JOSEPIIUS Ben
H*9
Gorion's Wonderful and mlep^raUe the later Times of the Jews, with the Dtuction oi Jerusalem, &c. with a Parallel of the lafctitnes ana London with those in Jerusalem, 8vo. nembrown c a J
g ^ ^
•
To
Sir
the
HONOURABLE Robinfon,
John
Knight and Baronet,
LIEUTENANT .OF THE
TOWER. AND
ALDERMAN O
Honour able
of the
CITY
F
Sir,
THis
Rare and Remarkable Piece of Hiftdry, as it was Dedicated before to the city of London in general, becaufe of the Quality of the Subject; Treating of the Ru* in of one of the mod Famous Cities upon Earth s So upon this Review, and new Edition, I take the Boldnefs of Dedicating it to T o alone \ who are one of the Eminenr Members,and Ornament there" of, as alfo being Gqyernour of that Place, wherein
V
her Chiefeft Security. was formerly Dedicated to this City, in the higheft Brunt of the late Civil Confufions. And the Noble Author of the following Epiftle thought it very feafonable to do fo, out of an exprefs Defign to awaken, and warn Her of Her defperate Condition at that Time ; And it produced fo happy lies
It
Aj
Effitfi,
Ihe
Epiftle.
Effe&s, that
it made fuch Impreflions upon the Spiof many of the beft Citizens, that they began to recoiled* themfelves, and fee their Error : The fame Author reprefenting unto them, that the fame Crimes and Crying S<*w,which reigned in Jerusalem before her
rits
laft and utter Deftruc1:ion,were very rife then in London ; which were, the Spirit of Sedition, inftable and flubborn rebellious Hearts ,their Murmuring* at Govern' r»*»t,and an Itch after Innovations. As alfo,the Defiling of their Temple, the Irreverence and Contempt of thePriefts, fat Violation of the Tombs of theD^j With Other Ads of Propbanenefs and Sacrilege : But principally the Crucifying of the of LIFE The City of was guilty at that time of a|l thefe Ugly and Enormous Crimes, and may be faid .td be, led all along by a true Jewijh Spirit 5 And concerning the Ufa viz,. The Crucifixion of ourS*wowv though no Comparifon made without a High Prophanenefs , yet the manner of murthering the Firf, may be humbly faid to bear a kind of Analogy, and Refer.iblance with ic: Nay, the Jews( whereof there are Swarms now in this City) will not ftick to fay,that it was a Murther beyond theirs 5 for, what they did was out of Blindnefs, and Ignorance ; for they neither knew, nor acknowledged to be King of the Jews : But the Englifh did Accufe and Arraign, they jdid Condemn and by the Name of their own Murther King the KING England. KING, of
LORD
LONDON
.
CHARLES
Hm
CHARLES
God Almighty avert thofe further Judgments which hang over us, as prayeth, Honourable Sir, tour mojt humble Servant,
and Fellow .
Cttixxn, J.
S*
ENG LANDS'* Chamber, THE
Imperial
RENOWNED
CITY
LONDON, To
Right Honourable the Lord Mayor* Right Worihiprul the Sheriffs, Mr. Reand corder, with the Court of Aldermen, Common-Council, &c. the
The
AS
amongMen, fo there is d rtfemblahcc and d kind of Affinity among Cities, which art the Man/tons of Men, and reverence due to [owe more than others ; Carthagena in Spain doth
atknowledge old Carthage in Africk to be her Mothers Ley den in Holland doth glory that {lie is allied to Lions
France, both of them bearing the Name of Lugdll5 Saragofa in Af agon confeffeth her {elf Daughter td Syracufa in Sicily ; and London, by [owe Antiquaries^ is called Troynovant, a* having been fir ft founded by the Trojans: But of all the Cities upon the Earthly Globes Jerufalem deferves moft reverence, in regard our Salvation was wrought and confummaied in her 5 in regard\that
in
num
grand Propitiatory
Sacrifice for
humane
Souls
was
ojfer-
ed Mfher : Therefore, under favour, 1 held it not improper to Dedicate the Hiftory of this once fo famoni MetropoiiSi to the flourishing City of
A
London*
*
k
s
The
Epiftle Dedicatory:
In theHoly Bible jhe moft authentickPatent of Saving is aText which reflected upon the ancient Na-
Faith, there tion of the
Jews, and aimed only at their Country ,
viz.
Ia
Jewry God is known>C^.Pfal.7& He was known indeed in that Land by the Multitude of his Mercies^ but afterwards by the feverity of
his
Judgments. That Race of Pea-
pletfartlybecaufe they were not Labourers at the building of that Mount of human Pride, the Tower of Babel,mrt for
manyAgei the obje&S of his Favouiy i# they made them* fubje&S of his Fury. And the PhiCorruptio optirci eft peflima, or, as we fndjhat the fweeteft Wines become the t arteflVinegar 5 fo thofe heavenly Indulgences-turn d to ^^Indignations,
felves afterwards the lofophers teU
thofe fiver
came
Showers of extraordinary Benedtttton beof Vengeance. It u the method of Di-
blacky Storms
vine Jufiice to corrett firfi withRodsjben with Scourges, and if that will not do, with Scorpions : The Jews felt all
and never was any People upon Earth made greater Examples of Wrath than bis $wn cbofen Inheritance* a peculiar People, that might have claimed the right Hand of Primogeniture among the re$ of Mankind. JNow^whofoever defires to make researches into the grounds ofthefe fad Difafters, will find it was their feditious proud Spirits? their infiable, and ftubbcm rebellious Hearts, (which did them more Mifchief than he Roman Rams, or the three degrees
;
f
my otheY deftruBive Enjoins)
the defining of their Temple, dead, with other Atts of the of
the violation of the Tombs Trophanenefs and Sacrilege* But principally the Rejetting and Crucfying of the Lord
did thrive with them afterward \ infomuch^ that if there were no other motive for the Jews Converjion> the length of thofe heavy Judgment y under which they groan tojkis
Day, were enough to do tt 3 and it is obferved the length of Judgment $ doth often puzjzle their IntcfottuaU and
thefe
put
The
Epiftle Dedicatory:
for tome of their Rabbits wiU (tare and (brink in t heir Shoulders at ir^ and fometim?s facal^ou* mm laji to a kind of Confefftcn, that their Judgments could
put tbem at a
ft and ;
fo long, but for crucifying one that was more than a Man- Bejides the punctual accomp'iflimm of our Saviour's
PrediEtions,were fufficient to convince anyrationalCreature*
For not long
a ft age cf Blood, and unowned Qrrjr, ifai* Tern* San&orum/o famd all thtEath overj
after their
Land became
kinds of Barbarifms. Their fo
all
and San&um was made level to the Ground. And obferv*ble it is, that thefe Judgments fell upon their Terrple at the highefl time cf Holinefs.at Aeir Pajfover of Jubilee 5 fo that one might fay, That Seafon which was ordaimd for thtir Salvation* pie
turned to their Perdition : Moreover, the very inanimate Creatures and Vegetables, tie very Soil of th Country^
became co'fufftrers with them, being fo y cd to part wub her Plenty, as well as with her People ever J nee. From that time to this day ^tis veil knnvn what Runna* gates and Land-loppirs they have bem up and down the World; for altbough'it is known there be mmy fe re* of Thoufends of them, d;fpe*(td arid jquandred here and t 'itrc Upon the fuface of the Earth, yet thefe StragUrs could re~ ver fincegrow tofuch anVmty and Coalition as mi: ht firm ,
the Species of any fettled Government ; but they fl ill (huffle axdprogue up and di)wn 7 being no better than Slates whe>efoever they take footing. Moreover ^tt is ob(e r ved,tb«t they apply themfelves to the mofl fordid
and fer uile Conditions
:
For commonly they are either Lombardies and Broken for the pettiefi things, as far as a Blew Point 5 or they are Gabellers and Toll-men, having feme inferior Places in the CuftoTB-Houfes, a Profejjlon fo undervalued and held tnfamous by their Anceftors : Or theyferve for Spies and Panders for Intelligence^ in
Turkey,
fo that there he few great Officers but have a Jew for that purpofe 5 for they art
The Mre known to be the
Epiftle Dedicatory. fubtileft,
of People upon Earth, ftimom
the moft fubdokus Race
and pufilla-
infomuch, that they are employed no where in tht
3
Wars,
and
as alfo the ntoft fearful
nor worth the making Slaves of. the Reafon why they are fo far degenerated
Now,
their primitive Simplicity
andCour age, is
from
their frequent Cap-
tivities jt heir defperate Fortunes,theNeceffities
andHatred For no
they have been habituated unto i from time to time.
Nation
or
Earth hath beenfo
Christians and Pagans
j
generally contemned^both by
witness our
Heathen Poet^ among
divers others, in thofe Hexameters,, wherxin there is an accumulation of fo many bafe Attributes caft upon them.
Turn Juda?acohors
infida, molefta, rebellis,
Perfida, dira, ferox, perjura, ingrata, fuperbaNow the Mora lift obferves, that nothing deprejfes and nor corrupts clear Wits, more than Scorn and Nece(fity\ nothing cows them more than
depraves ingenious Spirits,
Want and
Indigence
:
-
-Virtutibus obftat Res angufta dorni Touching the Ten Tribes that were led Captives beyond Euphrates, the prefent Jews know not what's become of them, yet they belteve the) never became Apqftates orGtT\m tiles to this Day. Some there are, and thefe of leaft Rank^of learned Men, who hold, that the Tartars (f Scythia, who
&
about the Tear
I200
5
or a little before,
became
firfi
known
of theWorld by t hat Name ,and hold at this day a great part of Afia in fubjettion % are of the Ifraelites Progeny 3 namely, of thofe Ten Tribes which were carried Captive to the reft
to
AfTyria ^SalmanafTer* and feme of hisPtedeceftbrs.
The
l ft
Argument they produce,
is,
That thewdrdTzt*
tary, figmfies in the Syriack, a Refidue or Remainder, fuch a6 thofe Tartars are fuppofed to be of the Ten Tribes-
Secondly, they a!ledge i That they have always embraced th9
The
Epiftle Dedicatory.
be Circamcifion, the ancient Char after of Jodaiflli* Thirdly, 7hey urge fun dry Texts in Eidrisfor probability
hereof
But the Opinion hath found no great En-
:
ertainment with the
be/l fort
of Antiquaries.
The Jews of the Tribe of Benjamin {they fay) art hofe *>dcaly, Poland, Germany, the Turks Domini ms,armall the Levantine Part. The Tribeofln&zhjhey loldto be fettled in Portugal, where they will not ftickjo "ay^That fome Thoufand Families of their Race are,whom hey difpenfe withal, to make a femblance of Chnfiianity, far as the taking of Invefiitures in Holy Ordfrs.
%s
From hence they fay their Meflias is come 5 of whom one may hear them difcourfe with fuch arelijh,fuch a Jelf pleating conceit and confiJencejhatit is wonderful. This may be theReafon why thty inftruft their Children and expound their Law in the Lafitanian Language w their Syna* goguesjwhere
Women
are not permitted
hold them to be of an inferiour Creation
tcr enter,
for they
toA4$n,and made
and Propagation A hey much glory Cabal, 'wherein they make the reality depend upon Letters and Words; but they hold,
cnlyfor fenfual Pleafure of their myfierious
$f things to that the Hebrew hath the fole Privilege of thu.This Cit?
Knowledge , which is nought elfe but TradiFather to Son, and fo from one Getranfmittedfrdm tion neration to another, is, as they fay, a Reparation in fome meafure for the lofs of our knowledge in Adam 5 Anl, fay bal,or kind of
they it
was revealed Four times
:
Firfl to
ingthruji cut ofParadife,and fitting one
/Kdm\>whobe-
Day veryfad,and
farrowing for the Lofs he had of that dependency the Creatures have upon the Creator, the Angel Raguel wasfent
him, as alfo to inftrnS him, and repair his loft kpcnmedge.Thts they call their Cabd\>which was loft the ftcond time by the Flood, and Babel. Then God di rcovered
to comfort
it to
Mofes in the
Bujh.
The third time
to
Solomon in a Dream?
<
The
Epiftle Dedicatory.
Dream, whereby became to know the Commencement, th Mediety, and Confummation of Times, whereof he com pofed many Volumes .which were loft in the Grand Capti yity. The lafi time they holdjhat God reftored the Cabai 90 Efdras (a Book^they highly value) who, by Gods Com *tand,withdrew himfelf to the Wildernefs^oDays,attendei
hy five Scribes,n^o in that fpace wrote 200 and ^Vooks whereof the firjf 134 were to be fublichly read; but th other
70
were to pafs privately among the Levites, ant
thofe they pretend to be Cabalijiical,
and not to
be all loft
Concerning the prefent Religion of the Jews, there b three Setts of them. The firft 5 which is the greate(t y ari called the Talmudifts, in regard that befides the Holy
Scr inures, they hold *£e Talmud for Authentic Book 'ompofed by their Rabbins. The fecond Sett of th Jews receive the Scriptures*. The thirds which is cat led the Samaritan, and whereof there are but very fen at this day, 9dmn only of the Pentateuch, viz. Thefiv Books of Mofes> for Authentick Scripture. As, according to my former Obfervation, this Nation i grown cowardly and cunnings even to a Proverb, whicl, mull be imputed to their various Thraldoms, Contemp
and Poverty (which j ho it ufe to dafterdize,and repretf the Courage, yet it whets the Wit,^ fo be/ides ^uall ties they are commonly \\gbt,and giddy hezded>muchfym bolizjng in Humour\ with fame of the Apocalyptical Zea lots ofthefe Times and bold Expounders of Daniel jwitl y m
the other Prophets
:
Whereby
they ufe to footh, or rather
fool themfelves into fome egregious fanatical Dotage^whick
nevenhelefs pajfeth among them for an Illumination. The firft Chrifttan Prince that expelled the JewjL oh of his 'Territories, was that Heroick King our Edward th
PirdyWho was fuch a fore Scourge is
alfo to the
thought divers Families of thofe banijjaed
Scots
5
andi
Jews fl*d the* t
The
Epiftle
Dedicatory.
Scotland, where they have propagated face in great lumbers s witnejs the Averfion that Nation hath above
I
then
Hogs-Flejh.
to
mfor
their
Nor was
Religion, but for
this their
Extermina -
their notorious
Crimes
;
as
oifon'tng of Wells> counterfeiting of Coins, falfiping of and crucifying of Chrifttan Children, with other >eals y
Tear 1 291 And fixteen Example It was r\ear upw 200 Tears after\t hat Ferdinand difterred them out of >pain, and five Tears after him Emanuel of Portugal 'illanies.
This happened
in the
r
ears aft #r 3 France followed our
:
But the Countries whence they were lajl exSicily, Anno 1359. In other Parts /Chrifl endom they refide yet in great number s^as in Ger* did the
like.
nlled,was
Naples and
many high and low, Bohemia, Lituania, Poland, and &uilia, in Italy alfo they are
which
is jubjett to the
found
K. of Spain
:
;
but in no Country ; live at
They
Rome
very quietly under the Tope's Nofe \ and 5r. Mark makes In fundry fcruple to entertain them at Venice. places of the Ottoman Empire they are found very nu-
m
merous ; fo that it is rio^k,Conftantinople and Theffalonica onlyjoave near upon 20 thoufand of them 5 Afil is
full of them, as
Aleppo, Tripoli, Damafcus, Rhodes,
and indeed aU Places of Commerce aud Trajfick. There are Numbers of them found alfo in Perfia, Arabia^*/ about Cranganor in India. And to come to Africk,*/^ have their Synagogues and Lombards in Alexandria, the Grand Cairo as alfo in Feffe in Termiflen, and
Kingdom of Morocco. There are left in Jerufalem. But that place where they are mofi unminftled is Tiberias, which the Turks gave to Mendez the Jew, forborne Jignal divers places in the
about one hundred Families
Services
: Thither they oftentimes bring or fend the Bones of their dead Friends, who have left large Legacies , to
fo interred from ether places. Beftdes
The
Epiftle Dedicatory.
Dream^ whereby he came to know the Commencement , th Mediety^ and Confummation of Times , whereof he com ilumes ,which were loft in the Grand Capti pofed many vity. The laft time they hold that God reftored the Caba to Efdras (4 Book^they highly value) who y by Gods Com ytandjrithdrew himfelf to theWilderncfs QoDays attends by five Scribes^o in that fpace wrote 200 and ^liooks
V
y
whereof the firji 134 were to be fublickly read ; but tk 70 were to pafs privately among the Levites ant
other
%
thofe they pretend to be Cabalijtical,
and not to
be all
loft"
Concerning the prefent Religion of the Jews, there bt The firft , which is the great eft y art three Setts of them. called the Talmudifts, in regard that befides the Holy
Scrinures^ they hold the
Talmud
for
Authenticate
*
Book ^ompofed by their Rabbins. The fecond Sell of tk Jews receive the Scriptures*. The thirdy which is cal\ led the Samaritan, and whereof there are but 'very feu at this day% Bdmit only of the Pentateuch, viz. The fiv* Booh of Mofes> for Authentick Scripture. As y according to my former Obfervdt ion, this Nation u grown cowardly and cunnings even to a Proverb % which muft be imputed to their various Thraldoms, Contempi
and Poverty (which f ho it ufe to dafterdize,and reprefi the Courage, yet it whets the Wit,) fo befides J^alities they are commonly \lgbt y and giddy h^d^d^muchfym' boliung in Humour, with fome of the Apocalyptical Zealots ofthefe Times and bold Expounders of Daniel jwith y the other Prophets : Whereby they ufe to footh, or rather fool themfehes into fome egregious fanatical,Dotage>which
nevenhelefs pajfeth among them for an Illumination. The firft Chriftian Prince that expelled the Jew&
0M
was that Heroick King our Edwara tht 1t \X%who was fuch a fore Scourge alfo to the Scots i and u
of his Territories is
thought divers families of thofe banified
Jews fled ther
The t$
Epiftle
Dedicatory.
Scotland, where they have propagated face in great that Nation hath above % mtnejs the Averfwn
Numbers others to
00 for
pcijoning of
and
Seals,
Nor was
Hogs-Flejh.
their
Villanies.
Religion, but for
Welhy
200
Extermina* Crimes
;
counterfeiting of Coins, falfiping
as
of
crucifying of Chrifttan Children^ with other This happened intheTear 1 291* And ftxteen
Tears after fixiXiQt followed our
en
this their
their notorious
Example
:
It
was
njtar up-
Tears after, that Ferdinand difterred them out of
Spain, and five Tears after him Emanuel of Portugal But the Countries whence they were lajl exdid the like. pelled,was Naples and Sicily, Anno 1359-/0 other? arts
0/Chriflendom they refide yet in great number s,as inGtf many high and low, Bohemia, Lituania, Poland, and Ruilia, in Italy alfo they are found
which
wry
is
fubjetl to the
K. of Spain
:
;
but in no Country ; live at
The)
Rome
Nofe \ and Sr. Mark makes In fundry fcruple to entertain them at Venice. places of the Ottoman Empire they are found very numerous \ fo that it is rioa^Conftantinople and Theffalonica only^have near upon 20 thoufand of them 5 Afil is full of them^ as Aleppo, Tripoli, Damafcus, Rhodes, and indeed all Places of Commerce aud Traffick- There are Numbers of them found alfo in Perfia, Arabia 3 quietly under the Tope's
m
W
about Cranganor in India. And to come to Africk,f^jr have their Synagogues and Lombards in Alexandria, the Grand Cairo as alfo in Feffe in Termiflen, and •,
divers places in the
Kingdom of Morocco. There are left in Jerufalem. But that
about one hundred Families
place where they are mofl unmingled is Tiberias, which the Turks gave to Mendez the Jew, forborne fignal
Services
: Thither they oftentimes bring or fend the Bones of their dead Friends, who have left large Legacies, to he interred from other places.
Bejides
The Befides
Epiftle Dedicatory.
thofe various
vifibU Judgments, which bav,
fallen upon the Nation of the Jews^-f the full Subverfw Ele of their Temple and City, with the /laughter of above Siege Be fide ; vtn hundred thoufand Souls during Titus'i
the Degeneration of their Country^of that Land which flow td with Milk and Honey % into fuch a barren Condition : Be their (IragUng confufed Gourfe of Life pith the gene
fides
ral Contempt
Defpicablenefs they ftll
and
the Abjeclwn of
their Spirits,
into
;
befide
and Giddinefs of
thei
Brains : 1 fa) ^efides alt thtfe Changes upon their Minds it feems there is a kind of Curfe alfo fallen upon their Bo dies, witwfs thoje uncouth looks ^and odd ca/ts ofEye y whert hy
.they
are
diftw uilhed from other
People.As lik*wijejha
rankifh kind of fcent y no better indeed than a (Hnk, whic,
obferved to be inherent and infep arable from mo ft c ^nd 1 wifh that Eng them, above all other Nations, is
land may not be troubled with that Scent again. Th< occafion of thefe lad Calamities which fell dow the
in fuchCata atts upon the Jews, fhall difcover in this enfuing Story
of his perufal, People not to
]
difcerning
therefore very
t
Reade worth
in regard they may fervefor Cautions to a provoke the High Majefly of Heaven b
fuch bind of Sedition and Vrophanenefs ; they may ferv\ asfo many Buoyes to preferve them from finking into fuc Gulfs of Mtferies : For tf the natural Branches wer not fpared, how can the Wild-Olive think to efcape th Fire of his Difpleafure. So with my hearty Prayers to
yityand Welfare of take far
From ibn
Warning
the P/iof the
fleet ^feb.
5.
this glorious
by theft
Heaven
for the Profpe
City, dnd that fhe
Judgment j,
ma
I reji
Your humble and ready
Servant,
James Howei
A
Brief
Description
of
ASIA,
and the
HOLY LAND. ASia
is
tWO-fold, the Greater and the Lefs ; the Lefs
a part of the Greater, and is at this day called Anatolia, in refpecl of the Eaftern fituation thereof from Byzantium ; the Greater is now one of the Four is
Amc
Parts of the Earth, by reafon of the acceflion of tica unto the former three 5 before a thirdPart,and by the account of fome (according as Varro tells) one of the two Parts of the fame. For whereas they of Jate accounted Europe, Afia and^/Wf*,until America or the New World was found our,others made Africa a part of Europe ; fo the Parts of the Earth were Europe one, and Afia the other, and no more. By neither of thefe two Accounts doth Afia get or lofe any thing from the vulgar Divifion, only when the Divifion is made into Parts,E«ro/>e is a gainer. Thofe which write of the Name and Etymology of ^/w.derive the word from Afia, a Woman, a Daughter to Oceanus and Tie* *r,Wife to Iapetut^nd Mother to Promotheus. This
Genealogy,
be taken according to the Letter, fufpeft it fabulous, why any Man of Underftanding (hould doubt it 5 and yet if the meaning of the Fable be fearched into,it feems to carry in it this appearance of Truth ; That Afia was named from Oceanus the Sea, and Tietts the Water ^ or Wife of the Sea j that in this part only of the World which before the Deluge was peopled, came the Hood and deftroyedMankind by Water the reafon of tpeEtymology lying hid in the name *W,which fignithere
tieth
is
if
it
no reafon to
Moi*»™
-n. ,
bounds of
this part
of the Earth
A
Defcription of Afia:
ire the *AEgeanSea, the Tropomis and Blacl^Sea, Pains
Dmna which feparare it from Europe but it is parted from Africa bv iheRed SeajZndlfthmus of Egyt. In rhe fir ft Age of the World, this part of the Earth was more renowned than Europe, or any part thereof. The affairs of Europe were very mean, or at leaft in great obfcurity, before Xerxes's Expedition againft Greece, which was after the Babylonian Capnvicy of the Jews. But in Afia was the wonderful Work of our Creation, and of all other Creature^ wrought In this part, our Saviour wrought oar Redemption, and fhewed his Miracles : Here was *the glorious and mighty Empire of the Chaldeans, fignified by the Image with the Golden Head in Daniel, and that ivf warchv of the Perfians fignified by the Arms and B eaftsof Silver, unto which too the- Macedonian Kingdom of Brafs was inferior. In the Greater Afia, is fituated the Land of Canaan, called fo from ^anaan the Son of fJam,tht Son o(Noab t whofe Pofterity dwelt there 5 alfofV
:
ThisCouncry
lies in
32 Degrees Northward from
the Equinoftial, it is not full 200 Miles long, nor
From the Mouth of God, tells us, that it was a Land which flowed with Milk and Honey, and that this was the glory of ail Lands. Before the Children of lfrael drove out the Inhabitants, it was governed by 30 Kings : And afterward it was divided into two Kfagr
dms
T
A
Defcriptson of Afia.
doms in the Days of Rehoboam, the Son of Soloman. David numbring the People of the Land, found the
>
Account to be Thirteen hundred thou/and Men ofWar, excluding the Benjamites, and the Tribe of Lm.The Fruits of this Land werethefe in fipecid\,Balm,Honey$ Spices, Myrrh, Nuts and Almonds: Nor is their Wheat to be forgotten,nor their Oyl, with which they traded in the Market of Tyrus, befides the forenamed Commodities, Ezek.2j. 17. That it did excel in Palm-trees, Strabo tell us, and the Roman Coins, which in their Reverfe reprefent a Woman fitting in the Gefture of a Mourner under a Palmtree,fignifying Judea captivated- But the Almighty ,as he drove out and deftroyed the Nations which dwelt in this Land before, fo did he afterwards his own People, becaule of the Greatnefs of their Sins, fo that the Land ( as he tells us by his Prophet ) fpewed them out, turned part of this Country whereabout Sodom
and Gomorrah
ftood, into Slime-pits, or the
Deadot
Saltfea^ when as before it was for Pleafantnefs like to the Garden of God ^ even fo did God deal with his own unthankful and Rebellious People. Firft he carried the Ten Tribes into Bondage by Salmanajfery who at this day are not to be found the other two Tribes were carried away into Babylon, where they
endured 70 Years Captivity, And lalt of alitor rejefting and crucifying his own Son the Lord of Glory, they have been deftroyed, driven out of their own
Country, and continue as Vagabonds thorough the whole World : And the Fruitfiilnels of this goodly Country doth fcarce appear at this day, according to that of the Pfalmift, Pfal. 107. 33, 34. He turneth Rivers into a Wildernefs,and theWater -jprings into B dry
A Ground:
Defcription of Afia.
A fruitful Land into
Barrennefs^for the Wickcdnefs of them that dwell therein. No Man hath obferved the great Increafe of the'r Seed, which Ifaaciound (who/owed in that Land and reaft an hundred fold) at this day-, the Balrtijwhichfuflin the Hiftorian writes of, brought in their Trealure, was a plant, not as fome have thought, proper or common to Arabia^ but as Pliny notes, peculiar to
dry
t
}
the Land of fudaaox Syria^ as others call it^ and of that high price, that it was valued at an equal Rate, and fometimes double to Silver^ is now no to be found : Neverthelefs, left Men fhould think in their foolifh Imaginations,that this Land had never been fuch, as it is by the word of God himfeif commended to be, in Lome Places there are certain
where
of the ancient Fertility thereof ^ for Miles long and broad, there is found fuch fruitful Paftures ,that in fb hot a Country the Grafs is feen to grow in fome places as high as a Man's Middle, in other places as high as to the Breafh But though the Lord for a time hath cut off
marks and
iigns,
in a certain Plain divers
this his ?zo^\z,and turned their fruitful Land into Barrennefs^ yet he hath abundantly ihewed us in his Word,that the fullnefs of the Gentiles being come in, God will have Mercy upon,and take into his Favour this his ancient People, re-eftablifh them in their
ewn Land
in fecurity, and without all doubt, reftore the Land to its former fruitfulnels. All which let us humbly pray to God the Father, that for his infinite
Mercies in Jefus Chrift, he will fpeedily accomplifh and turn the Wildernefs into a flanding Water\ and dry
Ground
into
Water -firings.
Amen.
THE
[
I]
wars The First B o o k
of the
W
OF THE
E
J
The
N
I
S.
PROEM.
Volume of Jofephus there were made of things, as they had reference in chief to the Romans and other the great
Hiftorical Narrations
JBu. Nations
:
This
lelfer piece
or Epitome ± rather to the
declares Matters as they relate principally
State of their Commonfrom the Maccabees unto their final Subverfion and Ruine of the fecond Houfe. Therefore according unto thole things that we have found in the Book of Jofeph the Prieft, Son of Gorion^ and in other Books written according to the moft certain truth, we will draw forth and rehearfe fome things for the Comfort that may thence arife ^ efpecially feeing all the Prophets have bent and dire&ed
Jews themfeives, and the wealth,
their Prophecies
the
and Predictions to
Kingdom of
this point,
that
the Houie of David fhould be
re-
Therefore and flourifh 'in time to come. if thete had been any Kings of the Houfe of David
ftored,
.
B
2
during
The Wars of the Jews.
2
during the time of the fecond Temple, tve have been in fufpence, yea, even
then fhould already
now
But there was no Kingour hope had been dalh'd dom of the Houfe of David in that Age, fave only a certain Dominion that Zerubbabel and Nehemiab :
had. Yea, rather .the Kingdom re naked at that time in the Houfe of the Maccabees^ and in fuch that were toward
now
Them, and
their
Servants.
But
to the purpofe.
CHAP.
I.
WHen
Alexander^ the firft King of the Greeks^ had eftabiifhed his Kingdom, he died, being yet but a young Man, and his Kingdom was divided among four of his Captains, as it is written, While he is yet alive , His Kingdom jhall be broken and delivered into four Coafis of the Heavens^ Dan. 8. He left behind him a Son of tender Years, called Archelaus, whofe Tutor or Governour perceiving him to be toward, gave him impoifoned drink, and made him away. Thefe Captains made War one upon another, of whom one that was named Ftole-
my^ procured Mofes's Law to be Tranflated into Greeks to the intent he might find lbme occafion to pick a Quarrel againft l/rael. For by their Law he fought Means to withdraw them from their Religion, according to Pfal. 12?. Mary a time have they ajjiifled me from my louth up^ may Ifrael novo Jjy. There were Seventy ancient Men that Tranflated the Law, whom Ptolemy the King feparated one from another, putting eveiy Man apart in a Houfe by himfelf. Bat they all agreed in one fenfe, albeit
The Wars of the Jews.
j
changed thirteen places, which was not done without Miracle, that all agreed together in the Meaning and Writing, as though one alone had Thefe thirteen places be thefe. written. Here no word Firft, Ged created in the beginning. or thing is put before the Name of God, and alfo for that in the Greek Tongue, the Thing that doth is placed after, is put before, and that this is made, It
they
left this
word Beri/hetb (hould be taken
for a Creator,
and Elohim for a Creature.
The
fecond,
J will
Man
make
according to the
Image and Likenefs, Gen. i. I, for we, that it ihouid not be thought, as though he were one that confulted with others therein.
The
AndGodfinited the fixtb
day, and refled Sixth for Seventh, left it Ihouid feem as though He had made any thing in the feventh day, and in it ended his working. The fourth, Go to, I will go down, and there will confound their Language, Gen. 2. I, for we, left by fpeaking in the Plural Number, He ihouid have been thought to be many. third,
the feventh, Gen.
The
fifth,
And
2.
Sarah laughed, fpeaking
to
them
that flood by her, Gen. 18. With them that ..tood by her, for, to her felf, becaufe Ptolemy the King (hould
not
mock them, and
fay,
who (hewed you what
(he
faid to her felf.
The
Becaufe in their fury they killed an Ox, Crib for an Ox. Left the King (hould deride them, and ask, what hath a Man to do with an Ox >
and in
fixth,
their Will they brake the Crib, Qen, 2 9.
The feventh, And Mofes took his Wife and his Sons, and fet them upon that that could bear a Man, Exod, 4. That that could tiear a Man for an Ajs, left
B
3
the
The War? of tfo Jews.
4
the King fhould deride our Matter Mofes, becaufe he And that he (hould not fay, how rode on an Afs fhould an Afs bear a Woman and two Children ? He would never have done it, if he had not been a Beggar. :
And the dwelling of the Children of Egypt, and other Lands ^ was 430 Tears, Exod. 12. Notwithftanding, they abode not in Egypt but 210 Years, and that is that their Father Jacob told them Defcend ye ( the Letters of the which word in Hebrew fignifies 210) thither. Fur* thermore, the computation of 430 Years, is from the Year that Ifaac was born, which was the holy Seed unto Abraham. The ninth, And unto the little ones of the Children of I('rael 9 firetched he not his hand, Exod. 4. Little ones for Princes. As who would fey, yea alfo unto Becaufe their little Ones he ftretched not his Hand. he (hould not fay, the great Men efcaped, but the Children of the Sons of Ifrael efcaped not. The tenth, I took of them nothing of value, Num. 16. Of value for an Afs. Left he (hould fay he took riot an Afs ? but he took one Reward. The eleventh, Which things thy Lord God hath divided^ that they may ff)inc on all People, Deut. 4. Tbaf they mfy Jhine is added, left he (hould take an Argument thereof and fay, Lo the holy and blefled Lord hath divided them to all People, and hath given them licence to wotfhip them. The Twelfth, He went and worjhipped jirange Gods^ which I commanded no^fomorfhip, Deut. 170 To worfh/p is added, left he mould fay, now haft thou called them to ftrange worOiipping of Gods, The
eighth,
Ifrael, in
:
-
v
-
The
the Wars of the Jews.
The
thirteenth,
They
tranflated
5
an kite
Little
left Wile was called feet, becaufe the King's me. mock , he fhould fay the jfcw* When thefe Seventy Elders had tranflated tne Law into the Greek Tongue, Ptolemy xcpjcmg Wifdom, honoured them with fnnce* '
much
in their
brought them iy Apparel and great Rewards, he fent by Moreover glad. again, merry and
home
tnem
were maOblations to our God. At that time there the Gr
thefe Seventy refufed.
Not
long
alter
Omce,diCaptain Seieucus, Ptolemy's Companion in Macedonia in reigned Antiocbus ed in whofe ftead Antiocbus making War upon Ptobmey, bereft This
and flew him. After lfrael, then under the of Land the that he fubdued veiy proud: He waxed and Ptolemy, Regiment of Ptolemy, and loved they becaufe alfo, hated lfrael
him of
all
his Dominions,-
aided him in the Wars againft him. This is that Antiocbus that builded a great City .
upon the Sea Coafi and called it Antlocbla, wherein he made a Golden Idol, commanding that the Children of lfrael ftiould be brought unto it,, and worihip it. But fome of them chofe father to fuffome fer death for the Religion of their God, and other fell from the Synagogue, their Mother Before this he took away alfo their SabNew Moon, and League of Circumcilion: forbidding that in any wife they fhould obfcrve thefe Commandments in any place throughout all his Dominions. For the which he put many of the lfraelites to death, and opprefTed them
Church.
bath, their •
more
than' did
verfaries.
ever any of their Enemies or Adin Honour next himfelf
The fecond Man
B
4
in
6
the Wars of the Jews.
was one Polipus, he ereftedan Image Temple, commanding the People of IJrael to worfhip it ^ and whofoever was difobedient, to be flain. Therefore he put to Death Hannah and in Jerufalem,
in *he
her feven Children, as
When
ces.
it is
mentioned in other pla-
Antiochus perceived
this,
it
increafed
inlomuch that he did his endeavour that none of them (hould efcape or be left alive, except fuch as would worfhip the Image* his Hatred towards IJrael,
Then
fled many of the IJraelites to the Mount Modiit, and to Jerico, becaule of the Law of Polipus and Antiochus his Lord, having to their Governor the High-Prieft Mattathias Son of John,
othei wife called Chajmbname.
them
The
Prieft
enjoyned
to faft and punifh* themfelves before the
Lord with Weeping, Sackcloth and Afhes. And after this he faith unto them, if ye will jeopard your Lives for the Holy Lord, why die we like Women > Let us go and fight with Po/ipus > and if we die we (hall die Peradventure the Holy and BlefTed with Honour :
God
will help us,and will not root out the
Remnant
Council every Man aflembied, and made a Covenant, with him upon this thing. Po/tpus hearing this, gathered his Forces together, and made towards them to deftroy them, and what JJraelite fbever he found in his way he flew him. Mattathias the Prieft, and all the Remnant ot IJrael, underftanding that Polipus came againit them, they went up the Mount Modiit with their Wives and Then put b„ A iimlelf and his Sons in ArChildren. He had five Sons, Judas the eideft, the next mourthird Joacan, the fourth Schimeon, the Jonathan, the fifth Eleazer. All thcfe were valiant Men of War. When Polipus came to them, he craftily fpake to of IJrael.
To
this
Mattathias,
the Wars of the Jews.
7
one of the chief Men in Ifrael, and a Man of Honour and Eftimation : Come down therefore, and all that be with thee, and ftrive not againft the worihip the Image, King, that ye may live and not be deftroyed. Thou flialt be their Prince alfo, if thou fhalt be conformBut the Prieft in no wife would be fcduced by able. him, but rather curfed and reviled him. Mattatbias had an Altar at the Foot of the Hill, whereupon when he had offered Sacrifice to the moft Blefled God, there came one of the wicked Ifraelites but of This Polipus's Camp, and killed upon it a Swine. Villain was young and lufty, but the Prieft was old : Yet when he faw what this lewd Fellow had done, crying to his God to ftrengthen him, he challenged Which a Combat between himfelt and the Fellow. thing being liked both of the Fellow and of Polipus with his whole Army, Mattatbias came down with his drawn Sword in his Hand, and the Fellow flood againft him ready to receive him. But the Prieft rufhing upon him by the alfiftance of his God, overcame him/ cut oft his Head, afldcaft hisCarkafs upon the Altar, whereat Polipus and his whole Hoaft were much aftonied, beholding one another. The Prieft flood ftill by the Altar, crying. Which of Mattatbias, faying
:
Thou
art
you will come to me Man for Man ? Then Polipus picked out a ftrong Champion, the beft of ail his Army^and brought him out of the Amies of the Hoaft to teach him his Leflion, how he (hould behave h mfelf with the Prieft. The Prieft therefore drew toward the Camp, with his naked Sword in his Hand, as though he came to join with their Champion : Bat leaving him, he turned his Sword upon Polivus^ ftruck off his Head, and -"fled to the Hill.
8
the Wars of the Jews.
Then blowing their Horns and making a fhout together, they rufhed down upon thfc Grecians Camp. Bat when the Grecians law that their grand Captain was flain, they fled Chafmortame and his Sons, with all Ifrael^ followed the Chace ^ overHill.
threw them, and made great flaughter. This done, Mattatbias the Prieft went to JerufaIem 3 purified the Temple, reftored the Worfhipping of God, and commanded all that were bom during the time of Polipus^ to be circumcifed, for by the means of his Inhibition they were uncircumcifed. Hius being eftablifhed, he fat upon the Throne ins Kingdom, and drove the Greeks out of the Land of IfraeL His Kingdom endured one Year, which was the 212 Year From the building of the fecond Houfe. After this he fell fick and like to die, charged his Sons to keep the Obfervations of the Lord, and to walk in his Ways : Alfo to play the i
Men
againft the Gr&cians, for the Religion
Then brought he
Lord.
of the
forth Judas a tali
Man
and a hardy, and placing him in the San&uary, took a Horn of Oyl, and poured it upon his Head, whereat the Israelites clapped their Hands, and gave a great fhout, faying, God fave the King, God lave the King.
Judas gathered an Army of Jfrael^ and Expedition againft the Remnant of the Greeks that were left in the Holds of lfraely and whatfoever he took in hand, God gave it good fuccefo Notwithftanding Antiochus fent againft him a Puiffant Army, under the leading of one Captain Tefonius, againft whom Judas fo Warred, that the Grecians went to wrack, for he efpyed his time
Soon
after
made an
when
thsy were dcftitute of Vi&uals,
and fpeedUy
The fet
upon them,
Wm of
*
the
Jews.
them down handfmooth,
beat
approached to Captain Pelonius
h
9 afircl
flew the Valiantdt
about him, yea and htm alfo. When Ant helms heard he was in a great Rage^ wherefore he chofe this, out a moft Valiant Captain, called Lyfias, and fent him againft Jerufalem with 1000 Horlettien, and Foot-men without number. Judas having knowledge thereof, commanded a Faft throughout all Ijrael and afterwards took Mutter ot Al for three days his Army, and made over them Captains of thouThefe faid to sands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Whereuptheir Soldiers, Wbofoever is afraid, &c. on many of the People returned home, yet there remained 7500, of fuch Courage all, that one would not have run away for a hundred. Lyjias divided his Hoaft into three parts, committing them unto three Captains, Wicanor, Bagrii and Ptolemy: But after the Ifraelites had once gi\ en a great Shout, the Lord beat down the Greeks, fo that the Ifraelites deftroyed nine thoufand of their Enemies, and Ipoil.ed the whole Hoaft, and they that remained alive took themfelves tq flight. The next day King Judas kept his Sabbath, together with ail Ifrael, in the •,
.
The
Temple,
for the Battle
morrow
after the Ifraelites returned to the fpoil
thofe that were killed, that were not able to
was upon the
fixth day.
of and after to purfue others refift-, but. they found none,
Karnaum. During the time of thefe Wars, Antiocbus invaded the Land of Ferfia, for they had moved War againft him, and done Injury, wherefore he fought agairtft them But having the overthrow at their hands he returned to Antiocbia with great fhame, vrljere alfo he found his Armies with another dishonour
for they fled into Aftarotb
:
I©
the Wars of the Jews.
honour and Foil : Wherewith he was in luch Rage,* that he gathered together all the Valianteft and belt Warriors in all Graciajea, ail that were able to bear
Weapons, fwearing he would bring with him fuch an Army, that all the Ground about Jerufalem fliouid not fuffice them to ftand upon, whom he would have with him, even for his Foot men only And he fet forward his Horfe-men, with Horfes and Waggons laden with all manner of Munition for the Wars, as Bows, Shields, Targets, Swords, and Spears, Breaft-plates, and Morions, bolides a great number of Elephants, and iuch, that twelve Valiant Men might fight upon one Elephant, the Elephants being to them as a Fortrels. But King Judas taking Heart to him, put his Truft in his God, and joined Battle with him. At length, when he with the Power of IJrael approached to the Elephants, they flew them down-right, fo that the Elephants roared, the Horfes, and all the Beafts that drew the Baggage and Furniture, were very fore afraid. King AntiQcbus alfo being mounted upon his Mare, and not able to fit her, in her flight was thrown down His Servants therefore finding him, took him up, and bare him awhile on their Shouldiers, and (being a corpulent and grofs Man) they were not able to carry him farther, but cait him down in the way. The Lord had plagued him alfo and his whole Hoalf with a dry Scab, or rottSn :
:
Matter, and with other moft horrible Difeafes \ Therefore as he faw all thefe things, he confeiTed it to be the Hand of God. Whereupon he made a Vow, that if he efcap'd, he would circumcife himfeif, with all his Soldiers, and would convert them to the
woilhipping of the
God of
IJrael:
But
God
heard
1:
the him
He
not.
Wan of
fled therefore
the Jews;
on Foot as
.
1 xfrell
as
he
through his grievous and fore Difeafes, and Opiter his Son Reigned in his King Judas , with all Ifrael, returned with (lead. great joy to the Houfe of the Lord, offered Sacrifice And as they had laid Wood upon the Altar, and the 1 Sacrifice upon that, they called unto the Lord, in the mean lovingly to accept their Sacrifice, and fpace, Fire came forth of the Altar by its own accord, confuming the Sacrifice and the Wood, the like never chanced to them unto this day. This Miracle was wrought the 25 th day of the Month E/u/y or might, and died by the way,
Auguft.
The King made an Expedition to
War upon
alfo into Arabia,
the People thereof, and
made of them
a great Slaughter, and ferought them into Subje&ion, and made them Tributaries. In his return he fet upon a great City of the Greeks, won it, and razed it.
made a Road into Greece ten days Where came againft him, with a mighty
After that, he
Journey
:
Army, the chief Men in King Opiter\ Realm, next his Perfon But Judas diicomfited him and aU his From whence he went to the C;ty Sypolls; People, that was under the Romans^ where came forth to meet him Godolias, with a Royal Prefent, informing him that they had ever born the Ifraelites good Will, were their Neighbours, and (hewed them Plealures. The King examined the Matter, and found their words true So receiving their Prefents, departed :
:
thence.
a Captain of the Romans, but Judas ftruck a Battle and deftroyed his whole Army, fo that
After this Gorgorius*
moved War with Judas, with him, none efcaped.
Opiter
i
The Wars of iht Jews. Ophe -on of Amwchvs, hearing what ASts Judas
2
did
Countries round about
;
h
>le, A
levied a Puiflant
came and K:;ged Betbar. all Ijrael w their God, with
The Night Bands,
after,
:
He
muttered all
Army, wherewith he Then cryed Judas and Fafting and Sacrifices.
Men into certain to give the Grecians a
Judas divided his
rommanding them
Cam/ado, and to enter their Camp whilft it was Which they did, and flew very many df the dark about Four thoufand prepafceft of the Grecians \ :
ring neverthelefs for the Field againft the Morrow, where alfo the Ifraelites did bear down many of the Greeks. In that Battle was fliin Eleazer Son ofMat-
:
For when he efpied one with a golden Swor d upon the Elephant, he thought It to be King Gpiter, who had 20 Elephants in his Army-, therefore he took heart to him, and beat down the Soldiers of the Greeks on both fides, were they never fo ftrong, till he came to the Eletathias the King's Brother. N
phant. And becaufe the Elephant was fo high that he could not reach them that fat upon him, he thruft his Sword into the Belly oftheBeaft, to overthrow the King, whereat the Elephant fhrunk together, and fell upon Eleazer^ that he died there; for whofe fake all Ifrael mourned, and made great lamentation. But Opiter hearing this, ftraightway made fuit to King Judas for Peace, and a League to be made between them which after Judas had confented unto, he returned home into Greece again, and by the way fell into the bands of his Enemies that flew him. After him fucceeded Demetrius his Enemy, who was the caufe of his Death. There were at that time, certain evil difpofed Perfons of the Jews. tha
.
i
the Wars- of the Jews.
$
that ferved the King of the Grecians in his Wars ; namely , one Alkimus^ who went to the King of the I
Greeks^ at that time lying at Antiocbia, and ftirred him to move War upon ljrael and King Judas. By .whofe fuggeftion, Demetrius fent againft Judas a Captain called Nicanor jnith a ftrong Army. He now
coming to Jcrufalem> let Judas underftand, That he bare him good Will, and was delirous to make Peace, and to enter into a League with him. Therelore as Judas came forth accompanied with his Brethren the Sons of Chafmcname, Nicanor met him After in the way, embraced him and kifled him that, lead him to his Pavilion, and fet him upon King Judas alfo, after he rehis Seat of Honour. turned from the Camp, made unto Nicanor a great Feaft, calling him and his Noblemen with him into Jerusalem, where they eat and drank at the King's Table. King Judas was yet unmarried, wherefore Nicanor moved him to a Wife, that he might have Iflue, and not lofe his SuccelTion, whole Counfel Ju:
das allowed.
This done, the lewd pick- thank Alkimus declared King Demetrius, the League that Nicanor had made with King Judas whereat Demetrius being wroth, writ to Nicanor^ That he had Intelligence of Nicanor was in Jerufalem his traiterous Praftices
to
this Letter was delivered him : When Judas heard of the Contents of the Letter, he fled out
when
of Jerufalem into Samaria 9 where he founded a Trumpet, and gathered ljrael together, Nicanor upon thefe Letters entred the Houfe of the Lord to feek Judas 3 but he found him not. Then he examined the Priefts, who fware they knew not what was become of him. .
After
:
Wars of
|4
the
Jem.
After he had now fought him in every Corner throughout Jerufalem, and could not find him, in a fume he fware he would beat down the Temple And gathering together all his Hoaft, he made fpeed againlt Judas.
When
he heard of Nicanor's coming,he ifTued out to meet him, and after they had joined Battle, Judas flew of the Greeks to the number of eighteen thoufand Horfe-men, took 'Kicanor alive, and did intend to kill him. But Kicanor befought Pardon of him, alledging that the King knew well enough, that he began not this Battel with his Will, but left he fhould tranfgrefs the Commandment of the King his Matter. Wherefore, ( faith he) I humbly befeech your Majefty not to kill me, and I will fwear unto >ou that I will never bear Arms againft you, nor annoy you any more. Upon this, the King made a League with him, and diffmifled him. So he returned to the King his Matter with ftiame enough. After this^Dcwetnus died, and Lyfia Reigned in his ftead ; yet the wicked Men
of Samaria
ceafed not, but
Voyage
in his
moved again King
own
Perfbn, with
a
Lyfia to make a puiflknt Army
But having the overthtow of King unto Ajdotum, tiil he had ftrongly reThen came he the fecond paired again his Army. time upon Jadas, in which Conflict the Ifraeiues were put to flight. King Judas notwithitanding, fled neither one way nor other, but called to his Men, and exhorted them to return and (tick to him, yet they would not obey him. So he abode alone with his drawn Sword in his Hand, unto whom none of hit. Enemies durlt approach nigh, but with Chariots and horfe-men they environed againlt
Judas
Judas, he
fled
:
the Wars of the
Jeml
ij
and Archers (hot him, wounding he fell down dead to the Ground, and they that were about him were taken alive. The time that he reigned over Ifrael was fix Years* Many of the Greek Captains were flain alfo in that Battle, and the King himfeif fo wounded, that he was fain to get him into his Country to be cuAfter he had recovered his red of his Wounds. Health he returned again, came to Jerufalem, and to all the Cities of Ifrael, with the Power of the Greeks, wherewith he fo affli&ed them at that time, for the fpace of four Months after the death of Judas, that the like Tribulation was never in If-
environed him,
him
fore,
till
In the mean feafon, the Ifraelites reforted to Jonatbas the Son of Mattathias, and made him King in Juda's ftead, and were fworn unto him. This Jonatbas fought divers great Battles againft the Greeks, having the Aid of one Samnius of the Kin* dred of Alexander the Firft, who had made a League with Jonatbas^ and took his part againft Gr
rael.
•,
C
Then
the Wars If the Jews.
\6
Then
fent Ptolemy
to Simeon in
King of
Marriage.
To
King of Egypt, an Embaflage him his Daughter
lfrael, offering
this Requeft,
When King Simeon
had contented, Ptolemy came to Jerufalem, where was made him a great Feaft, and they were allied together. Whereupon Antiochus^ King of the Grecians, writ to Ptolemy King of Egypt , privily to murther Simeon King of Ifrael, whom Ptolemy durft not but obey, for at that time the King of Egypt was in fubTherefore, when Simeon came je£tion to the Greeks. into Egypt to fee his Father-in- Law Ptolemy^ he was received with great Feafting but at the fame time he had Poyfon given, that hc.died thereof] Befides this,, alfo h\s Son which came with him, Ptolemy Thefe things juftly chanced unto Simeon, for that he had tranlgrefled the Word of the Lord, that forbad all Alliance with the Gentiles. The time that he reigned over Ijrael was Eighteen caft into Prifon.
Years.
TJien John his Son reigned in his ftead, who was The fame called hircanus in the Greek Tongue. Ptolemy King of Egypt, invaded Ifrael with ail the
But John the Son ot Lord the overthrew Ptolemy Simeon met him, and they were whole that (lain of the IsHoaft, with his City purfued the Dagon, to of about raelites, and made Trenches, Ifraelites and Befiethe which Town had the Mowithin they the it. ged ther of King hircanus, whom Ptolemy caufed to be let upon the Walls, and to be icourged with Whips When Hircanus faw the in the fight of her Son.
Power
that he could make.
Now
•great Affeftion of his Mother, he would have raifed his Siege, and departed from Ptolemy : But his Mo* ther called unto him, and faid,
My dear Son
John, regard
The Wars of the Jews.
17
my Trouble, for all Chaftnings come Proceed manfully with thy Siege againft this City for it is in a great Diftrefs,and revenge Me, thy Father and Brother, murdered by Vtolemy. The King followed her Advice, and manfully railed a Mount, from which he battered the Walls with Engines of Iron, like Chariots, till they began to (hake. regard not
from God.
Wherefore many of the Soldiers of the Town fled, and their Companies began to fhatter. Ytolemy feethis, commanded to afflidt his Mother yet more, and to encreafe her Scourgings, until the Intrails of Hircanus were moved, that he could not abide lon-
ing
ger to fee his Mother fo cruelly handled, but leave Who nevertheless the Siege, and let Ftolemy efcape killed his Mother, and fled into Egypt. In the Fourth Year of King Hircanus* s Reign, Fius7 King of Greece^ came and befieged Jerufalem with a :
great power and ftrength, whom Hircanus was not able to meet, and encounter withal in the Field, but fuffered himieif to be clofed, up in rhe City.
The King of the Grecians therefore, raifed greac Towers againft the City, apart from the Wall, digged a Trench, and caft up a Mount. Then planted they their Engines, named Rams, againtt the Gates, To the City was hard Befieged For they b^at down one of the Turrets that Hood upon the Wall, whereat all Ifrael was afraid, and agreed together to out and skirmilh with them, whatfoever fiiould come thereon, Life or Death Which, although liircanus liked :
\
:
hot, yet did they lb, andfl^vv
and put them alfoto
many of rheir enemies,
flight, that they
were conftrain-
ed to encamp themfelves further off from Jerufalem. Then the Ifraelites came to the Towers that the Greeks had builded, and razed them to Uie ground.
C
2
.
Thus
1
the Ways of the Jew?,
8
Thus
they iflued out daily,
skirmifhing with Pius
until the Feaft of the Tabernacles.
cams to
Pius* deflring him, that he
Then fent Hirwould grant them
Truce, and let them be at Peace while the Feaft lafted His Requeft Pius granted, and fent a fat Ox to be offered to the God of \frael* covering his Horns with beaten Gold, and dreffing him with fillets of Cryftal and other precious Stones, cl£d alfo in a Garment of Purple, and divers other precious Cloaths He fent moreover a Plate both of Silver and Gold, full of divers kind of Spices, all to be When Uircanus faw this, offered unto the Lord. he went out unto Pius* and after he had made Peace with him, he made him, and his chief Men of War a great Feaft, and gave him a Prelent of CCG. He went alfo with Pius to pound weight of Gold :
:
:
Aid him againft the King of Perfia* But he time rebelled againft him.
that at that tarried there
not long, becaufe the time of Pentecoft was at hand. Wherefore Uircanus* and the Hoaft of Ifracl but Pius and his Army of the Grecians returned proceeded : whom the King of the Perfians met in the Field, flew Pius himfelf, and vanquifhed the refidue, that almoft none remained : Whereof when Tidings came to Uircanus* he was very glad, and returned to Jerufalem with Peace and JoyAfter this, Uircanus
made many
great Battles with
the Nations about him, and had ever Vi&ory.
He alfo came to the Mount of Corizim* where he won a Fort of the Seflaries and Samaritans* and razed the Temple that the Se&aries had there as their Houfe of Sanftuary, which they built by the Licence of Alexander the
firft
King of the Greeks He :
that
The
W&s
19
of the Jews.
Prieft, Brother to SimeButHircanus, the High-Prieft, pulled it down Two hundred Years afrer that it was buiided. From thence he went to the City of Samaria, and Befieged it. This was the Mother City of the Samaritans and Seflarics^which was brought to fuch Diftreis, by the long Siege of Hircanus, that they within were fain to eat the Carkafles of Dogs. The Feaft of Propitiation then at hand, Hircanus made fpeed to Jeru/a/em, to execute his Office at that Feaft, (for he was High-Prieft) appointing for Generals of Jiis Army Artftobulus his eldeft Son, and his fecond Son Antigonus.
that built
on the
it
was Manajje the
Juft.
In the
mean
feafon, they within
the
Town
writ
King of Greece, to come and fuccour them 5 •which he did with a great power. But thefe Two young men, the King's Sons, went to meet them, with the ftrength of the Ifrae/ites, and gave them the overthrow, klling them up almoft every one, to the number of Twenty one thoufand fighting men, and the reft fled. That done, the young Men returned to the Siege of Samaria. Kmg.Hircanus their Father Had Tidings of the coming of the Grecians againft his Sons,fo that he perceived they Ihould have the Grecians of the one fide of them, and the SamaritansixASeftaries on the other But he knew nothing what was happened, for that Vi&ory chanced the Ninth day of Tifre, or September. His heart therefore was careful for his to the
:
Sons, and for Ifrael
^
notwithftanding he proceeded
As he enHoufe of Santtum Santtorum, or the moft Holieft, to offer Incenfe, and to call for Metcy for his Children, and for his Army, he heard a Voice fpeaking unto C 3 in his Office according as the Feaft required
tred into the
1
:
:
the Warrof the Jews.
20
j
unco him. Never trouble thy mind with thy Children and with the Hoaft of Ifracl, for yefterday the Lord of Mercy heard them, and according to the greatnefs of his Goodnefs, for thy Fathers fakes Let thy heart therefore be right, and thy hands pure. So the King going out of the San&uary, Whereupon the next declared it to the People. day he lent Poft to Samaria, and was aduredly certiWherefore King Hirfied again, that this was true. canus was magnified greatly of all IJrael, for they knew that the blefled Lord accepted his Doings, infpiring him with the Holy Ghoft, and incre^fing his Kingdom and Prieft-hood. After this, be took a Journey to Samaria, befieged it a whole Year, and at length won it, flew all alfo that bare life within, He razed the Walls, the Palace, and burnt up the City. He had Wars alio with the Romans ,-and the Arabians 3 and God prospered all that ever he took in hand. Shortly after, God gave him reft and quiand from all lefs from all that dwelt about him, his Enemies, fo that l/rael refted boldly in peace and tranquility all his time.
On di
a time, the
ljr&cfy that
King made a Feaft to all the Sages might make cheer with him.
they
being pleafantly di(pofed,he frid,I am your Scholar, and whatfoever I do, that do I by your Authority. Wherefore I pray you,if you fee any fault in me,or if 1 r.o not asbecometh me, tell me of it, that I may re\ h rn my evil Way. Then every Man greatly extolled and commended him., faying, Who is like unto thee, our Lord the King, fo worthy of the Kingdom and Priefi-hocd, fo notable in good Works, whofe Works :\t
i
be done for the
us fo
much good
God of Heaven, which haft alfo done in Ifracl ? The King wa$ well j)ieafed with
:
The
Wan of
the Jews.
21
with their Anlwer, and rejoiced greatly. Yet was among them, an undifcreet Man, called Eleazer, who fpake unadvifedly to the King. And it were fufficient for you to it pleafe your Majefty, ye might leave the Kingdom, have the Crown of the to the Seed Prieft-hood of Aaron f for Crown of the was your Mother Captain in Mount as much as King was moved, and fore Incontinent the Modiit. there one
difpleafed againft the Sages : Which certain of his Servants that hated xhsSages^ and fmelled fomewhat of Se£ts, perceiving, one of them informed the King,
that whatloever that undifereet Perfon had fpoken, was not without advice of the Sages.
it
King demand of the Sages^ What have, that in defpigfct of the King fpeaketh things to his Reproach Mhey made Anfwer, He is worthy to be whipr. Then faid one of the Sadducees, The matter is plain, that according to the Minds of the Sages ^ and at their
Whereupon
Law
the
fhall that
bidding,
he
Man
upbraided thee,
would not award him
and therefore they
Whereat the King held his peace, and gave never a word of anfwer fo all the joy was turned into fadnefs. "The next day at the commandment of the King, Proclamation to die.
went to all the Cities of the King's Dominions That they Ihould ftand to the Ordinance oi Sabocb and Bithus : And whofever fhall refufe to follow their Decrees, or would obferve the Traditions of the Sages^ and obey their Will, (hould fufFer death.^ This was John the High -J^ieft, which had the Prieft hood Forty years, and in the end became a Sadducee. Notwithftanding, the Ifraelites obeyed not the King's Commandment, but rather privily followed the Ordinances of the Sages. The'King
C
4
him-
:
The Wars of the Jews.
ax
himfelf and all his Servants followed the Traditions
of the
Sadduces, making inquifition for them that ftuck to the Conftitutions of the Sages, and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of. By this
means he drew much people of
Opinion,
The time
Jfrael into this
that Uircanus ruled over Ifrael
was
3 1 Years, and then he died. After him Reigned his Son Ariftobulus, for he had three Sons, Ariftobulus, Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his Father, and banifhcd out of his prefence. He went therefore and made
War upon
Tyre and Sidon, fubdued them, and com-
pelled them to be Circumcifed. Arijiobulus regarded not the High Prieft-hood, but fet light by it wherefore he would not execute the Office thereof, but took the Kingdom upon him, and fet the Crown upon his Head, and was called the Great King. Befides this, he banifhed liis Mother, and Alexander her Son, his younger Brother, and would not fufFer them to dwell in Jerusalem : But he loved his Brother Antigonus, and
made him
Lieutenant-General of all his Wars, fetinto the Wars againft his Enemies, wherein the young Man Antigonus had good Fortune, and profpered in all things that he took in
ting
him forward
fafe to Jerusalem, where he entered into the Houfe of the San&uary to pray for his Brother the King, which at that time was grievoufly Sick \ and alfb, to acknowledge before the Lord God his Goodnefs and Mercy towards him, in that he Then came a had aided him againft his Enemies. certain wicked Perfon unto the King, and informed him with this Tale Thy Brother (faith he) re-
hand, and returned
:
turning from the Wars, inquired of thy health, and
when
The Wars of the Jews.
2$
wUl
when it was told him thou waft fick, he faid, go to him to day and rid him out of the World. When the King heard this, he was wroth toward the I
Sages^ and
commanded
his Brother to be
apprehend-
Starton^ there to be
ed , and carried to the Place of kept in Prifon, till he had made further Inquifition of this matter. In the mean fpace, the Queen the King's Wife, commanded him to be put to death there, without knowledge of the King's mind ^ but his Brother was killed, he and Wept bitterly, fmiting his Breaft in fuch fort with his hand, that he fwounded, and much blood iffued out of his mouth. He Reigned over
when
King heard that
the
cried out,
Ifrae/Tlno Years.
him
After
was
his Brother
Alexander Reigned,
who
King Jania^ being brought out of Prifon, where his Brother had put him, and made King of Ifracl. He was a mighty Man, and valiant atfo called
in ail his
Wars
againft his Enemies, prevailing againft
He had Wars
againft the Pbi/iftines, namely Afam^ and Afcalon, whom he put to the worft, and overcame them. This Man refufed not the Priefthood, but was High-Prieft. It chanced on a time, when he ftood at the Altar to offer Sacrifice, one of the Sages caft a Cedar-Tree on him, whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the Altar, crying, Give me my Sword. Then the Sages kneeled (Jown before him, and fware they did it not of any contempt But rather (fay they) that we thus Iporting before the Lord, would be merry upon the High iolemn Day. But the King's Servants anfwered roughly again, faying, Although ye play and rejoyce, yet it is not the manner of the Country to ule any fuch defpightful Cuftom with the King. The Contention
them.
:
,
waxed
.
Wars of
34
the Jews.
waxed hot
againft them, till at the length the Sages fpake evil of the King, cafting in his Teeth, that he was an unhallowed and fufpended Perfon ^ and that his Grand Mother, on the Father's fide, was a Captain in Mount Modiit, whereby her Seed wasftained. The King was fore moved at that, infomuch that he commanded all the Sages to be flain. Therefore, wherefoever they found them, in the San£tuary, or in the Streets of Jerufalem y they killed them
forthwith. Then the King commanded that every Man fhould obey the Governance and Traditions of the Sadducces. So in thofe Days had the Sages
great Tribulation, fome fell on the Sword, fied
away, and lome
tarried
at
home with
fome great
difhonour. After thefe Matters, the King made an Expedientred the Country as far as the
tion inco Arabia,
Rock of
the Wiidernefs, againft Uattam, King of After that, he and fubdued his Land. Warred on Medaba and the whole Land of Moab, vanquUhing them, and bringing them under Tribute, When and fo returned with Honour to Jerufalem. he had af ter this, well bethought him of his Doings, Wherefore he it repented him of his evil Ways altered his mind, and began to make much of the Sages, fubmitting himfeif to their Ordinance, and etteemed their Traditions. There was at that time, a kind of Se& that; were
Arabia,
:
called Pbarifees,
King
of
lent to call
whom fuch as had efcaped, the them home again j and when prefence, he (pake unto them
they came into his words of comfort, faying, My Brethren, ye (hail underftand, that the thing which is once done, muft needs be termed as it is, and cannot be re-
voked
>
IheWarsof
the"Jews.
25
Yoked^ and truth it is, you cannot excufe the Reproach that ye did me, nor I cannot call again Notwithstanding I the Blood that 1 have fhed. confefs my Fault unro you, and have changed my Indignation to Love, praying you to put out of your heart all Rancour and Malice, lay away all your Mourning and Sorrowfulnefs of your Minds, rejoycing in your Reconciliation and Atonement with me, and be of good Chear. But they made him anfwei We will not lay away our Hatred and En:
mity, for thou fpeakeft but Deceitfully, and we fpeak that is Truth. Furthermore, thou haft killed our chief Men and Elders neither haft thou only done us this Injury, but, as hircanus thy Father began this Mifchief, lb thou haft hoiden on, and Whereibre this Hatred between continued it : thee and us hath taken fome Root, neither can w e leave our Lamentation till thou die, and God take Vengeance on thee for our lakes. Then (hall we rejoyce, when we fee Vengeance. S$ they departed from his Prefence, neither did the King give them any Anfwer at all. But when they faw the King to be incenfed againft them, and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm, after confutation had, they went to the King of Greece^ whofe name was Demetrius, (hewed him what #/>canus and Alexander his Son .had done to the Fharir
fees, and all the Ifrael'nes that bare
them good Will and followed their Traditions, and how they alfo hated Alexander ^ for theMifchief that he had wrought them 7 io that if any Man will come and revenge the Majice of Alexander^hey would be ready to aid kirn. Demetnus followed their Advice, and afTembling together all his People, to the number of 4CCCC0 -
Horfe-
zS
the Wats of the Jews.
men without Number, he took and encamped agiinft Sichem. The King Alexander raifed Six thoufand Horfemen to aid him- But the King of the Grecians writ privily to the Ancients of the Sectaries, that they fhould not aid Alexander h to the Soldiers alfo, that Alexander had hited, he fent Rewards, Gold and Silver, that they returned home to their Country, and aided not Alexander ; whereupon he Horfe-men,' and Fotft
his Journey,
was
not able to withftand Demetrius. Therefore, hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toxvaxdsjerufakm^ intending to take him in the City, he fled by Night, with a few of his Men, to the Mountains, and lurked there. When the Men of Ifrael that were in Jud#a^ heard that the King was fled out ofjerufakm^and that the City was in fear to come into the hands of the Orecians> they gathered themfeives together, and ftood for their Lives, as though all had been one Man, to the number ofTen thoufand,and fet upon Demetrius's Camp, killed all his beft Men of War, and fpoiled all his Hoaft, that he fled from them, and came home into his Country with great difhonour.
This done, the King took heart to him, and returned to his Kingdom, but the Pbartfees fled to Bethfl)emej\ fortifying themfeives againft the King ^ who having intelligence thereof, gathered an Army and went againft them, won the City, and took Eight hundred of the chiefeft Pbarifees, bound them in Chains, and brought them to Jerufakm. Then Banquetted he ail his Servants upon the
Roof of his
Palace in a high place, where his learn-
ed Peers did eat and drink, till they were drunk. And in his merry mood, he commanded thofe Eight hundred
The Wars of the Jews.
27
hundred Tharifees Prifoners to be fetch'd forth, and to be hanged every Man of them upon Gallowfes before him, at which fight he 'drunk and laughed heartily.
After this he fell fick in the Four and twentieth Year of his Reign, of a grievous Difeafe, a Quartane Ague, that held him Three Years 3 and for all this he fhrunk not, nor letted to go to the War to encounter and fight with his Enemies, what Nation fbever they were round about him, as though he had been a whole Man. In the 27 th Year of his Reign, which was the Third of his Sickfiefs, he made an Expedition into the Land of Moab\ againft a certain City called Rabaga, to get it by force. At which time he was very fick and weak wherefore his Wife Alexandra^ the Queen, went with him, fearing left he fliould die by the way. And as he encamped himfelf againft the City, and urged it fore with Aflaults% his Sicknefs increafed upon him more and more. Wherefore his Wife perceiving that he was like to die, wept bitterly for him, and faid, To whom fhall I be fo bold as to fhew my Face when thou art once dead, feeing thou haft wrought fuch Mif chief againft the Pharifees,
whom
all the
Land
fa-
voured, and following their Traditions, obey their Inftru&ions ? If they fhall be difpofed to revenge themfelves upon me and thy young Children, they
have Aid of ail that dwell in the Land. The King anfwered. Weep not, nor (hew any relemblance of Penlivenefs 3 I will tell thee what thou fhalt do, and if thou wilt follow my Counfel, thou ihait profper and Reign, thou and thy Children, as thou wouldft defire j but cafe I die, there is no (hall
Man
the Wars of the Jews.
*8
Man in the World need know thereof Tell t£ou every Man therefore that asks for me, that I am fick, and will not that 2ny Man (hall come at me. In the mean while anoint and feafon me with Balms, fight :
with courage againft this City, till thou win it, and then return to Jerufalem with joy : And beware thou put on no mourning Apparel, nor Weep, but bring me unto Jerufalem^ and lay me on a Bed like a fick Man, and after, call together the chief of the fharifees^ bring them where I am, and fpeak unto them gently in this fort Alexander hath been ever your Enemy, I know it very well, wherefore take him if ye lift, and caft him into the Fire, or to the Dogs, or bury him, it (hall be at your choice I know well they- are pitiful Men, and fo full of Mercy, that they will bury me honourably, and appoint fome one of my Sons, whom they like beft, to be King. The Qpeen did therefore as (he was inftrufted of the King. And when fhe had won Rabaga^ fhe joyfully returned to Jerusalem : After that gathered together the Elders of the Yharifees, and fpake to them as the King had adviled her. The Tbarijees hearing that the King was dead, and that his Body was in their hands to do withal what they lift, they anfwered the Queen, God forbid, we (hould do this unto our Lord, the anointed of What, He was the King, and High-Prieft God though he were a Sinner, yet his death fhall be an Expiation for all his Iniquities. Therefore we will bewail him, and mourn for him 5 yea, we will carry his Coffin our felves on cur Necks, and bury him as The it becometh a King's Ma jefty, and fo they did. After him time that he Reigned was 27 Years for the "Reigned his Wife Alexandra in his ftead :
:
:
:
:
Pharifeesy
the Wars of the Jews.
29
had finifhed the Seventh day of the Mourning, they committed the Kingdom unto She had two-Sons by the King, the elder was her.
