of the Jews； he desired the principal of them to take care of
their husbandry； and to speak kindly to the people； and encourage
them to have good hope of their affairs。 Thus did he readily
bring the multitude to be cheerful again。 And now did God show
his presence to Petronius； and signify to him that he would
afford him his assistance in his whole design； for he had no
sooner finished the speech that he made to the Jews； but God sent
down great showers of rain； contrary to human expectation； （33）
for that day was a clear day； and gave no sign； by the appearance
of the sky； of any rain； nay； the whole year had been subject to
a great drought； and made men despair of any water from above；
even when at any time they saw the heavens overcast with clouds；
insomuch that when such a great quantity of rain came； and that
in an unusual manner； and without any other expectation of it；
the Jews hoped that Petronius would by no means fail in his
petition for them。 But as to Petronius； he was mightily surprised
when he perceived that God evidently took care of the Jews； and
gave very plain signs of his appearance； and this to such a
degree； that those that were in earnest much inclined to the
contrary had no power left to contradict it。 This was also among
those other particulars which he wrote to Caius； which all tended
to dissuade him； and by all means to entreat him not to make so
many ten thousands of these men go distracted； whom； if he should
slay； （for without war they would by no means suffer the laws of
their worship to be set aside；） he would lose the revenue they
paid him； and would be publicly cursed by them for all future
ages。 Moreover； that God； who was their Governor； had shown his
power most evidently on their account； and that such a power of
his as left no room for doubt about it。 And this was the business
that Petronius was now engaged in。
7。 But king Agrippa； who now lived at Rome； was more and more in
the favor of Caius； and when he had once made him a supper； and
was careful to exceed all others； both in expenses and in such
preparations as might contribute most to his pleasure； nay； it
was so far from the ability of others； that Caius himself could
never equal； much less exceed it （such care had he taken
beforehand to exceed all men； and particularly。 to make all
agreeable to Caesar）； hereupon Caius admired his understanding
and magnificence； that he should force himself to do all to
please him； even beyond such expenses as he could bear； and was
desirous not to be behind Agrippa in that generosity which he
exerted in order to please him。 So Caius； when he had drank wine
plentifully； and was merrier than ordinary； said thus during the
feast； when Agrippa had drunk to him： 〃I knew before now how
great a respect thou hast had for me； and how great kindness thou
hast shown me； though with those hazards to thyself； which thou
underwentest under Tiberius on that account； nor hast thou
omitted any thing to show thy good…will towards us； even beyond
thy ability； whence it would be a base thing for me to be
conquered by thy affection。 I am therefore desirous to make thee
amends for every thing in which I have been formerly deficient；
for all that I have bestowed on thee； that may be called my
gifts； is but little。 Everything that may contribute to thy
happiness shall be at thy service； and that cheerfully； and so
far as my ability will reach。〃 （34） And this was what Caius said
to Agrippa； thinking be would ask for some large country； or the
revenues of certain cities。 But although he had prepared
beforehand what he would ask； yet had he not discovered his
intentions； but made this answer to Caius immediately： That it
was not out of any expectation of gain that he formerly paid his
respects to him； contrary to the commands of Tiberius； nor did he
now do any thing relating to him out of regard to his own
advantage； and in order to receive any thing from him； that the
gifts he had already bestowed upon him were great； and beyond the
hopes of even a craving man； for although they may be beneath thy
power； ＇who art the donor；＇ yet are they greater than my
inclination and dignity； who am the receiver。 And as Caius was
astonished at Agrippa's inclinations； and still the more pressed
him to make his request for somewhat which he might gratify him
with； Agrippa replied； 〃Since thou； O my lord！ declarest such is
thy readiness to grant； that I am worthy of thy gifts； I will ask
nothing relating to my own felicity； for what thou hast already
bestowed on me has made me excel therein； but I desire somewhat
which may make thee glorious for piety； and render the Divinity
assistant to thy designs； and may be for an honor to me among
those that inquire about it； as showing that I never once fail of
obtaining what I desire of thee； for my petition is this； that
thou wilt no longer think of the dedication of that statue which
thou hast ordered to be set up in the Jewish temple by
Petronius。〃
8。 And thus did Agrippa venture to cast the die upon this
occasion； so great was the affair in his opinion； and in reality；
