THE LIFE
OF
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS.
1. THE family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but
hath descended all along from the priests; and as nobility among
several people is of a different origin, so with us to be of the
sacerdotal dignity, is an indication of the splendor of a family.
Now, I am not only sprung from a sacerdotal family in general,
but from the first of the twenty-four (1) courses; and as among
us there is not only a considerable difference between one family
of each course and another, I am of the chief family of that first
course also; nay, further, by my mother I am of the royal blood;
for the children of Asamoneus, from whom that family was derived,
had both the office of the high priesthood, and the dignity of
a king, for a long time together. I will accordingly set down
my progenitors in order. My grandfather's father was named Simon,
with the addition of Psellus: he lived at the same time with that
son of Simon the high priest, who first of all the high priests
was named Hyrcanus. This Simon Psellus had nine sons, one of whom
was Matthias, called Ephlias: he married the daughter of Jonathan
the high priest, which Jonathan was the first of the sons of Asamoneus,
who was high priest, and was the brother of Simon the high priest
also. This Matthias had a son called Matthias Curtus, and that
in the first year of the government of Hyrcanus: his son's name
was Joseph, born in the ninth year of the reign of Alexandra:
his son Matthias was born in the tenth year of the reign of Archclaus;
as was I born to Matthias in the first year of the reign of Caius
Caesar. I have three sons: Hyrcanus, the eldest, was born in the
fourth year of the reign of Vespasian, as was Justus born in the
seventh, and Agrippa in the ninth. Thus have I set down the genealog
of my family as I have found it described (2) in the public records,
and so bid adieu to those who calumniate me [as of a lower original].
2. Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of
is nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness,
and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we
have. I was myself brought up with my brother, whose name was
Matthias, for he was my own brother, by both father and mother;
and I made mighty proficiency in the improvements of my learning,
and appeared to have both a great memory and understanding. Moreover,
when I was a child, and about fourteen years of age, I was commended
by all for the love I had to learning; on which account the high
priests and principal men of the city came then frequently to
me together, in order to know my opinion about the accurate understanding
of points of the law. And when I was about sixteen years old,
I had a mind to make trim of the several sects that were among
us. These sects are three: - The first is that of the Pharisees,
the second that Sadducees, and the third that of the Essens, as
we have frequently told you; for I thought that by this means
I might choose the best, if I were once acquainted with them all;
so I contented myself with hard fare, and underwent great difficulties,
and went through them all. Nor did I content myself with these
trials only; but when I was informed that one, whose name was
Banus, lived in the desert, and used no other clothing than grew
upon trees, and had no other food than what grew of its own accord,
and bathed himself in cold water frequently, both by night and
by day, in order to preserve his chastity, I imitated him in those
things, and continued with him three years. (3) So when I had
accomplished my desires, I returned back to the city, being now
nineteen years old, and began to conduct myself according to the
rules of the sect of the Pharisees, which is of kin to the sect
of the Stoics, as the Greeks call them.
3. But when I was in the twenty-sixth year of my age, it happened
that I took a voyage to Rome, and this on the occasion which I
shall now describe. At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea
there were certain priests of my acquaintance, and very excellent
persons they were, whom on a small and trifling occasion he had
put into bonds, and sent to Rome to plead their cause before Caesar.
These I was desirous to procure deliverance for, and that especially
because I was informed that they were not unmindful of piety towards
God, even under their afflictions, but supported themselves with
figs and nuts. (4) Accordingly I came to Rome, though it were
through a great number of hazards by sea; for as our ship was
drowned in the Adriatic Sea, we that were in it, being about six
hundred in number, (5) swam for our lives all the night; when,
upon the first appearance of the day, and upon our sight of a
ship of Cyrene, I and some others, eighty in all, by God's providence,
prevented the rest, and were taken up into the other ship. And
when I had thus escaped, and was come to Dieearchia, which the
Italians call Puteoli, I became acquainted with Aliturius, an
actor of plays, and much beloved by Nero, but a Jew by birth;
and through his interest became known to Poppea, Caesar's wife,
and took care, as soon as possible, to entreat her to procure
that the priests might be set at liberty. And when, besides this
favor, I had obtained many presents from Poppea, I returned home
again.
4. And now I perceived innovations were already begun, and that
there were a great many very much elevated in hopes of a revolt
from the Romans. I therefore endeavored to put a stop to these
tumultuous persons, and persuaded them to change their minds;
and laid before their eyes against whom it was that they were
going to fight, and told them that they were inferior to the Romans
not only in martial skill, but also in good fortune; and desired
them not rashly, and after the most foolish manner, to bring on
the dangers of the most terrible mischiefs upon their country,
upon their families, and upon themselves. And this I said with
vehement exhortation, because I foresaw that the end of such a
war would be most unfortunate to us. But I could not persuade
them; for the madness of desperate men was quite too hard for
me.
5. I was then afraid, lest, by inculcating these things so often,
I should incur their hatred and their suspicions, as if I were
of our enemies' party, and should run into the danger of being
seized by them, and slain; since they were already possessed of
Antonia, which was the citadel; so I retired into the inner court
of the temple. Yet did I go out of the temple again, after Manahem
and the principal of the band of robbers were put to death, when
I abode among the high priests and the chief of the Pharisees.
But no small fear seized upon us when we saw the people in arms,
while we ourselves knew not what we should do, and were not able
to restrain the seditious. However, as the danger was directly
upon us, we pretended that we were of the same opinion with them,
but only advised them to be quiet for the present, and to let
the enemy go away, still hoping that Gessius [Florus] would not
be long ere he came, and that with great forces, and so put an
end to these seditious proceedings.
6. But, upon his coming and fighting, he was beaten, and a great
many of those that were with him fell. And this disgrace which
Gessius [with Cestius] received, became the calamity of our whole
nation; for those that were fond of the war were so far elevated
with this success, that they had hopes of finally conquering the
Romans. Of which war another occasion was ministered; which was
this: - Those that dwelt in the neighboring cities of Syria seized
upon such Jews as dwelt among them, with their wives and children,
and slew them, when they had not the least occasion of complaint
against them; for they did neither attempt any innovation or revolt
from the Romans, nor had they given any marks of hatred or treacherous
designs towards the Syrians. But what was done by the inhabitants
of Scythopolis was the most impious and most highly criminal of
all; (6) for when the Jews their enemies came upon them from without,
they forced the Jews that were among them to bear arms against
their own countrymen, which it is unlawful for us to do; (7) and
when, by their assistance, they had joined battle with those who
attacked them, and had beaten them, after that victory they forgot
the assurances they had given these their fellow citizens and
confederates, and slew them all, being in number many ten thousands
[13,000]. The like miseries were undergone by those Jews that
were the inhabitants of Damascus. But we have given a more accurate
account of these things in the books of the Jewish war. I only
mention them now, because I would demonstrate to my readers, that
the Jews' war with the Romans was not voluntary, but that, for
the main, they were forced by necessity to enter into it.
7. So when Gessius had been beaten, as we have said already, the
principal men of Jerusalem, seeing that the robbers and innovators
had arms in great plenty, and fearing lest they, while they were
unprovided of arms, should be in subjection to their enemies,
which also came to be the case afterward; and, being informed
that all Galilee had not yet revolted from the Romans, but that
some part of it was still quiet; they sent me and two others of
the priests, who were men of excellent characters, Joazar and
Judas, in order to persuade the ill men there to lay down their
arms, and to teach them this lesson, - That it were better to
have those arms reserved for the most courageous men that the
nation had [than to be kept there]; for that it had been resolved,
That those our best men should always have their arms ready against
futurity; but still so, that they should wait to see what the
Romans would do.
8. When I had therefore received these instructions, I came into
Galilee, and found the people of Sepphoris in no small agony about
their country, by reason that the Galileans had resolved to plunder
it, on account of the friendship they had with the Romans, and
because they had given their right hand, and made a league with
Cestius Gallus, the president of Syria. But I delivered them all
out of the fear they were in, and persuaded the multitude to deal
kindly with them, and permitted them to send to those that were
their own hostages with Gessius to Dora, which is a city of Phoenicia,
as often as they pleased; though I still found the inhabitants
of Tiberias ready to take arms, and that on the occasion following:
-
9. There were three factions in this city. The first was composed
of men of worth and gravity; of these Julius Capellus was the
head. Now he, as well as all his companions, Herod the son of
Miarus, and Herod the son of Gamalus, and Compsus the son of Compsus;
(for as to Compsus's brother Crispus, who had once been governor
of the city under the great king [Agrippa] (8) he was beyond Jordan
in his own possessions;) all these persons before named gave their
advice, that the city should then continue in their allegiance
to the Romans and to the king. But Pistus, who was guided by his
son Justus, did not acquiesce in that resolution; otherwise he
was himself naturally of a good and virtuous character. But the
second faction was composed of the most ignoble persons, and was
determined for war. But as for Justus, the son of Pistus, who
was the head of the third faction, although he pretended to be
doubtful about going to war, yet was he really desirous of innovation,
as supposing that he should gain power to himself by the change
of affairs. He therefore came into the midst of them, and endeavored
to inform the multitude that "the city Tiberius had ever
been a city of Galilee, and that in the days of Herod the tetrarch,
who had built it, it had obtained the principal place, and that
he had ordered that the city Sepphoris should be subordinate to
the city Tiberias; that they had not lost this preeminence even
under Agrippa the father, but had retained it until Felix was
procurator of Judea. But he told them, that now they had been
so unfortunate as to be made a present by Nero to Agrippa, junior;
and that, upon Sepphoris's submission of itself to the Romans,
that was become the capital city of Galilee, and that the royal
library and the archives were now removed from them." When
he had spoken these things, and a great many more, against king
Agrippa, in order to provoke the people to a revolt, he added
that "this was the time for them to take arms, and join with
the Galileans as their confederates (whom they might command,
and who would now willingly assist them, out of the hatred they
bare to the people of Sepphoris; because they preserved their
fidelity to the Romans), and to gather a great number of forces,
in order to punish them." And as he said this, he exhorted
the multitude, [to go to war;] for his abilities lay in making
harangues to the people, and in being too hard in his speeches
for such as opposed him, though they advised what was more to
their advantage, and this by his craftiness and his fallacies,
for he was not unskilful in the learning of the Greeks; and in
dependence on that skill it was, that he undertook to write a
history of these affairs, as aiming, by this way of haranguing,
to disguise the truth. But as to this man, and how ill were his
character and conduct of life, and how he and his brother were,
in great measure, the authors of our destruction, I shall give
the reader an account in the progress of my narration. So when
Justus had, by his persuasions, prevailed with the citizens of
Tiberias to take arms, nay, and had forced a great many so to
do against their wills, he went out, and set the villages that
belonged to Gadara and Hippos on fire; which villages were situated
on the borders of Tiberias, and of the region of Scythopolis.