Tharifees^ after they
called tiircaaus, the other Ariftcbulus : Hircanus was a juft Man and a righteous, but Arifiobulus was a
Warriour and a Man of Courage ^ befides that, of a He favoured alfamiliar and loving Countenance. fo the learned Men, and followed their Inftru£Uons3 but Hireanus his elder Brother loved the Pharifees. On a time therefore when the Queen fat in the Throne of her Kingdom, (he called ttfe Ancients of .
the Pharifees before her, honoured them, and comto releafe, and let at liberty all fuch Pharifees as the King her Husband, and her Father-in-law, had put in Prifon ^ and taking the Pharifees by the Hands, (he commanded a\il/&el to obey their Ordinances. Then made (he tiircanus her Son HighPrieft, and Arifiobulus, Lieutenant of the Wars. She fent alfo to all the Lands that her Husband
manded
and Father-in law had fubdued, and demanded the NoblemensSons for Pledges, which (he kepi in Je~ rufalem. So the Lord gave to the Queen quietneisfrom' ail that were under her Subje&ion. She gave alfo the Pharifees Authority over the learned ibrt, putting
them all in their Hands to order at their will. Whereupon ftraightway they found oiie Dogrus, a great Man among!! the learned fort, whom they flew; and much People befides of the Ancients of that Se£l ^ lb that the Sectaries were in great Diftrefs.
They gathered themfelves together
there-
and came to Arifiobulus the Lieutenant of tkp Wars, and with him they came to the Queen, laying unto her, Thou knoweft .the Enmity that is between us and the Pharifees, which hate thy Hu£
fore,
Ihe Wars of the Jews.
30
band and Father-in-law, yea, and thy Children We were his Men of War that went with him alfo. in all his Affairs, and aided him ^ now thou haft given us into their Hands to be murdered and banifhed out of the Land What will Hart am King of Arabia do, when he heareth this, that we (hall forfake thee ? He will come and revenge him of ail the Battels that thy Husband fought againft him. Yea, the Pbarifees will take his part, and deliver thee and thy Children into his Hands, that there (hall not be left unto Hircanus the King, and his Son Alexander thy Husband, any Name or Remnant The Queen gave them no word of Anfwer ^ at all. wnereat Anflobulus was Angry, and letted not to utter it to his Mothers Face, but (he would not Wherefore Arijiobulus counfelied the hear him. Setlaries to go their ways,, and depart out of Jerufa/em, to choofe them Cities in the Land of Judea y where they might dwell with their Honour, and not :
*
to fuffer tuemfelves to be flain under the Pbarifees Wherefore departing from Jcrufalem, they hands. dwelt in the Cities oijudea. Not long after this, it
fortuned the
Queen
fell fore fick,
that (he
was
whereof when Arijlobulus heard, he feared leit the Pbarifees would make his Brother Hircanus King, and at length apprehend him ^ wherefore he fled away by Night to the City of the Sadducees, to be their head, and make War upon his Brother if he fhould prefume to Reign. He came therefore to the Prince of the Sadducees^ called GaAnd after luftius^ who was a good Man'of War : he had gathered a ftrong Army of the Sadducees^ his Mother, the Queen, fent unto him, that he fhould return unto her > which he would not do, but rather
like to
die,
went
1
Ike Wars of the Jews*
3
went to War with the Nations that dwelt about him* where he won Twenty Cities, and got him great Re-
nown
thereby.
Now
as the
Queen
his
ficker, the chief Pbarifees
Mother waxed ficker and came unto her with her
Son Hircanus, weeping before
.
her,
and faying,
How
they were afraid of her Son Ariftobulus^ who, if he fhould come into Jerufalem, and take it, he woulcl deliver them up into the hands of the Sadduces. Unto whom (he anfwered, I am as you fee at the point of death, not able to talk much with you ^ there is here in my Houfe great Treature, that my Husband and my Father gathered, and their Parents, Kings of the Pofterity of Cbafmoname, take that to you, and make my Son Hircanus King over you. If Ariftobulus will difturb him,and make Waragainft him, ye may levy Men of War therewith, and fuccour him as you think good.^And even with this (he fainted and died, and was bwfed amongft her People, after (he had reigned Nine Years over Ifrael. The Pbarifees therefore and Priefts, with all the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, made Hircanus her Son King in her ftead. Ariftobulus hearing Tydings of thefe Things, a£ fembled his Army and came roward Jerufdlem to
But Hircanus met him,and encountred with him nigh unto Jordan Jericho. The Sadduces of Ariftobulus** Hoaft were good Men of War, and too ftrong for the Pbarifees ; wherefore Hircanus and the Pbarifees had the Overthrow at Ariftobulus and the Sadduces hands, who with this Vi&ory proceeding forth to Jcrufakm befieged it, and brought ic to great dilireis. Wherefore the Prieft and the ancient of the Peopie fight againft his Brother.
.
D
1%
The Wars of the Jews.
pie confulted together, and
•
came
forth
to Ariftobo-
on the Earth before him, and befought him, that he would not fcatter abroad the Inhabitants of the Land. He condefcended unto their Defires, upon thefe Conditions * That he fhould enter into Jerufalcm with them, and be King, and his Brother Hircanus fhould be High-Prie0 j whereupon they agreed. Then as Ariflobulus entred into" Jcri'ifdem^ his Brother came out of the Sanftuary to meet him, and with embracing, he killed him. So Ariftobulus was King, and Hircanus executed the; Office of the High-Prieft The Lord alfo gave Ifrael Reft and Peace for a while. •But afterward the Lord fent an evil Spirit among them, which was the caufe of tranflating the Kingdom from the Stock of Chajmoname^ and of the definition of his Pofterity for the Sin of Hircanus the Great, and the Sin oi Alexander his Son In that they fhed fo much inntfftnt Blood, and drew Ifrael from the Obedience of the Prophets, unto the Lyes and Trifles of the SadJuces. For thus it chanced. The Sadduces beat into Ariffobulus's Head, that as long as his Brother Hircanus lived, he or his Kinglus,
fell profirate
r
:
:
dom
could never be eltablifhed. Whereupon Ariftobulus deviled how to make away Hircanus 5 which thing a certain Man called Antipatcr was aware of, a Man of mcft power in all Ifrae/^nd thereto alfo wile, expert 3rd learned in all Wifdom, both in the Laws 3nd in the Knowledge of the Greefi, juft of his
wor^, and prudent if any ftrange or new Matters chanced. His Off-fpring was not out of the Children of Ifrael, but of thofe Romans which chanced to be vanqutfhed, and become fubje£l under the Dominion of the Ifraelites^ being but Strangers,
The Wars of the jews. and of a noble Houfe in IfraeL He had four Sons^ Jqfepb theEldeli, the next Palfilus, the third Herod, and the fourth Pberoras $ they had alio a Sifter cailed Salumith. Antipater favoured Hircanus fo entirely for his juftice, and Uprigbtnels fake, that he opened unto
him
his Brother Arijiobulus
giving bia
\
him Counfel
to fly to
and the Sadduces intent, Hart am. King of Ara-
but Antipater himfelf went before to break the
of whofe coming Hart am wasThen Antipater declared unto him, how Hircanus was in mind to fly unto him, becaufe of Ariftobulus his Brother If thou wilt help him (faith he) and lend him fpeedy Aid^ thou (halt eafily fet Anftobulus befide the Kingdom \ for all Ifrael is en-
Matter to Hartam, very glad.
:
clined to Hircanus, and favour not Ariftobulus tarn anfwered,
I
am
afraid
:
of the Jews, and
Craftinefs, Alexander, his Father, put
me
the Foil in Battle by his fubtilty, and took
Hartheir
thrice to
my Do-
minions from me. Then Antipater fwotzmyto him, He fhallbe (faith he) thy true and trufty Friend, to do wharioeves thy Heart defireth. Thus Hartam was perlwaded^ and they made a League together. Then Antipater turned to ferufalem, caufed Hircanus to fly in the Night 5 and they both went together to the King of Arabia, who much rejoiced at Hircenus's coming, and received h m honourably. When they came together to treat of the League, Hartam demanded Rett it ution of fuch Cities as Hire anuses Father had taken from him, to whom hircanus cow^t^m all things,, Wherefore Hartam railed all the People of Arabia, and led them to Jerufalem to War upon ic. Tarfiir€anui alio came all the Men of Jxdea, fave only
D
2
tfeey
'
War s
34
of 4be Jews*
they that dwelt at Jerusalem ^ fo betwixt them they It fortuned that in the befet the City round about. folemnity of the Paffover, they could not have their ferviceofthe Solemnity in the Holy Place, becaufe
of the Wars
wheteupon a certain juft and perfeft * of the Town, called Honiauriga, brake out privily into the Camp of Hircanus and Antipater his Councelior, and befought them with much Prayer and Tears, that they would grant a Truce unto Jerufalem, while the Feaft of Sweet-Bread lafted, that they might execute the Service of Solemnity in the Holy Place to whom Hircanus faid, Thou art a Juft Man, and often when thou haft prayed, the Lord hath heard thee, pray now therefore unto the Lord to deliver Arifiobu/us into our Hands, and that
Man
'
may reft. Honiauriga anfwered, Am I a God ? or able to remove Battles, that be ftkre&up for many Mens fciiquities ? Thus when he feemea to be Ifracl
Men compelled him, and faying, If thou wilt not Therefore, -as he faw his pray, thou (halt die for it. Life in Jeopardy, he cried unto the Lord, O Lord evef lading which haft chofen thy People Ifrae/ out of all People, and haft fet thy Name in his Houfe, xniy it pleafe thy Maiefty to plant among the Children of take away from Ifrae/ Friendfliip ari$ Brotherhood among them this Hatred which is rifen of nothing,and let nor the one of thefeFaQions prevail againft the othW, feeing they all be thy Servants, and Children ol thy Covenant. When the Servants of Hircanus heard him fay fo, they ran upon him with their Swords, and killed him: But God deferred not his -unwilling to pray,
drawing
their
Hircanus**
Swords,
!
Vengeance, for he ftruck the Hoaft, as well of the Arabians, asoiHircanus. with a grievous Peftilence.
CHAP,
lh% Wats of the Jews.
CHAP.
35
IL
AT
the fame time came from Rome a famous Captain called Pompeius^ to War againft the Country of Armenia : This Pompeius fent one of his
chief Men to Damafco, of whom, as Arifiobulus (thus had heard, and that an Army of the Remans was come to Damafco, he fent him a Prefent of befieged)
Four Hundred pound weight in Gold, defiring him to remove the Army of the Arabians from him, and to raife the Siege. In thofe Days all the World obeyed the Romans. That Captain therefore writ unto Hartam^ King of Arabia^ in this wife : Depart from Jerufalem, if not^ thou fhalt underjland^ thou haft broke thy League with the Senate of Rome, and the whole Army of the% Romans fhall fhortly invade thy hand. Hart am ^ on the fight of this Letter, railed his Siege, and departed from Jerufalem. hircanus alfo, and Antipater^ departed with Shame and Reproach. Arifiobulus upon that, gathered a great Power, and purfued after them, gave the Arabians and If raelites^that took Hircanus's part, a great Overthrow, and after returned to Jerufalem with great Joy. Shortly after, Pompeius came to Damajco^ where Arijiobulus prefented him with a Vine of Gold, marvellous artificially wrought. The Roots of the Vine, Leaves, Clutters, and Grapes that were upon it, were pure Gold, the weight whereof was Five Hundred pound ^ Pompeius was very glad thereof, and fent it to Rome to the Conful. And the whole Bench of the 3
D
The Wars of
the
Jews,
the Senate, which was of the Number of Three hundred and Twenty Senators, wondred at the Cunning and Wit of him that made it, and with great joy they bare it into the Temple of their Gods, placing it in the Pretence of the great Idol Jupiter^ fo called fcfter the Planet Jupiter. Vompe'u(s writ his Letters to Ariftobulusy with
Commendation for the fame, afboth he and the whole Senate favoured him, and that he fliould have a Friend of him, to {peak in his Caufe as long as he lived, ffircams hearing of this, was clear? dallied, and in defpair. Ipater comforted him,, faying, Let not the But Friendfhfp that is bexmxt Pompeius and thy Brother, fjifmay thee; I will go to him, and make him thy Friend. Upon that he went to Pompcius, and perfwaded his Mind to hate Ariftobulus, and to favour liirt anus i informing him thus If thou (faith he) defend J$rcanus% all [frael will be content to be under thy Protection, for they love him every Man ^ but if thou defend Ariftobulm, the People will not obey thee, for they hate him. Pompeius charged him that no Man fhould be made Privy to their Communication 5 for I (quoth he) will fend for Arijiobulus to come to me to Damifco% and then I will caufe to be laid hands upon him, and deliver him bound to Arihis Brother, reftoring the Kingdom to him. ftcbulus^ upon the fight of Vompems\ Letters, reforted unto him; Hircanus alio came from the Rock of the Wiiderneis, and as they appeared together before •Pompeiu^ Antipater defired that he would do Juliice betwixt Hircanus the King and Ariftohulus his Brother, that rebelled agaiftft him, and took his Kingdom from him without Caufe, whole Sayings a.
great Thanks and fixing him,
how
Am
Thouland
the Wars of the Jews.
$7
Ifrael flood up and witArifiobulus answered ,1 never ffrove
Thoufand of the Elders of neATed to be true
:
with him for the Kingdom until fuch time as I faw made Hircanus King, to run in great Obloquy, and to fuftain much Reproach, became he was io feeblea Perfon,and of no great Wit>nor fought mudvthe Kingdom ^ yea, till all Nations that were about him, whofe Dominions our Progenitors Conquered, began now to defpife him, to pafs little for offending him,to deny him Tribute for his Simplicity and Mopifhnefs, with lack of Courage. all thefe that
,
When
Arifiobulus
had
faid,
there
ftood up
a
Multitude of goodly and beautiful young Men, apparelled in Cloath of Hyacinth and Purple, with mighty Targets upon them, and other Ornaments of Gold, Cryftal, and precious Stones, affirming with one accord, That Arifiobulus faid the Truth Namely, That Hircanus was not favoured by the Kingdom. At which Fompeius marvelled, faying, Happy is this People, having fo many goodly Men true in their words, and wife Happy alfo were the Senate of Rome^ if they could bring to pafs, that this great Nation might be under their Governance. So he took' his Journey to Jerufalem with Hircanus^xA Arifiobulus. Burafter Arifiobulus perceived fompeius ftood not to the Promife he made him at the beginning, or the Vine, he fet light by him, and fled from him to Alexandria in Egypt, whither Fompeius followed with his Hoaft,and befieged Alexandria. From thence Arifiobulus fled again to Jerufalem^ and Fompeius purfued him alfo thither, writing to Arifiobulus a Letter of Truce and Pardon. So Arifiobulus came forth unto him, and Fompeius did him at that time no harm, but degreat
:
:
D
4
manded
38 manded
the Wars of the Jews,
him all the Veflels of tlie which Arijiobulus refuted to do Pompeius, in a rage, caufed to lay him faft in heavy Iron Chains, and aflaulted Jerufalem, Battering the Walls very fore, till they of the Town ilfued out againft him, and flew of his Hoaft 12000 Men. After this, had the Ifraelites Civil Wars within rufalem, becaufe the Siege was grievous unto them for they were divided into Fa&ions: One part faid, Houfe
to begiven unto
of the Lord,
Let us open the Gates to Pompeius and let htm in, we may fubmit our felves under his Prote£Hon, Ttie other laid, Let us fight againft him unto death. But much People difliked that, fo that that fide prevailed that would yield. Wherefore Pompeius entred the Town, and the Houfe of the San&uary, killed much People of the Priefts, and the People of the Land made Hircanus King of Ifrael the fecond time, and Antipater his Councilor. Moreover he fet one S&curus, a Roman, in the Country, to receive the Tribute, and departed, leading Ariftobulus with him bound in Iron. And becaufe he took bis Journey toward Arabia, Hircanus and Antipater went with him to condu£t him. Anjiobulus thus being Prifoner, and his Two Sons with him, it fortune* that one of them ( called Alexander) efcaped And having Intelligence, that Hircanus and his Counfellor were gone out of Jerusalem, he came thither and rebelled againft Hirca/ttfs, made up the Breaches of the Wall that Pompeius bad battered Yea, the Ifraelites reforted unto J hinvind made him King in Hirca nus s place. Whereupon he gathered an Army, and went forth to fneet with. Hircanus as he came fyomeward from Fpwpeiust where he gave Hircanus the overthrow, * s and that
;
;
:'
r.
•
,
The Wars
of^
the
Jews.
39
and Securus % the Receiver of the Tribute, fled and efcaped.
Then Alexander returned to Jerufjfem, from wheace fhortly after, Gabianus a Roman, with a ftrong Army, compelled him to fly to Alexandria. And being in the lame place befieged alio of Gabianus, his Mother, Ariftobulus's Wife,
went forth to
Gabianus weeping, and befought him that he would not deftroy her Son: For whofe fake he did Alexander no harm. Gabianus therefore having gotten all the Land of Judea, made Hircanus King of Jerufalem now the Who fee Roman Captains and Rulers in third time Jericha, and mlLephory, and through all the Land :
of
1/rael.
of on every fide retorted Men in fuch fort, that he had a puiflant Hoaft of 1/rael. Wherefore when he had taken Mutter, he chofe out Eight Thoufand of the beft:, and with them went againft Gabianus, where was a fore Battle fought between them, till the beft of Ariftobulus's Men were {lain, and only one Thoufand left, wherewith he fled to the Mountains. But the Romans followed the Chafe, and flew them every Man. Yet Ariftobulus would not yield, but fought alone, although his Helmet was broken, till he had divers fore Wounds in his Head And then he fell to the Ground, and the Romans took him yet fortuned after this, that Ariftobulus got out Prifon at Rome, and came into IJrael, to whom It
:
and brought him 10 Gabianus, who comforted him, commanding his Surgeons to heal him, and after fent him to the Conful and Senate of Rome, where he was fent to Prifon yet once again. And tjius 3 the Senate taking pity of Ar$obulus'sWife,which alive,
.
was
;
40
the Wars of the Jews.
reported to be a very wife Woman, releafed her two Sons out of Prifon, and fet them at liberty. Alexander i the one of thole, could not be content, but rebelled once again, againft Hircanus^ and the Roman Governours. For he gathered together much People of lfraely Encountred with one of the Roman Governours that G.abianifs had appointed, and gave him the Overthrow But proceeding further to had the worfe, and ma fight with Gabianus^ ny of the IJraelites were flain, yet lje efcaped, and fled. This done, Gabianus came to Jerufalem^ and Renewed the Kingdom of Ifrael to Hireanus the fourth time. About this time, one of the Senators Wives at Rome conceived a Child, and died in the Birth and Travail thereof: They therefore that were about her,ftraightway ript her,and got the Child out alive, whom they named *Julius, and becaufe his Mother was cut,they called him C
was
:
to great towardnefs, and coming to Man's Eftate, the Conful and Senate fent him into the Wars, and whatfoever he did, he had good Fortune and profperous Succefs. He deprived xh^ Grecians of their Empire and Dominion, tranflating it to the Romans Provinces alfo befides that, he did fubdue,
Many
and returning to Rome with a Power, attempted to, get the Dominion and fole Power over them. But they had made folemn Statutes, in the time of their Progenitors, never to fuffer any King among them, or any Man to have perpetual Rule over them h wherefore they would not make Julius King: Upon this role amongfl: them great and mortal Wars, fo that Julius few a great many of them, and without number. When Fompeius underftood that C
1
the Wars
of the
4
Jews.
Reigned at Rome, and had killed the Conful and Senate, with all the Nobility of Rome, he gathered together his whole Army out of Arabia^ and made Julius having Intelligence of his toward him. fent for Ariftobulus out of Prihim, againft coming unto him, gave him a Power, and friendly fon, fpake grand Captain thereof bidding him go made him Pompeius Indeed his Army : with Encounter and a King of no Army, himfelf and lie ftrong was a hearing that Pompeius Valiantnefs Prowels and imall h of his afraid came fore againft him, was Ariftobulus he fent wherefore and of his Hoaft Valiantnefs, were under to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, that his Obedience, that they fhould prefent Ariftobulus with fome Gift, whereby they might deceive him, and Pcifon him. The Inhabitants of Jerufalem, at his Requeft, fent unto Ariftobulus a Prefent, by certain whereat Ariftobulus was right joyful, , Noblemen, and did eat and banquet with them, till he was overcome with drink ^ then they impoifoned him, and he died: The time that he reigned over Ifrael was Four Years and Six Months. He was a good Man of War, hardy in Fight, and 3 Man of amiable Countenance. Fompeius receiving Tidings of his death, the more gladly proceeded toward Rome to befiege it ^ but Julius met him in the way, and deftroyed him and his Hoaft, whereby the Empire was eftablifhed to Julius. He, after this, fent Prefents to the King of Syria, and into Egypt, by his Captains, •,
to allure them to his Friendlhip : Antipater advifed hircanus to aid Julius , if perchance he
might win Antipater
his
Favour, which Hircanus did
5
and
was Captain of the Hoaft, who played
the Wars of the Jews.
4*
Man, and found fuch Favour with Julius, that made him Lieutenant of his Wars and after he he
the
had fought fundry -and great prolpered
much
more.
he returned and by the way
Battles,
to Jerusalem, with great Honour,
Hircanus after
this,
made
Pbafelus, Antipater\ Son, Governour of Jerufalem, and Herod his third Son Prefident of Galilee. There
was a
certain
young Man,
called Hizkias, a valiant
at that time,
mjerufalemy
Man of War, to whom
ad-
fuch as were in any Diftrefs, and he became their Captain. Thefe went and ranged about in Syria, roving and murdering in fuch fort, that the Syrians were weary of their Lives, for fear of them. Wherefore the King of Syria fent unto Herod, Ruler of Galilee^ defiringhim to kill that Hizkias and his Complices. Whereupon Herod prepared himfelf, and went to meet with Hizkias, as he returned from the Spoil of Syria, and came upon him unawares, and flew him and his Men. Where* upon when the King of Syria was certified, he lent a noble Reward unto Herod, of Silver, Gold, and precious Stones, by which, and by like Means, he
hered
all
Thele Noblemen of Juda became very famous. made their Complaint unto Hircanus, upon Antipater
and
his
Sons,
for
their
opprefling
the Land
of
Juda, defiring that Herod might be lummoned from Galilee, td appear in Judgment, and anfwer with others for killing of Hizkias. The King therefore fent for him, and he upon that came to Jerufalem, appeared before the Judges, Princely apparelled, with a gilt Sword about him h whofe Pride an ancient Man (called Samai) blamed, and reprehended alfo his ltout Heart, but he would not give Ear unto him, nor yet regard the Judges. When Hircanus perceived that the
the Wars of the Jews.
43
the Judges had almoft determined to give Judgment againft the young Man, and to make him away, will not give Senhe took pity on him, and faid,
We
tence to day,
to
raeanstlelivered
morrow is a new day and by that him out of their hands. He rod knew
it was a matter of Life and Death, Night therefore he fled to the King of Syria, deThe King of claring all what hapned unto him Syria let him have a ftrong Army, and came with him himfeif, purpofing tobefiege Jerufalem: But his Father Antipater, and his eldeft Brother Phafelus^ came unto him, and rebuked him, faying. Is this the Reward that thou rendereft unto King Wear* nu^ that took pity on thee, antl would not have thy
not afore that
that
:
blood fhed I Therefore they willed him to depart from Jerufalem ^ unto whom he condefcended, afc ter he had once let the Inhabitants ofjerufalemknovt what he could do, and had (hewed them his Power. Julius, Emperor of Rome, about that time (as he was worfhipping in theHoufe of his God) was murdered by the confpiration of certain of them,, which had ferved Pompeiu? that was f]21n, as is aforementioned The Name of one of them that killed him M&ZaJjuis^ of the Country of Macedonia, who fled thither, being afraid to tarry at Rome : This Caffius had great Dominions in Macedonia. Antipater alio, of whom we fpake, was a great fcourge to the noble Men of Juda, and a great deal forer Man than w^s Htrcanus himfeif 5 yea, Hircanus could do nothing in comparifon of him, for he had no rule himfeif, but Antipater and his Sons bare all the fway throughout all the Realm Moreover, Antipater was in great eftimation with ail the Kings of that time. And forafmuch as he fo fore :
'
:
oppreffed
:
I« Wats of the JeWs.
44
Jem, they therefore hated him, confpired to kill him.
opprefled the
There was a canus,
Man
and
Authority abqut Hirby whofe means they
in great
named Makbiiut,
this Matter He corrupted the King's Butwith Rewards, to put Poifon in Ant ipater $ Cup, which as foon as he had drunk he died. Thele things his Sons Pbafelus, and Herod, diflembled and winked at, as though they knew nothing j notwithftanding they privily writ unto Caffius, that reigned in Macedonia, certifying him of this Deed, Soon after came Qajjius to Tyre, from whence he tent MefFengers to Hircanus to come unto him, who came, and with him MaJcbias, Pbafe/us,ahd Herod Caffius entertaining them all at his Lodging, willed his Men, that whatfoever Herod bad them, they fhould do it. Herod willed them to kill Makbias,they flew him therefore fitting hard hy Hj&anus $ fide, Hircanus demanded of the Sons of Antipater the caufes hereof ^ who anfwered, Is it not rxianifeft, that King Qafjtus\ Servants flew him, and we know not why ? Therefore Hircanus flood in fear of Pbafelus ann Herod, being certain that this was their Deed. Wherefore he faid unto them, This Malcbias was worthy of fuch death, for he was a crafty Ma^ and an Ufurcr.'. Thefe things done, Qtlavius Auguftus, Brothers Son unto Julius that was murdered, came to Rome $ and the People of Rome made him their Emperor* He had a Fellow in Office named Marcus Antonius his Uncle. Qttavianus therefore feeing to the Government of Rome, fent Marcus Antonius if> War upon CaJjJus, and to revenge Julius's death. Unto him iffrcanus lent a Prefent, a Crown ofGold 3 in which
wrought
:
ler
were
7he Wars of the Jews.
45
praying him to let fundry precious Stones, tfrengthen his Kingdom in his Hands, and to be a means of a League to be made between Oftavianus Auguftus, King of Kings,and him ^ as there was be-
were
tween him and Julius ^ which Antoriius granted. About that time Antigonus Son of Arifiobulus writ to Pagurus King of the Perfians^o aid him againlt Hircanus> to remove him, and to reftore the Kingdom to himfeff, prcmifing to give him f oi^his Travel Five hundred pound weight of Gold, and an Hundred So Pagurus gathered an Hoati alfraelitifh Virgins. gainft Ifraely and Antigonus departed out of Jerujalem with much People of \jrael that took his parr, and joined themfelves to Pagurus. Theie came to Jerufaletn, befieged it, fought many Skirmifhes, and gave many great Aflaultsunto it* then took till at length they undermined the City And to the intent they Hircanus^ and flew Pbafe/us. Hircanus might be clean removed from the Priefthood, Antigonus that had deprived him of the Kingdom, cut off ( befides that ) one of his Ears. But tiered efcaped,andfled to AuguJlusJLn\$eroio£Rcmee Pagiirus therefore having made Antigonus King cf Jerufalem^ returned home into Perfia^ carrying Hircanus as Prifoner with him. But Augufius appointed Herod to be King over all Judea^ giving to
him
tain
it
a very ftrong
withal.
In
Army of way
the
the Romans to obthither,
Herod met
with Alexandra^ (Jircanus's Daughter, and Marirni her Daughter, that the had by Alexjnder^ Son of Anftobulus, and brought them again into the Land of Ifraely where he took Marirni to Wife, and lblemnized the Marriage with her in the Mount of Cahlee9 fox there the chief of all l/raei dwelt,. with i
the Wars of the Jew$.
46
with whom he took peace. Marcus Antonius, Companion in Office with Offavian AuguJius, about that time made a Voyage through all the Weft Countries, to fubdue them to the Romans, together with Egypt, Damafco, and Syria. Him he rod accompanied to the Flood of Euphrates, and helped him not a little. For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way, and intercepted all that would aid Marcus Antonius. Herod met with them,and vanqaifhed them. Wherefore Antonius was very glad of Herod's Valiantnefs, and brought him again to Jfrael, together with Caffius his Captain and Lieutenant of the Wars, having alfo his Letters to all the Captains of Syria, of this Tenour. He Shall underftand, that our Lord and Majier, O&avian Auguftus, King of Kings, hath appointed Herod, the Son of Antipater/0 be King of the Land of ]\idz.Therefore as foon as thefe Letters come to youye Jhall with /peed aid him. No Man Jhall be excujed; all that can bear Arms Jhall go with him to Jerufalem,/*? vanqu'ijh Antigonus, the King's Adverfa* ry,who refufeth to go with him,it Jhall be lawfulfor the Warriors to Jlay him Jorthwitb. I Marcus Antonius, have /worn by my Sword, I will not alter this that I have aid. When the Captains of Syria had read this, they reforted wholly to Herod, fo that his Hoaft was wonderfully encreafed. Antigonus hearing of this, fent one Pompeius, Lieutenant of his Wars, a^ainft them, who lough t a fore Battel with them, that Notwithmuch People was (lain in that Battel.
f
ftanding at length Antigonus\ Hoart went to the worft, and had the Overthrow. So Herod and CaJJuts proceeded to Jerufalem^
and befieged it the Third Year after Herod was And when they had batmade King of IfraeL tered
fbe War J of the Jews. tered
down
47
of the Wall, CaJJius with the the Town, and made a great
a piece
Romans entred
into
They entred alfo into the Sanctuary, and attempted to enter into the Sanftuw but Herod and his Men leapt between Sanft^rum and ftood with their drawn Swords it and them, to withftand their Enterin the Temple door, Herod was alfo difpleafed with CaJJius for prize. his Cruelty, and (aid, If ye will deftroy all the In-
flaughter
in Jerufalem.
habitants of the City,
upon
whom
(hall I
Reign
Auguftus hath given me ? Wherefore ttraightway Coffins caufed Proclamation to be made through all his Hoaft, That no Man, upon pain of Death, (houM kill one ifraelite more* This done, Herod apprehended Anttgonus y and deli-* vered him bound to CaJJius. He rewarded alfoG/^us\ Soldiers both with Gold and Silver. Then CaJJius offered a Prefent unto the Lord, a Crown of Gold^ ibr he was fore afraid of God's difpleafure, beteauls he had fought againft the Holy City. That done, he took his Journey and returned into Egypr^ and Anugonus as Prifoner with htm. Thither lent Herod unto him a Royal Rev^rd, to make away Anugonus % and to murder him, fearing left he fhould make claim unto the Kingdom again Whereunto CaJJiut confented, and flew Antigonus*
in
the
Kingdom
that
:
CHAP.
&L
THUS
was the Kingdom furely Eftabluhed td Then he made Wars upon all the Nations that were about him, fconftraining iherti Herod.
E
to?
TbeWdfioftheJew.
4$
to become Tributaries, by which means he grew to fuch Power, as never any of his Predeceflbrs were to be compared unto him. After all this, Pagurus, King of Perfidy releafed out of Prifon Hircanus, Son of Alexander, and promoted him to be Head of all the Israelites that were fled into the Land of Senaar, 2nd into the Dominion of the Perfians, and he became their King. This Hircanus had a fervent defire to fee the Holy City, aiid the Houfe of the Sanctuary ^ aifo how Herod (whom he took for his Son)
and his Kingdom did. Herod hearing that Hircanus (who had been Pr foner in Babylon) was now fet at Liberty, and in great Honour, he was afraid of him, miftrufting leaft the Ijraelites would reJiore unto themfelves the Kingdom of their fathers wherefore he caft in his Mind how to do him a tVnfchief: He then writ this Letter unto Pagurus^ rtie Contents whereof were fijeh ; Thou jhalt undofi and that Hircanus is he that brought ?ne up, and ufed me even as his Son ; now therefore fince I came to be King in Jcrufaiem, I have called to my remembrance the
goodnefs that he hath done to me, whereforjr
reward him according require thee to fend him
is to
to h'A Benejits
y
my
dejire
therefore I
to me, otherwife afj'ure thy
fclf of Wars between thee \ind the llraeiites,
with
their Confederates.
Pagurus having read giving
go
to
this Letter, fent to Hircanus,
him to underltand Herod he might
:
^
* That if he would But notwithttanding
he ceafed not to give Hircanus all good Counfel he could, advifing him to take heed of Herod, becaufe he is (faith he) a Bloodfhedder, and a breaker of his League f And he fcath called thee for no Lo\e he beareth thee, but Hi
ii. teats,
becaufe
the Wars of the Jews.
49
As long as thou liveft (hall becaufe be feareth thee. he never fleep foundly, leaft the Kingdom (hould be devolved unto thee : It is better lor thee to remain here in fome Honour, though it be not offuchEftate, than go thither to die with great defpight, and end thy Old Age with a bloody Death. Furthermore thou (halt know, fuch is the Difpofition of Men's Hearts 9 If there be two Men, the one in Honour, the other
Contempt
time (hall come, that ,the DeHonour, and the Honoured be negle&ed ^ never will he that is now honoured, 3nd before was in Contempt, be content to fee him that was before Honoured, nor (peak friendly to him For he will think hitherto, according to his accuftomed rtianner, he hath defpifed me, how much piore when his Dominion is taken from him, a*id his Servants Reign in his room? Moreover, Herod knoweth right well, that Mens Hearts are inclined And it might be to him that is the true King. fo, if thou wert meet for the Priefthood, that he would promote thee unto it, and be Governoui of the Kingdom himfelf: But feeing thou art difmembred, having one of thy Ears cut oft, and thou (hale thereby art unmeet for the Priefthood remain in Jerufalem, deprived both of Kingdom in
^
fpifed (hall be
after
had
in
:
and Priefthood, which is uncomely for thee. Such Counfei gave Pagurus^ King of the Yerfian^ unto Hircanm : Yea, and all the Jews that were in Babylon > befought him that he would not go untQ Herod, Notwithftanding he would ft$t be perfuaded, and why ? For it was the Lord's WiilSsd his Deed, that the Injury done unto the Sages whom his Father and Grand-Father (lew, and the injury com* raited IJ 2
5o
The
Wan of the Jews.
mitted to Honiauriga, might return upon his Head and be revenged, fo that no Remnant of the Houfe
of Chafmoname, no Name, no Relidue, no Kinfman, or Polterity fhould be left alive. Hircanus therefore took his Journey toward ferufalem, and Herod came him $ him to his Houfe, and feafted him daicalling him his Father before all Men, albeit in Heart he conlpired to kill him, which Alexandra Daughter, and Mother in-Law to Herod, knew
forth to meet him, embrace him, and kifled after brought ly,
his
his
well enough, who opened it unto Hircanus, but he would, not credit her at the firft, till on a time he Then devifed perceive'd the Matter clear to be fo he Jiow to fly to MalocKing of Arabia jhefent therefore to Maloc to fend him Horfes and a Chariot to fly withal ; but the Meffenger dealt unfaithfully ,and lewdly with him, for he brought Hircanus** Letters privily unto Herod, who rewarded him well for his Labour, and bad him go to Maloc, and to let him :
know what Anfwer Maloc on
TheMeflenger upgave. went and delivered the Letters to Maloc, fulfilled Hircanus** Requeft.fent him Horfes and
this,
who
a Chariot,writing in this fort: / have fent tbecHorfes and Horfemen, cptne therefore unto me, and whatsoever thy Heart defireth, I will do it for thy fake. So the Meffenger brcught the Anfwer fecretly to Herod ^ whereupon he fent ftreight to the Place in which he underftood Maloc\ Men to lurk, waiting for HircaThen nus, and caufed to apprehend them alive. Eiders, betogether the to call commanded Herod brought, be to Hircanus willed whom alfo he fore and of him the King demanded,Tf// me whether thou baft written any Letter to Malpc, King of Arabia ?
He anfwered,
/ writ none.
.
The Wars of the Jews.
j
i
Then was Riftius the Meflenger brought in as his Accufer,and the Men of War alfo of Arabia that were apprehended, who declared the whole Matter before the Council, fo that Hircanus was quite daftled. Then the King commanded him to be put to death, and fo was the Kingdom eftablifhed unto Herod. The time that Hircanus Reigned was Forty Years After the death of his Mother and Six Months. and Ariftobulas his Brother Yeirs, he Reigned Three Prieft: Again, Three making him removed him, Kingdom, and ReignYears after he returned to his ed Four Years. Then Antigonus^ Son of Ariftobulus^ depofed him, cutting off his Ear, and banifhed him out of the Holy City. So after, when Herodhls Servant came to the Kingdom, he returned to Jerufalem, and Herod his Blood guildefs: Yet notwithftanding had delivered Herod from the Hands of the Eiders, who would have put him to Death, for the Death of Hizkias.'Yxom that time Hircanus wrought no Evil in the fight of the Lord, nor offended him in any great matter, fave only in this, that he bare too much with Herod in lhedding the innocent Blood, wherefore his own Life went for the other : Therefore happy is he that never forgetteth any part of his Duty. Marimi, the Daughter of Alexander^ the Son of Ariftobulus, the Wire of Herod^ had a Brother, whofe Name was Arifiobulus % him Herod would in no wife promote to the High Prieft-hood, becaufe he feared the Children of Cbafmoname, although his Wife made earneft Suir, and lay fore upon him for the matter : But the King made High - Prieft one that was nothing of the Kindred of Cbafmoname% whofe Name was E 3 Haniel\
The Wars of the Jews.
J*
Notwithftanding, when he had once dip patched Hircanus, his Wife's Progenitors, Father of Alexandria^ Mother-in-law ^ then hedepofed Haniel the HighPrieft, and preferred his Wife's Brother Ariftobulus to the Dignity, who, although he were but a Child, yet he was wife, and of good under ftanding, and beautiful withal, fo that in all Ifrael was not a goodlier nor handfomer young Man than he was. And this Haniel was the firft that ever was depofed from that Office of the High Priefthood \ for never did King of Ifrael attempt the like afore Herod, who did this to quiet his Wife, and to fulfil his Mother-in-laws mind : Notwithftanding this, Alexandra, his Wife's Mother, was not content, nor fatisfied, for the Death of her Father was fuch a Grief but always fpake fnappifhly to the King that he committed her to Ward. Then.fhe writ to Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt , Wife unto M. Anton'ws^ a Noble Man of Rome^ declaring unto her all the mifchief that Herod had done to the Pofterity of Chafmoname, and defiring of her Aid. To whom* Cleopatra made this Anfwer, If thou canft find the tneans to come to me fecretly, thou (halt perceive
Haniel.
1
:
what
I
(hall
do
for thee.
When
Alexandra had read the Letter, (he fent to Arijlohuiits her Son, the High Prieft, (hewing him that (he would fly to the Sea Japho^nd from thence would take Shipping into Egypt ^ perfuading him alWe will ( fairh fhe ) make two fo to fly with her. and we Coffers, one for me, and another for thee wilLwitfc Rewards allure our Servants to carry us out privily, whereby we may fly to farve our Lives, y This their Device was perceived of one of Hered s Servants, who forthwith made the King privy unto
the ]fafs of the Jews.
53
if. The King commanded his Servant that bewrayed them, that when they did convey the Coffers, they fhould bring them to him 5 which the Servant did* So when the Coffers were brought to the King's Prefence, he caufed them to he opened, and took
out Alexandra and her Son Ariftobulus \ to whom the King fpafce fharply, and rebuked them fore* infoBut Alexandra anfwered him again as fhort much, that the King, moved with Anger, flung a-
way from to
fit
Chamber, faying, It is better Corner of the Houfe, than with a
her into his
folitary in a
brawling and fcolding
Woman
The King
differnbled the matter, great diiplealure a Year after.
As Ariftobulus the High Pontifical Veftures,
in
an open place. and (hewed no
apparelled in his ftood in the Temple, nigh unPrieft,
to the Altar to offer Sacrifices, th? Ifraciities beheld his Wifdom, and Behaviour in the whereat every Man rejoiced, praifing God, that had not taken all away, but left one tc revenge the Injuries done to the Houfe o{ Co ofmoname. The King hearing this, was fore afraid, and not a little difpleafed, thinking to himfelf the lfrae7 his Beauty,
Miniftry
liter
would
unto him
:
Kingdom of their Fathers perceived every Man's Heart to be
reftore the
He
towards him j wherefore he deliberated and in the Feaft of the Tabernacle he removed to Jericho with all his Houfhold ^ whereas he made a great Feaft to all his Nobles and Servants, placing thefa every one after his degree bvfore him. Ariftobulus^ High-Prieft, he fee upon the right Hand * and as they eat, drank, and made meny, certain^ of the King's Servants were difpofed to go fwim in Jordan. "To thefe the King had given E 4 fecret inclined
a while,
JfreWdvtof
54
w the Jews.
Commandment, that they fhould defire Ariftoi bulus to go and bathe with them in Jordan^ and then to drown him. So when they were going, they came Xo Arijiobulus^ and moved him to keep them Compa-
fecret
ny, "which he would not, untefs the King gave him leave : Wherefore he asked the King leave, but he'
denied him at the
Man
entreated
KTm
firft
fo
young King bid
yet at length the
inftantty,
that the
him do what he would.
He went therefore with the other young Men to The King prefently took his Horfe and re-
fwim.
turned to Jericho with
all his Train,
leaving the
young Men behind, which continued fwimming till Sun-ietting and as it began to be dark,they drowned tbePrieft Anjlobulus among them. Whereof when Tidings came to the King, ?nd it was known that he was dead, the People wept, and made great Lameatatiop, confidering his Vertue, Nobility, and Beauty, every Man was full of Sorrow, that he (hould have fo fhort a Life * and tl^ey bewailed fb much, that it was heard afar oft. But Marimi chiefly, and Alexandra^ the young Man's Mother, could in no
Yea, the King alfo wept and it repented him that he had done lo wicked an Aft yet all the People knew wetl enough, that the thing was procured by tho King; infomuch, that Alexandra^* Mother in la letted not to tell it to his Face, that he was the murderer of her Husband, and of her Father, and now laft of all her Son, to whom the King anfwer*
wife be comforted.
made great moan,
for
?
ed neither good nor bad. From that day forward there was continual Hatred between Alexandra and Marbniy and Ktpathe Mother of Herod, and Salumitb his Silver, that
^
7be Wars of the Jews. that came of bafe and caft in their
Teeth,
to their
55
For Marimi Faces, That they were
fervile
Blood,
not of the Seed of \Jracl
? but prophane, unholy, Herod loved' Notwithftanding afid Marimi as his Life, wherefore he would never di£ pleafe her as long as (he lived, nor fay fo*much to her, as, Why laidft thou fo ? Thefe things done, Marcus Antonius, a Nobleman of Rome , next unto Otiavian Auguftus , King of Kings, being fent by Auguftas to War upon the Kings of the Welt-Countries, reigned in Egypt * and by the provocation of his Wife, rebelled againft 08tuian Auguftus % made War with him both by Sea and Land. And forafmuch as Egypt is near adjoining to the Land of {frae'l^ Herod joined with him, and helped him. For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in fych fort, that no King durft medWheredle with him for fear of Marcus Ant cuius. of bafe
Birth.
,
upon when Marcus confpired againft his Prince and Matter, Herod aided him with an Army, with Horfemen, and with Ships alfo, againft Otiavian. In which Wars Odavian got the Viftory, flew Antovy, and ail his People, coming by Ship into the Ifle of Rhodes, and fo into the Land of Egypt. Herod hearing that Marcus Antonius was flain, and that Otiavian Auguftps was come inro Egypt he Dinted for fear ot the dilpleafure of OSavian. Yet at length he took heart unto him, prepared a Royal Prelent to be carried before him, and followed after to Otiavian Augujius. And fetting forwards, he called Jofeph, the Husband of Salumitb his Sifter, whom he made chief. of his Houfhold, commanded him, that if Oftavian put him to death, he fliould poifpn Marimi his Wife, faying, It fhouid not
the Wars of the Jews.
$6
not be feemly for Kings, that any mean Man fhould many with a King's Widow, and Ueep with her upon the King's Bed. So then he took his Journey towards Offavian Auguftus, who then was at Rhodes, where he tmderftood Ottavian to be difpleafed with him, for that he had aided Marcus*Antonius. Therefore as foon as Herod C3me to Oftavian Auguftus's pre-, ience, having his Crown upon his Head, he took it off, and fell down proftrate upon the Ground, at OSaviarfs Feet, faying, Moft noble Emperor, I confefs my trefpafs againft your Majefty, that I loved Marcus Antonius my Companion in League, who was my Neighbour, and aided me^ and 'tis true that your Majefty, fince the time you made me King, have heard of mine Affairs that hapned unto me, but never fuccoured me. This Marcus Antonius did not fo. I confefs therefore, that in his Wars againft your Majefty, I aided him with an Army, with Horfemen and Ships Neither went I out with him for any Wars upon mine own Border* ^ but whenfoever I went with him I helped him to the utmoft of my Pow:
When he was falling, I bolftred him up, and when he ftumbled, I railed him again. Amongft ail thefe I proteft alio, that I would not be counted of your Majefty a breaker of League $ but now Marcus er.
Antonius is dead,wherefore whether that it fhali pleafe your Majefty to reftore me my former Eftate or no* for as much as I have kept touch W\i\\Marcus Antonius againtt your Majefty amonglt others $ if you put me to death, you will do me no wrong, but Juftice becaufe by the Law of Arnjs I havedeierved Death. When Ottavian Aaguftus heard him fpeak fb, he faid unto him, Arife thou King of IJrttl in Peace be
the Wars
of the
Jews,
be of good Comfort, and fear not, worthy to be nigh, yea, next unto
^57 for thou art
my
Perfon.
I
know that Marcus Antonius was inticed by his Wife, and would not follow my Counfel, for if he had, I dare fay he never would have confpired againft me. So he commanded the Crown to be fet again upon Herod's Head, and made a League with him. Then they went both together toward Egypt, to be revenged upon Cleopatra. But that wicked Woman, when (he faw her City to be overcome, put on her moft precious Apparel, and fitting upon the Throne of her Kingdom, commanded a Viper to be brought unto her ; which as loon as fhe had fuffered to fting her Breaft, (he died. As 08avian Auguftus came to the Palace, and faw her fit there, he rejoiced that he might be revenged on her, and commanded to thruft her from her Throne ^ but when they came to her, and found her dead, it grieved 08avian very fore.
In this while Jofepb, SalumitVs Husband, difclofed unto Marimi, that the King had commanded, if
happened to him to be put to Death by AuWhereupon guftus, that he (houid poylbn her. Marimi conceived yet a greater Hatred toward it
fo
the King, infomuch, that when the King was returned irj fafety, and found, and with Honour alfo
from 08avian, and that all his Men and whole Houfhold rejoiced greatly, Marimi fhewed no Countenance of Gladnefs, no, not when the King himfelf told her how greatly he was magnified and honoured of 08ayian Auguftus, but always (he was very fad Salumith, the King's Sifter, perceiving that Marimi lb vexed the King, fhe told him how :
fofepb her Husband had lain with Marimi, whiles
he
5
8*
4
the Wars of the Jews.
he was with Auguflus. But Herod ( fay what fhe could ) gave no Credit to her Words, knowing that fhe envied Marimi, until at length he asked the Caufe of Marimi, why (he rejoiced not as others did, when he returned in fafety from Auguftus, but was very fad, which (hewed her to have Rancour and Malice in her Heart towards him ? She anfwered, Thou haft faid heretofore, that thou loveft me above all thy other Wives and Concubines ^ yet thou didft will Jofepb, thy Sifter's Husband, to poifon me. When Herod heard this, he was exceedingly abafhed, that Jofepb had difclofed his Secret, and began to miftruft with himfelf that which Salumitb told him, that he had flept with hisWifeindeed,and upon that, dete&ed that Secret. Therefore he departedout of his Palace in a great Anger and Rage, whereby Sainwith perceived that he detefted Marimi^ and therefore fhe accufed her further, fuborning falfe Accufers and Forgers of Lyes, to witnefs that Marimi would have poifoned the King, whereof fhe had divers Preemptions aifo by her Countenance. She added moreover, If thou ( faith fhe to the King ) let her efcape thus, (he will fpeedily deftroy thee, and be% the Law giveth a Man Man go about tomurther thee,
reave thee of thy
Kingdom
this Counfel, If
any
prevent htm, and flay him firft. With this, and fuch like Words, fhe fo moved the King, that he commanded to bring Marimi forth, and to be beheaded in the High Street of the
And as fhe was brought forth into the Marketplace of the City, all the Women of the City followed her; Alexandra her Mother alio curfed and railed at her, faying, Come out thou that haft abhorCity.
red thy Husband, and confpired againft
Lord : Alexandra
thy
7be Wars of the Jews. Alexandra wept alfo, as though Wickednefs that her Daughter
had been for the had committed, thinking furely to pleafe the King by that means, and to blear his Eyes, if, perad venture, he might fuffer her to live, till (he might have opportunity to poyfon him. Marimi thus going to Execution, held her Peace, and looked neither to the Right-hand nor to the Left, nor yet feared Death any thing, knowing that (he was innocent in Deed and Thought, and therefore God would render her a good Reward in the World to come ^ wherefore fhe bared her Neck without fear, and they cut off her Head, fhedding the innocent Blood. But God made no it
delay in punilhing the fame, for there fell a fore
Plague and Peftilencein theHoufeot Herod^ fothat his Noble Women and Concubines died fore thereof, yea, throughout Judea reigned vehemently 5 which Afflictions all Ifrael knew well enough, chanced unto them for the Blood of Marimi. They cryed therefore unto the Lord, his chief Servants,
faying, Wilt thou jor the Offence of one Man, dealjo with the whole Congregation * The Lord
cruelly
took pity therefore upon the Land, and withdrew the Plague from the People. The King repented him alfo that he had fhed Blood without a Caufe and
Love fo grew in his Heart, that he was fick, and at Death's Door. Then Alexandra, Marimi s Mother, fought means how to poyfon him, which being uttered unco the King, be commanded to apprehend her,
and to
kill her.
wittj all the Pofterity
this manner dealt Herod of the Macchtbees^ leaving
In
npne alive that were called by that Name : Herod put to Death alfo Jofephat, the Husband of Salu-
mtb.
Tie
the Wars of the Jews.
6o
The King had two
Sons, Alexander and Arifto-
Marimi his Wife :. They were both at Rome when their Mother fuffered h for their Father the King had fent them thither to learn the Roman Tongue When they heard Tidings of their Mother's Death, they wept and mourned for her, hating their Father for his Cruelty- Soon after, the King their Father recover'd of his Sicknels, was eftablifhed in his Kingdom, builded ftrong Cities, and rofe to great Profperity. In the Thirteenth Year of his Reign hulusjzy
:
their fell a great
Dearth
in the
Land, wherefore the
King took out of his Trealure much Gold and
Silver,
and precious Stones, wherewith he fent into Egypt^ and procured plenty of Corn, and refrefhed with -Bread all that lack'd, and were in diftrefs of Hunger;
own proper Goods And not (hewed he this Liberality, but alfo to all that came unto him out of other ftrange .Nations, hearing of his Renown: Moreover, in all Befides this, he his Wars he had good Fortune. thought it good to renew the Houle of the San£lu ary, whereupon he deliberated with the Ifraelites, to have their Advice for the building of it, aftei the fame quantity and meafure that Solomon King of Ifrael had builded it. For the Jews returning from Captivity in the time oiCorefeb^ began to builc it after the mealure that Corefeb prefcribed: them and not as it was before. The People of Ifrae hearing that the King was purpofed to pull dowi the Temple to the Ground, and build it afre(h v thej made him no anfwer, fearing, left when he had pul ed it down, he would not be fo hafty to build it uj again. But the King perceiving what ihey fearec in their Minds, laid he would not flack the matter yea, he (pared not his
:
"only to the Ifraelites
noi
The Wars of the Jews; nor
reft till
61
it to pafs. He fa id morewould take out of his Treafury plenty
he had brought
over, that he
and give it to graving, alio preof Thafies and Marble. To the Carpenters alfo, and Mafons, he would deliver Timber and Stones, Gold and Silver, Brafs and* Iron, to make all things neceflary to the work. Wherefore if he pulled down the Houfe, he was able to build
of Gold and
Silver,
cious Stones, Stones
ftraightways again. So he pulled down the Houfe, aud repaired it again, and fimfhed it in length a hundred Cubits, all it
ol white Marble, fo that the whole height of the Stone was in all, an Hundred and twenty Cubits. For the Foundation, was 20 Cubits within the Ground, and ico above. The breadth of every Stone was Twelve Cubits, and the thicknefs thereof Eight CuThe Gates bits * every Stone was of like bignefs ; of the Houfe he covered with fine Gold and Precious Stones finely fet therein : The Threfnofds were of Silver, and theTops alfo. He made alio a Vine or Gold, a marvelous cunning piece of work, the Arms thereof or bigger Branches, were glittering Gold v the lefler Branches, Slips, or lateft flioots of Gold, fomewhat Red,and all above was yellow Gold,where~ upon hung clufters of Cryftal. The Vine was fo great that it weighed a Thoufand pound weight of pure Gold. In all the World was not the like to be feen. He made alfo a Porch,and before the Porch twoWalis of Silver^marveloufly and cunningly wrought- Behind the Houfe, tovtard the Weft, he mada^ Court of a hundred and fifty Cubits iong,and a hundred in breadth, which was pifred with pure Mai hie, toward the South and North. The length of the Court was alio a Hundred and fifty Cubits, and 100 in breadth. He erefled
,
the Wars of the Jews.
4%
alfo a Hundred and fifty Pillars of white Four Ranks, The length of one Rank was Forty Cubits, and every Pillar was Forty Cubits high, and Three Cubits thick. The Pillars were all of like meafure, as the Court of the North-fide, and of the South was alfo of like meafure, with all the Pillars thereof Towards the Eaft, the Court contained Seven hundred and Twenty Cubits, even to the Brook Cedron : No Man ever faw the like Building in all the World. The Vine that he made, placed he before the Porch. In the extream parts of the Court, he made alfo Walks and Galleries of fuch height, that they that walked therein might eafily fee the Waters running in the Brook Cedron, by the fpace of a Cubit. Between the Porch and the Houfe alio (as though it were a Vail or Partition) the King made a Wall of Silver, of half an handful thick * in the which was a Door of beaten Gold, and upon the Gate a Sword of Gold, There were certain of twelve pound weight. Pofies Graven in the Sword, as this $ What Stranger foever approacheth nigh here^ let him die for it. So the things that Herod made in the Temple were won-
ere£ted in
Marble
it
in
.
derful
:
World,
Neither wis there ever heaid of, in all the any King that was able to erefl: fuch a
Building.
When
the King fent to Saroas his Paftures for his Cattle h from whence were brought him Three hundred young Bullocks, and very manj^ Sheep, according to* his Princely So then they dedicated aud hallowed the Eftate. the
Work was
finiflied,
Houle with great Joy and Giadnefs. * Thete was one certain Day in the Year, when as the King was accuftomed to make a great Feaft to all
the Wars of the JeWs,
5$
: ill his Court, to all his Nobles and Sages in Ifrael minded to Againft that felf fame day the King was finifhhis Work, which made both him mor?glad 5 and all his People. The fame alfo was commanded to be done in all the Provinces of his Kingdom, fending his Letters by his Purfuevahts, to the Noblemen, Captains, and Prefidents of the Provinces, that they would obferve that Day after the fame manner every Year, The People alfo that were fquandered in their Enemies Countries, their head Rulers and Captains came out of every Country, far and near, to lee the Houfe and the King, for they could never believe it, till they had feen it And when they had feen it, it exceeded far that they had heard :
of
it.
Thefe things done, the King's two Sons, Alexander and Arijlcbulus, which he had by Marim}^ came home from Rome to Jerufalem, in a great Heat and Fury, with a ftrong Company, yea their Hearts were vety heavy alfo j for Alexander the elder had Married the King of Cappadocias Daughter, and Arifiobulus the Daughter of Sa/umith, the King his Fathers Sifter. Thefe coming to Jerufalem^ went not to the Court to do their Duty to the King their Father, neither would they fee him , whereby ths King gathered, they were devifing fome MifchieF agaimi him Moreover, all his Men gave him waijiing to takekeed of them, and to keep his Power or Guard about him. He had a Wife of bafe Stock out of the Country, before he came to the Kingdom, by whom he had a Son named Anupater. And when he had put Marimi his beloved Wife to death, he called home his Wife, which he had difdained j
before, to his C
F
Where-*
*
T&t Wars of the Jews.
64
Wherefore now, feeing the two Sons of Marimi hated him,he appointed Antipater^ his Son, to be Heir appaient and to raife his Eftimation, he gave him all hisTreafure, made him Lord and Ruler of all that he had affirming, that he (hould reign after him* This Antipater had a' fubtle Wit, and his Talk was daily to his Father, If it like yourMajefty, wherefore fhould you give me allthefe things, when asthefe two Lions (hall be ever in my top, and ready to deftroy me. By fuch furmifed Means he raifed Difeord and Hatred between them and their Father, albeit the
King was loath to hurt
Not long
his
two Sons.
he took a Journey to Rome^ to Ottavian^ and his Son Alexander waited on him,„ hoping that Oftavian would be a Means for him to turn his fathers Hatred from him, and put ail Malice out of his Mind. When the King was come thither, Ottavian rejoiced much at his coming, fayTo whom ing, I have thought long to fee thee. haft thou left the Land of Juda ? Herod anfwered, for the Homage that I owe unto my Lord the Emperor, I am come to appear before him, and to deSo clare my Chances with this my Son his Servant,
he
after,
him the whole Matter, from the beginning Then Offavian Auguftus blamed the The young Man, becaufe he hated his Father. young Man anfwered, How can I otherwife do > told
to the end.
Hbw
can
I
forget the moft chafte
Wtfmb
that bare
me, which was the holy Stock ? If I forget my Mother that was flain guiltlefs, and without Crime,
me forget my right Hand. Thefe, and fuch Words, fpake the young Man, not without Tears, fo that his Bowels In the prefence of Ottavian were much moved, and the Noblemen that were then let like
about
.
The Wars of the Jews*
6£
about Ottavlan could not abftain from weepipg, but lamented greatly. 03avian firft reproved Herod for his great Tranfc then laboured he to pacifk greflions and Cruelty the young Man with comfortable Words, bidding him to honour his Father, and to fubmit himfclf un* to himWhen he had done as he wilkd ( for he would not ftrive againft the Emperor's Commandment ) Oftavian took the young Man by the Hand^ and put it into Herod's Bofom. Then his Father killed and embraced him, fa that they both wept; after that, they' took their leave and departed from 08avian, who comforted them, and gave them a Gift, committing it into Herod's Hands. •,
Herod yet perceived, that the Hatred, of the Children of Marimi would not be appeafed: Whereupon
when he came home
to Jerufalcm, he called together ail the Elders of Ifrael^ and faid unto them, I had determined once to place one of my Sons Captain over the People of the Lord, but I might not
do
without the Content of Oftavian Auguftus. therefore I have appointed my Three Sons?, and have divided my Kingdom equally amongft ihem Help ye them againft* their Enemies, but in no wife (hall ye help one of them againft another And if ye perceive any Breach of Friendfhip between them, do what lyeth in you to make it up* Whereunto he made them fwear prefently in Jcrufalem ^ and the Bond being made, each Man departed home to his Houfe. But for all this, the Hatred between Antipater and his two Brethren was nothing diminifhed, fot he feared them, becaufe they were of the Houfe of Cbafmonamc^ and allied with King's of great it
Now :
:
F
2
Power
$
:
tbe Wariof the Jews;
66 Power
-
he fuborned therefore falfe Accufers, to fay unto the King that the young Men, Sons of Marimi^ were determined to deftroy him: Likewife he fet Variance between Salutnitb and them ^ for (he was in greater Eftimation than he, infomuch that the King did nothing without her Counfel ^ the fame wrought he alfo between Pberoras the King's Brother and them. But to Salumitb he faid, Doft thou not confider how the Sons of Marirni know that their Mother was put to Death by thy Counfel? Therefore if they may bring to pais to make the King away, they will hew, thee to pieces. But when the young Men heard this, they came before* the King, and fwore they never intended to hurt thek Father, and with weeping they fo perfuaded the King, that he believed them, and they got his Favour again Whereat Antipater was not a little difpleaied, therefore he hired falfe WitnefTes, to fay they faw Alexander the King's? Son, upon a certain Night, with his Sword drawn before the King's Palace, minding to Murther Antipater. He fuborned alfo certain of the King's Servants to witnels againft Alexander^ that hefhould give them •*
:
great Rewards to allure them to his Pleafure, and to abufe them in unnatural Vinery, which they refufed. Moreover, that he defired them to poifpn the King, which they would not agree alfo to do
Whereupon the King was fore difpleaied towards him, commanding not only him, but all that took his part or defended his Integrity, to be apprehended and put in Prifon, that Execution might b& done upon them. Then Alexander writ unto Arcbelaus
his
Father-in-law,
defiring
him
to
come
to
Jew-
falem to his Father Herod.
This
;
67 7he Wars of the Jews; This Arcbelaus was a very wife Man, and a noWhen he was come to Jerufalem^ ble Counfeller Herod was very glad of his coming, and demanded what Matters brought him thither at that prefent * he anfwered, I have heard that Alexander thy Son and :
my Son-in-law,
hath attempted to rebel againft thee not ppffible but my Daughter his Wife fhould be aceeflary to this thing,and yet (he hath not (hewed it unto thee, wherefore I utterly deteft her, as one that it is
hath confpired againft thee* yet neverthelefs I know well, that for the love thou beareft unto me, thou would'ft fpare her, for this Gaufe I am come unto when thou haft put him to death, I alfo may flay, my Daughter $ for it is better that we fhould make them away, than they us. Herod hearing this was very glad, and gave Cre^ dit to his Friendfhip : When Arcbelaus perceived that Herod had a good Opinion of him, he altered thee, that
his Communication, faying to the King, Firft let us diligently examine, and well try the Caufe, forafmuch as there are many falfe Witnefles, and lying Perfons in the World, and let us not fhed innocent Blood upon any uncertainty For Ar:
cbelaus had a great fufpicion tfiat Herod had given too light Credit, knowing how ready he was to
hear an evil Tale, which was the Caufe of theMif chief that befel upon the People of his Houfe.
\Ne\\Herod thought hisCounfel good. One of them that accufed the King's Children,
was Pheroras the King's Brother ^ and to fay the Truth, he was the chief of ail. Herod loved Arcbelaus jhe King ofCappadocia^ as himfeif Arcbelaus perceiving, turned his Tale to rebuke the King, faying, Thou art now waxen old, and \ygll ftricken in Years,thou fuffereft thefe
F
3
Back*
68
the Wars of the Jews.
*
Back-biters to rule thee, who ftir thee to work all thefe Mifchiefs in thy Houfe ^ yea, Pheroras thy Brother hath fafly provoked thee againft thy Sons. When Pheroras heard thefe words,he was fore afraid,
he had feduced the King. Therefore Pheroras to Archelaus^ and befought him Archelaus anfwered him, If thou to' fave his Life. wilt obtain Pardon for thy Wickednefs, come and fall beiore his Feet, and confefs that thou haft fpoken fafly againft his Sons, then I will promife thee that he fhall be merciful unto thee, and to his Sons, Pheroras did fo, confefled that he hud fafly acThen Archelaus befought cufed the King's Sons. the King for Pardon, and he granted it ^ afcer that he entreated him that the young Men might be delivered out of Prifon, which the King alfo commanded to be done. The young Men therefore came before the King, and fell down at his Feer, and the King was loving to them, and embraced them kindly. He made great Joy alfo, that Archelaus came in fo good a*i hour to him, to whom he gave for Gift Seven hundred pound Weight of Gold, with m^ny precious Stones, and ConBut Antipater again cubines, and difmiffed him. fuborned falfe Accufers, and writ counterfeit Letters, in the Name of the King's Sons, to one of the Captains, declared how they would confpire and kill the King; and by fuch means he encreafed the Enmities between, them and their Father many ways, that the King commanded them to be put in Prifon, and moft ftrong 'Irons to be laid lipon them. Befides this, Antipater had furprized and won the Hearts of the King's chief Rulers and Servants, that they procured his Barber to bear falfe Witnels for indeed
came
.
The Wars of the Jews.
69
witnefs againft Alexander, how he hired him to King at fuch 'time as he fhould (have his When the King heard his Barber fpeak, he Beard. was much troubled in his Mind, infomuch, that he faid, I am weary of my Life, to hear thefe Pickthanks, that open my Ears tofilLipy Head with Tales. than to give Charge, that I can do no way better, wholoever brings me any fuch occafions hereafter kill the
Wherefore of any Body, lhall fufFer Death for it he commanded the Barber to be fliin, and his two Sons to be brought forth and hanged upon Gallows's, :
fhedding their innocent Blood. Then rejoyced Antipater, fuppofing himfelf to be as fure of the Kingdom, as though it were in his Hands when he was not aware, that although he was never fo high alojt, yet was there one higher than he, who confidered his Doings. Alexander had two Sons, Thigarus and Arijiobulus 5 and Arijiobulus had three Sons, Herod, Agrippa and Alexander. When the King returned to Jerufalem (for he was in Samaria, by the Lake fide, when his Sons were put to Death) he commanded that his Nephews fhould be brought to the Court, and taking pity on them, embraced and killed them, weeping very fore, both he and all his Servants For it greatly repented him for the heinous Deed that he had done. But when the time of Mourning was paft, he called the chief of Ifrael together, and faid unto them, I am now grown in Age, and waxen gray headed, uncertain how ftiortly I (hall die. I fee-here •,
:
before me thefe little fatherlefs Children, ver can behold withotit great Anguifti of
when great
I look upon them, I call damage I have done unto
F 4
to
which
Mind
I •,
ne-
for
remembrance what
their Father in
my
fu-
rious
the Wars of the Jews. rious outragioufnefs.
them
Now
I would commif of fome Man that
therefore
to the Tuition and Cuftody
might be a Patron and a Father unto them, to fuccour his Power. All the People anfwetcd that he had well fpoken. He fpake therefore
them continually wi£h
unto his Brother Pberoras^ Thou (halt be thgir Patron and Defender, and (halt give thy Daughter to TbygaTits,
Alexander^ Son.
He
alfo
commanded
his
Son
Antifater to give his Daughter fo Herod^ Son of Arijiobulus* Arid the Marriages were knit, and Compofition made in the King's Prefence. When Antifater marked the Love thgt the King bare towards the Nephews, he began to be in great Care ^ for Tbygarm, Alexander^ Son, had a Grand father by the Mothers fide, a King of great Power $ namely Arcbdaw^ King oi Cappadoaa.
He
falls
down
therefore at the King's Feet,
to
and break the Friendlhip that he bare towards his Nephews, and to leave fpeaking in their Caufe as he had done, but he prevailed not. Therefore he left his Father, and went to Pberoras the King's Brother, made a Confederacy with him, and defired ftim to fruftrate the Bond that was between liimfelf and lltr'od, and alfo between him and Tbydiffolve
So garus, the Seta of Alexander^ th^t was hanged. and Mind, his turned Pberoras came to the King, This 4 0n diflblved the Covenant ot Marriage, f> Pberoras and Antipater (that fate upon the King's Throne) were become greaf Friends, banquetting^ one another
Day and
Night,'
and difcourfing of
their Affairs.
When afraid
this
of
came
their
to the King's Ear,
Combinings,
he was fore
and commanded *
that his
the
Wm of
the
Jews.
7?
his Brother Pberoras fhould for evermore be banifhed Antipater, his Son, was fent to Qftavun jhe Cpurt. eftablifh the Kingdom" unto him, to Avguftus, League For Herod was fo in with him and to enter could not go. that old, he Antipater journeying toward Rome, paffed thorough Egypt, defirous to fee it before the Death of his Uncle Pberoras ; And as he travelled by the High- ways of Egypt, there came a certain Merchant with a Vial in his Hand, clofe covered, which cryed, faying, Who will buy a thing of great Price :
before he fee it ? Antipater marvelled at his Words, and asked him what was in the Vial: But the Seller told him not what it was before he had bought it, and paid dear for it Then whifpered Jae in his Ear, telling him that it was a ftrong Poyibn that would Kill one out of HanGj. This Vial Antipater fent to Pberoras, to be kept until he returned from Rome In the mean Seafon pberoras died, and his Wife hid the Vial. After, when Antipater came Home agajn from Rome, Pberoras\ Wife and he fell at Strife, infomuch, that fhe objefted unto him, That he was the Caufe Tberoras was banifhed the King's 'Prefence, the Sorrow whereof was his death. On the other fide, Antipater went about to accufe her, fowing Difcord between her and the King, to :
:
'
ftir
him
againft
her.
He
fuborned alfo a certain
Eunuch 01 gelded Perfon, to go to the King, and inform* him, how that at what time he took dif pleafure with Pberoras his Brother, and banifhed him his Prefence, Pberoras procured a ftrong Poyfon, and gave it to his Wife, commanding her to
King therewith The King hearing this, wroth with the Eunuch, and faid, I fearch-
deftroy the >vas
:
::
Tfo Wars of the Jews.
7*
ched for that venom long ago, that thy Houftiold Servants
when it was noifed would give it me to
could not find the thing to be true ^ for I put my Wife Marimi to Death without caufe, and Alexandra my Mother-in law, with my two Children. When Antipater heard that the King credited not the Eunuch, he made fuit to the King, to fend him to Qftavian the fecond time 5 for he was afraid of the Vial that was in Pheroras*s Wife's Houfe. He had writ alfo with his hand, how that he fent it, intending therewith to poifon the King's Sons Children. But he that prepareth a Pit for another, oft* times falleth into it himfelf': So defiring the King to fend him, he let him go. to make After this, the King commanded fearch, if the Eunuch's words were true or no ^ he ient firft for Pherora$\ Houfhold Servants, and examined them whether ever they could perceive that Pheroras was in mind to hurt him. They all fware, drink,
but
I
yea, I have been too rafii in fuch Matters,
No. Then very
fome
Some
the
King commanded
to
fcourge them
fore, but they confefTed nothing, although died under their hands in the Examination : he ordered with many kind of Torments
Of
and fome he caufed to pluck out their Teeth which Woman-fervant, as he had fcourged a certain had been very trufty to Pheroras, at the length when (he could no longer ftand for ftrokts, fhe cryed out and faid,
The holy and
blefTed
God
re-
venge us on Roftios the King's Wife, Antipater^ MoThe King hearing ther, which is the caufe of this. will difclofe all fhe thefe words, bad let her alone, Then fpake fhe, Antipater made Feaft every foot
The Wars of the Jews.
