were slain, so far as could be found, who were killed by the Romans, or the robbers, of all the people of the Jews, who, from the neighbouring country, or from far off, had come up to Jerusalem to the feast, the feast of the Lord, and were shut up in the city by the siege, was eleven hundred thousand, beside many others whose number was not found, and beside those who died with Eleazar, after the death of John and Simon.

The number of the people of the Jews who were taken captive by Titus, and carried with him to Rome, he says, were sixteen thousand. He also took with him to Rome Joseph the priest; but Bonian, his brother, he left to preside over the priests in that country; but as for those whom he took captives, he says that Titus put to death at Jerusalem all, and every one of them, in an ignominious manner, excepting only such as he reserved to take with him; and them he caused to die in a very ignominious manner: for in all the cities, where he made any stay, in his return to Rome, he ordered some of them to be thrown to lions, and other wild beasts, until all whom he had taken with him were destroyed.

So says our author. The number of the captives, according to Josephus, [De B. J. 1. 6. ix. 3.] were ninety and seven thousand; many of whom, according to him, were sold for slaves: but this, so far as I see, is quite omitted by our author, as also the triumph of Vespasian and Titus for their conquest of Judea.

But why does he omit these things? To me it seems to be owing to the pride of his heart. The temple had been burnt, Jerusalem was destroyed; the whole country of Judea had been subdued by the Romans, uncircumcised and idolatrous people; facts which he could not deny, or disown, however dishonourable and reproachful to his nation; and he has himself related these events in his way and manner. But yet he was, as it seems, desirous to save his nation from some circumstances of reproach and dishonour; he therefore forbore to say any thing of the triumph of Vespasian and Titus, though performed in the metropolis of the vast et ignominiosâ in Jerusalem. Quosdam tamen ex eis secum superstites asservavit, ut contumeliâ eos afficeret per singulas urbes transitûs sui, cum contenderet Romam. Cum itaque profectus est Titus de Jerusalem, accepit eos secum, et abduxit etiam secum reliquum populum captivitatis, quem captivum fecerat ex Judæis cumque morabatur in singulis urbibus transitùs sui, dum iter faceret Romam, in quâcunque urbe ubi castra metabatur, educebat quosdam ex latronibus illis, et jubebat illos objici leonibus, et feris pessimis, ut devorarent illos, donec consumpti sunt omnes latrones, quos secum habebat. Cap. 95. p. 444, 445.

empire of the Romans, and published and recorded in public and durable monuments, as well as in writings of the best credit. From the same principle of pride and vanity, he forebore to say that at this time many Jews, the people of Israel, had been sold for slaves, to live in slavery to uncircumcised Gentiles: so it seems to me. And I think it may deserve to be taken notice of by us, that in the fictitious. history which he has given of his journey to Rome, and the inauguration of Vespasian there, he has mentioned a particular, somewhat resembling this: For after the coronation of Vespasian, and the death of Agrippa, and his son Monbaz before mentioned, when Vespasian began to show favour to Joseph, and ordered his chains to be struck off, Joseph1 presented a petition to Vespasian in behalf of all sons of Israel, who were then in prison at Rome, entreating that they might be set at liberty; and upon that condition promising that he would for the future be a faithful counsellor to the emperor, and serve him according to the utmost of his ability which petition was granted by the emperor: and all Israelites who had been bound at Rome, were set at liberty.' Which must be allowed to be one of the fictitious events of that voyage to Rome which is throughout the fiction of this writer's fertile invention, who says what he pleaseth.

m

n

After this our author tells the story of Eleazar, and his men at Massada, but somewhat differently from Josephus. He does not say that they determined to kill themselves and one another: his account is, that after the speech of Eleazar, they killed their wives and daughters that they might not fall a prey into the hands of the enemy: and P

1 Dixit vero Josephus: Nonne opprobrium mihi est reserari a me catenas ferreas, et interim vincula filiorum Israël, qui mecum sunt Romæ, non etiam reserari tuo jussu? Si ergo nunc audieris me, quandoquidem inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, solves, quæso, vincula omnium Israëlitarum, qui mecum sunt Romæ ; et ero tibi consiliarius fidelis omnibus diebus, et inimicus ero inimicis tuis, et adversabor adversariis tuis. Fecit itaque Vespasianus secundum sermonem Josephi, et solvit omnia vincula omnium vinctorum filiorum Israël, qui erant cum Josepho Romæ. Lib. 6. cap. 78. p. 346.

