Page 825
PART II. The JEWISH Story.
§. 1. Preparations of war against Aretas.
THE terrible and bitter message of the Emperor to Vitellius against King Aretas, must be obeyed, though more of necessity than of any zeal of Vitellius in He∣rods quarrel. He therefore raising what forces he accounted fitting for his own safety in the Emperors favour, and for his safety with the enemy, march∣eth toward the seat of the war, intending to lead his Army through Judea: But he was diverted from this intention, by the humble supplication of the Jews to the contrary, who took on how contrary it was to their ancient Laws and customs to have any Images and pictures brought into their Country, whereof there was great store in the Romans Arms and Banners. The gentleness of the General was easily overtreated, and command∣ing his Army another way, he himself with Herod and his friends went up to Jerusalem, where he offered sacrifice, and removed Jonathan from the High-priesthood, and placed Theophilus his brother in his stead. This was, saith Josephus, at a feast of the Jews, but he named not which; and Vitellius having stayed there three days, on the fourth recei∣veth letters concerning Tiberius his death. I leave it to be weighed by the Reader whe∣ther this festival were the Passover or Pentecost. For on the one hand since Tiberius died about the middle of March as the Roman Historians do generally agree, it is scarce possi∣ble that the Governor of Syria and the Nations of the East should be unacquainted with it, till Pentecost which was eight or nine weeks after: For all the Empire must as soon as possible be sworn unto the new Prince, as Vitellius upon the tidings did swear Judea, and so long a time might have bred some unconvenience. And yet on the contrary it is very strange, that the intelligence of his death should be so quick as to get from Rome to Jerusalem between the middle of March and the middle of the Passover week.
Vitellius upon the tidings recalleth his Army again, and disposeth and billeteth them in the several places where they had wintered, for he knew not whether Caius would be of the same mind with Tiberius about the matter of Aretas and Herod: you may guess how this news was brooked by the Arabian King, and yet was it no other than what he looked for, if he believed what he himself spake. For hearing of the preparations of Vitellius against him, and consulting with Wizards and Augury; This Army, saith he, shall not come into Arabia, for some of the Commanders shall die; Either he that commandeth the war, or he that undertaketh it, or he for whom it is undertaken: meaning either Tiberius, Vitellius, or Herod.
§. 2. An Omen to Agrippa in chains.
Such another wizardly presage of the Emperors death, had Agrippa at Rome as Jose∣phus also relateth, who relateth the former. For as he stood bound before the Palace, leaning dejectedly upon a tree, among many others that were prisoners with him, an Owl came and sate in that tree, to which he leaned, which a Germane seeing, being one of those that stood there bound, he asked who he was that was in the purple, and lean∣ed there: and understanding who he was: he told him of his inlargement, promotion to honour, and prosperity, and that when he should see that bird again, he should die with∣in five days after. And thus will the credulity of superstition have the very birds to fore∣tel Tiberius his end, from the Phenix to the Owl.