the antiquities of the jews-1-第174章
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deliver them down to posterity; that this festival might continue
for all time to come; and that it might never be buried in
oblivion; for since they were about to be destroyed on these days
by Haman; they would do a right thing; upon escaping the danger
in them; and on them inflicting punishment on their enemies; to
observe those days; and give thanks to God on them; for which
cause the Jews still keep the forementioned days; and call them
days of Phurim 'or Purim。' (21) And Mordecai became a great and
illustrious person with the king; and assisted him in the
government of the people。 He also lived with the queen; so that
the affairs of the Jews were; by their means; better than they
could ever have hoped for。 And this was the state of the Jews
under the reign of Artaxerxes。
CHAPTER 7。
How John Slew His Brother Jesus In The Temple; And How Bagoses
Offered Many Injuries To The Jews; And What Sanballat Did。
1。 When Eliashib the high priest was dead; his son Judas
succeeded in the high priesthood; and when he was dead; his son
John took that dignity; on whose account it was also that
Bagoses; the general of another Artaxerxes's army; (22) polluted
the temple; and imposed tributes on the Jews; that out of the
public stock; before they offered the daily sacrifices; they
should pay for every lamb fifty shekels。 Now Jesus was the
brother of John; and was a friend of Bagoses; who had promised to
procure him the high priesthood。 In confidence of whose support;
Jesus quarreled with John in the temple; and so provoked his
brother; that in his anger his brother slew him。 Now it was a
horrible thing for John; when he was high priest; to perpetrate
so great a crime; and so much the more horrible; that there never
was so cruel and impious a thing done; neither by the Greeks nor
Barbarians。 However; God did not neglect its punishment; but the
people were on that very account enslaved; and the temple was
polluted by the Persians。 Now when Bagoses; the general of
Artaxerxes's army; knew that John; the high priest of the Jews;
had slain his own brother Jesus in the temple; he came upon the
Jews immediately; and began in anger to say to them;〃 Have you
had the impudence to perpetrate a murder in your temple?〃 And as
he was aiming to go into the temple; they forbade him so to do;
but he said to them;〃 Am not I purer than he that was slain in
the temple?〃 And when he had said these words; he went into the
temple。 Accordingly; Bagoses made use of this pretense; and
punished the Jews seven years for the murder of Jesus。
2。 Now when John had departed this life; his son Jaddua succeeded
in the high priesthood。 He had a brother; whose name was
Manasseh。 :Now there was one Sanballat; who was sent by Darius;
the last king 'of Persia'; into Samaria。 He was a Cutheam by
birth; of which stock were the Samaritans also。 This man knew
that the city Jerusalem was a famous city; and that their kings
had given a great deal of trouble to the Assyrians; and the
people of Celesyria; so that he willingly gave his daughter;
whose name was Nicaso; in marriage to Manasseh; as thinking this
alliance by marriage would be a pledge and security that the
nation of the Jews should continue their good…will to him。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning Sanballat And Manasseh; And The Temple Which They
Built On Mount Gerizzim; As Also How Alexander Made His Entry
Into The City Jerusalem; And What Benefits He Bestowed On The
Jews。
1。 About this time it was that Philip; king of Macedon; was
treacherously assaulted and slain at Egae by Pausanias; the son
of Cerastes; who was derived from the family of Oreste; and his
son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom; who; passing over the
Hellespont; overcame the generals of Darius's army in a battle
fought at Granicum。 So he marched over Lydia; and subdued Ionia;
and overran Caria; and fell upon the places of Pamphylia; as has
been related elsewhere。
2。 But the elders of Jerusalem being very uneasy that the brother
of Jaddua the high priest; though married to a foreigner; should
be a partner with him in the high priesthood; quarreled with him;
for they esteemed this man's marriage a step to such as should be
desirous of transgressing about the marriage of 'strange' wives;
and that this would be the beginning of a mutual society with
foreigners; although the offense of some about marriages; and
their having married wives that were not of their own country;
had been an occasion of their former captivity; and of the
miseries they then underwent; so they commanded Manasseh to
divorce his wife; or not to approach the altar; the high priest
himself joining with the people in their indignation against his
brother; and driving him away from the altar。 Whereupon Manasseh
came to his father…in…law; Sanballat; and told him; that although
he loved his daughter Nicaso; yet was he not willing to be
deprived of his sacerdotal dignity on her account; which was the
principal dignity in their nation; and always continued in the
same family。 And then Sanballat promised him not only to preserve
to him the honor of his priesthood; but to procure for him the
power and dignity of a high priest; and would make him governor
of all the places he himself now ruled; if he would keep his
daughter for his wife。 He also told him further; that he would
build him a temple like that at Jerusalem; upon Mount Gerizzini;
which is the highest of all the mountains that are in Samaria;
and he promised that he would do this with the approbation of
Darius the king。 Manasseh was elevated with these promises; and
staid with Sanballat; upon a supposal that he should gain a high
priesthood; as bestowed on him by Darius; for it happened that
Sanballat was then in years。 But there was now a great
disturbance among the people of Jerusalem; because many of those
priests and Levites were entangled in such matches; for they all
revolted to Manasseh; and Sanballat afforded them money; and
divided among them land for tillage; and habitations also; and
all this in order every way to gratify his son…in…law。
3。 About this time it was that Darius heard how Alexander had
passed over the Hellespont; and had beaten his lieutenants in the
battle at Granicum; and was proceeding further; whereupon he
gathered together an army of horse and foot; and determined that
he would meet the Macedonians before they should assault and
conquer all Asia。 So he passed over the river Euphrates; and came
over Taurus; the Cilician mountain; and at Issus of Cilicia he
waited for the enemy; as ready there to give him battle。 Upon
which Sanballat was glad that Darius was come down; and told
Manasseh that he would suddenly perform his promises to him; and
this as soon as ever Darius should come back; after he had beaten
his enemies; for not he only; but all those that were in Asia
also; were persuaded that the Macedonians would not so much as
come to a battle with the Persians; on account of their
multitude。 But the event proved otherwise than they expected; for
the king joined battle with the Macedonians; and was beaten; and
lost a great part of his army。 His mother also; and his wife and
children; were taken captives; and he fled into Persia。 So
Alexander came into Syria; and took Damascus; and when he had
obtained Sidon; he besieged Tyre; when he sent all epistle to the
Jewish high priest; to send him some auxiliaries; and to supply
his army with provisions; and that what presents he formerly sent
to Darius; he would now send to him; and choose the friendship of
the Macedonians; and that he should never repent of so doing。 But
the high priest answered the messengers; that he had given his
oath to Darius not to bear arms against him; and he said that he
would not transgress this while Darius was in the land of the
living。 Upon hearing this answer; Alexander was very angry; and
though he determined not to leave Tyre; which was just ready to
be taken; yet as soon as he had taken it; he threatened that he
would make an expedition against the Jewish high priest; and
through him teach all men to whom they must keep their oaths。 So
when he had; with a good deal of pains during the siege; taken
Tyre;