GOVERNMENT OF ALBINUS.

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Justus himself was led away by this deadly error, and at once cast him down. He was not killed by the fall, and contrived to rise on his knees to pray for the people. Whilst they were throwing stones at him, one of the priests cried, "Cease; what do you mean? this just man is praying for you;" but a bystander, seeing he was so much bruised that he could not live, ended his sufferings by a blow with a club. I have related these circumstances particularly, because even Albinus and Agrippa were displeased at the treatment of James; and, on account of it, deprived Ananias of the priesthood, and gave it to one Jesus, son of Damnai. Josephus also remarks, that the calamities of the Jews happened as a judgment upon them after the murder of James the Just, and mentions, in a more indirect way, the crucifixion of Christ.

the

Albinus was more rapacious and unjust than any former governor; and, whilst he let the robbers escape, upon payment of enormous ransoms, he enriched himself, also, by loading the people with burdensome taxes. Agrippa, seeing that danger was at hand, withdrew to Berytus, and made that city the most splendid in his kingdom. This, together with a farther change of the high priests, increased his unpopularity at Jerusalem. Jesus, the son of Gamaliel, whom he appointed, found Jesus, the son of Damnai, unwilling to give place; and these rival high-priests, at the head of their different parties, attacked each other in the streets.

Albinus was displaced by Gessius Florus; and, before his recall, increased his unjust gains by opening the crowded prisons, and only executing some of the most noted malefactors, he allowed all the rest to escape by paying their ransoms: thus the province was filled with desperate criminals. At this critical period, 18,000 workmen were thrown out of employment, by the completion of the buildings of the Temple. The more prudent of the people entreated Agrippa to give them occupation in adding still farther to its magnificence, but he refused, and set them about paving the city with stone. He then ended the quarrels of the two high-priests by establishing Matthias in their place; and this was the last Jewish highpriest legally appointed. The conduct of Florus too much resembled that of his master, Nero; and it was so crafty, shameless, and cruel, that the people looked back to the

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GOVERNMENT OF FLORUS.

government of Albinus with regret.

Cestius Gallus, a man of

like spirit, was, at the same time, prefect of Syria: and it was in vain that the vast concourse of people assembled at the Passover sought his interference during his visit to Jerusalem, as Florus stood by his side ridiculing their complaints.

In a tumult that occurred shortly afterwards at Cæsarea, Florus made no effort to restore peace: and it appears from his whole conduct, he wished the Jews to revolt, thinking his oppression would be overlooked in case of war, and that it would give him better opportunities for plunder. He not only suffered the Jews at Cæsarea to be ill-treated, but, whilst the greatest excitement prevailed at Jerusalem on this account, he sent to demand seventeen talents from the sacred treasury, to supply, as he pretended, the necessities of the emperor.

The enraged people added every epithet of hatred and contempt to the name of the governor: and some, bolder than the rest, in derision of his avarice, went about with a basket, asking alms for the poor beggar, Florus! Being, however, afraid of his power, they pretended to give him a hearty welcome when he arrived at Jerusalem with his troops; but it was too late, his heart was full of vengeance, and he had no thought of mercy. His soldiers were sent to plunder the market, with orders to kill all whom they met, and those who escaped the sword were trampled to death by the horsemen in the narrow streets. As the Sanhedrin still refused to give up those who had insulted the governor, the most unoffending citizens were brought before his tribunal, scourged and crucified. That day 3,600 were destroyed; and even those who could plead the rights of Roman citizens did not escape. King Agrippa was not then at Jerusalem; but his sister Berenice, who had come there to fulfil some vow, sent repeatedly to entreat Florus to prevent farther slaughter, and at length appeared before him with her head shorn and barefooted. But he would not listen ; her countrymen were scourged and cut down in her presence, and she was obliged to retreat to her guarded palace, where she passed a sleepless night trembling for her own safety.

The next morning two fresh cohorts arrived from Cæsarea, and, though the priests and heads of the people showed every mark of submission, many more were trampled to death by the horsemen. The soldiers in their turn were beaten down by

COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLT.

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stones thrown from the roofs of the houses; and Florus thought it best to retire, leaving only one cohort behind him. King Agrippa, and a centurion sent from the prefect of Syria, soon came to see the state of Jerusalem: they found everything quiet; and the centurion, after worshipping, as was usual, in the court of the Gentiles, took back a good report to Cestius. Agrippa, with Berenice at his side, then addressed the people, comforting them with the hope of a better governor as soon as the conduct of Florus could be reported at Rome, and beseeching them not to bring upon themselves the horrors of war by a mad revolt against the masters of the world. He told them, Greeks, Germans, Gauls, Africans, and Asiatics, alike submitted to the Roman legions placed among them, and ended with tears, whilst his sister confirmed all he said by weeping aloud. At first the Jews seemed willing to listen, saying, they were at war not with the Romans, but with Florus ; but when the king besought them to obey him till another governor should arrive, the popular feeling turned against himself, and they even threw stones at him and desired him to leave the city. Agrippa then retreated to his own kingdom, angrily resolving that he would make no farther effort to save them from ruin. After the king's departure, things became daily worse; and, as some wished to preserve peace with Rome, whilst others were bent on war, the city was soon divided into these two parties, the latter being the strongest.