10. And this was the state Tiberias was now in. But as for Gischala,
its affairs were thus: - When John, the son of Levi, saw some
of the citizens much elevated upon their revolt from the Romans,
he labored to restrain them, and entreated them that they would
keep their allegiance to them. But he could not gain his purpose,
although he did his endeavors to the utmost; for the neighboring
people of Gadara, Gabara, and Sogana, wth the Tyrians, got together
a great army, and fell upon Gischala, and took Gischala by force,
and set it on fire; and when they had entirely demolished it,
they returned home. Upon which John was so enraged, that he armed
all his men, and joined battle with the people forementioned;
and rebuilt Gischala after a manner better than before, and fortified
it with walls for its future security.
11. But Gamala persevered in its allegiance to the Romans, for
the reason following: - Philip, the son of Jacimus, who was their
governor under king Agrippa, had been unexpectedly preserved when
the royal palace at Jerusalem had been besieged; but, as he fled
away, had fallen into another danger, and that was, of being killed
by Manahem, and the robbers that were with him; but certain Babylonians,
who were of his kindred, and were then in Jerusalem, hindered
the robbers from executing their design. So Philip staid there
four days, and fled away on the fifth, having disguised himself
with fictitious hair, that he might not be discovered; and when
he was come to one of the villages to him belonging, but one that
was situated at the borders of the citadel of Gamala, he sent
to some of those that were under him, and commanded them to come
to him. But God himself hindered that his intention, and this
for his own advantage also; for had it not so happened, he had
certainly perished. For a fever having seized upon him immediately,
he wrote to Agrippa and Bernice, and gave them to one of his freed-men
to carry them to Varus, who at this time was procurator of the
kingdom, which the king and his sister had intrusted him withal,
while they were gone to Berytus with an intention of meeting Gessius.
When Varus had received these letters of Philip, and had learned
that he was preserved, he was very uneasy at it, as supposing
that he should appear useless to the king and his sister, now
Philip was come. He therefore produced the carrier of the letters
before the multitude, and accused him of forging the same; and
said that he spake falsely when he related that Philip was at
Jerusalem, fighting among the Jews against the Romans. So he slew
him. And when this freed-man of Philip did not return again, Philip
was doubtful what should be the occasion of his stay, and sent
a second messenger with letters, that he might, upon his return,
inform him what had befallen the other that had been sent before,
and why he tarried so long. Varus accused this messenger also,
when he came, of telling a falsehood, and slew him. For he was
puffed up by the Syrians that were at Caesarea, and had great
expectations; for they said that Agrippa would be slain by the
Romans for the crimes which the Jews had committed, and that he
should himself take the government, as derived from their kings;
for Varus was, by the confession of all, of the royal family,
as being a descendant of Sohemus, who had enjoyed a tetrarchy
about Libanus; for which reason it was that he was puffed up,
and kept the letters to himself. He contrived, also, that the
king should not meet with those writings, by guarding all the
passes, lest any one should escape, and inform the king what had
been done. He moreover slew many of the Jews, in order to gratify
the Syrians of Cesarea. He had a mind also to join with the Trachonites
in Batanea, and to take up arms and make an assault upon the Babylonian
Jews that were at Ecbatana; for that was the name they went by.
He therefore called to him twelve of the Jews of Cesarea, of the
best character, and ordered them to go to Ecbatana, and inform
their countrymen who dwelt there, That Varus hath heard that "you
intend to march against the king; but, not believing that report,
he hath sent us to persuade you to lay down your arms, and that
this compliance will be a sign that he did well not to give credit
to those that raised the report concerning you." He also
enjoined them to send seventy of their principal men to make a
defense for them as to the accusation laid against them. So when
the twelve messengers came to their countrymen at Ecbatana, and
found that they had no designs of innovation at all, they persuaded
them to send the seventy men also; who, not at all suspecting
what would come, sent them accordingly. So these seventy went
down to Caesarea, together with the twelve ambassadors; where
Varus met them with the king's forces, and slew them all, together
with the [twelve] (9) ambassadors, and made an expedition against
the Jews of Ecbatana. But one there was of the seventy who escaped,
and made haste to inform the Jews of their coming; upon which
they took their arms, with their wives and children, and retired
to the citadel at Gamala, leaving their own villages full of all
sorts of good things, and having many ten thousands of cattle
therein. When Philip was informed of these things, he also came
to the citadel of Gamala; and when he was come, the multitude
cried aloud, and desired him to resume the government, and to
make an expedition against Varus, and the Syrians of Cesarea;
for it was reported that they had slain the king. But Philip restrained
their zeal, and put them in mind of the benefits the king had
bestowed upon them; and told them how powerful the Romans were,
and said it was not for their advantage to make war with them;
and at length he prevailed with them. But now, when the king was
acquainted with Varus's design, which was to cut off the Jews
of Caesarea, being many ten thousands, with their wives and children,
and all in one day, he called to him Equiculus Modius, and sent
him to be Varus's successor, as we have elsewhere related. But
still Philip kept possession of the citadel of Gamala, and of
the country adjoining to it, which thereby continued in their
allegiance to the Romans.
12. Now, as soon as I was come into Galilee, and had learned this
state of things by the information of such as told me of them,
I wrote to the sanhedrim at Jerusalem about them, and required
their direction what I should do. Their direction was, that I
should continue there, and that, if my fellow legates were willing,
I should join with them in the care of Galilee. But those my fellow
legates, having gotten great riches from those tithes which as
priests were their dues, and were given to them, determined to
return to their own country. Yet when I desired them to stay so
long, that we might first settle the public affairs, they complied
with me. So I removed, together with them, from the city of Sepphoris,
and came to a certain village called Bethmaus, four furlongs distant
from Tiberius; and thence I sent messengers to the senate of Tiberius,
and desired that the principal men of the city would come to me:
and when they were come, Justus himself being also with them,
I told them that I was sent to them by the people of Jerusalem
as a legate, together with these other priests, in order to persuade
them to demolish that house which Herod the tetrarch had built
there, and which had the figures of living creatures in it, although
our laws have forbidden us to make any such figures; and I desired
that they would give us leave so to do immediately. But for a
good while Capellus and the principal men belonging to the city
would not give us leave, but were at length entirely overcome
by us, and were induced to be of our opinion. So Jesus the son
of Sapphias, one of those whom we have already mentioned as the
leader of a seditious tumult of mariners and poor people, prevented
us, and took with him certain Galileans, and set the entire palace
on fire, and thought he should get a great deal of money thereby,
because he saw some of the roofs gilt with gold. They also plundered
a great deal of the furniture, which was done without our approbation;
for after we had discoursed with Capellus and the principal men
of the city, we departed from Bethmaus, and went into the Upper
Galilee. But Jesus and his party slew all the Greeks that were
inhabitants of Tiberias, and as many others as were their enemies
before the war began.
13. When I understood this state of things, I was greatly provoked,
and went down to Tiberias, and took all the care I could of the
royal furniture, to recover all that could be recovered from such
as had plundered it. They consisted of candlesticks made of Corinthian
brass, and of royal tables, and of a great quantity of uncoined
silver; and I resolved to preserve whatsoever came to my hand
for the king. So I sent for ten of the principal men of the senate,
and for Capellus the son of Antyllus, and committed the furniture
to them, with this charge, That they should part with it to nobody
else but to myself. From thence I and my fellow legates went to
Gichala, to John, as desirous to know his intentions, and soon
saw that he was for innovations, and had a mind to the principality;
for he desired me to give him authority to carry off that corn
which belonged to Caesar, and lay in the villages of Upper Galilee;
and he pretended that he would expend what it came to in building
the walls of his own city. But when I perceived what he endeavored
at, and what he had in his mind, I said I would not permit him
so to do; for that I thought either to keep it for the Romans
or for myself, now I was intrusted with the public affairs there
by the people of Jerusalem. But, when he was not able to prevail
with me, he betook himself to my fellow legates; for they had
no sagacity in providing for futurity, and were very ready to
take bribes. So he corrupted them with money to decree, That all
that corn which was within his province should be delivered to
him; while I, who was but one, was outvoted by two, and held my
tongue. Then did John introduce another cunning contrivance of
his; for he said that those Jews who inhabited Cesarea Philippi,
and were shut up by the order of the king's deputy there, had
sent to him to desire him, that, since they had no oil that was
pure for their use, he would provide a sufficient quantity of
such oil for them, lest they should be forced to make use of oil
that came from the Greeks, and thereby transgress their own laws.
Now this was said by John, not out of his regard to religion,
but out of his most flagrant desire of gain; for he knew that
two sextaries were sold with them of Caesarea for one drachma,
but that at Gischala fourscore sextaxies were sold for four sextaries.
So he gave order that all the oil which was there should be carried
away, as having my permission for so doing; which yet I did not
grant him voluntarily, but only out of fear of the multitude,
since, if I had forbidden him, I should have been stoned by them.
When I had therefore permitted this to be done by John, he gained
vast sums of money by this his knavery.
14. But when I had dismissed my fellow legates, and sent them
back to Jerusalem, I took care to have arms provided, and the
cities fortified. And when I had sent for the most hardy among
the robbers, I saw that it was not in my power to take their arms
from them; but I persuaded the multitude to allow them money as
pay, and told them it was better for them to give them a little
willingly, rather than to [be forced to] overlook them when they
plundered their goods from them. And when I had obliged them to
take an oath not to come into that country, unless they were invited
to come, or else when they had not their pay given them, I dismissed
them, and charged them neither to make an expedition against the
Romans, nor against those their neighbors that lay round about
them; for my first care was to keep Galilee in peace. So I was
willing to have the principal of the Galileans, in all seventy,
as hostages for their fidelity, but still under the notion of
friendship. Accordingly, I made them my friends and companions
as I journeyed, and set them to judge causes; and with their approbation
it was that I gave my sentences, while I endeavored not to mistake
what justice required, and to keep my hands clear of all bribery
in those determinations.
15. I was now about the thirtieth year of my age; in which time
of life it is a hard thing for any one to escape the calumnies
of the envious, although he restrain himself from fulfilling any
unlawful desires, especially where a person is in great authority.
Yet did I preserve every woman free from injuries; and as to what
presents were offered me, I despised them, as not standing in
need of them. Nor indeed would I take those tithes, which were
due to me as a priest, from those that brought them. Yet do I
confess, that I took part of the spoils of those Syrians which
inhabited the cities that adjoined to us, when I had conquered
them, and that I sent them to my kindred at Jerusalem; although,
when I twice took Sepphoris by force, and Tiberias four times,
and Gadara once, and when I had subdued and taken John, who often
laid treacherous snares for me, I did not punish [with death]
either him or any of the people forenamed, as the progress of
this discourse will show. And on this account, I suppose, it was
that God, (10) who is never unacquainted with those that do as
they ought to do, delivered me still out of the hands of these
my enemies, and afterwards preserved me when I fell into those
many dangers which I shall relate hereafter.
16. Now the multitude of the Galileans had that great kindness
for me, and fidelity to me, that when their cities were taken
by force, and their wives and children carried into slavery, they
did not so deeply lament for their own calamities, as they were
solicitous for my preservation. But when John saw this, he envied
me, and wrote to me, desiring that I would give him leave to come
down, and make use of the hot-baths of Tiberias for the recovery
of the health of his body. Accordingly, I did not hinder him,
as having no suspicion of any wicked designs of his; and I wrote
to those to whom I had committed the administration of the affairs
of Tiberius by name, that they should provide a lodging for John,
and for such as should come with him, and should procure him what
necessaries soever he should stand in need of. Now at this time
my abode was in a village of Galilee, which is named Cans.
