The Voice Against Jerusalem

There was one Jesus, son of Ananias, a countryman of mean birth, four years before the war against the Jews, at a time when all was in deep peace and oli tranquillity, who, coming up to the feast of tabernacles, according to the custom, began on a sudden to ery out, and say, “A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the temple, a voice against bridegrooms and brides, a voice against all the people.”

Thus he went about all the narrow lanes, cryin night and day: and being apprehended an scourged, he still continued the same language under the blows without any other word. And they, upon this, supposing (as it was) that it was some divine motion, brought him to the Roman prefect: and by his appointment, being wounded by whips and the flesh torn to the bones, he neither entreated, nor shed a tear; but to every blow, in a most lamentable, mournful note, cried out, “ Woe, woe to Jerusalem.”

This he continued to do till the time of the siege, seven years together ; and, at last, to his extraordinary note of woe to the city, the people, the temple, adding “Woe also to me,” a stone from the battlements fell down upon him and killed him. Josephus. $994. JESTING, Proper and Improper. A jest should be such—that all shall be able to join in the laugh which it occasions; but if it bears hard upon one of the company, like the crack of a string, it makes a stop in the music.