They Would Receive His Statue。
1。 There was now a tumult arisen at Alexandria； between the
Jewish inhabitants and the Greeks； and three ambassadors were
chosen out of each party that were at variance； who came to
Caius。 Now one of these ambassadors from the people of Alexandria
was Apion； （29） who uttered many blasphemies against the Jews；
and； among other things that he said； he charged them with
neglecting the honors that belonged to Caesar； for that while all
who were subject to the Roman empire built altars and temples to
Caius； and in other regards universally received him as they
received the gods； these Jews alone thought it a dishonorable
thing for them to erect statues in honor of him； as well as to
swear by his name。 Many of these severe things were said by
Apion； by which he hoped to provoke Caius to anger at the Jews；
as he was likely to be。 But Philo； the principal of the Jewish
embassage； a man eminent on all accounts； brother to Alexander
the alabarch； （30） and one not unskillful in philosophy； was
ready to betake himself to make his defense against those
accusations； but Caius prohibited him； and bid him begone； he was
also in such a rage； that it openly appeared he was about to do
them some very great mischief。 So Philo being thus affronted；
went out； and said to those Jews who were about him； that they
should be of good courage； since Caius's words indeed showed
anger at them； but in reality had already set God against
himself。
2。 Hereupon Caius； taking it very heinously that he should be
thus despised by the Jews alone； sent Petronius to be president
of Syria； and successor in the government to Vitellius； and gave
him order to make an invasion into Judea； with a great body of
troops； and if they would admit of his statue willingly； to erect
it in the temple of God； but if they were obstinate； to conquer
them by war； and then to do it。 Accordingly； Petronius took the
government of Syria； and made haste to obey Caesar's epistle。 He
got together as great a number of auxiliaries as he possibly
could； and took with him two legions of the Roman army； and came
to Ptolemais； and there wintered； as intending to set about the
war in the spring。 He also wrote word to Caius what he had
resolved to do； who commended him for his alacrity； and ordered
him to go on； and to make war with them； in case they would not
obey his commands。 But there came many ten thousands of the Jews
to Petronius； to Ptolemais； to offer their petitions to him； that
he would not compel them to transgress and violate the law of
their forefathers； 〃but if；〃 said they； 〃thou art entirely
resolved to bring this statue； and erect it； do thou first kill
us； and then do what thou hast resolved on； for while we are
alive we cannot permit such things as are forbidden us to be done
by the authority of our legislator； and by our forefathers'
determination that such prohibitions are instances of virtue。〃
But Petronius was angry at them； and said； 〃If indeed I were
myself emperor； and were at liberty to follow my own inclination；
and then had designed to act thus； these your words would be
justly spoken to me； but now Caesar hath sent to me； I am under
the necessity of being subservient to his decrees； because a
disobedience to them will bring upon me inevitable destruction。〃
Then the Jews replied； 〃Since； therefore； thou art so disposed； O
Petronius！ that thou wilt not disobey Caius's epistles； neither
will we transgress the commands of our law； and as we depend upon
the excellency of our laws； and； by the labors of our ancestors；
have continued hitherto without suffering them to be
transgressed； we dare not by any means suffer ourselves to be so
timorous as to transgress those laws out of the fear of death；
which God hath determined are for our advantage； and if we fall
into misfortunes； we will bear them； in order to preserve our
laws； as knowing that those who expose themselves to dangers have
good hope of escaping them； because God will stand on our side；
when； out of regard to him； we undergo afflictions； and sustain
the uncertain turns of fortune。 But if we should submit to thee；
we should be greatly reproached for our cowardice； as thereby
showing ourselves ready to transgress our law； and we should
incur the great anger of God also； who； even thyself being judge；
is superior to Caius。〃
3。 When Petronius saw by their words that their determination was
hard to be removed； and that； without a war； he should not be
able to be subservient to Caius in the dedication of his statue；
and that there must be a great deal of bloodshed； he took his
friends； and the servants that were about him； and hasted to
Tiberias； as wanting to know in what posture the affairs of the
Jews were； and many ten thousands of the Jews met Petronius
again； when he was come to Tiberias。 These thought they must run
a mighty hazard if they should have a war with the Romans； but
judged that the transgression of the law was of much greater
consequence； and made supplication to him； that he would by no
means reduce them to such distresses； nor defile their city with
