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！
had caught of their party； so Ananias was plainly forced to
persuade Albinus； and gained his request of him。 This was the
beginning of greater calamities； for the robbers perpetually
contrived to catch some of Ananias's servants； and when they had
taken them alive； they would not let them go； till they thereby
recovered some of their own Sicarii。 And as they were again
become no small number； they grew bold； and were a great
affliction to the whole country。
4。 About this time it was that king Agrippa built Cesarea
Philippi larger than it was before； and； in honor of Nero； named
it Neronlas。 And when he had built a theater at Berytus； with
vast expenses； he bestowed on them shows； to be exhibited every
year； and spent therein many ten thousand ＇drachmae＇； he also
gave the people a largess of corn； and distributed oil among
them； and adorned the entire city with statues of his own
donation； and with original images made by ancient hands； nay； he
almost transferred all that was most ornamental in his own
kingdom thither。 This made him more than ordinarily hated by his
subjects； because he took those things away that belonged to them
to adorn a foreign city。 And now Jesus； the son of Gamaliel；
became the successor of Jesus； the son of Damneus； in the high
priesthood； which the king had taken from the other； on which
account a sedition arose between the high priests； with regard to
one another； for they got together bodies of the boldest sort of
the people； and frequently came； from reproaches； to throwing of
stones at each other。 But Ananias was too hard for the rest； by
his riches； which enabled him to gain those that were most ready
to receive。 Costobarus also； and Saulus； did themselves get
together a multitude of wicked wretches； and this because they
were of the royal family； and so they obtained favor among them；
because of their kindred to Agrippa； but still they used violence
with the people； and were very ready to plunder those that were
weaker than themselves。 And from that time it principally came to
pass that our city was greatly disordered； and that all things
grew worse and worse among us。
5。 But when Albinus heard that Gessius Florus was coming to
succeed him； he was desirous to appear to do somewhat that might
be grateful to the people of Jerusalem； so he brought out all
those prisoners who seemed to him to be most plainly worthy of
death； and ordered them to be put to death accordingly。 But as to
those who had been put into prison on some trifling occasions； he
took money of them； and dismissed them； by which means the
prisons were indeed emptied； but the country was filled with
robbers。
6。 Now as many of the Levites； （26） which is a tribe of ours； as
were singers of hymns； persuaded the king to assemble a
sanhedrim； and to give them leave to wear linen garments； as well
as the priests for they said that this would be a work worthy the
times of his government； that he might have a memorial of such a
novelty； as being his doing。 Nor did they fail of obtaining their
desire； for the king； with the suffrages of those that came into
the sanhedrim； granted the singers of hymns this privilege； that
they might lay aside their former garments； and wear such a linen
one as they desired； and as a part of this tribe ministered in
the temple； he also permitted them to learn those hymns as they
had besought him for。 Now all this was contrary to the laws of
our country； which； whenever they have been transgressed； we have
never been able to avoid the punishment of such transgressions。
7。 And now it was that the temple was finished。 So when the
people saw that the workmen were unemployed； who were above
eighteen thousand and that they； receiving no wages； were in want
because they had earned their bread by their labors about the
temple； and while they were unwilling to keep by them the
treasures that were there deposited； out of fear of ＇their being
carried away by＇ the Romans； and while they had a regard to the
making provision for the workmen； they had a mind to expend these
treasures upon them； for if any one of them did but labor for a
single hour； he received his pay immediately； so they persuaded
him to rebuild the eastern cloisters。 These cloisters belonged to
the outer court； and were situated in a deep valley； and had
walls that reached four hundred cubits ＇in length＇； and were
built of square and very white stones； the length of each of
which stones was twenty cubits； and their height six cubits。 This
was the work of king Solomon； （27） who first of all built the
entire temple。 But king Agrippa； who had the care of the temple
committed to him by Claudius Caesar； considering that it is easy
to demolish any building； but hard to build it up again； and that
it was particularly hard to do it to these cloisters； which would
require a considerable time； and great sums of money； he denied
the petitioners their request about that matter； but he did not
obstruct them when they desired the city might be paved with
white stone。 He also deprived Jesus； the son of Gamaliel； of the
high priesthood； and gave it to Matthias； the son of Theophilus；
under whom the Jews' war with the Romans took its beginning。
CHAPTER 10。
An Enumeration Of The High Priests。
1。 And now I think it proper and agreeable to this history to
give an account of our high priests； how they began； who those
are which are capable of that dignity； and how many of them there
had been at the end of the war。 In the first place； therefore；
history informs us that Aaron； the brother of Moses； officiated
to God as a high priest； and that； after his death； his sons
succeeded him immediately； and that this dignity hath been
continued down from them all to their posterity。 Whence it is a
custom of our country； that no one should take the high
priesthood of God but he who is of the blood of Aaron； while
every one that is of another stock； though he were a king； can
never obtain that high priesthood。 Accordingly； the number of all
the high priests from Aaron； of whom we have spoken already； as
of the first of them； until Phanas； who was made high priest
during the war by the seditious； was eighty…three； of whom
thirteen officiated as high priests in the wilderness； from the
days of Moses； while the tabernacle was standing； until the
people came into Judea； when king Solomon erected the temple to
God； for at the first they held the high priesthood till the end
of their life； although afterward they had successors while they
were alive。 Now these thirteen； who were the descendants of two
of the sons of Aaron； received this dignity by succession； one
after another； for their form of government was an aristocracy；
and after that a monarchy； and in the third place the government
was regal Now the number of years during the rule of these
thirteen； from the day when our fathers departed out of Egypt；
under Moses their leader； until the building of that temple which
king Solomon erected at Jerusalem； were six hundred and twelve。
After those thirteen high priests； eighteen took the high
priesthood at Jerusalem； one m succession to another； from the
days of king Sol