Complaints They Had To Make Against The Greeks； With Copies Of
The Epistles Which Caesar And Agrippa Wrote To The Cities For
Them。
1。 Now the cities ill…treated the Jews in Asia； and all those
also of the same nation which lived ill Libya； which joins to
Cyrene； while the former kings had given them equal privileges
with the other citizens； but the Greeks affronted them at this
time； and that so far as to take away their sacred money； and to
do them mischief on other particular occasions。 When therefore
they were thus afflicted； and found no end of their barbarous
treatment they met with among the Greeks； they sent ambassadors
to Caesar on those accounts； who gave them the same privileges as
they had before； and sent letters to the same purpose to the
governors of the provinces； copies of which I subjoin here； as
testimonials of the ancient favorable disposition the Roman
emperors had towards us。
2。 〃Caesar Augustus； high priest and tribune of the people；
ordains thus： Since the nation of the Jews hath been found
grateful to the Roman people； not only at this time； but in time
past also； and chiefly Hyrcanus the high priest； under my father
（7） Caesar the emperor； it seemed good to me and my counselors；
according to the sentence and oath of the people of Rome； that
the Jews have liberty to make use of their own customs； according
to the law of their forefathers； as they made use of them under
Hyrcanus the high priest of the Almighty God； and that their
sacred money be not touched； but be sent to Jerusalem； and that
it be committed to the care of the receivers at Jerusalem； and
that they be not obliged to go before any judge on the sabbath
day； nor on the day of the preparation to it； after the ninth
hour。 （8） But if any one be caught stealing their holy books； or
their sacred money； whether it be out of the synagogue or public
school； he shall be deemed a sacrilegious person； and his goods
shall be brought into the public treasury of the Romans。 And I
give order that the testimonial which they have given me； on
account of my regard to that piety which I exercise toward all
mankind； and out of regard to Caius Marcus Censorinus； together
with the present decree； be proposed in that most eminent place
which hath been consecrated to me by the community of Asia at
Ancyra。 And if any one transgress any part of what is above
decreed； he shall be severely punished。〃 This was inscribed upon
a pillar in the temple of Caesar。
3。 〃Caesar to Norbanus Flaccus； sendeth greeting。 Let those Jews；
how many soever they be； who have been used； according to their
ancient custom； to send their sacred money to Jerusalem； do the
same freely。〃 These were the decrees of Caesar。
4。 Agrippa also did himself write after the manner following； on
behalf of the Jews： 〃Agrippa； to the magistrates； senate； and
people of the Ephesians； sendeth greeting。 I will that the care
and custody of the sacred money that is carried to the temple at
Jerusalem be left to the Jews of Asia； to do with it according to
their ancient custom； and that such as steal that sacred money of
the Jews； and fly to a sanctuary； shall be taken thence and
delivered to the Jews； by the same law that sacrilegious persons
are taken thence。 I have also written to Sylvanus the praetor；
that no one compel the Jews to come before a judge on the sabbath
day。〃
5。 〃Marcus Agrippa to the magistrates； senate； and people of
Cyrene； sendeth greeting。 The Jews of Cyrene have interceded with
me for the performance of what Augustus sent orders about to
Flavius； the then praetor of Libya； and to the other procurators
of that province； that the sacred money may be sent to Jerusalem
freely； as hath been their custom from their forefathers； they
complaining that they are abused by certain informers； and under
pretense of taxes which were not due； are hindered from sending
them； which I command to be restored without any diminution or
disturbance given to them。 And if any of that sacred money in the
cities be taken from their proper receivers； I further enjoin；
that the same be exactly returned to the Jews in that place。〃
6。 〃Caius Norbanus Flaccus； proconsul； to the magistrates of the
Sardians； sendeth greeting。 Caesar hath written to me； and
commanded me not to forbid the Jews； how many soever they be；
from assembling together according to the custom of their
forefathers； nor from sending their money to Jerusalem。 I have
therefore written to you； that you may know that both Caesar and
I would have you act accordingly。〃
7。 Nor did Julius Antonius； the proconsul； write otherwise。 〃To
the magistrates； senate； and people of the Ephesians； sendeth
greeting。 As I was dispensing justice at Ephesus； on the Ides of
February； the Jews that dwell in Asia demonstrated to me that
Augustus and Agrippa had permitted them to use their own laws and
customs； and to offer those their first…fruits； which every one
of them freely offers to the Deity on account of piety； and to
carry them in a company together to Jerusalem without
disturbance。 They also petitioned me that I also would confirm
