nor of the Jews at
Antioch [5] came upon the theater at a time when the people of Antioch
were assembled together, and became an informer against his father, and
accused both him and others that they had resolved to burn the whole
city in one night; he also delivered up to them some Jews that were
foreigners, as partners in their resolutions. When the people heard
this, they could not refrain their passion, but commanded that those
who were delivered up to them should have fire brought to burn them, who
were accordingly all burnt upon the theater immediately. They did also
fall violently upon the multitude of the Jews, as supposing that
by punishing them suddenly they should save their own city. As for
Antiochus, he aggravated the rage they were in, and thought to give them
a demonstration of his own conversion, arm of his hatred of the Jewish
customs, by sacrificing after the manner of the Greeks; he persuaded
the rest also to compel them to do the same, because they would by that
means discover who they were that had plotted against them, since they
would not do so; and when the people of Antioch tried the experiment,
some few complied, but those that would not do so were slain. As for
Ailtiochus himself, he obtained soldiers from the Roman commander, and
became a severe master over his own citizens, not permitting them to
rest on the seventh day, but forcing them to do all that they usually
did on other days; and to that degree of distress did he reduce them in
this matter, that the rest of the seventh day was dissolved not only at
Antioch, but the same thing which took thence its rise was done in other
cities also, in like manner, for some small time.

4. Now, after these misfortunes had happened to the Jews at Antioch, a
second calamity befell them, the description of which when we were going
about we premised the account foregoing; for upon this accident, whereby
the four-square market-place was burnt down, as well as the archives,
and the place where the public records were preserved, and the royal
palaces, [and it was not without difficulty that the fire was then put
a stop to, which was likely, by the fury wherewith it was carried along,
to have gone over the whole city,] Antiochus accused the Jews as the
occasion of all the mischief that was done. Now this induced the people
of Antioch, who were now under the immediate persuasion, by reason of
the disorder they were in, that this calumny was true, and would hav