against apion-第20章
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g of the inner temple； those that are to officiate receive the sacrifices； as they do again at noon； till the doors are shut。 Lastly； it is not so much as lawful to carry any vessel into the holy house； nor is there any thing therein； but the altar ＇of incense＇； the table ＇of shew…bread＇； the censer； and the candlestick； which are all written in the law； for there is nothing further there； nor are there any mysteries performed that may not be spoken of； nor is there any feasting within the place。 For what I have now said is publicly known； and supported by the testimony of the whole people； and their operations are very manifest； for although there be four courses of the priests； and every one of them have above five thousand men in them； yet do they officiate on certain days only； and when those days are over； other priests succeed in the performance of their sacrifices； and assemble together at mid…day； and receive the keys of the temple； and the vessels by tale； without any thing relating to food or drink being carried into the temple； nay； we are not allowed to offer such things at the altar； excepting what is prepared for the sacrifices。 9。 What then can we say of Apion； but that he examined nothing that concerned these things； while still he uttered incredible words about them？ but it is a great shame for a grammarian not to be able to write true history。 Now if he knew the purity of our temple； he hath entirely omitted to take notice of it； but he forges a story about the seizing of a Grecian； about ineffable food； and the most delicious preparation of dainties； and pretends that strangers could go into a place whereinto the noblest men among the Jews are not allowed to enter； unless they be priests。 This； therefore； is the utmost degree of impiety； and a voluntary lie； in order to the delusion of those who will not examine into the truth of matters； whereas such unspeakable mischiefs as are above related have been occasioned by such calumnies that are raised upon us。 10。 Nay； this miracle or piety derides us further； and adds the following pretended facts to his former fable； for be says that this man related how； 〃while the Jews were once in a long war with the Idumeans； there came a man out of one of the cities of the Idumeans； who there had worshipped Apollo。 This man； whose name is said to have been Zabidus； came to the Jews； and promised that he would deliver Apollo； the god of Dora； into their hands； and that he would come to our temple； if they would all come up with him； and bring the whole multitude of the Jews with them； that Zabidus made him a certain wooden instrument； and put it round about him； and set three rows of lamps therein； and walked after such a manner； that he appeared to those that stood a great way off him to be a kind of star； walking upon the earth； that the Jews were terribly affrighted at so surprising an appearance； and stood very quiet at a distance； and that Zabidus； while they continued so very quiet； went into the holy house； and carried off that golden head of an ass； （for so facetiously does he write；） and then went his way back again to Dora in great haste。〃 And say you so； sir！ as I may reply； then does Apion load the ass； that is； himself； and lays on him a burden of fooleries and lies； for he writes of places that have no being； and not knowing the cities he speaks of； he changes their situation； for Idumea borders upon our country； and is near to Gaza； in which there is no such city as Dora； although there be； it is true； a city named Dora in Phoenicia； near Mount Carmel； but it is four days' journey from Idumea。 （12） Now； then； why does this man accuse us； because we have not gods in common with other nations； if our fathers were so easily prevailed upon to have Apollo come to them； and thought they saw him walking upon the earth； and the stars with him？ for certainly those who have so many festivals； wherein they light lamps； must yet； at this rate； have never seen a candlestick！ But still it seems that while Zabidus took his journey over the country； where were so many ten thousands of people； nobody met him。 He also； it seems； even in a time of war； found the walls of Jerusalem destitute of guards。 I omit the rest。 Now the doors of the holy house were seventy （13） cubits high； and twenty cubits broad； they were all plated over with gold； and almost of solid gold itself； and there were no fewer than twenty （14） men required to shut them every day； nor was it lawful ever to leave them open； though it seems this lamp…bearer of ours opened them easily； or thought he opened them； as he thought he had the ass's head in his hand。 Whether； therefore； he returned it to us again； or whether Apion took it； and brought it into the temple again； that Antiochus might find it； and afford a handle for a second fable of Apion's； is uncertain。 11。 Apion also tells a false story； when he mentions an oath of ours； as if we 〃swore by God； the Maker of the heaven； and earth； and sea； to bear no good will to any foreigner； and particularly to none of the Greeks。〃 Now this liar ought to have said directly that〃 we would bear no good…will to any foreigner； and particularly to none of the Egyptians。〃 For then his story about the oath would have squared with the rest of his original forgeries； in case our forefathers had been driven away by their kinsmen； the Egyptians； not on account of any wickedness they had been guilty of； but on account of the calamities they were under； for as to the Grecians； we were rather remote from them in place； than different from them in our institutions； insomuch that we have no enmity with them； nor any jealousy of them。 On the contrary； it hath so happened that many of them have come over to our laws； and some of them have continued in their observation； although others of them had not courage enough to persevere； and so departed from them again； nor did any body ever hear this oath sworn by us： Apion； it seems； was the only person that heard it； for he indeed was the first composer of it。 12。 However； Apion deserves to be admired for his great prudence； as to what I am going to say； which is this；〃 That there is a plain mark among us； that we neither have just laws； nor worship God as we ought to do； because we are not governors； but are rather in subjection to Gentiles； sometimes to one nation； and sometimes to another； and that our city hath been liable to several calamities； while their city ＇Alexandria＇ hath been of old time an imperial city； and not used to be in subjection to the Romans。〃 But now this man had better leave off this bragging； for every body but himself would think that Apion said what he hath said against himself； for there are very few nations that have had the good fortune to continue many generations in the principality； but still the mutations in human affairs have put them into subjection under others； and most nations have been often subdued； and brought into subjection by others。 Now for the Egyptians； perhaps they are the only nation that have had this extraordinary privilege； to have never served any of those monarchs who subdued Asia and Europe； and this on account； as they pretend； that the gods fled into their country； and saved themselves by being changed into the shapes of wild beasts！ Whereas these Egyptians （15） are the very people that appear to have never； in all the past ages； had one day of freedom； no； not so much as from their own lords。 For I will not reproach them with relating the manner how the Persians used them； and this not once only； but many times； when they laid their cities waste； demolished their temples； and cut the throats of those animals whom they esteemed to be gods； for it is not reasonable to imitate the clownish ignorance of Apion； who hath no regard to the misfortunes of the Athenians； or of the Lacedemonians； the latter of whom were styled by all men the most courageous； and the former the most religious of the Grecians。 I say no
