days among the principal commanders, and so long feasted with them, he sent away the rest of his army to the several places where they would be every one best situate: but permitted the tenth legion to remain, as a guard, at Jerusalem; and did not send them away beyond Euphrates, where they had been before. And as he remembered that the twelfth legion had given way to the Jews, under Cestius their general, he expelled them out of all Syria: for they had lain formerly their governors, and the curators of their dominions, whom they had chosen for them, and had sent into their own country for that purpose; which still continued under the management of those whom they had chosen, and were thankful to them for electing them. That accordingly, although he did both admire, and tenderly regard them all, because he knew that every one of them had gone as cheerfully about their work, as their abilities and opportunities would give them leave; yet he said he would immediately bestow re-at Raphanea: and sent them away to a wards and dignities on those that fought the most bravely, and with greater force, and had signalized their conduct in the most glorious manner, and had made his army more famous by their noble exploits: and that no one who had been willing to take more pains than another, should miss of a just retribution for the same. For that he had been exceeding careful about this matter: and that the more, because he had much rather reward the virtues of his fellow soldiers, than punish such as offended." place called Meletine, near Euphrates; which is in the limits of Armenia and Cappadocia. He also thought fit that two of the legions should stay with him, till he should go into Egypt. He then went down with his army. to that Cæsarea which lay by the sea-side; and there laid up the rest of his spoils, in great quantities; and gave order that the сарtives should be kept there: for the winter season hindered him then from sailing into Italy. He TITUS EXHIBITS ALL SORTS OF SHOWS AT CESAREA PHI Hereupon Titus ordered those, whose business it was, to read the list of all that had performed great exploits in this war. then called them to him by their names, and commended them before the company; and rejoiced in them in the same manner as a man LIPPI. ALSO CONCERNING THE SEIZURE OF SIMON THE OW would have rejoiced in his own exploits. He Nw at the same time that Titus Cæsar lay at the siege of Jerusalem, Vespasian also put on their heads crowns of gold, and went an board a merchant ship, and sailed golden ornaments about their necks, and gave from Alexander to Rhodes. Whence he them long spears of gold, and ensigns that sailed away in ships with three rows of oars; were made of silver, and removed every one and as he touched at several cities that lay in of them to a higher rank. And besides this his road, he was joyfully received by them all; he plentifully distributed among them, out of and so passed over from Ionia into Greece. the spoils, and the other prey they had taken, He then set sail from Corcyra, to the prosilver, and gold, and garments. So when montory of Iapyx; whence he took his jourthey had all these honors bestowed on them, ney by land. But as for Titus he marched according to his own appointment made to from that Caesarea which lay by the sea-side every one, and he had wished all sorts of hap-and came to that which is named Cæsarea piness to the whole army, he came down, among the great acclamations which were made to him and then betook himself to offer thank offerings to the gods, and at once sacrificed a vast number of oxen, and stood ready at the altars, and distributed them among the army to feast on. And when he had stayed three * See chap. v. Philippi, and stayed there a considerable of of the seizure of Simon, the son of Gioras: which was made after the following manner: * This Simon, during the siege of Jerusalem, was in the upper city. But when the Roman army was gotten within the walls, and were laying the city waste, he then took the most faithful of his friends with him, and among them some that were stone-cutters, with those iron tools which belonged to their occupation; and as great a quantity of provisions as would suffice them for a long time, and let himself and all of them down into a certain subterraneous cavern, that was not visible above ground. Now so far as had been dug of old, they went onward along it, without disturbance; but where they met with solid earth, they dug a mine under ground: and this in hopes that they should be able to proceed so far, as to rise from under ground in a safe place, and by that means escape. But when they came to make the experiment, they were disappointed of their hope. For the miners could make but small progress, and that with difficulty also. Insomuch that their provisions, though they distributed them by measure, began to fail. And now Simon thinking he might be able to astonish and deJude the Romans, put on a white frock, and buttoned upon him a purple cloak, and appeared out of the ground, in the place where the temple