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
Levi. The fruits of this Land were these in special Balm Hony Spices Myrrhe Nuts Almonds nor is their Wheat to be forgotten nor their Oyl with which they traded in the market of Tyrus besides the forenamed commodities Ezech. 27.17 That it did excel in Palm-trees Strabo tels us and the Roman coyns which in their reverse represent a woman sitting in the gesture of a mourner under a Palm-tree signifying Judaea captivated But the Almighty as he drove out and destroyed the Nations which dwelt in this land before so did he afterwards his own people because of the greatness of their sins so that the Land as he tels us by his Prophet spued them out and turned part of this countrey whereabout Sodom and Gomorrah stood into slime pits or the dead or salt sea when as before it was for pleasantness like to the garden of God even so did God deal with his own unthankfull and rebellious people first he carried the ten Tribes into bondage by Salmanazer who at this day are not to be found the other two Tribes were carried away into Babylon where they indured 70. years Captivity and last of all for rejecting and crucifying his own son the Lord of glory they have been destroyed driven out of their own Country and continue as vagabonds thorow the whole world And the fruitfulness of this goodly Country doth scarce appear at this day according to that of the Psalmist Psal. 07.33 34. He turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water-springs into dry ground a fruitfull land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein No man hath observed the great increase of their seed which Isaac fonnd who sowed in that Land and reapt a hundred fold at this day the balm which Justin the Historian writes of brought in their treasure was a plant not as some have thought proper or common to Arabia but as Pliny notes peculiar to the Lanâ—… of Judaea or Syria as others call it and of that high price that it was valued at an equall rate and somtimes double to silver is now no where to be found Nevertheless lest men should think in their foolish imaginations that this Land had never been such as it is by the Word of God himself commended to be in some places there are certain marks and signs of the ancient fertility thereof for in a certain Plain divers miles long and broad there is found such fruitfull pastures that in so hot a Country the grasâ—… is seen to grow in some places as high as a mans middle in other places as high as to the brest But though the Lord for a time hath cut off this his people and turned their fruitfull Land into barrenness yet he hath abundantly shewed as in his word that the fulness of the Gentiles being come in God will have mercy upon and take into his favour this his Ancient people re-establish them in their own Land in security and without all doubt restore the Land to its former fruitfulness All which let us humbly pray to God the Father that for his infinite mercies in Jesus Christ he will speedily accomplish and turn the wilderness into a standing water and dry ground into water-springs Amen The first Book of the WARRES OF THE JEWES The Proeme IN the great Volum of Josephus there were Historicall Narrations made of things â—…s they had reference in chief to the Romans and other Nations This lesser Piece or Epitome rather declares matters as they relate principally to the Jews themselves and the State of their Common-wealth from the Macchabees unto their final subversion and ruine of the second House therefore according unto those things that we have found in the Book of Joseph the Priest son of Gorion and in other books written according to most certain truth we will draw forth and rehearse some things for the comfort that may thence arise especially seeing all the Prophets have bent and directed their Prophesies and predictions to this point that the Kingdom of the house of David should be restored and and flourish in time to come Therefore if there had been any Kings of the house of David during the time of the second Temple then should we have been in suspence yea even now already our hope had been dasht But there was no Kingdom of the house of David in that Age save only a certain Dominion that Zerrubbabel and Nehemiah had Yea rather the Kingdom remaine at that time in the House of the Machabees and in such that were toward Them and their Servants But now to the purpose CHAP. I. VVHen Alexander the first King of the Greeks had established his Kingdom he died being yet but a young man and his Kingdom was divided among four of his Captains as it is written Whiles He is yet alive His Kingdom shall be broken and delivered into four coasts of the Heavens Dan. 8. He left behind him a son of tender years called Archelaus whose Tutor or Governour perceiving him to be toward gave him impoysoned drink and made him away These Captains made war one upon another of whom one that was named Ptolomy procured Mâ—…ses Law to be Translated into Greek to the intent he might find some occasion to