not disposed to fight from the very beginning. || any farther slaughters, out of commiseration And now the less so because they had been of these inhabitants of the place. But for beaten. But the foreigners, who were very those that had fled to the lake, upon seeing numerous, would force them to fight so much the city taken, they sailed as far as possibly the more. Insomuch that there was a clamor they could from the enemy. and a tumult among them: as all mutually angry one at another. And when Titus heard this tumult, for he was not far from the wall, he cried out, "Fellow-soldiers, now is the time. And why do we make any delay, when God is giving up the Jews to us? Those that have escaped our hands are in an uproar against one another. We have the city if we make haste. But, besides haste, we must undergo some labor, and use some courage. For no great things are to be accomplished without danger. Accordingly, we must not only prevent their uniting again, which necessity will soon compel them to do: but we must also prevent the coming of our own men to our assistance: that, as few as we are, we may conquer so great a multitude, and may ourselves alone take the city." As soon as Titus had said this he leaped upon his horse, and rode apace down to the lake by which he marched, and entered into the city the first of them all: as did the others soon after him. Hereupon those that were upon the walls were seized with a terror at the boldness of the attempt. Nor durst any one venture to fight with him, or to hinder him. So they left guarding the city; and some of those that were about Jesus fled over the country: while others of them ran down to the lake, and met the enemy in the teeth. And some were slain as they were getting up into the ships: but others of them as they attempted to overtake those that were already gone abroad. There was also a great slaughter made in the city, while those foreigners, that had not fled away already, made opposition: but the natural inhabitants were killed without fighting. For in hopes of Titus's giving them his right hand for their security, † and out of a consciousness that they had not given any consent to the war, they avoided fighting, till Titus had slain the authors of this revolt; and then put a stop to * See chap. 9. This was designed as a pledge of his good will and lenity towards them. Giving of the hand was a common Hereupon Titus sent one of his horsemen to his father, and let him know the good news of what he had done. At which, as was natural, he was very joyful: both on account of the courage, and glorious actions, of his son. For he thought that now the greatest part of the war was over. He then came thither himself, and set men to guard the city; and gave them command to take care that nobody got privately out of it, but to kill such as attempted so to do. And on the next day he went down to the lake, and commanded that vessels should be fitted up, in order to pursue those that had escaped in the ships. These vessels were quickly gotten ready accordingly: because there was great plenty of materials, and a competent number of artificers. Now this lake of Gennesareth is so called from the country adjoining to it. Its breadth is forty furlongs; and its length an hundred and forty. Its waters are sweet, and very agreeable for drinking: they are finer than the thick waters of other fens. It is also temperate when you draw it up, and of a more gentle nature than river or fountain water: and yet always cooler than one would expect in so diffuse a place as this is. Now when this water is kept in the open air, it is as cold as that snow which the country people are accustomed to make by night in summer. There are several kinds of fish in it, different both to the taste and the sight from those elsewhere. It is divided into two parts by the river Jordan. Now Panium is thought to be the fountain of Jordan; but, in reality, it is carried thither after an occult manner from the place called Phiala. This place lies as you go up to Trachonitis: and is an hundred and twenty furlongs from Cæsarea; and is not far out of the road on the right hand. And indeed it hath its name of Phiala (vial or bowl) very justly, from the roundness of its circumference, as being round like a wheel. Its method among the Easterns, to signify their intention of favor. B. water water continues always up to its edges, with- || out either sinking, or running over. And as this origin of Jordan was formerly not known, it was discovered so to be when Philip was tetrarch of Trachonitis. For he had chaff thrown into Phiala, and it was found at Panium, where the ancients thought the fountain head of the river was, whither it had been therefore carried by the waters. As for Panium itself, its natural beauty had been improved by the royal liberality of Agrippa, and adorned at his expense. Now Jordan's visible stream arises from this cavern, and divides the marshes and fens of the lake Semechonitis. And when it hath run another hundred and twenty furlongs, it first passes by the city Julias, and then passes through the middle of the lake Gennesareth. After which it runs a long way over a desert, and then makes its exit into the lake Asphaltites. For besides the good temperature of the air, But now, when the vessels were gotten The country also that lies over against this lake hath the same name of Gennesareth. Its nature is wonderful, as well as its beauty. Its soil is so fruitful, that all sorts of trees can grow upon it: and the inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there. For the temper of the air is so well mixed, that it agrees very well with those several sorts: particularly walnuts, which require the coldest air, flourish there in vast plenty. There are palm-trees also, which grow best in hot air. Fig trees also and olives grow near them, which yet require an air that is more temperate. One may call this place the ambition of nature; for it forces those plants that are naturally enemies to one another to agree together. It is a happy contention of the seasons: as if every one of them laid claim to