indignation at the judges, for not understand-
ing that the authority that was given them
was but in jest. So two of the boldest of them
fell upon Zacharias in the middle of the tem-
ple, and slew him. And as he fell down dead,
they bantered him and said, "Thou hast also
our verdict: and this will prove a more sure
acquittal to thee than the other.' They also
threw him down from the temple immediately
into the valley beneath it. Moreover they
struck their judges with the backs of their
swords, by way of abuse; and thrust them
out of the court of the temple; and spared
their lives with no other design than that,
when they were dispersed among the people.
in the city, they might become their messen-
gers, to let them know they were no better
than slaves.

2

slain; so what provoked them against him
was, that hatred of wickedness, and love of
liberty, which are so eminent in him. He
was also a rich man: so that by taking him
off, they did not only hope to seize his effects,
but also to get rid of a man that had great
power to destroy them. So they called toge-
ther, by a public proclamation, seventy of the
principal men of the populace, for a show, as
if they were real judges; while they had no
proper authority. Before these was Zacharias
accused of a design to betray their polity to
the Romans; and of having treacherously sent
to Vespasian for that purpose. Now there
appeared no proof or sign of what he was ac-
cused; but they affirmed themselves, that they
were well persuaded that so it was, and de-
sired that their affirmation might be taken for
sufficient evidence. Now when Zacharias But by this time the Idumeans repented of
clearly saw that there was no way remaining their coming; and were displeased at what
for his escape, as having been treacherously had been done. And when they were assem-
called before them, and then put in prison, bled together by one of the zealots, who
but not with any intention of a legal trial, he had come privately to them, he declared to
took great liberty of speech in that despair of them, what a number of wicked pranks they
his life that he was under. Accordingly he had themselves done in conjunction with those
stood up, and laughed at their pretended ac- that invited them and gave a particular ac-
cusation; and in a few words confuted the count of what mischiefs had been done against
crimes laid to his charge. After which he their metropolis. He said, that "They had
turned his speech to his accusers, and went taken arms, as though the high-priests were
over distinctly all their transgressions of the betraying their metropolis to the Romans; but
law; and made heavy lamentation upon the had found no indication of any such treachery:
confusion they had brought public affairs to. but that they had succored those that had
In the mean time the zealots grew tumultuous, pretended to believe such a thing, while they
and had much ado to abstain from drawing did themselves the works of war and tyranny,
their swords: although they designed to pre- after an insolent manner. It had been indeed
serve the appearance of a judicature to the their business to have hindered them from
end. They were also desirous, on other ac- such proceedings at the first: but seeing they
counts, to try the judges, whether they would had once been partners with them in shedding
be mindful of what was just at their own peril. the blood of their own countrymen, it was
Now the seventy judges brought in their ver-high time to put a stop to such crimes, and
dict, that the person accused was not guilty:
as choosing rather to die themselves with him,
than to have his death laid at their doors.
Hereupon there arose a great clamor of the
zealots upon his acquittal: and they all had

whole temple; while this was, in Josephus's own words, in the middle of the temple, and much the most probable in the court of Israel only: (for we have had no intimation that the zealots bad at this time profaned the court of the priests. See v. 1.) Nor do I believe that our Josephus, who always insists on the peculiar sacredness of that in

not continue to afford any more assistance to
such as were subverting the laws of their fore-
fathers. For that if any had taken it ill that
the gates had been shut against them, and they
had not been permitted to come into the city;

most court, and of the holy house that was in it, would
have omitted so material an aggravation of this barbarous
murder, as perpetrated in a place so very holy, had that
been the true place of it. See Antiq. XI. 7, and the note
here on v. 1.