pick a quarrell against Israel For by their Law he sought means to withdraw them from their Religion accordâ—…ng to Psal. 129. Many a time have they affâ—…cted me from my youth up may Israel now say There were Seventy ancient men that Translated the Law whom Pâ—…olomy the King separateâ—… one from another putting every man a part in a house by himself But they all agreed in one sence albeit they changed 13. places which was not done without miracle that they all agreed together in the meaning and writing as though one alone had writ it These 13 places be these First God created in the beginning Here no word or thing is put before Name of God and also for that in the Greek Tongue the thing that doth is put before and that that is made is placed after least this word Berâ—…shith should be taken for a â—…reator and Eâ—…him for a creature The second I will make man according to the image and likeness Gen. 1. I for we that it should not be thought as though he were one that consulted with other therein The third And God finished the sixth day and rested the seventh Gen. 2. 〈◊〉 for seventh least it should seem as though He had made any thing in the seventh day and in it ended his working The fourth Go to I will go down and â—…here will confound their Laâ—…guage Gen. 2. I for we least by speaking in the pâ—…all number He should have been thought to be 〈◊〉 The fifth And Sarah laughed speaking to them that stood by her Gen. 18. With them that stood by her for to her self because Ptolomy the King should not mock them and say Who shewed you what she said to her self The sixth Because in their fury they killed an Oxe
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
away all the riches that they found in them They took also the City Gerara that stood beyond Jordan whereas they remained The inhabitants of Jerusalem both Priests Elders and the rest of the people sent Embassadours to Vespasian to desire peace of him and succour against Jehochanan and his wicked rabble which daily in the Town slew very many of the people of God The Citizens also of Gerara sent Embassadours unto Vespasian saying If thou wilt be Lord over the Land of Judea and the City of Jerusalem and desirest to assure the rule thereof and establish it unto thee then hearken unto our counsell and come unto us without delay to deliver us from the hands of Jehochanan and the wicked seditious persons that with all their might endeavour to spoyl all our goods and to get the dominion over us our wives and children to none other purpose than by that means to destroy us utterly that no remnant of us should be left If so be thou wilt come and valiantly withstand them with thy power we will also fight against them in thâ—… Town till they be all slain and then thou shalt be our Lord And that done thou mayest go to Jerusalem without any impediment or hinderance of any man for they also of that City desire the same and would gladly become subjects unto the Romans When as therefore Vespasian heard the petitions of the Citizens of Gerara he took his journey thither to succour them and deferred to go to Jerusalem But Jehochanan heard of his repair wherefore he slew the chief Governour of Gerara and got him out of the Town with his companions and took them to their feet determining to flee into a certain wood Vespasian having knowledge thereof made after them sending out Poligorus who overtook them and made a great slaughter of them And in his return toward Gerara upon Jordan side he light upon much people going to Jerusalem that they might escape together with the Seditious Them Poligorus drove back to the River where he slew 13. thousand of them the rest leaped into Jordan and were drowned to the number of 91. thousand men women and children with much Cattell that were all drowned together in the River insomuch that the channell of Jordan was so stuffed and stopt with dead bodies that the waters rose and ran over the banks here and there into the fields and plains yet at the length the waters increased and bare the carkases down the River as far as the sea of Sodom which is the sea of Pitch otherwise called the salt-Sea and all the banks of Jordan lay full of dead bodies After this Vespasian took his journey from thence and went into the land of Edom where he won two strong Cities the one called Legarith the other Cephar Toco and slew ten thousand of the people thereof leading the rest away in bondage Thence he dislodged and came to a Town call'd Chamath Gedi which he subdued In this City were wel-springs of hot waters from whence the hot baths of Tiberias have their Originall The natural Philosophers and Astronomers of that Country held an opinion that these are the heads of all the hot Wel-springs in that whole Country Departing from thence he came to Samaria and won it Then repaired he again all the Towns that he had subdued and made up their walls placing Garrisons therein to ayd him what time he should besiege Jerusalem That done he returned to Cesarea to take muster of his whole Army and prepared