had formerly been. At the first indeed, those that saw him were greatly astonished, and stood still where they were. But afterward they came nearer to him, and asked who he was? Now Simon would not tell them, but bade them call for their tain. And when they ran to call him, † Terentius Rufus, who was left to command the army there, came to Simon, and learned of him the whole truth, and kept him in bonds: and let Cæsar know that he was taken. Thus did God bring this man to be punished, for * Mount Sion. cap + This Terentius Rufus, as Reland in part observes here, is the same person whom the Talmudists call Turnus Rufus; of whom they relate, that " He ploughed up Sion as a field; and made Jerusalem become as heaps; and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest." Which was long before foretold by the prophet Micah, iii. 12, and quoted from him in the prophecies of Jeremiah, xxvi. 18. what bitter and savage tyranny he had exercised against his countrymen, by those who were his worst enemies; and this while he was not subdued by violence, but voluntarily delivered himself up to them to be punished; and that on the very same account that he had lain false accusations against many Jews, as if they were falling away to the Romans, and had barbarously slain them. For wicked actions do not escape the divine anger, nor is justice too weak to punish offenders: but in time overtakes those that transgress its laws, and inflicts its punishments upon the wicked in a manner so much more severe, as they expected to escape it, on account of their not being punished immediately. Simon was made sensible of this by falling under the indignation of the Romans. This rise of his. out of the ground did also occasion the discovery of a great number of others of the seditious at that time, who had hidden themselves under ground. But Simon was brought to Cæsar in bonds, when he was come back to that Cæsarea which was on the sea-side: who gave orders that he should be kept against that triumph which he was to celebrate at Rome upon this occasion. CHAP. III. འ It happened also about this time, that the Jews who remained at Antioch were under accusations, and in danger of perishing, from the disturbances that were raised against them by the Antiochians; and this both on account of the slanders spread abroad at this time against them; and on account of what pranks they had played not long before: which I am obliged to describe without fail, though briefly that I may the better connect my narration of future actions with those that went before. hundred. Yet did all this seem to the Ro- of equal privileges of citizens with the Greeks mans, when they were thus. destroyed ten themselves. And as the succeeding kings thousand several ways, to be a punishment be-treated them after the same manner, they both neath their deserts. After this Cæsar came to multiplied to a great number, and adorned * Berytus, which is a city of Phoenicia, and a their temple gloriously by fine ornaments, Roman colony; and stayed there a longer and with great magnificence, in the use of time, and exhibited a still more pompous so- what had been given them. They also made lemnity about his father's † birth-day, both in proselytes of a great many of the Greeks perthe magnificence of the shows, and in the petually; and thereby, after a sort, brought other vast expenses he was at in his devices them to be a portion of their own body. But thereto belonging. So that a great multitude about this time when the present war began, of the captives were here destroyed after the and Vespasian was recently sailed to Syria, same manner as before. and all men had taken up a great hatred against the Jews; then it was that a certain person, whose name was Antiochus, being one of the Jewish nation, and greatly respected on account of his father, who was § governor of the Jews at Antioch, came upon the theatre at a time when the people of Antioch were assembled together; and became an informer against his father, and accused both him and others, that they had resolved to burn the whole city in one night: he also delivered up to them some Jews that were foreigners, as partners in their resolutions. When the people For as the Jewish nation is widely dispersed heard this, they could not restrain their pasover all the habitable earth, among its inha- sion, but commanded that those who were bitants; so is it very much intermingled with delivered up to them should have fire brought Syria, by reason of its neighbourhood; and to burn them: who were accordingly all had the greatest multitudes in Antioch, by burnt upon the theatre immediately. They reason of the largeness of the city; wherein also fell violently upon the multitude of the the kings, after Antiochus, had afforded them Jews; as supposing that by punishing them a habitation, with the most undisturbed tran- suddenly they should save their own city. As quillity. For though Antiochus, who was for Antiochus, he aggravated the rage they called Epiphanes, laid Jerusalem waste, and were in; and thought to give