Now at that way, paid him great respect. And the || tom she carried her idols with her. honor that was paid him by the Babylonians first she performed her worship to them priseemed to them too small, and beneath his de-vately. But when she was become Anileus's serts; although he were in no small dignity wife, she worshipped them in her accustomed and power there. Nay, all the affairs of Me- manner, and with the same appointed ceresopotamia depended upon him: and he flou- monies which she used in her former husrished more and more in this happy condition band's days. Upon which their most esteemfor fifteen years. ed friends blamed him at first, that he did not act after the manner of the Hebrews, nor perform what was agreeable to their laws, in marrying a foreign wife; and one that transgressed the appointments of their sacrifices and religious ceremonies. That he ought to consider, lest by allowing himself in many pleasures of the body, he might lose his principality, on account of the beauty of a wife; and that high authority which, by God's blessing, he had arrived at. But they prevailed not at all upon him, and he even slew one of them for whom he had the greatest respect, because of the liberty he took with him. This man, when he was dying, impre cated a punishment upon his murderer Anileus, and upon Asineus also; and prayed that all their companions might come to a like end from their enemies: upon the two first as the principal actors of this wickedness; and upon the rest as those that would not assist him when he suffered in the defence of their laws. Now these latter were sorely grieved; yet did they tolerate these doings, because they remembered that they arrived at their present happy state by no other means than their fortitude. But when they also heard of the worship of those gods whom the Parthians adore, they thought the injury that Anileus offered to their laws was to be borne no longer: and a greater number of them came to Asineus, and loudly complained of Anileus; and told him, that it had been well that he had of himself seen what was advantageous to them but that it was now high time to correct what had been done amiss, before the crime that had been committed proved the But as their affairs were in so flourishing a state, there sprang up a calamity among them on the following occasion: When once they had deviated from that course of virtue whereby they had obtained so great power, they affronted and transgressed the laws of their forefathers,* and fell under the dominion of their lusts and pleasures.† A certain Parthian, who came as general of an army into those parts, had a wife following him, who had a vast reputation for other accomplishments, and was particularly admired above all other women for her beauty. Anileus, the brother of Asineus, either heard of her beauty from others, or perhaps saw her himself; and so became at once her lover, and her enemy: partly because he could not hope to possess this woman but by obtaining power over her, as a captive: and partly because he thought he could not conquer his inclinations for her. As soon, therefore, as her husband had been declared an enemy to them, and was fallen in the battle, the widow of the deceased was married to this her lover. However, she did not come into their house without producing great misfortunes both to Anileus himself, and to Asineus: but brought great mischiefs upon them on the following occasion: Since she was led away captive, upon the death of her husband, she concealed the images of those gods which were their country gods, common to her husband and to herself. Now it is the custom of that country for all to have the idols they worship in their own houses, and carry them along with them when they go into a foreign land: agreeably to which cus * Vice is progressive, and wicked men usually pro deed from bad to worse, thus filling up the measure of their iniquity, and preparing themselves for the punishment they deserve. B. † About A. D. 55. This custom of the Mesopotamians to carry their household gods along with them, wherever they travelled, is as old as the days of Jacob: when his wife Rachael did the same. Gec. xxxi. 19. 30-35. Nor is it to pass here unobserved, what great miseries came on these Jews, because they suffered one of their leaders to marry an idolatrous wife, contrary to the law of Moses. Of which matter see the Note on XI. 5. ruin of himself, and of all the rest of them. I arrived at a certain village of his own, he lay They added, that the marriage of this woman still there; as intending to fight him on the was made without their consent, and without day following; because it was the sabbath, a regard to their old laws; and that the wor the day on which the Jews rest. And when ship which she paid to her idols was a re- Anileus was informed of this, by a Syrian proach to the God whom they worshipped. stranger of another village, who not only gave Now Asineus was sensible of his brother's him an exact account of other circumstances, offence; that it had been already the cause of and told him where Mithridates would have a great mischiefs, and would be so for the time feast; he took his supper at a proper time, to come. Yet did he tolerate the same, from and marched by night, with an intent of fallthe good will he had to so near a relation; ing upon the Parthians while they were unand forgave it on account that