at
a time of famine distribute wheat among us? However, she at
length met with the punishment she deserved. As for us Jews,
we appeal to the great Caesar what assistance we brought
him, and what fidelity we showed to him against the
Egyptians; as also to the senate and its decrees, and the
epistles of Augustus Caesar, whereby our merits [to the
Romans] are justified. Apion ought to have looked upon
those epistles, and in particular to have examined the
testimonies given on our behalf, under Alexander and all the
Ptolemies, and the decrees of the senate and of the greatest
Roman emperors. And if Germanicus was not able to make a
distribution of corn to all the inhabitants of Alexandria, that
only shows what a barren time it was, and how great a want
there was then of corn, but tends nothing to the accusation of
the Jews; for what all the emperors have thought of the
Alexandrian Jews is well known, for this distribution of wheat
was no otherwise omitted with regard to the Jews, than it was
with regard to the other inhabitants of Alexandria. But they
still were desirous to preserve what the kings had formerly
intrusted to their care, I mean the custody of the river; nor
did those kings think them unworthy of having the entire
custody thereof, upon all occasions.

6. But besides this, Apion objects to us thus: "If the Jews
(says he) be citizens of Alexandria, why do they not worship
the same gods with the Alexandrians?" To which I give this
answer: Since you are yourselves Egyptians, why do you fight
it out one against another, and have implacable wars about
your religion? At this rate we must not call you all Egyptians,