73
for thy Brother PBeroras and himfelf, and as they eat and drank, they devifed how to poifon thee, efpecially whenas Antipater was going to Offavian^
we deftroy him,he wilideftroy he hath done all the Children of his Houle. Moreover he loveth the Children of his Sons that were put to death, which grow apace, and it is poffible he may change his Mind, and make one of for they faid, Except us, as
them King. Antipater alfo faid to thy Brother, the King makes as though he were much my Friend,* but I truft him not ^ he gave me ( faith he ) a hundred pound Weight in Gold^ut all that fatisfieth When the King heatd this, he told how not me. he had given Antipater this Gold fecretly and the Woman faid moreover, there is a Vial of ftrong Poifon in Pberoras's Houfe. that thy Son fent out of Egypt ftraightway the King ient to Pbercras's Wife, that (he fhould bring him the Vial of Poifon her own felf when (he law the King's Eunuchs come to fetch her whether (he would or no. (he got up to the top of her Houfe, and caft her :
i,
felf
down head-long
would not
to kill her
felf,
becaufe
fee the King, nor abide his
(he
Torments,
but fbe did not thereof 5 whereupon the King'sMeffengers brought her in a Horfe-litter, and fet her before the King : Then (he confefled to him, how Antipater his Son had confpired with Pberoras to kill him with a Poifon that he had bought
Egypt ^ and fent it to Pberoras when he went to OUavtan: and how Pberoras being at the point of Death, repented him thereof charging that we" fhould never give that Venom to Antipater, but pour it upon the Ground, that the King might not be polfoned therewith * and I did in
as
:
Me
74
Wars of the Jews.
as he bade me, caft it out all, fave a little that I kept in the Glafs Bottom, for I ever feared that
which
now come
is
Then
to pals.
at the King's
Commandment,
the Vial
was
brought forth before him, and there was a little of the Venome left, wherefore they give better Credit to her words fo that the King was content with «,
her^ndbad
his Phyfician heal her
:
And fhe recover'd.
This done, the King writ to Antipater to come Tiome with fpced, becaufe I am old ( faith he ) and
weak, uncertain
how
fhortly
I
fhall die #
:
CHAP.
IV.
TH E
King had alfo two other Sons at Rome^ Arcbelaus and Po/entus : So when Antipater writ to anlwer his Father's Letters, he fignified unto him, that his two Sons had defamed the King, and flandered him unto Otfavian. But the King anfwered him, Come and bring them with thee, and I will order them as thou thinkeft good. Notwithftanding Antipater lingred for the fpace of fix Months, to fee if he might learn fomewhat of his Father's Doings, but he could hear nothing The MefTengers his Father had fent, lay upon him every day, and urged him to make hafte he took Therefore, at the feven Months end, his Journey' towards Judea, and came to Ctfarea. There heard he his Father had taken Difpleafure with his Mother, and banifhefl her the Court, but he could not learn what (hould be the Caufe, therefore he was ftricken with fuch fear, that he would have gone back again. But they that waited ujxm :
.
The Wars of the Jews. him, being defirous to go
home
to their Houfes
75 and
Families, dealt craftily with him, and perfuaded him, that if he fhould now turn back out of his way he fhould juftilie Jiis Enemies words to be true ; but if thou (tome once to thy Father's Pretence ( fay they ) who loveth thee fo entiitly, thou wilt prevail againft thy Foes, and get the upper hand of them
that trouble thee.
So he followed
their Counfel,
and came to Jeru-
When he entred into the City, no Man came fdlem. forth to meet him, nor once to bid him welcome home For all the Pecpte hated him for his Lyes,Slan:
and wicked Counfel, but chiefly for went forward to the Court, although with a fearful Heart. When he came to the King's Pretence, he tell down and did his Duty y but the King turned away his Face, and could not abide to look upen him. He went home therefore unto his Houfe with a heavy Heart, hanging down his Head, and hiding his FaceTherefore his Mother told him how their Counfei concerning the Vial of Poi(on was bewrayed,and how the King was wonderfully incenfed toward him ; That it increafed his fear more and more. The next day, by the King s Command, he was brought forth 5 and, before all the Chief of IJrael afTembled together, the King fate to Judge Antipaters Caufe There the King rehcarfed unto them his Son's Lewdnefs and Lyes, ht)w he had feduced him, and incited him to ktir his Children that were of the King's Blood, tar better and more virtuouS than he ^ infomuch that with a loud Voice; the King burft our, and bewailed his Wife Msrimi^ whom he had put to death without a Caufe, that hi* two Sons, that.weje far off, mieht hear him The* ders, perverfe
fear of the King. Yet he
:
y6
The Wars of the Jews.'
Th^a'Antipater fpeak craftily and
up
Head, and began to fubtilly. Firft he forgot not to give gentle Words to pacific his Father's Wrath, but that he could not do after he fell to entreaty, in fuch fort, that all the Nobles were move^ to pity, and bewailed his evil Fortune, not without Tears, lift
his 4
fave only Niraleus, the King's Secretary, who loved the King's Children that wore put to death. He rebuked them all that were lorry for the Calamity of Antipater^ crying with all, his might, Where are ye "
Alexander and Arijlobulus that were flain guiltlefs ? Lift up your Heads and behold this wicked Man fallen into the Pit that he h mfelf made fee how his Foot is catched in the Net that he himfelf laid for others. Mark you not how your Maker revengeth your Death, and requireth your Blood at bis Hand in the time of his Delfru&ion ? For the wicked Man is /pared until the time of his Death. So the King himfelf, very
much
incenfed, fent
demned Perfon out of
Prifon,
to fetch a
con-
who
being brought of the Poifon in the
before them, and tafting a little Vial, fell down dead therewith. Then the King commanded Antipater to
be car-
The and to be laid in ftrong Irons. Fortieth Year of his Reign,which was the Seventieth Year of his Age, King Herod fell lick, and no Remedy,no Phyfick could be found to help him, neither his Servants nor Phyficians could procure him any Reft,fb grievoufly came his Difeafe upon him, with fhortnefs of his Breath,and through the Anguifh ofthe manifold Evils that had hapned upon him by his own Folk. Whereupon hi cryed out, faying, Woe may he be that hath none left tofucceed him in his Kingdom, or none to go before his Coffin, and mourn ried to Prifon,
7he Wars of the JewsJ
Then
77
remembrance his Wife Marimi, and his Sons,rehearfing them
for
him at
his Death.
called he to his
by name, howling and weeping
on a
certain day,
when
continually.
ftill
his Sicknefs
came
fore
Upupon
him, he called to his Servants to fetch him fome pleafant Apple, to fee if it might comfort his Heart ^
and when they had brought it, he asked for a Knife to cut it, and one was brought him. Then he gathered his Strength unto him, and reared himfelf upon his left Arm, and perceiving his Life to be full of Sorrow and Lamentation,he took the Knife with his right Band, and fetched his Sway to thruft it into his Belly s but his Servants ftept to him, and caught his Arm, holding his Hands, and would not fufter him to do it. Then he wept fore, and all his Servants, that their Voice was heard out of the Court, and fhortly all the City was in an Uproar, faying, The King is dead, the King is dead. Ant if at er being in the Prifon, heard the noile, and asked what Bufinelsft this ? They anfwered him, The King is dead. Then he rejoyced wonderfully, faying unto the Jaylor, Strike off my Irons, and let me out, that I may go to the Palace, and I will remember thee with a good Turn. The Keeper anfwered, I fear leaft the King be yet alive 5 I Will go therefore and know the Truth, and come again by and by. Antipater feeing'he could not- get lopfe, wept for Anger at the Keeper : So the Keeper came to the Court which being told to the King, he commanded him to be brought before him Then the King asked him, What did Antipater (I pray thee) :
when he heard this Mourning, and that I was dead? The Keeper anfwered, He was very glad thereof and when I would not fmite off his Irons, and let him out, he wept for Anger. The King cryed unto his Lords
•
the Wars ef the
y
jeWl
how he hated me, bqing yet in Prifbrt, if he were here, he would do what he could to kill me, he would riot do as my Servants did, make hafte to wreft the Knife out of my Hand. As true is God liveth, he fhali never have that which he gapeth for • lb the King commanded he fllould be put to Death t and there was not one that would intreat for him, or defire the King to the contrary, but every Mart was glad of his deftru&iori. The King commanded the Keeper to bring him forth to the Market-place ^ which done, his Head morewas cut off, and fb he milled of his purpofe and King commanded taken over, the his Body to be Ankalia, buried, there to be carried to the City of but not in the City That done, and the People being returned from the Burial, the King fent to call all the Nobles of Ifr&el together, and enforcing his ftrength, he fat up in his Bed, and commanded to call his Son Arcbelaus^on whom he laid his Hands,and made him King over Ifrael h then fhouted every Man, God fave the King. The King lived five days after the Execution of Antipater, then he feinted and died. He reigned over Ifrael 40 Years 5 he was a worthy Warrior, a wife and prudent Man, a goodly Man of Perfon,. having God on his fide. He ever
Lords, fee
•,
:
loved the Sages, Hillel and Samai, with their Companions : He enriched the iecond Houfe more than alt other Kings, and was more liberal than all the His Gifts and ReKings that were before him. wards were rich, for he counted Gold and Silver as Chaff and Stones He kept Ifrael in peace from all his Enemies he builded alfo a faifer Temple than K. So* hmon: But he made theYoak of tribute and exa&ion in :
Ifrael
moie heavy>and gave open Ear
to evil
Tongues/
He
*
The Wars of the
Jew&
j$
He was a cruel Biood-fhedder of poor and innocent Perfons, and Arcbelaus his Son reigned in his room. He willed before his Death, that they fhould bury
Two
Days Journey and put him in a Coffin a half f rom Jerusalem : So they covered with Gold, fet here and there with Precious Stones, the Bed under him was wrought with Gold and full of Precious Stones, likewife upon his Head was a Cloth of Bayes, powdred with pre*
him
in
the City Erod'wn^
cious Stones, and upon that a Royal Crown, made fart to the Left-fide of the Coffin, and on the Rightfide was a Regal Scepter ^ upon the Bier was alfo a
Cloth of Bayes,
very thick powdred with precious
many Sapphires* chief of War Men Then went about him in their Coats ofFence,and drawn Swords in their hands^ witft Helmets on their Head, as in the time of War* After them came Arcbelaus his Son, that was made Stones, Cryrtal, Amethyfts, and very all the
then followed him all the People. There were of his Servants that went about the Bier, every one having a Chafing difh of Gold in his Hand, wherein they burnt fweet Woods and Perfumes cominu* ally as many as went about him, carting upon tho Hearfe pure Myrrh. He was born by certain great Lords, and Noblemen of Ifracl, upon their fhouiders, going leifurely, and with a Majefty, till they came to Erodion^ where they buried him with great Honour, the like was never done to any King. Thefe things done, there refbrted together fueh as hated Hcrcd^ and were weary of their own Lives whiles he lived, rejoycing that they had efcaped his Hands y faying, We have looked till our Eyes bleared, waiting for the Death of Herod that Tyrant, and Blood* fhedder^ that opprefled us with fuchjieavy Yokes,
King
•,
fifty
.
•,
•
G
that
8o
The Wars of the Jews.
that left us nothing to live on, for the Tributes and Taxes that he laid upon us ^ yet now Arcbelaus his
Son
worfe than he. Wherefore they confulted toand caft their Minds and good Will toward Antipater, the Son oi'Salumitb, the King's Sifter,one of the blood oiCbafmoname, and went with him loOtlavian Auguflus, requefting him to tranflate the Kingdom from Arcbelaus to Antipater^ but he would not grant them their Suit. Yea, he rather confirmed and is
gether,
affured the
Kingdom
Wickednefs
in the fight
to Arcbelaus,
of the Lord,
who wrought for
he married by
his Brother Alexander's Wife, that had Children
many great Offences. The Ninth Year of Arcbelaus's Reign, it chanced upon a Night he dreamed a Dream He thought he Alexander, and committed
:
faw nine Ears ofCorn, very good and full grown, upon one Stalk ^ then came a great Ox and did eat them up all at one bit ^ by and by he awaked, and perceived it was a Dream ^ therefore calling one of the Sages of Jfrael unto him, he fhewed him his Dream The Wife man faid, this is the Interpretation of it : The nine Ears frefh and full, be the nine Years which thou haft Reigned The great Ox is the great King Ottavian Auguftus ^ This Year thou (halt be removed from thy Kingdom, becaufe thou haft negle&ed the Word of God. and haft married thy Brother's Wife :'To this Arcbelaus anfwered him neither good nor bad. Within Five Days after, Ottavian came towards Jerufalem $ and when Arcbelaus went to meet him, he put him in Prifon, depofed him from the Kingdom o\ lfraelr and made Antipas his Brother King in his ftead : He turned his Name alfo, and called him Herod h that done, he returned to Kerne. Whiles Antipater was King, died the Emperour OUavian :
1
the Wars of the Jews.
8
Qttavlan Augujius, in the Fifty Sixth Year of his Reign, and Tiberius Cjefar lucceeded him. This Antipas alfo wrought Wickednefs in fundry Abominations more than any that was before him, for he took his Brother Philip's Wife from him which had already Children by Philip 5 for this (hameful Deed, Rabbi John Baptijt, the High Prieft, rebuked him, wherefore Antipas put him to Death. There was at that time one Jefus, a Wife Man, ifit be lawful to call him a Man, for he was a Worker of wonderful Works, and a teacher offuch Men as gladly
did hear the truth
•,
and had many
Difciples, both
of
Man
This the Jews, and alfo of the Gentiles. was Chrift, who after he was accufed of the chief Rulers of our 'Nation , and condemned by Pilate to be Crucijied%
was neverthelefs much beloved by them, who loved him
Sen from
To theje he appeared the the beginning. third day alive, according as the Prophets by Divine inspiration had told before, as well of this, as alfo of many other
things which fhould be done by him.
even
Day the Chriftian
to this
name of him,
And
Setf, which took their
continueth.
Againft this
Man
Antipas before-named,
came
Emperor of Rome , to whom when Antipas repaired, he apprehended him, laid him in Irons, and Tent him into Spain, where he Died : Archelaus alfo that was depofed before, died in the time of this Tiberius's Reign. Then Tiberius made Agrippa (the Son of Anjhbulus whom Herod 9 put to Death) Antipas s Brother, King in his Tiberius,
The time was Eleven Years.
that Antipas Reigned over Jfrael^
himfelf a God,
and would
ftead.
In Agrippa's time died Tiberius C£far, ^nd Caius fucceeded him : This Cams called fuffer
G'2
no
Man
to wor(hip
The Wars of the Jews.
St
(hip any thing in his Empire but himfelf : He continued not long in this Dignity, but decayed and died.
After him fucceeded Claudius. Claudius being dead, Kero Ctfar was Emperor, Agrippa Reigned over Ifrael 23 Years. In his time Nero fore oppreffed Ifrael, Hy fetting cruel Trejidents over them, which left them nothing to live
upon
andbefides that, he punifhed them with di-
vers Torments, until at length they
were conftrained to rebel againft the Roman Empire and Nero Cefar, to rid themfelves frcm under his Subje&ion. And above
all other,
one
Florus,
Prefident and Captain
of the Roman Army, moft grievoufly oppreffed the Jews, and had done many Things very wickedly. For not only he fhed innocent Blood, Pleafure, Wives, and deflowering
ravilhing at
Maids
in
his
theCiti^
of Juda, but alfo robbed, with great Cruelty, evety Man of his Goods ^ he polluted the Temple, and upon the Beams thereof, he hung thofe that he took Difpleafure
at.
chanced that Berenice, King Agrippfs Sifter, came at that time to Jerufalem out of DevotiIt
on to
the Holy Plkce.
She feeing Florus viopayment of Exa&ions and Tallage to flay many of them,even at the entrance of the Temple, fhe came forth weeping unto vifit
lently opprefs the People, and for
him to fpare the People 5 for fhe pitied them very greatly : Yet 'Floras relented nothing ^ but when (he was departed from him, he flouted and mock'd her, though fhe were the King's Sifter, and that in the Temple of the Lord. There was prefent at that time, a valiant young Man, Eleazar the Son of Anani the High-Priclt. He, Florus, befeeching
while his Father was executing his Office,
could not
the Wars of the Jews.
Sj
not abide to fee the Israelites fo mif-ufed atFlorus's ^ but being kindled witht fervent Zeal, founded a Trumpet, whereby there afifembled about
Hands
him forthwith
divers
Companies of young Men,
goodly Warjiours, by whofe Aid he raifed a great Commotion, and encountred with Floras and the Roman Soldiers, of whom he made great Slaughter, prevailing much ^ and getting at length the upper Hand of Floras, overthrew all the Hoft, lb that Floras was conftrained to fly alone out of Jerufalem into Egypt. In the way as he fled, he chanced to meet with King Agrippa coming from Rome, f rom NeroCtfar, and goiijg home into Jadxa, to whom Florus declared what had hapned to him through the Youth of the Jews at Jerufalem : And as Agrippa had paflai Egypt, and drew toward -Jerufalem, his Sifter Berenice direfted her Letters unto him, moving him to rejoin with the Jews, and to aid them^ the People alfo came wholly the lpace of Forty Miles out of the City of Jerufalem to meet him, and fell down flat before him, crying, God fave our King Agrippa But the King ftudied all he might to procure Quietnefs and Peace to the City, and People. So he enxred into Jerufalem , accompanied with two Noble-men of Rome, worthy Captains, whom he brought with him in his Train 5 and when he came into the midft of the City, the People cryed mainly out unto him, laying, Deliver us, King, and let thy Hand and Help be on our fide to fuccour us, for we will nevermore be under the Roman :
The King hearing this, pitied the People very much, notwithftanding, he was not content that they were minded to rebel againft the Roman Empire. Wherefore he called the Peopie 3 Subjection.
G
Tie War} of the Jews.
84
pie together at the entrance of the Court of the Temple, where were prefent the Elders of Ifrael, and all the chief Men, with the High-Prieft Anani, and declared unto them the Power of the Romans, the Strength of their Kingdom, and what Nations round about them they had fubdued, in fuch fort, Wherefore he as no remainder of them was left befought them not to provoke the Romans, nor to deftroy the People remaining in l/rael. He added moreover, If ye will give ear to mine Advice ( faith he) l know it well, dear Brethren, that there rejietb in your Heart a great Grief, and I my felf am full of Sorrow and Anguijh, that we are not :
s
of power
to withfiand the Romans ; albeit if you will be ruled by Counfel, ye /hall find a Redrefsfor this Matter. For where Counfel is, and good Deli-
and things come to pro/perous ye fhall fuftain for a while the Toak of the ; Roman Captains, till I certijie Nero of the Matter by my Letters, and intreat him to rid us of thefe
beration, there" s fafety,
Succefs
I befeechyou be not hajiy of Liberty : Many Rulers. feeking Liberty, have fallen into further Captivity and greater Bondage there be among our Ycop\emany evil difpofed Perfons whofe delight is in Wars, jot it is their whole jtudy, amongft whom many good Men do alfoperifh $ wherefore hear my WcPds. As for them
that be Wife, they
may perceive
Matter themfelves them learn Wi/dom at
the
•
they that lack Experience, let my Sayings. Keep therefore filence, whichfhall be as well to mine as your own Commodity, for I fhall not
need to Jlrain my felf, but /peak the foftlierwith lefs pain $ andye on the other fide may the better hear and underfiand what I fay. If ye hold not your peace, ye fhall have two DiJ commodities ye fhall interrupt my com-
the Wars of the Jews.
$5
f
communication, and binder your elves from bearing. But now to tbepurpofe : Tefhall be content, andfuffer till I write ft? Rome of tbefe Matters, tbat Csefar may remove tbefe evil Rulers, andfend us them tbat be more
Humane and Gentle ; ifye may have fuch an one, then Jhall you not think y our elves in Bondage, but in Liber* ty 5 and worth* y, for iben only is fervitude grievous,
f
'
when as
the Ruler
therefore fi ay your
*
i<
an unjuft Man; and wicked.
Now
felves, quarrel not with them,for al-
though they be wicked, yet will they be afhamed to do wrong openly, for what they do, they do it fecretly-, but ifyou Jhould accufe them too much, they weuldrub their foreheads, and do it openly without allJhame ;Jo fhould you make ofyour Judges and Ruler s your open enemies. But it werefar better to Juffer an unjufl Governor than a jufl Enemy,for the one robbeth Men privily, the other is an open defir oyer r provoke them not therefore. Confider the wild Beafts, that be under Mens power, and kept in Chains, as Lions, Bears, and Leopards : If a Man let them alone, they are quiet and harm no- Man : But if a Man go to their Dens and anger them, they willfly upon him and worry him\and others too that be prefent z The fame ye may perceive in a fever and an Agues which if a Man will go about to cure at the beginning,he /hall make it more grievous ^ but if he will remedy it by *
leifure, the fervency
of it will
eafily be
quenched.
Now
therefore refrainyourfelves, and take heed thatyou draw
not Qefar upon your heads, and the whole Roman Empire : Caefar coveteth not your harm, neither fent unto
you theje Rulers to hurt you,his eyes cannotfeefrom Eaft to Weft, nor his hand reach from Rome hither, for it is flejh and blood*, but if you will abide till I mayfen d Embajjadors to Cse&r, I doubt not but I Jhall remove thefe Rulers, and rid you of them peaceably, without any War or G 4
the Wars of the Jews.
86
or Bloodjhedy if ye be utterly determined to rejift the Roman Empire, yefhall underftandye be in no wife able to do it, for God is every where on their fide, Jo that they be fjords throughout all the World, and all People
•
Jcrve them, andjhall doJo till their End/hall come : But ifyou will not do this for your Sakcs, yet do it for your own Countries Sake, your Children and Wives, the Sanffuary and Priefts, whom ye are bound to love and I Jpare, left you caft away and undo them all at oncebejeech you take my words in good part, for I have Jpoken nothing but what is for your good, and that may further our 'peace with Romans, which I moft wifh. If you will be ruled and chuje Peace* I will take your Part, and do the beft I can for you ^ but if you wilt needs have War, ye Jhall have it alone for me, I will not meddle with you.
With
Agrippa
on weeping, and fo did and the Men of moft Wifdom, the chief in all IJrael ^ yea, Anani the High-Prieft alfo, could not refrain from Tears : Notwithftanding, Eleazar his ftout Son, with his routs of Warlike Young men about him, they wept not at all, nor would hearken or give any ear to wholefome Counfel, but all at once, with their flrawn Swords, violently rufhed upon the Roman Captains that came with Agrippa, and flew them, their Men, and ail the Multitude that was with him The Elders in Juddta, in Jerujalem and Judxa. with the wifeft and goodlieft Ifraelites, feeing what was done, departed from Jerujalem, fearing Aero and the Cruelty of the Romans : Therefore they took the Town of Sion, and remained there, for they would not be taken of the Romans to bi pf {he fame Confederacy wjth the other : The this,
fell
alfo all the Elders with him,
>
Seditious
the Wars of the Jew*.
$7
Seditious hearing that, took the Teragte of the fo Sedition and Civil Wars fell between the Lord
Seditious and the Ancients : For when Eleazar heard, that the Elders and the Heads of the People were fled to the Mount Sion, he and his Company fet upon them, prevailed againft them, and Hew a great many of them ^ Agrippa perceiving the Power
of the Seditious grew apace, he lent out ot hisCamp, where he lay without the Town, two Valiant Captains, one named Darius, the other Pbilippus, with 6000 Men to fuccour thofe Elders and Sages that were defirous of Peace: Thefe prevailed againft Eleazar, and the Seditious that took his part ^ made a great flaughtcr of them, skirmifliing for the fpace of Seven Days together, and at length put them to
and purfued them to the Temple. From Wars increafed more and more, between Eleazar and his Complices, and Agrippa with his Hoft, and the Sages, Elders, and Princes that took their- part. Upon a time when the Cap* tains of Agrippa entred the Temple, certain Cutthroat Murtherers, raifed by the Seditious, mixt themfelves amongft the King's Bands, and getting behind their Backs, wounded them with Daggers that they had under their Jackets fothat the King's Soldiers having Lances, and great arming Swords in their Hands, fuch as they ufe in the Wars, could not wield them in the Preis by this means many of themr were (lain, and the Seditious got the Vi£tory. Thus Darius and Philippus, with the Roman Army, were put to flight h and the Elders with the Sages, that were defirous of Peace, departed out of Town and fled to K. Agrippa. Then had Eleazar and the Seditions, the whole Rule of the City and all f flight,
that time forth the
to
the Wars of the Jews.
88
to their great Damage : For the fury of the Seditious increafed to fuch Outragioufnefs, that they fet on fire King Agrippa's Houfe that he had in Jerufalem,
was any thing they divided amongft themfelves. They burnt the Books of Accompts, and Bills of Debts, every one that were in his Palace. Berenices Houfe alfo, the King's Sifter, they fet on fire: And they flew aifo the cunning Artificers that were Matters of the King's Works \ fb their Rule and Power in the City grew every Day more and more grievous than fpoiled all his Treafure, and all that
worth
other.
CHAP.
V.
Jews and Aramites toof Syria, amongft whom alfo was War waged: For the Cafareans bought the Romans into the Town againlt the Jews, and thofe INgether
Days dwelt
the
in all the Cities
flew them as many as they could find in The Damajcians alfo confpired together
the
Town.
to deftroy
the Jews that dwelt amongft them, which thing they kept fecret from their Wives, becaufe for the moft part they favoured the Jews Religion. Therefore the Aramites upon a certain Night, Armall
Ways and Enand flew alfo, Houfes and Town, about Ten thoufand of the Jews, coming upon them unawares, when they were in their Beds, nothing miftrufting any fuch Matter. When the Jews of Jerujalem heard how the Aramites had dealt with the Jews in their Country, fuddenly they put themfelves in Arms, and in a Fury and Rage, like ed for the purpofe,
befet ail the
trances into the
as
7he
Wan
of the Jews.
89
as it had been Lions and Bears that had loft their Whelps, they ran to Damafco, burnt their Holds,
put the Damafcians to the Sword, Men, Women and Children, even the very fucking Babes yea, their Oxen, Sheep, Camels and Afles, with all other And thus they dealt Cattel, leaving none alive. Cities of Syrians, flaying snd kilthe with many fparing either Old or Young, Male ling them, not or Female, butdettroyed all in moft cruel wife} even the very Infants and Sucklings they haled from their :
Mother's Breafts,and murthered them infomuch, that all the whole Land was full of the ftink of the dead Bodies that were (lain, for there was no Man left to bury the Carkaffes. So the Jews wafted all the Land of the Aramites, and had deftroyed it, had not CaJJtus, a Captain of the Romans, delivered Syria and The People therefore dethe Country of Zapha. parted wholly from Aram, to return into Judea, and in the way they came to Scythopolis, a City in Syria, intending to befiege it, for it was yet left untouched, and was very ftrong : At that time alfb The the Jews and Aramites dwelt together in it. Jews therefore that were without, offered peace to the Jews that dwelt in the Town, but they refufed it and defied them, railing at them, and for their friendly Offer, requited them with opprobrious Words, and with Injuries alfo. For thofe Jews that dwelt in the aforefaid City, with the Aramites, lived together like Brethren, and for the moft part they were of the Levitical Tribe, ftout Men and hardy. The Hoft of the Jews without the City faid unto them : We come friendly unto you, and would aid you. The other Jews within anfwered We will neither your Friendfhip nor :
the Wars of the Jews.
9<$
nor Aid: The Army of the Jews hearing that, conferred and agreed to raife their Siege, to go to Jerufalem, and there to remain, for tney had a great Booty of Gold and Silver that they bad gotten together of the Spoils of Syria. After this, the Syrians that dwelt in Scythopolis faid to one another, put cafe the Jews return again
and make thefe
War upon
Jews
us, furely if they
that dwell
among
us
fhouid fodo,
would join with
them, and deliver up the City into their Hands, and then would they be revenged upon us, and deftroy us, as they have done the other Cities of Syria : Therefore they agreed to fay unto the Jews and Inhabitants of the Ciry with them. We. underfiand your Country men will Invade us again, and make War upon us, wherefore depart ye forth of the City with your Wives and Children, and lodge in the Wood nigh unto the City, till their Army be gone again, and then you fhall return unto us. The Jews were content to fulfiUheir Minds, went out of the City and placed themfelves in the Wood.
There was amongft them a certain young Man, named S chime on, a good Man of War, fierce, big made, and very ftrong withal he in the favour of the Gentiles had flain many Jews, and deftroy ed much of the People of God. For during the time he iflued out continually, and skirmifhed with the Hoft of the Jews, many times putting them to flight, and never would fufter them to walte the Town, or to do any that the
harm
Jews
befieged Scythopolis,
to the Inhabitants thereof.
Now
with his Father Saul, an honeft old Man, and the reft of the People of the Jews* that dwelt In Scythopolk^ remained together boldly as Szhimeon
in
the Wars of the Jews. in
the
Wood, without
miftrufting
Romans joined with the Syrians
in
91
any harrf^.the great
Number,
Wood
and (bw the Jews, ail that ever they could find, to the Number of Thirteen thou* Schimean himfelf, with his Father, and theit land Families, had pitched their Tents nigh unto a fair Fountain that was in the Wood,to whonvwhen their Enemies came to flay them, anddeftroy their whole Families, Scbimeon ran upon them with his drawn Sword, made a great daughter of them, and conBut when a great Multitained them to retire tude environed him, and he perceived all the reft of the Jews were (lain, he with the Houfhold only remaining, neither faw he any way to ,efcape, he ftept upon a little Hill with his naked Sword, laying, Hearken unto me ye Syrians and Romans, and yc that dwell in Scytbopolis. / mil /peak unto yott a few words of Lamentation. New I perceive that entred the
:
:
juflly
and not without a Caufe, ye make War
againfi
vie without
any favour or cenfideration that I delivered yen from the Hofl of the jews, and never JOffered them to do any Dtfpleafure to yoHjcur Wives and Children^ nor to your City, as they had done toother Cities of Syria. For I am he\ that for your Sakes have Warred againfi my Country men to pleafeyou withal : Tea, both their Blood,andmine,have 1 pledged unto you : And have kept inviolated the Love of Strangers, hating my own People, of whom for your Pleafures lhaveflain oft both the Fathers and the OSildren^ and nowye rendar Evil for the Good I have done unto you. But indeed God of his juft Judgment hath Birred you up to reward me in this fort jo murtker me, that have fo often preferved you: Now therefore ye JhaU bear me wit nefs that I ffall fujjkiently and /barply enough, take Vengeance
of
the Wars of the Jews.
pi
77iy own Life, not without rage and fury, moji feverely 7 becaufe I have flam my Yellows and friends ^ I will therefore flay my felf to be avenged of my felf, for my Brother's Blood that I have fhed and fo fhall be
of
•,
rbvengedof their Bloody and ye Jha.ll well -perceive me to be of that Courage, that rather than ye Jhall flay me, and after Boajl and Brag how ye have killed Schimeon,, Twill bereave my felf of my Life, and punijhthe fhedding of my Brother's Blood no otherwife than the punijheth a Murtherer and Man- killer.
Law
When he had fpoken this, his Eyes were filled with Blood, and his Face with Rage, and (b inflamed with Fury ; laying apart all pity, ran and caught hold of his Father, haled him out of the Wood, and flew him. Then flew he his Mother, left (he (hould intreat him for the Children, and be forry for their Sakes That done, his Wife came running of her own accord, and held her neck down to the Sword, *
:
left
(he (hould be conftrained to fee her Children die. Schimeorfs Children came and offered them-
Yea,
left they (hould fee the Death of remain after him to be delivered to the Enemies. After this, he flew all his whole Family, that not one of his (hould come into the Hand of their Enemies. Finally, he gathered their Bodies together into one place, like a Valiant Rout Warriour, and then boldly goared himfelf on his own Sword, left any Man elfe (hould impair hisftrengtb, or boaft that he had killed him. Ail this Schimeon did with a great Courage, to take puniftiment of himfelf, becaufe he had beftowcd his Love rather upon Strangers than upon his own People, and to declare his Force and Manhood,
felves to be flain, their Father, or
So
Jbe
Wan
of the Jews.
9;
So he died an abominable and deteftable Death, fave only it was an Argument of his haughty Mind and great Courage, as it is fajd before. when the Jews had thus Rebelled againft the Romans, and flain their Soldiers and Captains, King Agrippa went to Rome, and recounted unto Nero
Now
all that was hapned ; Captain Cafjius (that was at that time in Syria, ajnd had made War upon the Kiagof Perfia, and vaiquifhed him and all his Power, and fubdued his Dominions to the Romans) and with him a Puiffant Army of the Romans, commanding him to go into Judaa to offer Peace unto the People, to comfort them, and to bring them again into League with the Romans, if it might be. Caffius therefore took his Journey towards Judaea, Agrippa met him in the way, and informed him what had hapned unto him concerning the Jews ^ how he had offered them Peace, and they would have none of it^ how alfo they had burnt his Palace, and facked it. Caffius hearing that, was very glad that he had gotten fuch an occafion to Revenge the Blood of the Romans and Syrians, which the Jews had filed Wherefore he levied a mighty- Army and came to Cafarea, and wherefoever he did efpy the goodlielt Buildings, thofe caufed he to be burnt. From thence went he to the City Japba, which he befieged both by Land and Sea, and at length won it, where he flew in the Streets 8400 Men. After that he came to Judaa, where he nrft burnt all the Country about it, and whomfoever he caught without the Town, he flew them But the Citizens of Zippory went out to meetC^tfj, and befought him for peace, whom he
Qtfar, the Emperor of Rome,
whereupon Nero
fent
:
:
tt' Wars 0/ the Jews. he fpared, he came not nigh their Town, nor flew any that dwelt in their Country. The Seditious Jews that were in the City of Zippori^ hearing of
94
coming, fled unto the Mountains, but in the they lighted upon part of Q/fa/sArmy, where* of they flew 200 Men, and wounded their Captain Glaphyra : Yet at length the Seditious were put to
Caffita's
way
flight,and many of them^GIaphyra with his Horfemen purfued, overthrew and deft toyed ; the reft fled to the Mountains. Then Glapbyra^ Captain of Cajflms's
Army* went
to Ctfarea, that was fubdued to the Romans^ there to cure his Wounds that the Jews had given him. Thence went he to Antipire^ which at he would have afTaulted^ he perceived it to be furnilhed with a great Power of the Jews and SediThefe hearing Coffins alfo was coming, they tious purpofely to fight with him ^ but perceiving went Power was very great, they determined that Caffius's in the Plain of G'ibeon, Fifty with him to encounter alem miles from JeruJ : Whereupon the/mr with their :
Companies feigned themfelves to fly, to the intent they might draw the Romans after them j and within fix Days they came to Glbeon^ and there lefted Caffius purfued after them with all his Hoft, till he came toGibeon^ which he Befieged and AflaulIt chanced then upon one of the Sabted alio. baths in the Morning Watch, the Jews ( Armed at to give their ail points) ifliied out of the Town, Enemies a Camifado ; lb after they had Riven a Token of War, they marched toward the Hoft of Caffius, whereof they flew 5 1 5 Horfemen, and Footmen Twenty feven thoufand, with the lots of only 22 of their own Company. In that Battle did well appear the Valiantnels of Mugbas^ a Captain of :
The Wats of the Jews. yews Army. One Blaudius alfo played
g$
Man the for at the Commandment of at that fame time \ Eleazer the Prieft, chief of the Seditious, he fet Then began the firft Foot within the Roman Camp. famous, be after they had once to Jewilh Warriours Romans. the with This done, fo manfully encountred Cajjius
and Agrippa
lent
their
the
Ambafladors once
again to *jerufaiem, to Eleazar, the Son of Anani the Prieft, chief of the Rebels that were in JudM and Jerufalem, requiring Peace, and to come in
League W\th+Eleazer, kit the People of the Jews (hould be utterly deftroyed by the Romans Incurlions, and Invafions on every iide. ^ But Eleazer refuied to hear the Legates, and flew one of them, becaufe ha made too many words, in peifuading the Peace and League.
Upon this, Eleazer affembled the Priefts and People together, to go out and fight with Cajjius, Caljins perceiving how Eleazer, and the People were affe&ed, and what minds they were of^ how they had utterly confpired to deltroy the Romans that were there, and to confume them clean* having a fufficient trial alfo of theFotce and Valiantnefsof the Rebels ^ he determined fully to go to Rome, for he perceived he was not able to match with the Seditious, neither his own Power to be compared with theirs. Wherefore he would go fee what end fhould come of the Wars/and what Counfei C
'
96
the Wars of the Jews*
only he, but all the People of Rome were fore aftonied to hear of the great Puiffance .and Valiantnels of the Jews : For which Caafe the War ceafed for that Year, fo that the Land of Judaa was at great reft, and quietneis that Year, through Eleazefs means, the head Rebel, efpecially from the hands of wicked Caffii^s^ that had fworn to revenge the &?mans^ to extinguifli the Jews^ and that he would deftroy all the Race of them, as none fhould be left alive.
v
Therefore thefe'are they that delivered Ifrael in the time of the fecond Temple, out of the Hands of their Enemies : What time as Wars were moved againft the Jews and their Country What time alfo Commotions and Tumults began in Ifrael. The firft War was made by Antiochus the wicked King of Macedonia $ who had determined not to leave one Man in Ifrael His mifchievoufnefs proceeded fo far that he flew the People of God, the Sages^ and wife K4en, Princes, Eiders, and young Men, Children great and fmall, Ifraclitcs^ Levites alfo, and Priefts, :
Men of Judata call their Heads and went to Mattathias Son of Jochanan the High-Prieft in the Mount of Mcdiit, where he hid himfelf for the Iniquity of Antiochus and his Rulers, crying upon him, and faying, Deliver at this Seafon the People of the Lordy and never think to efcape thy felf whilft the moji wicked Enemy ranged) thus, and runneth upon thy People , and Jhcddeth thy blood : For the Blood of all Ifrael, what is it but until all the chief
together,
thy Blood ?
and the Eyes of every
thee, hoping that
thou Jhould'ji
in this Calamity^
that they
Man
affift
are fixed on
and aid them
may find deliverance by
thy means.
Mattathias
the Wars of the Jews. Mattathias hearing this, Pear ye not^ nor let thefe the Lord [hall fight for you, was Mattathias ftirred,
wept
bitterly,
§J ancj
faid,
Macedonians difmay yoti; be ye only quiet. So then and delivered Ifrael out
of the Hands of Aritiochus, and after he had overcome him, he was High-Prieft for one Year, and then died. In whofe room fucceeded Judas his Son, who executed the Office in the Temple fix Years, and was flain in Battle. Then his Brother Jochdnan was chief in the Temple eight Years, and died like^ wife in Battle. Afterwards his Brother Simeon was Ruler eighteen Years, whom Ptolomey, his WifeY Father poiforied at a Banquet. Then Jochanan his Son fucceeded his Father in the Office 5 this is, he that was named Hircanus y •firft of that name lb called, becaufe he vanquifhed a King of that name : He reigned 3 1 Years, and
.
died. After* him reigned Ariftobulus one Year j he was Called the great King, becaufe he firft put the Royal
Crown upon his Head, and turned the Dignity of the High Priefthood into a Kingdom, unhailowing and ftaining the Hollnek thereof 4S0 Years and three Months after the returning of Ifrael front Babylon. He being dead, his Brother Alexander reigned 27 Years: After vvhofe death Alexandra, his Wife, "held the Kingdom nine Years, and then died. In whofe ftead fucceeded her' Son Anjlobultis, and
reigned three Years. In this time Ro?npey, a Romaxl Captain, came agairift Jerufdlem % won it, and appre-
hended Ariftobulus, bound hirn in Irons, and him Captive to Rome ^ in Whofe place he
ried
car-
or-
dained Hitcanus, his BrofheT, to fucceed, whc> reigned forty Years. Dating his Reign teMife$ ,
H
2
Antt&MM
;
Tke Wars of the Jews.
p8
Antigonus, Son of Arijiobulus, Hinanus^s brother, and with the aid of an Army of the Ferfians, encountred with Hircanus, took him Prifoner, and fent him to Babylon, cutting off his Ears, that he fliouid never after be meet either for the Priefthood, or for the Kingdom. Antigonus reigned three Years. In his days Herod fled, and joined himfeif with the Ro-mans% by whofe help he flew Antigonus the Third Year of his Reign, and reigned after him 3 2 Years, and then died. Alter Herod, fucceeded Archelaus his Son, who was taken by the Romans, the ninth Year of his Reign, laid in Bonds, and ended his Life at
Rom.
Next
to
him reigned Antipater
his Brother,
Name
and called himfeif Herod y ten Years, overcame and wafted Spain, becaufe the King of Spain had ravifhed and taken away his Brother's Wife, and there died. After him followed Agrippa, Son of Arijiobulus, that was his Brother's Son ^ he reigned Three and twenty Years, after whofe death his Son Agrippa reigned twenty Years. This is that Agrippa, of whom we now fp^ak, and of the Calamity that befel in his time upon Tfrael ; for all the while he reigned, the Wars between the Romans and Ifrael ?ever ceafed, until the People of Judxa were led Japrive into the Provinces of the Romans : At that time alio the Temple was defolate, I mean tljsdefohtion of the fecond Temple, which we faw with our Eyes builded and deftroyed. The 20th Year of the Reign of King Agrippa, the glh day of the 5 th Month that is called Ab, viz. July,
.who changed his he reigned full
Nero Cxfar
lent a Prefent for a Burnt-Offering, to oe
the Temple in Jerufalem, requiring Peace of the Elders and Sages of Jud*4 and Jerusalem, offered at
. *
The Wars of the Jews;
gg
Jalem, and that they wdfcild receive him into League with them, faying, My Requeft k, That you would offer myPrefent to tbehordyour God,for bisService and Religion liketb very well $ Jo that I defire you to join in League with me, according as you have done with the Emperors of Rom^toyYredecejjors in time paft. I have heard what Caffii^s, the Captain of mine Army, hath done to you, which difpleafeth me out ofmeafure wherefore I affureunto you afaithjul League, by the Confent andCounfel of the Senate of Rome, that hereafter there fhall never any Roman Captain Jiir Hand or Foot againjl you, but rather your Chieftains, Rulers and Tea, Judges, fhall be all Jews and of Jerusalem Agrippa your King, fhall be Lord of all your Rulers, and what he commands you fhall do it j the Rlmans fhall only be called your Lord, and have no more to do with you. So when the Legates came to Jerufalem, they went and fpake with Anani the Prieft, informing :
him of Nero'sMmd, and (hewed him his Prefent, placing it afore him. The Prefent was this-, A Bull for a Burnt offering, with a Crown of Gold upon Gold
Head, his Horns alfo were covered with upon him was a Cloath of Purple, powdred with precious Stones there went certain before him that carried ten Talents of Gold, behind followed p very many Sheep for Peace-offerings. When Elea* zer^ Anani\ Son, heard thereof, he came and caft out of the Temple the Lord Nero Gtfar's Preients, faying, We will not profane and unhallow the Santtuary of our Lord, with the Offerings of Strangers for God will accept neither their Burnt Offerings nor their Peace-Offerings. When he had ib laid, he founded a Trumpet, fet his Men in Array againft the his
*
\>
H
3
Hoaft
.
Hoaft of the Romans, that k$ pt Watch and Ward in the City of Jerufalem, and flew many of them thaj: Day, with one of their Captains aifo, and another they took alive * he fceing a valiant Man, and feeing the Routs of the Jews to urge him grievcufly, faid unto them, Save my Life and I will yield j unto yvhom LLleazer the Rebel fware that he would not flay him, but fpare him for hisMaiihood (for he had flain very many of the Jews before) whereupon he yielded himfelf.
Then Eleazer faid unto him Like as thy Sword bath ?nade many Women childlefs^fo /ball thyMother be made Childlefs of thee above all others^ and therewith contrary to his path, he commanded hisServants to :
kill
fiipr*.
King dgrippa
feeing this,
was wonderful
Therefore as he ftood in one of the Streets, he cryed, thou Rebel Eleazer, I prjy God that this Mijchief whereof thou art Cauje, and thy Atts, may Tight upon thee, and thy Fathers Houfe ^ which when it cometh to pafs, wc jliali ripper be difmayed at. It appeareth they jh all have fomewhat to do, that ftudy to make Peace and Tranquility in thy Days for fhey are Jure to be deftroyed with thee. How long wlf
tarry.
thou continue to bring us into the Bryars. thou Enemy end Hater of the Lord? why daft thou deftroy and }
the Vineyard oj the Lord God of Bofts ? Eleazer anfwered him, What; take ft thou upon thee the name, of theKip^ if thou be a King, why commandeft thou not us to be punijhed? Where be thy valu ant Soldiers > Let's fee, come thou and they together and chaftcn Men, that it may be tryed whether thou
wlijte
're
'
h
thou Jfandeji aloof off, and thy Yeet are ready to run away,
indeed a King or no en. thou fpeakeft,
though a Dog fhould Jet hiwfelf againft an armed
the
Wan of t§£} e ws.
1
10
man^ andbark at hitn^ bleating out his Tongue. Witlj| this he winked upon the Rebels his Complices to run upon Agrippa, and take him whilft he held him y in talk ; But that was perceived of one of Agrippa s Servants whom he had appointed for the fame purpofe, to (land over-againft him as nigh as he might, to mark and fpy if* the Rebels would make any ftir toward him, and to let him have knowledge ^ he therefore laying his Hand upon his Head gave a fign to the King to flee, faying, Away y away^jor ij thou tarry any longer the Seditious will flay thee and us together. Agrippa perceiving that, he gar from thence with ail tpeed, the Rebels purfued him, but in vain, for they could -not overtake him. So he got to Japho, a Town under the Romans, where hewas in fafeguard. From thence he fled to Rome, and declared to the Emperor Nero the Mifchisf that befel at Jerufalem^ and all that feditious E/eazer had done to his Offering alfo how his Commandment took no place. Wherefore Nero joined unto him again Cajjius with a huge Army, wherewith they both entred Jud
After this, both Agrippa and Cajjius led their Artoward Jerufalem, to War upon the Rebels,
my
and utterly to deftroy them. E/eazer and other with much People, hearing that, fhey ilTued out againft them, and found them encamped in tie Priefts,
H
4
way,
ioi
the
mm of
the
Jews,
way, between Jerufalem and Japho ^ But after they had joined Battle, many of the Jews were flain by the Romans: the refidue, CaJJius and Agrippa put to flighted purfued the Chafe unto the Gates of Jerufalem^ Befleged alfo the City for the fpace of Three days. The fourth day the Priefts and the People iflued out fuddenly unawares upon the Romans^ fet upon their Camp, and flew five thouland Footmen, and one thouiand Horfemen Caffius feeing that he nor his could efcape, he chofe out Forty thoufand of his beft Soldiers, and placed them betwixt his Camp and the Priefts, commanding them to ftand all the Night founding their Trumpets, and making of fire, that he and Agrippa might efcape, and that they fhould not remove out of their place tilt the morrow. The Jews hearkning to the Sound of the Trumpets, and mufing what they fhould mean, purfued not the Romans : But perceiving in the Morning they were gone toward Cafarea^ three days Journey off, Eleazer with the People followed, and in the way found their Baggage ftrayed, that the Romans had caft from them to run the lighter, and efcaped eafier, which they let alone and purfued them to the Gates of Ctfarea, But Caffius and Agrippa got fall within the Town, and from thence went both together to Rome, where they declared unto Nero the Emperor, how they fped at Jerufalem : And as they were making relation of this unto the Emperor, there came alio a Poll out of Rerfia, with Tydings that the King of Rerfia was, Thefe Things revolted from the Roman Empire. troubled the Emperor fore, to fee almoft ail fall from him, that heretofore had obeyed the Empire •,
•
of the Romans.
7be Wars of the Jews.
ioj
At the fame time returned Vefpafianus, Captain of the Hoft,whom Nero had fent into the Weft Parts of the World, as Germany, Britain and Spain, which Lands he had brought under the Subjection of Nero.
To whom Nero declared, what
Mifchief the Priefts
had wrought to the Roman ttoft in Judaea, how they had flain the Romans, and fo forth, as he had heard of Agrippa and Cajfius, which difpleafed Vefpafian greatly. After this, Nero fent VefpafianpxA his Son Titus, to revenge the Romans on the Per/tans and Jewsy
giving
them Commandment to raze
down whatfoever either Man, Woman,
their
Walled
they found, withor Child, Infants, out fparing fucking Babes, or Old Folks, but to flay all. So that Vefpafian and Titus fet forward with a chofen and pickt Army of the RomansjpzGkd the Seas,and came to Antiotbia. The Jewt having intelligence of this, chofeout of their Captains Three of the principal and moft expert Warriours, of whom I Jofeph$tk% that wrote this Hiftory,was one * who,by the Divine favour, am not ignorant in Feats of Arms, and famous in Afts of Chivalry ^ and Anani the HighPrieft,and Eleazer his Son. To thefe three they committed the whole Land of Judta, dividing it to them by Lot, and gave them a furniture of War* One third part thereof ( which was whole Galilee from theLancl oiNeptbalizwd beyond) fell to Jofepb the Prieft,Son of Gorion, to his Honour and Glory, whom for his Worthinels,they named alfo Jofepbon^zcmfe he was then anointed, appointed and confecrated to the Wars. The fecond Lot came forth, which feH unto Anani the Prieft,who had the City of JerufalempcA the Country about it, with a Charge to repair th$ Walls,
Cities, to b$at
JLBewarsoj
104
we
:
jews,
Walls of the City, to fuftain the Brunt ofVejpafian, if he fhould come fo far. The third Lot fell to Eleazer the Son of Anani the Prieft, to whom was joined Captain Jsbofcua, and other Jewifh Captains. By the Virtue of this Lot, fell to him the whole Land of Edom, from Elat to the Red Sea. The reft of the Land from Jericho to Euphrates, with thatalfo that is beyond the River, and all the Land of Mefofotamia, fell to Captain m$nafche% Lot. To other Princes of Judea,/&xA to the wonhieft Priefts, they committed the fenced Cities from the Limits and Bounds of Jerufalem to Egypt. Vefpajian taking his Journey with his Hoft from
Ant iochia, came and pitched his Tents in Aramzafa. For he had devifed thus with his Counfel-, Firft, to invade Galilea, and after to try what they could do in Judxa. JofephusGorion having intelligence of this his purpole, departed from Jerufalem to Galilee^ built up the Towns that were deftroyed, and Walls,
Gates, Bars
and Palaces
repaired
their
Ordained
alio Captains over the People, to lead
Govern them
$
Tome
of Thoufands,
dreds, Tribunes and Decurions.
and lome of Hun-
He
inftru&ed the what the Sound of
in Feats of Wars, Tiumpets fignibed, what Sound ferved to fall in array, what to gather the Soldiers together, and what to divide them. After he had- inlhu&ed them in the knowledge and Feats of War, he faid unto them thus: Te Jhall underjland ( dear Ifhelkes) that ye go to tight at this prefent agai n ft your Enemies, where-
People alfo
no icar overcome your Hearts, nor difmayyou at "the fight ofyour E?iemies,but pLy the Men, take a good Courage to you,to fight jor your Cities for your Country^
jore
let
andfor yourJ elves Be not afraidof Death J)ut ratherbc :
,
#
flout
Ibe Wars of the Jews, front in defence of your Country, that ye be not ted away from it, and to fight for the Santtuar) of the Lord, that it
be not
famed and polluted
Gentiles. to live in
Confider, that
it is
with the Vncleannefs of the better to die in Battle,
than
when
as ye
Captivity and Bondage
:
Therefore
with your Enemies, and fhall fee any of and attempt to rtfe agai* $ whofoever of down them beaten yon is by and feet h him, remember the Zeal 0* yur Gody whereby it becometh yon to revenge hps parrel, and being moved therewith, jlrik$ him that he never rife again 5 but if yon (hall fee any of your Fellows down, being inclined with the Zeal of your Gody refcue him from the Hands of
{hall
come
to join
yonr Enemies
}
and
if be be not yet killed* cure htm.
If
he be dead, ye fhaH do what you can to bury him in the llraelites Burial ; and fo if we^chhje rather to dtethan to live, we fhaU proffer in our Wars 5 we fhaB die for
Covenant of our God, and deliver our Souls, bringthtm to the hght of Life in Heaven, At'tc|he had laid this, heAofe out of the 60900 root men, and but few Horfemen And out of thefe he chole 6co of th? beft, luch as not one of them will (bripk from Ten, Ten from an Hundred,' a Hundred from a Thouland, a Thoufand from ten Thoufand With them Jofeph went to the Cir tiesof AgHppa that were in Juddta, to win them ; For Agrippa fiuck to the Romans, were it right or wrong, with all the Power he could make. He went firft to Tiarva, a great City that belonged to Agrippa, whereas both his Treafure and Munition of War lay. When he approached the City, he fpake to the People upon the Walls, and offered them Peace, on condition that they (hould open the
the
ing
Jem
:
:
Gates,
and deliver unto him all the Treafure of 4gr]pp a , and all his Jewels ^ this if they would do,
the Wars of the Jews.
to6
he then would fpare them, and kill none of them, Were it not better for you ( faith he ) to take part with them that defend the Santtuary of God and his Inheritance^ than to join your Aid with Agrippa, which h
,
confederate with your Enemies, andaffaileth us, augmen-
Tower of them that hate us,fo that he refufeth not to fight again/} the Sanlluary of the Lord, and the People of his Inheritance ? The Men of the Town ting the
condefcending to fofepb, opened the Gates, and he entring the Town, made Peace with them, and they delivered him all the King's Treafures, for they liked fofepFs words, and confented to take fuch part as he took.
chap, f
A T
JlV
that time
Med him
care News
fore
vr: to Jofeph, thai trouTiberias had
^namely, That
from the People that dwelt and were- changed from his Lot, to become Vefpafian's Subje&s, who had fet a Roman For reformation whereof, he Captain over thern. left his Army at Tiarva, and took Six hundred young Men with him to Tiberias, coming on it And as he Itood on fuddenly, and at unawares the Banks of Genefar, he efpied the Navy of the Romans, that there lay at Road to aid Vefpafian, which Jofeph charged to be broken in pieces, and The Men of to be Scattered abroad in the Sea. rebelled and revoked in Jerufalem,
:
Tiberias therefore feeing the Ships difperfed in that fafhion, they conjectured it was done by fome of Jofeph\ Hoft j wherefore the Romans fled to the Town, got in, and fhut the Gates. Jofepb, not-
:
The Wars of the
Jew&
107
notwithftanding, came to one Gate of the City, and cryed that the People might hear, faying, What
meaneth not
of yours againft me? Te fight rather againft the Lord God,
this Confpiracy
againft
me,
but
whofe Covenant ye have tranfgrejfed, and broke the Bond thai we made with him ; Te have alfo violated your Oath that you /ware by the God of Ifrael, that wt flmld fight againft our Enemies to abate their Pride. The People answered from the Walls, We befeech thee our Lord, hear thy
we fijould join 'with with the People of the
Serums
fpe*Kh God forbid Romans, and not rather Lord God of Ifrael, and his
the
SanSuarj* with the People of there be among\i
m
his Inheritance :
certain frond
Men,
Howbeit
ungodly PerJo*s 9 Vetpafian,- and
League with have brought into the Town one of his chief Captains my Lcrd, to enter the Wherefore, and it pleafe thee City with thy Soldiers* come unto us, that we may live with thee* rather than to penjh in the Hands of them that
have
made a
t
that bate us.
So they opened the Gates, fo that Jofepb went itr ,and took the Town. Then he caufed to apprehend thofe ungodly Perlbns that were there, about hundred Men, and laid them in Irons, fending them to Tiarvay which he had afore taken The other wicked Men that had aided Vefpafiany he put to the Sword But the chief Governour of the Town he apprehended alive, carried him out of the City, and commanded one of his Soldiers to cut off his Hands. Then the Captain be* fought Jofepb, faying, I befeecb thee^ my Lord, let one of my Hands be cut off, and leave me ibe other. Then Jofepb and his Soldiers laught him fix
:
to
lo8 to
haughty Courage
Jofeph bad his Soldiers give him the Sword in his own Hand, dnd let him cut off which Hand he lift, and leave him tohich he will. So the Roman Captain took the Sword, and cut off the left Hand himfelf , leaving him the Right, and fo He came therefore unto Vefpajiarfs he was let go.
Camp
to
:
(hew them what Shame was done
him'.
After this, the City of Zippori rebelled alfo, ticking a League with Wfpafian and the Roman Hoaft. Jofeph being certified of this, made thither with his it j but the Town abode the Brunt of the Affault, that Jofeph could prevail nothing againft it, wherefore he befieged it a long feafon. About that time it was figfrified alfo to them of Jerufalem, that the Askalbnites had entred in Friendftlip with the Romans. They lent therefore Neger the Edomite, and Shiloch the Babylonian^ and Jehocanan with a Power of the common People, who came to Askalon^ and befieged it a great Within the Town was a Reman Captain fpace. Anionias, a valiant Man, and a good Warricalled
Hoaft to befiege
our : Who upon a certain Night in the Morning watch, iffued out of the Town with his Company, to give a Camifado to the Jews that befieged the Town, entred their Camp, and made a great Slaughcontinuing the fame till it was Day-light, fo ter, that about iocoo of the Jews were fhin * the reft
never moved out of place, faying, It is better for us to die in this Battle^ than to flee from our Enemies ^ therefore they took a great Heart unto them, and flood manfully in their Stations and Places, trufting in the Lord God of Ifrael ^ and when it
was Day, t&ey
alfo fct themfelves. in Array againft
Antony
Ihe Wars of the Jews.
top
his Mentor without lofe alfo Shiloch Sc the Baby Ionian ,and Jcof their own deftroyed by the Romany JerufalemjnziQ hocanan of the to number of 8000 the Jews, with other of Sbiloch under were and that Jehocanan^ fighting Men and never a one of the Jewifh Captains eicaped that, conflift, fave only Niger the Edomite, who hidhim-
Antony, flew
many of
part
:
felf in a Sepulchre that
the Romans
was
there in the
in their purfuit fought,
Piain,whom
but found
him
not* wherefore they fet on fire theWood,thatit burnt round about the Sepulchre wherein he lay hid, and confumed all the Trees, Shrubs and Buflies, but came not nigh the Sepulchre For Neger had called to the Lord with his whole Heart, to deliver him this once from his Enemies, left he (houid be fhamefuily handled of them, promifing at another time So AVto be ready to die valiantly in his Quarrel gcr efcaped the Romans by the help of the God of Ifracl, in whom he put his Truft. :
•
Shortly after, fent the Jerufalemitcs much Peo^ pie to Ask&lon, to the number of Eighteen thoufand good Men of War, to Bury the Bodies of the
Jews that were (lain in the Conflicts by Antony. They fought alio the Body of Neger the Edomite^ but they found it not, till at length ha cryed unto them out of the Sepulchre,, faying, I am here : For God hath delivered me out of the hands of mini Enemies, to the intent I may be avenged of them in the Wars of the Lord. So Neger declared unto them, at large, all things how they chanced unto him: Wherefore the Jews rejoiced greatly that they had found him alive, and that he was faved by fuch a miracle, and the Lord delivered him : Therefore they put tljteij Truft in the Lord, believing
I ib
the Wants of the Jews,
believing that God would be prefent whlrthem to aid them, whereof this Deliverance of Neger they
took for a fure Token. The Romans kept themfelves within the Town, for fear of the Jews that were come to bury the Bodies. So the Jews buried all the Bodies of their own part that were flain in both #at*tles, for the Romans were not able to prohibit and let them, but held them in the Town. And when the Burial was finiflied, they took Neger with them to Jerujalem^ to give God thanks there, for his de-
Then Jofeph the Prieft gathered his ftrength, and came upon Askalon with his whole Army, aflaulted them, got the upper-hand, and won the Town ^ after flew Antony and all his People with the Sword, that of all the valiafit Men of War that were with him, not oneefcaped : Befides liverance at that prefent.
and Hamlets that were thereabout without the Town,he burnt them ail : And fo ferved he all the Towns thereabout, that had entred into League with the Romans^ flaying both Jews and Romans that dwelt in them wichthe Sword, as many as he found, and their Houles he burnt. This done, Jofeph returned- again to Zippori, fought with them, and got the upper-hand there fhed he much Blood of the People that had confpired with the Romans^ utterly deftroy'd them, burnt their Cities and Villages, led their Wives and Children Prifoners unto Jcrufalem^ and all the Romans he found there, he put them to death. When Vefpafian and Titus had heard of all that Jofephus had done againft the Romans^ both how he flew the Garrifons, as fnany as he could find in Galilee^ and all the Jews that had made any League with him and his Sons, they were wonderfully incen* this,alfo the Villages
fed,
.
the Wars of the Jews.
j i i
and in a great Rage. They took therefore their Journey, and came to Apitelma y otherwife called Acbo, where at that time, Agrippa King of Judjci was abiding, and Forty thoufand Men with him, all g>odMen of War, and Archers every one thefe
fed,
joined themfelves with Vefpafiarts Army, by which
means the Romans Camp became very great. Moreof other Nations round about J*d
People of the Eaft, yea, the People of Mizrtiim, Lodi Dsnan and Seba, with all ProvBfccesfar and near,that were under the auHjeftion of the Jews^ caft oiF the Yoke from their Necks, ancKrebelled agiinft the Dominion of Jerufalem, joyning their Power with the Reman Army, to aid Vejpafian and Titus. For thefe were alio S bjeth unto the Jews that had fore burthened them 9 wherefore they came to help the Romans, and co invade Jcrufa/em and the People of the Jews. Bat the EJvmtes hati not affociated themielves unto Vefpofun and Titus Sot they were inSubje£tion to the Jews and ferved them; fo that no one of them aided the Romans. For long before they had moved War againft Jerufalem, and could not get the Viftory, butth^ Jews prevailed againft therr^ and fubdued them. Hircanus alfo the firft King of the Jews c Ircumcifed them. They dwelt aUo in Jerufalem, kept watch and ward about the Houie of the Lord, and his Covenant, without all jebeliion againft thej^* and Jerufalem. And at that prefent were Thirty thoufand of the beft of the Edomites in Jerufalem^ -
-
1
wheh
.
i
the Ways of the Jews.
ix
which kept the Walls, and the Houfe of the Lord. After this, Vefpafian and Titus with all their Hoft, took their Journey from Acbo and came to Galilee , and in the Mount they pitched their Tents Wherefore when Tydings was brought to Jofeph, how the Hoft of the Romans lay upon the Mount of Galilee^ :
how Vefpafian had fent before him a great Power, to repair the broken Ways, to fill the Holes, and caft
and
down
and to level theWay,that his People he was fore moved againft the Jews : Jofepb iflued out of Xippori with all his Power, let upon them and flew them, taking fuch Vengeance of them &s was never the like before ; for his God was with him. Vefpafian and Titus •hearing of this, determined to fet upon Jofeph at unawares, and to belet all the Ways, that he Ihould efcape of no fide; but Jofeph had intelligence of their coming, wherefore he left Zippori, and went to Tiberias, whither Vefpafian followed: Jofeph perceiving them coming, fled from thence to Jorpata, the biggeft City in Galilee, clofe .-yap the Gates, and Ynen fent Vejpafian there remained with his Army\ certain Noble-men, Embafladors to Jofepb, to deVefpafian bate the matter with him in this wife General of the Roman Army, defireth to know what it [hould avail thee to be thus penned up within a walled Town, he wills thee rather to come forth to intreat a Peace with him, and to enter into a League together , for it jhall be to thy avail to ferve the Hills
might pals the
^
better, for
:
Cafar Emperor of the Romans, that thou mayeft and not be destroyed, nor any of thy People
live
Then Jofeph
Embafladors again for, a few Days, that he might delibeiate upon the Matter with the People
with thee.
to Vefpafian, demanding
fent
Truce
,
V The Wars of the Jews*
i tj
People, and let them underftar
them
undzxRandVefpafians mind : Te foaB under* Brethren, that Vefpafian General of the Romans, me, enquiring, what it hts Embfjfidrs unto to
ft and,
ftnt
would av afl us to be flijf againji them, and not rather to come forth and intreat of Pe%pe, and to pin in League together, that we may ferve the Emperor of. the Romans, Jo to fave ourjUv^s and not to be zeftroyed
And 1 pray jef why will ye hfe your Lives, your Wives% your Sons and Daughters ? Why will ye all fall together on the
Sword? That
ammg
you, jhaB
both
that jhouid
they
People that they never bnew,^whofe stood not
5
and your Country
Sanftuary laid wafle, as one
Man
left
be left
be led Captive out of jour
te
to
Language be
that there
e*ter into
made
(liall
it ?
alive
Ctuntry
(^folate,
nit be
Never
to
4
they under-
your
much
fuff^r thir f
you that be wife Men, but rather receive my Counfel, and come hither to us, that we may deliberate together, what Conditions of Peace we (hall make fo* the fcfety of out rather than to bedeftroyti j and that we mayf
Lives,
ufe the
Commodities of cltr Country, being at Peace there*
For Life and Qmetnefs Death and Banifhment. in
:
The
is
to be preferred before
therefore of Jerufatem, both chief Men, Ruler% and Noble-rhen of Jud&a, with the reft of the People, ftnt unto Jcfeph, Ikying : lake heed to thy felf^ that thou never
Inhabitants
PrieftSj
I
2
sQnfcnf
i
The Wars of the Jew's.
i4
confent to this, to receive Conditions of Peace with them, but be ftrong to fight, till fuch time as thote Jhalt confume them, or till thou and all the People die in Battle ; and Jo Jhalt thou fight the Battle of the Cities Lord, his People and his San&uary, with the
\
\
\ for but 4 of our God; in the mean feafon, be it as it may, let not thy Power be with them. When Jofeph heard the determination of the People of Jerufalem, how all forts, with one confent, ! ' willed by the EmbalTadors the continuance of Wars, iflued Fury great he was wonderful wroth, and in a {
them in array againlt confha were* Vefpaftan, and the Roma.tHos.Q, in which day forthat flain very many of the Jews, and from the Jews upon ward Vefpaftan began fiercely to War out with
all his People,
and
fet
departed thence to the City Gerara, a greal City in the higheft Galilee, befisged it, and won it. anrazed it, flew all the People, Man, Woman nc leaving Affes, Child, Oxen, Sheep, Camels and on to begin Now 1 thing aliye^ and then he laid, murdered*, the Jews revenged J9r the Romans, which From hence he departed,; in the Land 0/ Judaea. xqA and brought his Army to Jorpata, where Jofeph
He
1
day that he encamped about; Meat and Jorpata, he relieved his Soldiers with thenturChear, good Drink plenty, and made them < nifhed he every Man with Weapons.
mainedr
the
firft
So on ths next Mornmg
early the
Roman Army
City round aboj ra ve a great Shout, and befet the flood upJofeph bufinefs In this 0.7 every fide. the beheld he whence on a certain Tower, from founded he wherefore huge Camp of the Romans ; to Battle, llluej forth a Trumpet and gave a fign Jews that he ha the of .out with the whole Power
:
the Wars of the Jews. with him, and
of the Night
upon the Roman Camp at the foot from Morning till
Hill, continuing the fight
fighting,
Jews
fet
iij
and when it began to be dark, they ceafed and departed one from the other ^ the
to the
this Battle
Town,
the Romans to their Tents.
were many
In
on both fides, as well The Romans advancing themfelves flain
Jews as Romans. proudly and ftoutiy, faid, We will quickly vanquijh this little Nation, as we have fubdued all other Nations that we have conquered, that they jhall annoy us no more,
and afterwards wz
Jhall be
at reft.
The
on the other fide encouraged themfelves againft the Romans, faying, At this time we will all die together, for the Zeal of the Santfuary of our God, and never fuffer thefe unclean Perfons to pollute it-, and having once deftroyed them, we [hall be quiet So what with the Pride of the Romans on the one fide, and the ftifF-necked Stubbornnefs of the Jews on the other, much People was flain in that fight, for it continued- till the Second, Third, and fourth Day. In this while, all the Jews that dwelt about Jorpata fled unto Vefpafian\ Camp, and joined themfelves to the Romans to aid them j and ever as Jofeph skirmtfhed with Vefpafian with*
Jews
alfo
p
out the City, Vefpafian fent*a power to afftult the So Jofeph and his Men fought with VefpaCity. fian without the Town, and the Jews that were within the Town defended the Walls againft the Army of the Romans, that was a iefler Hoaft made of the main Army But the Jews that were within the Town, began to diminifh every Day until very :
few were
left.
The
hardieft alfo
of Jofeph's Soldi-
and the worthieft young Men that fought without, were all flain, except a very few, with whom I 3 Jofeph
ers,
the Wars of
tx6
the
Jews.
and recovered himfelf into the Town, Jofeph RaifiperiBg up the Gates after bim But as Vefpajian, with aii his Army, belleged Jorpata a long while, he efpied at length a Conduit without, that ran into fled
:
whereof the Citizens drank, becaufe the Water was good and fweet that he cut off, and
the City,
divided the Waters thereof hefides the City, whereby the Inhabitants of the City were deftitute of Beverage,
having nothing
left
them but Well Waters,
Jo/eph therefore perceiving that the Conduit Water,
whereof they had acculfomed to drink, was tak&i away, conceived with himfelf, Now will the Ilomans B* -eg and Boaji againft us f and think to take Its at their
Pleafure,
whiles
we have no Water^ but
Jhall be confirained to die for Tbirji
:
fore Garments, and dipped them that were in the Town, and hanged
He took
there-
in the Well- Waters
them here and
to declare to the Romans, that plenty in the Town, left they fhould they had Water conceive any hope of winning the Town, thinking
there over the Wall,
they had no Water-
Then o
Town
Yefyafian i Mount to be raifed to plant an Iron Ram upon,
pigh to the to batter the Walls with, and beat them down. The manner of making an Iron Ram , fide,
is
thus Fir£,
They take a
great long thick
Beam, upon
the forepart whereof they put a great ftrong Head,
ni^de like a Rams Hend, with Horns, all ot principal firong Iron, the weight of it as much as half the Beam, and covereth the Beam to the midti Then faftned they into the Ground, over againtt the place that they intend to Batter, two great Trees, like tJB/Q Mafts of SJiips, between which they hang tbe
Beam
The Wars of the Jews.
Beam
that
called
is
made of Hemp,
the
117
RSm, with ftrong Ropes may be gotten, and
j
the beft that
Iron Wier twitted together : At the hinder part of the Beam from the Wall-ward, are Rings of Iron
with Ropes made of
fiirely faftned
tied to
them
That when
;
Hemp and
Wier,
the Affaulters will batter
the Walls, they pufh forward the Beam as though it were a Spear, and faften his ftrong Horns among the Stones, Then hang they Weights at the Rings of the hinder-part, and much People afar off take hold of the Ropes that come through the Rings behind, and hale that part of the Beam upon the
Ground, and by fuch means they (hake the Wall, they make it quake again. ThBS in many places they do wreft and wrench out the Stones of the Building, fo that afterward the Wall falteth down. There be alfo other manner of Engines, as an Iron-Ram upon four Wheels bound with Iron, and faftned with Iron Nails. To this they make four Feet, as hath a Ram, as the bignefs of the Beam requireth. The biggeft for the moft part is thirty Cubits long, and the ieaft is ten.
