Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

very different from them in others. The great difference between books consists in their truth or their falsehood. The words of this book are all justice and truth, nor is there any thing perverse in it. The evidence of it is this, that it approacheth nearer to prophecy than any other book written since the sacred scriptures: for it was written before the Mishna and the Talmud. Upon that man was the hand of the Lord when he wrote this book. And it may ⚫ be said that his words are well-nigh equal to the words of a man of God.'

a

This work is not so ancient as the author and his admirers pretend, as will be shewn presently. But from the time that he has begun to be taken notice of, as Mr. Gagnier observes in the preface to his edition of this work, all Jewish writers, whether commentators, or historians, or philologers, continually allege it, and quote authorities and testimonies from it, as an authentic and fundamental book.-As for the Greek Josephus, they have little regard for him, * or rather none at all; but declaim against him as a lying historian, full of falsehoods and flatteries. But their Josippon they extol and magnify as true and almost divine.'

b

But Christian critics, of the best credit, have argued that the work is the production of a late age. They shew this from the work itself; in which, as Joseph Scaliger has observed, people. and countries are called by modern names, not in use till more than six hundred years after our Saviour's nativity. And he supposeth him to be a Jew that lived in France. He therefore considers him as an impostor.

C

Fabricius has argued in the like manner. He supposeth him to have been a Jew who lived in Bretagne in France, in the ninth or tenth century. The many modern names of people and countries made use of by him plainly declares his late age. His Hebrew history is translated, or, more properly extracted, from the Greek of Josephus, or rather from a Latin translation of him : taking from him what he likes, omitting some things, and adding others.

d

To the like purpose Gagnier, in his preface, already cited more than once. Who also says. that Rabbi Saadias Gaon, who wrote his commentary upon the book of Daniel in the year of • Christ 936, is the first author who has mentioned Josippon Ben Gorion. He does not expressly "name his work, though probably he refers to it.' Gagnier adds: The first writer, who has expressly mentioned this work with the name of Josippon Ben Gorion, and quoted authorities from it, is Rabbi Solomon Jarchi, who flourished about the year of Christ 1140.'

[ocr errors]

с

I refer likewise to Ittigius, and Basnage, who in his History of the Jews, has a long article concerning this writer and his work. He says Josippon lived in the tenth or eleventh century: which he argues after this manner: Solomon Jarchi, who wrote in the year 1140, is the first • who has quoted this Hebrew Joseph. Abraham Ezra, and Abraham Ben Dion, who by their

Differentia autem illa præcipue consistit in veritate aut in falsitate. Porro hujus libri verba omnia sunt justitia et veritas; neque perversitas ulla invenitur in eo. Cujus quidem rei signum est, quod propius accedat ad prophetiam, quam cæteri omnes libri, qui post Scripturas sacras editi sunt. Siquidem ante Misnam et Talmud scriptus fuit. Adde quod super virum illum fuit manus Jehova, dum hunc librum componeret: et parum abest, quin ejus verba sint verba viri Dei. Præf. R. Tham. De Scopo Libri.

a Deinde omnes, qui secuti sunt, Judæi Scriptores, sive Commentatores, sive Historici, sive Philologi, ubique eum allegant, et tamquam ex libro fundamentali atque authentico testimonia et auctoritates depromunt-Nam quod ad Josephum Græcum adtinet, illum non in magno solent habere pretio, imo ei nullam habent fidem, et, tamquam in Historicum mendacem et adulatorem, adversus illum acriter invehuntur. Suum vero Josippon quasi hominem veracem et pene divinum summis laudibus ad sidera evehunt, extollunt, et prædicant, &c. Gagnier in Præf. p. xxix.

