ur
on Friday, as the tradition of the elders did, it seems, then require of
them.

[9] The remaining part of this chapter is remarkable, as justly
distinguishing natural justice, religion, and morality, from positive
institutions in all countries, and evidently preferring the former
before the latter, as did the true prophets of God always under the Old
Testament, and Christ and his New; whence Josephus seems to have been at
this time nearer Christianity than were the Scribes and Pharisees of
his age; who, as we know from the New Testament, were entirely of a
different opinion and practice.

[10] It is here worth our observation, how careful Josephus was as to
the discovery of truth in Herod's history, since he would not follow
Nicolaus of Damascus himself, so great an historian, where there was
great reason to suspect that he flattered Herod; which impartiality in
history Josephus here solemnly pro fesses, and of which impartiality he
has given more demonstrations than almost any historian whomsoever; but
as to Herod's taking great wealth out of David's sepulcher, though I
cannot prove it, yet do I strongly suspect it from this very history.

[11] These joint presidents of Syria, Saturninus and Volumnius, were not
perhaps of equal authority, but the latter like a procurator under the
former, as the very learned Noris and Pagi, and with them Dr. Hudson,
determine.

[12] This Aretas was now become so established a name for the kings
of Arabia, [at Petra and Damascus,] that when the crown came to
this Aeneas, he changed his name to Aretas, as Havercamp here justly
observes. See Antiq. B. XIII. ch. 15. sect, 2.

[13] This oath, by the fortune of Caesar, was put to Polycarp, a bishop
of Smyrna, by the Roman governor, to try whether he were a Christian,
as they were then esteemed who refused to swear that oath. Martyr.
Polycarp, sect. 9.

[14] What Josephus relates Augustus to have here said, that Berytus was
a city belonging to the Romans, is confirmed by Spanheim's notes here:
"It was," says he, "a colony placed there by Augustus. Whence Ulpian,
De Gens. bel. L. T. XV. The colony of Berytus was rendered famous by the
benefits of Caesar; and thence it is that, among the coins of Augustus,
we meet with some having this inscription: The happy colony of Augustus
at Berytua."

[15] The reader is here to note, that this eighth section is entirely
wanting in the old Latin version, as Spanheim truly observes; nor is
ther