time he had poison given that he died thereof Besides this also his son which came with him Ptolomee cast in prison These things justly chanced unto Simeon for that he had transgressed the word of the Lord that forbad all alliance with the Gentiles The time that he reignover Israel was eighteen years Then John his son reigned in his stead who was called Hircanus in the Greek Tongue The same-Ptolomy king of Egypt invaded Israel with all the power that he could make But John the son of Simeon met him and the Lord overthrew Ptolomy with his whole Host that they were slain of the Israelites and pursued to the City Dagon about which time the Israelites made trenches and besieged it Now within the Town they had the mother of king Hircanus whom Ptolomy caused to be set upon the walls and to be scourged with whips in the sight of her son When Hircanus saw the great affliction of his mother he would have raised his siege and departed from Ptolomy But his mother called unto him and said My dear son John regard not my trouble for all chastenings come from God Proceed manfully with thy siege against this City for it is in great distresse and revenge me thy father and brother murthered by Ptolomy The king followed her advise and manfully raised a Mount from the which he battered the walls with Engines of Iron like Chariots till they began to shake Wherefore many of the souldiers of the Town fled and their companies began to shatter Ptolomy seeing this commanded to afflict his mother yet more and to increase her scourgings until the entrails of Hircanus was moved that he could not abide longer to see his mother so cruelly handled but leave the siege and let Ptolomy escape who neverthelesse killed his mother and fled into Egypt In the fourth year of king Hircanus reign Pius king of Greece came and besieged Jerusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to meet and encounter withal in the field but suffered himself to be closed up in the City The king of the Grecians therefore raised great towers against the City apart from the wall digged a trench and cast up a mount Then planted they their Engins named Pâ—…ams against the gates so that the City was hard besieged for they beat down one of the Turrets that stood upon the wall whereat all Israel was afraid and agreed together to issue out and skirmish with them whatsoever should come thereon life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet they did so and slew many of their enemies and put them also to flight that they were constrained to encamp themselves further off from Jerusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Greeks had builded and razed them to the ground Thus they issued out daily skirmishing with Pius until the Feast of the Tabernacles Then sent Hircanus to Pius desiring him that he would grant them Truce and let them be at peace while the Feast lasted His request Pius granted and sent a fat Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel covering his horns with beaten gold and dressing him with fillets of christal other precious stones clad also in a garment of Purple and divers other precious cloaths He sent moreover plate both of silver and gold full of divers kinds of spices all to be offered unto the Lord. When Hircanus saw this he went out unto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chief men of War a great Feast and gave him a Present of Iâ—…I C. pound weight of Gold He went also with Pius to aid him against the King of Persia that at that time rebelled against him But he tarried there not long because the time of Pentecost was at hand Wherefore Hircanus and the Host of Israel returned but Pius and his Army of the Grecians proceeded Whom the king of the Persians met in the field slew Pius himself and vanquished the residue that almost none remained VVhereof when tydings came to Hircanus he was very glad and returned to Jerusalem with peace and joy After this Hircanus made many great Battels with the Nations about him and had ever victory He also came to the Mount of Corizim where he won a fort of the Sectaries and Samaritans and razed the Temple that the Sectaries had there as their house of Sanctuary which they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Greeks He that built it was Manasse the Priest brother to Simeon the just But Hircanus the high Priest pulled it down two hundred years after that it was builded From thence he went to the Gity of Samaria and besieged it This was the mâ—…ther City of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to such distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were fain to eat the carcases of Dogs The feast of Propitiation then at hand Hircanus made speed to Jerusalem to execute his office at that feast for he was high Priest appointed for Generals of his Army Aristobulus his eldest son and his second Antigonus In the mean season they within the Town writ to the king of Greece to come to succour them which he did with a great power But these two young men the kings sons went to meet them with the strength of the Israelites and gave them the overthrow killing them up almost every one to the number of twenty one thousand fighting men and the rest fled That done the young men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceived they should have the Grecians of the one side of them and the Samaritans and Sectaries of the other but he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chanced the ninth day of Tisre or September His heart therefore was careful for his sons and for Israel notwithstanding he proceeded in his office according as the feast required as he entred into the house of Sanctum Sanctorum or the Most Holiest to offer incense and to call for mercy for his children and for his Army he heard a voice speaking unto him Never trouble thy mind with thy children and with the Host of Israel for yesterday the Lord of mercy heard them and according to the greatnesse of his goodness for thy Fathers sakes Let thy heart therefore be right and thy hands pure So the King going out of the Sanctuary declared it to the people Whereupon the next day he sent post to Samaria and was assure dry certified again that this was true VVherefore King Hircanus was magnified greatly of all Israel for they knew that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiring him with the holy Ghost and increasing his kingdom and Priesthood After this he took journey to Samaria besieged it a whole year and at length wan it slew all also that bare life within He razed the walls the palace and
the Court he made also walks and galleries of such height that they that walked therein might easily see the waters running in the brook Cedron by the space of a Cubit Between the porch and the house also as though it were a vail or partition the King made a wall of Silver of half an handfull thick In the which was a door of beaten gold and upon the gate a sword of gold of twelve pound weight There were certain Posies graven in the sword as this What stranger soever approached nigh here let him dye for it So the things that Herod made in the Temple were wonderfull neither was there ever heard of in all the world any King that was able to erect such a building When the work was finished the King sent to Saroas his pastures for his Cattel from whence were brought him three hundred young Bullocks and very many sheep according to his Princely estate So then they dedicated and hallowed the house with great joy and gladness There was one certain day in the year when as the King was accustomed to make a great feast to all his Court to all his Nobles and Sages in Israel Against that self same day the King was minded to finish his works which made both him more glad and all his people The same also was commanded to be done in all the Provinces of his Kingdom sending his Letters by his Pursuivants to the Noble men Captains and Presidents of the Provinces that they would observe that day after the same manner every year The people also that were squandred in their enemies countries their head Rulers and Captains came out of every Country far and neer to see the House and the King for they could never believe it till they had seen it and when they had seen it it exceeded far that they had heard of it These things done the Kings two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus which he had by Marimi came home from Rome to Jerusalem in a great heat and fury with a strong company yea their hearts were very heavy also for Alexander the elder had married the King of Capadoci as Daughter and Aristobulus the Daughter of Salumith the King his Fathers Sister These coming to Jerusalem went not to the Court to do their duty to the King their Father neither would they see him whereby the King gathered they went devising some mischief against him Moreover all his men gave him warning to take heed of them and to keep his power or Guard about him He had a Wife of base stock out of the Country before he came to the Kingdom by whom he had a son named Antipater And when he had put Marimi his beloved wife to death he called home his wife which he had disdained before to his Court. Wherefore now seeing the two Sons of Marimi hated him he appointed Antipater his son to be heir apparant and to raise his estimation he gave him all his treasure made him Lord and ruler of all that he had affirming that he should raign after him This Antipater had a subtile wit and his talk was daily to his Father If it like your Majesty wherefore should you give me all these things when as these two Lions shall be ever in my top and ready to destroy me By such surmised means he raised discord and hatred between them and their father albeit the King was loath to hurt his two sons Not long after he took his journey to Rome to Octavian and his son Alexander waited on him hoping that Octavian would be a means for him to turn his fathers hatred from him and put all malice out of his mind When the King was come thither Octavian rejoyced much at his coming saying I have thought long to see thee To whom hast thou left the Land of Juda Herod answered for the homage that I owe unto my Lord the Emperour I am come to appear before him and to declare my chances with this my son his Servant So he told him the whole matter from the beginning to the end Then Octavian Augustus blamed the young man because he hated his Father The young man answered How can I otherwise do How can I forget the most chast womb that bare me which was the holy stock If I forget my mother that was slain guilâ—…less and without crime then let me forget my right hand These and such like words spake the young man not without tears in the presence of Octavian so that his bowels were much moved and the Noble men that were about Octavian could not abstain from weeping but lamented greatly Octavian first reproved Herod for his great transgression and cruelty then laboured he to pacify the young man with comfortable words bidding him to honor his Father and to submit himself unto him When he had done as he was willed for he would not strive against the Emperour's commandment Octavian took the young man by the hand and put it into Herods bosome Then his Father kissed and embraced him so that they both wept after that they took their leave and departed from Octavian who comforted them gave them a gift committing it into Herods hands Herod yet perceived that the hatred of the children of Marimi would not be appeased whereupon when he came home to Jerusalem he called together all the Elders of Israel and said unto them I had determined once to place one of my Sons Captain over the people of the Lord but I might not do it without the consent of Octavian Augustus Now therefore I have appointed my three Sons and have divided my Kingdom equally amongst them Help ye them against their enemies but in no wise shall ye help one of them against another And if ye perceive any breach of friendship between them do what lyeth in you to make it up Whereunto he made them swear presently in Jerusalem and the bond being made each man departed home to his house But for all this the hatred between Antipater and his two brethren was nothing diminished for he feared them because they were of the house of Chasmonany and allied with Kings of great power he suborned therefore false accusers to say unto the King that the young men sons of Marimi were determined to destroy him Likewise he set variance between Salumith and them for she was in greater estimation than he insomuch that the King did nothing without her counsell the same wrought he also between Pheroras the Kings brother and them But to Salumith he said doest thou not consider how the sons of Marimi know that their mother was put to death by thy counsell therefore if they may bring to pass to make the King away they will hew thee to pieces But when the young men heard this they came before the King and swore they never intended to hurt their Father and with weepâ—…ng they so perswaded the King that he believed them and they got his favour again whereat Antipater was not a little displeased
live and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death as well he as Jonathan his son these were dearly beloved and most amiable men as the Scripture termeth them Why doest thou not remember our dear Prince the righteousnesse of David the anointed of the Lord who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel said Let thy hand O Lord I beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house For I am he that have sinned I have transgressed as for these thy sheep What have they done What have they offended Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the Holy Law whereby we might learn how to love our Lord GOD with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength If it be so that the service of God consists not in this that we should love him whom he loveth and die for his Covenant and Sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord wherein standeth it then Hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us how that every man that dieth in the wars for the Lord his Sanctuary his people and his Law he is to be counted in the Lords lot and made worthy to go unto the great Light and shall not see everlasting darknesse Art not thou that Joseph the Priest that hast cryed so often in battel I am Joseph the Priest consecrated to battel that have vowed my life for the people of the Lord his Sanctuary and his Land But now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them and they order thee despitefully What wilt thou say unto them or what amends canst thou have at their hands I put the case they cast in thy teeth and say thy words be lyes How shalt thou avoid the reproach Art thou not he that said'st that we should fight for the people of God until we die in the conflict and in so doing death should be ransome for our sins and that we were sure to go to that great Light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said Why then wilt thou shun death and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st insomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the Romans as a vile slave Shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of God Thou art a Prince a King and a Priest Wilt thou be bound in chains Every man shall say This is he that gave his souldiers and the rest of the people to die but saved himself and his own life So when they had made an end of talk each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Hearest thou Joseph our Prince if thou wilt be ruled by us first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die that thou mayest die honourably But if thou refuse to die honestly assure thy self of this we will every man set upon thee and kill thee Joseph answered Indeed I know my brethren that your words are just and true For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly and would God that he would call my soul unto him and receive it unto him also For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live for the great troubles that have passed through my heart but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts and it is he that giveth life unto men It is our GOD that closeth souls within the bodies and letteth them out again because he is the living God in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures He hath left with us the spirit of life and closed it up within our bodies What is he that will open that he hath shut How shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us Do ye not all know how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep and that we are his servants If then we cast away life before that God take it Shall he not worthily be displeased with us so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory and with those just and godly men our forefathers Do ye not know that they went not unto God before they were called and when they were called they came and so dealt God with all the holy and godly men To Moses our Master of worthy memory the elect of God ye know that the Lord God of Israel said Get thee upon this mountain Abiram and so he did but he would not have done it of himself had not God called him whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the Living GOD except he require it again Take example I pray you of Job what time he curst the day that he was born in Might he not either have hanged himself or have run upon a knife or at the least have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die Notwithstanding he abode patiently in most extream pain waiting till God demanded again his life and then restored it unto his Lord God and would not restore it undemanded but tarried till his appointed time came King David also of famous memory said Lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the body and that none might let it forth but God I wot well that death is a great commodity so that the soul may return in his due time unto God that gave it us I know it also That he that dieth in the Wars of the Lord he shall come to the great Light But I know not what can appease Gods wrath towards the soul of that man that killeth himself and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time and without the Lords calling Wherefore my friends and my brethren I would ye should know it I am no more coward than you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities but this I know I should commit a hainous offence against the Lord if I should kill my self And how say ye you Princes that stick unto your God to you I speak Tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us if we should commit this sin and each kill one another Would not a man judge him a slave a fool a froward person a rebel and a desperate man that should be forced with any misery to be so mad that because all things fall not out as he would wish would therefore hang or desperately murder himself with his
he had been so disposed had been able to lay Joseph at his foot a thousand times not knowing him to be Joseph Wherefore when he was so roughly and so sharply 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 surely would not have counted it nothing to have slain the Egyptian and many more of them Notwithstanding he did not so but contrary submitting himself under the yoak of Joseph called him his Lord and good Master and supposing him to be some Egyptian he humbled himself before him to obtain his petition and to get Corn least his father his brethren and their family should die for hunger What should I say of Joseph so beautifull so wise and witty a man Was not he fain to serve in Pharaohs house wherein although his wisdom was well known insomuch that Pharaoh set more by him than by all the Noble men that were then alive He was also called Lord great Master and Pharaohs Father Nevertheless he humbly besought Pharaoh that he might sustain 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 Joseph had list to return into the Land of Canaan with all his fathers whole houshold without Pharaohs leave no man could have letted him to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that time in Egypt yet he did not so Benjamin also was likened to a ravening wolfe for his fierceness when he was fetched again by force of Josephs steward faining a lye upon him how chanced he did not kill him Or else when he alone pursued Benjamin and his other brethren could not he if he had list have slain the man and buried him so that the matter should never have come to light Notwithstanding they did nothing so nor so but Judas wisely weighing the exaltations and directions the promotions and disgraces with the common courses of the world returned again with his brethren into the City went to Joseph and besought him untill his bowels were moved to pity and he was known of his brethren All these things doth the most holy law of the Lord rehearse unto us and putteth us in mind of for this intent that we may learn to bear for necessities sake the yoak of him that hath the preheminence and rule for his time Neither let any judge or think that Joseph offended God in that he submitted himself under the yoak of Pharaoh for it is no shame for a wise man to crouch unto him whose help he standeth in need of whatsoever 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 lead them out of Egypt he sent Moses our master of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the Loâ—…d to be with him whereby he was able to destroy whosoever did rise against him Nevertheless when he came to Pharaohs presence who then bare rule in Egypt he shewed not himselfe in armes but rather with thunder and hail that Pharaoh might well perceive and know God was the Lord. But at what time as Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites too sore our master Moses by Gods help brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand and stretched forth arm against the Egyptians whom he punished with continuall plagues by that means delivering the Israelites out of the hands of their Lords and Masters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heirs full of all goodness that is to say of the most holy law of God And after Joshua had subdued the holy land to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chanced unto our fathers times of adversities as is mentioned in the books of the Prophets so that they were constrained to serve the King of Ashur a long season and the Kings of Persia To the Chaldees also were we in bondage although not very grievous but tolerable Moreover with other Kings of the Gentiles we had wars and sometimes we were put to foils sometimes we had the upper-hand Now therefore my brethren tell me What shame were it to you if ye were subject unto the Romans Or what are you to be compared to other Nations that be under their Dominion Do you not see that the Romans reign over your enemies and bear rule over them that sometimes were your Masters and hate us Were it not reason that you should love them which have brought down your enemies and revenged you of them Which notwithstanding you have nothing at all done but rather have hated them as men void of all perceivance without weighing and considering that since the time you were under them ye have alwayes lived in much peace And I my self when I withstood the Romans in Galilee knew very well that I should be overcome at length but I could do nothing because of the seditious persons that were with me which would in no wise follow my counsel Yea it stood me in hand to have a care of mine own person that I were not killed of them after I had once counselled and moved them to give up the Town Wherefore seeing the matter stood so and God knew my heart I thought best to fight against the Romans as I mighâ—… and when occasion served to escape to the Romans to take it Further when I was in the Cave with my forty companions I had been lost and perished had not God given me counsel making me a way to escape and save my life For they had almost slain me because I gave them counsel to yield themselves to the Romans and obey them For I saw this was the time of the Romans to bear rule and that God had appointed them to be Lords over all Nations For this is his manner like as above he hath made some to be rulers over othersome even so beneath also he hath set Rulers over the Kings of the Earth Who can controll him that is stronger then he The Romans at this present have the Dominion over all Lands and People over the Egyptians Assyrians Persians and Chaldees to every one of these you have been in bondage and over other Nations also which nevertheless do till their ground sowe mowe plant and gather in their fruits and who hath the profit of these goods and labour but the Romans who whiles the other toyl and travel do live in peace and rest themselves Wherefore mark this also my brethren the Kings of Macedonia once had the rule of the whole World specially in the time of Alexander of Macedonia but at this day their Empire is taken from them and they are become subjects to the Romans They when the Romans first set upon them were very haughty and stubborn determining to resist the Romans notwithstanding they were overcome of the