his brother was apprized what they should do. So he fell quite overborne by his wicked inclinations. upon them abut the fourth watch of the night, But as more and more still came about him and some of them he slew, while they were every day, and the clamors about it became asleep, and others he put to flight; and took greater, he at length spake to Anileus: re- Mithridates, alive, and set him naked upon proving him for his former actions, and de- an ass; which among the Parthians is esteemsiring him, for the future, to leave them off, ed the greatest reproach possible. And whent and send the woman back to her relations. he had brought him into a wood, with such a But nothing was gained by these reproofs, resolution, and his friends desired him to kill for as the woman perceived what a tumult Mithridates, he told them his own mind to the was made among the people on her account; contrary, and said that it was not right to kill and was afraid for Anileus, lest he should come a man who was one of the principal families to any harm for his love to her; she infused among the Parthians, and greatly honored poison into Asineus's food: and thereby took with matching into the royal family that so him off and was now secure of prevailing, far as they had hitherto gone was tolerable: when her lover was to be judge of what should for although they had injured Mithridates, be done about her. yet, if they preserved his life, this benefit would be remembered by him to the advantage of those that gave it him. But that if he were once put to death, the king would not be at rest till he had made a greater slaughter of the Jews that dwelt at Babylon: to whose safety they ought to have regard, both on account of their relation to them, and because if any misfortune happened, they should have no other place to retire to: since he had the flower of their youth under him. By this speech made in council, he persuaded them to act accordingly. So Mithridates was set at liberty. But when he was gone away, hist wife reproached him, that, although he were son-in-law to the king, he neglected to avenge himself on those that had injured him: while he took no care about it, but was contented to have been made a captive by the Jews, and to have escaped them and she bade him to Anileus now took the government upon himself, and led his army against the villages of Mithridates, who was a man of principal authority in Parthia, and had married king Artabanus's daughter. He also plundered them and among that prey was found much money, and many slaves; as also a great number of sheep, and many other things which, when gained, make men's condition happy. Now when Mithridates, who was there at this time, heard that his villages were taken, he was much displeased to find that Anileus had first began to injure him, and to affront him in his present dignity, when he had not offered any injury to him beforehand: and he assembled the greatest body of horsemen he was able, and those out of that number which were of an age fit for war, and came to fight Anileus. And when he was * This custom in Syria and Mesopotamia, of setting men upon an ass, by way of disgrace, is still kept up at Damascus in Syria: where, in order to shew their despite against the Christians, the Turks will not suffer them to ride on horses, but asses only; as Mr. Maundrell assures us, pag. 128. go back, like a man of courage; or else she | Babylonians, and a mighty devastation of all things was made there, by the injuries that Anileus did them. So the Babylonians, and those that had already been in the war, sent to Neerda, to the Jews there, and demanded Anileus. But although they did not agree to their demands; (or if they had been will ing to deliver him up, it was not in their power so to do ;) yet did they desire to make peace with them. To which the other replied, that they also wanted to settle conditions of peace with them, and sent men, together with the Babylonians, who discoursed with Anileus about them. But the Babylonians, upon taking a view of his situation, and having learned where Anileus and his men lay, fell secretly upon them, as they were intoxicated, and fallen asleep, and slew all that they caught of them, without any fear; and killed Anileus himself also. The Babylonians were now freed from Anileus's heavy incursions, which had been a great restraint to the effects of that hatred they bore to the Jews. For they were almost always at variance, by reason of the contrariety of their laws: and which party soever grew boldest, they assaulted the other. And at this time in particular it was, that, upon the ruin of Anileus's party, the Babylonians attacked the Jews. This made those Jews so vehemently to resent the injuries they received from the Babylonians, that being nei But, as soon as Anileus understood that Mithridates was marching with a great army against him, he thought it an ignominious thing to tarry about the lakes, and not to take the first opportunity of meeting his enemies: and he hoped to have the same success, and to beat his enemies as he did before: as also he ventured boldly upon the like attempts. Accordingly he led out his army, and a great many more joined him, in order to betake themselves to plunder other people: and in order to terrify the enemy again by their numbers. But when they had marched ninety furlongs, while the road had been through dry and sandy