The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem — John Shaqi
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
3. Now Aristobulus, by degrees, and unwillingly, gave credit to these
accusations; and accordingly he took care not to discover his suspicion
openly, though he provided to be secure against any accidents; so he
placed the guards of his body in a certain dark subterranean passage;
for he lay sick in a place called formerly the Citadel, though
afterwards its name was changed to Antonia; and he gave orders that if
Antigonus came unarmed, they should let him alone; but if he came to him
in his armor, they should kill him. He also sent some to let him know
beforehand that he should come unarmed. But, upon this occasion, the
queen very cunningly contrived the matter with those that plotted his
ruin, for she persuaded those that were sent to conceal the king's
message; but to tell Antigonus how his brother had heard he had got a
very the suit of armor made with fine martial ornaments, in Galilee;
and because his present sickness hindered him from coming and seeing all
that finery, he very much desired to see him now in his armor; because,
said he, in a little time thou art going away from me.
4. As soon as Antigonus heard this, the good temper of his brother not
allowing him to suspect any harm from him, he came along with his armor
on, to show it to his brother; but when he was going along that dark
passage which was called Strato's Tower, he was slain by the body
guards, and became an eminent instance how calumny destroys all
good-will and natural affection, and how none of our good affections are
strong enough to resist envy perpetually.
5. And truly any one would be surprised at Judas upon this occasion. He
was of the sect of the Essens, and had never failed or deceived men in
his predictions before. Now this man saw Antigonus as he was passing
along by the temple, and cried out to his acquaintance, [they were not a
few who attended upon him as his scholars,] "O strange!" said he, "it is
good for me to die now, since truth is dead before me, and somewhat that
I have foretold hath proved false; for this Antigonus is this day alive,
who ought to have died this day; and the place where he ought to be
slain, according to that fatal decree, was Strato's Tower, which is at
the distance of six hundred furlongs from this place; and yet four hours
of this day are over already; which point of time renders the prediction
impossible to be fill filled." And when the old man had said this, he
was dejected in his mind, and so continued. But in a little time news
came that Antigonus was slain in a subterraneous place, which was itself
also called Strato's Tower, by the same name with that Cesarea which lay
by the sea-side; and this ambiguity it was which caused the prophet's
disorder.
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