into the City Therefore Schimeon sent certain to fetch Amittai and his four sons unto him They that were sent brought Amittai and but three of his sons for one was fled to the Romans and came to Joseph When Amittai with the other were brought to Schimeons presence he besought him he might not live but to be put to death by and by lest saith he I should live to see the death of my children But Schimeon was hard-hearted and would not be intreated for it was Gods will that Amittai should be punished because he was the bringer of Schimeon into Jerusalem and therefore fell he into his hands which for good rewarded him with evil Schimeon commanded a sort of murderers to place Amittai upon the walls in the sight of the Romans and said unto him Seest thou Amittai Why do not the Romans deliver and rescue thee out of my hands thee I say which wouldest have fled away unto them Amittai answered nothing to this but still besought him before his death he might kisse his sons and bid them farewell but Schimeon utterly denied him Wherefore Amittai wept aloud saying to his sons I brought dear children I brought this thief into this Townâ—… wherefore I am counted now for a thief my self All the mischief which is come upon me and you it is mine own doing because I have brought this seditious villain into this holy City I thought then Peradventure he will be a help to the Town but it is proved contrary for he hath been a most cruel enemy to the same It was not enough for us to keep one seditious person Jehochanan I mean which took unto him Eleazar the first beginner of sedition but I must bring in also this wicked Schimeon which is joyned to our foes to destroy us Indeed I never brought him in for any love that I bare unto him but all the Priests and the whole multitude of the people sent me to fetch him notwithstanding I am worthy of this just judgement of God because I took upon me such an embassage What should I speak of thee thou most wicked Schimeon for whithersoever thou turnest thee thou bringest all things out of frame Indeed thou deaâ—…est justly with me because I have sinned 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 stoned Notwithstanding it had been thy part thou wicked murderer to deliver me and my sons from the hands of the other Seditious for I have wrought them displeasure but to thee have I done good Howbeit our God will not alter nor change his judgements which is that I should fall into the sword of thy hand for that I made thee to enter into this City wherein I offended God grievously If I had purposed to flee unto the Romans could I not have done it before I brought in thee for at that time bearedst thou no rule over us and before we called in thee Jehochanan with his sedition was an offence unto this City Wherefore we perswaded all the Ancients of the Town that thou shouldest be an aid unto us to drive out our foes but thou in whom we put our trust art become our enemy yea thou hast been worse than they for the other put men to death privily thou dost it openly Who is he that hath strengthened the power of the Romans Art not thou he which hast killed the Souldiers of God in the midst of the City of Jerusalem for few have been slain without Titus would have made peace with us taking pity upon us but thou didst lett and hinder it every day moving new Wars and stirring new battels Titus gave charge to his souldiers to lay no hand upon the Temple but thou hast polluted and defiled the Temple of the Lord shedding blood without measure in the midst thereof Titus went back from us upon the holy day of the Lord and ceased from fighting saying Go and observe your holy Feasts in peace but thou unhallowedst the Feasts of the Lord and puttedst out the continual fire with innocent blood All these evils which thou hast committed thou murderer are imputed unto me because I brought thee into the Town Now therefore this vengeance is appointed to mine age by the Lord God and by thy hands shall I go to my grave with sorrow because I by my foolishnesse was an actor in this mischief that is wrought by thee Albeit now thou wicked Schimeon in this that thou killest me ere that mine eyes may see the burning of the Temple it pleaseth me very well But what needest thou murderer to put my sons to death before my face Why doest thou not spare mine age would God that as I shall not see the burning of the Temple so also I might not see the blood of my children shed before my face But what shall I do when God hath delivered me into the hands of a most wicked man We that were the ancients of Jerusalem abhorred Jehochanan because he murdered old men without all reverence but he slew no young men thou destroyest old and young great and small without any pity or mercy Jehochanan mourned for the dead and buried them also but thou playest upon instruments at their burials singest to the Lute and soundest the Trumpet Then spake he to Schimeons servant who was ready with a sword in his hand and an axe to kill him and to cut off his head sâ—…ying Go to now and execute Schimeon thy Master's commandment Behead the sons in the sight of their father and let me hear the voice of thy cruelty in my sons which notwithstanding I forgive thee for as I shall hear and see that against my will so I dare say thou killest them not willingly Would God that Schimeon would suffer me to kisse my sons and whiles I am yet living to embrace them ere they die But thou gentle minister in one thing shew thy pity towards me that when thou hast put my sons and me to Execution separate not our bodies neither lay their corps asunder from mine but so that my body may lie uppermost and cover theirs to defend them from the fowls of the air lest they devour my sons bodies for it so may come to passe that they may be buried I beseech thee also that my mouth and lips when I am dead may touch my sons faces that so I may both embrace and kisse them But what do I delay or linger any longer seeing the enemies deny me this to kisse them vvhiles vve are yet alive See thou therefore that our bodies be not severed and if Schimeon will not permit this that our bodies may be joyned in this world yet can he not lett our Souls to be joyned for after I shall be once dead I doubt not but I shall see the Light of the Lord. His sons hearing their fathers words began to weep very sore with their father who said unto them Alas my sons Why weepye What
this unto our Lord the anointed of God He was the King and high Priest what though he were a sinner yet his death shall be an expiation for all his iniquities Therefore we will bewail him and mourn for him yea we will carry his coffin our selves on our necks and bury him as it becometh a Kings Majesty and so they did The time that he had raigned was xxvii years after him raigned his wife Alexandra in his stead for the Pharisees after they had finished the seventh day of the morning they committed the Kingdom unto her She had two sons by the King the Elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a just man and a righteous but Aristobulus was a Warriour and a man of courage besides that of a familiar and loving countenance He favoured also the learned men and followed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loved the Pharisees On a time therefore when the Queen sate in the throne of her Kingdom she cal'd the antients of the Pharisees before her honored them and commanded to release and set at liberty all such Pharisees as the King her husband and her father in Law had cast in prison and taking the Pharisees by the hands she commanded all Israel to obey their ordinances Then made she Hircanus her son high Priest and Aristobulus Lieutenant of the Wars She sent also to all the Lands that her husband and father in Law had subdued and demanded the noble mens sons for pledges which she kept in Jerusalem So the Lord gave to the Queen quietness from all that were under her subjection She gave also the Pharisees authority over the learned sort putting them in their hands to order at their will Whereupon straight way they found one Dogrus a great man amongst the learned sort whom they slew and much people besides of the Ancients of that Sect so that the Sectaries were in great distress They gathered themselves together therefore and came to Aristobulus the Lieutenant of the wars and with him they came to the Queen saying unto her Thou knowest the enmity that is between us and the Pharisees which hate thy husband and father in law yea and thy children also We were his men of war that went with him in all his affairs aided him now thou hast given us into their hands to be murthered and banished out of the Land What will Hartam King of Arabia do when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He will come and revenge him of all the battel that thy husband fought against him Yea the Pharisees will take his part and deliver thee and thy children into his hands that there shall not be left unto Hircanus the King and his Son Alexander thy husband any name or remnant at all The Queen gave them no word of answer whereat Aristobulus was angry and letted not to utter it to his mothers face but she would not hear him Wherefore Aristobulus counselled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart out of Jerusalem to choose them Cities in the land of Juda where they might dwell with their honor and not to suffer themselves to be slain under the Pharisees hands Wherefore departing from Jerusalem they dwelt in the Cities of Juda Not long after this it fortuned the Queen fell fore sick that she was like to dye whereof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisees would make his brother Hircanus King and at length apprehends him wherefore he fled away by night to the Ciâ—…y of the Saducees to be their head and make war upon his brother if he should presume to Raign He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducees called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a strong army of the Saducees his mother the Queeen sent unto him that he should return unto her which he would not do but rather went to war with the nations that dwelt about him where he won twenty Cities and got him great renown thereby Now as the Queen his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chief Pharisees came unto her with her Son Hircanus weeping before her and saying how they were afraid of her son Aristobulus who if he should come into Jerusalem and take it he would deliver them up into the hands of the Saducees Unto whom she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talk much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husband and my father gathered and their parents Kings of the posterity of Chasmonany take that to you and make my son Hircanus King over you If Aristobulus will disturb him and make war against him ye may leavy men of war therewith and succour him as you think good And even with this she fainted and dyed and was buried amongst her people after she had raigned nine years over Israel The Pharisees therefore and Priests with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Hircanus her son King in her stead Aristobulus hearing tidings of these things assembled his Army and came toward Jerusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nigh unto Jordan Jericho The Saducees of Aristobulus host were good men of war and too strong for the Pharisees wherefore Hircanus and the Pharisees had the overthrow at Aristobulus and the Saducees hands who with this victory proceeded forth to Jerusalem besiegeâ—… it and brought it to great distress Wherefore the Priests and the Ancient of the people consulted together and came forth to Aristobulus fell prostrate on the earth before him and besought him that he would not scatter abroad the inhabitants of the Lord. He condescended unto their desires upon these conditions that he should enter into Jerusalem with them and be King and his Brother Hircanus should be High Priest whereupon they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into Jerusalem his brother came out of the Sanctuary to meet him and with embracing he kissed him So Aristobulus was King and Hircanus executed the office of the High Priest The Lord also gave Israel rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sent an evill spirit among them which was the cause of translating the Kingdom from the stock of Chasmonany and of the destruction of his posterity for the sin of Hircanus the great and the sin of Alexander his Son in that they shed so much innocent blood and drew Israel from the obedience of the Prophets unto the lies and trifles of the Saducees For thus it chanced The Saducees beat into Aristobulus head that as long as his Brother Hircanus lived he nor his Kingdom could never be established Whereupon Aristobulus devised how to make away Hircanus which thing a certain man called Autipater was aware of a man of most power in all Israel and thereto also a wise expert and learned in all wisdom both in the laws and in the knowledge of the Greek just of his word and prudent in any strange
say See yonder desperate fellow that destroyeth himself his Ship with the the Merchants and their riches Suppose an earthly King should give his officers to keep certain precious Jewels Were it not convenient that they should keep them till such time as he should call for them again If they should at their pleasure cast them away before the King call for them Shall they not move him to anger And if a man come into the presence of the King uncalled Will not the King check him and say unto him What dost thou here before I call thee So now all the souls of Israel are the Lords who hath bestowed them unto men according to his mercy and good pleasure who also will receive them again when it pleaseth him and when his time is come every soul shall depart unto his place of rest Therefore if a man will with his own hands let forth his soul out of his body before his time God will not receive it neither shall it find any rest but be destroyed and why Because it is expulsed and thrust out of his place before his time and before God do call for it wherefore it shall wander inconstantly for ever Why then my dear Brethren and Friends do you advise us to kill one another and to expell and banish our souls from us they being not call'd for How can we put away this opprobry How can we make amends for this sin Who shall pray and make intercession for us And with this Joseph wept abundantly insomuch that they laught him to scorn Then Joseph held up his hands to heaven saying Thou Lord Almighty art our Father thou hast formed us and by thy great mercy taken us out of the clay thou art he that leadest us in thy faith and the multitude of thy mercies and benignities towards us hath not ceased Aâ—…d although our sins have separated us from thee yet nâ—…vertheless we are thy 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 dost what thou wilt and none dare say to thee Why dost thou so Thou art our Father we are clay thou hast given us our shape and fashion therefore if it please thee to take our souls take them by the hands of thine Angels that we commit no evil against them And if these my fellows that be present with me will not be partakers of my prayer behold my life alone for the which I beseech thy benign clemency if it please thee take it for thou gavest it me therefore do with it whatsoever it shall seem good unto thee It is in thine hands thou lendest it me and hast preserved it within me I will not destroy it my self or let it out of my prison before thou demand it for thou knowest that as man cannot live without thy decree and appointment so likewise he cannot die without the same Vnto thee therefore do I lift mine eyes thou that dwellest in Heaven to deal mercifully with thy servants and with me to turn our hearts that we consent not unto this to murder our selves If thou know any among them that intend so wicked an Act I beseech thee O Lord my God let me find favour in thine eyes give them an heart to hear wholesome counsel that I may deliver my self and mine own life which I commend into thine hands that thou wouldest receive it unto thee for in thy hand is the life of every living creature Thus when Joseph had finished his prayer he turned him unto his fellows and saluted them Then said they Thinkest thou therefore to move our minds because thou hast prayed unto God for thy self and for us Did not we tell thee ere while like as we tell thee now that we are determined to die by one means or other wherefore say thy mind and tell us by wâ—…at death thou wilt end thy life for we have ever known thee a just man and a worthy Prince therefore art thou worthy to die first Joseph perceiving his fellows were utterly determined to die and would give none ear to his perswasions for he could by no reasons draw them to his opinion he went subtilly to work with them on this wise Seeing it will be none otherwise Brethren quoth he I will shew you my advice Ye are determined to die ye say and that upon your own swords therefore there is no better way than to do it by lot in this wise Let us cast lots amongst our selves that we may be joyned together by couples then will we cast lots which couple shall die first afterwards they two shall cast lots betwen them which of them shall kill his fellow he that remaineth shall choose him one of the second couple to kill him likewise the second couple shall cast lots between themselves who shall die first and he that is left shall choose him one of the third couple whom he hath a fancy to be killed of then they shall try by lot who shall die first who being slain the other may choose him one of the fourth couple to kill him and so even till all be slain that we see not the captivity of our people The last couple that remain shall do thus Run one upon the others sword or else let them cast lots between themselves and upon whom it falleth let him die first But forasmuch as we are forty and one so that we cannot be justly joyned in couples let us cast lots first of all and see which of us shall first be slain and when he is once out of the way then let us divide the couples He that is to be slain first let him choose one of the first couple and cast lots and do as I have devised Then every man liked his device which was Gods doing who heard Josephs prayer and said all with one mouth We will do as thou hast advised and to thee it appertaineth to divide the men and to cast the lots Joseph answered But let us swear by the name of the Lord that this device shall stand be ratified and performed whereunto they accorded and sware all by the name of the Lord that they would have this device to be ratified and kept which Joseph had invented by casting of lots Then Joseph cast lots who should be the odde man and it fell upon Jehojada the son of Eliakim a Galilean which was a valiant man and chiefest in every counsel next to Joseph and the principal perswader of this wicked fact to kill themselves After that did he craftily divide them into couples so that the lot of his own couple came forth last of all who looked to be saved and trusted in God believing that he would deliver him from this abominable deed Then Jehojada chose him one of the first câ—…uple who slew him That done the first couple cast lots between them so the one killed his fellow and chose him one of the second couple to kill him Then they
of brute beasts which according to nature bear rule one over another Notwithstanding in mankind it should never have come to passe that the bigger should so have dominion over the lesse unlesse for their sins for the the which they are so punished that one is compelled to bow his neck under anothers yoke Now therefore my dear people take humility and meeknesse unto you never covet to alter the law of Nature but rather receive my words and follow my counsell Obey the Romans prepared and ready to make league with you according to their bountifulnesse that ye may live and do full well CHAP. II. WHen Joseph had spoken these things in the hearing of the Citizens of Jerusalem they burst out and wept gnashing with their teeth and railed at Joseph over the walls hurling stones and darts at him to have killed him Therefore when Joseph saw they would not follow his counsel butwere so stiffe-necked he began to rebuke them crying unto them in this wise Wo to all froward people and such as rebell against the Lord God! What mean ye you wretches what have ye to leane unto that ye are so stubborn when neverthelesse the Lord is gone from you For you are wicked people and have sinned against him How can your sins be purged which you have committed in the Temple of the Lord by shedding of innocent blood without all mercy Ye are most guilty for ye have fought in the Temple and Sanctuary of the Lord ye have defiled it with dead bodies of them which ye have slain in the very midst thereof Besides ye have prophaned and unhallowed the Name of the Lord with making of Wars upon the Sabbath day upon your solemn and festival daâ—…es Tell me now ye froward rebels whether did ever your forefathers prevail against their enemies with spear and shield but rather with prayer pennance and purenesse of heart wherewith they served God and again he delivered them But you what have you to trust unto when as ye are unfaithful Your shelter and protection is departed from you and your Lord God aideth your enemies whose power he maintaineth to destroy you if you imaâ—…ine to be delivered with your swords and speares you are fouly deceived whereas God would not that ye should escape the hands of your enemies Open your eyes and see what David the annointed of the Lord said For the Lord will save 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 of Egypt who violently had taken away Sarah his wife from him surely none other way did he obtain the victory then by prayer to the Lord who stirred the spirit of Pharaoh and put him in mind to restore his wife Sarah clean and undefiled Abraham was quiet in his bed and at rest from all troubles but Pharaoh that great Lord and Ruler was punished in the mean season with great plagues because of Sarah whom he had taken to him by violence to deflower her which God would not suffer but rather uncovered Pharaohs flesh that he was fain to shew the secret parts of his body to Physitians to see if they could heal them But who can cure the infirmities which God sends or who knows his intents For who knew that Hezekiahs biles could be healed with a plaister of figs or Naman the Syrian's leprosie with the wâ—…ter of Jordan or the bitter water with wormwood Wherefore when as no man could cure Pharaoh he was fain to speak Abraham fair and to intreat him to pray to God to take away from him his plague and so by his prayer Pharaoh recovered Then Pharaoh apparelled Sarah in precious garments gave her gifts of Gold and Silver and precious Stones and sent her home honest pure and holy to Abraham living then at his own house â—…saac when he was driven out by Abimelech King of the Philistins and had with him the bond servants of his fathers houshold to the number of 800. and 18. with whom Abraham had discomfited five Kings beside many other more of his family so that he had been strong enough to have invadâ—… the Philistines yet he would not do it but with all meeknesse and humilâ—…ty he used himself towards the King of that Country Notwithstanding after he was driven out of the Land the Philistines came unto him and entreated him saying We perceive the Lord God is with thee c. as it is written in the Scripture What shall we say of Jacob when he fâ—…ed from the presence of his brother Esau he carried nothing with him but a bare staffe wherewith he passed ovâ—…r the River Jordan as it is wâ—…itten With my staffe passed I this Jordan His Ammunition that he took with him for his journey was prayâ—…r wherewith he made all his wars That was it for the which God assisted him when he went away to Laban and when he returned from him when also he was delivered out of the hands of his brother Esau who sought to kill him And this also he did bâ—… the way as he returned when he wrestled with a certain man that overcame him O Lord Who is able to number the mercies of the Lord and the marvels which he wrought with our fathers of worthy memory Abraham Isaac and Jacâ—…b What should I speak of Moses our shepherd the man of God that feared the cruelty of Pharoah until he writ in the Law that he had called the name of his son Eleazar for he said the God of his father helped him and delivered him out of the hands of Pharaoh And when he came before Pharaoh to deliver Israel out of his hands and to lead them out of Egypt With what things else overcame he the Tyrant withal then 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 also he smote Egypt with ten plagues aâ—…d divided the Sea into twelve parts And at the red Sea Moses resisted not Pharaoh and his host with force of Arms but with pâ—…ayer wherefore Pharaoh and all his were drowned in the bottom of the Sea But Moses sung a song of praise unto our God while the souldiers of the Egyptians perished that came against Moses and the people of Israel with weapons horses and chariots Notwithstandiug by Moses prayer they weâ—…e overwhelmed all in the Sea so that not one of them escaped Who is ignoraut of this that prayer is of more force than all instruments of war that it speedeth and hasteneth the help of the Lord and his saving health Do you not know when Joshua the minister of Moses passed over Jordan that he was a warlike man and had with him very many most valiant souldiers neverthelesse he destroyed not the seven walls of Jericho by force of War but only with prayer and with shouts and noise of the Priests of the Lord our forefathers Know ye not that
