and Jesus with his speech made to them from the wall. Nay they proceeded to that degree of impiety, as to cast away their dead bodies without burial: although the Jews used to take so much care of the sepulture of men, that they took down those that were condemned, and buried them before the going down of the sun. I should not mistake if I said, thar the death of Ananus was the beginning of the destruction of the city: and that from this very day may be dated the overthrow of her wall, and the ruin of her affairs; whereon they saw their high-priest, and the procurer of their preservation, slain in the midst of their city. He was on other accounts also a venerable, and a very just man: and besides the grandeur of that nobilty, dignity, and honor, of which he was possessed, he had been a lover of a kind of parity, even with regard to the meanest of the people. He was a prodigious lover of liberty; and an admirer of a democracy in government; and did ever prefer the public welfare before his own advantage: and preferred peace above all things. For he was thoroughly sensible that the Romans were not to be conquered. He also foresaw that of necessity a war would follow: and that unless the Jews made up matters with them very dexterously, they would be destroyed. In a word, if Ananus had survived, they had certainly compounded matters. For he was a shrewd man in speaking, and persuading the people : and had already gotten the mastery of those that opposed his designs, or were for the war. And the Jews had then abundance of delays in the way of the Romans, if they had had such a general as he was. was also joined with him and although he were inferior to him upon the comparison, he was superior to the rest. And I cannot but think, that it was because God had doomed this city to destruction, as a polluted city, and resolved to purge his sanctuary by fire, that he cut off these their great defenders and well-wishers. While those that a little before had worn the sacred garments, and had presided over the public worship, and had been esteemed venerable by those that dwelt on the whole habitable earth, when they came into our city, were cast out naked;

As at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Jesus

+ Some commentators are ready to suppose, that this Zacharias the son of Baruch, here most unjustly slain by the Jews in the temple, was the very same person with Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom our Saviour says the Jews slew between the temple and the altar; Matt. xxiii. 35. This is a somewhat strange exposition. Since Zachariah the prophet was really the son of Barachiah, and grandson of Iddo: Zach, i. 1. and how he died, we have no other account than that before us in St. Matthew: while this Zacharias was the son of Baruch. Since the slaughter was past when our Saviour spake those words: the Jews had then already slain him: whereas this slaughter of Zacharias the son of Baruch, in Josephus, was then

and seen to be the food of dogs and wild beasts. And I cannot but imagine that virtue itself groaned at these men's case; and lamented that she was here so terribly conquered by wickedness. And this at last was the end of Ananus and Jesus.

Now after these were slain, the zealots and the multitude of the Idumeans fell upon the people as upon a flock of prophane animals, and cut their throats. And for the ordinary sort, they were destroyed in what place soever they caught them. But for the noblemen and the youth, they first caught them, and bound them, and shut them up in prison, and put off their slaughter, in hopes that some of them would turn over to their party. But not one of them would comply with their desires: but all of them preferred death before being inrolled among such wicked wretches as acted against their own country. But this refusal of theirs brought upon them terrible torments. For they were so scourged and tortured, that their bodies were not able to sustain their torments; till at length, and with difficulty, they had the favor to be slain. Those whom they caught in the day time were slain in the night; and then their dead bodies were carried out, and thrown away; that there might be room for other prisoners. And the terror that was upon the people was so great, that no one had courage either openly to weep for the dead man that was related to him, or to bury him: but those that were shut up in their own houses, could only shed tears in secret; and durst not even groan, without great caution, lest any of their enemies should hear them. For if they did, those that mourned for others soon underwent the saine death with those whom they mourned for. Only, in the night time, they would take up a little dust, and throw it upon their bodies; and even some that were the most ready to expose themselves to danger, would do it in the day time. And there were twelve thousand of the better sort, who perished in this manner.

