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might go with him out of Judea, or come to him into Afia afterwards. St. John, in his Third Epistle, ver. 6. speaks of strangers, who were under difficulties. Some learned men have fuppofed, that thereby are meant Jewish believers, who had been driven out of Paleftine, or had fled from it, induced thereto by the neceffity of the times, and their fidelity to Chrift, and had left their fubftance behind them.

I think we may reckon it to be certain, or at least highly probable, that none of the faithful difciples of Jefus were fhut up in Jerufalem at the fiege; and that most of them left it fome while before it began, in the year of Chrift 66, or thereabout, or fooner.

Our bleffed Lord, fpeaking of the difficulties of these times, and of the declenfions of fome of his followers, encourages faithfulness in ftrong terms. Mark xiii. 13... "And ye fhall be hated of all men for my name fake. But he that shall endure unto the end, "fhall be faved." And Luke xxi. 17-19." And ye fhall be hated of all men for my name fake. But there fhall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience poffefs ye your fouls," And compare Matt. x. 21, 22. Thefe gracious affurances were now ful, filled. The difficulties which the followers of Jefus met with, were very great. And the love of many waxed cold," and fome apoftatized to Judaifm, to avoid fufferings. Nevertheless, they gained nothing by it. They joined themfelves to the unbelieving part of the nation, and had part with them in the heavy calamities which befell them. But the faithful followers of Jefus, who were fteady to their profeffion, and attended to his predictions concerning coming calamities, and obferved the figns of their near approach, efcaped, and obtained fafety, with only the leffer difficulties of a flight, which was neceffary in the time of a genera! calamity.

The + Jews who had defeated Ceftius, upon their return to Jerufalem, appointed governors and commanders for feveral places." Jofeph fon of Gorian," and Ananus the High-Priest, were chofen to govern the city, and to repair the walls. Jofephus, fon of Matthias, our hiftorian, was made governor of both the Galilees. Others were fent to other places.

Ceftius + fent meffengers to Nero in Achaia, to give him an account of what had happened, and of the state of affairs in Judea, and to lay the blame of all the difturbances upon Florus.

Nero, as Jofephus fays §, was not a little moyed at these things, though he diffembled his concern. However, he chofe for a general a man of known valour, and experience in war, feveral of whose important fervices are here mentioned by Jofephus, agreeably to the teftimony of the Roman authors, who reprefent Vefpafian to have been chosen

See the Supplement to Credib. vol. III. p. 311.
Ib. cap. xx. § x.

+ lb. cap. xx. 3, 4.

§ De B. J. 1. 3. cap. i. § 1, 2.

"Miffu Neronis, Vefpafianus fortuna, famaque, et egregiis miniftris, &c. Tacit.

Hi. L. v. cap. 10.

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chofen for this fervice out of regard to his merit, when upon fome accounts he was difagreeable to Nero.

Vefpafian* fent his own fon Titus from Achaia, where he then was, to Alexandria, to fetch thence the fifth and tenth legions. Himfelf, having croffed the Hellefpont, went by land into Syria, where he gathered together the Roman forces, and a good number of auxiliaries from the neighbouring princes.

The Jews, elevated by the advantages which they had gained over Ceftius, determined to carry the war to a greater diftance. Accordingly they marched to Ashkalon, a city always at enmity with them, diftant from Jerufalem 550 furlongs [more than 60 miles]. Here the Jewish people were defeated in two attacks, lofing more than eighteen thousand men, and two of their generals, John the Effen, and Silas the Babylonian. Niger the Peraite, the third general, narrowly escaped with his life.

Vefpafiant, when he arrived at Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, reckoned the third city of the Roman empire for magnitude and dignity, found there Agrippa waiting for him. And taking the whole army with him, he foon marched forward to Ptolemais.

Titus, making greater expedition than could be expected, efpecially in the winter feafon, came to his father at Ptolema's, bringing with him the fifth and tenth legions; to which were added the fitteenth legion, and eighteen cohorts. There were also five cohorts from Cefarea, with one troop of horse, and alfo five other troops from Syria. There was also a confiderable number of auxiliaries from the kings Antiochus [of Comagene] and Agrippa, and Seleucus, and Malchus the Arabian. So that the whole army of Romans and auxiliaries, horfe and foot, amounted to about fixty thousand men, befides fervants, whom Jofephus represents as far from being useless, according to the Roman difcipline.

Thus we have purfued the history to the end into the beginning of the year 67.