perish Have ye not a sufficient proof of his clemency and mercifulness when as he had cause to be cruel upon no man so much as upon me which drew out my sword against the Romans and killed many of them Notwithstanding neither he nor the rest of the Romans have done me any harm Yea rather they have bestowed many benefits upon me and although I was in their hands yet they have saved my life I confess that before they had me prisoner I would gladly many times have fled to them but I could never do it for 〈◊〉 was ever afraid of my wicked companions â—…t they should have killed me and so my death had been to no purpose But now I praise the Lord Goâ—… without ceasing because that for his unmeasurable mercies sake he would not suâ—…fer me to be intangled in the same mischiefes that you be in Neither would I wish to be companion of such lost unthrifts and cast-awaies as you be which have shed the blood of innocents in the Temple of the Lord. Indeed if I had been with you I should have been void of all hope as ye be seeing ye spare not your own â—…ives and your own contumacy and stubborness is made snare a for you See I pray you with how great mischiefs you are laden First the Lord is not amongst you insomuch that through the tumults which you have made amongst your selves almost the waters of Shiloa are dried up which heretofore when the Nations made war against you flowed in great abundance and ran over the banks on both sides But you are contumacious rebels that ever provoked the Lord God unto wrath you have made slaughters one upon another in the midst of the Temple of the Lord how can then the glory of the Lord dwell amongst you Know ye not because of Korah and his Congregation the Lord said unto Moses and to his people Seperate your selves from among this congregation and I shall consume them in the twinkling of an eye But you are far worse than they For without all remorse or pity ye pull down the Temple of the Lord with your own hands and your selves set fire on the Sanctuary which most noble Kings and most holy Prophets builded and besides all this ye neither spare your sons nor daughters And although I be in the Romans Camp yet I am not absent from you for my most dearly beloved wife is present with you the wife oâ—… my youth whom I cannot set lightly by at this present although I never had children by her but rather love her most intirely because she came of a most honest and godly house My dear Father and Mother are also with you very aged persons for my Father is at this day a hundred and three years old and my Mother fourscore and five but the years of my life are very few evil and full of tribulation and sorrow about threescore and seven neither have I lived yet so long that according to Nature I should desire to die Now therefore if so be you trust not me but suppose I have proposed these things to you deceitfully and that there is no trust of Titus Covenant and bond or that his league should be to your hindrance and discommodity Go to if it come to pass it shall be lawfull for you to kill my Father and Mother and my Wife Yea I swear unto you by the Lord our God that I shall deliver my life also into your hands that you may do with me what ye list and by that means shall the blood of my Parents my Wives and mine be in pledge Therefore let the Ancients of the City come forth and I will make a league betwixt them and our Lord Titus And doubt ye not but as hitherto the Lord God would you should be 〈◊〉 and punished by the Government of the Romans so hereafter he shall benefit you thereby and do you good if so be you will once acknowledge and confess that all Dominion is changed and altered at his commandment and that God humbleth whom he listeth and again whom he list he seâ—…teth aloft But perswade your selves of this that as long as ye refuse to be subject unto the Romans so long you stir against your selves Gods wrath and high displeasure and besides that you do defer the longer and prolong your redemption and deliverance not only to your selves but also to your posterity Now therefore my brethren I thought it my part to declare all these things to you and it is in your power to choose whether you list for who so will let him give ear unto me and who not let him abstain from my counsell The people hearing these words and sayings of Joseph the Priest wept wonderfully for they could have been concent to have followed his counsell At this time Titus gave commandment to all the Romans to send again the Jews that were prisoners and the slaves into the City By what means he shifted from himself the blood of the Jews and laid it upon the necks of their Masters for Titus took pity of them through Josephs Oration and his good counsell The common people of the Jews desired nothing more then to have come forth and to fall to an agreement to make peace with Titus but Schimeon Eleazar and Jehochanan Captains of the Seditious set strong watch and ward at every gate charging them to kill all that should go forth Thus were many killed which would have fled forth to Titus and the City of Jerusalem was closed up and no man could get out nor in In the mean season fell a great dearth and famine in Jerusalem insomuch that the Seditious searched every mans house and cellar for food And because a certain housholder withstood them they killed him Thus they dealt with all them that dwelled at Jerusalem till the victuals in the Town was all spent that men began to seek dung and even mans excrements to eat by which means much of the people died for hunger Whosoever at that time could get any hearbs or roots mice serpents or other creeping worms whatsoever they were to eat he was counted happy because he had found meat to sustain and save his life withall in that hard famine and terrible hunger Moreover whosoever had any corn in store that no man knew of he was afraid to send it to the mill or bake it because of the wickedness of the Seditious lest they should take away from them their sustenance wherefore many did eat the dry coâ—…n unground in their cellars privily At that time also were many exceeding rich men in Jerusalem which stole meat one fâ—…om another so that the father snatched meat from the son and the son from the father the mother snatcht from her children the children likewise from their mother and such as fled out of the gates or otherwise let themselves down over the walls in the night season who being suspected be to the Seditious persons the Romans killed them without This evil
you doth mark it The continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while ago the annointed Priest is cut away and put down These things though they be most manifest yet your hearts cannot believe them And many other words spake Joseph full of admonition and consolation but the Jews refused to hear him When he had made an end therefore and the Seditious had so hardened their necks Titus turned him and departed out of Jerusalem saying Let us go hence lest their sins destroy us Wherefore he pitched his Tents without the City in the same place where he encamped at first For he was afraid both for himself and his Army lest they should be circumvented and closed in and slain cruelly in so great City as that was Certain of the Priests of that time and of the Nobles of the Town with other godly men did wisely provide for themselves and came forth to Titus submitting themselves to his mercy and were received of him peaceably with great honour whom Titus commanded to be conducted into the land of Goshen where in times past the Israelites dwelt in the dayes of Jacob their Father and Joseph Lord of Egypt Thither sent he them and gave it them in possession to them and to their heirs for ever after commanding a company of the Chaldees safely to conduct them till they came to the land of Goshen Titus directed his letter also to the Roman President which was set over Egypt to take pity of the Jews that he had placed in the land of Goshen to sustain and succour them and to see that no Roman nor other should do them harm or annoy them by any manner of means Many other also of the Jews coveted to go forth of Jerusalem but they were disappointed by the Seditious that they could not do as they intended And who can tell whether they were entangled with their own sins and destined to destruction with their seditious brethren when as their hands also were polluted with the cruelty and iniquity of the Seditious Wherefore the Seditious closed up all the walls about the Temple that none of the Jews which were in Jerusalem might get out to Titus When Titus knew that many of the Jews were desirous to flee unto him and could not because of the Seditious he went again to the place where he was before Joseph with him Whom when the people saw to be there with Titus they fell a weeping and said unto him We acknowledge our sins and the transgression of our fathers we have swerved out of the way against the Lord our God for we see now the mercy and gentlenesse of Titus the son of Caesar and that he taketh pity upon us but what can we do when it is not in our power to flee unto him because of the cruelty of the Seditious The Seâ—…itious hearing them talking with Joseph in the presence of Titus and that they spake reverenâ—…ly of him and honoured his father calling him Lord they ran upon them with their drawn swords to kill them Then crâ—…ed they unto Titus Dear Lord and Master rescue us The Romans therefore made speed to deliver them out of the hands of the Seâ—…itious So rose there a fray in the midst of the Temple between the Romans and the Jews The Romans fled into the place called Sanctum Sanctorum which was the holiest of all and the Jews followed after and slew them even there Titus standing without cryed unto Jehochanan and said unto him Hearest thou Jehochanan Iâ—… not thy 〈◊〉 yet great enough Wilt thâ—…u never make an end of mischief Where is the honour of thy God Is it not written in the Law of thy God of the Sanctum Sanctorum that no Stranger ought to come at it but only the high Priest and that but once a year because it is the holiest of all And now how darest thou be sâ—… bold to kill those that are escaped unto it And how dare you â—…ed the blood of the uncircumcised therein whom ye abhor and yet mix their blood with yours The Lord your GOD is my witnessâ—… that I would not have this House destroyed but your own wicked works and your own hands do pull it dâ—…wn And would God you would receive your peace which if it were once done we would honour this House of the Sanctuarie 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 obstinate as Brasse to your own undoing For ye shall carrie your own sins and die in the Land of the Romans I and my fathers house are innocent and guiltlesse of your death as the Lord and his Temple in whose presence we stand shall bear us witnesse this day But when he saw that none of the Seditious gave any regard to his words he chose out of the Romans thirty thousand valiant fighting men and gave them commandment to take and occupy the entry of the Temple which is a holy Court and determined to go with them himself but his Nobles would not suffer him but willed him to remain upon a high place where he might behold his souldiers fight and when they see thee afar off their hearts shall be comforted and they shall fight according as thou wilt wish them but come not at the entry of the Temple thy self lest thou be destroyed amongst other Titus followed the counsel of his Captains and went not out at that time with his men to the battel He made chief Captains of that host of thirty thousand one Karilus and Rostius two great Commanders who had order to set upon the Jews that night when they should be asleep with wearinesse The Romans therefore doing after his commandment set upon the Jews but the Jews having intelligence of the matter kept diligent watch and withstood the Romans all the night But the Romans were not hasty to fight in the dark fearing lest it might turn to their own harm As soon therefore as it was day the Jews divided themselves and bestowed their Companies at the gates of the entrance and fought like men Karilus and Rostius beset the Temple round about that not one of the Jews might escape out and so the battel encreased between them for the space of seven dayes sometimes the Romans getting the upper hand of the Jews driving them within the entrance sometime the Jews encouraging themselves made the Romans retire and pursued them to the walls of the Antochia in this manner fought they these seven dayes Afterward the Romans turned back from the Jews and would not fight hand to hand with them any more Then Titus commanded the walls of the Antochia to be pulled down further that there might be place for all his host to enter The famine in the mean season grew more grievous so that no food was left For the Jews began now to issue out and steal Horses Asses and other beasts whatsoever they could catch even out of the Romans
reserved part for you Siâ—… you down therefore and I will bring it you that ye may taste thereof for it is very good meat And by and by she covered the table and set before them part of the childs flesh saying Eat I pray you here is a child's hand see here is his fooâ—… and other parts and never report that it is another Womans Child but my own only Son that ye knew with me him I bare and also have eaten part and part I have kept for you When she had spoken she burst out and wept saying O my Son my Son how sweet wast thou to me whiles thou yet livedst and now at thy death also thou aâ—…t sweeter to me than hony For thou hast not only fed me in this most grievous famine but hast defended me from the wrath of the Seditious wherewith they were incensed towards me when the smell of the meat brought them into my house Now therefore are they become my friends for they sit at my Table and I have made them a feast with thy flesh After she turned her to the Seditious and bad them eat and satisfie themselves for why saith she should ye abhor my meat which I have set before you I have satisfied my self therewith why therefore do you not eat of the flesh of my son Taste and see how sweet my sons flesh is I dare say ye will say It is good meat What needeth pitty Ought ye to be more moved therewith then a Woman If ye will in no wise eat of the sacrifice of my son when as I have eaten thereof my self shall not this be a shame for you that I should have a better heart and greater courage then you Behold I have prepared a fair Table for you most valiant men why eat ye not Is it not a good feast that I have drest for you and it is your will that I should make you this feast It had been my part rather to have been moved with pity of my Son then yours and how chanceth it therefore that you are more mercifull than I Are ye not they that spoiled my house and left me no kind of food for me and my Son Are ye not they that constrained me to make you this Feast notwithstanding the greater hunger that I have Why then eat ye not thereof when as ye were the Authors and causers that I did this deed The Jews hearing this matter were wonderfully â—…mitten in sadness yea even the Governours of the Seditious began to stoop when they heard of this so that they all in a manner desired death they were so amazed at this horrible Act. Many therefore of the common people stole out in the night forth of Jerusalem with all their substance to the Romans Camp and shewd Titus of this Who wept thereat and was sorry for the matter exceedingly holding up his hands to Heaven and crying Thou Lord God of the world God of this house to whom all secrets are known which also knowest my heart that I came not against this City as desirous of Wars but rather of Peace which I ever offered them but yet the Cittizens thereof evermore refused it although I oftentimes intreated them And when they destroyed one another by their civil dissention I would have delivered them but I found them alwaies like most fierce and cruel beasts nothing sparing themselves And this mischief is come now so far that a woman hath eaten her own flesh being driven thereunto by most extream necessity I have heard and my forefathers have told me of all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towards them and their Fathers how thy Name dwelt amongst them For thou broughtest them out of Egypt with a strong hand and a strâ—…tched forth Arm out of the House of bondage to whom also thou dividedst the Sea leadest them through it dry and drownedst their Enemies in the water after conductedst thy people thorow the wilderness and fed'st them with bread from Heaven thou causedst Quailes to fly unto them and broughtest out water out of the rock for them At length thou broughtest them into this holy Land by great and terrible Miracles and Wonders For thou dryedst up the water of Jordan and madest them stand up in a heap till they were passed over Thou didst cause the Sun and Moon also to stay their course for thy peoples sake til they might vanquish their enemies Thou wouldest that thy Name should dwell amongst them and thou gavest them this City by inheritance Some of them thou didst choose for thy self to be Prophets which might conduct thy people teach them and lead them into the right way to give them warning of future miseries that they might take heed and beware of them Moreover thou didst choose of them Priests to serve thee and to bless thy people Israel certain godly men amongst them thou drewest unto thee and in a fiery Chariot thou didst carry them up to Heaven Thou smotest the tents of the King of Asâ—…ur and killedst in them 8718 men These and divers other things have I heard of my forefathers yea and of Joseph the Priest a very wise man And now Lord God this people which I have striven against I would have saved had they trust edin thee but thou seest they trust not in thy saving health but in their own Sword When Titus had sayed all these things he commanded to bring an iron Ram and to bend it against the new wall which the Sediâ—…ious had raised that they might batter it down but many of the Nobles among the Seditious came forth unto Titus and made peace with him whom he placed among his chief men Shortly after the Romans set on fire one of the Gates of the Temple that was shut whose door was covered over with silver and while the timber of it burnt the silver melted and ran upon the ground so when the Gate was open the way appeared which leadeth to the Sanctum Sanctorum As soon as Titus saw it he honored it with great reverence and foâ—…bad his people that none should come niâ—… iâ—… Wherefore he commanded a Proclamation to be published throughout all his Camp to this tenor Whâ—…soever cometh near the Sanctuary shall suffer death for it He appointed also a strong band of men to keep the Temple that it might not be prophaned and unhallowed by any of his But his Princes and Captains answered Unless this House be set on fire thou shalt never subdue this people in regard that to preserve it they vow to die Notwithstanding Titus would not hearken to their counsell but appointed some of his own souldiers and such Jews as had come in to him to keep Ward giving them charge to preserve the Temple and Sanctum Sanctorum lest it should be polluted The Seditious Jews that remained in Jerusalem seeing the Romans depart fâ—…om the Temple and leaving Guards behind they ran upon them with their swords drawn and slew every foul of them Which Titus
burnt up the City He had wars also with the Romans and the Arabians and God prospered all that ever he took in hand Shortly after God gave him rest and quietnesse from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldly in peace and tranquility all his time On a time the King made a Feast to all the Sages of Israel that they might make cheer with him And being pleasantly disposed he said I am your Scholler and whatsoever I do that do I by your Authority Wherefore I pray you if you see any fault in me or if I do not as becometh me tell me of it that I might reform my evil way Then every man greatly extolled and commended him saying who is like unto thee our Lord King so worthy of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Priesthood so notable in good works whose works be done for the God of heaven which hast also done us so much good in Israel The King was well pleased with their answer and rejoyced greatly Yet was there one among them an undiscreet man called Elezaar who spake unadvisedly to the king And it please your Majesty it were sufficient for you to have the Crown of the Kingdom ye might leave the Crown of the Priesthood to the seed of Aaron for as much as your mother was Captain in mount Modiit Incontinent the King was moved and sore displeased against the Sages which certain of his servants that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of Sects perceiving one of them informed the King that whatsoever that undiscreet person had spoken it was not without the advise of the Sages Whereupon the King demanded of the Sages what law shall that man have that in despight of the King speaketh things to his reproach They made answer he is worthy to be whipt Then said one of the Saducees the matter is plain that according to the minds of the Sages and at their bidding he upbraided thee and therefore they would not award him to die Whereat the King held his peace and gave never a word to answer so all the joy was turned into sadnesse The next day at the commandment of the King proclamation went to all the Cities in the Kings Dominions that they should stand to the ordinance of Saboch and Bithus and whosoever should refuse to follow their Decrees or would observe the Traditions of the Sages and obey their will should suffer death This was John the high Priest which had the Priesthood forty years and in the end became a Saducee Notwithstanding the Israelites obeyed not the kings commandment but rather privily followed the ordinances of the Sages The king himself and all his servants followed the Traditions of the Saducees making Inquisition for them that stuck to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of By this means he drew much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus ruled over Israel was 31. years and then he died After him reigned his son Aristobulus for he had three sons Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his Father and banished out of his presence He went therefore and made War upon Tyre and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high Priest-hood but set light by it wherefore he would not execute the office thereof but took the Kingdom upon him and set the Crown upon his head and was called the great King Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her son his younger brother and would not suffer them to dwell in Jerusalem But he loved his brother Antigonus and made him Lieutenant General of all his Wars setting him forward into the Wars against his enemies Wherein the young man Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in all things that he took in hand and returned safe to Jerusalem where he entred into the house of the Sanctuary to pray for his brother the King which at that time was grievously sick and also to acknowledge before the Lord God his goodnesse and mercy towards him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person unto the King and informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the wars inquired of thy health and when it was told him thou wast sick he said I will go to him to day and rid him out of the world When the King heard this he was wroth toward the Sages and commanded his brother to be apprehended and carried to the place of Starton there to be kept in prison till he had made further inquisition of this matter In the mean space the Queen the Kings wife commanded him to be put to death there without knowledge of the Kings mind But when the King heard that his brother was killed he cryed out and wept bitterly smiting his breast in such sort with his hand that he swouned and much blood issued out of his mouth He reigned over Israel two years After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called King Janai being brought out of Prison where his brother had put him and made King of Israel He was a mighty man and valiant in all his wars against his enemies prevailing against them He had wars with the Philistims namely Asam and Ascalon whom he put to the worse and overcame them This man refused not the Priesthood but was high Priest It chanced on a time when he stood at the Altar to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast a Cedar tree on him whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the Altar crying give me my sword Then the Sages kneeled down before him and sware they did t not of any contempt but rather say they that we thus sporting before the Lord would be merry upon the High solemn day But the Kings servants answered roughly again saying although ye play and rejoyce yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such despightfull custome with the King The contention waxed hot against them till at length the Sages spake evil of the King casting in his teeth that he was an unhallowed and suspended person and that his Grand-mother on the fathers side was a Captain in mount Modiit whereby her seed was stained The King was sore moved at that insomuch that he commanded all the Sages to be slain Therefore wheresoever they found them in the Sanctuary or in the streets of Jerusalem they killed them forthwith Then the King commanded that every man should obey the governance and traditions of the Saducees So in those daies had the Sages great tribulation some fell on the sword some fled away and some tarried at home with great dishonor After these matters the King made an expedition into Arabia entred the country as far as the rock of the Wilderness against Hattam King of Arabia and subdued his land After that he warred on Medaba and the whole Land of Moab vanquished them and bringing
