Now in the night time,* when John saw informed him of John's flight: and besought that there was no Roman guard about the him to spare them, and to come in, and bring city, he seized the opportunity directly: and the rest of those that were for innovations to taking with him not only the armed men that punishment. But 'Titus, not so much regardwere about him, but a considerable number of ing the supplications of the people, sent part those that had little to do, together with their of his horsemen to pursue after John. But families, he fled to Jerusalem. And, indeed, they could not overtake him, for he was gotthough the man was making haste to get ten to Jerusalem before: they also slew six away, and was tormented with fears of being thousand of the women and children who a captive or of losing his life, yet did he pre- went out with him but returned back and vail with himself to take out of the city along brought with them almost three thousand. with him a multitude of women and children, However, Titus was greatly displeased that as far as twenty furlongs: but there he left he had not been able to bring this John, who them, as he proceeded farther upon his jour- had deluded him, to punishment. Yet he had ney: where those that were left behind made captives enough, as well as the corrupted part sad lamentations. For the farther every one of the city, to satisfy his anger, when it missed of them was come from his own people, the of John. So he entered the city in the midst nearer they thought themselves to be to their of acclamations of joy. And when he had enemies. They also affrighted themselves given orders to the soldiers to pull down a with this thought, that those who would carry small part of the wall, as of a city taken in them into captivity were just at hand; and war, he repressed those that had disturbed the still turned themselves back at the mere noise city rather by threatenings, than by executhey made themselves in their hasty flight: tions. For he thought that many would acas if those from whom they fled were just up-cuse innocent persons, out of their own private on them. Many also missed their ways: and animosities and quarrels, if he should attempt the earnestness of such as aimed to outgo the to distinguish those that were worthy of purest threw down many of them. And, in-nishment from the rest; and that it was betdeed, there was a miserable destruction made of the women and children. While some of them took the courage to call their husbands and kinsmen back; and to beseech them, with the bitterest lamentations, to stay for them. But John's exhortation, who cried out to them to save themselves, and flee away, prevailed. He said also, that if the Romans should seize upon those whom they left behind, they would be revenged on them for it. So this multitude that ran thus away was dispersed abroad; according as each of them was able to run, one faster or slower than another. Now on the next day Titus came to the wall, to make the agreement. Whereupon the people opened their gates, and came out to meet him, with their children and wives; and made acclamations of joy to him, as to one that had been their benefactor, and had delivered the city out of custody. They also *As darkness is so favorable to those who resort to artifice when violence will not prevail, the utmost vigilance should be used to prevent any advantage being ter to let a guilty person alone under his fears, By taken of it. The want of this care has often proved fatal. B. CHAP. CHAP. III. CONCERNING JOHN OF GISCHALA; THE ZEALOTS, AND THE UPON account, as if the And in this con made lamentation on that city were already undone. fusion were the people. But then it must be observed, that the multitude that came out of the country were at discord before the Jerusalem sedition began. For Titus went from Gischala to Cæsarea, and Vespasian from CæPON John's entry into Jerusalem, the sarea to Jamnia, and Azotus, and took them whole body of the people were in an both and when he had put garrisons into uproar and ten thousand of them crowded them, he came back with a great number of about every one of the fugitives that were the people, who were come over to him, upon come to them; and inquired what miseries his giving them his right hand for their prehad happened abroad: when their breath was servation. There were besides disorders and so short, and hot, and quick, that of itself it civil wars in every city: and all those that declared the great distress they were in. Yet were at quiet from the Romans turned their did they talk big under their misfortunes, and hands one against another. There was also pretended to say, that they had not fled away a bitter contest between those that were fond from the Romans, but came thither in order of war, and those that were desirous of peace. to fight them with less hazard. For that it At the first this quarrelsome temper caught would be an unreasonable and fruitless thing hold of private families, who would not agree to expose themselves to desperate hazards among themselves. After which those people. about Gischala, and such weak cities: where- that were the dearest to one another brake as they ought to lay up their weapons, and through all restraints with regard to each their