they used to get all +together. Others of them were of opinion, that in case the Jews would +leave it, and none of them would lay their arms up in it, he might save +it; but that in case they got upon it, and fought any more, he might +burn it; because it must then be looked upon not as a holy house, but as +a citadel; and that the impiety of burning it would then belong to +those that forced this to be done, and not to them. But Titus said, that +"although the Jews should get upon that holy house, and fight us thence, +yet ought we not to revenge ourselves on things that are inanimate, +instead of the men themselves;" and that he was not in any case for +burning down so vast a work as that was, because this would be a +mischief to the Romans themselves, as it would be an ornament to their +government while it continued. So Fronto, and Alexander, and Cerealis +grew bold upon that declaration, and agreed to the opinion of Titus. +Then was this assembly dissolved, when Titus had given orders to the +commanders that the rest of their forces should lie still; but that they +should make use of such as were most courageous in this attack. So he +commanded that the chosen men that were taken out of the cohorts should +make their way through the ruins, and quench the fire. + +4. Now it is true that on this day the Jews were so weary, and under +such consternation, that they refrained from any attacks. But on the +next day they gathered their whole force together, and ran upon those +that guarded the outward court of the temple very boldly, through the +east gate, and this about the second hour of the day. These guards +received that their attack with great bravery, and by covering +themselves with their shields before, as if it were with a wall, they +drew their squadron close together; yet was it evident that they could +not abide there very long, but would be overborne by the multitude of +those that sallied out upon them, and by the heat of their passion. +However, Caesar seeing, from the tower of Antonia, that this squadron +was likely to give way, he sent some chosen horsemen to support them. +Hereupon the Jews found themselves not able to sustain their onset, and +upon the slaughter of those in the forefront, many of the rest were put +to flight. But as the Romans were going off, the Jews turned upon them, +and fought them; and as those Romans came back upon them, they retreated +again, until about the fifth hour of the day they were overborne, and +shut themselves up in the inner [court of the] temple. + +5. So Titus retired into the tower of Antonia, and resolved to storm the +temple the next day, early in the morning, with his whole army, and to +encamp round about the holy house. But as for that house, God had, for +certain, long ago doomed it to the fire; and now that fatal day was +come, according to the revolution of ages; it was the tenth day of +the month Lous, [Ab,] upon which it was formerly burnt by the king of +Babylon; although these flames took their rise from the Jews themselves, +and were occasioned by them; for upon Titus's retiring, the seditious +lay still for a little while, and then attacked the Romans again, when +those that guarded the holy house fought with those that quenched the +fire that was burning the inner [court of the] temple; but these Romans +put the Jews to flight, and proceeded as far as the holy house itself. +At which time one of the soldiers, without staying for any orders, and +without any concern or dread upon him at so great an undertaking, and +being hurried on by a certain divine fury, snatched somewhat out of the +materials that were on fire, and being lifted up by another soldier, he +set fire to a golden window, through which there was a passage to the +rooms that were round about the holy house, on the north side of it. As +the flames went upward, the Jews made a great clamor, such as so mighty +an affliction required, and ran together to prevent it; and now they +spared not their lives any longer, nor suffered any thing to restrain +their force, since that holy house was perishing, for whose sake it was +that they kept such a guard about it. + +6. And now a certain person came running to Titus, and told him of +this fire, as he was resting himself in his tent after the last battle; +whereupon he rose up in great haste, and, as he was, ran to the holy +house, in order to have a stop put to the fire; after him followed all +his commanders, and after them followed the several legions, in great +astonishment; so there was a great clamor and tumult raised, as was +natural upon the disorderly motion of so great an army. Then did Caesar, +both by calling to the soldiers that were fighting, with a loud voice, +and by giving a signal to them with his right hand, order them to quench +the fire. But they did not hear what he said, though he spake so loud, +having their ears already dimmed by a greater noise another way; nor did +they attend to the signal he made with his hand neither, as still some +of them were distracted with fighting, and others with passion. But as +for the legions that came running thither, neither any persuasions +nor any threatenings could restrain their violence, but each one's own +passion was his commander at this time; and as they were crowding into +the temple together, many of them were trampled on by one another, while +a great number fell among the ruins of the cloisters, which were still +hot and smoking, and were destroyed in the same miserable way with those +whom they had conquered; and when they were come near the holy house, +they made as if they did not so much as hear Caesar's orders to the +contrary; but they encouraged those that were before them to set it on +fire. As for the seditious, they were in too great distress already to +afford their assistance [towards quenching the fire]; they were every +where slain, and every where beaten; and as for a great part of the +people, they were weak and without arms, and had their throats cut +wherever they were caught. Now round about the altar lay dead bodies +heaped one upon another, as at the steps 16 going up to it ran a great +quantity of their blood, whither also the dead bodies that were slain +above [on the altar] fell down. + +7. And now, since Caesar was no way able to restrain the enthusiastic +fury of the soldiers, and the fire proceeded on more and more, he went +into the holy place of the temple, with his commanders, and saw it, with +what was in it, which he found to be far superior to what the relations +of foreigners contained, and not inferior to what we ourselves boasted +of and believed about it. But as the flame had not as yet reached to its +inward parts, but was still consuming the rooms that were about the +holy house, and Titus supposing what the fact was, that the house itself +might yet be saved, he came in haste and endeavored to persuade the +soldiers to quench the fire, and gave order to Liberalius the centurion, +and one of those spearmen that were about him, to beat the soldiers that +were refractory with their staves, and to restrain them; yet were their +passions too hard for the regards they had for Caesar, and the dread +they had of him who forbade them, as was their hatred of the Jews, and +a certain vehement inclination to fight them, too hard for them also. +Moreover, the hope of plunder induced many to go on, as having this +opinion, that all the places within were full of money, and as seeing +that all round about it was made of gold. And besides, one of those +that went into the place prevented Caesar, when he ran so hastily out to +restrain the soldiers, and threw the fire upon the hinges of the gate, +in the dark; whereby the flame burst out from within the holy house +itself immediately, when the commanders retired, and Caesar with them, +and when nobody any longer forbade those that were without to set +fire to it. And thus was the holy house burnt down, without Caesar's +approbation. + +8. Now although any one would justly lament the destruction of such a +work as this was, since it was the most admirable of all the works +that we have seen or heard of, both for its curious structure and its +magnitude, and also for the vast wealth bestowed upon it, as well as for +the glorious reputation it had for its holiness; yet might such a one +comfort himself with this thought, that it was fate that decreed it so +to be, which is inevitable, both as to living creatures, and as to works +and places also. However, one cannot but wonder at the accuracy of this +period thereto relating; for the same month and day were now observed, +as I said before, wherein the holy house was burnt formerly by the +Babylonians. Now the number of years that passed from its first +foundation, which was laid by king Solomon, till this its destruction, +which happened in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, are +collected to be one thousand one hundred and thirty, besides seven +months and fifteen days; and from the second building of it, which +was done by Haggai, in the second year of Cyrus the king, till its +destruction under Vespasian, there were six hundred and thirty-nine +years and forty-five days. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. + + + The Great Distress The Jews Were In Upon The Conflagration + Of The Holy House. Concerning A False Prophet, And The Signs + That Preceded This Destruction. + +1. While the holy house was on fire, every thing was plundered that came +to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain; nor +was there a commiseration of any age, or any reverence of gravity, but +children, and old men, and profane persons, and priests were all slain +in the same manner; so that this war went round all sorts of men, and +brought them to destruction, and as well those that made supplication +for their lives, as those that defended themselves by fighting. The +flame was also carried a long way, and made an echo, together with the +groans of those that were slain; and because this hill was high, and the +works at the temple were very great, one would have thought the whole +city had been on fire. Nor can one imagine any thing either greater +or more terrible than this noise; for there was at once a shout of the +Roman legions, who were marching all together, and a sad clamor of the +seditious, who were now surrounded with fire and sword. The people also +that were left above were beaten back upon the enemy, and under a great +consternation, and made sad moans at the calamity they were under; the +multitude also that was in the city joined in this outcry with those +that were upon the hill. And besides, many of those that were worn away +by the famine, and their mouths almost closed, when they saw the fire of +the holy house, they exerted their utmost strength, and brake out into +groans and outcries again: Perea 17 did also return the echo, as well +as the mountains round about [the city,] and augmented the force of +the entire noise. Yet was the misery itself more terrible than this +disorder; for one would have thought that the hill itself, on which the +temple stood, was seething hot, as full of fire on every part of it, +that the blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were +slain more in number than those that slew them; for the ground did +no where appear visible, for the dead bodies that lay on it; but the +soldiers went over heaps of those bodies, as they ran upon such as fled +from them. And now it was that the multitude of the robbers were thrust +out [of the inner court of the temple by the Romans,] and had much ado +to get into the outward court, and from thence into the city, while the +remainder of the populace fled into the cloister of that outer court. As +for the priests, some of them plucked up from the holy house the spikes +18 that were upon it, with their bases, which were made of lead, and +shot them at the Romans instead of darts. But then as they gained +nothing by so doing, and as the fire burst out upon them, they retired +to the wall that was eight cubits broad, and there they tarried; yet did +two of these of eminence among them, who might have saved themselves by +going over to the Romans, or have borne up with courage, and taken their +fortune with the others, throw themselves into the fire, and were burnt +together with the holy house; their names were Meirus the son of Belgas, +and Joseph the son of Daleus. + +2. And now the Romans, judging that it was in vain to spare what was +round about the holy house, burnt all those places, as also the remains +of the cloisters and the gates, two excepted; the one on the east side, +and the other on the south; both which, however, they burnt afterward. +They also burnt down the treasury chambers, in which was an immense +quantity of money, and an immense number of garments, and other precious +goods there reposited; and, to speak all in a few words, there it was +that the entire riches of the Jews were heaped up together, while +the rich people had there built themselves chambers [to contain such +furniture]. The soldiers also came to the rest of the cloisters that +were in the outer [court of the] temple, whither the women and children, +and a great mixed multitude of the people, fled, in number about six +thousand. But before Caesar had determined any thing about these people, +or given the commanders any orders relating to them, the soldiers were +in such a rage, that they set that cloister on fire; by which means it +came to pass that some of these were destroyed by throwing themselves +down headlong, and some were burnt in the cloisters themselves. Nor +did any one of them escape with his life. A false prophet 19 was +the occasion of these people's destruction, who had made a public +proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get +upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of +their deliverance. Now there was then a great number of false prophets +suborned by the tyrants to impose on the people, who denounced this to +them, that they should wait for deliverance from God; and this was in +order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up +above fear and care by such hopes. Now a man that is in adversity does +easily comply with such promises; for when such a seducer makes him +believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress +him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such his +deliverance. + +3. Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such +as belied God himself; while they did not attend nor give credit to the +signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future +desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or +minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to +them. Thus there was a star 20 resembling a sword, which stood over the +city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. Thus also before the +Jews' rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, +when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened +bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus, 21 [Nisan,] and at the +ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the +holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which lasted for +half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, +but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events +that followed immediately upon it. At the same festival also, a heifer, +as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb +in the midst of the temple. Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner 22 +[court of the] temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had +been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed +with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which +was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own +accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in +the temple came hereupon running to the captain of the temple, and told +him of it; who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty +was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to +be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of +happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of +their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was +opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared +that the signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them. +Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth +day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible +phenomenon appeared: I suppose the account of it would seem to be a +fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events +that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; +for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor +were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. +Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were +going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom +was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first +place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they +heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence." +But, what is still more terrible, there was one Jesus, the son of +Ananus, a plebeian and a husbandman, who, four years before the +war began, and at a time when the city was in very great peace and +prosperity, came to that feast whereon it is our custom for every one +to make tabernacles to God in the temple, 23 began on a sudden to cry +aloud, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from +the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice +against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole +people!" This was his cry, as he went about by day and by night, in all +the lanes of the city. However, certain of the most eminent among the +populace had great indignation at this dire cry of his, and took up +the man, and gave him a great number of severe stripes; yet did not he +either say any thing for himself, or any thing peculiar to those that +chastised him, but still went on with the same words which he cried +before. Hereupon our rulers, supposing, as the case proved to be, that +this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman +procurator, where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare; yet +he did not make any supplication for himself, nor shed any tears, but +turning his voice to the most lamentable tone possible, at every stroke +of the whip his answer was, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" And when Albinus +[for he was then our procurator] asked him, Who he was? and whence he +came? and why he uttered such words? he made no manner of reply to what +he said, but still did not leave off his melancholy ditty, till Albinus +took him to be a madman, and dismissed him. Now, during all the time +that passed before the war began, this man did not go near any of +the citizens, nor was seen by them while he said so; but he every day +uttered these lamentable words, as if it were his premeditated vow, +"Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" Nor did he give ill words to any of those that +beat him every day, nor good words to those that gave him food; but this +was his reply to all men, and indeed no other than a melancholy presage +of what was to come. This cry of his was the loudest at the festivals; +and he continued this ditty for seven years and five months, without +growing hoarse, or being tired therewith, until the very time that he +saw his presage in earnest fulfilled in our siege, when it ceased; for +as he was going round upon the wall, he cried out with his utmost force, +"Woe, woe to the city again, and to the people, and to the holy house!" +And just as he added at the last, "Woe, woe to myself also!" there +came a stone out of one of the engines, and smote him, and killed him +immediately; and as he was uttering the very same presages he gave up +the ghost. + +4. Now if any one consider these things, he will find that God takes +care of mankind, and by all ways possible foreshows to our race what is +for their preservation; but that men perish by those miseries which +they madly and voluntarily bring upon themselves; for the Jews, by +demolishing the tower of Antonia, had made their temple four-square, +while at the same time they had it written in their sacred oracles, +"That then should their city be taken, as well as their holy house, when +once their temple should become four-square." But now, what did the most +elevate them in undertaking this war, was an ambiguous oracle that was +also found in their sacred writings, how, "about that time, one from +their country should become governor of the habitable earth." The Jews +took this prediction to belong to themselves in particular, and many +of the wise men were thereby deceived in their determination. Now this +oracle certainly denoted the government of Vespasian, who was appointed +emperor in Judea. However, it is not possible for men to avoid fate, +although they see it beforehand. But these men interpreted some of these +signals according to their own pleasure, and some of them they utterly +despised, until their madness was demonstrated, both by the taking of +their city and their own destruction. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + How The Romans Carried Their Ensigns To The Temple, And Made + Joyful Acclamations To Titus. The Speech That Titus Made To + The Jews When They Made Supplication For Mercy. What Reply + They Made Thereto; And How That Reply Moved Titus's + Indignation Against Them. + +1. And now the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, +and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings +round about it, brought their ensigns to the temple 24 and set them over +against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to +them, and there did they make Titus imperator 25 with the greatest +acclamations of joy. And now all the soldiers had such vast quantities +of the spoils which they had gotten by plunder, that in Syria a pound +weight of gold was sold for half its former value. But as for those +priests that kept themselves still upon the wall of the holy house,26 +there was a boy that, out of the thirst he was in, desired some of the +Roman guards to give him their right hands as a security for his life, +and confessed he was very thirsty. These guards commiserated his age, +and the distress he was in, and gave him their right hands accordingly. +So he came down himself, and drank some water, and filled the vessel +he had with him when he came to them with water, and then went off, and +fled away to his own friends; nor could any of those guards overtake +him; but still they reproached him for his perfidiousness. To which he +made this answer: "I have not broken the agreement; for the security I +had given me was not in order to my staying with you, but only in order +to my coming down safely, and taking up some water; both which things I +have performed, and thereupon think myself to have been faithful to my +engagement." Hereupon those whom the child had imposed upon admired at +his cunning, and that on account of his age. On the fifth day afterward, +the priests that were pined with the famine came down, and when they +were brought to Titus by the guards, they begged for their lives; but he +replied, that the time of pardon was over as to them, and that this +very holy house, on whose account only they could justly hope to be +preserved, was destroyed; and that it was agreeable to their office that +priests should perish with the house itself to which they belonged. So +he ordered them to be put to death. + +2. But as for the tyrants themselves, and those that were with them, +when they found that they were encompassed on every side, and, as it +were, walled round, without any method of escaping, they desired to +treat with Titus by word of mouth. Accordingly, such was the kindness +of his nature, and his desire of preserving the city from destruction, +joined to the advice of his friends, who now thought the robbers were +come to a temper, that he placed himself on the western side of the +outer [court of the] temple; for there were gates on that side above the +Xystus, and a bridge that connected the upper city to the temple. This +bridge it was that lay between the tyrants and Caesar, and parted them; +while the multitude stood on each side; those of the Jewish nation +about Sinran and John, with great hopes of pardon; and the Romans about +Caesar, in great expectation how Titus would receive their supplication. +So Titus charged his soldiers to restrain their rage, and to let their +darts alone, and appointed an interpreter between them, which was a sign +that he was the conqueror, and first began the discourse, and said, "I +hope you, sirs, are now satiated with the miseries of your country, who +have not had any just notions, either of our great power, or of your own +great weakness, but have, like madmen, after a violent and inconsiderate +manner, made such attempts, as have brought your people, your city, and +your holy house to destruction. You have been the men that have never +left off rebelling since Pompey first conquered you, and have, since +that time, made open war with the Romans. Have you depended on your +multitude, while a very small part of the Roman soldiery have been +strong enough for you? Have you relied on the fidelity of your +confederates? And what nations are there, out of the limits of our +dominion, that would choose to assist the Jews before the Romans? Are +your bodies stronger than ours? nay, you know that the [strong] Germans +themselves are our servants. Have you stronger walls than we have? Pray, +what greater obstacle is there than the wall of the ocean, with which +the Britons are encompassed, and yet do adore the arms of the Romans. +Do you exceed us in courage of soul, and in the sagacity of your +commanders? Nay, indeed, you cannot but know that the very Carthaginians +have been conquered by us. It can therefore be nothing certainly but +the kindness of us Romans which hath excited you against us; who, in +the first place, have given you this land to possess; and, in the next +place, have set over you kings of your own nation; and, in the third +place, have preserved the laws of your forefathers to you, and have +withal permitted you to live, either by yourselves, or among others, as +it should please you: and, what is our chief favor of all we have given +you leave to gather up that tribute which is paid to God 27 with such +other gifts that are dedicated to him; nor have we called those that +carried these donations to account, nor prohibited them; till at length +you became richer than we ourselves, even when you were our enemies; and +you made preparations for war against us with our own money; nay, after +all, when you were in the enjoyment of all these advantages, you +turned your too great plenty against those that gave it you, and, like +merciless serpents, have thrown out your poison against those that +treated you kindly. I suppose, therefore, that you might despise the +slothfulness of Nero, and, like limbs of the body that are broken or +dislocated, you did then lie quiet, waiting for some other time, though +still with a malicious intention, and have now showed your distemper +to be greater than ever, and have extended your desires as far as your +impudent and immense hopes would enable you to do it. At this time my +father came into this country, not with a design to punish you for what +you had done under Cestius, but to admonish you; for had he come to +overthrow your nation, he had run directly to your fountain-head, and +had immediately laid this city waste; whereas he went and burnt Galilee +and the neighboring parts, and thereby gave you time for repentance; +which instance of humanity you took for an argument of his weakness, and +nourished up your impudence by our mildness. When Nero was gone out +of the world, you did as the wickedest wretches would have done, and +encouraged yourselves to act against us by our civil dissensions, and +abused that time, when both I and my father were gone away to Egypt, +to make preparations for this war. Nor were you ashamed to raise +disturbances against us when we were made emperors, and this while you +had experienced how mild we had been, when we were no more than generals +of the army. But when the government was devolved upon us, and all other +people did thereupon lie quiet, and even foreign nations sent embassies, +and congratulated our access to the government, then did you Jews show +yourselves to be our enemies. You sent embassies to those of your nation +that are beyond Euphrates to assist you in your raising disturbances; +new walls were built by you round your city, seditions arose, and one +tyrant contended against another, and a civil war broke out among you; +such indeed as became none but so wicked a people as you are. I then +came to this city, as unwillingly sent by my father, and received +melancholy injunctions from him. When I heard that the people were +disposed to peace, I rejoiced at it; I exhorted you to leave off these +proceedings before I began this war; I spared you even when you had +fought against me a great while; I gave my right hand as security to the +deserters; I observed what I had promised faithfully. When they fled +to me, I had compassion on many of those that I had taken captive; I +tortured those that were eager for war, in order to restrain them. It +was unwillingly that I brought my engines of war against your walls; I +always prohibited my soldiers, when they were set upon your slaughter, +from their severity against you. After every victory I persuaded you +to peace, as though I had been myself conquered. When I came near your +temple, I again departed from the laws of war, and exhorted you to spare +your own sanctuary, and to preserve your holy house to yourselves. I +allowed you a quiet exit out of it, and security for your preservation; +nay, if you had a mind, I gave you leave to fight in another place. Yet +have you still despised every one of my proposals, and have set fire +to your holy house with your own hands. And now, vile wretches, do you +desire to treat with me by word of mouth? To what purpose is it that you +would save such a holy house as this was, which is now destroyed? What +preservation can you now desire after the destruction of your temple? +Yet do you stand still at this very time in your armor; nor can you +bring yourselves so much as to pretend to be supplicants even in this +your utmost extremity. O miserable creatures! what is it you depend on? +Are not your people dead? is not your holy house gone? is not your city +in my power? and are not your own very lives in my hands? And do you +still deem it a part of valor to die? However, I will not imitate your +madness. If you throw down your arms, and deliver up your bodies to me, +I grant you your lives; and I will act like a mild master of a family; +what cannot be healed shall be punished, and the rest I will preserve +for my own use." + +3. To that offer of Titus they made this reply: That they could not +accept of it, because they had sworn never to do so; but they desired +they might have leave to go through the wall that had been made about +them, with their wives and children; for that they would go into the +desert, and leave the city to him. At this Titus had great indignation, +that when they were in the case of men already taken captives, they +should pretend to make their own terms with him, as if they had been +conquerors. So he ordered this proclamation to be made to them, That +they should no more come out to him as deserters, nor hope for any +further security; for that he would henceforth spare nobody, but fight +them with his whole army; and that they must save themselves as well as +they could; for that he would from henceforth treat them according to +the laws of war. So he gave orders to the soldiers both to burn and to +plunder the city; who did nothing indeed that day; but on the next +day they set fire to the repository of the archives, to Acra, to the +council-house, and to the place called Ophlas; at which time the fire +proceeded as far as the palace of queen Helena, which was in the middle +of Acra; the lanes also were burnt down, as were also those houses that +were full of the dead bodies of such as were destroyed by famine. + +4. On the same day it was that the sons and brethren of Izates the +king, together with many others of the eminent men of the populace, +got together there, and besought Caesar to give them his right hand for +their security; upon which, though he was very angry at all that were +now remaining, yet did he not lay aside his old moderation, but received +these men. At that time, indeed, he kept them all in custody, but still +bound the king's sons and kinsmen, and led them with him to Rome, in +order to make them hostages for their country's fidelity to the Romans. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + What Afterward Befell The Seditious When They Had Done A + Great Deal Of Mischief, And Suffered Many Misfortunes; As + Also How Caesar Became Master Of The Upper City. + +1. And now the seditious rushed into the royal palace, into which many +had put their effects, because it was so strong, and drove the Romans +away from it. They also slew all the people that had crowded into it, +who were in number about eight thousand four hundred, and plundered them +of what they had. They also took two of the Romans alive; the one was +a horseman, and the other a footman. They then cut the throat of the +footman, and immediately had him drawn through the whole city, as +revenging themselves upon the whole body of the Romans by this one +instance. But the horseman said he had somewhat to suggest to them in +order to their preservation; whereupon he was brought before Simon; but +he having nothing to say when he was there, he was delivered to Ardalas, +one of his commanders, to be punished, who bound his hands behind him, +and put a riband over his eyes, and then brought him out over against +the Romans, as intending to cut off his head. But the man prevented +that execution, and ran away to the Romans, and this while the Jewish +executioner was drawing out his sword. Now when he was gotten away from +the enemy, Titus could not think of putting him to death; but because he +deemed him unworthy of being a Roman soldier any longer, on account that +he had been taken alive by the enemy, he took away his arms, and ejected +him out of the legion whereto he had belonged; which, to one that had a +sense of shame, was a penalty severer than death itself. + +2. On the next day the Romans drove the robbers out of the lower city, +and set all on fire as far as Siloam. These soldiers were indeed glad +to see the city destroyed. But they missed the plunder, because the +seditious had carried off all their effects, and were retired into the +upper city; for they did not yet at all repent of the mischiefs they had +done, but were insolent, as if they had done well; for, as they saw the +city on fire, they appeared cheerful, and put on joyful countenances, in +expectation, as they said, of death to end their miseries. Accordingly, +as the people were now slain, the holy house was burnt down, and the +city was on fire, there was nothing further left for the enemy to do. +Yet did not Josephus grow weary, even in this utmost extremity, to beg +of them to spare what was left of the city; he spake largely to them +about their barbarity and impiety, and gave them his advice in order to +their escape; though he gained nothing thereby more than to be laughed +at by them; and as they could not think of surrendering themselves up, +because of the oath they had taken, nor were strong enough to fight with +the Romans any longer upon the square, as being surrounded on all sides, +and a kind of prisoners already, yet were they so accustomed to kill +people, that they could not restrain their right hands from acting +accordingly. So they dispersed themselves before the city, and laid +themselves in ambush among its ruins, to catch those that attempted to +desert to the Romans; accordingly many such deserters were caught by +them, and were all slain; for these were too weak, by reason of their +want of food, to fly away from them; so their dead bodies were thrown to +the dogs. Now every other sort of death was thought more tolerable than +the famine, insomuch that, though the Jews despaired now of mercy, yet +would they fly to the Romans, and would themselves, even of their own +accord, fall among the murderous rebels also. Nor was there any place +in the city that had no dead bodies in it, but what was entirely covered +with those that were killed either by the famine or the rebellion; and +all was full of the dead bodies of such as had perished, either by that +sedition or by that famine. + +3. So now the last hope which supported the tyrants, and that crew of +robbers who were with them, was in the caves and caverns under ground; +whither, if they could once fly, they did not expect to be searched for; +but endeavored, that after the whole city should be destroyed, and the +Romans gone away, they might come out again, and escape from them. This +was no better than a dream of theirs; for they were not able to lie +hid either from God or from the Romans. However, they depended on these +under-ground subterfuges, and set more places on fire than did the +Romans themselves; and those that fled out of their houses thus set +on fire into the ditches, they killed without mercy, and pillaged them +also; and if they discovered food belonging to any one, they seized upon +it and swallowed it down, together with their blood also; nay, they were +now come to fight one with another about their plunder; and I cannot +but think that, had not their destruction prevented it, their barbarity +would have made them taste of even the dead bodies themselves. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + How Caesar Raised Banks Round About The Upper City [Mount + Zion] And When They Were Completed, Gave Orders That The + Machines Should Be Brought. He Then Possessed Himself Of The + Whole City. + +1. Now when Caesar perceived that the upper city was so steep that +it could not possibly be taken without raising banks against it, he +distributed the several parts of that work among his army, and this +on the twentieth day of the month Lous [Ab]. Now the carriage of the +materials was a difficult task, since all the trees, as I have already +told you, that were about the city, within the distance of a hundred +furlongs, had their branches cut off already, in order to make the +former banks. The works that belonged to the four legions were erected +on the west side of the city, over against the royal palace; but the +whole body of the auxiliary troops, with the rest of the multitude that +were with them, [erected their banks] at the Xystus, whence they reached +to the bridge, and that tower of Simon which he had built as a citadel +for himself against John, when they were at war one with another. + +2. It was at this time that the commanders of the Idumeans got together +privately, and took counsel about surrendering up themselves to the +Romans. Accordingly, they sent five men to Titus, and entreated him to +give them his right hand for their security. So Titus thinking that the +tyrants would yield, if the Idumeans, upon whom a great part of the +war depended, were once withdrawn from them, after some reluctancy and +delay, complied with them, and gave them security for their lives, and +sent the five men back. But as these Idumeans were preparing to march +out, Simon perceived it, and immediately slew the five men that had gone +to Titus, and took their commanders, and put them in prison, of whom the +most eminent was Jacob, the son of Sosas; but as for the multitude of +the Idumeans, who did not at all know what to do, now their commanders +were taken from them, he had them watched, and secured the walls by a +more numerous garrison, Yet could not that garrison resist those that +were deserting; for although a great number of them were slain, yet were +the deserters many more in number. They were all received by the Romans, +because Titus himself grew negligent as to his former orders for killing +them, and because the very soldiers grew weary of killing them, and +because they hoped to get some money by sparing them; for they left only +the populace, and sold the rest of the multitude, 28 with their wives +and children, and every one of them at a very low price, and that +because such as were sold were very many, and the buyers were few: and +although Titus had made proclamation beforehand, that no deserter should +come alone by himself, that so they might bring out their families with +them, yet did he receive such as these also. However, he set over them +such as were to distinguish some from others, in order to see if any of +them deserved to be punished. And indeed the number of those that were +sold was immense; but of the populace above forty thousand were saved, +whom Caesar let go whither every one of them pleased. + +3. But now at this time it was that one of the priests, the son of +Thebuthus, whose name was Jesus, upon his having security given him, by +the oath of Caesar, that he should be preserved, upon condition that +he should deliver to him certain of the precious things that had been +reposited in the temple 29 came out of it, and delivered him from the +wall of the holy house two candlesticks, like to those that lay in the +holy house, with tables, and cisterns, and vials, all made of solid +gold, and very heavy. He also delivered to him the veils and the +garments, with the precious stones, and a great number of other precious +vessels that belonged to their sacred worship. The treasurer of the +temple also, whose name was Phineas, was seized on, and showed Titus the +coats and girdles of the priests, with a great quantity of purple and +scarlet, which were there reposited for the uses of the veil, as also a +great deal of cinnamon and cassia, with a large quantity of other sweet +spices, 30 which used to be mixed together, and offered as incense to +God every day. A great many other treasures were also delivered to +him, with sacred ornaments of the temple not a few; which things thus +delivered to Titus obtained of him for this man the same pardon that he +had allowed to such as deserted of their own accord. + +4. And now were the banks finished on the seventh day of the month +Gorpieus, [Elul,] in eighteen days' time, when the Romans brought their +machines against the wall. But for the seditious, some of them, as +despairing of saving the city, retired from the wall to the citadel; +others of them went down into the subterranean vaults, though still a +great many of them defended themselves against those that brought the +engines for the battery; yet did the Romans overcome them by their +number and by their strength; and, what was the principal thing of +all, by going cheerfully about their work, while the Jews were quite +dejected, and become weak. Now as soon as a part of the wall was +battered down, and certain of the towers yielded to the impression of +the battering rams, those that opposed themselves fled away, and such +a terror fell upon the tyrants, as was much greater than the occasion +required; for before the enemy got over the breach they were quite +stunned, and were immediately for flying away. And now one might see +these men, who had hitherto been so insolent and arrogant in their +wicked practices, to be cast down and to tremble, insomuch that it +would pity one's heart to observe the change that was made in those vile +persons. Accordingly, they ran with great violence upon the Roman wall +that encompassed them, in order to force away those that guarded it, and +to break through it, and get away. But when they saw that those who had +formerly been faithful to them had gone away, [as indeed they were fled +whithersoever the great distress they were in persuaded them to flee,] +as also when those that came running before the rest told them that the +western wall was entirely overthrown, while others said the Romans were +gotten in, and others that they were near, and looking out for them, +which were only the dictates of their fear, which imposed upon their +sight, they fell upon their face, and greatly lamented their own mad +conduct; and their nerves were so terribly loosed, that they could +not flee away. And here one may chiefly reflect on the power of God +exercised upon these wicked wretches, and on the good fortune of the +Romans; for these tyrants did now wholly deprive themselves of the +security they had in their own power, and came down from those very +towers of their own accord, wherein they could have never been taken +by force, nor indeed by any other way than by famine. And thus did the +Romans, when they had taken such great pains about weaker walls, get +by good fortune what they could never have gotten by their engines; +for three of these towers were too strong for all mechanical engines +whatsoever, concerning which we have treated above. + +5. So they now left these towers of themselves, or rather they were +ejected out of them by God himself, and fled immediately to that valley +which was under Siloam, where they again recovered themselves out of the +dread they were in for a while, and ran violently against that part of +the Roman wall which lay on that side; but as their courage was too much +depressed to make their attacks with sufficient force, and their power +was now broken with fear and affliction, they were repulsed by the +guards, and dispersing themselves at distances from each other, went +down into the subterranean caverns. So the Romans being now become +masters of the walls, they both placed their ensigns upon the towers, +and made joyful acclamations for the victory they had gained, as having +found the end of this war much lighter than its beginning; for when they +had gotten upon the last wall, without any bloodshed, they could hardly +believe what they found to be true; but seeing nobody to oppose them, +they stood in doubt what such an unusual solitude could mean. But when +they went in numbers into the lanes of the city with their swords drawn, +they slew those whom they overtook without and set fire to the houses +whither the Jews were fled, and burnt every soul in them, and laid +waste a great many of the rest; and when they were come to the houses +to plunder them, they found in them entire families of dead men, and +the upper rooms full of dead corpses, that is, of such as died by the +famine; they then stood in a horror at this sight, and went out without +touching any thing. But although they had this commiseration for such as +were destroyed in that manner, yet had they not the same for those that +were still alive, but they ran every one through whom they met with, +and obstructed the very lanes with their dead bodies, and made the whole +city run down with blood, to such a degree indeed that the fire of +many of the houses was quenched with these men's blood. And truly so it +happened, that though the slayers left off at the evening, yet did the +fire greatly prevail in the night; and as all was burning, came that +eighth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul] upon Jerusalem, a city that had +been liable to so many miseries during this siege, that, had it always +enjoyed as much happiness from its first foundation, it would certainly +have been the envy of the world. Nor did it on any other account so much +deserve these sore misfortunes, as by producing such a generation of men +as were the occasions of this its overthrow. