y Nebuzaradan, at the command of Nebuchadnezzar,
on account of his having foretold the destruction of Jerusalem by the
Babylonians, Jeremiah 40:1-7; so was our Josephus set at liberty, and
honorably treated, on account of his having foretold the advancement
of Vespasian and Titus to the Roman empire. All these are most eminent
instances of the interposition of Divine Providence, and of the
certainty of Divine predictions in the great revolutions of the four
monarchies. Several such-like examples there are, both in the sacred and
other histories, as in the case of Joseph in Egypt. and of Jaddua the
high priest, in the days of Alexander the Great, etc.

[25] This is well observed by Josephus, that Vespasian, in order to
secure his success, and establish his government at first, distributed
his offices and places upon the foot of justice, and bestowed them
on such as best deserved them, and were best fit for them. Which wise
conduct in a mere heathen ought to put those rulers and ministers of
state to shame, who, professing Christianity, act otherwise, and thereby
expose themselves and their kingdoms to vice and destruction.

[26] The numbers in Josephus, ch. 9. sect. 2, 9, for Galba seven months
seven days, for Otho three months two days, and here for Vitellius
eight months five days, do not agree with any Roman historians, who also
disagree among themselves. And, indeed, Sealiger justly complains, as
Dr. Hudson observes on ch. 9. sect. 2, that this period is very confused
and uncertain in the ancient authors. They were probably some of them
contemporary together for some time; one of the best evidences we have,
I mean Ptolemy's Canon, omits them all, as if they did not all together
reign one whole year, nor had a single Thoth, or new-year's day, [which
then fell upon August 6,] in their entire reigns. Dio also, who says
that Vitellius reigned a year within ten days, does yet estimate all
their reigns together at no more than one year, one month, and two days.

[27] There are coins of this Casian Jupiter still extant.

BOOK V.

Containing The Interval Of Near Six Months.

From The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem, To The Great
Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced.

CHAPTER 1.

Concerning The Seditions At Jerusalem And What Terrible
Miseries Afflicted The City By Their Means.

1. When therefore Titus had marched over that desert which lies between
Egypt and Syria, in t