heads； and by all possible means besought the seditious； and
persuaded them that they would set before their eyes the utter
subversion of their country； the conflagration of their temple；
and the slavery of themselves； their wives； and children； （12）
which would be the consequences of what they were doing； and
would alter their minds； would cast away their weapons； and for
the future be quiet； and return to their own homes。 These
persuasions of theirs prevailed upon them。 So the people
dispersed themselves； and the robbers went away again to their
places of strength； and after this time all Judea was overrun
with robberies。
2。 But the principal of the Samaritans went to Ummidius
Quadratus； the president of Syria； who at that time was at Tyre；
and accused the Jews of setting their villages on fire； and
plundering them； and said withal； that they were not so much
displeased at what they had suffered； as they were at the
contempt thereby showed the Romans； while if they had received
any injury； they ought to have made them the judges of what had
been done； and not presently to make such devastation； as if they
had not the Romans for their governors； on which account they
came to him； in order to obtain that vengeance they wanted。 This
was the accusation which the Samaritans brought against the Jews。
But the Jews affirmed that the Samaritans were the authors of
this tumult and fighting； and that； in the first place； Cumanus
had been corrupted by their gifts； and passed over the murder of
those that were slain in silence； … which allegations when
Quadratus heard； he put off the hearing of the cause； and
promised that he would give sentence when he should come into
Judea； and should have a more exact knowledge of the truth of
that matter。 So these men went away without success。 Yet was it
not long ere Quadratus came to Samaria； where； upon hearing the
cause； he supposed that the Samaritans were the authors of that
disturbance。 But when he was informed that certain of the Jews
were making innovations； he ordered those to be crucified whom
Cumanus had taken captives。 From whence he came to a certain
village called Lydda； which was not less than a city in
largeness； and there heard the Samaritan cause a second time
before his tribunal； and there learned from a certain Samaritan
that one of the chief of the Jews； whose name was Dortus； and
some other innovators with him； four in number； persuaded the
multitude to a revolt from the Romans； whom Quadratus ordered to
be put to death： but still he sent away Ananias the high priest；
and Ananus the commander ＇of the temple＇； in bonds to Rome； to
give an account of what they had done to Claudius Caesar。 He also
ordered the principal men； both of the Samaritans and of the
Jews； as also Cumanus the procurator； and Ceier the tribune； to
go to Italy to the emperor； that he might hear their cause； and
determine their differences one with another。 But he came again
to the city of Jerusalem； out of his fear that the multitude of
the Jews should attempt some innovations； but he found the city
in a peaceable state； and celebrating one of the usual festivals
of their country to God。 So he believed that they would not
attempt any innovations； and left them at the celebration of the
festival； and returned to Antioch。
3。 Now Cumanus； and the principal of the Samaritans； who were
sent to Rome； had a day appointed them by the emperor whereon
they were to have pleaded their cause about the quarrels they had
one with another。 But now Caesar's freed…men and his friends were
very zealous on the behalf of Cumanus and the Samaritans； and
they had prevailed over the Jews； unless Agrippa； junior； who was
then at Rome； had seen the principal of the Jews hard set； and
had earnestly entreated Agrippina； the emperor's wife； to
persuade her husband to hear the cause； so as was agreeable to
his justice； and to condemn those to be punished who were really
the authors of this revolt from the Roman government： … whereupon
Claudius was so well disposed beforehand； that when he had heard
the cause； and found that the Samaritans had been the ringleaders
in those mischievous doings； he gave order that those who came up
to him should be slain； and that Cureanus should be banished。 He
also gave order that Celer the tribune should be carried back to
Jerusalem； and should be drawn through the city in the sight of
all the people； and then should be slain。
CHAPTER 7。
Felix Is Made Procurator Of Judea； As Also Concerning Agrippa；
Junior And His Sisters。
1。 So Claudius sent Felix； the brother of Pallas； to take care of
the affairs of Judea； and when he had already completed the
twelfth year of his reign； he bestowed upon Agrippa the tetrarchy
of Philip and Batanea； and added thereto Trachonites； with Abila；
which last had been the tetrarchy of Lysanias； but he took from
him Chalcis； when he had been governor thereof four years。 And
when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar；
he gave his sister Drusilla in marriage to Azizus； king of Emesa；
upon his consent to be circumcised； for Epiphanes； the son of
