CHaP'IER XX.
24. 77iis is the disciple, Si,c. This proves that the beloved disciple was John. ^ Il'e know. That is, it is known; it is universally admitted. It was so decidedly his character that he always declared the truth, that it had become knovn, and was unquestioned, so that he himself m\'^\\\. appeal to the universal testimony in his behalf. In this case, therefore, we have the testimony of a man whose character for nearly a century was that of a man of truth — so much so, that it had become in a manner proverbial, and put beyond a question. It is impossible to believe that such a man would sit down deliberately to impose on mankind, or to write a book which was fal.so..And if not, then this book is true — and that is the same as saying that Christianity is a religion from lica\en.
which if they should he written every one, I suppose that even the
livercd, &.C. ^^ I suppose, &i,c. Tliis is evidently the figure of speech called a hyperbole. It is a mode of speech where the words express more, or less, than is literally true. It is common among all ivriters — and as the sacred writers in rctording a revelation to men used human language, it was proper that they should express themselves as men ordinarily do, if they wished to be understood. This figure of speech is commonly the effect of surprise; or having the mind full of some object, and not having words to express the ideas. At the same time the words convey no falsehood. The statement is to be taken as it would be understood among the persons to whom it is addressed; and as no one supposes that the author means to be understood literally, so there is no deception in the case, and consequently no impeachment of his veracity, or inspiration. Thus when Longinus said of a man, that " he was owner of a piece of ground not larger than a Lacedffim.onian letter," no one understood him literally. He means evidently a very small piece of land, and no one would be deceived. So Virgil says of a man, " he was so tall as to reach the «tars," and means only that he was very tail. So when John says that the world would not contain the books that should be written if all the deeds and sayings of Jesus were recorded, he clearly intends nothing more than that a great many books would be required; or that it would be extremely difficult to record them all — intimating that his life was active — thi.t his discourses were numerous— and that he had not pretended to ^ive them all, but only such as should io to establ\sh the main point for which w wiote — that he was the Messiali.
world itself could not contain the ' books that should be written. Amen,
This gospel contains, in itself, the clearest proof of inspiration. It is the work of a fisherman of Galilee, without any proof that he had any unusual advantages. It is a connected, clear, and satisfactory argument, to establish the great truth that Jesus was the Messiah. It was written many years aftei the ascension of Jesus. It contains tha record of the Saviour's profoundest discourses; of his most convincing arguments with the Jews; and of his declarations respecting himself and God. It contains the purest and most elevated views of God to be found any where, as far exceeding all the speculations of philosophers, as the sun does the blaze of a taper. It is in the highest degree absurd to suppose that an unlettered fisherman could have originated this book. Any one may be convinced of this by comparing it with what would be the production of a man in that rank of life now. But if John has preserved the recordofwhat has occurred so many years before, then it shows that he was under the divine guidance, and is himself a proof — a full and standing proof of the fulfilment of the promise which he has recorded — that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. John xiv. 26. Of this book, we may, in conclusion, apply the words spoken by John, respecting his vision of the future events of the Church. " Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this" book, "and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand." Rf'v
Of the principal events occurring in Judea, and the corresponding events in the Roman empire, from the conquest of Judea by Pompei/, to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.
77 — 68. Alexandra, Queen of the Jews. She leaves two sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. Bolh claim the crown. Arisiobulus seizing upon it by force, and Hyroenus being placed on the throne by the Pharisees. In a battle between the two brothers, Hyrcanus is overcome, and Arisiobulus secures the crown.
65. In Syria, the dynasty of the Seleucida; ends with Anliochus Xil., who is overcome by Pompey. Syria becomes a liuman province.
