he, with the remainder of his army, fled away from the Hebrews; though they were unarmed, and did not pursue them. You are also acquainted with the slavery we were under at Babylon, where the people were captives for seventy years; yet were they not delivered into freedom again, before God made Cyrus *his gracious instrument in bringing it about. Accordingly they were set free by him, and did again restore the worship of their deliverer, at his temple. And, to speak in general, we can produce no example wherein our fathers got any success by war, or failed of success when without war they committed themselves to God. When they staid at home they conquered, as pleased their judge; but when they went out to fight, they were always disappointed. For example, when the king of Babylon besieged this very city, and our king Zedekiah fought against him, contrary to the predictions made to him by Jeremiah the prophet, he was at once taken prisoner, and saw the city and the temple demolished.† Yet how much greater was the moderation of that king, than is that of your present governors? and that of the people then under him, than that of yourselves at this time? For when Jeremiah cried out aloud, how very angry God was at them, because of their transgressions; and told them they should be taken prisoners, unless they would surrender up their city neither did the king, nor the people, put him to death. But for you, (to pass over what you have done within the city; which I am not able to describe, as your wickedness deserves ;) you abuse me, and throw darts at me, who only exhort you to save yourselves as being provoked when you are reminded of your sins, and cannot bear the very mention of those crimes, which you every day perpetrate. For another example: when Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, lay before this city, and had been guilty of many indignities against God, and our forefathers met him in arms they then

:

† Ezra i.

Jeremiah xxxix.

Josephus says here, that Antiochus Epiphanes was fought against by the Jews, and that he took Jerusalem by force, as he had done before: Book I. chap. 1. and as it is, 2 Maccabees x. 3. Yet does he directly contradict it in his later and exacter work the Antiquities, XII. 5. The number three years and six months should also be corrected to just three years, for this profanation of the temple.

were slain in the battle; this city was plundered by our enemies, and our sanctuary made desolate for three years and six months. And why need I bring any more examples? Indeed, what can it be that hath stirred up an army of the Romans against our nation? Is it not the impiety of the inhabitants? Whence did our servitude commence? Was it not derived from the seditions that were among our forefathers, when the madness of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, and our mutual quarrels, brought Pompey upon this city; and when God reduced those under subjection to the Romans, who were unworthy of the liberty they had enjoyed; after a siege, therefore, of three months, they were forced to surrender themselves although they had not been guilty of such offences with regard to our sanctuary and our laws as you have. And this while they had much greater advantages to go to war than you have. Do not we know what end Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, came to? under whose reign God provided that this city should be taken again, upon account of the people's offences. When Herod, the son of Antipater, brought upon us Sosius, and Sosius brought upon us the Roman army. They were then encompassed and besieged for six months, till, as a punishment for their sins, they were taken, and the city was plundered by the enemy. Thus it appears that arms were never given to our nation; but that we are always given up to be fought against, and to be taken. For I suppose that such as inhabit this holy place ought to commit the disposal of all things to God: and then only to disregard the assistance of men, when they resign themselves up to their arbitrator, who is above. As for you, what have you done of those things that are recommended by our legislator? and what have you not done of those things that he hath condemned? How much more impious are you than those which were so quickly taken? You have not avoided so much as those sins that are usually committed in secret: I mean thefts, treacherous plots against men, and adulteries. You are quarrelling about rapines and murders, and invent strange ways of wickedness. Nay, the temple itself is become the receptacle of all. And this divine place is polluted by the hands of those of our own country; which place hath been reverenced by the Romans, when it was at a dis

tance from them; when they have suffered many of their own customs to give place to our law. And after all this, do you expect Him whom you have so impiously abused to be your supporter? To be sure then you have a right to be petitioners; and to call upon Him to assist you; so pure are your hands! Did your king Hezekiah lift up such hands in prayer to God against the king of Assyria, when he destroyed that great army in one night? And do the Romans commit such wickedness, as did the king of Assyria, that you may have reason to hope for the like vengeance upon them? Did not that monarch accept of money from our king on this condition, that he should not destroy the city; and yet, contrary to the oath he had taken, he came down to burn the temple? While the Romans demand no more than that accustomed tribute, which our fathers paid to their ancestors: and if they but once obtained that, they neither aim to destroy this city, nor to touch this sanctuary. Nay, they will grant you besides, that your posterity shall be free, and your possessions secured to you, and will preserve your holy laws inviolate. And it is actual madness to expect that God should appear as well disposed towards the wicked as towards the righteous; since he knows when it is proper to punish men for their sins immediately.

