rise of his out of the ground did also occasion the discovery of a great number of others of the seditious at that time, who had hidden themselves under ground. But Simon was brought to Cæsar in bonds, when he was come back to that Cæsarea which was on the sea-side; who gave order that he should be kept against that triumph which he was to celebrate at Rome upon this occasion.

CHAP. III.

OF THE DESTRUCTION OF MANY OF THE JEWS UPON THE CELEBRATION OF DOMITIAN'S AND VESPASIAN'S BIRTH-DAYS.-ALSO CONCERNING THE DANGER THE JEWS WERE IN AT ANTIOCH, BY MEANS OF THE TRANSGRESSIONS AND IMPIETY OF ONE ANTIOCHUS.

WHILE Titus was at Cæsarea he solemnized the *birth-day of his brother Domitian, after a splendid manner; and inflicted a great deal of the punishment intended for the Jews in honour of him for the number of those that were now slain in fighting with the beasts, and were burnt, and fought with one another, exceeded two thousand five hundred. Yet did all this seem to the Romans, when they were thus destroyed ten thousand several ways, to be a punishment beneath their deserts. After this Cæsar came to †Berytus, which is a city of Phoenicia, and a Roman colony; and staid there a long time, and exhibited a still more pompous solemnity about his father's birth-day, both in the magnificence of

* This birth-day of Domitian fell upon December 30, as says Archbishop Usher at A. D. 70, and from him Dr. Hudson. How the archbishop and the doctor came to think so I cannot devise: since Suetonius says he was born on the 9th of the calends of November, i. e. on October 24.

+ This Berytus was certainly a Roman colony and has coins extant that witness the same as Hudson and Spanheim inform us. See the note on Antiq. XVI. 11.

This birth-day of Vespasian's is here changed out of Archbishop Usher, on the year 71, from his real birth-day, which Suetonius says fell on the 16th of the calends of December, i. e. the 17th of November, to the day of his proclamation or inauguration which indeed both Tacitus and Suetonius place on the calends of July. So I suppose that the doctor and the archbishop mean no more by this birth-day of Vespasian, than that of his government, or inauguration. Though in the former case about Domitian this interpretation can have no place: because he was not now inaugurated into any government, nor in several years afterward.

the shows, and in the other vast expenses he was at in his devices thereto belonging. So that a great multitude of the captives were here destroyed after the same manner as before.

It happened also about this time, that the Jews who remained at Antioch, were under accusations, and in danger of perishing, from the disturbances that were raised against them by the Antiochians; and this both on account of the slanders spread abroad at this time against them; and on account of what pranks they had played not long before: which I am obliged to describe without fail, though briefly: that I may the better connect my narration of future actions with those that went before.

For as the Jewish nation is widely dispersed over all the habitable earth, among its inhabitants; so it is very much intermingled with Syria, by reason of its neighbourhood; and had the greatest multitudes in Antioch, by reason of the largeness of the city; wherein the kings, after Antiochus, had afforded them a habitation, with the most undisturbed tranquillity. For though Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, laid Jerusalem waste, and spoiled the temple; yet did those that succeeded him in the kingdom restore all the donations that were made of brass to the Jews of Antioch, and dedicated them to their synagogue, and granted them the enjoyment of equal privileges of citizens with the Greeks themselves. And as the succeeding kings treated them after the same manner, they both multiplied to a great number, and adorned their *temple gloriously by fine ornaments, and with great magnificence, in the use of what had been given them. They also made proselytes of a great many of the Greeks perpetually; and thereby, after a sort, brought them to be a portion of their own body. But about this time when the present war began, and Vespasian was recently sailed to Syria, and all men had taken up a great hatred against the Jews; then it was that a certain person, whose name was Antiochus, being one of the Jewish nation, and greatly respected on account of his father, who was governor of the Jews

* Their synagogue. See the note on VI. 10.

+ The Jews at Antioch and Alexandria, the two principal cities in all the east, had allowed them, both by the Macedonians, and afterward by the Romans, a governor of their own; who was exempt from the jurisdiction of the other civil goHe was called sometimes barely governor, sometimes ethnarch, and at

vernors.

at Antioch, came upon the theatre at a time when the people of Antioch were assembled together; and became an informer against his father, and accused both him and others, that they had resolved to burn the whole city in one night: he also delivered up to them some Jews that were foreigners, as partners in their resolutions. When the people heard this, they could not restrain their passion, but commanded that those who were delivered up to them should have fire brought to burn them: who were accordingly all burnt upon the theatre immediately. They also fell violently upon the multitude of the Jews; as supposing that by punishing them suddenly they should save their own city. As for Antiochus, he aggravated the rage they were in; and thought to give them a demonstration of his own conversion, and of his hatred of the Jewish customs, by sacrificing after the manner of the Greeks. He persuaded the rest also to compel them to do the same; because they would by that means discover who they were that had plotted against them; since they would not do so. And when the people of Antioch tried the experiment, some few complied: but those that would not do so were slain. As for Antiochus himself, he obtained soldiers from the Roman commander, and became a severe master over his own citizens; not permitting them to rest on the seventh day; but forcing them to do all that they usually did on other days. And to that degree of distress did he reduce them in this matter, that the rest of the seventh day was dissolved, not only at Antioch; but the same thing, which took thence its rise, was done in other cities also for some small time.