67 — C3. Aristodulus II., Ki.su of the Jews. lie had been High Priest under the reign of his mother, nine years. Was then King and High I'ricst. Was afterwards Priest nineteen years. Then F.lhnarch four years. Then Herod's captive and Bport, eight years. Hyrcanus, at the instigation of Anlipater, the father of Herod the Great, seeks the aid of.Aretas, the king of Arabia. Aniipaler, or Anii|)as, was an Idumean by birth, but had adopted the Jewish religion, and was Governor of Idumea during the reign of Alexander Janneus, and his widow. Alexandra. Anlipater joins the party of Hyrcanus. He and Hyrcanus llee to.Arctas, King of Arabia. Aretas agrees to place him on the throne, and conducts him to Judea with an army of 50,000 men; takes Jerusalem, and restores him to the throne. Aristobulus flees to the temple; and then appeals to Scauras, the Roman (icncral at Damascus, for aid. Scauras WTiles to Aretas; threatens to declare him an enemy of the Roman people if he does not withdraw. Ho withdraws, and Arisiobulus pursues him, aiid defeats him in a battle.
63. Porap)ey the Great, who had come to Damascus, commands the two brothers to appear belore him. The two brothers appear before him, and urge their respective claims — Hyrcanus pleading his birth; Aristobulus, the necessity of the case. Aristobulus, foreseeing that the decision would be against him, wiihdraws and fortifies himself in Jerusalem. Arisiobulus surrenders himself to Pompey, but his party shuts the gates against the Romans, and Pompey puts Arisiobulus in chains, and begins a siege. The city is taken by the Romans, because the Jews would not fight on ihe Sabbalh, and is brought under Ihe lionian [wwer, according to Calniei, 59 years; according to Hales, 63 years; and according to Jahn, 63 years belljro Christ. Pompey confirms Hyrcanus in the High Priesthood.
63 — 55. HvRCA.NUs H., Prince and High Priest of the Jews Jldea a Roman Province.
60. The First Triumvirate: — Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caasar
54. Alexander, son of Aristobulus, escapes from those who were carrying him to Rome, and returns to Judea and raises soldiers. Hyrcanus nut being able to defend himself, applies to (lubiiuiiR, llio Roman general. Anli(>iiler. the liithcr of Hpro«l the Great, joins the itomnn army. Alexander is defeated. Gabiiiius cunlirms Hyrcauui ia the High Priesthood, but changes the form of;ho government lo an.ARisTocRAti"
Thi& continues until the year 44, B. C, when Caesar comes to Judea and restores Hyi can us to his former power.
53. Aristobulus escapes from Rome, and comes to Judea with his younger soa 4ntigonus. Thev are taken prisoners, and sent to Rome
54. Gabinius is removed I'rom Judea, Crassus is made Pro-consul of Syria, and comes to Syria. lie comes to Jerusalem, and robs the Temple of 8,000 Talents of gold, — equal to about $200,000,000. Makes war with the Parthians, and is put to death. Cassius Ix)nginus succeeds him in the command of the army. Brings the remainder of the army over the Euphrates, and takes about 30,000 Jewish captives.
45. Battle of Pharsalia in Thessaly, where Pompey is defeated. Pompey flees to Egypt, and is beheaded.
45. Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, is made Governor of Judea. He is appointed to this office by Julius Caesar. Caesar confirms Hyrcanus in the High Priesthood, and gives him permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, which had been demolished by Pompey.
44. Hyrcanus sends to Rome a golden shield, and the Jews are, by a decree of the Senate, acknowledged as the allies of the Romans.
44. Antipater re-builds the walls of Jerusalem. He makes his oldest son, Phazael, Governor of Jerusalem, and Herod, afterwards Herod the Great, Governor of Galilee.
44. Caesar subdues all Egypt, and gives it into the hands of Cleopatra. Is again made Dictator.
Herod attacks and subdues the robbers in Galilee.
Herod is summoned before the Sanhedrim on the charge of the exercise of arbitrary power. He appears before them in a purple robe, and attended by his lifeguard, and defies them. He departs from Jerusalem, and goes to Sextus Caesar, at Damascus, and obtains the government of all Coelo-Syria.
43. The Roman calendar reformed by Julius Csesar. This year was called the year of confusion, and consisted of 445 days.
41. Julius Caesar restores to the Jews all that they had formerly possessed, and confirms them in the enjoyment of all their privileges.