to go to besiege Jerusalem But in the mean season came Messengers from Rome and brought him word that Nero the Emperour was dead and how that as he was a hunting in the Country the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and fell upon him that he died of it After whom reigned Galba not one whole year for afore it was fully ended he was slain by the noble men of Rome and Vitellius created in his stead a fool yet a sore cruel man much given to Drunkenness so that he was in all points unworthy of the Roman Empire The Noble men of Rome that were with Vespasian hearing this greatly disdained at that matter and said Was there never a Noble man in Rome left to be placed in the Empire but ye must choose a drunken wine-sucker why did ye not rather elect the mighty Prince Vespasian that is here with us a Sage and a Wise man thereto also most valiant one that conquered many Cities and vanquished many Nations and those most fierce What puissant Kings hath he subdued under the Roman Empire How far and wide hath he enlarged the Empire of the Romans And now when as the Empire ought to have been bestowed upon Vespasian or some one like unto him and none such could be found amongst you ye bestow it upon a fool and a blowbole drunkard wherein ye have done very undiscreetly Well the Empire of Rome shall have a better Emperour one day and God say Amen Whereupon the Princes that were there laid their heads together and decreed to make Vespasian Emperour Therefore with one consent they went unto Vespasian and said unto him Thou shalt be our head for the Empire belongeth to such a one and thou shalt have Dominion over us But Vespasian refused to take it on him and would in no wise consent to them Notwithstanding they compelled him and placed him upon the Throne of Majesty setting an Imperiall Crown upon his head which he would have put away and pulled off with his hand because he would not be Emperour Wherefore the Roman Captains drew out their swords and said Thou shalt be Emperour and reign over us therefore refuse it not if thou do thou shalt dy upon our swords Vespasian therefore seeing himself constrained being afraid of his life he was content to suffer himself to be proclaimed Emperour Then all the Army was sworn unto him and he sate upon the royall seat as Emperour and King of Kings The civil wars at Jerusalem encreased more and more and much blood was shed through the wickedness of Jehochanan Captain of the theeves a limb of the divel and through the cut-throat murtherers that were with him who had all even sworn the utter destruction of the City of the Lord and the deaths of the people There was also another cut-throat Ruffian of a noble house of Judea and Jerusalem about the same time called Schimeon who began also to follow Jehochanans manners in slaying innocents and robbing and raving in Jerusalem For Anani the High Priest had once appointed him Prince and chief Captain of Jerusalem and afterwards finding him an enemy banished him the City Whereâ—…ore Schimeon went and gaâ—… him a rout of unthrifts murtherers and theeves casting in his mind and saying Except I joyn my self with such good fellows I shall never be able to be revenged of Anani and his assistants that have thus banished me out of Ierusalem into exile wrongfully unto my great dishonour Shall I that
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
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
Rome Pagurus therefore having made Antigonus King of Jerusalem returned home into Persia carrying Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be King over all Iuda giving to him a very strong Army of the Romans to obtain it withal In the way thither Herod met with Alexandra Hircanus daughter and Marimi her daughter that she had by Alexander son of Aristobulus and brought them again into the Land of Israel where he took Marimi to wife and solemnized the Marriage with her in the Mount of Galilee for there the chief of all Israel dwelt with whom he took peace Marcus Antonius companion in Office with Octavian Augustus about that time made a voyage through all the West Countries to subdue them to the Romans together with Egypt Damasco and Syria Him Herod accompanied to the flood of Eupbrates and helped him not a little For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and intercepted all that would aid Marcus Antonius Herod met with them and vanquished them Wherefore Antonius was very glad of Herods valiantness and brought him again to Israel together with Cassius his Captain and Lieutenant of the wars having also his Letters to all the Captains of Syria this tenor Ye shall understand that our lord and Master Octavian Augustus King of Kings hath appointed Herod the son of Antipater to be King of all the Land of Juda. Therefore as soon as these Letters come unto you ye shall with speed aid him No man shall be excused all that can bear Arms shall go with him to Jerusalem to vanguish Antigonus the Kings adversary whoso refuseth to go with him it shall be 