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + What Injunctions Caesar Gave When He Was Come Within The + City. The Number Of The Captives And Of Those That Perished + In The Siege; As Also Concerning Those That Had Escaped Into + The Subterranean Caverns, Among Whom Were The Tyrants Simon + And John Themselves. + +1. Now when Titus was come into this [upper] city, he admired not only +some other places of strength in it, but particularly those strong +towers which the tyrants in their mad conduct had relinquished; for when +he saw their solid altitude, and the largeness of their several stones, +and the exactness of their joints, as also how great was their breadth, +and how extensive their length, he expressed himself after the manner +following: "We have certainly had God for our assistant in this war, +and it was no other than God who ejected the Jews out of these +fortifications; for what could the hands of men or any machines do +towards overthrowing these towers?" At which time he had many such +discourses to his friends; he also let such go free as had been bound by +the tyrants, and were left in the prisons. To conclude, when he entirely +demolished the rest of the city, and overthrew its walls, he left +these towers as a monument of his good fortune, which had proved his +auxiliaries, and enabled him to take what could not otherwise have been +taken by him. + +2. And now, since his soldiers were already quite tired with killing +men, and yet there appeared to be a vast multitude still remaining +alive, Caesar gave orders that they should kill none but those that were +in arms, and opposed them, but should take the rest alive. But, together +with those whom they had orders to slay, they slew the aged and the +infirm; but for those that were in their flourishing age, and who might +be useful to them, they drove them together into the temple, and shut +them up within the walls of the court of the women; over which Caesar +set one of his freed-men, as also Fronto, one of his own friends; which +last was to determine every one's fate, according to his merits. So +this Fronto slew all those that had been seditious and robbers, who were +impeached one by another; but of the young men he chose out the tallest +and most beautiful, and reserved them for the triumph; and as for the +rest of the multitude that were above seventeen years old, he put them +into bonds, and sent them to the Egyptian mines. 31 Titus also sent a +great number into the provinces, as a present to them, that they might +be destroyed upon their theatres, by the sword and by the wild beasts; +but those that were under seventeen years of age were sold for slaves. +Now during the days wherein Fronto was distinguishing these men, there +perished, for want of food, eleven thousand; some of whom did not taste +any food, through the hatred their guards bore to them; and others would +not take in any when it was given them. The multitude also was so very +great, that they were in want even of corn for their sustenance. + +3. Now the number 32 of those that were carried captive during this +whole war was collected to be ninety-seven thousand; as was the number +of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand, +the greater part of whom were indeed of the same nation [with the +citizens of Jerusalem], but not belonging to the city itself; for they +were come up from all the country to the feast of unleavened bread, +and were on a sudden shut up by an army, which, at the very first, +occasioned so great a straitness among them, that there came a +pestilential destruction upon them, and soon afterward such a famine, as +destroyed them more suddenly. And that this city could contain so many +people in it, is manifest by that number of them which was taken under +Cestius, who being desirous of informing Nero of the power of the city, +who otherwise was disposed to contemn that nation, entreated the high +priests, if the thing were possible, to take the number of their whole +multitude. So these high priests, upon the coming of that feast which +is called the Passover, when they slay their sacrifices, from the ninth +hour till the eleventh, but so that a company not less than ten 33 +belong to every sacrifice, [for it is not lawful for them to feast +singly by themselves,] and many of us are twenty in a company, found +the number of sacrifices was two hundred and fifty-six thousand five +hundred; which, upon the allowance of no more than ten that feast +together, amounts to two millions seven hundred thousand and two hundred +persons that were pure and holy; for as to those that have the leprosy, +or the gonorrhea, or women that have their monthly courses, or such as +are otherwise polluted, it is not lawful for them to be partakers of +this sacrifice; nor indeed for any foreigners neither, who come hither +to worship. + +4. Now this vast multitude is indeed collected out of remote places, but +the entire nation was now shut up by fate as in prison, and the +Roman army encompassed the city when it was crowded with inhabitants. +Accordingly, the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all +the destructions that either men or God ever brought upon the world; +for, to speak only of what was publicly known, the Romans slew some +of them, some they carried captives, and others they made a search for +under ground, and when they found where they were, they broke up the +ground and slew all they met with. There were also found slain there +above two thousand persons, partly by their own hands, and partly by one +another, but chiefly destroyed by the famine; but then the ill savor +of the dead bodies was most offensive to those that lighted upon them, +insomuch that some were obliged to get away immediately, while others +were so greedy of gain, that they would go in among the dead bodies +that lay on heaps, and tread upon them; for a great deal of treasure was +found in these caverns, and the hope of gain made every way of getting +it to be esteemed lawful. Many also of those that had been put in prison +by the tyrants were now brought out; for they did not leave off their +barbarous cruelty at the very last: yet did God avenge himself upon them +both, in a manner agreeable to justice. As for John, he wanted food, +together with his brethren, in these caverns, and begged that the Romans +would now give him their right hand for his security, which he had +often proudly rejected before; but for Simon, he struggled hard with +the distress he was in, still he was forced to surrender himself, as we +shall relate hereafter; so he was reserved for the triumph, and to be +then slain; as was John condemned to perpetual imprisonment. And now the +Romans set fire to the extreme parts of the city, and burnt them down, +and entirely demolished its walls. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + That Whereas The City Of Jerusalem Had Been Five Times Taken + Formerly, This Was The Second Time Of Its Desolation. A + Brief Account Of Its History. + +1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of +Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been +taken five 34 times before, though this was the second time of its +desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and +after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but +still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered +it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight +years and six months after it was built. But he who first built it was +a potent man among the Canaanites, and is in our own tongue called +[Melchisedek], the Righteous King, for such he really was; on which +account he was [there] the first priest of God, and first built a temple +[there], 35 and called the city Jerusalem, which was formerly called +Salem. However, David, the king of the Jews, ejected the Canaanites, +and settled his own people therein. It was demolished entirely by the +Babylonians, four hundred and seventy-seven years and six months after +him. And from king David, who was the first of the Jews who reigned +therein, to this destruction under Titus, were one thousand one hundred +and seventy-nine years; but from its first building, till this last +destruction, were two thousand one hundred and seventy-seven years; yet +hath not its great antiquity, nor its vast riches, nor the diffusion +of its nation over all the habitable earth, nor the greatness of +the veneration paid to it on a religious account, been sufficient to +preserve it from being destroyed. And thus ended the siege of Jerusalem. + +WAR BOOK 6 FOOTNOTES + +1 (return) [ Reland notes here, very pertinently, that the tower of +Antonia stood higher than the floor of the temple or court adjoining +to it; and that accordingly they descended thence into the temple, as +Josephus elsewhere speaks also. See Book VI. ch. 2. sect. 5.] + + +2 (return) [ In this speech of Titus we may clearly see the notions +which the Romans then had of death, and of the happy state of those who +died bravely in war, and the contrary estate of those who died ignobly +in their beds by sickness. Reland here also produces two parallel +passages, the one out of Atonia Janus Marcellinus, concerning the Alani, +lib. 31, that "they judged that man happy who laid down his life in +battle;" the other of Valerius Maximus, lib. 11. ch. 6, who says, "that +the Cimbri and Celtiberi exulted for joy in the army, as being to go out +of the world gloriously and happily."] + + +3 (return) [ See the note on p. 809.] + + +4 (return) [ No wonder that this Julian, who had so many nails in his +shoes, slipped upon the pavement of the temple, which was smooth, and +laid with marble of different colors.] + + +5 (return) [ This was a remarkable day indeed, the seventeenth of +Panemuns. [Footnote Tamuz,] A.D. 70, when, according to Daniel's +prediction, six hundred and six years before, the Romans "in half a week +caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease," Daniel 9:27. For from the +month of February, A.D. 66, about which time Vespasian entered on this +war, to this very time, was just three years and a half. See Bishop +Lloyd's Tables of Chronology, published by Mr. Marshall, on this year. +Nor is it to be omitted, what year nearly confirms this duration of the +war, that four years before the war begun was somewhat above seven years +five months before the destruction of Jerusalem, ch. 5. sect. 3.] + + +6 (return) [ The same that in the New Testament is always so called, and +was then the common language of the Jews in Judea, which was the Syriac +dialect.] + + +7 (return) [ Our present copies of the Old Testament want this encomium +upon king Jechoniah or Jehoiachim, which it seems was in Josephus's +copy.] + + +8 (return) [ Of this oracle, see the note on B. IV. ch. 6. sect. 3. +Josephus, both here and in many places elsewhere, speaks so, that it is +most evident he was fully satisfied that God was on the Romans' side, +and made use of them now for the destruction of that wicked nation of +the Jews; which was for certain the true state of this matter, as the +prophet Daniel first, and our Savior himself afterwards, had clearly +foretold. See Lit. Accompl. of Proph. p. 64, etc.] + + +9 (return) [ Josephus had before told us, B. V. ch. 13. sect. 1, that +this fourth son of Matthias ran away to the Romans "before" his father's +and brethren's slaughter, and not "after" it, as here. The former +account is, in all probability, the truest; for had not that fourth +son escaped before the others were caught and put to death, he had been +caught and put to death with them. This last account, therefore, looks +like an instance of a small inadvertence of Josephus in the place before +us.] + + +10 (return) [ Of this partition-wall separating Jews and Gentiles, with +its pillars and inscription, see the description of the temples, ch. +15.] + + +11 (return) [ That these seditious Jews were the direct occasions +of their own destruction, and of the conflagration of their city and +temple, and that Titus earnestly and constantly labored to save both, is +here and every where most evident in Josephus.] + + +12 (return) [ Court of the Gentiles.] + + +13 (return) [ Court of Israel.] + + +14 (return) [ Of the court of the Gentiles.] + + +15 (return) [ What Josephus observes here, that no parallel examples +had been recorded before this time of such sieges, wherein mothers were +forced by extremity of famine to eat their own children, as had been +threatened to the Jews in the law of Moses, upon obstinate disobedience, +and more than once fulfilled, [see my Boyle's Lectures, p. 210-214,] +is by Dr. Hudson supposed to have had two or three parallel examples in +later ages. He might have had more examples, I suppose, of persons on +ship-board, or in a desert island, casting lots for each others' bodies; +but all this was only in cases where they knew of no possible way to +avoid death themselves but by killing and eating others. Whether such +examples come up to the present case may be doubted. The Romans were not +only willing, but very desirous, to grant those Jews in Jerusalem both +their lives and their liberties, and to save both their city and their +temple. But the zealots, the robbers, and the seditious would hearken to +no terms of submission. They voluntarily chose to reduce the citizens to +that extremity, as to force mothers to this unnatural barbarity, which, +in all its circumstances, has not, I still suppose, been hitherto +paralleled among the rest of mankind.] + + +16 (return) [ These steps to the altar of burnt-offering seem here +either an improper and inaccurate expression of Josephus, since it was +unlawful to make ladder steps; [see description of the temples, ch. 13., +and note on Antiq. B. IV. ch. 8. sect. 5;] or else those steps or stairs +we now use were invented before the days of Herod the Great, and had +been here built by him; though the later Jews always deny it, and say +that even Herod's altar was ascended to by an acclivity only.] + + +17 (return) [ This Perea, if the word be not mistaken in the copies, +cannot well be that Perea which was beyond Jordan, whose mountains +were at a considerable distance from Jordan, and much too remote from +Jerusalem to join in this echo at the conflagration of the temple; but +Perea must be rather some mountains beyond the brook Cedron, as was the +Mount of Olives, or some others about such a distance from Jerusalem; +which observation is so obvious, that it is a wonder our commentators +here take no notice of it.] + + +18 (return) [ Reland I think here judges well, when he interprets these +spikes [Footnote of those that stood on the top of the holy house] +with sharp points; they were fixed into lead, to prevent the birds from +sitting there, and defiling the holy house; for such spikes there were +now upon it, as Josephus himself hath already assured us, B. V. ch. 5. +sect. 6.] + + +19 (return) [ Reland here takes notice, that these Jews, who had +despised the true Prophet, were deservedly abused and deluded by these +false ones.] + + +20 (return) [ Whether Josephus means that this star was different from +that comet which lasted a whole year, I cannot certainly determine. His +words most favor their being different one from another.] + + +21 (return) [ Since Josephus still uses the Syro-Macedonian month +Xanthicus for the Jewish month Nisan, this eighth, or, as Nicephorus +reads it, this ninth of Xanthicus or Nisan was almost a week before the +passover, on the fourteenth; about which time we learn from St. +John that many used to go "out of the country to Jerusalem to purify +themselves," John 11:55, with 12:1; in agreement with Josephus also, B. +V. ch. 3. sect. 1. And it might well be, that in the sight of these this +extraordinary light might appear.] + + +22 (return) [ This here seems to be the court of the priests.] + + +23 (return) [ Both Reland and Havercamp in this place alter the natural +punctuation and sense of Josephus, and this contrary to the opinion of +Valesilus and Dr. Hudson, lest Josephus should say that the Jews built +booths or tents within the temple at the feast of tabernacles; which +the later Rabbins will not allow to have been the ancient practice: but +then, since it is expressly told us in Nehemiah, ch. 8:16, that in still +elder times "the Jews made booths in the courts of the house of God" +at that festival, Josephus may well be permitted to say the same. +And indeed the modern Rabbins are of very small authority in all such +matters of remote antiquity.] + + +24 (return) [ Take Havercamp's note here: "This [says he] is a +remarkable place; and Tertullian truly says in his Apologetic, ch. 16. +p. 162, that the entire religion of the Roman camp almost consisted in +worshipping the ensigns, in swearing by the ensigns, and in preferring +the ensigns before all the [other] gods." See what Havercamp says upon +that place of Tertullian.] + + +25 (return) [ This declaring Titus imperator by the soldiers, upon such +signal success, and the slaughter of such a vast number of enemies, was +according to the usual practice of the Romans in like cases, as Reland +assures us on this place.] + + +26 (return) [ The Jews of later times agree with Josephus, that there +were hiding-places or secret chambers about the holy house, as Reland +here informs us, where he thinks he has found these very walls described +by them.] + + +27 (return) [ Spanheim notes here, that the Romans used to permit the +Jews to collect their sacred tribute, and send it to Jerusalem; of which +we have had abundant evidence in Josephus already on other occasions.] + + +28 (return) [ This innumerable multitude of Jews that were "sold" by the +Romans was an eminent completion of God's ancient threatening by Moses, +that if they apostatized from the obedience to his laws, they should +be "sold unto their enemies for bond-men and bond-women," Deuteronomy +28;68. See more especially the note on ch. 9. sect. 2. But one thing +is here peculiarly remarkable, that Moses adds, Though they should be +"sold" for slaves, yet "no man should buy them;" i.e. either they should +have none to redeem them from this sale into slavery; or rather, that +the slaves to be sold should be more than were the purchasers for them, +and so they should be sold for little or nothing; which is what Josephus +here affirms to have been the case at this time.] + + +29 (return) [ What became of these spoils of the temple that escaped the +fire, see Josephus himself hereafter, B. VII. ch. 5. sect. 5, and Reland +de Spoliis Templi, p. 129-138.] + + +30 (return) [ These various sorts of spices, even more than those four +which Moses prescribed, Exodus 31:34, we see were used in their public +worship under Herod's temple, particularly cinnamon and cassia; which +Reland takes particular notice of, as agreeing with the latter testimony +of the Talmudists.] + + +31 (return) [ See the several predictions that the Jews, if they became +obstinate in their idolatry and wickedness, should be sent again or sold +into Egypt for their punishment, Deuteronomy 28:68; Jeremiah 44:7; Hosea +8:13; 9:3; 9:4, 5; 2 Samuel 15:10-13; with Authentic Records, Part I. p. +49, 121; and Reland Painest And, tom. II. p. 715.] + + +32 (return) [ The whole multitude of the Jews that were destroyed during +the entire seven years before this time, in all the countries of and +bordering on Judea, is summed up by Archbishop Usher, from Lipsius, out +of Josephus, at the year of Christ 70, and amounts to 1,337,490. Nor +could there have been that number of Jews in Jerusalem to be destroyed +in this siege, as will be presently set down by Josephus, but that both +Jews and proselytes of justice were just then come up out of the other +countries of Galilee, Samaria, Judea, and Perea and other remoter +regions, to the passover, in vast numbers, and therein cooped up, as in +a prison, by the Roman army, as Josephus himself well observes in this +and the next section, and as is exactly related elsewhere, B. V. ch. 3. +sect. 1 and ch. 13. sect. 7.] + + +33 (return) [ This number of a company for one paschal lamb, between +ten and twenty, agrees exactly with the number thirteen, at our Savior's +last passover. As to the whole number of the Jews that used to come up +to the passover, and eat of it at Jerusalem, see the note on B. II. +ch. 14. sect. 3. This number ought to be here indeed just ten times the +number of the lambs, or just 2,565,000, by Josephus's own reasoning; +whereas it is, in his present copies, no less than 2,700,000, which last +number is, however, nearest the other number in the place now cited, +which is 3,000,000. But what is here chiefly remarkable is this, that no +foreign nation ever came thus to destroy the Jews at any of their solemn +festivals, from the days of Moses till this time, but came now upon +their apostasy from God, and from obedience to him. Nor is it possible, +in the nature of things, that in any other nation such vast numbers +should be gotten together, and perish in the siege of any one city +whatsoever, as now happened in Jerusalem.] + + +34 (return) [ This is the proper place for such as have closely +attended to these latter books of the War to peruse, and that with equal +attention, those distinct and plain predictions of Jesus of Nazareth, in +the Gospels thereto relating, as compared with their exact completions +in Josephus's history; upon which completions, as Dr. Whitby well +observes, Annot. on Matthew 24:2, no small part of the evidence for the +truth of the Christian religion does depend; and as I have step by +step compared them together in my Literal Accomplishment of Scripture +Prophecies. The reader is to observe further, that the true reason why I +have so seldom taken notice of those completions in the course of these +notes, notwithstanding their being so very remarkable, and frequently +so very obvious, is this, that I had entirely prevented myself in that +treatise beforehand; to which therefore I must here, once for all, +seriously refer every inquisitive reader. Besides these five here +enumerated, who had taken Jerusalem of old, Josephus, upon further +recollection, reckons a sixth, Antiq. B. XII. ch. 1. sect. 1, who should +have been here inserted in the second place; I mean Ptolemy, the son of +Lagus.] + + +35 (return) [ Why the great Bochart should say, [De Phoenic. Colon. +B. II. ch. iv.,] that "there are in this clause of Josephus as many +mistakes as words," I do by no means understand. Josephus thought +Melchisedek first built, or rather rebuilt and adorned, this city, and +that it was then called Salem, as Psalm 76:2; afterwards came to be +called Jerusalem; and that Melchisedek, being a priest as well as a +king, built to the true God therein a temple, or place for public Divine +worship and sacrifice; all which things may be very true for aught we +know to the contrary. And for the word, or temple, as if it must needs +belong to the great temple built by Solomon long afterward, Josephus +himself uses, for the small tabernacle of Moses, Antiq. B. III. ch. 6. +sect. 4; see also Antiq. B. lit. ch. 6. sect. 1; as he here presently +uses, for a large and splendid synagogue of the Jews at Antioch, B. VII. +ch. 3. sect. 3.] + + + + + + + +BOOK VII. + + + Containing The Interval Of About Three Years. + + From The Taking Of Jerusalem By Titus To The Sedition At + Cyrene + + + + + +CHAPTER 1. + + + How The Entire City Of Jerusalem Was Demolished, Excepting + Three Towers; And How Titus Commended His Soldiers In A + Speech Made To Them, And Distributed Rewards To Them And + Then Dismissed Many Of Them. + +1. Now as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, +because there remained none to be the objects of their fury, [for they +would not have spared any, had there remained any other work to be +done,] Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city +and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of +the greatest eminency; that is, Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne; +and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side. This +wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in +garrison, as were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to +posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the +Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall, it was so +thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the +foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither +believe it had ever been inhabited. This was the end which Jerusalem +came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city +otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind. + +2. But Caesar resolved to leave there, as a guard, the tenth legion, +with certain troops of horsemen, and companies of footmen. So, having +entirely completed this war, he was desirous to commend his whole army, +on account of the great exploits they had performed, and to bestow +proper rewards on such as had signalized themselves therein. He had +therefore a great tribunal made for him in the midst of the place +where he had formerly encamped, and stood upon it with