unto the Sages whom his father and grandfather slew and the injury commiâ—…ted to Honyauriga might return upon his head and be reyenged so that no remnant of the house of 〈◊〉 no name no residue no kinsman oâ—… posterity should be left alive Hircanus therefore took his journey toward Jerusalem and Herod came forth to meet him eâ—…mbraced him aâ—…d kissed him after brought him to his house and feasted him daâ—…y calling him his father before all men albeit in his heart he conspired to kill him which Alexandra his daughter and Mother in law to Herod knew well enough who opened it unto Hircanus but he would not credit her at the first till on a time he perceived the matter clear to be so then devised he how to flye to Maloc King of Arabia he sent therefore to Maloc to send him horses and a Chariot to flye withall but the Messenger 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 answer Maloc gave The Messenger upon this went and delivered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a Charlot writing in this sort I have sent thee horses and horsemen come therefore unto me and whatsoever thy heart desireth I will do it for thy sake So the Messenger brought the answer secretly to Herod whereupon he sent straight to the place in which he understood Malocs men to lurk waiting for Hircanus and caused to apprehend them alive Then Herod commanded to call together the Elders before whom he willed also Hircanus to be brought and of him the King demanded tell me whither thou hast written any letter to Maloc King of Arabia he answered I writ none Then was Ristius the Messenger brought in as his acuser and the men of war also of Arabia that were apprehended who declared the whole matter before the Council so that Hircanus was quite dashed Then the King commanded him to be put to death and so was the kingdom established unto Herod The time that Hircanus raigned was 40. years and 6. moneths After the death of his mother he raigned 3. years and Aristobulus his brother removed him making him Priest Again 3. years after he returned to his kingdom and raigned 40. years Then Antigonus son of Aristobulus deposed him cutting off his ear and banished him out of the holy City So after when Herod his servant came to the kingdom he returned to Jerusalem and Herod shed his blood guiltless yet notwithstanding he had delivereâ—… Herod from the hands of the Elders who would have put him to death for the death of Hizkias From that time Hircanus wrought no evil in the sight of the Lord nor offended him in any great matter save only in this that he bare too much with Herod in shedding 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 Aristobulus the Wife of Herod had a brother whose name was Aristobulus him Herod would in no wise promote to the high Priesthood because he feared the children of Chasmonany although his wife made earnest suite and lay sore upon him for the matter But the King made high Priest one that was nothing of the kindred of Chasmonany whose name was Haniel Notwithstanding when he had once dispatched Hircanus his wives Progenitors father of Alexandra his mother in law then he deposed Haniel the high Priest and preferred his wifes brother Aristobulus to the dignity who although he were but a child yet he was wise and of good understanding and beautifull withall so that in all Israel was not a goodlier nor hansomer young man than he was And this Haniel was the first that ever was deposed from that office of the high priest-hood for never did King of Israel attempt the like afore Herod who did this to quiet his wife and to fulfill his mother in laws mind notwithstanding this Alexandra his wives mother was not content nor satisfied for the death of her Father was such a grief but alwaies spake snappishly to the King that he committed her to ward Then she writ to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt wife unto M. Antonius a Noble man of Rome declaring unto her all the mischief that Herod had done to the posterity of Chasmonany and desiring of her aid to whom Cleopatra made this answer if thou canst find the means to come to me secretly thou shalt perceive what I shall do for thee When Alexandra had read the Letter she sent to Aristobulus her son the high Priest shewing him that she would flye to the Sea Japho and from thence would take shipping into Egypt perswading him also to flye with her We will saith she make two Coffers one for me and another for thee and we will with rewards allure our Servants to carry out us privily whereby we may flye to save our lives This their device was perceived of one of Herods Servants who forthwith made the King privy unto it The King commanded his Servant that bewrayed them that when they did convey the Coffers they should bring them to him which the servant did So when the Coffers were brought to the Kings presence he caused them to be opened and took out Alexandra and her son Aristobulus to whom the King spake sharply and rebuked them sore But Alexandera answered him again as short insomuch that the King moved with anger flung away from her into his chamber saying It is better to fit solitary in a corner of the house than with a brawling and scolding woman in an open place The King dissembled the matter and shewed no great displeasure a year after As Aristobulus the high Priest apparralled in his Pontificial vestures stood in the temple nigh unto the Altar to offer sacrifices the Israelits beheld his beauty his wisdom and behaviour in the ministery whereat every man rejoyced praising God that had not taken all away but left one to revenge the injuries done to the house of Chasmonany The King hearing this was sore afraid and not a little displeased thinking to himself the Israelits would restore the Kingdom of their fathers unto him He perceived every mans heart to be enclined towards him Wherefore he deliberated a while and in the feast of the Tabernacles he removed to Jericho with all his houshold whereas he made a great feast to all his nobles and servants placing them every one after hiâ—… degree before him Aristobulus the high Priest he seâ—… upon the right hand And as they eat drank and made merry certain of the Kings servants were disposed to go swim in Jordan To these the King had given secret commandment that they should desire Aristobulus to go and bath with them in Jordan and then to drown him So when they were going they came to Aristobulus and moved him to keep them
such fear that he would have gone back again But they that waited upon him being desirous to go home to their houses and families dealt crastily with him and perswaded him that if he should now turn back out of his way he should justifie his enemies words to be true but if thou come once to thy fathers presence say they who loveth thee so entirely thou shalt prevail against thy foes and get the upper hand of them that trouble thee So he followed their counsel and came to Jerusalem When he entred into the City no man came forth to meet him nor once to bid him welcome home For all the people hated him for his lyes slanders perverse and wicked counsel but chiefly for fear of the King Yet went he forward to the Court although with a fearful heart When he came to the King's presence he fell down and did his duty but the king turned away his face and could not abide to look upon him He went home therefore unto his house with a heavy heart hanging down his head and hiding his face There his mother told him how their counsel concerning the vial of poyson was bewrayed and how the king was wonderfully incensed toward him that increased his fear more and more The next day by the kings command he was brought forth and before all the chief of Israel assembled together the king sat to judge Antipater's cause There the king rehearsed unto them his sons lewdnesse and lyes how he had seduced him and incited him to kill his children that were of the kings blood far better and more virtuous than he insomuch that with a loud voice the king burst out and bewailed his Wife Marimi whom he put to death without a cause and his two sons that they that were far off might hear him Then Antipater lift up his head and began to speak craftily and subtilly First he forgot not to give genâ—…le words to pacifie his father's wrath but that he could not do after he fell to entreaty in such sort that all the Nobles were moved to pity and bewailed his evil Fortune not without tears save only Niraleus the kings Secretary who loved the kings children that were put to death He rebuked them all that were sorry for the calamity of Antipater crying with all his might Where are ye Alexander and Aristobulus that were slain guiltless Lift up your heads and behold this wicked man fall into the pit that he himself made see how his foot is catched in the net that he laid himself for others Mark you noâ—… how your Maker revengeth your deatâ—… and requireth your blood at his hand in the time of his destruction For the wicked man is spared until the tâ—…me â—…f his dâ—…ath So the King himself very much incensed sent to fetch a condemned person ouâ—… of prison who being brought before them and 〈◊〉 a liâ—… of the poyson in the Vâ—…al fell down 〈◊〉 therewiâ—…h Then the King commanded Antipater to be carried to prison and to be laid in strong irons The fortieth year of hiâ—… reâ—…n which was the seventy year of his age King Herod fell sick and no remedy no Physick could be found to help him neither his servants nor Physitians could procure him any rest so grievously came his disease upon him with shortnesse of his breath and through the anguish of the manifold evils that had hapned upon him by his own folk Whereupon he cryed out saying Wo may he be that hath none left to succeed him in his Kingdom nor none to go before his Coffin and mourn for him at his death Then called he to his remembrance his wife Marimi and his two sons rehearsing them by name howling and weeping still continually Upon a certain day when his sickness came sore upon him he called to his servants to fetch him some pleasant Apple to see if it might comfort his heart 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 himself up upon his left arm and perceiving his life to be full of sorrow and lamentation he took the knif with his right hand and fetched his sway to thrust it into his belly but his servants stept to him and caught his arm holding his hands and would not suffer him to do it then wept he sore and all his servants that their voice was heard out of the Court and shortly all the City was in an uprore saying The King is dead the King is dead Antipater being in the prison heard the noise and asked What business is this they answered him The King is dead Then he rejoyced wonderfully saying unto the Jaylors 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 answered I fear lest the King be yet alive I will go therefore and know the truth and come again by and by Antipater seeing he could not get loose 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 answered He was very glad thereof and when I would not smite off his irons and let him out he wept for anger The King cryed unto his Lords See how he hateth me being yet in prison if he were here he would do what he could to kil me he would not do as my servants did make haste to wrest the knife out of my hand As true as God liveth he shall never have that which he gapeth for so the King commanded he should be put to death and there was not one that would intreat for him or desire the King to the contrary but every man was glad of his destruction The King commanded the keeper to bring him forth to the Market-place which done his head was cut off and so he missed of his purpose Moreover the King commanded his body to be taken and carried to the City of Ankalia there to be buried but not in the City That done and the people being returned from the burial the King sent to call all the Nobles of Israel together and enforcing his strength he sat up in his bed commanded to call his son Archelaus on whom he laid his hands and made him King over Israel then shouted every man God save the King The King lived five dayes after the execution of Antipater then he fainted and died He raigned over Israel 40. years he was a worthy Warriour a wise and prudent man a goodly man of person having God on his side He ever loved the Sages Hillel and Samai with their companions he enriched the second House more than all other Kings and was more liberal than all the Kings that were before him His gifts and rewards were rich for he counted
Gold and Silver as chaffe and stones he kept Israel in peace from all his enemies he buiâ—…ded also a fairer Temple than King Solomon but he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israel more heavy and gave open ear to evâ—…l tongues He was a cruel blood-shedder of poor and innocent persons and Archelaus his son reigned in his room He willed before his death that they should bury him in the City of Erodion two dayes journey and a half from Jerusalem So they put him in a Coffin covered with Gold set here and there with precious stones The Bed under him was wrought with Gold and full of precious stones likewise upon his head was a cloth of Rayes powdred with precious stones and upon that a Royal Crown made fast to the left side of the Coffin and on the right side was a Regal Scepter upon the Bier was also a cloth of Rayes very thick powdred with precious stones Crystal Amethysts and very many â—…aphirs Then all the chief men of War went about him in their coats of fence and drawn swords in their hands with helmets on their heads as in the time of war After them came Archelaus his son that was made King then followed him all the people There were fifty of his servants that went about the Bier every one having a chaffindish of Gold in his hand wherein they burnt sweet woods and perfumes continually as many as went about him casting upon the Hearse pure Myrrhe He was born by certain great Lords and Noblemen of Israel upon their shouldders going leisurely and with a majesty till they came to Erodion where they buried him with great honour the like was never done to any King These things done there resorted together such as hated Herod and were weary of their own lives whiles he lived rejoycing that they had escaped his hands saying We have looked till our eyes bleared waiting for the death of Herod that Tyrant and bloodshedder that oppressed us with such heavy yokes that left us nothing to live on for the tributes and taxes that he laid upon us yet now Archelaus his son is worse than he Wherefore they consulted together and cast their minds and good will toward Antipater the son of Salumith the Kings Sister one of the blood of Chasmonany and went with him to Octavian Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he would not grant them their suite yea he rather confirmed and assured the kingdom to Archelaus who wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord for he married his brother Alexanders Wife that had children by Alexander and committed many great offences The ninth year of Archelaus's raign it chanced upon a night he dreamed a dream He thought he saw nine eares of corn very good and full grown upon one stalk then came a great Oxe and did eate them up all at one bit by and by he awaked and perceived it was a dream therefore calling one of the Sages of Israel unto him he shewed him his dream The wise man said this is the interpretation of it The 9. eares fresh and full be the 9 years which thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great King Octavian Augustus This year thou shaâ—…t be removed from thy kingdom because thou hast neglected the word of God and hast married thy brothers wife to this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within five dayes after Octavian came towards Jerusalem and when Archelaus wenâ—… to meet him he put him in prison deposed him from the kingdom of Israel and made Antipas his brother King in his stead he turned his name also and called him Herod that done he returned to Rome Whiles Antipater was King died the Emperour Octavian Augustus the 56. year of his raign and Tiberius Caesar succeeded him This Antipas also wrought wickedness and sundry abominations more than any that was before him for he took his brother Philips Wife from him which had already children by Philip for this shameful deed Rabbi John Baptist the high Priest rebuked him wherefore Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Jesus a wise man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a worker of wonderfull works and a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth and had many Disciples both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles This man was Christ. who after he was accused of the chief Rulers of our Nation and condemned by Pilate to be crucified was nevertheless much beloved by them who loved him even from the beginning To these he appeared the third day alive according as the Prophets by Divine inspiration had told before aswell of this as also of many other things which should be done by him And even to this day the Christian sect which took their name of him continueth Against this man Antipas before named came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whom when Antipas repaired he apprehended him laâ—…d him in irons and sent him into Spain where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius raign Then Tiberius made Agrippa the son of Aristobulus whom Herod put to death Antipas brother King in his stead The time that Antipas raigned over Israel was 11. years In Agrippas time died Tiberius Caesar and Caius succeeded him This Caius called himself a God and would suffer no man to worship any thing in his Empire but himselfe he continued not long in this dignity but decayed and died After him succeeded Claudius Claudius being dead Nero Caesar was Emperor Agrippa raigned over Israel 23 years In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presidents over them which left them nothing to live upon and besides that he punished them with divers torments until at length they were constrained to rebel against the Roman Empire and Nero Cesar to rid themselves from under his subjection And above all other one Florus president and Captain of the Roman Army most grievously oppressed the Jews and had done many things very wickedly For not onely he shed innocent blood ravishing at his pleasure wives and deflouring maids in the Cities of Juda but also robbed with great cruelty every man of his goods he polluted the Temple and upon the beams thereof he hung those that he took displeasure at It chanced that Beronice King Agrippa's sister came at that time to Jerusalem out of devotion to vifit the holy place She seeing Florus violently oppress the people and for payment of exactions and tallage to slay many of them even at the entrance of the Temple she came forth weeping unto Florus beseeching him to spare the people for she pitied them very greatly Yet Florus relented nothing but when she was departed from him he flouted and mockt her though she were the Kings sister and that in the Temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valiant young man Eleasar the son of Anani the high Priest
He while his father was executing his office could not abide to see the â—…raelites so misused at Florus hands but being kindled with a fervent zeal sounded a Trumpet whereby there assembled about him forthwith divers companies of young men goodly warriours by whose ayd he raised a great commotion and encountered with Florus and the Roman souldiers of whom he made a great slaughter prevailing much and getting at length the upper hand of Florus overthrew all the host so that Florus was constrained to fly alone out of Jerusalem unto Egypt In the way as he fled he chanced to meet with King Agrippa coming from Rome from Nero Cesar and going home into Judea to whom Florus declared what had hapned him through the youth of the Jews at Jerusalem And as Agrippa had passed Egypt and drew toward Jerusalem his sister Beronice directed her letters unto him moving him to rejoyn with the Jews and to aid them the people also came wholly the space of fourty miles out of the City of Jerusalem to meet him and fel down flat before him crying God save our King Agrippa But the King studied all he might to procure quietness and peace to the City and people So he entred into Jerusalem accompanied with two Noble men of Rome worthy Captains whom he brought with him in his train And when he came into the midst of the City the people cryed mainly out upon him saying Deliver us O King and let thy hand and help be on our side to succour us for we will never more be under the Roman subjection The King hearing this pityed the people very much notwithstanding he was not content that they were minded to Rebel against the Roman Empire Wherefore he called the people together at the entrance of the Court of the Temple where were present the Elders of Israel and all the chief men with the high Priest Anani and declared unto them the power of the Romans the strength of their Kingdom and what Nations round about them they had subdued in such sort as no remainder of them was left Wherefore he besought them not to provoke the Romans nor to destroy the people remaining in Israel He added moreover If ye will give ear to mine advice saith he I know it well dear breathren that there resteth in your hearts a great grief and I my self am full of sorrow and anguish that we are not of power to withstand the Romans albeit if you will be ruled by my Counsel ye shall find a redress for this matter For where Counsel is and good deliberation there 's safety and things come to prosperous success ye shall sustain for a while the yoak of the Roman Captains till I may certify Nero of the matter by my Letters and entreat him to rid us of these Rulers I beseech you be not hasty of Liberty Many seeking liberty have fallen into further captivity and greater bondage there be among our people many evil disposed persons whose delight is in wars for it is their whole study amongst whom many good men do also perish wherefore hear my words as for them that be wise they may perceive the matter themselves they that lack experience let them learn wisdom at my sayings Keep therefore silence which shall be as well to mine as to your own commodity for I shall not need to strain my self but speak the softlier withless pain and ye on the other side may the better hear and understand what I say If ye hold not your peace ye shal have two discommodities ye shal interrupt my com munication and hinder your selves from hearing But now to the purpose Ye shall be content and suffer till I write to Rome of these matters that Cesar may remove these evill Rulers and send us them that be more human and gentle If ye may have such a one then shall ye not think your selves in bondage but in liberty and worthily for then only is servitude grievous when as the Ruler is an unjust man and wicked Now therefore stay your selves quarrel not with them for although they be wicked yet will they be ashamed to do wrong openly for what they do they do it secretly but if ye should accuse them too much they would rub their foreheads and do it openly without all shame so should you make of your Judges and Rulers your open Enemies But it were far better to suffer an unjust governour then a just enemy for the one robbeth men privily the other is an open destroyer provoke them not therefore Consider the wild beasts that be under mens power and kept in chains as Lyons 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 will fly upon him and worry him and others too that be present The same ye may perceive in a fever and an ague which if a man will go about to cure at the beginning he shall make it more grievous but if he will remedy it by leisure the fervency of it will easily be quenched Now therefore refrain your selves and take heed that you draw not Caesar upon your heads and the whole Roman Empire Caesar coveteth not your harm neither sent he unto you these Rulers to hurt you his eyes cannot see from East to West nor his hand reach from Rome hither for it is flesh and blood but if you will abide till I may send Embassadours to Cesar I doubt not but I shall remove these Rulers and rid you of them peaceably without any war or blood shed If ye be utterly determined to resist the Roman Empire you shall understand you be in no wise able to do it for God is every where on their side so that they be Lords throughout all the world and all people serve them and shall do so till their end shall come But if ye will not do this for your own sakes yet do it for your own Countries sake your children and wives the Sanctuary and Priests whom ye are bound to love and spare lest ye cast away and undo them all at once I beseech you take my words in good part for I have spoken nothing but that is for your good and that may further our peace with the Romans which I most wish If you will be ruled and chuse peace I will take your part and do the best I can for you but if you will needs have wars ye shall have it alone for me I will not meddle with you With this Agrippa fell on weeping and so did also all the Elders with him and the men of most wisdom the chief in all Israel yea Anani the high Priest also could not refrain from tears Notwithstanding Eleazer his stout son with his routs of warlike young men about him they wept not at all nor would hearken or give any ear to wholesom Counsell but all at once with their drawn swords violently rushed upon the Roman Caprains that came with
