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signs, that should be performed by the providence || eral were wounded, and fell on both sides; though of God. And many that were prevailed on by still the Jews were the conquerors. But when them suffered the punishments of their folly for Felix saw that this quarrel was become a kind of Felix brought them back, and then punished them. war, he came upon them suddenly, and desired the There also came out of Egypt, about this time, to Jews to desist. And when they refused so to do, Jerusalem, one that said he was a prophet; and he armed the soldiers, and sent them out upon advised the multitude to go along with him to the them, and slew many of them, and took a greater Mount of Olives, which lay over against the city, number alive and permitted his soldiers to plunat the distance of five furlongs. He said farther, der some of the houses of the citizens, which were that he would show them from hence how, at his full of riches. Now those Jews that were more command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down: moderate, and of principal dignity among them, and he promised that he would procure them an were afraid of themselves: and desired of Felix entrance into the city through those walls, when that he would sound a retreat to his soldiers, and they were fallen down. Now when Felix was in- spare them for the future: and afford them room formed of these things, he sent a great number of for repentance for what they had done. And Felix horse and foot-soldiers, from Jerusalem, and at- was prevailed upon to do so. tacked the Egyptian, and the people that were with him. He also slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred alive. But the Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, and did not appear any more. The robbers, however, again stirred up the people to make war with the Romans; and said, they ought not to obey them at all: and when any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to their villages, and plundered them.

Now a great sedition arose *between the Jews that inhabited Cæsarea, and the Syrians who dwelt there also, concerning their equal right to the privileges belonging to citizens. For the Jews claimed the pre-eminence; because Herod their king was the builder of Cæsarea; and because he was by birth a Jew. Now the Syrians did not deny what was alleged about Herod. But they said, that Cæsarea was formerly called Strato's Tower; and that then there was not one Jewish inhabitant. When the presidents of that country heard of these disorders, they caught the authors of them on both sides, and punished them with stripes; and by that means put a stop to the disturbance for a time. But the Jewish citizens, depending on their wealth, and on that account despising the Syrians, reproached them again, and hoped to provoke them by such reproaches. However, the Syrians, though they were inferior in wealth, yet valuing themselves highly on this account, that the greatest part of the Roman soldiers that were there, were either of Cæsarea or Sebaste; they also, for some time, used reproachful language to the Jews. And thus it was, till at length they came to throwing stones at one another, and sev

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About this timet king Agrippa gave the highpriesthood to Ismael, who was the son of Fabi. And now arose a sedition between the thighpriests, and the principal men of the multitude of Jerusalem; each of which assembled a company of the boldest sort of men, and of those that loved innovations, and became leaders to them. And when they struggled together, they did it by casting reproachful words against one another; and by throwing stones also. And there was nobody to reprove them: but these disorders were done after a licentious manner in the city, as if it had no government over it. And such was the impudence§ and boldness that had seized on the highpriests, that they had the hardiness to send their servants into the threshing-floors, to take away those tithes that were due to the priests. Insomuch that the poorest sort of the priests died for want. To this degree did the violence of the seditious prevail over all right and justice.

Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero, the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cæsarea went up to Rome to accuse Felix. And he had certainly been brought to punishment, unless Nero had yielded to the importunate solicitations of his brother Pallas, who was at that time held in the greatest honour by him. Two of the principal Syrians in Cæsarea persuaded Burrus, who was Nero's tutor, and secretary for his Greek epistles, by giving him a great sum of money, to disannul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which they hitherto enjoyed. So Burrus, by his solicitations, obtained leave of the emperor, that an epistle should be

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written to that purpose. This epistle became the occasion of the following miseries that befell our nation. For when the Jews of Cæsarea were informed of the contents of this epistle to the Syrians, they were more disorderly than before; till a war was kindled.