De Josepho Gorionide satis est, si ostendero cujas fuit, quando vixit, cujusmodi scriptor est. Gallum Judæum fuisse ex agro Turononsi non difficile est colligere, ut qui plus de illis quam de aliis Galliæ tractibus agat. Recentem admodum fuisse arguunt verba locorum recentia, quibus utitur, Tours, Amboise, Chinon. Quæ loca post DC annos a natali Christi adhuc Turones, Ambasia, Kainon vocabantur. Quare cum Munsterus videret eum Francorum et Gothorum mentionem VOL. III.

h

facere, et Francos interfuisse exsequiis Herodis, quos Taxaras Josephus vocârit, ex eo solo potuit odorari hunc scriptorem recentissimum esse, ac proinde planum, qui nomen Josephi Historici sibi vindicârit. Jo. Scalig. in Elencho Trihær. Vid. Gagnier. Præf. p. xlviii.

Cæterum eruditis hodie plerisque dubium non est, Josephum huncce Hebraïcum ex Græco, vel potius ex Latina Josephi versione, esse expressum, vel excerptum potius; nec Josephum ipsum auctorem, sed longe recentiorem aliquem, qui in Britanniâ Galliæ Armoricâ non ante ronum vel decimum seculum vixit, et pro lubitu digessit, addidit, interpolavit, omisit quæcumque ipsi videbantur addenda esse vel omittenda-Ita recentiora longe Josepho tempora arguit, quod memorat Francos, et Burgundiæ populum, et Daniscos, ac Danemanam, et Anglicam gentem, et quæ in Irlandiâ sive Hibernia. Fab. Bib. Gr. lib. 4, c. 6. T. 3, p. 249. et apud Havercamp. Joseph. T. 2. p. 68.

d R. Saadias Gaon, qui scribebat circa annum 696, min. suppul. Christ. 936, in suo commentario in Danielem primus omnium Josephi Ben Gorionis meminit-Gagn. Pr. p. xxvii. e R. Salomo Jarchi, qui florebat circa annum Christi 1140, primus est, qui diserte citat hunc librum sub nomine Josippon, vel Josephi Ben Gorionis, et auctoritates ex eo adducit, quarum loca habes infra in Testimoniis. Gagn. ib. p. xxviii. f Ittigii Prolegom. ap. Joseph. Havercamp. Tom. 2. p. 87. Basnag. Hist. des Juifs. liv. 7, ch. vi. p. 1539. 1570. h Ib. sect. xxv. p. 1564.

4 C

[ocr errors]

quotations gave the work credit, lived in the same age. It would be very strange that a work 'should be unknown for three or four hundred years to the nation for whose sake it was composed. But if it was written near the end of the tenth, or the beginning of the eleventh, century, it is not at all strange that it did not begin to be taken notice of till some while after.' I say nothing more in the way of introduction. I shall now make such extracts out of this work, as may be sufficient to shew the writer's character, and his testimony to the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by Vespasian and Titus. I have placed him in the tenth century, not very far from the beginning of it, in the year of Christ 930.

II. The work is divided into six books and ninety-seven chapters. The sixth and last of which books consists of five and fifty chapters.

[ocr errors]

The forty-third chapter, which is the first of the sixth book, begins in this manner. 'Thus says Joseph Ben Gorion the priest, the same who is also called Josippon-This is the book which I have entitled The Wars of Jehovah, because it contains the history of the calamities of the house of our sanctuary, and of our land, and our glory.'

b

My readers cannot but remember that our Greek Josephus, when he gives an account of the determination of the Jewish people to go to war with the Romans, informs us that they appointed Joseph Gorion, and Ananus the high priest, to preside at Jerusalem. Others were sent as generals into several parts of the country; and himself, Joseph son of Matthias, was appointed governor of the two Galilees, together with the præfecture of Gamala annexed to

them.

[ocr errors]

с

Our author's account of the same determination is to this purpose: The Jews, out of their generals which were at Jerusalem, chose three princes valiant for war; me, Joseph the priest, valiant for war with the help of Jehovah, and Ananus the priest, and Eleazar his son, priests also, and by lot they divided to them the several parts of the country in which they should carry on the war. The third part, which was the first lot, containing the land of Galilee and Napthali, came out to Joseph Ben Gorion the priest; and they called him Josippon by way of praise and honour: forasmuch as he was then anointed with the military ointment for the war. The second lot came out to Ananus the high priest, to govern at Jerusalem and the adjoining country. The third lot came out to Eleazar, son of Ananus, and what follows.' This should be compared with what is written by Josephus.

