Florus

FLORUS. Gessius Florus succeeded AlbinusJoseph. Antiq. l. 20. c. 9. & de Bello, l. 2. c. 24. in the government of Judæa, in the year of Jesus Christ 54. His ill conduct and excesses rekindled the fury of the Zealots, and exasperated the Jews beyond all patience. He forced them to rebel against the Romans in the year of Jesus Christ 66. Florus was a man in whom shame and humanity were quite extinguished. Wherever any thing was to be got, let the nature of the thing be what it would, it was very right in his judgment. The cruelty which he exercised against the Jews, was beyond all bounds. He had his wife with him, whose name was Cleopatra, and who was as wicked as himself. She had procured him this government by the assistance of Poppæa, the wife or concubine of Nero. The thieves who ravaged Judæa were sure of impunity, by communicating part of their booty to him. When the revolt of the Jews was declared, Florus, instead of thinking how he might find means to suppress it, took care only to foment it, having no hopes of escaping the punishment due to his crimes, but by the rebellion of the Jews. Cestius Gallus governour of Syria, coming to Jerusalem in the year of Jesus Christ 66, the Jews complained to him of their governour Florus. Gallus gave them hopes, that Florus should be obliged to change his conduct: but after his return into Syria, Florus renewed his violences and vexations. Cæsar a began the revolt; Jerusalem soon followed the example. Cestius being informed of it, came with great diligence into Judæa with an army: he entred Jerusalem, and besieged the Temple; and as he was upon the point of taking it, he retreated, and was defeated by the Jews. He wrote to Nero, and charged Joseph. de Bello, l. 2. c. 40. p. 821.Florus with the rebellion and all the consequences of it. Josephus does not tell us what became of Florus. He in all probability left Judæa, when Vespasian came thither, in the year of Jesus Christ 67.

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