Upon Festus's coming into Judea, it happened, that the country was afflicted by the robbers; while all the villages were set on fire, and plundered by them. And then it was that the Sicarii, as they were called, who were robbers, grew numerous. They made use of small swords, not much different in length from the Persian acinacæ, but somewhat crooked, and like the Roman sicæ, or sickles. And from those weapons these robbers got their denomination; and with them they slew a great many. For they mingled themselves among the multitude at their festivals, when they were come up in crowds from all parts to the city to worship God; and easily slew those that they had a mind to slay. They also came frequently upon the villages belonging to their enemies, with their weapons, and plundered them, and set them on fire. So Festus sent forces, both horsemen and footmen, to fall upon those that had been seduced by a certain impostor, who promised them deliverance from the miseries they were under, if they would but follow him as far as the wilderness. Accordingly those forces that were sent destroyed both the seducer and those that were his followers.

About the same time* king Agrippa built himself a very large dining-room in the royal palace at Jerusalem, near to the portico. Now this palace had been originally erected by the children of Asmoneus, and was situate upon an elevation, and afforded a most delightful prospect to those that had a mind to take a view of the city, which prospect was desired by the king: as he could there lie down and eat, and thence observe what was done in the temple. But the chief men of Jerusalem were very much displeased at it. For it was not agreeable to the institutions of our country or law, that what was done in the temple should be viewed by others; especially what belonged to the sacrifices. They, therefore, erected a wall upon the uppermost building which belonged to the inner

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court of the temple, towards the west. Which wall, when it was built, did not only intercept the prospect of the dining-room in the palace, but also of the western cloisters that belonged to the outer court of the temple also; where it was that the Romans kept guards for the temple at the festivals. At these doings both king Agrippa, and Festus the procurator, were much displeased. And Festus ordered them to pull the wall down again. But the Jews petitioned him to give them leave to send an ambassage about this matter to Nero. For they said, they could not endure to live if any part of the temple should be demolished. And when Festus had given them permission so to do, they sent ten of their principal men to Nero; as also Ismael the high-priest, and Helcias, the keeper of the sacred treasure. And when Nero had heard what they had to say, he not only forgave them what they had already done; but also gave them leave to let the wall they had built stand. This was granted in order to gratify Poppea, Nero's wife; who was a religious woman, and had requested these favours of Nero: and who gave order to the ten ambassadors to return home; but retained Helcias and Ismael as hostages with herself. As soon as the king heard this news, he gave the high-priesthood to Joseph, who was called Cabi, the son of Simon, formerly high-priest.

CHAP. IX.

CONCERNING ALBINUS, UNDER WHOSE PROCURATORSHIP JAMES WAS

SLAIN; ALSO OF THE EDIFICE BUILT BY AGRIPPA.

Now Cæsar, upon hearing of the death of Festus, sent Albinus into Judea, as procurator. But the king deprived Joseph of the high-priesthood; and bestowed the succession of that dignity on the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus. Now it is reported, that this eldest Ananus proved a most fortunate man: for he had five sons, who had all performed the office of high-priest to God; and he had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly: which had never happened to any other of our high-priests. But this younger Ananus, who took the high-priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent. He was also of the sect of the §Sadducees; who are very rigid in

Josephus's own life. However, both these generous acts of kindness were obtained of Nero, by his queen Poppea; who was a religious lady, and perhaps privately a Jewish proselyte; and so were not owing entirely to Nero's own goodness.

§ It hence evidently appears, that Sadducees might be highpriests in the days of Josephus; and that these Sadducees were usually very severe and inexorable judges; while the Pharisees were much milder and more merciful: as appears by Reland's instances in his note on this place; and on Josephus's life, and those taken from the New Testament; from Josephus himself;

judging offenders above all the rest of the Jews: as *we have already observed. When, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had a proper opportunity to exercise his authority. Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road. So he assembled the Sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some of his companions. And when he had laid an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned. But as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done. They also sent to king Agrippa, desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more: for that what he had already done was not to be justified. Nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria; and informed him, that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without his consent. Hereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and wrote in anger to Ananus; and threatened that he would bring him to punishment for what he had done. On which account king Agrippa took the high-priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months; and made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high-priest.