[ocr errors]

d

Thus he adopts the appellation of Joseph son of Gorion; but personates Joseph son of Matthias; and like him he is appointed governor of Galilee; and all along he will be Josephus in the main, and another person when he pleaseth. He will also transcribe the Greek Josephus, and copy a large part of his history of the Jewish war without taking any notice of him. If he differs from him, and adds to him, it is not taken out of any other writers better informed, but from his own invention only.

Being come into Galilee he there orders things very agreeably to what we have formerly seen in our Greek Josephus. At length he flies from Vespasian and Titus and the Roman army, and shuts himself up in Jotapata. Vespasian with his army comes before Jotapata. The city is taken after a siege of eight-and-forty days. Joseph himself, and with him forty more, go out

g

Sic dicit Joseph Ben Goriou sacerdos. Ipse est Josippon, nomine quidem diminutivo Josippon-Hic est liber ille, quem appellavi titulo, Bella Jehova, eo quod continet historiam calamitatum desolationis Domûs Sanctuarii nostri, et terræ nostræ, et gloriæ nostræ. Lib. 6, c. 43, p. 189.

b D. B. J. 1. 2, cap. 20.

Quæ omnia cum audissent Judæi, elegerunt e ducibus, qui erant in Judâ et Jerusalem, tres principes fortissimos bello, me scilicet, Joseph Sacerdotem fortissimum bello cum auxilio JeHovæ, et Anani Sacerdotem et Eleazar Sacerdotem filium ejus; et præfecerunt illos super terram, et partiti sunt terram Judæ inter illos per sortem, dederuntque illis præsidio manum Judæorum ad bellum gerendum. Et obtigit tertia pars terræ per pri mam sortem, scilicet, omnis terra Galileæ a terrâ Nephthali, et deinceps, Josepho filio Gorionis Sacerdoti, in honorem et gloriam. Et appellaverunt illum Josippon in titulum dignitatis et laudis; quia tunc unctus fuit unctione militari. sors secunda exiit pro Anano Sacerdote magno, Jerusalem scilicet, et omnia circum vicina loca;-Sors denique tertia egressa est Eleazaro filio Anani. &c. Josipp. c. 67, p. 293. De B. Jud. lib. 2, c. 20, sect. 1, 2, 3.

Deinde

e

b

Gagnier, in his notes upon this place, p. 293, assigns some reasons why this writer chose to be thought the son of Gorion, rather than the son of Matthias. Cur autem hic noster Gorionis filius quam Matthiæ esse voluerit, ratio videtur fuisse, quod cum nomen Gorionis cujusdam insignis viri mentio aliquando in Talmude occurrat, atque etiam Nicodemi filii Gorionis, in eam familiam ipsi se adoptare visum est, ut prodiret in lucem gratior contribulibus suis, eisque facilius impo-neret. Vid. reliqua ibid. Et conf. not. ap. Jos. Havercamp. p. 207.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

of the city and hide themselves in a cave. Vespasian sends Nicanor to Joseph with offers of peace and safety if he would surrender. But the forty men who were with him chose rather to die by their own hands. After long arguing, Joseph proposeth that they should cast lots till they were all killed. Which being done, there were none left alive but Joseph and one more, who at length consented to surrender. Joseph then calls to Nicanor, and they yield up themselves to him. Vespasian, when Joseph was brought before him, treated him kindly, and carried him about with him from place to place, together with _ Agrippa.

d

[ocr errors]

So far there is a great agreement between our Josephus and Joseph Ben Gorion. But now they differ. For Josippon entirely omits the compliments which our Josephus paid to Vespasian, Upon the death of Nero, and after the short reigns of Galba and Vitellius, Vespasian is declared emperor by the soldiers in Judea; and, after some hesitation, he is persuaded to accept of the diadem from them.

