CESTIUS GALLUS, Governour of Syria for the Romans. The Jews began their Rebellion under his Government. Florus Governor of Judæa had quite tired out the patience of this People, by his repeated Injuries, Vexations and Cruelties. He desired nothing more, than to see them in Rebellion, and to have a War kindled in this Country, knowing very well, that if his Conduct were at any time examined, he could not possibly escape punishment with Death. For this reason he omitted nothing which might tempt the Jews to be the Aggressors, by forcing them in some measure to take Arms against the Romans1. Cestius Gallus coming to Jerusalem at the Passover in the year of J. C. 66, the Jews made great Complaints to him against Florus2. He encouraged them to hope that Florus would behave himself better; but he laugh’d at this, and as soon as Cestius was returned, began afresh to torment the Jews; which reduced them to despair.
While Cestius was at Jerusalem, as he saw the Province very much disposed for a Revolt, he had a mind to know the number of the Jews who were come up to the Passover; by which means he might be able to inform Nero, that this Nation was not so contemptible as he believed it to be. He desired the Priests therefore to reckon up the Lambs which were sacrificed on this solemn Commemoration of the Passover, from three to five a Clock in the Evening3. None but the Jews sacrificed any, and of the Jews none eat of them besides those who had been purified. A Lamb sometimes served twenty Persons, and never fewer than ten. Upon a computation of the Lambs which were then killed, there was found to be two hundred fifty five thousand and six hundred of them; which allowing ten persons only to each Lamb, made two Millions five hundred and fifty thousand persons.
In some short time after the return of Cestius, the Jews revolted, and took Arms. Cestius upon intelligence of this, advanced with a powerful Army towards Palestine. He first of all sent Cesennius Gallus into Galilee, who reduced it. He then took Lidda and Joppa in his way, and incamped near Gibeon, at two leagues distance from Jerusalem s. The Jews neglected the Feast of Tabernacles, which was then celebrated, and fell upon Cestius with so much vigour and impetuosity, that they gave the Roman Army a great shock, and had almost broke it. Cestius continued three days in this place, encompassed with Jews, and in danger of sustaining great loss, whenever he attempted to remove. But Agrippa having sent proposals to the Jews of Peace and Pardon, upon Condition that they would lay down their Arms, a division hereupon arose among them; and Cestius taking this opportunity, pushed them so briskly, that he put them into disorder, and pursued them as far as Jerusalem.
He remained three days incamped in a place called Scopos, or the Centry-box, at a good quarter of a league from the city, without however attacking it, as if he had believed, that the Jews would of themselves surrender. Upon the fourth day, which was the thirtieth of October, he advanced in order of Battel, and so terrified the Seditious, that they shut themselves up within the last inclosure of the City, and in the Temple, abandoning the rest, which he set Fire to. It was agreed, that if he had then given the Assault, he had carried the City, and had on that day finished the War. But he was diverted from it by several of his Officers, who, as Josephus believes, had been corrupted by Florus.
For the five days following he fought for some weak place in the Walls which he might force, but found none, the Seditious keeping a good guard every where. On the sixth day, which was the fifth of November, he gave orders for assaulting vigorously one of the Temple Gates; which so frightned the Seditious, that they were ready to forsake the City and retire; and the People, who desired Peace, were disposed to open the Gates to the Romans. But on a sudden Cestius, who knew nothing of his advantage, put a stop to his Assault, left the City, and returned to the Camp at Scopos. The Seditious pursued him, and killed many both of his Horse and Foot in their retreat.
The next day he decamped from Scopos, with a design to reach his first Camp at Gibeon: But he was continually harrassed by the Jews, who attacking him in Flank and Rear, killed a great number of his Soldiers, and took a great part of his Baggage. He halted two days at Gibeon, without knowing what to resolve on: At last, upon the third day, which4 was the eighth of November, observing the number of the Jews to be every day increasing, he begun to march, abandoning the Baggage, and killing all the beasts of burden, excepting those which carried the Machines and Javelins. The Jews pursued them but very faintly, till they came to a very narrow descent, where they attacked them in the Front, and on every side. The combat lasted till night: The Romans lost four thousand Foot, and about four hundred Horse. The night gave the Romans an opportunity of retiring to Bethoron.
But Cestius seeing himself every way encompassed by the Jews, did not think it convenient to wait for day light to decamp; but broke up in the dark, and left four hundred Men in Bethoron, with orders to get upon the Platforms of the Houses, and every now and then to cry as the Centinels do in the night time. By which means the Jews might believe the whole Army to be there still. The next morning the Jews fell upon these four hundred Men, cut them in pieces, and began to pursue Cestius. But he had marched with so much speed, that they could not overtake him. He left them his Machines, which were afterwards very useful to them, during the Siege of Jerusalem. Cestius survived this Defeat but a very little while: He died the next year, of J. C. the 67th.
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