them a demonspoiled the temple; yet did those that suc-stration of his own conversion, and of his hatred ceeded him in the kingdom restore all the donations that were made of brass to the Jews of Antioch, and dedicated them to their synagogue, and granted them the enjoyment *This Berytus was certainly a Roman colony and has coins extant that witness the same as Hudson and Spanheim inform us. See the note on Antiq. XVI. 11. This birth-day of Vespasian is here changed out of Archbishop Usher, on the year 71, from his real birth-day, which Suetonius says fell on the 16th of the calends of December, i. e. the 17th of November, to the day of his proclamation or inauguration: which indeed both Tacitus and Suetonius place on the calands of July. So I suppose that the doctor and the archbishop mean no more by this birth-day of Vespasian, than that of his government, or inauguration. Though in the former case about Domitian the interpretation can have no place: because he was not of the Jewish customs, by sacrificing after the manner of the Greeks. He persuaded the rest also to compel them to do the same; because they would by that means discover who now inaugurated into any government, nor in several years afterward. Their synagogue. See the note on VI. 10. The Jews at Antioch and Alexandria, the two principal cities in all the east, had allowed them, both by the Macedonians, and afterwards by the Romans, a governor of their own; who was exempt from the jurisdiction of the other civil governors. He was called sometimes barely governor, sometimes ethnarch, and at Alexandria alabarch: as Dr. Hudson takes notice on this place, out of Fuller's Miscellanies. They had the like governor or governors allowed them at Babylon, under their captivity there as the history of Susanna implies. they they were that had plotted against them; since they would not do so. And when the people of Antioch tried the experiment, some few complied; but those that would not do so were slain. As for Antiochus himself, he obtained soldiers from the Roman commander, and became a severe master over his own citizens; not permitting them to rest on the seventh day; but forcing them to do all that they usually did on other days. And to that degree of distress did he reduce them in this matter, that the rest of the seventh day was dissolved, not only at Antioch; but the same thing, which took thence its rise, was done in other cities also for some small time. Now after these misfortunes had happened NOW Titus Caesar, upon the news that to the Jews at Antioch, a second calamity be brought him concerning his father, to fel them for upon this accident, whereby the four-square market-place was burnt down, as well as the archives, and the place where the public records were preserved, and the royal palaces; (and it was not without difficulty that the fire was then put a stop to, which was likely, by the fury wherewith it was carried along, to have gone over the whole city;) Antiochus accused the Jews, as the occasion of all the mischief that was done. Now this induced the people of Antioch, who were under the immediate persuasion, by reason of the disorder they were in, that this calumny was true; and would have been under the same persuasion, even though they had not borne an ill will at the Jews before, to believe this man's accusation: especially when they considered what had been done before; and this to such a degree, that they all fell violently upon those that were accused; and this like madmen, even as if they had seen the Jews in a manner setting fire themselves to the city. Nor was it without difficulty that one Cueus Collegas, the legate, could prevail with them to permit the affairs to be laid before Caesar. For as to * Cesennius Petus, the president of Syria, Vespasian had already sent him away. And so it happened that he was not yet come back thither. But when Collegas had made a careful inquiry into the matter, he found out the truth and that not one of those Jews that There is a coin still preserved of this Cesennius that his coming was much desired by all the Italian cities, and that Rome especially received him with great alacrity and splendor, betook himself to rejoicing and pleasures, to a great degree; as being happily freed from his solicitude. For all men that were in Italy shewed their respect to him in their minds, before he came thither; as if he were already come; as esteeming the very expectation they had of him to be his real presence, on account of the great desire they had to see him; and because the good will they bore him was entirely free and unconstrained. For it was a desirable thing to the senate, who well remembered the calamities they had undergone in the late changes of their governors, to receive a governor who was adorned with the gravity of old age, and with the highest skill in the actions of war, whose advancement would tend, as they knew, to the preservation of those that were to be governed. Moreover, the people had been so harassed by their civil miseries, that they were still more earnest