Now as soon as Albinus was come to the city of Jerusalem, he used all his endeavours and care that the country might be kept in peace: and this by destroying many of the Sicarii. But as for the high-priest Ananus, he increased in glory every day, and this to a great degree; and had obtained the favour and esteem of the citizens in a signal manner. For he was a great hoarder up of money. He therefore cultivated the friendship of Albinus, and of the high-priest Jesus, by making them presents. He had also servants who were very wicked; who joined themselves to the boldest sort of the people, and went to the threshing-floors, and took

and from the Rabbins. Nor do we meet with any Sadducees later than this high-priest in all Josephus. * Book XIII. chap. 10.

† Of this condemnation of James the Just, and its causes; as also that he did not die till long afterwards; see Prim. Christ. Revived, Vol. III. 43-46. The Sanhedrim condemned our Saviour: but could not put him to death without the approbation of the Roman procurator. Nor could, therefore, Ananias and his sanhedrim do more here: since they never had Albinus's approbation for putting this James to death. A. D. 62.

This Ananias was not the son of Nebedeus, as I take it, but he was called Annas or Ananus the elder, the ninth in the catalogue, and who had been esteemed high-priest, for a long time; and, besides, Caiaphas, his son-in-law, had five of his own sons high-priests after him, (which were of those numbers 11, 14, 15, 17, 24, in the foregoing catalogue.) They were these: 1. was the 11th in the catalogue, Eleazar; the 2d was the 14th,

away the tithes that belonged to the priests by violence and did not refrain from beating such as would not give these tithes to them. So the other high-priest acted in the like manner, as did those his servants, without any one's being able to prohibit them. So that some of the priests, that of old were wont to be supported with those tithes, died for want of food.

But now the Sicarii went into the city by night, just before a festival, which was at hand, and took the scribe belonging to the governor of the temple, whose name was Eleazar, who was the son of Ananias, the high-priest, and bound him, and carried him away with them. They then sent to Ananias, and said, they would send the scribe to him, if he would persuade Albinus to release ten of those prisoners which he had caught of their party. So Ananias was forced to persuade Albinus, and gained his request of him. This was the beginning of greater calamities. For the robbers perpetually contrived to catch some of Ananias's servants: and when they had taken them alive, they would not let them go, till they thereby recovered some of their own Sicarii. And as they were again become numerous, they grew bold, and were a great affliction to the whole country.

About this time king Agrippa built Cæsarea Philippi larger than it was before; and in honour of Nero named it Neronias. And when he had built a theatre at Berytus, with vast expense, he bestowed on them shows, to be exhibited every year; and spent therein many thousand drachmæ. He also gave the people a largess of corn,|| and distributed oil among them, and adorned the entire city with statues of his own donation; and with original images made by ancient hands. Nay he almost transferred all that was most ornamental in his own kingdom thither. This made him more than ordinarily hated by his subjects; because he took those things away that belonged to them, to adorn a foreign city. And now Jesus, the

Jonathan; the 3d was the 15th, Theophilus; the 4th was the 17th, Matthias; and the 5th was the 24th, Ananus. Nor ought we to pass slightly over what Josephus here says of this Annas, or Ananias, that he was high-priest a long time before his children were so. He was the son of Seth, and is set down first for high-priest in the preceding catalogue, under number 9. He was made by Quirinius, and continued till Ismael, the 10th in number, for about 23 years. Which long duration of his high-priesthood, joined to the succession of his son-in-law, and five children of his own, made him a sort of perpetual high-priest: and was perhaps the occasion that former high-priests kept their titles ever afterwards. For I believe it is hardly met with before him.

By the distribution of largesses many important advantages have occasionally been secured. So much are men devoted to their personal interest, that they will not only sacrifice the benefit of others to it, but even their own future good, for present gratification. B.

son of Gamaliel, became the successor of Jesus, the son of Damneus, in the high-priesthood; which the king had taken from the other. On this account a sedition arose between the high-priests, with regard to one another: for they got together bodies of the boldest sort of the people; and frequently came from reproaches to throwing of stones at each other. But Ananias was too hard for the rest, by his riches: which enabled him to gain those that were most ready to receive. Costobarus also, and Saulus, got together a multitude of wicked wretches: and this because they were of the royal family; and so they obtained favour among them, because of their kindred to Agrippa. But still they used violence with the people; and were very ready to plunder those that were weaker than themselves. And from that time it principally came to pass, that our city was greatly disordered; and that all things grew worse and worse among us.