without mistrusting any harm the Romans joyned with the Syrians in great number entred the Wood and slew the Jews all that ever they could find to the number of thirteen thousand Schimeon himself with his father and their families had pitched their tents nigh unto a fair fountain that was in the Wood to whom when their enemies came to slay them and destroy their whole families Schimeon ran upon them with his drawn sword made a great slaughter of them and constrained them to retire But when a great multude environed him and he perceived all the rest of the Jews were slain he with the houshold only remaining neither saw he any way to escape he stept upon a little hill with his naked sword saying Hearken unto me ye Syrians and Romans and ye that dwell in Scithopolis I will speak unto you a few words full of lamentation Now I perceive that justly and not without a cause ye make war against me without any favour or consideration that I delivered you from the hosts of the Jews and never suffered them to do any displeasure to you your wives and children nor to your City as they had done to other Cities of Syria For I am he that for your sakes have warred against my Countrymen tâ—… please you withal yea both their blood and mine have I pledged unto you and have kept inviolated the love of strangers hating my own people of whom for your pleasures I have slain oft both the fathers and the children and now ye render evil for the good I have done unto you But indeed God of his just judgment hath stirred you up to reward me in this sort to murther me that hath so often preserved you Now therefore ye shall bear me witness that I shall sufficiently and sharply enough take vengeance of my own life not without rage and fury most severely because I have slain my fellows and friends I will therefore slay my self to be avenged of my self for my brothers blood that I have shed and so shall I be revenged of their blood and ye shall well perceive me to be of that courage that rather than ye shall slay me and after boast and brag how ye have killed Schimeon I will bereave my self of my life and punish the shedding of my brothers blood no otherwise than the Law punisheth a murtherer and man killer When he had spoken this his eyes were filled with blood and his face with rage and so inflamed with fury laying apart all pity ran and caught hold of his father haled him out of the Wood and slew him Then slew he his mother lest she should intreat him for the children and be sorry for their sakes That done his wife came running of her own accord and held her neck down to the sword lest she should be constrained to see her children dye Yea Schimeons children came and offered themselves to be slain lest they should see the death of their father or remain after him to be delivered to the enemies After this he slew all his whole family that not one of his should come into the hands of their enemies Finally he gathered their bodies together into one place like a valiant stout warrior and then boldly goared himself on his own sword lest any man else should impair his strength or boast that he had killed him All this Schimeon did with a great courage to take punishment of himself because he had bestowed his love rather upon strangers than upon his own people and to declare his force and manhood So he died an abominable and detestable death save only it was an argument of his haughty mind and great courage as it is said before Now when the Jews had thus rebelled against the Romans and slain their souldiers and Captains King Agrippa went to Rome and recounted unto Nero Caesar the Emperor of Rome all that was hapned whereupon Nero sent Captain Cassius that was at that time in Syria and had made war upon the King of Persia and vanquished him and all his power and subdued his dominions to the Romans and with him a puissant Army of the Romans commanding him to go into Judea to offer peace unto the people to comfort them and to bring them again into league with the Romans if it might be Cassius therefore took his journey towards Judea 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 also they had burnt his Palace and sacked it Cassius hearing that was very glad that he had gotten such an occasion to revenge the blood of the Romans and Syrians which the Jews had shed Wherefore he levied a mighty Army and came to Caesarea and wheresoever he did espy the goodliest buildings those caused he to be burnt From thence went he to the City Japho which he besieged both by land and Sea and at length wan it where he slew in the streets 84000 men After that he came to Jades where he first burnt all the Country about it and whomsoever he caught without the Town he slew them But the Citizens of Zippory went out to meet Cassius and besought him for peace whom he spared he came not nigh their Town nor slew any that dwelt in their Countrey The seditious Jews that were in the City of Zippory hearing of Cassius coming fled unto the mountains but in the way they lighted upon part of Cassius Army whereof they slew 200 men and woun ded their Captain Glaphira yet at length the seditious were put to flight and many of them-Glaphira with his horsmen pursued overthrew and destroyed the rest fled to the mountains Then Glaphira Captain of Cassius Army went to Cesarea that was subdued to the Romans there to cure his wounds that the Jews had given him Thence went he to Antipire which as he would have assaulted he perceived it to be furnished with a great power of the Iews and seditious These hearing Cassius also was coming they went purposely to fight with him but perceiving that Cassius power was very great they determined to encounter with him in the plain of Gibeon fifty miles from Ierusalem whereupon the Jews with their companies fained themselves to flye to the intent they might draw the Romans after them And within six daies they came to Gibeon and there rested Cassius pursued after them with all his hoast till he came to Gibeon which he besieged and assaulted also It chansed then upon one of the Sabbaths in the morning watch the Jews armed at all points issued out of the Town to give their enemies a Camisado so after they had given a token of war they marched toward the hoast of Cassius whereof they slew 515 horsmen and footmen twenty seven thousand with the loss of only 22. of their own company In that battell did well appear the valiantness of Mugbas a Captain of the Jews Army One Baudius also played the
done to you which displeaseth me out of measure wherefore I assure unto you a faithful league by the consent and counsel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall never any Roman Captain stir hand or foot against you but rather your Chieftains Rulers and Judges shall be all Jews and of Jerusalem Yea Agrippa your King shall be Lord of all your Rulers and what he commandeth you shall do it the Romans shall only be called your Lords and have no more to do with you So when these Legates came to Jerusalem they went and spake with Anani the Priest informing him of Nero's mind and shewed him his Present placing it afore him The Present was this A Bull for a burnt-offering with a Crown of Gold upon his head his hornes also were covered with Gold upon him was a cloth of purple powdred with precious stones there went certain before him that carried ten talents of Gold behind followed very many Sheep for peace-offerings When Eleazar Ananies Son heard thereof he came and cast out of the Temple of the Lord Nero Caesars Presents saying We will not profane and unhallaw the Sanctuary of our Lord with the offerings of strangers for God will accept neither their burnt offerings nor their peace-offerings When he had so said he sounded a Trumpet set his men in array against the Host of the Romans that kept watch and ward in the City of Jerusalem and slew many of them that day with one of their Captains also and another they took alive He being a valiant man and seeing the routs of the Jews to urge him grievously said unto them Save my life and I will yield unto whom Eleazar the Rebell sware that he would not slay him but spare him for his manhood for he had slain very many of the Jews before whereupon he yielded himself Then Eleazar said unto him Like as thy sword hath made many Women childless so shall thy mother be made childlesse of thee above all other and therewith contrary to his oath he commanded his servants to kill him King Agrippa seeing this was wonderfully sorry Therefore as he stood in one of the streets he cryed O thou Rebel Eleazar I pray God that this mischief whereof thou art cause and thy acts may light upon thee and thy fathers Houseâ—… which when it cometh to passe we shall never be dismayed at It appeareth they shall have somewhat to do that study to make peace and tranquility in thy dayes for they are sure to be destroyed with thee How long wilt thou continue to bring us into the Bryars Thou enemy and hater of the Lord Why doest thou destroy and waste the Vineyard of the Lord GOD of Hosts Eleazar answered him What takest thou upon thee the name of a King if thou be a King why commandest thou not us to be punished Where be thy valiant souldiers Let 's see Come thou and they together and chasten me that it may be tried whether thou be a King indeed or no Thou slandest aloof off and when thou speakest thy feet are ready to run away as though a dog should set himself against an armed man and bark at him bleating out his tongue With this he winked upon the Rebels his complices to run upon Agrippa and take him whiles he held him in talk but that was perceived of one of Agrippa's servants whom he had appointed for the same purpose to stand over against him as nigh as he might to mark and spy if the Rebels could make any stir toward him and to let him have knowledge He therefore laying his hand upon his head gave a sign to the king to flee saying Away away for if thou tarry any longer the seditious will slay thee and us together Agrippa perceiving that he gat from thence with all speed and the Rebels pursued him but in vain for they could not overtake him So he got to Japho a Town under the Romans where he was in safeguard From thence he fled to Rome and declared to the Emperour Nero the mischief that besel at Jerusalem and all that seditious Eleazar had done to his offering also how his commandment took no place Wherefore Nero joyned unto him again Castius with a huge Army wherewith they both entred Judea and wan many walled Towns amongst which they razed Japho For the Romans perceiving the power of the Rebels to encrease were afraid lest they should get it into their hands whereby it might be an anoyance in time to come to the Romans chiefely seeing it was a notable Haven for their ships to arive in Judea After this both Agrippa and Castius led their Army towards Jerusalem to war upon the Rebels and utterly to destroy them Eleazar and other Priests with much people hearing that they issued out against them and found them encamped in the way between Jerusalem and Japho But after they had joyned battel many of the Jews were slain by the Romans the residue Castius and Agrippa put to flight and pursued the chase unto the gates of Jerusalem besieged also the City for the space of three dayes The fourth day the Priests and the people issued out suddenly unawares upon the Romans set upon their Camp and slew five thousand Footmen and one thousand Horsemen Castius seeing that he nor his could escape he chose out forty thousand of his best souldiers and placed them betwixt his Camp and the Priests commanding them to stand all the night sounding their Trumpets and making of fire that he and Agrippa might escape and that they should not remove out of their place till the morrow The Jews hearkning to the sound of the Trumpets and musing what they should mean pursued not the Romans but perceiving in the morning they were gone toward Caesarea three dayes journey off Eleazar with the people followed and in the way found their baggage strayed that the Romans had caft from them to run the lighter and escape easilier which they let alone and pursued them to the gates of Caesarea But Castius and Agrippa got fast within the town and from thence went both together to Rome where they declared unto Nero the Emperor how they sped at Jerusalem and as they were making relation of this unto the Emperor there came also a Post out of Persia with tidings that the king of Persia was revolted from the Roman Empire These things troubled the Emperour â—…ore to see almost all fall from him that heretofore had obeyed the Empire of the Romans At the same time returned Vespasianus Captain of the Host whom Nero had sent into the West parts of the World as Germany Brittain and Spain which lands he had brought under the subjection of Nero. To him Nero declared what mischief the Priests had wrought to the Roman Host in Judea how they had slain the Romans and so forth as he had heard of Agrippa and Castius which displeased Vespasian greatly After this Nero sent Vespasian and his son Titus to revenge the
people of the Lord God of Israel and his Sanctuary with the people of his Inheritance howbeit there be amongst us certain proud men ungodly persons that have made a league with Vespasian and have brought into the Town one of his chief Captains wherefore and it please thee my Lord to enter the City with thy souldiers come unto us that we may live with thee rather than to perish in the hands of them that hate us So they opened the gates so that Ioseph went in and took the Town Then he caused to apprehend those ungodly persons that were there about six hundred men and laid them in irons sending them to Tiarva which he had afore taken the other wicked men that had aided Vespasian 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 Souldiers to cut off his hands Then the Captain besought Joseph saying I beseech thee my Lord let one of my hands be cut off and leave me the other Then Joseph and his souldiers laught him to scorn judging him to be no valiant man nor of haughty courage Joseph bad his souldier give him the sword in his own hand and let him cut off which hand he list and leave him which he will So the Roman Captain took the sword and cut off his left hand himself leaving him the right and so he was let go He came therefore unto Vespasians Camp to shew them what shame was done him After this the Citizens of Zippory rebelled also making a league with Vespasian and the Romans host Ioseph being certified of this made thither with his host to besiege it but the Town abid the brunt of the assault that Ioseph could prevail nothing against it wherefore he besieged it a long season About that time it was signified also to them of Jerusalem that the Askalonites had entred in friendship with the Romans They sent therefore Neger the Edomite and Shiloch the Babylonian and Iehochanan with a power of the common people who came to Askalon and besieged it a great space Within the Town was a Roman Captain called Antonius a valiant man and a good Warriour who upon a certain night in the morning watch issued out of the Town with his company to give a Camisado to the Iews that besieged the Town entred their camp and made a great slaughter continuing the same till it was day-light so that about 10000. of the Iews were slain the rest never moved out of the place saying It is better for us to die in this battel than to flee from our enemies therefore they took a good heart unto them and stood manfully in their stations and places trusting in the Lord God of Israel and when it was day they also set themselves in array against Antony slew many of his men not without losse also of their own part for Shiloch the Babylonian and Iehochanan of Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans with others of the Jews to the number â—…f 8000. fighting men that were under Shiloch and Iehochanan and never a one of the Jewish Captains escaped that conflict save only Neger the Edomite who hid himself in a Sepulcher that was there in the plain whom the Romans in their pursuite sought but found him not wherefore they set on fire the wood that it burnt round about the Sepulcher wherein he lay hid and consumed all the trees shrubs and bushes but came no nigh the Sepulcher For Neger had called to the Lord with his whole heart to deliver him this once from his enemies lest he should be shamefully handled of them promising at another time to be ready to die valiantly in his quarrel So Neger escaped the Romans by the help of the God of Israel in whom he put his trust Shortly after sent the Jerusolimites much people to Askalâ—…n to the number of eighteen thousand good men of war to bury the bodies of the Jews that were slain in the conflicts by Antony They sought also the body of Neger the Edomite but they found it not till at length he cryed unto them out of the Sepulcher saying I am here For God hath delivered me out of the hands of mine 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 rejoyced greatly that they had found him alive and that he was saved by such a miracle and the Lord delivered him Therefore they put their trust in the Lord believing that God would be present with them to aid them whereof this deliverance of Neger they took for a sure token The Romans kept themselves 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 slain in both battels for the Romans were not able to prohibite and let them but held them in the Town And when the burial was finished they took Neger with them to Jernsalem to give God thanks there for his deliverance at that present Then Joseph the Priest gathered his strength aad came upon Askalon with his whole Army assaulted them got the upper hand and won the Town after slew Antony and all his people with the Sword that of all the valiant men of War that were with him not one escaped Besides this also the Villages and Hamlets that were thereabout without the Town he burnt them all And so served he all the Towns thereabout that had entred into league with the Romans slaying both Iews and Romans that dwelt in them with the sword as many as he found and their houses he burnt This done Ioesph returned again to Zippory sought with them and got the upper hand there shed he much blood of the people that had conspired with the Romans utterly destroyed them burnt their Cities and Villages led their wives and children prisoners unto Ierusalem and all the Romans he found there he put them to death When Vespasian Titus had heard of all that Iosephus had done against the Romans both how he slue their Garrisons as many as he could find in Galilee and all the Iews that had made any league with him and his sons they were wonderful incensed and in agreatrage They took therefore their journey and came to Apitelma otherwise called Acho where at that time Agrippa King of Iudea was abiding and forty thousand men with him all good men of war and archers every one these joyned themselves with Vespasians Army by which means the Romans Camp became very great Moreover out of other Nations round about Iudea good men of war without number joyned with Vespasian He had aid of the best men of war out of Mesopotamia Aremzofa Assur Sinear Persia Chaldea Macedonia and out of the Provinces of the people of the East yea the people of Mizraim Lod Denan and Seba with all Provinces far and near
Cities that stood on hills then they did divide it in parts and bring it up to the siege by piece-meal and there it was set together again Now when the Romans had battered the walls of Jorpata and Joseph perceived them to shake 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 stones of the wall but light upon the sacks which by reason of the softnesse of the chaff hindred and brake the stroke that the walls were lesse hurt For the nature of soft things is to give back to the hard and to weaken their force But Vespasian seeing the subtilty of Joseph used also policy for policy for he sent into the Town secretly Jews spies which when the batteries should be might cut asunder the cords that the sacks were tyed to and with them slip down the walls where the Romans were ready to receive them that they should not hurt them in the fall and immediately they struck the wall with the Ram. There was at that present in the City a certain valiant man named Eleazer of the house of Anani the high Priest that then dwelt at Jerusalem This Eleazer perceiving the Romans to go about to batter down the wall as they did before plucked out of the wall a mighty stone so that he made a great hole or gap whereat he slid down the wall and stradling did light on the Engine made fast 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 his head as he stood upon the Ram then the other tall fellows took hold upon the chain fastened it to the pillars and walls in the Town that the Romans might rather be constrained to break their Ram than take it away from thence The Priest Eleazer yet once again boldly went down and sat upon the beam slew fifty men that laboured about the Ram and the rest he put to flight then returned into the Town being drawn up again from the beam to them that were within the Town greatly rejoycing in his manhood After that he went up upon a high Tower from whence he tumbled down with a mighty force a great stone and a hard on the head of the Ram and brake it that both a great part of the head and the hornes fell on the ground For the iron that it was covered withal was old and rusty so that it was much wasted and eaten therewith the ropes were also old After that Eleazar went down again took part of the head that was broken and hurled it into the Town the Romans that remained either he slew or put to flight The Archers shot at him and wounded him with five Arrows wherefore by the help of his fellows upon the wals he climbed up otherwise he had not been able for the grief of his wouuds The people then gave a shout for joy of the victory of the worthy Priest Eleazar that had slain the Romans and broke their Ram wherein they put their confidence and brought part of it into the Town and fastened it with an iron chain that the Romans could not pull it back again to them nor have the use of it afterward wherefore divers of the best Cities of Jorpata armed themselves that day being stir'd with the great courage that they had seen in Eleazar and went down hewed the beam to pieces brought the poyses with the Rings and two masts with them into the town and the same day died Eleazar with great renown as one that had fought for the Sanctuary of the Lord and for his people and Country of Israel like a faithful servant and souldier of the Lord whom all the people mourned for burying him in the Town honouring him for his death worthiness and faithfulnesse appointing him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battel with the enemies of the Lord. The young men of the Jews seeing this and especially two of them the one called Nitra the other Polipas men of great wisdom and understanding and therewith expert in the Wars being moved with zeal of the God of Israel opened the gates and issued against the Romans skirmished with them and slew many of them But at length they were slain themselves in the skirmish for the Sanctuary of their God for Israel their country When Joseph saw the Wars to encrease more and more he issued out and made a great slaughter in the Roman tents burnt the mount and Engines of War that the Romans had left by which means the Wars waxed yet hotter insomuch that Joseph repulsed the Romans For when they saw the Jews so desperately give their lives for their God and Land they would not abide their force Vespasian seeing his men shrink he stood up and encouraged them exhorting them with fair words and promises as well Gold and Silver as meat and drink wherewith the Romans allured fought with Joseph that day unto the Sun-setting and as the battel waxed hot the Jews wounded Vespasian with an arrow in his right leg which sore dismayed the Romans when they saw the blood run down his leg and that day was a sore fight betwen the Jews and the Romans Titus seeing his father wounded being sore abashed ran to him to help him to whom his father said How is it my son that thou art thus astonied Take heart to thee and with a courage revenge thy father of these Jews that have now the better hand of us So both Titus and Vespasian with all their whole host fought that day a sore fight and many were slain on both parts yea very few were left on Josephs part with whom he returned into the Town The next day the Romans raised a new mount instead of that which Joseph burned and planted another iron-Ram thereupon between two posts accordingly for Vespasian had brought four of this sort with him from Rome but other battering pieces upon wheels had he with him thirty what more what lesse the bigger sort were 30. cubits long the lesser ten He brought also ten Engines to hurle great stones withal which he had placed about the walls The Romans therefore renewed the assaults against the Town as they were wont before But the Town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were all slain in the fights Albeit Joseph remained and a few with him who went every one and the women also to defend the walls for there was almost no men left fit for the War Then the Romans flung with the Engines that stood on the mount stones into the Town on every side It chanced that a great stone hit a woman with child with such violence that it passed through her body and carried the child with it by the space of half a mile They cast up and raised yet other Mounts also from whence they flung
