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
13. Moreover, there is another order of Essens, 8 who agree with the
rest as to their way of living, and customs, and laws, but differ from
them in the point of marriage, as thinking that by not marrying they
cut off the principal part of human life, which is the prospect of
succession; nay, rather, that if all men should be of the same opinion,
the whole race of mankind would fail. However, they try their spouses
for three years; and if they find that they have their natural
purgations thrice, as trials that they are likely to be fruitful, they
then actually marry them. But they do not use to accompany with their
wives when they are with child, as a demonstration that they do not many
out of regard to pleasure, but for the sake of posterity. Now the women
go into the baths with some of their garments on, as the men do with
somewhat girded about them. And these are the customs of this order of
Essens.
14. But then as to the two other orders at first mentioned, the
Pharisees are those who are esteemed most skillful in the exact
explication of their laws, and introduce the first sect. These ascribe
all to fate [or providence], and to God, and yet allow, that to act what
is right, or the contrary, is principally in the power of men, although
fate does co-operate in every action. They say that all souls are
incorruptible, but that the souls of good men only are removed into
other bodies,--but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal
punishment. But the Sadducees are those that compose the second order,
and take away fate entirely, and suppose that God is not concerned in
our doing or not doing what is evil; and they say, that to act what is
good, or what is evil, is at men's own choice, and that the one or the
other belongs so to every one, that they may act as they please. They
also take away the belief of the immortal duration of the soul, and the
punishments and rewards in Hades. Moreover, the Pharisees are friendly
to one another, and are for the exercise of concord, and regard for the
public; but the behavior of the Sadducees one towards another is in some
degree wild, and their conversation with those that are of their own
party is as barbarous as if they were strangers to them. And this is
what I had to say concerning the philosophic sects among the Jews.
CHAPTER 9.
The Death Of Salome. The Cities Which Herod And Philip
Built. Pilate Occasions Disturbances. Tiberius Puts Agrippa
Into Bonds But Caius Frees Him From Them, And Makes Him
King. Herod Antipas Is Banished.
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