Dystrus, or Adar.* For the men of power had sent an ambassage to him, without the knowlege of the seditious, to treat about a surrender. Which they did out of the desire they had of peace; and for saving their effects; because many of the citizens of Gadara were rich men. This embassy the opposite party knew nothing of; but discovered it, as Vespasian was approaching near the city. However they despaired of keeping possession of the city; as being inferior in number to their enemies who were within the city, and seeing the Romans very near to the city? So they resolved to flee: but thought it dishonorable to do it without shedding some blood, and revenging themselves on the authors of this surrender. So they seized upon Dolesus, (a person not only the first in rank and family in that city, but one that seemed the occasion of sending such an embassy) and slew him, and treated his body after a barbarous manner; so very violent was their anger at him; and then ran out of the city. And as now the Roman army was just upon them, the people of Gadara admitted Vespasian with joyful acclamations, and received from him the security of his right hand; as also a garrison of horsemen and footmen, to guard them against the excursions of the runagates. For as to their wall, they had pulled it down before the Romans desired them so to do; that they might thereby give them assurance that they were lovers of peace and that, if they had a mind, they could not now make war against them.

Now Vespasian sent Placidus against those that had fled from Gadara, with five hundred horsemen, and three thousand footmen; while he returned himself to Cæsarea, with the rest of the army. But as soon as these fugitives came to a close fight; they ran together to a certain village, which was called Bethennabris. Where finding a great multitude of young men, and arming them, partly by their own consent, partly by force, they rashly and suddenly assaulted Placidus, and the troops that were with him. These horsemen at the first onset gave way a little; as contriving to entice them. farther off the wall. And when they had drawn them into a place fit for their purpose, they made their horse encompass them round, and throw their darts at them. So the horsemen cut off the flight of the fugitives: while the foot terribly destroyed those that fought against them. For those Jews did no more than shew their courage, and then were destroyed. For as they fell upon the Romans, when they were joined close together, and, as it were, walled about with their entire armor, they were not able to find any place where the darts could enter: nor were they any way able to break their ranks. While they were themselves run through by the Roman darts: and like the fiercest of wild beasts,

A. D. 68. VOL. II.-NO, LI,

rushed upon the points of the others' swords. So some of them were destroyed, as cut with their enemies swords upon their faces; and others were dispersed by the horsemen.

Now Placidus's concern was to exclude them in their flight from getting into the village: and causing his cavalry to march continually on that side, he then turned short upon them: and at the same time his men made use of their darts, and easily took their aim at those that were the nearest to them: as they made those that were farther off turn back by the terror they were in: till at last the most courageous of them brake through those horsemen, and fled to the wall of the village. And now those that guarded the wall were in great doubt what to do. For they could not bear the thoughts of excluding those that came from Gadara, because of their own people that were among them. And yet, if they should admit them, they expected to perish with them which came to pass accordingly. For as they were crowding together at the wall, the Roman horsemen were just ready to fall in with them. However the guards prevented them, and shut the gates. When Placidus made an assault upon them, and fighting courageously till it was dark, he got possession of the wall, and of the people that were in the city. When the useless multitude were destroyed but those that were more potent ran away: and the soldiers plundered the houses, and set the village on fire. As for those that ran out of the village, they stirred up such as were in the country; and exaggerating their own calamities, and telling them that the whole army of the Romans was upon them, they put them into great fear on every side. So they got in great numbers together, and fled to Jericho. For they knew no other place that could afford them any hope of escaping: it being a city that had a strong wall, and a great multitude of inhabitants. But Placidus relying much upon his horsemen, and his former good success, followed them; and slew all that he overtook, as far as Jordan. And when he had driven the whole multitude to the river side, where they were stopped by the current (for it had been augmented lately by rains, and was not fordable,) he put his soldiers in array over against them. So the necessity the others were in, provoked them to hazard a battle; because there was no place whither they could flee. They then extended themselves a great way along the banks of the river and sustained the darts that were thrown at them; as well as the attacks of the horsemen : who beat many of them, and pushed them into the current. In this close combat fifteen thousand of them were slain: while the number of those that were unwillingly forced to leap into Jordan, was prodigious; and two thousand and two hundred were taken prisoners. Almighty

prey was taken also, consisting of asses, sheep, camels, and oxen.