с

Some while after that, Vespasian takes part of the army, and goes to Rome: but leaves the other part with Titus to carry on the siege of Jerusalem. However, he orders Titus to stay at Alexandria till he shall send to him from Rome.

When Vespasian left Judea to go to Rome he took with him Agrippa, and his son Monbaz, lest they should rebel against him. With himself and them he also took me Joseph the priest, bound with iron chains.' And when Vespasian was come to Rome he ordered that Joseph should be sent to prison and kept bound there.

Vespasian upon his arrival at Rome was received joyfully by the senators and all the people in general. And in a short time he is inaugurated with great solemnity. Agrippa and his son are allowed to be with the senators; and Joseph himself, though a prisoner, is allowed by the keeper of the prison to have a place where he may see all.

k

The coronation is then described by him in a pompous manner; seven electors of the empire attending, agreeably to the coronations of the emperors in late ages, a good while after the time of Charles the great, as Gagnier observes in a note which I shall place below. Basnage thinks that this Hebrew Joseph intends the coronation of Ocho the first, or his son, Otho the second. And he considers this article as a proof that Josippon lived in the tenth, or rather in the eleventh century.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Soon after his coronation,' as this author says, Vespasian" was offended with Agrippa upon account of some calumnies cast upon him, which he had received from wicked men of 'the Jewish nation: whereupon he slew Agrippa, and his son Monbaz, with the sword. Which 'was done three years and a half before the desolation of the house.

So writes this author. Supposing Agrippa to have been put to death at this time, I do not conceive how it could be done three years and a half before the destruction of the temple.

[blocks in formation]

Cap. 75, p. 333, 334.

Cap. 77, p. 340.

Abiit itaque Vespasianus Romam. Cumque pergeret, ut iterum acciperet illic coronam regni, duxit secum Agrippam regem, et Monbaz filium ejus. Dixerat enim, ne forte rebellent contra me. Duxit præterea cum eis, et secum, meipsum Josephum sacerdotem, vinctum catenis ferreis. Cap. 77. P. 340.

Tunc jussit, et vinxerunt me in domo carceris. Agrippam vero et filium ejus ipsorum arbitrio reliquit. Ib. p. 341.

Postridie illius diei congregati sunt omnes Senatores Romani, ut Vespasianum Cæsarem crearent, secundum jus Cæsarea dignitatis pro consuetudine Romanâ. Porro Agrippa et filius ejus erant cum illis. At ego supplex rogavi princi pem domûs carceris-Et inveni gratiam in oculis ejus, et introduxit me in consessum regni, ubi fieri debebat inaugu

ratio Cæsaris; attamem vinctum catenis ferreis et collocavit juxta se in loco, unde vidi omnia quæ facta sunt. Ib. p. 341.

Cum itaque perventum est ad illum locum, accedunt ad eum septem Reges coronis suis insignes, quas acceperunt de manu Cæsaris, electi vero jussu Senatús Romani, &c. ibid.

Fingit hic fabulator Josephum, id est, seipsum a Vespasiano Romam perductum fuisse, ut ibi spectator adesset ejus coronationis, quam describit cum omni illâ cæremoniâ inaugurationis Cæsarum, qualis longe post tempora Caroli Magni, sub Romanis Pontificibus instituta fuit, præsentibus nempe et ministrantibus septem Imperii Electoribus, cum toto illo apparatu, quem fuse et lepide narrat. Gagn. p. 341.

Tous ces caractères nous font croire, que le Josèphe Hébreu n'a vécu qu'à la fin de dixième, ou plutôt dans l'onzième siècle, et que le couronnement, dont il a laissé la déscription, est celui d'Othon I. ou de son fils Othon II. Basnag. ut supr. sect. xxiv. p. 1563.

m Post aliquot autem dies, ex quo Vespasianus Cæsar factus fuit, indignatus est adversus Agrippam, quia calumniati sunt eum impii Israël, dicentes eum cogitâsse perfide agere in illum, et idcirco misisse literas in Jerusalem eâ de re. Interfecit itaque illum et filium ejus Monbaz gladio. Quod quidem contigit tribus annis cum dimidio ante desolationem domus. &c. c. 77, p. 344.

