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up thither to meet with him； which happened as the king was
sitting in his chariot； with his wife； and with his friend
Athenion； who was the very person who had been ambassador at
Jerusalem； and had been entertained by Joseph。 As soon therefore
as Athenion saw him； he presently made him known to the king； how
good and generous a young man he was。 So Ptolemy saluted him
first； and desired him to come up into his chariot； and as Joseph
sat there； he began to complain of the management of Onias： to
which he answered； 〃Forgive him； on account of his age； for thou
canst not certainly be unacquainted with this； that old men and
infants have their minds exactly alike； but thou shalt have from
us； who are young men； every thing thou desirest； and shalt have
no cause to complain。〃 With this good humor and pleasantry of the
young man； the king was so delighted； that he began already； as
though he had had long experience of him； to have a still greater
affection for him； insomuch that he bade him take his diet in the
king's palace； and be a guest at his own table every day。 But
when the king was come to Alexandria； the principal men of Syria
saw him sitting with the king； and were much offended at it。
4。 And when the day came on which the king was to let the taxes
of the cities to farm； and those that were the principal men of
dignity in their several countries were to bid for them； the sum
of the taxes together； of Celesyria； and Phoenicia； and Judea；
with Samaria； ＇as they were bidden for；＇ came to eight thousand
talents。 Hereupon Joseph accused the bidders； as having agreed
together to estimate the value of the taxes at too low a rate；
and he promised that he would himself give twice as much for
them： but for those who did not pay； he would send the king home
their whole substance； for this privilege was sold together with
the taxes themselves。 The king was pleased to hear that offer；
and because it augmented his revenues； he said he would confirm
the sale of the taxes to him。 But when he asked him this
question； Whether he had any sureties that would be bound for the
payment of the money？ he answered very pleasantly； 〃I will give
such security； and those of persons good and responsible； and
which you shall have no reason to distrust。〃 And when he bid him
name them who they were； he replied； 〃I give thee no other
persons； O king； for my sureties； than thyself； and this thy
wife； and you shall be security for both parties。〃 So Ptolemy
laughed at the proposal； and granted him the farming of the taxes
without any sureties。 This procedure was a sore grief to those
that came from the cities into Egypt； who were utterly
disappointed； and they returned every one to their own country
with shame。
5。 But Joseph took with him two thousand foot soldiers from the
king； for he desired he might have some assistance； in order to
force such as were refractory in the cities to pay。 And borrowing
of the king's friends at Alexandria five hundred talents； he made
haste back into Syria。 And when he was at Askelon； and demanded
the taxes of the people of Askelon； they refused to pay any
thing； and affronted him also； upon which he seized upon about
twenty of the principal men； and slew them； and gathered what
they had together； and sent it all to the king； and informed him
what he had done。 Ptolemy admired the prudent conduct of the man；
and commended him for what he had done； and gave him leave to do
as he pleased。 When the Syrians heard of this； they were
astonished； and having before them a sad example in the men of
Askelon that were slain； they opened their gates； and willingly
admitted Joseph； and paid their taxes。 And when the inhabitants
of Scythopolis attempted to affront him； and would not pay him
those taxes which they formerly used to pay； without disputing
about them； he slew also the principal men of that city； and sent
their effects to the king。 By this means he gathered great wealth
together； and made vast gains by this farming of the taxes； and
he made use of what estate he had thus gotten； in order to
support his authority； as thinking it a piece of prudence to keep
what had been the occasion and foundation of his present good
fortune； and this he did by the assistance of what he was already
possessed of； for he privately sent many presents to the king；
and to Cleopatra； and to their friends； and to all that were
powerful about the court； and thereby purchased their good…will
to himself。
6。 This good fortune he enjoyed for twenty…two years； and was
become the father of seven sons by one wife； he had also another
son； whose name was Hyrcanus； by his brother Solymius's daughter；
whom he married on the following occasion。 He once came to
Alexandria with his brother； who had along with him a daughter
already marriageable； in order to give her in wedlock to some of
the Jews of chief dignity there。 He then supped with the king；
and falling in love with an actress that was of great beauty； and
came into the room where they feasted； he told his brother of it；
and entreated him； because a Jew is forbidden by their law to
come near to a foreigner； to conceal his offense； and to be kind
and subservient to him； and to give him an opportunity of
fulfilling his desires。 Upon which his brother willingly
entertained the proposal of serving him； and adorned his own
daughter； and brought her to him by night； and put her into his
bed。 And Joseph； being disordered with drink； knew not who she
was； and so lay with his brother's daughter； and this did he many
times； and loved her exceedingly； and said to his brother； that
he loved this actress so well； that he should run the hazard of
his life ＇if he must part with her＇； and yet probably the king
would not give him leave ＇to take her with him＇。 But his brother
bid him be in no concern about that matter； and told him he might
enjoy her whom he loved without any danger； and might have her
for his wife； and opened the truth of the matter to him； and
assured him that he chose rather to have his own daughter abused；
than to overlook him； and se him come to ＇public＇ disgrace。 So
Joseph commended him for this his brotherly love； and married his
daughter； and by her begat a son； whose name was Hyrcanus； as we
said before。 And when this his youngest son showed； at thirteen
years old； a mind that was both courageous and wise； and was
greatly envied by his brethren； as being of a genius much above
them； and such a one as they might well envy； Joseph had once a
mind to know which of his sons had the best disposition to
virtue； and when he sent them severally to those that had then
the best reputation for instructing youth； the rest of his
children； by reason of their sloth and unwillingness to take
pains； returned to him foolish and unlearned。 After them he sent
out the youngest； Hyrcanus； and gave him three hundred yoke of
oxen； and bid him go two days' journey into the wilderness； and
sow the land there； and yet kept back privately the yokes of the
oxen that coupled them together。 When Hyrcanus came to the place；
and found he had no yokes with him； he contenmed the drivers of
the oxen； who advised him to sen