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！
twenty…four years。 He left behind him twenty…four sons and
twenty…four daughters。 However； he gave order that his brother
Monobazus should succeed in the government； thereby requiting
him； because； while he was himself absent after their father's
death； he had faithfully preserved the government for him。 But
when Helena； his mother； heard of her son's death； she was in
great heaviness； as was but natural； upon her loss of such a most
dutiful son； yet was it a comfort to her that she heard the
succession came to her eldest son。 Accordingly； she went to him
in haste； and when she was come into Adiabene； she did not long
outlive her son Izates。 But Monobazus sent her bones； as well as
those of Izates； his brother； to Jerusalem； and gave order that
they should be buried at the pyramids （8） which their mother had
erected； they were three in number； and distant no more than
three furlongs from the city Jerusalem。 But for the actions of
Monobazus the king； which he did during the rest of his life。 we
will relate them hereafter。…
CHAPTER 5。
Concerning Theudas And The Sons Of Judas The Galilean； As Also
What Calamity Fell Upon The Jews On The Day Of The Passover。
1。 Now it came to pass； while Fadus was procurator of Judea； that
a certain magician； whose name was Theudas； （9） persuaded a great
part of the people to take their effects with them； and follow
him to the river Jordan； for he told them he was a prophet； and
that he would； by his own command； divide the river； and afford
them an easy passage over it； and many were deluded by his words。
However； Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his
wild attempt； but sent a troop of horsemen out against them； who；
falling upon them unexpectedly； slew many of them； and took many
of them alive。 They also took Theudas alive； and cut off his
head； and carried it to Jerusalem。 This was what befell the Jews
in the time of Cuspius Fadus's government。
2。 Then came Tiberius Alexander as successor to Fadus； he was the
son of Alexander the alabarch of Alexandria； which Alexander was
a principal person among all his contemporaries； both for his
family and wealth： he was also more eminent for his piety than
this his son Alexander； for he did not continue in the religion
of his country。 Under these procurators that great famine
happened in Judea； in which queen Helena bought corn in Egypt at
a great expense； and distributed it to those that were in want；
as I have related already。 And besides this； the sons of Judas of
Galilee were now slain； I mean of that Judas who caused the
people to revolt； when Cyrenius came to take an account of the
estates of the Jews； as we have showed in a foregoing book。 The
names of those sons were James and Simon； whom Alexander
commanded to be crucified。 But now Herod； king of Chalcis；
removed Joseph； the son of Camydus； from the high priesthood； and
made Ananias； the son of Nebedeu； his successor。 And now it was
that Cumanus came as successor to Tiberius Alexander； as also
that Herod； brother of Agrippa the great king； departed this
life； in the eighth year of the reign of Claudius Caesar。 He left
behind him three sons； Aristobulus； whom he had by his first
wife； with Bernicianus； and Hyrcanus； both whom he had by Bernice
his brother's daughter。 But Claudius Caesar bestowed his
dominions on Agrippa； junior。
3。 Now while the Jewish affairs were under the administration of
Cureanus； there happened a great tumult at the city of Jerusalem；
and many of the Jews perished therein。 But I shall first explain
the occasion whence it was derived。 When that feast which is
called the passover was at hand； at which time our custom is to
use unleavened bread； and a great multitude was gathered together
from all parts to that feast； Cumanus was afraid lest some
attempt of innovation should then be made by them； so he ordered
that one regiment of the army should take their arms； and stand
in the temple cloisters； to repress any attempts of innovation；
if perchance any such should begin； and this was no more than
what the former procurators of Judea did at such festivals。 But
on the fourth day of the feast； a certain soldier let down his
breeches； and exposed his privy members to the multitude； which
put those that saw him into a furious rage； and made them cry out
that this impious action was not done to approach them； but God
himself； nay； some of them reproached Cumanus； and pretended that
the soldier was set on by him； which； when Cumanus heard； he was
also himself not a little provoked at such reproaches laid upon
him； yet did he exhort them to leave off such seditious attempts；
and not to raise a tumult at the festival。 But when he could not
induce them to be quiet for they still went on in their
reproaches to him； he gave order that the whole army should take
their entire armor； and come to Antonia； which was a fortress； as
we have said already； which overlooked the temple； but when the
multitude saw the soldiers there； they were affrighted at them；
and ran away hastily； but as the passages out were but narrow；
and as they thought their enemies followed them； they were
crowded together in their flight； and a great number were pressed
to death in those narrow passages； nor indeed was the number
fewer than twenty thousand that perished in this tumult。 So
instead of a festival； they had at last a mournful day of it； and
they all of them forgot their prayers and sacrifices； and betook
themselves to lamentation and weeping； so great an affliction did
the impudent obsceneness of a single soldier bring upon them。
（10）
4。 Now before this their first mourning was over； another
mischief befell them also； for some of those that raised the
foregoing tumult； when they were traveling along the public road；
about a hundred furlongs from the city； robbed Stephanus； a
servant of Caesar； as he was journeying； and plundered him of all
that he had with him； which things when Cureanus heard of； he
sent soldiers immediately； and ordered them to plunder the
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 ther