Cap. 96. p. 447, 488. et cap. 97. p. 452.

n Vid. de B. J. 1. 7. cap. viii. ix.

• Tunc surgentes viri uxores suas et filias suas accersunt, quas osculati et complexi, ita alloquuntur. Melius est in oculis nostris, ut moriamini in terrâ vestrâ cum sanctitate et honore, quam ut eatis in captivitatem, et cum opprobrio in terram inimicorum vestrorum, et cum idolis gentium,- et contumeliâ moriamini- Cap. 97. p. 452.

P Postea egressus est Eleazarus sacerdos cum omnibus viris bellatoribus qui secum erant ex urbe, et miscuerunt ingentem pugnam cum multitudine exercitûs Romanorum, et occiderunt multos ex eis absque numero. Ac tandem pugnantes Judæi contra proprias ipsorum animas, donec omnes absumerentur

then the men went out of the city and fought with the Romans: of whom they slew very many, till they were themselves all killed. And,' says he, here end the wars of the second house.'

r

After which follows this author's final lamentation, and in a rythmical sort of poesy, as Gagnier observes, very different from that among the Hebrews at the time when their temple was destroyed.

• Woes is now unto us!

For the city of our glory is laid waste,

And the house of our sanctuary is thrown down,

In which our hope was placed,

And all the desires of our hearts.

And our temple is consumed with fire;

And we have been carried out of our country,

And from the heritage of our fathers;

Nor have we stretched out our hands to God,

in prœlio illo mortui pro Jehovâ, et pro sanctuario ejus. Huc usque desinunt bella domus secundæ. Cap. 97. p. 452.

¶ Tunc lamentatus fuit Josephus, sacerdos Dei, lamentationem hanc p. 452. Lamentatio Ben Gorionis ultima, eaque rythmica, quâm, ut Leoninæ cujusdam inter Judæos specimen poëseos non injucundum, hic Hebraïce subjunximus. Et credat lector, Et credat lector, si potest, sine risu, hanc ab ipso Flavio Josepho compositum fuisse tempori templi excidii. Gagnier. Not. p. 452. s Væ nunc nobis!

Quia desolata est civitas gloriæ nostræ,

Et eversa est Domus Sanctuarii nostri,
In quo posita fuit spes nostra,

Et omnia desideria cordium nostrorum.

Et incensum est Templum nostrum;

Et migravimus de terrâ nostrâ,

Et ex hæreditate patrum nostrorum;

Neque ad Deum [extendimus] manus nostras,
Ut liberaremur de exiliis nostris,

Quæ aggravaverunt super nos.

In illum [commissæ] iniquitates nostræ ;

Et redegerunt nos in captivitatem peccata nostra ;

Et humiliaverunt in terram capita nostra prævaricationes nostræ.

Sed adhuc veniet dies, et terminus

Redemtionis; et adjiciet Deus noster,

Ut recordetur juramenti sui ad patres nostros;

Et ædificabit civitatem nostram,

Et restaurabit templum nostrum,

Et colliget dispersos nostros,
Et reducet captivitatem nostram,

Et accelerare faciet Messiam nostrum,
Et festinabit ad redimendum nos,
Et prosternet inimicos nostros,
Et humiliabit osores nostros,
Et perdet et delebit hostes nostros,
Et nos restituet, sicut in principio.

Cap. 97. p. 452, 453.

That we might be delivered from our exiles.
And our sins and iniquities.

Have been aggravated upon us.

Our transgressions have carried us into captivity;

And our apostasies have brought us down to the earth.
But the day will come, and the time of our redemption;
And our God will deliver us.

He will remember the oath made with our fathers;
And will build up our city,

And restore our temple,

And gather our dispersions,

And will bring back our captivity,

And hasten the coming of our Messiah,

And will speedily deliver us,

And will cast down our enemies,

And will bumble those who hate us,

And will destroy, and root out all our adversaries,
And will restore us, as at the beginning.'

