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[345]
But by this time the Idumeans repented of their coming, and were
displeased at what had been done; and when they were assembled together
by one of the zealots, who had come privately to them, he declared to them
what a number of wicked pranks they had themselves done in conjunction
with those that invited them, and gave a particular account of what mischiefs
had been done against their metropolis. - He said that they had taken arms,
as though the high priests were betraying their metropolis to the Romans,
but had found no indication of any such treachery; but that they had succored
those that had pretended to believe such a thing, while they did themselves
the works of war and tyranny, after an insolent manner. It had been indeed
their business to have hindered them from such their proceedings at the
first, but seeing they had once been partners with them in shedding the
blood of their own countrymen, it was high time to put a stop to such crimes,
and not continue to afford any more assistance to such as are subverting
the laws of their forefathers; for that if any had taken it ill that the
gates had been shut against them, and they had not been permitted to come
into the city, yet that those who had excluded them have been punished,
and Ananus is dead, and that almost all those people had been destroyed
in one night's time. That one may perceive many of themselves now repenting
for what they had done, and might see the horrid barbarity of those that
had invited them, and that they had no regard to such as had saved them;
that they were so impudent as to perpetrate the vilest things, under the
eyes of those that had supported them, and that their wicked actions would
be laid to the charge of the Idumeans, and would be so laid to their charge
till somebody obstructs their proceedings, or separates himself from the
same wicked action; that they therefore ought to retire home, since the
imputation of treason appears to be a Calumny, and that there was no expectation
of the coming of the Romans at this time, and that the government of the
city was secured by such walls as cannot easily be thrown down; and, by
avoiding any further fellowship with these bad men, to make some excuse
for themselves, as to what they had been so far deluded, as to have been
partners with them hitherto.
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