For the Temple | Page 7

will fight," Simon said; "but many other nations,
to whom we are but as a handful, have fought bravely, but have
succumbed to the might of Rome. It is said that Josephus, and many of
the wisest in Jerusalem, were heartily opposed to the tumults against
the Romans, and that they only went with the people because they were
in fear of their lives; and even at Tiberias many men of worth and
gravity, such as Julius Capellus, Herod the son of Miarus, Herod the
son of Gamalus, Compsus, and others, are all strongly opposed to
hostility against the Romans.
"And it is the same, elsewhere. Those who know best what is the might
and power of Rome would fain remain friendly with her. It is the
ignorant and violent classes have led us into this strait; from which, as I
fear, naught but ruin can arise."
"I thought better things of you, Simon," the rabbi said, angrily.
"But you yourself have told me," Simon urged, "that you thought it a
mad undertaking to provoke the vengeance of Rome."
"I thought so, at first," Solomon admitted, "but now our hand is placed
on the plow, we must not draw back; and I believe that the God of our
fathers will show his might before the heathen."
"I trust that it may be so," Simon said, gravely. "In His hand is all
power. Whether He will see fit to put it forth, now, in our behalf
remains to be seen. However, for the present we need not concern
ourselves greatly with the Romans. It may be long before they bring an
army against us; while these seditions, here, are at our very door, and
ever threaten to involve us in civil war."

"We need fear no civil war," the rabbi said. "The people of all Galilee,
save the violent and ill disposed in a few of the towns, are all for
Josephus. If it comes to force, John and his party know that they will be
swept away, like a straw before the wind. The fear is that they may
succeed in murdering Josephus; either by the knife of an assassin, or in
one of these tumults. They would rather the latter, because they would
then say that the people had torn him to pieces, in their fury at his
misdoings.
"However, we watch over him, as much as we can; and his friends have
warned him that he must be careful, not only for his own sake, but for
that of all the people; and he has promised that, as far as he can, he will
be on his guard against these traitors."
"The governor should have a strong bodyguard," John exclaimed,
impetuously, "as the Roman governors had. In another year, I shall be
of age to have my name inscribed in the list of fighting men; and I
would gladly be one of his guard."
"You are neither old enough to fight, nor to express an opinion
unasked," Simon said, "in the presence of your elders."
"Do not check the boy," the rabbi said. "He has fire and spirit; and the
days are coming when we shall not ask how old, or how young, are
those who would fight, so that they can but hold arms.
"Josephus is wise not to have a military guard, John, because the people
love not such appearance of state. His enemies would use this as an
argument that he was setting himself up above them. It is partly
because he behaves himself discreetly, and goes about among them like
a private person, of no more account than themselves, that they love
him. None can say he is a tyrant, because he has no means of
tyrannizing. His enemies cannot urge it against him at Jerusalem--as
they would doubtless do, if they could--that he is seeking to lead
Galilee away from the rule of Jerusalem, and to set himself up as its
master for, to do this, he would require to gather an army; and Josephus
has not a single armed man at his service, save and except that when he
appears to be in danger many, out of love of him, assemble and provide

him escort.
"No, Josephus is wise in that he affects neither pomp nor state; that he
keeps no armed men around him, but trusts to the love of the people.
He would be wiser, however, did he seize one of the occasions when
the people have taken up arms for him to destroy all those who make
sedition; and to free the country, once and for all, from the trouble.
"Sedition should be always nipped in the bud. Lenity, in such a case, is
the most cruel course; for it encourages men to think that those in
authority fear them, and