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when any persons would not comply with them； they set fire to
their villages； and plundered them。
7。 And now it was that a great sedition arose between the Jews
that inhabited Cesarea； and the Syrians who dwelt there also；
concerning their equal right to the privileges belonging to
citizens； for the Jews claimed the pre…eminence； because Herod
their king was the builder of Cesarea； and because he was by
birth a Jew。 Now the Syrians did not deny what was alleged about
Herod； but they said that Cesarea was formerly called Strato's
Tower； and that then there was not one Jewish inhabitant。 When
the presidents of that country heard of these disorders； they
caught the authors of them on both sides； and tormented them with
stripes； and by that means put a stop to the disturbance for a
time。 But the Jewish citizens depending on their wealth； and on
that account despising the Syrians； reproached them again； and
hoped to provoke them by such reproaches。 However； the Syrians；
though they were inferior in wealth； yet valuing themselves
highly on this account； that the greatest part of the Roman
soldiers that were there were either of Cesarea or Sebaste； they
also for some time used reproachful language to the Jews also；
and thus it was； till at length they came to throwing stones at
one another； and several were wounded； and fell on both sides；
though still the Jews were the conquerors。 But when Felix saw
that this quarrel was become a kind of war； he came upon them on
the sudden； and desired the Jews to desist； and when they refused
so to do； he armed his soldiers； and sent them out upon them； and
slew many of them； and took more of them alive； and permitted his
soldiers to plunder some of the houses of the citizens； which
were full of riches。 Now those Jews that were more moderate； and
of principal dignity among them； were afraid of themselves； and
desired of Felix that he would sound a retreat to his soldiers；
and spare them for the future； and afford them room for
repentance for what they had done； and Felix was prevailed upon
to do so。
8。 About this time king Agrippa gave the high priesthood to
Ismael； who was the son of Fabi。 And now arose a sedition between
the high priests and the principal men of the multitude of
Jerusalem； each of which got them a company of the boldest sort
of men； and of those that loved innovations about them； and
became leaders to them； and when they struggled together； they
did it by casting reproachful words against one another； and by
throwing stones also。 And there was nobody to reprove them； but
these disorders were done after a licentious manner in the city；
as if it had no government over it。 And such was the impudence
（21） and boldness that had seized on the high priests； that they
had the hardiness to send their servants into the
threshing…floors； to take away those tithes that were due to the
priests； insomuch that it so fell out that the poorest sort of
the priests died for want。 To this degree did the violence of the
seditious prevail over all right and justice。
9。 Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by
Nero； the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up
to Rome to accuse Felix； and he had certainly been brought to
punishment； unless Nero had yielded to the importunate
solicitations of his brother Pallas； who was at that time had in
the greatest honor by him。 Two of the principal Syrians in
Cesarea persuaded Burrhus； who was Nero's tutor； and secretary
for his Greek epistles； by giving him a great sum of money； to
disannul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which
they hitherto enjoyed。 So Burrhus； by his solicitations； obtained
leave of the emperor that an epistle should be written to that
purpose。 This epistle became the occasion of the following
miseries that befell our nation； for when the Jews of Cesarea
were informed of the contents of this epistle to the Syrians；
they were more disorderly than before； till a war was kindled。
10。 Upon Festus's coming into Judea； it happened that Judea was
afflicted by the robbers； while all the villages were set on
fire； and plundered by them。 And then it was that the sicarii； as
they were called； who were robbers； grew numerous。 They made use
of small swords； not much different in length from the Persian
acinacae； but somewhat crooked； and like the Roman sicae； ＇or
sickles；＇ as they were called； and from these weapons these
robbers got their denomination； and with these weapons they slew
a great many； for they mingled themselves among the multitude at
their festivals； when they were come up in crowds from all parts
to the city to worship God； as we said before； and easily slew
those that they had a mind to slay。 They also came frequently
upon the villages belonging to their enemies； with their weapons；
and plundered them； and set them on fire。 So Festus sent forces；
both horsemen and footmen； to fall upon those that had been
seduced by a certain impostor； who promised them deliverance and
freedom from the miseries they were under； if they would but
follow him as far as the wilderness。 Accordingly； those forces
that were sent destroyed both him that had deluded them； and
those that were his followers also。
11。 About the same time king Agrippa built himself a very large
dining…room in the royal palace at Jerusalem； near to the
portico。 Now this palace had been erected of old by the children
of Asamoneus。 and was situate upon an elevation； and afforded a
most delightful prospect to those that had a mind to take a view
of the city； which prospect was desired by the king； and there he
could lie down； and eat； and thence observe what was done in the
temple； which thing； when the chief men of Jerusalem saw they
were very much displeased at it； for it was not agreeable to the
institutions of our country or law that what was done in the
temple should be viewed by others； especially what belonged to
the sacrifices。 They therefore erected a wall upon the uppermost
building which belonged to the inner court of the temple towards
the west； which wall when it was built； did not only intercept
the prospect of the dining…room in the palace； but also of the
western cloisters that belonged to the outer court of the temple
also； where it was that the Romans kept guards for the temple at
the festivals。 At these doings both king Agrippa； and principally
Festus the procurator； were much displeased； and Festus ordered
them to pull the wall down again： but the Jews petitioned him to
give them leave to send an embassage about this matter to Nero；
for they said they could not endure to live if any part of the
temple should be demolished； and when Festus had given them leave
so to do； they sent ten of their principal men to Nero； as also
Ismael the high priest； and Helcias； the keeper of the sacred
treasure。 And when Nero had heard what they had to say； he not
only forgave （22） them what they had already done； but also gave
them leave to let the wall they had built stand。 This was granted
them in order to gratify Poppea； Nero's wife； who was a religious
woman； and had requested these favors of Nero； and who gave order
to the ten ambassadors to go their way home； but retained Helcias
and Ismael as hostages with herself。 As soon as the king heard
this news； he gave the high priesthood to Joseph； who was called
Cabi； the son of Simon； formerly high priest。
CHAPTER 9。
Concerning Albinus Under Whose Procuratorship James Was Slain； As
Also What Edifices Were Built By Agrippa。
1。 And now Caesar； upon hearing the death of Festus； sent Albinus
into Judea； as procurator。 But the king deprived Joseph of the
high priesthood； and bestowed the succession to that dignity on
the son of Ananus； who was also himself called Ananus。 Now the
report goes that this eldest Ananus proved a most fortunate man；
for he had five sons who had all performed the office of a high
priest to God； and who had himself enjoyed that dignity a long
time formerly； which had never happened to any other of our high
priests。 But this younger Ananus； who； as we have told you
already； took the high priesthood； was a bold man in his temper；
and very insolent； he was also of the sect of the Sadducees； （23）
who are very rigid in judging offenders； above all the rest of
the Jews； as we have already observed； when； therefore； Ananus
was of this disposition； he thought he had now a proper
opportunity ＇to exercise his authority＇。 Festus was now dead； and
Albinus was but upon the road； so he assembled the sanhedrim of
judges； and brought before them the brother of Jesus； who was
called Christ； whose name was James； and some others； ＇or； some
of his companions＇； and when he had formed an accusation against
them as breakers of the law； he delivered them to be stoned： but
as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens； and
such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws； they
disliked what was done； they also sent to the king ＇Agrippa＇；
desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more； for
that what he had already done was not to be justified； nay； some
of them went also to meet Albinus； as he was upon his journey