Accordingly he brake the power of the Assyrians, the very first night that they pitched their camp. Wherefore had he judged that our nation was worthy of freedom, or the Romans of punishment, he had immediately inflicted punishment upon those Romans, as he did upon the Assyrians, when Pompey began to meddle with our nation; or when, after him, Sosius came up against us; or when Vespasian laid waste Galilee; or lastly, when Titus eame first of all near to this city. Although *Magnus and Sosius did not only suffer nothing, but took the city by force as did Vespasian go from the war he made against you to receive the empire. And as for Titus, those +springs that were formerly

* Pompeius Magaus, Pompey the Great.

This drying up of the Jerusalem fountain of Siloam, when the Jews wanted it; and its flowing abundantly, when the enemies of the Jews wanted it; and these both in the days of Zedekiah, and of Titus; and this last, as a certain event well known by the Jews at that time, as Josephus here tells them to their faces; are very remarkable instances of the divine providence for the punishment of the Jewish na

almost dried up, when they were under your power; since he is come, run more plentifully than they did before. Accordingly you know that Siloam, as well as all the other springs that were without the city, did so far fail, that water was sold by distinct measures: whereas they now have such a great quantity of water for your enemies, as is sufficient not only for drink, both for themselves, and their cattle, but for watering their gardens also. The same *wonderful sign you had also experience of formerly, when the aforementioned king of Babylon made war against us; and when he took the city, and burnt the temple. While yet I believe the Jews of that age were not so impious as you are. Wherefore I cannot but suppose that God is fled out of his sanctuary, and stands on the side of those against whom you fight. Now even a man, if he be but a good man, will flee from an impure house, and will hate those that are in it: and do you persuade yourselves that God will abide with you in your iniquities, who sees all secret things, and hears what is kept most private?

Now what crime is there, I pray you, that is so much as kept secret among you, or is concealed by you? Nay, what is there that is not open to your very enemies? For you show your

transgressions after a pompous manner; and contend one with another which of you shall be the more wicked than another: and you make a public demonstration of your injustice, as if it were virtue. However, there is a place left for your preservation, if you be willing to accept of it: and God is easily reconciled to those that confess their faults, and repent of them. O hard-hearted wretches as you are! Cast away all your arms, and take pity on your country, already verging to ruin; return from your wicked ways, and have regard to the excellency of that city you are going to betray; to that excellent temple, with the donations of so many countries in it. Who could bear to be the first that should set that temple on fire? Who could be willing that these things should be no more?

And what is there that can better deserve to be preserved? O insensible creatures, and more stupid than are the stones them

tion, when they were grown very wicked, at both the times of the destruction of Jerusalem.

The history of this is now wanting elsewhere.

selves! And if you cannot look at these things with discerning eyes, yet, at least, have pity upon your families; and set before every one of your eyes your children, and wives, and parents, who will be gradually consumed, either by famine, or by war. I am sensible that this danger will extend to my mother, and wife, and to that family of mine which hath been by no means ignoble ; and, indeed, to one that hath been very eminent in old time.

And perhaps you may imagine that it is on their account only that I give you this advice. If that be all, kill them: nay, take my own blood, as a reward, if it may but procure your preservation. For I am ready to die, in case you will but return to a sound mind after my decease."

CHAP. X.

OF THE ATTEMPTS OF MANY OF THE PEOPLE TO DESERT TO THE ROMANS; THE CALAMITIES WHICH THOSE THAT STAID BEHIND SUFFERED BY FAMINE, AND THE SAD CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.

AS Josephus was speaking thus, with a loud voice, the seditious would neither yield to what he said, nor did they deem it safe for them to alter their conduct. But as for the people, they had a great inclination to desert to the Romans. Accordingly some of them sold what they had, and even the most precious things that had been laid up as treasures by them, for a very small matter: and swallowed pieces of gold, that they might not be found out by the robbers. And when they had escaped to the Romans, they had wherewithal to provide plentifully for themselves. For Titus let a great number of them go away into the country, whither they pleased. And the main reasons why they were so ready to desert were these; that now they should be freed from those miseries which they had endured in that city, and yet should not be in slavery to the Romans. However, John and Simon, with their factions, did more carefully watch these men's going out than they did the coming in of the Romans. And if any one did but afford the least shadow of suspicion of such an intention, his throat was cut immediately.

But as for the richer sort, it proved all one to them whether