fir

hitherto plundered and murdered, were now
of good courage; and supposed they should
have a breathing time: while the others were
very busy in opposing their enemies without
the city: and that they should now be aveng-
ed on those that had been the authors of their
miseries, in case the Romans did but get the
victory..

looked about for a proper place, where he
might make an impression upon the walls.
But he was in doubt where he could possibly
make an attack, on any side: for the place
was no way accessible where the valleys were;
and on the other side, the first wall appeared
too strong to be shaken by the engines. He,
therefore, thought it best to make an assault
about the monument of John, the high-priest. However, John staid behind, out of his fear
For there it was that the first fortification was of Simon; even while his own men were
lower, and the second was not joined to it. earnest in making a sally upon their enemies
The builders neglecting to build the wall without. Yet did not Simon remain inactive:
strong, where the new city was not much inha- but, continuing near the place of siege, he
bited. Here also was an easy passage to the brought his engines of war, and disposed of
third wall, through which he thought to take them at due distances upon the wall; both
the upper city and through the tower of An- those which they took from * Cestius for-
tonia the temple itself. But at this time, as merly; and those which they got when they
he was going round about the city, one of his seized the garrison that lay in the tower An-
friends, whose name was Nicanor, was wound-tonia. But though they had these engines in
ed with a dart on his left shoulder, as he ap-
proached, together with Josephus, too near to
the wall; and attempted to discourse to those
that were upon the wall about terms of peace.
For he was a person known by them. On
this account it was that Caesar, as soon as he
knew their vehemence, that they would not
bear even such as approached them to per-
suade them to what tended to their own pre-
servation, was provoked to press on the siege.
He also, at the same time, gave his soldiers
permission to set the suburbs on fire: and or-
dered that they should bring timber together,
and raise banks against the city. And when
he had divided his army into three parts, in
order to set about those works, he placed those
that shot darts, and the archers, in the midst of
the banks that were then raising. Before whom
he placed those engines that threw javelins,
and darts, and stones; that he might prevent
the enemy from sallying out upon their works;
and might hinder those that were upon the
wall from being able to obstruct them. So
the trees were cut down immediately, and the
suburbs left naked. But while the timber
was carrying to raise the banks, and the whole
army was earnestly engaged in their works,
the Jews were not quiet. And it happened
that the people of Jerusalem, who had been

Book II. chap. 19.

their possession, they had so little skill in
using them, that they were in a great mea-
sure useless to them. But a few there were
who had been taught by deserters how to use
them: which they did, though after an awk-
ward manner. So they cast stones and ar-
rows at those that were making the banks.
They also ran upon them by companies, and
fought with them. Now those that were at
work covered themselves with hurdles, spread
over their banks; and their engines were op-
posed to them when they made their excur
sions. These engines, that all the legions had
ready prepared for them, were admirably con-
trived: but still more extraordinary ones be-
longed to the tenth legion. Those that threw
darts, and those that threw stones, were more
forcible, and larger than the rest; by which
they not only repelled the excursions of the
Jews, but drove those away that were upon
the walls also. Now the † stones that were
cast were of the weight of a talent; and were
carried upwards of two furlongs. The blow-
they gave was no way to be sustained; not
only by those that stood first in the way, but
by those that were beyond them, for a great
space. As for the Jews, they at first watch-
ed the coming of the stone: for it was of a
white colour; and could, therefore, not only

stone, as in the name of St. Peter, and not Harga only; as Margos, in the masculine, is here a rock, or large Matt. xvi. 18, John i. 42..

be perceived by the great noise it made, but
could be seen also before it came by its bright
ness. Accordingly the watchmen that sat
upon the towers gave them notice when the
engine was let go, and the stone came from
it; and cried out aloud, in their own country
language, THE SON COMETH.
* THE SON COMETH. So those
that were in its way stood off, and threw
themselves down upon the ground. By which
means, and by their thus guarding theinselves,
the stone fell down, and did them no harm.
But the Romans contrived how to prevent
that, by blacking the stone: who then could
aim at them with success, when the stone was
not discerned beforehand, as it had been till
then and so they destroyed many of them at
one blow. Yet did not the Jews, under all
this distress, permit the Romans to raise their
banks in quiet. But they shrewdly and boldly
exerted themselves, and repelled them, both
by night and by day.

much nearer to the wall, that the Jews might not be able to repel them: and gave orders that they should go to work. And when thereupon a prodigious noise echoed round about from three places, and that on the sudden; there was a great noise made by the citizens that were within the So those citizens that were within the city; and no less a terror fell upon the seditious themselves. Whereupon both sorts, seeing the common danger they were in, contrived to make a like defence. So those of different factions cried out one to another, that they acted entirely as in concert with their enemies: whereas they ought, notwithstanding God did not grant them a lasting concord, in their present circumstances, to lay aside their enmities one against another, and to unite together against the Romans.† Accordingly Simon gave those that came from the temple leave, by procla ination, to go upon the wall. John also himself, though he could not believe that Simon was in earnest, gave them the same leave. So on both sides, they laid aside their hatred, and their peculiar quarrels, and formed themselves into one body. They than ran round the walls: and having a vast number of torches with them, they threw them at the machines, and shot darts perpetually upon those that impelled those engines which battered the wall. Nay, the bolder sort leaped out by troops upon the hurdles that covered the ma

And now, upon finishing the Roman works, the workmen measured the distance there was from the wall, and this by lead and a line, which they threw to it from their banks. For they could not measure it any otherwise; because the Jews would shoot at them, if they came to measure it themselves. And when they found that the engines could reach the wall, they brought them thither. Then did Titus set his engines at proper distances, so

were, that the Son of God came now to take vengeance on the sins of the Jewish nation." Which is, indeed, the truth of the fact; but hardly what the Jews could now mean. Unless, possibly, by way of derision of Christ's threatenings so often made, that he would come at the head of the Roman army for their destruction. But even this interpretation has but a very small degree of probability. If I were to make an emendation, by mere conjec ture, I would read ПETPOE instead of TIOE: though the like ness be not so great as in IOE. Because that is the word used by Josephus just before, as I have already noted, on this very occasion. While IOE, an arrow, or dart, is only a poetical word, and never used by Josephus elsewhere; and is, indeed, no way suitable to the occasion. This engine not throwing arrows or darts, but great stones, at this time.