of the second couple cast lots between themselves in the presence of Joseph and the one killed the other then he that remained chose him one of the third couple to slay him And in this manner did they all till they were all slain and none left alive but Joseph and his fellow who said unto Joseph Go to let us cast lots that we may go to our Brethren Joseph answered We will do so if thou be so disposed but first hear me I pray thee speak a few things in thy ears Tell me Have not these sinners rebelled against God in this murdering of themselves so shamefully neither could I by any means disswade them nor divert them from this opinion Wherefore should we two fin against God so grievously and against our own souls If the lot should so fall that I should kill thee I should be counted a man-slayer and that worthily and it may so chance I shall escape after thee and save my life but if the lot should so fall that thou shouldest slay me thou should'st be taken also for a murderer and peradventure thou should'st not escape after me yea although thou thinkest that thou may est But assure thy self of this we lose our hope in God in as much as we sin against our own souls For all these men that thou seest here dead Lo they have sinned against their own souls dying without discipline and good order If thou wilt say How shall we do by reason of the oath that we have sworn Dost thou not know that he that breaketh a wicked oath doth nothing wickedly himself therein For a man is not constrained to perform any oath unto God but to the keeping of his Laws and hereupon is it that David saith I have sworn and will perform for neither vow nor oath that is made against the Commandments of God can be ratified before God And what more is before we swear our fathers sware first long ago at the Mount of Sinai that they and their children should keep the Law of the Lord. Moses also made a Covenant with them upon the same and not only with them that were there but also with us How then dare we be so bold to swear to break the Law of God and become man-killers Seeing it is one of the ten Commandments expresly Thou shalt not kill Wherefore my Brother thou shalt understand that we need not be solicitous nor careful for the oath that we have made but rather to break it for God will never be displeased with us for that For I being afraid of these wicked persons that lie now here dead invented this subtile means and way to swear that I might save my life Now therefore my Brother if thou wilt be ruled by mine advice thou shalt save thy life and mine and I will cast no lots nor perform the oath that we made which is noâ—… good in the Law if thou wilt not I will wiâ—…stand thee and fight with thee to kill thee and spare my self And with this Joseph leapt back and drâ—…w out his sword standin over against him at his defence to see what his fellow 〈◊〉 answer His companion hearing 〈◊〉 â—…ed neither hand nor foot against him but said Lo I am content do what thou thinkest good because thou art a man of God And blessed be the Lord God of Israel that hath not withdrawn his mercy from me but made me to be in thy lot whereby my soul is saved from going to hell Thy lot is a just lot For the Lord will not leave the scourge of sinners upon the lot of the just Much besides this spake Josephs Companion to him for he was sore afraid of him lest he should have killed him if they had encountred together for Joseph was a better man of his hands and therefore Joseph chose him into his lot that he might be able to make his party good with him In this point Joseph played the wise mans part for he escaped by this means both from the hands of those wicked fools and also from his fellow Therefore Joseph called out of the Cave to Captain Nicanor and said to him in this wise Wilt thou promise me that neither thou nor any of thy men that be here with thee or in the Romans Camp shall kill us before thou hast brought us unto Vespasian and let him do with us as he thinketh good Nicanor answered So and so deal God with me if I fulfil not thy request if so be thou wilt come forth unto me together with the men that thou hast with thee Joseph answered him I will come forth to thee and so many more of us as be alive for it is come to passe that some of us be dead in the Cave wherefore how can they come forth Then said Nicanor Never think friend Joseph that I come to deceive thee Come forth and trust in thy GOD for thou needest not to fear Joseph said Swear unto me this by the God of Israel although he be unknown to thee Nicanor answered I swear unto thee by that God that made the World by his wisdom that thou needest not to fear me but boldly mayest come forth unto me So Nicanor made a covenant with Joseph and his fellow confirming and ratifying it in writing after the manner of the Romans and reaching it into the Cave upon a spear holding the point of the â—…pear in his own hand Joseph took the writing read it and believed Nicanor Then came he forth to Nicanor and his fellow with him When Nicanor sitting upon his seat of State that was made him in the wood nigh to the Cave saw Joseph come toward him he rose up and embracing him kissed him set him on his right hand and wept with him abundantly he honoured his fellow also placing him between Pollerinus and Gallicanus whom he had then present with him Then Nicanor asked him for the rest of the men that were with him desiring that they should come forth and he would honour them also and do them no harm Joseph declared the whole matter unto him and told him what was become of them Nicanor hearing of the pertinacious stubbornness of the Jews hearts and their wicked intents was wonderfulâ—…y moved So then he rose and went from thence with Joseph and his companion unto Vespasian When the Roman Army saw Joseph they were greatly astonied and gave a mighty shout some rejoyced that Joseph was taken saying This is good luck that our eyes shall see our long expected desire Other lamented and let tears fall from their eyes with pensive hearts saying Is not this that worthy man who made all the Roman host to quake for fear and whose fame and renown was known throughout all Lands How is it come to pass that so mighty a man is taken in his own Country and amongst his own people If this chanceth unto such a man to be taken in his own Land in the midst of his families and friends How shall we escape
in a strange Land Certain evil disposed persons of the Roman souldiers went to Vespasian and said Sir you shall do well to command this man to be slain without mercy that hath been the destruction of so many of the people of the Romans This is the very same that shot the arrow and stuck you in the leg Put him to death and then shall ye be sure he shall never move war more amongst you If ye do not ye shall see him one day again raise an Army against us and destroy us But Joseph did find friendship at Titus Vespasian son's hands which came of the Lord. Therefore when he heard those wicked mens words that desired Vespasian to put Joseph to death he disapproved their advice and partly in mockage he taunted them saying Will you tell my Father what he hath to do will you give him so wicked counsel to kill that man that yieldeth himself to us upon the trust of our league and band of friendship which you now go about to break and frustrate Did not Captain Nicanor in my fathers name and Caesars with all the Roman host make a Covenant with him Take heed what you say Is it reason to break the Caesarean fidelity Moreover who can tell whether it may so happen that some of us be taken by the Jews like as Joseph is prisoner herc with us VVhen Vespasian heard his sons words it pleased him and he spared Joseph not suffering him to be slain but committed him to a certain Captain of his and carried him about with him through the Cities together with King Agrippa After this Vespasian removed his Camp to Thalmida which also is called Acho and from thence he went to Caesarea a great City When they of the City saw Joseph they cryed unto Vespasian Kill him kill him or else he will one day be an occasion to stir great wars against thee But Vespasian gave no ear to them Whiles he was at Caesarea tidings came to him that the Citizens of Papho invaded and spoiled the Isles that were subject under his Dominions with a Navy Vespasian hearing thereof commanded to lay wait for them that they might be met withal So there was an ambush laid witâ—…out the Town and it came to passe that when the Pyrates were gone out a roving Vespasian entred the Town and took it without great resistance because their souldiers were absent When the Rovers therefore returned with their Navy and saw the Romans in the City they laboured to set a land but suddenly a huge tempest and a mighty storm drove all their ships against the rocks that were in the sea shore for there was no haven for ships and there they were lost many of them and those that swam to land the Romans slew they that were drowned in the Sea and slain by the Romans were in number four thousand good men of War besides them that were slain in the Town 40000. all Jews This done Vespasian set forth Valericus and Taribus two Roman Colonels with his son Titus who went besieged and wan the Towns of defence that were in Galilee And thus did Titus use them They that yielded unto him he saved their lives and whosoever withstood him he slew Moreover all the Cities that belonged to Agrippa in Galilee he restored them unto him again only Tiarva excepted which he utterly rased and slew all the Males especially such as were apt to the Wars sold also their wives and children And this was the only City in all Galilee that Titus shewed such a rigour and extremity unto CHAP. VII VEspasian departing thence took his journey to Gamala which is a Citie upon the top of a Mountain the name thereof is called Gamala of an Hebrew word Gamal that signifieth to Requite or to do a good turn because it is the best City that belongeth to Agrippa and the inhabitants thereof were all very rich The City also called Seleucia was not far distant from it a Countrey replenished with good Towns Gardens Brookes and all kinde of fruitfull Trees Agrippa besought Vespasian that he would not destroy this City Let me go first saith he and offer them peace peradventure they will take it that they may save their lives from destruction Vespasian was entreated saying unto him Go and do as thou wilt for thine honour's sake I will do so much for thee So Agrippa went to them and spake friendlily and peaceably unto them and they received him in like manner but they meant deceit saying Thou art our Lord and King to whom therefore doth all that is of any price or to be desired in all Israel belong but unto thee Therefore come near unto us and debate the matter with thy Servants Agrippa crediting these Words came close up to the City and as he listned to them that talked with him one cast a great stone from the Wall which lighted just between his shoulders with such a violence that it struck him prostrate to the ground and brake his back with one of his arms also But his Servants stept to him took him up and carried him to Vespasian who seeing him so sore hurt sware 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 not a man therein The Roman Physicians did bestow such diligence about Agrippa that they cured him Vespasian in his rage against the Seleucians because they had wounded their King besieged and assaulted them The Jews within the Town encouraged one another saying Let us stick to it now and play the men for we have no other hope to save our lives seeing we have thus used the King Certain stout men of them therefore issued out and encountring with the Romans made a great slaughter amongst them After that the Romans made ready their Engins planted their battering Rams playing with them against the Walls and by that time night came beat so great a part thereof down to the earth that Vespasian and much people with him might enter at their pleasure But Vespasian gave commandment to his Army that they should not enter that night into the Town but stand and compasse the walls until the morrow that they might the better see how to win it Notwithstanding they would not be ruled by him but entred Then the Jews came upon them drew the chains crosse their streets and closing the wayes of the City intrapped them in such sort that they could go neither one way nor other After that settâ—…ng upon them beat them down even there so that they were all slain save ten men that fled with Vespasian and a Captain named Butius one of the best men of War in all the Roman Army yet him the Jews pursued and slew But Vespasian and his fled to the Mountains that he might be there in safegard and from thence he sent to Titus his son that was in Syria for the Roman Army that he had sent with him to Persia which
into the City who being once come in wandred here and there for that night devising how they might set upon the Citizens of the Town and utterly destroy them They call'd out first their confederates that remained in the Temple brought them thence and joyned together with the Edomites swearing one to another that they should be one people and one Army And forthwith being so confedâ—…ate together they slew the same night 8500. of the people of God all good men of God all good men of War besides innumerable other that they killed of the common people In the morning they laid hands on the rich men haled them before the Judges and lxx Elders which otherwise is called Sanhedrim whom they called together And there wicked Jehochanan the Galilean spake unto them in this wise Why condemn ye not these rich Cobs that have made a conspiracy with the Romans and determine to betray this holy City i to their hands namely one Sechariahu a just man a perfect godly and vertuous one that feared the Lord and loved both God and man but for his riches only which were great this Jehochanan Captain of the Seditious apprehended him willing the Elders to condemn him to death for that he had joyned with their enemies as he said to betray the City to them The Priests Elders and Judges hearing his words and perceiving that both he and the rest of his bloody band desired nothing else than to make this man away although they knew him to be most innocent they wept and fighed greatly Jehochanan seeing them weep for Sechariahu and that they would not condemn him respecting his justice and integrity What quoth he do you begin to mourn before there be any corpse present I would I should never come where God hath to do but if ye order it thus in your judgments ye shall be the first that we will lay hold of and we will sit in judgment our selves to discern the matter for the people of God according as we shall think good Then laying apart all shame with an obstinate mind tâ—…e wicked sort hoysed away Sechariahu carried him out of the place of judgment and brought him up to the top of a high Tower at the East end of the Town from whence they cast him down headlong and he died at the walls side in the vale of Jehoschaphat The Priests therefore were sore afraid fâ—…r their own parts and the Judges also with the Elders seeing the wickedness of Jehochanan and the rest of the Seditious For Jehochanan had given them warning and said Except ye give sentence on every man that we shall bring unto you accoâ—…ding to our minds be ye assured all ye shall go the same way that Sechariahu is gone before you After that they 〈◊〉 a just man and a rich that was beloved of all the â—…own whose name was Gorâ—…nian surnamed 〈◊〉 and he was a valiant man indeed most expert in wars thereto wise and wâ—…y and a man of a pure and perfâ—…ct life one that was ever the formost in bâ—…ell whensoever they had any conflict against the Gentiles that beâ—…ged Jerusalem And this was his accustomed manner when the enemies maâ—…ched to joyn battel witâ—… the Jews he would run upon them with all his might and make such â—…laughter of them that in spighâ—… of their hearts he would force them to retire and by that means his body was full of skars his face and head wonderfully mangled with the wounds that he had received in the battels that he had been in for the people of the Lord yet now because he would not follow the villanous mind of Jehochanan and take his part Jehochanan commanded him to be apprehended and brought before him and when he was come said thus unto him Make thy Will and set thy house in order and confess thy self unto the Lord for there is no way with thee but death And so they led him out of the Town to kill him there lest there should be any business about his death if he had been put to death within the Town for all the Citizens of Jerusalem loved him and he likewise loved them When they were come to the place of execution Gorinian fell down before them and besought them with tears in this wise Seeing ye have so determined that ye will needs slay me when as notwithstanding I have committed no crime nor any offence and that ye will in no wise spare me although I be innocent as you know well enough your selves yet I beseech you let me obtain this one thing at your hands that you would do so much at least wise at my request as to bury my body other favour I desire not They made him answer If thou hadst not spoken to us thereof we had thought to have done it for so we were determined with our selves but now seeing thou art so bold as to demand this of us we will slay thee but buriall gettest thou none thy body shall be cast forth unto the beasts of the earth and fowls of the ayre Gorinion yet besought them to the contrary untill the most cruell Jehochanan struck him and slew him and after threw out his body to the beasts of the field This done they returned into the City Vespasian in the mean season drew nigh to Jerusalem for he had pitched his tents at Cesarea where he relieved his army and paid his souldiers great wages wherefore they tarried in the City many daies For when Vespasian understood of the wars in Jerusalem he said unto his people Let us make no haste to besiege Jerusalem till such time as they have slain one another among themselves and so at length their pride will be pulled down when as they see themselves waste away with cruell war hunger and thirst For Vespasian was a wonderfull politick man in all feats of war and his wisdom never turned him to more commodity than by this device only So he sojourned at Cesarea with his men many daies In the mean season the people of Jerusalem made war upon Jehochanan and his complices till innumerable of them were destroyed Some of them were slain with swords some the Seditious killed with short daggers For certain of the Seditious carried short daggers secretly under their garments wherewith they would come so suddenly upon an honest and just man and thrust him to the heart that he should fall down dead in the place without knowledge who struck him So by this means what with swords in open fraies and what with daggers secretly many of the people were slain and far more that way than by the Romans insomuch that now very few Citizens were left alive Thus when Jehochanan had gotten the upper hand of the City he sent an Army out of Jerusalem to go and take the Cities that had made peace with Vespasian which they sacked and razed to the ground and whomsoever they found therein Romans or Jews they slew Yea Jehochanan went with them himself spoyling and carrying
floods of the seas persecuted them that persecuted thee Hath not the earth swallowed up them that despised thee and the winds scattered them a sunder that made insurrections against thee hath not thunder from heaven destroyed thine enemies and stars fought against thy foes What means this therefore and how cometh it to pass that thou hidest thy face from us to whom hast thou delivered the sheep of thy pasture Look upon us our God and behold thy people and inheritance that thou broughtest out of Egypt with a mighty power and a strong hand with wonders and signs leading them untill this day in thy faith take pitty upon them in thy mercy and extend not thy wrath against thy servants Where art thou Moses the son of Amram stand up and see thy people and flock of sheep which thou feedest all thy life with thy wisdom see how Wolves and Lions tear them see how the Israelites are become foes to their own lives and souls yea wasters and destroyers are sprung up of their own selves Behold the people of GOD for whose sake thou lifted'st up thy staff over the sea wherewith thou struckest and dividest it that it was made dry ground so the Israelites passed through and escaped their enemies Remember thy prayer when as in time of famine and lack of food thou obtaindft for them meat from heaven and at the same time when they were weary of their lives for thirst thou broughtest water out of the most hard rock Come forth Aaron most holy Priest of God that didst put thy self between the living and the dead to turn away the plague from Israel and staydest the destroyer that he should not come â—…igh the living Arise out of thy grave thou Phineas that moved with such fervency didst revenge the glory and majesty of the Lord God of Israel come and run through the Seditious in thy fury which murther the people of God and his Priests Awake thou Ioshua that didst throw down the walls of Jericho with the sound and shout of thy Trumpets that the holy Priests held in their hands Come now and see thy people that thou madest to inherit many Nations and to conquer most puissant 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 gavest thy people Israel to inherit Why sleepest thou King David Awake and come with the sound of thy Psaltery and Harp sing to thy holy Psalms too Ask account of thy sweet words that are ceased from the mouthes of this people and out of all mens mouthes because of the maliciousness thereof See how their Princes be transformed into enemies and destroyers and do as thou diddest good King David that didst give thine own life for theirs saying Let thy hand O Lord be turned against me and against the house of my father and do not fall upon thy people to destroy them Where art thou Elizeus Come and see what thou canst do if thou canst rescue the remnant of Israel and find them any gap to escape at Didst not thou by thy prayer bring the power of the Syrians to a Town of defence and prevailedst against them without dint of sword or battel and broughtest them down smiting them with blindness that they turned their enmity towards Israel into love Indeed thou wast heâ—…that vanquishedst the Syrians by thy prayer that they fled for fear of the same Now therefore ye heard-men of Israel assemble together and listen with 〈◊〉 and hear my words that I will speak in your ears this day Tell me What is become of your prayers that ye have made for the people of Israel to defed and turn away from them a I wrath indignation tribulation fury and inmissions of evill spirits How is it that now ye see not the Sanctuary turned into a vile sink of blood for the dead bodies of Priests lye in midst of it The holy City Jerusalem is become a strange City as though the name of the Lord had never been in it and the Sanctuary of the Lord is in that case at this present as though the Godhead had never dwelt therein for the Temple is turned into a den of theeves a lodging of Seditious persons a tabernacle of cruel murtherers And who so flieth thither for refuge there they be slain as the Seditious have murthered in the midst thereof Anani the high Priest and Joshua a Priest also that were Princes and chief Priests the most reverend amongst the people of God whom ere this Kings and Nations had sued to and desired their favour but never cast their slain bodies in the midst of the Temple The Nobility also of Jerusalem the Elders of Juda the Sages of Israel whose friendship Kings and Nations have sought after and desired to make peace with they lye now slain here and there in the midst of Jerusalem are meat for the fouls of the ayre and beasts of the field to dogs and ravens because there is no man to bury them These died not for their offences but because they found fault with the Israelites when they sinned How are they slain in thee O Jerusalem thou holy City renowned throughout the whole earth all just men all holy men whom the Seditious have overcome those helhounds and blood-suckers that have brought all these evils upon thee how are the Priests of the Lord and his Prophets slain amongst those holy men For before the holy Temple was the Prophet Sechariahu that just and holy man butchered and murthered yea without all buriall neither was his blood covered with earth but yet still wandreth about and cryeth in thee The blood of Anani also and Joshua the chief Priests was yet never covered which were both slain in thy Temple as men be wont to kill theeves yea the blood of the godly young men and valiant that would have revenged them was shed also by the Seditious like floods of water How are the hearts of the people turned so aukwardly that they will bear no admonition of just men but are like unto blockish Images that neither see nor hear nor yet understand any thing All beasts be they never so brutish all plants and things that grow upon the earth withstand them that invade them to do them injury and endeavour to avoid the force of their enemy but thy children that thou keepest within thee are changed into enemies and one brother murthereth â—…nother with the sword Where is now thy valiantness thou that never wouldst bow to bear the yoak of the Gentiles upon thy shoulders but hast cast away the bondage of the Egyptians Philistines Aramites Assyrians Chaldees Persians and Medes Where is the strength that God gave to the Chasmonanites that with a very small company defended thee and prevailed against the great and puissant Army of the Greeks destroyed the stout souldiers of Babylon vanquished the mighty Army of the Persians slue Kamitiatus and Antiochus and pursued their Armies making great
