fter Alexander's death into Egypt and Phoenicia； by reason of the sedition that was arisen in Syria。〃 The same person takes notice in his history； how large the country is which we inhabit； as well as of its excellent character； and says； that 〃the land in which the Jews inhabit contains three millions of arourae； （19） and is generally of a most excellent and most fruitful soil； nor is Judea of lesser dimensions。〃 The same man describe our city Jerusalem also itself as of a most excellent structure； and very large； and inhabited from the most ancient times。 He also discourses of the multitude of men in it； and of the construction of our temple； after the following manner： 〃There are many strong places and villages （says he） in the country of Judea； but one strong city there is； about fifty furlongs in circumference； which is inhabited by a hundred and twenty thousand men； or thereabouts； they call it Jerusalem。 There is about the middle of the city a wall of stone； whose length is five hundred feet； and the breadth a hundred cubits； with double cloisters； wherein there is a square altar； not made of hewn stone； but composed of white stones gathered together； having each side twenty cubits long； and its altitude ten cubits。 Hard by it is a large edifice； wherein there is an altar and a candlestick； both of gold； and in weight two talents： upon these there is a light that is never extinguished； either by night or by day。 There is no image； nor any thing； nor any donations therein； nothing at all is there planted； neither grove； nor any thing of that sort。 The priests abide therein both nights and days； performing certain purifications； and drinking not the least drop of wine while they are in the temple。〃 Moreover； he attests that we Jews went as auxiliaries along with king Alexander； and after him with his successors。 I will add further what he says he learned when he was himself with the same army； concerning the actions of a man that was a Jew。 His words are these： 〃As I was myself going to the Red Sea； there followed us a man； whose name was Mosollam； he was one of the Jewish horsemen who conducted us； he was a person of great courage； of a strong body； and by all allowed to be the most skillful archer that was either among the Greeks or barbarians。 Now this man； as people were in great numbers passing along the road； and a certain augur was observing an augury by a bird； and requiring them all to stand still； inquired what they staid for。 Hereupon the augur showed him the bird from whence he took his augury； and told him that if the bird staid where he was； they ought all to stand still； but that if he got up； and flew onward； they must go forward； but that if he flew backward； they must retire again。 Mosollam made no reply； but drew his bow； and shot at the bird； and hit him； and killed him； and as the augur and some others were very angry； and wished imprecations upon him； he answered them thus： Why are you so mad as to take this most unhappy bird into your hands？ for how can this bird give us any true information concerning our march； who could not foresee how to save himself？ for had he been able to foreknow what was future； he would not have come to this place； but would have been afraid lest Mosollam the Jew should shoot at him； and kill him。〃 But of Hecateus's testimonies we have said enough； for as to such as desire to know more of them； they may easily obtain them from his book itself。 However； I shall not think it too much for me to name Agatharchides； as having made mention of us Jews； though in way of derision at our simplicity； as he supposes it to be； for when he was discoursing of the affairs of Stratonice； 〃how she came out of Macedonia into Syria； and left her husband Demetrius； while yet Seleueus would not marry her as she expected； but during the time of his raising an army at Babylon； stirred up a sedition about Antioch； and how； after that； the king came back； and upon his taking of Antioch； she fled to Seleucia； and had it in her power to sail away immediately yet did she comply with a dream which forbade her so to do； and so was caught and put to death。〃 When Agatharehides had premised this story； and had jested upon Stratonice for her superstition； he gives a like example of what was reported concerning us； and writes thus： 〃There are a people called Jews； and dwell in a city the strongest of all other cities； which the inhabitants call Jerusalem； and are accustomed to rest on every seventh day （20） on which times they make no use of their arms； nor meddle with husbandry； nor take care of any affairs of life； but spread out their hands in their holy places； and pray till the evening。 Now it came to pass； that when Ptolemy； the son of Lagus； came into this city with his army； that these men； in observing this mad custom of theirs； instead of guarding the city； suffered their country to submit itself to a bitter lord； and their law was openly proved to have commanded a foolish practice。 （21） This accident taught all other men but the Jews to disregard such dreams as these were； and not to follow the like idle suggestions delivered as a law； when； in such uncertainty of human reasonings； they are at a loss what they should do。〃 Now this our procedure seems a ridiculous thing to Agatharehides； but will appear to such as consider it without prejudice a great thing； and what deserved a great many encomiums； I mean； when certain men constantly prefer the observation of their laws； and their religion towards God； before the preservation of themselves and their country。