17. But when John was come to the city of Tiberias, he persuaded
the men to revolt from their fidelity to me, and to adhere to
him; and many of them gladly received that invitation of his,
as ever fond of innovations, and by nature disposed to changes,
and delighting in seditions; but they were chiefly Justus and
his father Pistus, that were earnest for their revolt from me,
and their adherence to John. But I came upon them, and prevented
them; for a messenger had come to me from Silas, whom I had made
governor of Tiberias, as I have said already, and had told me
of the inclinations of the people of Tiberias, and advised me
to make haste thither; for that, if I made any delay, the city
would come under another's jurisdiction. Upon the receipt of this
letter of Silas, I took two hundred men along with me, and traveled
all night, having sent before a messenger to let the people of
Tiberias know that I was coming to them. When I came near to the
city, which was early in the morning, the multitude came out to
meet me; and John came with them, and saluted me, but in a most
disturbed manner, as being afraid that my coming was to call him
to an account for what I was now sensible he was doing. So he,
in great haste, went to his lodging. But when I was in the open
place of the city, having dismissed the guards I had about me,
excepting one, and ten armed men that were with him, I attempted
to make a speech to the multitude of the people of Tiberias: and,
standing on a certain elevated place, I entreated them not to
be so hasty in their revolt; for that such a change in their behavior
would be to their reproach, and that they would then justly be
suspected by those that should be their governors hereafter, as
if they were not likely to be faithful to them neither.
18. But before I had spoken all I designed, I heard one of my
own domestics bidding me come down, for that it was not a proper
time to take care of retaining the good-will of the people of
Tiberias, but to provide for my own safety, and escape my enemies
there; for John had chosen the most trusty of those armed men
that were about him out of those thousand that he had with him,
and had given them orders when he sent them, to kill me, having
learned that I was alone, excepting some of my domestics. So those
that were sent came as they were ordered, and they had executed
what they came about, had I not leaped down from the elevation
I stood on, and with one of my guards, whose name was James, been
carried [out of the crowd] upon the back of one Herod of Tiberias,
and guided by him down to the lake, where I seized a ship, and
got into it, and escaped my enemies unexpectedly, and came to
Tarichese.
19. Now, as soon as the inhabitants of that city understood the
perfidiousness of the people of Tiberias, they were greatly provoked
at them. So they snatched up their arms, and desired me to be
their leader against them; for they said they would avenge their
commander's cause upon them. They also carried the report of what
had been done to me to all the Galileans, and eagerly endeavored
to irritate them against the people of Tiberias, and desired that
vast numbers of them would get together, and come to them, that
they might act in concert with their commander, what should be
determined as fit to be done. Accordingly, the Galileans came
to me in great numbers, from all parts, with their weapons, and
besought me to assault Tiberias, to take it by force, and to demolish
it, till it lay even with the ground, and then to make slaves
of its inhabitants, with their wives and children. Those that
were Josephus's friends also, and had escaped out of Tiberias,
gave him the same advice. But I did not comply with them, thinking
it a terrible thing to begin a civil war among them; for I thought
that this contention ought not to proceed further than words;
nay, I told them that it was not for their own advantage to do
what they would have me to do, while the Romans expected no other
than that we should destroy one another by our mutual seditions.
And by saying this, I put a stop to the anger of the Galileans.
20. But now John was afraid for himself, since his treachery had
proved unsuccessful. So he took the armed men that were about
him, and removed from Tiberias to Gischala, and wrote to me to
apologize for himself concerning What had been done, as if it
had been done without his approbation, and desired me to have
no suspicion of him to his disadvantage. He also added oaths and
certain horrible curses upon himself, and supposed he should be
thereby believed in the points he wrote about to me.
21. But now another great number of the Galileans came together
again with their weapons, as knowing the man, how wicked and how
sadly perjured he was, and desired me to lead them against him
and promised me that they would utterly both him and Gischala.
Hereupon I professed that I was obliged to them for their readiness
to serve me, and that I would more than requite their good-will
to me. However, I entreated them to restrain themselves, and begged
of them to give me leave to do what I intended, which was to put
an end to these troubles without bloodshed; and when I had prevailed
with the multitude of the Galileans to let me do so, I came to
Sepphoris.
22. But the inhabitants of this city having determined to continue
in their allegiance to the Romans, were afraid of my coming to
them, and tried, by putting me upon another action, to divert
me, that they might be freed from the terror they were in. Accordingly,
they sent to Jesus, the captain of those robbers who were in the
confines of Ptolemais, and promised to give him a great deal of
money, if he would come with those forces he had with him, which
were in number eight hundred, and fight with us. Accordingly,
he complied with what they desired, upon the promises they had
made him, and was desirous to fall upon us when we were unprepared
for him, and knew nothing of his coming beforehand. So he sent
to me, and desired that I would give him leave to come and salute
me. When I had given him that leave, which I did without the least
knowledge of his treacherous intentions beforehand, he took his
band of robbers, and made haste to come to me. Yet did not this
his knavery succeed well at last; for as he was already nearly
approaching, one of those with him deserted him, and came to me,
and told me what he had undertaken to do. When I was informed
of this, I went into the market-place, and pretended to know nothing
of his treacherous purpose. I took with me many Galileans that
were armed, as also some of those of Tiberias; and, when I had
given orders that all the roads should be carefully guarded, I
charged the keepers of the gates to give admittance to none but
Jesus, when he came, with the principal of his men, and to exclude
the rest; and in case they aimed to force themselves in, to use
stripes [in order to repel them]. Accordingly, those that had
received such a charge did as they were bidden, and Jesus came
in with a few others; and when I had ordered him to throw down
his arms immediately, and told him, that if he refused so to do,
he was a dead man, he seeing armed men standing all round about
him, was terrified, and complied; and as for those of his followers
that were excluded, when they were informed that he was seized,
they ran away. I then called Jesus to me by himself, and told
him, that" I was not a stranger to that treacherous design
he had against me, nor was I ignorant by whom he was sent for;
that, however, I would forgive him what he had done already, if
he would repent of it, and be faithful to me hereafter."
And thus, upon his promise to do all that I desired, I let him
go, and gave him leave to get those whom he had formerly had with
him together again. But I threatened the inhabitants of Sepphoris,
that, if they would not leave off their ungrateful treatment of
me, I would punish them sufficiently.
23. At this time it was that two great men, who were under the
jurisdiction of the king [Agrippa] came to me out of the region
of Trachonius, bringing their horses and their arms, and carrying
with them their money also; and when the Jews would force them
to be circumcised, if they would stay among them, I would not
permit them to have any force put upon them, (11) but said to
them, "Every one ought to worship God according to his own
inclinations, and not to be constrained by force; and that these
men, who had fled to us for protection, ought not to be so treated
as to repent of their coming hither." And when I had pacified
the multitude, I provided for the men that were come to us whatsoever
it was they wanted, according to their usual way of living, and
that in great plenty also.
24. Now king Agrippa sent an army to make themselves masters of
the citadel of Gamala, and over it Equieulus Modius; but the forces
that were sent were not allow to encompass the citadel quite round,
but lay before it in the open places, and besieged it. But when
Ebutius the decurion, who was intrusted with the government of
the great plain, heard that I was at Simonias, a village situated
in the confines of Galilee, and was distant from him sixty furlongs,
he took a hundred horsemen that were with him by night, and a
certain number of footmen, about two hundred, and brought the
inhabitants of the city Gibea along with him as auxiliaries, and
marched in the night, and came to the village where I abode. Upon
this I pitched my camp over against him, which had a great number
of forces in it: but Ebutius tried to draw us down into the plain,
as greatly depending upon his horsemen; but we would not come
down; for when I was satisfied of the advantage that his horse
would have if we came down into the plain, while we were all footmen,
I resolved to join battle with the enemy where I was. Now Ebutius
and his party made a courageous opposition for some time; but
when he saw that his horse were useless to him in that place,
he retired back to the city Gibea, having lost three of his men
in the fight. So I followed him directy with two thousand armed
men; and when I was at the city Besara, that lay in the confines
of Ptolemais, but twenty furlongs from Gibea, where Ebutius abode,
I placed my armed men on the outside of the village, and gave
orders that they should guard the passes with great care, that
the enemy might not disturb us until we should have carried off
the corn, a great quantity of which lay there: it belonged to
Bernice the queen, and had been gathered together out of the neighboring
villages into Besara; so I loaded my camels and asses, a great
number of which I had brought along with me, and sent the corn
into Galilee. When I had done this, I offered Ebutius battle;
but when he would not accept of the offer, for he was terrified
at our readiness and courage, I altered my route, and marched
towards Neopolitanus, because I had heard that the country about
Tiberias was laid waste by him. This Neopolitanus was captain
of a troop of horse, and had the custody of Scythopolis intrusted
to his care by the enemy; and when I had hindered him from doing
any further mischief to Tiberias, I set myself to make provision
for the affairs of Galilee.
25. But when John, the son of Levi, who, as we before told you,
abode at Gischala, was informed how all things had succeeded to
my mind, and that I was much in favor with those that were under
me, as also that the enemy were greatly afraid of me, he was not
pleased with it, as thinking my prosperity tended to his ruin.
So he took up a bitter envy and enmity against me; and hoping,
that if he could inflame those that were under me to hate me,.
he should put an end to the prosperity I was in, he tried to persuade
the inhabitants of Tiberias and of Sepphoris, (and for those of
Gabara he supposed they would be also of the same mind with the
others,) which were the greatest cities of Galilee, to revolt
from their subjection to me, and to be of his party; and told
them that he would command them better than I did. As for the
people of Sepphoris, who belonged to neither of us, because they
had chosen to be in subjection to the Romans, they did not comply
with his proposal; and for those of Tiberias, they did not indeed
so far comply as to make a revolt from under me, but they agreed
to be his friends, while the inhabitants of Gabara did go over
to John; and it was Simon that persuaded them so to do, one who
was both the principal man in the city, and a particular friend
and companion of John. It is true, these did not openly own the
making a revolt, because they were in great fear of the Galileans,
and had frequent experience of the good-will they bore to me;
yet did they privately watch for a proper opportunity to lay snares
for me; and indeed I thereby came into the greatest danger, on
the occasion following.
26. There were some bold young men of the village of Dabaritta,
who observed that the wife of Ptolemy, the king's procurator,
was to make a progress over the great plain with a mighty attendance,
and with some horsemen that followed as a guard to them, and this
out of a country that was subject to the king and queen, into
the jurisdiction of the Romans; and fell upon them on a sudden,
and obliged the wife of Ptolemy to fly away, and plundered all
the carriages. They also came to me to Tarichese, with four mules'
loading of garments, and other furniture; and the weight of the
silver they brought was not small, and there were five hundred
pieces of gold also. Now I had a mind to preserve these spoils
for Ptolemy, who was my countryman; and it is prohibited (12)
by our laws even to spoil our enemies; so I said to those that
brought these spoils, that they ought to be kept, in order to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with them when they came to be
sold. But the young men took it very ill that they did not receive
a part of those spoils for themselves, as they expected to have
done; so they went among the villages in the neighborhood of Tiberias,
and told the people that I was going to betray their country to
the Romans, and that I used deceitful language to them, when I
said, that what had been thus gotten by rapine should be kept
for the rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem; although
I had resolved to restore these spoils again to their former owner.