Now this destruction that fell upon the Jews, as it was not inferior to any of the rest in itself: so did it still appear greater than it really was. And this because, nor only the whole country through which they fled was filled with slaughter, and Jordan could not be passed over by reason of the dead bodies that were in it; but because the lake Asphaltites was also full of dead bodies, that were carried down into it by the river. And now Placidus, after his good. success, fell violently upon the neighboring smaller cities and villages. When he took Abila, Julias, Bezemoth, and all those that lay as far as the lake Asphaltites and put such of the deserters into each of them as he thought proper. He then put his soldiers on board the ships, and slew such as had fled to the lake. Insomuch that all Perea had either surrendered themselves, or were taken by the Romans, as far as Macherus.

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CHAP. VIII.

Vespasian, upon hearing of some commotions in Gaul, hastens to finish the Jewish war. A description of Jericho, and of the great plain; with an account of the lake Asphaltites.

IN

N the mean time an account came, that there were commotions in Gaul; and that * Vindex, together with the men of power in that country, had revolted from Nero; which affair is more accurately described elsewhere. This report, excited Vespasian to go on briskly with the war; for he foresaw already the civil wars which were coming upon them; nay, that the very government was in danger: and he thought, if he could first reduce the eastern parts of the empire to peace, he should make the fears for Italy the lighter. While therefore the winter was his hindrance, from going into the field, he put garrisons into the villages, and smaller cities, for their security. He put decurions also into the vilJages, and centurions into the cities. He besides this rebuilt many of the cities that had been laid waste. But at the beginning of the spring he took the greatest part of his army, and led it from Cæsarea, to Antipatris. There he spent two days in settling the affairs of that city: and then, on the third day, he marched on; laying waste and burning all the neighboring villages. And when he had laid waste all the places about the toparchy of Thamnas, he passed on to Lydda, and Jamnia. And when both those cities had submitted to him, he

* Concerning this Julius Vindex, who was now in rebellion against Nero in Gaul. See Tacitus, Annal. XV. 74. Histor. I. 51. and Seutonius in Neron. § 40, 41, 46. + Or Sichem.

Whether this Somorrhon er Somorrha, ought not to be

placed a great many of those that had come over to him from other places as inhabitants therein; and then came to Emmaus. Where he seized upon the passages which led thence to their metropolis; and fortified his camp: and leave the fifth legion therein, he came to the toparch Bedi'epteplion. He then destroyed that place, and neighboring places by fire; and fortified, at propres, the strong holds all about Idumea. And when had seized upon two villages, which were in midst of Idumea, Betaris, and Caphartobas, he slew above ten thousand of the people; and carried into captivity above a thousand; and drove away the rest of the multitude; and placed no small part of his own forces in them. These over-ran and laid waste the whole mountainous country while he, with the rest of his forces, returned to Emmaus; whence he came down through the country of Samaria, and hard by the city, by others called + Neapolis, but by the people of that country Mabortha, to Corea: where he pitched his camp, on the second day of the month Desius, or Sivan. And on the day following he came to Jericho. On which day Trajan, one of his commanders, joined him with the forces he brought out of Perea. All the places beyond Jordan being already subdued.

Hereupon a great multitude prevented their ap proach, and came out of Jericho: and fled to those mountainous parts that lay over against Jerusalem: while that part which was left behind was in a great measure destroyed: They also found the city desolate. It is situate in a plain: but a naked and barren mountain, of a very great length, hangs. over it; which extends itself to the land about Scythopolis northward; but as far as the country of Sodom, aad the utmost limits of the lake Asphaltites southward. This mountain is all of it very uneven, and uninhabited by reason of its barrenness. There is an opposite mountain, that is situate over against it, on the other side of Jordan. This last begins at Julias, and the northern quarters; and extends it self southward as far as ↑ Somorrhon: which is the bound of Petra, in Arabia. In this ridge of mountains there is one called the Iron mountain, that runs in length as far as Moab. Now the region that lies in the middle between these ridges of moun tains, is called the great plain. It reaches from the village Ginnabris, as far as the lake Asphaltites. It length is two hundred and thirty furlongs: and its breadth a hundred and twenty: and it is divided in the midst by Jordan. It hath two lakes in it; that of Asphaltites, and that of Tiberias: whose natures

here written Gomorrha, as some MSS. in a manner, have ,it: (for the place meant by Josephus seems to be near Segor or Zoar, at the very south of the dead sea: hard by which stood Sodom and Gomorrha :) cannot now be cer tainly determined; but seems by no meaną improbable.

