*

ria, and Perea; and removed Agrippa from Chalcis unto a greater kingdom. For he gave him the tetrarchy which had belonged to Philip which contained Batanea, Trachonitis, and Gaulonitis. He also added to it the kingdom of Lysanius, and that province which Varus had governed. But Claudius himself, when he had administered the government thirteen years, eight months, and twenty days, died and left Nero to be his successor in the empire. † Whom he had adopted by his wife Agrippina's delusions, in order to be his successor, although he had a son of his own, whose name was Britannicus, by Messalina his former wife; and a daughter, whose name was Octavia, whom he had married to Nero. He had also another daughter by Petina, whose name was Antonia,

CHAP. XIII.

OF THE ADDITION OF FOUR CITIES TO AGRIPPA'S KINGDOM, WHILE THE OTHER PARTS OF JUDEA REMAINED UNDER FELIX; THE DISTURBANCES WHICH WERE RAISED BY THE SICARII, THE MAGICIANS, AND AN EGYPTIAN FALSE PROPHET; AND A CONTEST BETWEEN THE JEWS AND SYRIANS AT CÆSAREA.

NOW

OW as to the things in which Nero actto ed like a madman, out of the extravagant degree of felicity and riches, which he enjoyed and by that means used his good fortune to the injury of others: and after what manner he slew his brother, and wife, and mother; from whom his barbarity spread itself to others that were most nearly related to him; and how, at last, he was so distracted that he became an actor in the scenes, and upon the theatre, I omit to say any more about them because there are writers upon those subjects every where. But I shall confine myself to those actions of his time in which the Jews were concerned.

Nero, therefore, bestowed the kingdom of especially when it seems not only omitted, but contradicted by Josephus; as any one may find that compares their histories together. Possibly Felix might have been a subordinate judge among the Jews some time before, under Cumanus: for that he was in earnest a procurator of Samatia before, I do not believe. Bishop Pearson as well as Bishop Lloyd, quotes this account, but with a doubtful clause: si fides Tacito: If we may believe Ta

the lesser Armenia upon Aristobulus, ‡ Herod's son: and he added to Agrippa's kingdom four cities with the toparchies to them belonging: I mean Abila, and that Julias which is in Perea: Tarichea also, and Tiberias of Galilee. But over the rest of Judea he made Felix procurator. This Felix took Eleazar the arch robber, and many that were with him, alive: when they ravaged the country for twenty years together, and sent them to Rome. § But as to the number of the robbers whom he caused to be crucified, and of those who were caught among them, and whom he brought to punishment, they were a multitude not to be enumerated.

When the country was purged of these, there sprung up another sort of robbers in Jerusalem, which were called Sicarri; who slew men in the day-time, and in the midst of the city. This they did chiefly at the festivals, when they mingled themselves among the multitude, and concealed daggers under their garments, with which they stabbed those that were their enemies and when they fell down dead, the murderers became a part of those that had indignation against them. By which means they appeared persons of such reputation, that they could by no means be discovered. The first man who was slain by them was Jonathan the high-priest. After whose death many were slain every day while the fear men were in of being so served was more afflicting than the calamity itself; and while every body expected death every hour, as men do in war. So men were obliged to look before them, and to take notice of their enemies at a great distance: nor if their friends were coming to them, durst they trust them any longer. But, in the midst of their suspicions and guarding of themselves, they were slain. Such was the celerity of the plotters against them, and so cunning was their contrivance. I

There was also another body of wicked citus. Pears. Annal. Paulin. page S. Marshalls's Tables at A. D. 49.

• Abilene.

+ A. D. 54.

Herod, king of Chalcis.

§ See Antiq. XX. 8. Antiq. XX, 8

men

men gotten together, not so impure in their actions, but more wicked in their intentions; which laid waste the happy state of the city no less than did these murderers. These were such men as deceived and deluded the people, under pretence of divine inspiration, but were procuring innovations and changes of the government. And these prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen; and went before them into the wilderness; as pretending that God would there shew them the signals of liberty. But Felix thought his But Felix thought his procedure was the beginning of a revolt. So he sent some horsemen and footmen, both armed, who destroyed a great number of them.

But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former. For he was a cheat, and pretended to be a prophet also; and got together *thirty thousand men that were deluded by him. These he led round about from the wilderness to the mount which was called the mount of Olives; and was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to domineer over them, by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him. But Felix prevented his attempt; and met him with his Roman soldiers: while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them. Insomuch that when it came to a battle, the Egyptian ran away, with a few others, while the greatest part of those that were with him were either destroyed, or taken alive but the rest of the multitude were dispersed to their homes, and there concealed themselves.