And indeed they were herein not mistaken as to my intentions;
for when I had gotten clear of them, I sent for two of the principal
men, Dassion, and Janneus the son of Levi, persons that were among
the chief friends of the king, and commanded them to take the
furniture that had been plundered, and to send it to him; and
I threatened that I would order them to be put to death by way
of punishment, if they discovered this my command to any other
person.
27. Now, when all Galilee was filled with this rumor, that their
country was about to be betrayed by me to the Romans, and when
all men were exasperated against me, and ready to bring me to
punishment, the inhabitants of Tarichee did also themselves suppose
that what the young men said was true, and persuaded my guards
and armed men to leave me when I was asleep, and to come presently
to the hippodrome, in order there to take counsel against me their
commander. And when they had prevailed with them, and they were
gotten together, they found there a great company assembled already,
who all joined in one clamor, to bring the man who was so wicked
to them as to betray them, to his due punishment; and it was Jesus,
the son of Sapphias, who principally set them on. He was ruler
in Tiberias, a wicked man, and naturally disposed to make disturbances
in matters of consequence; a seditious person he was indeed, and
an innovator beyond every body else. He then took the laws of
Moses into his hands, and came into the midst of the people, and
said," O my fellow citizens! if you are not disposed to hate
Josephus on your own account, have regard, however, to these laws
of your country, which your commander-in-chief is going to betray;
hate him therefore on both these accounts, and bring the man who
hath acted thus insolently, to his deserved punishment."
28. When he had said this, and the multitude had openly applauded
him for what he had said, he took some of the armed men, and made
haste away to the house in which I lodged, as if he would kill
me immediately, while I was wholly insensible of all till this
disturbance happened; and by reason of the pains I had been taking,
was fallen fast asleep. But Simon, who was intrusted with the
care of my body, and was the only person that stayed with me,
and saw the violent incursion the citizens made upon me, awaked
me, and told me of the danger I was in, and desired me to let
him kill me, that I might die bravely and like a general, before
my enemies came in, and forced me [to kill myself], or killed
me themselves. Thus did he discourse to me; but I committed the
care of my life to God, and made haste to go out to the multitude.
Accordingly, I put on a black garment, and hung my sword at my
neck, and went by such a different way to the hippodrome, wherein
I thought none of my adversaries would meet me; so I appeared
among them on the sudden, and fell down flat on the earth, and
bedewed the ground with my tears: then I seemed to them all an
object of compassion. And when I perceived the change that was
made in the multitude, I tried to divide their opinions before
the armed men should return from my house; so I granted them that
I had been as wicked as they supposed me to be; but still I entreated
them to let me first inform them for what use I had kept that
money which arose from the plunder, and, that they might then
kill me if they pleased: and upon the multitude's ordering me
to speak, the armed men came upon me, and when they saw me, they
ran to kill me; but when the multitude bade them hold their hands,
they complied, and expected that as soon as I should own to them
that I kept the money for the king, it would be looked on as a
confession of my treason, and they should then be allowed to kill
me.
29. When, therefore, silence was made by the whole multitude,
I spake thus to them: "O my countrymen! I refuse not to die,
if justice so require. However, I am desirous to tell you the
truth of this matter before I die; for as I know that this city
of yours [Tarichee] was a city of great hospitality, and filled
with abundance of such men as have left their own countries, and
are come hither to be partakers of your fortune, whatever it be,
I had a mind to build walls about it, out of this money, for which
you are so angry with me, while yet it was to be expended in building
your own walls." Upon my saying this, the people of Taricheae
and the strangers cried out, that" they gave me thanks, and
desired me to be of good courage," although the Galileans
and the people of Tiberias continued in their wrath against me,
insomuch that there arose a tumult among them, while some threatened
to kill me, and some bade me not to regard them; but when I promised
them that I would build them walls at Tiberias, and at other cities
that wanted them, they gave credit to what I promised, and returned
every one to his own home. So I escaped the forementioned danger,
beyond all my hopes, and returned to my own house, accompanied
with my friends, and twenty armed men also.
30. However, these robbers and other authors of this tumult, who
were afraid, on their own account, lest I should punish them for
what they had done, took six hundred armed men, and came to the
house where I abode, in order to set it on fire. When this their
insult was told me, I thought it indecent for me to run away,
and I resolved to expose myself to danger, and to act with some
boldness; so I gave order to shut the doors, and went up into
an upper room, and desired that they would send in some of their
men to receive the money [from the spoils] for I told them they
would then have no occasion to be angry with me; and when they
had sent in one of the boldest of them all, I had him whipped
severely, and I commanded that one of his hands should be cut
off, and hung about his neck; and in this case was he put out
to those that sent him. At which procedure of mine they were greatly
affrighted, and in no small consternation, and were afraid that
they should themselves be served in like manner, if they staid
there; for they supposed that I had in the house more armed men
than they had themselves; so they ran away immediately, while
I, by the use of this stratagem, escaped this their second treacherous
design against me.
31. But there were still some that irritated the multitude against
me, and said that those great men that belonged to the king ought
not to be suffered to live, if they would not change their religion
to the religion of those to whom they fled for safety: they spake
reproachfully of them also, and said that they were wizards, and
such as called in the Romans upon them. So the multitude was soon
deluded by such plausible pretenses as were agreeable to their
own inclinations, and were prevailed on by them. But when I was
informed of this, I instructed the multitude again, that those
who fled to them for refuge ought not to be persecuted: I also
laughed at the allegation about witchcraft, (13) and told them
that the Romans would not maintain so many ten thousand soldiers,
if they could overcome their enemies by wizards. Upon my saying
this, the people assented for a while; but they returned again
afterwards, as irritated by some ill people against the great
men; nay, they once made an assault upon the house in which they
dwelt at Tarichess, in order to kill them; which, when I was informed
of, I was afraid lest so horrid a crime should take effect, and
nobody else would make that city their refuge any more. I therefore
came myself, and some others with me, to the house where these
great men lived, and locked the doors, and had a trench drawn
from their house leading to the lake, and sent for a ship, and
embarked therein with them, and sailed to the confines of Hippos:
I also paid them the value of their horses; nor in such a flight
could I have their horses brought to them. I then dismissed them,
and begged of them earnestly that they would courageously bear
I this distress which befell them. I was also myself I greatly
displeased that I was compelled to expose those that had fled
to me to go again into an enemy's country; yet did I think it
more eligible that they should perish among the Romans, if it
should so happen, than in the country that was under my jurisdiction.
However, they escaped at length, and king Agrippa forgave them
their offenses. And this was the conclusion of what concerned
these men.
32. But as for the inhabitants of the city of Tiberias, they wrote
to the king, and desired him to send them forces sufficient to
be a guard to their country; for that they were desirous to come
over to him: this was what they wrote to him. But when I came
to them, they desired me to build their walls, as I had promised
them to do; for they had heard that the walls of Tarichess were
already built. I agreed to their proposal accordingly; and when
I had made preparation for the entire building, I gave order to
the architects to go to work; but on the third day, when I was
gone to Tarichess, which was thirty furlongs distant from Tiberias,
it so fell out, that some Roman horsemen were discovered on their
march, not far from the city, which made it to be supposed that
the forces were come from the king; upon which they shouted, and
lifted up their voices in commendations of the king, and in reproaches
against me. Hereupon one came running to me, and told me what
their dispositions were, and that they had resolved to revolt
from me: upon hearing which news I was very much alarmed; for
I had already sent away my armed men from Tarichess, to their
own homes, because the next day was our sabbath; for I would not
have the people of Tarichess disturbed [on that day] by a multitude
of soldiers; and indeed, whenever I sojourned at that city, I
never took any particular care for a guard about my own body,
because I had had frequent instances of the fidelity its inhabitants
bore to me. I had now about me no more than seven armed men, besides
some friends, and was doubtful what to do; for to send to recall
my own forces I did not think proper, because the present day
was almost over; and had those forces been with me, I could not
take up arms on the next day, because our laws forbade us so to
do, even though our necessity should be very great; and if I should
permit the people of Tarichess, and the strangers with them, to
guard the city, I saw that they would not be sufficient for that
purpose, and I perceived that I should be obliged to delay my
assistance a great while; for I thought with myself that the forces
that came from the king would prevent me, and that I should be
driven out of the city. I considered, therefore, how to get clear
of these forces by a stratagem; so I immediately placed those
my friends of Tarichee, on whom I could best confide, at the gates,
to watch those very carefully who went out at those gates: I also
called to me the heads of families, and bade every one of them
to seize upon a ship (14) to go on board it, and to take a master
with them, and follow him to the city of Tiberias. I also myself
went on board one of those ships, with my friends, and the seven
armed men already mentioned, and sailed for Tiberias.
33. But now, when the people of Tiberias perceived that there
were no forces come from the king, and yet saw the whole lake
full of ships, they were in fear what would become of their city,
and were greatly terrified, as supposing that the ships were full
of men on board; so they then changed their minds, and threw down
their weapons, and met me with their wives and children, and made
acclamations to me with great commendations; for they imagined
that I did not know their former inclinations [to have been against
me]; so they persuaded me to spare the city. But when I was come
near enough, I gave order to the masters of the ships to cast
anchor a good way off the land, that the people of Tiberias might
not perceive that the ships had no men on board; but I went nearer
to the people in one of the ships, and rebuked them for their
folly, ,and that they were so fickle as, without any just occasion
in the world, to revolt from their fidelity to me. However, assured
them that I would entirely forgive them for the time to come,
if they would send ten of the ringleaders of the multitude to
me; and when they complied readily with this proposal, and sent
me the men forementioned, I put them on board a ship, and sent
them away to Tarichese; and ordered them to be kept in prison.
34. And by this stratagem it was that I gradually got all the
senate of Tiberias into my power, and sent them to the city forementioned,
with many of the principal men among the populace, and those not
fewer in number than the other. But when the multitude saw into
what great miseries they had brought themselves, they desired
me to punish the author of this sedition: his name was Clitus,
a young man, bold and rash in his undertakings. Now, since I thought
it not agreeable to piety to put one of my own people to death,
and yet found it necessary to punish him, I ordered Levi, one
of my own guards, to go to him, and cut off one of Clitus's hands;
but as he that was ordered to do this, was afraid to go out of
the ship alone, among 'so great a multitude, I was not willing
that the timorousness of the soldier should appear to the people
of Tiberias. So I called to Clitus himself and said to him,"
Since thou deservest to lose both thine hands for thy ingratitude
to me, be thou thine own executioner, lest, if thou refusest so
to be, thou undergo a worse punishment." And when he earnestly
begged of me to spare him one of his hands, it was with difficulty
that I granted it. So, in order to prevent the loss of both his
hands, he willingly took his sword, and cut off his own left hand;
and this put an end to the sedition.