Cffisar is put to death in the Senate-house.
40 Jewish ambassadors appear at Rome to pray that their privileges may be con firmed Their request is granted.
39. Herod and Phazael, Tetrarchs of Judea. They are accused by the Jews before Antony. More than a thousand Jews appear with these complaints. Antony regards it as rebellion, and causes many of them to be slain, and confirms the brothers as Tetrarchs of the Jews.
Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, prevails on the Parthians to place him on the throne of Judea. The Parthians seize Hyrcanus and Phazael, and deliver them up to Anti gonus.
Phazael beats out his own brains. Antigonus cuts off the ears of Hyrcanus, and •ends him beyond the Euphrates.
37. Herod i« forced to flee to Jerusalem, and thence to Rome, to implore the aid of Antony. He obtains the grant of the Kingdom of Judea from the Senate and the Goveimors of Syria are required to aid him in securing it. He reigns thirty-seven years He is conducted to the Capitol at Rome by Antony and Octavianus, and there crowned King, with idolatrous sacrifices.
37. Herod, King of Judea. He was the second son of Antipater, an Idumean by birth, who had been governor of Judea.
37. Ventidius, a Roman, has command of the forces in the East; appointed Dy A» tonv.
Herod returns to Judea, having been nlwent but three months. lie raises an army. Hastens to relieve his family in the fortress of Massada, where they were besieged by Antigonus. C!oes to Idumea and lakes possession of a strong fortress by the name of Ressa, and then returns and lays siege to Jerusalem. Unable to take the city, he is obliged to decamp. Marches to Galilee, and endeavors to clear the country of robbers.
36. Herod renews his attacks dft ihe robbers. Is obliged to let down his soldiers in chests by ropes over the mouth of the caves, and to fight them there. Having subdued the robbers, he marches to Samaria against Antigonus, but is obliged to return to Galilee, to quell the rubbers.
'I'he brother of Herod, Joseph, is surrounded and slain by the army of Antigonus, near Jericho.
36. Antony leads nn army against the Parlhians. Commits the government of Syria to Sosius, and returns to Italy.
The Roman Triumvirate continues, and Antony has assigned to him the afioirs o< the Kast.
He is married to Mariamne, to whom he had been betrothed four years. She was the daughter of Alexander, the son of king Aristobulus, by Alexandra, the daughter of Hyrcanus H., and was thus grand-daughter to both these brothers. Herod hoped by this marriage to reconi-ile the Jews to him; as the Asmonean family, from which she was descended, was in high favor with the Jews. She was a woman of uncommon beauty. Herod is joined by the Roman general, Sosius.
34. Jerusalem is taken by Herod, and Antigonus surrenders himself. He is.Teated with the greatest indignity. Is sent to Antioch, and beheaded by the command of Antony, and thus the reign of the Asmoneans, which had lasted 126 years, •» ended,.\.vd Herod is confirmed i.n the Ki.ngdom.
31. Herod condemns to death all the members of the Sanhedrim, except Sameas nd Pollio.
32. He appoints to Ihe office of High Priest, Ananel of Babylon, a common priest, but a descendant of the ancient high priests.
He invites Hyrcanus II. to come to Jerusalem from Seleucia, where he had been kindly entertained by the Oriental Jews. Hyrcanus comes to Jerusalem, where he is treated by Herod with great respect.
32. Herod, at the earnest solicitations of Alexandra and Mariamne, deprives.Ana ntl of the high priesthood, and confers it on Aristobulus, the brother of Mariamne, then onlv 17 years old. Herod is displeased with the interference of Alexandra in ihis business, and she and her son Aristobulus, attempt to escape to Cleopatra in Kgypt. Aristobulus is drowned by order of Herod, in a lake near Jericho, on account of the affection shown for him by the people.
32. Antony comes into Syria, but goes then into Egypt, where he spends a whole year with Cleopatra. Lepidus and Octavianus come to an open rupture, and Lepi dus retires as a private man, and the Roman power is left in the hanas of Antony and Octavianus, afterwards Augustus.