zeal, and reserve them for their metro- other; and every one associated with those of polis. But when they related to them the his own opinion, and began already to stand taking of Gischala, and their decent depar- in opposition one to another. So that sediture, as they pretended, from that place, many tions arose every where; while those that of the people understood it to be no better were for innovations, and were desirous of than a flight. And especially when the peo- war, by their youth and boldness were too ple were told of those that were made cap-hard for the aged and the prudent men. tives, they were in great confusion, and guessed those things to be plain indications that they should be taken also. But for John, he was very little concerned for those whom he had left behind, but went about among the people, and persuaded them to go to war, by the hopes he gave them. He affirmed that the affairs of the Romans were in a weak condition; and extolled his own power. He also jested upon the ignorance of the unskilful; as if those Romans, although they should take to themselves wings, could never fly over the walls of Jerusalem, who found such great difficulties in taking the villages of Galilee, and had broken their engines of war against the walls. These harangues of John corrupted a great part of the young men, and puffed them up for the war. But as to the more prudent part, and those in years, there was not a man of them but foresaw what was coming, and And in the first place all the people betook themselves to rapine: after which they got together in bodies, in order to rob the people of the country. Insomuch that for barbarity and iniquity, those of the same nation did no way differ from the Romans. Nay, it seemed to be a much lighter thing to be ruined by the Romans than by themselves. Now the Roman garrisons, which guarded the cities, partly out of their uneasiness to take such trouble upon them, and partly out of the hatred they bare to the Jewish nation, did little or nothing towards relieving the miserable. Till the captains of these troops of robbers, being satiated with rapine in the country, got all together, from all parts, and became a band of wickedness, and all together crept into Jerusalem, which was now become a city without a governor: and, as the ancient custom was, received without dis tinction all that belonged to their nation. And into which they had put the aforementioned these they then received, because all men sup- persons. Nor did they think it safe for them posed that those who came so fast into the to keep them thus in custody long; since they city came out of kindness, and for their aswere men very powerful, and had numerous sistance. Although these very men, besides families that were able to avenge them. Nay, the seditions they raised, were otherwise the they thought the very people would perhaps direct cause of the city's destruction also. be so moved at these unjust proceedings, as For as they were an unprofitable and an use- to rise in a body against them. It was thereless multitude, they spent those provisions be- fore resolved to have them slain. Accordforehand which might otherwise have beeningly they sent one John, who was the most sufficient for the fighting men. Moreover, sanguinary of them all, to do that execution. besides the bringing on of the war, they This man was also called the son of † Dorcas, were the occasions of sedition and famine in the language of our country. Ten more therein. men went along with him into the prison, with their swords drawn; and so they cut the throats of those that were in custody there. The grand pretence these men made for so flagrant an enormity was, that these men had conferences with the Romans, for a surrender of Jerusalem to them: and so they said they had slain only such as were traitors to their common liberty. Upon the whole, they grew the more insolent upon this bold prank of theirs, as though they had been the benefactors and saviours of the city. There were besides these other robbers that came out of the country, and came into the city, and, joining to them those that were worse than themselves, omitted no kind of barbarity. For they did not measure their courage by their rapines and plunderings only, but proceeded as far as murdering men: and this not in the night time, or privately, or with regard to ordinary men: but did it openly, in the day time; and began with the most eminent persons in the city. For the first man they meddled with was Antipas, one of royal lineage; and the most potent man in the whole city. Insomuch that the public treasures were committed to his care. Him they took and confined as they did in the next place to Levias, a person of great note, with Sophas the son of Raguel: both of whom were of royal lineage also. And besides these they did the same to the principal men of the country. This caused a terrible consternation among the people; and every one contented himself with taking care of his own safety, as they would do if the city had been taken in war. But these were not satisfied with the bonds * See the name, Apoc. ii. 3. †This name Dorcas in Greek, was Tabitha in Hebrew or Syriac, as Acts ix. 36. Accordingly some of the manuscripts set down here Tabetha, or Tabeta. Nor