23。 Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation； not because they knew nothing of us； but because they envied us； or for some other unjustifiable reasons； I think I can demonstrate by particular instances； for Hieronymus； who wrote the History of ＇Alexander's Successors； lived at the same time with Hecateus； and was a friend of king Antigonus； and president of Syria。 Now it is plain that Hecateus wrote an entire book concerning us； while Hieronymus never mentions us in his history； although he was bred up very near to the places where we live。 Thus different from one another are the inclinations of men； while the one thought we deserved to be carefully remembered； as some ill…disposed passion blinded the other's mind so entirely； that he could not discern the truth。 And now certainly the foregoing records of the Egyptians； and Chaldeans； and Phoenicians； together with so many of the Greek writers； will be sufficient for the demonstration of our antiquity。 Moreover； besides those forementioned； Theophilus； and Theodotus； and Mnaseas； and Aristophanes； and Hermogenes； Euhemerus also； and Conon； and Zopyrion； and perhaps many others； （for I have not lighted upon all the Greek books；） have made distinct mention of us。 It is true； many of the men before mentioned have made great mistakes about the true accounts of our nation in the earliest times； because they had not perused our sacred books； yet have they all of them afforded their testimony to our antiquity； concerning which I am now treating。 However； Demetrius Phalereus； and the elder Philo； with Eupolemus； have not greatly missed the truth about our affairs； whose lesser mistakes ought therefore to be forgiven them； for it was not in their power to understand our writings with the utmost accuracy。
24。 One particular there is still remaining behind of what I at first proposed to speak to； and that is； to demonstrate that those calumnies and reproaches which some have thrown upon our nation； are lies； and to make use of those writers' own testimonies against themselves； and that in general this self…contradiction hath happened to many other authors by reason of their ill…will to some people； I conclude； is not unknown to such as have read histories with sufficient care；for some of them have endeavored to disgrace the nobility of certain nations； and of some of the most glorious cities； and have cast reproaches upon certain forms of government。 Thus hath Theopompus abused the city of Athens； Polycrates that of Lacedemon； as hath he hat wrote the Tripoliticus （for he is not Theopompus； as is supposed bys ome） done by the city of Thebes。 Timeils also hath greatly abused the foregoing people and others also； and this ill…treatment they use chiefly when they have a contest with men of the greatest reputation； some out of envy and malice； and others as supposing that by this foolish talking of theirs they may be thought worthy of being remembered themselves； and indeed they do by no means fail of their hopes； with regard to the foolish part of mankind； but men of sober judgment still condemn them of great malignity。
25。 Now the Egyptians were the first that cast reproaches upon us； in order to please which nation； some others undertook to pervert the truth； while they would neither own that our forefathers came into Egypt from another country； as the fact was； nor give a true account of our departure thence。 And indeed the Egyptians took many occasions to hate us and envy us： in the first place； because our ancestors had had the dominion over their country？ and when they were delivered from them； and gone to their own country again； they lived there in prosperity。 In the next place； the difference of our religion from theirs hath occasioned great enmity between us； while our way of Divine worship did as much exceed that which their laws appointed； as does the nature of God exceed that of brute beasts； for so far they all agree through the whole country； to esteem such animals as gods； although they differ one from another in the peculiar worship they severally pay to them。 And certainly men they are entirely of vain and foolish minds； who have thus accustomed themselves from the beginning to have such bad notions concerning their gods； and could not think of imitating that decent form of Divine worship which we made use of； though； when they saw our institutions approved of by many others； they could not but envy us on that account； for some of them have proceeded to that degree of folly and meanness in their conduct； as not to scruple to contradict their own ancient records； nay； to contradict themselves also in their writings； and yet were so blinded by their passions as not to discern it。