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
1 (return) [ Take the confirmation of this in the words of Suetonius,
here produced by Dr. Hudson: "In the reign of Claudius," says he,
"Vespasian, for the sake of Narcissus, was sent as a lieutenant of a
legion into Germany. Thence he removed into Britain battles with the
enemy." In Vesp. sect. 4. We may also here note from Josephus, that
Claudius the emperor, who triumphed for the conquest of Britain, was
enabled so to do by Vespasian's conduct and bravery, and that he is here
styled "the father of Vespasian."]
2 (return) [ Spanheim and Reland both agree, that the two cities here
esteemed greater than Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, were Rome and
Alexandria; nor is there any occasion for doubt in so plain a case.]
3 (return) [ This description of the exact symmetry and regularity of
the Roman army, and of the Roman encampments, with the sounding their
trumpets, etc. and order of war, described in this and the next chapter,
is so very like to the symmetry and regularity of the people of Israel
in the wilderness, [see Description of the Temples, ch. 9.,] that one
cannot well avoid the supposal, that the one was the ultimate pattern
of the other, and that the tactics of the ancients were taken from the
rules given by God to Moses. And it is thought by some skillful in
these matters, that these accounts of Josephus, as to the Roman camp and
armor, and conduct in war, are preferable to those in the Roman authors
themselves.]
4 (return) [ I cannot but here observe an Eastern way of speaking,
frequent among them, but not usual among us, where the word "only"
or "alone" is not set down, but perhaps some way supplied in the
pronunciation. Thus Josephus here says, that those of Jotapata slew
seven of the Romans as they were marching off, because the Romans'
retreat was regular, their bodies were covered over with their armor,
and the Jews fought at some distance; his meaning is clear, that these
were the reasons why they slew only, or no more than seven. I have met
with many the like examples in the Scriptures, in Josephus, etc.; but
did not note down the particular places. This observation ought to be
borne in mind upon many occasions.]
5 (return) [ These public mourners, hired upon the supposed death of
Josephus, and the real death of many more, illustrate some passages in
the Bible, which suppose the same custom, as Matthew 11:17, where the
reader may consult the notes of Grotius.]
6 (return) [ Of this Cesarea Philippi [twice mentioned in our New
Testament, Matthew 16:13; Mark 8;27: there are coins still extant,
Spanheim here informs us.]
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