prayer availed â—…ideon when as he with three hundred men vanquished the whole host of Midian Amalek and the people of the East If prayer had not helped him I pray you what had three hundred men been able to do against so great a multitude Mark yefond people what chanced in the Covenant of the Lord that the Philistines took away Our fathers truly were not abâ—…e to recover it by their swords and force of Arms but with that Prayer that the just men of that Age made the Ark was brought again unto his place Consider the times of Hezekiah King of Juda when as 〈◊〉 King of Ashur came up bâ—…aspheming and rayling upon the Sanctuary of the Lord our God of Hosts breathing out the pride and malice of his heart By what means was he overthrown Did our fathers overcome him â—…y foâ—…ce of Arms No without doubt but with prayer and supplication For Hezekiah the King went and put on apparel meet for prayer instead of a shield he took sackcloth for a helmet he cast dust on his head and instead of arrows and a sword he made use of prayer and supplication And the prayer that Hezekiah made mounted so far as an arrow was never able to flee so that his petition and prayer overthrew 185. thousand most valiant men of the host of Senacherib Furthermore the King of Juda and King of Israel and King of Edom joyning their powers togeâ—…her invaded the Mâ—…abites and in a wildernesse and unoccupied and barren dry land they weâ—…e in great perill and thirst what profited them tâ—…eir artillery and furniture of war Did there not issue out for them at the instant prayer of Elisha a Prophet and man of God plenty of waâ—…er in the Desart a Brook in the Wildernesse Came it not to passe also by the prayer of the same Elisha that a wonderful hurly burly a â—…umbling and raâ—…ing of Chariots of War and of Horses was hâ—…ard in the Camps of the Syrians besieging the City of Samaria with the which noise the Syrians being afraid fled no man puâ—…uing nor following them Ye know also that by the prayer of the aforesaid Prophet the famine and lack of victuals that was in the Town of Samaria was turned into great abundance and plenty insomuch that thirty Epha's or measure of fine meal were sold for one piece of Silver Do ye not see most foolish men how our fore-fathers had the victory ever by prayer But let us come to the beginning again and speak of Moses What time as he held up his hands towards heaven had not Israel the upper-hand of the Amalekites by his prayer Joshua also by his prayer stayed the Sun and Moon in the sight of the people of Israel and the Sun stood still in Gibeon and the Moon in the valley of Ajalon that the evening was changed into noon day and so Israel vanquished their enemies Sampson also that most valiant Giant until such time as he had sinned did not God evermore hear his prayer and ever he gat the victory thereby After he had once sinned he decayed as any other mean person Likewise King Saul all the while he walked perfectly and purely his prayer increased his valiantnesse and strength but after he had once sinned God left him and gave him over David also King of Israel of famous memory from the time of his youth till his last end his valiantnesse never failed him and why because he alwayes was helped by his prayer neither would he ever fight against his Country-men and native people when as Saul persecuted him Wherefore he prevailed against his enemies and because he abstained to lay his hands upon his brethren therefore afterward all Nations feared him Did not Asa King of Juda accompanied with a small number of men make an Expedition against the Ethiopians and praying to the Lord God said on this wise We indeed know not what to do but our eyes are bent upon thee c. Which prayer the Almighty did hear and the Victory followed so that Asa slew in the Camp of the Ethiopians ten hundred thousand men Deborah a Prophetesse by her prayer brought to passe great health in Israel What shall I tell of divers other just and godly women which by their prayers obtained many things Tell me ye mad men know ye not what Amaziah King of Juda did he having wars with the Edomites vanquished them and led them prisoners with their wives and children and Idols also to Jerusalem and then fell to worshipping of the same Idols that he had taken from the Edomites saying unto them Ye are they that have saved me therefore do I worship you and by you have I overcome the Edomites To whom when a Prophet of the Lord came and asked him Why seekest thou and servest the gods of that people that were not able to deliver them out of thy hand By and by he taunted the Prophet again saying Who made thee of the King's Counsel wherefore after that he was no more reprehended of the Prophet for the Lord had determined to destroy him as it is written in the books of the Chronicles of the Kings of Juda. Therefore he was taken prisoner afterward like a fox when he had fought against Joas King of Israel in Bethshemeth and so was he compared to a low and vile thorn or 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 selves for our Lord God is righteous in all his works that ever he wrought upon us Our enemies never did us so much harm as we our selves did unto our selves Ye wot the Gentiles took the precious vessels of our sanctuary away to Babel and brought us them again undefiled but we polluted and defiled them our selves and the Temple also with innocent blood which we shed abundantly within it adding sinnes to sinnes evermore and more breaking the Law with our evill acts For who brought the Romans first against the City of Jerusalem but Hircanus and Aristobulus For they being at dissention betwixt themselves and one hating the other called the Romans against this City Who brought Antonius and Sosius Princes of the Romans against Jerusalem but Herod being at variance for the Kingdom with the house of the Chasmonanites Who also called Nero Caesar to reign over us Did you it not your selves Now therefore why rebel ye against the Empire and Dominion of the Romans If you will say Because the Roman President Edomeus ordered you too bad had it not been meet rather to complain of him to the Emperour then to rebel against the Romans and to make war against them But you will say We rebelled against Nero Caesar because he did us too much wrong Wherefore then rebel ye now against Vespasian Caesar a most mercifull man and one which never hurt you Or why make ye not peace with his son to be under him according as other Nations be that ye might live and not
after this came many souldiers and great bands of men out of all Nations that were subject to the Empire of the Romans to aid Titus to whom Titus declared what had hapned him in that siege the stoutness of the Jews and how they had annoyed many waies the Roman army adding moreover and asking them Did you ever see four men withstand ten thousand and five hundred so that they being all together could neither overthrow them nor take them prisoners but the four slew them like as it had been tops of Coucumbers smitten off with most sharp swords When they heard this they wondred all very much Then Titus spake unto his host and to them which were newly repaired unto him to shew their advice and best counsel what was to be done lest we should be ashamed saith he before all them that shall hereafter hear of our Wars The gravest and most ancient of the Nations that were newly come to his aid answered If it please your Majesty let the Romans breath a while and take their rest which are now wearied with the sundry battels of the Jews and we who are not so broken with labour but fresh and lusty shall try what the Jews can do we cannot think that they are able to withstand so great a multitude But the Princes of the Romans desired Titus that he should not permit them this lest he should increase their own sorrows if peradventure they should be discomfited say they of the Jews and the matter redound unto their own shame For if we which are acquainted with them and know their manner of fight cannot sustain their violence How shall they do it that never had proof of the strength and force of the Jews They shall be to them like Hyssop which groweth upon the walls in comparison of the Cedar-trees of Libanus The other said nay they should do well enough with them And they urged Titus so instantly that they constrained him to grant them their desire Then Titus gave them leave to set upon the Jews thinking with himself peradventure the Jews may be put to the worse of these men that will fight without fear not knowing the force of the Jews for the Romans that have had trial of their strength fight fearfully and warily So the Lords of the strange Nations chose out of their Armies eighty thousand men Ten thousand Macedonians twenty thousand Britains five thousand Aramites ten thousand Africans ten thousand valiant Burgundians five thousand Redarans last of all ten thousand Persians and Chaldeans These therefore went into the Plain which is by the Sepulcher of Jehochanan the high Priest and from thence made an assault upon the Jews that were upon the Walls setting up their scaling ladders Jehochanan said to Schimeon and Eleazar his two Companions If you think good I will issue forth and skirmish with these uncircumcised to let them see what I can do Schimeon answered Let two of us do it and the third keep the gates and walls for thou alone art able to do nothing against them they are so many Eleazar allowed this advice offering himself to bear Jehochanan company Schimeon bad them go saying The Lord of the Sanctuary give them into your hands and deal not with you at this time according to your works Then Jehochanan and Eleazar issued with one thousand five hundred good men of War the ninth day of the moneth Tebeth which was the tenth moneth that Titus had besieged Jerusalem and overthrew of the Gentiles of that host fifty seven thousand and five hundred men besides three thousand whom they took prisoners but of the Jews were no more slain in that fight than only seven whose bodies with much rejoycing and great triumph they carried with them into the Town and buried them there lest peradventure the uncircumcised should have misordered them The Gentiles that were left with great shame and dishonour returned unto Titus who reprehended them because they would not believe the Romans The next day following the Jews brought forth the three thousand Nobles and Gentlemen that they had taken prisoners and plucked out of every one of them an eye and cut off every man the one hand after sent them back with shame and reproach to Titus's Camp Then Titus consulted with all his Princes what were best to do with the Israelites and when every man had said his mind he liked never a mans counsel but said unto them Well I have devised this with my self which I will follow and no man shall bring me from my purpose we will keep the siege without any assault or skirmish for their victuals failed them long ago and so they shall be famished Besides this when they shall see us cease to fight with them they will fall at variance amongst themselves and kill one another This counsel was thought good of all Titus's Princes wherefore they besieged the Town as Titus commanded and closed up all the wayes of the City round about lest the Jews should as they had done before come upon them unawares They appointed moreover watch day and night to take heed that no man should come out of the Town to gather herbs for their sustenance Then encreased the hunger in Jerusalem which if it had not been so grievous the City had never been won for the souldiers of the Town were lighter than Eagles and fiercer than Lions There died therefore of the famine wonderful many of the Jerusolemites so that the Jews could not find place to bury them in they were so many in every place of the Town Many cast their dead folks into their Wells and tumbled afterwards in themselves and died Many also made themselves graves and went into them alive where they tarried day and night and died unmourned-for For all mourning and accustomed lamentation for the dead was left off because of the unmeasurable famine which was so great that it cannot be told and I cannot relate the thousandth part of the mischief that followed of the hunger Titus seeing the innumerable carkases of the dead that were cast into the Brook Cedron like dung was wonderfully amazed with fear and stretched out his hands toward heaven saying Lord God of Heaven and Earth whom the Israelites believe in cleanse me from this sin which surely I am not the cause of for I required peace of them but they refused it and they themselves are cause of this mischief they have sinned against their own souls and lives I beseech thee impute it not to me for a sin that the Jews die on this manner At that time certain wicked persons of Jerusalem slandered Amittai the Priest falsely saying to Captain Schimeon Behold Amittai the high Priest which did let thee into the City goeth about to flee to the Tents of the Romans Thou hast experience of his great wit and wisdom how he also knoweth all the secret wayes into the Town Temple and Sanctuary and who can tell whether he will bring the Romans some night at midnight
avail tears Why do ye not rather go before me and I will follow as I may For what should I do now seeing God hath given me into the hands of a most cruel Tyrant who spareth neither mine age nor your youth But I trust we shall live together in the Light of the Lord And although I cannot be suffered now to see you enough yet when we shall come thither we shall be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sons and prepare us a place O that I 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 is no new thing The like hapned before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus by his wickednesse put to death the seven brethren young men in the sight of their mother which was a righteous and godly woman who chanced to find this mercy at the Lords hands that she might â—…sse her sons and embrace them as they also kist one another before they died Although they were put to death by the cruelty of the uncircumcised King of the Macedonians yet obtained they that which is denied at this day to us that are put to death by Schimeon who haâ—…h â—…he name of an â—…sraelite who beareth also the Covenant of our father Abraham in his flesh And would to God that we might live in their â—…nne or place of rest which albeit it will not be granted yet we shall be their neighbours seeing that we also die for the Law of the Lord. Therefore be of good comfort my sons and lament not for my sake For I judge this my misery easier and not so great as the calamity of Zedekiah whose sons were first killed then his eyes put out by the King of Chaldea and he lived many years after we are so much the more happie in my mind because we shall die together Then said Amittai to Schimeons servant which should kill him Make speed I pray thee and kill me first before my children die then after kill them also that we may die together for it is more expedient for us than to see the Temple of the Lord turned into a butchery or slaughter-house to slay men in After cryed he to God saying I beseech thee O Lord God most High which dwellest in the Highest judge this Schimeon according to his works reward him according to his deservings For thou art the God Almighty and dreadfull Let not this Destroyer die therefore among the people of thy pasture but that his death may be severed from the death of other men Let him die a horrible and sudden death Let him have no time to confesse his sins and to return himself to thee that thou mayest receive him for thou wert wont to receive them which turn to thee by repentance for he is not worthy of repentance which hath spoiled and wasted many goodly things in thy Temple besides that hath murdered most holy men in the same To the intent therefore that thy judgements may be declared in him I beseech 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 just men in thy Sanctuary for he is unworthy of them because he hath not only sinned himself but hath caused Israel to sin Wherefore let his judgement and sentence go forth from thy sight that he may see his Wife Children and his whole House led into captivity and bondage before his face Afterward let him die a strange death such as never man heard of Let him be killed by most cruel men which when they have smitten him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet alive and that he may see his children go into bondage Let him also be a curse before all that shall see him Moreover Let him perceive that my words and destiny is better than his when as I go unto Thee in that great Light which he shall be deprived of After these words Amittai said to the servant who was appointed to kill him I beseech thee Let me find so much favour at thy hands that when thou hast slain my sons thou wouldst kill me with the same sword while it is yet wet with the blood of my sons that our blood may be mingled and this may be a recreation to my soul. Kill me also in the fight of the Romans that they may avenge me and my sons upon this most cruel Schimeon they shall be witnesses against him that I was not their friend But would God my affaires were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceive me to be an enemy of Schimeons and a friend of theirs Would God I had withstood Schimeon at the first earnestly as I made War upon the Romans that I might have avoided his cruelty from the people of God When he had said all these things he prayed before God Almighty saying O God which dwellest in the Highest thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy judgements consider and judge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is become unmeasurable upon the people of GOD that he which sheddeth the blood of them that fear thee in the midst of the Temple may be rebuked of thee with rebukings according to his works make speedy vengeance and prolong not and that for the deaths sake of thy Saints for thy judgements are the judgements of truth Then Schimeon gave commandment to four Cut-throats of his that three of them should kill Amittai's three sons before their Fathers face and the fourth should kill Amittai himself and so the blood of the sons was mixt with the blood of their father Afterward Schimeons servant took the body of Amittai and laid it upon the bodies of his sons as his desire was then tumbled them over the Walls After that Schimeon commanded that Chanacus the high Priest should be put to death whose body was cast unto the bodies of Amittai and his Sons Aristus also the Scribe one of the Noble men of Jerusalem was killed at the same time and â—…en just men more of his kindred and house because theâ—… mourned for the death of Aristus It hapned while Schimeon was killing of those ten certain substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfully amazed when they saw the thing saying one to another How long will God suffer the malice of Schimeon and will not search out the blood of just men nor revenge them Certain seditious persons hearing this told it unto Schimeon who commanded them to be apprehended and murthered the same day After this there passed by eleven of the Noble men of Jerusalem which seeing fourty two innocents to be put to death by Schimeon they lift up their eyes to the heavens and said O Lord God of Israel How long wilt
his place where he lurked and came to Titus fell down before him and kissed his feet saying Save me O Lord King Titus commanded him to be fetâ—…ered with iron chains and when he had caused him to be carryed about the Camp so bound and to be mâ—…cked of all men by the space of seven dayes he commanded to hang him and so got he a just end and fit reward for his cruelty Afterward came Schimeon also forth of his den being driven to it with famine He had put on Kingly apparel and shewed himself afar off to the Roman host who seeing him were afraid to go to him but he called unto them and askt for some Captain Then one came forth and said unto Schimeon Tell me who thou art and I will not kill thee Schimeon answered therefore and told him I am Schimeon that Seditious Cap-tain of the. Jews which have made you so much ado now I beseech thee shew me so much favour as to bâ—…ing me to Titus thy Master which he did Titus therefore when he saw Schimeon he commanded him to be fast bound and to be led about the whole host that he might be derided and mockt Afterward he was put to a sore death first his head was striken off then he was cut in many pieces and cast unto dogs So he died an abominable death being punished for his iniquity The number of the Jews as well Citizens as others that came unto the Feast to Jerusalem which were slain partly by the Romans partly by the Seditious during the whole time of these Wars was known to be eleven hundred thousand besides them whose number was not known only they were counted which were slain and buried Besides them they also were not reckoned that after the death of Jehochanan and Schimeon died with Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest They that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were sixteen thousand men So Titus with Joseph went to Rome leaving Bonian Josephs brother at Jerusalem who was appointed to be the chief Priest of them that abode there for Joseph did request it of Titus which he performed The Seditious were all slain in the battel which they took in hand for the peoples sake and the Temple of the Lord those also that Titus took prisoners were put to vile deaths for he reserved many to be mocking stocks in every City where he passed by in the way to Rome and in every Town he commanded some of them to be brought forth and cast unto the Lions till they were all consumed CHAP. V. THere were certain people at that time dwelling amongst the Mountains of Ararat that were called Alanites whose power Alexander King of Macedonia fearing closed them on every side This people although they had no knowledge of the use 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 souldiers were they never so well appointed and armed Until this year they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout all the land they sent Embassadors to the people of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that they would open thestraights of the Mountains that they might come forth with their wives children to seek them food The Hurkans granted their requests and opened them the entrances of the Mountains So they came forth wandering here and there spoiling divers Countries till at length they took their journey toward the Mountains of the Land of Madai where they found horses namely in the Desart of Madai amongst the people of Ararat They got those horses leapt upon them and â—…ntred the land of Madai The President oâ—… Ruler of the Country hearing thereof fled into the highest hills leaving his wife and children behind him for haste he was so afraid of the Alanites knowing their valiantnesse Straightway he sent unto them Embassadours to make peace with them and he would let them have victuals upon this condition that they would not spoil his Country They made answer If so be he would maintain them and let them have food for the space of one moneth till the corn in their own Country were ripe they would return home again at the moneths end for we desiâ—…e not say they thy gold or silver being men separaâ—… from all entercourse in traffick wiâ—…h other people nor any thing else than food do we seek This their request the Ruler granted them and let them have a certain Grain called Mill sodden with one kind of flesh or other The number of them was seven thousand one hundred and fifty and five thousand one hundred and forty persons When the moneth was ended and the Aâ—…anites understood the corn in their own Country was ripe they departed out of the land of Madai according as they had sworn and returned toward their own Country And as they were in their way homeward Mithridates King of Aâ—…arat came against them to annoy them minding to drive them from his coasts lest they should waste his Country Therefore while they marched through this Country going toward their own Mithridates made War upon them but his men were beaten down by the Alanites like as grasse falls upon the ground when a strong man treads upon it Then one of the young men of the Alanites in despight put a rope about Mithridates's neck and drew him after him unto his great shame Mithridates gat out his sword and cut asunder the rope and fled To whom the Alanites looking back said Go thy way get thee home and make no more war upon us hereafter for we were not minded to waste thy Land â—…or 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 and you but the Mountains of Ararat But we were of this mind that we should greatly offend to kill men of our own shape and likenesse See now how Alexander which went about to subdue the whole earth and to declare his power closed us up within our land Why because he was afraid we should come out upon him But we laught him to scorn when he did it If we had listed we could have letted him from shuâ—…ting us in and to make no peace with him but we made no reckoninâ—… of his doings For it is our custom to keep us within our own Country we seek no other Land when as our own Land is better than any other It pleased us well that he inclosed us that the cruel wild beasts which are in the Mountains of Ararat could have no passage to us The cause we came out now was nothing else then that we were oppressed with a great dearth and we determined to be no longer from home then till our own fruits were ripe then to return as you see we do If we had been minded to win your Land had we not been able utterly to have