his principal +commanders about him, and spake so as to be heard by the whole army +in the manner following: That he returned them abundance of thanks for +their good-will which they had showed to him: he commended them for that +ready obedience they had exhibited in this whole war, which obedience +had appeared in the many and great dangers which they had courageously +undergone; as also for that courage they had shown, and had thereby +augmented of themselves their country's power, and had made it evident +to all men, that neither the multitude of their enemies, nor the +strength of their places, nor the largeness of their cities, nor the +rash boldness and brutish rage of their antagonists, were sufficient at +any time to get clear of the Roman valor, although some of them may have +fortune in many respects on their side. He said further, that it was +but reasonable for them to put an end to this war, now it had lasted +so long, for that they had nothing better to wish for when they entered +into it; and that this happened more favorably for them, and more for +their glory, that all the Romans had willingly accepted of those for +their governors, and the curators of their dominions, whom they had +chosen for them, and had sent into their own country for that purpose, +which still continued under the management of those whom they had +pitched on, and were thankful to them for pitching upon them. That +accordingly, although he did both admire and tenderly regard them all, +because he knew that every one of them had gone as cheerfully about +their work as their abilities and opportunities would give them leave; +yet, he said, that he would immediately bestow rewards and dignities on +those that had fought the most bravely, and with greater force, and had +signalized their conduct in the most glorious manner, and had made his +army more famous by their noble exploits; and that no one who had +been willing to take more pains than another should miss of a just +retribution for the same; for that he had been exceeding careful about +this matter, and that the more, because he had much rather reward the +virtues of his fellow soldiers than punish such as had offended. + +3. Hereupon Titus ordered those whose business it was to read the list +of all that had performed great exploits in this war, whom he called to +him by their names, and commended them before the company, and rejoiced +in them in the same manner as a man would have rejoiced in his own +exploits. He also put on their heads crowns of gold, and golden +ornaments about their necks, and gave them long spears of gold, and +ensigns that were made of silver, and removed every one of them to a +higher rank; and besides this, he plentifully distributed among them, +out of the spoils, and the other prey they had taken, silver, and +gold, and garments. So when they had all these honors bestowed on them, +according to his own appointment made to every one, and he had wished +all sorts of happiness to the whole army, he came down, among the great +acclamations which were made to him, and then betook himself to offer +thank-offerings [to the gods], and at once sacrificed a vast number of +oxen, that stood ready at the altars, and distributed them among the +army to feast on. And when he had staid three days among the principal +commanders, and so long feasted with them, he sent away the rest of his +army to the several places where they would be every one best situated; +but permitted the tenth legion to stay, as a guard at Jerusalem, and did +not send them away beyond Euphrates, where they had been before. And as +he remembered that the twelfth legion had given way to the Jews, under +Cestius their general, he expelled them out of all Syria, for they +had lain formerly at Raphanea, and sent them away to a place called +Meletine, near Euphrates, which is in the limits of Armenia and +Cappadocia; he also thought fit that two of the legions should stay with +him till he should go to Egypt. He then went down with his army to that +Cesarea which lay by the sea-side, and there laid up the rest of his +spoils in great quantities, and gave order that the captives should be +kept there; for the winter season hindered him then from sailing into +Italy. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2. + + + How Titus Exhibited All Sorts Of Shows At Cesarea Philippi. + Concerning Simon The Tyrant How He Was Taken, And Reserved + For The Triumph. + +1. Now at the same time that Titus Caesar lay at the siege of Jerusalem, +did Vespasian go on board a merchantship and sailed from Alexandria to +Rhodes; whence he sailed away in ships with three rows of oars; and +as he touched at several cities that lay in his road, he was joyfully +received by them all, and so passed over from Ionia into Greece; whence +he set sail from Corcyra to the promontory of Iapyx, whence he took his +journey by land. But as for Titus, he marched from that Cesarea which +lay by the sea-side, and came to that which is named Cesarea Philippi, +and staid there a considerable time, and exhibited all sorts of shows +there. And here a great number of the captives were destroyed, some +being thrown to wild beasts, and others in multitudes forced to kill one +another, as if they were their enemies. And here it was that Titus was +informed of the seizure of Simon the son of Gioras, which was made after +the manner following: This Simon, during the siege of Jerusalem, was in +the upper city; but when the Roman army was gotten within the walls, +and were laying the city waste, he then took the most faithful of his +friends with him, and among them some that were stone-cutters, with +those iron tools which belonged to their occupation, and as great a +quantity of provisions as would suffice them for a long time, and let +himself and all them down into a certain subterraneous cavern that was +not visible above ground. Now, so far as had been digged of old, they +went onward along it without disturbance; but where they met with solid +earth, they dug a mine under ground, and this in hopes that they should +be able to proceed so far as to rise from under ground in a safe place, +and by that means escape. But when they came to make the experiment, +they were disappointed of their hope; for the miners could make but +small progress, and that with difficulty also; insomuch that their +provisions, though they distributed them by measure, began to fail +them. And now Simon, thinking he might be able to astonish and elude the +Romans, put on a white frock, and buttoned upon him a purple cloak, and +appeared out of the ground in the place where the temple had formerly +been. At the first, indeed, those that saw him were greatly astonished, +and stood still where they were; but afterward they came nearer to him, +and asked him who he was. Now Simon would not tell them, but bid them +call for their captain; and when they ran to call him, Terentius Rufus +2 who was left to command the army there, came to Simon, and learned of +him the whole truth, and kept him in bonds, and let Caesar know that he +was taken. Thus did God bring this man to be punished for what bitter +and savage tyranny he had exercised against his countrymen by those who +were his worst enemies; and this while he was not subdued by violence, +but voluntarily delivered himself up to them to be punished, and that +on the very same account that he had laid false accusations against many +Jews, as if they were falling away to the Romans, and had barbarously +slain them; for wicked actions do not escape the Divine anger, nor is +justice too weak to punish offenders, but in time overtakes those that +transgress its laws, and inflicts its punishments upon the wicked in a +manner, so much more severe, as they expected to escape it on account of +their not being punished immediately. 3 Simon was made sensible of this +by falling under the indignation of the Romans. This rise of his out of +the ground did also occasion the discovery of a great number of others +of the seditious at that time, who had hidden themselves under ground. +But for Simon, he was brought to Caesar in bonds, when he was come back +to that Cesarea which was on the seaside, who gave orders that he should +be kept against that triumph which he was to celebrate at Rome upon this +occasion. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. + + + How Titus Upon The Celebration Of His Brothers And Fathers + Birthdays Had Many Of The Jews Slain. Concerning The Danger + The Jews Were In At Antioch, By Means Of The Transgression + And Impiety Of One Antiochus, A Jew. + +1. While Titus was at Cesarea, he solemnized the birthday of his brother +[Domitian] after a splendid manner, and inflicted a great deal of the +punishment intended for the Jews in honor of him; for the number of +those that were now slain in fighting with the beasts, and were burnt, +and fought with one another, exceeded two thousand five hundred. Yet did +all this seem to the Romans, when they were thus destroyed ten thousand +several ways, to be a punishment beneath their deserts. After this +Caesar came to Berytus, 4 which is a city of Phoenicia, and a Roman +colony, and staid there a longer time, and exhibited a still more +pompous solemnity about his father's birthday, both in the magnificence +of the shows, and in the other vast expenses he was at in his devices +thereto belonging; so that a great multitude of the captives were here +destroyed after the same manner as before. + +2. It happened also about this time, that the Jews who remained at +Antioch were under accusations, and in danger of perishing, from the +disturbances that were raised against them by the Antiochians; and this +both on account of the slanders spread abroad at this time against them, +and on account of what pranks they had played not long before; which +I am obliged to describe without fail, though briefly, that I may the +better connect my narration of future actions with those that went +before. + +3. For as the Jewish nation is widely dispersed over all the habitable +earth among its inhabitants, so it is very much intermingled with +Syria by reason of its neighborhood, and had the greatest multitudes in +Antioch by reason of the largeness of the city, wherein the kings, after +Antiochus, had afforded them a habitation with the most undisturbed +tranquillity; for though Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, laid +Jerusalem waste, and spoiled the temple, yet did those that succeeded +him in the kingdom restore all the donations that were made of brass to +the Jews of Antioch, and dedicated them to their synagogue, and granted +them the enjoyment of equal privileges of citizens with the Greeks +themselves; and as the succeeding kings treated them after the same +manner, they both multiplied to a great number, and adorned their temple +gloriously by fine ornaments, and with great magnificence, in the use of +what had been given them. They also made proselytes of a great many of +the Greeks perpetually, and thereby after a sort brought them to be +a portion of their own body. But about this time when the present war +began, and Vespasian was newly sailed to Syria, and all men had taken +up a great hatred against the Jews, then it was that a certain person, +whose name was Antiochus, being one of the Jewish nation, and greatly +respected on account of his father, who was governor of the Jews at +Antioch 5 came upon the theater at a time when the people of Antioch +were assembled together, and became an informer against his father, and +accused both him and others that they had resolved to burn the whole +city in one night; he also delivered up to them some Jews that were +foreigners, as partners in their resolutions. When the people heard +this, they could not refrain their passion, but commanded that those +who were delivered up to them should have fire brought to burn them, who +were accordingly all burnt upon the theater immediately. They did also +fall violently upon the multitude of the Jews, as supposing that +by punishing them suddenly they should save their own city. As for +Antiochus, he aggravated the rage they were in, and thought to give them +a demonstration of his own conversion, arm of his hatred of the Jewish +customs, by sacrificing after the manner of the Greeks; he persuaded +the rest also to compel them to do the same, because they would by that +means discover who they were that had plotted against them, since they +would not do so; and when the people of Antioch tried the experiment, +some few complied, but those that would not do so were slain. As for +Antiochus himself, he obtained soldiers from the Roman commander, and +became a severe master over his own citizens, not permitting them to +rest on the seventh day, but forcing them to do all that they usually +did on other days; and to that degree of distress did he reduce them in +this matter, that the rest of the seventh day was dissolved not only at +Antioch, but the same thing which took thence its rise was done in other +cities also, in like manner, for some small time. + +4. Now, after these misfortunes had happened to the Jews at Antioch, a +second calamity befell them, the description of which when we were going +about we premised the account foregoing; for upon this accident, whereby +the four-square market-place was burnt down, as well as the archives, +and the place where the public records were preserved, and the royal +palaces, [and it was not without difficulty that the fire was then put +a stop to, which was likely, by the fury wherewith it was carried along, +to have gone over the whole city,] Antiochus accused the Jews as the +occasion of all the mischief that was done. Now this induced the people +of Antioch, who were now under the immediate persuasion, by reason of +the disorder they were in, that this calumny was true, and would have +been under the same persuasion, even though they had not borne +an ill-will at the Jews before, to believe this man's accusation, +especially when they considered what had been done before, and this +to such a degree, that they all fell violently upon those that were +accused, and this, like madmen, in a very furious rage also, even as if +they had seen the Jews in a manner setting fire themselves to the city; +nor was it without difficulty that one Cneius Collegas, the legate, +could prevail with them to permit the affairs to be laid before Caesar; +for as to Cesennius Petus, the president of Syria, Vespasian had already +sent him away; and so it happened that he was not yet come back thither. +But when Collegas had made a careful inquiry into the matter, he found +out the truth, and that not one of those Jews that were accused by +Antiochus had any hand in it, but that all was done by some vile persons +greatly in debt, who supposed that if they could once set fire to the +market-place, and burn the public records, they should have no further +demands made upon them. So the Jews were under great disorder and +terror, in the uncertain expectations of what would be the upshot of +these accusations against them. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. + + + How Vespasian Was Received At Rome; As Also How The Germans + Revolted From The Romans, But Were Subdued. That The + Sarmatians Overran Mysia, But Were Compelled To Retire To + Their Own Country Again. + +1. And now Titus Caesar, upon the news that was brought him concerning +his father, that his coming was much desired by all the Italian cities, +and that Rome especially received him with great alacrity and splendor, +betook himself to rejoicing and pleasures to a great degree, as now +freed from the solicitude he had been under, after the most agreeable +manner. For all men that were in Italy showed their respects to him +in their minds before he came thither, as if he were already come, as +esteeming the very expectation they had of him to be his real presence, +on account of the great desires they had to see him, and because the +good-will they bore him was entirely free and unconstrained; for it was, +desirable thing to the senate, who well remembered the calamities they +had undergone in the late changes of their governors, to receive a +governor who was adorned with the gravity of old age, and with the +highest skill in the actions of war, whose advancement would be, as they +knew, for nothing else but for the preservation of those that were to +be governed. Moreover, the people had been so harassed by their civil +miseries, that they were still more earnest for his coming immediately, +as supposing they should then be firmly delivered from their calamities, +and believed they should then recover their secure tranquillity and +prosperity; and for the soldiery, they had the principal regard to him, +for they were chiefly apprized of his great exploits in war; and since +they had experienced the want of skill and want of courage in other +commanders, they were very desirous to be free from that great shame +they had undergone by their means, and heartily wished to receive such +a prince as might be a security and an ornament to them. And as this +good-will to Vespasian was universal, those that enjoyed any remarkable +dignities could not have patience enough to stay in Rome, but made haste +to meet him at a very great distance from it; nay, indeed, none of the +rest could endure the delay of seeing him, but did all pour out of the +city in such crowds, and were so universally possessed with the opinion +that it was easier and better for them to go out than to stay there, +that this was the very first time that the city joyfully perceived +itself almost empty of its citizens; for those that staid within were +fewer than those that went out. But as soon as the news was come that he +was hard by, and those that had met him at first related with what good +humor he received every one that came to him, then it was that the whole +multitude that had remained in the city, with their wives and children, +came into the road, and waited for him there; and for those whom he +passed by, they made all sorts of acclamations, on account of the joy +they had to see him, and the pleasantness of his countenance, and styled +him their Benefactor and Savior, and the only person who was worthy to +be ruler of the city of Rome. And now the city was like a temple, full +of garlands and sweet odors; nor was it easy for him to come to the +royal palace, for the multitude of the people that stood about him, +where yet at last he performed his sacrifices of thanksgiving to his +household gods for his safe return to the city. The multitude did also +betake themselves to feasting; which feasts and drink-offerings they +celebrated by their tribes, and their families, and their neighborhoods, +and still prayed God to grant that Vespasian, his sons, and all their +posterity, might continue in the Roman government for a very long time, +and that his dominion might be preserved from all opposition. And this +was the manner in which Rome so joyfully received Vespasian, and thence +grew immediately into a state of great prosperity. + +2. But before this time, and while Vespasian was about Alexandria, and +Titus was lying at the siege of Jerusalem, a great multitude of the +Germans were in commotion, and tended to rebellion; and as the Gauls in +their neighborhood joined with them, they conspired together, and had +thereby great hopes of success, and that they should free themselves +from the dominion of the Romans. The motives that induced the Germans to +this attempt for a revolt, and for beginning the war, were these: In +the first place, the nature [of the people], which was destitute of just +reasonings, and ready to throw themselves rashly into danger, upon small +hopes; in the next place, the hatred they bore to those that were their +governors, while their nation had never been conscious of subjection +to any but to the Romans, and that by compulsion only. Besides these +motives, it was the opportunity that now offered itself, which above +all the rest prevailed with them so to do; for when they saw the Roman +government in a great internal disorder, by the continual changes of its +rulers, and understood that every part of the habitable earth under them +was in an unsettled and tottering condition, they thought this was +the best opportunity that could afford itself for themselves to make a +sedition, when the state of the Romans was so ill. Classicus 6 also, +and Vitellius, two of their commanders, puffed them up with such hopes. +These had for a long time been openly desirous of such an innovation, +and were induced by the present opportunity to venture upon the +declaration of their sentiments; the multitude was also ready; and when +these men told them of what they intended to attempt, that news was +gladly received by them. So when a great part of the Germans had agreed +to rebel, and the rest were no better disposed, Vespasian, as guided by +Divine Providence, sent letters to Petilius Cerealis, who had formerly +had the command of Germany, whereby he declared him to have the dignity +of consul, and commanded him to take upon him the government of Britain; +so he went whither he was ordered to go, and when he was informed of +the revolt of the Germans, he fell upon them as soon as they were gotten +together, and put his army in battle-array, and slew a great number of +them in the fight, and forced them to leave off their madness, and to +grow wiser; nay, had he not fallen thus suddenly upon them on the +place, it had not been long ere they would however have been brought +to punishment; for as soon as ever the news of their revolt was come to +Rome, and Caesar Domitian was made acquainted with it, he made no delay, +even at that his age, when he was exceeding young, but undertook this +weighty affair. He had a courageous mind from his father, and had +made greater improvements than belonged to such an age: accordingly +he marched against the barbarians immediately; whereupon their hearts +failed them at the very rumor of his approach, and they submitted +themselves to him with fear, and thought it a happy thing that they +were brought under their old yoke again without suffering any further +mischiefs. When therefore Domitian had settled all the affairs of Gaul +in such good order, that it would not be easily put into disorder any +more, he returned to Rome with honor and glory, as having performed such +exploits as were above his own age, but worthy of so great a father. + +3. At the very same time with the forementioned revolt of the Germans +did the bold attempt of the Scythians against the Romans occur; for +those Scythians who are called Sarmatians, being a very numerous +people, transported themselves over the Danube into Mysia, without +being perceived; after which, by their violence, and entirely unexpected +assault, they slew a great many of the Romans that guarded the +frontiers; and as the consular legate Fonteius Agrippa came to meet +them, and fought courageously against them, he was slain by them. They +then overran all the region that had been subject to him, tearing and +rending every thing that fell in their way. But when Vespasian was +informed of what had happened, and how Mysia was laid waste, he sent +away Rubrius Gallus to punish these Sarmatians; by whose means many of +them perished in the battles he fought against them, and that part which +escaped fled with fear to their own country. So when this general +had put an end to the war, he provided for the future security of the +country also; for he placed more and more numerous garrisons in the +place, till he made it altogether impossible for the barbarians to +pass over the river any more. And thus had this war in Mysia a sudden +conclusion. + + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + Concerning The Sabbatic River Which Titus Saw As He Was + Journeying Through Syria; And How The People Of Antioch Came + With A Petition To Titus Against The Jews But Were Rejected + By Him; As Also Concerning Titus's And Vespasian's Triumph. + +1. Now Titus Caesar tarried some time at Berytus, as we told you before. +He thence removed, and exhibited magnificent shows in all those cities +of Syria through which he went, and made use of the captive Jews as +public instances of the destruction of that