ass is not a more contemptible animal than (9) and goats,
and other such creatures, which among them are gods. But
besides this answer, I say further, how comes it about that
Apion does not understand this to be no other than a
palpable lie, and to be confuted by the thing itself as utterly
incredible? For we Jews are always governed by the same
laws, in which we constantly persevere; and although many
misfortunes have befallen our city, as the like have befallen
others, and although Theos [Epiphanes], and Pompey the
Great, and Licinius Crassus, and last of all Titus Caesar, have
conquered us in war, and gotten possession of our temple;
yet have they none of them found any such thing there, nor
indeed any thing but what was agreeable to the strictest piety;
although what they found we are not at liberty to reveal to
other nations. But for Antiochus [Epiphanes], he had no just
cause for that ravage in our temple that he made; he only
came to it when he wanted money, without declaring himself
our enemy, and attacked us while we were his associates and
his friends; nor did he find any thing there that was
ridiculous. This is attested by many worthy writers; Polybius
of Megalopolis, Strabo of Cappadocia, Nicolaus of Damascus,
Timagenes, Castor the chronotoger, and Apollodorus; (10)
who all say that it was out of Antiochus's want of money that
he broke his league with the Jews, and despoiled their temple
when it was full of gold and silver. Apion ought to have had
a regard to these facts, unless he had himself had either an
ass's heart or a dog's impudence; of such a dog I mean as
they worship; for he had no other external reason for the lies
he tells of us. As for us Jews, we ascribe no honor or power
to asses, as do the Egyptians to crocodiles and asps, when