what had been granted by Augustus and Agrippa by my own sanction。
I would therefore have you take notice； that according to the
will of Augustus and Agrippa； I permit them to use and do
according to the customs of their forefathers without
disturbance。〃
8。 I have been obliged to set down these decree because the
present history of our own acts will go generally among the
Greeks； and I have hereby demonstrated to them that we have
formerly been in great esteem； and have not been prohibited by
those governors we were under from keeping any of the laws of our
forefathers； nay； that we have been supported by them； while we
followed our own religion； and the worship we paid to God； and I
frequently make mention of these decrees； in order to reconcile
other people to us； and to take away the causes of that hatred
which unreasonable men bear to us。 As for our customs （9） there
is no nation which always makes use of the same； and in every
city almost we meet with them different from one another； but
natural justice is most agreeable to the advantage of all men
equally； both Greeks and barbarians； to which our laws have the
greatest regard； and thereby render us； if we abide in them after
a pure manner； benevolent and friendly to all men； on which
account we have reason to expect the like return from others； and
to inform them that they ought not to esteem difference of
positive institutions a sufficient cause of alienation； but ＇join
with us in＇ the pursuit of virtue and probity； for this belongs
to all men in common； and of itself alone is sufficient for the
preservation of human life。 I now return to the thread of my
history。
CHAPTER 7。
How； Upon Herod's Going Down Into David's Sepulcher； The Sedition
In His Family Greatly Increased。
1。 As for Herod； he had spent vast sums about the cities； both
without and within his own kingdom； and as he had before heard
that Hyrcanus； who had been king before him； had opened David's
sepulcher； and taken out of it three thousand talents of silver；
and that there was a much greater number left behind； and indeed
enough to suffice all his wants； he had a great while an
intention to make the attempt； and at this time he opened that
sepulcher by night； and went into it； and endeavored that it
should not be at all known in the city； but took only his most
faithful friends with him。 As for any money； he found none； as
Hyrcanus had done； but that furniture of gold； and those precious
goods that were laid up there； all which he took away。 However；
he had a great desire to make a more diligent search； and to go
farther in； even as far as the very bodies of David and Solomon；
where two of his guards were slain； by a flame that burst out
upon those that went in； as the report was。 So he was terribly
aftrighted； and went out； and built a propitiatory monument of
that fright he had been in； and this of white stone； at the mouth
of the sepulcher； and that at great expense also。 And even
Nicolaus （10） his historiographer makes mention of this monument
built by Herod； though he does not mention his going down into
the sepulcher； as knowing that action to be of ill repute； and
many other things he treats of in the same manner in his book；
for he wrote in Herod's lifetime； and under his reign； and so as
to please him； and as a servant to him； touching upon nothing but
what tended to his glory； and openly excusing many of his
notorious crimes； and very diligently concealing them。 And as he
was desirous to put handsome colors on the death of Mariamne and
her sons； which were barbarous actions in the king； he tells
falsehoods about the incontinence of Mariamne； and the
treacherous designs of his sons upon him； and thus he proceeded
in his whole work； making a pompous encomium upon what just
actions he had done； but earnestly apologizing for his unjust
ones。 Indeed； a man； as I said； may have a great deal to say by
way of excuse for Nicolaus； for he did not so properly write this
as a history for others； as somewhat that might be subservient to
the king himself。 As for ourselves； who come of a family nearly
allied to the Asamonean kings； and on that account have an
honorable place； which is the priesthood； we think it indecent to
say any thing that is false about them； and accordingly we have
described their actions after an unblemished and upright manner。
And although we reverence many of Herod's posterity； who still
reign； yet do we pay a greater regard to truth than to them； and
this though it sometimes happens that we incur their displeasure
by so doing。
2。 And indeed Herod's troubles in his family seemed to be
augmented by reason of this attempt he made upon David's
sepulcher； whether Divine vengeance increased the calamities he
lay under； in order to render them incurable； or whether fortune
made an assault upon him； in those cases wherein the
seasonableness of the cause made it strongly believed that the
calamities came upon him for his impiety； for the tumult was like
a civil war in his palace； and their hatred towards one another
was like that where eac