"The bright light round the altar in the night time; the cow that "brought forth a lamb, as fhe was led to the altar; the chariots of "fire that were feen in the air, and paffed over the city with a "frightful noife; are very liable to fufpicion: the opening of the temple feems to be rather better attefted than the others, because it "is faid, that the magiftrate came to fhut it. But the meaning was "doubtful. To fome it seemed to be an affurance, that God had "opened the treasures of his benediction: whilft others concluded, "that he had abandoned the protection of his temple. But it is not "eafy to deny the truth of the hiftory of the man, that cried, A "voice from the Eaft, a voice from the Weft!' and every day pre"dicted the ruin of the city. For this man was brought before Al"binus, who examined him. He was feverely fcourged, and he was "often beaten by the people, who could not endure so dismal a noise; "but he was all along unmoved. His cry continued for the space "of feven years. At length he was killed upon the walls of the "city, at the beginning of the fiege. This is not a thing about "which men might be deceived. Jofephus, who relates it, was at "Jerufalem, when this preacher, who was treated as a madman, "denounced its defolation. And he might inform himself concern"ing his death. So that, if there were any things to which we ought "to attend, it is this, in which we must acknowledge fomewhat ex"traordinary." So fays Bafnage. I am inclined to go over, and examine every one of these prodigies, "There was a ftar, a comet, refembling a fword, which flood over the city, and continued for a year." How Mr. Whifton understood this, has been feen already. L'Eftrange tranflates thus: "What fhall we fay to the comet that hung 66 over Jerufalem, for one whole year together, in the figure of a "fword?" Archbp. Tillotfon + in this manner: "A little before "their deftruction," he tells us, "there hung over their city a fiery "fword, which continued for a year together. A little before "their rebellion against the Romans, there appeared a comet, which "fhined fo clear in the temple, and about the altar, as if it had "been day." It must be confeffed, that is not exact. Tillemont: "There was alfo a comet which appeared for a year, and over "Jerufalem an extraordinary ftar, which feemed to be a fword. But Jofephus does not fay the time." Neither is this very exact. However, I have alfo tranfcribed below the words of Jofephus himself. This is the first prodigy. And indeed it is a wonderful and very awful thing. A ftar, refembling a fword, hanging over a city for a whole year. Upon this we cannot forbear to observe, that Josephus has not told us the time when this ftar, or comet, appeared. - He · Τῦτο μὲν ἔτε ὑπὲρ τὴν πόλιν ἄφρον ἔσω ῥομφαίᾳ παραπλήσιον, και παρατείνας ἐπὶ ἐνιαυτὸν κομήτης. † As before, P. 554. "Il parut auffi une comète pendant un an, & fur Jerufalem un aftre extraordinaire, "qui fembloit être une épée. Jofeph n'en marque pas le temps." Ruine des Juifs, art. 41. He fays, "It continued for a year." But does not fay when. A very 'ftrange omiffion. I must take the liberty to add, that, if about the time of the fiege of Jerufalem, or fome period within a few years before, there had been a ftar, refembling a fword, which hung over that city for a year together, I fhould expect to find it in fome author befide Jofephus, and an author that does not depend upon him, or borrow from him. Tacitus has mentioned feveral of the prodigies preceding the ruin of the Jewish people. But he does not mention this. However, it must be owned, that his omitting it is of no great importance, as he does not appear to have been careful to put down every thing of this kind. 2. It follows: "And before the rebellion, and before the war "broke out, when the people were come together in great multi"tudes to the feaft of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the "month of April, at the ninth hour of the night (or three hours "after midnight), fo great a light fhone round the altar, and the "temple, that it feemed to be bright day. Which light continued << for half an hour." This prodigy is related by Jofephus fo particularly and circumftantially, as happening too at the time of Paffover, when Jerufalem was full of people, and in the year 65, as it seems that I am not at all difpofed to conteft the truth of it. I think it must have fo happened. But the defign of this appearance is ambiguous. And as Jofephus fays, fome thought it to portend good, others bad things. But that does not affect the truth of the fact. 3. "And at the fame feftival, a heifer, as fhe was led by the High"Prieft to be facrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the <temple." Here again, I helitate. I am furprised to see so trifling a ftory in a grave writer. I think, Jofephus inferts this to gratify his Greek readers. 4. The next prodigy is the opening of "the eastern gate of the "inner court of the temple at midnight:" which, as before obferved by Dr. Willes, has fuch a refemblance with like ftories told by credulous heathen people, that it feems to be only an imitation of them, and has therefore the appearance of a fiction, by way of accommodation to the judgment of heathen readers. 