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第319章

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that Herod; brother of Agrippa the great king; departed this
life; in the eighth year of the reign of Claudius Caesar。 He left
behind him three sons; Aristobulus; whom he had by his first
wife; with Bernicianus; and Hyrcanus; both whom he had by Bernice
his brother's daughter。 But Claudius Caesar bestowed his
dominions on Agrippa; junior。

3。 Now while the Jewish affairs were under the administration of
Cureanus; there happened a great tumult at the city of Jerusalem;
and many of the Jews perished therein。 But I shall first explain
the occasion whence it was derived。 When that feast which is
called the passover was at hand; at which time our custom is to
use unleavened bread; and a great multitude was gathered together
from all parts to that feast; Cumanus was afraid lest some
attempt of innovation should then be made by them; so he ordered
that one regiment of the army should take their arms; and stand
in the temple cloisters; to repress any attempts of innovation;
if perchance any such should begin; and this was no more than
what the former procurators of Judea did at such festivals。 But
on the fourth day of the feast; a certain soldier let down his
breeches; and exposed his privy members to the multitude; which
put those that saw him into a furious rage; and made them cry out
that this impious action was not done to approach them; but God
himself; nay; some of them reproached Cumanus; and pretended that
the soldier was set on by him; which; when Cumanus heard; he was
also himself not a little provoked at such reproaches laid upon
him; yet did he exhort them to leave off such seditious attempts;
and not to raise a tumult at the festival。 But when he could not
induce them to be quiet for they still went on in their
reproaches to him; he gave order that the whole army should take
their entire armor; and come to Antonia; which was a fortress; as
we have said already; which overlooked the temple; but when the
multitude saw the soldiers there; they were affrighted at them;
and ran away hastily; but as the passages out were but narrow;
and as they thought their enemies followed them; they were
crowded together in their flight; and a great number were pressed
to death in those narrow passages; nor indeed was the number
fewer than twenty thousand that perished in this tumult。 So
instead of a festival; they had at last a mournful day of it; and
they all of them forgot their prayers and sacrifices; and betook
themselves to lamentation and weeping; so great an affliction did
the impudent obsceneness of a single soldier bring upon them。
(10)

4。 Now before this their first mourning was over; another
mischief befell them also; for some of those that raised the
foregoing tumult; when they were traveling along the public road;
about a hundred furlongs from the city; robbed Stephanus; a
servant of Caesar; as he was journeying; and plundered him of all
that he had with him; which things when Cureanus heard of; he
sent soldiers immediately; and ordered them to plunder the
neighboring villages; and to bring the most eminent persons among
them in bonds to him。 Now as this devastation was making; one of
the soldiers seized the laws of Moses that lay in one of those
villages; and brought them out before the eyes of all present;
and tore them to pieces; and this was done with reproachful
language; and much scurrility; which things when the Jews heard
of; they ran together; and that in great numbers; and came down
to Cesarea; where Cumanus then was; and besought him that he
would avenge; not themselves; but God himself; whose laws had
been affronted; for that they could not bear to live any longer;
if the laws of their forefathers must be affronted after this
manner。 Accordingly Cumanus; out of fear lest the multitude
should go into a sedition; and by the advice of his friends also;
took care that the soldier who had offered the affront to the
laws should be beheaded; and thereby put a stop to the sedition
which was ready to be kindled a second time。

CHAPTER 6。

How There Happened A Quarrel Between The Jews And The Samaritans;
And How Claudius Put An End To Their Differences。

1。 Now there arose a quarrel between the Samaritans and the Jews
on the occasion following: It was the custom of the Galileans;
when they came to the holy city at the festivals; to take their
journeys through the country of the Samaritans; (11) and at this
time there lay; in the road they took; a village that was called
Ginea; which was situated in the limits of Samaria and the great
plain; where certain persons thereto belonging fought with the
Galileans; and killed a great many of them。 But when the
principal of the Galileans were informed of what had been done;
they came to Cumanus; and desired him to avenge the murder of
those that were killed; but he was induced by the Samaritans;
with money; to do nothing in the matter; upon which the Galileans
were much displeased; and persuaded the multitude of the Jews to
betake themselves to arms; and to regain their liberty; saying
that slavery was in itself a bitter thing; but that when it was
joined with direct injuries; it was perfectly intolerable; And
when their principal men endeavored to pacify them; and promised
to endeavor to persuade Cureanus to avenge those that were
killed; they would not hearken to them; but took their weapons;
and entreated the assistance of Eleazar; the son of Dineus; a
robber; who had many years made his abode in the mountains; with
which assistance they plundered many villages of the Samaritans。
When Cumanus heard of this action of theirs; he took the band of
Sebaste; with four regiments of footmen; and armed the
Samaritans; and marched out against the Jews; and caught them;
and slew many of them; and took a great number of them alive;
whereupon those that were the most eminent persons at Jerusalem;
and that both in regard to the respect that was paid them; and
the families they were of; as soon as they saw to what a height
things were gone; put on sackcloth; and heaped ashes upon their
heads; and by all possible means besought the seditious; and
persuaded them that they would set before their eyes the utter
subversion of their country; the conflagration of their temple;
and the slavery of themselves; their wives; and children; (12)
which would be the consequences of what they were doing; and
would alter their minds; would cast away their weapons; and for
the future be quiet; and return to their own homes。 These
persuasions of theirs prevailed upon them。 So the people
dispersed themselves; and the robbers went away again to their
places of strength; and after this time all Judea was overrun
with robberies。

2。 But the principal of the Samaritans went to Ummidius
Quadratus; the president of Syria; who at that time was at Tyre;
and accused the Jews of setting their villages on fire; and
plundering them; and said withal; that they were not so much
displeased at what they had suffered; as they were at the
contempt thereby showed the Romans; while if they had received
any injury; they ought to have made them the judges of what had
been done; and not presently to make such devastation; as if they
had not the Romans for their governors; on which account they
came to him; in order to obtain that vengeance they wanted。 This
was the accusation which the Samaritans brought against the Jews。
But the Jews affirmed that the Samaritans were the authors of
this tumult and fighting; and that; in the first place; Cumanus
had been corrupted by their gifts; and passed over the murder of
those that were slain in silence; … which allegations when
Quadratus heard; he put off the hearing of the cause; and
promised that he would give sentence when he should come into
Judea; and should have a more exact knowledge of the truth of
that matter。 So these men went away without success。 Yet was it
not long ere Quadratus came to Samaria; where; upon hearing the
cause; he supposed that the Samaritans were the authors of that
disturbance。 But when he was informed that certain of the Jews
were making innovations; he ordered those to be crucified whom
Cumanus had taken captives。 From whence he came to a ce

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