35. Now the men of Tiberias, after I was gone to Taricheae, perceived
what stratagem I had used against them, and they admired how I
had put an end to their foolish sedition, without shedding of
blood. But now, when I had sent for some of those multitudes of
the people of Tiberias out of prison, among whom were Justus and
his father Pistus, I made them to sup with me; and during our
supper time I said to them, that I knew the power of the Romans
was superior to all others, but did not say so [publicly] because
of the robbers. So I advised them to do as I did, and to wait
for a proper opportunity, and not to be uneasy at my being their
commander; for that they could not expect to have another who
would use the like moderation that I had done. I also put Justus
in mind how the Galileans had cut off his brother's hands before
ever I came to Jerusalem, upon an accusation laid against him,
as if he had been a rogue, and had forged some letters; as also
how the people of Gamala, in a sedition they raised against the
Babylonians, after the departure of Philip, slew Chares, who was
a kinsman of Philip, and withal how they had wisely punished Jesus,
his brother Justuses sister's husband [with death]. When I had
said this to them during supper time, I in the morning ordered
Justus, and all the rest that were in prison, to be loosed out
of it, and sent away.
36. But before this, it happened that Philip, the son of Jacimus,
went out of the citadel of Gamala upon the following occasion:
When Philip had been informed that Varus was put out of his government
by king Agrippa, and that Equieulus Modius, a man that was of
old his friend and companion, was come to succeed him, he wrote
to him, and related what turns of fortune he had had, and desired
him to forward the letters he sent to the king and queen. Now,
when Modius had received these letters, he was exceedingly glad,
and sent the letters to the king and queen, who were then about
Berytus. But when king Agrippa knew that the story about Philip
was false, (for it had been given out, that the Jews had begun
a war with the Romans, and that this Philip had been their commander
in that war,) he sent some horsemen to conduct Philip to him;
and when he was come, he saluted him very obligingly, and showed
him to the Roman commanders, and told them that this was the man
of whom the report had gone about as if he had revolted from the
Romans. He also bid him to take some horsemen with him, and to
go quickly to the citadel of Gamala, and to bring out thence all
his domestics, and to restore the Babylonians to Batanea again.
He also gave it him in charge to take all possible care that none
of his subjects should be guilty of making any innovation. Accordingly,
upon these directions from the king, he made haste to do what
he was commanded.
37. Now there was one Joseph, the son of a female physician, who
excited a great many young men to join with him. He also insolently
addressed himself to the principal persons at Gamala, and persuaded
them to revolt from the king; and take up arms, and gave them
hopes that they should, by his means, recover their liberty. And
some they forced into the service, and those that would not acquiesce
in what they had resolved on, they slew. They also slew Chares,
and with him Jesus, one of his kinsmen, and a brother of Justus
of Tiberias, as we have already said. Those of Gamala also wrote
to me, desiring me to send them an armed force, and workmen to
raise up the walls of their city; nor did I reject either of their
requests. The region of Gaulanitis did also revolt from the king,
as far as the village Solyma. I also built a wall about Seleucia
and Soganni, which are villages naturally of ver great strength.
Moreover, I, in like manner, walled several villages of Upper
Galilee, though they were very rocky of themselves. Their names
are Jamnia, and Meroth, and Achabare. I also fortified, in the
Lower Galilee, the cities Tarichee, Tiberias, Sepphoris, and the
villages, the cave of Arbela, Bersobe, Selamin, Jotapata, Capharecho,
and Sigo, and Japha, and Mount Tabor. (15) I also laid up a great
quantity of corn in these places, and arms withal, that might
be for their security afterward.
38. But the hatred that John, the son of Levi, bore to me, grew
now more violent, while he could not bear my prosperity with patience.
So he proposed to himself, by all means possible, to make away
with me; and built the walls of Gischala, which was the place
of his nativity. He then sent his brother Simon, and Jonathan,
the son of Sisenna, and about a hundred armed men, to Jerusalem,
to Simon, the son of Gamaliel, (16) in order to persuade him to
induce the commonalty of Jerusalem to take from me the government
over the Galileans, and to give their suffrages for conferring
that authority upon him. This Simon was of the city of Jerusalem,
and of a very noble family of the sect of the Pharisees, which
are supposed to excel others in the accurate knowledge of the
laws of their country. He was a man of great wisdom and reason,
and capable of restoring public affairs by his prudence, when
they were in an ill posture. He was also an old friend and companion
of John; but at that time he had a difference with me. When therefore
he had received such an exhortation, he persuaded the high priests,
Ananus, and Jesus the son of Gamala, and some others of the same
seditious faction, to cut me down, now I was growing so great,
and not to overlook me while I was aggrandizing myself to the
height of glory; and he said that it would be for the advantage
of the Galileans, if I were deprived of my government there. Ananus
also, and his friends, desired them to make no delay about the
matter, lest I should get the knowledge of what was doing too
soon, and should come and make an assault upon the city with a
great army. This was the counsel of Simon; but Artanus the high
priest demonstrated to them that this was not an easy thing to
be done, because many of the high priests and of the rulers of
the people bore witness that I had acted like an excellent general,
and that it was the work of ill men to accuse one against whom
they had nothing to say.
39. When Simon heard Ananus say this, he desired that the messengers
would conceal the thing, and not let it come among many; for that
he would take care to have Josephus removed out of Galilee very
quickly. So he called for John's brother, [Simon,] and charged
him that they should send presents to Ananus and his friends;
for, as he said, they might probably by that means persuade them
to change their minds. And indeed Simon did at length thus compass
what he aimed at; for Artanus, and those with him, being corrupted
by bribes, agreed to expel me out of Galilee, without making the
rest of the citizens acquainted with what they were doing. Accordingly,
they resolved to send men of distinction as to their families,
and of distinction as to their learning also. Two of these were
of the populace, Jonathan (17) and Ananias, by sect Pharisees;
while the third, Jozar, was of the stock of the priests, and a
Pharisee also; and Simon, the last of them, was of the youngest
of the high priests. These had it given them in charge, that,
when they were come to the multitude of the Galileans, they should
ask them, what was the reason of their love to me? and if they
said that it was because I was born at Jerusalem, that they should
reply, that they four were all born at the same place; and if
they should say, it was because I was well versed in their law,
they should reply, that neither were they unacquainted with the
practices of their country; but if, besides these, they should
say, they loved me because I was a priest, they should reply,
that two of these were priests also.
40. Now, when they had given Jonathan and his companions these
instructions, they gave them forty thousand [drachmae] out of
the public money: but when they heard that there was a certain
Galilean that then sojourned at Jerusalem, whose name was Jesus,
who had about him a band of six hundred armed men, they sent for
him, and gave him three months pay, and gave him orders to follow
Jonathan and his companions, and be obedient to them. They also
gave money to three hundred men that were citizens of Jerusalem,
to maintain them all, and ordered them also to follow the ambassadors;
and when they had complied, and were gotten ready for the march,
Jonathan and his companions went out with them, having along with
them John's brother and a hundred armed men. The charge that was
given them by those that sent them was this: That if I would voluntarily
lay down my arms, they should send me alive to the city of Jerusalem;
but that, in case I opposed them, they should kill me, and fear
nothing; for that it was their command for them so to do. They
also wrote to John to make all ready for fighting me, and gave
orders to the inhabitants of Sepphoris, and Gabara, and Tiberins,
to send auxiliaries to John.
41. Now, as my father wrote me an account of this, (for Jesus
the son of Gamala, who was present in that council, a friend and
companion of mine, told him of it,) I was very much troubled,
as discovering thereby that my fellow citizens proved so ungrateful
to me, as, out of envy, to give order that I should be slain:
my father earnestly pressed me also in his letter to come to him,
for that he longed to see his son before he died. I informed my
friends of these things, and that in three days' time I should
leave the country, and go home. Upon hearing this, they were all
very sorry, and desired me, with tears in their eyes, not to leave
them to be destroyed; for so they thought they should be, if I
were deprived of the command over them: but as I did not grant
their request, but was taking care of my own safety, the Galileans,
out of their dread of the consequence of my departure, that they
should then be at the mercy of the robbers, sent messengers over
all Galilee to inform them of my resolution to leave them. Whereupon,
as soon as they heard it, they got together in great numbers,
from all parts, with their wives and children; and this they did,
as it appeared to me, not more out of their affection to me, than
out of their fear on their own account; for while I staid with
them, they supposed that they should suffer no harm. So they all
came into the great plain, wherein I lived, the name of which
was Asochis.
42. But wonderful it was what a dream I saw that very night; for
when I had betaken myself to my bed, as grieved and disturbed
at the news that had been written to me, it seemed to me, that
a certain person stood by me, (18) and said, "O Josephus!
leave off to afflict thy soul, and put away all fear; for what
now grieves thee will render thee very considerable, and in all
respects most happy; for thou shalt get over not only these difficulties,
but many others, with great success. However, be not cast down,
but remember that thou art to fight with the Romans." When
I had seen this dream, I got up with an intention of going down
to the plain. Now, when the whole multitude of the Galileans,
among whom were the women and children, saw me, they threw themselves
down upon their faces, and, with tears in their eyes, besought
me not to leave them exposed to their enemies, nor to go away
and permit their country to be injured by them. But when I did
not comply, with their entreaties, they compelled me to take an
oath, that I would stay with them: they also cast abundance of
reproaches upon the people of Jerusalem, that they would not let
their country enjoy peace.
43. When I heard this, and saw what sorrow the people were in,
I was moved with compassion to them, and thought it became me
to undergo the most manifest hazards for the sake of so great
a multitude; so I let them know I would stay with them. And when
I had given order that five thousand off them should come to me
armed, and with provisions for their maintenance, I sent the rest
away to their own homes; and when those five thousand were come,
I took them, together with three thousand of the soldiers that
were with me before, and eighty horsemen, and marched to thevillage
of Chabolo, situated in the confines of Ptolimias, and there kept
my forces together, pretending to get ready to fight with Placidus,
who was come with two cohorts of footmen, and one troop of horsemen,
and was sent thither by Cestius Gallus to burn those villages
of Galilee that were near Ptolemais. Upon whose casting up a bank
before the city Ptolemais, I also pitched my camp at about the
distance of sixty furlongs from that village. And now we frequently
brought out our forces as if we would fight, but proceeded no
further than skirmishes at a distance; for when Placidus perceived
that I was earnest to come to a battle, he was afraid, and avoided
it. Yet did he not remove from the neighborhood of Ptolemais.
44. About this time it was that Jonathan and his fellow legates
came. They were sent, as we have said already, by Simon, and Ananus
the high priest. And Jonathan contrived how he might catch me
by treachery; for he durst not make any attempt upon me openly.
So he wrote me the following epistle: "Jonathan and those
that are with him, and are sent by the people of Jerusalem, to
Josephus, send greeting. We are sent by the principal men of Jerusalem,
who have heard that John of Gischala hath laid many snares for
thee, to rebuke him, and to exhort him to be subject to thee hereafter.