Vefpafian ftaid fome while at Ptolemais.

of the year 66, and

However Placidus,

who was before fent into Galilee, deftroyed many, whom he met with

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Claudio principe, Narciff gratia legatus legionis in Germania miffus eft. Inde in Bri tanniam tranflatus, tricies cum hofte conflixit..., Peregrinatione Achaica inter comites "Neronis, cum cantante eo difcederet fæpius, aut præfens obdormifceret, graviffimam con"traxit offenfam. Prohibitusque non contubernio modo, fed etiam publica falutatione, "feceffit in parvam ac deviam civitatem, quod latenti, etiamque.extrema metuenti, provincia "cum exercitu oblata eft. Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus et conftans opinio, esse in fatis, ut co tempore Judæâ profecti rerum potirentur. Id de Imperatore Romano, quantum eventu poftea prædictum patuit. Judæi ad fe trahentes rebellarunt; cæfoque Præpofito, Legatum infuper Syriæ confularem fuppetias ferentem, raptâ Aquilâ fugaverunt. Ad hune motum comprimendum cum exercitu ampliore, et non inftrenuo duce, cui tamen tuto "tanta res committeretur, opus effet, ipfe potiffimum delectus eft: et ut induftriæ expertæ "nec metuendus ullo modo ob humilitatem generis ac nominis. Additis igitur ad copias " duabus legionibus, octo alis, cohortibus decem, atque inter Legatos majore filio affumpte ut primum provinciam attigit, proximas quoque convertit in fe. Correcta ftatim caf"trorum difciplina: uno quoque et altero prælio tam conftanter inito, ut in oppugnatione "caftelli lapidiş ictum genu fcuto fagittas aliquot exceperit." Sueton. Vefpafian. cap. iv. * De B. J. l. 3. cap. i. § 3: + Ib. cap. ii. § 1, 2, 3; L. 3. cap. vi. I

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Ibid. §.4.

Ib. cap. iv. n. 2.

in the open countries. He alfo made an attack upon Jotapata, but was repulfed.

Vefpafian leaves Ptolemais, and marches with his army in great

order into Galilee.

+

The first place taken by Vefpafian was Gorada, which at that time had in it few men of the military age. But he flew all the young. people; the Romans, from hatred of the Jews, and refenting the defeat of Ceftius, having no mercy on any age. He alfo fet fire to the city, und burnt all the villages, and fmaller towns, round about; making fome totally defolate, in others taking some captives.

Jofephus leaves Tiberias, and enters Jotapata on the 21ft day of May.

The next day Vefpafian marches to Jotapata, at || the fiege of which he received a flight wound in one of his feet.

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"Whilft ** Vefpafian lay with his army before Jotapata, he fent "Trajan, commander of the tenth legion, to Japha, not far off. The place was ftrong, and furrounded by a double wall. A large number made a fally upon the Romans. Being beaten back, they σε retired within the outer wall. But when they came to the inner.

wall, their fellow-citizens refufed to admit them, left the Romans "fhould alfo force their way in with them. And ++ now," fays Jofephus, it might be seen, that God had given up the Galileans 66 to the Romans, to be deftroyed by their cruel enemies. The num"ber of the flain in the diftrefs between the two walls was twelve "thoufand. Of this Trajan gave information to Vefpafian, defiring " him to fend his fon Titus thither, that he might have the honour of "completing the conqueft."

"Vefpafian, fufpecting there might still be fome difficulty, fent "Titus with five hundred horfe, and a thousand foot. When the

place was taken, all the people, young and old, were deftroyed.. "None were faved, excepting the male infants, and the women, who <6 were made flaves. The number of thofe who were flain, now,

and in the former attack, were fifteen thousand; the prisoners were two thousand a hundred and thirty. This calamity befell the "Galileans on the five and twentieth day of May."

At the fame time the Samaritans got together in a riotous manner at mount Garizim. Whereupon Vefpafian fent against them Cerealis, commander of the fifth legion, with fix hundred horse, and three thousand foot; who flew them all to the number of eleven thoufand and fix hundred. This happened on the 25th day of the month of June.

Now the final attack was made upon Jotapata, which was taken. after a fiege of forty-feven days. All of every age were flain, except infants and women. The captives were a thoufand and two hundred. The number of flain in the laft attack, and in the former encounters,

Ib. n. 2, 3.
Ib. 4.

+ Cap. vii. 1.
Ib. § 22.
§§ Ib. § 33---35.

Ib. 3. ** Ib. § 3

†† Θεὸς δ ̓ ἦν ἄρα, ὁ Ρωμαίοις τὰ Γαλιλαίων πάθη χαριζέμενος, κι λο

‡‡ Ibid. p. 32.

Ib.

counters, was forty thousand: Vefpafian ordered the city to be demolifhed, and fet fire to all the caftles. Thus Jotapata was taken on the first day of July, in the thirteenth year of the reign of Nero.

I think it may be worth the while to obferve here, for fhewing the violent and defperate difpofition of the Jewish people at this time, "that in the diftrefs of the laft attack, when the Romans were got "within the walls of Jotapata, many of the people made away with "themselves, rather than come into the hands of the Romans. Jo"fephus calls them chofen men, who were near his perfon. They "could not kill the Romans; and they refolved not to be killed by "them."

Undoubtedly, my readers recollect here, what was taken notice of formerly +, which happened presently afterwards, in the cave where Jofephus and forty other perfons of diftinction had hid themselves ‡ And feveral other like inftances may appear hereafter, as we proceed in this hiftory, which ought not to pafs unnoticed.

Jofephus now came into the hands of the Roman general. He was ftill a prifoner, and carried a chain; but he had change of apparel given him, and was otherwife well used.

