osephus here says, that those of Jotapata slew seven of the Romans as
they were marching off, because the Romans' retreat was regular, their
bodies were covered over with their armor, and the Jews fought at some
distance; his meaning is clear, that these were the reasons why they
slew only, or no more than seven. I have met with many the like
examples in the Scriptures, in Josephus, etc.; but did not note down the
particular places. This observation ought to be borne in mind upon many
occasions.

[5] These public mourners, hired upon the supposed death of Josephus,
and the real death of many more, illustrate some passages in the Bible,
which suppose the same custom, as Matthew 11:17, where the reader may
consult the notes of Grotius.

[6] Of this Cesarea Philippi [twice mentioned in our New Testament,
Matthew 16:13; Mark 8;27] there are coins still extant, Spanheim here
informs us.

[7] I do not know where to find the law of Moses here mentioned by
Josephus, and afterwards by Eleazar, 13. VII. ch. 8. sect. 7, and
almost implied in B. I. ch. 13. sect. 10, by Josephus's commendation of
Phasaelus for doing so; I mean, whereby Jewish generals and people were
obliged to kill themselves, rather than go into slavery under heathens.
I doubt this would have been no better than "self-murder;" and I believe
it was rather some vain doctrine, or interpretation, of the rigid
Pharisees, or Essens, or Herodiaus, than a just consequence from any law
of God delivered by Moses.

[7] It may be worth our while to observe here, that near this lake of
Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months of the year.
We may observe also, that in Cyril of Jerusalem, Cateehes. 18. sect. 3,
which was delivered not long before Easter, there were no fresh leaves
of fig trees, nor bunches of fresh grapes in Judea; so that when St.
Mark says, ch. 11. ver. 13, that our Savior, soon after the same time of
the year, came and "found leaves" on a fig tree near Jerusalem, but "no
figs, because the time of" new "figs" ripening "was not yet," he says
very true; nor were they therefore other than old leaves which our
Savior saw, and old figs which he expected, and which even with us
commonly hang on the trees all winter long.

[8] This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian ever did
in this whole war, as he did it with great reluctance also. It was done
both after public assurance given of sparing the prisoners' lives, and
when all kn