nation. He then saw a +river as he went along, of such a nature as deserves to be recorded in +history; it runs in the middle between Arcea, belonging to Agrippa's +kingdom, and Raphanea. It hath somewhat very peculiar in it; for when +it runs, its current is strong, and has plenty of water; after which its +springs fail for six days together, and leave its channel dry, as any +one may see; after which days it runs on the seventh day as it did +before, and as though it had undergone no change at all; it hath also +been observed to keep this order perpetually and exactly; whence it is +that they call it the Sabbatic River 7 that name being taken from the +sacred seventh day among the Jews. + +2. But when the people of Antioch were informed that Titus was +approaching, they were so glad at it, that they could not keep within +their walls, but hasted away to give him the meeting; nay, they +proceeded as far as thirty furlongs, and more, with that intention. +These were not the men only, but a multitude of women also with their +children did the same; and when they saw him coming up to them, they +stood on both sides of the way, and stretched out their right hands, +saluting him, and making all sorts of acclamations to him, and turned +back together with him. They also, among all the acclamations they made +to him, besought him all the way they went to eject the Jews out of +their city; yet did not Titus at all yield to this their petition, but +gave them the bare hearing of it quietly. However, the Jews were in a +great deal of terrible fear, under the uncertainty they were in what +his opinion was, and what he would do to them. For Titus did not stay +at Antioch, but continued his progress immediately to Zeugma, which lies +upon the Euphrates, whither came to him messengers from Vologeses king +of Parthia, and brought him a crown of gold upon the victory he had +gained over the Jews; which he accepted of, and feasted the king's +messengers, and then came back to Antioch. And when the senate and +people of Antioch earnestly entreated him to come upon their theater, +where their whole multitude was assembled, and expected him, he complied +with great humanity; but when they pressed him with much earnestness, +and continually begged of him that he would eject the Jews out of their +city, he gave them this very pertinent answer: "How can this be done, +since that country of theirs, whither the Jews must be obliged then to +retire, is destroyed, and no place will receive them besides?" Whereupon +the people of Antioch, when they had failed of success in this their +first request, made him a second; for they desired that he would order +those tables of brass to be removed on which the Jews' privileges were +engraven. However, Titus would not grant that neither, but permitted the +Jews of Antioch to continue to enjoy the very same privileges in that +city which they had before, and then departed for Egypt; and as he came +to Jerusalem in his progress, and compared the melancholy condition he +saw it then in, with the ancient glory of the city, and called to mind +the greatness of its present ruins, as well as its ancient splendor, +he could not but pity the destruction of the city, so far was he from +boasting that so great and goodly a city as that was had been by him +taken by force; nay, he frequently cursed those that had been the +authors of their revolt, and had brought such a punishment upon the +city; insomuch that it openly appeared that he did not desire that +such a calamity as this punishment of theirs amounted to should be a +demonstration of his courage. Yet was there no small quantity of the +riches that had been in that city still found among its ruins, a great +deal of which the Romans dug up; but the greatest part was discovered +by those who were captives, and so they carried it away; I mean the gold +and the silver, and the rest of that most precious furniture which the +Jews had, and which the owners had treasured up under ground, against +the uncertain fortunes of war. + +3. So Titus took the journey he intended into Egypt, and passed over the +desert very suddenly, and came to Alexandria, and took up a resolution +to go to Rome by sea. And as he was accompanied by two legions, he sent +each of them again to the places whence they had before come; the fifth +he sent to Mysia, and the fifteenth to Pannonia: as for the leaders of +the captives, Simon and John, with the other seven hundred men, whom +he had selected out of the rest as being eminently tall and handsome +of body, he gave order that they should be soon carried to Italy, +as resolving to produce them in his triumph. So when he had had a +prosperous voyage to his mind, the city of Rome behaved itself in his +reception, and their meeting him at a distance, as it did in the case +of his father. But what made the most splendid appearance in Titus's +opinion was, when his father met him, and received him; but still the +multitude of the citizens conceived the greatest joy when they saw +them all three together, 8 as they did at this time; nor were many days +overpast when they determined to have but one triumph, that should be +common to both of them, on account of the glorious exploits they had +performed, although the senate had decreed each of them a separate +triumph by himself. So when notice had been given beforehand of the day +appointed for this pompous solemnity to be made, on account of their +victories, not one of the immense multitude was left in the city, but +every body went out so far as to gain only a station where they might +stand, and left only such a passage as was necessary for those that were +to be seen to go along it. + +4. Now all the soldiery marched out beforehand by companies, and in +their several ranks, under their several commanders, in the night time, +and were about the gates, not of the upper palaces, but those near +the temple of Isis; for there it was that the emperors had rested the +foregoing night. And as soon as ever it was day, Vespasian and Titus +came out crowned with laurel, and clothed in those ancient purple habits +which were proper to their family, and then went as far as Octavian's +Walks; for there it was that the senate, and the principal rulers, and +those that had been recorded as of the equestrian order, waited for +them. Now a tribunal had been erected before the cloisters, and ivory +chairs had been set upon it, when they came and sat down upon them. +Whereupon the soldiery made an acclamation of joy to them immediately, +and all gave them attestations of their valor; while they were +themselves without their arms, and only in their silken garments, and +crowned with laurel: then Vespasian accepted of these shouts of theirs; +but while they were still disposed to go on in such acclamations, he +gave them a signal of silence. And when every body entirely held their +peace, he stood up, and covering the greatest part of his head with his +cloak, he put up the accustomed solemn prayers; the like prayers did +Titus put up also; after which prayers Vespasian made a short speech to +all the people, and then sent away the soldiers to a dinner prepared for +them by the emperors. Then did he retire to that gate which was called +the Gate of the Pomp, because pompous shows do always go through that +gate; there it was that they tasted some food, and when they had put on +their triumphal garments, and had offered sacrifices to the gods that +were placed at the gate, they sent the triumph forward, and marched +through the theatres, that they might be the more easily seen by the +multitudes. + +5. Now it is impossible to describe the multitude of the shows as they +deserve, and the magnificence of them all; such indeed as a man could +not easily think of as performed, either by the labor of workmen, or +the variety of riches, or the rarities of nature; for almost all such +curiosities as the most happy men ever get by piece-meal were here one +heaped on another, and those both admirable and costly in their nature; +and all brought together on that day demonstrated the vastness of the +dominions of the Romans; for there was here to be seen a mighty quantity +of silver, and gold, and ivory, contrived into all sorts of things, and +did not appear as carried along in pompous show only, but, as a man may +say, running along like a river. Some parts were composed of the rarest +purple hangings, and so carried along; and others accurately represented +to the life what was embroidered by the arts of the Babylonians. There +were also precious stones that were transparent, some set in crowns of +gold, and some in other places, as the workmen pleased; and of these +such a vast number were brought, that we could not but thence learn how +vainly we imagined any of them to be rarities. The images of the gods +were also carried, being as well wonderful for their largeness, as made +very artificially, and with great skill of the workmen; nor were any of +these images of any other than very costly materials; and many species +of animals were brought, every one in their own natural ornaments. The +men also who brought every one of these shows were great multitudes, and +adorned with purple garments, all over interwoven with gold; those that +were chosen for carrying these pompous shows having also about them such +magnificent ornaments as were both extraordinary and surprising. Besides +these, one might see that even the great number of the captives was not +unadorned, while the variety that was in their garments, and their fine +texture, concealed from the sight the deformity of their bodies. But +what afforded the greatest surprise of all was the structure of the +pageants that were borne along; for indeed he that met them could +not but be afraid that the bearers would not be able firmly enough to +support them, such was their magnitude; for many of them were so made, +that they were on three or even four stories, one above another. The +magnificence also of their structure afforded one both pleasure and +surprise; for upon many of them were laid carpets of gold. There +was also wrought gold and ivory fastened about them all; and many +resemblances of the war, and those in several ways, and variety of +contrivances, affording a most lively portraiture of itself. For there +was to be seen a happy country laid waste, and entire squadrons of +enemies slain; while some of them ran away, and some were carried into +captivity; with walls of great altitude and magnitude overthrown and +ruined by machines; with the strongest fortifications taken, and the +walls of most populous cities upon the tops of hills seized on, and +an army pouring itself within the walls; as also every place full of +slaughter, and supplications of the enemies, when they were no longer +able to lift up their hands in way of opposition. Fire also sent upon +temples was here represented, and houses overthrown, and falling upon +their owners: rivers also, after they came out of a large and melancholy +desert, ran down, not into a land cultivated, nor as drink for men, or +for cattle, but through a land still on fire upon every side; for the +Jews related that such a thing they had undergone during this war. Now +the workmanship of these representations was so magnificent and lively +in the construction of the things, that it exhibited what had been done +to such as did not see it, as if they had been there really present. On +the top of every one of these pageants was placed the commander of the +city that was taken, and the manner wherein he was taken. Moreover, +there followed those pageants a great number of ships; and for the other +spoils, they were carried in great plenty. But for those that were taken +in the temple of Jerusalem, 9 they made the greatest figure of them +all; that is, the golden table, of the weight of many talents; the +candlestick also, that was made of gold, though its construction were +now changed from that which we made use of; for its middle shaft was +fixed upon a basis, and the small branches were produced out of it to +a great length, having the likeness of a trident in their position, and +had every one a socket made of brass for a lamp at the tops of them. +These lamps were in number seven, and represented the dignity of the +number seven among the Jews; and the last of all the spoils, was carried +the Law of the Jews. After these spoils passed by a great many men, +carrying the images of Victory, whose structure was entirely either of +ivory or of gold. After which Vespasian marched in the first place, +and Titus followed him; Domitian also rode along with them, and made a +glorious appearance, and rode on a horse that was worthy of admiration. + +6. Now the last part of this pompous show was at the temple of Jupiter +Capitolinus, whither when they were come, they stood still; for it was +the Romans' ancient custom to stay till somebody brought the news that +the general of the enemy was slain. This general was Simon, the son of +Gioras, who had then been led in this triumph among the captives; a rope +had also been put upon his head, and he had been drawn into a proper +place in the forum, and had withal been tormented by those that drew him +along; and the law of the Romans required that malefactors condemned to +die should be slain there. Accordingly, when it was related that there +was an end of him, and all the people had set up a shout for joy, they +then began to offer those sacrifices which they had consecrated, in the +prayers used in such solemnities; which when they had finished, they +went away to the palace. And as for some of the spectators, the emperors +entertained them at their own feast; and for all the rest there were +noble preparations made for feasting at home; for this was a festival +day to the city of Rome, as celebrated for the victory obtained by their +army over their enemies, for the end that was now put to their civil +miseries, and for the commencement of their hopes of future prosperity +and happiness. + +7. After these triumphs were over, and after the affairs of the Romans +were settled on the surest foundations, Vespasian resolved to build +a temple to Peace, which was finished in so short a time, and in so +glorious a manner, as was beyond all human expectation and opinion: for +he having now by Providence a vast quantity of wealth, besides what he +had formerly gained in his other exploits, he had this temple adorned +with pictures and statues; for in this temple were collected and +deposited all such rarities as men aforetime used to wander all over the +habitable world to see, when they had a desire to see one of them after +another; he also laid up therein those golden vessels and instruments +that were taken out of the Jewish temple, as ensigns of his glory. But +still he gave order that they should lay up their Law, and the purple +veils of the holy place, in the royal palace itself, and keep them +there. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. + + + Concerning Machaerus, And How Lucilius Bassus Took That + Citadel, And Other Places. + +1. Now Lucilius Bassus was sent as legate into Judea, and there he +received the army from Cerealis Vitellianus, and took that citadel which +was in Herodium, together with the garrison that was in it; after which +he got together all the soldiery that was there, [which was a large +body, but dispersed into several parties,] with the tenth legion, and +resolved to make war upon Machaerus; for it was highly necessary that +this citadel should be demolished, lest it might be a means of drawing +away many into a rebellion, by reason of its strength; for the nature +of the place was very capable of affording the surest hopes of safety to +those that possessed it, as well as delay and fear to those that should +attack it; for what was walled in was itself a very rocky hill, elevated +to a very great height; which circumstance alone made it very hard to be +subdued. It was also so contrived by nature, that it could not be easily +ascended; for it is, as it were, ditched about with such valleys on all +sides, and to such a depth, that the eye cannot reach their bottoms, +and such as are not easily to be passed over, and even such as it is +impossible to fill up with earth. For that valley which cuts it on the +west extends to threescore furlongs, and did not end till it came to the +lake Asphaltites; on the same side it was also that Machaerus had +the tallest top of its hill elevated above the rest. But then for the +valleys that lay on the north and south sides, although they be not +so large as that already described, yet it is in like manner an +impracticable thing to think of getting over them; and for the valley +that lies on the east side, its depth is found to be no less than a +hundred cubits. It extends as far as a mountain that lies over against +Machaerus, with which it is bounded. + +2. Now when Alexander [Janneus], the king of the Jews, observed the +nature of this place, he was the first who built a citadel here, +which afterwards was demolished by Gabinius, when he made war against +Aristobulus. But when Herod came to be king, he thought the place to +be worthy of the utmost regard, and of being built upon in the firmest +manner, and this especially because it lay so near to Arabia; for it is +seated in a convenient place on that account, and hath a prospect toward +that country; he therefore surrounded a large space of ground with walls +and towers, and built a city there, out of which city there was a way +that led up to the very citadel itself on the top of the mountain; nay, +more than this, he built a wall round that top of the hill, and erected +towers at the corners, of a hundred and sixty cubits high; in the middle +of which place he built a palace, after a magnificent manner, wherein +were large and beautiful edifices. He also made a great many reservoirs +for the reception of water, that there might be plenty of it ready +for all uses, and those in the properest places that were afforded him +there. Thus did he, as it were, contend with the nature of the place, +that he might exceed its natural strength and security [which yet itself +rendered it hard to be taken] by those fortifications which were made by +the hands of men. Moreover, he put a large quantity of darts and other +machines of war into it, and contrived to get every thing thither that +might any way contribute to its inhabitants' security, under the longest +siege possible. + +3. Now within this place there grew a sort of rue 10 that deserves our +wonder on account of its largeness, for it was no way inferior to any +fig tree whatsoever, either in height or in thickness; and the report +is, that it had lasted ever since the times of Herod, and would probably +have lasted much longer, had it not been cut down by those Jews who +took possession of the place afterward. But still in that valley which +encompasses the city on the north side there is a certain place called +Baaras, which produces a root of the same name with itself 11 its +color is like to that of flame, and towards the evenings it sends out a +certain ray like lightning. It is not easily taken by such as would +do it, but recedes from their hands, nor will yield itself to be taken +quietly, until either the urine of a woman, or her menstrual blood, be +poured upon it; nay, even then it is certain death to those that touch +it, unless any one take and hang the root itself down from his hand, +and so carry it away. It may also be taken another way, without danger, +which is this: they dig a trench quite round about it, till the hidden +part of the root be very small, they then tie a dog to it, and when the +dog tries hard to follow him that tied him, this root is easily plucked +up, but the dog dies immediately, as if it were instead of the man that +would take the plant away; nor after this need any one be afraid of +taking it into their hands. Yet, after all this pains in getting, it +is only valuable on account of one virtue it hath, that if it be only +brought to sick persons, it quickly drives away those called demons, +which are no other than the spirits of the wicked, that enter into men +that are alive and kill them, unless they can obtain some help against +them. Here are also fountains of hot water, that flow out of this place, +which have a very different taste one from the other; for some of them +are bitter, and others of them are plainly sweet. Here are also many +eruptions of cold waters, and this not only in the places that lie +lower, and have their fountains near one another, but, what is still +more wonderful, here is to be seen a certain cave hard by, whose cavity +is not deep, but it is covered over by a rock that is prominent; above +this rock there stand up two [hills or] breasts, as it were, but a +little distant one from another, the one of which sends out a fountain +that is very cold, and the other sends out one that is very hot; which +waters, when they are mingled together, compose a most pleasant bath; +they are medicinal indeed for other maladies, but especially good for +strengthening the nerves. This place has in it also mines of sulfur and +alum. + +4. Now when Bassus had taken a full view of this place, he resolved to +besiege it, by filling up the valley that lay on the east side; so he +fell hard to work, and took great pains to raise his banks as soon as +possible, and by that means to render the siege easy. As for the Jews +that were caught in this place, they separated themselves from the +strangers that were with them, and they forced those strangers, as an +otherwise useless multitude, to stay in the lower part of the city, and +undergo the principal dangers, while they themselves seized on the upper +citadel, and held it, and this both on account of its strength, and to +provide for their own safety. They also supposed they might obtain their +pardon, in case they should [at last] surrender the citadel. However, +they were willing to make trial, in the first place, whether the +hopes they had of avoiding a siege would come to any thing; with which +intention they made sallies every day, and fought with those that met +them; in which conflicts they were many of them slain, as they therein +slew many of the Romans. But still it was the opportunities that +presented themselves which chiefly gained both sides their victories; +these were gained by the Jews, when they fell upon the Romans as they +were off their guard; but by the Romans, when, upon the others' sallies +against their banks, they foresaw their coming, and were upon their +guard when they received them. But the conclusion of this siege did +not depend upon these bickerings; but a certain surprising accident, +relating to what was done in this siege, forced the Jews to surrender +the citadel. There was a certain young man among the besieged, of great +boldness, and very active of his hand, his name was Eleazar; he greatly +signalized himself in those sallies, and encouraged the Jews to go out +in great numbers, in order to hinder the raising of the banks, and did +the Romans a vast deal of mischief when they came to fighting; he so +managed matters, that those who sallied out made their attacks easily, +and returned back without danger, and this by still bringing up the rear +himself. Now it happened that, on a certain time, when the fight was +over, and both sides were parted, and retired home, he, in way of +contempt of the enemy, and thinking that none of them would begin the +fight again at that time, staid without the gates, and talked with those +that were upon the wall, and his mind was wholly intent upon what they +said. Now a certain person belonging to the Roman camp, whose name was +Rufus, by birth an Egyptian, ran upon him suddenly, when nobody expected +such a thing, and carried him off, with his armor itself; while, in the +mean time, those that saw it from the wall were under such an amazement, +that Rufus prevented their assistance, and carried Eleazar to the Roman +camp. So the general of the Romans ordered that he should be taken up +naked, set before the city to be seen, and sorely whipped before their +eyes. Upon this sad accident that befell the young man, the Jews were +terribly confounded, and the city, with one voice, sorely lamented him, +and the mourning proved greater