were not foreigners neither. This makes it impossible for me to contain my lamentations. But if any one be inflexible in his censures of me, let him attribute the facts to the historical part, and the lamentations to the writer.

However, I may justly blame the learned men among the Greeks, who, when such great actions have been done in their own times, which, upon comparison, quite eclipse the old wars, do yet sit as judges of these affairs, and pass bitter censures upon the labors of the best writers of antiquity: which moderns, although they may be superior to the old writers in eloquence, yet are they inferior to them in the execution of what they intended to do. While these also write new histories about the Assyrians and Medes; as if the ancient writers had not described their affairs as they ought to have done; although these be as far inferior to them in abilities, as they are different in their notions from them. For of old every one undertook to write what happened in his own time; where their immediate concern in the actions made their promises of value, and where it must be reproachful to write lies, when they must be known by the readers to be such. But then, an undertaking to preserve the memory of what hath not been before recorded, and to represent the affairs of one's own time to those that come afterwards, is really worthy of praise and commendation. Now he is to be esteemed to have taken pains in earnest, not who does no more than change the disposition and order of other men's works, but he who not only relates what had not been related before, but composes an entire body of history of his own. Accordingly I have been at great charges, and have taken very great pains, about this history, though I be a foreigner, and to dedicate this work as a memorial of great actions, both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians. But for some of our own principal men, their mouths are wide open, and their tongues loosed presently, for gain and law-suits, but quite tied up when they are to write history; where they must speak truth, and gather facts together with a great deal of pains; and so they leave the writing such histories to weaker people, and to such as are not acquainted with the actions of princes. Yet shall the real truth of historical facts be preferred by us, how much soever it be neglected among the Greek historians.

To write concerning the antiquities of the Jews who they were originally; and how they revolted from the Egyptians; and what country they travelled over; and what countries they seized upon afterward; and how they were removed out of them; I think this not to be a fit opportunity and on other accounts also superfluous. And this because many Jews before me have composed the histories of our ancestors very exactly; as have some of the Greeks done it also ; and have translated our histories into their own tongue; and have not much mistaken the truth in their histories. But then, where the writers of these affairs, and our prophets, leave off, thence shall I take my rise, and begin my history. Now as to what concerns that war which happened in my own time, I will go over it very largely, and with all the diligence I am able. But for what preceded my own age, that I shall pass over briefly.

For example, I shall relate that Antiochus, who was named Epiphanes, took Jerusalem by force, and held it three years and three months; and was then ejected out of the country by the sons of Asmoneus. Afterwards, that their posterity quarrelled about the government, and brought upon their settlement the Romans and Pompey; that Herod also, the son of Antipater, dissolved their government, and brought Sosius upon them; as also that our people made a sedition after Herod's death, while Augustus was the Roman emperor, and Quintillius Varus was in that country: and that the war broke out in the twelfth year of Nero; with what happened relating to Cestius; and what places the Jews assaulted in a hostile manner in the first sallies of the war.

I shall also relate that they built walls about the neighboring cities; and that Nero, upon Cestius's defeat, was in fear of the event of the war; and thereupon made Vespasian general in this war; and that this Vespasian, with the elder of his sons, made an expedition into the country of Judea: what was the number of the Roman army that he made use of; and how many of his auxiliaries were cut off in all Galilee; and how he took some of its cities by force, and others by treaty. Now when I am come so far, I shall describe the good order of the Romans in war, and the discipline of their legions; the amplitude of both the Galilees; with its nature, and the limits of Judea. And I shall particularly go over what is peculiar to the country; the lakes and fountains that are in them: and what miseries happened to every city as they were taken; and all this with accuracy, as I saw the things done, or suffered in them. For I shall not conceal any of the calamities I myself endured; since I shall relate them to such as know the truth of them.

After this, I shall relate how, when the Jews' affairs were become very bad, Nero died; and Vespasian, when he was going to attack Jerusalem, was recalled to take the government upon him: what signs happened to him, relating to his gaining that government; and what mutations of government happened at Rome; and how he was unwillingly made emperor by the soldiers; and how, upon his departure to Egypt, to take upon him the government of the empire, the affairs of the Jews became very tumultuous; as also how the tyrants rose up against them, and fell into dissensions amongst themselves.

I shall then relate how Titus marched out of Egypt into Judea the second time; as also how and where, and how many forces he got together; and in what state the city was by means of the seditious at his coming; what attacks he made, and how many ramparts he cast up: of the three walls that encompassed the city, and of their measures; of the strength of the city, and the structure of the temple, and holy house; and besides, the measures of those edifices, and of the altar; and all accurately determined. A description also of certain of their festivals, and seven

*Titus.

purifications

purifications* of purity: and the sacred ministrations of the priests; with the garments of the priests, and of the high-priests: and of the nature of the most holy place of the temple: without concealing any thing, or adding particulars to the known truth of things.

After this I shall relate the barbarity of the tyrants towards the people of their own nation; as well as the indulgence of the Romans in sparing foreigners: and how often Titus, out of his desire to preserve the city and the temple, invited the seditious to come to terms of accommodation. I shall distinguish also the sufferings of the people, and their calamities; how far they were afflicted by the sedition, and by famine, till at length they were taken. Nor shall I omit to mention the misfortunes of the deserters, nor the punishments inflicted on the captives: as also how the temple was burnt, against the consent of Cæsar: and how many sacred things that had been laid up in the temple were snatched out of the fire: the destruction also of the entire city, with the signs and wonders that preceded it: and the taking the tyrants captives; and the multitude of those that were made slaves : and into what different misfortunes they were distributed. Moreover, what the Romans did to the remains of the wall, and how they demolished the strong holds that were in the country; and how Titus went over the whole country, and settled its affairs together with his return into Italy, and his triumph.

I have comprehended all these things in seven books: and have left no occasion for complaint or accusation to such as have been acquainted with this war: and I have written it down for the sake of those that love truth; but not for those that please themselves with fictitious relations.

* These 7, or rather 5, degrees of purification, are enumerated hereafter, V. 5. The Rabbins make 10 degrees of them; as Reland there informs us.

THE

JEWISH WAR.

BOOK I.

Containing an Interval of 167 Years.

FROM THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM BY ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, TO THE DEATH OF HEROD THE GREAT.