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the wars of the jews-第165章

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 70; and amounts to 1;337;490。 Nor could there have been that number of Jews in Jerusalem to be destroyed in this siege; as will be presently set down by Josephus; but that both Jews and proselytes of justice were just then come up out of the other countries of Galilee; Samaria; Judea; and Perea and other remoter regions; to the passover; in vast numbers; and therein cooped up; as in a prison; by the Roman army; as Josephus himself well observes in this and the next section; and as is exactly related elsewhere; B。 V。 ch。 3。 sect。 1 and ch。 13。 sect。 7。

(33)This number of a company for one paschal lamb; between ten and twenty; agrees exactly with the number thirteen; at our Savior's last passover。 As to the whole number of the Jews that used to come up to the passover; and eat of it at Jerusalem; see the note on B。 II。 ch。 14。 sect。 3。 This number ought to be here indeed just ten times the number of the lambs; or just 2;565;(D0; by Josephus's own reasoning; whereas it is; in his present copies; no less than 2;700;(D0; which last number is; however; nearest the other number in the place now cited; which is 3;000;000。 But what is here chiefly remarkable is this; that no foreign nation ever came thus to destroy the Jews at any of their solemn festivals; from the days of Moses till this time; but came now upon their apostasy from God; and from obedience to him。 Nor is it possible; in the nature of things; that in any other nation such vast numbers should be gotten together; and perish in the siege of any one city whatsoever; as now happened in Jerusalem。

(34) This is the proper place for such as have closely attended to these latter books of the War to peruse; and that with equal attention; those distinct and plain predictions of Jesus of Nazareth; in the Gospels thereto relating; as compared with their exact completions in Josephus's history; upon which completions; as Dr: Whitby well observes; Annot。 on Matthew 24:2; no small part of the evidence for the truth of the Christian religion does depend; and as I have step by step compared them together in my Literal Accomplishment of Scripture Prophecies。 The reader is to observe further; that the true reason why I have so seldom taken notice of those completions in the course of these notes; notwithstanding their being so very remarkable; and frequently so very obvious; is this; that I had entirely prevented myself in that treatise beforehand; to which therefore I must here; once for all; seriously refer every inquisitive reader。 Besides these five here enumerated; who had taken Jerusalem of old; Josephus; upon further recollection; reckons a sixth; Antiq。 B。 XII。 ch。 1。 sect。 1; who should have been here inserted in the second place; I mean Ptolemy; the son of Lagus。

BOOK VII。       Containing The Interval Of About Three Years。       From The Taking Of Jerusalem By Titus To The Sedition At Cyrene       CHAPTER 1。       How The Entire City Of Jerusalem Was Demolished; Excepting Three Towers; And How Titus Commended His Soldiers In A Speech Made To Them; And Distributed Rewards To Them And Then Dismissed Many Of Them。    1。 Now as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder; because there remained none to be the objects of their fury; (for they would not have spared any; had there remained any other work to be done;) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple; but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; that is; Phasaelus; and Hippicus; and Mariamne; and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side。 This wall was spared; in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared; in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was; and how well fortified; which the Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall; it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation; that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited。 This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence; and of mighty fame among all mankind。 (1)    2。 But Caesar resolved to leave there; as a guard; the tenth legion; with certain troops of horsemen; and companies of footmen。 So; having entirely completed this war; he was desirous to commend his whole army; on account of the great exploits they had performed; and to bestow proper rewards on such as had signalized themselves therein。 He had therefore a great tribunal made for him in the midst of the place where he had formerly encamped; and stood upon it with his principal commanders about him; and spake so as to be heard by the whole arrmy in the manner following: That he returned them abundance of thanks for their good…will which they had showed to him: he commended them for that ready obedience they had exhibited in this whole war; which obedience had appeared in the many and great dangers which they had courageously undergone; as also for that courage they had shown; and had thereby augmented of themselves their country's power; and had made it evident to all men; that neither the multitude of their enemies; nor the strength of their places; nor the largeness of their cities; nor the rash boldness and brutish rage of their antagonists; were sufficient at any time to get clear of the Roman valor; although some of them may have fortune in many respects on their side。 He said further; that it was but reasonable for them to put an end to this war; now it had lasted so long; for that they had nothing better to wish for when they entered into it; and that this happened more favorably for them; and more for their glory; that all the Romans had willingly accepted of those for their governors; and the curators of their dominions; whom they had chosen for them; and had sent into their own country for that purpose; which still continued under the management of those whom they had pitched on; and were thankful to them for pitching upon them。 That accordingly; although he did both admire and tenderly regard them all; because he knew that every one of them had gone as cheerfully about their work as  their abilities and opportunities would give them leave; yet; he said; that he would immediately bestow rewards and dignities on those that had fought the most bravely; and with greater force; and had signalized their conduct in the most glorious manner; and had made his army more famous by their noble exploits; and that no one who had been willing to take more pains than another should miss of a just retribution for the same; for that he had been exceeding careful about this matter; and that the more;  because he had much rather reward the virtues of his fellow soldiers than punish such as had offended。    3。 Hereupon Titus ordered those whose business it was to read the list of all that had performed great exploits in this war; whom he called to him by their names; and commended them before the company; and rejoiced in them in the same manner as a man would have rejoiced in his own exploits。 He also put on their heads crowns of gold; and golden ornaments about their necks; a
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