And look how many Feet
the
Ram
hath, fo
many
Wheels it hath alfo * for every Wheel hath his Foot by him And when they will batter the Wall, certain Men appointed thereunto, draw the firft a good way off, then a great multitude of Men take hold of the hinder part thereof, by four Porters or :
1
Leavers of
Wood
that are put therein, and with all Ram to ftrike the
iheir ftrength (hove forward the
Wall they will batter. The Head of this Iron-Ram that goeth upon Wheels, hath no Horns but is blunt,
made of the ftrongeft kind of Iron, with a wonder* ful think Neck They have alfo upon both fides of the ;
I
4
Engine,
*
1
1
The Wars of the Tews.
8
Engine,a Pentife of Wood for the Safeguard of them that (hove forth the Ram behind, from the Arrows or Stones of them that are upon the Walls. The Ram that Titus ufed at Jerufalem^ for the moft part ran all
we
The Beam was as thick
-
#
Of
upon Wheels.
Jouple, as
the other fort he had only a .
fhali declare in thjs place.
ot this
Ram we
even
now
defcrib'd,
Ten Men could fathom, and the length thereof was Fifty Cubits. It was alfo hollow within, and filled with'Ox-hides folded and fowed as
together. The Wood ferved for none other purpofe than that the fafhion of the Leather might be
upon a Mold. The hinder part of the Beam was covered over with Iron Plates. The Leather was put within, that the Beam (hould not break
fet as
with the poife of the Weights that were hanged by the Rings behind, whereas Men appointed for the purpole, haled at the Ropes to draw back the Beam. The Wood therefore that went about the Leather, They coverferved to keep the Leather in fafhion. ed it with an Iron Platejefi they that kepnheWalls (hould fet it on fiie: The Horns that were upon the Head of the Ram, were as many as they lifted, but never fewer than Ten, and then the Beam was Twenty Cubits long-, nor allbmoie than Fifty, and then the Beam was a Hundred Cubi s in length. Betwixt every Horn was as thick as a Man could, fathom, the length was a Cubit and a Half at ieaft. The wooden Wall or Pentife was as long as the Leather that was put in the Beam, and it was fet on both fides toward the hinder part of the Beam, to defend the
Wall,
left
Men
they
that
to batter the hurt with Arrows or
laboured
fliould be
Vws. The
119
7he Wars of the Jews.
The Ram he
befieged,
that Vefpafian ufed
and
me
in
it,
at Jorpata,
was made
in
which
this fort.
length thereof was Fifty Cubits 5 it had Twenty in the Head, which was as thick as Tent
The
Horns
five
every Horn alio was as thick as one Man, and betwixt every Horn the fpace of one Cubit: The weight that was hanged at the hinder part, was a Thoufand five hundred Talents, every Talent was about a hundred Troy weight: The Men that laboured in the executing of this Engine, were Filteen hundred. To remove it from one place to another^or from one City to another, were appointed a Hundred
Men,
or elfe Three hundred fifty Yoke of Oxen ^ If they were to aflault Brace of Horfes and Mules any Forts or Cities that flood on Hills,then they did divide it in Parts, and bring it up to the Siege by Piece-meal, and there it was fet together again. Now when the Romans had battered the Walls of Jotpata, and Jofeph perceived them to fhake, he took great Sacks, filled -them full of Chaff, and hanged them down by the Walls, that the Horns of the Ram could not come nigh the Atones of the Wall, but light upon the Sack, which by reafon of the foftnefs of the Chaff, hindred and brake the ftroke, that the Walls were lefs hurt For the nature of foft things is, to give back to the hard, and
and
:
:
to
weaken
their force.
But Vefpafian feeing alfo Policy for Policy
tfie
Subtilty
of Jofepb^ ufed
for he fent into the
fecretlyjfcotf, Spies,which
when
Town
the Batteries fhould
might cut afunder the Cords that the Sacks were tyed to, and with them flip down the Walls, where the Remans were ready to receive them, that they
be,
fhould not hurt them in the
fall,
and immediately
1
20
Tke Wars of the Jews.
they (truck the Wall with the Ram. There was at that prefent in the City, a certain valiant Man named Eleazar ^ of the Houfe of Anani the High* Prieft that then dwelt at Jerujakm This Eleazer perceiving the Romans, to go about to batter down the Walls as they did before, plucked out of the Wail a mighty Stone, fo that he made a great hole, or gap, whereat he fl>d down the Wail, and ftradling, did light on the Engine,made faft an Iron Chain to the Horns thereof, and got again up nimbly and quickly, from the Beam into the Town, with the Chain in his Hand, for the Wall was not very high above bis Head as he ftooci upon the Ram then the ether tall Fellows took hold upon the Chain, fattened it to the Pillars and Walls in the Town, that the Romans might rather be contained to break their Ram, than take it away from thence. The Prieft Eleazar yet once again boldly went down and fat upon the Beam, flew fifty Men that laboured abont the Ram, and the reft he put to flighty then returned into the Town, being drawn up again from the Beam by them rhat wete within the Town, greatly rejoycing in his Manhood After
:
ed
The Wars of the Jews.
izi
five Arrows, wherefore by the help of upon the Walls he climbed up, otherwife he had not been able for the Grief of his Wounds. The People then gave a Shout for Joy of the Viftory of the worthy Prieft Eleaza?\ that had flain the? Romans, and broke the Ram, wherein they put their Confidence, and brought part of it into the Town, and faftned it with an Iron Chain, that the Roman* could not pull it back again to them, nor have the ufe of it afterward ^ wherefore divers of the beft Citizens of Jorpata armed themfelves that day, being ftirr'd with the great Courage that they had feen in Jileazar^ and went down, hewed the Beam to pieces* brought the Poifes with the Rings, and two Malts with them into the Town And the fame Day died Eleazar with great Renown, as one that had fought for the San&uary of the Lord, and for his People and Tountry of Ifrael, like a faithful Servant and Soldier of the Lord, whom all the People mourned for, burying him in the Town, honouring him fot his Death, Worthinefs and Faithfulnefs, appointing him a worthy Memory alfo, for that he ha4 waged Battle with the Enemies of the Lord. The young Men of the Jews feeing this, and elpecially two of them, the one called Nitra^ the other folipas, Men of great Wifdom and Underftanding, and therewith expert in the Wars, being moved withJZeal of the God of IJrael, opened the Gates, and HTued againft the Romans, skirmiftied with them, and flew many of them. But at length thejr were flain themfelves in the Skinnifh, for the San&it 3ry of their God, for Ifraelznd. their Country. When Jofeph faw the Wars to increafe more and more, h§ iffued out, and made a great Slaughter in
ed him with
his Fellows
:
\
the
the Wait of the Jews. the Roman Tents, burnt the
Mount and
War that the Romans had left, by War waxed yet hotter, infomuch,
Engines of
which means the
that Jofeph repulFor when they law the Jews fo defperately give their Lives for their God and Land, they would not abide their force. Vejpafian feeing his Men (hrink, he flood up, and encouraged them, exhorting them with fair Words and Promifes, as well Gold and Silver, as Meat and Drink, wherewith the K^^x^aliured, fought with And as the Jofeph that Day unto the Sun-fetting Battle waxed hot, the Jews wounded Vejpafian with an Arrow in his Right Leg, which fore difmayed the Romans when they law the Blood run down his Leg ^ and that day was a fore Fight between the Titus feeing his Father Jews and the Romans. wounded, being fore abafhed, ran to him to help him, to whom his Father faid, How i
Romans.
:
whom
he returned into the Town. next day the Romans railed a new Mount, inftead of that which Jofeph burned, and planted another Iron Ram thereupon, between two Pofts accordingly ^ for Vejpafian had brought Four of this fort with him from Rome h but other battering Pieces upon Wheels, had he with him Thirty h what more, what lefs the bigger fort were Thirty Cubits
The
the lelfer Ten. long, He brought aifo Ten Tngtne$ to hurl great Stones withal^ which he had
placed
iij
Ibe Wars of tfo Jews.
placed about the Walls. The Romans therefore renewed the Aflaults againft the Town, as they were But the Town was now defolate wont before. ftouteft warlike Mens for they the of naked and
were all flain in the fights. Albeit Jojeph remained and a few with him, who went every one, and the
Women alfb, to defend moft no Men le£r for
was atRemans flood on the Mount,
the Walls, for there
the War.
Then
the
with the Engines that It chanced the Town on every fide. that a great Stone hit a Woman with -Child with fuch Violence, that it patted through her Body, and carried the Child with it, by the fpace of half a Mile. They calt up and raifed yet other MouBtS And another alfo, from whence they flung Stones. like chance hapened \ A Stone came and hit one of Jofeph\ Men of War, a valiant Man, in fuch fort, that it divided, his Head from his Body, and made it fly a large Mile off. At the lams time one of the Roman Soldiers deviled with himfelf, how to hit Jofeph with a venomed Arrow, and get him under a Wall where Jofeph was to accomphOi his purpofe But Jofeph efpied him, and cryed to him, Hold thy hand, thou wicked bellow^ and do not kill me : With that the Fellow Aarted fomewhat afide, being afraid at Jofepb's Voice, and fuddenly the fews, out of the Town, poured hot Oyl upon him from the Walls, and his Skin was fcalded off, and he ran away naked and howling* and yelling to the Romans Camp, where he died. Vefpafian y and his Son Titus, were fully deterflung,
Stones into
:
mined to continue the AfTault until the 47 th day $ notwithftanding the Walls were fo high, that they could not win the Town, Yet at length the M$n were
124
ft* Wars of the Jews.
were fo ipent within the Town, that they that re* mained alive were fo wearied with toyiing, that they were no longer able to furnifh their Watch upon the Wall. This upon a certain Nighr, Vefpafian and Titus undemanding, fcaled the Wails at a Quarter where Watcnmen were lacking, and after them many more of the Roman Soldiers followed, whicli went down oh the infide, and brake open „the great Gate of the Town, whereat entred the whole Army of the Romans.
And being within
the
Town, founded
Trumpet, and fhouted to Battle. The Jews with the Alarm, Tumult and Hurlyburly of the Romans, awaked out of their Sleep, and were fore a*
their
Notwithftanding, every Man took him to his and drew to the Marketplace as faft as they might. They had made the Market-place of the Town fo large of purpofe, that if any Bufinefs fhould happen, there might come together the whole City if they would : And as they looked about fraid.
Wei pon,
they faw the Roman Army entring into the Town, by the way that cane from the great Gate. Then fought they with the Romans, and divided
them,
even in the Market place where they flood, exhorting one another, and faying, Let us die here fightings *nd neverfuffcr our elves to be taken alive .But Jofepb and lorty Men with him, worthy Men, all tied away into a Wood, where they found a certain Cave, and hid themfelves therein. All the rett of the Citizens were flain in that Conflift, for they wourd not yield, nor commit themfelves to the Romans, they trufted them fo little. For on a time, a certain Jew belbught a Roman Soldier to fave his Life, and the Roman fvvare unto him, faying, God deal thus and thus with me, if I flay tbce, therefore
f
-
the Wars of the Jews*
115
The Jew required him yield and come kit her to me. that he might truft him, give Right-hand his to him his Lett-hand. reach'd The Roman and the fear, great marked that in a not difmay Jew being Roman but wheti the h^nd Left had his that it was once hold of him, he kepc him faft with that Hand, and with his Right took his Sword and flew the Jew that then was naked, having call away his Weapon upon truft of the Roman. When the Jews faw how the Roman regarded not his Oath, butfl jw the 7^0, that upon the truft of his Promile and Oath h id yielded himfelf unto him* they determined to die all together, and never to truft the Romans : Whereupon they refolved with themfelveSjUtterly to die for the Holinefs of the Lord God ot ljraeli but in lodoing,they flew much People of the Romans, and far more than they had done in any other Battel ^ yet at length the City was taken,. When Vefpafian had knowledge where Jofeph 2nd his Company was, he lent Nicanor, Pi/erincus and Catlianas wich him to jrfeph,to will him to come forth, and he (hould have his Life and not be {lain ^ upon that Jofeph debated the matter with them that were with him in the Den, requiring their Advice tor my part ( faith he ) if you will jollovo my Counfd, \ think it beft we gd unto them: But upon this Conditio on % That they will make us a formal Ajfurance of our laves, cffeBu rfly.as we fhall require them which doney I doubt not but Vefpafian, when we come unto himjnill extend his Favour toward us. When thele Men perceived Jofeph to be inclined to yield unto the Romans, they faid, We marvel at thee (O Prince Jofeph ) at thee, we fay, that was chofen out of thoufsnds Qf People, and promoted to
%
:
;
*
,
the Wars of the Jews.
j26 to
the
and Kingdom, to fanfliffe and God of Ifrael* who wai alfo ap~ Captain General of fo great an Hofty and Priefthood,
Lord
hallow the jointed ba(l
with
People,
thy
Sheep) that
this
DtjhonoH-.
the
What
live ?
to
defer e
Eyes the fhameful Reproach of Dipleafures and Damages of thou haft yet any defire to live in
with thine
feen
thy
Death than
thou that
feeji
thou
Shouldfi
thou would/t rather
not
defire
Pcradvtnture thou perjwadefi thy ftlf that they call unto thee to fave thy Life, or for thy Commodity $ but with ut doubt this were a vain Fe fwafion: For the) call thee for none other intent than to take thee alive, and to brag they tool^ Lift ?
hw
was ccnfecrated and aJditted to the gument that their Power and rnzk* it an
]ofeph, that
A
Wars,
p
r
N»w
ofp.reth.
Prince )
our
therefore
confider
our dear
(
that
they
this
Brother,
and
do y
yea9
will
fave thy Life. But put the cajje-ihej put thee to Death, Were it not better for thee to die on thine own Sw rd than oa theirs ? Tea, if it were nothing if they
but
this,
it
and
their
than
and
Death our
their
le ift
Vpbraidmgsf
And
Qutrretlingsi
alive, never thinly they do for .hy Ignominy
than live,
thee to die
better for
is
th * (houUji hetr their Reproaches,
it
if they prferve thee for thy Good, but rather
and Shame, which
it
fef. Prince, what
is far mor* Grievous Brother Wherefore $ur dear
corn s
in
thy
Mind,
that
thou parpofeft to five, after that thou h*fl lo(t xhy People and thy Brethren? And to what purpofe fervetb
thy Life after they be gone} Mark, diUgmtlj what Moles of worthy Memory our Mafter did, how he fptak. before
God
touching the
People
of Ifrael
:
O
pardon their Sins, {}*ith he ) or elfe bloc me quite out of thy Book which thou halt written : He would
:
the Wars of the JeWS. *
not live after the
Would
Deftruttion
127
of his
People
* $
Let me alone* 5 upon Anger them and con* wreak^nine th3t I may call unto thon thy not RememWhy doft fume iheffl. brance Aaron his Brother, that went betwixt Life and Death, in withftanding the Angel that Plagued'the People, and offered himfelf to die for his People, that the Plague might ctafe from Ifrael ? Wh'ert is King Saul, and his Son Jonathan, that Fought for the People of God and although the Almighty [aid unto him
Could not Saul have faved his Life y had been fo difprfed ? But he^
died in the Field ?
and^bis Sons both, if he
when he faw had no defire than
to
Ifrael
live,
to
had
'
the
Overthrow
live longer,
and would
not
in the Battle
but chofe to die father be feparated from his
Brethren neither in Life nor Death, as well he, ai thefe were dearly beloved, and Jonathan his Son* tnoft amiable Men {as the Scriptnre termeth them,) why doft thou not remember {our dear Prince) the Righteouf. nefs of
a
David,
* the anointed of the
Lord, who feeing
mofl grievous Peftilcnce to rage upon* the People of
Let thy hand (O Lord) I befeech upon me and my Father's Houfe For I am he that have finned, I have tranfgreffed As for thefe my Sheep, What have they done? What have they offended ? Ifraet> faid,
rhee, be turned
i
Where is the Holy Law Smothered and Stifled in thy ? ^rt thou not an Anointed Prieft,that haft declared and taught us the Holy Law, whereby we might Learn how to Love our Lord God with all our Hearts y and with all o^r and with all our Strength i If it be fo that she Service of God confxfts not tn this, that we fhGuld love him whom he loveth, and die for h 'n Covenant mid Sanfiuary 7 together wub his Servants that be Heart
K
v
Jim
,
1
The Wars of the Jews.
28
flain for the
Vnity of the Name of the Lord ; whereHaft not tho^oft-time taught
in ftandeth it then ?
and provd unto tUf How that evefy Man that dieth Wars for the Lord, his Sanftuary, his -People and his Law, he is to be counted in the Lord's Lot, and made worthy to go unto the great Light, and Jhalt not fee everlafiing Darknefs? Art not thou that in the
Jofeph the Pruft, that ha[l cryed fo often in Battle , am Jofeph the Trieft , confecrated to Battle that- have vowed my Life for the People of the Lord , his San&uary, and his Land ? But now when thou and they order thee haft yielded thy felf unto them, thou fully, wilt unto them ? Or what What defpigm fay amends canft thou have at their Hands ? 1 put the cafe they cajl in thy Teeth, and fay thy words be I
Lyes, How fhalt thou avoid the Reproach ? Art thou not he that faid'fi, that we (hould Fight for the People of Codj until we die in the Conflict, and in fo doing. Death (hould be ranfopt for our Sins 5 and that we were fare to go to that great Lights that is the Light of Life?
Which if it be true according as thou Maft [aid, Why then wilt thou {bun Death, and not follow thy People that are gone before thee to that fame Light ? Ever hitherto thou haft had the Upper -h and wherefoe'ver thou catneft, infomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear : now wilt thou yield thy Life to Captivity to the Shall not this thy Dishonour * vile Slave ? Romans
And
^
redound
alfo to the People
of
God
?
Thou art a Prince,
a King and a Priefi, WiU thou be bound in Chains ? Every Man foall fay, This is he that gave his Soldiers, and the reft of the People to die, but he faved him/elf and his own Life.
So
The Wars of the Jews,
1
29
So when they had made an end of talk, each his Sword, and came ro him in the
Man drew out
Cave/ faying : Hearefi thou Jofeph If thou wilt be Ruled by us, firft we Jhall flay thee as a Lord and a great Prince, and thou fhak chuje what Death thou wilt die, that thou may eft die midft of* the our Prince
?
hwourably. But if thou refufe to die honeftly^ affure thy fdf of this, we will every Man fet upon thee and *
kill thee. %
Jofeph anfwered, Indeed J know my Brethren, .that your words are jufl and true, For who is fo mad to defire to
Uve
in this
huHy burly
?
and would Cod that
be would
my Soul unto him, a^d receive it'unto him alfo. For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me
call
to die
than to live, for the great troubles that have pajfed
through
mj Heart \ But he knoweth the Secrets of Hearts; and it is he that giveth Life unto Men. our
It is
God that
Mens
clofeth Souls within the Bodies,
and
them out again, becaufe he is the living God, in whofe hands remain the Souls and Spirits of all living Creatures He hath left with us the Spirit of Life, and letteth
:
clofed it
up
vgithin gut
What
Bodies.
is
he that will
what he bath fcut ? How (hall we loofe what he would have knit faft within us ? Do ye not all know,
open
how
the Life
that life
we
is
a thing that he hath
left
us to keep,
and
If then we caft away our fl)aU he not worthily be difphafed
are his Servants ?
before
God
take
it,
with us, fo that we (hall notfini Life in tht place of the Living with Abraham cur Father of Famous Memory,
and with
and Godly Men Our Fore Fathers ? know, that they went not Unto God he* they were called j and when they were called\ they
Do we fore •
thofe juj}
not
K
2
came
i
the Wars of the Jew*.
30
andfo dealt GOD with all the Holy and Godly To Mofes our Ma(ler of worthy Memory, the Elett of God ; ye know that the Lord God of Hrael faidy Get thee upon this Mountain Abiram^and fo he did ^
came Men.
?
but he would not have done called him, whereby ye
Man Ibe
to furrender his
require
it
it
may
of himfelf, fee
it is
had not God
not lawful for
Life unto the Living
GOD
7
a
except
again.
Take Example ( I pray you) of Job* what time he Day that he was born in. Might he not either haye hanged himfelf\ orhayeRun upon a Knife, or at the lea(l have followed his Wifes Counfel7 to curfe God and curft the
Notwithstanding he abode Patiently in moft exttll God demanded again his Life y and then rejlored it unto his lObrd God, and would not die ?
tream Pain, waiting rejlore
it
undemanded, but tarried
till
his
appointed
time came.
famous Memory, faid, Lead and Prifon ; for he kpew thou my that the Life was inchfed in the Body, and that none I wot well that Death might let it forth but God that the Soul may return in great Commody, is a fo 1 know it his due time unto God that gave it us. Lord, he That he Wars the in that the dieth alfo, of But 1 know not what can (hall come to the great Light : appeafe GOD's Wrath, towards the Soul of that Man that bflleth himfelf, and maketh hafi to reft ore his Soul before his time^ and without the Lord's catling* Wherefore my Friends and my Brethren, 1 would you fhoncd know it, 1 am no more Coward than you, and I do r
King David
alfo of
Life out of this Pinfold
\
* '
i
,
that j
The Wars of the Jews, that flicks unto fia/l
make
God
?
Interceffion
To yon 1 unto God
i
[peaky Tell me, for
us, if
we
jr
who
(hould
commit this Sin, and each kill one another f would not a Man judge him a Slave, a Bool, a froward Perfon9 a Rebelj and a defperate Man, that (hould he forced with any Mifery, to he fo mad, that becaufe all things fall not out as he would wifh, would therefore Hang, or defperately Murther himfelf With his own hand ? Such ye know the Law thus puniflteth : Their right hand is cut wherewith they forced themfelves to die* then they left Vnburied as Men that have deftroyed their own Souls: By what reafon then Jhall we k}H our felves? 1 would wi[h that we might be flain of our off,
are
Enemies^ rather than we (hculd fo fh?mefully Murther our felves, whereby ever after we (hould be taken for Man/layers. any Man kill himfelf as Saul whom ye commend* without doubt he committeth a heinous Crime\ and fuch a one as no Satisfaction can be made for : Befides If
that he foall be reckoned faint hearted, and as one that
Wherefore our Forefathers ought not to defpair of his Safeguard and Deliverance which cometh of God, no, not when the Knife is put to his Throat to cut For King Hezekiah of Famous Memory, when^ he it. defpaireth of his Recovery
have taught
us,
:
A Man
heard theft words of Efaias that worthy I raphe? : Make th£ Will, and fet things in order, for thou llialt die, and not efcape ; Neverthelefs he fainted not % nor ceafed not to fray to God, for the prolonging of his Life in the World, that he might amend his Life, and fend a better SoaluntoGod. Then the Lord God of Ifrael, feeing his unwearied and fircng Hope, hts with Repentance, fuffered
him
to live
Fiftfen Tears longer
K
3
3
but as for SdSxU
^ 94?
I
;x
,
was
the Ways
of
the Jews.
King over Ifrael after the Lords but only by the People that craved of Samuel,
not anointed
Mind,
Give
Whereupon afterUS a King to Rule over US he was not obedient ward God departed from Saul, to Go£sWill s bat went about by force to eftablifh his Kingdom. The Lord then feeing t he Wickednefs of his Hearh gave him over, and chofe him another to be King :
ever his People ; anointing
Saul was yet living
;
David
his
Servant ,
whiles
which Saul perceiving perfected
David, and
laboured with all his endeavour to de/troy him^ becaufe he knew God was with him 9 and profpered all that he did \ whereas contrarily all went backward
with
himferf.
For
lfay y he chofe rather to die than live: would not live after the People of Ifrael were overthrown in the Mountains of Gil boa. j4nd 9 in mine
He
thefe Caufes
alfo
Opinion^ he flew himfelf for nothing but becaufe he was a
faint-hearted CorPard,
and utterly -defpaired
his
fsafe-
guard, lor although he faid, Left tbele Uncircumcifed come and run me through. Tet> if he had been of a Valiant Courage^ he would not have flood to his defence Per adventure Gcd would have delivered to the Death :
But be contrarily , all in defpair, procured both and Son a Shameful Death. But ye jha/l confider this y he was an unmerciful King 7 and therefore God did rid him out of the World. For as he did not fpare his own Life, nor his Sons So did
him
:
himfelf
;
And whereas ye alledgc Aaron he not fpare others. unto me, 1 would know of yout why he put bimfeV be* tween the living and the dead*? was tt not becaufe he would turn away the blague from Iirael ? If he had known that he himfelf fhould have been flrichn therewith* doubtlefs he would not havje (t riven agdxnH the flrihtr
;
but trufting %n the ho'Unefs of *his Right eoufnefs*
The Wars of the Jews. he flood before the
Angel
Mifery: Therefore I albeit I
Life did
Lord
am I
deliver Ifrael
to
from that Aaron,
not to be compared with
one of his Children,
and never
yet in
my
Life in the
Wan
(hrink to venture
^nd
:
am
133
-
now I am
not determined to
kill
all
my
of the
my
felfj
flmld fin agaivft God and fpoil my Soul of Hope of Salvation. , / know it well, and it were more expedient for me* to be flain of mine Enemies, than that 1 jhould left I
kill
my
felf
And if ye
fay the word^ Let us go forth, and fuddenly fet upon our Enemies, to kill 'or to be killed in this Battle of the Lord, ture
God
will
and fo frail we do
well:
give them into our Hands
able to fave as well by a fmall
:
Army
P er advenGod IS
For as by
a great.
Then if ye fee me to be afraid of mine Enemies Swordy ye fhall thereby know me to be a Coward, and one that fawneth upon his Enemies, and hunt eth for their Far vonr : But yon Jhall fee me go before you as a Valiant Man, nor once to tutn my Face from Death \ What did ye ever fee in me, that you fhould judge me fearful ? Did ye ever k/iow me refufe to Fight? Within the Town of Jorpata / have ever kept my Quarter and
Ward, and every Day have I Fought with mine Enemies, 'whom I have not fpared but impaired, and that not a little, whiles f defended that little City Forty eight Days againft them'. I thought with my felf, "Per adventure, I may drive away the Enemies of the Lord out of our Land, and divert them from Jerilfalem , that they go not thither. .And fo have I Fought with them^ tiU all my Valiant SolJiers be fpent, and none left but you\ I could no longer withjland
their
Force,
yet I
Prifoner unto them, into
this
Cave.
would
net
therefore
Now
,
I
field
therefore
K
4
my
fled hither ,
felf
as
mth
Brethren
,
d
you ye
M
m
:
j
The Wars of the Jews*
34
pall mderfland , that Death is commodious «nd good indeed, which comes in time : But it is neither good nor Godly, for a Man to kill himftlf and his Brother^ to go afterward for that into Hell and Perdition. And what other thing can more clearly fet forth a Mans Proud ^nd Haughty Mind, with his Hope in God, than for a Man, to fuffer Patiently, whatfotver chanceth unto him, until his End come ? Behold the Lions and other Beajts, how they we wont to withft and their Enemies that He in wait for them, to the intent they may fave their Lives, whofe Armour is in their Teeth and Claws, wherewith neverthekfs they hurt not themfelves, but ufe them agatnft other that affault them, till they either
We, although we have no Overcome,
4gainft another, and
hjH one another ?
If that be true, as
ye cannot deny it % that although we be many Thoufandt? yet we are counted as one Soul, and Members of one Body Tfan how can any Man ever find tn his Heart to ftrike bis
own Eyes
cr Feet, or any other of hts
he be Mad
Members
to deftroy
and Befides htmfetf ? Moreover, it, except dear Brethren and Friends, confider to what end the Maftcr of a Ship doth abide the Temp'ft of the Seas, and ftriv'wg Day and Night with the Floods thereof? Dotb he not do it to, fave the Ship^ and his Life from Death ?
If fo be&e
f
pjould willing far the fame purfofe put him-
felf in jeopardy of Ttmpe(l y o? run on Rock *, tbg
would no$
Merchantmen fay^ See yonder defperace Fellow that
the Wars $f
the Jews.
1
3j
that deftroyeth bimfeif, his Ship, with the Merchants, and their Riches ; Suppofe an earthly King fhould give his Officers to keep certain Precious Jewels , were it not convenient that they fhould keep them till fuch time as he Should call for them again? If they Jhould\
Man
the Prefence of the King uncalled* will not the King check.
What doft thou here, before So now, all the SohIs of Ifrael are the Lord's, who bath beftowed them upon Men, according to his Mercy and good Pleafure, who alfo will receive them again when it pleafeth him, and when his time is come, every Soul (hall depart unto his Place of Reft. Therefore hm> and
fay unto h'm y
I call thee
if a
of
?
Man wiU,
his
Body
ther fhall
it
with his own Hands,
God
before his time 9
find any reft,
let
forth his Soul out
will not receive
but be deftroyed
it,
nei-
And why
:
?
Becaufe it is expulfed, and thruft out of his place before his time, and before God do call for it ; wherefore it fhall Wander inconstantly for ever. Why then (my dear Breh thren and Friends) do you advife us to kjB one another,
and
to
not
called for i
Expel and Bamfh our Souls from
How can and make
How
can
we
we make amends for Interceffion for us ?
wept abundantly, to icorn.
put
away
this Sin ?
And
us, this
they being Opprobrj ?
Who
with
(hall
pray
this Jofeph
infomuch, that they laughc him
Then
;
the Wars of the Jews.
i$6
Then
Jofepb held up his Hands to Heaven, fayThou Lord Almighty art our Father, Thou haft for* med us, and by thy great Meycy taken us out of the Clay. Thou art he that leadefi us in thy Faith,andthe Multitude of thy Mercies and Benignities toward us hath not ceafed. And although our Sins have fieparated us from thee, yet neverthelefs we are*tby Handy- work every one of us, and a long time have we been called thy People* Thou art Lord over all Creatures and Souls. Thou do[i what thou wilt^ and none.dare fay to thee. Why doft thou fo ? Thou
ing,
art our Father, we are Clay , th
Apd Faftion
:
Therefore if it pkafe thee to take our Souls, Hands of thine Angels, that we commit
take them by the
And
no Evil againfl them: prefent with
me
if thefe
my
will not be partakers of
Fellows that be
my
Prayer*,
be-
my
Life alcne, for the which I befeech thy benign Clemency^ if it pleafe thee take it, for thou gaveft it me, hold
it fhall feem good unHands, thou fendeft it me, and
therefore do with it whatfoever
to thee
:
It is in thine
haft preferred felft
or let
it
it
within
out of
my
me
:
1 will
not
defiroy
Prifon,' before thou
it
demand
my it
for thou knoweft, that as Man cannot live without thy Decree and Appointment, fo likewife he cannot die without the fame. Vnto thee therefore do I Up up mine Eyes, thou that dwellcft in Heaven y to deal Mercifully with tky Servants and with me, to turn our Hearts that we confent not unto this to Murder our felves ; If thou know %
any among us, that intend fo baft an Alb, I befeech thee % O Lord my God, let me find favour in thine Eyes, give them an Heart to hear rtholefome Ounfel, that I may deliver my ftlf and mine own Life, which I commend into thtne Hands, that thou wouldjl receive it unto thee ; for in thy
Hand is the
Life of every living Creature.
Thus
The Wars of the Jews.
i
$7 Thus when Jofeph had finifhed his Prayer, he turned him unto his Fellows .and faluted them: Then faid they, Thinktft thou therefore to move our Minds, bccaufe thou haft prayed unto God for thy relf like
and
for
us} Did hot
as
we
teU thee
die
to
means
one
by
Mind, and
tell
novo,
us by
we
teU
that
thee e re
we
are
whtle%
determined
or other ? Wherefore fay thy what Death thou wilt end thy
for we have ever known j and a worthy Prince, therefore
Life
thee a jkSt
Man,
thou worthy to
art
perceiving his Fellows were would give and to die, none ear to his Perfwafions, for he could by no Jie
Jofeph
firfi.
utterly
decermined
reafons
draw
ing it
them
will be none
will {hew you
and
to
his
Opinion, he went
work with them on
Subtilly to
my
this
See-
wife.
otherwife, Brethren ( quoth he ) I Advtce: Ye are determined to die,
own Swords, therefore there no better way, than to do it by Lot in this wife : Let m ca(l Lots among our felves, that we may befoined together by Couples, then will we cafi Lots which ye
fay,
that upon your
is
die firfl afterwards they two (hall cafi Lots between them, which of them fhall kill his Fellow 5 he that remaineth fhall choofe him one of the
souple fljall
•
fecond Couple to
kill
foall
cafi
Lots
ftrfi,
and
he that
him;
between is
likewtfe the fecond Couple
themfelves,
left fhall
choofe
who jhall him one of
die
the
whom he hath a fancy to% be killed of: then they foall trj by Lot who (h all die fir ft, who bethird Couple
ing (lain, the ether
may
him one of the fourth till all be flain, that even fo we fee not the Captivity of our People. The lafi cou m pie that remain fhall do thus: Run one upon the Mbers Sword, or elfe let them cafi Lots between themCouple to
kill
him,
choofe
and
felves
1
1
Ike Wars of the Jews.
8
fehest and upon whom it But forafmuch as we are
falleth,
let
him
die
firft
:
Forty and
One, fo that we cannot be juftlj joined tn couples , let then €afi Lots firft of all9 and fee which of us Jhall firft be fain ; and when he is once out of the way, then
m
let hs
divide the
Couples
:
He
that
is
to
be flain
him chafe one of the firft couple , and. c a ft Lots, and do as I h*ve devifed. Then every Man liked his Device ( which was God's doing who heard Jofeph\ Prayer^ and faidall with one Mouth, We will do as thou haft advifed and to thee it afpzruaineth to divide the Men,and to caft the Lots. Jofeph anfwered, But let us ftoear by the Name of the Lord, that this Device jhall (land, be ratified and performed. Where* unto they accorded, and fware all by the Name of the Lord, that they would have his Device to be ratified and kept, which Jofyb had invented by cafting Lots. Then Jo eph cart Lots, who ihould be the odd Man, and it fell upon Jehoiada, the Son of EHakim, a Galilean, which was a Valiant Man, andchiefeft in every Counfel next to Jtfeph y and the principal perfwader of this wicked Fad, to kill themfelves. After that, did he craftily divide into them couples,, fo that the Lot of his own couple came forth laft'of all, who looked to be faved, and trufled in God, believing that he would deliver him from this abominable deed. fitft\
let
s
Then
Jehoiada chofe him one of the firft couple, That done, the firft couple caft flew him Lots between them,fo that one killed his fellow, and chofe him one of the fecond couple to kill him Then they of the fecond couple, caft Locs between
who
:
•
them-
the Wats of the Jews.
159
themfelves in the prefence of Jofeph, and the one killed the other; then he that remained, chofehim And in this one of the third couple to flay him manner did they all, till they were all flain, and none left alive but Jofeph and his Fellow, who faid :
Onto Jofeph, qht Brethren.
Go
to let us cafl
Lots, that
we may
go to
anfwered. We will do fo if thou be fo difpoBut firfl hear me, J pray thee, Jpeak^ a few Tell me, Have not tbefe Sinners things in thine Ear Rebelled againft God, in this Murdering of themfelves fo fiamefully ? neither could 1 by any means diffwade them, nor divert them from this Opinion : Wherefore fhould we two Stn againjl God fo grievoufly, and againfl our own Souls ? If the Lot fhould fo fall, that I fhould k^l thee I fhould be call*ds a Man -flayer, and that worthily 5 and it may fo chance, I fhall efcape after thee, and fave my Life \ but if the Lot fhould fo fall, that thou foouldft flay me, then flmldjt be taken alfofor a Murderer, and Per adventure thou Jhouldfl "Jofeph
fed
:
:
j
me ; yea, although thou thinke/l that But affure thy (elf of this, we lofe our God, in as much as we Sin againft car own For all thefe Men that thou feefl here Dead,
not efcape after
thou mayeft
Hope
in
Souls.
:
Lo, they have finned agatnft their own Souls, dying without DifcipUne and ^ood Order. If thou wilt fay* How fhall we do by reafon of the Oath that we have fworn ? Dofi thou not know, that he that breaketh a wicked Oath doth nothing 'wickedly himftlf therein For a Man is not covftrained toprform any Oath ur-to Gcd, :
but to the keeping of his
David
faith,
I
Laws
:
and hereupon
is it
that
have fwern, aid will perform;
,
1
the Wars of the Jews.
4c
Vow nor Oath that is mtde againft the Commandments of God) can he ratified before God. And what more is, before we Swear , our Fathers Sware firfl long ago y at the Mount of Sinai, that
for neither
and their Children (hould keep the Ltw of the Mofes alfo made a Covenant with them upon the fame, and not only with them that were there, but alfo they
Lord, with
us,
How then the Law of
of the
one
is
ft and, for the it,
hold to fwear,
Man -killers
Commandmentt
Ten
?
to breaks
Seeing it
Thou
exprejly,
kill.
Oath that we have made, but rather
God
for
be fo
Wherefore my Brother thou fhak underthat we need not be folicitous, nor careful
net
flialt
dare we
God, and become
will never be
to
break
difpleafed with us for
that.
For I being afraid of thefe wicked Perfons th*t lie now here dead, invented this fubtil means and way to Swear, that I might fave my Life : Now therefore, my Brother, if thou wilt be Ruled by mine Advice thou jhalt fave thy Life^and mine) and I will caft no Lots, nor perform the Oath -hat we made, which I
kill
not
is
will thee
good
with/land
and
[pare
my
Law
the
in thee,
and
felf
:
;
if thou
Fight
And with
not,
wilt
with thee this
)
to
Joffpb
leapt back, and drew out his Sword, (tending overagainft him at his defence, to fee what his Fellow would anfwer: His Companion hearing this ftirred neither Hand nor Foot againft him* but faid, Lo, / am content, do what thw th'mk^t And bleffed becaafe thou art a Man of God. good be the Lord God of Ifrael, that hath not withdrawn his Mercy from m> but made me to be thy Lot, where5
by
my
Soul
is
faiftd from going to Hell.
Thy Lot
is
ajuft
Lot
\
i
The Wars of tie Jews.
141
: For the Lord will not leave the Scoufge of Sinners upon the Lot of the Juft.
Lot
Much befides this, fpake Jofeph's Companion to him, for he was (ore afraid of him, left he (hould have killed him, if they had encountred together i for Jofeph was a better Man of his hands, and therefore Jofeph chofe him into his Lot, that he might be able to make his Party good vyith him. In this point Jofeph played the wife Man s part, for he efcaped by this means, borh from the Hands of thofe wicked Fools, and alfo from his Fellow Therefore Jofeph called out of the Cave to Captain Nicanor, and faid to him in this wife : Wilt thou promife me, :
that
neither thou nor any of thy
thee j or in the
Romans Camp,
hafi brought us unto Vefpafian us as he thinketh good,
1
fulfil not
forth unto me,
with thee. unto thee?
ns before thou
fo,
deal
him do with
GOD
with
me
Re queft ,
thy
if fo be thou wilt come together with the that thou hafi
Men
Jofeph
and
that be here with
And let
r
Nicanor anfwered, So, and if
Men
(hall kill
fo
anfwered him, / many more of us as
will
come forth
be alive, for
it
come to pafs, that fome of us be dead in the Cave, wherefore, how can thty come forth? Then faid Nicanor, never think {Friend Jofeph) that 1 tome to deceive thee, Come forth and trufl in thy is
GOD,
for thou needefl not
wtomethts, unknown
to
thee by that
by the thee-
GOD
G
to
fear.
D
Jofeph faid. Swear
of Ifrael,
although he
he
Nicancr anfwered* / (wear unto that made the World by his Wifdom*
that thou needefl not to fear me, but boldly mayeft co&e forth umo So Nicanor
Jofeph
made
and
his
Fellow
,
a
Covenant with
confirming
and
rati-
fying
i+z
The Waft of the Jews.
ing it in writing , after the manner of the Romans, and reached it into the Cave upon a Spear, holding the point of the Spear in his own Hand. Jofepb took the writing, read it, and believed Kicanor : Then came he forth to Nicanor, and his Fellow with him. When Nicanor fitting upon his Seat of State, -
that
was
made him
in
the
Wood
nigh
to
the
Cave, law Jofepb come toward him, he rofe up, and embracing him, killed him, fet him on his Right Hand, and wept with him abundantly He honoured his Fellow alfo, placing him between Tollerinus and Gallicanus, whom he had then prefent with him. Then Nicanor asked him for the reft of the Men that were with him, defiring that they fhould come forth, and he would honour them alfo, and do them no Harm. Jofepb declared the whole Matter unto him, and told him what was become of them. Nicanor hearing of the pertinacious Stubbornefs of the Jews Hearts, and their wicked Intents, was wonderfully moved So then he rofe went from thence, with Jofepb and his Comand 1
:
:
'
When the Roman Army unto Vefpafian. aftonifhed, and gave greatly were ftw Jofepb, they that Jofepb was rejoyced Some a mighty Shout that our Eyes luck, good is This taken, faying, lamented, Others defire. expected fliall fee our long penfive with Eyes their from and let Tears tall panion,
:
not this that worthy Man, Hoft to quake for fear, Roman who made all the was known throughRenown and whofe Fame and come to pafs, that is it How out all Lands? in his own Countaken fo mighty a Man is Hearts,
faying,
Is
ty
the Wars of the
i4|
JevirS.
If this chanceth try, and amongft his own People ? unto fuch a Man, to be taken in his own Land, in the midft of his Families and Friends $ how fhali We efcape in a ftrange Land? Certain evil difpofed
Perfons of the
and
faid,
Sir,
Roman you
went to Vefpajian§ do well to command
Soldiers, fhall
this Man to be flain without Mercy, that hath been the Deftru&ion of lb many of the People of the Romans. This is the very lame that (hot the Arrow anft ftruck you in the Leg* put him to Death, and then (hall ye be fure he fhali never move War more againft you. If ye do not, ye fhall fee him one Day again raife an Army againft But Jofeph did find Friendfliip us, and deftroy us. at Titus Vefjpajiarfs Sons hand 5 which came of the Lord. Therefore when he heard thole wicked Mens words, that defired Vefpafian to put Jofeph to death* he difapproved their Advice, and partly in niockage he taunted them, fayirig, Will you tell my Father what he hath to do ? Will you give Jiim fo wicked Counfel, to kill that Man that yieldeth himfelf to us, upon the truft of our League and Band of Friendfhtp, which you now go about to break and fruftrate ? Did not Captain Nicanor^ in my Father's Name and Cxfars, with all the RomanYio% make a Covenant with him ? Take heed what you fay Is it reafori to break the Ctfarean Fidelity ? Moreover, who can tell whether it may fo happen, that fome of us be taken by the Jews, like as Jofeph is Prifoner here with us ? When Vefpafian heard his Sons words ? it pleafed him, and he (pared Jofeph^ not differing hirn to be fUift, but committed him to a certdin Captain ot' his. an:) carried h m about vvuh/him L through :
;
Wm of
144
;
the
Jews.
the Cities, together with King Agrippa, After this, Vefpafian removed his Camp to Tbalmida^ which alfo is called Acho, and from thence he went
through
to Gefarea, a greatCitjr. When they of the City faw Jofepk, they cxyed tltto Vefpafian^ Kill him, kill him, or elfe he will one Day be an occafion to ftir great Wars againft thee. But Vefpafian gave no Ear to them. Whiles he was at C&farea, tydings came to him, that the Citizens of Papbo Invaded and Spoiled the Ifles that were fubjeft under his Dominions, whh a Navy. Vefpafian hearing thereof, commanded to lay wait for them, that they might be met withal. So there was an Ambufli laid without the Town, and it came to pals, that when the Pirates were gone out a Roving, Vefpafian entred the Town, and took it
without any great Refiftance, becaufe their Soldiers
were
abfent.
When
the Rovers therefore returned with their
Navy, and law the Romans in the City, they laboured to fet a Land * but fuddenly a huge Tempeft, and a mighty Storm, drove all their Ships againft the Rocks that were in the Sea- fhore, (for there was no Haven for Ships) and there they were loft many of them^ and thole that fwam to Land the Romans flew They that were drowned in the Sea, and flain by the Romans^ were in number Four thouland good Men of War, befides them that were flain in the Town 40000 all Jem. :
This done, Vefpafian fent forth Valericus and Taribusy two Roman Colonels, with his Son Titus ^ who went, befieged, and wan the Towns of Defence that were in Galilee : And thus did Titus ufe them. They that yielded unto him he faved their Lives
and
the Wars of the Jews.
147
Morewhofbever withftood him, he flew. over, all the Cities that belonged to Agrippa in Qglilee^ he reftored therh unto him again, only TVarva excepted, which he utterly razed, and flew all the Males, efpecially fucH as were ape to the Wats; And this was fold alio their Wives and Children. the only City in alt Guide*, dut Titus (hewed Ucti a Rigour and Extremity unto. artd
CHAP. VEfgiiftan departing Gamala, which
VII.
thence, took his Journey td
a City upon the top of a Mountain } the Name thereof is called Gamdld^ of an Hsbjew Word Gamal, that fignifieth to Ketiuite or to do a good Turn, becaufe it is the beft is
City that belonged to Agrippa, and the Inhabitants thereof were all very rich. The City alfo, tilled
was not far diliant from it, a Coumry Replenilhcd with good Towns, Gardens; Brooks/ and all kind of Fruitful Trees ^ Agrippa befought Vefpajicw, that he Would not- deltroy this City; jL& me go tirft (faith he) and qffer them Peace, Pcradventure they will take it, that they may fave their Lives from DeftrutUon. Vefpafian was entreated,' faying unto him, Go and do as thou wilt, for thine Honours fake I will do fo much for thee. So Agrippa went to th^m; and fpake Friendly and feaeeably tmto them, and they received him iri like manr/er,L 2 V&i Selcucia,
.
the Wars of the Jews.
146
but they meant Deceit, faying, Thou art out Lord and King, to whom therefore doth all that is of any price, or to be defired in all Ifrael belong, but unto thee? Therefore come near unto us, and debate the Matter with thy Servants. Agrippa crediting thefe Words, came clofe up to the City, and as he liftened to them that talked with him, one caft a great Stone from the Wall, which lighted juft between his Shoulders, with fuch a violence,that it ftrook him proftrate to the ground, and brake his Back, with one of his Arms alfo. But his Servants ftept to him, took him up
and carried him
to Vefpajian^
who
feeing
him
fware he would never go from thence till he had taken the City, and ordered them in like manner as he did at Tiarva^ to leave The Roman Phyficians did benot a 'Man therein. itow fach Diligence about Agrippa^ that they cured fo
hurt,
fore
him. Vefpajian being in a rage againft the Sekucians, becaule they had wounded their King, Befieged within the Town and aflulted them^ the ftick to encouraged one another, faying, Let otter no hmm we for the Men, It now, and play thi^ttp. feeing Lives, hope to fave our webflpe the King. Certain ftout Men of tkem the$j$>re « iflued out, and encountring wit^jf the l&fyfrnsf
Jem
made
a
great
(laughter
m
among- them,|?J\tt#
Romans made
their JEngines, ready that the with then^ playing Rams, Planted their Battering cam*' Night time that by againtt the Walls, and the to down Earths thereof beat fo great a part much People with him Vcfpafun, and that
might
enter
at
their
'Pleafure.
But Vefpafian gave
(
The Wars of the Jews.
147
gave Commandment to his Army, that they fhould aot enter that Night into the Town, but ftand
and compafs the Walls until the Morrow, that they might the better fee liow to win it. Notwithftanding, they would not be ruled by him, but entred. Then the Jews came upon them, drew their Chains croft the Streets, and clofing the Ways of the City* intrapped them in fuch fort, that they could go neiAfter that, fetting upon ther one way nor other. them, beat them down even there ^ fo that they were all fldin, lave Ten Men that fled with Vefpa* fian, and a Captain »amed Butius, one of the beft Men of War in ail the Roman Army, yet kirn the Jews purfued and flew- But Vefpafian and his fled to the Mountains, that he might be there in fafeguard and from thence he fent to Titus his S0Y1 that was in Syria, for. the Roman Army that he had lent with him into Perfia, which Titus led :
into Jury. Shortly after,
Vefpafian gathered Soldiers, and joined, with Agrippas Company,, and returning to Seleucia, wan it, and flew
repairing his
Army,
•
every Man, leaving none alive : and afterwards going again to the Cities of Galilee, took them, ferving
them
in like (ort.
After that, he
called Nafcela, which
was
came to the City Town, and of
a walled
the Towns of Defence throughout all Galilee^ none left but it. This he befieged, becaufe thither reforted many Cut-throats and wicked Perfons , without the fear of God, fuch as were Robbers and Rovers of the Land of Judxa. Amongft whom was a certain Man named Jehochanan, Learned, Wife and Prudent , efpecially to dp mifchief • a
all
L
3
wicty
14P
27jk
Wars of the Jews,
Counfellor ,i and of fuch Eloquence could perfwade cunningly , and difiwade Men from that they had purpofed. Befides this, he was a Murtherer, ready to fhed Blood, arid to do any Mifchiel * a great Robber, and one that ever Gaped for other Men's Goods by
a
witty
that
he
*
which means he was become very rich Wherefore there reforted unto him all vain Perfons, :
Man-flayers, Rebels, and Ruffians h like himfelfi giving them large Rewards, that they might be pf his Fraternity, his Brethren and Adherents, iand he to be their Head. Titus was lent to this
City by his Father, to offer them Conditions of Peace whither when he was come, he fent his Embaffadors to the Citizens to treat of Peace with them whereunto the Citizens Accorded, and were ready to enter into League with Titus': When as this wicked Jehochanan perceived, that the ancient Men of the Town and the Heads wo^ld accept of Peace, he commanded his Companions to guard the Walls, to hinder them from fix iking with the Romans j laying, That they So themfelves vtsould return them an. Anfwer to Anfwer made Seditious Jehochanan fcherefcpre the Embafladois of Tiius^ laying, To Morrow have we a folemn Feaft of the Lord God, tell thy Matter Titus therefore, that he grant us Truce for two Days, and the third Day we will give him Anfwer • wherewith Titus was content, and deferred the Afiauk for two Days. Thefe things were- done on Whitjon-Eve, which was called the Feaft of Weeks and Harveft. The Night afore the third Day appointed was come, Jehochanan 5n4 his Complices gat out of the Town, and tied toward :
:
The Wars of the Jews.
149
On toward Jerufalem, e'er Titus knew thereof the Morrow he lent his Embaflkdors to demand their anfwer what they would do ? They anfwered, We defire to enter into a League with you, for we are yours and fubmit our feives to your Pleasure, upon the Condition that none of the Romans hurt us, either in our Bodies or Goods. Titus upon this, made Peace with them f confirming it by Writing Sealed, for the better Affurance thereof. So they opened the Gates, and Titus came into the Town with his whole Army, and the Jews received him with great Joy, Honouring him very much. Then Titus enquired for Jelmbanan and his The Citizens declared unto him, Confederates. how he fled by Night with all his, unto Jerufalem : Titus hearing that, lent after to purfue him, yet they found him pot, he had made fuch Speed. Notwithftanding, many of the People that went out of the Town with him, that they might efcape the Danger, both Men, Women, and Children, Old and Impotent Perfons, they overtook, flew them every one, and returned with great Spoil. After this, Titus won all the Cities in Galilee \ and the :
*,
Rulers in them. thence, and
came
Then
Vefpafian diflodged
from
Mount
Tabor, which hath Snow on it continually the Height thereof is Thirty Furlongs, and upon the Top is a Plain Twenty three Furlongs long : Thither fent Vefpafian one of his Captains, called Talgoms^ which took the Mountain, and the Town that ftood thereon. to the
But here I will leave off the Hiftory of the other Battles that were Fought in other Places in the Land
L 4
of
the Wart of the Jews.
I $0
of
and Galilee^ and fpeak no more of them and -we have made mention of them in the Hiftory of the Romans. Ifrael
Jn this Book, for they be almoft Innumerable,
-
THE
SECOND BOOK Containing the
HISTORY
of the SIEGE
JERUSALEM NOW
will we defcribe the Battles of Jcrufalem, and how the City was befieged by the Romans wherein we will declare all things truly, as our manner is, and faithfully, according to the Verity of that that was done. Jt came to pafs therefore, as Jebochanan, the Qdikan^ was fled to Jerufaiem^ he found there
Men
meet
for
his
purpofe,
Injurious Perlbns,
Wicked Men, Murderers, Deceivers, Biood-fheddas, an infinite Number. For out of all Countries, within the Land of Judta, there repaired thither all Men of War, to defend the Sanftuary of our God h and Anam, the High-Prieft, received all
that came,
Thefe feeing Jcboehanan and
:
Ibe Wars of the Jews.
ijr
and his Valiantnefs, revolted from Anani the High-Prieft, and clave to him, confulting- with him concerning all their Affairs: So heconfpired with thefe Cut-throats to lay hands upon the and to fpoii them of rich Men of the Cityi When their Goods $ and this was the manner. they efpied any notable rich Man* of the City, they would after this fort quarrel with him Art not thou he that hath fent Letters to the Romans, and to Vefpafian, to betray the City unto them ? Thus would they examine him before the People, and when he would anfwer, God forbid, I (hould do fo * then would they bring in Godlefs>Perfons, Limbs of tbe Devil, of their own Company, to bear falfe Witnefs againtt him, that he might be condemned to Death by the Law for a Rebel.
Thus dealt they with Antipas and Lobla, both Noblemen, and of the Chief of the City ; and their Goods, with all their Jewels, the Seditious feized for themfelves. They pick'd Quarrels aifo with the Higb-Priefts, thruft them from their Chairs, that they could not execute their Service. Moreover, they caft Lots, who ftiould have the Prielfs Office, and who fhould be no Prieft. For they held the Priefthood and Service of God, for Toys, Gaudies and Trifles. So the Lot fell upon one that was called Pani the Son #f Periiel, an arterly Husbandman, ignorant of what belonged to the Prieft's Office, fo that he was
unworthy
of the Priefthood So of the Priefthood* The Good and the Godly Men of Jerujalem^ feeing the Power of thefe Ruffians, and wicked light
utterly
a Matter
made
:
they
Perfon
IheJVars of the Jews.
15%
Pcrfons bear fuch fwinge, they ftuck together and determined to withltand them by Force. The People therefore earneftly moved with Anger, fet upon them and encountred with them in fuch fort, that the Fight was great on both fides, in the Streets, in the Market-place, in the Temple, and in the entrance of the Temple, till ail the City was filled full of dead Bodies and (lain Men. For there Was not fo much as one Street, but there were fome Skirmifhes in it. The People at length got the upper hand of the Ruffians, for they were eagerly fet, and earneftly bent againft them. The Seditious therefore feeing themfelves not able to make their Party good with the People, fled every Man into the
Temple of
the Lord, fhut it after them, and there But Anani the High-Prieft, feeing the wicked to be fled to the Temple, willed the People
remained.
to ceafe their Fighting with them in the Temple of the Lord, left they fhouid pollute it with the wicked Blood and dead Carkafles of thqfe Pcrfons. The People therefore left off the Fight. Then Anani befet the Temple round about with Six thoL&nd of the choicelt and ablett Men of the People, well armed all oi them, with Jacks and Sailers, and as well Weapon'd, with every Man a Sword, a Target, and a Spear or Pike, to keep the
Temple, that they fhould not come forth. Moreover, Anani calt in his Mind, that befides the Invading them in the Temple, which were no ftiouM alio he as great a Damage, the Lord flaould affault -one. another in that Place. For thefe Caufes, he lent Embafladors to Jebochanan the Galilctn, chief
way if
fefcrriiy,
the
it
People of
Cap-
The Wart cf the Jews.
15 3
Captain of the Seditious and Thieves, offering him For the Seditipeace , but Jebocbanan refuted it ous had fent for the Edomites to come and aid them. The Edomites had been ever from their firft beginning very valiant and warlike Men, yet they were Subjeft to the Jews. For 0rcati*s King of Juda had conquered thern, and caufed them to be Circumcifed, binding fuch of them as were the beft Warriours to his Service, to ftand in Arms, and keep watch and ward upon the Walls of Jerufalem Day and Night, and the reft of them to pay Tribute to the Jews. Upon a certain Night came 22000 of theft :
Men of War, againft Jentfalcm* the Prieft, and the People thst were with him, heard the noife of the Edomites Army,
Edomites, all good
When Anani
he went upon the Walls, and demanded of thent what they were, from whence they came, and whither they would go > They anfwered, We are Edomites, and came out of Judaea to vifit the Lord God and his Temple, and to fee in what cafe his People ftandeth For thus we come according to our accuftomed manner as ever heretofore, Anani anfwered, You are DifTemblers, and not as your words do (hew, neither come you to leek God and his San&u:
ary, nor yet to aid his People, but rather to the fup-
porting of Jebocbanan grand Captain of Thieves.' it not better for you to afiifx the San&uary of God, than thife finfui Seditious Perfons, that covet nothing elfe than to lay wafte the Houfe of God,
Were
and to deftroy his People : They in the moft Holy City of God do fhed the Blood of Juft, Godly and Innocent Men-, through whole Wickednels the
Romans have the upper-hand of
us, becaufe
we have Civil
i
J4
Me" Wars of the Jews. home with the Seditious, and
Civil Wars at extet* nal with the Romans. Yea, the Wickednefs of the Seditious is grown fo far, that the moft part of us had rather be flain by the Romans^ than of our Brethren the Jews. If fo be ye be come to maintain them, ye (hall underftand that ye offend the Lord our God exceedingly, to help Sinners and Murtherers, that tread the People of God under their Feet, like as Men tread Grapes in a Wineprefs, and make the Temple of the Lord a dwellingplace of Man-killers and wicked Perfons. Ye fay, ye come to feek the Lord * How is it then that yc are thus in Arms, after the manner of War ? Yc ftall underftand, we (hut not the Gates of the Town becaufe of you, left ye fliould come in f after your accuftomed manner, but becaufe of
your Armour and Weapons that you have with you, which are Inftruments of Deftru&ion, a ve* ry unmeet fafhion to come and vifit the Lord j You fliould rather have come with Offerings, SaNotwithftanding, if crifices, Confeflion and Praife. Devotion lake, for ye will enter into the Town But ye muft lay away your Weaye aie welcome pons and fo enter in peaceably. :
anfwered, We Marvel not a little at thee which art the High-Prieft,, our Lord and Mediator, and at the reft of the Priefts of the Lord, with the Elders and Judges of the People that be prefent with thee: And your Words feem ftrange in our Ears. For we underftand you take ps for your Enemies, and thereupon you (top us of our Entrance into the City, to vilit the Lord God after our accuftomed manner,
The
Edomites
Jbe wars
oj
m
jews.
i$y
wc be armed as ye objeQ: unto us : you not know that Vefpafian draweth nigh to come to this Holy City > This we hearing of, was the Caufe that we took our Weapons with us, to come and aid you, and keep the Town, as we have been wont thefe many Years. But how fhould you gather this, that we come to fupport the Wicked and Seditious that be with you-, when as from the firft day that ever we and our Fathers were Circumcifed, we never fwerved from the Law and Commandments of the Lord ? Tell us if
manner* in that
Do
there be any Commandment in the Law, that bideth a Man to flrengthen and maintain the Power of the Wicked, by the which we are bound to hearken and to aid thefe. God forbid we fhould do this, for we all both that be here, and the other Edomites alfo, be Servants of the Lord and his People, and the Houfe of the Lord. Whiles they were thus talking together, there arofe up a great Cloud,
and Lightnings were feen, with Fire and Darknefs, with mighty Thunder-claps and Showers of Hail, that all that faw it wpre wonderfully afraid, wherefore the People fled wholly left not only the Wails, but Anani alfo, for they cotld not abide to tarry any longer But Anani took heart unto him, and abode ir, to mark thofe horrible Signs of Heaven which did appear/ that he might juclge what :
they betokened*
The
I j6
The Wats sf the Jews. the Figure of * Fearful Camel.
And he gave this Judgment indeed (but not according to theTtuth) that the Thunder and Hail, with Darknefs, fignified God's Help ^ by the Hope whereof they (hould defend the San&uary of the Lord, So likewife judged alt the Elders that wcie
IbeWarsof
the
Jew St
ijjj
were with him, without perceiving that all thtie Signs betokened the Evils that (hould come upon Jerufalem and all 1/raeL When they that were fhut in the Temple, per* ceived that they that kept the Watch before, the Gate of the Temple, were fled alfo, for fear of the Tempeft, they went and opened the Doors of the Temple, and in that Darknefs, which although it was fo great, that one could not fee another for the thicknefs thereof, neither durft any of the Town once look out of his Doors (they were fo afraid of thofe terrible Signs of the Element) yet came thofe defperate Fellows, the Seditious, out of the Temple, drew towards the Walls without all Fear with Saws and other Inftruments, to cut afunder the Bars of the Gates, And whei? the crafhing of the Thunder and Hail was greateft* then laboured they hardeftin wrefting the Locks and Bolts off the Gates, Left they fhouid be perceived. And ever whtn the Thunder-clap was pail, then frayed they and left off till it came again. Thus played tHey till they had broken and opened the Gates, and let the Edo7?tites into the City ; who being once come in, waridred here and there for that Night, deviling how they might fet upon the Citizens of the Town, and utter.
ly deftroy them.
They caird out
firft
their
Confederates,
that
remained in the Temple, brought them thence, and joined together with the Edomites, fwearrng one to another, That they (hould be one People and one Army. And forthwith, being lb confederate together, they flew the fame Night 8500 of the People of God, all good Men of God, all good Men of War; befides innumerable others that they
1
the Wars of the Jews.
58
they killed of the common People. In the Morning they laid hands on the rich Men, haled them before the Judges, and 70 Eiders, which otherwife is called Sanhedrim, whom they called together: And there
-wicked Jebocbahan the Galilean,
fpake unto thett
in this wile.
Why
condemn ye not
thefe rich Cobs, that have the Romans\ and determine to betray this holy City into their Hands > namely. One SecharUbu^ a juft Man, a Perfeft, Godly and Vertuous, one that feared the Lord, and loved both God and Man but for his Riches only, which wer* great, this Jebochanan (Captain of the Seditious) apprehended him, willing the Elders to condemn hinr to Death, for that he had. joyned with their Ene to betray the City to them xfties, ( as he faid ) The Priefts, Elders and Judges, hearing hi;
made a Confpiracy with
•,
words, and perceiving that both he and the refl of his bloody Band, defired nothing elfe than tc make this Man away, although they knew him tc be moft innocent, they wept and lighed greatly jebochanan feeing them weep for Sechariabu and thk they would not condemn him, refped ing his'Juftice and Integrity-, What, quoth he, do you begin to mourn before there be anj Corpfe prefent > I would I fhould never come where God hath to ao, but if ye order it thus ir your Judgments, ye fhali be the firft that we wil and we will lie in Judgment ou: lay hold o£ feives, to difcern the Matter for the People 6 Ther God, according as we fhall think good. laying apart all Shame/ with an obltinate Mind the wicked fort hoiied 'away Sechariabu^ carriec him out of the place of Judgment, and brough 1
the Wars of the Jews.
if 9
feim up to the top of a high Tower, at the Eaft end of the Town, from whence they caft him down headlong, and he died at the Wall-fide in the Vale of Jebofapbat. The Priefts therefore were fore afraid for their own Parties, and the Judges alfo with the Elders feeing the Wickednefs of Jeho* cbanan, and the reft of the Seditious: For Jehochanan had given them warning and faid, Except ye give Sentence on every Man that we (hail bring unto you, according to our Minds, be ye allured all ye fllall go the lame way that Secbariahu is gone beAfter that, they apprehended a juft Man, fore you. and a rich, that was beloved of all the Town, whofe Name was Gorinian, furnamed Valiant^ and he was a valiant Man indeed, tfioft expert in Wars, thereto wile and witty, and a Man of a pure and perfect Line, one that was ever the formoft in Battle, whenfoever they had any Conflift againft the Gentiles that befieged Jerufalem : And this was his accuftomed manner, when the Enemies marched to join Battle with the Jews^ he would run upon them with all his might, and made fuch flaughter of them, that in lpight of their Hearts he would force them to retire; and by that means his Body was full of Scars, his Face and Head wonderfully mangled^ with the Wounds that he had received in the Battles that he had been in for the People of the Lord 5 yet now becaufe he would not follow the villanous mind of Jebcchanan, and take his part, Jehochanan commanded him to be apprehended, and brought before him, and when he was cofrie, laid thus unto him, Make thy Will, and fef thy Houfe in cider., and ccwfefs thy felf unto the Lord ,
M
The Wars -'of the
160
Jem.
is no way with thee, but Death ; him out of the Town to kill him led And fo they
Lord, for there
there fhould be any bufinefs about his he had been put to death within the Death, if Town; for all the Citizens of Jerufalem loved him and he likewife loved them. When they were come to the place of Execution, Gonnion fell down before them, and befought them with Tears in this Seeing ye have fo determined that ye will wife needs flay me, when as notwithftanding I have committed no Crime, nor any Offence, and that ye will in no wife fpare me although I be innocent, as you know well enough your felves j yet I befeech you, let me obtain this one thing at your hands, that you would do fo much at leaft-wife, at my Requeft, as to bury my Body, other Favour I defire not. They make him anfwer, If thou hadft not fpoken to us thereof, we had thought to have done it, for fo we were determined with our felves but noiv,feeing thou art fo bold as to demand this of us, tve will flay thee, but Burial getteft thou none ^ thy Body (hall be caft forth unto the Btafts of the Earth and Fowls of the Air. Corimon yet befought them to the contrary, until the moft cruel Jebochanan (truck him, and flew him, and after threw out This done,they his Body to tne Beaft of the Field returned into the City. there, left
:
:
feafon, drew nigh to Jepitched his Tents at Ctfarea^ he had and paid his Solhe Army, where relieved his great Wages, diers wherefore they tarried in the City many Days: For when Vefpafian un-
Vcfpafinn in the
rujalcrt
•,
mean
for
derftood of the
Wars of Jerufalem^ he
faid
unto
The Wars of the Jews.
4
his People, Let us
make
rto
hafte to
1
61
befiege Jerusa-
have flain one tpother among themfeives, and fo at length their Pride will be pulled down, when as they lee themand felves wafte away with cruel War, .Hunger, Thirft. For Vefpafun was a wonderful politick Man in all Feats of War; and his Wifdom never lem,
till
turned
luch time '
him
as they
more Commodity, than by this So he fojourned at Ctfarea^ with
to
Device only.
Men many days: In the mean fea foil the Pjopie of Jerujalcm made War upon Jehochanan and
his
innumerable of them were de(lain with Swords, fome the Seditious killed with (hurt Daggers. For certain of the Seditious carried fhoit Daggers wherewith they fecretly under their Garments, would come fo fuddenly upon an honett and juft Man, and thruft him to the Heart, that Ihould fall down dead in the Place, without* knowledge who liruck him-: So by this means, what with Swords in open Ffays, and what with Daggers fecretly, many of the People were flain, and rar more that way than by the Kom ins ^ inhis Complices,
Itroyed.
fomuch,
till
Some of them 'were
that
Thus
now
very
tew Citizens were
when
left
Jehochanan had gotten the upper-hand of the City, he lent an Army out of Jerujalem to go and take the Cities that had rmde Peace with Vefpafun, which they lacked and razed to the Ground, and whomfoever they found therein, Romans or Jeibs, they flew Yea Jehochanan went vt/ith them himfelf* fpoiling and carrying away all the Riches that they found in there. They took alfo the City Qerara, that ftood beyond Jordan^ whereas they remained. alive.
:
the Wars of the Jews;
i6i ^he
Inhabitants of Jerufalem, both Priefts, Elders, fent Embaffadors td reft of the People,
and the
Vefpafian^ to defire Peace of him, and fuccour againft Jehochanan, and his wicked Rabble, which
Town
many of the People of of Gerara lent Embaffadors unto Vefpafian, faying, If thou wilt be Lprd over the Land of Judea, and the City of Jerufalem, and defireft to aflure the Rule thereof, and eftablifh it unto thee, then hearken unto our Counfel, and come unto us without delay, to deliver us from the Hands of Jebocbanan, and the wicked feditious-PerIons, that with all their* Might endeavour to fpoil all our Goods, and to get the Dominion over us, our Wives and Children, to none other purpofe, than by that means to deftroy us utterly, that no Remnant of us fhould be left. If fo be thou wilt come, and valiantly withftand them with thy Power, we will alfo fight againft them in the Town till they be all flain, and then thou (halt be our Lord : And that done, thou mayeft go to Jerufalem without any Impediment or Hindrance of any Man ^ for they alfo of that City defire the fame, and would gladly become Subje&s unto the daily in the
God.
The
flew very
Citizens alio
Romans.
When as therefore Vefpafian heard the Petitions of the Citizens of Gtrara, he took his Journey thither to luccour them, and deferred to go to Jerufalem. But Jehochanan heard of his repair, wherefore he flew the chief Governour of Gerara., and got him out of the Town with his Companions, and took them to their Feet, determining to flee into a certain Wood Vefpafian having knowledge thereof, made after them, fending out Potigo:
ru^
the Wars of the Jews. 163 rus, who overtook them, and made a great (laughAnd in his return toward Gerara % ter of them. upon Jordain fide, he light upon much People going to Jerufalem, that they might efcape together with the Seditious. Then Foligorus drove back to the River, where he flew Thirteen Thoufand of The reft leaped into Jordain^ and were them drowned, to the number of Ninety one thoufand, Men, Women and Children, with much Cattle, infothat were all drowned together in the River much, that the Channel of Jordain was fo fluffed and ftopt with dead Bodies, that the Waters rofe and ran over the Banks here and there into the Fields and Plains ^ yet at length the Waters incrcafed, and :
bare the CarkafTes down the River, as far as the Sea of Sodom, which is the Sea of Pitch, otherwife called the Salt Sea * and all the Banks of Jordain lay foil of dead Bodies.
took
from where he won two ftrong Cities, the one called Legarith, and tjie other Cephar Toco, and flew 10000 of the People Then he thereof, leading the reft away in Bondage. diflodged, and came to a Town called Cbamath Gedi, which he fubdued. In this City were Well-fprings of hot Waters, from whence the hot Baths of TibeThe natural Philolbphers rius have their Original. and Aftronomers of that Country, held an Opinion that thele are the Heads of all the hot Well-fprings in that whole Country. Departing from thence5 hq carpe to Samaria and won it After
this,
Vefpajian
his
Journey
thence^ and went into the Land of Edom,
Then
i
the Wars of the -Jem.
