the wars of the jews-第128节
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！
ntains were at a considerable distance from Jordan； and much too remote from Jerusalem to join in this echo at the conflagration of the temple； but Perea must be rather some mountains beyond the brook Cedron； as was the Mount of Olives； or some others about such a distance from Jerusalem； which observation is so obvious； that it is a wonder our commentators here take no notice of it。
（18） Reland I think here judges well； when he interprets these spikes （of those that stood on the top of the holy house） with sharp points； they were fixed into lead； to prevent the birds from sitting there； and defiling the holy house； for such spikes there were now upon it； as Josephus himself hath already assured us； B。 V。 ch。 5。 sect。 6。
（19） Reland here takes notice； that these Jews； who had despised the true Prophet； were deservedly abused and deluded by these false ones。
（20） Whether Josephus means that this star was different from that comet which lasted a whole year； I cannot certainly determine。 His words most favor their being different one from another。
（21） Since Josephus still uses the Syro…Macedonian month Xanthicus for the Jewish month Nisan； this eighth； or； as Nicephorus reads it； this ninth of Xanthicus or Nisan was almost a week before the passover； on the fourteenth； about which time we learn from St。 John that many used to go 〃out of the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves；〃 John 11：55； with 12：1； in agreement with Josephus also； B。 V。 ch。 3。 sect。 1。 And it might well be； that in the sight of these this extraordinary light might appear。
（22） This here seems to be the court of the priests。
（23） Both Reland and Havercamp in this place alter the natural punctuation and sense of Josephus； and this contrary to the opinion of Valesilus and Dr。 Hudson； lest Josephus should say that the Jews built booths or tents within the temple at the feast of tabernacles； which the later Rabbins will not allow to have been the ancient practice： but then； since it is expressly told us in Nehemiah； ch。 8：16； that in still elder times 〃the Jews made booths in the courts of the house of God〃 at that festival； Josephus may well be permitted to say the same。 And indeed the modern Rabbins are of very small authority in all such matters of remote antiquity。
（24） Take Havercamp's note here： 〃This （says he） is a remarkable place； and Tertullian truly says in his Apologetic； ch。 16。 p。 162； that the entire religion of the Roman camp almost consisted in worshipping the ensigns； in swearing by the ensigns； and in preferring the ensigns before all the ＇other＇ gods。〃 See what Havercamp says upon that place of Tertullian。
（25） This declaring Titus imperator by the soldiers； upon such signal success； and the slaughter of such a vast number of enemies； was according to the usual practice of the Romans in like cases； as Reland assures us on this place。
（26） The Jews of later times agree with Josephus； that there were hiding…places or secret chambers about the holy house； as Reland here informs us； where he thinks he has found these very walls described by them。
（27） Spanheim notes here； that the Romans used to permit the Jews to collect their sacred tribute； and send it to Jerusalem； of which we have had abundant evidence in Josephus already on other occasions。
（28） This innumerable multitude of Jews that were 〃sold〃 by the Romans was an eminent completion of God's ancient threatening by Moses； that if they apostatized from the obedience to his laws； they should be 〃sold unto their enemies for bond…men and bond…women；〃 Deuteronomy 28；68。 See more especially the note on ch。 9。 sect。 2。 But one thing is here peculiarly remarkable； that Moses adds； Though they should be 〃sold〃 for slaves； yet 〃no man should buy them；〃 i。e。 either they should have none to redeem them from this sale into slavery； or rather； that the slaves to be sold should be more than were the purchasers for them； and so they should be sold for little or nothing； which is what Josephus here affirms to have been the case at this time。
（29） What became of these spoils of the temple that escaped the fire； see Josephus himself hereafter； B。 VII。 ch。 5。 sect。 5； and Reland de Spoliis Templi； p。 129…138。
（30） These various sorts of spices； even more than those four which Moses prescribed； Exodus 31：34； we see were used in their public worship under Herod's temple； particularly cinnamon and cassia； which Reland takes particular notice of； as agreeing with the latter testimony of the Talmudists。
（31） See the several predictions that the Jews； if they became obstinate in their idolatry and wickedness； should be sent again or sold into Egypt for their punishment； Deuteronomy 28：68； Jeremiah 44：7； Hosea 8：13； 9：3； 9：4； 5； 2 Samuel 15：10…13； with Authentic Records； Part I。 p。 49； 121； and Reland Painest And； tom。 II。 p。 715。
（32） The whole multitude of the Jews that were destroyed during the entire seven years before this time； in all the countries of and bordering on Judea； is summed up by Archbishop Usher； from Lipsius； out of Josephus； at the year of Christ 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 magnif