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to slay him forthwith I Maâ—…cus 〈◊〉 have sworn by my sword I will not When the Captains of 〈◊〉 â—…ad râ—…d 〈◊〉 they râ—…orted wholly to Herâ—…d so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was wonderfully increased sent one Pompeius 〈◊〉 of his â—…ars against them who fought a sore 〈◊〉 with them that much people were slain on 〈◊〉 sides 〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉 brother was slain in thaâ—… 〈◊〉 Noâ—…withstanding at the length Antigonus Host went to the worâ—…t and had the overthrow Sâ—… 〈◊〉 and Cassius proceeded to Jerusalem and beseged iâ—… 〈◊〉 third year after Herod was made king of Israel And when they had battered down a piece of the walâ—… Cassius with the Romans entred into the Town and made a great slaughter in Jerusalem They entred also into the Sanctuaâ—…y and attempted to enteâ—… into the Sanctâ—…m Sâ—…nctorum but Herod and his men lept between it and them and stood with their drawn swords in the Temple door to withstand their enterprises Herod was also dâ—…spleased with Cassius for his 〈◊〉 and said If ye will destroy all the inhabitants of the City upon whom shall I reign in the kingdom that Augutus bath given me Wherefore straâ—…ght-waâ—… Cassius caused proclamation to be made through all his Host that no man upon pain of death should kill on Israelite more This done Herod apprehended Antigonus and delivered him bouâ—…d to Cassius He rewarded also Cassius Souldiers both with Gold and Silver Then Cassius offered a Present unto the Lord a Crown of Gold for he was sore afraid of Gods displeasure because he had fought against the holy City That done he took his journey and returned into Egâ—…pt and Antigonus as prisoner with him Thither sent Herod unto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus and to murder him fearing least he should make claim unto the Kingdom again Whereunto Cassius consented and slew Antigonus CHAP. III. THus was the kingdom surely established to Herod Then made he wars upon all the Nations that were about him constraining them to become tributaries by which means he grew to such power as never any of his Predecessours were to be compared unto him After all this Pagurus king of Persia released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander and promoted him to be head of all the Israelites that were fled into the Land of Sennaar and into the Dominion of the Persians and he became their King This Hircanus had a fervent desire to see the holy City and the house of the Sanctuary also how Herod whom he took for his son and his kingdom did Herod hearing that Hircanus who had been prisoner at Babylon was now set at liberty and in great honour he was afraid of him mistrusting least the Israelites would restore unto themselves the kingdom of their Fathers wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him a mischief He then writ this letter unto Pagurus the contents whereof were such Thou shalt understand that Hircanus is he that brought me up and used me even as his Son Now therefore since I came to be King in Jerusalem I have called to my remembrance the goodnesse that he hath done to me wherefore my desire is to reward him according to his benefits therefore I require thee to send him to me otherwise assure thy self of wars between thee and the Israelites with their confederates Pagurus having read this letter sent to Hircanus giving him to understand that if he would go to Herod he might but notwithstanding Herods threats he ceased not to give to Hircanus all good counsel he could advising him to take heed of Herod because he is saith he a blood-shedder and a breaker of his League And he hath called thee for no love he beareth thee but because he feareth thee As long as thou livest shall he never sleep soundly lest the kingdom should be devolved unto thee It is better for thee to remain here in some honour though it be not of such estate than to go thither to die with greatdispight and end thy old age with a bloody death Furthermore thou shalt know such is the disposition of mens hearts If there be two men the one in honour the other in contempt after time shall come that the despised shall be had in honour and the honoured be neglected never will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt be content to see him that was before honoured nor speak friendly to him For he will think hi herto according to his accustomed manner he hath despised me how much more when his Dominion is taken from him and his servants reign in his room Moreover Herod knoweth right well that meâ—…s hearts are inclined to him that is the true King And it might be so if thou werâ—… meet for the Priesthood that he would promote thee unto it and be Governour of the kingdom himself But seeing thou art dismembred having one of thy eares cut off and thereby art unmeet for the Priesthood thou shalt remain in Jerusalem deprived both of kingdom and Priesthood which is uncomely for thee Such counsel gave Pagurus King of the Persians unto Hircanus yea and all the Jews that were in Babylon besought him that he would not go unto Herod Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded and why For it was the Lords will and his deed that the injury done