in the flesh it is as it were a slave in most hard and grievous bondage under a hard Master Therefore when it departeth from the body it is glad because it must go to the Garden of Paradise Thus ye see that in this life the soul is compared to a bond servant and slave Much more than this did he discourse of the immortality and blessedness of the Soul before them which we have omitted here And making then a Digression from that he lamented and wept most bitterly for the case of the City of Jerusalem saying Where is now â—…e City of Jerusalem that great and populous City Where is that most beautiful City of Sion and that holy City which rejoyceth the whole Earth O thou worship of Israel the miâ—…h of our hearts whither is thy glory come Where is thy magnificence O Jerusalem Where be the hillâ—… of the daughter of Sion Where be her Kings and Princes Where be the Kingâ—… that were accustomed to come to enquire of her welfare in her gates Where are her Sages and Elders her young and most valiant men which were jocund and merry in her streets upon her Sabbaths and Festival dayes Where is her famous Sanctuary the Dwelling of the Almighty God Where is the House of Sanctum Sanctorum the habitation of holiness wherein no man might set his foot but the high Priest which he never but once a year entred into but in thee O Jerusalem thou wa'st once replenished with people and renowâ—…ed amongst Kings beloved of God in thee was established the seat of the Kingdom of Justice and Judgement whose Streets were paved with most precious Marble whose walls glistred and shineâ—… with the same Stone whose Gates were every one plated with Gold and Silver whose Walls were builded with great Sâ—…ones most honourablâ—… whose Priests in the midst of the Sanctuary like to Angels of God and Princes of Holinesse with Sacrifices and burnt-offerings made the Lord loving to thee and thy people How art thou now full of slain men and carcâ—…ses which have perished some by the sword some by famine and how are thy sons that dwelt in thee and the strangers also that resorted to thee to honour thy Feasts brought to ruine now in thee How art thou fallen from the height of thy pride and how art thou set afire and burnt even unto thy foundations and art left desolate and solitary What eye is so hard that can behold thee What heart so stony that can endure to see thee How art thou become a burying place of carcases and how are thy streets made void and destitute of living creatures and they which heretofore were replenished with living are now stuffed with dead How hath the ashes of the fire covered thee that the Sun cannot come at thee How do the ancient men which in times past did fit in midst of thee in the seat of wisdom judgement and justice now fit by the carcases of their children to drive away Crows and beasts from them having their hoary heads besprinkled with dust and ashes instead of their glory and those women thy daughters that are left they remain in the houses of them that made thee desolate not that they may live but be unhallowed and polluted Who shall see all these things in thee and shall desire to live rather than to die Who knowing the magnificence thou hadst of laâ—…e and now shall see thine ignominy and dishonour of the same will not chuse to die And would God we had been dead before that we might not have seen in thee this thy reproach O that we were without eyes that we mâ—…ght not be compelled to see these mischiefs that are in the midst of thee And behold we live a most sorrowful life for our enemies even now afore we be dead cast lots for ouâ—… sons and daughters to divide them amongst them to be their servants and handmaids When Eleazar had ended this lamentation he spake to the people that was with himâ—… thus Now therefore Brethren and friends take compâ—…ssion of your selves your wives and children with the old men which be with you Let them not be led into bondage without all mercy that they be not constrained to mourn under the hands of their enemies For if you do this ye lose without doubt all places that are prepared for you in the world of righteousnessâ—… neither shall ye have any part in the light of liâ—…e Yâ—…a rather with your own hands kill tâ—…m For if â—…e will do so they shall be counted as sacrifiâ—…s most acceptable unto God And that done we will after issue out upon our enemies and fight against them till we die valiantly for the glory of the Lord. For we will never suffer them to bind us with bonds and chains as bondslaves in the hands of the uncircumcised Neither will we see our ancient men to be haled by the beards before our eyes most miserably nor yet our maids wives and daughters to be prophaned unhallowed and defloured nor our sons crying to us and we cannot help them Forwhat shall our life avail us after that our land is desolate our Sanctuary razed the Romans will ravish our wives and daughters before our eyes and oppress our sons with a most grievous and hard yoke Now therefore it is better for us all to kill our wives and children whose blood God shall accept thankfully as the blood of burnt offerings and after we will issue out upon the Romans fight till we be all destroyed and die for the glory of the Lord our God These men therefore went and gathered together their wives and daughters embraced them and kissed them saying 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 These sayings when the people had heard they broke forth that night in to great sorrow and pensivenesse weeping and making great lamentation but they all confest with one accord that they had rather die than live Therefore as soon as it was day Eleazars companions killed their wives and children and cast their bodies into cesterns and wells that were in Mezirah covering and stopping them with earth Afterward issued Eâ—…eazar the Priest forth of the Town with all his men and forced a battel upon the Romans of whom the Jews killed a great nâ—…mber and fought so long till they all died mâ—…nfully for the Lord God But Titus left a remnant of Israel in the City Jafnah and the villages thereabout and in the City Bitter and Aâ—…ssa and their villages in which place Rabby Jochanan son of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the Priest younger bâ—…other to Jâ—…seph the Priest was put in authority by Titus for Josephs sake over all the Jews which were at Jerusalem At the same time was 〈◊〉 a Prince of Israel put to death and Ischmael son of Elischa â—…he high
therefore use to name them with no other Ceremony then at the six weeks end to have some young wenches lift up the Cradle with the child in it which she that standeth at the head giveth the name unto Of their Sabbath so extreamlâ—… doting that they have added to the superstitions left them by the Pharisees And herein they are so precise that if a Jâ—…w travel on the Friday and in the evening fall so short of his journey's end that it amounts to mâ—…re than 2000. cubits or six furlongs which they account a Sabbath-dayes journey there must he sit him down and keep his Sabbath though in a Wood or Field or the High-way side without fear of wind or weather of Thieves or Robbers or without taking order for meat or drink And so far have they gone in despight of Christ as to declare it unlawful to lift the Oxe or Asse out of a ditch permitted in the strictest times of Pharisaical rigour So pertinacious in retaining the difference of meats and drinks that they will by no means sit at the same Table with other men and so precise in the dressing of it that they will eat of no flesh but of their own killing only and that too with such cautions and reservations that if any of the entrails be corrupt or dislocated they wil sell the whole beast to the Christians for a very trifle beneficial in that only to the neighbouring Christians Wine they forbear except it be of their own planting not so much out of dislike of that liquor for they are generally good fellows and love their bellies as for fear the wine should be baptized A Ceremony much used in the Eastern parts Of the coming of their Messiah so full of hopes that there is no great Warriour stirring but they look upon him as the man till some sad Tragedy or other which suffer under that perswasion makes them see their errour promising to themselves whensoever he cometh a restitution of their Kingdom and such felicities therein in the literal sense of some Texts of Scripture which carry in them a more mystical and sacred meaning That in good time but Gods not theirs they shall be made partakers of the several blessings which those Texts do speak of is both the hope and wish of all pious men who cannot chuse but grieve to behold the natural branches so long dismembred and cut off from the Tree of Life And this they neither hope nor wish for but on some fair grounds presented to them by St. Paul who said expressely that when the fulnesse of the Gentiles is once come in that then all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. 25 26. The words are so plainly positive that they need no Commentary Or if they did we have the general consent of the Antients Besides the constant current of most Modern Writers who cherish the glad hopes of their Conversion to the Gospel which the Apostle doth there aim at Origen Athanasius Hierom Augustine Chrysostome for the Primitive times Beda and Hugo Cardinalis in the times succeeding Farrara and Thomas Aqâ—…inas for those of Rome Calvin Beza Bullinger and Peter Martyr for the Reformed Churches besides divers others of great note so expound that Text. Nor want there other Texts of Scripture to affiâ—…m as much which he that doth desire to see may find them with the expositions of most Christian Writers in a Book writ by Doctor Willet entituled De generali novissima Judaeorum vocationeâ—… And â—…hither I refer the more curious Reader Out of all I shall take these words De illorum salute spes supersit The Jews saith he are not so wholly fallen from the favour of God but that there still remain some hopes of their salvation Of their salvation then by the Gospel of Christ when the fulnesse of the Gentiles is once come in we conceive good hopes but whether there be any of their restitution to their temporal Kingdom is a farther question and not so clearly evidenced in the Book of God though there be somewhat in that Book which may seem to intimate it Thâ—…t the opinion of being restored by the Messiah to that temporal power which was taken from them by the Romans was prevalent as well amongst Christs Disciples as the rest of the Jews is as I take it clear enough in the Holy Gospel In such a Kingdom and no other do the two sons of Zebedee desire to sit on both hands of their Master And the same was it and no other which all of them expected as appeareth by the words of Cleophas Luke 24. 21. that Christ should have restored unto them We thought said he that This would have proved the man that should have redeemed From what from sin and Satan or the curse and bondage of the Law Not so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but from the yoke of vassallage which the Romans had so lately imposed on them say the Fathers rightly Touching the same it was that they moved him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom of Israel Act. 1. 6. In answer whereunto our Saviour makes them no denial as unto the thing nor tells them that they never must expect such a restauration but only puts them off as unto the Timâ—… and bids them rest themselves on the pleasure of God the Father in whose hand the disposing of all Kingdoms was It is not for you saith he to know the times and seasons which the Father hath in his own power ver 7. By which answer as it seems to me there is a possibility of restoring to their Kingdom also though not in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at that very instant when they were most desirous to have it done or at any other time sit for them to know that being a secret which the Father hath reserved to Himself alone A Prayer Let the Consideration of these things be unto us as it was sometimes unto an Eminent Divine now with God an occasion of prayer unto God on their behalf saying with him in this or to the like effect O Lord who art righteous in all thy wayes and holy in all thy works we acknowledg and admire the justice of thy proceedings in binding and hardning the Jews as for their manifold impieties soespecially for stoning thy Prophets despising thy Word and crucifying the Lord of Life For which thou hast cursed them according to the prediction of thy Prophet to abide many daies without a King and without a Prince and without a Sacrifice and without an Image and without an Ephod and without Teraphim But thou O Lord how long How long O Lord holy and true How long Lord wilt thou be angrie for ever Thine anger is said to endure but a moment but Lord how many millions of millions of momeuts are contained in sixteen hundred years since thou hast first cast off thy first and antient people the Jews Remember Abraham Isaac and Jacob not for any merit in their persons which
was none but for the mercy in thy promises which is infinite so frequently made and so solemnly confirmed unto them But O! remember the Orator on thy right hand Christ Jesus our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and the Orator in thine own bosome thine essential and innate Clemency and let these prevail if it may stand with thy good will and pleasure that thy people the Jews may be received into the arms of thy mercy As once by a wilful and woful imprecation they drew the guilt of his blood on them and on their children So by thy free imputation drop the merit of his blood on them and on their children For the speeding of whose conversion be pleased to compose the many different judgements of Christians into one truth to unite their disagreeing affections in one love that our examples may no longer discourage but invite them to the embracing of the true Religion Oh mollifie the hearts rectifie the wills unvail the eyes unstop the eares of those thy people whom hitherto thou hast justly hardned Reveal to their understanding those Oracles which thou hast committed to their keeping That so our Saviour who long since hath been a light to lighten the Gentiles may in thy time be the glorie of thy people Israel that so there may be one Shepherd and one Sheepfold Grant this O Lord for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with Thee and the Holie Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and for ever more FINIS A Table and brief Description of the chief places mentioned in the History of Josephus ACo Ptolemais a City of Phoenicia called so from Ptolemy King of Egypt Aielona The name of a City belonging to the Levites and of a village not far from Nicopolis also the place whereabout at the prayer of Joshua the Sun stood still while the Canaanites were slain Alexandria A City in Egypt built by Alexander son of Philip King of Macedon built in the form of a Macedonian chlamys or cloak Antiochia A City in Syria lying on the Sea-coast built by King Antiochus Aossa A Town which Alexander King of the Jews wan and incompassed it with a triplâ—… wall Aram His country is at this day called Syria he was one of the sons of Shem the son of Noah Arabia A country lying on the East and North-East of the Holy Land and is divided into Feâ—…ix Deserta Petraea or Arabia the Happy the Desert and the Stony Ararat A Mountain of Armenia where Noahs Arke rested Askalon One of the five principal Cities of the Philistines built on the sea shore distant from Jerusalem 720. furlongs Asdotum A very strong City of the Philistines where Giants sometimes dwelt Assur Assyâ—…ia A Country lying near the Holy Land so named from Assur the son of Sem. Astaroth Karnaâ—…m A City in the tribe of Manasse on the other side of Jordan in the very corner of the country of Bashan in the confines of Arabia B BEthshemesh or Bethsemes A city belonging to the Priest lying in the Land of Juda in the lot of Dan afterward assigned to the Levites the people of this City were slain by the hand of God to the number of 50000. for looking into the Ark. Bitter A very strong City not far from Jerusalem which the Romans took by famine C CAppadocia A little country being part of Syria called by the Greeks Leuco-Syria Cedron A Brook which runs on the East side of Jerusalem between the city and mount Olivet Cephar Toco A town in Idumaea which Vespasian the Emperour wan Chaldaea A country lying North-East from Palestina the chief city whereof was Babylon Caesarea A Town lying not far from the sea in the Holy Land called also Turris Stratonis and Flavia Colonia 〈◊〉 very strong and re-builâ—… by Herod to keep thâ—… Jews from rebellion D DAmascus a City iâ—… Syria lying beyonâ—… mount Libanus six dayâ—… journey from Jerusalem watred with two navigable Rivers Abana and Pharphar E ELat A City in Idumaea upon the coast of the red sea Edom or Idumaea The country where the posterity of Esau lived so called from Edom the name of Esau signifying red Euphrates Called by Ezechiel Chebar it divides Babylon in the midst and runs into the Persian gulf G GAlilee A most fruitful part of the Holy land situate betwixt mount Libanus Samaria bounded on the North with Tyre on the South with the Samaritans country and the river Jordan on the west with the territory of Ptolemais and mount Carmel on the East it extends it self beyond the streams of Jordan Gamala A very strong and almost impregnable Town and Castle of Palestina which was built on the top of a hill like a bunch upon a Camels back whence the city took its name Gamala Gamal in Hebrew signifying a Camel Gaza One of the five principal Cities of the Philistines distant from the sea about two miles it was taken from the Canaanites by the tribe of Juda Caleb being their Commander Gerarta A City in the upper Galilee Gilboa The mountains upon which Saul and Jonathan his son were slain by the Philistines Gomorrha Acity of the Canaanites near to Sodom both which were consumed by fire from heaven Goschen A part of Egypt fruitfulin pastures where Jacob and the Patriarchs were placed by Pharaoh King of Egypt H HIerusalem called the Holy City was built on mountains in the midst of Judaea in the Tribe of Benjamin a place câ—…osen by God Himself builâ—… at first by the Jebusites by them called Jebus the king whereof Joshua slew Afterward David coming againâ—…t it the inhabitants were so confident of the impregnableness of it that in scorn they placed the lame and blind upon the walls as accounting them sufficient defenders of so strong a place But David by the help of Almighty God wan the city cast out the Jebusites â—…ebuilt it round fortified it with a Tower and dwelt in it making it the chief City of al the land of Canaan afterward by reason of the building of Solomons Temple in that place it was calleâ—… Hieroâ—…osyma that is Solomons Temple from the Greek name Next for the Idolatry shedding innocent blood in that place and land the Jews were carried captive into Babyâ—…on by Nebuchadnezzar the Temple and City were destroyed by fire by the Chaâ—…daeans but seventy years after that according as the Lord spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the Prophet the people of the Jews were by Cyrus sent out of Captivity into their own land with great gifts besides gold and silver and the vessels that had been taken out of the house of the Lord by Nebuchadnezzar with Zerubbabel 〈◊〉 the re-edifying of thâ—… Temple and furnishing 〈◊〉 it by Artaxerxes aftâ—… ward Nehemiah was 〈◊〉 thorised for the buildiâ—… of the wall of the City This being done and 〈◊〉 nished by Zerubbal and by Nehemiah the City being magnâ—… cently increased wâ—… buildings afterward 〈◊〉 the Machabees and Herod thirty eight
them under tribute and so returned with honor to Jerusalem When he had after this well bethought him of his doings it repented him of his evil waies wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the Sages submitting him to their ordinance and esteemed their traditions There was at that time a kind of Sect that were called Pharisees of whom such as had escaped the King sent to call them home again and when they came into his presence he spake unto them words of comfort saying My brethren ye shall understand that the thing which is once done must needs be tearmed as it is and cannot be revoked And truth it is you cannot excuse the reproach that ye did me nor I cannot call again the blood that I have shed Notwithstanding I confess my fault unto you and have changed my indignation to love praying you to put out of your heart all rancor and malice lay away all your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds rejoycing in your reconciliation and atonement with me and be of good cheer But they made him answer we will not lay away our hatred and enmity for thou speakest but deceitfully and we speak that is truth Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and Elders neither hast thou only done us this injury but as Hircanus thy father began this mischief so thou hast holden on and continued it Wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root neither can we leave our lamentation till thou dye and God take vengeance on thee for our sakes Then shall we rejoyce when we see vengeance So they departed from his presence neither did the King give them any answer at all But when they saw the King to be incensed against them and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm after consultation had they went to the King of Greece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his son had don to the Pharisees and all the Israelites that bare them good will and followed their traditions and how they also hated Alexander for the mischief that he had wrought them so that if any man will come and revenge the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aid him Demetrius followed their advice and assembling together all his people to the number of 400000. horsemen and footmen without number he took his journey and encamped against Sichem The King Alexander raised six thousand horsemen to aid him But the King of the Grecians writ privily to the Antients of the Sectaries that they should not aid Alexander to the souldiers also that Alexander had hired he sent rewards gold and silver that they returned home to their country and aided not Alexander whereupon he was not able to withstand Demetrius Therefore hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toward Jerusalem 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 Israel that were in Judea heard that the King was fled out of Jerusalem and that the City was in fear to come into the hands of the Grecians they gathered themselves together and stood for their lives as though all had been one man to the number of ten thousand and sâ—… upon Demetrius Camp killed all his best men of war and spoiled all his Host that he fled from them and came home into his Country with great dishonor This done the King took heart to him and returned to his Kingdom but the Pharisees fled to Bethshemes fortifying themselves against the King who having intelligence thereof gathered aâ—… Army and went against them won the City and took 800 of the chiefest Pharisees bound them in chains and brought them to Jerusalem Then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his Pallace in a high place where his learned Peers did eat and drink till they were drunk And in his merry mood he commanded those eight hundred Pharisees prisoners to be fetcht forth and to be hanged every man of them upon gallowses before him at which sight he drunk and laughed heartily After this he fell sick in the four and twentieth year of his Reign of a grievous disease a Quartain Ague that held him three years and for all this he shrunk not nor letted to go to the war to encounter and fight with his enemies what nation soever they were round about him as though he had been a whole man In the 27. year of his Reign which was the third of his sickness he made an expedition into the Land of Moab against a certain City called Rabaga to get it by force At which time he was very sick and weak wherefore his wife Alexandra the Queen went with him fearing least he should dye by the way And as he encamped himself â—…gainst the City and urged it sore with assaults his fickness increased upon him more and more Wherefore his wife perceiving that he was like to dye wept bitterly for him and said to whom shall I be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead seeing thou hast wrought such mischief against the Pharisees whom all the Land favoureth and following their traditions obey their instructions if they shall be disposed to revenge themselves upon me and thy young children they shall have aid of all that dwell in the Land The King answered Weep not nor shew any resemblance of pensiveness I will tell thee what thou shalt do and if thou wilt follow my counsell thou shalt prosper and Raign thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire put case I dye there is no man in the world need know thereof tell thou every man therefore that ask for me that I am sick and will not that any man shall come at me In the mean while anoint and season me with balms fight with courage against this City till thou win it and then return to Jerusalem with joy and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell nor weep but bring me unto Jerusalem and lay me on a bed like a sick man and after call together the chief of the Pharisees bring them where I am and speak unto them gently in this sort Alexander hath been ever your enemy I know it very well wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogs or bury him it shall be at your choise I know well they are pitifâ—…ll men and so full of mercy that they will bury me honorably and appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be King The Queen did therefore as she was instructed of the King And when she had won Rabaga she joyfully returned to Jerusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisees and spake to them as the King had advised her The Pharisees hearing that the King was dead and that his body was in their hands to do withall what they list they answered the Queen God forbid we should do