We are also desirous to consult with thee about our common concerns,
and what is fit to be done. We therefore desire thee to come to
us quickly, and to bring only a few men with thee; for this village
will not contain a great number of soldiers." Thus it was
that they wrote, as expecting one of these two things; either
that I should come without armed men, and then they should have
me wholly in their power; or, if I came with a great number, they
should judge me to be a public enemy. Now it was a horseman who
brought the letter, a man at other times bold, and one that had
served in the army under the king. It was the second hour of the
night that he came, when I was feasting with my friends, and the
principal of the Galileans. This man, upon my servant's telling
me that a certain horseman of the Jewish nation was come, was
called in at my command, but did not so much as salute me at all,
but held out a letter, and said, "This letter is sent thee
by those that are come from Jerusalem; do thou write an answer
to it quickly; for I am obliged to return to them very soon. Now
my guests could not but wonder at the boldness of the soldier.
But I desired him to sit down and sup with us; but when he refused
so to do, I held the letter in my hands as I received it, and
fell a talking with my guests about other matters. But a few hours
afterwards, I got up, and when I had dismissed the rest to go
to their beds, I bid only four of my intimate friends to stay,
and ordered my servant to get some wine ready. I also opened the
letter so, that nobody could perceive it; and understanding thereby
presently the purport· of the writing, I sealed it up again,
and appeared as if I had not yet read it, but only held it in
my hands. I ordered twenty drachmae should be given the soldier
for the charges of his journey; and when he took the money, and
said that he thanked me for it, I perceived that he loved money,
and that he was to be caught chiefly by that means; and I said
to him," If thou wilt but drink with us, thou shalt have
a drachma for every glass thou drinkest." So he gladly embraced
this proposal, and drank a great deal of wine, in order to get
the more money, and was so drunk, that at last he could not keep
the secrets he was intrusted with, but discovered them without
my putting questions to him, viz. That a treacherous design was
contrived against me, and that I was doomed to die by those that
sent him. When I heard this, I wrote back this answer: "Josephus
to Jonathan, and those that are with him, sendeth greeting. Upon
the information that you are come in health into Galilee, I rejoice,
and this especially because I can now resign the care of public
affairs here into your hands, and return into my native country,
which is what I have desired to do a great while; and I confess
I ought not only to come to you as far as Xaloth, but farther,
and this without your commands. But I desire you to excuse me,
because I cannot do it now, since I watch the motions of Placidus,
who hath a mind to go up into Galilee; and this I do here at Chabolo.
Do you therefore, on the receipt of this epistle, come hither
to me. Fare you well."
45. When I had written thus, and given the letter to be carried
by the soldier, I sent along with him thirty of the Galileans
of the best characters, and gave them instructions to salute those
ambassadors, but to say nothing else to them. I also gave orders
to as many of those armed men, whom I esteemed most faithful to
me, to go along with the others, every one with him whom he was
to guard, lest some conversation might pass between those whom
I sent and those who were with Jonathan. So those men went [to
Jonathan]. But when Jonathan and his partners had failed in this
their first attempt, they sent me another letter, the contents
whereof were as follows: "Jonathan, and those with him, to
Josephus, send greeting. We require thee to come to us to the
village Gabaroth, on the third day, without any armed men, that
we may hear what thou hast to lay to the charge of John [of Gischala]."
When they had written this letter, they saluted the Galileans
whom I sent, and came to Japha, which was the largest village
of all Galilee, and encompassed with very strong walls, and had
a great number of inhabitants in it. There the multitude of men,
with their wives and children, met them, and exclaimed loudly
against them; and desired them to be gone, and not to envy them
the advantage of an excellent commander. With these clamors Jonathan
and his partners were greatly provoked, although they durst not
show their anger openly; so they made them no answer, but went
to other villages. But still the same clamors met them from all
the people, who said, "Nobody should persuade them to have
any other commander besides Josephus." So Jonathan and his
partners went away from them without success, and came to Sepphoris,
the greatest city of all Galilee. Now the men of that city, who
inclined to the Romans in their sentiments, met them indeed, but
neither praised nor reproached me and when they were gone down
from Sepphoris to Asochis, the people of that place made a clamor
against them, as those of Japha had done; whereupon they were
able to contain themselves no longer, but ordered the armed men
that were with them to beat those that made the clamor with their
clubs. And when they came to Gabara, John met them with three
thousand armed men; but, as I understood by their letter that
they had resolved to fight against me, I arose from Chabolo, with
three thousand armed men also; but left in my camp one of my fastest
friends, and came to Jotapata, as desirous to be near them, the
distance being no more than forty furlongs. Whence I wrote thus
to them: "If you are very desirous that I should come to
you, you know there are two hundred and forty cities and villages
in Galilee; I will come to any of them which you please, excepting
Gaburn and Gischala; the one of which is John's native city, and
the other in confederacy and friendship with him."
46. When Jonathan and his partners had received this letter, they
wrote me no more answers, but called a council of their friends
together; and taking John into their consultation, they took counsel
together by what means they might attack me. John's opinion was,
that they should write to all the cities and villages that were
in Galilee; for that there must be certainly one or two persons
in every one of them that were at variance with me, and that they
should be invited to come to oppose me as an enemy. He would also
have them send this resolution of theirs to the city of Jerusalem,
that its citizens, upon the knowledge of my being adjudged to
be an enemy by the Galileans, might themselves I also confirm
that determination. He said also, that when this was done, even
those Galileans who were well affected to me, would desert me
out of fear. When John had given them this counsel, what he had
said was very agreeable to the rest of them. I was also made acquainted
with these affairs about the third hour of the night, by the means
of one Saccheus, who had belonged to them, but now deserted them
and came over to me, and told me what they were about; so I perceived
that no time was to be lost. Accordingly, I gave command to Jacob,
an armed man of my guard, whom I esteemed faithful to me, to take
two hundred men, and to guard the passages that led from Gahara
to Galilee, and to seize upon the passengers, and send them to
me, especially such as were caught with letters about them: I
also sent Jeremias himself, one of my friends, with six hundred
armed men, to the borders of Galilee, in order to watch the roads
that led from this country to the city Jerusalem, and gave him
charge to lay hold of such as traveled with letters about them,
to keep the men in bonds upon the place, but to send me the letters.
47. When I had laid these commands upon them, I gave them orders,
and bid them take their arms and bring three days' provision with
them, and be with me the next day. I also parted those that were
about me into four parts, and ordained those of them that were
most faithful to me to be a guard to my body. I also set over
them centurions, and commanded them to take care that not a soldier
which they did not know should mingle himself among them. Now,
on the fifth day following, when I was at Gabaroth, I found the
entire plain that was before the village full of armed men, who
were come out of Galilee to assist me: many others of the multitude,
also, out of the village, ran along with me. But as soon as I
had taken my place, and began to speak to them, they all made
an acclamation, and called me the benefactor and savior of the
country. And when I had made them my acknowledgments, and thanked
them [for their affection to me], I also advised them to fight
with nobody, (19) nor to spoil the country; but to pitch their
tents in the plain, and be content with their sustenance they
had brought with them; for I told them that I had a mind to compose
these troubles without shedding any blood. Now it came to pass,
that on the very same day those who were sent by John with letters,
fell among the guards whom I had appointed to watch the roads;
so the men were themselves kept upon the place, as my orders were,
but I got the letters, which were full of reproaches and lies;
and I intended to fall upon these men, without saying a word of
these matters to any body.
48. Now, as soon as Jonathan and his companions heard of my coming,
they took all their own friends, and John with them, and retired
to the house of Jesus, which indeed was a large castle, and no
way unlike a citadel; so they privately laid a band of armed men
therein, and shut all the other doors but one, which they kept
open, and they expected that I should come out of the road to
them, to salute them. And indeed they had given orders to the
armed men, that when I came they should let nobody besides me
come in, but should exclude others; as supposing that, by this
means, they should easily get me under their power: but they were
deceived in their expectation; for I perceived what snares they
had laid for me. Now, as soon as I was got off my journey, I took
up my lodgings over against them, and pretended to be asleep;
so Jonathan and his party, thinking that I was really asleep and
at rest, made haste to go down into the plain, to persuade the
people that I was an ill governor. But the matter proved otherwise;
for, upon their appearance, there was a cry made by the Galileans
immediately, declaring their good opinion of me as their governor;
and they made a clamor against Jonathan and his partners for coming
to them when they had suffered no harm, and as though they would
overturn their happy settlement; and desired them by all means
to go back again, for that they would never be persuaded to have
any other to rule over them but myself. When I heard of this,
I did not fear to go down into the midst of them; I went, therefore,
myself down presently to hear what Jonathan and his companions
said. As soon as I appeared, there was immediately an acclamation
made to me by the whole multitude, and a cry in my commendation
by them, who confessed their thanks was owing to me for my good
government of them.
49. When Jonathan and his companions heard this, they were in
fear of their own lives, and in danger lest they should be assaulted
by the Galileans on nay account; so they contrived how they might
run away. But as they were not able to get off, for I desired
them to stay, they looked down with concern at my words to them.
I ordered, therefore, the multitude to restrain entirely their
acclamations, and placed the most faithful of my armed men upon
the avenues, to be a guard to us, lest John should unexpected
fall upon us; and I encouraged the Galileans to take their weapons,
lest they should be disturbed at their enemies, if any sudden
insult should be made upon them. And then, in the first place,
I put Jonathan and his partners in mind of their [former] letter,
and after what manner they had written to me, and declared they
were sent by the common consent to the people of Jerusalem, to
make up the differences I had with John, and how they had desired
me to come to them; and as I spake thus, I publicly showed that
letter they had written, till they could not at all deny what
they had done, the letter itself convicting them. I then said,
"O Jonathan! and you that are sent with him as his colleagues,
if I were to be judged as to my behavior, compared with that of
John's, and had brought no more than two or three witnesses, (20)
good men and true, it is plain you had been forced, upon the examination
of their characters beforehand, to discharge the accusations:
that therefore you may be informed that I have acted well in the
affairs of Galilee, I think three witnesses too few to be brought
by a man that hath done as he ought to do; so I gave you all these
for witnesses. Inquire of them (21) how I have lived, and whether
I have not behaved myself with all decency, and after a virtuous
manner, among them. And I further conjure you, O Galileans! to
hide no part of the truth, but to speak before these men as before
judges, whether I have in any thing acted otherwise than well."
50. While I was thus speaking, the united voices of all the people
joined together, and called me their benefactor and savior, and
attested to my former behavior, and exhorted me to continue so
to do hereafter; and they all said, upon their oaths, that their
wives had been preserved free from injuries, and that no one had
ever been aggrieved by me. After this, I read to the Galileans
two of those epistles which had been sent by Jonathan and his
colleagues, and which those whom I had appointed to guard the
road had taken, and sent to me. These were full of reproaches,
and of lies, as if I had acted more like a tyrant than a governor
against them, with many other things besides therein contained,
which were no better indeed than impudent falsities. I also informed
the multitude how I came by these letters, and that those who
carried them delivered them up voluntarily; for I was not willing
that my enemies should know any thing of the guards I had set,
lest they should be afraid, and leave off writing hereafter.
