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！
priesthood at Jerusalem； one m succession to another； from the
days of king Solomon； until Nebuchadnezzar； king of Babylon； made
an expedition against that city； and burnt the temple； and
removed our nation into Babylon； and then took Josadek； the high
priest； captive； the times of these high priests were four
hundred and sixty…six years； six months； and ten days； while the
Jews were still under the regal government。 But after the term of
seventy years' captivity under the Babylonians； Cyrus； king of
Persia； sent the Jews from Babylon to their own land again； and
gave them leave to rebuild their temple； at which time Jesus； the
son of Josadek； took the high priesthood over the captives when
they were returned home。 Now he and his posterity； who were in
all fifteen； until king Antiochus Eupator； were under a
democratical government for four hundred and fourteen years； and
then the forementioned Antiochus； and Lysias the general of his
army； deprived Onias； who was also called Menelaus； of the high
priesthood； and slew him at Berea； and driving away the son ＇of
Onias the third＇； put Jaeimus into the place of the high priest；
one that was indeed of the stock of Aaron； but not of that family
of Onias。 On which account Onias； who was the nephew of Onias
that was dead； and bore the same name with his father； came into
Egypt； and got into the friendship of Ptolemy Philometor； and
Cleopatra his wife； and persuaded them to make him the high
priest of that temple which he built to God in the prefecture of
Heliopolis； and this in imitation of that at Jerusalem； but as
for that temple which was built in Egypt； we have spoken of it
frequently already。 Now when Jacimus had retained the priesthood
three years； he died； and there was no one that succeeded him；
but the city continued seven years without a high priest。 But
then the posterity of the sons of Asamoneus； who had the
government of the nation conferred upon them； when they had
beaten the Macedonians in war； appointed Jonathan to be their
high priest； who ruled over them seven years。 And when he had
been slain by the treacherous contrivance of Trypho； as we have
related some where； Simon his brother took the high priesthood；
and when he was destroyed at a feast by the treachery of his
son…in…law； his own son； whose name was Hyrcanus； succeeded him；
after he had held the high priesthood one year longer than his
brother。 This Hyrcanus enjoyed that dignity thirty years； and
died an old man； leaving the succession to Judas； who was also
called Aristobulus； whose brother Alexander was his heir； which
Judas died of a sore distemper； after he had kept the priesthood；
together with the royal authority； for this Judas was the first
that put on his head a diadem for one year。 And when Alexander
had been both king and high priest twenty…seven years； he
departed this life； and permitted his wife Alexandra to appoint
him that should he high priest； so she gave the high priesthood
to Hyrcanus； but retained the kingdom herself nine years； and
then departed this life。 The like duration ＇and no longer＇ did
her son Hyrcanus enjoy the high priesthood； for after her death
his brother Aristobulus fought against him； and beat him； and
deprived him of his principality； and he did himself both reign；
and perform the office of high priest to God。 But when he had
reigned three years； and as many months； Pompey came upon him；
and not only took the city of Jerusalem by force； but put him and
his children in bonds； and sent them to Rome。 He also restored
the high priesthood to Hyrcanus； and made him governor of the
nation； but forbade him to wear a diadem。 This Hyrcanus ruled；
besides his first nine years； twenty…four years more； when
Barzapharnes and Pacorus； the generals of the Parthians； passed
over Euphrates； and fought with Hyrcanus； and took him alive； and
made Antigonus； the son of Aristobulus； king； and when he had
reigned three years and three months； Sosius and Herod besieged
him； and took him； when Antony had him brought to Antioch； and
slain there。 Herod was then made king by the Romans； but did no
longer appoint high priests out of the family of Asamoneus； but
made certain men to be so that were of no eminent families； but
barely of those that were priests； excepting that he gave that
dignity to Aristobulus； for when he had made this Aristobulus；
the grandson of that Hyrcanus who was then taken by the
Parthians； and had taken his sister Mariarmne to wife； he thereby
aimed to win the good…will of the people； who had a kind
remembrance of Hyrcanus ＇his grandfather＇。 Yet did he afterward；
