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him that had supported him； and bestowed many benefits upon him；
and had done nothing itself very severe to him； for that his
accusation； which was derived from evil counselors； and not from
himself； had rather the suspicion of some severity； than any
thing really severe in it。 Herod was persuaded by these
arguments； and believed that it was sufficient for his future
hopes to have made a show of his strength before the nation； and
done no more to it … and in this state were the affairs of Judea
at this time。
CHAPTER 10。
The Honors That Were Paid The Jews； And The Leagues That Were
Made By The Romans And Other Nations； With Them。
1。 Now when Caesar was come to Rome； he was ready to sail into
Africa to fight against Scipio and Cato； when Hyrcanus sent
ambassadors to him； and by them desired that he would ratify that
league of friendship and mutual alliance which was between them；
And it seems to me to be necessary here to give an account of all
the honors that the Romans and their emperor paid to our nation；
and of the leagues of mutual assistance they have made with it；
that all the rest of mankind may know what regard the kings of
Asia and Europe have had to us； and that they have been
abundantly satisfied of our courage and fidelity； for whereas
many will not believe what hath been written about us by the
Persians and Macedonians； because those writings are not every
where to be met with； nor do lie in public places； but among us
ourselves； and certain other barbarous nations； while there is no
contradiction to be made against the decrees of the Romans； for
they are laid up in the public places of the cities； and are
extant still in the capitol； and engraven upon pillars of brass；
nay； besides this； Julius Caesar made a pillar of brass for the
Jews at Alexandria； and declared publicly that they were citizens
of Alexandria。 Out of these evidences will I demonstrate what I
say； and will now set down the decrees made both by the senate
and by Julius Caesar； which relate to Hyrcanus and to our nation。
2。 〃Caius Julius Caesar； imperator and high priest； and dictator
the second time； to the magistrates； senate； and people of Sidon；
sendeth greeting。 If you be in health； it is well。 I also and the
army are well。 I have sent you a copy of that decree； registered
on the tables； which concerns Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； the
high priest and ethnarch of the Jews； that it may be laid up
among the public records； and I will that it be openly proposed
in a table of brass； both in Greek and in Latin。 It is as
follows： I Julius Caesar； imperator the second time； and high
priest； have made this decree； with the approbation of the
senate。 Whereas Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander the Jew； hath
demonstrated his fidelity and diligence about our affairs； and
this both now and in former times； both in peace and in war； as
many of our generals have borne witness； and came to our
assistance in the last Alexandrian war； （17） with fifteen hundred
soldiers； and when he was sent by me to Mithridates； showed
himself superior in valor to all the rest of that army； … for
these reasons I will that Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； and his
children； be ethnarchs of the Jews； and have the high priesthood
of the Jews for ever； according to the customs of their
forefathers； and that he and his sons be our confederates； and
that besides this； everyone of them be reckoned among our
particular friends。 I also ordain that he and his children retain
whatsoever privileges belong to the office of high priest； or
whatsoever favors have been hitherto granted them； and if at any
time hereafter there arise any questions about the Jewish
customs； I will that he determine the same。 And I think it not
proper that they should be obliged to find us winter quarters； or
that any money should be required of them。〃
3。 〃The decrees of Caius Caesar； consul； containing what hath
been granted and determined； are as follows： That Hyrcanus and
his children bear rule over the nation of the Jews； and have the
profits of the places to them bequeathed； and that he； as himself
the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews； defend those that are
injured； and that ambassadors be sent to Hyrcanus； the son of
Alexander； the high priest of the Jews； that may discourse with
him about a league of friendship and mutual assistance； and that
a table of brass； containing the premises； be openly proposed in
the capitol； and at Sidon； and Tyre； and Askelon； and in the
temple； engraven in Roman and Greek letters： that this decree may
also be communicated to the quaestors and praetors of the several
cities； and to the friends of the Jews； and that the ambassadors
may have presents made them； and that these decrees be sent every
where。〃
4。 〃Caius Caesar； imperator； dictator； consul； hath granted； That
out of regard to the honor； and virtue； and kindness of the man；
and for the advantage of the senate； and of the people of Rome；
Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； both he and his children； be high
priests and priests of Jerusalem； and of the Jewish nation； by
the same right； and according to the same laws； by which their
progenitors have held the priesthood。〃
5。 〃Caius Caesar； consul the fifth time； hath decreed； That the
Jews shall possess Jerusalem； and may encompass that city with
walls； and that Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； the high priest
and ethnarch of the Jews； retain it in the manner he himself
pleases； and that the Jews be allowed to deduct out of their
tribute； every second year the land is let ＇in the Sabbatic
period＇； a corus of that tribute； and that the tribute they pay
be not let to farm； nor that they pay always the same tribute。〃
6。 〃Caius Caesar； imperator the second time； hath ordained； That
all the country of the Jews； excepting Joppa； do pay a tribute
yearly for the city Jerusalem； excepting the seventh； which they
call the sabbatical year； because thereon they neither receive
the fruits of their trees； nor do they sow their land； and that
they pay their tribute in Sidon on the second year ＇of that
sabbatical period＇； the fourth part of what was sown： and besides
this； they are to pay the same tithes to Hyrcanus and his sons
which they paid to their forefathers。 And that no one； neither
president； nor lieutenant； nor ambassador； raise auxiliaries
within the bounds of Judea； nor may soldiers exact money of them
for winter quarters； or under any other pretense； but that they
be free from all sorts of injuries； and that whatsoever they
shall hereafter have； and are in possession of； or have bought；
they shall retain them all。 It is also our pleasure that the city
Joppa； which the Jews had originally； when they made a league of
friendship with the Romans； shall belong to them； as it。 formerly
did； and that Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； and his sons； have
as tribute of that city from those that occupy the land for the
country； and for what they export every year to Sidon； twenty
thousand six hundred and seventy…five modii every year； the
seventh year； which they call the Sabbatic year； excepted；
whereon they neither plough； nor receive the product of their
trees。 It is also the pleasure of the senate； that as to the
villages which are in the great plain； which Hyrcanus and his
forefathers formerly possessed； Hyrcanus and the Jews have them
with the same privileges with which they formerly had them also；
and that the same original ordinances remain still in force which
concern the Jews with regard to their high priests； and that they
enjoy the same benefits which they have had formerly by the
concession of the people； and of the senate； and let them enjoy
the like privileges in Lydda。 It is the pleasure also of the
senate that Hyrcanus the ethnarch； and the Jews； retain those
places； countries； and villages which belonged to the kings of
Syria and Phoenicia； the confederates of the Romans； and which
they had bestowed on them as their free gifts。 It is also granted
to Hyrcanus； and to his sons； and to the ambassadors by them sent
to us； that in the fights between single gladiators； and in those
with beasts； they shall sit among the senators to see those
shows； and that when they desire an audience； they shall be
introduced into the senate by the dictator； or by the general of
the horse； and when they have introduced them； their answers
shall be returned them in ten days at the furthest； after the
decree of the senate is made about their affairs。〃
7。 〃Caius Cqesar； imperator； dictator the fourth time； and consul
the fifth time； declared to be perpetual dictator； made this
speech concerning the rights and privileges of Hyrcanus； the son
of Alexander； the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews。 Since
those imperators that have been in the provinces before me have
borne witness to Hyrcanus； the high priest of the Jews； and to
the Jews themselves； and this before the senate and people of
Rome； when the people and senate returned their thanks to them；
it is good that we now also remember the same； and provide that a
requital be made to Hyrcanus； to the nation of the Jews； and to
the sons of Hyrcanus； by the senate and people of Rome； and that
suitably to