The Laws of Moses

Now before their first state of mourning had ended, another misfortune struck them as well; for some of those who had raised the previous rebellion, when they were traveling on the public road, about one hundred furlongs [approximately 12 mi or 19 km] from the city, robbed Stephanus, a servant of Caesar, while he was journeying, and they plundered him of all that he possessed. When Cumanus heard what had taken place, he immediately sent out soldiers and ordered them to plunder the nearby villages and to bring to him in bonds the most prominent persons among them. And when this devastation had taken place, one of the soldiers seized a copy of the Mosaic laws, which was found in a certain village, and brought it forward before the eyes of everyone present; and he tore it to pieces, engaging in blasphemy and ranting fiercely about many things. When the Jews heard of these matters, they gathered together in great numbers and went down to Caesarea, for Cumanus happened to be there, and they entreated him to avenge not for their sake but for the sake of God, whose laws had been desecrated. For they could not bear to live any longer if their ancestral laws were to be insulted in this manner. Therefore Cumanus, out of fear that the multitude might again launch a rebellion and according to the counsel of his friends, beheaded the soldier who had made a mockery of the [Mosaic] laws. He thereby put an end to the sedition that was about to spark up for the second time.

Translated byWilliam Whiston, adapted byAaron Samuels.