$4
Then
he again
repaired
all
fubdued, and
made up
fons therein,
to aid him,
*
That
fkge Jcr.:jaicm.
their
the
Towns
Walls,
that he
had
placing Garri-
what time he fhould
be-
he returned to Cafa* rea^ to take' mufter of his whole Army, and prepared to go ro befiege Jcrufalem. But in the mean tcaion, came MefFengers from Rome} and brought him word that Nero the Empej or was dead 5 and how that as he was a hunting in the Country, the Fire of the Lord came down from Heaven/ and fell down upon him that he dyed for it. After whom reigned Ga/ba, not one whole Year: f;r More it was fully .ended, he was (lain by the Noblemen ot Rtme:: and Vitcllius created in his ftead a Fool, yet a fore cruel Man, much given to DrunT&tmefo- fo that he was in ail Points unworthy of the Roman Empire, Thv Noblemen of Rome that were with Vefpafian hearing this, greatly difdained at that Matter, and nid, Was there never a Nobleman in Rome left, to be placed in the'Empire, but yp muft choofc a .drunken Wine-fucker ? Why did ye not rather cleft the mighty Prince Vefpafian ihw\$'hsts with u«, a Sage and a Wife Man,' ifhereto alfo mod valiant, one that had conquered many Cities, and vanv quifhed many Nations, and thole moft fierce ? What puiflant K ngs ,harh he fubdued unto the Rowan Empire! How far and wide hath he enlarged the Empire of the Remans I And now whenas the Empire ought to have been beftowed upon Vejpafian, or fome one like unto him, and none fuch could be found among you, ye bellow it upon a Fool, and a blewbole Diunkard, wherein ;
done.,
:
the Wars of the Jews.
16$
Well, the Empire Emperor one day, and
ye have done very undifcreetty.
have a better Amen. Whereupon the Princes that were there, laid their Heads together, and decreed to make Vefpafi-
of Rome
God
(hall
fay,
Emperor. Therefore with one content they went unto Vefpajian, and faid unto him, Thou ihaltbe our Head, for the Empire belongeth to luch a one, and thou fhalt have Dominion over But Vefpafian refufed to take it on him, and us. Would in no wife confent to them. Notwithftanding they compelled him, and placed him upon the Throne of Majefty, fetting an Imperial Crown upon his Head, which he would have put away, and pulled off with his Hand becaufe he would not be Emperor. Wherefore the Roman Captains drew out their Swords, and faid, Thou flialr be Emperor, and reigu over us, therefore refufe it not die upon our Swords, if thou do, thou lhalt feeing himfeif conftrained, beVefpafian therefore ing afraid of his Life, he was content to fufter himfeif to be proclaimed Emperor. Then all the Army was fworn unto him, and he fat upon the Royal Seat, as Emperor and King of
an
Kings,
The
Civil Wars at Jerufalem encreafed more and and much Blood was fhed through the Wickednefs of Jehocbanan, Captain of the Thieves, a Limb of the Devil,and through the Cut-throat Murderers that were with him, who had all even fworn the utter Deftru&ion of the City of the Lord, and the Death of the People. There was alfo another Cut-throat Ruffian niore,
M
4
of
The Wars of the Jews;
166
of 3 noble Houfe of -Judea and Jerufalem about the fame time, called Scbimeon, who began alfo to follow Jebocbanans Manners in flaying Innocents,
and robbing and raving
Jerufalem.
in
For
Anani \hp High-Prieft ha"d once appointed him Prince and chief Captain of Jerufalem, and afterwards finding him an Enemy, banifhed him the Wherefore Scbimeon went and gat him a City. Rout of Unthrifts, Murtherers^ and Thieves, dift : ing in his Mind, and faying, Except I join my felf with fuch good Fellows, I (hall never be able to be revenged of Jinani and his AfTiftants that have thus baniftlfcd me out of Jerufalem' unto my great DifhOnour. have been in fuch Eftate, now be of my Dignity, and be conftrained to wander here and there as a banifhed Man ? He went therefore through all the Cities of Judea and Galilee, caufing to be proclaimed in the Streets
into Exile wrongfully, that
Shall I caft out
and Market-places, and fent he could not come himfqlf,
his in
where Manner and
Letters
this
4
Form:
\7\TH°f
Rflttb to be rid from the Bondage of Majler, or hath bad any Injury in his Country^ or what Servants foevcr defiretb to be fet at liberty, or v)bofo cannot abide tbe rule of bis Father or Mafter : all that be in debt, andjiand in fear r l your Creditors, or fear tbe Jews for /bedding any
V V
his
and therefore lurketb folitarily in Woods or Mountains ^ if there be any Man that is accufedof any notorious Crime, and in any danger thereto fare-, To be JbortJVbofoever is difpofed to Rob and do Injury and Wrong, to haunt Where s, to Steal, to Murtber, innocent Blood,
The Wars of the Jews;
167
Eat and Drink at other Mens Coft, without Labour of his Hands, let him refort to me, I will deliver him from the Toke and Danger of the Laws, and willfind him his fill of Booties and Spoils. Murther,
to
There aflembied unto him about Twenty thoufand
Men,
all
Murtherers, Thieves, Rebels, Lawlefs Per-
Wrcked and Seditious Men. Then began Schimeon alio to vex the
fons,
to
turn
all
up-fide
\fraelites %
down wherefoever he came.
When
the Citizens of ferufalem, the Priefts, Eland Anani, heard Tydings of Schimeon** dehow he held on ftill opfpightful Wickednefs, preffing the People of God, they were very penfive, laying , Now will this Fellow more trouble us than Jehochanan, be he never fo cruel. They confiilted therefore and agreed, fecretly to fend a Power againft him, that might fuddenly fall upon him, and overthrow him. Peradventure, fay they, they may flay him or take him alive, before this Wickedflefe grow to further Inconvenience, and join himfelf with our Foes ^ then fhall he aflail us both within the Town and without. ders,
They
fent out therefore againft
him a
great
Army
of Ifraelites and Jews, with Chariots and Horfemen, and Footmen in great number, which came where the Camp lay, and found him in the Corn Fields deftroying of the Grain, pulling down of Barns, and burning all, both Corn and Olive-Trees Then the Jerufalemites divided their Army, and fet upon Schimeon's Tents fuddenly, fmote them down, and :
made
a great (laughter ijpon the Seditious.
But (hortly after, Schimeon gat the upper hand of the People of God, for he came upon them in the
1
the Wars of the Jews.
\6%
the night feafon and made a fore ilaughter amongtt them: Then they that remained, took themfclves tq flight towards Jerufa!e?n, and Scbimeo/t purfued them, killing them hard unto the Gates of Jerufa-
So that many of them were flain in the way, and very few efcaped. After this, Scbimeon went and moved War upon the Edomites, to fubdue them unto «himlelf, which before were under the Dominion of the Jerufalemites ; And firft, he came to the City Afa y otherwife called Gazi, for it was the firft City within the Borders of Edom, as Men come from Jerusalem. But the Edomites met him in the lem.
Field in great number, and joined
Battel
:
neither
part had the Vi£tory therefore at length they retired both. Then was Scbimeon in fo great a rage, when as be could not overcome thefe Edomites, that he wifht him out of his Life. So he ceafed fighting a while,
and encamped himfelf in the Border of the Land of Edom, right againlt it, and there abode, thinking to let upon them at another time. And as he
was unto
deviling
how
him an
to order all things,
Et/omite
called Jacob,
there
came
one of the
them, and a Warriour. He hearing of Schimeorfs Proclamation, was moved to come and enter a League with him and thereupon fiid unto him, Never let it difcomfort thee, that thou could nof overcome the Edomites at the firft Battle If thou wilt be ruled by my Counfei, thou, (halt win all the Cities in the whole Land, and 1 jprHi deliver them into thy Hand.
chiefeft
Men among
:
:
Scpimccn
The Wars of the Jews.
169.
therefore, faid he^ Schimeon defired to know how Let us hear thy Counfel, and fhew us how it maybe brought about, and when it is come to pafs, then will we honour thee, and regard thee accord•,
ingly.
Jacob faid, GiVe me one half of thine Army, I will lead with me into an Ambufh $ then (halt thou in the Morning betimes fet thy Men in and. when Array againft the Edowites for a Stale thou lhalt perceive them to come againft thee, then make as though thou fieddeft, until thou haft ftealed them out of the Town into the Fields to purfue thee. Then will I with my Men come out of our Ambufh, and make fpeed to the Gates, where we fhall kill the Warders, and fuddenly enter the Town * and killing all that we find there, fet up a Flag upon the Tower of the Town. Then when the Edomites fhall fee that, their Hearts will be dead for forrow 5 and fo mayeft thou turn again upon them, and beat them down at thy Pleafwre Or if thou like not this Device, hear yet another way. I have been a Captain amongft them a long while, therefore J will return in the Night Seafon into the Town ; if the Watch examine me from whence I come, I will tell
which
:
them
I
come from
Schimcoris
Camp, w hither y
I
went
go to the Elders of the Town, and defire them to let me have a Company of the beft Soldiers, and I will bring Schimeon into their Hands, if he fet upon us again. For I have viewed the Camp, and his Power, and underftand that he intends to Morrow to fall on us, which thou (halt do indeed. And when thou feeft mt to iffue out againft thee, thou fhalt fet thy as a Spy, then will
I
the Wars of the Jews.
170
and come towards me, then will and caft a fear in the Edomitec Hearts, that they (hail flee alfo > Which done, thou mayeftpurfue and flay them at thy Pleafure, overcome them, and enter the Town 5 then that Town, great AJia, once taken, thou (halt quickly win all the reft. When Schimeon heard this, he went and deliberated with his own Council, and they liked Spear in the
I take
me
reft,
to flight,
thelaft Advice
beft,
wherefore that they conclu-
So Jacob the Edomite returned by ded upon. Night to AJa % and declared to the Ancients of the Town, how he had been in Schimeori% Camp, and had viewed his Army, whereby he had perceived good Hope, that he (hould deliver Schimeon into their Hands fhortly. The Elders therefore made him grand Captain, and chief of all their Men of War, charging every Man in this wife: Forafmuch as none of you are fb expert in the knowledge of Warfare as is Jacob, therefore it behoveth you to follow him in alL things; Whereas he If he fet forward, fet ye forward :
pitcheth his Tent, pitch ye alfo $ if he ftay, ftay ye ^ if he fleeth, flee ye : To be (hort, wheq he returneth, then return ye, and go not one Hairs breadth from that that he (hall command you, neither one way nor other. Upon the next Morrow Schimeon iffued out of his Camp, with ail his Army, and upon that afiembled Jacob
But when Men, and went out to meet him and they came to the point ready to joyn, his
Schimeon
:
with
Company had
charged their Slaves againft them, by and by Jacob left the Field, turned his Back and fled, and the chief Soldiers that were about him fled with him. his
7he Wars of the Jews.
The
17 1
of the People feeing their Captain flee, they took themfelves likewife to flight every reft
Man
Then Schimeon
:
flaughter of them, and
made a great Town, bringing And when he had
purfuing,
won
the
them under his Subje&ion. facked the Houfes of them that were flain of the Edomites, and fpoiied their Goods, which was very much T the reft that he took Prifoners, and kept alive, he made Peace withal, and joyned them unto his
own Camp.
After that, he departed from thence, accompanied with 40000 good fighting Men, part Edomites and part Jews, and came to Cbebron, which
he won,
and deftroyed all their Grain and CornYet after he repaired the Walls, and fuch of them as were left alive made Peace with Schimeon^ who received them into League with him, and they became his Men, and followed him in all his Wars. So he diflodged from thence with all his Army, which by the acceffion of the Cbebronites was now wonderfully increafed, and determined to invade Jerufale?n. And when he came nigh unto the City, he ranged here and there, deftroying .the Fruits that were upon the Ground, and aifo their Corn. Captain Jebocbanan of having Intelligence Scbimeon's coming to befiege the Town, and how he had deftroyed the Fields, thought to have gone out of Jerufalem, and to fight With him, but he durft not, for his Spies had told him, that he fhould not be able to overcome him, he had fo puiflant an Army, and fo well appointed. Yet neverthelefs he iffued out, and lay in Ambufli for Scbiweon. In the mean fpace, by Fields
:
7 r
1
z
the Wars of the Jews.
by chance Scbimeoris Wife, that was fled out of JeMen and Women Servants toward her Husband, for fear leftlhe fhould be (lain for her Husbands fake, if ihe (houM have tarried at JeruHer falem^ pafled by where he lay in his Ambulh he took, and brought again to Jerufalem, not a little proud of fuch a Prey, thinking, now we (hall have Schimeon at our Pieafure, feeing we have his Wife he loveth her fo entirely, that he our Prifoner will do for her fake whatfoever we will have him. This came to Schimeon's Ear, who had taken that time many of jchocbanarfs Men, and cut off the Right Hands, fending them with fuch Shame to Jerusalem to- their Matter. He fent moreover Ensrufatem, with her
:
baffadors to Jebocbanan, his Wife,
willing
in fuch fort, that fhe
him
to fend
him
might come tQ him
with all that was hers: Or if he refufed to doit, he fhould be extrearaly handled, for he would take the Town e'er it were long, and to Jehochananh fhame, cutoff the Hands and Legs of all them that did inhabit
Lr.
Jehochanan hearing this, was fore afraid, and all that were with hiffi, and therefore they fent him his Wife ^ whereupon Schimeon kept him without 'the Town. And as Schimeon played the Tyrant For without, fo likewife did Jehochanan within Wives, Jehochanan\ Soldiers ravifhed the Ifraclncs and fhed innocent Blood. Shortly after, Schimeon left the Town for a for lie hid and returned into Idumea fpace, the richand word, That the Men of molt Power, Whereupon eft fort of that Country, rebelled. he facked and fpoiled all the Towns of ldumea i inforaucb, that he was and left them nothing :
become
Ihe Wars of the Jews.
j
75
become very rich, and then returned to Jerufa* km, bringing the Edomhes wholly with him, that and many of the Jews rewere met tor War ibrted to him, and with his Power he befieged Jerujalem r even at the very Gates. Yet the Tyranny of Jehochanan and his Complices ceafed not, but increased more and more daily in Je:
rufalem, inlcmuch that they taught the Citizens oi Jerufalem to murther their Neighbours, and to
commit Adultery with their Wives: by which means Fornication was rife and common in the CiYea, many of the People and Youths fbaved ty. their Beards, letting the Hair of their Heads grow5 and accompanied themlelves with Women, that they might exercife their Adultery fafer* and not be efpied, which fin did wonderfully defile the City ot Jtrufdem^xA, without doubt furthered the DefoThe Gates alio of the Town were lation thereof. clofed up 5 that no Man might go in or out And whoio went out, fell into the Hands ot ScUmfonr and was {lain they that tairied within, were contained to lee before their Faces, their fhame in every Street and Corner-, and if any found fault, he was fliin ftraight by Jehochanan^ that moft cruel Captain of the Seditious Rebels. The Citizens therefore feeing the Tyranny of Jehochanan to be without meafure, they afiembled all together, and encountred with Jehochanan, and wereTlain a wonderiul fort of them in that Conflict. r And except the Edomhes that were fled to Jerufy* lent from the Tyranny of Schimeon, had fuccoured the Citizens, the whole People of Jerujalevi had been utterly delhoyed 2nd (lain every Mother's Son by Jehochanan his Power was fo grejt. :
;
v
•
•
-
Then
,
174
-
Wan
the Jews.
Then Anani the
High-Prieft, and the othdi with the ancient, faithful, and Sages^ and the reft of the People of Jerufalem^ feeing the Wickednefs of Jebocbanan^ and that they could not fuffer it any longer, confulted together to deliver the Town to Scbimeon\ ahd bring hitn in,< and make him their King, to help them againft Jebo cbanati, whom they took to be far wprfe than Scbimeon^ hoping that it might come to pals; that Scbimeon fhoufd flay Jebocbanan at length. They Prieft,
fent therefore Amittai the High-Prieft to Scbimeon.
to bring him into the Town 5 but Scbimeon craftily, denied it, faying, What, (hould I come into the Town to you that hate me, and of late banifli ed me your Town ? Yet they ceafed not, but lent the fame Amittai to him again, to intreathimj in the Name of all the People, to come into the City. And by this means, upon a certain night appointed, he entred into Jerusalem with his whole Army Notwithftanding, he was no fooner within the Town, but he brake his Promife and League that he had made with the Citizens-, and whereas he had promifed to fuccour thejn, and aid them, now he was altered, and became their Enemies, joinAnd thofe two Rebels ing himfelf with Jebocbanan :
reigned in the City ol Jerujalem by courfe, one one Month, and another another. So where before Scbimeoris coming, they thought much to bear the Yoke and Oppreffion of one Seditious Perlon, now were they conftrained to hold down their Shoulders, and bear the Yoke of Two. -
Yet within Two Days after, there fell a Variance and Difcord between Jebocbanan and Schimeofl
the Wars of the Jews. tneon about tleazar the Prieft, the
177
Son of Anani
This Eleazar was the beginner-, and firlt fower of Sedition amongft the lfraelites r whom Scbimeon would now have pur to death, to be revenged of his Father that banilhed him out of Jemfdiem-, but Jebochamin took EIeaziir*s parr, and defended him For Eleazar was always Jebocbamrts Friend, and aided him ^ his Father was High-Prieft, and bare a great Rule in Jerufalem^ wherefore Eleazar was of a great eftimation and authority with theElders^ fo that they durft not apprehend him } and as his Father alio looked negligently unto him, and let him do what he lilt, becaule he had no more Sons but him, lb he was the firft that affembied naughty Perfons together, and held ever on Jebocbanan'% fide, from his hrtt cothe High-Prietf.
:
ming
to Jerufalem.
And
for his fake, fell divifioa
and diflention between Jebocbanan and Scbimeon^ fo that they became Enemies, and warred the one upon the other ever after, as we ftiali declare hereafter.
C H A
P.
V.
this while, Vefpafian had INMankinimas^ (two Noblemen,
Antony, and and of h s Coun-
fen.t
to Rome againii Vttdlius, that they might make him out of the way, and then would he come to Rome ro receive the Imperial Crown cil)
there.
.
.
1
Thefe two Captains went therefore and raifed an Army, by whole aid they fet upon Vitcl,
N
1
tius^
1
7be
76
Wan of the Jews.
and flew him not without much ado for there were flain that day at Rome, eighty thoufand good Men of War, When Vefpajian had word that he was difpatched, he made fpeed to Rome to his
lius,
Coronation, dividing firft his Army into two parts, whereof he took the one with him to Rome, as a Safeguard for himlelfj whatfoever fhould happen, and the other he left with Titus his Son to befiege Jerufalem withal. So departing, he left his Son Titus at Alexandria, commanding him to remain there, till fuch time as he fhould fignifie unto him otherwise by his Letters, and (hew him what he fhould do ^ and that in no wife he fhould attempt the Siege of Jerufalem in the mean fpace. Titus anfwered, I jhall do {dear Father) according unto your Commandment, for to you it belongetb to command, and unto me to obey. Vefpafian took with him King Agrippa, and Munabas his Son, he fearing left they would rebel, and me Jofeph Prieft and Prifoner alfo faft bound
For fo had his Council moved him, faycannot fay the contrary, but that we have found no fign of Rebellion in Jofeph hitherto, neither think we that he hath gone about any ; but who can tell when we are gone hence, whether he will not flee to Jerufalem, and help to fet them at Unity and Concord ? Then they make him their King, and after he be the forer Enemy unto us ? Befides this, you (hall have need of him in this Journey, he being a Man of 4uch great Prudence and Wifdom, that whofoever followeth his Counfel, (hall bring his Matters to good and fortuVefpafun liked well their Advice, nate Succefs. in
Chains
ing,
:
We
,
7$e Wars of the Jews.
i
77
and tocdc him Prifoner with him, together with King Agrippa and his Son albeit they had no Irons upon them, neither on Hand or Foot, but only had their Keepers appointed them, that they fhould not ftep
afide.
And as Vefpafian drew nigh Rome, all the Citizens came forth to meet him, and received him with Then he commandgreat Joy, and mighty Shews. ed that his
I
fhould be put in Prifon, but Agrippa and The next day affemlet go at liberty.
Son he
bied all
the Senate of Rome,
to create Vejpafian
manner of the Romans, with whom was Agrippa and his Son. I alfo entreated the Jay lor to let me have Keepers with me, and fa to bring me to the Place where he fhould be crowned Cafar : which the Jaylor granted me, and went with me himfelf to the place, and brought me where I might fee all that was done. Within few Emperor,
after the
days after, Vefpafian took difpieafure with Agrippa^ upon the Information of certain evil difpofed Perfons that had flandered him, and perfuaded Vef pafian that he went about to rebel, and how he had fent Letters unto Jerufalem, concerning the fame Matter ^ wherefore Vefpafian put both him and his
Son Munafas to death. This befel three years and a half before the Deof Jerufalem. Moreover, before this
ftru£tion
Deed, the continual
two hundred and
Sacrifice ceafed for a
Thoufand
written in Dan. Chap. 12. And from the time that the continual Sacrifice full be taken away, and Abomination fhall be put into Deflation^ a thoufand hundred and ninety days,
as, it
mo
ninety days.
is
178
The
Wan 9f the
Jews.
The fame Year and Month that Agrippa was put God moved the mind of Vejpafian to re* member me with his Mercy wherefore he commanded that I fhould be fetched out of Prifon and to death,
brought to his Prefence. And as I flood in Irons before him, Csfar bad me welcome, and fpake comfortably unto me, faying, Thou knoweft very well that 1 have loved thee from the Day I firftfaw 5 thee, and tho I have kept thee continually in durance, do not think I did it of any Ill-will or Malice toward thee ^ but rather thou mayeft perfwade thy feif^ I
did
it left
thee, and fay,
the
Roman
See here
Princes fhould dildain at a Fellow, that in our
is
us fo greatly, yet now goeth check-mate with us, in as great Favour as we: Let us kill him, and put him out of the way. But, my Friend Jofepb^ be of good chear, I will deliver thee from thefe Iron Bands, and thou (halt be with me in no worfe cale than one of my chief Princes; I will lend thee into Jewry to my Son Titus, to whom thou fhalt be as a Father and a Coun*
Wars hath endamaged lie
fellor..
Thou
Titus was he that took pity fuffer thee to be put to on thee, times moved me to fundry hath Yea, he death to honour thee, and Bonds, of thy releafe thee for this caufe do only to deferred which I have anfwer, But him made I thee. that I (hewed
knoweft,
and would not
can I be quiet, or in furety of my Life, as long as I am in thy Company and thy Sons, feeing Agrippa and his Son were Suddenly put Hold thy Cotfar anfwered, to death by you ? Goodnels any for looked never I Peace Jofeph^ what not knoweft Thou of Agrippa and his Son. they
how
I
j
I
,
the Wars
of the
Jews.
1
79
they had wrotfght againft my Majefty, and how thou haft born their they went about to rebel Bones with thy Hands. Doft thou not know how I
honoured him and his Son
in
Jewry
?
how I would
*
not fuffer any of my Army to annoy any of his Cities ? t anfwered, Yes, I know it was fo as your Majefty faith. Then faid he, But for all this hath
Agrippa reouited mc again with Evil. For what time as the loobies of Rome in Jewry went about m to make me Emperor, thinking me fomewhat more meet * to rule the Empire than Vitellius, Agrippa perfwaded them that they fliould not make me Emperor, affirming, That there was nothing in me worthy wherefore they fhould promote me to And after when he came to Rome, that Dignity. he went from one Bifhop to another, and caufed them to go to the Bifhops, to accufe me of fuch Crimes as in my Confidence I&new nothing at all of.
By
Heart was full and therefore I judged him to Death. For where as Wickednefs is, there it is meet that condign Punijbment Jhouldnot be lacking. And I put his Son to death likewife ; For the Son of a Tray tor ought not to live upon the Earth, becaufc that in his Heart remaineth the Work of his Father being conceived and born of a Rebellious Seed. But I have found thee always faithful and true, and this I perceived that Agrippa's
of Rancour and Rebellion,
commend my Son to thy Wifdom. With this hp commanded my Irons to be taken away from me, and being releafed and at liber-
therefore I
ty, he fet me honourably and Senators. Then laid I
N
3
among unto
the
him,
Princes Is
not this
i8o
The Warjt of the Jews, great Difhonour unto me, that
I fhould be Bonds, and neverthelefs my Country-men that be with me to be kept in Prifori ftill ? Now therefore, if I have found favour in thy fight, and if thou wilt do any thing at my jequeft, loofe the Bonds likewife of all the reft of the Israelites that be with me fet them at liberty alio, and thou (halt be aflured that I will be thy .faithful Counfellour while my life lafteth, and an Enemy to thy Foes, and make War upon them that
a
this
delivered from
my
:
aflaii thee.
Vefpafmn granted Jofeph his Requeft,
them
led
to be fet at Liberty,
as
many
as
and wilwere Pri-
soners with Jofeph. Shortly after, fent he Jofeph to his SonTitus, that abode at that prefent at Alexandria in Egypt, to whom he writ concerning Jo-
fepb
in this
manner*
thee here {my beloved Son ) Jofeph a Vrince of the Jews, a Man of Experience, trained he fhall be thy lain War, in whom is great ifdarn ther and faithful Counfellour% thou, /hall not do againfl bis Counfel, neither one way nor other, for he is a wife I
fend unto
W
•,
Man. Wherefore thou fhah reverence and honour him according as he is worthy, for the Lord God is with him, and believe not
rafhly any
Man that defames Jofeph un-
put him to death ftraightway, that will accufe him, for Jofeph is a faithful Man, and a good Counfellour ^ and who is fo ruled by his Counfel, fhall have a profperous Succejs in that he goeth about. Therefore when Jofeph fhall come untc thee, after be hath refrefhed himfelf a few doys >cf his Labours and Travels at the Sea ; then jbalt thou prepare to thee.
Tea, rather
thine Expedition againft Jerufalem, to befiege it. And if the Jews receive thee peaceably\ and will
fubmii
the Wars of the Jews.
1
81
fubmit themfelves under the Roman Empire, then beware thou endamage them in nothing, but rather repair their Cities, and let them be free from all Tribute for the fpace of two Tears yyet on this Condition f that thrice every Tear they Jet a flag with the Arms of the Romans upon their Walls ; that is to fay, at their three folemn Feafts, when as all the lfraelites were wont to refort unto Jerufalem, and to appear before Moreover, they fhall offer for the Lord their God. us every Feaft a Sacrifice, upon the moji holy Altar that And if they refufe to make Peace is in Jerufalem. with thee, thou fhalt utterly raze their Town, and whofoever are left alive and efcape the Sword, thofe fhalt thou lead away Captive. If they defire to have Jofeph In any to be their King, we are content therewith. wife remember to be ruled by Jofeph's Counfel $ he fhall be thy Father,
and thou
his Son.
After this, Jofeph departed from Rome, and came to Alexandria to Titus, who hearing of fofepVs ar-
was wondrous glad, and all the ancient Wife 5 for Jofeph was full of the Spirit of Wifdom, Underftanding, Counfel, Valiantne(s,Know-
rival
Men with him
ledge, and Fear
of God. Wherefore we went forth to meet him, accompanied with the Captains of the Roman Army, and received him with great Honour. Then Jofeph delivered to Titus his Fathers Letters which Titus having read, faid unto Jofeph, Whatfoever my Father hath written in thefe Letters, I would have done no lefs by my own accord but fith my Father hath admonirfied me of the fame, I ought to do it the more.* Wherefore remain here with me, and I will be'thy Son, and thou fhalt be my Father, to rule and govern me with thy Counfel. •,
*,
N
4
So
1
The
8z
Wan of
the Jews.
So Jofeph abode with Titus at Alexandria, a whole Month after he came from Rome. Then confulted they together to go to Jerufalem and befiege for Jofeph underftood well enough, That this
came of the Lord, and that
his word could not be letled or hindrcd. Titus therefore, and Jofeph with him, departed iron) Alexandria with all their Army, and pitched their Tents at Nicopolis, from thence they came by Water to Thanija % fo forth to Iracka, and leaving that, came to felt (is from thence they
travelled through the Defart to Qaale Javin, after that to Dieron, fo to Gaza^ next to Askalon, then
In to Jabuam, after to Japho, and fo to Carfare. thefe Journeys he won Afam, Askalon and Japho^
with
ail their
The
Towns and
Catties lying about them.
Year of the Reign of Vefpafian^ the Tenth Month, and the Seventh Day of the fame, came Titus with Jojeph and his Army to CafaIn this rea, a famous City built by King Herod. were he Hoft whole Cfty fojourned until his come together, as ivefl of Romans as of other Nations that were under the Dominion of the Romans^ and came to aid them in the Siege of Jerufalem. Therefore Titus's Army was wonderFirft
wherewith he abode was paft, and the fame Years the Month of July drew nigh the Civil Wars grew and encreafed in Jerufalem^ for the Citizens flew one another without any truce, refr, or quietnefs, no not in Winter, when as Wars were wont to ceafe, but Summer and Winter both, the Wars never feinted between Schmcon^ Jchochanan, and tilcttzar. for the Lord that Year had fent amongft them of Jcru-
fully
huge
at Cxjarca,
and till
puiflant
the cold Winter :
•
lie Wars of the Jews,
1
8$
r
alem a vertiginous Spirit of Giddinefs, that the whereof the People were divided into Three Parts irft and beft followed Anani the Prieft, who at :hat time had ftained, unhallowed, and fufpended Another part followed lis Office of Priefthood. 5editi<5us Jebocbanan, the Third was for Scbimeon. :
So that in the midft of Jerufalem were Civil Wars, md without the fame, the Ro7tian Army made Roads from Cdtfarea even to Jerufalem, by the means
whereof no Man durft go forth, left he fhould fall into the Enemies hands, nor .enter into the Town Anani being a [o bring any NecefTaries thither. perfe&ly godly Man, and feeing the Commonwealth of Jerufalem governed by the pleafure of the Seditious, gave over his third Part that ftuck which was the firft to him to Eleazar his Son, Author of Sedition, and he that gave the firft occaISon, and the caufe of all the Mifchief that befel in Jerufalem, and in the whole Land of Judea For he began a Confpiracy againft the Roman Garrjfons, and provoked Ifrael to rebel againft the Romam, and to lay hands upon them.
Wherefore there affembled unto
the Seditious
Eleazar ,
Jebuda, Chezron, Scbimeon and Qbhkibu, young Men of the Nobles of Jerufalem. Eleazar with his Company took the Temple, and the Courts about it, appointing of his Men, fome to be Spies, and fome to keep Wa>tch and Ward about the Temple of the Lord.
But Jebocbanan,
who
becaufe of the great refort ftronger than Eleazar-,
of the People unto him, was
he took the Market-place and Streets, and the lowof the City,
er part
Then
2fc Wars of the Jews.
j?4
Then Schimeon
Town
the Jerujalemtte took the higheft
wherefore his Men annoyed Jehochanan\ part fore with Slings and Crofs-Bows. Between thefe three, tfiere was alfo moft cruel Battels in Jerufalem for the fpace of four Days, without ceafing or any breathing, and every Day were very many flain, fo that the Blood of the Jems that were then flain, ran in every place molt abundantly, through the Market places and Streets, yea even to the Temple of the Lord, like unto a flood that had come of great ftiowers ^ and unto the thre(hold of the Gates ^f the Temple, the dead Bodies overwhelmed one another by heaps, for no Man buried them. Jebocbanan having the middle part of the Town, hzd'Schimeon on the one fide of him, and Eleazar on the other. part of the
*
But Schimeon had the beft place, from whence he might annoy both Jehocbanan and Eleazar. Eleazar did alfo what he could to endamage Svhi* ineon. And Jehocbanan^ that was in the midfh, encunabred them both, notwithftanding to little purpofe For Schimeorfs company flung Stones, and fhot at them fore, but when as Jehochariarts part flung likeivile at them, the Stones rebounded back upon themfelves. Thus amongft thefe Three, the Battel was fore, and encreafed every :
Day,
that all
Men
thereof
were
in
great terror and
fear
•
to the Temple much People and Elders, befeeching thefe Inteftine and Domeftical Enemies, not to pollute and defile the Temple with the Slaughters, and ware almoft all flain for their labour. The fame day
Then af&mbled
of
the Priefts
7he
Wan
of the Jews.
1
85
jinani% and Jojhita a Prieft, day was Secbariahu alfo, the molt Priefts, chiefeft the of but faithful Prophet of the Lord. Then had the continual Sacrifice ceafed Thirty fix days, for ever until that time were there feme good Men or other of Jerusalem that offered always Sacrifice to' the Lord. But now when they would have continued it, and the Priefts laid the Sacrifice upon the Altar, the Seditious would run upon them and kill them, To that the Priefts Bodies and their Cattle, that they would have facrificed, fhould fall dead to the ground together. They that reforted aifo out of the Country of Jerufalem, for Devotions fake, the Seditious flew, and utteriy deftroyed thena, that almoft no one of them was left alive. Moreover, the dead Bodies of Men lay caft in the Temple, and that without Number trod unyea, the dead Body of the Prieft der Feet ^ that was offering Sacrifice, lay upon the Earth And when any Man together with his Offering. would offer any Sacrifice, ftraightway one or other of the Seditious would ftep to him and kill him, that the Blood of the Sacrifice and be mingled together ^ infoSacrificer fhould much, that the Pavement of the Temple being all of Marble, was made To flippery with the Blood and Fat of them that were flam, that no Man could go upon it ^without falling. And* the Prieft fhould no fooner lay hand on the Sacrifice but he was flain, and ftraight another dead Body fhould fall upon him, ftranger or other, they fpared none So thus the dead Bodies of the Good and Bad, Clean and Unclean, {lain the Prieft
t
'
-
:
Wicked
:
>
the Wars of the Jews.
%6
Wicked and Vertuous, Thief and True-man, lay one upon another, and their Blood mixt together in the midft of the Temple, without refpeft of any Man, of what Degree or Condition foever he were Wherefore the Fight and Slaughter was great, both in the Town and in the Temple. May, whomfoever the Seditious overcame, they fet fire on theif Houfes alfo^ whereby the fire took into the great Mens Houfes that were nigh the Temple, and into the Store-houfes, whereas againft time of NecefTity, and befieging of the Town, were laid up in ftore Corn, Wine and Oyl, to the number of a Thoufand and four hundred Store houfes, all filled full of Vi&uals. For the Elders, and other godly Men,
what time as Vejpajian was in Galilee^ they made up the Doors of thofe Garner-houfes, and laid in Vi&uals into them, fufficient for Two hundred thoufand Men twenty Years 5 and now in this one Battle of the Seditious they were burnt every one. Stick and Stone, which was a fpeedy caufe of Famine and Hunger in Jerufa/em.
At the fame time and razed ail the
alfo, the Seditious pulled
down
Houfes, and goodly Buildings, that there fhould be no Monument of any Noble Houfe left to any in the City of Jerufalem. So thus you fee at that time the Lord vifited the Citizens of Jerufalem with four kind oi Plagues, Sword, P^fiilence, Hunger and Fire Befides this, a fifth was added, the ruin and decay fair
:
.
of
all
beautiful
wherefbever thing
the
but
a
And and glorious Buildings. turned him, there was no-
Man
defoiation,
Temple and
all
pollution,
holy things)
(
namely
uproars
of
without
Tfo l^ri 0/
ffo?
187
Jews.
no help, no fuccour, but cut all reft and refuge of was full ot howling Jerujalcm every corner and weeping, fobbing and lighwailing and yelling, fhould ye hear Children. and Here Women ing of groaning woundwd of Men, not and the roaring the mourning there and dead lamenthorough yet h younger Children crying Elders-, out the of tation to fhort, molt forrqwful be Oppreffion hunger for ^ Such t>f them that lived, done by the Seditious Lamentations were made every where, that happy and fortunate was he that betore this day died, and :
unhappy and in a woful cafe were all Rich as remained' alive to fee this day. All thele Things when I Jofeph heard Tydings my Hair with my Hands, and caft of,- I tore Allies on my Beard, fitting in great Sorrow on the ground, bewailing the Mifery and Calamity of Jcrufalem. And this Lamentation made Jofeph upon Jerufalern : How is the City (quoth he) laid wafte that was wont to be more happy and more renowned than all the Provinces
upon
Earth How is the Qty that was and dignity, now in fuch highnefs under the Foot, through the Sons of
the
!
heretofore
brought Whereas fometime was the Citizens thereof the Dwelling-place df the Faithful ^ now bear Rule there iuch Men, as provoke and ftir God's !
Wrath againft it, and turn it away from their In the which God, wafting it as Thieves., fometime remained the briehrnels of the Godhead, it is now become a By-word, and Mockingflock to the Enemies,^ repieniftied with Blood of wounded and flain Men. Inftead of Mirth, Gladnefs, Rejoycing, Harps and Pfalteries, is Sorrow
the Wars of the Jews.
x88
mourning and pei Even as heretofore th Priefts executed the Service of the Lord in OiFerinj fo likewife now, Seditious Perfbns mui Sacrifice 5 where was wont t< thered godly and faithful Men be the Dwelling-place of moft wife and pruden Men, now it is made a common Hoftry of wicke< Murtherers and Thieves. O Lord God of Ifrae, have not Angels in timepaft come down from Hea ven to Earth to fight thy Battels ? Have not th Floods of the Seas perfecuted them that perfecutec thee ? Hath not the Earth fwallowed up them tha defpifed thee, and the Winds lcattered them afur der that made Infurre&ions againft thee ? Hath no Thunder from Heaven deftroyed thine Enemies, an<
forrow, fighing, fivenefs
come
heart-breaks,
in
place.
:
Scars fought againft thy Foes
therefore ? and
how cometh
?
it
What means to pafs,
thi
that thoi
from us ? to whom haft thou deli vered the Sheep of thy Pafture > Look upon us, ou God, and behold thy People and Inheritance, iha
hideft thy face
thou broughteft out of Egypt with a mighty Power and a ftrong Hand, with Wonders and Signs, leading them until this day in thy Faith 5 take pity upoi them in thy Mercy, and extend hot thy Wratl againft thy Servants.
thou Mofes, the Son of Amram ? ftant People and Hock of Sheep 3 whicl thou feddeft all thy Life with thy Wiiciom ^ fe< bow Wolves and Lions tear them ^ fee how th Ifraelites are become Foes to their own Lives an< yea, wafters and deftroyers are fprunj Souls up of their own felves. Behold the People
Where
art
up and
lee thy
GOD,
for
whofe
Staff over the Sea,
thbu litted'ft up wherewith thdu ftruckett lake
th; .ari<
7he Wars of the Jews. divideft
1
89
was made dry ground, fo the through, and efcaped their EneRemember thy Prayer, when as in time of it,
that it
Ifraelites pafled
mies.
Famine,
and lack of Food,
thou obtainedft for
and at the time when them Meat from Heaven they were weary of their lives for Thirft, thou broughteft Water out of the moft hard Rock. Prieft of God, that between the Living and the Dead, to turn away the Plague from Ifrael, and ftayedft the Deftroyer that he (hould not come nigh the Arife cut of thy Grave, thou Phineas, that Living. imoved with fuch fervency, didft revenge the Glory and Majefty of the Lord God of Ifrael ; come and run through the Seditious in thy Fury, which Murder the People of God, and his Priefts. .Awake thou Jcjbua, that didft throw dowa the Walls of Jericho, with the found and (hout of thy (Trumpets, that the holy Priefts held in their hands. Come now and iee thy People that thou madeft to inherit many Nations, and to conquer moft puiflant Kings, how they kill one another, how they further and help forward the Idolater to Rule and have the Dominion of the Holy Land, that thou gaveft thy People Ifrael to inherit fleepeft thou, King David? Awake, and 3 Why ^jcome with the found of thy Pfaltery and Harp, Ask account of ^llng unto thy holy Pfalms too. thy fweet words that are ceaied from the mouths ct this People, and out of all Mens mouths.; becaufe of the malicioufnefs thereof See how their Princes be transformed into Enemies and Deftroyers 5 and do as thou didft (good King David)
ComefoTth Aaron % moft holy
didft put thy felf
\
\
fi
2
I
[j
;
\
I
I
.
.
I
il
fi
that'
*
ig6
'the
Wars of
the Jews.
that didft give thine own Life for theirs, faying, Le thy barid^ Lord, be turned againfl me% and againj the Houje of my father, and do not jail upon thj People to defiroy them.
Where art thou Elizeus? Come* and fee wha thoucanft do if thou canft refcue the remnant o Ifrael, and find them any gap to efcape at. Didfi not thou by thy Prayer bring the Power of the Sy rians to a Town of defence, and prevailedft againf them without Dint of Sword or Battel, and brought eft them downi fmiting them with blindnefs, thai they turned their Enmity toward Ifrael into Love Indeed, thou waft he that vanquifhedft the Syriam by thy Prayer, that they fled lor fear of the fame. :
i
Now
therefore ye
and
Herdfmen of
Ifrael,
aflem-
your Ears, and hear my Words that I will fpeak in your Ears this day. Tell me, What is become of youi Prayers that ye have made for the People of Ifrael to defend and turn away from them all Wrath. Indignation, Tribulation, Fury, and ImmifTions oi Evil Spirits? How is it that now ye fee not the Sanftuary turned into a vile fink of Blood, foi the dead Bodies of Priefts lie in the midft of it. The Holy City Jerufaletn is become a ftrange City, as though the Name of the Lord had ne and the Sanftuary of the Lord ver been in it is in that Cafe at this prefent, as though the for the TemGod- head had never dwelt therein ple is turned into a Den of Thieves, a Lodging oi Seditious Perfons, a Tabernacle of cruel Murther ble together,
liften
with
:
:
ers.
be
And whofo flain
:
as
flieth thither for refuge, there
the
Seditious
have
they
Murther'd
ir
the
1
Tke Wars of the Jews. tl
} i
1
9
Anani the High-Prieft/and Jowere Princes and chief Priefts, fhua the moft reverend amongft the People of God* whom ere this Kings and Nations had fued to, and the
midft thereof
a Prieft al(o,that
defired their Favour, but never caft their flain Bodies 'J
* *
^ :
*
1
*
1
[
*
5
f
1
'
1
*
:
;
;
the midft of the Temple. The Nobility alfo of Jerufalem^ the Elders of Judabs the Sages of Ifrael^ whofe Friendfhip Kings and Nations have fought They lie after, and defired to make Peace with : now flain here and there in the midft of Jerufain
lem^ are Meat for the Fowls of the Air, and Beafts of the Fields to Dogs and Ravens, becaufe there is no Man to bury them, Thefe died not for their Offences, but becaufe they found fault with the Ifraelites^ when they finned.
How
are they
flain in
thee (
O
Jerufalem^
thou Holy City, renowned throughout the whole Earth ) all juft Men, all Holy Men ? whom the Seditious have overcame, thofe Hell-hounds and Blood fuckers, that have brought all thefe Evils upon thee > How are the Priefts of the Lojd, and his Prophets flain amongft thofe Holy Men ? For, before the Holy Temple, was the Prophet S#cW/d/;#,that juft and Holy Man,butchered and itiurthered, yea, without all Burial, neither was his Blood covered with Earth, but yet ftiil wandereth about and cryeth in thee. The Blood of Anani alfo, and Jojhua the Chief Prieft, was yet ne^er covered, which were both flain in thy Tempie, as Men be wont to kill Thieves: Yea, the Blood of the godly young Men, and valiant, that would have revenged them, was fhed alfo by the Seditious, like Floods of Water, How ate the Hearts of the People turned fo aukwardly,
O
that
192.
the Wars of the Jews.
that they will hear no Admonition of juft Men ? but are like unto blockifli Images, that neither fee nor hear, nor yet underftand any thing. All Beafis, he they never fo brutifh, all Plants, and Things that grow upon the Earth, withftand them that invade them to do them Injury, and endeavour to avoid the force of their Enemy But thy Children that thou keepeft within thee,are changed into Enemies, and one Brother murthereth another with the Sword. Where is now thy Valiantnefs, thou that never wouldeft bow to bear the Yoke of the Gentiles upon thy Shoulders, but haft caft away the Bondage of the Egyptians^ Pbiliftines, Aramites^ AJfyrians^ Qbaldees, Ferjians and Medes? Where is the ftrength that God gave to the Cbajmona* */ter,that with a very fmall Company defended thee, and prevailed againft the great and puiflant Army of the Greeks^ deftroyed the ftout Soldiers of Bahylon\ vanquifhed the mighty Army of the Ferfians^ flew Kamitiatus and Ant'wcbus, and purfued their Armies, making great (laughters of them, filling all Places full of the dead CarcafTes of the Gentiles > They would not be ruled by Sinners, but ventured themfelves to die, offering their but for Lives, not for their Sons and Daughters, the San£tuary of the Lord and his Temple, left it fhould be polluted with the Idols of the Gentiles. Where remaineth now the Rod of God, that Holy Rod that budded and bloITomed in the Days of Giadnels ? Now is both the Spring withered, and The Rod of Faith is witherthe Rod it felf alfo. ed, the Rod of the Kingdom, the Rod alfo of thy :
People, whence the Holy
Law
is
taken
away
^
nei-
the Wars of the Jews.
19 j
Man
tha-c can cell where to dra.v Mercy. Alas, rhe Heavenly any Waters Times pure to their in been have that merciful Men now how are dead, alive and they both Brethren, Mercy and have of cruel Tyrants, mod into turned no Man ? Where is the Multitude of their Merctesy wherewith they were wont honourably to bury their Dead ? Now the Coarles of xMil djead BddMf cover the face of the whole Earth, and thera is no
ther
is
there any oJ:
thy
will vouchfafe to bury them ^ yea, they rhat would, cannot be fuffered, but lira ight ways co*me
Body
others to it
fo
them
that kill
th^n before they can do
that they alfo die,
and
lie
and
unbuuied,
are ftrewed about here and there in Such is the guife in the now adays,
the
Fields,
neither uie
Father to bury the Son, nor the Son rhe Fa her-, the Seditious watch fo diligently thofe that be de^d^ left any Man fhould bury them j which if they d<\ they are alfo fiain by them, and lie unnufried themfelves. The Temple of the Lord thai is in thee, which was wont to fmell fweetly of Spices, Anointings and Perfumes, how is it now xhbaked with Carrion, Dung, and, moft peftiient Sftnca .of dead >
and Blood of the wounded ? Thy Streets of dead Men, tome run through' with Glares and Javelins, and others dead, tor Hunger yea, they that remain yet alive in the City good as dead alfo, and may be taken for no as are lefs : For they .are weary of their Lives, pec^ufe of the peftilenrt Damp of the dead Bodies theoui> ragtoufnefs whereof hath call mVny into trioftjdgg* gerous Difeafes, and hath been' the death of numbers' Bodies,
are ftrowed full
already,
The Wars of the Jews.
194.
This may worthily feem to be it, that David, the Anointed of the God of Jacob, the pleafant and fweet mufical Poet of l/rael fpeaketh of^ Lord, /fo Gentiles are come into thine Inheritance, they have polluted the Temple of thyHolinefs. And would to God it had been the Xjentiles only that had ex* alted themfelves againft thee, and polluted thus the Holy
Temple
that
is
in thee
•,
For in the malici-
oufnefs of an Enemy, a Man finds the half of his Comfort but in the Malice of a Friend there is no Com•,
Yea, the very Children that thou haft fort at all. bred, brought up and promoted, the ftlf fame have
Temple of the Lord that is in thee, with unburied Carcaffes, every Man killing his Neighbour, and the Seditious fuffering no Man to bury them, but Haying all that attempt to beftow any fuch work of Mercy upon the dead, in fuch fort, that they fall dead upon the Corpfe which they would have buried and by that means both the Corpfes lie caft out into the Field, no better than the Carkafies of brute Beafts that be found Yea, the Iniquity and Cruelty of in defart Places. thy Citizens (O Jerusalem) is grown fo far, that they were not content only to kill their Neighbut they mutt aifo hew their miferable bours, Limbs in pieces, for elie they thought they were not fufficiently revenged ^ although that in fo doing, many times the ltench of the Dead took worthy Vengeance again of the Living, by catting them fluffed the
Ail theie Evils are come they have forfaken the Law of the Lord, and have tranfgrefTed the Covenant that he made with their Brethren 5 becaufe alfo they have finned againft the Lord God of
into incurable
Difeafes.
upon thy People,
becaufe
their
Ibe Wars of the Jews.
195
their Fathers, in fhedding the Blood of juft Men, and Innocents that were within thee, even in the
Temple of the Lord.
And
therefore are our for-
rowful Sighings multiplied, and our Weepings daily increafed, for that yve have been the Caufe of all thele Evils that are beiallen us, and are not yet ended. O Lord our God, our Sins are gone over our Heads, and the wicked Afts that we have committed in thy fight are innumerable. The Lord our God is Righteous, it is we that have rebelled we have propHaned and unhallowagainft h s Will ed his Law, we have broken his Covenant, and ;
more that his Wrath kindled againft us, the more have we tranfgrefled againft him. Wherefore to him belongeth Juftice and Judgment, he hath worthily poured the fury of his Dilpleafure on us ^ to us only belongeth Shame, as we have abundantly But he will once turn again and have at this Day ever the
:
Mercy upon us, into the deep
vanquifti all our Sins,
bottom of the Sea
After theie Things,
Month,
:
the third
and
So be
Day
call
them
it.
of the
firft
Year of the Reign of Vefpafian^ Titus his Son took Mufter of his Men in the Plain of Cafarea^ to know the certain Number of them, which he had done afore, fince his Father's departure 5 and he found them very many, infomuch that they feem'd almoft to cover the Earth. This done, he took his Journey from C
the
firft
From
10
The
From {rem
thence he
Wan of came
the
Jews.
to Ajelona, thirty Furlongs
and took Six hundred Horfemen with him, and came to Jerufalem to view the Town, to know what heighth the Walls were of, what {uength there was in the Town, efpecially of the Seditious, of whom evejy where great Rumour ,was finally, to receive peaceably all fuch So when he came to as, were defirous of Peace. the Wall he fa w no Man-, neither to go out nor in, for thu Gates were (hut up, and the Seditious had laid an Arnhufh without the Town to trap Titus ^ who went fomewhat before, accompanied with a few, the reft following a pretty way behind. Whiles therefore he was. viewing the Wails, the Seditious ifTUed out of their Ambulh that they had laid nigh unto Ajelcna, and let upon the back of Jerttfalem,
there he pitched his Tents,
leaving them there,
•,
,
Men behind. Then iffued another Party out of the Town So that they had Titus between chem, and running upor. him, feparated him from his Men , and environed frm on every fide * where they flew fixty or' his Men, and might have flain him alfo, fave that they coveted to take him alive. Titus feeing himfelf befet, and forlaken of his own Men* that thought it was im-
T;////s
:
him to eicapei 'perceiving alio that they went not about to kill him, but to take him alive ; moreover, that he could in no wife efcape, except he would make an Irruption and run
pofiibie for
he took a good Heart unbrake through , flaying loever came in his way to lay Hands on him, and To he efcaped. If they had intended to have but being defiilain him, they might have done it rous
through
to
him
their Bands.}
,
and
valiantly
the Wars of the Jews.
him
1
97
(as he faid ) they abftain'd And God from ftriking him, and fo they loft him did not deliver him into their Hands, that by him he might fcourge IfraeL But the Jews feeing him to be thus efcaped, repented fore that they had not faying one to another, What meant we kilFd him that we killed him not while we might > It was Therefore they purfued him, hurill done of us. ling and (hooting after him with Engines of War, but they could not overtake him, for God preferved him, that he might afterward deliver Jerufalem into his Hands. So he returned to Ajelom? and perceived the Hearts of Kings to be in the Hfands of God. rousto
takfe
alive
:
The next Morning brought Titus all bis Army to jerufalem, determining to encamp himfelf upon the Mount Olivet: Wherefore he firft fpake unto his Soldiers in this wife This Day ye go to fight againft a mighty Nation, ivhofe Warriours be as ftrong as Lions, valianj as Libards, and nimble as Fawns that run in the Mountains, to overturn Chariots, and fuch as fit upon them. Now therefore take good Hearts unto you, and be coura£ious, for it behoves you. Do not think them to be like the Nations that heretofore ye have had to do withal I my felf have Experience other wife of their Valiantnefsand Sleights :
:
of War. This
faid,
he marched
in
Array
mod
ftrongly,
that they fhould not be fcattered afunder^ and gave them charge, efpeciaily to the Vanguard, to take heed ot (tumbling upon Wells and Citterns, where-
by they might be hindred, for as yet the Day was befides this^ Titus had know$ and
fcarce broken
O
4
ledge
The Wats of the Jews*
ip8
ledge how the Jews hearing of his coming, had digged fecret Trenches and Pitfalls. Wherefore to avoid them, he led his Hoft to Mount Olivet, in which Place it never came into their Minds to dig.
Therefore when he came to the Mount Olivet, he encamped there againft Jerufalem, right overagainft the Brook Cedron, that ran between the Ci-
and many times ran very fhallow. Titus's Camp was about fix Furlongs from the Town. Tb| next Morning, they of the Town leeing Titus to be encamped on the Mount Olivet, the Captains of the Seditious with their Companies aflembied together, and fell to an Agreement every Man with another, intending to turn their Cruelty upon the Romans, confirming and ratifying the fame Attonement and Purpofe, by fwearing one to anoWhere? ther, and fo there was Peace among them. ty and the Hill,
were three and all the b«ft of them ifTued out with a horrible Noife and Shout, that they made the Romans afraid withal, fore
joining
that
together,
before
feverai Parts, they fet open the Gates,
in
fuch wife, that they
which fuddenly did But Titus feeing his
fled
before the Seditious,
upon them
at unawares. them, fayrebuked flee, ing, Are ye not afliamed of this timorous Cowardlinefs, when are fo many, and a hundred for one pf them ? What Ignonimy is it, fo many to be repulfed of fo few ? Wherewithal Titus flayed them, and brought them manfully to withftand the Jews, But the fo that very many were flain on both fides. Romans were not able long to abide tfce force of the Jews, albeit that Titus with his choiceft and mofr let
Men
the Wars of the J«ws.
199
moft valiant Soldiers did manf lly keep their Ground and never retreated, Titus alfo laboured but they were and encouraged the reft to fight For lb difmayed, that they wift not what to do. to forfake Titus they were alhamed, and to refift able. the Violence of* the Jews they were not Notwithftanding Titus and all his Company made his Party good againft the Jews, who at length left the Field, and withdrew themlelves towards the TownThen Titus being wroth with his Soldiers, that they had fled from the Jews, faid unto them, Shall I not be revenged of thefe Jews > Shall fo few .of them put us to flight, not able to ftand in their Hands? and will ye flee or retreat, ieeing me abide by it ? The next day Titus took all his Army, lave a few that he left in his Camp to keep his Baggage, and went down to Mount Olivet, fetting his Men in Battle Array, even againft the Gates of the :
City.
Then exhorted he them to play the Men, and although they were come down the Hill, yet they fliould not hear the Jews concerning their Camp that they had left behind them ^ For the Brook Cedron ( faith he ) is between our Camp and the Ifraelites. With thefe Words they were encouraged, and determined to encounter with the Jews under the Walls hard to the Gates of the City, trufting to the Safeguard and Defence of the Brook Cedron.
The Captains of
the Seditious likewife ufed For they dividing their Men, fent one Company to pafs fuddenly the Brook Qedron, to invade and fpoii the Roman Camp that was left in the
Policy
:
M
int
.
2O0
The fVars of the Jews;
Mount
Olivet. Thefe therefore went and fought with the Romans upon the Mount, and drove them out of their Camp. Titus looking behind him, and perceiving that the Jews had gotten over the Brook, and were in hand with his Men, he was wonderfully afraid, feeing himfelf environed with Battles on every fide.
They within the Town, when they faw their Fellows once at the Mount Olivet, they opened the Gates, iffued out with all their Power that was left in the Town, and encountred with Titus, where he had fet his Men in Array over-againft th$ Gate, where ttiey made a great {laughter .of the Romans $ which ( defirous to avenge the Shame gotten the day before) fled not, but ftoutly withftood their Alio the Jews took heart to them/fought force. manfully, and beat down the Romans, fo that at length they betook them to flight toward Mount Oliver, and in their flight many of them were Upon flain by the Jews that puifued the Chafe. themfelves behind ) counfelled Titus to flee with them to the Mountains, to fave by the Jews, his Lite, left he fhould be fhin and they all together with him. For thou (fay they ) art a great Lord of many Kingdoms, and God fhali one day bring thee to the Imperial Crown of our Lord thy Father Now therefore if thou (houldeft be flain of the Jews, we are all but dead; and what good fhould thy death do, either to thy felf, or to others, to be fliin like one of us? Titus would not be ruled by thero, nor but kept his Ground receive their Counfel , this, divers of
befet both
Titus's Soldiers ( feeing
before and
:
boldly,
7be Wars of the Jews.
tot
boldly, without once turning his Face, faying, I will chufe rather to die with Honour, than to live
And with that he rufhed upon the with Shame nigh him, and compelled them to were that Jems :
recoil.
When
the
Camp, faw
Jews that had environed the Roman they left the Romans, and came
that,
flocking about T//^xby Routs, affailing him on every fide, endeavouring alio with all their Might to over-
where in that place was a lore and veand much People flain on both fides ^ yea, Titus efcaped narrowly from being flain in that fight, and had died indeed, if certain of his valiant
charge him
hement
}
fight,
Soldiers had not returned unto him, and refcued
him
out of the Jews Viands. That day were the chief of T/Va/s Soldiers flain Then the Jews retired to their place at the Walls fide. :
They alfo, who went to the Mount Olivet, returnhomeward by the Brook Cedron The Romans feeing that, purfued them $ whereupon the Jews
ed
:
returned again upon the Romans, who fled by and Thus the Jews put the Romans to flight thrice upon one day.
by.
It
came
to pafs then, that the external
Wars pau.
and inteftine Civil Wars returned moft terribly amongft the Seditious at Jtrufalem. For upon the firft day of the high folsmn Feaft of PafTover, Captain Jebochanan and his Men came into the Temple of the Lord, where he was honourably received of the Priefts and Elders, with the reft of the Commonalty. And when they were within, they caft off their upper Garments, under which they were armed with Coats of Fence, and Swords
fed,
.
tyed
zoz
the Wars of the Jews.
tyed to their Thighs.
After that,
they befet the
Doors, and laid hold of the Prieft, flew them and the People alio, their Hearts were fo cruelly bent againft their Brethren, neither regarding the reverent Countenances of old Men, nor inclining to the Prayers of them that befought them, without fparing Women or Children, no not the fucking
Babes.
This done, Jehocbanan flood up, and openly proThat neither Scbimeon nor Eleazar, nor any of the reft of the Captains of the Seditious, nor any Man elfe, (hould have the Soveraignty in that City but he. The other hearing that Jehocbanan had wrought fuch Difpleafure to^he People of God in the Temple, rofe together, and flew very many of Jehochanan's Party But in the mean feafon, what of the one part, and what of the other, the Ifrael'ites went to wrack, and were flain in great tefted,
:
Numbers. Tidings came to Titus, how the Jews were at odds among themfelves, and flew one another daily whereat he rejoyced greatly, and came with his whole Hoft to the Town, where he found certain Jews without, that had fled, becaufe of the Rage of the Civil Wars. When they faw Titus, they came and befoaght him to enter the Town, and deliver thecn from the Cruelty of the Seditious, and they would be his Servants, for thefe Wars had made them almoft weary of their Lives. Yet Titus gave little Credit to their Tale, although they ufed many words to perfwade
him
that
it
was
true.
For he remembred, that within three Days afore, he faw the Jews fight againft him eagerly, all with one accord;
fo earneftiy one refcuing
and defending ano-
the Wars of the Jews.
20$
that no Difcord appeared to be among them, wherefore he would not truft their Words, in that they required Succour, and offered to yield. And as they were thus debating the Matter, fuddenly they heard an Uproar in the Town, and wonder-
another,
fbme crying, Open the Gates, and * Titus come in ; others cryed, Shut the Gates, and let not the Romans come in. Then certain upon the Walls called to the Romans, fpeedily to come unto the Town, and they would then open the Gates, that they might enter in; requefting the Romans to deliver them from the Tyranny of the Seditious ^ Left (fay they) we fhould be ail flafin by the Hands of thefe ravenous and cruel feditious Perfons. The Romans therefore ran to the Gates, and when they approached nigh to the Walls, and were come within danger, the Jews hurled Stones from the Walls, and (hot Arrows at them, flaying very many of the Momans. The other Jews alio that were without the Town, and had befought Titus to ful hurly-burly let
deliver
them from the Hands of the
Seditious, began
again to aflail the Romans that were gone to the Wails, with much force, that many of them they flew, the refidue they put to flight, and the Jew* followed the Chafe almoft to Ajelona.
Then calling
the
Jem
them
mock'd and
Frefh- Water
flouted
Soldiers,
the Romans,
Men of no
Experience, and innocent Fools, that never faw the Trains of War before ; clapping alfo their Targets, and (baking their Swords againft them in
mockage.
The Roman Captains feeing thefe Things, they took great dildain at the Matter,' and in great Ire would have turned back upon the Jews again, had
The Wars of the Jews.
204
had not Titus commanded the Retreat to be found-
Upon
this Titus afTembled all his CounfelCaptains and Soldiers together, ati4 unto them in this wife: I have a fufficient Trial, and underftand well enough your Valiantnefs and
ed.
lours,
Courage (moft worthy
Men
and Soldiers) which Manhood of all other Nations ^ and not only in this moft excellent Vertue do ye excel, but alio in Knowledge and Sleights of War, in Wifdom and Forecaft ye have been Chief of all other. Now therefore, Brethren and Friends, I marvel not fo greatly at the Jews 'Subtilty and Crafr, in their fwearing to you for the perfwading of a thing, and after keep not the Oath But this feemerh wonderful unto me, that yefuffer your felvesftill to be deceived of them, and to be (bin by their Wiles. For all the Wit ye have, could not deliver you out of their Snares h but now yet again the thirS time ye have approached the Walls, and this is the third time ye have been put to the Foil for your Labours. And all this cometh, becaufe ye will not be ruled by me, but tranfgreis your General and Lord's Commandment. But now, my Brethren, take heed what ye do hereafter, it becometh you not to dif obey my Words, which ye have done oftentimes. Do you not remember a certain Nobleman of our Country, in the Wars of Augustus Cajar againft the Perfiaa^ how he put his own Son to death,
far paffeth
the Strength and
:
becaufe that contrary
to his
Father's
Command-
ment (who was grand Captain of the Army under Auguftus) he had fought with his Enemies ^ But yea, although he killed three Perjiarts ? what fpeak 1 of once > Ye have oft times fet light by
my
7be Wars of the Jews.
20 y
my Commandments,
skirmifhing da'ly with tiie Jews^ and that without alidifcretion, rafhly out of order : whereby you may gather your Enterprises have no good Succefs. It* you continue thefe Manners, it fhali redound unto your own Difhonours. Wherefore it were better for you to leave off thefe Doings, and lay away your Pride, Contumacy and
Stubbornnefs
:
Which
if
ye do, things fhall be in
better fafe-guard.
Much more
fpake Titus to his Men,rebuking them fharply,not mentioned here, but declared at large in the Volume that we writ unto the Romans. When he had faid thefe Words, his Princes and Captains fell every one proftrate to the Earth, and befought Pardon of him for their Rafhnefs, in that thejr had fo unadvifedly, and without Ordei, againft his mind,
encountred with the Jews.
Then
Titus, taking pity of them, pardoned them,
them to beware hereafter that they commit nothing againft his Commandment, neither
requefting in
Word
nor Deed, and fo doing, they fhould have and avoid his Difpleafure, and Danger
his Favour,
of Death
but if they refufed to for the contrary he would not (pare any Man whatfoever he were, that fhould tranfgrefs his Commandment, but put him to death, and give his Body to be eaten of the Fowls of the Air. They anfwered with one Voice, We are content with thefe Conditions, and will do whatfoever thou fhalt command
do
•,
ir,
us.
After this, Titus confidering
how
earneftly
Jerufalemites were fet one againft another, they were become fuch cruel Enemies, that
of them confpired the others Death,
the how
each he caufed t*h« 7
Pits
the Wars of the Jews.
io6
and Trenches that were about Je« damm'd up, and ftopt with Earth, that the Ways might be levelled for his Army. This done, he encampt himfelf nearer the Walls, againft which Attempt the Jews iffbed not out of the City after their accuftomed manner, to put them back from the Walls. For Schimeon was otherwife bufied, he had entertained Ten thoufand Men of the beft of the Seditious Jews^ and joined himlelf to Jacob the Edomite, Captain of Nine Thoufand Edomites^ with whom he had made a Confpiracy utterly to deftroy Captain Jehocbanan^ and fetting upon him, they compelled him to flee into the Court of the Temple, where he remained in the Gate of the Entrance of the Temple, with Eight thoufand and Four hundred good Men of War, ail well appointed in Jacks. Eleazar alfo was againft him, and' joined with Schimeon, becoming an Enemy to him that before had faved his Life, and fo they both together affaii Jcbochanan, negle&ing the Defence of the Town Pits, Citterns,
rujalem, to be
:
By
means the Romans encamped themfelves about the Walls at their Pieafure, railing Towers, and calting Trenches to plant their Battering Rams, this
down the Wails. The common People of
to beat
the Jews, that were under the Rule and Government of the three Seditious Captains, namely, Schimeon, Eleazar, and Jchochanan ( which' although they were ill enough all,
yet the Tyranny of fefiocbanan far palfed Schi-
and Schimeon was far worfe than Eleazari though Eleazar was the bead Author and firft Beginner of Sedition in ail IJrael ) were amongft them meon,
as
207
The Wars of the Jews.
For the aforefaid a Sheep ready to be kill'd. feditious Captains flew the People at their Pleafure, and divided them into Bands, cafting Lots fhould have which, fo that one upon them, as
Who
Man
had anothersMen, and another
his.
And thus
did they not only with their own Men, but alio with all the reft of the People, in fuch wife, that when the Romans made any Alfault, then joyned they together as one Man to refift the Romans h to whom when they had given a Rereturn to their Civil pulfe, then would they Wars, and fall together by the Ears among them* felves.
Extream and dreadful was the Civil Conflift at that Seafon, between the aforefaid Captains, and fo Blood ftreamed down the Channel out of the Gates of Jcrufalem, like as a Brook that runBeth out of a Fountain and Well fpring. The Romans feeing it, were mov'd with much Pity, fo that they wept bitterly. But Jofeph that was among them was ftricken with fo great Heavinefs, that he burft out into a forrowful Lamentation, lifting up fore, that the
his
woful Voice
Alas
!
Alas
!
wife Jerufalem the City of the Great
in this
How fhall I now ^ing Or what Name (hall I give !
:
thee at this
call
thee
?
Day
?
Sometimes thou
waft called Jehus or Jebufdius, that builded thee in all the Land. After this, thy Name wisZe-
firft
whereupon King Jeboram was for he was a righteous King , he reigned in tHee with therefore was thy Name Zedeck t Then Juftice, Righteoufnefs had abiding in thee , and thy bright Star that fhined in thee was Zedeck* More-
deckj that
called
is
Juftice
$
Melchizedeck , and becaufe
P
over.
io8
the Wars of the Jews.'
over in his time waft thou called Schalemfis the Scrip* ture witnelfeth, and Melcbizedeck King of Schalem $ and that becaufe the Equity of the People that dwelt in thee was then fulfilled. For at that time Abraham
our Father, of worthy Memory, fell to worfhip God in thee, and to take thee to his Inheritance, to plant in thee, the Root of good Works : Whereupon the ^Tabernacle of God remaineth in thee to this Day, as 'twas revealed unto the fame our Father Abraham: In thee (I lay) is the San&uary of the Lord. For in that Place did Abraham bind his only Son upon the top of one of the Hills that is cali'd Mount Moriab, holy and hallowed ^ and therefore art thou called Jcrufalem^ becaufe our Father Abraham (of famous Memory) cali'd the Place of San&uary Adonajurctb, the Lord fhall fee ^ then thy late Name being Schalem^ ihis joyned to it, made it Jicrefbalem. For the Lord God (hall behold the Place of thy Sanftuary, at what time it fliall be Schalem^ that is, pure, But whenfoever it uncorrupt without black or fpot this it is at defiled, or as t)ay, then will is polluted from Face it. artay his he turn Furthermore, thou art called Jerufalem^ therefore becaufe that whofo underftands the Dignity and Worthinefs of the Place wherein thy Santtuary is, (hall bid the Angels of Heaven to teach in it the Doctrines of tRe Holy Ghoft, and the Spirit of Wifdom and Undemanding, wherewith little Children, and He the Unlearned in thy Lands, may be made wife. on a Garhad Temple, alfo that miniftred in "the :
Violet, BylTe and that be aHeavens Purple. Scarlet in refpeft of the Colours Byfle and Violet feove the Firmament. Earth the (which be made of Flax) becaufe of
ment of
four Colours,
Scarlet,
The Wars of the Jews.
iog
of which they came. Finally Purple, in refpsft of the Sea where Purple is gotten. Therefore when as the Prieft came into the Temple to minifter, apparelled in thefe Four Colours, he (aid before the Almighty God, I am come to preLord of the World) fent my felf here in thy fight ( in Four Kinds of* Colours, that reprelent the Parts of the World, and in. luch wife do I appear before thee, as though I (hould bring all the whole World Moreover,the aforefaid Apparel was into thy fight garnifhed with pure Gold^ and precious Stones, after the likenefs of the Tribes of the Sons of Jacobs who was called Ifrael h that in that Garment, he might have the Sovereignty before the Angels that be above, and by them prevail to bring the Vertqp of the Holy Ghoft by the which they (hould obtain Wifdom that dwell in thee, and profper in their Study and Faith, that they might have Wifdom and Underftanding together His Loins alfc were girded with Linnen Slops, wherewith he covered his fecret Parts ( for it becometh Priefts moft of all other Perfons to be fhamefac'd and bafhful) elpecn ally when he (hould minifter in rhe TwoSan&uaries, the Outer and the Inner, which is the SanSu?n San8orum, or Holieft'of all. In the Ourir, the Priefts :
«,
;
minifter as the High-Prieft in the Inner, that
is in
commandeth them
:
but
the Sanffum Saritforum^nlxzi'a
no Man, fave the High-Prieft only,and that but once a Year. For in it was the Ark of rhe Covenant of the Lord, in which were laid up the two Tables of the Covenant that God made with the People in
Mount
There is alio rhe. Red of Aaron^ thai and brought torch Leaves. All rhefe were jn the Temple, whiles it was yet ffandifig^ OverSinai.
flourifhed
P
s
Sgaicft
%
2 jo
The
Wan of the
Je\vs.
theSan£uary, were fourteen Stairs or Steps, upon the which appear'd the Miracle to King Cbe-
againft
skiahu.