king Antiochus； had refused to marry her； because； after he had
promised her father formerly to come over to the Jewish religion；
he would not now perform that promise。 He also gave Mariamne in
marriage to Archelaus； the son of Helcias； to whom she had
formerly been betrothed by Agrippa her father； from which
marriage was derived a daughter； whose name was Bernice。
2。 But for the marriage of Drusilla with Azizus； it was in no
long time afterward dissolved upon the following occasion： While
Felix was procurator of Judea； he saw this Drusilla； and fell in
love with her； for she did indeed exceed all other women in
beauty； and he sent to her a person whose name was Simon （13） one
of his friends； a Jew he was； and by birth a Cypriot； and one who
pretended to be a magician； and endeavored to persuade her to
forsake her present husband； and marry him； and promised； that if
she would not refuse him； he would make her a happy woman。
Accordingly she acted ill； and because she was desirous to avoid
her sister Bernice's envy； for she was very ill treated by her on
account of her beauty； was prevailed upon to transgress the laws
of her forefathers； and to marry Felix； and when he had had a son
by her； he named him Agrippa。 But after what manner that young
man； with his wife； perished at the conflagration of the mountain
Vesuvius； （14） in the days of Titus Caesar； shall be related
hereafter。 （15）
3。 But as for Bernice； she lived a widow a long while after the
death of Herod ＇king of Chalcis＇； who was both her husband and
her uncle； but when the report went that she had criminal
conversation with her brother； ＇Agrippa； junior；＇ she persuaded
Poleme； who was king of Cilicia； to be circumcised； and to marry
her； as supposing that by this means she should prove those
calumnies upon her to be false； and Poleme was prevailed upon；
and that chiefly on account of her riches。 Yet did not this
matrimony endure long； but Bernice left Poleme； and； as was said；
with impure intentions。 So he forsook at once this matrimony； and
the Jewish religion； and； at the same time； Mariamne put away
Archclaus； and was married to Demetrius； the principal man among
the Alexandrian Jews； both for his family and his wealth； and
indeed he was then their alabarch。 So she named her son whom she
had by him Agrippinus。 But of all these particulars we shall
hereafter treat more exactly。 （16）
CHAPTER 8。
After What Manner Upon The Death Of Claudius； Nero Succeeded In
The Government； As Also What Barbarous Things He Did。 Concerning
The Robbers； Murderers And Impostors； That Arose While Felix And
Festus Were Procurators Of Judea。
1。 Now Claudius Caesar died when he had reigned thirteen years；
eight months； and twenty days； （17） and a report went about that
he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina。 Her father was Germanicus；
the brother of Caesar。 Her husband was Domitius Aenobarbus； one
of the most illustrious persons that was in the city of Rome；
after whose death； and her long continuance in widowhood；
Claudius took her to wife。 She brought along with her a son；
Domtitus； of the same name with his father。 He had before this
slain his wife Messalina； out of jealousy； by whom he had his
children Britannicus and Octavia； their eldest sister was
Antonia； whom he had by Pelina his first wife。 He also married
Octavia to Nero； for that was the name that Caesar gave him
afterward； upon his adopting him for his son。
2。 But now Agrippina was afraid； lest； when Britannicus should
come to man's estate； he should succeed his father in the
government； and desired to seize upon the principality beforehand
for her own son ＇Nero＇； upon which the report went that she
thence compassed the death of Claudius。 Accordingly； she sent
Burrhus； the general of the army； immediately； and with him the
tribunes； and such also of the freed…men as were of the greatest
authority； to bring Nero away into the camp； and to salute him
emperor。 And when Nero had thus obtained the government； he got
Britannicus to be so poisoned； that the multitude should not
perceive it； although he publicly put his own mother to death not
long afterward； making her this requital； not only for being born
of her； but for bringing it so about by her contrivances that he
obtained the Roman empire。 He also slew Octavia his own wife； and
many other illustrious persons； under this pretense； that they
plotted against him。
3。 But I omit any further discourse about these affairs； for
there have been a great many who have composed the history of
Nero； some of which have departed from the truth of facts out of
favor； as having received benefits from him； while others； out of
hatred to him； and the great ill…will which they bare him； have
so impudently raved against him with their lies； that they justly
deserve to be condemned。 Nor do I wonder at such as have told
lies of Nero； since they have not in their writings preserved the
truth of history as to those facts that were earlier than his
time； even when the actors could have no way incurred their
hatred； since thos