51. When the multitude heard these things, they were greatly provoked
at Jonathan, and his colleagues that were with him, and were going
to attack them, and kill them; and this they had certainly done,
unless I had restrained the anger of the Galileans, and said,
that" I forgave Jonathan and his colleagues what was past,
if they would repent, and go to their own country, and tell those
who sent them the truth, as to my conduct." When I had said
this, I let them go, although I knew they would do nothing of
what they had promised. But the multitude were very much enraged
against them, and entreated me to give them leave to punish them
for their insolence; yet did I try all methods to persuade them
to spare the men; for I knew that every instance of sedition was
pernicious to the public welfare. But the multitude was too angry
with them to be dissuaded, and all of them went immediately to
the house in which Jonathan and his colleagues abode. However,
when I perceived that their rage could not be restrained, I got
on horseback, and ordered the multitude to follow me to the village
Sogane, which was twenty furlongs off Gabara; and by using this
stratagem, I so managed myself, as not to appear to begin a civil
war ,amongst them.
52. But when I was come near Sogane, I caused the multitude to
make a halt, and exhorted them not to be so easily provoked to
anger, and to the inflicting such punishments as could not be
afterwards recalled: I also gave order, that a hundred men, who
were already in years, and were principal men among them, should
get themselves ready to go to the city of Jerusalem, and should
.make a complaint before the people of such as raised seditions
in the country. And I said to them, that" in case they be
moved with what you say, you shall desire the community to write
to me, and to enjoin me to continue in Galilee, and to order Jonathan
and his colleagues to depart out of it." When I had suggested
these instructions to them, and while they were getting themselves
ready as fast as they could, I sent them on this errand the third
day after they had been assembled: I also sent five hundred armed
men with them [as a guard]. I then wrote to my friends in Samaria,
to take care that they might safely pass through the country:
for Samaria was already under the Romans, and it was absolutely
necessary for those that go quickly [to Jerusalem] to pass through
that country; for in that road you may, in three days' time, go
from Galilee to Jerusalem. I also went myself, and conducted the
old men as far as the bounds of Galilee, and set guards in the
roads, that it might not be easily known by any one that these
men were gone. And when I had thus done, I went and abode at Japha.
53. Now Jonathan and his colleagues, having failed of accomplishing
what they would have done against me, sent John back to Gischala,
but went themselves to the city of Tiberias, expecting it would
submit itself to them; and this was founded on a letter which
Jesus, their then governor, had written them, promising that,
if they came, the multitude would receive them, and choose to
be under their government; so they went their ways with this expectation.
But Silas, who, as I said, had been left curator of Tiberias by
me, informed me of this, and desired me to make haste thither.
Accordingly, I complied with his advice immediately, and came
thither; but found myself in danger of my life, from the following
occasion: Jonathan and his colleagues had been at Tiberias, and
had persuaded a great many of such as had a quarrel with me to
desert me; but when they heard of my coming, they were in fear
for themselves, and came to me; and when they had saluted me,
they said, that I was a happy man in having behaved myself so
well in the government of Galilee; and they congratulated me upon
the honors that were paid me: for they said that my glory was
a credit to them, since they had been my teachers and fellow citizens;
and they said further, that it was but just that they should prefer
my friendship to them rather than John's, and that they would
have immediately gone home, but that they staid that they might
deliver up John into my power; and when they said this they took
their oaths of it, and those such as are most tremendous amongst
us, and such as I did not think fit to disbelieve. However, they
desired me to lodge some where else, because the next day was
the sabbath, and that it was not fit the city of Tiberias should
be disturbed [on that day].
54. So I suspected nothing, and went away to Tarichese; yet did
I withal leave some to make inquiry in the city how matters went,
and whether any thing was said about me: I also set many persons
all the way that led from Tarichese to Tiberias, that they might
communicate from one to another, if they learned any news from
those that were left in the city. On the next day, therefore,
they all came into the Proseucha; (22) it was a large edifice,
and capable of receiving a great number of people; thither Jonathan
went in, and though he durst not openly speak of a revolt, yet
did he say that their city stood in need of a better governor
than it then had. But Jesus, who was the ruler, made no scruple
to speak out, and said openly," O fellow citizens! it is
better for you to be in subjection to four than to one; and those
such as are of high birth, and not without reputation for their
wisdom;" and pointed to Jonathan and his colleagues. Upon
his saying this, Justus came in and commended him for what he
had said, and persuaded some of the people to be of his mind also.
But the multitude were not pleased with what was said, and had
certainly gone into a tumult, unless the sixth hour, which was
now come, had dissolved the assembly, at which hour our laws require
us to go to dinner on sabbath days; so Jonathan and his colleagues
put off their council till the next day, and went off without
success. When I was informed of these affairs, I determined to
go to the city of Tiberias in the morning. Accordingly, on the
next day, about the first hour of the day, I came from Tarichee,
and found the multitude already assembled in the Proseucha; but
on what account they were gotten together, those that were assembled
did not know. But when Jonathan and his colleagues saw me there
unexpectedly, they were in disorder; after which they raised a
report of their own contrivance, that Roman horsemen were seen
at a place called Union, in the borders of Galilee, thirty furlongs
distant from the city. Upon which report, Jonathan and his colleagues
cunningly exhorted me not to neglect this matter, nor to suffer
the land to be spoiled by the enemy. And this they said with a
design to remove me out of the city, under the pretense of the
want of extraordinary assistance, while they might dispose the
city to be my enemy.
55. As for myself, although I knew of their design, yet did I
comply with what they proposed, lest the people of Tiberias should
have occasion to suppose that I was not careful of their security.
I therefore went out; but, when I was at the place, I found not
the least footsteps of any enemy, so I returned as fast as ever
I could, and found the whole council assembled, and the body of
the people gotten together, and Jonathan and his colleagues bringing
vehement accusations against me, as one who had no concern to
ease them of the burdens of war, and as one that lived luxuriously.
And as they were discoursing thus, they produced four letters,
as written to them from some people that lived at the borders
of Galilee, imploring that they would come to their assistance,
for that there was an army of Romans, both horsemen and footmen,
who would come and lay waste the country on the third day; they
desired them also to make haste, and not to overlook them. When
the people of Tiberias heard this, they thought they spake truth,
and made a clamor against me, and said I ought not to sit still,
but to go away to the assistance of their countrymen. Hereupon
I said (for I understood the meaning of Jonathan and his colleagues)
that I was ready to comply with what they proposed, and without
delay to march to the war which they spake of, yet did I advise
them, at the same time, that since these letters declared that
the Romans would make their assault in four several places, they
should part their forces into five bodies, and make Jonathan and
his colleagues generals of each body of them, because it was fit
for brave men, not only to give counsel, but to take the place
of leaders, and assist their countrymen when such a necessity
pressed them; for, said I, it is not possible for me to lead more
than one party. This advice of mine greatly pleased the multitude;
so they compelled them to go forth to the war. But their designs
were put into very much disorder, because they had not done what
they had designed to do, on account of my stratagem, which was
opposite to their undertakings.
56. Now there was one whose name was Ananias (a wicked man he
was, and very mischievous); he proposed that a general religious
fast (23) should be appointed the next day for all the people,
and gave order that at the same hour they should come to the same
place, without any weapons, to make it manifest before God, that
while they obtained his assistance, they thought all these weapons
useless. This he said, not out of piety, but that they might catch
me and my friends unarmed. Now, I was hereupon forced to comply,
lest I should appear to despise a proposal that tended to piety.
As soon, therefore, as we were gone home, Jonathan and his colleagues
wrote to John to come to them in the morning, and desiring him
to come with as many soldiers as he possibly could, for that they
should then be able easily to get me into their hands, and to
do all they desired to do. When John had received this letter,
he resolved to comply with it. As for myself, on the next day,
I ordered two of the guards of my body, whom I esteemed the most
courageous and most faithful, to hide daggers under their garments,
and to go along with me, that we might defend ourselves, if any
attack should be made upon us by our enemies. I also myself took
my breastplate, and girded on my sword, so that it might be, as
far as it was possible, concealed, and came into the Proseucha.
57. Now Jesus, who was the ruler, commanded that they should exclude
all that came with me, for he kept the door himself, and suffered
none but his friends to go in. And while we were engaged in the
duties of the day, and had betaken ourselves to our prayers, Jesus
got up, and inquired of me what was become of the vessels that
were taken out of the king's palace, when it was burnt down [and]
of that uncoined silver; and in whose possession they now were?
This he said, in order to drive away time till John should come.
I said that Capellus, and the ten principal men of Tiberias, had
them all; and I told him that they might ask them whether I told
a lie or not. And when they said they had them, he asked me, What
is become of those twenty pieces of gold which thou didst receive
upon the sale of a certain weight of uncoined money? I replied,
that I had given them to those ambassadors of theirs, as a maintenance
for them, when they were sent by them to Jerusalem. So Jonathan
and his colleagues said that I had not done well to pay the ambassadors
out of the public money. And when the multitude were very angry
at them for this, for they perceived the wickednes of the men,
I understood that a tumult was going to arise; and being desirous
to provoke the people to a greater rage against the men, I said,
"But if I have not done well in paying our ambassadors out
of the public stock, leave off your anger at me, for I will repay
the twenty pieces of gold myself."
58. When I had said this, Jonathan and his colleagues held their
peace; but the people were still more irritated against them,
upon their openly showing their unjust ill-will to me. When Jesus
saw this change in file people, he ordered them to depart, but
desired the senate to stay; for that they could not examine things
of such a nature in a tumult: and as the people were crying out
that they would not leave me alone, there came one and told Jesus
and his friends privately, that John and his armed men were at
hand: whereupon Jonathan and his colleagues, being able to contain
themselves no longer, (and perhaps the providence of God hereby
procuring my deliverance, for had not this been so, I had certainly
been destroyed by John,) said, "O you people of Tiberias!
leave off this inquiry about the twenty pieces of gold; for Josephus
hath not deserved to die for them; but he hath deserved it by
his desire of tyrannizing, and by cheating the multitude of the
Galileans with his speeches, in order to gain the dominion over
them." When he had said this, they presently laid hands upon
me, and endeavored to kill me: but as soon as those that were
with me saw what they did, they drew their swords, and threatened
to smite them, if they offered any violence to me. The people
also took up stones, and were about to throw them at Jonathan;
and so they snatched me from the violence of my enemies.
59. But as I was gone out a little way, I was just upon meeting
John, who was marching with his armed men. So I was afraid of
him, and turned aside, and escaped by a narrow passage to the
lake, and seized on a ship, and embarked in it, and sailed over
to Tarichese. So, beyond my expectation, I escaped this danger.
Whereupon I presently sent for the chief of the Galileans, and
told them after what manner, against all faith given, I had been
very near to destruction from Jonathan and his colleagues, and
the people of Tiberias. Upon which the multitude of the Galileans
were very. angry, and encouraged me to delay no longer to make
war upon them, but to permit them to go against John, and utterly
to destroy him, as well as Jonathan and his colleagues. However,
I restrained them, though they were in such a rage, and desired
them to tarry a while, till we should be informed what orders
those ambassadors, that were sent by them to the city of Jerusalem,
should bring thence; for I told them that it was best for them
to act according to their determination; whereupon they were prevailed
on. At which time, also, John, when the snares he had laid did
not take effect, returned back to Gischala.
