followers； in Josephus； see Acts 21：38。
（21） The wickedness here was very peculiar and extraordinary；
that the high priests should so oppress their brethren the
priests； as to starve the poorest of them to death。 See the like
presently； ch。 9。 sect。 2。 Such fatal crimes are covetousness and
tyranny in the clergy； as well as in the laity； in all ages。
（22） We have here one eminent example of Nero's mildness and
goodness in his government towards the Jews； during the first
five years of his reign； so famous in antiquity； we have perhaps
another in Josephus's own Life； sect。 3； and a third； though of a
very different nature here； in sect。 9； just before。 However；
both the generous acts of kindness were obtained of Nero by his
queen Poppea； who was a religious lady； and perhaps privately a
Jewish proselyte； and so were not owing entirely to Nero's own
goodness。
（23） It hence evidently appears that Sadducees might be high
priests in the days of Josephus； and that these Sadducees were
usually very severe and inexorable judges； while the Pharisees
were much milder； and more merciful； as appears by Reland's
instances in his note on this place； and on Josephus's Life；
sect。 31； and those taken from the New Testament； from Josephus
himself； and from the Rabbins； nor do we meet with any Sadducees
later than this high priest in all Josephus。
（24） Of this condemnation of James the Just； and its causes； as
also that he did not die till long afterwards； see Prim。 Christ。
Revived； vol。 III。 ch。 43…46。 The sanhedrim condemned our Savior；
but could not put him to death without the approbation of the
Roman procurator； nor could therefore Ananias and his sanhedrim
do more here； since they never had Albinus's approbation for the
putting this James to death。
（25） This Ananias was not the son of Nebedeus； as I take it； but
he who was called Annas or Ananus the elder； the ninth in the
catalogue； and who had been esteemed high priest for a long time；
and； besides Caiaphas； his son…in…law； had five of his own sons
high priests after him； which were those of numbers 11； 14； 15；
17； 24； in the foregoing catalogue。 Nor ought we to pass slightly
over what Josephus here says of Annas； or Ananias； that he was
high priest a long time before his children were so； he was the
son of Seth； and is set down first for high priest in the
foregoing catalogue； under number 9。 He was made by Quirinus； and
continued till Ismael； the 10th in number； for about twenty…three
years； which long duration of his high priesthood； joined to the
successions of his son…in…law； and five children of his own； made
him a sort of perpetual high priest； and was perhaps the occasion
that former high priests kept their titles ever afterwards； for I
believe it is hardly met with be fore him。
（26） This insolent petition of some of the Levites； to wear the
sacerdotal garments when they sung hymns to God in the temple；
was very probably owing to the great depression and contempt the
haughty high priests had now brought their brethren the priests
into； of which see ch。 8。 sect。 8； and ch。 9； sect。 2。
（27） Of these cloisters of Solomon； see the description of the
temple； ch。 13。 They seem； by Josephus's words； to have been
built from the bottom of the valley。
（28） See the Life at the beginning of the volume。
（29） What Josephus here declares his intention to do； if God
permitted； to give the public again an abridgement of the Jewish
War hear of it elsewhere； whether he performed what he now
intended or not。 Some of the reasons of this design of his might
possibly be； his observation of the many errors he had been
guilty of in the two first of those seven books of the War； which
were written when he was comparatively young； and less acquainted
with the Jewish antiquities than he now was； and in which
abridgement we might have hoped to find those many passages which
himself； as well as those several passages which others refer to；
as written by him； but which are not extant in his present works。
However； since many of his own references to what he had written
elsewhere； as well as most of his own errors； belong to such
early times as could not well come into this abridgement of the
Jewish War； and since none of those that quote things not now
extant in his works； including himself as well as others； ever
cite any such abridgement； I am forced rather to suppose that he
never did publish any such work at all； I mean； as distinct from
his own Life； written by himself； for an appendix to these
Antiquities； and this at least seven years after these
Antiquities were finished。 Nor indeed does it appear to me that
Josephus ever published that other work here mentioned； as
intended by him for the public also： I mean the three or four
books concerning God and his essence； and concerning the Jewish
laws； why； according to them； some things were permitted the
Jews； and others prohibited； which last seems to be the same work
which Josephus had also promised； if God permitted； at the
conclusion of his preface to these Antiquities； nor do I suppose
that he ever published any of them。 The death of all his friends
at court； Vespasian； Titus； and Domitian； and the coming of those
he had no acquaintance with to the crown； I mean Nerva and
Trajan； together with his removal from Rome to Judea； with what
followed it； might easily interrupt such his intentions； and
prevent his publication of those works。
End