lake of Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months
of the year. We may observe also, that in Cyril of Jerusalem,
Cateehes. 18. sect. 3, which was delivered not long before
Easter, there were no fresh leaves of fig trees, nor bunches of
fresh grapes in Judea; so that when St. Mark says, ch. 11. ver.
13, that our Savior, soon after the same time of the year, came
and "found leaves" on a fig tree near Jerusalem, but "no figs,
because the time of" new "figs" ripening "was not yet," he says
very true; nor were they therefore other than old leaves which
our Savior saw, and old figs which he expected, and which even
with us commonly hang on the trees all winter long.

(8) This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian
ever did in this whole war, as he did it with great reluctance
also. It was done both after public assurance given of sparing
the prisoners' lives, and when all knew and confessed that these
prisoners were no way guilty of any sedition against the Romans.
Nor indeed did Titus now give his consent, so far as appears, nor
ever act of himself so barbarously; nay, soon after this, Titus
grew quite weary of shedding blood, and of punishing the innocent
with the guilty, and gave the people of Gischala leave to keep
the Jewish sabbath, B. IV. ch. 2. sect. 3, 5, in the midst of
their siege. Nor was Vespasian disposed to do what he did, till
his officers persuaded him, and that from two principal topics,
viz. that nothing could be unjust that was done against Jews; and
that when both cannot be consistent, advantage must prevail over
justice. Admirable court doctrines these!

BOOK IV.