Now after these misfortunes had happened to the Jews of Antioch, a second calamity befell them for upon this accident, whereby the four-square market-place was burnt down, as well as the archives, and the place where the public records were preserved, and the royal palaces; and it was not without difficulty that the fire was then put a stop to, which was likely, by the fury wherewith it was carried along, to have gone over the whole city; Antiochus accused the Jews, as the occasion of all the mischief

Alexandria alabarch: as Dr. Hudson takes notice on this place, out of Fuller's Miscellanies. They had the like governor or governors allowed them at Babylon, under their captivity there: as the history of Susanna implies.

that was done. Now this induced the people of Antioch, who were under the immediate persuasion, by reason of the disorder they were in, that this calumny was true; and would have been under the same persuasion, even though they had not borne an ill will at the Jews before, to believe this man's accusation; especially when they considered what had been done before; and this to such a degree, that they all fell violently upon those that were accused; and this, like madmen, even as if they had seen the Jews in a manner setting fire themselves to the city. Nor was it without difficulty that one Cneus Collegas, the legate, could prevail with them to permit the affairs to be laid before Cæsar.For as to *Cesennius Petus, the president of Syria, Vespasian had already sent him away. And so it happened that he was not yet come back thither. But when Collegas had made a careful inquiry into the matter, he found out the truth: and that not one of those Jews that were accused by Antiochus had any hand in it: but that all was done by some vile persons greatly in debt; who supposed, that if they could once set fire to the market-place, and burn the public records, they should have no farther demands made upon them. So the Jews were under great disorder, and terror, in the uncertain expectations of what would be the result of these accusations against them.

CHAP. IV.

OF VESPASIAN'S RECEPTION AT ROME: THE REVOLT AND SUBJECTION OF THE GERMANS; AND THE IRRUPTION OF THE SARMATIANS INTO MYSIA.

NOW Titus Cæsar, upon the news that was brought him concerning his father, that his coming was much desired by all the Italian cities; and that Rome especially received him with great alacrity and splendour, betook himself to rejoicing and pleasures, to a great degree; as being happily freed from his solicitude.For all men that were in Italy showed their respect to him in their

*There is a coin still preserved of this Cesennius Petus, when he was proconsul as Spanheim here informs us.

minds, before he came thither; as if he were already come; as esteeming the very expectation they had of him to be his real presence, on account of the great desire they had to see him; and because the good will they bore him was entirely free and unconstrained. For it was a desirable thing to the senate, who well remembered the calamities they had undergone in the late changes of their governors, to receive a governor who was adorned with the gravity of old age, and with the highest skill in the actions of war, whose advancement would tend, as they knew, to the preservation of those that were to be governed. Moreover, the people had been so harassed by their civil miseries, that they were still more earnest for his coming immediately: as supposing they should then be firmly delivered from their calamities, and believing they should recover their secure tranquillity and prosperity. And for the soldiery, they had the principal regard to him; for they were chiefly apprised of his military exploits. And since they had experienced the want of skill and courage in other commanders, they were very desirous to be freed from that great shame they had undergone by their means; and heartily wished to receive such a prince as might be a security and an ornament to them. And as this good will to Vespasian was universal, those that enjoyed any remarkable dignities could not have patience enough to stay in Rome, but made haste to meet him at a very great distance from it. Nay, indeed, none of the rest could endure the delay of seeing him; but did all pour out of the city in such crowds, and were so universally possessed with the opinion that it was easier and better for them to go out than to stay there, that this was the very first time that the city joyfully perceived itself almost emptied of its citizens. For those that staid within were fewer than those that went out. But as soon as the news was come that he was in the vicinity, and those that had met him at first related with what good humour he received every one that came to him; then it was that the whole multitude that had remained in the city, with their wives and children, came into the road, and waited for him there. And those whom he passed made all sorts of acclamations, on account of the joy they had to see him, and the pleasantness of his countenance; and styled him their benefactor, and saviour; and the only person who was worthy to be a ruler of the