太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the antiquities of the jews-1 >

第280节

the antiquities of the jews-1-第280节

小说: the antiquities of the jews-1 字数: 每页4000字

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!



up with Claudius Caesar。 And when Caesar was informed that
Agrippa was dead; and that the inhabitants of Sebaste and Cesarea
had abused him; he was sorry for the first news; and was
displeased with the ingratitude of those cities。 He was therefore
disposed to send Agrippa; junior; away presently to succeed his
father in the kingdom; and was willing to confirm him in it by
his oath。 But those freed…men and friends of his; who had the
greatest authority with him; dissuaded him from it; and said that
it was a dangerous experiment to permit so large a kingdom to
come under the government of so very young a man; and one hardly
yet arrived at years of discretion; who would not be able to take
sufficient care of its administration; while the weight of a
kingdom is heavy enough to a grown man。 So Caesar thought what
they said to be reasonable。 Accordingly he sent Cuspins Fadus to
be procurator of Judea; and of the entire kingdom; and paid that
respect to the eceased as not to introduce Marcus; who had been
at variance with him; into his kingdom。 But he determined; in the
first place; to send orders to Fadus; that he should chastise the
inhabitants of Cesarca and Sebaste for those abuses they had
offered to him that was deceased; and their madness towards his
daughters that were still alive; and that he should remove that
body of soldiers that were at Cesarea and Sebaste; with the five
regiments; into Pontus; that they might do their military duty
there; and that he should choose an equal number of soldiers out
of the Roman legions that were in Syria; to supply their place。
Yet were not those that had such orders actually removed; for by
sending ambassadors to Claudius; they mollified him; and got
leave to abide in Judea still; and these were the very men that
became the source of very great calamities to the Jews in
after…times; and sowed the seeds of that war which began under
Florus; whence it was that when Vespasian had subdued the
country; he removed them out of his province; as we shall relate
hereafter。

BOOK XX。

Containing The Interval Of Twenty…Two Years。

From Fadus The Procurator To Florus。

CHAPTER 1。

A Sedition Of The Philadelphians Against The Jews; And Also
Concerning The Vestments Of The High Priest。

1。 Upon the death of king Agrippa; which we have related in the
foregoing book; Claudius Caesar sent Cassius Longinus as
successor to Marcus; out of regard to the memory of king Agrippa;
who had often desired of him by letters; while be was alive; that
he would not suffer Marcus to be any longer president of Syria。
But Fadus; as soon as he was come procurator into Judea; found
quarrelsome doings between the Jews that dwelt in Perea; and the
people of Philadelphia; about their borders; at a village called
Mia; that was filled with men of a warlike temper; for the Jews
of Perea had taken up arms without the consent of their principal
men; and had destroyed many of the Philadelphians。 When Fadus was
informed of this procedure; it provoked him very much that they
had not left the determination of the matter to him; if they
thought that the Philadelphians had done them any wrong; but had
rashly taken up arms against them。 So he seized upon three of
their principal men; who were also the causes of this sedition;
and ordered them to be bound; and afterwards had one of them
slain; whose name was Hannibal; and he banished the other two;
Areram and Eleazar。 Tholomy also; the arch robber; was; after
some time; brought to him bound; and slain; but not till he had
done a world of mischief to Idumea and the Arabians。 And indeed;
from that time; Judea was cleared of robberies by the care and
providence of Fadus。 He also at this time sent for the high
priests and the principal citizens of Jerusalem; and this at the
command of the emperor; and admonished them that they should lay
up the long garment and the sacred vestment; which it is
customary for nobody but the high priest to wear; in the tower of
Antonia; that it might be under the power of the Romans; as it
had been formerly。 Now the Jews durst not contradict what he had
said; but desired Fadus; however; and Longinus; (which last was
come to Jerusalem; and had brought a great army with him; out of
a fear that the 'rigid' injunctions of Fadus should force the
Jews to rebel;) that they might; in the first place; have leave
to send ambassadors to Caesar; to petition him that they may have
the holy vestments under their own power; and that; in the next
place; they would tarry till they knew what answer Claudius would
give to that their request。 So they replied; that they would give
them leave to send their ambassadors; provided they would give
them their sons as pledges 'for their peaceable behavior'。 And
when they had agreed so to do; and had given them the pledges
they desired; the ambassadors were sent accordingly。 But when;
upon their coming to Rome; Agrippa; junior; the son of the
deceased; understood the reason why they came; (for he dwelt with
Claudius Caesar; as we said before;) he besought Caesar to grant
the Jews their request about the holy vestments; and to send a
message to Fadus accordingly。