When these zealots and Idumeans were quite weary of barely killing men, they had the impudence of setting up fictitious tribunals and judicatures for that purpose. And as they intended to have + Zacharias, the son of Baruch, one of the most eminent

about 34 years future. And since that slaughter was between the temple and the altar, in the court of the priests, one of the most sacred and remote parts of the whole temple, while this was, in Josepbus's own words, in the middle of the temple, and much the most probably in the court of Israel only; (for we have had no intimation that the zealots had 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 inmost 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 bere on v. 1.

of

of the citizens slain; so what provoked them against him was, that hatred of wickedness and love of liberty, which were 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 call together, by a public proclamation, seven y of the principal men of the populace, for a sho, as if they were real judges; while they had no proper authority. Before these was Zacharias

cused, 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 accused: but they affirmed themselves, that they were well persuaded that so it was, and desired that their affirmation might be taken for sufficient evidence. Now when Zacharias clearly saw that there was no way remaining for his escape, as having been treacherously called before them, and then put in prison but not with any intention of a legal trial, he took great liberty of speech in that despair of his life that he was under. Accordingly he stood up, and laughed at their pretended accusation; and in a few words confuted the crimes laid to his charge. After which he turned his speech to his accusers, and went over distinctly all their transgressions of the law; and made heavy lamentation upon the confusion they had brought public affairs to. In the mean time the zea, lots grew tumultuous, and had much ado to abstain from drawing their swords: although they designed to preserve the appearance of a judicature to the end. They were also desirous, on other accounts, to try the judges, whether they would be mindful of what was just at their own peril. Now the seventy judges brought in their verdict, 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 indignation at the judges, for not understanding 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 temple, 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 the 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 messengers, to let them know they were no better than slaves.

But by this time the Idumeans repented of their coming; and were displeased at what had been done. And when they were assembled together by one of

VOL. 11.-NO. L.

the zealots, who had come privately to them, he declared to them, what a number of wicked pranks they had themselves done in conjunction with those that invited them: and gaye a particular account of what mischiefs had been done against their metropolis. He said, that "They had taken armis, as though the high-priests were betraying their metropolis to the Romans; but had found no indication of any such treachery: but that they had succored those that had pretended to believe such a thing, while they did themselves the works of war and tyranny, after an insolent manner. It had been indeed their business to have hindered them from such proceedings at the first: but seeing they had once been partners with them in shedding the blood of their own countrymen, it was high time to put a stop to such crimes, and not continue to afford any more assistance to such as were subverting the laws of their forefathers. 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; yet that those who had excluded them had been punished, and Ananus was dead and that almost all those people had been destroyed in one night's time. That one might perceive many of themselves repenting for what they had done; and might see the horrid barbarity of those that had invited them: and that they had no regard to such as had saved them: that they were so impudent as to perpetrate the vilest things, under the. eyes of those that had supported them: and that their wicked actions would be laid to the charge of the Idumeans and would be so laid to their charge till some body should obstruct their proceedings, or separate himself from the same wicked action: that they therefore ought to retire home, since the im-, putation of treason appeared to be a calumny: and that there was no expectation of the coming of the Romans at this time, and that the government of the city was secured by such walls as could not easily be thrown down. And, by avoiding any farther, fellowship 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,"

3

sently. After which these Idumeans 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 enemics. While the zealots grew more insolent; not as deserted by their confederates, but as freed from such men as might hinder their designs, and put some stop to their wickedness. Accordingly they made no longer any delay, nor took any deliberation in their enormous practices; but made use of the shortest methods for all their executions. And what they had once resolved upon, they put in practice sooner than any one could imagine. But their thirst was chiefly after the blood of valiant men, and men of good families. The one sort of which they destroyed out of envy, the other out of fear. For they thought their whole security lay in leaving no potent men alive. On which account they slew Gorian, a person eminent in dignity, and on account of his family also. He was also for a democracy, and of as great boldness and freedom of spirit as were any of the Jews whatsoever. The principal thing that ruined him, added to his other advantages, was his free speaking. Nor did Niger of Perea escape their hands. He had been a man of great valor in their war with the Romans; but was now drawn through the middle of the city: and, as he went, he frequently called 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 war; and besides all, that they might come to the mutual slaughter of one another: all which imprecations God confirmed against these impious men and which canie 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 accusation 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

* See Book ii. chap. 20.

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 on account of the meanness of his birth, or on account of his fortune.