4 € 2

Besides, Agrippa survived the Jewish war and the destruction of Jerusalem many years: as is attested not only by Josephus, but also by ancient medals still extant.

a

Rabbi Isaac, in his Munimen Fidei, written in the sixteenth century, has quoted this passage of our author. And I have put down his words in the margin: though, perhaps, they may be taken notice of again hereafter.

d

[ocr errors]

In the same year and month that Agrippa and his son were put to death, Vespasian sent for Joseph, and spake comfortably to him, and released him from his bonds. Joseph complained of the death of Agrippa; but Vespasian assured him he had good reason for so doing. And now Vespasian sent Joseph to Titus at Alexandria, with a letter of recommendation. Joseph goes to Alexandria. Titus and all his counsellors rejoiced at the arrival of Joseph: For he was full of the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and valour, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.' Is. xi. 1, 2. After some consultation it was determined to go up to Jerusalem and besiege it. For Joseph knew that it was of the Lord, and that it was not possible that the word of the Lord should be turned back.' Titus therefore went from Alexandria to Judea.

[ocr errors]

In the first year of the reign of Vespasian, in the tenth month, and the seventh day of the month, came Titus with Joseph, and all his forces, and his army, to the delightful city of Cæsarea; where he was employed in collecting his forces from all parts, till he had completed his army for besieging Jerusalem. There he stayed all the winter till the month of Abib, or March. During this whole year, the first year of the reign of Vespasian, were grievous wars and fightings in the midst of Jerusalem. From the time that Vespasian left Judea to go to Rome, there to receive the confirmation of the empire, in summer and winter were perpetual quarrels and contentions between the three parties, into which the people of Jerusalem were divided, and headed by three leaders, Simon, John, and Eleazar. For at that time God poured out a spirit of insensibility in the midst of Jerusalem: Is. xxix. 10. And they destroyed, as this writer says, a thousand and four hundred garners, filled with things that might have been useful in a siege; for there were in them provisions sufficient to maintain two hundred thousand people for twenty years. But by the madness of these robbers all was consumed by fire: which brought on the famine in Jerusalem.

i

k

h

And now this writer makes a long and grievous lamentation over Jerusalem: which in the Hebrew original, as Gagnier observes, is a sort of metrical composition, not in use among the Jews till long after the supposed time of the author.

Titus draws out his numerous forces, and reviews them in a plain near Cæsarea, and then moves toward Jerusalem.

Vid. Gagnier in loc.

[ocr errors]

Verba, Væ pastori meo nihili derelinquenti gregem. [Zach. xi. 17.] Agrippam respiciunt, qui Romam se contulit, atque inde evocavit Vespasianum, hujusque privignum Titum, adversus Hierosolymas. Tandem autem irasci illi cœpit Vespasianus, eumque unâ cum Monbaso filio securi percussit, tribus et dimidio annis ante templi desolationem. Cæterum ob illam, quæ inter regem Agrippam et improbos duces factiosorum exorta fuerat contentionem, denique desolatum fuit templum, uti ex Josepho constat. Munimen Fidei. p. 417. Cap. 78, p. 344.

d Postea Profectus Josephus Româ venit Alexandriam. Cumque audisset Titus de adventu Josephi, lætatus est plurimum ipse, et omnes seniores et sapientes, qui cum illo erant. Josephus enim plenus erat spiritu sapientiæ et intelligentiæ, spiritu consilii et fortitudinis, spiritu scientiæ, et timoris Jehovæ. cap. 78, p. 346.

e Postea consilium inierunt inter se, ut ascenderent in Jerusalem, et obsiderent eam. Sciebat enim Josephus a Jehovâ hoc esse, neque possibile esse, ut verbum Jehovæ convertatur retrorsum. Ib. p. 347.

f Anno primo regni Vespasiani, mense decimo, die septimo mensis, venit Titus cum Josepho, et cum omnibus copiis suis et exercitu suo, in urbem Cæsareæ, gratissimam et desideratissimam omnibus, qui illam viderunt. cap. 79, p. 347.