And thou Jerufalem at that time was ftronger than other Cities, Lady ot Provinces, for great Kings and Princes builded thee. King Herod much exalted thee,raifing thy Walls high} and befides that alfo, defended thee with other Walls, that he named Antochia, of Antocbas a Reman , who gave liberally much Money toward the repairing of the Ruines and Decays that were in thee. How cometh it to pals therefore, that thou art brought thus low, and the Gentiles have the Rule over thee now, and befiege thee, razing thee, and calling thee down > yfea, they are now in the midft of thee. Wo be to us for our fins For, the Heavinefs of thy ftrength is dalhed, thy Sanftuaiy is trodden under foot, and made a fink of the Blood of flain Perfons. Drink now off thy Cup ( O Jerufalem ) with thy Daughter Sion h drink I fay, the Cup of Vexation and Grief together with her, for yet the time (hall come, that Vifions (hail be revealed, and Redemption alfo it :
felt,
that
thy Children fhall return to their Coafts,
with the Health of their Redeemer. Then (hall be the time of Friendfhip, and then (halt thou drink the Cup of Health and Confoiation. After that, Titus went to view what way he might beft affuult the City^ and as he devifed with himfelf, he efpied a Plain on that fide where the Sepulchre of Jehochanan the High-Pnelt was ^ where he ftaied a while, and lent one of his Captains that were there with him, called A7cagor, to parly with the Jews^ that were upon the Walls, to
move them
to Peace, willing
him
to
fay
'
1
the Wart of the Jews. them
21
my
Lord Titus is deand to make a League with you, that you might be at quiet, and out of this danger of Deftru&ion ^ and it you be fo difpofed to content thereunto, Titus fhali make a League with you before it be yet Night. Nicanor went and fpake with the People in fuch wife as Thus had willed himThe Jews gave him no word of Anfwer, but held their Peace wherefore Nicanor fpake to them again, and as he was talking to them, one from the Walls (hot him with an Arrow, and killed him. Whereat Titus was exceeding wroth, that fay thus unto
^
Friends,
firous to fpare you,
they fhould (hoot at his Captain, ofFejing them r Peace, and his death grieved him marveloufly Wherefore he commanded Ladders, Brakes, Slings, battering Rams, and other Engines of War, to be brought to aflault the Town. So the Soldiers brought a battering Ram to batter the Walls, and planted it upon a Mount accordingly. The Jews feeing that, were fore afraid ^ wherefore the three Seditious Captains joyned themfelves in Friendfhip, and forthwith opening the Gates, if fued out, and beat the Romans from their Pieces ;
and Engines, that were now ready addrefled, fetting on tlie Ram, Slings, and all the other Engines, a few excepted, which Titus and his Men laved from the Fire. In this Conflift, the Men of Alexandria that ferved Titus, behaved themfelves like tail Fellows, in the refcuing of the Slings from the Jews yet the Jews h prevailed and got the upper hand of them, till .Titus came with a ftrong Power of choice Men to fuccour the Alexandrians, where Twelve of the ftouteft Jews were flain. fire
.
P
3
In
1%
i11
Wars of the Jews*
In the fame Skirmifh Jehochanan, a Captain of the Edomites that came to Aid the Jews^ was {lain by an Arabian that came behind him, and (hot him with an Arrow, whilft he was talking with the Ro-
ftuns that intreated
him
to
come
to them, for
whom
the Edomites mourned and lamented fore, for he was a good Man of War. The next Night certain of the Seditious, chiefly of Jehocbanaris and Scbitneoffs
Company
wooden Towers Walls,
what
to
the
iflbed out, and came to the three that Titus had ere&ed before the
view out of them the Town, and to fee within, which were placed, and
Jews did
without alfo a ftrong Party of able Soldiers for Defence : Upon thofe without fell the Jews, and flew many^ the other fled to Titus's Camp. The Romans that were in the Towers, knowing nothing of the matter, and trufting to them that were fee about the Towers for their Safeguard, flept all the Night. After the Jews had thus flain the Ro~ mans Watch; and put them to flight, they came to the Towers with Saws, and cut the Feet afunder, fo thac they fell fuddenly together with them that were within, which were very many, and flew them every one Titus hearing the Alarm, and the crafhing of the falling of the Towers, was fore afraid, and all the whole Army, and not knowing what the Matter was, they durftnot fiir towards it. So the their
•
Jews
returned Tafe into the
On
the
Power ,
fVall
,
Titus
brought
his
whole
to the Walls, and while the Jews- were at
Contention
Mam
Morrow,
Town.
in
the
Town
,
he addreffed another
wherewith he fuddenly ftruck the outer Whereupon the and battered it through People :
the Wars of the Jews.
213
People that warded that Wall, were forced to withdraw themfelves within the Safeguard of the fecond
Wall Then
commanded his Wall that he had
Titus
Soldiers to raze to the
pierced, and to carry the Stones thereof, that there fhould be no let or hindrance to his Men: This was the moft fubftantiai and ftrongeft Wall of ail, thicker than both The Rothe others, and was builded by Herod.
Ground
that
away
.
mans labouring
the defacing of the outer Wall, 'were flain in great Numbers by the Jews from the middle Wall, before they could finifh their purpofe.
earneftly
in
The chief of the Jews
perceiving that
Titus had not only taken, but aUo quite pulled down the outer Wall, and how there was now but two Walls left about the Town, it went to their Hearts, and made them look about them Therefore the Seditious began now earneftly to think of Unity and Concord among themfelves, fo that they divided the Town amongft them into three Wards. Jehocbanan was appointed to that Ward that is on the North part of the Temple befide the Antochia ^ that part of the Town that was- towards the Tomb of Jehosbanan the HighPrieft, was afiigned to Scbimeon ^ to Eleazar was committed the keeping of the Wall, Thefe exhorting one another to play the Men, did valiantly refift the Romans, fo that the Confli&s then began to be fore and hard. The Romans, for their Renown and Fame, laid on ftoutly, and the Jews again ftuck ftifly to their Defence, feeing their End at hand if they were flack. Titus now and then exhorting his Soldiers to play the Men, promifing them that :
would
valiantly
make any Enterprize upon the Jem, P 4 abundance
The Wart of f£*-Jew*.
» 14
abundance of Gold and Silver,
and much Honou?
withal. Then ftept forth one of the Soldiers named Longinus, and put himfelf amongft the Routs of the Jews, that were iffued out of .the Town,
where he flew a Couple of the chief of them, and prefently recovered himfelf again within the Array
of the Romans, but the Jews flirunk not from the Romans, for they were in a fervent Rage and wonderful Difdain * and to further their Courage, Schimeon came to his Men, and cryed unto them with a loud Voice, faying, For the Reverence of God (Friends) flee not this day ^ whofoever doth flee, let him be fure he (hall dye for \t k and his Houfe be deftroyed. Titus alfo admoniflied his to keep their Array, and not to give back to Schimeon. Then went he himfelf to that part of the Town where Jehocbanan\ Ward was \ there he caufed a battering Ram to be planted, and bent againft the Wall (for there was a very large Plain.) There was at that time in Jerufalem one call'd Kant or, who got him a Company of the Seditious, and (hot from the Walls into the Romans Army, where he flew very many, and compelled the reft to retire. This Kantor, \yith nine other tall Fellows, whereof he was the Decurion, defended
one part of the
Ram to
Town
:
Now
as the
the Wall, Kantor qryed unto Titus*, I befeech thee my Lord Titus, be merciful unto this moft famous City, that do not deface it is almoft beaten down already,
Romans bended the
but take Pity of the San&uary that is and deftroy not the Habitation of the Lord Titus at his Requeft commanded his Men to and to leave off battering the Wall Then faid
utterly, in
it,
God ft^y,
batter
:
The Wars of the Jews. he to Kantor^
Come
forth hither to
xtf
,
me, and thou
I will pardon thee, thou (halt (halt five thy Kantor anfwered, I will fee if not be deftroyed ^ to come with me. thefe my Fellows I can perfwade none other Caufe, colour, for upon did it But he whereby out time, he might trifle to than craftily off the Aflaulc for leave a while. td Titus caufe knew his Fellows which unto his Mind, So he fpake might bear, us down Let go Romans and that the Romans Then Army : they drew the to flee out their Swords as though they would kill felf,
him, and ftriking upon his Harnefs, he fell down to the Ground in the fight of the Romans, which were ignorant of his Deceit. Then one of the Romans let fly an Arrow, that wounded Kantor upon the Face, and glancing from him, flew another Then Kantor cryed out, What that flood by him. do ye ? Will ye (hoot at us that defire to be at Peace with you, which ye granted your felves, and now will break your Promife that ye made unto us ? Is this the Reward, my Lord Titus^ that thou renderfor going about to flee unto thee, that eft me (hoot at me, hearing me require Con* Soldiers thy Now, therefore my Lord, ditions of Peace ?
may
it
pleafe thee to
fend hither
fome
Man of
Honour, to whom I may come down and receive AfTurance of thy Promife to be as one of thy own Men. Titus thinking he meant good, faith, Speak unto Jofeph^ willing him to go and make Peace with the Jews in his Name, then to bring him unto him, that he might find fafeguard of his Life, from the common Deftro&ion Jvfeph anfwered, Why wilt thou fend me? What have I offended thee? Have I not ever done thee true and :
faithful
1
The Wars of the Je ml
2 6
Therefore if thou bear ftie any fend me not unto him whom I cannot Truft. For Jofeph miftrufted Ibme Subtilty, knowing Kantor afore. So Titus lent one Captain Jiarus, who faid unto Kantor, Come down, and let us go together to Q/ir5s Son* pftt# Kantor defired him to hold abroad his Cloak Lap, that he might hurle him down his Money that he had there, (left the Jews perceiving it, would take it from him) and then he would come down. And Jiarius held up his Lap to receive the Money that Kantor ipake of, Kantor with all his might caft dpwn a great Stone, which Jiarus efpying, leapt afide and avoided-, but it lighted upon one of his Fellows, and flew him. Titus was wonderful wroth at this, and forthwith planted yet another Ram againft the Wall, and at length laid it flat upon the Ground. Then commanded Titus to make Fires about the Wall, Where the Jews fhould think to efcape; Kanand as he made tor feeing that would have fled, hafte to cfcape the Fires, the weight of his Armour hare him down into the Fire, and there he died, more ^efirous of Death than Life. Then entred the Romans within the fecond Wall, agaihtt whom the Seditious iflued, and fought with *aithfai Service
?
good Will or Favour,
they prevailed againft the Romans, and forced the reft to retire unto the fiift Wall that they had
luch
vehement Force,
their Enemies, flew
beatwti
that
many of
down* before.
skirmilh Titus himfelf took a Bow, and (hot at the Jews in fuch wife, that not one but that it of his Arrows were fpent in vain, did In
this
The Wars of the Jews.
2 17
did fome Annoyance unto the Jews. The Jews notwithftanding gave them the Repulfe from the Town, and they were not able to make their Party good with them. Within four days after, came unto Titus a new Stipply of Soldiers out of all Quarters for Aid to the Romans, by whofe help they prevailed againft the Jews, at fuch time as they iffued
out of the Town, and contained them to withdraw themfelves within the Walls.
Yet
Titles
pitying
the
miferable
State
of the
and People of the Lord, at that time commanded his People to withdraw themfelves from the Walls, and to leave off the A£ fault for a while, that he might offer Peace ro the Jews, to fee if they would be now content to fubmit themfelves unto the Romans, to have quietneft and reft without danger of Deftruftion. Wherefore he gave them Truce for Five days-, and upon the Fifth day he came to the Gate of the City, where he ftraightway efpied Schimeon and Jebochanan together, preparing fire to deftroy the Romans Engines of War ^ for all the Jews had agreed together with one Mind, ftill to withftand to Romans. WhereCity,
Temple,
fore Titus perceiving the
Jews
to be fo defperately
had even vow'd their Lives to death, he began to offer and propole unto them Conditions of Peace, and fharply to reprove and blame their obftinaie Stubbornnefs, laying, I have now won two of your Walls, and ye have but one left There-
bent, that they
:
ye will continue ltill in this (elf willed frowardnefs, what will ye do (moft miferable Creatures) when as I fhall gain alfo the third Wall, and quite deftroy your City, pulling down your Temfore, if
ple
:
%i%
The Wars of the Jews,
Why do ye not rather favour and fpare your own Lives, your Wives and Children > But the Jews fet upon a fulien Obftinacy, would in no wife hear Titus fpeak.
pie and all?
Therefore Titus fent Jofepb to declare his Mind unto them in Hebrew^ that they might fafely credit his Promifes, and the Peace that was offered, Jofepb therefore went and flood over againft the Gate, keeping himfelf aloof off, for he was afraid to come nigh the Wall, knowing that the People hated him, becaufe he had yielded himfelf to the Romans He called therefore unto them aloud ^ Hearken all ye Hebrews and Jews^ I will declare unto you that which (hall be to your Commodity : Then the People gave Ear unto fofepb, who Ipake unto them in this wife.
A
N
The Wars of the Jews.
A N
ORATION
of Jofephus
TO THE Citizens of
JERUSALEM.
fhould YOU km have fought
good People of Jcruf* earneftly, whiles your ) Cities were yet ftanding, and your Lands replenifhed with People, ere even this Mifchief had lighted upon you : Now that with Murthers and Slaughters amongft your felves having deftroyed one another, and polluted the Temple of the SanQuary with the Blood of the Murthered, and not fpared your own Lives, you are become Tew in number, a fmall fort of you left, What hope have you to prevail ? Again, you have provoked a valiant Nation, which is Ruler over all People, and hath fubdued all other Lands, which alfo hath thofe Nations in fubjeftion under him, which fometimes reigned over you Befides this, you wage Battel with the Romans without all Difcretion and Wifdom, without any Remorfe of this Faere this ( fo
:
mous
zzo
Ike Wars of the Jews.
mous City, without any regard of the San&uary of the Lord, without any Corapaffion of your own Lives. Neither yet do you forfake your purpofe j for I perceive you continue in this felf- will to withftand the Romans ftill, which is nothing elfe than to fpread abroad this Calamity further, both on the People of God, and on his Holy Temple. Albeit, I am not afraid, only for this Temple, and moft reaowned City, left it fhould be razed and deftroyed, but for the Sacrifices and Burnt-OfFerings, left they fhould, ceafe, as. the daily Sacrifice is ceafed And why ? becaufe we have finned againft our Lord God. Wherefore is his Shadow departed from us ? Becaufe that in this fame Temple we haw kept Wars, making it an Habitiation for the Wicked, a Tabernacle for Seditious Perfons : yea, even the Minifters and Holy Men of God have ye murthered, and within the Walls of the Tample have ye ihed innocent Blood without Meafure. See now ( dear Brethren ) and mark what Ordinance, what Engines, what Inftruments of Deftruftion, are prepared to beat down the Temple, the Fire is already kindled to fet a fire to the :
•,
San&uary $ and lo, even your very Enemies are fo pitiful of your Temple, that they would not have it
defaced.
But you ( dear Brethren and Friends ) why are ye led with no remorf; of your felves, that your Enemies may once remove from you the Engines of War > What have you now left to truft unto, when as two of your Walls are already battered down, and one only remaineth ? You will fay peradventure, we put not our truft in our Wall* bat
The Wars of the
Jem.
221
but in our God : Are ye not aware. that your God hath long ago given you over, and hath turned him to your Enemies, becaufe they have with greater Honour and Reverence worfhipped his Name, than rebellioufly are fallen away from him ? Wherefore God aflifteth not us, but our Enemies, infomuch, that except it be in fuch Countries, whereas either for extream Cold on the one fide, or exceeding Heat on the other, no Man is able to abide ^ all Lands, all Nations, are under their Dominion. Tell me^ I pray you, what hope have you, feeing God hath made them a Terrour unto all Nations upon
we which
Earth who ferveth them ? Why will not you obey them, that you may live and not peDo ye not confider it is come to their turn rifh ? to rule over all, that God hath committed Dominion unto them, and aided them with his the
Alfiftance.
Remember you
not
how God
in times paft
aided
infomuch that they obtained the Dominion over all the whole World, but afterward departed from them, and affifted you to get the Sovereignty over other Nations ? After that, forfook you again, and gave the Empire to the Chaldeans^ AJfyrianszxAYerfians, which reigned far and wide over many Countries Now alfo hath he given them over, and helpeth the Romans thefe many Years, fo that they bear Rule over all. If you will objeft and fay, To what intent (hould God give the Dominion unto the Romans^ or other Nation over the World, and over his Inheritance and People alfo, which is an holy People, a peculiar and fpeciai Nation of all the Earth ? Should ye not the JEgyptians^
:
22 2
The Wars of the Jews.
afhamed to fay this ? With what difcretion cart you wonder at this, knowing that all Mankind, one or other, are the handy- work of God, who exalteth whom he lift, and whom he lifteth he thrufteth down ? Ye fay, ye be the Children of God, and his proper PofTeffion, and ye afpire to the So-
fee
therefore it cannot be that God fhould determine any thing upon you by Chance, Fortune, or fudden Anger and Difpieafure. I grant it But wot he what ? The Shadow or Prote&ion of the Lord hath forfaken you, becaufe of your Sins and TranfgrefTions againft the Temple and his holy Mivereignty,
:
nifters.
How can you ftay upon his help^ when as he hath withdrawn his loving Countenance from you, and your Sins have made a Divorce between you and him > O my dear Children and Brethren, let never this Imagination enter into your Hearts* for it (hall nothing avail you ? Why will you, my dear Brethren and Friends, make War upon the Romans^ when as they are Lords over Nations, and pierced the Streets of lndia^ and all thelflesof the Sea, even to the great Ocean Sea ^ and from thence to all the Parts of the Eaft, whofe Dominion extendeth to the extream Parts of the Earth? Yea even to Britain^ which is environed on every fide with Seas, whofe People are huge, like Giants, of a big Stature, and mighty Courage, moft expert Archers, and valiant Soldiers in Battle ^ to whom when the Captain of the Romans came, they gave him the Repulfe, and would not be fubdued-, but when the Princes of the Romans cm\^ they brought them into Subje&ion and Servitude under the Romans. But you fay (my Brethren and Friends) you will
^
TkeWars df
*i|
the Jews*
than ferve the Prince of the is better for you than Life, to be driven to fee with your Eyes the Calamities of the San&uary of the People of God. Search the Hiftories and Chronicles from the Time of will rather all die,
Gentiles^ and that
Death
your Anceftors. When was there any time wherein you were free from the Yoke of the Gentiles? Do you not know that Jacob our Father of Worthy Memory, who was always with God, took his Journey into JEgypt^ to be a Stranger in a ftrange Land, amongft a proud kind of People, left He, his Children, Houftiold and Cattle, ftiould perifli With Hunger ? There he had With him his twelve Sons which he had begotten, and dwelt there alfo with his fmall Family, for fear of the grievous Famine that was at that time* Remember you not, when that Judas with his Brethren went down into Egypt how Jofeph was moved as a Stranger, to pick a
Quarrel againft his Brethren, to bring them into Bondage, bearing yet in his Mind what Injury they had done unto him ? Wherefore fome cf them he caft into Prifon, and wronged them at his Pleafure, with crafty Accufations efpecially* Judas^ who was the Chief amongft them, of whom all the Jews took their Name, who if he had been fo difpofed, had been able to lay Jofeph at his Foot a thoufand times, not knowing him to be Jofeph : Wherefore when he was fo roughly and fo fharply taunted of him, he might have killed him in his Rage $ for he was a very bold Man, and a hardy, and of a very noble Courage, who furely would have counted it nothing to have (lain the Egyptian , and foany mo'r£ of thera Notwithftanding he did • not Q, -
*
,
Ifo Wars of the Jews,
124 not fo,
but contrary fubmitting himfelf under the
Yoke of Jofeph,
called
him
his
Lord and good
Matter, and luppofing him to be fome Mgyptiany he humbled himfelf before him, to obtain his Petition and to get Corn, left his Father, his Brethren, and their Family fhould dye for Hunger.
What fhould I fay of Jofeph, fo beautiful, fa wile and witty a Man ? Was not he fain to fcrve in Pharaoh's Houfe ? wherein although his Wifdom was well known, infomuch that Pharaoh let more by him than by all the Noblemen that were then alive He was alfo caird Lord, great Matter, and Pharaoh's Father ^ neverthelefs he humbly beftught Pharaoh, that he might fuftain his Father and Brethren with Bread, knowing at that time the Dominion belonged unto Pharaoh and his People, being given them of God, And although Jofeph had lilt to return into the Land of Canaan ^ with all hfs Fathers whole Houfhold without Pharaoh's leave y. no Man could have letted hit* to do it , for he bare the greatett Rule Benja„at that time in Mgypt, yet he did not fo. win alfo was likened to a ravening Wolf for his fiercenefs, when he was fetch'd again by force of Jofeplfs Steward, feigning aLye upon him how chanced he did not kill him ? Or elfe when he alone purlued Benjamin and his other Brethren ^ could not he, if he had lift, have flain the Man and buried him, fo that the Matter (hould never have come to light ? Notwithftanding they did noBut Judah wifely weighing the thing fo, nor fo Directions the Promotions and Exaltations and , Difgraces, -with the common Ceurfes of the World, :
:
return-
^
the Wars of the Jews. r eturned
again with
his Brethren
into
f
the
'215 City,
went to Jofeph and befoughthim, until his Bowels were moved to pity and he was known of his Brethren-
All thefe things doth the moft Holy Law of the Lord rehearfe unto us, and putteth us in mind of for this Intent that we may learn to bear for Neceflities fake ; the Yoke of him that hath the Pre-eminence and Rule for his time. Neither let any judge or think that Jofeph offended God, in that he fubmitted himlelf under the Yoke of Pbaraob, for it is no (hame for a wife Man to couch unto him whofe help he ftandeth in need of, whatfoever it be, much more if he be a King or a Lord: Know ye not that our Fathers were in Bondage to* King Pharaoh in Egypt ? But after the Lord remembred the Covenant that he
made with our
Fathers,
and had determined to
them out of Egypt ^ he fent Mofes our Mafter of famous Memory, his Angel, his Chofen, who knew the Lord to be with him, whereby he was able to deftroy whofoever did rife againft him Neverthelefe when he came to Pba* raoh\ Prefence, who then bare Rule in Egypt, he fhewed himfelf in Arms, but rather with Thunder and Hail, that Pharaoh might well perceive and know God was the Lord. But at what time as Phalead
:
raoh opprefled the Ifraelitcs too lore, our Mafter Mofes ( by God's help ) brought them out of Egypt with a ftrong Hand and ftretched forth Arm, againit the Egyptians^ whom he punifhed with continual* Plagues by that means delivering the Jfraelites :
of the hands of their Lords and Matters, and Bringing- them to the Mount of God, made them
Qr 2
Heirs
n6
the
W& of
Heirs full of ail Goodnefs
moft Holy
the Jews. *
that is to fay,
of the
Law of God.
And
after Jojhua had fubdued the Holy Land and that they inhabited it, there Jfraelites^ the to chanced unto our Fathers many Adverfities, as is mentioned in the Books of the Prophets, fo that they were conftrainedto ferve the King of Afhur a long feafon,and the Kings of Per/la : To the CbaU
we in Bondage, although not very but tolerable. Moreover, with other Kings of the Gentile* viz had Wars, and fometimes we were put to Foils, fometimes we had the Upper-
dees aifo were grievous,
hand.
Now
therefore,
my
Brethren, tell
me what ftiame
Romans ? you to be compared to other Nations that be under their Dominion? Do you not fee that the Romans Reign over your Enemies, and bear Rule over them, tha^ fometimes were our Matters, and hate us? Were itnotreafon that you fhould love them, which have brought down your Enemies, and revenged you of them? Which notwithftanding you have nothing at all done, but rather have hated them, as Men void of all Perfeverance, without weighing and confining, that fince the time you were under them, ye have always lived
were
it
to you, if ye were fubjeft unto the
Or what
are
much Peace. And I my felf, when I withftood the Romans in Galilee^ knew very well that I (hould be overcome at length, but I could do nothing becaufe of the leditious Perfons that were with me, which would in no wile follow *my Counfel : Yea, it flood me in Hand to have a care of my own Perfon, that I were not killed of them, after I had once counfelled and moved them to give up die in
Town.
j
,
227
2&? Wars if the Jews.
Towni Wherefore feeing the Matter flood fo, and God knew my Heart, I thought beft to fight againft the Romans y as I might, and when occafion ferved Romans, to take it. Further, ( when I was in the Cave with my forty Companions, ) I had been loft and perifhed, had not God given me Counfel, making me a way to efcape and fave my Life. For they had alnjoft flain me, becaufe I gave them Council to yield themfelves to the Romans ^xA obey them. For I faw this was the time of the Romans to bear Rule, and that God hath appointed them to be Lords over all NatiFor this is bis manner, like as above he hath ons. made fome to be Rulers over other fome, even fo beneath alio he hath fet Rulers over the Kings of the Earth. Who can Controul him ? Who is Stronger than he > The Romans at this preient have the Dominion over all Lands and People, over the Egyptians, Ajjyrians, Perfians and Cbaldees, ( to every one of thefe you have been in Bondage ) and over other Nations alfo, which neverthelefs do Till their Ground, Sow, Mow, Plant, and gather in their Fruits : And who hath the Profit of thefe Goods and Labour but the Romans ? who whiles the other Toil and Travel, do live in Peace and reft to efcape
to
the
.
themfelves.
Wherefore mark this alfo, my Brethren, the Kings of Macedonia once had jhe Rule of the whole World, efpecialiy in the time of Alexandra of Macedonia^ but at this Day their Empire is taken from them, and they are become Subje&s to the Romans. They, when the Romans firft fee upon them, were very haughty and ftubbowi, determining
a
3
*>
2i8
the
Wms of the
Jews;
notwichftanding they were refill the Romans : over-ccme of the Romans, and are under their fubWhat fhould I fpeak of the je£tion< at this day. of Fkiliftines, which heretofore always People the annoyed and have vexed you*> doth not the meaneft amongft all the Princes of the Romans beat Rule over them? to
What hope then have you to efcape, when ye know the tbiliftines were ever ftronger than you, and you were oftentimes overcome of them ? As for example. Saul your King was flain by them. But you will fay David, the Anointed of the Lord of If rael, pulled them down, and brought them into fubje&ion. Wot yc what > then God looked upor you with a favourable Countenance, and foughi your Battels himltlf but at this day he is in n< wife prefent with you, for he hath turned away hi Countenance cf Salvation from you, becaufe ye hav finned againlt him. And which of you can lay, b hath Intelligence of the Secret of the Lord, c l^uh received any fuch Watch- word as God g&\ it that time unto David > When thou fi)alt bti a found of Mourning in the Tops of Mulbcrr Treeh^tnn JfjaJt thou Jet forward \ for tbenfh (he Lord £0 before thy taee, Jmite the Tents a* Gimps of the Ibi/ijiincs, 2 Sam 5. Whofoever ( fay ) bath knowledge of any fuch Token, let h reveal it 10 his Neighbour, and I could well co lent to. follow Mt. But feeing there is no fuc thing, hearken unto me, my dear Brethren, Com and fcrve the Romans in Peace and Tranquil xy. If (hall be no difhonefty for you, with the King, of Jttrfa to be fubjett to the Romans : They thai :
:
,
fomc-
the Wars of the Jews.
1129
fometime were your Matters, fhall be now your Fellows and Companions. But if you will perfevere, and ftand in your Opinion ftill, I will enter Tell me, I pray into this Difcourfe with you! you, when were ever your Anceftors free, and when were they not entangled with the Wars of the Gentiles, and the Dominions of other Nations ? Had you not ever the Viftory from the time you came out of JEgypt, until the Reign of Saul the Son of Gs * bo long as the Lord was your King, you were in Bondage to no Man, you ferved God as your only King. But after that your evil and corrupt Defire ftirred you to be irkfom to the Lord, and, left he (hould reign alone, to chufe a Man to have the Dominion over you,, according as the Cuftom was in other Nations (I mean Squl the Son of Gw, and the other Kings every. one) then ferved you him, you and your Sons, and the chiefeft of you became his Servants, your goodlieft Daughters were made his Confe&ionaries, ^his Cooks, and his Bakers. After Saul, reigned David, of worthy Memory, who ruled over many Nations But he alio brought you into Bondage, and put divers of you to death, to fatif fie his Pleafure withal. He being dead, you ferved Solomon his Son, who no lefs than the other, even as he lifted, exercifed Dominion over you He alfo took up your Sons and Daughters, and made them :
:
his Slaves.
After this , fucceeded other moft wicked., Kings 5 fo that from that time your Country began to go to wrack, and he that was the beft amongft them was Rehoboam , which faid unto you, My father corrected., you with Whips, .
Q, 4
but
?b% l#ars of the, Jem:
252
j
of the World, but
rather let your Eleftion follow the Caufes and Events of the fame * which if you do, you fhall be efteemed with wife Men. Now, my dear Country -men, never think it fhame for you to lerve the Romans ^ it is time for you now to turn to the Lord with your whole Heart, and then you fhall have the Dominion over other Nations, according to your defire : This^lL then come to pafs, when you follow your Lord God with. all your Strength,, Therefore never think that the Romans, which hare rjale over you at this day, are of lets -Power j&an mother People, that For heretofore have had Dominion over yew. they are a mighty Nation their Empire an4 Rule over other People, they have fr<3m above* as I have proved to you by the fitrrilkudes of brute Beafts, which according vo Nature bear rule one ovef anoNotwithftaiiding, in Mankind, it (hould never ther \
:
have come to
pafs, that the
Bigger fhould fo have
Dominion over the lefs, unlefs f or their Sins * for the which they are fo punifhed, that one is compelled
bow
Neck under
anothers Yoke. People, take Humility and Meeknefs unto you, never covet to alter th$ Law of Nature, but receive my Words, and follow my Couniel- obey the Romans, prepared and ready to to
Now
his
therefore,
my
de<*r
make League with you, according to their fulnefs, that ye may live and do full well.
bounti-
CHAP.
the Wars of the Jews.
CHAP. ^^^THen J&fepji
V V
II.
had fpoken thefe Things, in
the hearing of the Citizens of Jerufalem^ theyburft out and wept, gnaftnng with their Teeth, and railed at Jofeph over the Walls, hurling Stones
and Darts at him, to have killed him. Therefore when Jtfepb faw they would not follow his Counrebuke fel, but were fo ftiff-necked, he began to them, crying unto them in this wile, Woe to all froward People, and fuch as rebel againft the Lqrd God! What mean ye you Wretches? what have ye to lean unto, that ye arefoftubborn, when, neverthelefs, the Lord is gone from you? For you are wicked People, and have finned againft him. How can your* Sins be purged which you have committed in the Temple of the Lord, by fhedding of innocent Blood without all Mercy? Ye are moft guilty, for ye have fought in the Temple and Sanftuary of the Lord, ye have defiled it with dead Bodies of them, which ye have flam in the very midft thereof. Befides5 ye have prpphaned and unhallowed the Name of the Lord with making of Wars upon the Sabbath-day, and upon your folemn and feftival Days. Tell me now, ye froward Rebels, whether tlid ever your Forefathers prevail againft their Enernies, with Spear and Shield^ but rather with Prayer, Penance, and Pureaefs of Heart, wherewith they ferved God, and again he delivered them? But you, what have you to truft unto, when as ye are unfaithful? youi Shelter and Protection is depatted from you, and
'Wan of the Jews. and your Lord God aideth yourEnemies^hofePow-
234
« he maintaineth
to deftroy you If you nuagine to be delivered with your Swords and Spears, you are fully deceived, whereas God would not tJttt ye :
Ihould efcape the Hands of your Enemies. Open your Eyes, and fee what David the Anointed of the Lord laid j For the Lord will fave neither by Sword nor Spear. Call to your Remembrance ( ye very Fools ) Abraham your Father which begot you, by what means he overcame Pharaoh the King ol Egypt^ who violently had taken away Sarah his Wife from him : Surely none other way did he obtain the Vi&ory than by Prayer to the Lord, who ftirred th$ Spirit of'Pharaoh and put him in mind to reftore his Wife Sarah$ clean and undefiled. Abraham was quiet in his Bed, and at reft from all Troubles ^ hut Pharaoh% that great Lord and Ruler, was punifhed in the mean leafon with great Plagues, becaufe of Sarah^ whom he had taken to him by Violence to deflower her, which God would not fuffer, but rather uncovered Pharaoh's Flefh, that he was fain to (hew the fecret Parts of his Body to Phyficians, to fee if they could heal them. But who can cure the Infirmities which God fends ? or who knows his Intents? For who knew that fjezekiah's Biles could be healed with a Plaifter of Figs ? or Naaman the Syrian's Leprofie with the Water of
Jordan* or the bitter Water with Wormwood? Wherefore when as no Man could cure l^araoh^ he ,vas fain to fpeak Abraham fair , and to wtreat him to pray to God to take away from him his Plague, and fo by his Prayer Pharaoh recovered.
Then
the Wars of the Jews.
$
Then Pbaraob apparelled Sarah in precious Garments, gave her Gifts of Gold and Silver, and precious Stones, and fent her home honeft, pureand holy to Abraham, living then at his own Houfe, Ifaac when he was driven out by Abitnelech King of the Phi/ijiines, and had with him the Bond-
Houfhold to the number of 18, with whom Abraham had difcomfitted five Kings, befide many other more of his Family, fo that he had been ftrong enough to have invaded but with the Philiffines ^ yet he would not do it all Meeknefs and Humility he ufed himfelf towards the King of that Country. Notwithftanding, after he was driven out of the Land, the PhilYftincs came unto him, and entreated him, faying, We perceive the Lord is with thee, &c, as it is written in the Scripture. What fhall we # lay of Jacob, , when he fled from the prefence of his Brerher Efau^ he carried nothiog with him but a bare Stafl^ wherewith he paffed over the River Jordan, as it is written ; With my Staff paffed I this Jordan. His Ammunition that he took with him for his Journey, was Prayer, wherewkh he made all his Wats, rhat was it for the vmich God affilted him, when be went away to Laban, and when he returned From him ; when alfo he was delivered out of the Hands of his Brother Efau, who fought to kill hint. And this alfo he did by the way as he returned, when he»wreftled with a certain Man that over:ame him. fervants of his Father's
Soo and
Lord, Who is able to number the Mercies of Lord, and the Marvels which be vt' ought with >#r Fathers of worthy Memory, Abraham, fftae, 'he
and
the Wars of the Jews. i& end Jacob? What fhould I fpeak of Mofes cur 2,
Shepherd, the Man of God, that feared the Cruelty of Pharaoh, until he writ in the Law, That he had called the Name of his'Son Eleazar : for he laid the God of his Father helped him, and delivered him out of the hands of Pharaoh. And when he came before Pharaoh to deliver Ifrael qut of his hands, and to lead them out of Egypt ^ With what things elfe overcame he the Tyrant withal than with Prayer > Did he not overthrow the Pride of Pharaoh and his Charmers, only with the Rod of the Lord which he had with him ? Wherewith alfo he fmote Egypt with ten Plagues, and divided the Sea into twelve Parts. And at the Red Sea Mofes not Pharaoh and his ffoft with force of Arms, but with Prayer wherefore Pharaoh and of the Sea. But bottom the his were dftwn'din all unto our God, while Praife of fung a Song Mofes that came perifhed, Egyptians the the Soldiers of Weawith of Ifrael, People againft Mofes and the pon^ Horles and Chariots. refitted
:
by Mess's Prayer they were over-whelmed all in the Sea, fo that not one of them efcaDed.- Who is ignorant of this, that Prayer is of more force than all Inftrumems of War? that it fpeedeth and hatfeneth the Help of the Lord, and Notwithftanding,
his faying Health
>
Do
you not know, when Jo-
Minifter ©f Mofes, paffed over'•Jordan, that he was a warlike Man,- and had with him very many moft valiant Soldiers } neverthelefs, he dellroyed not rfhe feven Walls of Jericho by force of War, but only with Prayer, and with fhouts noife of the Priefts of the Lord, our Fore(hua the
:
and
fathers
>
Ik Wars of
the
Jem.
z$j
Know ye not that Prayer availed Gideon, fathers? when as he, with three hundred Men, vanquished the whole Hoft of Midian^ Amateck, and the People of theEaft: If Pjayer had not helped him, I pray you, what had three hundred Men been able Mark (ye fond to do againft fo great a Multitude ? in the Covenant chanced of the Lord^ what People) away. took Pbi/ijli/ies that the Our Fathers truly were not able to recover it by iheir Swords and force of Arms^ but with that Prayer that the juft Man of that Age made, the Ark was brought again to his Place. Confider the times of Hezekiub King of Judab, when as Senacberib King of AJhurh came up blafpheming^and railing upon the Sanftuary of the Lord our God of Hofts, breathing outthe rride and Malice of his Heart. By what means was he overthrown ? Did our FaNo, withthers overcome him by force of Arms > out doubts but with Prayer and Supplication. For Hezekiab the King went and put on Apparel meet for Prayer inftead of a Shield, he took Sackcloth } for a Helmet, he cait Duft on his Head and inftead of Arrows and a Sword, he made ufe of Prayer and Supplication. And the Prayers that Hezekiab made, mounted fo far as an Arrow was never able to flee ^ fo that his Petition and Prayer overthrew one hundred eighty five thoufind, moft valiant Men of the Hoft of Senacberib. Furthermore,, the King of Judab, and King of IJrael, and King of Edom, joined their Powers together, invaded the Moabites, and in a Wildernels, and unoccupied and* barren dry Land , they were in great Peril
and Thirft ^ what profited them, their and Furniture of War ? Did there not
tillery
>vVI /Jut
*
ArilTue
out
«
238
the
Wan
oftkc jews.
out for them at the inftant Prayer of E/iJha, a Prophet and Man of God, plenty of Water in the Dea Brook in the Wiidernefs ? Came it not to pafs alio by the Prayer of the fame Eli/ha^ thait a
fart,
wonderful Hurly-burly, a Rumbling and Ratling of Chariots of War, and of Horfes, was heard in the Camp of the Syrians^ befieging the City of SaMaria^ with the which noife thtSyrians; being afraid, fled * no Man purfuing, or following them ^ Ye know alfo, that by the Prayer of the aforcfaid Prophet, the Famine and lack of Vi&ualS that was in the Town of Samaria^ was turned into great Abundance and Plenty * infomuch that thirty Epha's, pr Meaftfres
of fine M§al, were fold for one Piece of Silver. Do ye not fee (moft foolifh Men) how oat Forefathers had the Victory ever by Prayer ? But let us come to the beginning again, and fpeak <5f Mofcs. What time as he held up his hands towards Heaven ^ had not Ifrael the upper-hand of the Amale kites by his Prayer? Jejhua aifo by his Prayer^ flayed the Sun and Moon in the fight of the People of Ifrael ; and the Sun flood ftill in Gibeab^ and the Moon in the Valley of Ajalon^ that the Evening was changed into Noon-day , ana fo Ifrael vanquifhed their Enemies.
Sampjon alfo, that moft valiant Giant, until fuch wnc as he had finned, did not God evermore hear his Prayer, and ever he gat the Vi&ory thereby ? After he had once finned, he decayed as any other # mean Perfon. LikewifeKingSW,
all the
while he walked per-
and purely, his Prayer increafed his valiantnefs and ftrength, but after he had once finned, God left him, and gave kirn over. Davia fectly
the Wars of the Jem. David alfo, King of lfrael% of famous Memory, from the time of his Youth, till his laft end, his Vaand why ? Becaufe he liantnefs never failed him ; neither would he Prayer his by help'd always was ever fight againfl his Country men and Native PeoWherefore he ple, when as Saul perfecuted him. and becaufe he abprevailed againft his Enemies stained to lay his hands upon his Brethren, therefore
afterward all Nations feared him.
Did- hot A/a King of Juda, accompanied with number of Men, make an Expedition againft the Ethiopians? And praying to the Lord God, faid on this wife, We indeed know not vabat to do, but our Eyes are bent upon thee, &c. Which Prayer the Almighty did hear, #and the Vi&ory followed, fo that A/a flew in the Camp of the Ethiopians Ten hundred thouland Men. Deborah, a Proa fmall
phetefs,
by her Prayer brought to pals great Health
Inlfrael.
What fhall I tell of divers other Juft and GodWomen, which by their Prayers obtained maay things > Tell me ( ye mad Men ) know ye not ly
what Amaziah King of Juda did ? he having Wars with the Edomites, vanquilhed them, and led .them Prifoners with their Wives and Children, arid Idols alio,
to Jerufalem h and then fell worfhipping of the fame Idols, that he had taken from the Edmites^ faying unto them, Ye are .they that have faved me, therefore do I worfhip you, and by you have I overcome the Edomites. To whom when a Prophet of the Lord came md asked him, why feekeft thou and ferveft the Sods of that People that were not able to deliver to
•
•
R
them
We Wars of the
240
Jews.
them out of thy hand
> By and by he taunted the Prophet again, faying, Who made thee of the King's Council ? Wherefore after that* he was no more reprehended of the Prophgt for the Lord had determined to deftroy him, as it is written in the Books of the Chronicles of the Kings of Juda. Therefore he was taken Prifoner afterward like a Fox, when he had fought ajgainft Joas King of Ifrael in Betbjhemetb and fo was he compared to a low and vile Thorn and Shrub, and Joas unto the noble and high Cedar-Tree. Yea, all the Evils that ever hapned unto us in any Age, it came of our felves, for our Lord God is Righteous in all his Works, that ever he wrought upon us : Our Enemies never did us fo much harm, as we our felves did unto our felves. Ye wot, the Gentiles took the precious Veffels of our Sanctuary away to Babel^ and brought us them again undefiied ; but we polluted and defiled them our felves, and the Temple alio with innocent Blood, which we fhed abundantly within it, adding fins to fins ever more and more, breaking the Law with our evil A&s.
For who brought .the Romans firft againft the City of Jerufalem^ but Hircanus and Arijiobulus ? For they being at Diflention betwixt themfelve?, and one hating the other, called the Romans Who brought Antonius % and againft this City. Sofius h Princes of the Romans^ againft Jerufalem^ but Herod being at variance for the Kingdom with Who alfo called the Houfe of the Chafmonanites ? Nero Cdtfar to reign over us ? Did you it not your
Now
why
ye againft the Empire and Dominion of the Romans ? If you will felves
?
therefore
rebel
.
,
1
|
the Wars of the Jews.
241
Becaufe the Roman Prefident Edomeus ordered you too bad ^ had it not been meet rather to complain of Mm to the Emperor, than to rebel againft the Romans, and to make War againft them ? But you will fay, We rebelled againft Nero Cefar, be* cayfe he did us too much wrong. Wherefore then fay,
rebel ye
now
againft Vefpafian Cafar, a moft merci-
Man, and one which never hurt you ? Or^ why make ye not Eeace with his Son to be under him, ful
according as other Nations be, that ye might live,
and not
pejifli
?
Have ye not a fufficient Proof of his Clemency and Mercifulnefs, when as he had caufe to be cruel upon no Man fo much as upon me, which drew out my Sword againft the Romans, and killed many of them? Notwithftanding, neither he nor the reft of the Romans have done ye any harm. Yea, rather they have beftowed many Benefits upon me*, and although I was in their hands, yet they faved my I confefs, that before they had me Prifoner, Life. I would gladly many time have fled to them, but I could nevej: do it, for I was ever afraid of my wicked Companions, left they lliould have killed me, and fo my death had been to no purpofe. But
now
I
praife the
Lord
God without cekfing,
his unmeafurable Mercies fake, he
me
that for
would not
fuffer
to be entangled in the fame Mifchiefs that
you
Neither would I with to be Companion of iuch loft Uuthrifts and Caftaways as you be, which have flied the Blood of Innocents in the Temple of be
in.
the Lord.
Indeed if
I
had been with you,
R
2
I
fhould have
been
Wars of
24*
the
Jews.
hope as ye be, feeing ye fpare not jrour own Lives, and your own Contumacy and Stubbeen void of
bornnefs
with Lord
made
is
how
all
a Snare for you.
great Mifchiefs
See, I pray you,
you are laden.
Firft,
the
not amongft you, infomuch that through the Tumults which you have made amongft your felves, almoft the Waters of Shiba are dried up, which heretofore, when the Nations made War againft you, flowed in great abundance, and ran over the Banks on both fides. But you are the moft contumacious Rebels that ever provoked the Lord God unto Wrath, you have made Slaughters oneupon another, in the midft of the Temple of the Lord How can then the Glory of the Lord dwell amongft you ? Know ye, not becaufe of Korah and his Congregation, the Lord faid unto Mofes and to Separate your felves jrom among this his People Congregation^ and I Jhall confume them in the twinkling of an Eye. is
:
:
But you are far worfe than they For without all remorfe or pity, ye pull down the Temple of the ord with your own Hands,and you*felvesfet on fire the San£iuary,which moft Noble King$,and moft HoAnd befides ail this, ye neily Prophets builded And although ther fpare your Sons, nor Daughters. :
J
;
be in the Ronmns Camp, yet I am not abfent from you, for my moft dearly beloved Wife is prefect with you, the Wife of my Youth, whom 1 canI
fet lightly by at this prelent, although I never But rather love her moft had Children by her Ttirely, hecaufe fhe came of a moft honeft and My dear Father and Mother are alG<)8ly Moufe. io with you, very aged Perfons * for my Father is
not
:
a
at
The
Warmdf
the
Jews.
24$
at this day an Hundred and three Years old, and my But the Years of my Mother Fourfcore and five Life are very few, evil and full of Tribulation and s
about Threefcore and Seven, neither have fo long, that according to Nature I
Sorrow, I lived
yet
fhould defire to
Now
die.
be you truft not me, but have propofed thefe things to you deceitfully, and that there is no truft of Titus's Covenant and Bond, or that his League fhould be to Go to, if it your Hindrance and Difcommodity
fuppofe
therefore, if fo
I
to pals, it fhall be Lawful lor you to kill my Father and Mother, and my Wife: Yea, I fwear unto you by the Lord our God, that I fhall deliver my Life alfo into your hands, that you may do with me what ye lift and by that means fhall the Blood of my Parents, my Wife's, and mine, be in
come
Pledge.
Therefore let the Ancients of the City come and I will make a League betwixt them and our Lord Titus ^ and doubt ye not, but as hitherto the Lord God would you fhould be affli&ed and punifhed by the Government of the Romans h fo hereafter he fhall benefit you thereby, and do you good, if fo be you will once acknowledge and confefs that all Dominion is changed and altered at his Commandment, and that God humbleth whom he lifteth, and again whom he lifteth he fttteth uloft But perfuade your felves of this, that as long as ye refufe to be fubjeft unto the Romany fo long you ftir againft your felves, God's Wrath and high Difpleafure And beliefs that, vou do deforth,
:
;
ll
3
fer
Wars
244 for the longer,
and prolong your Redemption a n4 your felves, but alfo to
Deliverances, not only to
your Pofterity.
Now
therefore, my Brethren J thought it my part to declare all thefe things to you, and it is in your power to chule whether you lift : for whofo will, let
him give
ftain
from
ear unto
me, and
who
not,
let
him
ab-
my CounfeL
The People
Words and Sayings for they wonderfully, wept could have been content to have followed his CounfeL At this time, Titus gave Commandment to all the Romans, to fend again the Jews that were Pr ifoners, and the Slaves into the City : By which means he fhifted from himfeif the Blood of the Jew^ and laid it upon the Necks of their Matters ^ for Titus took pity of them through JqfepVs Ora-
of Jofeph the
hearing
thefe
Prieft,
tion, and his good CounfeL The common People of the Jews defired nothing more, than to have come forth, and fall to. an Agreement, to make
Peace with Titus
but Schimeon, Eleazar and Jebo* $ chanan, Captains over the Seditious, fet ftrong Watch and Ward at every Gate, charging them to kill all that fhould go forth Thus were many killed which would have fled forth to Titus, and the City of Jerufalem was clofed up, and no Man could get out nor in. In the mean fealbn fell a great Dearth and Famine in Jerujalem, infomuch that the Se:
ditious fearched every Man's
Houfe and Cellar for
Food.
And
becauft a certain Houfholder withftood they killed him. Thus they dealt with all them that dwelled at Jerufalem, till the -Vi-
them,
ctuals in the
Town was
all
fpenr,
that
Men
be-
gan
the Wart of the Jews.
245
gan to feek Dung and even Man's Excrements to ear, by which means much of the People died for Hunger. Whofoever at that time could get any Herbs or Roots, Mice, Serpents, or other creeping Worms ( whatfoever they were ) to eat, he was counted happy, becaufe he had found Meat to fuftain and iave his Life withal, in that hard Famine and terri« ble Hunger. Moreover, whofoever had any Corn in ftore that no Man knew of, he was afraid to fend it to the Mill, or bake it, becaule of the Wickednels of the Seditious, left they mould take away from them their Suftenance ; wherefore many did eat the dry Corn unground in their Cellars privily.
At that time alfo were many exceeding rich Men which ftole Meat one from another, fo that the Father fnatched Meat from the Son, and ihe Son from the Father 5 the Mother fnatch'd from her Children, the Children likewife from their Mother^ andfuch as fled out of the Gates, or otherwife, let themfelves down over the Walls in the Night feafon h who being fufpefted to be the Seditious Perfons, the Romans killed them without. This Evil therefore and Diftrefs encreafed fo long, that the People had devourdft all that ever crept on the Earth, from the Moufe to the Spider, from the Newt to the Weefel; whereby a moft grievous Peftilence followed, that innumerable of the People of the Land died, and there was no Man to buin Jerufalem,
ry them.
When
they chanced to find any dead Horfes, Town, a Man fliould fee
or other Beaft ig the
many
Ifraelites
ftrive
and
fight
R
4
for
it ;
in
all
points
,
the Wars of the Jews*
2^6
points like to famifhed Ravens lighting upon a dead Carkafs, fo that in fuch Contentions very many were
Therefore when divers Men, with their Wives and Children, gat out of the City to gather Herbs to eat, and chanced among the Romans, the Ramans laid hold of the little Children and killed them j flain.
faying,
We
will
difpatch thefe,
left
when they
Man's Eftate, they make War upon us as their Fathers do at this day. So many as came out of the Gates of the City now and then, the Romans killed and hanged them upon Gaiiowfes, over againft the Gates of Jerufalem, to the number of Five hundred. After the fame manner Schimeon, Jebocbanan, and Eleafar dealt with thofe Rowans, whom they could by any train catch, and hanged them up upon the Walls. Whofocver alfo they could perceive would flee unto the Romans, they hanged them likewife over the Walls to the, number of 500. But Titus gave Commandment to all his Soldiers, That no Man, upon pain of death, (hould kill any of them that fled out of Jerufalem. For he took pity of the Ifraelites, and ceafed not to fpeak friendly and lovingly to the Jerufalemites ^ fo that he went yet once agaiji to the Walls, and fpake unto the Jews in thmort.
grow once
to
Hear, I befeech you, the Counfel of Jofepb, and come unto me that you may live, and not perifli utterly. Spare your People: Why will you opprefs them vexed with Hunger, Thhft, PeftiBut the Seditious hearing lence, and Befieging? Titus fpeak, were wonderfully ihcenfed, and intended to add mifchief upon mtfchief, handling yet rnore cruelly the People of God/ Moreover, rhey
the Wars of tht Jews. 247 to Anger, him that provoke he rail at Titus, to People, which to the fpeaking had might leave off now almoft loft their Obedience and Fear of the Seditious.
Wherefore the Seditious fpeak unto the Romans, It is better for us to die with Hunger, and to be killed in this Affii&ion, fo to come to the Blifs and Light we hope 1f>r, than to live and fee the moft H61y Temple of God defiled and deftroyed. When Titus faw this, he commanded an Iron Ram to be fet to the Wall to batter it, that he might deliver thofe poor Wretches out of Scbimeon, Eleafar, and Jebocbanarts Hands, who held them in as Captives.
At the fame time as they erefted that Engine to it happened there was in the Camp a certain young Man whofe name. was Memaganim, Son of Antiocbus of Macedonia, one of the Kings of the Wall,
the Grecians,
ment
who came
to aid Titus.
at Vefpajian's
Command-
The fame young Man was very
a good Runner, and a hardy Soldier, but he lacked Difcretion. He came to Titm and faid, I cannot but marvel at thy Soldiers that vanquifh all Nations, and dare not fet upon the Jews to kill them. Titus hearing the young King fay fo, fmiled and faid, How chances it, that being of this Judgment^ thou armeft not thy felf, and makeft thee ready to do like as thou fayeft > Why draweft thou not out thy Sword, to declare thy Manhood upon Swift,
them ? Wherefore the felf,
diers,
and' called
young
King encouraged him-
together all his Macedonian Sol-
then approached
to
the Jews,
and began skir-
the Wars of the Jtv/s:
248
skirmifh with them, fhooting with their Bows and Arrows apace. But at length the Jews handled them, that not one of the Macedonians efcaped, fave only the young King, which by his good footman-ftiip and fwift-running, gat away and returned to Titus. This Memaganim was of the Kindred of Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia^ which had the Dominion of the whole World, and whom all Nain awe of. Jofephus the demanded of him whofe Son he was ? He anfwered, I came of the Seed of Alexander^ I am the Tenth from him- Jojepb faid, It may well be as thou haft faid, that thou art of the SuccefTion of
tions and People flood Prieft
Alexander^ for the valiantnefs of thy Heart that thou haft (hewed, declare no lefs howbeit, thou flialt underftand that the Romans have done wifely to abftain from the Aflault at this time, becaufe they knew they fhould have to do with a moft valiant Nation, which thou having fo well tried, mayeft report and teftifie when thou art asked the queftion.
Titus divided, his whole Army, After this , layed them privily in Ambufties round about and Walls. prepared moreover Rams of Iron He the
Of
to batter the Wails.
ed cbia
upon the ^
of was
fide
the Engine
thefe Four, one
he plant-
called
Anto-
thirty 'Cubits long.
The
the
place
fame Night Captain Jehochanan with his Company iffued forth , and undermined the Ground under the Wheels of the Waggons that bare the Rams, putting pitched Boards, Oiled, and done over with Brimftone, in the Trenches under the Wheels and under the Boards they fpread Leather,
which
2m Ways
of the Jews.
24$
whicK likewife was fmeared and done over Pitch, Oil and Brimftone.
with*.
Then they fet fire upon the Boards, which burnt they came to the Feet of the Rams and they being fet on fire and burnt, the Engines fell upon the Watch that was appointed to keep it, being Whereat the Romans were afleep, and killed them.
till
:
difmayed,andfaid, It is not poflible we fhould City hereafter, for ttiey have burnt all our Engines of War, wherewith we have fubdued
much
aflault this
all
other
Kingdoms
^
fo that
now of 50
Iron
Rams
we
brought with us, we have but fix left, and the Seditious Jews have burnt three of them, what (hall
we now do ? How (hall we batter the Walls The Jews upon the Walls hearing their
hereafter?
words, flouted them, and laugh'd them to ftorn. Wherefore Titus incenfed with Anger, commanded the other three 'Rams to be addrefled in the place
of thofe
which were burnt. In the mean feawere at work,four young Men moved with great Zeal, whofe Names were, firft Theopatius Qalileus, the lecond Magarus Cbebronita^ the third Jeminus. Schomronita, the fourth Arius fon, while the
Jerojolymita
Camp of
tjiefe all
armed,
iffued out into
the
the Romans, that then
flood about their three Engines and Iron Rams, deviling how to batter the Walls of the City,fome of whom thefe Men killed, the other fled. Then two of them flood 'at defence to keep off all thofe that approached ifigfr the Engines, while the other two, Jeroforniiya^ and Scbomronita daubed the Timber with a certain Matter which they had prepared to
make
it
take
fire,
and ftraightway fet
fire
on them,
2yo
Tie Wars ofthe Jews?
fo that fuddenly the Rams were on a light fire. Then they all Four joining together, withftood the Romans, that they mould not come at the Engines to quench the Fire. Shortly the Rams fell down, and the Romans flood aloof,hurling Stones and (hooting thick at them : for they were afraid to come nigh them, becaufe of their great fiercenefs,although they were Three thoufand Men that kept the Rams. Yea, thefe Four fet nothing by them, nor yet ever went off the Ground till the Rams were clean burnt Titus up, (hot the Romans never fo thick at them. hearing the Valiantnefs of thefe young Men, and the harms they had done unto the Romans, made fpeed with his whole Hoft to fave the Rams from the fire, and to apprehend thofe young Men. Then forthwith ifTued out Schimeon, Jeboehanan^ and Eleazary Captains of the Seditious, with their Soldiers, founding their Trumpets, and made the Romans retire, that they could not come nigh the fire, and fo refcued the four young Men from the Romans, that had environed them round about that Skirmifh were killed Ten thoufand Then gathered togeFive hundred Men. ther all the whole Army of thtf% Romans to aflault the Jews at once, approaching hard to the Walls of Jerufalem^ where they cried iinto> the Jews, faying, What, are you Oxen or Goats, In
and
that you fight on
this
upon the Wails? the midft of the City, like fafhion
Will you be taken in as Oxen and Goats are taken in their Foldst? if ye be Men, come forth and let us try our manhood here in this Pla n. But you by ftealth and 4t unawares fet upon them that keep our En;
gines,
the Wars of the Jews. %%% glnes, fnatching them up like as it were Wolves fhould fnatch Sheep, then run away into the Town, If there be any as the Wolves run into the Wood. Manhood in you, behold we are ready here, come forth to us, fo many for fo many^ and then we (hall When the Capfee what end will come thereof. tains
of 'the Seditious heard
that, they
fpake unto
the Warriors that were in Jerufalem^ Which of you will go out with us to thefe Dogs, to fhew our force anAftomach, for the San&uary and City of the
Lord
?
Then
five
hundred
tall
Fellows of their
own
accord iffued out upon the Romans fuddenly, and flew Eight thouftnd Men, and compelled the reft The Romans then felt to retreat from the Walls. whatValiantnefs the Jews had, for the Romans were In number Forty thoufand fighting Men, and the Jews were only Five hundred, whereof not one of them was killed at that Skirmifh. The Romans afar off (hot at the Jews, and hurled Stones-, to whom the Jews ftid, Come-hither to us, are you not they that called us forth, and provoked us to come to you ? why come you not now nearer ? you go about to drive us away with Arrows and Stones ^ what do you think us to be Dogs, and that we are afraid of your Stones ? Are we not Men ? yea, we are your Matters and Betters, for you run away from us as Servants flee from their Mafters, when they follow them to beat them. Titus feeing his Army to be part of them fled, and part to be flain, he cried to his People, n g> I s it not a fhame for you, ye Romans, and a wonderful great diflionour, to flee from the ?ews, fo hunger-beaten, famiftied, almoft dead for hirft, and befieged ? Alas, how fhall ye put away 1
%i
this
The Wars of the jews.
152
your Rebuke and Ignominy? When as all Nations which heretofore ye have moft valiantly fubdued, (hall hear that ye flee from thefe dead Jews, whole whole Land we have in pofleffion $ fo that they have nothing left but this only Town, which we have fo battered, that they have but one only Wall to defend themfelves. Befides this/ they are very few, we are innumerable $ they have no Nation to aid them, we help of all Lands Why then do ye flee from their fight, like as fmall imp9tent Birds flee from the Eagle ? What though .the Jews vow and hazard themfelves defperately for their Temple and Land, why do you not the fame
this
alfo in thefe Wars, to get you liantnefs
*
*
a
Renown of Va-
?
But the Jews prevailed that day, and had the upper-hand ^ wherefore they returned into the Town with great Glory, having put the Romans to lb great a Foil. Titus commanded his to addrels and prepardthe other two Rams that were left to batter the Walls of Jeruf&lem withal : Wherefore the Roman Carpenters catt a Trench, to prepare and fet up the Rams in fuch places as Titus had afTigned them. The Jews were aware of it well enough, but winked at the matter as yet, until they had planted the Mafter-beams between the Standing-Pofts. So when the Work was finifhed, even to the hanging up of the Engines bstwixt the Standing-Pofts to fhake the Wall withal, the Romans being fecure and void of Care, nothing miftrufting that the Jews
would
had been quiet a few upon a of the City three Day, the before while Night, a pretty ftir,
becaufe
Nights, and never certain
they
iffued forth
:
The Wars of the Jews.
25
3
principal Captains of the Seditious^ came and caft their Heads together, to devife what they (hould Eleazar gave this Counfel, and faid, You two do. the laft time iffued out, and burnt three Rams, and got you Renown, and I kept the Gates the while; now* keep ye the Gates, and I will iffue out with my Men againft the Romans to get me a flame alfo.
The other anfwered, Go then on God's Name the Lord God of the San&uary wjiiqh ^iinfto them, Jerufalem (hall be prefent with thee, but beware thou be not flain, and in any wife thou be not taken alive : To whom he anfwered, The Lord God (hall keep me * for upon the truft of the Righteoufnefs of my Father Ananias the High-Prieft, and his fincere Service unto God, I will let upon them. v Eleazar therefore chofe 100 valiant Soldiers, and with them he iffued out of the Town before day : The fame Night the Romans had made fires about their Engines where they watched, becaufe of the cold : The Artificers and Soldiers that kept the Watch and Ward about the Romans, were in numThe day was the 27 th of ber a Hundred and Fifty. is
in
Month of September, which wa^ the Ninth Month that Titus had befieged Jerufalem. Eleazar and his Company thus being iffued -out, came and the
fome of the Romans (honing about the others Watching in their Wards, and killed them all, that not one remained. Then fome of Eleazar's Company fet Fire upon the Rams, burnt
found Fires,
Standing Pofts , Ropes, Chains * Inftruments for War * the Artificers
•the
and other were
that
there
t$4
i** Wars of the Jews.
there, they apprehended alive
and burnt them, fo
Man efcaped. When it was day,
that no
Titus obferved the Smoak of the Fire mounting up very foul, and ftlnking of the Wood and Men together, he drew, towards the place therefore with his Hoft* to fee what the matter was : Eleajar in the mean*leafon, and his Companions took, as they might get, every Man a piece of the Engines out of the Fire, or fome of their Heads that they had killed, and returned with great |6y* flouting the Romans, arid laughing them *tO icorn by the way, till they came to the Gates of Jerufalem, where they were received of Scbimeon and
Jebocbanan with great Honour.
Soon after this, came many Soldiers and great Bands of Men out of all Nations, that were fubje£t to the Empire of the Romans, to aid Titus $ to whom Titus declared what hapned him in that Siege, the ftoutnefs of the Jews, and how they had annoyed many ways the Roman Army ^ adding moreover, and asking them, Did you ever fee Four Men withftand Ten thoufand and five hundred, fo that they being all together, could neither overthrow them nor take them Prifoners ^ but the Four flew them, like as it had been tops of Cucumbers fmitten off with moft fliarp £words : When they heard this, they wondted all very much. Then Titus fpake unto his Holt, and to them which were newly repaired unto him, to (hew their Advice and beftCounfei
what was
to be done, Left
(faith he) before all
them
we mould be
aftiamed
that mail hereafter hear
of our Wars.
The Graveft and moft Ancient of
the
Nati-
ons
The Wars of the Jews. oris that
were newly come to
25*5
his Aid, anfwered,
Romans breathe a while and take their Reft, which are now wearied with the fundry Battles of the Jews, and we, who are not fo broken with Labour, but frefh and we canlufty,. fhall try what the Jews can do i^t think that they are able to withftand lb great a Multitude* But the Princes of the Romans defired Titus that he (hould not permit them this, left he ftiould encreafe their own Sorrows, if peradventure they lhould be difcomfited (fay they) of the^mr, and the Matter redound unto their own Shame. For if we which are acquainted with them, and .know their manner of fight, cannot fuftain their Viofence, how fhall they If
it
pleafe your
Majefty,
let the
do it that never had proof of the ftrength and force of the Jews ? They fhall be to them like Hyflbp which grows upon the Walls, in comparifon of the Cedar-Trees of Libanus.
The
other faid, nay, they fhould do well enough And they urged Titus fo inftantiy, that they conftrained him to grant them their De-
with them.
Then Titus gave them leave to fet upon the Jews , thinking with himfelf, peradventure the. Jews may be put to the worfe of thefe Men that
fire.
will fight without fear, not knowing the Force of the Jews : For the Romans that have had tryai of their Strength, fight fearfully and watily. So the Lords
of the ftrange Nations, chole out of
their
Armies
Eighty tboufand Men Tee thoufand Macedonians , Twenty thoufand Britains , Five thoufand Aramitcs, Ten thoufand Africans, Ten thoufand va«> liant Burgundians, Five thoufand Redarans , laft of
S
ail*
i$6
The Wars of the Jews.
1
thoufand ^Per/tans and Chaldeans. Thefe went into the Plain which is by the Sepulchre of Jehochanan the High Prieft, and from thence made an Aflault upon the Jews that were upon the Walls, fetting up their Scaling-Ladders. Jehochanan ft id to Schimeon and Eleafar, his two
all,
ten
therefore
Companions, If you think good I will iflue fcrtl$ and skirmifh with thefe uncircumcisM, to let. them fee what I can do. S chime on anfwered, Let two of us do it, and the third keep the Gates and Walls, for thou alone art able to do nothing againft them, they are fo many. Eleafar allowed this Advice, offering himfelf to bear Jehochanan Company. Schimeon bad them go, faying, The Lord of theSan&uary give them into yodr Hands, and deal not with you at this time according to your Works*
Then Jehochanan and thoufand ninth tenth
five
hundred
Eleafar iffued with
One
Men of War,
the
good
Day of the Month Tebeth, which was the Month that Titus had befieged Jerufalem^ and
overthrew of the Gentiles of that Hoft Fifty feven thoufand and five hundred Men, befides Three thouBut of the Jews fand whom they took Prifoners were no mora fliin in that Fight than only Seven, whofe Bodies with much Rejoycing and great .Triumph they carried with them into the Town, and buried them there, left perad venture the uncircumThe Gentiles cifed fliould have jmifordered them. Difhonour rethat were left, with great Shame and becaufe turned unto Titus, wjio reprehended them they would not believe the Romans. The next day following, the Jews brought forth the Three thoufand Nobles and Gentlemen that they had taken :
Prifoners,
the Wars of
Jews.
the
i$y
Prifoners, and plucked out of every one* of therri an Eye, and cut off every Man the one Hand, after^ fent
them back with fhame and reproach
Camp, Then
to Ti;us'£*
i
Titus confulted with all his Princes what do with the Ifraelites $ and when every Man had (aid his Mind,he liked never a Man's Counsel, but faid unto them, Well, I have devifed this with my felf, which I will foiiow.and no Man (hall bring me from my purpofe We will keep the Siege without any Aflaultor Skirmifh for their Vi&uals failed them long ago, # and fo they fhall be famifhed. Befides this, when they fhall fee us ceafe to fight with them, they will fall at variance amongfi: them-
were
beft to
:
•,
•
and kill one another. This Counfel was thought good of all Titus's Princes, wherefore they b^fieged the Town as Titus had commanded, and clofed up all the ways of the City round about, left the Jews Ihould, as they had done before, come upon them unawares. They appointed moreover Watch day. and night, ro take heed that no Man fhould.come out of the Town to gather Herbs for their fuftenance. Then encreafed the Hunger in Jerufalem^ which if it had not been fo grievous, the Ciry had never been* won for the Soldiers of the. Town were lighter than Eagles, and fiercer than Liotti.; There died therefore of rhe Famine wonderful many of the Jerufalemites, fo that the Jews could not find piac^ to bury them in, they were fo miny in evei-y place of the Town. M^ny caft their dead Folks into their. Wells, and tumbled afterwards in thenafel'ves and died. Many alfo made themfelves Graves* and went into them alive, where they tarried' day anc^ felves,
\
the Wars of
258
th Jews.
night an
For all Mourning and accuftomed Lamentation for the Dead was left off, becaufe of the unmeafurable Famine, which was fo great that it cannot be told, and I cannot relate the thoufandth part of the Mifchief that followed of the Hunger. Titus feeing the innumerable Carkaffes of the Dead that were caft into the Brook Cedron like Dung,was wonderfully amazed with fear,and ftretchcd out his Hands towards Heaven, faying, Lord God of Heaven and Earthy whom the Ifraelites believe :
injleanfe me from this Sin, which furely I am, not the Caufe of: For I required Peace of them, but they refufed it, and they the mfelves* are the Caufe of this Mifchief, they have finned againjl their own Souls and Lives : I befeech thee impute it not to me for a Sin, that the Jews die on this manner. At that time, certain wicked Perfons of Jerufalem flanderM Amittai die Prieft falfly, faying to Captain Schimeon, Behold, Amittai the Prieft, which did let thee into the City, goeth about to flee to the Tents of the Romans thou haft Experience of his great all the
Wit and Wifdotp, how he alfo knoweth Ways into the Town, Temple and
fecret
San&uary, and who can tell whether he will bring the Romans fome night at midnight into the City > Therefore Schimeon fent certain to fetch Amittai and his four Spns unto him. They that were fent, brought Amittai and but Three of his Sons, for one was fled to the Romans^ and came to Jofeph. When Amittai with the other were brought to Schimeon s Pretence, he befought him he might not live,- but be put to death by and by, left ( faith he) I fhould live to fee the death of my Children. But Schimeon was hard-hearted,
•
The Wars of the Jews.
159
was God's Wilt be punifhed, becaufe he was the
and would not be entreated
for
:
it
that Amiuai ftiould bringer of Scbimeon into Jerufalem
and .therefore \ he into his Hands, which for good rewarded him with Evil. Scbimeon commanded a fort of Murderers to place Amittai upon the Walls, in the fight of the Romans, and faid unto him, Seeft thou, Amittai ? Why do not the Romans deliver and refcue thee out* of my Hands 5 ,thee, I fay, which wouldeft have Amittai anfwercd nothing to fled away unto them. but ftill befought him before his degth, he* this, might kifs his Sons, and bid them farewel , but Scbifell
meon utterly denied him. Wherefore Amittai wept aloud, faying to his Sons, I brought (dear Children) I brought this Thief into this Town, wherefore I am counted now for a Thief my felf All the Mifchief which is come upon me, and you, it is mine own doing, :
.
becaufe 1 have brought this feditious Villain into this holy City I thought then, peradvcnture he will be a help to the Town, but it is proved contrary For he hath been a'moft cruel Enemy to the fame. It was not enough for us to keep one feditious Perfon, Jebocbanan, I mean, which took unto him Eleazar^ the firft Beginner of Sedition ; but I muft bring in alfo this wicked Scbimeon, which is joyned to our Foes to deftroy us. Indeed I never brought him in for any love that I bare unto him, but ail the Priefts, and the whole Multitude of the People fent me to fetch him^ notwithftanding I am worthy of this Judgment of God, becaufe I took upon me fuch an Embaffage. What fhould I fpeak of thee, thou moft wicked Scbimeon , for whitherfoever thou turneft thee, :
:
S
3
thou
*
a6o
The Ways of* the Jews,
thou bringeft all things out of Frame I indeed, thou dealeft juftly with me, becaufe I have finned unto God, to his People, and his City, in that I have brought thee in, to be a Plague to it wherefore I am worthy to be ftoned. Notwithftanding, pt had been thy part, thou wicked Murderer, to deliver me and my Sons from the Hands of the other Seditious, for I have done good Howbeit our God will not-alter,, nor change his Judgment, which is, that I fhould fall into tHe Sword of thy :
•,
:
JHand,
1 •
that
for
I
made
thee to enter into this City,
offended God grievoufly. If I had purpofed to flee unto the Romans^ could I not have done it before I brought in thee ? for at that time bearedft theu no Rule over us, and before we called in thee, Jebccbtwan, with his Sedition, was an Offence to the City Wherefore we peri waded all the Ancients of the Town, that rhou fho.jldftbe an Aid unto us, to drive out 6j* Foes3 but thou rn whom we put our yea, thou haft Truft art become our Enemy been worfe than they, for the other put Men to Who is he death priviJy, but thoij doft it openly. Romans ? the hath of Power the ftrengnhned that Art not thou he which hath killed the Soldiers of God in x\k midft 01 the City of Jerujalem ? For few have been flam .without. -Titus would have made Peace with u$, taking pi yr upon us, but thou didft
when
I
:
:
'
lett
and hinder
ftirring
new
it,
every day moving
Battles.
new Wars, and
•
% it%s ga ve charge to -his Soldiers, to lay no hand upon the Temple ^ but thou half polluted and defiled the Temple of the Lord, fliedding Blood without meafure in the midft thereof. Titus went back from us upon the Holy Day of the Lord, •
!
and
TheWars ofjhe Jews.
