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The Church History of Eusebius
Chapter XX.--The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the Reign of Nero.
1. Josephus again, in the twentieth book of his Antiquities, relates the quarrel which arose among the priests during the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of Judea.
2. His words are as follows 1 : "There arose a quarrel between the high priests on the one hand and the priests and leaders of the people of Jerusalem on the other. 2 And each of them collected a body of the boldest and most restless men, and put himself at their head, and whenever they met they hurled invectives and stones at each other. And there was no one that would interpose; but these things were done at will as if in a city destitute of a ruler.
3. And so great was the shamelessness and audacity of the high priests that they dared to send their servants to the threshing-floors to seize the tithes due to the priests; and thus those of the priests that were poor were seen to be perishing of want. In this way did the violence of the factions prevail over all justice."
4. And the same author again relates that about the same time there sprang up in Jerusalem a certain kind of robbers, 3 "who by day," as he says, "and in the middle of the city slew those who met them."
5. For, especially at the feasts, they mingled with the multitude, and with short swords, which they concealed under their garments, they stabbed the most distinguished men. And when they fell, the murderers themselves were among those who expressed their indignation. And thus on account of the confidence which was reposed in them by all, they remained undiscovered.
6. The first that was slain by them was Jonathan the high priest; 4 and after him many were killed every day, until the fear became worse than the evil itself, each one, as in battle, hourly expecting death.
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Jos. Ant. XX. 8. 8. Felix showed himself throughout very mean and cruel, and his procuratorship was marked with continual disturbances. ↩
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This disturbance arose toward the end of Felix's term, under the high priest Ishmael, who had been appointed by Agrippa but a short time before. No cause is given by Josephus for the quarrel. ↩
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B. J.II. 13. 3. These open robberies and murders, which took place in Jerusalem at this period, were in part a result of the conduct of Felix himself in the murder of Jonathan (see the next note). At least his conduct in this case started the practice, which was kept up with zeal by the ruffians who were so numerous at that time. ↩
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This high priest, Jonathan, had used his influence in procuring the appointment of Felix as procurator, and was therefore upon intimate terms with him, and took the liberty of advising and rebuking him at pleasure; until at last he became so burdensome to Felix that he bribed a trusted friend of Jonathan to bring about his murder. The friend accomplished it by introducing a number of robbers into the city, who, being unknown, mingled freely with the people and slew Jonathan and many others with him, in order to turn away suspicion as to the object of the crime. See Jos. Ant. XX. 8. 5. Josephus has omitted to mention Jonathan's appointment to the high priesthood, and this has led Valesius to conclude that he was not really a high priest, but simply one of the upper class of priests. But this conclusion is unwarranted, as Josephus expressly calls him the high priest in the passage referred to (cf. also the remarks of Reland, quoted in Havercamp's ed. of Josephus, p. 912). Wieseler (p. 77, note) thinks that Jonathan was not high priest at this time, but that he had been high priest and was called so on that account. He makes Ananias high priest from 48 to 57, quoting Anger, De temporum in Act. Ap. ratione. ↩
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Histoire ecclésiastique
CHAPITRE XX : CE QUI ARRIVA A JÉRUSALEM SOUS NÉRON
Sous le règne de Néron, tandis que Félix gouvernait Judée, la discorde s'éleva parmi les prêtres : Josèphe le décrit encore en ces termes dans le vingtième livre des Antiquités.1
« [2] Les grands prêtres entrèrent en lutte contre les prêtres et les premiers citoyens de Jérusalem. Chacun d'eux s'étant fait une garde des hommes les plus hardis et les plus entreprenants marchait à leur tête ; et c'était à chaque rencontre une grêle d'insultes et de pierres. Il n'y avait personne pour s'opposer à ces rixes ; mais, comme dans une ville sans magistrats, elles avaient lieu en toute liberté. [3] Les grands prêtres portaient l'impudence et l'audace jusqu'à oser envoyer leurs serviteurs pour enlever dans les granges les dîmes qui étaient dues aux prêtres. Il arriva même qu'on vit mourir de faim ceux d'entre eux qui étaient pauvres. A ce point l'emportait sur tout droit la violence des séditieux ».
[4] Le même écrivain raconte encore qu'à cette époque une espèce de brigands se forma à Jérusalem, qui en plein jour et en pleine ville, selon son expression, tuaient ceux qu'ils rencontraient,2 [5] C'était surtout aux jours de fête qu'ils se mêlaient à la foule. Ils tenaient cachées sous leurs habits des épées courtes avec lesquelles ils frappaient les personnes étrangères à leur parti (voy. l'Appendice). Aussitôt que celles-ci tombaient, parmi ceux qui s'indignaient, se trouvaient les meurtriers, et grâce à cette apparence honnête ils demeuraient tout à fait introuvables. [6] Sous leurs coups tomba d'abord le grand prêtre Jonathan, et après lui, chaque jour, beaucoup périrent. La peur fut encore plus pénible que le mal ; car chacun, comme dans une guerre, attendait la mort d'un moment à l'autre.
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Félix, frère du puissant affranchi Palals, fut procurateur de 52 à 60. Sur ce qui suit, voy. SCHUERER,t I, p. 576. ↩
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suiv. Ces " sicaires " étaient un parti de zélotes; aussi, § 5, τοὺς διαφόρους désigne ceux qui ne partageaient pas leur haine de l'étranger, les amis des Romains. SCHUERER, t. I, p. 574. ↩