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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 

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