the wars of the jews-第120章
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n； and he also trembled at those visions which he saw in the night season； and bestowed both silver and gold on the Hebrews； as on a people beloved by God。 Shall I say nothing； or shall I mention the removal of our fathers into Egypt； who； （17） when they were used tyrannically； and were fallen under the power of foreign kings for four hundred ears together； and might have defended themselves by war and by fighting； did yet do nothing but commit themselves to God！ Who is there that does not know that Egypt was overrun with all sorts of wild beasts； and consumed by all sorts of distempers？ how their land did not bring forth its fruit？ how the Nile failed of water？ how the ten plagues of Egypt followed one upon another？ and how by those means our fathers were sent away under a guard； without any bloodshed； and without running any dangers； because God conducted them as his peculiar servants？ Moreover； did not Palestine groan under the ravage the Assyrians made； when they carried away our sacred ark？ as did their idol Dagon； and as also did that entire nation of those that carried it away； how they were smitten with a loathsome distemper in the secret parts of their bodies； when their very bowels came down together with what they had eaten； till those hands that stole it away were obliged to bring it back again； and that with the sound of cymbals and timbrels； and other oblations； in order to appease the anger of God for their violation of his holy ark。 It was God who then became our General； and accomplished these great things for our fathers； and this because they did not meddle with war and fighting； but committed it to him to judge about their affairs。 When Sennacherib； king of Assyria； brought along with him all Asia； and encompassed this city round with his army； did he fall by the hands of men？ were not those hands lifted up to God in prayers； without meddling with their arms； when an angel of God destroyed that prodigious army in one night？ when the Assyrian king； as he rose the next day； found a hundred fourscore and five thousand dead bodies； and when he； with the remainder of his army； fled away from the Hebrews； though they were unarmed； and did not pursue them。 You are also acquainted with the slavery we were under at Babylon； where the people were captives for seventy years； yet were they not delivered into freedom again before God made Cyrus his gracious instrument in bringing it about； accordingly they were set free by him； and did again restore the worship of their Deliverer at his temple。 And； to speak in general； we can produce no example wherein our fathers got any success by war； or failed of success when without war they committed themselves to God。 When they staid at home； they conquered； as pleased their Judge； but when they went out to fight； they were always disappointed： for example； when the king of Babylon besieged this very city； and our king Zedekiah fought against him； contrary to what predictions were made to him by Jeremiah the prophet； he was at once taken prisoner； and saw the city and the temple demolished。 Yet how much greater was the moderation of that king； than is that of your present governors； and that of the people then under him； than is that of you at this time！ for when Jeremiah cried out aloud； how very angry God was at them； because of their transgressions； and told them they should be taken prisoners； unless they would surrender up their city； neither did the king nor the people put him to death； but for you； （to pass over what you have done within the city； which I am not able to describe as your wickedness deserves；） you abuse me； and throw darts at me； who only exhort you to save yourselves； as being provoked when you are put in mind of your sins； and cannot bear the very mention of those crimes which you every day perpetrate。 For another example； when Antiochus； who was called Epiphanes； lay before this city； and had been guilty of many indignities against God； and our forefathers met him in arms； they then were slain in the battle； this city was plundered by our enemies； and our sanctuary made desolate for three years and six months。 And what need I bring any more examples？ Indeed what can it be that hath stirred up an army of the Romans against our nation？ Is it not the impiety of the inhabitants？ Whence did our servitude commence？ Was it not derived from the seditions that were among our forefathers； when the madness of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus； and our mutual quarrels； brought Pompey upon this city； and when God reduced those under subjection to the Romans who were unworthy of the liberty they had enjoyed？ After a siege； therefore； of three months； they were forced to surrender themselves； although they had not been guilty of such offenses； with regard to our sanctuary and our laws； as you have； and this while they had much greater advantages to go to war than you have。 Do not we know what end Antigonus； the son of Aristobulus； came to； under whose reign God provided that this city should be taken again upon account of the people's offenses？ When Herod； the son of Antipater； brought upon us Sosius； and Sosius brought upon us the Roman army； they were then encompassed and besieged for six months； till； as a punishment for their sins； they were taken； and the city was plundered by the enemy。 Thus it appears that arms were never given to our nation； but that we are always given up to be fought against； and to be taken； for I suppose that such as inhabit this holy place ought to commit the disposal of all things to God； and then only to disregard the assistance of men when they resign themselves up to their Arbitrator； who is above。 As for you； what have you done of those things that are recommended by our legislator？ and what have you not done of those things that he hath condemned？ How much more impious are you than those who were so quickly taken！ You have not avoided so much as those sins that are usually done in secret； I mean thefts； and treacherous plots against men； and adulteries。 You are quarrelling about rapines and murders； and invent strange ways of wickedness。 Nay； the temple itself is become the receptacle of all； and this Divine place is polluted by the hands of those of our own country； which place hath yet been reverenced by the Romans when it was at a distance from them； when they have suffered many of their own customs to give place to our law。 And； after all this； do you expect Him whom you have so impiously abused to be your supporter？ To be sure then you have a right to be petitioners； and to call upon Him to assist you； so pure are your hands！ Did your king ＇Hezekiah＇ lift up such hands in prayer to God against the king of Assyria； when he destroyed that great army in one night？ And do the Romans commit such wickedness as did the king of Assyria； that you may have reason to hope for the like vengeance upon them？ Did not that king accept of money from our king on this condition； that he should not destroy the city； and yet； contrary to the oath he had taken； he came down to burn the temple？ while the Romans do demand no more than that accustomed tribute which our fathers paid to their fathers； and if they may but once obtain that； they neither aim to destroy this city； nor to touch this sanctuary； nay； they will grant you besides； that your posterity shall be free； and your possessions secured to you； and will preserve our holy laws inviolate to you。 And it is plain madness to expect that God should appear as well disposed towards the wicked as towards the righteous； since he knows when it is proper to punish men for their sins immediately； accordingly he brake the power of the Assyrians the very first night that they pitched their camp。 Wherefore； had he judged that our nation was worthy of freedom； or the Romans of punishment； he had immediately inflicted punishment upon those Romans； as he did upon the Assyrians； when Pompey began to meddle with our nation； or when after him Sosius came up against us； or when Vespasian laid waste Galilee； or； lastly； when Titus came first of all near to this city； although Magnus and Sosius did not only suffer nothing； but took the city by force； as di
