the wars of the jews-第106章
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s of the prophets； it was now laughed at by the seditious； was by their very means soon exactly fulfilled。 However； I cannot but here take notice of Grotius's positive assertion upon Matthew 26：9； here quoted by Dr。 Hudson； that 〃it ought to be taken for granted； as a certain truth； that many predictions of the Jewish prophets were preserved； not in writing； but by memory。〃 Whereas； it seems to me so far from certain； that I think it has no evidence nor probability at all。
（11） By these hiera； or 〃holy places；〃 as distinct from cities； must be meant 〃proseuchae；〃 or 〃houses of prayer；〃 out of cities； of which we find mention made in the New Testament and other authors。 See Luke 6：12； Acts 16：13； 16； Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 10。 sect。 23； his Life； sect。 51。 〃In qua te quero proseucha？〃 Juvenal Sat。 III。 yet。 296。 They were situated sometimes by the sides of rivers； Acts 16：13； or by the sea…side； Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 10。 sect。 23。 So did the seventy…two interpreters go to pray every morning by the sea…side before they went to their work； B。 XII。 ch。 2。 sect。 12。
（12） Gr。 Galatia； and so everywhere。
（13） Whether this Somorrhon； or Somorrha； ought not to be here written Gomorrha； as some MSS。 in a manner have it； （for the place meant by Josephus seems to be near Segor； or Zoar； at the very south of the Dead Sea； hard by which stood Sodom and Gomorrha；） cannot now be certainly determined； but seems by no means improbable。
（14） This excellent prayer of Elisha is wanting in our copies； 2 Kings 2：21； 22； though it be referred to also in the Apostolical Constitutions； B。 VII。 ch。 37。； and the success of it is mentioned in them all。
（15） See the note on B。 V。 ch。 13。 sect。 6。
（16） Of these Roman affairs and tumults under Galba； Otho； and Vitellius； here only touched upon by Josephus； see Tacitus； Suelonius； and Dio； more largely。 However； we may observe with Ottius； that Josephus writes the name of the second of them not Otto； with many others； but Otho； with the coins。 See also the note on ch。 11。 sect。 4。
（17） Some of the ancients call this famous tree； or grove； an oak others； a turpentine tree； or grove。 It has been very famous in all the past ages； and is so； I suppose； at this day； and that particularly for an eminent mart or meeting of merchants there every year； as the travelers inform us。
（18） Puetonius differs hardly three days from Josephus； and says Otho perished on the ninety…fifth day of his reign。 In Anthon。 See the note on ch。 11。 sect。 4。
（19） This beginning and ending the observation of the Jewish seventh day； or sabbath； with a priest's blowing of a trumpet； is remarkable； and no where else mentioned； that I know of。 Nor is Reland's conjecture here improbable； that this was the very place that has puzzled our commentators so long； called 〃Musach Sabbati；〃 the 〃Covert of the Sabbath；〃 if that be the true reading； 2 Kings 16：18； because here the proper priest stood dry； under a 〃covering；〃 to proclaim the beginning and ending of every Jewish sabbath。
（20） The Roman authors that now remain say Vitellius had children； whereas Josephus introduces here the Roman soldiers in Judea saying he had none。 Which of these assertions was the truth I know not。 Spanheim thinks he hath given a peculiar reason for calling Vitellius 〃childless；〃 though he really had children； Diss。 de Num。 p。 649； 650； to which it appears very difficult to give our assent。
（21） This brother of Vespasian was Flavius Sabinus； as Suetonius informs us； in Vitell。 sect。 15； and in Vespas。 sect。 2。 He is also named by Josephus presently ch。 11。 sect； 4。
（22） It is plain by the nature of the thing； as well as by Josephus and Eutropius； that Vespasian was first of all saluted emperor in Judea； and not till some time afterward in Egypt。 Whence Tacitus's and Suetonius's present copies must be correct text； when they both say that he was first proclaimed in Egypt； and that on the calends of July； while they still say it was the fifth of the Nones or Ides of the same July before he was proclaimed in Judea。 I suppose the month they there intended was June； and not July； as the copies now have it； nor does Tacitus's coherence imply less。 See Essay on the Revelation； p。 136。
（23） Here we have an authentic description of the bounds and circumstances of Egypt； in the days of Vespasian and Titus。
（24） As Daniel was preferred by Darius and Cyrus； on account of his having foretold the destruction of the Babylonian monarchy by their means； and the consequent exaltation of the Medes and Persians； Daniel 5：6 or rather； as Jeremiah； when he was a prisoner； was set at liberty； and honorably treated by Nebuzaradan； at the command of Nebuchadnezzar； on account of his having foretold the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians； Jeremiah 40：1…7； so was our Josephus set at liberty； and honorably treated； on account of his having foretold the advancement of Vespasian and Titus to the Roman empire。 All these are most eminent instances of the interposition of Divine Providence。 and of the certainty of Divine predictions in the great revolutions of the four monarchies。 Several such…like examples there are； both in the sacred and other histories； as in the case of Joseph in Egypt。 and of Jaddua the high priest； in the days of Alexander the Great； etc。
（25） This is well observed by Josephus； that Vespasian； in order to secure his success； and establish his government at first； distributed his offices and places upon the foot of justice； and bestowed them on such as best deserved them； and were best fit for them。 Which wise conduct in a mere heathen ought to put those rulers and ministers of state to shame； who； professing Christianity； act otherwise； and thereby expose themselves and their kingdoms to vice and destruction。
（26） The numbers in Josephus； ch。 9。 sect。 2； 9； for Galba seven months seven days； for Otho three months two days； and here for Vitellius eight months five days； do not agree with any Roman historians； who also disagree among themselves。 And； indeed； Sealiger justly complains； as Dr。 Hudson observes on ch。 9。 sect。 2； that this period is very confused and uncertain in the ancient authors。 They were probably some of them contemporary together for some time； one of the best evidences we have； I mean Ptolemy's Canon； omits them all； as if they did not all together reign one whole year； nor had a single Thoth； or new…year's day； （which then fell upon August 6；） in their entire reigns。 Dio also； who says that Vitellius reigned a year within ten days； does yet estimate all their reigns together at no more than one year； one month； and two days。
（27） There are coins of this Casian Jupiter still extant。
BOOK V。 Containing The Interval Of Near Six Months。 From The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem； To The Great Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced。 CHAPTER 1。 Concerning The Seditions At Jerusalem And What Terrible Miseries Afflicted The City By Their Means。 1。 When therefore Titus had marched over that desert which lies between Egypt and Syria； in the manner forementioned； he came to Cesarea； having resolved to set his forces in order at that place； before he began the war。 Nay； indeed； while he was assisting his father at Alexandria； in settling that government which had been newly conferred upon them by God； it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived； and parted into three factions； and that one faction fought against the other； which partition in such evil cases may be said to be a good thing； and the effect of Divine justice。 Now as to the attack the zealots made upon the people； and which I esteem the beginning of the city's destruction； it hath been already explained after an accurate manner； as also whence it arose； and to how great a mischief it was increased。 But for the present sedition； one should not mistake if he called it a sedition begotten by another sedition； and to be like a wild beast grown mad； which； for want of food from abroad； fell now upon eating its own flesh。 2。 For Eleazar； the son of Simon； who made the first separation of the zealots from the people； and made them retire into the temple； appeared very angry at John's insol
