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！
elevated level。 This hill it was which Solomon； who was the first
of our kings； by Divine revelation； encompassed with a wall； it
was of excellent workmanship upwards； and round the top of it。 He
also built a wall below； beginning at the bottom； which was
encompassed by a deep valley； and at the south side he laid rocks
together； and bound them one to another with lead； and included
some of the inner parts； till it proceeded to a great height； and
till both the largeness of the square edifice and its altitude
were immense； and till the vastness of the stones in the front
were plainly visible on the outside； yet so that the inward parts
were fastened together with iron； and preserved the joints
immovable for all future times。 When this work ＇for the
foundation＇ was done in this manner； and joined together as part
of the hill itself to the very top of it； he wrought it all into
one outward surface； and filled up the hollow places which were
about the wall； and made it a level on the external upper
surface； and a smooth level also。 This hill was walled all round；
and in compass four furlongs； ＇the distance of＇ each angle
containing in length a furlong： but within this wall； and on the
very top of all； there ran another wall of stone also； having； on
the east quarter； a double cloister； of the same length with the
wall； in the midst of which was the temple itself。 This cloister
looked to the gates of the temple； and it had been adorned by
many kings in former times； and round about the entire temple
were fixed the spoils taken from barbarous nations； all these had
been dedicated to the temple by Herod； with the addition of those
he had taken from the Arabians。
4。 Now on the north side ＇of the temple＇ was built a citadel；
whose walls were square； and strong； and of extraordinary
firmness。 This citadel was built by the kings of the Asamonean
race； who were also high priests before Herod； and they called it
the Tower； in which were reposited the vestments of the high
priest； which the high priest only put on at the time when he was
to offer sacrifice。 These vestments king Herod kept in that
place； and after his death they were under the power of the
Romans； until the time of Tiberius Caesar； under whose reign
Vitellius； the president of Syria； when he once came to
Jerusalem； and had been most magnificently received by the
multitude； he had a mind to make them some requital for the
kindness they had shewn him； so； upon their petition to have
those holy vestments in their own power； he wrote about them to
Tiberius Caesar； who granted his request： and this their power
over the sacerdotal vestments continued with the Jews till the
death of king Agrippa； but after that； Cassius Longinus； who was
president of Syria； and Cuspius Fadus； who was procurator of
Judea； enjoined the Jews to reposit those vestments in the tower
of Antonia； for that they ought to have them in their power； as
they formerly had。 However； the Jews sent ambassadors to Claudius
Caesar； to intercede with him for them； upon whose coming； king
Agrippa； junior； being then at Rome； asked for and obtained the
power over them from the emperor； who gave command to Vitellius；
who was then commander in Syria； to give it them accordingly。
Before that time they were kept under the seal of the high
priest； and of the treasurers of the temple； which treasurers；
the day before a festival； went up to the Roman captain of the
temple guards； and viewed their own seal； and received the
vestments； and again； when the festival was over； they brought it
to the same place； and showed the captain of the temple guards
their seal； which corresponded with his seal； and reposited them
there。 And that these things were so； the afflictions that
happened to us afterwards ＇about them＇ are sufficient evidence。
But for the tower itself； when Herod the king of the Jews had
fortified it more firmly than before； in order to secure and
guard the temple； he gratified Antonius； who was his friend； and
the Roman ruler； and then gave it the name of the Tower of
Antonia。
5。 Now in the western quarters of the enclosure of the temple
there were four gates； the first led to the king's palace； and
went to a passage over the intermediate valley； two more led to
the suburbs of the city； and the last led to the other city；
where the road descended down into the valley by a great number
of steps； and thence up again by the ascent for the city lay over
against the temple in the manner of a theater； and was
encompassed with a deep valley along the entire south quarter；
but the fourth front of the temple； which was southward； had
indeed itself gates in its middle； as also it had the royal
cloisters； with three walks； which reached in length from the
east valley unto that on the west； for it was impossible it
should reach any farther： and this cloister deserves to be
mentioned better than any other under the sun； for while the
valley was very deep； and its bottom could not be seen； if you
looked from above into the depth； this further vastly high
elevation of the cloister stood upon that height； insomuch that
if any one looked down from the top of the battlements； or down
both those altitudes； he would be giddy； while his sight could
not reach to such an immense depth。 This cloister had pillars
that stood in four rows one over against the other all along； for
the fourth row was interwoven into the wall； which ＇also was
built of stone＇； and the thickness of each pillar was such； that
three men might； with their arms extended； fathom it round； and
join their hands again； while its length was twenty…seven feet；
with a double spiral at its basis； and the number of all the
pillars ＇in that court＇ was a hundred and sixty…two。 Their
chapiters were made with sculptures after the Corinthian order；
and caused an amazement ＇to the spectators＇； by reason of the
grandeur of the whole。 These four rows of pillars included three
intervals for walking in the middle of this cloister； two of
which walks were made parallel to each other； and were contrived
after the same manner； the breadth of each of them was thirty
feet； the length was a furlong； and the height fifty feet； but
the breadth of the middle part of the cloister was one and a half
of the other； and the height was double； for it was much higher
than those on each side； but the roofs were adorned with deep
sculptures in wood； representing many sorts of figures。 The
middle was much higher than the rest； and the wall of the front
was adorned with beams； resting upon pillars； that were
interwoven into it； and that front was all of polished stone；
insomuch that its fineness； to such as had not seen it； was
incredible； and to such as had seen it； was greatly amazing。 Thus
was the first enclosure。 In the midst of which； and not far from
it； was the second； to be gone up to by a few steps： this was
encompassed by a stone wall for a partition； with an inscription；
which forbade any foreigner to go in under pain of death。 Now
this inner enclosure had on its southern and northern quarters
three gates ＇equally＇ distant one from another； but on the east
quarter； towards the sun…ris