5. Befide thefe, a few days after that feftival, on the one and "twentieth day of the month of May, there appeared a wonderful phænomenon, almoft exceeding belief. And the account of it might "feem fabulous, if it had not been related by thofe who faw it, and "if the following events had not been answerable to fuch figns. For "before fun-fet, chariots and troops of foldiers in armour were seen "carried upon the clouds, and furrounding cities." Such "Evenerunt prodigia, quæ neque hoftiis, neque votis piare fas habet gens fuperftitioni obnoxia, religionibus adverfa. Vifæ per cælum concurrere acies, rutilantia arma, et fubito nubium igne collucere templum. Expaffæ repente templi fores, et audita major humana 66 vox, Excedere Deos: fimul ingens motus excedentium." Tacit. Hift.l. 5. cap. 13. Such feeming appearances have often been the effect only of imagination, without any reality. But this is related by Jofephus fo particularly, and with fo much folemnity, that it is hard to conteft the truth. And if it be true, this, and the light furrounding the altar " and the temple," before mentioned, may be fome of thofe things intended by our Saviour, when he faid: "And fearful fights, and great figns, fhall there be from heaven," Luke xxi. 11. Of this Crevier fpeaks in this manner*: "I fay nothing of the armed "chariots and troops of warriors, that were feen fighting in the air. "That might be the natural effect of a phænomenon, then not un"derstood, but which we are now well acquainted with, and call "the Aurora Borealis, or northern light." A wife obfervation truly! Who ever before faw or heard of an Aurora Borealis in the day-time? Jofephus exprefsly fays, that these chariots and warriors were feen. "before fun-fetting. 6. "And at the feftival which we call the Pentecoft, as the Priests SC were going by night into the inner court of the temple, as the "cuftom was, to perform their miniftrations, they firft felt, as they "faid, a fhaking, accompanied with a noife, and then a found, as "of a multitude, faying, Let us remove hence.' This paffage is quoted by + Eufebius, and this particular is taken notice of by divers ancient Chriftian writers. But they do not always quote fo accurately as might be wifhed. I beg leave to obferve upon it, first of all, this is faid to have happened in the night-time, and therefore deferves the lefs regard. Secondly, I do not know what miniftrations the Priefts had to perform in the inner temple in the night. Doubtlefs they kept watch at the temple by night as well as by day. But, fo far as I can recollect, the miniftrations at the temple, which were of divine appointment, were performed by day-light. Thirdly, the found of a multitude, faying, "Let us go hence," has much of an heathenish air. All these figns, or prodigies, juft mentioned, (excepting the ftar like a fword, of which before,) feem to be placed by Jofephus in year of Chrift 65, the year before the war commenced. the 7. The feventh and laft is that of "Jefus, fon of Ananus, who, "four years before the war began, came up to the festival which we "call the Feast of Tabernacles, and on a fudden began to cry out : "A voice from the Eaft-a voice against Jerufalem and the temple. "And fo it continued for feven years and five months, till he faw *Hiftory of the Roman Emperors, vol. VI. p. 240. "his H. E. 1. 3. cap. viii. et Dem. Ev. 1. 8. p. 402. And fee the Credib. vol. VIII. P. 60. † Καὶ Ἰώσηπος δὲ μετὰ βραχὺν γενόμενος χρόνον, ἔφη, τινὰς ἀγέλες τῆς ἔτι παραμένοντας, εξ μὴ βοληθεῖεν ἐκεῖνοι μετας ναι, καταλιπεῖν αυτές. Chr. in Jo. Hom. 64. al. 65. p. 390. Τ. 8. "Jofephus quoque refert, virtutes angelicas, præfides quondam templi, tunc pariter con"clamaffe: Tranfeamus ex his fedibus." Hieron. in Matt. xxvii. 51. T. 4. p. 139. Conf. ep. ad Hedib. viii. T. 4. P. i. p. 176. "Unde et Jofephus in fua narrat historia, quod poftquam Dominus crucifixus eft, et velum "templi fciffum eft, five liminare templi fractum corruit, audita fit vox in adytis templi "virtutum cœleftium, Tranfeamus ex his fedibus." Id. in Ezech. cap. 47. p. 1058. "his prefage fulfilled in the fiege." He therefore began his cry near the end of the year 62. This laft Jofephus calls "more awful than "the reft, rò di Tátar pobegúrator." And as Le Clerc obfe ves, "If " it be true, Jofephus rightly fays, it was fomewhat divine." I hope we may depend upon the truth of this hiftory, which is related with fo many particulars and circumftances. All these things Jofephus has recorded, as affecting figns, warnings, and prefages of great calamities coming upon the Jewish nation: omitting entirely the warnings, and predictions, and admonitions of Jefus Chrift, and of his Apoftles after him, and alfo the threehours darkness over the whole land of Judea, and the rending the veil of the temple, and the earthquake near Jerufalem, at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion. And