thy Sisters husband to poyson me When Herod heard this he was exceedingly abashed that Joseph had disclosed his secret and began to mistrust with himself that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife indeed and upon that detected that secret Therefore he departed out of his palace in a great anger and rage whereby Salumith perceived that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further suborning false accusers and forgers of lyes to witnesse that Marimi would have poisoned the King whereof she had divers presumptions also by her countenance She added moreover if thou saith she to the King let her escape thus she will speedily destroy thee and bereave thee of thy Kingdom the law giveth a man this counsâ—…l If any man go about to murther thee prevent him and slay him fiâ—…st With this and such like words she so moved the King that he commanded to bring Marimi forth and to be beheaded in the high street of the City And as she was brought forth into the Market place of the City all the women of the City followed her Alexandra her Mother also cursed and railed at her saying Come out thou that hast abhorred thy Husband and conspired against thy Lord Alexandra wept also as though it had been for the wickednesse that her daughter had committed thinking surely to please the King by that means and to blear his eyeâ—… if peradventure he might suffer her to live till she might have opportunity to poison him Marimi thus going to execution held her peace and looked neither to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innocent in deed and thought and therefore God would render her a good reward in the World to come wherefore she bared her Neck without fear and they cut off her head shedding the innocent blood But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of Herod so that his chief servants his Noble women and Concubines died sore thereof yea throughout all Judea raigned vehemently which afflâ—…ctions all Israel knew well enough chanced unto them for the blood of Marimi They câ—…yed therefore unto the Lord saying wilt thou for the offence of one man deal so cruelly with the whole congregation the Lord took pity therefore upon the land and withdrew the plague from the people The King repented him also that he had shed blood without a cause and love so grew in his heart that he was sick and at deaths door Then Alexandra Marimis mother sought means how to poyson him which being uttered unto the King he commanded to apprehend her and to kill her In this manner dealt Herod with all the posterity of the Machabees leaving none alive that were called by the name Herod put to death also Josephat the husband of Salumith The King had two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wife They were both at Rome when their Mother suffered for their Father the King had sent them thither to learn the Roman tongue When they heard tidings of their Mothers death they wept and mourned for her hating their Father for his cruelty Soon after the King their father recovered of his sickness was established in his Kingdom builded strong Cities and rose to great prosperity In the thirteenth year of his Raign therefell a great dearth in the land wherefore the King took out of his treasure much gold and silver and precious stones wherewith he sent into Egypt and procured plenty of corn and refreshed with bread all that lackt and were in distress of hunger yea he spared not his own proper goods And not only to the Israelits shewed he this liberality but also to all that came unto him out of other strange Nations hearing of his renown Moreover in all his wars he had good fortune Besides this he thought it good to renew the house of the Sanctuary whereupon he deliberated with the Israelits to have their advice for the building of it after the same quantity and measure that Solomon King of Israel had builded it For the Jews returning from captivity in the time of Coresch began to build it after the measure that Coresch prescribed them and not as it was before The King of Israel hearing that the King was purposed to pull down the Temple to the ground and build it afresh they made hâ—…m no answer fearing lest when he had pulled it down he would not be so hasty to build it up again But the King perceiving what they feared in their minds said he would not slack the matter nor rest till he had brought it to pass He said moreover that he would take out of his treasury plenty of gold and silver and give it to graving also precious stones stones of Thasies and Marble To the Carpenters also and Masons he would deliver Timber and Stones Gold and Silver Brass and Iron to make all things necessary to the work Wherefore if he pulled down the House he was able to build it straight waies again So he pulled down the House and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubits al of white Marble so that the whole height of the stone was in all a hundred and twenty cubits For the Foundation was twenty cubits within the ground and a hundred above The breadth of every stone was twelve cubits and the thickness thereof eight cubits every stone was of like bigness The gates of the House he covered with fine gold and precious Stones finely set therein the thresholds were of Silver and the tops also He made also a Vine of gold a marvellous cunning piece of work the arms thereof or bigger branches were glittering gold the lesser branches slips or latest shoots of gold somewhat red and all above was yellow gold whereupon hung clusters of Crystall The Vine was so great that it weighed a thousand pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porch and before the porch two walls of Silver marvellously and cunningly wrought Behind the house toward the West he made a court of a hundred fifty cubits long and a hundred in breadth which was paved with pure Marble Toward the south and north the length of the court was also a hundred and fifty cubits and a hundred in bredth He erected in it also a hundred and fifty Pillars of white Marble in 4 rancks The length of one ranck was fourty cubics and every Pillar was fourty cubits high and three cubits thick The pillars were all of like measure as the Court of the North side and of the South was also of like measure with all the pillars thereof Towards the east the court contained seven hundred and twenty cubits even to the brook Cedron no man ever saw the like building in all the world The Vine that he made placed he before the porch In â—…he extream parts of
own hand Such ye know the law thus punisheth Their right hand is cut off wherewith they forced themselves to die then they are left unburied as men that have destroyed their own souls By what reason then shall we kill our selves I would wish that we might be slain of our enemies rather than we should so shamefully murder ourselves whereby ever after we should be taken for man-slayers If any man kill himself as Saul whom he commended without doubt he committeth a haynous crime and such a one as no satisfaction can be made for Besides that he shall be reckoned faint-hearted and as one that despaireth of his recovery wherefore our fore-fathers have taught us A man ought not to despair of his safegard and deliverance which cometh of God no not when the knife is put to his throat to cut it For King Hezekiah of famous memory when he heard these words of Esaias that worthy Prophet Make thy Will and set thy things in order for thou shalt die and not escape Neverthelesse he fainted not nor ceased not to pray to God for the prolonging of his life in theworld that he might amend his life and send a better soul unto God Then the Lord God of Israel seeing his unwearied and strong hope with his repentance suffered him to live fifteen years longer But as for Saul he was not appointed King over Israel after the Lords mind but only by the people that craved of Samuel Give us a King to rule over us whereupon afterward God departed from Saul for he was not obedient to Gods will but went about by force to establish his kingdom The Lord then seeing the wickednesse of his heart gave him over and chose him another to be King over his people anointing David his servant whiles Saul was yet living which Saul perceiving persecuted David and laboured with all his endeavour to destroy him because he knew God was with him and prospered all that he did whereas contrarily all went backward with himself For these causes I say he chose rather to die than live he also would not live after the people of Israel were overthrown in the Mountains of Gilboa And in mine opinion he slew himself for nothing but because he was a faint-hearted coward and utterly despaired of his safegard For although he said Lest these uncircumcised come and run me through Yet if he had been of aâ—…valiant courage he would have stood to his defence to the death Peradventure God would have delivered him But he contrarily all in despair procured both himself and his son a shameful death But ye shall consider this he was an unmerciful King and therefore did God rid him out of the World For as he did not spare his own life nor his son's so did he not spare others And whereas ye alledge Aaron unto me I would know of you why he put himself between the living and the dead Was it not because he would turn away the plague from Israel If he had known that he himself should have been stricken therewith doubtlesse he would not have striven against the striker but trusting in the holinesse of his righteousnesse he stood before the Angel to deliver Israel from that misery Therefore I am not to be compared with Aaron albeit I am one of his children and never yet in all my life did I shrink to venture my life in the Wars of the Lord And now I am not determined to kill my self lest I should sin against God and spoil my soul of hope of salvation I know it well and it were more