Page images
PDF
EPUB

ror: as not knowing how he should meet the Macedonians; since the king was displeased at his disobedience. He therefore ordained that the people should make supplications, and should join with him in offering sacrifice to God; whom he besought to protect that nation, and to deliver them fromt he perils that were coming upon them. God however warned him in a dream, which came upon him after he had offered sacrifice, that he should take courage, and adorn the city, and open the gates; that the rest should appear in white garments; but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits proper to their order; without the dread of any ill consequences; which the providence of God would prevent. When Jaddua rose from his sleep, be greatly rejoiced; and declared to all the warning he had received from God: and having acted entirely according to his dream, he awaited the coming of the king.

When he understood that Alexander was not far from the city, he went out in procession, with the priests, and the multitude of the citizens. The procession was venerable, and the manner of it different from that of other nations. It reached to a place called Sapha; which name, translated into Greek, signifies a prospect; for you have thence a prospect both of Jerusalem and of the temple: and when the Phoenicians and the Chaldees* that followed him, thought they should have liberty to plunder the city, and torment the high-priest to death; which the king's displeasure fairly promised them, the very reverse happened. For when the multitude appeared at a distance in white garments, while the priests stood clothed with fine linen, and the high-priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his mitre on his head; having the golden plate whereon the name of God was engraven; Alexander approached by bimself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high-priest. The Jews also did altogether salute Alexander, and encompass him about. Hereupon the kings of Syria, and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his mind. However, Parmenio alone went up to him, and asked him how it came to pass, that when all others adored him, he should adore the high-priest of the Jews? To

*Cutheans.

whom he replied, "I did not adore him, but that God who hath honoured him with his high-priesthood. For I saw this person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios in Macedonia. Who, when I was considering with myself, how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay; but boldly to pass over the sea thither: for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians. Whence it is that having seen no other in that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians; and that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind."

When he had said this to Parmenio, and had given the highpriest his right hand, the priests ran along by him; and he came into the city.* And when he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high-priest's direction: and magnificently treated both the high-priest, and the priests. And when† the book of Daniel was shewn to him wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. And as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present: but the next day he called them to him, and bade them ask what favours they pleased of him. Accordingly the high-priest desired that they might enjoy the laws of their fore-fathers, and might pay no tribute the seventh year. This was readily granted. And when they intreated that he would permit the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly promised to do hereafter what they desired. And when he said to the multitude, that if any

*The time of the year when Alexander came to Jerusalem, seems rightly determined by the Rabbins in Megillath Taanith; when they keep the 21st of Casleu, a festival in memory of their superiority over the Samaritans at this time: as Reland here informs us. See the same discourse, page 56. Reland informs us farther that the same book says, the principal Jews were in white garments; with other cir cumstances agreeing with Josephus.

The passages shewn to the king upon this occasion might be Dan. vii. 6. viii. 3-8, 20, 21, 22. xi. 3. some or all of them very plain predictions of Alexander's conquests and successes.

of them would enlist themselves in his army, on the condition that they should continue under the laws of their forefathers, and live according to them, he was willing to take them with him; many were ready to accompany him in his wars.

When Alexander had thus settled matters at Jerusalem, he led his army into the neighbouring cities. And when all the inhabitants, to whom he came, received him with great kindness, the Samaritans, who had then Shechem for their metropolis, (a city situate at mount Gerizzim, and inhabited by apostates of the Jewish nation;) seeing that Alexander had so greatly honoured the Jews, determined to profess themselves Jews. For such is the disposition of the Samaritans, as we have already* declared, that when the Jews are in adversity, they deny that they are of kin to them; and then they confess the truth. But when they perceive that some good fortune hath befallen them, they immediately pretend to have communion with them, saying, that they belong to them; and derive their genealogy from the posterity of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Accordingly, they made their address to the king with splendour; and shewed great alacrity in meeting him, at a little distance from Jerusalem. And when Alexander had commended them, the Shechemites approached to him: taking along with them the troops that Sanballat had sent him: and they desired that he would come to their city, and do honour to their temple also. To whom he promised, that when he returned he would come to them. And when they petitioned that he would remit the tribute of the seventh year to them, because they did not sow thereon; he asked who they were that made such a petition; and when they said that they were Hebrews, but had the name of Sidonians, living at Shechem: he asked them again whether they were Jews? And when they said they were not Jews, "It was to the Jews," said he, "that I granted that privilege: however, when I return, and am thoroughly informed by you of this matter, I will do what I shall think proper." And in this manner took leave of the Shechemites: but ordered that the troops of Sanballat should follow him into Egypt, because there he de

See Book IX. Chap. 14.

signed to give them lands, which he did a little after in Thebais, when he ordered them to guard that country.

On the death of Alexander* the government was divided among his successors, but the temple upon mount Gerizzim remained. And if any one were accused by those of Jerusalem of having eaten thingst common, or of having broken the sabbath, or of any other crime of the like nature, he fled away to the Shechemites, and said that he was accused unjustly. About this time it was that Jaddua, the high-priest, died: and Onias,` the son, took the high-priesthood. This was the state of the affairs of the people of Jerusalem at this time.

* An. 323.

+ Here Josephus uses the very word "eating Kowopaque, things common," for "eating things unclean ;" as does our New Testament, Acts x. 14, 15, 28, xi. 8, 9. Rom, xiv. 14. See the like in Josephus, XII. 7.

BOOK XII.

Containing an Interval of One Hundred and Seventy Years.

FROM THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT, TO THE DEATH OF JUDAS MACCABEUS.

CHAP. I.

OF THE TREACHEROUS SEIZURE OF JERUSALEM AND JUDEA BY PTOLEMY, THE SON OF LAGUS; WHO CARRIED MANY OF THE JEWS THENCE, AND PLANTED THEM IN EGYPT.

WHEN Alexander king of Macedon, had put an end to the dominion of the Persians, and had settled the affairs in Judea after the aforementioned manner, he ended his life. And as his government fell among many, Antigonus obtained Asia; Seleucus, Babylon; and of the other nations which were there, Lysimachus governed the Hellespont; Cassander possessed Macedonia; and Ptolemy the son of Lagus seized upon Egypt. And while these princes ambitiously strove one against another, every one for his own principality, it came to pass that there were continually wars; and the cities were sufferers, and lost a great many of the inhabitants in these times of distress: insomuch that all Syria, by the means of Ptolemy the son of Lagus, underwent the reverse of that denomination of Saviour which he then had. He also seized upon Jerusalem: and for that end made use of deceit and treachery. For as he came into the city on a sabbath day, as if he would offer sacrifice, he, without any trouble, gained the city: while the Jews did not oppose him. For they did not suspect him to be their enemy; and he gained it thus, because they were free from suspicion of him; 0 o

VOL. II.

« PreviousContinue »