can the context in Josephus be made out but by supposing the reading to have been this, the son of Tabitha: which in the language of our country denotes Dorcas, or a doe. Now the people were come to that degree of meanness and fear, and these robbers to that degree of madness, that these last took upon them to appoint high-priests. So when they had disannulled the succession, according to those families out of which the high-priests used to be made, they ordained certain unknown and ignoble persons for that office that they might have their assistance in their wicked undertakings. For such as obtained this highest of all honors, without any desert, were forced to comply with those that bestowed it on them. They also set the principal men at variance one with another, by several sorts of contrivances and tricks: : Josephus well remarks here, were thereupon obliged to comply with, and assist those that advanced them in, their impious practices. The names of these high-priests, or rather ridiculous and profane persons, were Jesus the son of Damneus; Jesus the son of Gamaliel; Matthias the son of Theophilus; and that prodigious ignoramus Phannias, the son of Samuel. All which we shall meet with in Josephus's future history of this war. Here we may discover the utter disgrace and ruin of Nor do we meet with any other so much as pretended the high-priesthood among the Jews, when undeserv-high-priest after Phannias, till Jerusalem was taken and ing, ignoble, and vile persons were advanced to the holy destroyed. office by the seditious. Which sort of high-priests, as and and gained the opportunity of doing what they pleased, by the mutual quarrels of those who might have obstructed their measures. Till at length, when they were satiated with the unjust actions they had done towards men, they transferred their contumelious behaviour to God himself, and came into the sanctuary || with polluted feet. man not only unworthy of the high-priesthood, but that did not well know what the highpriesthood was such a mere rustic was he. Yet did they bring this man, without his own consent, out of the country, as if they were acting a play upon the stage, and adorned him with a counterfeit face. They also put upon him the sacred garments and upon every occasion instructed him what he was to do. This horrid piece of wickedness was sport and pastime with them. But occasioned the other priests, who, at a distance, saw their law made a jest of, to shed tears; and sorely to lament the dissolution of such a sacred dignity. Now the multitude were going to rise against them already. For Ananus, the most ancient of the high-priests, persuaded them to it. He was a very prudent man, and had perhaps saved the city if he could but have escaped the hands of those that plotted against him. Those men made the temple of God a strong hold for them, and a place whither Now the people could no longer bear the they might resort, in order to avoid the trou- insolence of this procedure; but did all togebles they feared from the people: the sanc- ther run zealously, in order to overthrow that tuary was now become a refuge, and a scene tyranny. And, indeed, they were Gorion the of tyranny. They also mixed jesting among son of Josephus, and Symeon the son of the miseries they introduced, which was more Gamaliel, who encouraged them, by going up intolerable than what they did: for in order and down when they were assembled togeto try what surprise the people would be un-ther in crowds, and as they saw them alone, der, and how far their own power extended, to bear no longer; but to inflict punishment they undertook to dispose of the high-priest- upon these pests and plagues of their freedom: hood by casting lots for it: whereas, as we and to purge the temple of these base polhave said already, it was to descend by suc-luters. The best esteemed also of the highcession in a family. The pretence they made priests, Jesus the son of Gamalas, and Anafor this strange attempt was an ancient prac-nus, the son of Ananus, when they were at their tice, while they said that of old it was deter- assemblies, bitterly reproached the people for mined by lot. But in truth it was no better their sloth, and excited them against the zeathan a dissolution of an undeniable law, and lots. For that was the name they went by; a cunning contrivance to seize upon the go- as if they were zealous in good undertakings; vernment, derived from those that presumed and were not rather zealous in the worst acto appoint governors as they themselves tions, and extravagant in them beyond the pleased. example of others. * Hereupon they sent for one of the pontifical tribes, which is called † Eniachim, and cast lots which of it should be the high-priest. By fortune the lot so fell as to demonstrate their iniquity after the plainest manner for it fell upon one whose name was Phannias, the son of Samuel, of the village Aphtha. He was a He was a * Numbers xvii. †This tribe or course of the high-priests, or priests here called Eniakim, seems to the learned Mr. Lowth, one well versed in Josephus, to be that in 1 Chron. xxiv. 12, the Course of Jakim; where some copies have the Course of Eliakim. And I think this to be by no means an improbable conjecture. This Symeon, the son of