out of his fear lest they should all bend their inclinations to
Aristobulus； put him to death； and that by contriving how to have
him suffocated as he was swimming at Jericho； as we have already
related that matter； but after this man he never intrusted the
priesthood to the posterity of the sons of Asamoneus。 Archelaus
also； Herod's son； did like his father in the appointment of the
high priests； as did the Romans also； who took the government
over the Jews into their hands afterward。 Accordingly； the number
of the high priests； from the days of Herod until the day when
Titus took the temple and the City； and burnt them； were in all
twenty…eight； the time also that belonged to them was a hundred
and seven years。 Some of these were the political governors of
the people under the reign of Herod； and under the reign of
Archelaus his son； although； after their death； the government
became an aristocracy； and the high priests were intrusted with a
dominion over the nation。 And thus much may suffice to be said
concerning our high priests。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning Florus The Procurator； Who Necessitated The Jews To
Take Up Arms Against The Romans。 The Conclusion。
1。 Now Gessius Florus； who was sent as successor to Albinus by
Nero； filled Judea with abundance of miseries。 He was by birth of
the city of Clazomene； and brought along with him his wife
Cleopatra； （by whose friendship with Poppea； Nero's wife； he
obtained this government；） who was no way different from him in
wickedness。 This Florus was so wicked； and so violent in the use
of his authority； that the Jews took Albinus to have been
＇comparatively＇ their benefactor； so excessive were the mischiefs
that he brought upon them。 For Albinus concealed his wickedness；
and was careful that it might not be discovered to all men； but
Gessius Florus； as though he bad been sent on purpose to show his
crimes to every body； made a pompous ostentation of them to our
nation； as never omitting any sort of violence； nor any unjust
sort of punishment； for he was not to be moved by pity； and never
was satisfied with any degree of gain that came in his way； nor
had he any more regard to great than to small acquisitions； but
became a partner with the robbers themselves。 For a great many
fell then into that practice without fear； as having him for
their security； and depending on him； that he would save them
harmless in their particular robberies； so that there were no
bounds set to the nation's miseries； but the unhappy Jews； when
they were not able to bear the devastations which the robbers
made among them； were all under a necessity of leaving their own
habitations； and of flying away； as hoping to dwell more easily
any where else in the world among foreigners ＇than in their own
country＇。 And what need I say any more upon this head？ since it
was this Florus who necessitated us to take up arms against the
Romans； while we thought it better to be destroyed at once； than
by little and little。 Now this war began in the second year of
the government of Florus； and the twelfth year of the reign of
Nero。 But then what actions we were forced to do； or what
miseries we were enabled to suffer； may be accurately known by
such as will peruse those books which I have written about the
Jewish war。
2。 I shall now； therefore； make an end here of my Antiquities；
after the conclusion of which events； I began to write that
account of the war； and these Antiquities contain what hath been
delivered down to us from the original creation of man； until the
twelfth year of the reign of Nero； as to what hath befallen the
Jews； as well in Egypt as in Syria and in Palestine； and what we
have suffered from the Assyrians and Babylonians； and what
afflictions the Persians and Macedonians； and after them the
Romans； have brought upon us； for I think I may say that I have
composed this history with sufficient accuracy in all things。 I
have attempted to enumerate those high priests that we have had
during the interval of two thousand years； I have also carried
down the succession of our kings； and related their actions； and
political administration； without ＇considerable＇ errors； as also
the power of our monarchs； and all according to what is written
in our sacred books； for this it was that I promised to do in the
beginning of this history。 And I am so bold as to say； now I have
so completely perfected the work I proposed to myself to do； that
no other person； whether he were a Jew or foreigner； had he ever
so great an inclination to it； could so accurately deliver these
accounts