31. Herod is sent for by Antony, to justify himself against the charge of having murdered Aristobulus. Gives his kingdom to the care of his uncle, Joseph. Charges him in case he is condemned, to put ^lariamne to death, that she might not be possessed by Antony. Joseph informs her of the charge of Herod, and is impnsoned on his return.
Antony gives to Cleopatra the most fertile part of Judea, but Herod agrees to p*y ner a yearly tribute of two hundred talents.
Cleopatra visits Herod at Jerusalem, and attempts, in vain, to entangle him in her mares.
Antony makes war on.Armenia. Appoints Casario, son of Julius Corsar by Cleopatra, King of Kgypt. Makes his eldest sun, Alexander, King of Armenia and Parthia.
27. Herod makes war with Ihe Arabians, at the command of Antony. Is defeated near Cena. A great earthquake in Judea.
27. The batti.k of Actium between Antony and Octnvianiu, which decide* th« <lefftiny of the Roman world. Antony is dclcated. 34»
2Ci. Ilyrranus, then 80 years of ogf-, attempts to escape, and Herod giafllv etnbra cos ihi? op|K)rtunily to put him to death. (;oes to Home to pay court to Augustus, and to coiiclhatc his fiivor. Places Mariamne and her mother, Alexandra, in the casile of Aiexandrium, with orders to the keepers to put them to death if he is slaia. Confc.sses to Augustus all that he had done lor Antony, and is confirmed in hia king dom. *
24. Mariamne becomes irreconcilably opposed to Herod. Herod becomes jea oiis. Orders the most faithful servant of Mariamne to be put to the torture. Accuses Mariamne of adultery before judges of his own selection. She is condemned, in accordance with the wishes of Herod, and immediately executed. Herod, filled with remorse, loses all self-command.
23 Herod puts to death the sons of Babas, at the instigation of her sister Salomft, and thus cuts off the last remains of the Asmonean race. They were the descendants of Hyrcanus, and Herod now felt himself secure from any claimant to the throne
21. Plague and famine in Judea. Herod lays the foundation of a palace on Mount Zion.
19. Herod builds Csesarea in Palestine, and fortifies Samaria. Sends to Rome hia two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, whom he had by the murdered Mariamne. Agrippa, the favorite of Augustus, is made Governor of the East.
18. Augustus visits.Antioch, and at the request of Herod, raises his brother Pneroras to the dignity of a Tetrarch. ■»
16. Herod, in order to conciliate the affection of the Jews, resolves on rebuilding the Temple in a style of much greater magnificence than the former Temple. Two years are spent in collecting materials. The old Temple is taken down by degrees a« fast as its parts could be replaced by the new building. The main body of the edifice completed in nine years and an half But the whole not completed until long after the death of Herod. (Notes on John ii. 20.)
13. Herod goes to Rome. Takes his two sons with him on his return, and marries them; the one to a daughter of the King of Cappadocia, and the other to a daughter of his sister Salome.
12. Agrippa visits the East, and is magnificently entertained by Herod, at Jerusalem. 0
8. Herod goes to Rome, and accuses his two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, of a design against his life. To this he is instigated principally by his brother, Pheroras, and his sister Salome, on account of their hatred of Mariamne.
Herod is finally reconciled to his sons by the influence of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, whose daughter Alexander had married. He goes into Arabia, takes the fortress of Repta, and puts the garrison to the sword.
3. The suspicions of Herod are again excited against his two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus. They are arrested, tried, condemned, and sent to Samaria, where they are strangled by order of their father.
1, Pheroras, the brother of Herod, and Antipater the son of Herod, form a conspiracy against his life. The plan is to poison him. Pheroras is taken sick and dies Antipater at the time is in Rome. The whole plot is discovered by the widow of Pheroras, and Herod divorces his wife, Mariamne, daughter of Simon, for being an accomplice, strikes the name of Antipater from his will, deposes Simon from the High Priesthood, and puis many persons to death. All this is kept secret from Antipater at Rome, and Herod sends for him to come home, with many expressions of his paternal love.