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are opposite to each other. For the former is salt, and unfruitful; but that of Tiberias is sweet, and fruitful. This plain is much burnt up in summer time; and, by reason of the extraordinary heat, contains a very unwholesome air. It is all destitute of water, except the river Jordan. Which water of Jordan is the occasion why those plantations of palmtrees that are near its banks, are more flourishing, and much more fruitful: as are those that are remote from it not so flourishing, or fruitful.

*

There is, however, a fountain by Jericho, that runs plentifully; and is very fit for watering the ground. It rises near the old city, which Joshua, the general of the Hebrews, took the first of all the eities of the land of Canaan, by right of war. The report is, that this fountain, at the beginning, caused not only the blasting of the earth and the trees, but of the children born of women; and that it was entirely of a sickly and corruptive nature, to all things whatsoever: but that it was made very wholesome and fruitful by the prophet Elisha. This prophet was familiar with Elijah, and was his successor. Who when he once was the guest of the people at Jericho, and the men of the place had treated him very kindly, he made them amends; as well as the country, by a lasting favor. For he went out of the city to this fountain, and threw into the current an earthen vessel full of salt. After which he stretched out his righteous hand to heaven, and pouring out a mild drink offering, he made this supplication that "The current might be mollified; and that the veins of fresh water might be opened. That God also would bring into the place a more temperate and fertile air for the current ; and would bestow upon the people of that country plenty of the fruits of the earth, and a succession of children; and that this prolific water might never fail them, while they continued to be righteous." To these prayers Elisha joined proper operations of his hands, after a skilful manner, and changed the fountain; and that water, which had been the occasion of sterility and famine before, from that time supplied a numerous posterity, and afforded great abundance to the country. Accordingly the power of it is so great, in watering the ground, that if it but once touch a country, it affords a sweeter nourishment than other waters do, when they lie upon them, till they are satiated with them. For which reason the advantage gained from other waters, when they flow in great plenty, is but small; while that of this water is great, when it flows even in little quantities. Accordingly it waters a larger space of ground than any other waters do: and passes along a plain of seventy furlongs long, and twenty broad: wherein it affords nourishment to those most excellent gardens, that are thickly set with trees.

*This excellent prayer of Elisha's is wanting in our copies, 2 Kings ii. 21, 22. though it be referred to also in

There are in it many sorts of palm trees, that are watered by it: different from each other in taste and name. The better sort of them, when they are pressed, yield an excellent kind of honey; not much inferior in sweetness to other honey. This country withal produces honey from bees. It also bears that balsam, which is the most precious of all the fruits in that place. Cypress trees also, and those that bear myrobalanum. So that he who should pronounce this place to be divine, would not be mistaken. Wherein is such plenty of trees produced, as are very rare, and of the most excellent sort. And indeed, if we speak of those other fruits, it will not be easy to meet with any climate in the habitable earth, that can well be compared to it: what is sown here comes up in such clusters. The cause of which seems to me to be the warmth of the air, and the fertility of the waters. The warmth calling forth the sprouts, and making them spread: aud the moisture making every one of them take root firmly, and supplying that virtue which it stands in need of, in summer time. This country is then so sadly burnt up, that nobody cares to come at it. And if the water be drawn up before sun rising, and after that exposed to the air, it becomes exceeding cold and hecomes of a nature quite contrary to the ambient air. As in winter again it becomes warm. And if you go into it, it appears very gentle. The ambient air is here also of so good a temperature, that the people of the country are clothed in linen only; even when snow covers the rest of Judea. This place is a hundred and fifty furlongs from Jerusalem, is desert, and stony. But that as far as Jordan, and the lake Asphaltites, lies lower, though it be equally desert and barren. But so much shall suffice for the description of Jericho; and of the great happiness of its situation.

The nature of the lake Asphaltites is also worth describing, It is, as I have said already, bitter and unfruitful. It is so thick that it bears up the heaviest things that are thrown into it. Nor is it easy for any one to make things sink therein to the bottom, if he had a mind so to do. Accordingly, when Vespasiad went to see it, he commanded that some who could not swim, should have their hands tied behind them, and be thrown into the deep. When itso happened, that they all swam, as if a wind had forced them upwards. The change of the colour of this lake is also wonderful for it changes its ap-. pearance thrice every day. And as the rays of the sun fall differently upon it, the light is variously reflected. However, it casts up black clods of bitumen, in many parts of it. These swim at the top of the water, and resemble both in shape and bigness headless bulls. And when the laborers that belong to

the Apostolical Constitutions, VII. 37. and the success of it: is mentioned in them all..

the