Chapter 22. From Aversion to the Christians, Julian granted Permission to the Jews to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem; in every Endeavor to put
their Hands to the Work, Fire sprang upward and killed Many. About the Sign of the Cross which appeared on the Clothing of those who had exerted
themselves in this Work.
Though the emperor hated and oppressed the Christians, he manifested benevolence and humanity towards the Jews. He wrote to the Jewish patriarchs
and leaders, as well as to the people, requesting them to pray for him, and for the prosperity of the empire. In taking this step he was not actuated,
I am convinced, by any respect for their religion; for he was aware that it is, so to speak, the mother of the Christian religion, and he knew
that both religions rest upon the authority of the patriarchs and the prophets; but he thought to grieve the Christians by favoring the Jews,
who are their most inveterate enemies. But perhaps he also calculated upon persuading the Jews to embrace paganism and sacrifices; for
they were only acquainted with the mere letter of Scripture, and could not, like the Christians and a few of the wisest among the Hebrews,
discern the hidden meaning.
Events proved that this was his real motive; for he sent for some of the chiefs of the race and exhorted them to return to the observance of the
laws of Moses and the customs of their fathers. On their replying that because the temple in Jerusalem was overturned, it was neither lawful
nor ancestral to do this in another place than the metropolis out of which they had been cast, he gave them public money, commanded them to
rebuild the temple, and to practice the cult similar to that of their ancestors, by sacrificing after the ancient way. The Jews entered upon
the undertaking, without reflecting that, according to the prediction of the holy prophets, it could not be accomplished. They sought for the
most skillful artisans, collected materials, cleared the ground, and entered so earnestly upon the task, that even the women carried heaps of
earth, and brought their necklaces and other female ornaments towards defraying the expense. The emperor, the other pagans, and all the Jews,
regarded every other undertaking as secondary in importance to this. Although the pagans were not well-disposed towards the Jews, yet they
assisted them in this enterprise, because they reckoned upon its ultimate success, and hoped by this means to falsify the prophecies of Christ.
Besides this motive, the Jews themselves were impelled by the consideration that the time had arrived for rebuilding their temple. When they
had removed the ruins of the former building, they dug up the ground and cleared away its foundation; it is said that
on the following day
when they were about to lay the first foundation, a great earthquake occurred, and by the violent agitation of the earth, stones were
thrown up from the depths, by which those of the Jews who were engaged in the work were wounded, as likewise those who were merely looking on.
The houses and public porticos, near the site of the temple, in which they had diverted themselves, were suddenly thrown down; many were caught
thereby, some perished immediately, others were found half dead and mutilated of hands or legs, others were injured in other parts of the body.
When God caused the earthquake to cease, the workmen who survived again returned to their task, partly because such was the edict of the emperor,
and partly because they were themselves interested in the undertaking. Men often, in endeavoring to gratify their own passions, seek what is
injurious to them, reject what would be truly advantageous, and are deluded by the idea that nothing is really useful except what is agreeable
to them. When once led astray by this error, they are no longer able to act in a manner conducive to their own interests, or to take warning
by the calamities which are visited upon them.
The Jews, I believe, were just in this state; for, instead of regarding this unexpected earthquake as a manifest indication that God was opposed
to the re-erection of their temple, they proceeded to recommence the work. But all parties relate, that they had scarcely returned to the
undertaking, when fire burst suddenly from the foundations of the temple, and consumed several of the workmen.
This fact is fearlessly stated, and believed by all; the only discrepancy in the narrative is that
some maintain that flame burst from the
interior of the temple, as the workmen were striving to force an entrance, while others say that the fire proceeded directly from the earth.
In whichever way the phenomenon might have occurred, it is equally wonderful. A more tangible and still more extraordinary prodigy ensued;
suddenly the sign of the cross appeared spontaneously on the garments of the persons engaged in the undertaking. These crosses
were disposed like stars, and appeared the work of art. Many were hence led to confess that Christ is God, and that the rebuilding
of the temple was not pleasing to Him; others presented themselves in the church, were initiated, and besought Christ, with hymns
and supplications, to pardon their transgression. If any one does not feel disposed to believe my narrative, let him go and be
convinced by those who heard the facts I have related from the eyewitnesses of them, for they are still alive. Let him inquire,
also, of the Jews and pagans who left the work in an incomplete state, or who, to speak more accurately, were able to commence it.
