They have also another name that they have acquired: the
country has been named Judea, and the people themselves
Jews.
I do not know how this title came to be given them, but
it applies also to all
the rest of mankind, although of alien race, who accept
their customs. This class exists even among the Romans,
and though often repressed has increased to a very great
extent and has won its way to the right of freedom in its
observances.
They are distinguished from the rest of mankind in practically
every detail of life, and especially by the fact that they
do not honor any of the usual gods, but show extreme reverence
for one particular divinity. They never had any statue of
him even in Jerusalem itself, but believing him to be unnameable
and invisible, they worship him in the most extravagant
fashion on earth. They built to him a temple that was extremely
large and beautiful, except insofar as it was open and roofless,
and likewise dedicated to him the day called the day of
Saturn,
on which, among many other most peculiar observances, they
undertake no serious occupation.
Now as for him, who he is and why he has been so honored,
and how they got their superstitious awe of him, accounts
have been given by many, and moreover these matters have
naught to do with this history.