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 shew of their hands, and of their weapons; but do it to their own hazard: without considering what was for their advantage, and for their security. For that if they should now go and attack the city immediately, they would but occasion their enemies to unite together; and thus convert their force, now it is in its height, against themselves. But if they remained a while they would have fewer enemies; because they must be consumed in this sedition. "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 destroying 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 victory, 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 re freshed 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 dis

sensions;

BOOK IV.]

sensions; 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 the commanders joined in their approbation of what Vespasian had said: and it was soon discovered how wise an opinion he had given. And indeed there were many of the Jews that deserted every Although day, and fled away from the zealots. their flight was very difficult: since they had guarded every passage out of the city; and slew every 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 rich purchased their flight by money; while 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 barbarity, as not to bestow a burial, either on 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 country, and the laws of nature, and at the same time that they defiled men with their wicked actions they would pollute the divinity itself also ; they left the dead bodies to putrify under the sun. And the same punishment 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 terFor was so very great, that he who survived called them that were first dead happy, as being at rest al

293

ready: as did those that were under torture in the prisons, declare that upon this comparison those that These men therelay unburied were the happiest.

fore 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 those 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 country. 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 hand should pollute the temple of God." Now while these zealots did not quite disbelieve these predictions, they made themselves the instruments of their accomplishment.

CHAP. VII.

Of the tyrannical behavior of John, and the mischiefs done by the zealots at Masada. Also of the reduction of Gadara; and the actions performed by Placidus.

Y

By this time John was beginning to tyrannize; BY 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 This was broke off from the rest of the faction. brought about by his still disagreeing with the opinions of others; and giving out injunctions of his So that it was own, in a very imperious manner. evident he was setting up a monarchical power. Now some submitted to him out of fear, and others out of their good. will to him. 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 party 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

by the seditious, was by their very means soon exactly fulfilled. However, I cannot but here take notice of Grotius's positive assertion upon Matt. xxvi. 9. here quoted by Dr. Hudson, that "It ought to be taken for granted, as a certain truth, that many predictions of the Jewish prophets were preserved, not in writing, but by memory." Whereas it seems to me so far from certain, that I think it has no evidence, nor probability at all.

to

to one that was formerly their equal. But the main reason that moved men against him was the dread of monarchy. For they could not hope easily to papan 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 that when they had been in a voluntary slavery, for some time they should after ward 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.

And now a fourth misfortune arose, in order to bring our nation to destruction. There was a fortress of very great strength, not far from Jerusalem, which had been built by our ancient kings: both as a repository for their effects, in the hazards of war, and for the preservation of their bodies at the same time. It was called Masada. Those that were called Sicarii had taken possession of it formerly: but at this time they over-ran the neighboring countries: aiming only to procure to themselves necessaries; for the fear they were then in prevented their further 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 me. mory 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 over-ran a certain small city called Engaddi. In this expedition they prevented those citizens that could have stopped them, 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

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. Act. xvi. 13. 16. Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 10. In

5

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 the wicked men that were in the country opportunity to ravage the same. Accordingly when every one of them had plundered their own villages, they retired into the desert. Yet were these men that now got together, and joined in the conspiracy by parties, too small for an army, and too numerous for a gang of thieves. And thus did they fall upon the holy places, and the cities. Yet did it now so happen that they were sometimes very ill treated by those upon whom they fell with such violence and were taken by them, as men are taken in war. But stil 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 deserters. 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 themselves: and when they had fled to the Romans, persuaded their general to come to the assistance of their city, and save the remainder of the people: informing him withal, that it was upon account of the people's good will to the Romans that many of them were already slain, and the survivors in danger of the same treatment. Vespa. sian did indeed already pity the calamities these men were in; and arose, in appearance as though he were going to besiege Jerusalein; but in reality to deliver them from a worse siege they were already under. However he was obliged to overthrow what remained elsewhere; and to leave nothing out of Je rusalem behind him, that might interrupt him in that siege. Accordingly he marched against Gadara, the metropolis of Perea, which was a place of strength; and entered that city on the fourth day of the month

qua te quæro proseucha? Juvenal. Sat. III. verse 296, They were situate sometimes by the sides of rivers: Act. xvi. 13. or by the sea-side: Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 10. So did the LXXII interpreters go to prayer every morning by the sea-side, before they went to their work, XII. 2. Dystrus,