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[90]
But Vitellius came into Judea, and went up to Jerusalem; it was at
the time of that festival which is called the Passover. Vitellius was there
magnificently received, and released the inhabitants of Jerusalem from
all the taxes upon the fruits that were bought and sold, and gave them
leave to have the care of the high priest's vestments, with all their ornaments,
and to have them under the custody of the priests in the temple, which
power they used to have formerly, although at this time they were laid
up in the tower of Antonia, the citadel so called, and that on the occasion
following: There was one of the [high] priests, named Hyrcanus; and as
there were many of that name, he was the first of them; this man built
a tower near the temple, and when he had so done, he generally dwelt in
it, and had these vestments with him, because it was lawful for him alone
to put them on, and he had them there reposited when he went down into
the city, and took his ordinary garments; the same things were continued
to be done by his sons, and by their sons after them. But when Herod came
to be king, he rebuilt this tower, which was very conveniently situated,
in a magnificent manner; and because he was a friend to Antonius, he called
it by the name of Antonia. And as he found these vestments lying there,
he retained them in the same place, as believing, that while he had them
in his custody, the people would make no innovations against him. The like
to what Herod did was done by his son Archelaus, who was made king after
him; after whom the Romans, when they entered on the government, took possession
of these vestments of the high priest, and had them reposited in a stone-chamber,
under the seal of the priests, and of the keepers of the temple, the captain
of the guard lighting a lamp there every day; and seven days before a festival
they were delivered to them by the captain of the guard, when the high
priest having purified them, and made use of them, laid them up again in
the same chamber where they had been laid up before, and this the very
next day after the feast was over. This was the practice at the three yearly
festivals, and on the fast day; but Vitellius put those garments into our
own power, as in the days of our forefathers, and ordered the captain of
the guard not to trouble himself to inquire where they were laid, or when
they were to be used; and this he did as an act of kindness, to oblige
the nation to him. Besides which, he also deprived Joseph, who was also
called Caiaphas, of the high priesthood, and appointed Jonathan the son
of Ananus, the former high priest, to succeed him. After which, he took
his journey back to Antioch.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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