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, they sent John back to Gischala, but went themselves to the city 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 honours 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 farther, 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 stayed 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 somewhere 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 Tari

cheae; yet did I withall 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 Taricheae to Tiberias, that they might communicate from one 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 ;* 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 then 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 was 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 law requires 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 Taricheae, 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,

* It is worth noting here, that there was now a great Proseucha, or place of prayer in the city Tiberias itself, though such Proseucha used to be out of cities, as the synagogues were within them; of them see Le Moyne on Polycarp's epistle, page 76. It is also worth our remark that the Jews in the days of Josephus used to dine at the sixth hour, or noon; and that in obedience to their notions of the law of Moses also.

they said with a design to remove me out of th the pretence of the want of extraordinary ass they might dispose the city to be my enemy.

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55. As for myself, although I knew of the did I comply with what they proposed, lest Tiberias should have occasion to suppose th careful of their security. I therefore went o I was at the place, I found not the least foot enemy, so I returned as fast as ever I could, a whole council assembled, and the body of the together, and Jonathan and his colleagues bring accusations against me, as one that had no co them of the burdens of war, and as one that liv ly. And as they were discoursing thus, they p letters, as written to them from some people the borders of Galilee, imploring that they w their assistance, for that there was an army both horsemen and footmen, who would c waste the country on the third day; they desin to make haste, and not to overlook them. ple of Tiberias beard this, they thought they and made a clamour against me, and said, I ou still, but to go away to the assistance of their Hereupon I said (for I understood the mean than and his colleagues,) that I was ready to what they proposed, and without delay to war which they spake of; yet did I advise them time, that since these letters declared that would make their assault in four several places, part their forces into five bodies, and make Ja his colleagues generals of each body of them was fit for brave men not only to give counsel, the place of leaders, and assist their countrymen a necessity pressed them; for, said I, it is not me to lead more than one party. This advi greatly pleased the multitude; so they compell go forth to the war. But their designs were pr much disorder, because they had not done wha signed to do, on account of my stratagem, whi posite to their undertakings.

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56. Now there was one whose name was Anan ed man he was, and very mischievous he pron

general religious fast * 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 those 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 that 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 breast-plate, and girded on my sword, so that it might be, as far as 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

* One may observe here, that this lay Pharisee, Ananias, as we have seen he was, § 39. took upon him to appoint a fast at Tiberias, and was obeyed; though, indeed, it was not out of religion, but knavish policy.

titude were very angry at them for this, for t the wickedness of the men, I understood that going to arise; and being desirous to provoke a greater rage against the men, I said, " But done well in paying our ambassadors out of th leave off your anger at me, for I will repay the of gold myself."

58. When I had said this, Jonathan and held their peace; but the people were still r against them, upon their openly showing their to me. When Jesus saw this change in the pec ed them to depart, but desired the senate to they could not examine things of such a natur and, as the people were crying out that the leave me alone, there came one, and told J friends privately, that John and his armed hand whereupon Jonathan and his colleagues contain themselves no longer, (and perhaps th of God hereby procuring my deliverance; for been so, I had certainly been destroyed by Jo you people of Tiberias, leave off this inquiry ab ty pieces of gold; for Josephus hath not deser them but he hath deserved it by his desire o and by cheating the multitude of the Galile speeches, in order to gain the dominion over t he had said this, they presently laid hands u endeavoured to kill me: but as soon as those th me saw what they did, they drew their swords ened to smite them if they offered any violThe people also took up stones, and were ab them at Jonathan; and so they snatched me fr lence of my enemies.

59. But, as I was gone out a little way, I w meeting John, who was marching with his arme I was afraid of him, and turned aside, and esca} row passage to the lake, and seized on a ship, a ed in it, and sailed over to Taricheae. So, bey pectation, I escaped this danger. Whereupon sent for the chief of the Galileans, and told them manner, against all faith given, I had been very struction from Jonathan and his colleagues, and