the dedication of the statue。 Then Petronius said to them； 〃Will
you then make war with Caesar； without considering his great
preparations for war； and your own weakness？〃 They replied； 〃We
will not by any means make war with him； but still we will die
before we see our laws transgressed。〃 So they threw themselves
down upon their faces； and stretched out their throats； and said
they were ready to be slain； and this they did for forty days
together； and in the mean time left off the tilling of their
ground； and that while the season of the year required them to
sow it。 （31） Thus they continued firm in their resolution； and
proposed to themselves to die willingly； rather than to see the
dedication of the statue。
4。 When matters were in this state； Aristobulus； king Agrippa's
brother； and Heleias the Great； and the other principal men of
that family with them； went in unto Petronius； and besought him；
that since he saw the resolution of the multitude； he would not
make any alteration； and thereby drive them to despair； but would
write to Caius； that the Jews had an insuperable aversion to the
reception of the statue； and how they continued with him； and
left of the tillage off their ground： that they were not willing
to go to war with him； because they were not able to do it； but
were ready to die with pleasure； rather than suffer their laws to
be transgressed： and how； upon the land's continuing unsown；
robberies would grow up； on the inability they would be under of
paying their tributes； and that Caius might be thereby moved to
pity； and not order any barbarous action to be done to them； nor
think of destroying the nation： that if he continues inflexible
in his former opinion to bring a war upon them； he may then set
about it himself。 And thus did Aristobulus； and the rest with
him； supplicate Petronius。 So Petronius； （32） partly on account
of the pressing instances which Aristobulus and the rest with him
made； and because of the great consequence of what they desired；
and the earnestness wherewith they made their supplication； …
partly on account of the firmness of the opposition made by the
Jews； which he saw； while he thought it a terrible thing for him
to be such a slave to the madness of Caius； as to slay so many
ten thousand men； only because of their religious disposition
towards God； and after that to pass his life in expectation of
punishment； Petronius； I say； thought it much better to send to
Caius； and to let him know how intolerable it was to him to bear
the anger he might have against him for not serving him sooner；
in obedience to his epistle； for that perhaps he might persuade
him； and that if this mad resolution continued； he might then
begin the war against them； nay； that in case he should turn his
hatred against himself； it was fit for virtuous persons even to
die for the sake of such vast multitudes of men。 Accordingly； he
determined to hearken to the petitioners in this matter。
5。 He then called the Jews together to Tiberias； who came many
ten thousands in number； he also placed that army he now had with
him opposite to them； but did not discover his own meaning； but
the commands of the emperor； and told them that his wrath would；
without delay； be executed on such as had the courage to disobey
what he had commanded； and this immediately； and that it was fit
for him； who had obtained so great a dignity by his grant； not to
contradict him in any thing： … 〃yet；〃 said he； 〃I do not think it
just to have such a regard to my own safety and honor； as to
refuse to sacrifice them for your preservation； who are so many
in number； and endeavor to preserve the regard that is due to
your law； which as it hath come down to you from your
forefathers； so do you esteem it worthy of your utmost contention
to preserve it： nor； with the supreme assistance and power of
God； will I be so hardy as to suffer your temple to fall into
contempt by the means of the imperial authority。 I will；
therefore； send to Caius； and let him know what your resolutions
are； and will assist your suit as far as I am able； that you may
not be exposed to suffer on account of the honest designs you
have proposed to yourselves； and may God be your assistant； for
his authority is beyond all the contrivance and power of men； and
may he procure you the preservation of your ancient laws； and may
not he be deprived； though without your consent； of his
accustomed honors。 But if Caius be irritated； and turn the
violence of his rage upon me； I will rather undergo all that
danger and that affliction that may come either on my body or my
soul； than see so many of you to perish； while you are acting in
so excellent a manner。 Do you； therefore； every one of you； go
your way about your own occupations； and fall to the cultivation
of your ground； I will myself send to Rome； and will not refuse
to serve you in all things； both by myself and by my friends。〃
6。 When Petronius had said this； and had dismissed rite assembly
of the Jews； he desired the principal of them to take care of
their husbandry； and to spea