[BOOK  XIX.
sake  of  tlie  petitioners,  but  as  judging  those
Jews  for  wliom  I  have  been  ])etitioned,  worthy
of  such  a  favour,  on  account  of  their  iideUty  and
friendship  to  the  llomans.  I  tliink  it  also  very
just  that  no  Grecian  city  should  be  deprived  of
Buch  rights  and  privileges,  since  they  were  i^re-
served  to  them  under  the  great  Augustus.  It
v.-Hl  therefore  be  fit  to  permit  the  Jews,  who
are  in  all  the  world  under  us,  to  keep  their
ancient  customs  without  being  hindered  so  to
do.  And  I  do  charge  them  also  to  use  this  my
kindness  to  them  with  moderation,  and  not  to
shew  a  contempt  of  the  superstitious  observances
of  other  nations,  but  to  keep  theh-  own  laws
only.  And  I  will  that  this  decree  of  mine  be
engraven  on  tables  by  the  magistrates  of  the
cities  and  colonies,  and  municipal  places,  both
those  within  Italy  and  those  without  it,  both
kings  ar.d  governors,  by  the  means  of  the  ambas-
sadors, and  to  have  them  exposed  to  the  public
for  full  thirty  days,  in  such  a  place,  whence  it
may  jjlauily  be  read  from  the  ground."*


CHAPTER  VI.
WHAT  THINGS  WERE  DOIfE  BT  AGEIPPA  AT  JERU-
SALEM WHEN  HE  WAS  RETURNED  BACK  INTO
JUDEA  ;  AND  WHAT  IT  WAS  THAT  PETKONIUS
WROTE  TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  DORIS,  IN  BE-
HALF OF  THE  JEWS.
§  1.  Now  Claudius  Ctesar,  by  these  decrees  of
his  which  were  sent  to  Alexandria  and  to  all  the
habitable  earth,  made  known  what  opinion  he
had  of  the  Jews.  So  he  soon  sent  Agrippa  away
to  take  his  kingdom,  now  he  was  advanced  to  a
more  illustrious  dignity  than  before,  and  sent
letters  to  the  presidents  and  procurators  of  the
provmces,  that  they  should  treat  him  very  kindly.