60. Now, in a few days, those ambassadors whom he had sent, came
back again and informed us, that the people were greatly provoked
at Ananus, and Simon the son of Gamaliel, and their friends; that,
without any public determination, they had sent to Galilee, and
had done their endeavors that I might be turned out of the government.
The ambassadors said further, that the people were ready to burn
their houses. They also brought letters, whereby the chief men
of Jerusalem, at the earnest petition of the people, confirmed
me in the government of Galilee, and enjoined Jonathan and his
colleagues to return home quickly. When I had gotten these letters,
I came to the village Arbela, where I procured an assembly of
the Galileans to meet, and bid the ambassadors declare to them
the anger of the people of Jerusalem at what had been done by
Jonathan and his colleagues, and how much they hated their wicked
doings, and how they had confirmed me in the government of their
country, as also what related to the order they had in writing
for Jonathan and his colleagues to return home. So I immediately
sent them the letter, and bid him that carried it to inquire,
as well as he could, how they intended to act [on this occasion.]
61. Now, when they had received that letter, and were thereby
greatly disturbed, they sent for John, and for the senators of
Tiberias, and for the principal men of the Gabarens, and proposed
to hold a council, and desired them to consider what was to be
done by them. However, the governors of Tiberias were greatly
disposed to keep the government to themselves; for they said it
was not fit to desert their city, now it was committed to their
trust, and that otherwise I should not delay to fall upon them;
for they pretended falsely that so I had threatened to do. Now
John was not only of their opinion, but advised them, that two
of them should go to accuse me before the multitude [at Jerusalem],
that I do not manage the affairs of Galilee as I ought to do;
and that they would easily persuade the people, because of their
dignity, and because the whole multitude are very mutable. When,
therefore, it appeared that John had suggested the wisest advice
to them, they resolved that two of them, Jonathan and Ananias,
should go to the people of Jerusalem, and the other two [Simon
and Joazar] should be left behind to tarry at Tiberins. They also
took along with them a hundred soldiers for their guard.
62. However, the governors of Tiberias took care to have their
city secured with walls, and commanded their inhabitants to take
their arms. They also sent for a great many soldiers from John,
to assist them against me, if there should be occasion for them.
Now John was at Gischala. Jonathan, therefore, and those that
were with him, when they were departed from Tiberias, and as soon
as they were come to Dabaritta, a village that lay in the utmost
parts of Galilee, in the great plain, they, about midnight, fell
among the guards I had set, who both commanded them to lay aside
their weapons, and kept them in bonds upon the place, as I had
charged them to do. This news was written to me by Levi, who had
the command of that guard committed to him by me. Hereupon I said
nothing of it for two days; and, pretending to know nothing about
it, I sent a message to the people of Tiberias, and advised them
to lay their arms aside, and to dismiss their men, that they might
go home. But, supposing that Jonathan, and those that were with
him, were already arrived at Jerusalem, they made reproachful
answers to me; yet was I not terrified thereby, but contrived
another stratagem against them, for I did not think it agreeable
with piety to kindle the fire of war against the citizens. As
I was desirous to draw those men away from Tiberias, I chose out
ten thousand of the best of my armed men, and divided them into
three bodies, and ordered them to go privately, and lie still
as an ambush, in the villages. I also led a thousand into another
village, which lay indeed in the mountains, as did the others,
but only four furlongs distant from Tiberias; and gave orders,
that when they saw my signal, they should come down immediately,
while I myself lay with my soldiers in the sight of every body.
Hereupon the people of Tiberias, at the sight of me, came running
out of the city perpetually, and abused me greatly. Nay, their
madness was come to that height, that they made a decent bier
for me, and, standing about it, they mourned over me in the way
of jest and sport; and I could not but be myself in a pleasant
humor upon the sight of this madness of theirs.
63. And now being desirous to catch Simon by a wile, and Joazar
with him, I sent a message to them, and desired them to come a
little way out of the city, and many of their friends to guard
them; for I said I would come down to them, and make a league
with them, and divide the government of Galilee with them. Accordingly,
Simon was deluded on account of his imprudence, and out of the
hopes of gain, and did not delay to come; but Joazar, suspecting
snares were laid for him, staid behind. So when Simon was come
out, and his friends with him, for his guard, I met him, and saluted
him with great civility, and professed that I was obliged to him
for his coming up to me; but a little while afterward I walked
along with him as though I would say something to him by myself;
and when I had drawn him a good way from his friends, I took him
about the middle, and gave him to my friends that were with me,
to carry him into a village; and, commanding my armed men to come
down, I with them made an assault upon Tiberias. Now, as the fight
grew hot on both sides, and the soldiers belonging to Tiberias
were in a fair way to conquer me, (for my armed men were already
fled away,) I saw the posture of my affairs; and encouraging those
that were with me, I pursued those of Tiberias, even when they
were already conquerors, into the city. I also sent another band
of soldiers into the city by the lake, and gave them orders to
set on fire the first house they could seize upon. When this was
done, the people of Tiberinas thought that their city was taken
by force, and so threw down their arms for fear, and implored,
they, their wives, and children, that I would spare their city.
So I was over-persuaded by their entreaties, and restrained the
soldiers from the vehemency with which they pursued them; while
I myself, upon the coming on of the evening, returned back with
my soldiers, and went to refresh myself. I also invited Simon
to sup with me, and comforted him on occasion of what had happened;
and I promised that I would send him safe and secure to Jerusalem,
and withal would give him provisions for his journey thither.
64. But on the next day, I brought ten thousand armed men with
me, and came to Tiberias. I then sent for the principal men of
the multitude into the public place, and enjoined them to tell
me who were the authors of the revolt; and when they told me who
the men were, I sent them bound to the city Jotapata. But as to
Jonathan and Ananias, I freed them from their bonds, and gave
them provisions for their journey, together with Simon and Joazar,
and five hundred armed men who should guard them; and so I sent
them to Jerusalem. The people of Tiberias also came to me again,
and desired that I would forgive them for what they had done;
and they said they would amend what they had done amiss with regard
to me, by their fidelity for the time to come; and they besought
me to preserve what spoils remained upon the plunder of the city,
for those that had lost them. Accordingly, I enjoined those that
had got them, to bring them all before us; and when they did not
comply for a great while, and I saw one of the soldiers that were
about me with a garment on that was more splendid than ordinary,
I asked him whence he had it; and when he replied that he had
it out of the plunder of the city, I had him punished with stripes;
and I threatened all the rest to inflict a severer punishment
upon them, unless they produced before us whatsoever they had
plundered; and when a great many spoils were brought together,
I restored to every one of Tiberias what they claimed to be their
own.
65. And now I am come to this part of my narration, I have a mind
to say a few things to Justus, who hath himself written a history
concerning these affairs, as also to others who profess to write
history, but have little regard to truth, and are not afraid,
either out of ill-will or good-will to some persons, to relate
falsehoods. These men do like those who compose forged deeds and
conveyances; and because they are not brought to the like punishment
with them, they have no regard to truth. When, therefore, Justus
undertook to write about these facts, and about the Jewish war,
that he might appear to have been an industrious man, he falsified
in what he related about me, and could not speak truth even about
his own country; whence it is that, being belied by him, I am
under a necessity to make my defense; and so I shall say what
I have concealed till now. And let no one wonder that I have not
told the world these things a great while ago. For although it
be necessary for an historian to write the truth, yet is such
a one not bound severely to animadvert on the wickedness of certain
men; not out of any favor to them, but out of an author's own
moderation. How then comes it to pass, O Justus! thou most sagacious
of writers, (that I may address myself to him as if he were here
present,) for so thou boastest of thyself, that I and the Galileans
have been the authors of that sedition which thy country engaged
in, both against the Romans and against the king [Agrippa, junior]
For before ever I was appointed governor of Galilee by the community
of Jerusalem, both thou and all the people of Tiberias had not
only taken up arms, but had made war with Decapolis of Syria.
Accordingly, thou hadst ordered their villages to be burnt, and
a domestic servant of thine fell in the battle. Nor is it I only
who say this; but so it is written in the Commentaries of Vespasian,
the emperor; as also how the inhabitants of Decapolis came clamoring
to Vespasian at Ptolemais, and desired that thou, who wast the
author [of that war], mightest be brought to punishment. And thou
hadst certainly been punished at the command of Vespasian, had
not king Agrippa, who had power given him to have thee put to
death, at the earnest entreaty of his sister Bernice, changed
the punishment from death into a long imprisonment. Thy political
administration of affairs afterward doth also clearly discover
both thy other behavior in life, and that thou wast the occasion
of thy country's revolt from the Romans; plain signs of which
I shall produce presently. I have also a mind to say a few things
to the rest of the people of Tiberias on thy account, and to demonstrate
to those that light upon this history, that you bare no good-will,
neither to the Romans, nor to the king. To be sure, the greatest
cities of Galilee, O Justus! were Sepphoris, and thy country Tiberias.
But Sepphoris, situated in the very midst of Galilee, and having
many villages about it, and able with ease to have been bold and
troublesome to the Romans, if they had so pleased, yet did it
resolve to continue faithful to those their masters, and at the
same time excluded me out of their city, and prohibited all their
citizens from joining with the Jews in the war; and, that they
might be out of danger from me, they, by a wile, got leave of
me to fortify their city with walls: they also, of their own accord,
admitted of a garrison of Roman legions, sent them by Cestlus
Gallus, who was then president of Syria, and so had me in contempt,
though I was then very powerful, and all were greatly afraid of
me; and at the same time that the greatest of our cities, Jerusalem,
was besieged, and that temple of ours, which belonged to us all,
was in danger of falling under the enemy's power, they sent no
assistance thither, as not willing to have it thought they would
bear arms against the Romans. But as for thy country, O Justus:
situated upon the lake of Gennesareth, and distance from Hippos
thirty furlongs, from Gadara sixty, and from Scythopolis, which
was under the king's jurisdiction, a hundred and twenty; when
there was no Jewish city near, it might easily have preserved
its fidelity [to the Romans,] if it had so pleased them to do,
for the city and its people had plenty of weapons. But, as thou
sayest, I was then the author [of their revolts]. And pray, O
Justus! who was that author afterwards? For thou knowest that
I was in the power of the Romans before Jerusalem was besieged,
and before the same time Jotapata was taker by force, as well
as many other fortresses, and a great many of the Galileans fell
in the war. It was therefore then a proper time, when you were
certainly freed from any fear on my account, to throw away your
weapons, and to demonstrate to the king and to the Romans, that
it was not of choice, but as forced by necessity, that you fell
into the war against them; but you staid till Vespasian came himself
as far as your walls, with his whole army; and then you did indeed
lay aside your weapons out of fear, and your city had for certain
been taken by force, unless Vespasian had complied with the king's
supplication for you, and had excused your madness. It was not
I, therefore, who was the author of this, but your own inclinations
to war. Do not you remember how often I got you under my power,
and yet put none of you to death? Nay, you once fell into a tumult
one against another, and slew one hundred and eighty-five of your
citizens, not on account of your good-will to the king and to
the Romans, but on account of your own wickedness, and this while
I was besieged by the Romans in Jotapata. Nay, indeed, were there
not reckoned up two th |