་

yet that those who had excluded them had put some stop to their wickedness. Accord been punished, and Ananus was dead: and ingly they made no longer any delay, nor that almost all those people had been destroy- took any deliberation in their enormous praced in one night's time. That one might per- tices; but made use of the shortest methods ceive many of themselves repenting for what for all their executions. And what they had they had done; and might see the horrid bar once resolved upon, they put in practice barity of those that had invited them: and sooner than any one could imagine. But their that they had no regard to such as had saved thirst was chiefly after the blood of valiant them : that they were so impudent as to men, and men of good families; the one perpetrate the vilest things, under the eyes sort of which they destroyed out of envy, the of those that had supported them: and that other out of fear. For they thought their their wicked actions would be laid to the whole security lay in leaving no potent men charge of the Idumeans and would be alive. On which account they slew Gorian, a so laid to their charge till somebody should person eminent in dignity, and on account of obstruct their proceedings, or separate hint his family also. He was also for a democracy, self from the same wicked action that and of as great boldness and freedom of spirit they therefore ought to retire home, since as were any of the Jews whatsoever. The the imputation of treason appeared to be a principal thing that ruined him, added to his calumny and that there was no expectation other advantages, was his free speaking. Nor of the coming of the Romans at this time, and did Niger of Perea escape their hands. He that the government of the city was secured had been a great man of valor in their war by such walls as could not easily be thrown with the Romans; but was now drawn through down. And, by avoiding any farther fellow-the middle of the city: and as he went, he ship with these bad men, to make some excuse for themselves, as to what they had been so far deluded, as to have been partners with them hitherto."

CHAP. VI.

OF THE CONTINUED CRUELTY OF THE ZEALOTS TOWARDS
THE CITIZENS; AND THE ARGUMENTS USED BY VESPA-
SIAN TO DISSUADE THE ROMANS FROM PROCEEDING
THE WAR AT THAT TIME.

IN

frequently cried out, and shewed the scars of his wounds. And when he was drawn out of the gates, and despaired of his preservation, he besought them to grant him a burial. But as they had threatened him beforehand not to grant him any spot of earth for a grave, which he chiefly desired of them, so did they slay him without permitting him to be buried. Now when they were slaying him, he made this imprecation upon them, that they might undergo both famine and pestilence in this THE Idumeans complied with these per- war; and besides all, that they might come to suasions, and, in the first place, they set the mutual slaughter of one another: all which those that were in the prisons at liberty; be-imprecations God confirmed against these iming about two thousand of the populace: who thereupon fled away immediately to Simon; one whom we shall speak of presently. After which these Idumenns retired from Jerusalem and went home. Which departure of theirs was a great surprise to both parties. For the people, not knowing of their repentance, raised their courage for a while, as being eased of so many of their enemies. While the zealots grew more insolent; not as deserted by their confederates, but as freed from such men as might hinder their designs, and

pious men and which came most justly upon them, when not long afterward they tasted of their own madness in their mutual seditions one against another. So when this Niger was killed, their fears of being overturned were diminished. And indeed there was no part of the people but they found out some pretence to destroy them. For some were therefore slain, because they had had differences with some of them. And as to those that had not opposed them in times of peace, they watched seasonable opportunities to gain some accusa

See Book II. chap. 20.

tion against them. And if any one did not come near them at all, he was under their suspicion as a proud man. If any one came with boldness, he was esteemed a contemner of them. And if any one came as aiming to oblige them, he was supposed to have some treacherous plot against them. While the only punishment of crimes, whether they were of the greatest or smallest sort, was death. Nor could any one escape, unless he were very inconsiderable, either account of the meanness of his birth, or on account of his fortune.

when it is gotten without fighting, will be more insipid; let him know that a glorious success quietly obtained is more profitable than the dangers of a battle. For we ought to esteem: those that do what is agreeable to temperance. and prudence no less glorious than those that have gained great reputation by their actions in war. I shall lead on my army with greater force, when the enemies are diminished, and my own troops refreshed after the continual labors they have undergone. However, this is not a proper time to propose to ourselves the glory of victory: for the Jews are not now employed in making of armor, or building of walls; nor indeed in getting together auxiliaries: while the advantage will be on their side who give them such opportunity of delay but they are torn to pieces every day by their civil wars and dissensions; and are under greater miseries than, if they were once taken, could be inflicted on them by us. Whether, therefore, any one hath regard to what is for our safety, he ought to suffer these Jews to destroy one another; or whether he hath regard to the greater glory of the action, we ought by no means to meddle with these men now they are afflicted with a distemper at home. For should we now conquer them, it would be said the conquest was not owing to our bravery, but to their sedition."