2。 Hereupon Claudius called for the ambassadors; and told them
that he granted their request; and bade them to return their
thanks to Agrippa for this favor; which had been bestowed on them
upon his entreaty。 And besides these answers of his; he sent the
following letter by them: 〃Claudius Caesar Germanicus; tribune of
the people the fifth time; and designed consul the fourth time;
and imperator the tenth time; the father of his country; to the
magistrates; senate; and people; and the whole nation of the
Jews; sendeth greeting。 Upon the presentation of your ambassadors
to me by Agrippa; my friend; whom I have brought up; and have now
with me; and who is a person of very great piety; who are come to
give me thanks for the care I have taken of your nation; and to
entreat me; in an earnest and obliging manner; that they may have
the holy vestments; with the crown belonging to them; under their
power; … I grant their request; as that excellent person
Vitellius; who is very dear to me; had done before me。 And I have
complied with your desire; in the first place; out of regard to
that piety which I profess; and because I would have every one
worship God according to the laws of their own country; and this
I do also because I shall hereby highly gratify king Herod; and
Agrippa; junior; whose sacred regards to me; and earnest
good…will to you; I am well acquainted with; and with whom I have
the greatest friendship; and whom I highly esteem; and look on as
persons of the best character。 Now I have written about these
affairs to Cuspius Fadus; my procurator。 The names of those that
brought me your letter are Cornelius; the son of Cero; Trypho;
the son of Theudio; Dorotheus; the son of Nathaniel; and John;
the son of Jotre。 This letter is dated before the fourth of the
calends of July; when Ruffis and Pompeius Sylvanus are consuls。〃

3。 Herod also; the brother of the deceased Agrippa; who was then
possessed of the royal authority over Chalcis; petitioned
Claudius Caesar for the authority over the temple; and the money
of the sacred treasure; and the choice of the high priests; and
obtained all that he petitioned for。 So that after that time this
authority continued among all his descendants till the end of the
war (1) Accordingly; Herod removed the last high priest; called
Cimtheras; and bestowed that dignity on his successor Joseph; the
son of Cantos。

CHAPTER 2。

How Helena The Queen Of Adiabene And Her Son Izates; Embraced The
Jewish Religion; And How Helena Supplied The Poor With Corn; When
There Was A Great Famine At Jerusalem。

1。 About this time it was that Helena; queen of Adiabene; and her
son Izates; changed their course of life; and embraced the Jewish
customs; and this on the occasion following: Monobazus; the king
of Adiabene; who had also the name of Bazeus; fell in love with
his sister Helena; and took her to be his wife; and begat her
with child。 But as he was in bed with her one night; he laid his
hand upon his wife's belly; and fell asleep; and seemed to hear a
voice; which bid him take his hand off his wife's belly; and not
hurt the infant that was therein; which; by God's providence;
would be safely born; and have a happy end。 This voice put him
into disorder; so he awaked immediately; and told the story to
his wife; and when his son was born; he called him Izates。 He had
indeed Monobazus; his elder brother; by Helena also; as he had
other sons by other wives besides。 Yet did he openly place all
his affections on this his only begotten (2) son Izates; which
was the origin of that envy which his other brethren; by the same
father; bore to him; while on this account they hated him more
and more; and were all under great affliction that their father
should prefer Izates before them。 Now although their father was
very sensible of these their passions; yet did he forgive them;
as not indulging those passions out of an ill disposition; but
out of a desire each of them had to be beloved by their father。
However; he sent Izates; with many

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的