2$i
and ceafed from fighting, faying, Go and obferre but thou unhalloweft your Holy Feafts in Peace the Feafts of the Lord, and .putteft out the conAll thefe Evils tinual Fire with innocent Blood. which thou haft committed ( thou Murderer ) are imputed unto me, becaufe I brought thee into the Town ! Now therefore this Vengeance is appointed to mine age by the Lofd God, and by thy Hands fhall I go to my Grave with Sorrow, becaufe I by my fooliflinefs was an A6Jor in this Mifchief that Albeit now, thou wicked SVfois wrought by thee. meon, in this that thou killeft me, ere that mine Eyes may fee the burning of the Temple, it plealeth me very well. But what needeft thou, Murderer, to put my Sons to death before my Face > Why 'doft thou not fpare mine Age > Would God that as I fhall not fee the burning of the Temple, fo alfo I might not fee the Blood of my Children fhed before my But what (hall I do, when God hath deliFace. vered me into the Hands of a moft wicked Man > We that were the Ancients of Jerufalem^ abhorred Jehocbanan, becaufe he murdered old Men, without ail reverence, but he flew no young Men ^ thou defhoyed Old and Young, Gieat and Small, without any Pity or Mercy. Jehochanan mourned for the Dead, and buried them alfo, but thou playeft upon Inftruments at their Burials, fingeft to the Lute and foundeft the Trumpet. Then fpake he to Schimeon\ Servant, who was ready with his Sword in his>Hand, and an Ax to kill him, and to cut off his Head ^ faying, Go to now, and execute Schimeon thy Matter's Commandment ^ Behead the Sons in the fight of their Father, and let me hear the Voice of thy Cruelty in my Sons, :
S 4
which
-
161
the Ways
which notwithftanding
I
of the
Jews.
forgive thee,
for as I (halt
fo, I dare fay, hear and fee that againft my Will thou killeft them not willingly. Would God that Schimeon would fuffer me to kifs my Sons, and whiles I am yet living, to embrace them ere they die. But thou, gentle Minifter, in one thing (hew thy Pity toward me, that when thou haft put my Sons and me to Execution, feparate not our Bodies, neither lay their Corps afunder from mine, but fo that my Body may lie uppermoft and cover theirs, to defend them from the Fowls of the Air, left they devour my Sons Bodies for it may fo come I befeech thee to gafs, that they may be buried alfo, that my Mouth and Lips, when I am dead, may touch my Sons Faces, that fo I may both embrace and kifs them. B-'t what do 1 delay, or linger any longer, feeing the Enemies deny me this, to kifs them whiles we are yet alive > See thou therefore that our Bodies be not fevefed 5 and if Scbhneon will not permit this this , that our Bodies may be joyned in World, yet can he not lett our Souls to be joyned For after I fhall be once dead, I doubt not but I His Sons hearing (hall fee the Light of the. Lord. their Father s Words, began to weep very fore with their Father, who faid unto them, Alas! my Sons Why weep ye ? What avails Tears ? Why do ye not rather go before me, and I will follow as I may > For what fhould 1 do now, feeing God hath given me into the Hands of a moft cruel Tyrant, who fpareth neither mine Age , nor Youth ? But I truft we (hall live togerher in the Light of And although 1 cannot be fufFered the Lord. now to fee you enough, yet when we fliaii come •,
•,
:
!
thither,
The Wars of the Jews. thither,
we
fhall be fatisfied
163
with beholding one
another.
my dear Sons, and prepare us a might go before you, the Lord knoweth I would do it gladly. But ye, my Sons, marvel not at this that is chanced unto us, for it The like hapned before this, in is no new thing. the time of the Chafmonamites, when as Antiochus by his Wickednefs put to death the Seven Brethren, young Men, in the fight of their Mother, which was a righteous and godly Woman, who chanced to find this Mercy at the Lord's Hands, that (he might kifs* her Sons and embrace them, as they aifo Kift one another before they died. Although they were put to death by the cruelty of the uncircumcifed King of the Macedonians $ yet obtained they that, which is denied at this Day to us that are put to death by Schimeon^ who hath the name of an Ifraelite^ who beareth alfo the Covenant of our Father Abraham in his Flefh. And would to God th'at we might live in their Inn or Place of Reft, which alGo
ye therefore,
Place:
O
that
1
beit it will not hi granted, yet we (hall be their Neighbours, feeing that we alfo die for the Law of
the Lord.
Therefore be of good Comfort (my Sons) and lament not for my fake For I judge this my Mifery eafier, and not fo great as the Calamity of Zedechiah, whofe Sons were firft killed, then his Eyes put out by the Kings of Cbaldea, and he lived many Years after ^ we are fo much the more happy, in my :
Mind, becaufe we
Then
(hall die together.
Amittai to Schimeon's Servant which fhould kill him, Make fpeed, I pray thee, and kill me firft before my Children die, then after kill them (aid
alfo
^
264
2v&e
0/
Jews.
that we may die.together, for it is more expedient for us, than to fee the Temple of the Lord turned into a Butchery or Slaughter-Houfe to flay alfo
•,
Men
in.
After he cryed to God,
faying,
I
befeech thee
O
Lord God raoft High, which dwelled in the Higheft, judge this Scbimeon according to his Works, reward him according to his Defer vings $ for thou art the God Almighty, and dreadful. Let not this Deftroyer die therefore among the People of thy Pafture: but that his Death may be fevered from the death of other Men. Let him die a horrible and fudden Death* Let him have no time to confefs his Sins, and to return himfelf to thee, that thou mayeft receive him (for thou wert wont to receive them which turn to thee by Repentance:) for he is not worthy of Repentance, which hath ipoiled and wafted many godly Things in thy Temple ^ befidesthat, hath murdered molt hcly Men in the fame.
To the intent therefore that thy Judgments may be declared in him, I befeech thee make him to be taken Captive of his Enemies, together with his Wife, Children and Family, and all that ever love him. Neither give unto his Soul any part with the People of God $ nor let his Portion be with the juft Men in the Sanfruary ; for he is unworthy of them, becaufe he hath not only finned himfelf but hath caufed lfrael to fin. Wherefore let his Judgment and Sentence go forth from thy fight, that he may fee his Wife, Children, and his whole Houfe, led into Captivity and JBcndage before his Face. Afterward let him die a ftrange death, fuch 3s never Man heard of Let him be killed by moft cruel
the Wars of the Jews,
16$
Men, which when they have fmitten him, nay after Quarter him alfo whilft he is y.et alive, md that he may fee his Children go into Bondage, ^et him alfo be a Curfe before all that fhall fee Moreover, Let him perceive that my'Words lim. md Defliny is better than his, when as I go unto rhee, in that great Light which he ftall be depri:ruel
ved of.
After thefe words, Amittai faid to the Servant, was appointed to kill him: I.befeech thee,
frho Let
me
find fo
:hou haft flain the
favour at thy Hands, that when Sons, thou wouldft kill me with
much
my
fame Sword, while it is yet wet with the Blood that our Blood may be mingled ^ and
Df my Sons, this in
may be
.
a Recreation to
my
the fight of the Romans, that they
and
me alfo may avenge me
Soul.
Kill
Sons upon this mod cruel Schimeon^ they be WitnefTes againft him, that I was not their
my
fhall
But would God my Affairs were all in were before ; for then ftould they perceive me to be an Enemy of Schimeons, and a Friend of theirs. Would God 1 had withftood Schimeon at the firft earneftly, as I made War upon the Romans, that I might have averted his Cruelty from the People of God. When he had faid all thefe things, he prayed before God Almighty, faying, Friend.
that ftate as they
God which
dwelleft in the Higheft, thou only art mojl
and fearful, open now the Eyes of thy Judgments, confider and judge betwixt, me and feditious Sdhimeon, whoje Malice is oecorne unmeajurable upon
tnighty
s
the People of God, that he which Jheddejl the Blood of them that fear thee in the midft of the Temple, %ay be rebuked of thee with Rebukings according to his
m
Works
:
make Jpeedy Vengeance and prolong not, and
266
the Wars of the Jews.
that for the death
fake of thy Saints ^ for thy Judg Judgments of Truth. Then Schimeon gave Commandment to Four Cutthroats of his, that three of them fliould kill Arnittai s ttiree Sons before their Father's Face, and the Fourth fliould kill Arnittai himfelf, and fo the Blood of the Sons was mixt with the Blood of their Father. Afterward Schimeorts Servant took the Body of Amittai, and laid it upon the Bodies of his Sons, a% his defire was, theft tumbled them over the Walls. After that, Schimeon commanded that Qanachus the High-Prieft fliould be put to death, whole Body was caft to the Bodies of Arnittai and his merits are
Son$. Arijlus alfo the Scribe, one of the noble Men of Jerufalem, was killed at the fame time, and txn juft Men more of his Kindred and Houfe, becauie they It happened for the Death of Arijlus. while Schimeon was killing of thofe Ten, certain fubftantial rich Men paffed by, -and were wonderfully amazed when they law the thing, faying one. to another, How long will God iufter the Malice of Schimeon, and will not fearch out the Blood of juft
mourned
Men, nor revenge them ? Certain leditious Perlbps hearing this, told it unto Schimeon, who commanded them to be apprehended and murdered the fame day.
#
by Eleven of the noble Men of Jerusalem* which feeing Forty two Innpcents to be put to death by Schimeon, they lift tip Lord God of their Eyes to the Heavens, and faid, Ifrjel, How long wilt thou hold thine Hand, and not execute thine Anger againft thefe Tranfgreffor: ef thy Will * Which when Schimeon heard ot,he commanded After
this, there. paffed
them
,
I
the Wars of the Jews. lem to be apprehended, and killed
wn
•
tbeffi
267 with his
hand.
#
Eleazar the Son of Anarii the Prieft, feeing the lalice and Wickednefs of Scbimeon to be great,and lat hedeftroyed the juft and godly Men of the Cir, and that there was no hope left, he betook himAf to the Tower of Jerufalem, remained in it, and ept it with his. Jehudas alfo, a Captain over a which kept a Turr^that Scbimeon houfand Men, juft good Men m, got him upto put and iad made Walls, and cried to the Romans, the n the top of f peradventure they would deliver him, and the reft Wherefore he went about hat were in Jerufalcm. d efqape with his own thoufaad Men that he had vith him, and came towards the Romans: But the lomans trufted them not, thinking he had fpoken his for Deceit, wherefore they came not to help tim. Scbimeon upon this killed Jebudas, and the houfand Men which he had with him, and cotnnanded their Bodies to be tumbled ovet the Walls, 1 the fight of the Romans. Then Scbimeon cried to the Princes and Captains f the Romans, faying, Lo, thefe are Jebudas^i Cornany, th^fe would have come forth unto you, take heir Carcafles to you, and revive them again if you an, or elfe deliver the reft which yet live, out of ur hands.
Gorion the
Father of Jofepb the Prieft,who was at that time } Bonds and Prifbn, in a certain Turret, a Man of reat Age, being an Hundred and thirty, and no <4an could come unto him, nor from him ; Jofepb herefore
Prieft,
Book
to the Ifraelites^
i63
# *
•
the Wars of the Jews.
the Turret afar off, if he might efpy his Fathert and comfort him. And as he pafTed by looking up to the Turret, the Seditious hurled a Stone'at him, which hit him ©n the Head, that it overthrew him. The Seditious feeing Jofeph caft out of his Chariot, determined to go down unto him but when Titu* had knowledge thereof, he fent a great Strength to help him up again, and to defend him, that his Enemies did him r^harm. The Seditious going about to take Jofeph ^ found-
ed a Trumpet very loud, which when Jofeph\ Mother that was kepi in Sch\meon\ Houfe heard, being' now 87 Years of Age, asked what was the ciufe of the hurly-burly
;
they told her, that
the Seditious
him
ifTued out at that (hout againft Jofeph to take
when Houfe
:
(he heard that, by and by fhe run out of the that ftie was kept in,and climbed up the Walls,
though (he had been a young Girl of 14 Years old,tore her Hair, and cried out, weeping, and
as luliily as
faying betore.aii them that were
Could
prefenr,
Is
my
have looked that 1 fhould have over lived my Son, and that I fliould not be iiiffcred to fee him, and to bury him
hope rhen come
to this
?
I
ever
?
me, «and that had and Age mine in me Help to a been thould have almofl was Seditious the by Family whole when my made away, and extinguifhed, yet I fay, this fhal comtort me. Now therefore what (hail I do, wher I have none left to comfort me, of all my Childrer that I bare ? for between the Seditious and the Gen they have flain 18 Sons thai tiles out Enemies, do now from henceforth I (hall *hjd; and what not to live now any defire 1 r^or but covet Death ony Confolatioi, receive I longer. And ho#lhouid
I
truited he (houid have buried
-,
1
.
7he Wars of the Jews.
"
169
I fee my Son dead, and I cannot bury him ? that I might die by and by, for I cannot jive Lord any longer fince my Son Jofepb is now dead. She went up yet 'further upon the Walls, tillfhe came to the Turret where- her Husband was in Prifon, and ftretched out her Hands towards Heaven, crying with loud Voice, O my Son Jofepb, my Son, * where art thou ? cofine and fpeak unto me, and ComThe Seditious hearing her, laught her fort me. to fcorn, but the Romans when they heard her, and underftood by Jofepb that it was his Mother, they wept and lamented, her cafe, and many of the Jews alfo that were in Jerufalem ? but they were fain to refrain it/ left they fhould be perceived of Scbimcorfs
when
!
cruel Cutthroats.
•
Then JcfepWs Mother faid to the Seditious that were with her upon the Walls, why do ye not kill me alfo, which bare Jofepb my Son, and nurft him with thefe Breafts? Ye Enemies of the Lord "have murdered him with other jufi Men ^ why kill ye, not me alfo? God be Judge betwyct me and you, who have killed my Scn.guiitlefs. The Seditious anfwered her,. Canft no| thou, if thou lift, tumble down over the Wall and die ? We will give thee le^ve. When thou haft done fo, the Romans (hall take thee up, and bury thee honourably, becaufe that thou art Jofepffs
Mother who
is
their Friehd.
unto my feif to kill my felf, and to confirain my Soul to go forth of my Body, before that God doth call it? If 1 fhould do fo, I fhould have no hope lefc in the World to come, for no Body will bury them whom they perceive to have killed themfelves. Thefe, and fuch like, while fhe reafoned wifely,
She anfwered, how
(hall
I
do' this evil
i}
3
the
the Wars of the Jews.
270
the Seditious heard, and mocked her : wherefore (he wept the more abundantly, fo that the Romans and fome godly Men hearing her Wifdom, could not abftain trom weeping.
Jofefb when he heard the Voice of his Mother, got on Armour and approached to the Wail, accompanied with moft valiant Romans^ to defend him from the Arrows of the Jews, and fpake to his Mother.
my
dear Mother, nor take any thought Hands of the Seditious, God hath nor fufFered me to come into their hands h wherefore I hatfe heard the Words of thefe wicked Counfeliors that advifed thee to kill thy felt, and thine Anfwer to them, which before thou gaGod forveft them, I knew thou wouldft anfwer
Fear not,
for
me,
for I have efcaped the
•,
bid, lay
God
I,
forbid, 'that Jofeph's
Mother and
the Wife of Gorton (hould content to the Counfel of (my dear Mother) be the Wicked. Wherefore, content and bear the ¥oak of the Seditious patiently, and humble thy* ielf before them. Neither ftrive againji the Miferies and Calamities of this time\ which' For they fhali pethou canjl not alter, nor remedy. rifh, but we fhail ftand and continue. There were certain Men of Jerufalem at that time, that came to the Gates, overcame the Ward, and got out with their Wives and Children, and lb efcaped to the Romans, becaufe they could no longer alpide the Famine, and the Iniqujry of the Seditious.
They were
Authority
:
Whom
vailed, that Titus
faithful Citizens,
when Jofeph heard fp&ed them,
and of great he fo pre-
of,
and received them
to Mercy.
For
;
the Wars of the Jews.
271
For Jofeph bare wijtnefs, and reported of them that they were noble Men of Jerufule7n j wherefore the Romans received them, and gave them Food and Suftenance, but certain of them could not brock nor take it, becaufe of their great Hunger wherewith they had been long pined ^ and when the Meat defcended down into their Bellies, they d ed Their little Children alfo, when they faw ftraight. Bread, they fell upon it, and received it indeed with *heir Teeth, but they were not able to chew it, and died, holding the Bread between their Teeth. :
Thus feeing them die when they tafted the Meat, had Pity and Compaffion upon them, aiid was very forry, faying unto Jofeph^ What fhall I do for thy. People, which as foon as they begin to Eat, die ftraightway > Jofeph anfwered, My Lord, I remember I have feen this Experience, that they which fart long, and after would take Meat, fTrft they m'uft drink a little ibdden Milk, or eife eat of a certain Corn called Simi/ fodden in Milk, -wherewith they y
ftrengthen their Bowels before they take
Meat
5
efpe-
dally fuch as walked through Wildernefifes, whole Bowels were long empty, when they came to Places inhabited and found Meat, they were wont to u(e this means. Therefore Titus commanded his Men to do as Jofeph bad them, whereby many of the Jews recoThefe jews vered, and many died of the Flux. efcaped thus to the out whicn jerufakm Champs of the Romans^ had fwallowed their Gold and Silver^ and.preciousJ3tones, to hide them, left they flrould be found of the Seditious. They therefore which recovered and brooked
T A
Meat/
'
27*
1
The Wans of the Jews-
Meat, when they would fatisfie Nature, they went alone out of the Camp, and after fought their Gold and Silver, and precious Stones which were digefted in their Excrements, and fo did they every day. At length certain Ar amities and Arabians, efpying the Jews to ufe this Fafhion, told it amongft their Fellows one to another, and made a Confpiracy to lay wait for the Jew, and whomfoever they got, they ript their Bellies, to find the Gold and other Jewels which the Jews had hid there. And by this means the Arawites and Arabians had murdered Two thoufand Jews. But when Titus heard of this, he was wonderful wroth, and commanded them to be apprehended that had done this wicked Deed, and to be put to death, whofe Goods were given to the Jews that remained alive. They that were put to death for this Fa&, were Two Thoufand Aramites and Arabians together. After this, Titus efpied the Princes and Captains to have decked their Armour with Gold and Silver, ibme of them alfo to wear golden Scepters, and fome Scepters of Silver, with other Ornaments, uphe called them together, and faid on their Heads unto them, Lay away this vain Oftentation, thefe things are they that provoked the Aratnites and Arabians to work this Wickednefs, againft thefe poor miferable Jews which fled forth unto us, that they The Captains might live under our Proteftion. therefore and Princes of the Romans hearing Titus's Commandment, were obedient, and ftraight laid away from them thofe Ornaments of Gold and Silver.
Vitus
alfo gave
Commandment,
that the
of the Arabians and the Aramites fhould be bjniibed the Camp, and that no Man hereafter
rc\\
fhould
\
\
:
the Wars of the Jews.
273
fhould commit any fuch heinous Deed againft the Jews. Notwithftanding, when as any Aramite or
Arabian could get any Man might fee
that no
Jew it,
far
out of the
Camp
he killed him.
Of the Romans in the Camp, no Man either did or faid any evil unto the Jews, fave certain ungodly Ruffians, which had learned of the Aramites and for they Arabians thofe evil and wicked Pranks aifo, when they chanced to meet with any Jew out :
it there were no Man by, they killed him, and took away his Gold and Silver that lay hid in his Bowels. Wten this came to Titus's Ear, he commanded to make Proclamation in this wife
of the Camp,
*XT*VTHofoeverbe
V V
known any
be that hath feen, heard, or thing of this horrible Deed^
which is committed of certain Romans upon the Jews, or whofoeveY hath done any fuch thing himfelf, let him come and make relation unto Titus ^ which, if he do% the Matter fhall be forgiven him, if not, he fhall bear the Burthen of his own Wickednefs, and ft and at his peri^ if any thing be proved againji him hereafter. Therefore certain Romans who where confcious to themlelves that they had committed the Deed, and being afraid of Titus, Teafoned with themfelves thus : If We do not confefs unto him the truth, he will, by his Wifdom, fearch out thofe Off~nders,and punifh them to death : Wherefore trufting unto Titus's words of the Proclamation, they came air
whofoever others to
do
This have
I
had either done it himfelf, or known it-, and declared it to Titus, faying, done, This have I known, This was i
T
2
accefiary
IPP> 174
:
\
^^^^
the Wars of the Jews.
aeceffary unto,
vy thereunto.
and have not hitherto made thee priThere were of them in number 320
All tftofe Titus Men, that made this Confeffion commanded to be caft into hot Ovens, and to be This done, the Jews were more iafe burned. :
ever after in the Romans Camp without any Jeopardy, no Man hurting them either in word or deed yea, if any Roman found a Jew abroad wandring, he condtifted him gently and peaceably into the Camp. There was a certain Scribe of Jerufalem at that time, a faithful Man, whofe Name was Menachem^ Scribe, whofe Anceftours had ferved Efdras the Scribe of worthy Memory, in BabyIon ^ and being a Keeper of the Eaft-Gate which was in Jerusalem, upon that fide towards the Brook Kidron^ noted the Number of the Dead that were carried forth to burying by that Gate, and found they came to 1 15 thoufand eight hundred and eight Perfons, which were all of the Nobles and Gentlemen^ or at leaft of the lubftantialeft Men of the Jews. Titus upon a time ( Jofepb being prefent) asked the queftion of thofe Princes of the Jews which were fled unto him, faying, I charge you upon your Fidelity, to fhew me how many.Jews be dead in
Son of Seruk the
the Town, fince the time -I befieged it to this day. They gave him the number therefore, every Man as far as they knew, of the Dead that were carried forth at all the Gates to be buried, and the Sum amounted to 700575, befides them that every
and where lay dead in their Houfes and Streets them alfo that were flain in the Temple, and they that lay here and there unburied Which befides
;
when
the Wars of the Jews.
27$
when
Titus heard, he marvelled greatly, and ftidjt well known to the Lord God of Heaven, that I am not the Caufe of thefe Evils, for I defired to be at Peace with them oftner than once, but the Seditious evermore would have nothing but War, War. is
CHAP.
AT
Ill
Hunger began to wax very great amongft the Seditious, who never lack'd before, for they took it always from other Men by force, till now at length they werediftreffed with Hunger themfelves ^ fo that after they had that time the
in the
eaten
up
Town
all their
Horfes, they eat alfo their
Dung,
and the Leather of the Chariots neither were there left any green Boughs on the Trees, nor any Herbs, that the Seditious might get to ear. For the Romans had hew'd down all the Trees, and cut down all the Bufhes from about Jerufalem, by thefpaceof thirteen Miles, fo that the whole Field and Territory of Jerufalem was fpoiled, which heretofore was replenished with marveloufly goodly Gardens, and moft pleafant Paradifes. After that the Romans made up another Iron •,
Ram,
very terrible, this they bended againft the Walls, to fee if there were any Soldiers left in the Town, fo ftout as they were in times paft When the Captains of the Seditious faw that, they iffued out with their Companies againft the Romans, and flew very many of them in that Skirmifh. Wherefore Titus faid, It is not wifdom to fight with them any more, but rather with the Rams to (hake and :
T
3
batwer
•
476
2fo Wars of the Jews,
no more but this Wall and fo we may bring our whole Array at once upon them, and fubdne the Seditious. This Counfel of Titus was liked of all the Princes and People. The Captains of the Seditious miftrufting what the Romans intended, that they would be occupied hereafter in battering the Wall, began to build a Countermure within, over-againft the place where the Romans wrought with their Ram, which was in the Plain by the Tomb of Jehocbanan the High Prieft, for there was none other place befides, that they might approach unto with their Rams * and there the Rams had made two Breaches in the two other Walls before. The Seditious made this Countermure, becaufe they were not able to burn the Iron Ram as they had done before, being now almoft famiflied, and lb pin'd away, that they could fcarce ftand upon For if they had been fo lufly as they their Legs. were before, and able to fet the Engines on fire, the Romans were never able to win the Town, but fhould have been compelled to leave the AfTault, as they were conftrained to give over Skirmifhing and Fighting. On a certain time when the Romans fled, the Seditious purfuing and killing many of them, laid, The Romans will be .weary, leave off their Siege, and go their ways, that we may dwell And at liberty, and turn to the Lord our God. when they returned at this time ( or. at any other time ) profperoufly into the Town, they opprefled the People more cruelly,exafting Foot of them,and faying,Give us Meat h if ye will not,we will eat your Flefh,and your Sons. But the Romans took Courage to themfclves to fight ftoutly, and laid one to ano-
batter the Wall, for they have left,
ther,
j
the Wars of the Jews.
277
be valiant in our
Let us flick to it hard, and from it (hall be a (hame for us to flee which are and thefe feeble hunger-ftarved Jews, ThereImages, Perfons. dead than living more like fore they began moft earneftly to fet upon the Walls, and to make a Batrery j fuddenly they beatdown a great part of that inner Wall which the Jews had newly ere&ed, and gave a great Shour, laying, Jerufalem is won, we have gotten the Town. But when they looked a little further, they law another Fort raifed over againft the breach : Wherefore the Jews thorow the Town gave alfo a greac Shout, and founded their Trumpets, rejoycing that they had another new Countermure for that which was battered down.- The fame was in Captain Jehochanan's Ward. The Remans feeing the Countermure, and hearing the Jews make fuch Triumphs in the Town, were much aftonied, all their Joy was daflied and turned into Damps, fo that they could not tell what they fhould do with that ftubborn People of Jerufalem, which had done them fuch damages. The Romans fet upon ihe Town again another way, whom Titus willed to remove the Engine, and to bend it to the«new Wall, whiles it was yet green and unfettled, faying, Let us batter h, and we lhall fee it fall by and by, and {ben (hall we enter the Town. The Roman Captains followed not Titus's Counfel, but fcaled the Walls which they had batThe Jews therefore defending the Countertered. mure, fought with the Romans within the Breach., repulfed them from the Wall and the Town, and fo having abated much the ftrength of the Romans, returned to their Quarters. ther
Fights
y
Then
faid
fome of the Romans,
T
4
We will
never be. fiege
the Wars of the Jews*
278
Town
any longer, for woihall not be able live. And therefore let us break up and depart, before we be all deftroyed with this Siege • for, except we do fo, we fhall be confutnai therein. Titus feeing his Soldiers to make fo hard a matter of the winning of the Town, called them all together, and faid unto them. Tell me now, ye Roman Captains, do ye not know that all War, and other Bufinefles whatfoever they be, are more hard and require greater diligence in the end than in the beginning ? In which whofo travel, if they faint in the end do they not labour in vain ? Even as your labour (hall be in vain, if ye give over the Siege now. ConfideraShip, when it hath compalfed the whole Sea* and is now ready to arrive at the Shoar, being fiege this
to get
it
while
we
,
troubled wkhaTempeft, if the Manners fhould then be negligent, the Ship may be eafily loft, and all they Wfhtch are in
it
their purpofe,
perifh, the
Mariners dilappointed of lhall nor attain to the
in that they
place which they coveted to come to. Like wife Builders, if they finifh not their Work, hut leave off afore they make an end, is not all their labour loft and fpent in vain ? Husbandmen alfo, if they Tilt theirGround and then Sow-it with Seed/hali they nor lofe their Pains,unlets they will alfo it > In like manner you .have fought very long ^gainft the City, many valiant Captains and worthy Men
Mow
have been flain, and now you may lee the ftrongeft Walls of the Town are broken and made equal with the Earth, the. People your Enemies confumed with Hunger,Peftilence and Sword, what (hall it then avail you all that ever you' have dorir, it you flack your Diligence; and will not finifh the Work of the Siege? Hjvs you ?>ot then imployed your Labour in vain ? \h.
'-<•'••
And
The
Wan of the
Jews*
279
And wby fhould this new Wall fo difmay you ? Yea, why do you not prepare your feives to beat down this new Wall, which yet is flenderer than the other Three that ye have caft down ? If fo be ye would determine to leave off the Siege, had it not been betyou to have done it at the beginning, whiles your Army was yet whole ? Now, when as you are few, and your moft valiant Soldiers areflain, why do you not rather chufe to die than to live ? Did you not once enter this Town in the time of Nero Cdcfar, and defend the honour of his Name ? Now therefore when Vefpafian my Father reigneth, who is not only of greater Power than Nero, but alfo more gentle toward you than ever was Nero, if you fliould abate and flack your endeavour and diligence, it fhould be your great Shame and Reproach. Why take ye not Example of ihefeJews valiantnefs, whom now already Sword, Peftilence and Famine hath wafted, fo that they have no Hope left neverthelefs they fight ftill, and never give over. Do not you fee every Day how fome of them iflue out of their Towc, and boldly affail you, not without Jeopardy of their Lives, infomuch, that of tentime they die for it? Which things they do for none other caufe, than to get them Praile and Renown for their great Prowefs. When Titus had well debated thele and fuch like things in the Ears of his Soldiers, a certain valiant Man named Sabtanus, faid unto his Fellows, Whofo dare go to aflault thele Jews, let him come birher to me, that we may fulfil the Command of C*Jar\ Son our Lord and Captain. And forthwith he took his Target, and his drawn Sword in his Hand, made toward the Town with eleven tall Fellows following him, whofe valiantnefs and courage Titus wondred at ter for
greatly,
~
The
1
i8o
Iht Wars of the Jews.
The Jews kept their Ward upon that part of the Wall, where the Romans had a Repulfe of late So when they faw Sabianus and his Company draw faft toward them, they began to aflail them with Stones aid Arrows, but Sabianus fetting light at them, charged home upon the Jews. Shortly one of the Jews met with him, and gave him fuch a Biow^ that he felled him to the Ground $ yet he gat up again, and fought for all that, manfully and as one that had rather leave his Life, than the reputation of his Valour, he did fight till another Ifraelite came and flew him out right. Three alfo of his Fellows were kil:
led fighting valiantly in that place, the other eight returned to the Camp fo fore wounded, that they died the next day every one. Further, other Romans
%
feeirtg Sabianus's aft, and ftudying to do the like, the next Night they took counfel about Twenty of them, and agreed to affault the Town. This their Enterprtef, when they declared to the he and many other of the Standard bearer of Romans went with them. They all fcaling together, and clambering up the Breaches, gat up upon the Wall, founding a Trumpet, and gave a great* Shout. The Jews being at their Reft, as Men oppreft with Hunger and Wearinefs, and hearing this Alarm and Shout of the Romans^ was wonderfully amazed, not knowing what the Matter was, or how they fhouid defend themfelves. Titus alfo heard the Shour, and when he had enquired the Matter, he chofe out certain valiant Men, and drew towards the
Breaches with them.
was broken, and
Jn the
mean
the Jervs rifing
feafon, the
from
day
their Sleep,
efpied Titus upon the Walls, and marvelled thereat The Romans therefore gathering toward T/greatly. tus y
1
the Wars of the Jews.
28
tus, came very thick into the Town, fome by the Breaches of the Wall, and other fome through the Vault, whereby the Jews were wont now and then to make Irruptions, and to recover themfelves withThe Jews fet themfelves in in the Town again. Array againft the Romans in the very Entry of the upon whom the Romans ran with their Temple drawn Swards 5 for they had no other Armour, nor the Jews neither, being haftily taken at fuch a fudden. The Battel waxed very hard, and wonthe like was nederful vehement on both Parties ver feen in Jerufalem, nor heard of, in any time ^ for every Man clave hard to his next Fellow, and no Man could flee on any fide. Wherefore the Battel waxt ftrong, with Clamours and Shouts on both Parties, now the joyful Shout of the Vanquifhers, now the Waitings on the other fide of them that were put to the worfe. The Romans encouraged and exhorted one another to fight, faying, This is the day which we have long-look'd for. The Jews again took Heart unto them, faying, It boots not to flee hence, but, for the Glory of the Lord and his Temple, let us die manfully, as NecQflity conftraineth us, and fo doing, we (hail be counted for Sacrifices and Offerings. Which earncftnefs on both fides, filled the Entry of the Court of the Lord with Blood, that it flood likeuntoa Pool or Pond. And that Fight continued from the Morning till that time four days. Then a certain Soldier of Titus\ whofe Name was Golinus, a valiant Man, as was ever amongft all the Company of Kurtus, feeing the Jews prevail, and to have the upper-hand of the Romans, which now had left off fighting, and fled, the Jews pur•,
fuing
the Wars of the Jews.
%%i
purfuing them, in a rage he ran againft them, and at the Wall which Herod builded, called Antiochia, drove them back, and made them to take the Entrance of the Temple again, where prefling into the Forces of the Jews, he was wounded of a certain Jew. And when he perceived himfelf wounded, he would have ftept back, but ftumbled at a Scone in the Pavement of. the Court of the Ternplr, and fell down, where he fought yet ftill,
met them
till a certain Jew killed him out-right. He fought indeed very boldly and valiantly, but unwarily-, lor he confidered not his Ground wherein he had to do
witfi the Jews.
Titus waiting for Golmus's return, and hearing to be flain, would have gone himfelf to refcue the reft of his that were with him $ but his Men would not Jbfikr him,fcaring,left he himlelf fhould be flain The Jews therefore got the upper-hand that day, and flew very many Romans in that Battel, fpoiling
him
them
alfo (which were killed of their Armour. Thefe were the Names of the Jews that made Of the Company of Captain Jehocbathe Skirmifh :
they kept them up that they could not get out. Wherefore when Titus perceived that the Antochia was in the Romans way, and hindred them, hecaufed it to he razed and pulled down to tbe Ground.
Thefe things was done upon the fifth day of May, the third Month,upon the Even of the folemn Feftival
the Wars of the Jews.
z8
5
day of Weeks, which otherwife is called Ycntecoji^ and that was the Fourteenth Month from the beginning of T/Ws Siege againft this City. Shortly alter, upon the third day of the Feaft of Weeks, the Jetvs^s many as were at Jerufafemj&epi and celebrated the Feaft. Titus taking Holy-day with him Jqfepb^ the Son of Gorton, went into the Houfe of the San&uary,- where the Seditious and Soldiers of the Jews were gathered together $ and called unto Jebocbanan and the reft of the Captains of the Seditious, to whom he fpake by the means of Jofepb^ being his Interpreter, in this wife What hath this Temple offended thee ( thou Seditious Jebocbanan?) Why haft thou brought upon it this great Evil and Mifchief ? If fo be thou truft fo :
much
to thy ftrengtb,come forth to us with thy
into the Fields, and
we
(hall fight
Men
with thee thy
iilL
Why then will not this yourfolemn Feftival Day ye fight in the place where ye fhouid oner your Sacrifice? Ye pollute and defile the San&uaiy of you*
Is
:
God and
his
Name, and we fpare ir, knowing it is And the only Caule why we maker
the Houfe of God
:
War upon
you, is yourftubborn ftiff neckednefk that ye will not fubmit your feives to us, wh.om God hath given the Dominion unto,whofe Will ye labour in vain todifappoint. Either therefore,if ye will fight no more, humble your feives under our iubje&ion, that ye may fave your lives, or el fe,if ye be determin-
ed
ftill
defperately to fight with us,then get you forth
from hence, and fet
our Battles
let
us ^go into
in Array.
Why
the Fields there to will ye defile your San-
£tuary,and hinder the worfhipping of your
Much more ming
befides this, (pake Titus^
and
>
partly bla-
tkey had defiled yet ceafed not to pollute it
their ftubbornnefs,
their Temple,
God
in
that
mors
the Wars of the Jews.
184
more and more, exhorting them
partly with fair words,and gentlenefs to yield, admonifliing them not to
fo mighty an Army, when as they could not do without danger of utter deftru&ion.
refift
it
Thefe and many other things Jofepb exprefled in Hebrew to the People, as Titus willed him, but the Jews anfwered never a word h for Jehochanan had given charge that no
Man
(hould fpeak.
Tben Captain Jehochanan anfwered Titus
himfelf,
We
can offer no kind of Sacrifice more acceptable to God, than to devote, hazard, and abandon our own Bodies and Blood for his Name lake wherefore we will die free Men in this oty: Town, and will never come in Bondage to ferve you. Titus made him Anfwer by Jofepb, faying, This your City I grant, is a Holy City, and your Temple but ye have is moft Holy,which no Man doth deny have polluted the Temgrievoufly finned, in that ye ple of the Lord your God, by (bedding- in it innocent Blood of Saints, and the Priefts of Ciod, with other moft godly and holy Men., By what reafon can ye then fay, that ye (hall be accepted for Sacrifices and Offerings before God ? yea, rather, God abhorreth and detefteth you utterly s when as he requireth in his Sacrifices, that they but ye are all be(hould have no default nor (pot sotted, (o that no lound place is left in you. For tell trie ( I pray you ) if there be any more abominable Spot in Man ihan Sin, when he tranf NeigrelTeth the Law of God, as you have done faying,
:
:
:
ther
is
For wife
Men
Wildom
or Intelligence^ in you. would wifely bear with the Calamities
there any
of
the Wars of the Jews.
18 j
How then that are an acceptable fay ye to and foolifh lb ye are well-pleafing Sacrifice to God, when as ye do relift the Will of God lb proudly ? But thou Jebocbanan^ and the reft of the feditious Captains that are with thee, Tell me, art thou not a mortal Man, fubjeft unto the griefs and vexations of this Life, and WormsMeats as we be ? Should he not difpleale thee, that Ihould take away and violate a Table or fuch like thing, prepared to the honour of thee > and wouldft thou take it in good part, and hold, him excufed that Ihould do lb unto thee \ Why then haft thou taken away the Sacrifices of thy God out of his Temple, and haft fluffed it with innumerable dead Bodies? Who can fee or hear this, and abftain from weeping, when we fhall know fo many Ifraelities to have fuffered death by thee, and Schimeon and Eleazar thy Fellows ? Neither canft thou yet apply thy Mind to ceafe and leave off thy Malice, and yet neverthelels perfwadeft thy leif, that God is with thee, and that thou and thy Fellows are an acceptable and wellpleafing Sacrifice unto God, nothing perceiving that your Sins feparate you, and keep you afunder more ftrongly than any brazen Wall. It is true, I confefs, that it becometh every valiant Man to ftand ftoutly in the defence of his People, City and Country. For it is better to die valiantly, than to come into the Subjection of his Enemies that go about to pluck him from bis Religion, and drive him out of his Country. But I came not hither for that intent, to draw you from your Religion nor to banifh you out of the Land, or elfe to deftroy it and your Cities But this is the Caufe of my coming hither, to offer you Peace, and to make a League with of times, and know the Courfes of things.
.
:
i8£
the Wars
the Jews.
with you, that you fhould take upon you our Yoke, and be out Subjects as ye were before. Where did you ever hear of a People in all the World, that hath ftewed themfelves fo Merciful and Gentle, both towards others, and towards you, as We have done ? Hannibal^ the Captain of the Carthaginians^ after he had wafted our Country, and at length was taken by us, was he not had in great Honour and Reputation of us,and with fuch civility handled,that we made him 4
King of his People? And fo dealt we with Antiochus the Macedonian^ and other Kings that we took Prifoners. Ye brag that ye keep the Vigils and Feafts of your God: Why then follow ye not the Example of Jechoniah your King ? who to fave the Temple of your God from Deftru&ion, and left your People alfo fhould be led away into Bondage, orbedeftroyed with the Sword,yielded himfelf and his Houfe into the Hands of the King of the Ckaldees.Why fpare you not your own Lives, your City and your Santtuary. Now therefore hearken unto me, and I will make a Lvalue with you before the God of this Houfe, who fhall be a Wirnels betwixt me and you $ by whom I fwear that I will never break this League, neither do any Harm, nor fpoil your Goods, nor lead you away Captive, nor yetconftitute any Ruler over you but a even Jofeph the Prieft jew of your own Nation which is with me, (hall be your Prince, if you think It good ^ and ail the faithf ul Men alfo which are with ijie,fhali return Home againje fhall inhabit your own Land, ye fhall have the ufe of the Fruits thereof with Peace and Quietnefs , without any corruption or alteration of the Service of your God h wherefore Credit me and make a League with me. And that you may truft me the better, ye fhall have Pledges, Jofepb
,
:
tke Wars of tht Jews.
'
187
Jofeph a Noble Man of your own Country,and other Princes and Noble Men of the Romans. Come forth therefore,and treat a Peace with us, bow your Shoulders,and humble your Necks, to ferve us like as all other Nations do, and as you have your felves in the time of Nero C
the VPavv of the
288
Jem
Certain of the Priefts of that time, and of the Nobles of the Town, with other godly Men, did wifely provide for themfeives, and came forth to Titus , fubmirting themfelves, to his Mercy ,and were received of him peaceably, with great Honour j whom Titus commanded to be conduced into the Land of Gojhen^ where in times paft, the Ifraelites dwelt in the days of Jacob their Father, and Jofepb Lord of Egypt.
Thither fent he them, and gave it them in Pofthem and to their Heirs for ever after 5 commanding a Company of the Chaldees fafely to condufl: them, till they came to the Land of Gofhem. Titus dire£led his Letter alfo to the Roman Prefident which was fet over Mgypt^ to take pity of rhe Jews that he had placed in the Land of Gojhen^ to fuftain and fuccour them, and to fee that no Roman nor other fhould do them harm, or annoy them by any manner of means. Many other alfo of the Jews coveted to go forth of Jerufalem, but they were difappointed by the Seditious, that they could not do as they intended. And who can tell whether they were entangled with their own fins, and deftined to Definition with their Seditious Brethren, whenas their Hands alfo were polluted with the Cruelty and Iniquity of the Seditious ? wherefore the Seditious doled up all the Walls about the Temple, that none of the Jews whfch were in Jerufatm might get out to Titus. When Titus knew that many of the Jews were defirous to flee unto him, and could not, becaule of the Seditious, he went aga-in to the Place where he feffion, to
-
was
before,
and Jofepb with him
;
Whom
when th?
j
[the
Wars of
the
Jews.
i
8p
the People faw to be there with Titus, they felL a weeping, and faid unto him, We acknowledge our Sins, and the Tranfgreflion of our Fathers, we have lwerved out of the Way againfl: the Lord our God for we fee now the Mercy and Gentlenefs of Titus^ the Son of Cdtfar, and that he taketh-Pity upon us $ but what can we do, when it is not in our Power to flee unto him, becaufe of the Cruelty of the Seditious ? The Seditious hearing them talking with Jofepb in the Prefence o£ Titus, and that they fpake Reverently of him, and honoured his Father, calling him Lord, they ran upon them wkh their drawn Swords to kill them. Then cryed tliey unto Tit us I Dear Lord and Matter, refcue us : The Romans therefore made fpeed to deliver 'em out of the Hands So rofe there a Fray in the mid(t of the Seditious between the Romans and rhe Jews of the Temple, into the Place cali'd Santtum Scintfothe Romans fled wastheHolieft of all, and the Jews folrum, which them even there. Titus ftandflew lowed after, and unto cry'd Jehocbanan, without, ing and laid unto Jehochanan? not thou Is thy WickedHeareft him, enough Wilt great ? never thou make an end yet nefs of Mifchief ? Where is the Honour of thy God ? Is it not written in the Law of thy God, of the Sanffuw. Santtorum, that noStranger ought to come at ir, hut only the High-Priell, and that but once a Year,hec3 uie it is the Holiefi of alL Anduow how dareft thou be fo bold to kill thofe that are efcaped unto it ? And how dare you fhed the Blood of the Uncircumcifed therein^ whom ye abhor, and yet mix their Blood with yours? TheXord your God is my Witnefs^ that I would not have thisHoufe defiroy'd, but your own imck&d Works zvAyovir otin Hands to full it dowh^A #oMd Go&jcx. :
*
^go
The
Wm
of the Jews.
would receive your Peace, which if it were once done, honour this Houfe of the San&uary and Temple of the Lord Yea, we would depart away from you. But your Hearts are hardned like Iron, and your Necks and Foreheads are become obftinate
we would
:
as Brafs, to your own undoing. For ye (hall carry your own Sins, and die in the Land of the Romans $ I and my Father's Houfe are innocent and guiltlefs of yow Death, as the Lord and his Temple, in whole
Prefence
we
ftand, fhall bear us witnefs this day.
But when he faw that none of the Seditious gave any regard to his Words, he chofe out of the Rowans thirty thoufand valiant fighting Men, and gave them Commandment to take and ocaapy the Entry of the Temple, which is a Holy Court, and determined to go with them himfelf ^ but his Nobles would not luffer him, but willed him to remain upon a high Place where he might behold his Soldiers fight; and when they fee thee afar off, their Hearts (hall be comforted, and they fhall fight acBut come not a< cording as thou wilt wifh them the Entry of the Temple thy felf, left thou be deftroyed amongft others. Titus followed the Counfel of his Captains, and went not out at that time with his Men to the Battle. He made Chief Captains of that Hoft of Thirty thoufand, one Karilus and Reftius^ two great Commanders, who had Order to fet upon the Jews that Night, when they fhouldbe aileep, with warinefs. The Romans therefore doing after his Commandment fet upon the Jews^ but the Jews having Intelligence of the Matter, kept diligent Watch, and withftood the Romans all the Night. But the Romans were not hafty to fight in the Dark, fearing left it might :
the Wars of the Jews. might turn to
their
own Harm*
291
As fbon therefore
as it was day, the Jews divided themfelves, and beftowed their Companies at the Gates of theEntrancc, and fought like Men. Karilus and Roftius befet the Temple round about^ that not one of the Jews might efcape out, and fo the Battle encreafed between them for the fpace feven days ^ fometimes the Romans getting the upperhand of the Jews, driving them within the Entrance: fometimes the Jews, encouraging themfelves, made the Romans retire, and purfued them to the Walls of the Antochia : In this manner fought they thefe feven Days. and After the Romans turned back from the would not fight hand to hand with them any more. Then Titus commanded the Wall of the Antochia to be pulled down further, that there might be place for all his Hoft to enter. The Famine in the mean Seafon grew more grieFor the Jews began vous, fo that no Food was lefr. now to ilTue out, and fteal Horfes, AiTes, and other Beafts, whatfoever they could catch, even out of the Romans Camp, that they might drels them lome Meat, and fuftain their Lives ^ which they doing
&
Jw,
oftentimes, at length the Romans perceived it, and were wonderfully difpleafed at the Matter, wherefore they fet Watch and Ward round about the Camp, left by the deceit of the Jews, they fliould be fpoiled of their Cattle. So after that the Jews could fteal no more thence. Afterward notwithftanding, they armed themlelves, and iffued out at the Eaft-Gate, and brake the Wall that Titus had raifed for his own fafety, left the Jews fliould ilTue out upon a fudden, and
V
3
come
2P?
the Wars of the
Jew£
come upon him at unawares. A fort of tall Follows, therefore of the Youth of the Jews, iffued out at the Breaches of the Wall, and got up quickly to the Mount Olivet^ where he found Horfes, Mules, AfTes, and much other Cattel and flaying their Keepers, they drove them before them with great Shouts into the Town. The Romans perceiving it, purfued them. Wherefore the young Men divided thepifelves into Two Bands $ the one to drivq the Booty, and the other to refift the Romans. So there was a fore Fight between them, but the Jews got the upper hand, and went their ways clear with the Prey toward Jerujalem. For the Jews came forth, conftrained by the neof Hunger, and fought for their living The Romans had no caufe to fight, fave only for Shame, to fee their Cattle driven away before their Eyes $ for otherwife they put not their Lives in Jeopardy to fight unto death, as the Jews did, yet there were ceflity
:
many of the Romans flain in that Fight. The Jews, while the Romans purf ued them
in vain,
got into the Town with their Spoil and Prey, and itraightway turned upon the Romans and drove ihem back, purfuing them again till they came almolt to Titus's Camp which when the other Ro-
m.ns taw,
they iffued forth to the Refcue of their
Fellows, and purfued thofe young Men, either to them, or take them, albeit they efcaped to the Town without any Harm, fave that they took a Boy, and brought him unto Titus. He that took this Lad was- called Tornus. So the Romans prevailed againft the Jews at that |ime j and for a certain Token of the Vi&ory, they had this young Jew Prifoner. Pornus' that took kill
'
P^^'^'Jw/
: •
'
'
bin]
The Wars of the Jews.
»
293 A&, of
him, was had in great eftimation for that Titus and all the Romans. Titus apparelled the Boy, and committed him to Jofepb to keep. This Boy had a Brother amongft them that efcaped into the Town, a vile Peffonage, evil-favoured, and
of a low
ftature,
his
Name was
He feeing his Brother taken Prifoner, Jonathan. cometh forth of the Tomb of Jochanan the HighPrieft over-againft the Romans, and cried unto 27tus, and to all the Army, faying, If there be ever a Man among you, let him come forth unto me, here will I abide him,and fight with him upon this Ground And ye fhall know this day, whether the Romans or the Jews be the better Men. The Remans defpiled him, yet durft they not meddle with him, but faid, If we kill him, we fhall :
never be counted the better Men for fuch an AO:, kill any of us, it fhould be a great dishonour to be flain of a wretched Captive. Jonathan faid to the Remans, How much is the Manhood of the Romans to be regarded in our Eyes > Have not you been flain and put to flight by us > What were you then, if Bands and Companies of the Gent i/es came not every day to aid you ? If they had not refreftied you, we had long ago eaten you up. have deftroyed our felves one another with Civil Wars, fo that we are but few left : but what are you ? Who is fo hardy of the beft
and if he (hould
We
of you
all, to come and declare his ftrength and to fight with me ? I am one of the Meaneft, and Outcafls of the Jews : Pick you out of the chiefeft
and valianteft
When
Man amclg
yop all, and you fhall whether part is more Valiant. Jonathan had fpoken thus proudly, there
know by and
by,
V
4
*ame
194
**> e
came
Wan of
the Jews.
forth one of the moft valiant Soldiers
R^tftfj, whofe Name
was tornus, the fame
of the had
that
taken the Brother of this Jonathan, and brought hin^ to Titus he came no fooner at ^Jonathan, but he was killed of him ftraightyvay, leaving behind him a double and differing Inheritance to Jonathan,m& the Romans ^ to Jonathan a Fame of Fortitude and Valiantnefs, to the Romans Shame and Reproach. When Jonathan had {lain the Roman, the Jews changed his Name, and called him Jehonathan, by an honourable Name, and gave him a Scepter of Dominion in his Hand But Jehonathan when he had gotten the Victory, gave not the Power to God, but afcribed it to*his own Prowefs, and became very proud 5 withal, he was not content with one ViQory, but would yet provoke the Romans, railing at them, and calling for another valiant Champion to be fent him, that I may kill him ( faid he ) and declare my Force upon him * and gven as he faid fo, one of the Romans, whole Name was Pornan, ftruck him through with an Arrow at unawares and killed him * by whofe Example ye may perceive, It is every Man's part chiefly for to take heed that when they overcome their Enemies, they rejoyce not overmuch, nor wax proud for the matter ^ jor, who knoweth what end they jhall have the mj elves? Thefe things done, the Jews feeing the Walls of the Temple, and three Wails that compaffed the Town, to be razed and pulled down, knowing aifo that they had no help left, nor any thing to truft unto, they confulted what was beft to be done. There was a great xloufe joined unto the fide of the Temple that King Solomon had builded, j great height^ whofe Walls alfo the Kings of :
t
'•/.
•'• •
-
' '
~
.
the
Ihe Wars of the Jews.
ig j
Temple had raifed on height, and had Timber of Firr, and Cedar- Trees. The with decked anointed every where the Cedar Timand went Jews ber of theHoufe with Brimftone and Pitch abundantly So when the Romans came again ro the Tern* pie to aflault the Jews, and purfued them unto that Palace, they entred the Palace after the Jews,* who went out again another way, and fome climbed up to the Battlements of the Houfe, others Then rejoyced they fet up Ladders to fcale it wonderfully, faying, The Palace is taken, now have the Jews ho place left to flee unto for Refuge. Thus when the Romans had gotten the Palace, and the Houfe was full of them, a certain Jew, a young Man, vowing himfelf defperately to die, went and fhut up the Palace, and fet fife on the Gates anointed before with Brimftone and Pitch, and ftraightway the fide Wall of the Houfe, and the whole Building began to be on a light fire, fo that the Romans had no way to efcape, becaule the Fire compalTed the Houfe on every fide. The JewsAfo flood in harnefs round about the Houfe, left any of the Romans fhould efcape. Wherefore fo many of the Romans as entred into the Houfe, were deftroyed with the Fire,which was Twenty two thoufand Men of Was. Titus hearing the Cry of the Romans that periflied in the Fire, made fpeed with ail his Men to come and refcue them, but could not deliver them out of the Fire, it burnt fo vehemently ^ wherefore Titus and his Men wept bitterly. The Romans tjjat were above upon the Houfe, when they faw their Matter Titus weep, and the Fire to be between them, that neither could come to one another, they caft therofelves* down the Second it
:
:
zg6
7he Wars of the Jews.
headlong from the Battlements of the Houfe, which wa^very high, and diosi, faying, We will' die in Titus's prefence, to get us a
The Jews kept
Name thereby.
of the Palace, and^if they perceived any Man go about to efcape out of the Fire.or to come down from the Battlements,them they killed with their Swords. In that Fire was a certain great Commander, of the Stock of Kings, whofe Name was Longinus, to whom the Jews cried, and flouted him,faying Come hkna- onto us, tjjat thou mayeft fave thy Life, and "not be deitroyed But he durft not go out at the Where^ Gate, fearing rhe Jews would kill him. fore he drew out his Sword, and thruft himfelf the Gates
:
thorow before their Faces. Another great Commander alfo was in that Fire, whofe Name was Artorius, who looking forth from the top of the Houfe, few one of his dear Friends by Titus, which was called Lucius, to whom Art onus called, fayirag, My dear Friend Lucius, get on thy Armour^ and come hither that I may leap down upon thee, and thou mayefl: receive me. If 1 die, I make thee my Heir j if thou die, thy Children (hail inherit my Goods. Wherefore Lucius ?an and held his Lap open at the Houfe-fide, and Art or i us leapt down, and light upon him with fuch Titus comweight.that they both died therewith. manded the Covenant that they made before their Death, to be written on a Sword with Blood, and their Friendfhip to be noted in the Chronicles *
of the Remans, that it might be an Example to all At that time to learn uue Etiendfliip by therefore the Jews revenged themfelves meetly well upon the Romans. The Fire burnt till it came
Men
:
to
Tfa Wars of the Jows.
297
to the Chtskijabu King of Jehuda, and had almoft taken the Temple of the Lord 5 which the Romans feeing, fled out of the Town, and got them to their
Tents, a great part of them being deftroyed by the Cruelty of the Jevos^ fb that few of them remained. The reft therefore lay ftili in their Siege round afhall not be able to win bout the Town, faying,' the Town by the Sword, but rather we muft be fain
We
4
to drive
them
to yield by Famine,
compaffed it on every no Vi£tuais left.
fide
wherefore they
in the
^
Town was now
There was a certain rich Woman at Jerufalem, of a Noble Houfe alfo, whole Name was Miriam. Her Dwelling was beyond Jordan ; but when (he perceived the Wars to grow more and more in the Time of Vef(he came up with her Neighbours to Jerufalem^ bringing with her not only her Men-Servants and Women-fervajpts, and all her Family, but alfo her Goods and Riches, which were very great. When the Hunger was grievous at Jerufalem^ and the Seditious went from Houfe to Houfe to feek Meat, they came alfo to this Woman's Houfe, and took away from her by force all that ever (be had, and left her nothing remaining. By this means fhe was oppreft with very great Hunger, fo that fhe wifhed her fdf out of the World, but her time was not yet come to die Wherefore that fhe might flack her Hunger, and fuftain her felf, (he began to fcrape in the Chaff and Duft for Beafts Dung^ but could find none. She had one Son, and when fhe faw the Famine wax greater and greater upon pafian^
:
Woman-hood and Mercy, and took upon her an horrible Cruelty For when fh$ weep, which fhe Boy and Meat, heard her ask for her, flie laid afide all
:
m
j $8
the
Wm of
the
Jews.
him, fhe faid unto him, What fhall Son ? For the Wrath of God hath environed the whole City, in every corner thereof the Famine reigneth Without the City the Sword killeth up all, within we ftand in fear of the Seditious 5 -our Enemies prevail without, in the Town are Fires, Burnings, and Ruinesof Houfes, Famine, Peftilence, Spoiling and Deftroying, fo* that I can-
had not
I
do
to give
my
:
not feed thee
my
Son.
if I fhould die for Hunger,
Now to
therefore
whom
my
Son,
fliould I leave
thee being yet a Child ? I hoped once that when thou fhouldeft come to Man's Eftate, thou fhouldeft have fuftained mine Age with Meat, Drink, and Cloth, and after, when I fhould die, to bury me honourably, like as I was minded to bury thee if But now, thou fhould'ft have died before me. my Son, thou art as good as dead already ; for I have no Meat to bring thee up withal, beeaufe of this great Famine, and cruelty of the Enemies, both If thou fhouldeft die now within and without amongft others, thou fhouldeft have no good nor honourable Tomb, as I would wifh thee ^ wherefore I have thought good to chufe thee a Sepulchre, even mine own Body, left thou fhouldeft die, and :
Dogs eat thee in the Streets ^ I will therefore be thy Grave, and thou (halt be my Food ^ and for that, that if thou hadft lived and grown to Man's Eftate, thou oughteft, by right, to have nourifhed me, and fed me with thy Flefh, and with it fuftain mine Age, before that Famine devour thee, and thy Body be confumed, render unto thy Mother that which fbe gave unto thee ^ for thou cameft of her, and thou fhalt return into her. For I will bring thee unto the felffame Shop, in the which the Breath or
7he Wars of the Jews.
199
was breathed into thy Noftrils, forafmuch as thou art my well-beloved Son, whom I have loved always with all my Strength : Be therefore Meat for thy Mother, and Ignominy and Reproach to the Seditious, that by Violence have taken away our Food. Wherefore, my Son, hear my Voice, and fuftain my Soul and my Life, and go to the end that is determined for thee by my Hands, thy Lot be in the Garden of Eden and Paradife, be thou Meat for me, and Rebuke and Shame to the Seditious, that they may be compelled to fay, Lo a Woman hath killed Life
her Son, and bath eaten him. So when (he had thus fpoken to her Son, (he took the Child, and turning her Face away left (he fhould fee
him
cut his roafted,
him with a Sword, and after Body into certain Pieces, whereof lbme fhe fome fhe fod ^ and when (he had eaten of
dye, (he kill'd
laid up the reft to keep. favour of the Flefh roafted, when it came out into the Streets to the People, they faid one to another, See here is the fmeli of Roaft-Meat. Which thing came to the Knowledge of the Seditious at length, who went into the Houfeof the Woman, and fpake roughly unto her, Why fhouldft thou have Meat to live with, and we die for Hunger > The Woman made them anfwer, and faid unto them, Be not difpleafed, I befeech you, with your Handmaid for
them, fhe
The
!
you fhall fee 1 have referved part for you. you down therefore, and i will bring it you, that ye mayTafte thereof, for it is very good Meat. this, for
Sit
And by and by before I
fhe covered
the
them part of the Child's
Table,
Flefh,
and
faying,
fet
Eat
pray you, here is a Child's Hand, fee here is Foot and other parts, and never report that
his
it
Tbe Wart of the jews.
joo
it is another Woman's Child, but ray own only Son, that ye knew with me ; him I bare, and alfo have eaten part, part I have kept for you. When ihe hadlpoken, Ihe burft out and wept, faying, Oh my Son, my Son, how fweet waft thou to m£ whilft
thou yet lived, and now at thy death alfo thou art fweeter to me than Honey For, thou haft not only fed me in this moft grievous Famine, but haft defended me from the Wrath of the Seditious, wherewith they were incenfed towards me, when the fmell of the Meat brought them into my Houfe. Now therefore are they become my Friends, for they fit at my Table, and I have made them a Feaft With thy Flefh. After (he turned her to the Seditious, and bad them eat, and latisfie themfelves For why ( faith fhe ) fhould ye abhor my Meat which I have fet before you ? I have fatisfied my felf therewith, why therefore do not you eat of the Flefh cf my Son Tafte and fee how fweet my Son's Flefh is, I dare fay ye will fay, It is good Meat. What needeth pity > Ought ye to be more moved therewith than a Woman ? If ye will in no wife eat of the Sacrifice of my Son, when as I have eaten thereof my fel£ fhali not this be a fhame for you, that I fhould have a and greater Courage than you > better Heart , Behold, I have perpared a fair Table for you, moft valiant Men, why eat ye not ? Is it not a g6od Feaft that I have dreft for you ? And it is your will It had been my that I fhould make you this Feaft. part rather to have been mov'd with Pity of my Son, than yours : And how chanceth it therefore that you are more merciful than { > Are ye not they that Ipoiled my Houfe, and left me no kind of Food !
.
_
>'
for
I
Ibe Wars of for
me and my Son
>
tfre
Jewl
501
Are ye not they that conftrain'd
me to make you this Feaft,notwithftanding the greater Hunger :har I have? Why then eat ye not thereof, whenas ye were the Authors and Caufers that I did this Deed ? The Jews hearing this Matter, were wonderfully fmitten in fadnefs ^ yea, even the Governors of the Seditious began to fto'op when they heard of this, fo that they all in a manner defired
Death, they were fo amazed at this horrible A£t; Many therefore* of the common People ftole out in the Night forth of Jerufalem, with all their Subftance, to the Roman's Camp, and fhew'd Titus of this, who wept thereat, and was forry for the Matter exceedingly, holding up his Hands toHeaven,and crying,Tfo?# Lord God of the'Wor/d,Godof this Houfe, to whom all Secrets are known , which alfo knoweft my Heart\that I came not againft this City as deflrous of WarsJ)ut rather of Peace, which I offered them, but yet the Citizens thereof evermore refufed it,alth(? I oftentimes entreated them. And when they dejlroyed one another by their Civil Diffentions J would have delivered them, but I found them always like moft fierce and cruel Beafts, nothing [paring them/elves. And this Mifchief is come now fofar y that a Woman hath eaten her own ¥lefh 9 being driven thereunto by mofiextream necefftty.
I
have heanh
told me, of all the
and my forefathers have
Power
that thou haft exercifed in times pafl towards them, and their Fathers, how thy
Name
dwelt amongft them. For thou brought efl them out of -Egypt,' with a firong Hand, and a ftretched forth Arm, out of the Houfe of Bondage, to whom alfo it
divideft the Sea^ leddeft them through and drownedft their Enemies in the Water, conduced ft thy People through the Wildernefs,
thou
dry,
qfter
\
TfieWafsof the Jews.
$ot
andfed'ft them with Breadfrom Heavenfhoti caufedft Quails to fly unto them, and brought eft out Water out of the Rock for them. At length thou broughteft them into this Holy hand by great and terrible Miracles and Wonders : For thou dryedft up the, Waters of Jordan, andmadeft them ftand up in a heap, '
till they
were pajfed over
thou didft caufe the Sun Courfe for thy Peoples fake fill they did vanquifh their Enemies. Thou wouldft that thy Namefhould dwell among them, and gave ft ft them this City by Inheritance. Some of them thou didji choofefor thy felf to be Prophets, which might conduft thy Veople, teach them and lead them into the
and Moon
:
aljo to ftay their
right way, to give them warning of future Miferies, that they might take heed, and beware of them. More-
over, thou didft choofe of them Priefts to ferve thee, to blefs thy People Ifrael certain godly Men
and
•,
amongft them thou dreweft unto thee, and in a fiery Chariot thou didft carry them up to Heaven : Thou fmoteft the Tents of the King of
8718 Men. heard of my
Thefe and divers
Affur,
W
killedft
other things have I
¥orefathers,yea,and 0/Jofepti the Prieft,
a very wife Man. And now, Lord God, this People which I have ftriven againft I would have faved, had they trufied in thee, but thou feeft they truft not in thyfaving Health, but in their own Sword. When Titus had faid all thefe things, he com'tnanded to bring an Iron Ram, and to bend it a-
new Wall which the Seditious hadraifed, but many of the that they might batter it down Nobles among the Seditious came forth unto Titus and made Peace with him, whom he placed among gainft the
•,
Men.
his chief
Shortly after, the Romans fet on
Ift^A
.
fire
one of the Gates
the
Wan
of the Jews.
30 j* whole Door
Gates of the Temple that was (hut, was covered over with Silver, and while the Timber of it burnt, the Silver melted, and ran upon the: Ground ^ fo when the Gate was open, the way appeared which leadeth to the Santfum San&orum. As foon as Titus faw it, he honoured it with great Reverence, and forbad his People that none (hould come nigh it. Wherefore he commanded a Proclamation to be publtfhed throughout all his Camp to this Tenor, Whofoever A>metb near the Santtuary Jbalt fuffer death for it. He appointed alfo a ftrong Band of Men to keep the Temple, that it might not be prophaned and unhallowed by any of his ; But his Princes and Captains anfwered, Unlefs this Houfe be fet on fire, thou (halt never fubdue this People, in regard that to preferve
it*
they
vow
to dye.
Notwithftanding Titus would not hearken to their Counfei, but appointed fome of his own Soldiers, and fuch Jews as had come in to him to keep* Ward, guring them charge to preferve the Temple and SanUum Santtorum^ left it (hould be polluted.
The
Jews that remained in Jerufalem^ Romans depart from the Temple, and leaving Guards behind, they ran upon them with their Swords drawn, and flew every Soul of them Which Titus hearing, he brought his whole Army thither againft the Seditious,' and kili'd many of them-, the Seditious
feeing the
:
Mount Sinai. The next day the Romans
reft fled to
fet fire on the Sanftum Santtorum, laying Wood to the Doors that were covered over with Gold, and then firing itj ib after the Gold waxed hot, and the Timber burnt* the
X
$©4
The Wars of the Jews.
SanUum SanUorum was open, that Men might in the ninth Day of the 5 th Month, which was the very fame Day that it was open alfo in the time of the Cbaldees. The Romnns therefore rufhing into the
fee
it
the Stfnftum SanUorum^ gave a great Shout while it whznTitus heard, he haftned to quench the Fire, and fave the SanUum SanUorum but he burnt, which
Could not do it, becaufe it was fet on fire in fo many thereupon Titus crj^ed unto thefcn, that they i fhould forbear, but they would not hear him : For as 3 vehement .Flood of Waters breaketh through all things, and drives them down before it with fuch a furious Violence the Gentiles ruftied upon the Lord's Temple, the Fire flaming every where out of Meafure. When Titus, faw he could not reftrain them from the SanUum SanUorum with Words, he drew out his Sword, blaming the Captains of his own People, and others that were not Romans he killed and he cryed out fo long and fo loud upon them, that he Places
:
*
was grown hoarfe. The Priefts that were within the SanUum SanUorum withftood the Romans ftoutly, till they were able no longer to lift up their Hands : Wherefore when they faw there was no other Safeguard left^ with they leaped into the Fire, and divers other them, and fo burnt all together, faying, What Should no Temple ? Yet we live any longer now there
Jem
Titus ceafed not to ftrike the People and chafe them from the Temple, and being grown fo weary that all his ftrength failed him, he fell upon the Ground, and forbore crying upon them any farther. After that the SanUum SanUorum was burnt, Titus arofe, and entring thereinto, he faw the Glory
and
j
j
The Wars of the Jews,
30
and magnificence thereof, and believed it was the Houfe of the Lord, for as yet the Fire had not eontherefore he faid perceive that this is no other than the well Now I and the Dwelling of the King of God, Houfe of Heaven,neither was it for nought that the Jews flood fo earneftly in defence thereof nor did the Gentiles alfo without good Caufe fend Gold and Silver to this Temple from the fartheft Parts of the World 5 for great is the Glory of it, and furpaffeth all the Roman, and Temples of the Gentiks, that ever I few. The God of Heaven, who is the God of this Houfe,
fumed
all,
:
take Vengeance of the Seditious, whofe mifchievousand heinous Deeds have brought this evil upon thern.
CHAP.
TH E
IV.
Seditious that yet remained at Jerufdletn, the Sanctum Settlor wn to be burnc,
feeing
they
fet
the Teft of the
Temple on
fire
themfelves^
with all the Houfes that were fil I'd with Treafure, and all forts of precious Jewels and where they
knew alfo
fome Vi&uals, they let it the Romans fhould receive benefit
there remained yet
on
fire
?
left
thereby.
up
After this, the Rowans quenched the Fire, snd fee offertheir Idols and Images in the Temple,
and bl^lph^mihg, Jews, and their Laws, in prefence of their idols. About that time arofe one who prophefied a Lye unto the Seditious that temalned vet in Jerufahfn. exhorting them to play i
ing Burnt-Offerings unto them,
mocking and
railing at the
x
m
506
7he
Wan "of the
Jews.
the Men, and oppofe their Enemies : For now, faith he, (hail the Temple be built by it felf, without humane Hands, that God may declare his Power -unto the Romans., who now glory in themfeives, to have
overcome the Jews this day, the
h
Temple
therefore if you fight ftoutly
it felf. Hereupon upon the Romans^xA flew many of them, which made the Romans, who had favoured them formerly, to kill them like Sheep, Thefe things hapened becaufe they gave credit to a falfe Prophet, and marked not the Signs that appeared formerly For the Year next before the coming of Vefpajian, there was feen a Star on the Temple fo bright, as if a Man had fo many drawn Swords in his Hands. And the fame time this Star appeared, which was at the folemn PafTover, that whole Night the Temple was light and cleat asmidday, and continued fo feven Nights together, Underftaiiding Men knew well enough that this was an 511 Augury^ though others thought it good. The
the Seditious
(hall ereft
fet furioufly
v
:
fame time alfo they brought a Heifer for a Sacrifice, which when file was knocked down, fhe calved a Lamb. Befides, there was a certain Gate called the EaftGate, that was never opened nor fhut, but twenty Men had enough to do about it, and the creaking of the Hinges might be heard afar of ^ this Gate was found open without any Man's help, and they could it,tili a great number joined their ftrength. Moreover there was difcerned on the Santtum Sanltorum, a whole night long, the Face of a Man
not fhut
wonderful terrible. There appeared alfo the fame time, four Chaiiots with Horfemen^nd great Blafts in the Sky, coming towards
a;
the Wars of the Jews. towards Jerufalem.