Now, when these were quieted, it happened as it does in a diseased body, that another part was subject to an inflammation. For a company of deceivers and robbers got together, and persuaded the Jews to revolt; and exhorted them to assert their liberty: inflicting death on those that continued in obedience to the Roman government; and saying, that such as willingly chose slavery ought to be forced from such inclinations. For they part

* Four thousand. See Acts xxi. 38.

ed themselves into different bodies, and lay in wait up and down the country, and plundered the houses of their great men, and slew the men themselves, and set the villages on fire; and this till all Judea was filled with the effects of their madness. And thus the flame was every day more and more blown up, till it came to a direct war.

There was also another disturbance at Cæsarea. Those Jews who were mixed with the Syrians, that lived there, raising a tumult against them, the Jews pretended that the city was theirs; and said that he who built it was a Jew, meaning king Herod. The Syrians confessed also that its builder was a Jew but they still said that the city was a Grecian city for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not design it for Jews. On which account both parties had a contest with one another and this contest increased so much, that it came at last to arms; and the bolder sort of, them marched out to fight. For the elders of the Jews were not able to put a stop to their own people, that were disposed to be tumultuous; and the Greeks thought it a shame for them to be overcome by the Jews. Now these Jews exceeded the others, in riches and strength of body. But the Grecian part had the advantage of assistance from the soldiery. For the greatest part of the Roman garrison was raised out of Syria and being thus related to the Syrian part, they were ready to assist it. However, the governors of the city were concerned to keep all quiet and whenever they caught those that were most for fighting on either side, they punished them with stripes and bonds. Yet did not the sufferings of those that were caught, affright the remainder, or make them desist. But they were still more and more exasperated, and deeper engaged in the sedi

:

tion. And as Felix came once into the market-place, and commanded the Jews, when they had beaten the Syrians, to go their ways; and threatened them if they would not; and they would not obey him he sent his soldiers out upon them, and slew a great many of them upon which it fell out that what they had was plundered. And as the sedition still

sarea sixty furlongs. But John, and twelve of the principal men with him, went to Florus, to Sebaste; and made a lamentable complaint of their case; and besought him to help them and, with all possible decency, put him in mind of the eight talents they had given him. But he had the men siezed upon, and put in prison, and accused them for carrying the books of the law out of Cæsarea.

Moreover, as to the citizens of Jerusalem, although they took this matter very ill, yet did they restrain their passion. But Florus acted herein as if he had been hired; and blew up the war into a flame: and sent some to take seventeen talents out of the sacred treasure: and pretended that Cæsar wanted them. At this the people were in confusion, and ran together to the temple, with prodigious clamors; and called upon Cæsar by name; and besought him to free them from the tyranny of Florus. Some also of the seditious cried out upon Florus, and cast the greatest reproaches upon him; and carried a basket about, and begged some money for him; as for one that was destitute of possessions, and in a miser. able condition. Yet was he not ashamed hereby of his love of money; but was more enraged, and provoked to get still more. And instead of coming to Cæsarea, as he ought to have done, and quenching the flame of war which was beginning thence; and so taking away the occasion of any disturbances; on which account it was that he had received a reward; he marched hastily with an army of horsemen and footmen against Jerusalem: that he might gain his will by the army of the Romans and might, by his terror, and by his threatnings, bring the city into subjection.

*

reproached before. And said that it was incumbent on them, in case they had generous souls, and were free speakers, to jest upon him to his face and appear to be lovers of liberty not only in words, but with their weapons also. With this message the multitude was amazed; and upon the coming of Capito's horsemen into the midst of them they were dispersed, before they could salute Florus, or manifest their submissive behaviour to him. Accordingly they retired to their own houses; and spent that night in fear and confusion.

:

Now at this time Florus took up his quarters at the palace; and on the next day he had his tribunal set before it, and sat upon it; when the high-priests, and the men of power, and those of the greatest eminence in the city came all before that tribunal upon which Florus commanded them to deliver up to him those that had reproached him, and told them that they should themselves partake of the vengeance to them belonging, if they did not produce the criminals. But these demonstrated that the people were peaceably disposed, and they begged forgiveness for those that had spoken amiss; for that it was no wonder that in so great a multitude there should be some more daring than they ought to be, and by reason of their youth foolish also. And that it was impossible to distinguish those that offended from the rest; while every one was sorry for what he had done, and denied it out of fear of what would follow. That he ought, however, to provide for the peace of the nation, and to take such counsels as might preserve the city for the Romans; and rather, for the sake of a great number of innocent people, to forgive a few that were guilty; than for the sake of a few of the wicked, to put so large and good a body of men into disorder.

~

This is a passion not easily mortified. Those persons in whom it is predominant generally sacrifice every

consideration of character and esteem to gratify it, considering gain as superior to every thing besides. B.

but