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！
in jest； put him in mind that he was but a private man； but
Manahem smiled to himself； and clapped him on his backside with
his hand； and said；〃 However that be； thou wilt be king； and wilt
begin thy reign happily； for God finds thee worthy of it。 And do
thou remember the blows that Manahem hath given thee； as being a
signal of the change of thy fortune。 And truly this will be the
best reasoning for thee； that thou love justice ＇towards men＇；
and piety towards God； and clemency towards thy citizens； yet do
I know how thy whole conduct will be； that thou wilt not be such
a one； for thou wilt excel all men in happiness； and obtain an
everlasting reputation； but wilt forget piety and righteousness；
and these crimes will not be concealed from God； at the
conclusion of thy life； when thou wilt find that he will be
mindful of them； and punish time for them。〃 Now at that time
Herod did not at all attend to what Manahem said； as having no
hopes of such advancement； but a little afterward； when he was so
fortunate as to be advanced to the dignity of king； and was in
the height of his dominion； he sent for Manahem； and asked him
how long he should reign。 Manahem did not tell him the full
length of his reign； wherefore； upon that silence of his； he
asked him further； whether he should reign ten years or not？ He
replied； 〃Yes； twenty； nay； thirty years；〃 but did not assign the
just determinate limit of his reign。 Herod was satisfied with
these replies； and gave Manahem his hand； and dismissed him； and
from that time he continued to honor all the Essens。 We have
thought it proper to relate these facts to our readers； how
strange soever they be； and to declare what hath happened among
us； because many of these Essens have； by their excellent virtue；
been thought worthy of this knowledge of Divine revelations。
CHAPTER 11。
How Herod Rebuilt The Temple And Raised It Higher And Made It
More Magnificent Than It Was Before； As Also Concerning That
Tower Which He Called Antonia。
1。 And now Herod； in the eighteenth year of his reign； and after
the acts already mentioned； undertook a very great work； that is；
to build of himself the temple of God； （22） and make it larger in
compass； and to raise it to a most magnificent altitude； as
esteeming it to be the most glorious of all his actions； as it
really was； to bring it to perfection； and that this would be
sufficient for an everlasting memorial of him； but as he knew the
multitude were not ready nor willing to assist him in so vast a
design； he thought to prepare them first by making a speech to
them； and then set about the work itself； so he called them
together； and spake thus to them： 〃I think I need not speak to
you； my countrymen； about such other works as I have done since I
came to the kingdom； although I may say they have been performed
in such a manner as to bring more security to you than glory to
myself； for I have neither been negligent in the most difficult
times about what tended to ease your necessities； nor have the
buildings。 I have made been so proper to preserve me as
yourselves from injuries； and I imagine that； with God's
assistance； I have advanced the nation of the Jews to a degree of
happiness which they never had before； and for the particular
edifices belonging to your own country； and your own cities； as
also to those cities that we have lately acquired； which we have
erected and greatly adorned； and thereby augmented the dignity of
your nation； it seems to me a needless task to enumerate them to
you； since you well know them yourselves； but as to that
undertaking which I have a mind to set about at present； and
which will be a work of the greatest piety and excellence that
can possibly be undertaken by us； I will now declare it to you。
Our fathers； indeed； when they were returned from Babylon； built
this temple to God Almighty； yet does it want sixty cubits of its
largeness in altitude； for so much did that first temple which
Solomon built exceed this temple； nor let any one condemn our
fathers for their negligence or want of piety herein； for it was
not their fault that the temple was no higher； for they were
Cyrus； and Darius the son of Hystaspes； who determined the
measures for its rebuilding； and it hath been by reason of the
subjection of those fathers of ours to them and to their
posterity； and after them to the Macedonians； that they had not
the opportunity to follow the original model of this pious
edifice； nor could raise it to its ancient altitude； but since I
am now； by God's will； your governor； and I have had peace a long
time； and have gained great riches and large revenues； and； what
is the principal filing of all； I am at amity with and well
regarded by the Romans； who； if I may so say； are the rulers of
the whole world； I will do my endeavor to correct that
imperfection； which hath arisen from the necessity of our
affairs； and the slavery we have been under formerly； and to make
a thankful return； after the most pious manner； to God； for what
blessings I have received from him； by giving me this kingdom；
and that by rendering his temple as complete as I am able。〃
2。 And this was the speech which Herod made to them； but still
this speech aftrighted many of the people； as being unexpected by
them； and because it seemed incredible； it did not encourage
them； but put a damp upon them； for they were afraid that he
would pull down the whole edifice； and not be able to bring his
intentions to perfection for its rebuilding； and this danger
appeared to them to be very great； and the vastness of the
undertaking to be such as could hardly be accomplished。 But while
they were in this disposition； the king encouraged them； and told
them he would not pull down their temple till all things were
gotten ready for building it up entirely again。 And as he
promised them this beforehand； so he did not break his word with
them； but got ready a thousand waggons； that were to bring stones
for the building； and chose out ten thousand of the most skillful
workmen； and bought a thousand sacerdotal garments for as many of
the priests； and had some of them taught the arts of
stone…cutters； and others of carpenters； and then began to build；
but this not till every thing was well prepared for the work。
3。 So Herod took away the old foundations； and laid others； and
erected the temple upon them； being in length a hundred cubits；
and in height twenty additional cubits； which ＇twenty＇； upon the
sinking of their foundations （23） fell down； and this part it was
that we resolved to raise again in the days of Nero。 Now the
temple was built of stones that were white and strong； and each
of their length was twenty…five cubits； their height was eight；
and their breadth about twelve； and the whole structure； as also
the structure of the royal cloister； was on each side much lower；
but the middle was much higher； till they were visible to those
that dwelt in the country for a great many furlongs； but chiefly
to such as lived over against them； and those that approached to
them。 The temple had doors also at the entrance； and lintels over
them； of the same height with the temple itself。 They were
adorned with embroidered veils； with their flowers of purple； and
pillars interwoven； and over these； but under the crown…work； was
spread out a golden vine； with its branches hanging down from a
great height； the largeness and fine workmanship of which was a
surprising sight to the spectators； to see what vast materials
there were； and with what great skill the workmanship was done。
He also encompassed the entire temple with very large cloisters；
contriving them to be in a due proportion thereto； and he laid
out larger sums of money upon them than had been done before him；
till it seemed that no one else had so greatly adorned the temple
as he had done。 There was a large wall to both the cloisters；
which wall was itself the most prodigious work that was ever
heard of by man。 The hill was a rocky ascent； that declined by
degrees towards the east parts of the city； till it came to an
elevated level。 This hill it was which Solomon； who was the first
of our kings； by Divine revelation； encompassed with a wall； it
was of excellent workmanship upwards； and round the top of it。 He
also built a wall below； beginning at the bottom； which was
encompassed by a deep valley； and at the south side he laid rocks
together； and bound them one to another with lead； and included
some of the inner parts； till it proceeded to a great height； and
till both the largeness of the square edifice and its altitude
were immense； and till the vastness of the stones in the front
were plainly visible on the outside； yet so that the inward parts
were fastened together with iron； and preserved the joints
immovable for all future times。 When this work ＇for the
foundation＇ was done in this manner； and joined together as part
of the hill itself to the very top of it； he wrought it all into
one outward surface； and filled up the hollow places which were
about the wall； and made it a level on the external upper
surface； and a smooth level also。 This hill was walled all round；
and in compass four furlongs