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[266]
There was also another disturbance at Cesarea, - those Jews who were
mixed with the Syrians that lived there rising a tumult against them. The
Jews pretended that the city was theirs, and said that he who built it
was a Jew, meaning king Herod. The Syrians confessed also that its builder
was a Jew; but they still said, however, that the city was a Grecian city;
for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not design it for
Jews. On which account both parties had a contest with one another; and
this contest increased so much, that it came at last to arms, and the bolder
sort of them marched out to fight; for the elders of the Jews were not
able to put a stop to their own people that were disposed to be tumultuous,
and the Greeks thought it a shame for them to be overcome by the Jews.
Now these Jews exceeded the others in riches and strength of body; but
the Grecian part had the advantage of assistance from the soldiery; for
the greatest part of the Roman garrison was raised out of Syria; and being
thus related to the Syrian part, they were ready to assist it. However,
the governors of the city were concerned to keep all quiet, and whenever
they caught those that were most for fighting on either side, they punished
them with stripes and bands. Yet did not the sufferings of those that were
caught affright the remainder, or make them desist; but they were still
more and more exasperated, and deeper engaged in the sedition. And as Felix
came once into the market-place, and commanded the Jews, when they had
beaten the Syrians, to go their ways, and threatened them if they would
not, and they would not obey him, he sent his soldiers out upon them, and
slew a great many of them, upon which it fell out that what they had was
plundered. And as the sedition still continued, he chose out the most eminent
men on both sides as ambassadors to Nero, to argue about their several
privileges.
1
1 FESTUS SUCCEEDS FELIX WHO IS SUCCEEDED BY ALBINUS AS HE IS BY FLORUS; WHO BY THE BARBARITY OF HIS GOVERNMENT FORCES THE JEWS INTO THE WAR.
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