this country. For it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruit, beyond men's expectation; but pre-tual fight, the Romans ran many of them. serves them also a great while. It supplies men with the principal fruits, with grapes* and figs, continually, during ten months of the year and the rest of the fruits, as they become ripe together through the whole year. * It may be worth our while to observe here, that near this lake of Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months of the year. We may observe also, that in Cyril of Jerusalem, Cateches. xviii. § 8. which was delivered not long before Easter, there were no fresh leaves of fig trees, nor bunches of grapes, in Judea. So that when St. Mark says, xi. 13. that our Saviour, soon after 1 through with their long poles. Sometimes the people destitute of proper habitations, and would be able to compel such as they fled to, to fight against the Romans; Vespasian acknowledged, that they did not deserve to be saved; and that if they had leave given them to retire, they would make use of it against those that gave them that leave. But still he considered with himself, * after what manner they should be slain. For if he had them slain there, he suspected the people of the country would thereby become his enemies. For it was not probable they would bear that so many that had been supplicants to him should be killed; and to offer violence to them, after he had given them assurances of their lives, was repugnant to his own feelings. However, his friends were too hard for him, and pretended that nothing against the Jews could be an impiety; and that he ought to prefer what where both could not be made consistent. So he gave them an ambiguous liberty, to do as they advised; and permitted the prisoners to go along no other road than that which led to Tiberias. So they readily believed what they desired to be true, and went along securely, with their effects, the way which was allowed them; while the Romans seized upon all the road that led to Tiberias, that none of them might go out of it; and shut them up in the city. Then came Vespasian, and ordered them all to stand in the stadium; and com their ships, and themselves who were taken in them. And for such as were drowning in the sea, if they raised their heads up above the water, they were either killed by darts, or caught by the vessels. But if, in the desperate case they were in, they attempted to swim to their enemies, the Romans cut off their heads or their hands. And indeed they were destroyed after various manners every where; till the rest, being put to flight, were forced to get upon the land, while the vessels encompassed them about on the sea. But as many of these were repulsed when they were getting ashore, they were killed by the darts upon the lake and the Romans leaped out of their vessels, and destroyed a great many more upon the land. One might then see the lake all bloody, and full of dead bodies: for not one of them escaped. And a terrible smell, and a very sad sight, there was on the follow-was profitable before what was fit to be done, ing days over that country. For as for the shores they were full of shipwrecks, and of dead bodies all swelled; and as the corpses were inflamed by the sun, and putrefied, they corrupted the air. Insomuch that the misery was not only the object of commiseration to the Jews, but to those that hated them, and had been the authors of that misery. This was the result of the sea fight. The number of the slain, including those that were killed in the city before, was six thousand five hundred. After this fight was over, Vespasian sat up-manded them to kill the old men, together on his tribunal at Taricheæ, in order to distinguish the foreigners from the old inhabitants. For those foreigners appeared to have begun the war. So he deliberated with the other commanders, whether he ought to save those old inhabitants or not? And when those commanders alleged, that the dismission of them would be to his own disadvantage, because when they were once set at liberty, they would not be at rest, since they would be *This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian ever did in this whole war, as he did it with great reluctance also. It was done both after public assurance given of sparing the prisoners' lives; and when all knew and confessed that these prisoners were no way guilty of any sedition against the Romans. Nor indeed did Titus now give his consent, so far as appears: nor ever act of himself so barbarously. Nay, soon after this, Titus grew quite weary of shedding of blood, and of punishing the with the others that were useless, which were in number a thousand and two hundred. Out of the young men he chose six thousand of the strongest, and sent them to Nero, to dig through the isthmus; and sold the remainder for slaves, being thirty thousand and four hundred: besides such as he made a present of to Agrippa. For as to ti ose who belonged to his kingdom, he gave him leave to do what he pleased with them. However, the king innocent with the guilty; and gave the people of Gischala leave to keep the Jewish sabbath, IV. 2. in the midst of their siege. Nor was Vespasian disposed to do what he did, till his officers persuaded him; and that from two principal topics; viz. that nothing could be unjust that was done against Jews: and that, when both cannot be consistent, advantage must prevail over justice. sold sold these also for slaves. But for the rest of the multitude, who were Trachonites and Gaulanites, and of Hippos, and some of Gadara, the greatest part of them were seditious persons, and fugitives: who were of such shameful characters, that they preferred war before peace. These prisoners were taken on the eighth day of the month Gorpieus, or Elul.