though all thefe figns and warnings related by himfelf, are confidered by him as very affecting, he acknowledgeth, that they made not any great impreffion upon his nation. And fays: "But they did not attend, or give credit to these prodigies, which "evidently foretold their defolation. But like men infatuated, who "have neither eyes to fee, nor minds to confider, they difregarded "the divine denunciations." And his hiftory verifies the truth and juftnefs of this obfervation. "Now the Romans brought their enfigns to the temple, and fet "them over against the eastern gate. There they offered facrifices "to them, and there they made Titus emperor, with the greatest ac"clamations of joy. And all the foldiers had fuch vast quantities of "fpoils, which they got by plunder, that in Syria a pound weight of "gold was fold for half its former value." There were fome priefts, as Jofephus fays, fitting upon the wall of the temple, who continued there till they were pined with hunger. Then they came down, and furrendered themfelves. When they were brought by the guards to Titus, they begged for their But Titus answered, that the time of pardon was over as to them, that being deftroyed, for the fake of which alone he should have faved them; and that it was very fit, that priefts fhould perift with their temple. Whereupon he ordered them to be put to death. lives. Now | Simon and John, and they that were with them, defire a conference with Titus; which he granted. He placed himfelf on the western fide of the outer court of the temple, and there was a bridge that parted them. There were great numbers of Jews waiting with those two tyrants, and there were alfo many Romans on the fide of Titus. He ordered the foldiers to refrain their rage, and appointed an interpreter. And being conqueror, he fpoke firft. He then reproached them in very bitter terms, and very juftly. And then concluded, "However, I will not imitate your madnefs. If you will throw down your arms, and deliver up your bodies to 66 me, I grant you your lives. I will act like a mild father of a fa mily. "Quæ fi vera funt, non immerito Jofephus rem divinitus contigiffe cenfuit." Cleric H. E. An. 62. n. v. † L. 6. cap. vi. § 1. Ibid. 11 §2. "mily. What cannot be healed, shall be deftroyed. The reft I will "referve for my own use. "They answered, they could not confent to that, because they "had fworn never to do it. They afked leave to go through the "wall that furrounded them, with their wives and children. So "they would go into the defert, and leave the city to him. At which "Titus was greatly provoked, that, when they were now already in "the cafe of men taken captives, they should pretend to make their own terms with him, as if they were conquerors. He then gave "orders, that proclamation should be made to them, that hencefor"ward none should be allowed to come over to him as deferters, "nor hope for fecurity. For that now he would spare nobody, "but fight them with his whole army. He therefore gave orders to "the foldiers, both to burn and to plunder the city. On that day " however they did nothing. But the day following they fet fire to "the repofitory of the archives, to the council-houses, to Acra, and "to the place called Ophilas: at which time the fire proceeded as "far as to the palace of queen Helena, which was in the middle of "Acra. The lanes alfo were burnt down, as were all the houfes "that were full of the dead bodies of fuch as had died by the "famine." "On the fame day the fons and brothers of king Izates, and "with them many other eminent men of the cityt, got together, and "befought Titus to give them his right hand for their fecurity. "Whereupon, though he was now very angry, and much displeased "with all who were ftill remaining, he did not depart from his "wonted moderation, but received them. However, he kept them "all in cuftody. And having bound the king's fons and kinsmen, " he took them with, him to Rome, to be kept there as hostages for "the fidelity of their country." Here, as I apprehend, we see a proof of the zeal of the Jewish profelytes at this time. For fuch were the relations of king Izates. Thefe perfons had chosen to refide much in the holy city of Jerufalem; or they had come up thither to the feaft of the paflover this year, notwithstanding the danger it was in from the approaches of the Roman army. And it was, as seems to me, a remarkable inftance of the moderation of this prince, that he now fhewed mercy to their perfons, who might have come over to him long before, and did not furrender themselves till matters were brought to the utmost extremity, and after he had publicly declared that he would spare none, Titus ftill had difficulties remaining in taking the rest of the city. 、 "Some § there were who deferted to Titus, notwithstanding the care of the tyrants to prevent it. Thefe were all received by the "Romans, because Titus grew negligent as to his former orders, and " because $4. ... πρὸς οἷς πολλοὶ τῶν ἐπισήμων δημοτῶν ἐκεῖ συνελθόντες, ἱκέτευσαν Καισαρας και λο Cap. vi. et viii. § Cap. viii. § 2. |