* Mansitque illic, donec complerentur dies brumæ, et dies hiemis, et donec venirent dies Abib. Toto autem hoc anno primo regni Vespasiani, quo erectus est super regnum Ro

manorum,- -ingruerunt prælia durissima in medio Jerusalem inter habitatores ejus per crudelitatem iræ et furoris ; et percutiebant unusquisque proximum suum, nullâ interpositâ quiete aut morâ. Quinetiam nulla cessatio belli fuit inter illos totâ hieme, ut post est universæ terræ ; sed et æstate et hieme duraverunt prælia Simonem inter et Jehochananem. Porro tertius fuit Eleazarus. Atque hoc ab ipso die, quo proficiscens Vespasianus de terrâ Juda abiit Romam, ut illic de novo susciperet regnum Cæsareæ dignitatis, secundum jus consuetudinis Romanæ. Ibid.

Eo anno effudit Jehova spiritum vertiginis in medium Jerusalem-p. 348.

i Porro numerus horreorum illorum in Jerusalem erat mille et quadringentorum: et omnia plena commeatibus victûs pro tempore obsidionis. Tempore autem, quo Vespasianus venit in urbes Galileæ, seniores et viri Sde digni, qui æstimaverunt quantitatem proventûs horreorum illorum, invenerunt in illis esse commeatus et victus pro ducentis mille animabus per viginti annos. Et tunc, in bello latronum, hæc omnia cremata sunt. Copitque fames in Jerusalem. p. 350.

k Lamentatus est itaque Josephus lamentationem hanc super Jerusalem, et dixit- -c. 80, p. 350-355.

Lamentatio Josephi. In Hebræo est carmen rythmicum; quod genus poëseos multis post seculis a recentioribus Judæis, Arabum exemplo, usurpatum est. Gagn. not. p. 350.

m

Postea Titus venit in planitiem Cæsareæ cum exercitu, et recensuit exercitum suum, &c. cap. 81, p. 355.

a

It is not my intention to relate particularly from this writer, as I have done from Josephus, the attacks of Titus, and the defences of the people in the city. I shall pass over a great deal. Whilst they were hard pressed by the Romans, the three parties within agreed, and joined together, in opposing the common enemy. But, as soon as the Romans gave them any respite, then three rulers of the robbers within exercised a cruel war with one another; insomuch that the blood of the citizens ran like a torrent out of the gates of Jerusalem in the sight of the Romans, who could not forbear to pity them.' Those expressions are extravagant. But what is here said may be compared with Josephus de B. J. 1. 5, cap. vi. sect. 1. Upon this occasion: our author made another lamentation.

After having carried on the siege for some while, Titus draws off from the city, and for several days ceaseth to make any attacks. And by Joseph, who addresseth them in a very long speech, in their own language, he makes them offers of peace, that he might preserve their temple and city. But they hardened their necks, and would not hear. In this speech he tells them, not disagreeably to what the Greek Josephus says [de B. J. 1. 5, cap. ix. p. 350.] that, for their sins, the waters of Siloam had before failed on a sudden; but now they flowed plentifully in the camp of the Gentiles fighting against them. In this speech he goes on and says: though I am in the camp of the Romans, I am still considered as one of you. For with you is my ' dear wife, the wife of my youth, whom I still embrace, though I have had no children by her. With you also are my father and mother. father and mother. He is now an hundred and three years old, and my mother eighty-five. I am sixty-four years of age, and have not yet attained to the term of human life.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

с

Many, he says, wept at hearing him; and many people of meaner rank would willingly have gone out of the city to surrender themselves to Titus; but the three leaders of the factions, Simon, and Eleazar, and John, prevented them by their severe threatenings, and the strict guard they kept over them.

