01.08. Question 08
Question 8. What may be done against unjust oppressors? But what, will someone say, if the ruler crushes the people with excessive taxes? When he has been properly warned, those who wield the chief and highest authority in accordance with the laws of the kingdom assuredly can and even should consult the common weal. But here it should also be noted that a ruler who exceeds the due measure in such matters because he is wasteful or avaricious or addicted to other vices, should not forthwith be regarded as a tyrant; for the mark of tyranny and as it were its peculiar concomitant is a persistent malice which strives with might and main to subvert the constitution and the laws upon which the kingdom rests as upon foundations. I add the following remark also that however just an occasion of offering resistance to manifest tyranny may at one time or another present itself, yet the excellent maxim expressed by a heathen should be continually considered and followed if possible: Its befits a wise man to make trial of all things by deliberation before armed force1 . Therefore when Petronius attempted to introduce the image of the emperor into the Temple, the Jews did indeed seem to have just cause for seizing arms, as the zeal of Mattathias urged (them to do), rather than allow the Temple of God to be desecrated by means of an idol; but they adopted a much more prudent counsel which also received the blessing of God when they boldly gave Petronius to understand that they had indeed no desire of fighting against him, but that as long as there were any survivors they would never allow that idol to be placed in the Temple.2 But though the exaction of Albinus and Florus supplied them afresh with the justest of cause for complaints3 and though religious matters also were then in some degree concerned, yet all the acts of the Jews clearly indicated that they were striving after nothing but rebellion and revolt pure and simple, and these have nothing in common with the lawful remedies which we have discussed.Question 8 notes.
1. Terence, Eunuchus, 789: "omnia prius experiri quam armis sapientem decet." (Loeb Classical Library ed., I, 316.)
2. An allusion to the Jewish resistance, although passive, to the order of the governor Petronius indtroduced statues of the emperor Gaius in the Temple, 40-41 C.E. See Joshephus, The Jewish War, II. 3. For the Roman procurators in 62-64 and 64-66 C.E., see ibid, II.