Against Apion, 1. 209–1.211

Flavius Josephus  translated by William Whiston

« J. Ap. 1.208 | J. Ap. 1. 209–1.211 | J. Ap. 1.212 | About This Work »

209“There are a people called Jews, who dwell in a city the strongest of all other cities, which the inhabitants call Jerusalem, and are accustomed to rest on every seventh day; 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. 210Now it came to pass, that when Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, came into this city with his army, 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. 211This 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.”

« J. Ap. 1.208 | J. Ap. 1. 209–1.211 | J. Ap. 1.212 | About This Work »