In the mean time the famine increased, and was very grievous. The people ate mice, spiders, weasels, serpents, toads: and if the carcase of a horse or other beast was found in any of the streets of Jerusalem, multitudes contended for it.

Titus continues his attacks, but the Jews gain great advantages over him. They killed a great number of his men, and destroyed his platforms, which gave him great concern.

[ocr errors]

Soon after that, Titus, as this author says, received numerous recruits from all nations and countries subject to the Roman empire. At their arrival, Titus represents to their generals and chief men the state of things, and how the Jews had prevailed, and still had great strength

Quando instabat prælium Romanorum, omnes ad invicem coalescebant, tamquam unus vir ad pugnam; et pugnabant contra Romanos, fugabantque illos a se. Et postquam fugaverant a se Romanos, revertebantur ad se, et incipiebant pugnare unusquisque in fratrem suum. Tuncque fiebat prælium magnum et durum inter tres principes latronum crudelium, donec egrederetur sanguis extra portas Jerusalem, tamquam torrens scaturiens de scaturigine aquarum. Videbantque Romani sanguinem egredientem de portis Jerusalem. Et conterebatur cor eorum in medio ipsorum, et flebant, et dolebant ea de re. Josephus autem sacerdos stabat cum eis. Tunc lamentatus est Josephus lamentationem hanc iterum super Jerusalem. Et prolocutus est Josephus alte proferens vocem lamentationis, et dixit, &c. c. 82, p. 362, &c.

Tunc temporis jussit populum suum discedere a muro extra urbem, et cessare a bello per aliquot dies, ut clamaret pacem in auribus Judæorum. cap. 84, p. 369-377, et cap. 85, p. 378.-385.

Nunc autem videte malum vestrum esse maximum, et quod Jehova non sit in medio vestri, quia propter bella, quæ geritis unusquisque cum fratre suo, mox brevi siccate sunt apud vos aquæ Siloë. At vero in castris Gentium, quando congregatæ sunt contra vos, ecce aquæ Siloë redundant, et fluunt instar torrentis, et fluvii magni pleni super omnes mar- gines suos. cap. 85, p. 383, m.

Porro, quamvis ego sim in castris Romanorum, tamen reputor idem, ac si essem vobiscum; quia ecce nunc uxor mea dilectissima, carissima, vobiscum est, uxor nempe juvcntutis meæ, Neque respuo illam; et, licet filii ex eâ non sint

mihi, nihilominus illam diligo plurimum, cum sit ex familiis nobilissimis et optimis populi Dei, et populi virorum. Quin et pater meus et mater mea, infelices, pauperes, sancti, senes, provecti in diebus apud vos sunt. Nam et pater meus est centum et trium annorum hodie. Mater vero mea octoginta et quinque annorum est hodie. Ego vero paucos et malos, et per varias tribulationes et ærumnas sexaginta et quatuor annos exegi, ac nondum attigi terminum, qui postulet mortem juxta viam naturæ. &c. cap. 85, p. 383, fin.

Cum ergo audivisset populus verba Josephi sacerdotis, · fleverunt plurimum-Et quidem summopere optabat plebs infima exire ad Titum, et pacem inire cum illo juxta consilium Josephi. Sed astabant Simon, Eleazarus, et Jochanan, principes latronum, et præposuerunt viros fortissimos ad portas &c. c. 86, p. 385.

f Interea fames ingravescebat in Jerusalem-Crescebat autem malum eo usque, ut populus comederet omne genus reptilium terræ a mure usque ad aranean, et ad serpentem, et mustellam, et bufonem.- -Si forte inveniretur in Jerusalem cadaver equi, aut cadaver cujuslibet bestiæ, multi ex Israël : inter se pugnabant, et mortui corruebant, dum pugnarent: super cadaver bestiæ, aut super cadaver fera cap. 86, . p. 385, 386.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »