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!
neighboring villages; and to bring the most eminent persons among
them in bonds to him。 Now as this devastation was making; one of
the soldiers seized the laws of Moses that lay in one of those
villages; and brought them out before the eyes of all present;
and tore them to pieces; and this was done with reproachful
language; and much scurrility; which things when the Jews heard
of; they ran together; and that in great numbers; and came down
to Cesarea; where Cumanus then was; and besought him that he
would avenge; not themselves; but God himself; whose laws had
been affronted; for that they could not bear to live any longer;
if the laws of their forefathers must be affronted after this
manner。 Accordingly Cumanus; out of fear lest the multitude
should go into a sedition; and by the advice of his friends also;
took care that the soldier who had offered the affront to the
laws should be beheaded; and thereby put a stop to the sedition
which was ready to be kindled a second time。
CHAPTER 6。
How There Happened A Quarrel Between The Jews And The Samaritans;
And How Claudius Put An End To Their Differences。
1。 Now there arose a quarrel between the Samaritans and the Jews
on the occasion following: It was the custom of the Galileans;
when they came to the holy city at the festivals; to take their
journeys through the country of the Samaritans; (11) and at this
time there lay; in the road they took; a village that was called
Ginea; which was situated in the limits of Samaria and the great
plain; where certain persons thereto belonging fought with the
Galileans; and killed a great many of them。 But when the
principal of the Galileans were informed of what had been done;
they came to Cumanus; and desired him to avenge the murder of
those that were killed; but he was induced by the Samaritans;
with money; to do nothing in the matter; upon which the Galileans
were much displeased; and persuaded the multitude of the Jews to
betake themselves to arms; and to regain their liberty; saying
that slavery was in itself a bitter thing; but that when it was
joined with direct injuries; it was perfectly intolerable; And
when their principal men endeavored to pacify them; and promised
to endeavor to persuade Cureanus to avenge those that were
killed; they would not hearken to them; but took their weapons;
and entreated the assistance of Eleazar; the son of Dineus; a
robber; who had many years made his abode in the mountains; with
which assistance they plundered many villages of the Samaritans。
When Cumanus heard of this action of theirs; he took the band of
Sebaste; with four regiments of footmen; and armed the
Samaritans; and marched out against the Jews; and caught them;
and slew many of them; and took a great number of them alive;
whereupon those that were the most eminent persons at Jerusalem;
and that both in regard to the respect that was paid them; and
the families they were of; as soon as they saw to what a height
things were gone; put on sackcloth; and heaped ashes upon their
heads; and by all possible means besought the seditious; and
persuaded them that they would set before their eyes the utter
subversion of their country; the conflagration of their temple;
and the slavery of themselves; their wives; and children; (12)
which would be the consequences of what they were doing; and
would alter their minds; would cast away their weapons; and for
the future be quiet; and return to their own homes。 These
persuasions of theirs prevailed upon them。 So the people
dispersed themselves; and the robbers went away again to their
places of strength; and after this time all Judea was overrun
with robberies。
2。 But the principal of the Samaritans went to Ummidius
Quadratus; the president of Syria; who at that time was at Tyre;
and accused the Jews of setting their villages on fire; and
plundering them; and said withal; that they were not so much
displeased at what they had suffered; as they were at the
contempt thereby showed the Romans; while if they had received
any injury; they ought to have made them the judges of what had
been done; and not presently to make such devastation; as if they
had not the Romans for their governors; on which account they
came to him; in order to obtain that vengeance they wanted。 This
was the accusation which the Samaritans brought against the Jews。
But the Jews affirmed that the Samaritans were the authors of
this tumult and fighting; and that; in the first place; Cumanus
had been corrupted by their gifts; and passed over the murder of
those that were slain in silence; … which allegations when
Quadratus heard; he put off the hearing of the cause; and
promised that he would give sentence when he should come into
Judea; and should have a more exact knowledge of the truth of
that matter。 So these men went away without success。 Yet was it
not long ere Quadratus came to Samaria; where; upon hearing the
cause; he supposed that the Samaritans were the authors of that
disturbance。 But when he was informed that certain of the Jews
were making innovations; he ordered those to be crucified whom
Cumanus had taken captives。 From whence he came to a certain
village called Lydda; which was not less than a city in
largeness; and there heard the Samaritan cause a second time
before his tribunal; and there learned from a certain Samaritan
that one of the chief of the Jews; whose name was Dortus; and
some other innovators with him; four in number; persuaded the
multitude to a revolt from the Romans; whom Quadratus ordered to
be put to death: but still he sent away Ananias the high priest;
and Ananus the commander 'of the temple'; in bonds to Rome; to
give an account of what they had done to Claudius Caesar。 He also
ordered the principal men; both of the Samaritans and of the
Jews; as also Cumanus the procurator; and Ceier the tribune; to
go to Italy to the emperor; that he might hear their cause; and
determine their differences one with another。 But he came again
to the city of Jerusalem; out of his fear that the multitude of
the Jews should attempt some innovations; but he found the city
in a peaceable state; and celebrating one of the usual festivals
of their country to God。 So he believed that they would not
attempt any innovations; and left them at the celebration of the
festival; and returned to Antioch。
3。 Now Cumanus; and the principal of the Samaritans; who were
sent to Rome; had a day appointed them by the emperor whereon
they were to have pleaded their cause about the quarrels they had
one with another。 But now Caesar's freed…men and his friends were
very zealous on the behalf of Cumanus and the Samaritans; and
they had prevailed over the Jews; unless Agrippa; junior; who was
then at Rome; had seen the principal of the Jews hard set; and
had earnestly entreated Agrippina; the emperor's wife; to
persuade her husband to hear the cause; so as was agreeable to
his justice; and to condemn those to be punished who were really
the authors of this revolt from the Roman government: … whereupon
Claudius was so well disposed beforehand; that when he had heard
the cause; and found that the Samaritans had been the ringleaders
in those mischievous doings; he gave order that those who came up
to him should be slain; and that Cureanus should be banished。 He
also gave order that Celer the tribune should be carried back to
Jerusalem; and should be drawn through the city in the sight of
all the people; and then should be slain。
CHAPTER 7。
Felix Is Made Procurator Of Judea; As Also Concerning Agrippa;
Junior And His Sisters。
1。 So Claudius sent Felix; the brother of Pallas; to take care of
the affairs of Judea; and when he had already completed the
twelfth year of his reign; he bestowed upon Agrippa the tetrarchy
of Philip and Batanea; and added thereto Trachonites; with Abila;
which last had been the tetrarchy of Lysanias; but he took from
him Chalcis; when he had been governor thereof four years。 And
when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar;
he gave his sister Drusilla in marriage to Azizus; king of Emesa;
upon his consent to be circumcised; for Epiphanes; the son of
king Antiochus; had refused to marry her; because; after he had
promised her father formerly to come over to the Jewish religion;
he would not now perform that promise。 He also gave Mariamne in
marriage to Archelaus; the son of Helcias; to whom she had
formerly been betrothed by Agrippa her father; from which
marriage was derived a daughter; whose name was Bernice。
2。 But for the marriage of Drusilla with Azizus; it was in no
long time afterward dissolved upon the following occasion: While
Felix was procurator of Judea; he saw this Drusilla; and fell in
love with her; for she did indeed exceed all other women in
beauty; and he sent to her a person whose name was Simon (13) one
of his friends; a Jew he was; and by birth a Cypriot; and one who
pretended to be a magician; and endeavored to persuade her to
forsake her present husband; and marry him; and promised; that if
she would not refuse him; he would make her a happy woman。
Accordingly she acted ill; and because she was desirous to avoid
her sister Bernice's e