than could well be supposed upon the +calamity of a single person. When Bassus perceived that, he began +to think of using a stratagem against the enemy, and was desirous to +aggravate their grief, in order to prevail with them to surrender the +city for the preservation of that man. Nor did he fail of his hope; for +he commanded them to set up a cross, as if he were just going to hang +Eleazar upon it immediately; the sight of this occasioned a sore grief +among those that were in the citadel, and they groaned vehemently, and +cried out that they could not bear to see him thus destroyed. Whereupon +Eleazar besought them not to disregard him, now he was going to suffer a +most miserable death, and exhorted them to save themselves, by yielding +to the Roman power and good fortune, since all other people were now +conquered by them. These men were greatly moved with what he said, there +being also many within the city that interceded for him, because he was +of an eminent and very numerous family; so they now yielded to their +passion of commiseration, contrary to their usual custom. Accordingly, +they sent out immediately certain messengers, and treated with the +Romans, in order to a surrender of the citadel to them, and desired that +they might be permitted to go away, and take Eleazar along with them. +Then did the Romans and their general accept of these terms; while the +multitude of strangers that were in the lower part of the city, hearing +of the agreement that was made by the Jews for themselves alone, were +resolved to fly away privately in the night time; but as soon as they +had opened their gates, those that had come to terms with Bassus told +him of it; whether it were that they envied the others' deliverance, +or whether it were done out of fear, lest an occasion should be taken +against them upon their escape, is uncertain. The most courageous, +therefore, of those men that went out prevented the enemy, and got away, +and fled for it; but for those men that were caught within they were +slain to the number of one thousand seven hundred, as were the women and +children made slaves. But as Bassus thought he must perform the covenant +he had made with those that surrendered the citadel, he let them go, and +restored Eleazar to them. + +5. When Bassus had settled these affairs, he marched hastily to the +forest of Jarden, as it is called; for he had heard that a great many +of those that had fled from Jerusalem and Machaerus formerly were there +gotten together. When he was therefore come to the place, and understood +that the former news was no mistake, he, in the first place, surrounded +the whole place with his horsemen, that such of the Jews as had boldness +enough to try to break through might have no way possible for escaping, +by reason of the situation of these horsemen; and for the footmen, he +ordered them to cut down the trees that were in the wood whither +they were fled. So the Jews were under a necessity of performing some +glorious exploit, and of greatly exposing themselves in a battle, since +they might perhaps thereby escape. So they made a general attack, and +with a great shout fell upon those that surrounded them, who received +them with great courage; and so while the one side fought desperately, +and the others would not yield, the fight was prolonged on that account. +But the event of the battle did not answer the expectation of the +assailants; for so it happened, that no more than twelve fell on the +Roman side, with a few that were wounded; but not one of the Jews +escaped out of this battle, but they were all killed, being in the whole +not fewer in number than three thousand, together with Judas, the son +of Jairus, their general, concerning whom we have before spoken, that he +had been a captain of a certain band at the siege of Jerusalem, and by +going down into a certain vault under ground, had privately made his +escape. + +6. About the same time it was that Caesar sent a letter to Bassus, and +to Liberius Maximus, who was the procurator [of Judea], and gave order +that all Judea should be exposed to sale 12 for he did not found any +city there, but reserved the country for himself. However, he assigned +a place for eight hundred men only, whom he had dismissed from his army, +which he gave them for their habitation; it is called Emmaus, 13 and is +distant from Jerusalem threescore furlongs. He also laid a tribute upon +the Jews wheresoever they were, and enjoined every one of them to bring +two drachmae every year into the Capitol, as they used to pay the same +to the temple at Jerusalem. And this was the state of the Jewish affairs +at this time. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 7. + + + Concerning The Calamity That Befell Antiochus, King Of + Commagene. As Also Concerning The Alans And What Great + Mischiefs They Did To The Medes And Armenians. + +1. And now, in the fourth year of the reign of Vespasian, it came to +pass that Antiochus, the king of Commagene, with all his family, fell +into very great calamities. The occasion was this: Cesennius Petus, who +was president of Syria at this time, whether it were done out of regard +to truth, or whether out of hatred to Antiochus, [for which was the real +motive was never thoroughly discovered,] sent an epistle to Caesar, and +therein told him that Antiochus, with his son Epiphanes, had resolved to +rebel against the Romans, and had made a league with the king of Parthia +to that purpose; that it was therefore fit to prevent them, lest they +prevent us, and begin such a war as may cause a general disturbance in +the Roman empire. Now Caesar was disposed to take some care about the +matter, since this discovery was made; for the neighborhood of the +kingdoms made this affair worthy of greater regard; for Samoseta, the +capital of Commagene, lies upon Euphrates, and upon any such design +could afford an easy passage over it to the Parthians, and could also +afford them a secure reception. Petus was accordingly believed, and had +authority given him of doing what he should think proper in the case; so +he set about it without delay, and fell upon Commagene before Antiochus +and his people had the least expectation of his coming: he had with him +the tenth legion, as also some cohorts and troops of horsemen. These +kings also came to his assistance: Aristobulus, king of the country +called Chalcidene, and Sohemus, who was called king of Emesa. Nor was +there any opposition made to his forces when they entered the kingdom; +for no one of that country would so much as lift up his hand against +them. When Antiochus heard this unexpected news, he could not think in +the least of making war with the Romans, but determined to leave his +whole kingdom in the state wherein it now was, and to retire privately, +with his wife and children, as thinking thereby to demonstrate himself +to the Romans to be innocent as to the accusation laid against him. So +he went away from that city as far as a hundred and twenty furlongs, +into a plain, and there pitched his tents. + +2. Petus then sent some of his men to seize upon Samosate, and by their +means took possession of that city, while he went himself to attack +Antiochus with the rest of his army. However, the king was not prevailed +upon by the distress he was in to do any thing in the way of war against +the Romans, but bemoaned his own hard fate, and endured with patience +what he was not able to prevent. But his sons, who were young, and +unexperienced in war, but of strong bodies, were not easily induced +to bear this calamity without fighting. Epiphanes, therefore, and +Callinicus, betook themselves to military force; and as the battle was a +sore one, and lasted all the day long, they showed their own valor in +a remarkable manner, and nothing but the approach of night put a period +thereto, and that without any diminution of their forces; yet would +not Antiochus, upon this conclusion of the fight, continue there by any +means, but took his wife and his daughters, and fled away with them +to Cilicia, and by so doing quite discouraged the minds of his own +soldiers. Accordingly, they revolted, and went over to the Romans, out +of the despair they were in of his keeping the kingdom; and his case was +looked upon by all as quite desperate. It was therefore necessary that +Epiphanes and his soldiers should get clear of their enemies before they +became entirely destitute of any confederates; nor were there any more +than ten horsemen with him, who passed with him over Euphrates, whence +they went undisturbed to Vologeses, the king of Parthia, where they were +not disregarded as fugitives, but had the same respect paid them as if +they had retained their ancient prosperity. + +3. Now when Antiochus was come to Tarsus in Cilicia, Petus ordered +a centurion to go to him, and send him in bonds to Rome. However, +Vespasian could not endure to have a king brought to him in that manner, +but thought it fit rather to have a regard to the ancient friendship +that had been between them, than to preserve an inexorable anger upon +pretense of this war. Accordingly, he gave orders that they should take +off his bonds, while he was still upon the road, and that he should not +come to Rome, but should now go and live at Lacedemon; he also gave him +large revenues, that he might not only live in plenty, but like a king +also. When Epiphanes, who before was in great fear for his father, was +informed of this, their minds were freed from that great and almost +incurable concern they had been under. He also hoped that Caesar would +be reconciled to them, upon the intercession of Vologeses; for although +he lived in plenty, he knew not how to bear living out of the Roman +empire. So Caesar gave him leave, after an obliging manner, and he came +to Rome; and as his father came quickly to him from Lacedemon, he had +all sorts of respect paid him there, and there he remained. + +4. Now there was a nation of the Alans, which we have formerly mentioned +some where as being Scythians and inhabiting at the lake Meotis. This +nation about this time laid a design of falling upon Media, and the +parts beyond it, in order to plunder them; with which intention they +treated with the king of Hyrcania; for he was master of that passage +which king Alexander [the Great] shut up with iron gates. This king gave +them leave to come through them; so they came in great multitudes, and +fell upon the Medes unexpectedly, and plundered their country, which +they found full of people, and replenished with abundance of cattle, +while nobody durst make any resistance against them; for Paeorus, the +king of the country, had fled away for fear into places where they could +not easily come at him, and had yielded up every thing he had to them, +and had only saved his wife and his concubines from them, and that with +difficulty also, after they had been made captives, by giving them a +hundred talents for their ransom. These Alans therefore plundered the +country without opposition, and with great ease, and proceeded as far +as Armenia, laying all waste before them. Now Tiridates was king of that +country, who met them, and fought them, but had like to have been taken +alive in the battle; for a certain man threw a net over him from a great +distance, and had soon drawn him to him, unless he had immediately cut +the cord with his sword, and ran away, and prevented it. So the Alans, +being still more provoked by this sight, laid waste the country, and +drove a great multitude of the men, and a great quantity of the other +prey they had gotten out of both kingdoms, along with them, and then +retreated back to their own country. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 8. + + + Concerning Masada And Those Sicarii Who Kept It; And How + Silva Betook Himself To Form The Siege Of That Citadel. + Eleazar's Speeches To The Besieged. + +1. When Bassus was dead in Judea, Flavius Silva succeeded him as +procurator there; who, when he saw that all the rest of the country was +subdued in this war, and that there was but one only strong hold +that was still in rebellion, he got all his army together that lay in +different places, and made an expedition against it. This fortress was +called Masada. It was one Eleazar, a potent man, and the commander of +these Sicarii, that had seized upon it. He was a descendant from that +Judas who had persuaded abundance of the Jews, as we have formerly +related, not to submit to the taxation when Cyrenius was sent into Judea +to make one; for then it was that the Sicarii got together against +those that were willing to submit to the Romans, and treated them in all +respects as if they had been their enemies, both by plundering them +of what they had, by driving away their cattle, and by setting fire +to their houses; for they said that they differed not at all from +foreigners, by betraying, in so cowardly a manner, that freedom which +Jews thought worthy to be contended for to the utmost, and by owning +that they preferred slavery under the Romans before such a contention. +Now this was in reality no better than a pretense and a cloak for the +barbarity which was made use of by them, and to color over their own +avarice, which they afterwards made evident by their own actions; for +those that were partners with them in their rebellion joined also with +them in the war against the Romans, and went further lengths with them +in their impudent undertakings against them; and when they were again +convicted of dissembling in such their pretenses, they still more abused +those that justly reproached them for their wickedness. And indeed that +was a time most fertile in all manner of wicked practices, insomuch that +no kind of evil deeds were then left undone; nor could any one so much +as devise any bad thing that was new, so deeply were they all infected, +and strove with one another in their single capacity, and in their +communities, who should run the greatest lengths in impiety towards +God, and in unjust actions towards their neighbors; the men of power +oppressing the multitude, and the multitude earnestly laboring to +destroy the men of power. The one part were desirous of tyrannizing over +others, and the rest of offering violence to others, and of plundering +such as were richer than themselves. They were the Sicarii who first +began these transgressions, and first became barbarous towards those +allied to them, and left no words of reproach unsaid, and no works of +perdition untried, in order to destroy those whom their contrivances +affected. Yet did John demonstrate by his actions that these Sicarii +were more moderate than he was himself, for he not only slew all such +as gave him good counsel to do what was right, but treated them worst of +all, as the most bitter enemies that he had among all the Citizens; nay, +he filled his entire country with ten thousand instances of wickedness, +such as a man who was already hardened sufficiently in his impiety +towards God would naturally do; for the food was unlawful that was set +upon his table, and he rejected those purifications that the law of his +country had ordained; so that it was no longer a wonder if he, who +was so mad in his impiety towards God, did not observe any rules of +gentleness and common affection towards men. Again, therefore, what +mischief was there which Simon the son of Gioras did not do? or what +kind of abuses did he abstain from as to those very free-men who had set +him up for a tyrant? What friendship or kindred were there that did not +make him more bold in his daily murders? for they looked upon the doing +of mischief to strangers only as a work beneath their courage, but +thought their barbarity towards their nearest relations would be a +glorious demonstration thereof. The Idumeans also strove with these +men who should be guilty of the greatest madness! for they [all], vile +wretches as they were, cut the throats of the high priests, that so +no part of a religious regard to God might be preserved; they +thence proceeded to destroy utterly the least remains of a political +government, and introduced the most complete scene of iniquity in all +instances that were practicable; under which scene that sort of people +that were called zealots grew up, and who indeed corresponded to +the name; for they imitated every wicked work; nor, if their memory +suggested any evil thing that had formerly been done, did they avoid +zealously to pursue the same; and although they gave themselves that +name from their zeal for what was good, yet did it agree to them only +by way of irony, on account of those they had unjustly treated by their +wild and brutish disposition, or as thinking the greatest mischiefs to +be the greatest good. Accordingly, they all met with such ends as God +deservedly brought upon them in way of punishment; for all such miseries +have been sent upon them as man's nature is capable of undergoing, +till the utmost period of their lives, and till death came upon them +in various ways of torment; yet might one say justly that they suffered +less than they had done, because it was impossible they could be +punished according to their deserving. But to make a lamentation +according to the deserts of those who fell under these men's barbarity, +this is not a proper place for it;--I therefore now return again to the +remaining part of the present narration. + +2. For now it was that the Roman general came, and led his army against +Eleazar and those Sicarii who held the fortress Masada together with +him; and for the whole country adjoining, he presently gained it, and +put garrisons into the most proper places of it; he also built a wall +quite round the entire fortress, that none of the besieged might easily +escape; he also set his men to guard the several parts of it; he also +pitched his camp in such an agreeable place as he had chosen for the +siege, and at which place the rock belonging to the fortress did make +the nearest approach to the neighboring mountain, which yet was a place +of difficulty for getting plenty of provisions; for it was not only food +that was to be brought from a great distance [to the army], and this +with a great deal of pain to those Jews who were appointed for that +purpose, but water was also to be brought to the camp, because the place +afforded no fountain that was near it. When therefore Silva had ordered +these affairs beforehand, he fell to besieging the place; which siege +was likely to stand in need of a great deal of skill and pains, by +reason of the strength of the fortress, the nature of which I will now +describe. + +3. There was a rock, not small in circumference, and very high. It was +encompassed with valleys of such vast depth downward, that the eye could +not reach their bottoms; they were abrupt, and such as no animal could +walk upon, excepting at two places of the rock, where it subsides, in +order to afford a passage for ascent, though not without difficulty. +Now, of the ways that lead to it, one is that from the lake Asphaltites, +towards the sun-rising, and another on the west, where the ascent is +easier: the one of these ways is called the Serpent, as resembling that +animal in its narrowness and its perpetual windings; for it is broken +off at the prominent precipices of the rock, and returns frequently into +itself, and lengthening again by little and little, hath much ado to +proceed forward; and he that would walk along it must first go on one +leg, and then on the other; there is also nothing but destruction, in +case your feet slip; for on each side there is a vastly deep chasm and +precipice, sufficient to quell the courage of every body by the terror +it infuses into the mind. When, therefore, a man hath gone along this +way for thirty furlongs, the rest is the top of the hill--not ending at +a small point, but is no other than a plain upon the highest part of the +mountain. Upon this top of the hill, Jonathan the high priest first of +all built a fortress, and called it Masada: after which the rebuilding +of this place employed the care of king Herod to a great degree; he +also built a wall round about the entire top of the hill, seven furlongs +long; it was composed of white stone; its height was twelve, and +its breadth eight cubits; there were also erected upon that wall +thirty-eight towers, each of them fifty cubits high; out of which you +might pass into lesser edifices, which were built on the inside, round +the entire wall; for the king reserved the top of the hill, which was of +a fat soil, and better mould than any valley for agriculture, that such +as committed themselves to this fortress for their preservation might +not even there be quite destitute of food, in case they should ever be +in want of it from abroad. Moreover, he built a palace therein at the +western ascent; it was within and beneath the walls of the citadel, but +inclined to its north side. Now the wall of this palace was very high +and strong, and had at its four corners towers sixty cubits high. The +furniture also of the edifices, and of the cloisters, and of the +baths, was of great variety, and very costly; and these buildings were +supported by pillars of single stones on every side; the walls and also +the floors of the edifices were paved with stones of several colors. He +also had cut many and great pits, as reservoirs for water, out of the +rocks, at every one of the places that were inhabited, both above and +round about the palace, and before the wall; and by this contrivance +he endeavored to have water for several uses, as if there had been +fountains there. Here was also a road digged from the palace, and +leading to the very top of the mountain, which yet could not be seen by +such as were without [the walls]; nor indeed could enemies easily +make use of the plain roads; for the road on the east side, as we have +already taken notice, could not be walked upon, by reason of its nature; +and for the western road, he built a large tower at its narrowest place, +at no less a distance from the top of the hill than a thousand cubits; +which tower could not possibly be passed by, nor could it be easily +taken; nor indeed could those that walked along it without any fear +[such was its contrivance] easily get to the end of it; and after such +a manner was this citadel fortified, both by nature and by the hands of +men, in order to frustrate the attacks of enemies. + +4. As for the furniture that was within this fortress, it was still more +wonderful on account of its splendor and long continuance; for here was +laid up corn in large quantities, and such as would subsist men for a +long time; here was also wine and oil in abundance, with all kinds of +pulse and dates heaped up together; all which Eleazar found there, when +he and his Sicarii got possession of the fortress by treachery. These +fruits were also fresh and full ripe, and no way inferior to such fruits +newly laid in, although they were little short of a hundred years 14 +from the laying in these provisions [by Herod], till the place was taken +by the Romans; nay, indeed, when the Romans got possession of those +fruits that were left, they found them not corrupted all that while; nor +should we be mistaken, if we supposed that the air was here the cause +of their enduring so long; this fortress being so high, and so free from +the mixture of all terrain and muddy particles of matter. There was also +found here a large quantity of all sorts of weapons of war, which had +been treasured up by that king, and were sufficient for ten thousand +men; there was cast iron, and brass, and tin, which show that he +had taken much pains to have all things here ready for the greatest +occasions; for the report goes how Herod thus prepared this fortress on +his own account, as a refuge against two kinds of danger; the one for +fear of the multitude of the Jews, lest they should depose him, and +restore their former kings to the government; the other danger was +greater and more terrible, which arose from Cleopatra queen of Egypt, +who did not conceal her intentions, but spoke often to Antony, and +desired him to cut off Herod, and entreated him to bestow the kingdom of +Judea upon her. And certainly it is a great wonder that Antony did never +comply with her commands in this point, as he was so