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in his History of the Wars； as the learned generally agree。
（22） In this and the following chapters the reader will easily
remark； how truly Gronovius observes； in his notes on the Roman
decrees in favor of the Jews； that their rights and privileges
were commonly purchased of the Romans with money。 Many examples
of this sort； both as to the Romans and others in authority； will
occur in our Josephus； both now and hereafter； and need not be
taken particular notice of on the several occasions in these
notes。 Accordingly； the chief captain confesses to St。 Paul that
〃with a great sum he had obtained his freedom；〃 Acts 22：28； as
had St。 Paul's ancestors； very probably； purchased the like
freedom for their family by money； as the same author justly
concludes also。
（23） This clause plainly alludes to that well…known but unusual
and very long darkness of the sun which happened upon the ：murder
of Julius Cesar by Brutus and Cassius； which is greatly taken
notice of by Virgil； Pliny； and other Roman authors。 See Virgil's
Georgics； B。 I。； just before the end； and Pliny's Nat。 Hist。 B。
IL ch。 33。
（24） We may here take notice that espousals alone were of old
esteemed a sufficient foundation for affinity； Hyrcanus being
here called father…in…law to Herod because his granddaughter
Mariarune was betrothed to him； although the marriage was not
completed till four years afterwards。 See Matthew 1：16。
（25） This law of Moses； that the priests were to be 〃without
blemish；〃 as to all the parts of their bodies； is in Leviticus
21：17…24
（26） Concerning the chronology of Herod； and the time when he was
first made king at Rome； and concerning the time when he began
his second reign； without a rival； upon the conquest and
slaughter of Antigonus； both principally derived from this and
the two next chapters in Josephus； see the note on sect。 6； and
ch。 15。 sect。 10。
（27） This grievous want of water at Masada； till the place had
like to have been taken by the Parthians； （mentioned both here；
and Of the War； B。 I。 ch。 15。 sect。 1；） is an indication that it
was now summer time。
（28） This affirmation of Antigonus； spoken in the days of Herod；
and in a manner to his face； that he was an Idumean； i。e。 a half
Jew； seems to me of much greater authority than that pretense of
his favorite and flatterer Nicolaus of Damascus； that he derived
his pedigree from Jews as far backward as the Babylonish
captivity； ch。 1。 sect。 3。 Accordingly Josephus always esteems
him an Idumean； though he says his father Antipater was of the
same people with the Jews； ch。 viii。 sect。 1。 and by birth a Jew；
Antiq。 B。 XX。 ch。 8。 sect。 7； as indeed all such proselytes of
justice； as the Idumeans； were in time esteemed the very same
people with the Jews。
（29） It may be worth our observation here； that these soldiers of
Herod could not have gotten upon the tops of these houses which
were full of enemies； in order to pull up the upper floors； and
destroy them beneath； but by ladders from the out side； which
illustrates some texts in the New Testament； by which it appears
that men used to ascend thither by ladders on the outsides。 See
Matthew 24：17； Mark 13：15； Luke 5：19； 17：31。
（30） Note here； that Josephus fully and frequently assures us
that there passed above three years between Herod's first
obtaining the kingdom at Rome； and his second obtaining it upon
the taking of Jerusalem and death of Antigonus。 The present
history of this interval twice mentions the army going into
winter quarters； which perhaps belonged to two several winters；
ch。 15。 sect。 3； 4； and though Josephus says nothing how long
they lay in those quarters； yet does he give such an account of
the long and studied delays of Ventidius； Silo； and Macheras； who
were to see Herod settled in his new kingdom； but seem not to
have had sufficient forces for that purpose； and were for certain
all corrupted by Antigonus to make the longest delays possible；
and gives us such particular accounts of the many great actions
of Herod during the same interval； as fairly imply that interval；
before Herod went to Samosata； to have been very considerable。
However； what is wanting in Josephus； is fully supplied by Moses
Chorenensis； the Arme nian historian； in his history of that
interval； B。 II ch。 18。； where he directly assures us that
Tigranes； then king of Armenia； and the principal manager of this
Parthian war； reigned two years after Herod was made king at
Rome； and yet Antony did not hear of his death； in that very
neighborhood； at Samosata； till he was come thither to besiege
it； after which Herod brought him an army； which was three
hundred and forty miles' march； and through a difficult country；
full of enemies also； and joined with him in the siege of
Samosata till that city was taken； then Herod and Sosins marched
back with their large armies the same number of three hundred and
forty miles； and when； in a little time； they sat down to besiege
Jerusalem； they were not able to take it but by a siege of five
months。 All which put together； fully supplies what is wanting in
Josephus； and secures the entire chronology of these times beyond
contradiction。
BOOK 15 FOOTNOTES
（1） The city here called 〃Babylon〃 by Josephus； seems to be one
which was built by some of the Seleucidae upon the Tigris； which
long after the utter desolation of old Babylon was commonly so
called； and I suppose not far from Seleueia； just as the latter
adjoining city Bagdat has been and is often called by the same
old name of Babylon till this very day。
（2） Here we have an eminent example of Herod's worldly and
profane politics； when by the abuse of his unlawful and usurped
power； to make whom he pleased high priest； in the person of
Ananelus； he occasioned such disturbances in his kingdom； and in
his own family； as suffered him to enjoy no lasting peace or
tranquillity ever afterward； and such is frequently the effect of
profane court politics about matters of religion in other ages
and nations。 The Old Testament is full of the miseries of the
people of the Jews derived from such court politics； especially
in and after the days of Jeroboam the son of Nebat； 〃who made
Israel to sin；〃 who gave the most pernicious example of it； who
brought on the grossest corruption of religion by it； and the
punishment of whose family for it was most remarkable。 The case
is too well known to stand in need of particular citations。
（3） Of this wicked Dellius； see the note on the War； B。 I。 ch。
15。 sect。 3。
（4） When Josephus says here that this Ananelus； the new high
priest； was 〃of the stock of the high priests；〃 and since he had
been just telling us that he was a priest of an obscure family or
character； ch。 2。 sect。 4； it is not at all probable that he
could so soon say that he was 〃of the stock of the high priests。〃
However； Josephus here makes a remarkable observation； that this
Ananelus was the third that was ever unjustly and wickedly turned
out of the high priesthood by the civil power； no king or
governor having ventured to do so； that Josephus knew of； but
that heathen tyrant and persecutor Antiochus Epiphanes； that
barbarous parricide