Augustus the Roman Emperor. The Temple of Janus shut, as a sign of universa. peace. "
The birth of Christ four years before the common Christian era. That era began to be used about A. D. 526, being first employed by Dionysius. and is supposed to tiave been placed about four years l.»o late. Some make the difference two, others three, four, five, and even eight years. He was born at the commencement of the last year of the reign of Ilerod, or at the close ol' the year preceding. Herod had been king 37 years; Augusius emperor about IG.
Antipater returns Irom Rome. Is accused and convicted of a design to murder Herod, and is put to deaih by his order. The flight into l^gypt. Matth. ii. 13 — 15 The murder of the Innocents at Bethlehem. Matih. ii. 10.
Herod dies at Jencho, five days after his son Antipater, in the 70ih year of his age, of n most loathsome and painful disease. Ho called around him the principal men of the nation, and charged his Fisier Salome and her husband lo coiiiine them m the hippodrome, and to massacre them as soon as he had breathed his last, that the
By ihe will of Hero<l, Archelaus is apixjinted his successor in the kingdom; Herod Anlijias madeTetrarch ol Perea and Galilee; and Philip, Tetrarch of Balanea, Gautanilis, Trachonilis, and Paneas. To his sister Salome, he gives Jamnia, and some other places. /Vs soon as Herod was dead. Ins sister Salome dismissed all the Jewish nobles who had been confined in the hippodrome, and who had been ordered to l>t nut to death.
2 — 11..\rciielaus. Goes to Rome to obtain the confirmation of his title as King from Augustus. The decision of Augustus is delayed..Archelaus takes the High Priesthood from Joazer, and gives it lo LIcazer.
Great tumult in Judea. The nation in arms against the Roman power. The Temple is attacked, but the Romans are repulsed.
Augustus confirms Archelaus in the kingdom, but with the title of E'.hnarch, instead of King. Archelaus rebuilds Jericho. Is accused by the Jews and Samaritans of tyranny, before Augusius, and is banished to \'ienne, in Gaul, in the tenth year of his reign.
A. D. 12 — 26. Judea a Rojian Province. In Ihe year 12 A. D., Augustus united Judea and Samaria to Syria, and appointed Publius Sulpitius Quirinus {Curenius, Luke ii. 2,) Governor of the Province. At the same lime Coponius is made Pro curator of Judea.
14. The Temple at Jerusalem is polluted by some Samarttans, who entered it bj night, and strewed there the bones of dead men.
17. Augustus dies at Rola in Campania, in the 7Glh year of his age, and the 57th yenr of his reign. He is succeeded by Tiberius, the son of his wife, Julia.
18. Valerius Grains made Procurator of Judea, by Tiberius. He deposes.-Vnanus, and makes Ismael High Priest. Afterwards he gives the ollice to tlleazcr.son of Ananus; then to Simeon; and at last to Joseph, called in the.New Testament Cainphas.
He attempts to set up Roman colors and ensigns in Jerusalem, but is opposed by the Jews.
About this time hostilities existed between Herod Antipas, and Arclas, King of Arabia. Herod Antipas had married a daughier of Arotas. On his way to Rome, he saw and fell in love with Herodias, the wile of his brother, and agreed to marry her, and to put away the daughter of Aretas. She hearing this, fled lo her father, and the consequence was a war, in which Herod was defeated, and Ins army ili.s|)ersed.
30. John the Baptist declares this marriage unlawful, and is imprisoned by Herod
31. John the Baptist in prison. Sends a deputation to Jesus, to know if he WM the iMe.ssiah.
33. Jesus is crucified on Friday, April 3. Supposed to have been at about Ihre* o'clock, P. M.
35. Agrip[m Ihe younger being involved in debt, resolves lo go to Rome.,\ttache» himself lo iJie party of Cams, and incurs the displeasure of Tiberius. This year died Philip. Tetrarch ol Trachonitis. Ax., o son of Meroil the (;reat. Ho was mild and equitable in his government, and had ruled 37 years. The countries over which n* sad presided, were at his death united tc the province of Syria.