miserably enslaved +to his passion for her; nor should any one have been surprised if she +had been gratified in such her request. So the fear of these dangers +made Herod rebuild Masada, and thereby leave it for the finishing stroke +of the Romans in this Jewish war. + +5. Since therefore the Roman commander Silva had now built a wall on the +outside, round about this whole place, as we have said already, and +had thereby made a most accurate provision to prevent any one of the +besieged running away, he undertook the siege itself, though he found +but one single place that would admit of the banks he was to raise; for +behind that tower which secured the road that led to the palace, and to +the top of the hill from the west; there was a certain eminency of the +rock, very broad and very prominent, but three hundred cubits beneath +the highest part of Masada; it was called the White Promontory. +Accordingly, he got upon that part of the rock, and ordered the army +to bring earth; and when they fell to that work with alacrity, and +abundance of them together, the bank was raised, and became solid for +two hundred cubits in height. Yet was not this bank thought sufficiently +high for the use of the engines that were to be set upon it; but still +another elevated work of great stones compacted together was raised upon +that bank; this was fifty cubits, both in breadth and height. The other +machines that were now got ready were like to those that had been first +devised by Vespasian, and afterwards by Titus, for sieges. There was +also a tower made of the height of sixty cubits, and all over plated +with iron, out of which the Romans threw darts and stones from the +engines, and soon made those that fought from the walls of the place to +retire, and would not let them lift up their heads above the works. At +the same time Silva ordered that great battering ram which he had made +to be brought thither, and to be set against the wall, and to make +frequent batteries against it, which with some difficulty broke down +a part of the wall, and quite overthrew it. However, the Sicarii made +haste, and presently built another wall within that, which should not be +liable to the same misfortune from the machines with the other; it was +made soft and yielding, and so was capable of avoiding the terrible +blows that affected the other. It was framed after the following manner: +They laid together great beams of wood lengthways, one close to the end +of another, and the same way in which they were cut: there were two of +these rows parallel to one another, and laid at such a distance from +each other as the breadth of the wall required, and earth was put into +the space between those rows. Now, that the earth might not fall away +upon the elevation of this bank to a greater height, they further laid +other beams over cross them, and thereby bound those beams together that +lay lengthways. This work of theirs was like a real edifice; and when +the machines were applied, the blows were weakened by its yielding; and +as the materials by such concussion were shaken closer together, the +pile by that means became firmer than before. When Silva saw this, he +thought it best to endeavor the taking of this wall by setting fire to +it; so he gave order that the soldiers should throw a great number of +burning torches upon it: accordingly, as it was chiefly made of wood, +it soon took fire; and when it was once set on fire, its hollowness made +that fire spread to a mighty flame. Now, at the very beginning of this +fire, a north wind that then blew proved terrible to the Romans; for by +bringing the flame downward, it drove it upon them, and they were almost +in despair of success, as fearing their machines would be burnt: but +after this, on a sudden the wind changed into the south, as if it were +done by Divine Providence, and blew strongly the contrary way, and +carried the flame, and drove it against the wall, which was now on fire +through its entire thickness. So the Romans, having now assistance +from God, returned to their camp with joy, and resolved to attack their +enemies the very next day; on which occasion they set their watch more +carefully that night, lest any of the Jews should run away from them +without being discovered. + +6. However, neither did Eleazar once think of flying away, nor would he +permit any one else to do so; but when he saw their wall burned down by +the fire, and could devise no other way of escaping, or room for their +further courage, and setting before their eyes what the Romans would do +to them, their children, and their wives, if they got them into their +power, he consulted about having them all slain. Now as he judged this +to be the best thing they could do in their present circumstances, he +gathered the most courageous of his companions together, and encouraged +them to take that course by a speech 15 which he made to them in the +manner following: "Since we, long ago, my generous friends, resolved +never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than to God +himself, who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now +come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice. And +let us not at this time bring a reproach upon ourselves for +self-contradiction, while we formerly would not undergo slavery, though +it were then without danger, but must now, together with slavery, +choose such punishments also as are intolerable; I mean this, upon the +supposition that the Romans once reduce us under their power while we +are alive. We were the very first that revolted from them, and we are +the last that fight against them; and I cannot but esteem it as a favor +that God hath granted us, that it is still in our power to die bravely, +and in a state of freedom, which hath not been the case of others, who +were conquered unexpectedly. It is very plain that we shall be taken +within a day's time; but it is still an eligible thing to die after a +glorious manner, together with our dearest friends. This is what our +enemies themselves cannot by any means hinder, although they be very +desirous to take us alive. Nor can we propose to ourselves any more +to fight them, and beat them. It had been proper indeed for us to have +conjectured at the purpose of God much sooner, and at the very first, +when we were so desirous of defending our liberty, and when we received +such sore treatment from one another, and worse treatment from our +enemies, and to have been sensible that the same God, who had of old +taken the Jewish nation into his favor, had now condemned them to +destruction; for had he either continued favorable, or been but in a +lesser degree displeased with us, he had not overlooked the destruction +of so many men, or delivered his most holy city to be burnt and +demolished by our enemies. To be sure we weakly hoped to have preserved +ourselves, and ourselves alone, still in a state of freedom, as if we +had been guilty of no sins ourselves against God, nor been partners with +those of others; we also taught other men to preserve their liberty. +Wherefore, consider how God hath convinced us that our hopes were in +vain, by bringing such distress upon us in the desperate state we are +now in, and which is beyond all our expectations; for the nature of this +fortress which was in itself unconquerable, hath not proved a means of +our deliverance; and even while we have still great abundance of food, +and a great quantity of arms, and other necessaries more than we want, +we are openly deprived by God himself of all hope of deliverance; for +that fire which was driven upon our enemies did not of its own accord +turn back upon the wall which we had built; this was the effect of God's +anger against us for our manifold sins, which we have been guilty of +in a most insolent and extravagant manner with regard to our own +countrymen; the punishments of which let us not receive from the Romans, +but from God himself, as executed by our own hands; for these will be +more moderate than the other. Let our wives die before they are abused, +and our children before they have tasted of slavery; and after we +have slain them, let us bestow that glorious benefit upon one another +mutually, and preserve ourselves in freedom, as an excellent funeral +monument for us. But first let us destroy our money and the fortress +by fire; for I am well assured that this will be a great grief to the +Romans, that they shall not be able to seize upon our bodies, and shall +fail of our wealth also; and let us spare nothing but our provisions; +for they will be a testimonial when we are dead that we were not subdued +for want of necessaries, but that, according to our original resolution, +we have preferred death before slavery." + +7. This was Eleazar's speech to them. Yet did not the opinions of all +the auditors acquiesce therein; but although some of them were very +zealous to put his advice in practice, and were in a manner filled with +pleasure at it, and thought death to be a good thing, yet had those that +were most effeminate a commiseration for their wives and families; +and when these men were especially moved by the prospect of their own +certain death, they looked wistfully at one another, and by the tears +that were in their eyes declared their dissent from his opinion. +When Eleazar saw these people in such fear, and that their souls were +dejected at so prodigious a proposal, he was afraid lest perhaps these +effeminate persons should, by their lamentations and tears, enfeeble +those that heard what he had said courageously; so he did not leave +off exhorting them, but stirred up himself, and recollecting proper +arguments for raising their courage, he undertook to speak more briskly +and fully to them, and that concerning the immortality of the soul. So +he made a lamentable groan, and fixing his eyes intently on those that +wept, he spake thus: "Truly, I was greatly mistaken when I thought to be +assisting to brave men who struggled hard for their liberty, and to such +as were resolved either to live with honor, or else to die; but I find +that you are such people as are no better than others, either in virtue +or in courage, and are afraid of dying, though you be delivered thereby +from the greatest miseries, while you ought to make no delay in this +matter, nor to await any one to give you good advice; for the laws of +our country, and of God himself, have from ancient times, and as soon as +ever we could use our reason, continually taught us, and our forefathers +have corroborated the same doctrine by their actions, and by their +bravery of mind, that it is life that is a calamity to men, and not +death; for this last affords our souls their liberty, and sends them +by a removal into their own place of purity, where they are to be +insensible of all sorts of misery; for while souls are tied down to a +mortal body, they are partakers of its miseries; and really, to speak +the truth, they are themselves dead; for the union of what is divine +to what is mortal is disagreeable. It is true, the power of the soul +is great, even when it is imprisoned in a mortal body; for by moving it +after a way that is invisible, it makes the body a sensible instrument, +and causes it to advance further in its actions than mortal nature could +otherwise do. However, when it is freed from that weight which draws it +down to the earth and is connected with it, it obtains its own proper +place, and does then become a partaker of that blessed power, and those +abilities, which are then every way incapable of being hindered in their +operations. It continues invisible, indeed, to the eyes of men, as does +God himself; for certainly it is not itself seen while it is in the +body; for it is there after an invisible manner, and when it is freed +from it, it is still not seen. It is this soul which hath one nature, +and that an incorruptible one also; but yet it is the cause of the +change that is made in the body; for whatsoever it be which the soul +touches, that lives and flourishes; and from whatsoever it is removed, +that withers away and dies; such a degree is there in it of immortality. +Let me produce the state of sleep as a most evident demonstration of +the truth of what I say; wherein souls, when the body does not distract +them, have the sweetest rest depending on themselves, and conversing +with God, by their alliance to him; they then go every where, and +foretell many futurities beforehand. And why are we afraid of death, +while we are pleased with the rest that we have in sleep? And how absurd +a thing is it to pursue after liberty while we are alive, and yet to +envy it to ourselves where it will be eternal! We, therefore, who have +been brought up in a discipline of our own, ought to become an example +to others of our readiness to die. Yet, if we do stand in need of +foreigners to support us in this matter, let us regard those Indians +who profess the exercise of philosophy; for these good men do but +unwillingly undergo the time of life, and look upon it as a necessary +servitude, and make haste to let their souls loose from their bodies; +nay, when no misfortune presses them to it, nor drives them upon it, +these have such a desire of a life of immortality, that they tell other +men beforehand that they are about to depart; and nobody hinders them, +but every one thinks them happy men, and gives them letters to be +carried to their familiar friends [that are dead], so firmly and +certainly do they believe that souls converse with one another [in the +other world]. So when these men have heard all such commands that were +to be given them, they deliver their body to the fire; and, in order +to their getting their soul a separation from the body in the greatest +purity, they die in the midst of hymns of commendations made to them; +for their dearest friends conduct them to their death more readily than +do any of the rest of mankind conduct their fellow-citizens when they +are going a very long journey, who at the same time weep on their own +account, but look upon the others as happy persons, as so soon to be +made partakers of the immortal order of beings. Are not we, therefore, +ashamed to have lower notions than the Indians? and by our own cowardice +to lay a base reproach upon the laws of our country, which are so much +desired and imitated by all mankind? But put the case that we had +been brought up under another persuasion, and taught that life is the +greatest good which men are capable of, and that death is a calamity; +however, the circumstances we are now in ought to be an inducement to us +to bear such calamity courageously, since it is by the will of God, and +by necessity, that we are to die; for it now appears that God hath +made such a decree against the whole Jewish nation, that we are to be +deprived of this life which [he knew] we would not make a due use +of. For do not you ascribe the occasion of our present condition to +yourselves, nor think the Romans are the true occasion that this war we +have had with them is become so destructive to us all: these things +have not come to pass by their power, but a more powerful cause hath +intervened, and made us afford them an occasion of their appearing to be +conquerors over us. What Roman weapons, I pray you, were those by which +the Jews at Cesarea were slain? On the contrary, when they were no way +disposed to rebel, but were all the while keeping their seventh day +festival, and did not so much as lift up their hands against the +citizens of Cesarea, yet did those citizens run upon them in great +crowds, and cut their throats, and the throats of their wives and +children, and this without any regard to the Romans themselves, who +never took us for their enemies till we revolted from them. But some may +be ready to say, that truly the people of Cesarea had always a quarrel +against those that lived among them, and that when an opportunity +offered itself, they only satisfied the old rancor they had against +them. What then shall we say to those of Scythopolis, who ventured to +wage war with us on account of the Greeks? Nor did they do it by way of +revenge upon the Romans, when they acted in concert with our countrymen. +Wherefore you see how little our good-will and fidelity to them profited +us, while they were slain, they and their whole families, after the most +inhuman manner, which was all the requital that was made them for the +assistance they had afforded the others; for that very same destruction +which they had prevented from falling upon the others did they suffer +themselves from them, as if they had been ready to be the actors +against them. It would be too long for me to speak at this time of every +destruction brought upon us; for you cannot but know that there was not +any one Syrian city which did not slay their Jewish inhabitants, and +were not more bitter enemies to us than were the Romans themselves; nay, +even those of Damascus, 16 when they were able to allege no tolerable +pretense against us, filled their city with the most barbarous +slaughters of our people, and cut the throats of eighteen thousand Jews, +with their wives and children. And as to the multitude of those that +were slain in Egypt, and that with torments also, we have been informed +they were more than sixty thousand; those indeed being in a foreign +country, and so naturally meeting with nothing to oppose against their +enemies, were killed in the manner forementioned. As for all those of +us who have waged war against the Romans in our own country, had we not +sufficient reason to have sure hopes of victory? For we had arms, and +walls, and fortresses so prepared as not to be easily taken, and courage +not to be moved by any dangers in the cause of liberty, which encouraged +us all to revolt from the Romans. But then these advantages sufficed +us but for a short time, and only raised our hopes, while they really +appeared to be the origin of our miseries; for all we had hath been +taken from us, and all hath fallen under our enemies, as if these +advantages were only to render their victory over us the more glorious, +and were not disposed for the preservation of those by whom these +preparations were made. And as for those that are already dead in the +war, it is reasonable we should esteem them blessed, for they are +dead in defending, and not in betraying their liberty; but as to the +multitude of those that are now under the Romans, who would not pity +their condition? and who would not make haste to die, before he would +suffer the same miseries with them? Some of them have been put upon the +rack, and tortured with fire and whippings, and so died. Some have been +half devoured by wild beasts, and yet have been reserved alive to be +devoured by them a second time, in order to afford laughter and sport to +our enemies; and such of those as are alive still are to be looked on as +the most miserable, who, being so desirous of death, could not come +at it. And where is now that great city, the metropolis of the Jewish +nation, which was fortified by so many walls round about, which had +so many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly +contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many ten +thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was believed +to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished to the very +foundations, and hath nothing but that monument of it preserved, I mean +the camp of those that hath destroyed it, which still dwells upon its +ruins; some unfortunate old men also lie upon the ashes of the temple, +and a few women are there preserved alive by the enemy, for our bitter +shame and reproach. Now who is there that revolves these things in his +mind, and yet is able to bear the sight of the sun, though he might live +out of danger? Who is there so much his country's enemy, or so unmanly, +and so desirous of living, as not to repent that he is still alive? And +I cannot but wish that we had all died before we had seen that holy city +demolished by the hands of our enemies, or the foundations of our holy +temple dug up after so profane a manner. But since we had a generous +hope that deluded us, as if we might perhaps have been able to avenge +ourselves on our enemies on that account, though it be now become +vanity, and hath left us alone in this distress, let us make haste to +die bravely. Let us pity ourselves, our children, and our wives while it +is in our own power to show pity to them; for we were born to die, 17 as +well as those were whom we have begotten; nor is it in the power of the +most happy of our race to avoid it. But for abuses, and slavery, and +the sight of our wives led away after an ignominious manner, with their +children, these are not such evils as are natural and necessary among +men; although such as do not prefer death before those miseries, when it +is in their power so to do, must undergo even them, on account of their +own cowardice. We revolted from the Romans with great pretensions +to courage; and when, at the very last, they invited us to preserve +ourselves, we would not comply with them. Who will not, therefore, +believe that they will certainly be in a rage at us, in case they can +take us alive? Miserable will then be the young men who will be strong +enough in their bodies to sustain many torments! miserable also will +be those of elder years, who will not be able to bear those calamities +which young men might sustain! One man will be obliged to hear the voice +of his son implore help of his father, when his hands are bound. But +certainly our hands are still at liberty, and have a sword in them; let +them then be subservient to us in our glorious design; let us die before +we become slaves under our enemies, and let us go out of the world, +together with our children and our wives, in a state of freedom. This +it is that our laws command us to do; this it is that our wives +and children crave at our hands; nay, God himself hath brought this +necessity upon us; while the Romans desire the contrary, and are afraid +lest any of us should die before we are taken. Let us therefore make +haste, and instead of affording them so much pleasure, as they hope +for in getting us under their power, let us leave them an example +which shall at once cause their astonishment at our death, and their +admiration of our hardiness therein." + + + + + + +CHAPTER 9. + + + How The People That Were In The Fortress Were Prevailed On + By The Words Of Eleazar, Two Women And Five Children Only + Excepted And All Submitted To Be Killed By One Another. + +1. Now as Eleazar was proceeding on in this exhortation, they all +cut him off short, and made haste to do the work, as full of an +unconquerable ardor of mind, and moved with a demoniacal fury. So they +went their ways, as one still endeavoring to be before another, and as +thinking that this eagerness would be a demonstration of their courage +and good conduct, if they could avoid appearing in the last class; so +great was the zeal they were in to slay their wives and children, and +themselves also! Nor indeed, when they came to the work itself, did +their courage fail them, as one might imagine it would have done, but +they then held fast the same resolution, without wavering, which they +had upon the hearing of Eleazar's speech, while yet every one of them +still retained the natural passion of love to themselves and their +families, because the reasoning they went upon appeared to them to be +very just, even with regard to those that were dearest to them; for the +husbands tenderly embraced their wives, and took their children into +their arms, and gave the longest parting kisses to them, with tears +in their eyes. Yet at the same time did they complete what they had +resolved on, as if they had been executed by the hands of strangers; and +they had nothing else for their comfort but the necessity they were in +of doing this execution, to avoid that prospect they had of the miseries +they were to suffer from their enemies. Nor was there at length any +one of these men found that scrupled to act their part in this terrible +execution, but every one of them despatched his dearest relations. +Miserable men indeed were they! whose distress forced them to slay their +own wives and children with their own hands, as the lightest of those +evils that were before them. So they being not able to bear the grief +they were under for what they had done any longer, and esteeming it an +injury to those they had slain, to live even the shortest space of time +after them, they presently laid all they had upon a heap, and set fire +to it. They then chose ten men by lot out of them to slay all the rest; +every one of whom laid himself down by his wife and children on the +ground, and threw his arms about them, and they offered their necks to +the stroke of those who by lot executed that melancholy office; and when +these ten had, without fear, slain them all, they made the same rule for +casting lots for themselves, that he whose lot it was should first kill +the other nine, and after all should kill himself. Accordingly, all +these had courage sufficient to be no way behind one another in doing +or suffering; so, for a conclusion, the nine offered their necks to the +executioner, and he who was the last of all took a view of all the +other bodies, lest perchance some or other among so many that were slain +should want his assistance to be quite despatched, and when he perceived +that they were all slain, he set fire to the palace, and with the great +force of his hand ran his sword entirely through himself, and fell +down dead near to his own relations. So these people died with this +intention, that they would not leave so much as one soul among them all +alive to be subject to the Romans. Yet was there an ancient woman, +and another who was of kin to Eleazar, and superior to most women in +prudence and learning, with five children, who had concealed themselves +in caverns under ground, and had carried water thither for their drink, +and were hidden there when the rest were intent upon the slaughter of +one another. Those others were nine hundred and sixty in number, the +women and children being withal included in that computation. This +calamitous slaughter was made on the fifteenth day of the month +Xanthicus [Nisan]. + +2. Now for the Romans, they expected that they should be fought in the +morning, when, accordingly, they put on their armor, and laid bridges of +planks upon their ladders from their banks, to make an assault upon the +fortress, which they did; but saw nobody as an enemy, but a terrible +solitude on every side, with a fire within the place, as well as a +perfect silence. So they were at a loss to guess at what had happened. +At length they made a shout, as if it had been at a blow given by the +battering ram, to try whether they could bring any one out that was +within; the women heard this noise, and came out of their under-ground +cavern, and informed the Romans what had been done, as it was done; and +the second of them clearly described all both what was said and what +was done, and this manner of it; yet did they not easily give their +attention to such a desperate undertaking, and did not believe it could +be as they said; they also attempted to put the fire out, and quickly +cutting themselves a way through it, they came within the palace, and so +met with the multitude of the slain, but could take no pleasure in the +fact, though it were done to their enemies. Nor could they do other than +wonder at the courage of their resolution, and the immovable contempt of +death which so great a number of them had shown, when they went through +with such an action as that was. