按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Parthian deserters； and came to him； though the report went
abroad that they had run away from him。 And when Gabinius had
performed great and glorious actions； in his management of the
affairs of war； he returned to Rome； and delivered the government
to Crassus。 Now Nicolaus of Damascus； and Strabo of Cappadocia；
both describe the expeditions of Pompey and Gabinius against the
Jews； while neither of them say anything new which is not in the
other。
CHAPTER 7。
How Crassus Came Into Judea； And Pillaged The Temple； And Then
Marched Against The Parthians And Perished； With His Army。 Also
How Cassius Obtained Syria； And Put A Stop To The Parthians And
Then Went Up To Judea。
1。 Now Crassus； as he was going upon his expedition against the
Parthians； came into Judea； and carried off the money that was in
the temple； which Pompey had left； being two thousand talents；
and was disposed to spoil it of all the gold belonging to it；
which was eight thousand talents。 He also took a beam； which was
made of solid beaten gold； of the weight of three hundred minae；
each of which weighed two pounds and a half。 It was the priest
who was guardian of the sacred treasures； and whose name was
Eleazar； that gave him this beam； not out of a wicked design； for
he was a good and a righteous man； but being intrusted with the
custody of the veils belonging to the temple； which were of
admirable beauty； and of very costly workmanship； and hung down
from this beam； when lie saw that Crassus was busy in gathering
money； and was in fear for the entire ornaments of the temple； he
gave him this beam of gold as a ransom for the whole； but this
not till he had given his oath that he would remove nothing else
out of the temple； but be satisfied with this only； which he
should give him； being worth many ten thousand ＇shekels＇。 Now
this beam was contained in a wooden beam that was hollow； but was
known to no others； but Eleazar alone knew it； yet did Crassus
take away this beam； upon the condition of touching nothing else
that belonged to the temple； and then brake his oath； and carried
away all the gold that was in the temple。
2。 And let no one wonder that there was so much wealth in our
temple； since all the Jews throughout the habitable earth； and
those that worshipped God； nay； even those of Asia and Europe；
sent their contributions to it； and this from very ancient times。
Nor is the largeness of these sums without its attestation； nor
is that greatness owing to our vanity； as raising it without
ground to so great a height； but there are many witnesses to it；
and particularly Strabo of Cappadocia； who says thus：
〃Mithridates sent to Cos； and took the money which queen
Cleopatra had deposited there； as also eight hundred talents
belonging to the Jews。〃 Now we have no public money but only what
appertains to God； and it is evident that the Asian Jews removed
this money out of fear of Mithridates； for it is not probable
that those of Judea； who had a strong city and temple； should
send their money to Cos； nor is it likely that the Jews who are
inhabitants of Alexandria should do so neither； since they were
ill no fear of Mithridates。 And Strabo himself bears witness to
the same thing in another place； that at the same time that Sylla
passed over into Greece； in order to fight against Mithridates；
he sent Lucullus to put an end to a sedition that our nation； of
whom the habitable earth is full； had raised in Cyrene； where he
speaks thus： 〃There were four classes of men among those of
Cyrene； that of citizens； that of husbandmen； the third of
strangers； and the fourth of Jews。 Now these Jews are already
gotten into all cities； and it is hard to find a place in the
habitable earth that hath not admitted this tribe of men； and is
not possessed by them； and it hath come to pass that Egypt and
Cyrene； as having the same governors； and a great number of other
nations； imitate their way of living； and maintain great bodies
of these Jews in a peculiar manner； and grow up to greater
prosperity with them； and make use of the same laws with that
nation also。 Accordingly； the Jews have places assigned them in
Egypt； wherein they inhabit； besides what is peculiarly allotted
to this nation at Alexandria； which is a large part of that city。
There is also an ethnarch allowed them； who governs the nation；
and distributes justice to them； and takes care of their
contracts； and of the laws to them belonging； as if he were the
ruler of a free republic。 In Egypt； therefore； this nation is
powerful； because the Jews were originally Egyptians； and because