Now all the rest of the commanders of the Romans deemed this sedition among their enemies to be of great advantage to them, and were very earnest to march to the city: and they urged Vespasian, as their lord and general in all cases, to make haste; and said to him, "The providence of God is on our side, by setting our enemies at variance against one another but still the change in such cases may be sudden, and the Jews may quickly be reconciled again; either because they may be tired out with their civil miseries, or repent of such doings.' But Vespasian replied, They were greatly mistaken in what they thought fit to be done as those that, upon the theatre, love to make a show of their hands, and of their weapons; but do it to their own hazard: without considering what was for their advan- Now the commanders joined in their aptage, and for their security. For that if they probation of what Vespasian had said: and it should now go and attack the city immedi- was soon discovered how wise an opinion he ately, they would but occasion their enemies had given. And indeed there were many of to unite together; and thus convert their force, the Jews that deserted every day, and fled now it is in its height, against themselves. away from the zealots. Although their flight But if they remained a while they would have was very difficult: since they had guarded fewer enemies; because they must be consum-every passage out of the city; and slew every ed in this sedition. "God, God," said he, "acts as the general of the Romans better than I can do; and is giving the Jews up to us, without any pains of our own; and granting our army a victory, without any danger. Therefore it is our best way, while our enemies are destroy-rich purchased their flight by money while ing each other with their own hands, and falling into the greatest of misfortunes, which is that of sedition, to sit still as spectators of the dangers they run into; rather than to fight hand to hand with men that love murdering, and are mad one against another. But if any one imagine that the glory of the victory,

one that was caught at them as taking it for granted they were going over to the Romans. Yet did he who gave them money get clear off: while he only that gave them none was voted a traitor. So the result was, that the

none but the poor were slain. Along all the roads also vast numbers of dead bodies lay on heaps; and even many of those that were so zealous in deserting, at length chose rather to perish within the city. For the hopes of burial made death in their own city appear of the two less terrible to them. But these

་

zealots came at last to that degree of barba- || themselves the instruments of their accomplishrity, as not to bestow a burial, either on ment.

those slain in the city, or on those that lay along the roads. But as if they had made an agreement to cancel both the laws of their

CHAP. VII.

country, and the laws of nature, and at the OF THE TYRANNICAL BEHAVIOUR OF JOHN, AND THE MISsame time that they defiled men with their wicked actions they would pollute the divinity itself also; they left the dead bodies to

CHIEFS DONE BY THE ZEALOTS AT MASADA. ALSO OF
THE REDUCTION OF GADARA; AND THE ACTIONS PER-
FORMED BY PLACIDUS.

putrefy under the sun. And the same punish- BY this time John was beginning to tyran

:

ment was allotted to such as buried any, as to those that deserted which was no other than death. While he that granted the favor of a grave to another, would presently stand in need of a grave himself. In a word, no other gentle passion was so entirely lost among them as mercy. For what were the greatest objects of pity did most of all irritate these wretches: and they transferred their rage from the living to those who had been slain, and from the dead to the living. Nay, the ter-fear, and others out of their good will to him. ror was so very great, that he who survived called them that were first dead happy, as being at rest already as did those that were under torture in the prisons, declare that upon this comparison those that lay unburied were the happiest. These men, therefore, trampled upon all the laws of men, and laughed at the laws of God; and for the oracles of the prophets they ridiculed them, as the tricks of jugglers. Yet did these prophets foretel many things concerning the rewards of virtue, and punishments of vice, which, when these zealots violated, they occasioned the fulfilling of those very prophecies belonging to their own coun-equal. But the main reason that moved men try. For there was a certain ancient oracle of those men, that "The city should be taken, * and the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should invade the Jews: and their own hands should pollute the temple of God." Now while these zealots did not quite disbelieve these predictions, they made

nise; and thought it beneath him to accept of barely the same honors that others had. And joining to himself by degrees a party of the most wicked, he broke off from the rest of the faction. This was brought about by his still disagreeing with the opinions of others; and giving out injunctions of his own, in a very imperious manner. So that it was evident he was setting up a monarchial power. Now some submitted to him out of

For he was a shrewd man to entice men, both by deluding them and putting cheats upon them. Nay, many there were that thought they should be safer themselves, if the causes of their past insolent actions should now be reduced to one head, and not to a great many. His activity was so great, and that both in action and in counsel, that he had not a few guards about him. Yet was there a great plenty of his antagonists that left him : among whom envy weighed a great deal while they thought it a very heavy thing to be in subjection to one that was formerly their

against him was the dread of monarchy. For they could not hope easily to put an end to his power, if he had once obtained it. And yet they knew that he would have this pretence always against them, that they had opposed him when he was first advanced. While every one chose rather to suffer any thing in war, than

