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[149]
There was one Judas, the son of Saripheus, and Mattbias, the son
of Margalothus, two of the most eloquent men among the Jews, and the most
celebrated interpreters of the Jewish laws, and men well beloved by the
people, because of their education of their youth; for all those that were
studious of virtue frequented their lectures every day. These men, when
they found that the king's distemper was incurable, excited the young men
that they would pull down all those works which the king had erected contrary
to the law of their fathers, and thereby obtain the rewards which the law
will confer on them for such actions of piety; for that it was truly on
account of Herod's rashness in making such things as the law had forbidden,
that his other misfortunes, and this distemper also, which was so unusual
among mankind, and with which he was now afflicted, came upon him; for
Herod had caused such things to be made which were contrary to the law,
of which he was accused by Judas and Matthias; for the king had erected
over the great gate of the temple a large golden eagle, of great value,
and had dedicated it to the temple. Now the law forbids those that propose
to live according to it, to erect images 1
or representations of any living creature. So these wise men persuaded
[their scholars] to pull down the golden eagle; alleging, that although
they should incur any danger, which might bring them to their deaths, the
virtue of the action now proposed to them would appear much more advantageous
to them than the pleasures of life; since they would die for the preservation
and observation of the law of their fathers; since they would also acquire
an everlasting fame and commendation; since they would be both commended
by the present generation, and leave an example of life that would never
be forgotten to posterity; since that common calamity of dying cannot be
avoided by our living so as to escape any such dangers; that therefore
it is a right thing for those who are in love with a virtuous conduct,
to wait for that fatal hour by such behavior as may carry them out of the
world with praise and honor; and that this will alleviate death to a great
degree, thus to come at it by the performance of brave actions, which bring
us into danger of it; and at the same time to leave that reputation behind
them to their children, and to all their relations, whether they be men
or women, which will be of great advantage to them afterward.
1 That the making of images, without an intention to worship them, was not unlawful to the Jews, see the note on Antiq. B VIII. ch. 7. sect. 5.
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