for his coming immediately: as supposing they should then be firmly delivered from their calamities, and believing they should recover their secure tranquillity and prosperity. And for the soldiery, they had the principal regard to him; for to him; for they were chiefly apprized of his military exploits. And since they had ex .... Petus, when he was pro-consul: as Spanheim here informs us. experienced 1 perienced the want of skill and courage in other commanders, they were very desirous to be freed from that great shame they had undergone by their means; and heartily wished to receive such a prince as might be a security and an ornament to them. And as this good will to Vespasian was universal, those that enjoyed any remarkable dignities could not have patience enough to stay in Rome, but made haste to meet him at a very great distance from it. Nay, indeed, none of the rest could endure the delay of seeing him; but did all pour out of the city in such crowds, and were so universally possessed with the opinion that it was easier and better for them to go out than to stay there, that this was the very first time that the city joyfully perceived itself almost emptied of its citizens. For those that staid within were fewer than those that went out. But as soon as the news was come that he was in the vicinity, and those that had met him at first related with what good humor he received every one that came to him; then it was that the whole multitude that had remained in the city, with their wives and children, came into the road, and waited for him there. And those whom he passed made all sorts of acclamations, on account of the joy they had to see him, and the pleasantness of his countenance; and styled him their benefactor and saviour; and the only person who was worthy to be ruler of the city of Rome. And now the city was like a temple, full of garlands and sweet odors. Nor was it easy for him, on account of the multitude, to come to the royal palace, where yet at last he performed his sacrifices of thanksgiving to his household gods, for his safe return. The multitude did also betake themselves to feasting: which feasts and drinkofferings they celebrated by their tribes, their families, and their neighbourhood; and still prayed God to grant, that Vespasian, his sons, and all their posterity, might continue in the Roman government for a very long time: and that his dominion might be preserved from all opposition. And this was the manner in which Rome so joyfully received Vespasian; and thence grew immediately into a state of great prosperity. But before this time, and while Vespasian was about Alexandria, and Titus was lying at the siege of Jerusalem, a great multitude of the Germans were in commotion, and tended to rebellion. And as the Gauls in their neighbourhood joined with them, they conspired together, and had thereby great hopes that they should free themselves from the dominion of the Romans. The motives that induced the Germans to this attempt for a revolt, and for beginning the war, were these: In the first place the nature of the people, which was destitute of just reasonings, and ready to throw themselves rashly into danger upon small hopes. In the next place the hatred they bore to those that were their go. vernors: while their nation had never been conscious of subjection to any but to the Romans; and that by compulsion also. Besides these motives, it was the opportunity that now offered itself, which above all the rest prevailed with them so to do. For when they saw the Roman government in a great internal disorder, by the continual changes of its rulers; and understood that every part of the habitable earth under them was in an unsettled and tottering condition, they thought this the best opportunity that could offer for themselves to make a sedition, when the state of the Romans was so ill. * Classicus also, and Vitellius, two of their commanders, puffed them up with such hopes. These had, for a long time, been openly desirous of such an innovation; and were induced by the present * This Classicus, and Civilis, and Cerealis, are names occasion this great diversity. Domitian was one of Jowell known in Tacitus. The two former, as moving sedi-sephus's patrons; and, when he published these books of tion against the Romans; and the last as sent to repress the Jewish war, was very young, and had hardly begun them by Vespasian: just as they are here described in those wicked practices, which rendered him so infamous Josephus. Which is the case also of Fonteius Agrippa, afterward. While Suetonius seems to have been too and Rubrius Gallus in the next page. But as to the very young, and too low in life, to receive any remarkable favorable account presently given of Domitian; particu- favors from him. As Domitian was certainly very lewd, larly as to his designs in this his Gallic and German expe- and cruel, and generally hated when Suetonius wrote dition; it is not a little contrary to that in Suetonius, about him. Vespas. § 7. Nor are the reasons unobvious that might opportunity |