The fiege of Jotapata being over, on the fourth of July Vefpafian returned to Ptolemais. Thence he went to Cefarea by the fea-fide, Here he put two legions, for fome while, for their refreshment; but fent the tenth and fifth to Scythopolis, that Cefarea might not be overburdened.

"In ** the mean time he fent fome of his foldiers, both horse and "foot, to Joppa; which, though it had been demolished not long "fince by Ceftius, was re-peopled by men who had efcaped from "other cities. Here they built many fhips, and exercised a kind of piracy. Upon the approach of the Romans they betook themselves "to their fhips, which met with a violent ftorm, and were caft away. "The number that perifhed was computed to be four thousand and "two hundred. Here ++ alfo fome, rather than be drowned, or be "caft on the fhore, and then be killed by the Romans, put an end to "their own lives. The place was now entirely demolished. However, by Vefpafian's direction, a number of horse and foot were left here, "with orders to deftroy the neighbouring villages. So thofe troops over-ran the country, as they were ordered, and laid waste the "whole region."

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In ta fhort time Vefpafian went from Cefarea, before mentioned, to Cefarea Philippi, to pay a compliment to king Agrippa, by whom he had been invited, and by whom he was now entertained twenty days.

Hearing

* Τὅτο πολλὲς καὶ περὶ τὸν Ιώσηπον ἐπιλεκῖᾶν, ἐπ ̓ αυτοχειρίαν παράξενε. Καλιδόνιες γὰρ, ὡς ἐδένα τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἀνελεῖν δύνανται, τόγε μὴ πεσεῖν αὐτὸ ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων προέλαβον, και συναθροισθέντες ἐπὶ τὰ καταλήγοντα τῆς πόλεως σφᾶς αὐτὲς ἀνεῖλον. § 34•

+ See p. 33.

· · · · ἔνθα τεσσαράκοιλα μὲν τῶν ἐπισήμων ἄνδρας καταλαμβάνει λανθάνονας. Ib. cap. viii. Io

Ib. §9.

Ibid. cap. 9. § I.

** § 2, 3, 4.

†† Τινὲς δὲ ὡς κεφαλέςῳ τὴν θάλασσαν ἔφθανον, τῷ σιδής, σφᾶς αὐτὲς ἀναιρένιες. Ib. § 3. #1 Ibid. p. 33.

*

Hearing of the revolt of Taricheas, Vefpafian fent thither his fon Titus. Taricheas † was a strong place, and had been fortified by Jofephus. The number of people who perifhed in the feveral attacks, and in taking the city, was fix thousand and five hundred.

After which, Vefpafian fat upon his tribunal, to confider what fhould be done with the people that remained. And at length, by his order, all the old men and other useless people, to the number of twelve hundred, were flain. Out of the young men he chose fix thousand of the ftrongeft, whom he fent to Nero to work at the Ifthmus. The reft he fold for flaves, who were in number thirty thoufand and four hundred. This was done on the eighth day of September.

The place to which Vefpafian went next was Gamala, where he met with great difficulties, and many of the Romans were flain. It was taken at laft on the 23d day of October. When there was no way of escaping left, many Jews threw their children, their wives, and them felves, from the hill on which the citadel was built, into the deep valley below. The number of thofe who thus precipitated themselves was computed to be five thoufand. The reft amounted to four thoufand. For here the Romans fpared none, not even infants. None efcaped, except two women.

To Gifchala, Vefpafian fent Titus. Here about fix thousand were flain. But John, fon of Levi, who had commanded in the place, escaped, and got to Jerufalem, with fome others; which, as our hiftorian fays **, was the work of God, who faved John for the destruction of Jerufalem.

Thus," fays ++ Jofephus," was all Galilee fubdued, after it had coft the Romans much labour."

The next chapter of our author contains an account of the ftate of things in Jerufalem, after John came into it; where he likewife fays: At $$ the fame time there were difturbances, and "civil wars in every city. All they who were quiet from the Ro16 mans, turned their hands one against another. At this time rob"bers, and others of the worst characters, came into the city, where "it had been long usual to receive all who came. But their numbers "confumed thofe provifions which might have been of ufe in a • fiege.

They now exercifed tyranny over the most confiderable men. Antipas, a man of royal lineage, the most potent man in the city, to whom the care of the public treafure had been committed, they laid hold of, and fent to prifon : and after him Levias, a man of great diftinction, and Sophas, fon of Raguel, a man of like eminence, and both of royal lineage. And *** not thinking themselves fafe whilst they were living, they fent fome men of defperate characters, to put them to death in the prifon. Diffenfions

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De B. J. 1. 4. cap. 1. § 1---10

§ ro.

Ibid. cap. ii. n. 1---5

* Θεῖ δὲ ἦν τὸ ἔργον ἄρα τῷ σώζοντος τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐπὶ τὸν τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων ὄλεθρον. ++ Γαλιλαία μὸν ἂν ἔτως φάλον πᾶσα, πολλοῖς ἱδρῶσι προγυμνάσασα Ῥωμαίας. 11 Ib. cap. 3.

§§ lb. § 2, 3.

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