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Jews do not make use of oil prepared by foreigners； （11） they
receive a certain sum of money from the proper officers belonging
to their exercises as the value of that oil； which money； when
the people of Antioch would have deprived them of； in the last
war； Mucianus； who was then president of Syria； preserved it to
them。 And when the people of Alexandria and of Antioch did after
that； at the time that Vespasian and Titus his son governed the
habitable earth； pray that these privileges of citizens might be
taken away； they did not obtain their request。 in which behavior
any one may discern the equity and generosity of the Romans； （12）
especially of Vespasian and Titus； who； although they had been at
a great deal of pains in the war against the Jews； and were
exasperated against them； because they did not deliver up their
weapons to them； but continued the war to the very last； yet did
not they take away any of their forementioned privileges
belonging to them as citizens； but restrained their anger； and
overcame the prayers of the Alexandrians and Antiochians； who
were a very powerful people； insomuch that they did not yield to
them； neither out of their favor to these people； nor out of
their old grudge at those whose wicked opposition they had
subdued in the war； nor would they alter any of the ancient
favors granted to the Jews； but said； that those who had borne
arms against them； and fought them； had suffered punishment
already； and that it was not just to deprive those that had not
offended of the privileges they enjoyed。
2。 We also know that Marcus Agrippa was of the like disposition
towards the Jews： for when the people of Ionia were very angry at
them； and besought Agrippa that they； and they only； might have
those privileges of citizens which Antiochus； the grandson of
Seleucus； （who by the Greeks was called The God；） had bestowed on
them； and desired that； if the Jews were to be joint…partakers
with them； they might be obliged to worship the gods they
themselves worshipped： but when these matters were brought to the
trial； the Jews prevailed； and obtained leave to make use of
their own customs； and this under the patronage of Nicolaus of
Damascus； for Agrippa gave sentence that he could not innovate。
And if any one hath a mind to know this matter accurately； let
him peruse the hundred and twenty…third and hundred and
twenty…fourth books of the history of this Nicolaus。 Now as to
this determination of Agrippa； it is not so much to be admired；
for at that time our nation had not made war against the Romans。
：But one may well be astonished at the generosity of Vespasian
and Titus； that after so great wars and contests which they had
from us； they should use such moderation。 But I will now return
to that part of my history whence I made the present digression。
3。 Now it happened that in the reign of Antiochus the Great； who
ruled over all Asia； that the Jews； as well as the inhabitants of
Celesyria； suffered greatly； and their land was sorely harassed；
for while he was at war with Ptolemy Philopater； and with his
son； who was called Epiphanes； it fell out that these nations
were equally sufferers； both when he was beaten； and when he beat
the others： so that they were very like to a ship in a storm；
which is tossed by the waves on both sides； and just thus were
they in their situation in the middle between Antiochus's
prosperity and its change to adversity。 But at length； when
Antiochus had beaten Ptolemy； he seized upon Judea； and when
Philopater was dead； his son sent out a great army under Scopas；
the general of his forces； against the inhabitants of Celesyria；
who took many of their cities； and in particular our nation；
which when he fell upon them； went over to him。 Yet was it not
long afterward when Antiochus overcame Scopas； in a battle fought
at the fountains of Jordan； and destroyed a great part of his
army。 But afterward； when Antiochus subdued those cities of
Celesyria which Scopas had gotten into his possession； and
Samaria with them； the Jews； of their own accord； went over to
him； and received him into the city ＇Jerusalem＇； and gave
plentiful provision to all his army； and to his elephants； and
readily assisted him when he besieged the garrison which was in
the citadel of Jerusalem。 Wherefore Antiochus thought it but just
to requite the Jews' diligence and zeal in his service。 So he
wrote to the generals of his armies； and to his friends； and gave
testimony to the good behavior of the Jews towards him； and
informed them what rewards he had resolved to bestow on them for
that their behavior。 I will set down presently the epistles
themselves which he wrote to the generals concerning them； but
will first produce the testimony of Polybius of Megalopolis； for
thus does he speak； in the sixteenth book of his history： 〃Now
Scopas； the general of Ptolemy's army； went in haste to the
superior parts of the country； and in the winter time overthrew
the nation of the Jews？' He also saith； in the same book； that
〃when Seopas was conquered by Antiochus； Antiochus received
Batanea； and Samaria； and Abila； and Gadara； and that； a while
afterwards； there came in to him those Jews that inhabited near
that temple which was called Jerusalem； concerning which；
although I have more to say； and particularly concerning the
presence of God about that temple； yet do I put off that history
till another opportunity。〃 This it is which Polybius relates。 But
we will return to the series of the history； when we have first
produced the epistles of king Antiochus。
King Antiochus To Ptolemy； Sendeth Greeting。
〃Since the Jews； upon our first entrance on their country；
demonstrated their friendship towards us； and when we came to
their city ＇Jerusalem＇； received us in a splendid manner； and
came to meet us with their senate； and gave abundance of
provisions to our soldiers； and to the elephants； and joined with
us in ejecting the garrison of the Egyptians that were in the
citadel； we have thought fit to reward them； and to retrieve the
condition of their city； which hath been greatly depopulated by
such accidents as have befallen its inhabitants； and to bring
those that have been scattered abroad back to the city。 And； in
the first place； we have determined； on account of their piety
towards God； to bestow on them； as a pension； for their
sacrifices of animals that are fit for sacrifice； for wine； and
oil； and frankincense； the value of twenty thousand pieces of
silver； and ＇six＇ sacred artabrae of fine flour； with one
thousand four hundred and sixty medimni of wheat； and three
hundred and seventy…five medimni of salt。 And these payments I
would have fully paid them； as I have sent orders to you。 I would
also have the work about the temple finished； and the cloisters；
and if there be any thing else that ought to be rebuilt。 And for
the materials of wood； let it be brought them out of Judea itself
and out of the other countries； and out of Libanus tax free； and
the same I would have observed as to those other materials which
will be necessary； in order to render the temple more glorious；
and let all of that nation live according to the laws of their
own country； and let the senate； and the priests； and the scribes
of the temple； and the sacred singers； be discharged from
poll…money and the crown tax and other taxes also。 And that the
city may the sooner recover its inhabitants； I grant a discharge
from taxes for three years to its present inhabitants； and to
such as shall come to it； until the month Hyperheretus。 We also
discharge them for the future from a third part of their taxes；
that the losses they have sustained may be repaired。 And all
those citizens that have been carried away； and are become
slaves； we grant them and their children their freedom； and give
order that their substance be restored to them。〃
4。 And these were the contents of this epistle。 He also published
a decree through all his kingdom in honor of the temple； which
contained what follows： 〃It shall be lawful for no foreigner to
come within the limits of the temple round about； which thing is
forbidden also to the Jews； unless to those who； according to
their own custom； have purified themselves。 Nor let any flesh of
horses； or of mules； or of asses； he brought into the city；
whether they be wild or tame； nor that of leopards； or foxes； or
hares； and； in general； that of any animal which is forbidden for
the Jews to eat。 Nor let their skins be brought into it； nor let
any such animal be bred up in the city。 Let them only be
permitted to use the sacrifices derived from their forefathers；
with which they have been obliged to make acceptable atonements
to God。 And he that transgresseth any of these orders； let him
pay to the priests three thousand drachmae of silver。〃 Moreover；
this Antiochus bare testimony to our piety and fidelity； in an
epistle of his； written when he was informed of a sedition in
Phrygia and Lydia； at which time he was in the superior
provinces； wherein he commanded Zenxis； the general of his
forces； and his most intimate friend； to send some of our nation
out of Babylon into Phrygia。 The epistle was this：
Ki