expedient for me to be slain of mine enemies then that I should kill my self And if ye say the word Let us go forth and suddenly set upon our enemies to kill or to be killed in this battel of the Lord and so shall we do well peradventure God will give them into our hands For God is able to save as well by a small Army as by a great Then if ye see me to be afraid of mine enemies sword ye shall thereby know me to be a coward and one that fawneth upon his enemies and hunteth for their favour But ye shall see me go before you as a valiant man nor once to turn my face from death What did ye ever see in me that you should judge me fearful Did ye ever know me refuse to fight within the Town of Jorpata I have ever kept my quarter and ward and every day have I fought with mine enemies whom I have not spared but impaired and that not a little whiles I defended that little City forty eight daves against them For I thought with my self peradventure I may drive away the enemies of the Lord out of our Land and divert them from Jerusalem that they go not thither And so have I fought with them till all my valiant souldiers be spent and none left but you I could no longer withstand their force yet I would not yeild my self as a prisoner unto them therefore I fled hither with you into this Cave Now therefore Brethren ye shall understand that death is commodious and good indeed which comes in time But it is neither good nor godly for a man to kill himself and his brother to go afterward for that deed into hell and perdition And what other thing can more clearly set forth a mans proud and haughty mind with his hope in God than for a man to suffer patiently whatsoever chanceth unto him until his end come Behold the Lions and other Beasts how they are wont to withstand their enemies that lie in wait for them to the intent they may save their lives whose armour is in their teeth and claws wherewith neverthelesse they hurt not themselves but use them against other that assault them till they either overcâ—…me or be overcome We although we have no warlike Weapons yet have Nature armed us as well as them For albeit we be not of such strength as they yet hath we such armour that we may defend our selves therewith both from man and beast But how can we break the band of love one to another that proceedeth from God who hath chosen us his people and inheritance to sanctifie him How then may we be enemies one against another and kill one another If that be true as ye cannot deny it that although we be many thousands yet we are counted as one soul and members of one body Then how can any man ever find in his heart to strike his own eyes or feet or any other of his members to destroy it except he be mad and besides himself Moreover dear Brethren and Friends consider to what end the Master of a ship doth abide the tempest of the Seas and striveth day and night with the floods thereof Doth he not do it to save the Ship and his life from death If so it be he shâ—…uld willingly for the same purpose put himself in jeopardy of Tempest or run on Rocks Would not the Merchant-men
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
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
Priest Mâ—…reover Titus was minded to have put Rabby Gamaliel father of Râ—…hbag to death but Rabby Jochâ—… son of 〈◊〉 made suice for him and obtained pardon for his life This Râ—…bby Jochanan was he that came forth of Jerusalem in the beginning when Vâ—…spasian father of Titus came first against Jerusalem whom Vespasian honoured greatly insomuch that when he returned to Rome he commended this Râ—…bby Jochanan to his son Titus commanding him to honour him for he perceived he was a wise man Titus râ—…igned two years after he had taken Jerusalem anâ—… died He was a very eloquent 〈◊〉 expert in the Laâ—…ne and Greek Tongue and writ divers Works in both Tongues He loved most intirely justice and equity for he wasted the City of Jerusalem against his will and being compelled thereunto â—…ea all the mischief that came upon it hapned through the malice and naugâ—…ness of the Seditious as we have touched before THE Ten Captivities OF THE JEWES THe Israelites were Ten times led into Captivity Four times by the hands of Sanherib and Four times by Nabuchadnezzar Once by Vespasian and Once by superstitious Adrian First invaded them Sanherib and transporthe Rubenites the Gadites and the half tribe of Manosseh He took away also the golden Calf which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made He led them into Helah Habor to the River of Gozan and to the â—…ities of the Medes This Captivity was in the time of Pekah the son of Remaliah The second Captivity Hosea the son of Ela remained and slue Pekah the son of Remalâ—…h After he became the servant and subject of Sanherib seven years Then came Sanherib the second time and carried away the tribes of Asar Isachar Zebulon and Nephtali of whom he let go free only one of every eight He took away also another â—…alf that was in Bethel After the death of Ahaz raigned