307
In the Feaft of the Weeks, the Man walking in the Tem-
Priefts likewife heard a
ple, and faying with a great and wonderful terrible Voice, Come let us go away out of this Temple, let us hence, away. But efpecialiy there was one furpalTed all thele
a certain Man in the City, of a bafe degree, called Jofhua, began to cry upon the Feaft of Tabernacles, Voice from the Eajl, a Voicefrom the in this wife ^
A
Weft^ a Voice from the four Winds of the Heavens^ a Voice againft Jerufalem, j Voice againft the Temple Voice againft the Bridegroom ,a Voice againft the Bridc^ and a Voice againft the whole People.
ThuS he cried very ofr, fo that they of Jerufalem hated him, and faid unto him, Why crieft thou always this Cry ? But the Governour of the City forbad them to wrong him, fuppofing he was mad : Therefore, for four Years fpace, he never left crying out, Wo to Jerufalem and to the SanUuary thereof
When the Wars
had begun, and the Town was fortuned as he wandred upon the Walls, he added this alfo unto his Cry, Wo unto my felf\ and with that a Stone came out of an Engine from the Camp, that daflied out his Brains. At that time alfo there was a Writing found graven in an old Stone ^ What time the building of the Temple fhall be brought to a foursquare f hen it fhallbe Now when the Antochia was taken and deftroyed. and the Walls of the Temple razed by the Roman were all bruifed, the Jews making fpeed to repair the Ruines and Dilapidations, without remembrance of the old Writing, they made the Temple four Iquare. Befides thele words were found in the befieged,
it
X
5
Wall
The Wars
of
the Jews.
Walls of the Santtum Santtorum^ When the whole Building of the Temple Jhall be foursquare\ then Jhall a King reign over Ifratl, and that King and Ruler jhall reign ever all the
Land
of IfraeL
preted this of the King of 1/rael faid, It is the King of the Romans.
Some
inter-
but the Priefts
The whole Roman Army being now come into the Temple, and the Jews fled to Mount Swn, the Romans let up their Idols in the Lord's Temple, and railed at the Jews : It happened, that there came down to the Rowan* a lirtle Boy of the Priefts from Mount Sion to a Captain of the Wall, Keeper of the Temple, defiringhim to give him fome Water ^ he taking pity of* the Boy, gave him fome \ the Boy taking the Veflel the Water was in, firft drank himfelf, then ran away with the reft The Captain made (hew to run after him, but let him ;
go
of purpofo
Once when the Romans were at their Sacrifice with Titus, fome Priefts came and befought him that he would qot kill them ^ heanlwered, Why do you wifli ro live now, and not rather die with your Brethren, who have luftered Death for God's fake, and for the fake of this Houfe ? whereupon he com«manded they fhould be all flain. After Schrmeon and Jehcchanan fent to Titus for peace: heaniwered, This thing ye feek too late \ but how cometh it to pafs,that you beg your lives now,being fo few, and that ye have wafted ail things lodefperately> ye defire Life, and yet perfevere in your Malice,ftill holding your Swords in your hands Have we rot taken your City, Temple, and the Santtum Sqntforutn ? what is there left for you to put your :
hope; in? Therefore cart
away yourSwords and lay down your
i
the Wars of the Jews.
jop
your Armour &tlien if you come to me 5 I know what Have to do,perad venture I (hall be gracious unto you. Scbimecn and Jebochanan anfwer'd, We have fwom by the Lord our God, who is God of Heaven and Earth, that we will never bear thy Yoke nor Serve thee,or make any Peace to be fubje£l to thee,therefore if it be thy Pleafure to (hew us Mercy we will take our Journey into the Wildernefs. In granting this, we will report we have found Favour, if not, we will remain here, to fee what manner of death we (hall die. Titus hearing this, was much incenfed,and faid, Remains the Pride of your Hearts, and Hardnefs of your Neck ft ill with you,tho 5 ye be Captives ? Dare y e tefo bold as to fay,^£ have /worn not to endure ourToke* Then Titus gave Commandment to the Romany not to omit any opportunity to fet upon the Seditious, and by one means or other, to deftroy Schimeon and Jebochanan. There was at that time a [certain Man of the Royal Blood, whole Name was \Sefacb$ he, accompanied with all his Brethren and Sons that were there with him of the King's Blood, I
came down from the Mount Sion to Titus , who them honourably, and gently ordered them.
re-
ceived
When Jebochanan and Schimeon underftood that verach and the reft were gone, and had yielded themfelves to Titus, they went and fet fire upon all that was in the King's Palace, that the Romans fhould have no Commodity thereby. From they
whom
thence they went to the Temple, where certain Commanders and Captains, Titus had put in Authority about the
found
Temple, of whom there were Chief: One Captain of the Horfemen, the fecond of the Chariots, and the third of the Footmen, him they killed and took 4
X
:
The Wart $f the Jews. took his Companions alive. One of them befought him that had taken him, that he might be brought to Scbirneon their Captain Let him (faith he) do with me as he lift, and in this one thing let me find favour at your Hands. They "agreed and brought
310
•
:
him
to Scbirneon^
who commanded
his Servants, as
he was come, to flay him. But while he that was appointed to this Bufinefs made delay, and killed him not, by and by he whipt down off the Hill, efcaped, and came to Titus ; who commanded him out of his fight, being wroth with him, that he had not fought unto Death, rather than to be taken
foon as
alive.
But with the Jews was he wonderfully xlifpleafed that they had fo defpightfuliy ordered his Men therefore he commanded to kill all the Jews^ as many as could be found in the Streets of the City, he would have fpared before, and caufed ^
whom
Proclamrtion to be made
throughout
all his
Camp
Then died many of the Jews^ lb that every Place was full of dead Bodies. The Men of War of xhzEdomites,, which were with Scbirneon^ for their Safety.
perceiving how the Matter went, fent Ambafladors to Titus to defire Peace, and to fave their Lives which when it came to Scbimo/fs'E^ he went unto
them, and flew the chief of them, and their Noblemen h and the reft of the People of the EJc~ that time forth Titus commanded his Men to ufe no more Cruelty to the Jews. Soon after fled Jfbochanan and Scbirneon^
mites fled unto Titus.
and hid themfelves
in
From
certain Caves.
The
reft
ot
the chief Men of the Jews that were with theinfy feeing them now to be fled, came down from the Mount to Titus , and fell down upon their Faces bs-
1
The Wat $ of the Jews. fore
him upon the Ground,
whom
*
j
1
Titus received
As for the Seditious that were with Schimeon and Jebocbanan^ they fought till they all dyed
gently.
together.
Then came
forth unto Titus one Jojfiua a Prieft,
,Son of Scaftai^
the High Prieft, bringing with
him
Candlefticks of Gold which were in the San. ftuary, and the Tables of Gold, with other Veflels of Silver and Gold, and alfo the Holy Veftures deck-
two
ed with Gold and precious Stones ail thofe he gave to Titus y wHo made him Chief Prieft over them for that remained, next unto Jofepb the Prieft Titus gave Jofepb Authority as well over the Priefts and Levites, as over the whole People of the Jews. Then was Gorionfhe Father of Jofepb,xhat writ this Hiftory, brought out of Prifon, with his Wife and Children, among whom was one Barion^ JofepWs younger Brother^" he was a very wife and godly Prieft, by whom Godbeftowed many Benefits upon the l[raelites\ for Titus left him at Jerufalem, and took him not with him, as he did Jofepb ; Jofeplfs Father lived after the City was taken twenty Months, and died. They took alfo one Phi/teas a Prieft, who was Keeper of the Treafure Houfe he bewrayed and dete&ed to the Romans ail the Treaibres of the Priefts, and their Veftnlftts ; he gave alfo unto Titus a molt precious Oyl, with fweet Odours and Perfumes, and Garments alfo of Pur:
which the Kings of the Second Temple had Wherefore both this Pbineas and Jojbua, whom we mentioned before, tranfgrefied the Covenant of the Lord, and offended God, in that they delivered his Jewels to the Enemies of his People, which they ought not to have done, but ple,
given.
rather
3
1
og the Jew.
the Wars
z
rather to have died for the Glory of the Lord, as rhe other Prieft did, which caft themfelves into the Fire.
Thus wa^ the City of Jerujalem taken, with all the precious things that were therein. And Titus went up to Mount Sion, took it, and ra£ed the Wall thereof. Three days after, Jehochananforh vex'd with Hunger, left his Place where he lurked, and came to Titus, fell down before him, and kiffed his Feet, faying, Save me, O Lord. King. Titus commanded him to be fettered with Iron Chains, and when he had caufed him to be carried about the Camp, fo bound, and to be mocked of all Meniy by the fpace of (even Days, he commanded to hang him, and fo got he a juft End, and fit Reward for his Cruelty.
Afterward came Schimem alfo forth of his Den, being driven to it with Famine/ He had put on Kingly Apparel, and (hewed himfelf afar off to the Roman Hoft h who feeing him, were afraid to go to him j but he calFd unto them, and ask'd forTome Captain. Then one came forth, and faid unto Scbimeon, Tell
me who thou
art,
and
I
will not kill thee.
Scbi-
him J am Schimeon, Seditions (^ptain of the Jews, which have made
tneon anfwered therefore, and told
that
beleech thee, fhew me fo to Titus thy Matter * Titus therefore, when he faw Scbimewhich he did on, he commanded him to be faft bound, and to be l^d about the whole Hoft, that he might be derided and mocked Afterward he was pat to a fore Death-, then he Was cut in firft his Head was ftricken off,
you fo much much Favour
ado,
now
as to bring
I
me
:
:
Dogs So he died an abominable Death, being punifhed for his Iniquity.
Pieces, and caft unto
:
i
1
2fo W^ri 0/ tfe Jew's.
jij
The Number of the J^wr, as well Citizen as came unto the Feaft of Jerujaiem^ which
thers, that
were
flain,
partly by the Romans^ partly by the Se-
whole time of thefe Wars, was hundred thoufand, befides them Eleven fce only they were whole Number was not known counted which were {lain and buried : Befides them, they alfo were not reckoned, that after the death of Jehocbanan and Scbimeon^ died with Eleazar the Son of Anani the #Prieft They that were led Prifoners by Titus to Rome^ were Sixteen thoufand ditious, during the
pnown
to
:
Men.
€0
Titus with Jofeph went to Rome^ leaving Bo-
nian^ J^/irpb's Brother ,at Jerufalem^who was appointed to be the Chief Prieft of them that abode there $
for Jofepb did requeft it of Titus ^ which he performThe Seditious were all (lain in the Battel which
ed.
they took in hand for the Peoples fake, and the Temple of the Lord thofe alfo, that Titus took Prifoners, were put to vile Deaths, for he referved many to be Mocking-ftocks in every City, where he paflkd by in the way to Rome $ anci in every Town he commanded fome of them to be brought forth, and call unto the Lions till they were all confumed. :
CHAP. THere
V.
were certain People at that time, dwelamongft the Mountains of Ararat* that were called Alanites^ whofe Power Alexander King of Macedonia fgaring, clofed them on every fide. This ling
Ibe Wats of the Jews.
314
This People, although they had no knowledge of the ufe of Iron nor Armour, yet this was their manner, That one of them, with a great Pole burnt a little at the end, would put to flight a Hundred good Soldiers, were they never fo well, appointed and armed. Until this Year they were always ftiut in, but now being opprefled with a great Dearth and Famine throughout all the Land, they fent EmbafTadors to the People of Idurkan their Neighbours^ requiring them that they would open the ftraits of the Mountains, that they might come forth with their Wives and Children to feek
them Food. The Hurkans granted their Requefts, and opened them the Entrances of the Mountains ^ fo they came forth, wandring here and there, spoiling divers Countries, till at length they took their Journey toward the Mountains of the Land of Madaiy where they found Horles, namely in the Defart of Madai^ amongft the People of Ararat 5 they got thofe Horfes, leap'd upon them, and enThe Prefident or Ruler tred the Land of Madji. of the Country hearing thereof, fled into the higheft Hills, leaving his Wife and Children behind him kn©wing for hafte, he was fo afraid of the 5 their Valiantnefs. Straightway he fent unto them EmbafTadors to make Peace with them, and he would let them have Vi&uals upon this* Condition, They That they would not fpoil his Countty made anfwer, If fo be he would maintain them, and let them have Food for the fpaceof one Month, till the Corn in their own Country were ripe, they would return home again at the Months end ^ for wedefire not (fay they ) thy Geld or Silver, be-
4^^
:
Shfc
•
V \£
'j
'1^
ing
Ibe Wars of the
Jewsr
$ 1
y
ing Men feparated from all Entercourfe inTraffick with other People, nor any thing elfe than Food do
we
feek.
Requeft the Rnler granted them, and let them have a certain Grain called Mill, fodden with one kind of Flefli or other. The Number of them was Seven thoufand one hundred and fifty, and five thoufand one hundred and forty Perfons. When the Month was ended, and the Alanites un-
This
their
derftood the Corn in their own Country was ripe, they departed out of the Land of Madai, according as they had fworn, and returned toward their own
Country*
were in their way homeward, MiKing of Ararat came againft them to annoy them, minding to drive them from his Coafts,
And
as they
tbridates
wafte his Country. Therefore while they marched through this Country going toward their own, Mitbridates made War upon them, but his Men were beaten down by the. Alanites^ like as Grafs falls upon the Ground when a ftrong Man Then one of the young Men of the treads upon it. Alanites, in defpight, put a Rope about Mitbridates's Neck, and drew him after him, unto his Mitbridates gat out his Sword, and great Shame. cut afunder the Rope and Med. To whom the A* lanites looking back, faid, Go thy way, get thee
left they fhould
home, and make no more War upon us hefeafrer-, for we were not minded to watte thy Land, nor yet to kill thy People. For if we had ever intended it, Could we not have done it long ago, when as nothing is betwixt us arid you, but the
Mountains of Ararat that
we
?
But we were of
ftiould greatly offend to kill
this
Mind,
Men of our own
the Wari of the Jem.
3 it fhape
and
went about
likenefs.
See
now
Alexander,
wJiieh
to fubdue the
whole Earth, and to declare his Power,clofed us up within out Land h Why becaufe he was "afraid we mould come out upon him! But we laughthim to fcorn when he did it if we 5 had Hfted,we could have letted him from fhutting us in, and to make no Peace with him: but we made no reckoning of his Doings: For it is OurCuftom to keep us within our own Country, we feek no owhenas our own Land is better than any other. Itpleafedus Well that he inclofed us, that the cruel wild Beafts, which are in the Mountains of Ararat, could have no to us. The caufe we came out now, was nothing elfe, than that we were opprefled with a great Dearth,- and we determin'd to be no longer from home,than till our own ther Land,
Mage
Fruits were ripe, and then to return, as you fee we do.. If we had been minded to win your Land, had we not been able utterly to have overcome you, and to have gotten the Dominion over you > But neither
ye nor your Country did ever delight us greatly 5 for our Manners differ far from yours. Behold the King of Madai, when he had kept us forth a Month, we harmed him* not, we are not
Men as ye are, that cannot be content own ftate, but muft defire other Mens Inheritance. -Now therefore go and return to your own Country, and fo will we to ours, without dowont
to hurt
with your
ing you any
more hurt ; wherefore ye need not be So the Alanites went home to their own Country, having flain of Mit bridates's People Three hundred thoufand Men, and never a one of their own was killed. Tnus hearing of this, was dslirous to go unto afraid
of
us.
them,,
the Wars of the Jews.
517
tbem, to let them underftand his Valiantnefs v he could not compafs it, becaufe all his belt
but
Men
were fpent in the Wars at Jerufalem. Wherefore he determined to return to Rome, after he had taken Jerufalem, where he abode as yet befides the Antocbia. There he had Intelligence, that divers of the Jews were gathered together^ with whom was Eleazar, the Son of Anani the Prieft, who during the Siege, fled unto a certain Hold caifd Meziray whereupon many of the Jews reforted to them. Titus hearing this, that many had joyned themfelves to Eleazar, feared left after his Departure Eleazar might from jhence make an Inroad, and take Jerufalem, and deftroy the Remans, which fhould be no fmali damage to the Roman Empire, Wherefore he trade out againft him, and fent thither one Silcbam, a NoWeman of Rome, with a great Hoii
Mezira but he could not get it. Wherefore he fent unto Titus for an Iron Ram, to batter the Walls withal which after he had received it, he beat down the Walls of Mezira therewith. The Jevos feeing thar, raifed a great Countermure within of Wood and Timber, which the Romans fet on fire and burnt. After that, they aflaulted the Town from Morning till Night, at what time the Romans left off, fuppoxing they were to befiege
•,
not able to prevail againft Eleazar
sUdence
in
the
dark.
Eleazar in the mean feafon, calFd an AfTembly of Chief Men of the Jews that were with him, and faid unto them in this wife Come hither ye Seed of A$aham,zr\& kingly Priefthood, which have ujno this day ever prevailed againft the Enemies of God : Let us hear your Advice what is all the
:
beft
,
3i8
The Wats of thejewsl
beft to be done againft this Multitude that is come I upon ils at unawares. Ye fee that at this time chiefly it becometh us to follow the Courage and Valianttiefs of our Forefathers, wherewith they were in
time paft endued : Confider moreover, that every thing hath its end, and there are fometimes in War, when as Men are wont to follow the purfuit, fometimes to flee from the lame, whom they purfued, and to humble themfelves before them. And it is no fhame to be humbled and difgraced, when as aU things have their determinate end. Albeit, whofo is of an haughty Courage, he muft fo eftablifli his Heart, that he quail not with fear ^ then fhall he be deemed a valiant Man. If ye therefore be of that Courage that ye fear not Death, then will *I call you valiant Men and Worthy. Confider the Fortitude of Abraham our Father, and the FaQ: that he did For having but one only Son, whom Sarah bare unto him in her Age, he never daggered nor flayed at it, to offer him up to the Lord God lor a Burnt-Offering ^ for he thought not that he ftiould kill him, but perfwaded himlelf moft certainly, that he ftiould promote him to the Life and Light of the Lord, forafmuch as for the love of God, and at his Commandment, he fhould have killed him. Weigh the thing that Jofiab the juft King did, who fetting at nought this wretched Life, and afpiring to everlafting Felicity, would not avoid the jeopardy of his Life, when as he might 3 have done it. For altho Pharaoh Necho faid^ He came not againft him, but againft the King of the Chaldees^ yet would not Jofiab hear him, but rather proceeding againft Pharaoh in Arms, was flain in the Battle, and went unto that great Light in the Garden of Paradice, which is the Lot and Inheritance of the :
Juft.
,
The Wats of the Jews.
3 ip
We
know that in this World no Man receives the reward of his Righteoufnefs, but it is laid up for him in the other World where he (hall reap the fruit of his Righteoufnefs, that he hath fown in this World.
jufc.
•,
Neither doth long Life
the attaining of
in this
World profit
everlafting Blifs,
a
Man to
except he
work
Righteoufnefs,and lead his Soul forth of Darknefs into Light Like as contrary wife, fhortnefs of Life hindreth no Man from everlafting Happinefs, if fo be his Soul have no defeft in thofe things which pertain For Abel^ which was flain of 60 the World to come. hisJBrother, liv'd no long Life j yet when he had ended it,he obtain'd everlafting Rett : But Cain that liv'd long in the World, was a wanderer and a runagate in this Earth and after this Life went to perpetual Mifery. :
•,
Now therefore^ my Brethren,
if
we alfo
fhall live
any longer, our Life fhall be a miferabie Life, and our days,days of Vanity and Travel ^ yea, our Soul as long as it (hall remain in this Body, it (hail be toffed with great Tribulation ^ but if it once go forth, then fhall it rejoyce and never be afraid. And all the days that it is in the Bod/,it never leaveth weeping and mourning for it is the Spirit of Life which is hedged within the Body, by Sinews and Bones, none otherwife rhan if it were bound with Chains. :
The Spirit is alfo that which quickneth the is
Flefh that
taken cf the Duft of the Earth, for Flefh can't quick-
en fhe Spirit. Betides this, the Spirit is that which obferveth and marketh theFlefh,and fearcheth th^ Works thereof fo long as it is in the Body h yea, and Flefh cannot fee the Spirit, but the Spirit feeth the Flefh always, neither is there any Member of the Body hid
from •
it.
The Eyes
what time
alfo of the Body cannot perceive the Spirit reforteth to the Flefh, depart-
&
Y
eth
jio
the Wars of the Jews,
eth from the fame * for the Spirit of Man which is is from Heaven, but tfie Flefh is taken from the Earth. Wherefore the. Soul may remain without the Body, but not likewife the Body without the his Soul,
Soul ; and when the Spirit comes to the Flefh. it vifiteth it, as a Neighbour is wont to go and fee his Neighbour and quickneth it j and when again it departeth from it,the Flefh dieth,andif the Soul will follow thedefires of the Flefh, then this is the death of the Soul but if it give no Ear unto the Flefh, then fhall the Soul come to the light of Life, and the Flefh fhall dye. Wherefore the Soul is glad when it departeth out of the Body, like as one that hath been long bound, is very well contented when he is difmifled out of Prifon. For all the while that the Soul is kept clofed Flefh, it is as it were a Slave, in raoft hard the in and grievous Bondage under a hard Matter. Therefore when it departeth from the Body,, it is glad, becaufe it muft go to the Garden of Paradife. Thus ye fee that in this Life, the Soul is compared to a Bond Servant and Slave. Much more than this, did he difcourfe of the immortality and bleflednefs of the Soul before them, which we have omitted here. And making then a DigrelTion from that, he lamented and wept moft bitterly for the cafe of the City of Jerufalem^ faying, Where is now the City of Jerufalemy that great and populous City } where is that moft beautiful City of Sion, and that holy City which rejoyceth the whole Earth? thou Worfhip of Ifrael , the Mirth of our Hearts, whither is thy Glory come > Where is thy Magnificence, OJerufalem? Where be the Hills of the Daughter of Sion? Where be her
O
Kings
the Wart «/ the Jews.
32 i
Where be the Kings that were to enquire of her Welfare in come accuhomed our Sages and Elders, her are Where ? her Gates Men, which were Jocund valiant moft young and Kings and Princes? to
her Streets upon her Sabbaths and Feftiis her famous Sanftuary, the Dwelval Days God > Where is the Houfe of Almighty ling of the Habitation of Holiners, whereSanQorumjhQ Santtum
and Merry >
in
Where
no Man might fet his Foot but the High Prieft, which he never but once a Year entred into, but in thee ? O Jerujalem, thou waft once replenilhed with People, and renowned amongft Kings, beloved of Godi in thee was eftabliftied the Seat of the Kingdom of Juftice and Judgment, whofe Streets were paved with moft precious Marble, whofe Walls ghStone whofe Gates tier'd and mined with the fame and Silver, whofe Gold with plated one every were Walls were builded with great Stones moft honourthe Sanauary, able, whofe Priefts in the midft of of Hoiineis, (like to Angels of God, and Princes with Sacrifices and Burnt-Offerings) made the Lord in
-,
thou now loving to thee and thv People. How art perilhed, have full of flain Men, and'CarcalTes which how are > And fome by theSword, fome by Famine theStrangersalfothat thy Sons that dwelt in thee,and brought to rureforted to thee, to honour thy Feafts, from the fallen ine now in thee ? How art thou fire and on fet thou Jieight or thy Piide, and how art deloleft art and -burnt even unto thy Foundations, behold can rd that ha kte and Solitary > What Eye is fo endure to fee thee thee? What Heart fo frony that can ace qf Carcaiks ? ing-pl ,how art thou become a Bury and deititute ot void Ann how ate thy Streets made were heretofore which living Creatures ? and they lepwns *
Y
3 22
Ihe Wars of the Jews.
replenifhed with living, are now ftuffed with dead > how have the Afhes of the Fire covered thee, that the
Sun cannot come at thee ? Mow do the ancient Men, which in times paft did fit in the midft of thee, in the feat of Wifdom, Judgment and Juftice, now fit by the Carcaflesof their Children, to drive away Crows and Beads from them, having their hoary Heads befprinkled with Dufts and Afhes, inftead of their Glory ? and thofe Women,thy Daughters that are left,they remain in the Houfes of them that made thee defolate, not tjiat they may live, but be unhallowed and polluted :
Who fhall fee all thefe things in thee, and
(hall defire
Who knowing
the magof late, and now (hall fee thine Ignominy and Difhonour of the fame, will not chufe to die ? And would God we had been dead before, that we might not have feen in thee this thy Reproach O that we were without Eyes, that we might not be compelled fee thefe Mifchiefe that are in the midft
to
live,
rather than to die
?
nificence thou hadft
:
p
of thee! And behold we live a moft forrowful Life ^ for our Enemies, even now before we be dead, caft Lots for our Sons and Daughters, to divide them amongft them, to be their Servants and Handmaids. When Eleazar had ended this Lamentation, he fpake to the People that was with him, thus 5 Now therefore, Brethren and Friends, take Compaffion of your felves, your Wives and Children, with Let them not be the old Men which be with you that they be not all Mercy, without Bondage into led confirained to mourn ujider the Hands of their EneFor if ye do this, ye iole without doubt all mies. Places that are prepared for you in tiie World of Righteouihefs, neitta 1M11 ye h*v eanv part in the Light {tflife.Yc laiher with your ownHands kill them: :
:
$
the Wars of the Jews*
32 do fo,they (hall be counted as Sacrifices And that done, we will Dioft acceptable unto God. after ifTue out upon our Enemies and fight againft them till we die valiantly for the Glory of the Lord. For we will never fuffer them to bind us with Bonds and Chains,a§ Bondfiaves in the Hands of the Uncirfor if ye will
.
cumcifed. Neither will we fee our ancient Men haled by the Beards before our Eyes moft miferably, nor '
*
yet our Maids, Wives and Daughters to be prophaned, unhallowed, and defloured, nor our Sons crying to us,
and
we
For what
cannot help them.
avail us, after our
Land
is
fnall our Life
defolate, our
San&uary
ra-
zed,the Romans will ravilh our Wives and Daughters before our Eyes, and opprefs our Sons with a moft therefore it is better grievous and hard Yoke ?
Now
Wives and Children, whole accept thankfully as the Blood of
for us ail to kill our
Blood God
(hall
Burnt Offerings, and after wrf will ifiiie out on the Romans^ fight till we be all deftroyed, and die for the Glory of the Lord God. Thele Men therefore went and gathered together Wives and Daughters, embraced them, and kifled them, faying, Is it not better for you to die in your holy Country honourably, than to be led away into Bondage, with great Ignominy and Shame, into the 'Land of your Enemies,and be compelled to die before the Idols of the Gentiles ? Thefe fayings when the People had heard, they broke forth that Night into great Sorrow and Penfivenefs, weeping and making great Lamentation ^ but they allconfeft with one accord,that they had rather die than live. Therefore as y foon as it was &ij\Eleqzar $ Companions killed their Wives and Children, and caft their Bodies into Ciftems and Wells that were in Mezirab^ covering and
Y
3
flopping
the Waits of the Jews*
3 24
flopping them with Earth. Afterward iffued Eleazar the Prieft forth.of the Town, with all his Men, and forced a Battel upon the Romany of whom the Jews killed a great Number, and fought fo long, till they all died manfully for the Lord Gqji. But Titus left a Remnant of Jfrael in the City Jafnab, and the Villages thereabout, and in the City Bitter and Ajfa,znd their Villages ^ in which place Rabi Jocbanan^on of Sbakkai, was appointed chief. homon the Prieft, younger Brother to Jojepb the Prieft, was put in Authority by Titus for Jofeptfs fake, over all the Jews which were at Jerusalem. At the fame time was Rafcbbag, a Prince of Ifrael^ put to death IJcbmael Son of Eiifcba the HighPrieft Moreover Titus was minded to have put Rabbi Gamaliel^ Father of Rafcbbag^ to death ; but Rabbi Jocbanan, Son of Sbakkai, made fuit for him, and obtained Pardon for his Life. This Rabbi Jo« cbanan was he that came forth of Jerufalem^ in the beginning vihznVefpafiaTi, Father of T//#j,came firft againft Jerujalem^ whom Vefpaftan honoured great:
:
ly } inlomuch that when he returned to Rome^ he commended this Rabbi Jocbanan to his Son Titus' commanding him to honour him $ for he perceived he was a yviie Man. Tuns reigned two Yeajs after he had taken Jerufalem, and died. He Was a very eloquent Man, ex-
Latin and Greek Tongues, and writ in both Tongues. He loved molt entirely, Juftice and Equity h for he wafted the City of 5 Jcrufalem againft hs Will, and being comp*li d thereunto yea, all the Mifchief that came upon it, happened through the Maiife and Naughtinefs of the Seditious, as we have touched before. pert
divers
in the
Works
THE
(
3J5 )
THE
Ten
Captivities O
J
E
THE
W
F T H E
S.
were ten times led into Capof Sen* tivity i' four times by the hand ebucbadnezzar, X by times cherib, and four once by Vefpafian, and once by fuperftitious Adrian. the Firft invaded them Senacberib, and tranfpeited Maof Tribe half the Reubemtes, the Gadites,zr\& took away alfo the Golden Calf, which IJraelitet
naJfeb.He them Jeroboam, the Son of JWfor.had made : He led the and Gozan, of River the into Helatb, tiabor, to the in was Captivity This Cities of the Medes. Remaliah. of Son time of ?ekab, the The fecond Captivity : Ho/ea, the Son of Ela reRemaUb. Afmained, and flewP^fc, the Son of of Senacbe* Subiea and Servant ter he became the the lecond Senacberib came Then rib feven years : Afa,Ificbar, of Tribes the away time, and carried tree only Zabulun and Naptba/i, of whom he let go another Cdlt every eight : He took away alfo
one of
^
that was in Betbel. m his Cedekiah reigned Abas, of death After the Year of Son in hisftead ftur Years. Toe fourth whofe Reign Senacberib came and entrenched abo.it length Samaria, befieging ii three Years, and at
Y
4
.
took.
The Wars of the Jews.
326 t
ook it, in the fixth Year of the Reign of Hizkiahu. So led he away the Ifraelites that were in Samaria, the Tribe of Ephraim and MgnnJJcb ; This is the 3d Captivity.
When Nebuchadnezzar ha3 reigned eight Years, he made Wars againft Jerusalem, bringing with him the Chut eon Hereticks out or Babylon, Ethiopia, He-mates, Avim and Sefhhrvaim\ and as he warred upon Judea, he took in that Country* an hundred and fifty Cities, in the which were twS Tribes, J«dah and Sime
J
Years, \
>.
,; «
,
•
•
-
l^lfc*
-
The
I
Ihe Wqrs of the Jews,
$27
The Fourth Year of Jehoiakvn, came Nebuchadnezzar the firft time, and carried away three thoufand and twenty and three of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and of other Tribes feven thouiand, all the able Men, and all their Power, binding them This is the fifth Captivity. with Chains.
Seven Years after this Captivity, came 'Nebuchadnezzar another time unto Dophna a City of Antioch, from whence he led four thoufand and fix hundred of the Tribe of Judah, and of Benjamin fifty thoufand, of the other Tribes feven thoufand. This Tranfmigration made he in Babylon, which is the fixth Captivity.
Furthermore, betwixt the fixth Bondage and the leventh, were nine Years of the Reign of Zidkiahu.
When
Nebuchadnezzar had reigned nineteen Years, he came the third time unto Jerujalem, and overcoming Zidkiahu, he burnt the Temple, and took away the Pillars, the Brazen Sea, and the Furnitures that Solomon made, and all the VefTels of the Houfe of the Lord,and the Treafures of the Houfe of the King which was in Jerufalem 5 all the Velfels he fept to Babylon. He flew alio of the Ifraelites nine hundred and one thoufand, befides them that were {lain to revenge the Blood of ILecharias. The Levi/ es flood finging a Song, while fl.aughter was made of them, but they were not able to finifh it, beiore the Enemies entred the Temple and found them ftanding in their Piace with Harps in their Hands. Therefore he carried away in this Captivity, the Levifes which were of the Seed -of Mofes^ fix hundred thoufand, whom when the Gentiles had brought unto the Rivers of Babylon, they demanded of the Jews, Sing us a Song of Sion : And by and
jiS
the Wart ofthe Jews. by they gnawed off the Tops of their Fingers with their Teeth, faying, Howjhall we ftng the Song of the Lord in a ftmnge hand ? And the blefled Lord feeing they would not fing a Song, he enlarged them, and placed them on the further fide of Sambatia. Moreover he tranflated and carried away eight hundred and thirty two thoufand, which were all of the Tribe of Judea and henjamine, whereof he left in Jerufalem fix thoufand, fettingover them for their Ruler, Gedaha the Son Abikam, who was flain after by Ifimael the Son of Natania, whereupon the Ifraelites being afraid, fled from their Country into Egypt. This
is
the Seventh Tranfmigration and Bondage.
The 27th Year of
the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar^
he took Egypt and Tyre, drownM the Jews that were therein, and the Nations which defcended of Amtnon and Moab, and of the Land bordering upon Ifrael, and led Jeremy and Baruch with them into Egypt
:
Then
This
is
the Eighth Captivity.
the Ifraeiites that remained alive in Egypt,
departed unto Alexandria, and remained in it until they grew and increafed unro many Thouf*nds ^ and whofo faw not their Glory, fa^v no Glory in his tim|.
For there was
in
it
the San&uary, the Altar, the
Offerings, Incenfes, the Ordinance of Bread,of Faces,
the Houfes of Scudics, and Schools without Number,Men of great Subftance, Riches and Power. But wicked Troganus made War upon them, and flew very many of them After came Alexander againft them, who flew alfo many of them. Thefe are the eight Captivities or Bondages, which betel in the firli Hou!e, and time of thefirft Temple. After the Defolation of the firlt Houfe feventy Years, Cyrus the Son of Hefler, fent unto Nebemiab, Zerub:
the Wars of the Jews; 319 TLerubbabel, Barucb, and his whole Society, and they buildcd the lecond Houfe. Tten after four Years of the Reign of Cyrus£\izx the Houfe was deftroyed> Ezra went from Babylon, with forty thoufand in his Company, and the Ifraelites were affii&ed and vexed under Cyrus f or the Ipace of Thirty three Years. Then came Alexander the King of Macedonia, and few Cyrus, and when he had reigned. twelve Years he died. After him came four Ufurpers, which affli&ed the Ifraelites 158 Years.
But" after that, the
Sons of Cbajmonani came and flew tbofe Ufurpers, and taking the Dominion from them, reigned themfelves 103 Years.
Then
reigned one Herod,
nam, who killed
the Servant
to Chafmo-
whole FamiBut (he climbed ly ,fave one Maid whom he loved. upon the top of an Houfe,and faid,There is no body left alive of my Father's Houfe but I alone ; fo fhe caft her felf headlong from the top of the Houfe, and died. Herod did lay her in Honey, and preferved her for thefpace of feven Years: There were that faid, he had Carnal Copulation with her after file was dead. Herod and Agrippa his Son, and Monazab his Nephew,poflHTed the Kingdom one hundred and three So haft thou tour hundred and three Years Years. of the fecond Houfe, Then carfle Vefpajlan Ctfar, and Titus his Wives his Matters,
and
their
Son, and wafted the Second Houfe, carrying away Ijrael unto Rome. This is the Ninth Tranfmigration. Moreover, Bitter remained after the Deflation and wafting of the Temple Fifty two Years. After that Adrianus, who ufed Superftition with BoneS, made Wars upon them, and tranlported Ifrael from their Country, after he had fpoikd it, conveying
the Wars of the Jews.
530
veying them into Spain.
This
is
the Tenth Cap-
tivity,
This Adrian vanqirifhed the Jews
(
which
rebel-
led the fecond time againft the Romans ) vtuth a final and utter Deftru&ion, forbidding and not fuffering them, in any vrife,to enter into Jerufalem^ which
he had begun
to fortifie with very ftrong Walls, and caufed it to be called Hehus^ after his own Name. He caufed aifo a Sow to be graven over the chief Gate of the City, and a Jew under her Feet, carved in Stone, in Token of their Subje&ion.
A
Corollary.
THus
the ancient Nation of the Jews^ which in former times might have been called the Favourite of God Almighty, was utterly deftroyed, and their City demolifhed, the f amous City of Je* rufalem, which had been Five times furprized and
facked before.
fas took detfroy ruin'd
him Antiohim 'Herodwith So-
Afocbcus King of Egypt , after
Firft,
.cbxs^ then it
it.
it,
Pompey 3
:
And
after
yet did they not difmantle, much lefs But* before them the Kings of Babylon
after they
had
pofTefTed
it
1300 Years
Months and fix Days aifter the Building of The firft Founder of it was one of the Princes
eight it.
of the Canaanites^
called
in
his.
own Language
the Juft King and indeed he was lb, for he was the iirft Prielt that facrificed to God, and dedicated a Temple there, calling the City Solyma: But :
"
David
Ibe Wats of the Jews. David King of the Jews having driven out the Cavaanites^
gave
it
unto his People to be inhabited,
.Years and 3 Months it wasdeftroyed And from King David\ who Babylonians. .by the that jtea? reigugd there, until the time was the firft
and
after
464
thatTrf^j- deltroyed ruiped,.
it,
was
were
179 Years.
1
And from
was thus were 2.177 Years, yet neither the Antiquity,
the time that
it
firft
ere£ted until
it
nor Riches, nor Fame thereof then fpread over the World, nor the Glory of Religion, did any thing avail to hinder this hard Deftiny. 1
Such was the end of befieging Jerufalem, when none was left to kill more, or any thing remaining for the Soldiers to get, or whereon they (hould exercife their Courage, for they would have fpared nothing that they could have fpoiled ; Titus command* ed them to deftroy the City and Temple, only leaving ftanding certain Towers that were more beautiful and ftronger than the reft, viz. Pbufelus, Hippocos and Mariatnne, with the Wail that ftood 00 the Weft -fide, intending to keep a Garrifon there ^ and thefe were left to ftand for Mountains of their ftrength, and the Romans Valour, which haa over* All the reft of the come a City fo well fortified City they fo flatted, that they who had not feen w#uld not believe it Had ever been 'inhait before, :
bited. i
&^is$ Ebeu quam tenui pendent tvort cilia
JsJo !
.
,
And
the Wars of the Jews.
i\i *- -
1
— — -
•
And now for an Vpfjjot of all that hath been Jaid, take a jbott View of the whole Matter.
Together with a trueCharacler ofthe JEWS as they are at this day with the Hopes and Defires of all good Men for their Comerfion. ;
WHen
Jews had made the
full meafure of by putting to death the of LIFE, God's Judgments (as they delerved, and our Saviour foretold) quickly overtook them For, a mighty Army of the Romans befieged and fack'd the City of Jerufalem, wherein by Fire, Famine, Sword, Civil Diicord, and toreign Force, Eleven hundred thoufand were put to Death. An
the
their Sins run over,
LORD :
Number it feemeth, yet it cometh within the compafs of our Belief, it we conlider that the Siege began at the time of the Plover, when in a manner all Jaded was inclofed in Jerujaiem, all private Synagogues doing then their Duties to the Moincredible
Temple j fothat the City then had morcGuefts than Inhabitants. Thus the Pajfovr, ririt inliituted by God in Mercy, to fave the Ifraclites from death, was now mfed by Him in Joftice, to haften their de* ther
ftru&ion, and to gather ne Nations into a Bundle, to Bcfides thoie who be caft into the,Fireot his Anger. were flain, Ninety leven thousand were taken Cap
had b Might our Saviour tot thirty Pence, were themfelves *old thirty for a Penny
rive*
:
And
they
who
Th«
"
Ike Wars of the Jews. 333 The General of the Remans io this A£Uon was Titus ± Son to Vefpajian the Emperor * a Prin€e fo good, th3t he w as ftiled, The darling of Mankind^ #
for his fweet and loving Nature (and pity it was, that fo good a Stock had not been better grafted ) So !
vertuoufly dilpofed, that he
may
juftly be
counted
the glory of all Pagans, and (hame ot moft Chriftians. laboured what lay in his Power, to have faved
He
the Temple, and
many
therein
$
their Obftinacy and Defperatenefs,
j
but the Jews 9 by made themfelves
uncapable of any Mercy. Then was the Temple it felf made a Sacrifice, and burnt to Afhes. And of that ftateiy Stru&ure, which drew the Apoftles Admiration, not a Stone The Walls of the City (more left upon a Stone. fhaken with the Sins of the Jews defending them, than with battering Rams of rhe Romans auaulting them) were levelled to the Ground \ only three Towers left ftandingto witnels the great ftrength of the Place, and greater Valour of the Romans who conquered it. But whilft this Storm fell on the unbelieving Jews, it was Calm among the Chriftians who warned by Chrift's Predi&ions, and many other Prodigies, fled bet\mes out of the City to Pel/a, (a private Place beyond Jordan) which ferved them inftead of a little Zoar, to lave them from the imminent Deftru&ion. Threefcore Years after Adrian the Emperor rebuilt the City of Jerufalem^ changing the fituation (omewhat Weft ward, and the Name thereof to
To
the Chriftians, he built a Saviour's Grave, with the Images of Jupiter and Venus ^ an other at Bethelem^ to A-
JElia.
defpight
Temple over our
donis her
Minion
j
and to enrage the Jews, did engrave
the Wariof tkejewi.
334
grave Swine over the Gates of the City. Who ftorming at the prOphanation of their LancJ, .brake into open Rebellion i but were fubdued J)y Julius Severus the Emperor's Lieutenant, and experienced Captain, and many thoufands flain with Beficocbab, their counterfeit MeJJias, (for fo he termed himfelf^) that is, The Son of a Star ufurping that Prophecy, 5 Out of Jacob fhall a Star arife j tho he prov'd but -,
\
a fading Comet, whofe Blazing portended the Ruine of that Nation. The Cape? ves,by order from Adrian, were tranfported into Spain, the Country laid wafte, which parted with her People and Fruitfulnefs both together. Indeed Pilgrims to this day, here and there, light
on Parcels of
may feem
rich
Ground
to have left,
\fTaleftine,
that
Men may
which God taftt the for-
mer
fweetnefs of the Land,before it vyas fcourged for the Peoples 'fins-, and that they may guefs the goodnefs
of the Cloth by the
it is
barren for the generality.
finenefs
of the Shreds.
The
ftreams of
But
Milk
and Honey wherewith once it flowed, a^e now drained dry, and the whole face of the Land looketh fad h not fo much for want of drelfing, as becaiife
God
hath frowned on it. Yet great was the over fight of Adrian, thus totally to unpeople 3 Province, and to bequeath it to FoxeS and Leopards. Tho his Memory was excelwho lent, yet here he forgot the old Romans Rule, 3
where they rooted out the Natives, planted in Colonies of their own People, And furely the Country recovered not a Competency ot' Inhabitants for fome hundred Years after.
to prevent Defolations,
For though many Pilgrims Ages, yet they canoe rather to
c^me
thither in after
viiit,
than to dwelt.
And
Wan of
the
Jews. 3$j remained embracing moft there, fingle And fuch as If any fay, that Lives, were no Breeders of Pofterity Adrian did wilfully neglefl: this Land, and proftitute it to mine for the Rebellion of the People ^ yet all account it fmall Policy in him, in punifhing the Jews to hurt his own Empire, and by his veftation to leave [the
.
and clear footing for foreign Enemies to faften on Country, and from thence to invade the Neighbouring Dominions : as after the Per/Ians and Saracens And no eafily over ran and difpeopled Palejiine. wonder if a thin Meadow were quickly mown. But to return to the Jews. Such Stragiers of them,
fair
this
not confiderable in number,, as elcaped this Banifliinto Spain (for few Hands Reap fo clean as to leave no gleanings) were forbidden to enter into Je* rufalem^ or fo much as to behold it from any Rife or Advantage of Ground. Yet they obtained of the after Emperors, once a Year, namely, on the ioth of Ah* gujt, whereon their City was taken, to go in and bewail the Deftru&ion of their Temple and People ^ bargaining with the Soldiers, who waited on them, to give fo much for fo long abiding there; and if they exceeded the Time they conditioned for, they mud ftretch their Purfes to a higher rate fo (what St. Jerom noteth) they who bought Chrifts Blood, were then glad to buy their own Tears. Thus the main Body of the Jews was brought iiitoS/wtf,and yet they ftretched their out Out-Limbs in* to every Country : So that it was hard to find a populous City without a common Sink, as without a Com-
ment
:
pany of jews. They grew Fat on the bareft Paftures by Ufury and Br okage, tho' often iqueezed by thofe Chriltians amongft whom they lived, counting ibemDogs, and therefore eafily finding a ftick to
Z
beat
the
?
Wan
of the Jews.
when any
beat them. And always in any Tumult, harms 5 fence of Order was broken, the JewsUy next the when Firft, as at the Coronation of Richard the paid pillaged Jews Englifh made great Feafts, but the falfifythe (hot. At laft for their many Villanies (as of crucifying ing of Coin, poifoning of Springs, Places, fome Chriftian Children) they were Rain in and finally banifhed out of others. Out of England, Anno 1291. by Edw. I. trance Spain 1492. by Ferdinand h 1 307. by Philip the Fair h But had thefe two Portugal 1497. by Emanuel. Blood out of their latter Kings banifhed all Jewifh the Veins of Countries, they muft have emptied bull from.rhern. their beft Subjeas, as defcended
Turkey
chiefly in
; they are found in great numbers in Slavery 5 and Salomihl where they enjoy the freeft Publicans they who in our Saviour's time, fo fcorned the Turks be to are now raoft employed in that Office of GerParts Likewife in the Popifh
Toll-gatherers.
and Poland a Pantheon of all Religions y oiSpnn, Amfterdamvw be forleited to the King all other when Ihe cannot (hew a Pattern of this,as of Dominions s Seas. Lafily,They are thick in the Pope the Truth of where they are kept as a Teftimony of !»« chiefly the Scriptures, and Foyi to Chriftianity s conHolmefs But his in pretence to convert them.
many,
in
:
at the greateft verting Faculty worketh the ftrongeft his Religion, to diftance : For the Indians he turneth borne are Profit, and thefe Jews he converteth to his
*™ of Opinion of the General Calling of tte?w>fh their Judgin them doubt, rhofe that Diffent from Yet are Defire. ments concur in their Willies and Converhoii. their there Three'grand Hindrances of by the Papiit^, given and taken Offence The Firft,
m
the Wars of the Jews.
% $7 amongft whom they live,or by their worfhipping of h mages^ thzjevos being Zelots ofthe 2dCommandment, Secondly, becaufe on their Converfion they muft renounce all their Goods as ill gotten, and they will Icarce enter in at the Door of our Church, when firft they are to climb over fo high a Threfhold. Laftly, they are debarred from the ufe of the New Teftament,the means of their Salvation. And thus we leave them in a ftate moft pitiful, and little pitied. To give you then a right Character in brief^ They are a People that know how to comply with the times, and the condition which they live in, efpecially if their profit be concerned in it^ reviled like Dogs like Slaves, yet never (hew fo much as an angry Countenance, A Nation which will thrive wherefoever they come ^ yet moft by Ufury and Brokage not lending any thing, but upon Pawns, and thofe once forfeited never more redeemable. The beft of both Sexes are laid to have an unfavou* ry ranknefs, not incident ( if not caqfed by flutcifhnefs) to other People,from whom they are as different in their Habits as in their Religion. And as for that, they retain ftill Circumcifion, as the Badge and Cognifance of their Nation, but mingled with many Ceremonies not prelcribedby the Law, nor obferved by the Ancients ^ placing a void Chair for the Prophet whom they believe to be prefent, though unfeen, at the Solemnity. And upon this, they are lo befotted, that they conceive the female Sex uncapable of eternal Life, becaufe not capable of Cir-
and ufed
.And therefore ufe to Name them with no other Ceremony, than at the fix Weeks end, to have fome young Wenches lift up the Cradle with the Child in it, which flie that Handed at the 2 head cumcifion.
Z
'
j58
the Wars of the Jew*.
head, giveth the Name unto. Of their Sabbath, fo extreamly doting, that they have added to the fuperftitions left them by the Vbarifees. And herein they pre fo precife,that if a Jew travel on the Friday, and in the Evening fall fo fliort of his Journies end, it
amounts to more than 200 Cubits, or 6 Furlongs, which they account a Sabbath days Journey, there muft he fit him down,and keep his Sabbath, though in a Wood, or Field, or. the High-way fide, without fear of Wind or Weather, Thieves or Robbers, or without taking order for Meat or Drink And fo far have they gone in defpight of Chrift,as to declare it unlawful to lift the Ox or Afs out of a Di tch, permitted in theftri&eft times of Pharifaical rigour * fo pertinacious in retaining the difference of Meats and Drinks, that they will by no means fit at the fame :
Table with other
of it, that they
Men: and
fo precife in thedrefling
but of their own fuch too, with and that Cautions and ^ Refervations, that if any of the Entrails be corrupt or diflocated, they will fell the whole Beaft to the will eat
no
Flefti,
killing only
Chriftians for a very
trifle ^ beneficial in that only to the Neighbouring Chriftians. Wine they forbear, except it be of their own planting, not ft> much out of diflike of that Liquor, for they are generally good Fellows, and love their A Bellies, as for fear the Wine fhould be baptized. Ceremony much ufed in the Eajiern Parts. Of the coming of their MeJJiab fo full of hopes,that there is
no great Warriour fiirring, but they look upon him as the Man,till fome fad Tragedy or- other which fuffer under that Perliiafion, makes them fee their Erpromifing to themfelves, whenfoever he com ror •,
etb ? aReftitutionoftheirKingdom 5 and fuch Felicities therein
.
the Wart of tb$ Jews* 339 therein, in the literal fenfe of fome Texts of Scripture,which carry in them a more myftical and facred meaning. That in good time (but God's, not theirs) they (hall be made partakers of the feveral Bleffings which thofe Texts do fpeak of is both the hope and wifh of all pious Men who cannot chufe but grieve, t
:
to behold the natural Branches fo long difmembred, and cut off from the Tree of Life. And this they neither hope nor wifli for, but on fome fair grounds prefented to them by St. IW, who faid exprefly, that when the fulnefsof the Gentiles is once come in,that then all lfraeltt&\\ be laved, Rom. u. 2 5, 26. The words are fo plainly pofitive, that they need no Commentary : Or, if they did, we have the general Confent of the Ancients * befides the conftant current of moft Modern Writers, who cheriih the glad hopes of their Converfion to tbeGofpel ^ which the Apoftie doth there aim at. Origen% Athanafius% Hierom^ AnBed* guftine^ Chryfoftome^ for the Primitive Times Cardinality Hugo in and the times fucceeding. Ferra* ra and Thomas Aquinas^ for thofe of Rome. Calvins Bezd^ hullinger and Peter Mqrtyr, for the Reformed Churches befides divers others of great note fo expound that Text. Nor want there other Texts of Scripture to affirm as much, which he that doth defire to fee, may find them with the Expofitions of molt Chriftian Writers in a Book writ by Doftor Willet s entituled, Degenera/i novijjima Judeorum vocatione : And thither I refer the moft curious Reader. Out of all I (hall take thefe words,D* illorum falute /pes furperfit. The Jews (faith he) are not fo wholly fallen from the favour of God, but that there ftiil remains fGms hopes of their Salvation. Of their Salvation then by the Gofpei of Chrift,when the fill:
•,
&
Z
3
nefs
24°
The Wars
of the
Jews.
of the Gentiles is once come in,we conceive good hopes: but whether there be any of their reftituti on to their temporal Kingdom, is a farther queftion, and not fo clearly evidenced in the Book of God, though there be fomewhat in that Book which may feem to intimate it. That the Opinion of being reftored by the Meffiab to that temporal Power which was taken from them by the Romans, wars prevalent as well amongft ChriJFs Difciples, as the reft of the Jews, is,as I take it,clear enough in the Holy Gofpel. In fuch a Kingdom^and no other, do the two Sons of Z^^defire to fit on both hands of their Matter. And the fame was it,and no other, which all of them expe&ed, as appeareth by the words of Cleophasjuoke 24. 2 1. that We thought, Chrift fhould have reftored unto them faid he, that This would have proved the Man, that Should have redeemedfiom what > from Sin and Satan, or the Curfe and Bondage of the Law ? not fo * 'ibfy'y* f 'f****** but from the Yoke of Vaffalage, which the Romans had fo lately impos'd on them,fay the Fathers rightly Touching the fame it was that they moved him, faying, Lord wilt thou at this time reflore again the Kingdom to Ifrael? A£?s 1. 6. In anfwer whereuhto, our Saviour makes them no denial, as unto the thing,nor tells them that they never muft but only puts them off expe£t fuch a Reftauration as unto the Time, and bids them reli themfelves on the pleafure of God the Father, in whofe Hand the difpofing of all Kingdoms was ;)/ is not foryou,fa\th hejo know the times andfeafons,which the Yather hath in his power, ver. 7. By which anfrver ( as it feems nefs
4
:
:
to me) there is a poffihility of dom alfo^ tho not in the time, 5
wJ^&MM: :<
reltoring their Kingat that very inftanr v
-
when
Wan
The
of the Jews.
J4J
when they were moft defirous to have it done, or at any other time fit for them to know, that being a Secret which the Father hath referved to him alone.
Let the Confideration of thefe Things be unto us, as it was fometimes unto an fMet D D Eminent Divine (now with God) ute Preacher at' st an occafion of Prayer untv God ton on their Behalf, faying with him in this, or to the like EfFe&
^
OLord,
who
art righteous in all thy
holy in all thy
admire the
Juftice
^
Ways, and
Works, we acknowledge and
of thy proceeding, in blinding and
as for their manifold Impieties, foefpecially ior (toning the Prophets, defpifing thy
hardning the Jews
h
Word, and crucifying the Lord of Life. For which thou haft curfed them, according to the Predi&ion of the Prophet, To abide many days without a King} and without a Prince, and without a Sacrifice, and without an Image, and without an Ephod, and without a TeLord, how long? How long, raphim. But thou, Lord? Wilt thou Lord Holy and True? How long, be angry for ever ? Thine Anger is /aid but to^ endure for a Moment 5 but Lord, how many Millions of Millions of Moments, are contain'd in fixteen hundred Years, fince thou haft firft caft off thy firft and ancient People the Jews ? Remember Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, not for any Merit in their Perfons;, which was noHe,but for theMercy of thyPromifes,which is infinite^ frequently made,& folblemnlyconfirm'dunto
Z
4
them.
A
Prayer.
them- But remember the Orator on thy Right Hand, Chrift Jefus our Lord, which was made of the Seed of David according to the Flefh; and the Orator in thine own Bofom, thine eflential and innate Clemency, and let thefe prevail if it may ftand with thy good Will and Pleafure,thattby People the Jew/,may be received into the Arms of thy Mercy. As once by a wilf ul and wofui Imprecation they drew the Guilt of his Blood on them, and on their Children : So by thy free Imputation, drop the Merit of bis Blood on them, and on their Children. For the Ipeeding of whofe Converfion, be pleafed to compote the many different Judgments of Cbriftians into one Truth to unite their difagreeing Affeftions in one Love * that our Example may no longer difcourage, but invite them to the imbracing of the true Religion. OK !
molifie the Hearts,
Eyes,
re&ifie
the Wills,
unveil the
whom
unftop the Ears of thofe thy People,
hitherto thou
haft juftly
hardned
:
Reveal to their
thofe Oracles which thou haft comThat fo our Saviour, who •mitted to their keeping a Light to lighten the Gentiles, long fince hath been Glory of thy People Ifrael, the may in thy Time be that fo there may be one Shepherd, and one Sheep*
Underftanding,
:
Lord, for Jefus Cbrifi his fake, Grant this, to whom with Thee, and the Holy Spirit, be all Honour and Glory^ now and for evermore. Amen.
fold.
FINIS. lyjjiV
\
-
f'fjgl: y^x-
*
W
'.
s
'
'j"^^ '^l^V' jS^^f
!
*
'' •;"
'
"'i**'*-'*'
'
'
1
A TABLE
and
of
brief Dcfcription
in the the chief Places mentioned
Hiftory of Jofcfhu*.
A^
Co Ptolemias.* C*V> of Phoenicia, caBtd
»*»
anti
A
* his
name of a City
*f
withatripple Wall.
fofrom?to\omy Kingof Pitim,
iEgypt. Ajelooa
^mfaffed
*
Country
cakd
at
ts
S* ria
5
ht
f
was ene of the Sow 0/ Shera, the Son 0/ Noah.
belonging to the Levites, not far Arabia, a Country andofa the Eafi and North Eaft from Nicopolis 5 *Uo the Ifland.andts of the Holy Have whereabout (at the
mage
Trayer of]oMz)tbe Sun ftood {ItBphile the
Can*
anites were flain.
.
divided into Felix Defata, Petrea 5 or Arabia the
Hap P£
J<
De-
' fart ^d the Stony.
Alexandria. 4 Gty
in EArAlexander Ararat,* mountain of Noah, where menia, !o« of Philip Jtt* 0/
gypt,to
Macedon, form of
«
Arkjrtfttd.
a Macedonian Askalon^eo/fk
CJb/4«i>/
Antiochia, - Of, i* Syria, lying on the Sea Coaft, built by King Antiochus. Aofta,- town which Alex-
an
W» 'r r
of thtjPhihftines, bmlt on the Seajhoar y dtftunt from JerUcipal Cities
falem 710 furlongs.
Afdotunv very firong City o/ffcPhihftmes,
.
.
The
Table.
Giants fometimes dwelt. Cedron,* Brook which runs a Country on the Eajl fide of Jeru-.
Affiir, Aflyria,
lyingnear the Holy Land
named from Son of Shem.
falem, between the City
Afliir , the
fo
and Mount Olivet Cephae Toco, a Town the Emperor wan.
en the other fide o/Jordan,
Chaldea, a Country lying North Eaftfrom Palefti-
very corner of the Country of Baflian, in the in the
Confines of Arabia*
B BEthfhemefli,
or Bethfeems* a City belong-
ing to the Triefts^lyingin
theLandofJufa intbeLot
mjhe chief City
Rebellion,
D
City were
this
hand of God, number of 50000,
whereof
was Baby lon. Oefarea, a Town lying not far from the Sea, in the Holy Land ; calfd, alfo Turris Stratonis, and Flavia Colonia • very ftrong, and rebuilt by Herod to keep thejewsfrom
of Dzn^ajfterward affignedto the Levites 5 the Teopleof
in
Idumea^VWefpafian
Aftaroth Karnalinp, a City in the tribe of Menafleh,
/lain by the to the
for looking into the
Ark.
Bitter, a very flrong City, not far from Jerafalem,
which the by famine.
Romans
took
J
\
Amafcus, a Syria*
lying
City in
beyond
Mount LibanuS,y?Ar days Journey from Jerufalem, watered with two navigable
Rivers
,
Abana,
and Pharphar.
C CAppadocia
,
a
little
Lat, a City in IdutBeSt Sytl^calfdbyths Greeks JL# upon the Coafi of the Country, being part of
Leuco
Syria.
Red- Sea.
Edom
The
Table.
Edom trldWKtfkeCim-
Gaza, One of the ftHprincipal
when the Polity of Efau/^V, focaUedfrom
dues
trv
Sea about two Mtles- tt was tak$n from the Ca-
fhe name of Efau,/^*> .
R j
wW
Fuohrates,
Judab, Caleb fte»< tbnr
Commander,
midland
MerCmGulf.
rtnsimo
<>/
naanites
Eze-
SSxheber, Babvlonw
of the Philifrom the
ftines, dtflant
C« y * * ^^ per Galilee.
Gerarta,
Gilboa, The Mountain upon which Sm\ and Jonathan
q
^nwere
Kte>Amo(l fruitful
flain by the
Philiftmes. tj partoftbeUolv Land, Gomorrha, ^ C«,o/ *k •
ftLe betwixt MountUCos ^Samaria,***ded on the
Tyre, on
North with
the South with
the Samaritans Country
naai» re l' wbtcb were both Ftre from by confumed
? dom,
^aven.
andtbeRtver Jordan ion Gofchen
theWeft with the Temtory
Mount of Ptolemais and
Carmel extends
:
it
on the Eajl it [elf beyond the
HZ
^ P 4r
fitful »J J acob
of
Egypt
f^£% P
^^j^ were placed by
y
^3 s
Pharaotl
Ktng of fcgy pt.
Streams of Jordan.
Gamala,^
very flrong,
and
a Bunch upIn a Camels back, whence theCity tcokin name GaHill, like
mal
Gamala
ftgnifying a Camel,
* *
on Mountains
™ the waft
the Tribe of of Judea, f»
benjamin,
b
ffe'Y" ^h ^YtS^ ™
P'fi
J^« fite8
and a
>
The by them
tailed Jebus,
Table?
the
King thereof Jofliua flew. Afterward David coming the Inhabitants
againfl it,
were
of the
confident
fo
[pake by the Mouth of Je-
remiah People
by
the
Cyrus
Prophet,
of Capowh Land,
fent out
tivity into their
with
the
Jews were
the
of
great
inpregnablenefs of it, that fcorn they placed the
Gold and Silver, and the
Lame and
VefftU
in
Walls
Blind upon the accoounung them
that
Gifts,
befides
had been
ta*
the
kpn Houfc of of Defenders of fo the Lord by Nebuchadftrong a place. But David, nezzar, with Zerubbabel, by the help of Almighty for the re-edifying of the ,
out
fujfUient
Cod wan
the Gity, ca[i out
the
Jebufites, round, fortified
rebuilt it
"it
the
all
the
by
in it,
for the
chief City reafon
\
of
the building of Solomon'* Temple in that Place, it
was that
Hierofolima, Solomon's Temple
called is
from
the
and furni(hing
by Artaxerxes
Nehemiah
Land of Canaan
rf afterwards
Temple^
with a
Tower > and dwelt making
it
Greeks Name.
fed
Wall of
it
afterwards
5
was
auttori-
building of the
This be-
the City.
and finifhed by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, and the City being
ing
done
magnificently increajed with
BuildingSj the
afterwards
by
Maccabees, and He-
rod, thirty eight Tears after the Death of Chrifi,
tJext for the Idolatry and fheddwg innocent Blood in that Place and Land, the
Titus Son to Vefpafian fack d the Cityy and de-
Jews
firoyed
into
were carried captive
Babylon by
chadnezzer , the Temple and City were defiroyed by Fire by the Chaldeans i but
fi+enty
it %
leaving
it
only
Garifon for the Roman Sixty five Tears Soldiers.
Nebu- a
Tears
that, according as the
after that,
Jews falAdrian
the
ling into rebellion,
Ewperour
after
the
Lord
utterly defiroyed
of
Rome,
what Titus
The
Table. 9
and com be. fown
from whence mater tof Timber and Stones where the City flood. And were brought to the buildthus was fulfilled what was >Mg of SolomooV Temple fpoken by our Saviour touch- from Mount Libanus or tUS left (landing,
manded Salt
to
ing the Temple* that there
ry,
als
Lebanon.
fhould not be left one Stone Jordan* in Hebrew Jorden, upon another. the faireft andbiggeft Rigion on the greater A(ia,&*-
ver aU Paleftina • in [fringing up at the foot of
vingon the Eafl theCa( piao Sea , on the Smth
on the South of Canaan,
Armenia f
paffing
Hurcan,or Hurcania *
upon the
Albania, on the
North
Wef
Ibe-
Mount Libanus, running
the
ria.
JAbaum,or Jamnua,*^/the upper Gali-
many famous
Lake of Sodom.
Jprpata,
I
lageof
by
Places, at length falls into
or
Jacopatse, an
exceeding firong City of Jerufalem, (landing all
lee, (landing upon
well nigh upon a Rockwe-
ll eep
cejfible
a very Ground, which Jofe* phus, being Govermur of Galilee, fortified agamfi the
North-
fide.
K
Romans.
Jericho,-/* City in the foutb
part of the
Land of Ca-
naan, fituated in a fruitful where grew Balm, foil, Rofes, Sugar-cains,
and 4-
bundance of Dates, whence it
only upon the
was
TT Atiim,
or
Clttimtthe
jV> Nations of the fo called in
Gen.
Greeks IO.
and
Balaam'* Prophecy 5 Kittim ( feith he ) {hall affiiU Aihur *nd Eber.
in
called the City of
Palms.
L
A
Citj of EJoppe or Japho, A S . Agarich, town and part of Judea, JLj dom, won by Vefpa-
M T
built on
a high Tromonta*
fian.
M
The
Table. MountOlivet,/*
M '*
MAcedonia, A Coun&y lying in Greece in the
Wefiern part of it j it was the Country of, Kin% Phi-
caff d from
the plenty of Olives which grew here , lying in the eaft-fide of Jerufklenyi/^ feparated from the higher
V
City by the
dron
:
Alley
Wpand^txandtvhisSonj to the Greeks
our Saviour
which was
repaired)
the Perfian Empire.
his Prayers here
Maidai,or Media, a Country having upon theSoutbPer*
o/Ce-
Into this Mountain
Chrift often
and
offered
up
unto his
Father,
N
flWpontheNorththeUiv ^Tlcopolis, a City of cm\zt\Sea,on theWeftAr-
menia and
Syria, on the
IN
Eaft Hircaoia and Partllia 5 which Country took its
Land
other-
Emus.
S
name from Madai, one QAmaria.,/4 City [landing
of the Sons of Japhet. Country
Mefopotamia,
A
which lieth betwixt t he River Tigris and EuphrateSi from which fituation it
the Holy
wife called
was
fo caU'd^
as Ijing
in the midfl of Rivers.
Moriah,
A Mount am joyn-
ing very near
to
v3
in theTribe of Ephratillj, which after that the Ten
Tribes fell off Tribe of Jadah 9
from the
^j made
the Metropolis of the revolting Tribes
j
Ten
called
Sebafte,*» honour of Allguftus the Emperor,
Jerufa- ScythopoltS,* City in Syria,
lem, upon the Eaft-fide of Sennaar, the Land of Chalthat City, $ very fleep rocdea, where the Tower of Babel began to be builded. ky place \ in this place Abraham offered to Saeri- Seleucia,^ City on the farther fide of Jordan, in the fee his Son Ifaac, and afCountry caUedQ\xAoX\\(\U tcrward upon this Aiountain was Solomon s Tern fo named from SeleiKUS pie built. Ki»g of Syria*
the
Table.
Sichem,* Country nearHtbron,belongi»g
roHamor
thefatherofSkhemJrom
ed there to Mofes, in a BuJIj in a flame of fre^the Bujl) not confumed.
whence it is thought he Sion,the Hill and City built of that HillcaSedtheCity gave the name of his Son f that Country of which of David t taken by him from the Jebufites, lying he was trince\& by fome tis
thought
to
be the name
of that City catfd in the Cofpel Sichar\adty of re-
North fide cf the City Jerufa!em o» which on the
5
the Temple teas
built.
rifingout at fnge, and peculiar to the Siloe,* fountain Mount Sioo,w the foot of City Levites? a principal the^dUey part of the Weft of Samaria.
Sodom, a City which flood in the Land of Canaan,
of
Jehofhaphat, nvery
clear, fweet,
and Urge
Springy it runs into the dead fea, where now is Broot^Cedrontire from deflroyed by Schiloth>or Silo,*** highefl Heaven, for their fins< mountain of all that are aMart and Haven * Sidon, bout Jerufalem,or higher Town of Phoenecia 5 fo/tfg the
the Border of the Land of Promife toward the North
than any other mountain in the holy Landjikewife the
and in
name of theCity that (lands
the Lot of the tribe of Zabulon ^aitho it was
never conquered, nor poffeft by them.
Sinai/fo mountain otherwife
namedHottbjUpon which theAlmtghty gave the law to
Mofes
by the minifiry
with the tabernacle of the Covenant, till \wastak$n by the Philiftines 5 for -which caufe the People of Ifrael ufedu meet at this
of Angels Jt was catfdSi-
Place and
mufrom
until the time jof
the
word
in the
Holy Tongue Signifying a i
upon the Hill, where the Ark continud a long time
jbufiybecaufe
Cod
appear**
offer Sacrifices^
Samuel
theFrophet.Afterwardfor the fins of the Ilhelites, the
the
Table. the fiege of the City.filled up that part of the. Sea which ran betwixt the main Land and the City
iheCity was deftroyedtand the Altar demolijhed.
TUrv^Cy wGalilee »IWd!> Vefpafian
rxz.td*nd put
with fionesi earthO'timber 9
&made it continent to
took,,
all J he
land
men
firft
the
Nebuchadnez*
to the fwordt andfold their
Tltjsut in fhort time after
wives And children,
thatCity was rebuiltp-the
bar of the Sea quite dtmo-
Tiberius,* C«> fo named in honour (^Tiberius Cafar by Herod the Tetrarch^ /rinding near the Lake of
Genoezaret,
H(hedt
& fo
the City re/lo'
red to its former jtrength% WAlexander/fypf nftbe fea again/ackt
called alfo
tbeQty&
the Sea of TiberiilS ; *tk the utmoft bound of the
cructfidmanyofthe ekief
lower Galilee Eaflward.
day that mains of itis annex'd firm-
men of the
Tyre» a Ctty renowned in holy Scripture built
a Rock- and upon
the conttnent.lt flood in the teritory of thetribt
all fides
of httwxtjbut hadKingsqf herownjhaving never been in the hands of the Ifra-
ber theCity tn the heart of ;
which re-
ly to
upon
incompaffed by the Seas 5 wherefore the Prophet calls the Sea
to this
Ctty little
elites.
a City of incredi
bleriches by the abundance of her merchondtfc by the
A fliort view of
the whole
Matter. By Th.
F the
fpecialappoimmtntofGodA true Character of Jews as they are at this and foretellings ofbuPro* day ; with the hopes and Ezekiel, phets Uaiah men for defire* of all good madeapreytoNcbucbid^onverfion. their nezzar Kwgof Babylon, God for andafterwardto Mcxm-A Grayer unto Lonver/ton. thetr der Son of Philip K. of them inboth of Macedon 1 S. t 1
&
N
i
f
II
1^1
y
m
