Jews, excepting Joppa, do pay a tribute yearly for the
city Jerusalem, excepting the seventh, which they call the sabbatical
year, because thereon they neither receive the fruits of their trees,
nor do they sow their land; and that they pay their tribute in Sidon on
the second year [of that sabbatical period], the fourth part of what was
sown: and besides this, they are to pay the same tithes to Hyrcanus and
his sons which they paid to their forefathers. And that no one, neither
president, nor lieutenant, nor ambassador, raise auxiliaries within
the bounds of Judea; nor may soldiers exact money of them for winter
quarters, or under any other pretense; but that they be free from all
sorts of injuries; and that whatsoever they shall hereafter have, and
are in possession of, or have bought, they shall retain them all. It is
also our pleasure that the city Joppa, which the Jews had originally,
when they made a league of friendship with the Romans, shall belong to
them, as it formerly did; and that Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, and
his sons, have as tribute of that city from those that occupy the land
for the country, and for what they export every year to Sidon, twenty
thousand six hundred and seventy-five modii every year, the seventh
year, which they call the Sabbatic year, excepted, whereon they neither
plough, nor receive the product of their trees. It is also the pleasure
of the senate, that as to the villages which are in the great plain,
which Hyrcanus and his forefathers formerly possessed, Hyrcanus and the
Jews have them with the same privileges with which they formerly had
them also; and that the same original ordinances remain still in force
which concern the Jews with regard to their high priests; and that they
enjoy the same benefits which they have had formerly by the concession
of the people, and of the senate; and let them enjoy the like privileges
in Lydda. It is the pleasure also of the senate that Hyrcanus the
ethnarch, and the Jews, retain those places, countries, and villages
which belonged to the kings of Syria and Phoenicia, the confederates of
the Romans, and which they had bestowed on them as their free gifts. It
is also granted to Hyrcanus, and to his sons, and to the ambassadors by
them sent to us, that in the fights between single gladiators, and in
those with beasts, they shall sit among the senators to see those shows;
and that when they desire an audience, they shall be introduced into the
se