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 mountains, is called The Great Plain. It reaches from the village Ginnabris, as far as the lake Asphaltites. Its 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 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 cities 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 favour. 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.

* This excellent prayer of Elisha's is wanting in our copies, 2 Kings ii. 21, 22 though it be referred to also in the Apostolical Constitutions, VII. 37. and the suc cesses of it is mentioned in them all.

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. 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 and 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 sunrising, and after that exposed to the air, it becomes exceeding

cold and becomes 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 already said, 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 Vespasian 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 it so 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 appearance 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 labourers that belong to the lake come to it, and catch hold of it, as it hangs together, they draw it into their ships. But when the ship is full, it is not easy to cut off the rest: for it is so tenacious as to make the ship hang upon its clods, till they set it loose, with blood and with urine, to which alone it vields. This bitumen is not only useful for the calking of ships, but for the cure of men's bodies. Accordingly it is mixed in a great many medicines. The length of this lake is five hundred and eighty furlongs; where it is extended as far as Zoar in Arabia, and its breadth is a hundred and fifty. The country of Sodom* borders upon it. It was anciently a most happy land, both for the fruits it bore, and the riches of its cities: although it be

VOL. IV.

See the note on Book V. chap. 13

20

now all burnt up. It is *related how for the impiety of its inhabitants, it was burnt by lightning. In consequence of which there are still the remainders of that divine fire; and the traces of these five cities are still to be seen as well as the ashes growing in their fruits. Which fruits have a colour, as if they were fit to be eaten ; but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes. And thus what is related of this land of Sodom hath these marks of credibility, which our very sight affords us.

CHAP. IX.

VESPASIAN, AFTER REDUCING GADARA, MAKES PREPARATIONS FOR THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM; BUT, UPON HEARING OF THE DEATH OF NERO, HE CHANGES HIS INTENTIONS. ALSO CONCERNING SIMON OF GERASA.

NOW Vespasian had fortified all the places round about Jerusalem, and erected citadels at Jericho and Adida, and placed garrisons in them both; partly out of his own Romans, and partly out of the body of his auxiliaries. He also sent Lucius Annius to Gerasa; and delivered to him a body of horsemen, and a considerable number of footmen. So when he had taken the city, which he did at the first onset, he slew a thousand of those young men, who had not prevented him by fleeing away. But he took their families captive, and permitted his soldiers to plunder them of their effects. After this he set fire to their houses, and went away to the adjoining villages: while the men of power fled away, and the weaker part were destroyed; and what was remaining was all burnt down. And now the war having gone through all the mountainous country, and all the plain country also, those that were at Jerusalem were deprived of the liberty of going out of the city. For such as had a mind to desert, were watched by the zealots. And as to such as were not yet on the side of the Romans, their army kept them in, by encompassing the city round about on all sides.

Now as Vespasian was returned to Cæsarea, and was getting ready with all his army to march directly to Jerusalem, he was

* See Antiquities, I. 11.

informed that Nero was dead ;* after he had reigned thirteen years and eight days. But as to any narration after what manner he abused his power in the government, and committed the management of his affairs to those vile wretches Nymphidius and Tigellinus, his unworthy freedmen; and how he had a plot laid against him by them, and was deserted by all his guards, and ran away with four of his most trusty freedmen, and slew himself in the suburbs of Rome; and how those that occasioned his death were, in no long time, brought themselves to punishment: how also the war in Gaul ended: and how †Galba was made emperor, and returned out of Spain to Rome; and how he was accused by the soldiers as a pusillanimous person, and slain by treachery, in the middle of the market-place at Rome; and Otho was made emperor with his expedition against the commanders of Vitellius, and his destruction thereupon: and besides, what troubles there were under Vitellius, and the fight that was about the capitol: as also how Antonius Primus and Mucianus slew Vitellius, and his German legions and thereby put an end to that civil war: I have omitted to give an exact account of them, because they are well known by all; and are described by a great number of Greek and Roman authors. Yet for the sake of the connexion of matters, and that my history may not be incoherent, I have just touched upon every thing briefly. Wherefore Vespasian put off at first his expedition against Jerusalem, and stood waiting whither the empire would be transferred, after the death of Nero. Moreover, when he heard that Galba was made emperor, he attempted nothing, till he should send him some directions about the war. However he sent his son Titus, to salute him, and to receive his commands about the Jews. Upon the very same errand did king Agrippa sail along with Titus, to Galba. But as they were sailing in their long ships by the coasts of Achaia, (for it was winter time,) they heard that Galba was slain, before they could get to him; after he had reigned seven months and as many days. After whom

* A. D. 68.

+ Of these Roman affairs, and tumults under Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, here only touched upon by Josephus, see Tacitus, Suetonius, and Dio, more largely, However, we may observe with Ottius, that Josephus writes the name of the second of them not Otto, with many others, but Otho, with the coins.