37. Tiberius dies, a most profligate and abandoned man. He is succeeaed by Caius Caligula.
37. Pilate is recalled by Caligula, and banished to Vienne, in Gaul, where he u said to have put an end to his own life.
3S — 45..•\fiRirPA TiiK You.NGKR, Ki.N'G OF T UK Jfws. Hb was the son of Aristo bulus, and grandson ofMariamne. Shortly beiore the death of llerod iheCireat, (his grandfather,) he goes to Home, squanders hi.s property there, and is reduced to want. Goes to IduiTiea, and resolves to commit suicide. Persuaded to abandon hia plan by his wife. Obtains the government from Tiberius. Is accused by his hail-brother, Aristobulus, and goes again to Rome. Is favorably received by Tiberius. Is accused, however, of having made a treasonable remark respectmg 'I'iberius, and imprisoned till the deaih of that emperor. Is released by Caligula from prison, and made King of CJaulanitis, Batanea, and Trachonitis.
42. Herod Antipas, at the instigation of Agrippa, is banished to Lyons, and his Tetrarchy given to King Agrippa.
Caligula orders Petronius to place his statue in the Temple at Jerusalem. It ia delayed at the instance of.Agrippa.
42. Agrippa is raised by Claudius to the rank of Consul; Samaria and Judeaare given him, and thus he obtains the entire kingdom of Herod the Great.
43. Deprives the High Priest, Matthias, of the priesthood, and bestows it on Elioneus.
Causes the Apostle James, the Greater, to be put to death, — Acts xii. 1, — and impri sons Peter. Soon afterwards dies at Ccesarea, in great misery. Acts xii. 21 — 23. A famine at Rome.
45. Cuspius Fad us is sent into Judea as Governor or Procurator. He continuea in the office two years.
Fadus demands that the vestments of the High Priest should be placed under Ro man custody. Longinus comes to Jerusalem to enforce this order.
Claudius places Herod, the brother ol'the deceased Agrippa, over the Temple and the Treasury.
A celebrated false Messiah appears. He persuades the people to follow him to the Jordan. Promises to stop the river by a word, and to lead them over on dry ground Is pursued by the Roman cavalry, and beheaded.
A second iamine in the reign of Claudius. This was in Palestine. Acts xi. 28.
46. Fadus is recalled. Tiberius, an apostate Jew, is made Governor of Judea in his place.
47. Claudius takes away the authority of Herod, and gives it to Agrippa, the son of King Agrippa, w^ho died at Caesarea. This was the Agrippa before whom Paul afterwards appeared..Acts xxvi.
47. Tiberius is recalled, and Curaanus is made Procurator of Judea. Violent disturbances in Judea.
53. Curaanus is recalled and expelled from Rome. Claudius appoints Fells Procurator of Judea. Felix was a freedman of Claudius. Claudius gives to Agrippa ihe Tetrarchy which had formerly belonged to Philip, — Gaulanitis, Batanea, and Tra chonitis.
Claudius expels the Jews from Rome, because, in expectation of the Messiah, they are constantly ext ting disturbances.
55. Claudius dies, being poisoned by the Empress Agrippina, the mother of Nero Nero succeeds him. JNero soon puts many persons to death, and among others hia own mother.
66. JVero gives to Agrippa the cities Tiberias, Tarichsa, Abila, and Julias, an liie districts belonging to them.
Felix captures a number of robbers and crucifies them.
The Sicarii, or robbers with short swords, appear and abound in Judea. Felk hires one of them to assassinate the High Priest, Jonathan. Many false prophets appear in Judea.
58. Paul goes into Judea to carry contributions. Is seized in the Temple at Jerusalem, and sent to Csesarea. Ishmael made High Priest. Paul makes his defencf before Felix, f Acts xxiv.,) at Csesarea. Is imprisoned two yeara.