though he knew how dangerous a thing it was so to speak； for had
not Caius approved of it； it had tended to no less than the loss
of his life。 So Caius； who was mightily taken with Agrippa's
obliging behavior； and on other accounts thinking it a
dishonorable thing to be guilty of falsehood before so many
witnesses； in points wherein he had with such alacrity forced
Agrippa to become a petitioner； and that it would look as if he
had already repented of what he had said； and because he greatly
admired Agrippa's virtue； in not desiring him at all to augment
his own dominions； either with larger revenues； or other
authority； but took care of the public tranquillity； of the laws；
and of the Divinity itself； he granted him what he had requested。
He also wrote thus to Petronius； commending him for his
assembling his army； and then consulting him about these affairs。
〃If therefore；〃 said' he；〃 thou hast already erected my statue；
let it stand； but if thou hast not yet dedicated it； do not
trouble thyself further about it； but dismiss thy army； go back；
and take care of those affairs which I sent thee about at first；
for I have now no occasion for the erection of that statue。 This
I have granted as a favor to Agrippa； a man whom I honor so very
greatly； that I am not able to contradict what he would have； or
what he desired me to do for him。〃 And this was what Caius wrote
to Petronius； which was before he received his letter； informing
him that the Jews were very ready to revolt about the statue； and
that they seemed resolved to threaten war against the Romans； and
nothing else。 When therefore Caius was much displeased that any
attempt should be made against his government as he was a slave
to base and vicious actions on all occasions； and had no regard
to What was virtuous and honorable； and against whomsoever he
resolved to show his anger； and that for any cause whatsoever； he
suffered not himself to be restrained by any admonition； but
thought the indulging his anger to be a real pleasure； he wrote
thus to Petronius： 〃Seeing thou esteemest the presents made thee
by the Jews to be of greater value than my commands； and art
grown insolent enough to be subservient to their pleasure； I
charge thee to become thy own judge； and to consider what thou
art to do； now thou art under my displeasure； for I will make
thee an example to the present and to all future ages； that they。
may not dare to contradict the commands of their emperor。〃
9。 This was the epistle which Caius wrote to。 Petronius； but
Petronius did not receive it while Caius was alive； that ship
which carried it sailing so slow； that other letters came to
Petronius before this； by which he understood that Caius was
dead； for God would not forget the dangers Petronius had
undertaken on account of the Jews； and of his own honor。 But when
he had taken Caius away； out of his indignation of what he had so
insolently attempted in assuming to himself divine worship； both
Rome and all that dominion conspired with Petronius； especially
those that were of the senatorian order； to give Caius his due
reward； because he had been unmercifully severe to them； for he
died not long after he had written to Petronius that epistle
which threatened him with death。 But as for the occasion of his
death； and the nature of the plot against him； I shall relate
them in the progress of this narration。 Now that epistle which
informed Petronius of Caius's death came first； and a little
afterward came that which commanded him to kill himself with his
own hands。 Whereupon he rejoiced at this coincidence as to the
death of Caius； and admired God's providence； who； without the
least delay； and immediately； gave him a reward for the regard he
had to the temple； and the assistance he afforded the Jews for
avoiding the dangers they were in。 And by this means Petronius
escaped that danger of death； which he could not foresee。
CHAPTER 9。
What Befell The Jews That Were In Babylon On Occasion Of Asineus
And Anileus； Two Brethren；
1。 A Very sad calamity now befell the Jews that were in
Mesopotamia； and especially those that dwelt in Babylonia。
Inferior it was to none of the calamities which had gone before；
and came together with a great slaughter of them； and that
greater than any upon record before； concerning all which I shall
speak accurately； and shall explain the occasions whence these
miseries came upon them。 There was a city of Babylonia called
Neerda； not only a ver populous one； but one that had a good and
a large territory about it； and； besides its other advantages；
full of men also。 It was； besides； not easily to be assaulted by
enemies； from the river Euphrates encompassing it all round； and
from the wails that were built about it。 There was also the city
Nisibis； situate on the same current of the river。 For which
reason the Jews； depending on the natural strength of these
places； deposited in them that half shekel which every one； by
the custom of our country； offers unto God； as well as they did
other things devoted to him； for they made use of these citie