Zedekia his son in his stead four years The fourth year of whose raign Sanherib came and intrenched about Samarâ—…a besieging it three years and at length took it in the sixt year of the raign of Hizkiahu So led he away the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Mannasse This is the third Captivity When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned eight years he made wars against Jerusalem bringing with him the Chutean Hereticks out of Babylon Ethiopia Hemates Avim and Sepharvavim and as he warred upon Judea he took in that Country a hundred and fifty Cities in the which there were two tribes Juda and Simeon whom he took with him and caused them forthwith to be led into Halah and Habar untill the King of the Ethiopians rebelled against him whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of Egypt Then taking Juda and Simeon with him he made war with the King of Ethiopia So the holy and blessed God placed them in the dark mountains Here was four Captivities whereby ten tribes went into exile by Sanherib There remained yet of Juda one hundred and ten thousand and of Benjamin one hundred and thirty thousand in the City of Jerusalem over whom raigned Hizkiahu Moreover Sanherib came out of Ethiopia against Jerusalem again leading with him one hundred and ten thousand but the holy Lord overthrew him there as it is written And the Angel of the Lord issuing forth smote in the house of Asar 175 thousand men His people therefore was slain and no man left but Sanherib and his two sons and Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuzaraden this slaughter was in the fourteenth year of Hizkâ—… From which overthrow untill the time that Nebuchadnezzar invaded the Jews in the raign of Jehojakim were a hundred and seven years The fourth year of Jehojakim came Nebuchadnezzar the first time and carried away three thousand and twenty and three of the tribes of Juda and Benjamin and of other tribes seven thousand all the able men and all their power binding them with chains This is the fift captivity Seven years after this Captivity came Nebuchadnezzar another time unto Dophna a City of Antioch from whence he led four thousand and six hundred of the tribe of Juda and of Benjamin fifty thousand of the other tribes seven thousand This transmigration made he in Babylon which is the sixt Captivity Furthermore betwixt the sixt bondage and the seventh were nine years of the raign of Zidkiahu When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned nineteen years he came the third time unto Jerusalem and overcoming Zidkiahu he burnt the Temple and took away the Pillars the brazen Sea and the furnitures that Solomon made and all the vessels of the house of the Lord and the â—…reasures of the house of the King which was in Jerusalem all the vessels he sent to Babylon He slew also of the Israelites nine hundred and one thousand besides them that were slain to revenge the blood of Zacharias The Levites stood singing a song whiles â—…laughter was made of them but they were not able to finish it before the enemies entred the Temple and found them standing in their place with harps in their hands Therefore he carried away in this Captivity the Levites which were of the seed of Moses six hundred thousand whom when the Gentiles had brought unto the Rivers of Babylon they demanded of the Jews Sing us a song of Sion And by and by they gnawed off the tops of their fingers with their teeth saying How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange Land And the blessed Lord seeing that they would not sing a song he enlarged them and placed them on the further side of Sambatia Moreover he translated and carried away eight hundred and thirty two thousand which were all of the tribe of Juda and Benjamin whereof he left in Jerusalem six thousand setting over them for their Ruler Gedalia the son of Ahikam who was slain after by Ishmael the son of Natania whereupon the Isrâ—…elites being afraid fled from their Country into Egypt This is the seventh transmigration and 〈◊〉 The 27. year of the raign of Nebuchadnezzar he â—…ook Egypt and Tyre drowned the Jews that were therein and the Nations which descended of Amon and Moab and of the Land bordering upon Israel and led Jeremy and Baruch with them into Egypt This is the eighth Captivity Then the Israelites that remained alive in Egypt departed unto Alexandria and remained in it untill they grew and increased unto many thousands and who so saw not their glory saw no glory in his time For there was in it the Sanctuary the Altar the offerings incenses the ordinance of bread of faces the houses of studies and schools without number men of great substance riches and power But wicked Troganus made war upon them and slew very many of them After came Alexander against them who slew also many of them These are the eight Captivities or bondages which befell in the first House and time of the first Temple After the desolation of the first House seventy years Cyrus the son of Esther sent unto Nehemiah Zerubbabel