The Jewish advance., 1879-08-01
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THE FALL OF BETHAR.
A HISTORICAL ROMANCE ADAPTED FROM THE
HEBREW.
BY REV. DAVID STERN.
Continued.
XVI.

XVI.
When Shimeon had uttered the last
word, loud and tremendous voice could
be heard exclaiming, vengeance"
That voice proceeded from the foot of the
mountain near the fortress, where thou
sands of Samaritans had encamped at
Papus advice in order to aid the Jews if
the enemy should prove too strong
for them. But Papus had made secret
treaty with the Roman General Severus,
and with Rufus, the representative of
Caesar, to the effect that he should help
them in this war, and that he would by
his cunning and trickery destroy the
leading officers of the Jewish army
He had only brought the Samaritan
troops in order to delude Bar Cochba, to
remove him from the strongly fortified
fortress, and to persuade him to rely on
this assisting army, and to fight with the
Romans in the open field
"Ah p exclaimed Papus, then, All !
Shimeon has fallen into the net which [
prepared for him [ have put the hook
in the jaws of this mighty monster, and
have brought him upon the dry land !;
he shall fall here on this field, he shall
not be inferred, but his corpse shall be
food for the beasts of the earth and the
fowls of the air. His beloved Keturah
died through my cunning devise, and
Eliezer, her father, was murdered
through my treachery and vengeance.
All how sweet and delightful is ven
geance All the Jews will also be ut
terly destroyed through the labor of my
hands, and none will be able to save
them. 1t is my hatred, which is as strong
as death, which has done this; and my
vengeance, which is as bitter as the
grave, that has now come to pass and
my eyes have the pleasure Of seeing it,
But my intention to become king over
this land has not yet come to pass, nor
will it ever be realized, because the ma
jority of the people hate me on account
of my belief, and will never consent to
choose Samaritan for their king nor
will the Romans bestow regal crown
upon any other man besides their en-
peror who occupies the throne in Rome.
Therefore do [ do my utmost to find
grace and goodwill in the eyes of the
Roman rulers, in order that [ may in
crease in power and wealth, in fame and
glory ; this is the reason why [ have
saved Rufus from DEATH and this is the
reason why [ have betrayed Shimeon
and his army into the hands of Severus."
Many of Shimeon's followers had no
confidence in Papus, and had advised
.Shimeon to mistrust that cunning SER
pent, many Of his counsellors had also
warned him to guard himself against
that Samaritan adventurer, for they be-
lieved that he was digging pit for his
downfall ; but many of them had conf
dence and believed in him, for they could
not understand the possibility of the Sa-
maritans helping the Romans, as by such
treacherous conduct they would but in
jure themselves and destroy their coun-
try.
The spirit of God had departed from
Bar Cochba since the day when he had
murdered his uncle, and an avenging
evil spirit constantly disturbed him. His
heart.prophesied to him that he would
finally be destroyed the angel of death
with drawn sword, constantly stood
before him, and the grave gaped at his
every step to devour him.
My father told me" Shimeon would
say to his friends and acquaintance,
My father told me what he saw when
Titus destroyed Judah's fortress and
burned Gods sanctuary. That cruel