Gamaliel, is mentioned as the president of the Jewish Sanhedrim, and one that pe Now, when the multitude were gotten together to an assembly, and every one was in indignation at these men's seizing upon the sanctuary; at their rapine and murders; but had not yet begun their attacks upon them: (the reason of which was, that they imagined it to be a difficult thing to suppress these zea rished in the destruction of Jerusalem, by the Jewish Rab, bins; as Reland observes on this place. He also tells us, that those Rabbins mention one Jesus, the son of Gamala, as once a high-priest; but this long before the destruction of Jerusalem. So that if he were the same person with this Jesus the son of Gamala, in Josephus, he must have lived to be very old, or they have been very bad chronologers, lots; as, indeed, the case was:) Ananus stood persons slain. We have seen this also; so in the midst of them; and casting his eyes that still the best of the herd of brute animals, frequently at the temple, and having a flood as it were, have been led to be sacrificed, of tears in his eyes, he said, " Certainly it had when yet nobody said one word, or moved his been good for me to die before I had seen the right hand for their preservation. Will you house of God full of so many abominations; bear, therefore? Will you bear to see your or these sacred places, that ought not to be sanctuary trampled on? And will you lay trodden upon at random, filled with the feet steps for these profane wretches, upon which of these blood-shedding villains. Yet do I, they may mount to higher degrees of insowho am clothed with the vestments of the lence? Will not you pluck them down from high-priesthood, and am called by that most their exaltation? For even by this time venerable name of high-priest, still live, and they had proceeded to higher enormities, if am but too fond of living; and cannot endure they had been able to overthrow any thing to undergo a death which would be the glory greater than the sanctuary. They have seized of my old age. And if I were the only per- upon the strongest place of the whole city: son concerned, and as it were in a desert, I you may call it the temple if you please; would give up my life, and that alone for though it be like a citadel or fortress. Now God's sake. For to what purpose is it to live while you have tyranny in so great a degree among a people insensible of their calamities, walled in, and see your enemies over your and where there is no notion remaining of any heads, to what purpose is it to take counsel? remedy for the miseries that are upon them? And what have you to support your minds For when you are seized upon you bear it; withal? Perhaps you wait for the Romans, and when you are beaten you are silent; and that they may protect our holy places. Are when people are murdered nobody dares so our matters then brought to that pass? And much as to send out a groan openly. O bit- are we to come to that degree of misery, that ter tyranny that we are under! But why do cur enemies themselves are expected to pity I complain of the tyrants? Was it not you, us? Was it not you, us? O wretched creatures! Will not you and your sufferance of them, that have nou- rise up, and turn upon those that strike you? rished them? Was it not you that overlooked Which you may observe in wild beasts themthose that first of all got together, for they selves, that they will avenge themselves on were then but a few; and by your silence those that strike them. Will not you call to made them grow to be many? And by con- mind every one of you the calamities you yourniving at them when they took arms, in effect selves have suffered? Nor lay before your eyes armed them against yourselves? You ought what afflictions you yourselves have undergone? to have then prevented their first attempts, And will not such things incite your souls to when they began reproaching your relations. revenge? Is, therefore, that most honorable But by neglecting that care in time, you have and most natural of our passions utterly lost, encouraged these wretches to plunder men. I mean the desire of liberty? Truly we are in When houses were pillaged, nobody said a love with slavery, and in love with those that word: which was the occasion why they car-lord it over us as if we had received that ried off the owners of those houses; and when principle of subjection from our ancestors. they were drawn through the midst of the city did they undergo many and great wars for the nobody came to their assistance. They then sake of liberty. Nor were they so far overproceeded to put those whom you had betray- come by the power of the Egyptians, or the ed into their hands into bonds. I do not say Medes, but that still they did what they how many, and of what characters, those men thought fit, notwithstanding their commands were whom they thus served: but certainly to the contrary. And what occasion is there they were such as were accused by none, and now for a war with the Romans? (I meddle condemned by none. And since nobody suc- not with determining whether it be an advancoured them when they were put into bonds, tageous and profitable war or not :) What the consequence was, that you saw the same pretence is there for it? Is it not that we may Yet enjoy |