* What should be the meaning of this signal, or watch-will here look for a mystery; as though the meaning word, when the watchman saw a stone coming from the engine, THE SON COMETH ; or what mistake there is in the reading, I cannot tell. The MSS. both Greek and Latin, all agree in this reading. And I cannot approve of any groundless conjectural alteration of the text from TIOE to IOE: that not the son, or a stone, but that the arrow or dart cometh: as hath been made by Dr. Hudson, and not corrected by Havercamp. Had Josephus written even his first edition of these books of the war in pure Hebrew, or had the Jews then used the pure Hebrew at Jerusalem, the Hebrew word for a son is so like that for a stone, Ben and Eben, that such a correction might have been more easily admitted. But Josephus wrote his former edition for the use of the Jews beyond Euphrates, and so in the Chaldee language: as he did this second edition in the Greek language: and bar was the Chaldee word for son, instead of the Hebrew ben; and was used not only in Chaldea, &c. but in Judea also, as the New Testament informs us. Dio also lets us know, that the very Romans at Rome pronounced the name of Simon, the son of Giora, bar Poras, for bar Gioras, as we learn from Xiphiline, page 217. Reland takes notice, that "Many

+ Their internal dissensions were as ruinous to them, or even more so, than the assaults of their foes from without. As neither policy nor interest could induce them to preserve or restrain harmony, this discordant spirit was evidently permitted to reign among them for their destruction. B.

chines,

engines to yield to these blows; except- it happened at this fight, that a certain Jew

their enemies. He also said, that inconsiderate violence was madness: and that this alone was true courage, that was joined with good conduct: he, therefore, commanded his men to take care, when they fought their enemies, that they received no harm from them at the same time; and thereby shew themselves to be truly valiant men.

first appearance of light to go to the battle. || Now among the Jews the ambition was who should undergo the first dangers, and thereby gratify their commanders. Above all they had a great veneration and dread of Simon; and to that degree was he regarded by every one of those that were under him, that at his command they were ready to kill themselves with their own hands. What made the Romans so courageous was their usual custom of conquering, and disuse of being defeated, their constant wars, and perpetual warlike exercises, and the grandeur of their dominion. And what was now their chief encouragement, Titus, who was present every where with them all. For it appeared a terrible thing to grow weary while Cæsar was there and fought bravely as well as they did, and was himself at once an eye-witness of such as behaved themselves valiantly, and he who was to reward them also. It was besides esteemed an advantage at present to have any one's valor known by Cæsar. On which account many of them appeared to have more alacrity than strength to answer it. And now, as the Jews were about this time standing in array before the wall, and that in a strong body; and while both parties were throwing their darts at each other, Longinus, one of the equestrian order, leaped into the very midst of the army of the Jews. And as they dispersed themselves upon this attack, he slew two of their men of the greatest courage. One of them he struck in his mouth, as he was coming to him: the other was slain by him by that very dart which he drew out of the body of the other; with which he ran this inan through his side, as he was running away. And when he had done this, be first of all ran out of the midst of his enemies to his own side. So this man signalized himself for his valor; and many there were who were ambitious of gaining the like reputation. And now the Jews were unconcerned at what they suffered themselves from the Romans; and were only solicitous about what mischief they could do them. And death itself seemed a small matter to them, if at the same time they could but kill any one of their enemies. But Titus took care to secure his own soldiers from harm, as well as to have them overcome

Now Titus brought one of his engines to the middle tower of the north part of the wall. Here a certain crafty Jew, whose name was Castor, lay in ambush, with ten others, like himself, the rest being fled away by reason of the archers. These men lay still for a while, as in great fear, under their breast-plates. But when the tower was shaken, they arose, and Castor did then stretch out his hand, as petitioner, and called for Cæsar, and by his voice moved his compassion, and begged of him to have mercy upon them. Titus, in the innocency of his heart, believing him to be in earnest, and hoping that the Jews did now repent, stopped the working of the battering ram, and forbade them to shoot at the petitioners; and bade Castor say what he wished. He said, that he would come down, if he would give him his right hand for his security. Titus replied, that he was pleased with such agreeable conduct; and would be well pleased if all the Jews would be of his mind, and that he was ready to give the like security to the city. Now five of the ten dissembled with him, and pretended to beg for mercy; while the rest cried out aloud, that they would never be slaves to the Romans, while it was in their power to die in a state of freedom. Now while these men were quarrelling for a long while, the attack was delayed. Castor also sent to Simon, and told him that they might take some time for consultation about what was to be done, because he would delude the power of the Romans for a considerable time. And at the same time that he sent thus to him, he appeared openly to exhort those that were obstinate to accept of Titus's hand for their security. But they seemed very angry, and brandished their naked swords upon the breast-works, and struck themselves upon their breasts, and fell down, as if they had been slain. Hereupon Titus and those with him were amazed at the courage of the men.