But when Albinus heard that Gessius Florus was coming to succeed him, he was desirous to appear to do somewhat that might be grateful to the people of Jerusalem.* So he brought out all those prisoners who seemed to him to be the most worthy of death, and ordered them to be put to death accordingly. But as to those who had been put into prison, on some trifling occasions, he took money of them, and dismissed them: by which means the prisons were emptied, but the country was filled with robbers.

Now as many of the †Levites as were singers of hymns, persuaded the king to assemble a sanhedrim, and to give them leave to wear linen garments, as well as the priests. For they said that this would be a work worthy of his government; that he might have a memorial of such a novelty, as being his doing. Nor did they fail of obtaining their desire. For the king, with the suffrages of those that came into the sanhedrim, granted the singers of hymns this privilege, that they might lay aside their former garments, and wear such a linen one as they desired. And as a part of this tribe ministered in the temple, he also permitted them to learn such hymns as they had besought him for. Now all this was contrary to the law of our country; which, whenever they have been transgressed, we have never been able to avoid the punishment of such transgressions.

And now it was that the temple was finished. So when the people saw that the workmen, who

* A. D. 63.

†This insolent petition of some of the Levites to wear the sacerdotal garments, when they sung hymns to God in the temple, was very probably owing to the great depression and con

were above eighteen thousand, were unemployed, and that they, receiving no wages, were in want, because they had earned their bread by their labours about the temple: and while they were unwilling to keep by them the treasures that were there deposited, out of fear of their being carried away by the Romans: and while they had regard to making provision for the workmen ; they had a mind to expend those treasures upon them. For if any one of them did but labour for a single hour, he received his pay immediately. So they persuaded him to rebuild the eastern cloisters, which belonged to the outer court, and were situate in a deep valley, and had walls that reached four hundred cubits in length; and were built of square and very white stones: the length of each of which stones was twenty cubits, and their height six cubits. This was the work of king Solomon, who first of all built the entire temple. But king Agrippa, who had the care of the temple committed to him by Claudius Cæsar, considering it easy to demolish any building, but hard to build it up again; and that it was particularly hard to do it to these cloisters, which would require a considerable time, and great sums of money; he denied the petitioners their request about that matter. But he did not obstruct them when they desired the city might be paved with white stone. He also deprived Jesus, the son of Gamaliel, of the high-priesthood, and gave it to Matthias, the son of Theophilus, under whom the war with the Romans took its beginning.

CHAP. X.

AN ENUMERATION OF THE HIGH-PRIESTS.

Now I think it proper and agreeable to this history to give an account of our high-priests; how they began, and who those are which are capable of that dignity; and how many of them there had been at the end of the war. In the first place, therefore, history informs us, that Aaron, the brother of Moses, officiated before God as a high-priest, and that after his death, his sons succeeded him immediately: and that this dignity has been continued down from them to all their posterity. Whence it is the custom of our country, that no one should take the high-priesthood of God, but he who is of the blood of Aaron; while every one that is of another stock, though he were a king, can never obtain that high-priesthood.

tempt the haughty high-priests had now brought their brethren the priests into. Of which see chap. 8, 9.

Of this finishing, not of the holy-house, but of the courts about it, called in general the temple, see the note on XVII. 10.