Eleazar, son of Ananias, the chief priest, headed the war party, and persuaded the lower order of priests to refuse the imperial offerings which had been regularly made in the Temple ever since the time of Julius Cæsar, and to forbid any foreigner to sacrifice in the outer court. The chief priests and heads of the Pharisees opposed this open declaration of war with the Romans, and represented to the people the honour and wealth which they were on the point of losing. But the violent party cared for nothing; and the priests refused any longer to make any offerings for strangers. The peace party implored Agrippa's help, and he sent them three thousand horsemen, hoping to preserve the city and Temple by overawing those who were determined on war; but Florus refused to interfere, and watched with delight the progress of the mischief.

Manahem, the son of Judas the Galilean, now came forward

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GENERAL STATE OF THE JEWS.

as the leader of the zealots and assassins, who were disposed to carry out his father's principles to their fullest extent; and under his command the war party gained the advantage. But this young man soon offended the populace by going up to the Temple in royal attire surrounded by guards; and he was sacrificed to their rage. After his death, there was no acknowledged head of the whole rebel party; and the want of such an one was felt by them throughout the war. Nevertheless, they got the complete mastery in Jerusalem: Agrippa's troops were obliged to withdraw; and the Romans, who garrisoned the Antonia, being persuaded to come out of that strong fortress by a promise of safety, were all massacred on the Sabbath day. On that same day the Greeks of Cæsarea, probably excited by Florus, destroyed all the Jews in that city; many thousands in number. This act served to madden the whole nation, and led to the most bloody scenes in all the towns inhabited by Syrians and Jews. The latter began to feel as if every man was armed against them, for "the Lord sent upon them cursing, vexation, and rebuke; because of the wickedness of their doings, and because they had forsaken him" (Deut. xxviii. 20, &c.). The "madness of heart" with which the whole nation was smitten will be apparent in all that follows; for the vexation that was first felt in Judea, spread with all its evil consequences to other parts of the earth where the Jewish race was found. At Alexandria, the Jewish population assailed the Greeks with stones in revenge for the wrongs of their countrymen at Cæsarea and elsewhere; and the governor could not bring them to submission till 50,000 of them were slain.

Cestius, the prefect of Syria, thought it would be easy to put an end to the revolt at Jerusalem by marching thither with his Roman and Syrian troops. Agrippa, hearing of their advance, made a last effort to save his countrymen by sending his earnest entreaties that they would submit; but the war-party killed or drove away his messengers, and prepared to resist the entrance of Cestius. Still there was a large party in the city desiring peace; and had the prefect known the real state of the case, he would not have been so easily discouraged. The obstinate defence of the Temple, during an assault of five days, made him despair; and to the general surprise he hastily retreated from the city. A bold party of the Jews pursued him, and in a narrow pass in the mountains, near Bethoron, they slew

COMMENCEMENT OF THE JEWISH WAR.

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5,300 foot and 380 horse; and the rest of the army only escaped by the coming on of night. All the military engines fell into the hands of the Jews, and with an immense booty they returned to Jerusalem, singing hymns of victory, having scarcely lost a man. The overthrow of Cestius left no room for hopes of peace with Rome, and the revolted Jews were now only occupied with preparations for war; many of them confidently expecting that the Messiah would now appear, and not only deliver them from the Romans, but make them the head of the nations. The Christians at Jerusalem had far other thoughts and they took advantage of the providential retreat of Cestius to make their escape to Pella, a city beyond the Jordan, supposed to be the same part of the country to which David fled at the news of Absalom's rebellion. There they remained in peace and safety till the end of the war, and during this exile they were gradually weaned from all Jewish observances.

CHAP. XII.

VESPASIAN.-JOSEPHUS.-THE ROMANS IN GALILEE.-JOTA PATA. -TARICHEA.-GAMALA.-JOHN OF GISCHALA.-PROGRESS OF THE ROMANS TILL THE DEATH OF NERO.

In writing on Scriptural principles, it will be consistent at this period to give the first place to the important events in the war between the Jews and the Romans, and to mention less interesting facts by the way. Indeed Judea, at this time, was the place that attracted universal attention there alone was Roman power openly resisted; and the proud Nero, who gloried in the thought of being the master of the world, could not rest under the knowledge that his authority was disowned, even in the most distant part of his dominions.

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Vespasian, to whom the care of the war had been committed, was by birth only the son of a tax-gatherer, and had risen step by step to the highest rank in the army, where he was distinguished by his valour, temperance, simplicity of manners, and indefatigable exertions. He was more like one of the ancient Romans in his conduct and habits than any of his own times but it is evident, like other ambitious generals, he had

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