places, and about the midst of the day, they were become very thirsty and Mithridates appeared, and fell upon them, as they were in distress for want of water. On which account, and on account of the time of the day, they were not able to bear their weather able to fight them, nor bearing to live pons. So Anileus and his men were put to an ignominious rout; while men in despair were to attack those that were fresh, and in good condition: so a great slaughter was made, and many thousands fell. Now Anileus, and all that stood firm about him, rau away as fast as they were able, into a wood; and afforded Mithridates the pleasure of having gained a great victory over them. But there now came in to Anileus a conflux of bad men, who heeded their own lives very little, if they might but gain some present ease. Insomuch that they, by thus coming to him, compensated the multitude of those that perished in the fight. Yet were not these men like to those that fell, because they were rash and inexperienced in war. However, with these he came upon the villages of the with them, they went to Seleucia, the principal city of those parts, which was built by Seleucus Nicator: and which was inhabited by many of the Macedonians, but by more of the Grecians. Not a few of the Syrians also dwelt there. And thither did the Jews Ay. and lived there five years, without any misfortunes. But on the sixth year a pestilence came upon those at Babylon, which occasioned new removals of men's habitations out of that city; and because they came to Seleucia, it happened that a still heavier calamity came upon them on that account. Now the way of living of the people of Seleucia, which were Greeks and Syrians, was commonly quarrelsome, and full of discord; though the Greeks were too hard for the Syrians. When, therefore, the Jews were come thither, 772 thither, and dwelt among them, there arose caped, either by the compassion which their Take Spanheim's note here: " Ctesiphon was a Grecian city, and near to Seleucia. The king of Persia always spent his winter there. Amm. Marcellin. XXIII. 6, pag. 286. Ctesiphon, which Varanes settled in old time. King Pacorus brought more inhabitants to it, and built wall about it: and under its Grecian name made it the best city of Persia. Next to which was Seleucia, &c." See Strabo, XVI. pag. 743. BOOK XIX. Containing an Interval of Thirty-three Years and a Half. FROM THE DEPARTURE OF THE JEWS OUT OF BABYLON, TO FADUS THE roman PROCURATOR. CHAP. I. OF THE ASSASSINATION OF CAIUS BY CHEREA. and insisted on greater honors to be paid him by his subjects than are due to mankind. He also frequented that temple of Jupiter, which they style the capitol; which is with them the most holy of all their temples; and had boldness enough to call himself the brother of Jupiter. And other pranks he did like a madman. As when he laid a bridge from the city Dicearchia, to Misenum, another city upon the sea side, from one promontory to another, of the length of thirty furlongs, as measured over the sea. And this was done, because he esteemed it to be a most tedious thing to row over it, in a small ship: and thought that it became him to make that bridge, since he was lord of the sea, and might NOW TOW Caius did not only demonstrate his madness in offering injuries to the Jews at Jerusalem, or to those that dwelt in the neighborhood, but suffered it to extend itself through all the earth and the sea, so far as was in subjection to the Romans; and filled it with ten thousand mischiefs: so many indeed, in number, as no former history relates. But Rome itself felt the most dismal effects of what he did: while he deemed that not to be any way more honorable than the rest of the cities: but he persecuted its citi-oblige it to give marks of obedience as well zens, and especially the senate and the nobility, and such as had been dignified by illustrious ancestors. He also had ten thousand devices against such of the equestrian order, as it was styled, who were esteemed by the citizens equal in dignity and wealth with the senators; because out of them the senators themselves were chosen. These he treated after an ignominious manner, and removed them out of his way: while they were at once slain, and their wealth plundered: because he slew men generally in order to seize on their riches. He also asserted his own divinity; *N. B. In this and the three next chapters we have, I think, a larger and more distinct account of the slaughter of Caius, and the succession of Claudius, than we have of any such ancient facts elsewhere. Some of the occasions of which probably were, Josephus's bitter hatred against. tyranny; and the pleasure he took in giving the history of the slaughter of such a barbarous tyrant as was this Caius Caligula; as also the deliverance his own nation had by that slaughter. as the earth. So he enclosed the whole bay within his bridge, and drove his chariot over it: and thought that, as he was a god, it was fit for him to travel over such roads as this was. Nor did he abstain from the plunder of any of the Grecian temples; but gave order that all the engravings, and sculptures, and the rest of the ornaments of the statues and donations therein dedicated, should be brought to him: saying, that the best things ought to be set no where but in the best place: and that the city of Rome was that best place. He also adorned his own house and gardens |