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 10. + + + That Many Of The Sicarii Fled To Alexandria Also And What + Dangers They Were In There; On Which Account That Temple + Which Had Formerly Been Built By Onias The High Priest Was + Destroyed. + +1. When Masada was thus taken, the general left a garrison in the +fortress to keep it, and he himself went away to Cesarea; for there were +now no enemies left in the country, but it was all overthrown by so long +a war. Yet did this war afford disturbances and dangerous disorders even +in places very far remote from Judea; for still it came to pass that +many Jews were slain at Alexandria in Egypt; for as many of the Sicarii +as were able to fly thither, out of the seditious wars in Judea, were +not content to have saved themselves, but must needs be undertaking to +make new disturbances, and persuaded many of those that entertained +them to assert their liberty, to esteem the Romans to be no better than +themselves, and to look upon God as their only Lord and Master. But when +part of the Jews of reputation opposed them, they slew some of them, and +with the others they were very pressing in their exhortations to revolt +from the Romans; but when the principal men of the senate saw what +madness they were come to, they thought it no longer safe for themselves +to overlook them. So they got all the Jews together to an assembly, and +accused the madness of the Sicarii, and demonstrated that they had been +the authors of all the evils that had come upon them. They said also +that "these men, now they were run away from Judea, having no sure hope +of escaping, because as soon as ever they shall be known, they will be +soon destroyed by the Romans, they come hither and fill us full of those +calamities which belong to them, while we have not been partakers with +them in any of their sins." Accordingly, they exhorted the multitude to +have a care, lest they should be brought to destruction by their means, +and to make their apology to the Romans for what had been done, +by delivering these men up to them; who being thus apprized of the +greatness of the danger they were in, complied with what was proposed, +and ran with great violence upon the Sicarii, and seized upon them; and +indeed six hundred of them were caught immediately: but as to all those +that fled into Egypt 18 and to the Egyptian Thebes, it was not long ere +they were caught also, and brought back, whose courage, or whether we +ought to call it madness, or hardiness in their opinions, every body was +amazed at. For when all sorts of torments and vexations of their bodies +that could be devised were made use of to them, they could not get any +one of them to comply so far as to confess, or seem to confess, that +Caesar was their lord; but they preserved their own opinion, in spite +of all the distress they were brought to, as if they received these +torments and the fire itself with bodies insensible of pain, and with +a soul that in a manner rejoiced under them. But what was most of all +astonishing to the beholders was the courage of the children; for not +one of these children was so far overcome by these torments, as to name +Caesar for their lord. So far does the strength of the courage [of the +soul] prevail over the weakness of the body. + +2. Now Lupus did then govern Alexandria, who presently sent Caesar word +of this commotion; who having in suspicion the restless temper of the +Jews for innovation, and being afraid lest they should get together +again, and persuade some others to join with them, gave orders to Lupus +to demolish that Jewish temple which was in the region called Onion, +19 and was in Egypt, which was built and had its denomination from the +occasion following: Onias, the son of Simon, one of the Jewish high +priests fled from Antiochus the king of Syria, when he made war with the +Jews, and came to Alexandria; and as Ptolemy received him very kindly, +on account of hatred to Antiochus, he assured him, that if he would +comply with his proposal, he would bring all the Jews to his assistance; +and when the king agreed to do it so far as he was able, he desired him +to give him leave to build a temple some where in Egypt, and to worship +God according to the customs of his own country; for that the Jews would +then be so much readier to fight against Antiochus who had laid waste +the temple at Jerusalem, and that they would then come to him with +greater good-will; and that, by granting them liberty of conscience, +very many of them would come over to him. + +3. So Ptolemy complied with his proposals, and gave him a place one +hundred and eighty furlongs distant from Memphis. 20 That Nomos was +called the Nomos of Hellopolis, where Onias built a fortress and a +temple, not like to that at Jerusalem, but such as resembled a tower. +He built it of large stones to the height of sixty cubits; he made the +structure of the altar in imitation of that in our own country, and in +like manner adorned with gifts, excepting the make of the candlestick, +for he did not make a candlestick, but had a [single] lamp hammered out +of a piece of gold, which illuminated the place with its rays, and which +he hung by a chain of gold; but the entire temple was encompassed with +a wall of burnt brick, though it had gates of stone. The king also gave +him a large country for a revenue in money, that both the priests might +have a plentiful provision made for them, and that God might have great +abundance of what things were necessary for his worship. Yet did not +Onias do this out of a sober disposition, but he had a mind to contend +with the Jews at Jerusalem, and could not forget the indignation he had +for being banished thence. Accordingly, he thought that by building this +temple he should draw away a great number from them to himself. There +had been also a certain ancient prediction made by [a prophet] whose +name was Isaiah, about six hundred years before, that this temple should +be built by a man that was a Jew in Egypt. And this is the history of +the building of that temple. + +4. And now Lupus, the governor of Alexandria, upon the receipt of +Caesar's letter, came to the temple, and carried out of it some of the +donations dedicated thereto, and shut up the temple itself. And as Lupus +died a little afterward, Paulinus succeeded him. This man left none of +those donations there, and threatened the priests severely if they +did not bring them all out; nor did he permit any who were desirous of +worshipping God there so much as to come near the whole sacred place; +but when he had shut up the gates, he made it entirely inaccessible, +insomuch that there remained no longer the least footsteps of any Divine +worship that had been in that place. Now the duration of the time from +the building of this temple till it was shut up again was three hundred +and forty-three years. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + + + Concerning Jonathan, One Of The Sicarii, That Stirred Up A + Sedition In Cyrene, And Was A False Accuser [Of The + Innocent]. + +1. And now did the madness of the Sicarii, like a disease, reach as far +as the cities of Cyrene; for one Jonathan, a vile person, and by trade +a weaver, came thither and prevailed with no small number of the +poorer sort to give ear to him; he also led them into the desert, upon +promising them that he would show them signs and apparitions. And as for +the other Jews of Cyrene, he concealed his knavery from them, and put +tricks upon them; but those of the greatest dignity among them informed +Catullus, the governor of the Libyan Pentapolis, of his march into the +desert, and of the preparations he had made for it. So he sent out after +him both horsemen and footmen, and easily overcame them, because they +were unarmed men; of these many were slain in the fight, but some were +taken alive, and brought to Catullus. As for Jonathan, the head of this +plot, he fled away at that time; but upon a great and very diligent +search, which was made all the country over for him, he was at last +taken. And when he was brought to Catullus, he devised a way whereby he +both escaped punishment himself, and afforded an occasion to Catullus +of doing much mischief; for he falsely accused the richest men among the +Jews, and said that they had put him upon what he did. + +2. Now Catullus easily admitted of these his calumnies, and aggravated +matters greatly, and made tragical exclamations, that he might also be +supposed to have had a hand in the finishing of the Jewish war. But what +was still harder, he did not only give a too easy belief to his stories, +but he taught the Sicarii to accuse men falsely. He bid this Jonathan, +therefore, to name one Alexander, a Jew [with whom he had formerly had +a quarrel, and openly professed that he hated him]; he also got him to +name his wife Bernice, as concerned with him. These two Catullus ordered +to be slain in the first place; nay, after them he caused all the rich +and wealthy Jews to be slain, being no fewer in all than three thousand. +This he thought he might do safely, because he confiscated their +effects, and added them to Caesar's revenues. + +3. Nay, indeed, lest any Jews that lived elsewhere should convict him of +his villainy, he extended his false accusations further, and persuaded +Jonathan, and certain others that were caught with him, to bring an +accusation of attempts for innovation against the Jews that were of the +best character both at Alexandria and at Rome. One of these, against +whom this treacherous accusation was laid, was Josephus, the writer of +these books. However, this plot, thus contrived by Catullus, did not +succeed according to his hopes; for though he came himself to Rome, and +brought Jonathan and his companions along with him in bonds, and thought +he should have had no further inquisition made as to those lies that +were forged under his government, or by his means; yet did Vespasian +suspect the matter and made an inquiry how far it was true. And when he +understood that the accusation laid against the Jews was an unjust one, +he cleared them of the crimes charged upon them, and this on account of +Titus's concern about the matter, and brought a deserved punishment upon +Jonathan; for he was first tormented, and then burnt alive. + +4. But as to Catullus, the emperors were so gentle to him, that he +underwent no severe condemnation at this time; yet was it not long +before he fell into a complicated and almost incurable distemper, and +died miserably. He was not only afflicted in body, but the distemper +in his mind was more heavy upon him than the other; for he was terribly +disturbed, and continually cried out that he saw the ghosts of those +whom he had slain standing before him. Where upon he was not able to +contain himself, but leaped out of his bed, as if both torments and fire +were brought to him. This his distemper grew still a great deal worse +and worse continually, and his very entrails were so corroded, that they +fell out of his body, and in that condition he died. Thus he became as +great an instance of Divine Providence as ever was, and demonstrated +that God punishes wicked men. + +5. And here we shall put an end to this our history; wherein we formerly +promised to deliver the same with all accuracy, to such as should be +desirous of understanding after what manner this war of the Romans with +the Jews was managed. Of which history, how good the style is, must be +left to the determination of the readers; but as for its agreement with +the facts, I shall not scruple to say, and that boldly, that truth hath +been what I have alone aimed at through its entire composition. + +WAR BOOK 7 FOOTNOTES 2 (return) [ This Tereutius Rufus, as Reland in +part observes here, is the same person whom the Talmudists call Turnus +Rufus; of whom they relate, that "he ploughed up Sion as a field, and +made Jerusalem become as heaps, and the mountain of the house as the +high Idaces of a forest;" which was long before foretold by the prophet +Micah, ch. 3:12, and quoted from him in the prophecies of Jeremiah, ch. +26:18.] + + +3 (return) [ See Ecclesiastes 8:11.] + + +4 (return) [ This Berytus was certainly a Roman colony, and has coins +extant that witness the same, as Hudson and Spanheim inform us. See the +note on Antiq. B. XVI: ch. 11. sect. 1.] + + +5 (return) [ The Jews at Antioch and Alexandria, the two principal +cities in all the East, had allowed them, both by the Macedonians, and +afterwards by the Romans, a governor of their own, who was exempt from +the jurisdiction of the other civil governors. He was called sometimes +barely "governor," sometimes "ethnarch," and [at Alexandria] "alabarch," +as Dr. Hudson takes notice on this place out of Fuller's Miscellanies. +They had the like governor or governors allowed them at Babylon under +their captivity there, as the history of Susanna implies.] + + +6 (return) [ This Classicus, and Civilis, and Cerealis are names well +known in Tacitus; the two former as moving sedition against the Romans, +and the last as sent to repress them by Vespasian, just as they are here +described in Josephus; which is the case also of Fontellis Agrippa +and Rubrius Gallup, i, sect. 3. But as to the very favorable account +presently given of Domitian, particularly as to his designs in this his +Gallic and German expedition, it is not a little contrary to that in +Suetonius, Vesp. sect. 7. Nor are the reasons unobvious that might +occasion this great diversity: Domitian was one of Josephus's patrons, +and when he published these books of the Jewish war, was very young, and +had hardly begun those wicked practices which rendered him so infamous +afterward; while Suetonius seems to have been too young, and too low +in life, to receive any remarkable favors from him; as Domitian was +certainly very lewd and cruel, and generally hated, when Suetonius wrote +about him.] + + +7 (return) [ Since in these latter ages this Sabbatic River, once so +famous, which, by Josephus's account here, ran every seventh day, +and rested on six, but according to Pliny, Nat. Hist. 31. II, ran +perpetually on six days, and rested every seventh, [though it no way +appears by either of their accounts that the seventh day of this river +was the Jewish seventh day or sabbath,] is quite vanished, I shall add +no more about it: only see Dr. Hudson's note. In Varenius's Geography, +i, 17, the reader will find several instances of such periodical +fountains and rivers, though none of their periods were that of a just +week as of old this appears to have been.] + + +8 (return) [ Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian.] + + +9 (return) [ See the representations of these Jewish vessels as they +still stand on Titus's triumphal arch at Rome, in Reland's very curious +book de Spoliis Ternpli, throughout. But what, things are chiefly to be +noted are these: [1.] That Josephus says the candlestick here carried in +this triumph was not thoroughly like that which was used in the temple, +which appears in the number of the little knobs and flowers in that on +the triumphal arch not well agreeing with Moses's description, Exodus +25:31-36. [2.] The smallness of the branches in Josephus compared with +the thickness of those on that arch. [3.] That the Law or Pentateuch +does not appear on that arch at all, though Josephus, an eye-witness, +assures us that it was carried in this procession. All which things +deserve the consideration of the inquisitive reader.] + + +10 (return) [ Spanheim observes here, that in Graceia Major and +Sicily they had rue prodigiously great and durable, like this rue at +Machaerus.] + + +11 (return) [ This strange account of the place and root Baaras seems to +have been taken from the magicians, and the root to have been made use +of in the days of Josephus, in that superstitious way of casting out +demons, supposed by him to have been derived from king Solomon; of which +we have already seen he had a great opinion, Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 2. +sect. 5. We also may hence learn the true notion Josephus had of demons +and demoniacs, exactly like that of the Jews and Christians in the New +Testament, and the first four centuries. See Antiq. B. I. ch. 8. sect. +2; B. XI, ch. 2. sect. 3.] + + +12 (return) [ It is very remarkable that Titus did not people this now +desolate country of Judea, but ordered it to be all sold; nor indeed is +it properly peopled at this day, but lies ready for its old inhabitants +the Jews, at their future restoration. See Literal Accomplishment of +Prophecies, p. 77.] + + +13 (return) [ That the city Emmaus, or Areindus, in Josephus and others +which was the place of the government of Julius Africanus were slain, +to the number of one thousand seven hundred, as were the women and the +children made slaves. But as Bassus thought he must perform the covenant +he had made with those that had surrendered the citadel, he let them go, +and restored Eleazar to them, in the beginning of the third century, and +which he then procured to be rebuilt, and after which rebuilding it +was called Nicopolis, is entirely different from that Emmaus which is +mentioned by St. Luke 24;13; see Reland's Paleestina, lib. II. p. 429, +and under the name Ammaus also. But he justly thinks that that in St. +Luke may well be the same with his Ammaus before us, especially since +the Greek copies here usually make it sixty furlongs distant from +Jerusalem, as does St. Luke, though the Latin copies say only thirty. +The place also allotted for these eight hundred soldiers, as for a Roman +garrison, in this place, would most naturally be not so remote from +Jerusalem as was the other Emmaus, or Nicopolis.] + + +14 (return) [ Pliny and others confirm this strange paradox, that +provisions laid up against sieges will continue good for a hundred +years, as Spanheim notes upon this place.] + + +15 (return) [ The speeches in this and the next section, as introduced +under the person of this Eleazar, are exceeding remarkable, and of the +noblest subjects, the contempt of death, and the dignity and immortality +of the soul; and that not only among the Jews, but among the Indians +themselves also; and are highly worthy the perusal of all the curious. +It seems as if that philosophic lady who survived, ch. 9. sect. 1, 2, +remembered the substance of these discourses, as spoken by Eleazar, and +so Josephus clothed them in his own words: at the lowest they contain +the Jewish notions on these heads, as understood then by our Josephus, +and cannot but deserve a suitable regard from us.] + + +16 (return) [ See B. II. ch. 20. sect. 2, where the number of the slain +is but 10,000.] + + +17 (return) [ Reland here sets down a parallel aphorism of one of +the Jewish Rabbins, "We are born that we may die, and die that we may +live."] + + +18 (return) [ Since Josephus here informs us that some of these Sicarii, +or ruffians, went from Alexandria [which was itself in Egypt, in a large +sense] into Egypt, and Thebes there situated, Reland well observes, from +Vossius, that Egypt sometimes denotes Proper or Upper Egypt, as distinct +from the Delta, and the lower parts near Palestine. Accordingly, as he +adds, those that say it never rains in Egypt must mean the Proper or +Upper Egypt, because it does sometimes rain in the other parts. See the +note on Antiq. B. II. ch. 7. sect. 7, and B. III. ch. 1. sect. 6.] + + +19 (return) [ Of this temple of Onias's building in Egypt, see the notes +on Antiq. B. XIII. ch. 3. sect. 1. But whereas it is elsewhere, both +of the War, B. I. ch. 1. sect. 1, and in the Antiquities as now quoted, +said that this temple was like to that at Jerusalem, and here that it +was not like it, but like a tower, sect. 3, there is some reason to +suspect the reading here, and that either the negative particle is here +to be blotted out, or the word entirely added.] + + +20 (return) [ We must observe, that Josephus here speaks of Antiochus +who profaned the temple as now alive, when Onias had leave given them +by Philometer to build his temple; whereas it seems not to have been +actually built till about fifteen years afterwards. Yet, because it is +said in the Antiquities that Onias went to Philometer, B. XII. ch. +9. sect. 7, during the lifetime of that Antiochus, it is probable he +petitioned, and perhaps obtained his leave then, though it were not +actually built or finished till fifteen years afterward.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wars of the Jews or History of +the Destruction of Jerusalem, by Flavius Josephus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WARS OF THE JEWS *** + +***** This file should be named 2850.txt or 2850.zip ***** This and all +associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/2850/ + +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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