Here, beside other things which an attentive reader will observe, he expresseth his expectation of the rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem. So likewise, when he gave an account of Herod's building, or repairing the temple, he describes the rejoicings made upon that occasion: Fort the building,' says he,' of the house of the Lord, which we have seen both built and destroyed; but it shall be raised a third time in honour and glory, and shall be established for ever.' And in like manner in another place. He is therefore a good witness to the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, which had been raised after the return from the Babylonish captivity; in which, as we say, the prophets had foretold the Messiah would make his appearance: see Hag. ii. 6—9, and Mal. iii. 1.

u

After his lamentation this author adds,' But Titus left a remnant of Israel in the land of Israel, in the city Jabne, and its towns, and in the city Bether, and in its towns, and in Osha, and its towns.' Of all which cities, as Gagnier w

W

↑ Et laudaverant Jehovam cum gaudio- propter ædificium Domûs Jehovæ, quam vidimus, et ædificatam, devastatam. Sed adhuc reædificabitur tertio cum laude, et celebritate, et gloriâ; et firmabit eam Jehova in æternum. 1. 6. cap. 55. p. 243.

Cap. 65. p. 288. sub fin. et p. 289.

V

Reliquit autem Titus Israëli reliquias in terrâ Israël, in urbe Jabne, et in oppidis ejus, in urbe Bether, et in oppidis ejus, et in Osha, et oppidis ejus. Cap. 97. p. 454. * Tres illas urbes, viz. Jabneh, Bether, et Oshah, hoc loco commemorat Ben-Gorion noster, non ex Josepho auctore suo, qui nihil hic habet de hac belli Judaïci coronide, sed ex Pandectis Talmudicis, ubi frequentissima illarum mentio occurrit. De quarum urbium situ et cele

in his notes observes, there is no notice taken by Flavius Josephus; though there is in the Talmudical writings; and he refers to Lightfoot's works such as are inquisitive.

6

X

This author proceeds: Moreover, Titus reigned two years after he had taken Jerusalem, and then died. Titus was a wise king, and composed many valuable books both in the Greek and in the Roman language. Titus was a just and upright man, and all his judgments were in righteousness; but being compelled by necessity he destroyed and laid waste Jerusalem: all which evil came upon Jerusalem because of the robbers which were in Israel, and because of their wickedness; as we have shown in this history.'

He here says that Titus reigned two years after he had taken Jerusalem,' which is very inaccurate. Vespasian did not die before the year of our Lord 79: after him Titus reigned more than two years, and died in the year of Christ 81: nor does our author say any thing here of Vespasian, as he ought to have done. But we must not stay to remark upon the defects or inaccuracies of this writer; if we had so done we should never have got through his work; and every reader is able to observe many such things without my mentioning them.

This author gives a good character of Titus; and he could do no less, after having before related so many favours and civilities conferred by him upon the Jews. Titus also, as all know, is much commended in the History of the Jewish War, written by Flavius Josephus, from which this writer had all his materials that are of any value. Buty herein he differs from the Talmudical writers, as Gagnier observes britate maxime post eversa Hierosolyma, consulenda est doctissimi Lightfooti Chorographia Terræ Israëlis. Cap. xv. lii. et lxxxiv. Gagn. Not. p. 454.

est.

Regnavit autem Titus duobus annis postquam cepit Jerusalem, et mortuus Porro Titus rex fuit sapiens, magnus in scientiâ eloquentiæ, tum in linguâ Græcâ, tum in linguâ Romanâ, et composuit libros multos cum sapientiâ Græce et Romane. Fuitque Titus vir justus et rectus, et omnia judicia ejus erant cum justitiâ. Verum necessitate coactus desolavit et delevit Jerusalem. Et quidem desolavit et delevit eam, quia omne malum illud, quod venit super Jerusalem, non venit nisi per latrones, qui erant in Israël, et propter impietatem illorum, uti memoravimus. Cap. 97. p. 456.

y Hic magna est discordia Ben-Gorionem inter et Talmudicos Doctores, quam non diffitentur ipsi Rabbini. Nec deesse tamen asserunt sapientes, qui illam contradictionem concilient, quemadmodum affirmat R. David Ganz. Sed quo judicio id tentaverint, judicium sit penes lectorem.

Quoad nostrum Ben-Gorionem, illum hoc loco sibi constare fatendum est. Cum enim in versione Rufini ubique magnas Titi Imp. virtutes summis laudibus prædicari legerit, ipseque, Flavium Josephum secutus, illum sæpius multis elogiis ornavisset, non ausus fuit suos Doctores Talmudicos cum famæ suæ dispendio sequi, ne videlicet sibi contrarius videretur. Gagn. p. 456.