The Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus (Volume 5); Containing Four Books of the Jewish War (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1824. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... to their own country; for there was a certain ancient oracle of those men, that " the city should be then taken, * and the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should invade the Jews, and their own hands should pollute the temple ofGod." Now while these zealots did not quite] disbelieve these predictions, they made themselves the instruments of their accomplishment. CHAP. VII. How John tyrannized over the rest; and s.'hat mischiefs the zfalots did at Masada, How also Vespasian took Gadara: and sohat actions were performed by Placidas I. By this time John was beginning to tyrannize and thought it beneath him to accept of barely {he same honors that others had; and joining to himself by degrees a party of the wickedest of them all he broke off from the rest of the faction. This was brought about by his still disagreeing with the opinions of others, and giving out injunctions of his own, in a very imperious manner, that so it was evident he was setting up a monarchiul power. Now some submitted to him out of their fear of him, and others out of their good will to him; for he was a shrewd mnn to entice men to him, both by deluding them, and patting cheats upon them Nay, many there were that thought they should be safer themselves, if the causes of their past insolent actions should now be reduced to one head, and not to a great many. His activity was so great, and that both in action and in counsel, that he had not a few guards about him; yet was there a great party of his antagonists that left him; among whom envy at him weighed a great deal, while they thought it a very heavy thing to be in subjection to one that was formerly their equal. But the main reason that moved men against him was * The prediction that " the cily of J...