the land wherein they inhabit； since they went thence； is near to
Egypt。 They also removed into Cyrene； because that this land
adjoined to the government of Egypt； as well as does Judea； or
rather was formerly under the same government。〃 And this is what
Strabo says。
3。 So when Crassus had settled all things as he himself pleased；
he marched into Parthia； where both he himself and all his army
perished； as hath been related elsewhere。 But Cassius； as he fled
from Rome to Syria； took possession of it； and was an impediment
to the Parthians； who by reason of their victory over Crassus
made incursions upon it。 And as he came back to Tyre； he went up
into Judea also； and fell upon Tarichee； and presently took it；
and carried about thirty thousand Jews captives； and slew
Pitholaus； who succeeded Aristobulus in his seditious practices；
and that by the persuasion of Antipater； who proved to have great
interest in him； and was at that time in great repute with the
Idumeans also： out of which nation he married a wife； who was the
daughter of one of their eminent men； and her name was Cypros；
（12） by whom he had four sons； Phasael； and Herod； who was
afterwards made king； and Joseph； and Pheroras； and a daughter；
named Salome。 This Antipater cultivated also a friendship and
mutual kindness with other potentates； but especially with the
king of Arabia； to whom he committed his children； while he
fought against Aristobulus。 So Cassius removed his camp； and
marched to Euphrates； to meet those that were coming to attack
him； as hath been related by others。
4。 But some time afterward Cesar； when he had taken Rome； and
after Pompey and the senate were fled beyond the Ionian Sea；
freed Aristobulus from his bonds； and resolved to send him into
Syria； and delivered two legions to him； that he might set
matters right； as being a potent man in that country。 But
Aristobulus had no enjoyment of what he hoped for from the power
that was given him by Cesar； for those of Pompey's party
prevented it； and destroyed him by poison； and those of Caesar's
party buried him。 His dead body also lay； for a good while；
embalmed in honey； till Antony afterward sent it to Judea； and
caused him to be buried in the royal sepulcher。 But Scipio； upon
Pompey's sending to him to slay Alexander； the son of
Aristobulus； because the young man was accused of what offenses
he had been guilty of at first against the Romans； cut off his
head； and thus did he die at Antioch。 But Ptolemy； the son of
Menneus； who was the ruler of Chalcis； under Mount Libanus； took
his brethren to him； and sent his son Philippion to Askelon to
Aristobulus's wife； and desired her to send back with him her son
Antigonus； and her daughters； the one of which； whose name was
Alexandra； Philippion fell in love with； and married her； though
afterward his father Ptolemy slew him； and married Alexandra； and
continued to take care of her brethren。
CHAPTER 8。
The Jews Become Confederates With Caesar When He Fought Against
Egypt。 The Glorious Actions Of Antipater； And His Friendship With
Caesar。 The Honors Which The Jews Received From The Romans And
Athenians。
1。 Now after Pompey was dead； and after that victory Caesar had
gained over him； Antipater； who managed the Jewish affairs；
became very useful to Caesar when he made war against Egypt； and
that by the order of Hyrcanus； for when Mithridates of Pergainus
was bringing his auxiliaries； and was not able to continue his
march through Pelusium； but obliged to stay at Askelon； Antipater
came to him； conducting three thousand of the Jews； armed men。 He
had also taken care the principal men of the Arabians should come
to his assistance； and on his account it was that all the Syrians
assisted him also； as not willing to appear behindhand in their
alacrity for Cesar； viz。 Jamblicus the ruler； and Ptolemy his
son； and Tholomy the son of Sohemus； who dwelt at Mount Libanus；
and almost all the cities。 So Mithridates marched out of Syria；
and came to Pelusium； and when its inhabitants would not admit
him； he besieged the city。 Now Antipater signalized himself here；
and was the first who plucked down a part of the wall； and so
opened a way to the rest； whereby they might enter the city； and
by this means Pelusium was taken。 But it happened that the
Egyptian Jews； who dwelt in the country called Onion； would not
let Antipater and Mithridates； with their soldiers； pass to
Caesar； but Antipater persuaded them to come over with their
party； because he was of the same people with them； and that
chiefly by showing them the epistles of H