* BOOK IV. Containing an Interval of about One Year. FROM THE SIEGE OF GAMALA, TO THE COMING OF TITUS TO BESIEGE JERUSALEM. CHAP. I. THE SIEGE AND TAKING OF GAMALA. Now OW all those Galileans who, after the taking of Jotapata, had revolted from the Romans, did, upon the conquest of Taricheæ, deliver themselves up to them again. And the Romans received all the fortresses and the cities; excepting Gischala, and those that had seized upon mount Tabor. Gamala also, which is a city over against Taricheæ, but on the other side of the lake, conspired with them. This city lay upon the borders of Agrippa's kingdom, as also did Sogana, and Seleucia. And these were both parts of Gaulanitis. For Sogana was a part of that called the upper Gaulanitis: as was Gamala of the lower. While Seleucia was situate at the lake Semechonitis, which lake is thirty furlongs in breadth, and sixty in length. Its marshes reach as far as the place Daphne: which in other respects is a delicious place; and hath such fountains as supply water to what is called little Jordan, under the temple of the † golden calf, where it is sent into great Jordan. Now Agrippa had united Sogana and Seleucia by leagues to himself, at the very beginning of * A. D. 67. ~ + Here we have the exact situation of one of Jeroboam's golden calves, at the exit of little Jordan, into great Jordan, near a place called Daphne, but, of old, Dan. See the note on Antiq. VIII. 8. 2. But Reland suspects, that the revolt from the Romans. Yet did not Gamala accede to them; but relied upon the difficulty of the place, which was greater than that of Jotapata. For it was situate upon a rough ridge of a high mountain, with a kind of neck in the middle. Where it begins to ascend, it lengthens itself, and declines as much downward before as behind. Insomuch that it is like a camel in figure: from whence it is so named, although the people of the country do not pronounce it accurately. Both on the side and the face of these are abrupt parts, divided from the rest, and ending in deep vallies. Yet are the parts behind, where they are joined to the mountain, somewhat easier of ascent than the other. But then the people belonging to the place have cut an oblique ditch there, and made that hard to be ascended also. On its acclivity, which is straight, houses are built, and those very thick and close to one another. The city also hangs so strangely, that it looks as if it would fall down upon itself; so sharp is it at the top. It is exposed to the south and its southern mount, which reaches to an immense height, was in the nature of a citadel to the city and above that was a precipice, not walled about, but extending itself to an imeven here we should read Dan, instead of Daphne, there being no where else any mention of a place called Daphne hereabouts. Gamal is Hebrew for a camel. mense depth. There was also a spring of water within the wall, at the utmost limits of the city. nothing but what was for their own advantage. Now when the banks were finished, which was done on the sudden, both by the multitude of hands, and by their being accustomed to such work, they brought the machines. But Chares and Joseph, who were the most potent men of the city, set their armed men As this city was naturally hard to be taken, so had Josephus, by building a wall about it, made it still stronger; as also by ditches and mines under ground. The people that were in it were made more bold by the nature of the place, than the people of Jotapata hadiu order, though already in a fright, because been but it had much fewer fighting men in it. And they had such a confidence in the situation of the place, that they thought the enemy could not be too many for them. For the city had been filled with those that had fled to it for safety, on account of its strength. On which account they had been able to resist those whom Agrippa sent to besiege it, for seven months together. they did not suppose that the city could hold out long, since they had not a sufficient quan tity either of water, or of other necessaries. However, their leaders encouraged them, and brought them out upon the wall, and for a while, indeed, they drove away those that were bringing the machines. But when those machines threw darts and stones at them, they retired into the city. Then did the Romans But Vespasian removed from Emmaus, bring battering rams to three several places, where he last pitched his camp, before the and made the wall shake and fall. They city Tiberias: (now Emmaus, if it be inter- then poured in over the parts of the wall that preted, may be rendered a warm bath; for were thrown down, with a mighty sound of therein is a spring of warm water, useful for trumpets, and noise of armor, and with a shout healing;) and came to Gamala. Yet was its of the soldiers, and brake in by force upon situation such that he was not able to encom- those that were in the city. But these men pass it all round with soldiers to watch it. fell upon the Romans for some time, at their But where the places were practicable, he set first entrance, aud prevented their going any men to watch it, and seized upon that moun- farther; and with great courage beat them tain which was over it. And as the legions, back. And the Romans were so overpoweraccording to their usual custom, were fortify-ed by the greater multitude of the people, ing their camp upon that mountain, he began who beat them on every side, that they were to cast up banks at the bottom, at the part obliged to run into the upper parts of the city. towards the east, where the highest tower of the whole city was, and where the fifteenth legion pitched their camp; while the fifth legion did duty over against the midst of the city, and whilst the tenth legion filled up the ditches and the vallies. Now at this time it was, that as king Agrippa was come nigh the walls, and was endeavoring to speak to those that were on the walls, about a surrender, he was hit with a stone in his right elbow, by one of the slingers. He was then immediately surrounded by his own men. But the Romans were excited to set about the siege, by their indignation on the king's account, and by their fear on their own account; as concluding that those men would omit no kinds of barbarity against foreigners and enemies: who were so enraged against one of their own nation, and one that advised them to Whereupon the people turned about, and fell By them. |