CO. PoKCiL's Festus made Governor of Jl'dea. Felix is accused at Rome.
Paul appeals lo the Emperor. Makes his speech before Agrippa, (.Acts ixvi.,) and IS put on shipboard to be sent to Rome. Is shipwrecked at Malta.
Festiis finds the country overrun with robbers. A lalse Messiah is taken and slain Agrippa at Jerusalem builds a high apartment in the palace of Herixl, by which he;an overlook all that is done in the Temple. The Jews build a high wall on Iho west lide of the Temple, to intercept his view. The case is submitted to Nero. IS'ero allows the wall to stand.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLK.
64. Martyrdom of James the Less, at Jerusalem. According lo Jossphus, ho was «toned.
61. Herod's Temple at Jerusalem, is completed, and about 18,000 workmen are dlscharired from employment, many of whom become robbers.
65. Gessils Flokus.made Procurator of Judea, — a man worse than any of hi.'< predecessors. Ho was cruel, tyrannical, and insatiably avaricious.
Josephus says that at that time there were 3,000,000 Jews in Jerusalem.
Rome set on fire, — probably by order of Nero. He charges it on the Christians, several of whom are put to death by being enclosed in pilch and set on fire, lo illumi nate the garden.s of the Fnipcror.
The probable year of the martyrdom of Paul and Peter, at Rome.
All edict of the emperor is issued, by which the Syrian and Greek inhabitants of Caesarca are raised above the Jews. The dissatisfacMon which this occasions is the first cause of the war. The Syrians and Greeks at CiEsarea sacrifice birds on the bottom o.*" an earthen vessel, in order to irritate the Jews. A tumult is excited. Florus demands seventeen Talents from the Temple, for ihe use of the F.mperor. The Jews are exasperated, and lake possession of the lower city. They arltack the castle of Antonia, and take it after two days.
The Christians in Jerusalem, seeing that a war is about to break out, retire lo Pella, in the kingdom of Agrippa, beyond Jordan.
67. Vespasian is appointed by Nero to prosecute the Jewish war. Comes to Antioch, and forms a numerous army. Division in Jerusalem, and general revolt in Judea. 'J'ltus, the son of N'espasian, is sent to.Alexandra, to collect an army, and lo proceed to I'alesiine in aid of his father. Vespa-^ian subdues Galilee.
Josephus besieged in Jolapala. Jolapata taken, and Josephus surrenders to Vespasian.
'i'he Zealots in Jerusalem seize the Temple, and depose Theophilus from being High Priest, and put Phannias in his place. They send lor the Idumeans lo aid ihcro.
68. Vespasian takes all the places of strength in Judea, around Jerusalem. Nero dies. Galba succeeds him.
Eleazer, son of Simon, forms a third party, and makes himself master of the inner Temple.
Galba dies. Olho declared F.mperor. Otho dies. Vitellius proclaimed Emperor by the (ierman legions. Vespasian proclaimed by vlic army in the East. \°espa8ian secures the throne.
70. Tiius marches against Jerusalem to besiege it. Approaches it some days bo fore Jio Passover.
The factions in Jerusalem at first unite against the Romans, but afterwards divide attain.
The Romans make a wall all around Jerusalem, to reduce it lo famine.
July 17. The perpetual daily sacrifice ceases.
.A Roman soldier scis the Temple on fire, notwithstanding the orders of Tilut to tiie contrary.
71. Thus demolishes the Temple lo its foutKlntion, and also the city, reserving the lowers of Hippiciis, Phazael, and Mariamne.
Tilus returns if) Rome, in his (iiiher, Vespasian. A triumph d6^;reed them, and tht arch creeled in Rome, which issiill standirg.
The Jewish war ended; liassiis sent in o Judea as lieulenant, and Judea ia sub duefl.
Scriptural Measures of Length, reduced to English Measure.
Jewish Money reduced to our standard.
A Talent of gold was worth
Roman Money, mentioned in the New Testament, reduced to our standard.