Accordingly the number of all the high-priests | that at Jerusalem. But as for that temple which from Aaron, of whom we have spoken already as was built in Egypt, we have spoken of it *frequentof the first of them, until Phanas, who was made ly already. Now when Jacimus had retained the high-priest during the war by the seditious, was high-priesthood three years, he died; and there eighty-three. Of these thirteen officiated as high-was no one that succeeded him; but the city conpriests in the wilderness, from the days of Moses, tinued seven years without a high-priest. But then while the tabernacle was standing, until the peo- the posterity of the sons of Asmoneus, who had ple came into Judea, when king Solomon erected the government of the nation conferred upon them, the temple to God. For at first they held the when they had beaten the Macedonians in war, high-priesthood till the end of their life: although appointed Jonathan to be their high-priest, who afterward they had successors while they were ruled over them seven years. And when he had alive. Now these thirteen, who were the descend- been slain by the treacherous contrivance of Tryants of two of the sons of Aaron, received this pho, as we have related,† Simon his brother took dignity by succession one after another: for their the high-priesthood: and when he was destroyed form of government was an aristocracy, and after at a feast by the treachery of his son-in-law, his that a monarchy. Now the number of years dur- own son, whose name was Hyrcanus, succeeded ing the rule of these thirteen, from the day when him; after he had held the high-priesthood one our fathers departed out of Egypt, under Moses year longer than his brother. This Hyrcanus entheir leader, until the building of that temple which joyed that dignity thirty years, and died an old king Solomon erected at Jerusalem, were six man, leaving the succession to Judas, who was hundred and twelve. After those thirteen high- also called Aristobulus: whose brother Alexander priests, eighteen took the high-priesthood at Je- was his heir. Judas died of a sore distemper, rusalem, one in succession to another, from the after he had kept the priesthood, together with days of king Solomon, until Nebuchadnezzar king the royal authority, for this Judas was the first of Babylon made an expedition against that city, that put on his head a diadem, for one year. and burnt the temple, and removed our nation into And when Alexander had been both king and Babylon, and then took Josedek the high-priest high-priest twenty-seven years, he departed this captive. The time of these high-priests was four life; and permitted his wife Alexandra to appoint hundred and sixty-six years, six months and ten him that should be high-priest. So she gave the days: while the Jews were still under the regal high-priesthood to Hyrcanus; but retained the government. But after the term of the seventy kingdom herself, nine years, and then died. The years' captivity under the Babylonians, Cyrus, king like duration, and no longer, did her son Hyrcanus of Persia, sent the Jews from Babylon to their enjoy the high-priesthood; for after her death his own land again; and gave them leave to rebuild brother Aristobulus fought against him, and detheir temple. At which time Jesus, the son of prived him of his principality; and he did himself Josedek, took the high-priesthood over the cap- both reign, and perform the office of high-priest tives, when they were returned home. Now he to God. But when he had reigned three years, and his posterity, who were in all fifteen, until and as many months, Pompey came upon him, and Antiochus Eupator, were under a democratical not only took the city of Jerusalem by force, but government for four hundred and fourteen years. put him and his children in bonds, and sent them And then the aforementioned Antiochus, and Ly- to Rome. He also restored the high-priesthood sias the general of his army, deprived Onias, who to Hyrcanus, and made him governor of the nawas also named Menelaus, of the high-priesthood, tion; but forbade him to wear a diadem. This and slew him at Berea; and driving the son of Hyrcanus ruled, besides his first nine years, twentyOnias the Third, put Jacimus into the place of the four years more, when Barzapharnes and Pacorus, high-priest. One that was, indeed, of the stock the generals of the Parthians, passed over Euof Aaron, but not of the family of Onias. On phrates, and fought with Hyrcanus, and took him this account Onias, who was the nephew of Onias alive, and made Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, that was dead, and bore the same name with his king. And when he had reigned three years and father, came into Egypt, and got into the friend- three months, Sosius and Herod besieged and ship of Ptolemy Philometor, and of Cleopatra his took him. When Antony had him brought to wife; and persuaded them to make him the high- Antioch, and slain there. Herod was then made priest of that temple which he built to God in the king by the Romans: but did no longer appoint prefecture of Heliopolis; and this in imitation of high-priests out of the family of Asmoneus; but

* See XII. 9. XIII. 3 and 10.

† Book XIII. chap. 6.

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