The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of JerusalemJosephus, Flavius
Religion
The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Josephus, Flavius
Jews -- History
2. But Caesar, who knew perfectly well the lineaments of Alexander's
face, because he had been accused by Herod before him, discerned the
fallacy in his countenance, even before he saw the man. However, he
suffered the agreeable fame that went of him to have some weight with
him, and sent Celadus, one who well knew Alexander, and ordered him
to bring the young man to him. But when Caesar saw him, he immediately
discerned a difference in his countenance; and when he had discovered
that his whole body was of a more robust texture, and like that of a
slave, he understood the whole was a contrivance. But the impudence of
what he said greatly provoked him to be angry at him; for when he was
asked about Aristobulus, he said that he was also preserved alive, and
was left on purpose in Cyprus, for fear of treachery, because it would
be harder for plotters to get them both into their power while they were
separate. Then did Caesar take him by himself privately, and said to
him, "I will give thee thy life, if thou wilt discover who it was that
persuaded thee to forge such stories." So he said that he would discover
him, and followed Caesar, and pointed to that Jew who abused the
resemblance of his face to get money; for that he had received more
presents in every city than ever Alexander did when he was alive. Caesar
laughed at the contrivance, and put this spurious Alexander among his
rowers, on account of the strength of his body, but ordered him that
persuaded him to be put to death. But for the people of Melos, they had
been sufficiently punished for their folly, by the expenses they had
been at on his account.
3. And now Archelaus took possession of his ethnarchy, and used not the
Jews only, but the Samaritans also, barbarously; and this out of his
resentment of their old quarrels with him. Whereupon they both of them
sent ambassadors against him to Caesar; and in the ninth year of his
government he was banished to Vienna, a city of Gaul, and his effects
were put into Caesar's treasury. But the report goes, that before he was
sent for by Caesar, he seemed to see nine ears of corn, full and large,
but devoured by oxen. When, therefore, he had sent for the diviners,
and some of the Chaldeans, and inquired of them what they thought it
portended; and when one of them had one interpretation, and another had
another, Simon, one of the sect of Essens, said that he thought the
ears of corn denoted years, and the oxen denoted a mutation of things,
because by their ploughing they made an alteration of the country. That
therefore he should reign as many years as there were ears of corn; and
after he had passed through various alterations of fortune, should
die. Now five days after Archelaus had heard this interpretation he was
called to his trial.
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