the wars of the jews-第84章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
（7） It may be worth our while to observe here； that near this lake of Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months of the year。 We may observe also； that in Cyril of Jerusalem； Cateehes。 18。 sect。 3； which was delivered not long before Easter； there were no fresh leaves of fig trees； nor bunches of fresh grapes in Judea； so that when St。 Mark says； ch。 11。 ver。 13； that our Savior； soon after the same time of the year； came and 〃found leaves〃 on a fig tree near Jerusalem； but 〃no figs； because the time of〃 new 〃figs〃 ripening 〃was not yet；〃 he says very true； nor were they therefore other than old leaves which our Savior saw； and old figs which he expected； and which even with us commonly hang on the trees all winter long。
（8） This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian ever did in this whole war； as he did it with great reluctance also。 It was done both after public assurance given of sparing the prisoners' lives； and when all knew and confessed that these prisoners were no way guilty of any sedition against the Romans。 Nor indeed did Titus now give his consent； so far as appears； nor ever act of himself so barbarously； nay； soon after this； Titus grew quite weary of shedding blood； and of punishing the innocent with the guilty； and gave the people of Gischala leave to keep the Jewish sabbath； B。 IV。 ch。 2。 sect。 3； 5； in the midst of their siege。 Nor was Vespasian disposed to do what he did； till his officers persuaded him； and that from two principal topics； viz。 that nothing could be unjust that was done against Jews； and that when both cannot be consistent； advantage must prevail over justice。 Admirable court doctrines these！
BOOK IV。 Containing The Interval Of About One Year。 From The Siege Of Gamala To The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem。 CHAPTER 1。 The Siege And Taking Of Gamala。 1。 Now all those Galileans who； after the taking of Jotapata； had revolted from the Romans； did； upon the conquest of
Taricheae； deliver themselves up to them again。 And the Romans received all the fortresses and the cities； excepting Gischala and those that had seized upon Mount Tabor； Gamala also； which is a city ever against Tarichem； but on the other side of the lake； conspired with them。 This city lay Upon the borders of Agrippa's kingdom； as also did Sogana and Scleucia。 And these were both parts of Gaulanitis； for Sogana was a part of that called the Upper Gaulanitis； as was Gamala of the Lower； while Selcucia was situated at the lake Semechouitis； which lake is thirty furlongs in breadth； and sixty in length； its marshes reach as far as the place Daphne； which in other respects is a delicious place； and hath such fountains as supply water to what is called Little Jordan； under the temple of the golden calf； （1） where it is sent into Great Jordan。 Now Agrippa had united Sogana and Seleucia by leagues to himself； at the very beginning of the revolt from the Romans； yet did not Gamala accede to them； but relied upon the difficulty of the place； which was greater than that of Jotapata； for it was situated upon a rough ridge of a high mountain； with a kind of neck in the middle： where it begins to ascend； it lengthens itself； and declines as much downward before as behind； insomuch that it is like a camel in figure； from whence it is so named； although the people of the country do not pronounce it accurately。 Both on the side and the face there are abrupt parts divided from the rest； and ending in vast deep valleys； yet are the parts behind； where they are joined to the mountain； somewhat easier of ascent than the other； but then the people belonging to the place have cut an oblique ditch there； and made that hard to be ascended also。 On its acclivity； which is straight； houses are built； and those very thick and close to one another。 The city also hangs so strangely； that it looks as if it would fall down upon itself； so sharp is it at the top。 It is exposed to the south； and its southern mount； which reaches to an immense height； was in the nature of a citadel to the city； and above that was a precipice； not walled about； but extending itself to an immense depth。 There was also a spring of water within the wall； at the utmost limits of the city。 2。 As this city was naturally hard to be taken； so had Josephus； by building a wall about it； made it still stronger； as also by ditches and mines under ground。 The people that were in it were made more bold by the nature of the place than the people of Jotapata had been； but it had much fewer fighting men in it； and they had such a confidence in the situation of the place； that they thought the enemy could not be too many for them； for the city had been filled with those that had fled to it for safety； on account of its strength； on which account they had been able to resist those whom Agrippa sent to besiege it for seven months together。 3。 But Vespasian removed from Emmaus； where he had last pitched his camp before the city Tiberias； （now Emmaus； if it be interpreted； may be rendered 〃a warm bath；〃 for therein is a spring of warm water； useful for healing；） and came to Gamala； yet was its situation such that he was not able to encompass it all round with soldiers to watch it； but where the places were practicable； he set men to watch it； and seized upon the mountain which was over it。 And as the legions； according to their usual custom； were fortifying their camp upon that mountain； he began to cast up banks at the bottom； at the part towards the east； where the highest tower of the whole city was； and where the fifteenth legion pitched their camp； while the fifth legion did duty over against the midst of the city； and whilst the tenth legion filled up the ditches and the valleys。 Now at this time it was that as king Agrippa was come nigh the walls； and was endeavoring to speak to those that were on the walls about a surrender； he was hit with a stone on his right elbow by one of the slingers； he was then immediately surrounded with his own men。 But the Romans were excited to set about the siege； by their indignation on the king's account； and by their fear on their own account； as concluding that those men would omit no kinds of barbarity against foreigners and enemies； who where so enraged against one of their own nation； and one that advised them to nothing but what was for their own advantage。 4。 Now when the banks were finished； which was done on the sudden； both by the multitude of hands； and by their being accustomed to such work； they brought the machines； but Chares and Joseph； who were the most potent men in the city； set their armed men in order； though already in a fright； because they did not suppose that the city could hold out long； since they had not a sufficient quantity either of water； or of other necessaries。 However； these their leaders encouraged them； and brought them out upon the wall； and for a while indeed they drove away those that were bringing the machines； but when those machines threw darts and stones at them； they retired into the city； then did the Romans bring battering rams to three several places； and made the wall shake ＇and fall＇。 They then poured in over the parts of the wall that were thrown down； with a mighty sound of trumpets and noise of armor； and with a shout of the soldiers； and brake in by force upon those that were in the city； but these men fell upon the Romans for some time； at their first entrance； and prevented their going any further； and with great courage beat them back； and the Romans were so overpowered by the greater multitude of the people； who beat them on every side； that they were obliged to run into the upper parts of the city。 Whereupon the people turned about； and fell upon their enemies； who had attacked them； and thrust them down to the lower parts； and as they were distressed by the narrowness and difficulty of the place； slew them； and as these Romans could neither beat those back that were above them； nor escape the force of their own men that were fo