This prediction that" the city of Jerusalem should by the seditious, was by their very means soon exactly be taken, and the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when fulfilled. However, I cannot but here take notice of a sedition should invade the Jews; and their own hands Grotius's positive assertion upon Matt. xxvi. 9. here should pollute that temple; or, as it is, VI. 2. "When quoted by Dr. Hudson, that It ought to be taken for any one should begin to slay his countrymen in the city," granted, as a certain truth, that many predictions of the is wanting in our present copies of the Old Testament. Jewish prophets were preserved, not in writing, but by See Essay on the Old Test. pag. 104-112, But this pre-memory." Whereas it seems to me so far from certain, diction, as Josephus well remarks here, though, with the that I think it has no evidence nor probabilty at all. other predictions of the prophets, it was now laughed at

that

that when they had been in a voluntary slavery, for some time, they should afterward perish. So the sedition was divided into two parts: and John reigned in opposition to his adversaries over one of them. But for their leaders, they watched one another; nor did they at all, or at least very little, meddle with arms in their quarrels. But they fought earnestly against the people; and contended one with another which of them should bring home. the greatest prey. But because the city had to struggle with three of the greatest misfortunes, war, tyranny, and sedition; it appeared, upon the comparison, that the war was the least troublesome to the populace of them all. Accordingly they ran away from their own houses to foreigners; and obtained that preservation from the Romans, which they despaired of obtaining among their own people.

before they could arm themselves, and fight them. They also dispersed them, and cast them out of the city. As for such as could not run away, being women and children, they slew of them about seven hundred. Afterward, when they had carried every thing out of their houses, and had seized upon all the fruits that were in a flourishing condition, they brought them into Masada. And indeed these men laid all the villages that were about the fortress waste, and made the whole country desolate; while there came to them every day, from all parts, not a few men, as corrupt as themselves. At that time all the other regions of Judea that had hitherto been at rest were in motion, by means of the robbers. Now as it is in a human body, if the principal part be inflamed, all the members are subject to the same distemper; so by means of the sedition and disorder that was in the metropolis, had And now a fourth misfortune arose, in order the wicked men that were in the country opto bring our nation to destruction. There was portunity to ravage the same. Accordingly, a fortress of very great strength, not far from when every one of them had plundered their Jerusalem, which had been built by our an- own villages, they retired into the desert. Yet cient kings: both as a repository for their were these men that now got together, and effects, in the hazards of war, and for the pre- joined in the conspiracy by parties, too small servation of their bodies at the same time. It for an army, and too numerous for a gang of was called Masada. Those that were called thieves. And thus did they fall upon the * Sicarii had taken possession of it formerly: holy places, and the cities. Yet did it now so but at this time they overran the neighbouring happen that they were sometimes very ill countries; aiming only to procure to them-treated by those upon whom they fell with such selves necessaries; for the fear they were then in prevented their future ravages. But when once they were informed that the Roman army lay still; and that the Jews were divided between sedition and tyranny, they boldly undertook greater matters. And at the feast of unleavened bread, which the Jews celebrate in memory of their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage, when they were sent back into the country of their forefathers; they came down by night, without being discovered by those that could have prevented them; and overran a certain small city called Engaddi. In this expedition they prevented those citizens that could have stopped them,

By these holy places, as distinct from cities, must be meant Proseuchæ, or houses of prayer out of cities; as the synagogues were in cities. Of which we find mention made in the New Testament, and other authors. See Luke vi. 12. Acts xvi. 13, 16. Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 10. In

violence: and were taken by them, as men
are taken in war. But still they prevented
any farther punishment, as do robbers; who
as soon as their ravages are discovered run
their way. Nor was there now any part of
Judea that was not in a miserable condition,
as well as its most eminent city also.

These things were told Vespasian by desert-
ers. For although the seditious watched all
the passages out of the city, and destroyed all,
whosoever they were, that came thither; yet
were there some that had concealed them-
selves: and when they had fled to the Romans,
persuaded their general to come to the assist-
ance of their city, and save the remainder of