against apion-第9章
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h 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。
26。 And now I will turn my discourse to one of their principal writers； whom I have a little before made use of as a witness to our antiquity； I mean Manetho。 （22） He promised to interpret the Egyptian history out of their sacred writings； and premised this： that 〃our people had come into Egypt； many ten thousands in number； and subdued its inhabitants；〃 and when he had further confessed that 〃we went out of that country afterward； and settled in that country which is now called Judea； and there built Jerusalem and its temple。〃 Now thus far he followed his ancient records； but after this he permits himself； in order to appear to have written what rumors and reports passed abroad about the Jews； and introduces incredible narrations； as if he would have the Egyptian multitude； that had the leprosy and other distempers； to have been mixed with us； as he says they were； and that they were condemned to fly out of Egypt together； for he mentions Amenophis； a fictitious king's name； though on that account he durst not set down the number of years of his reign； which yet he had accurately done as to the other kings he mentions； he then ascribes certain fabulous stories to this king； as having in a manner forgotten how he had already related that the departure of the shepherds for Jerusalem had been five hundred and eighteen years before； for Tethmosis was king when they went away。 Now； from his days； the reigns of the intermediate kings； according to Manethe； amounted to three hundred and ninety…three years； as he says himself； till the two brothers Sethos and Hermeus； the one of whom； Sethos； was called by that other name of Egyptus； and the other； Hermeus； by that of Danaus。 He also says that Sethos east the other out of Egypt； and reigned fifty…nine years； as did his eldest son Rhampses reign after him sixty…six years。 When Manethe therefore had acknowledged that our forefathers were gone out of Egypt so many years ago； he introduces his fictitious king Amenophis； and says thus： 〃This king was desirous to become a sp
