commended him: but those of Tiberias, with the rest of the company gave him hard names, and threatened what they would do to him. So both sides left off quarrelling with Josephus, and began quarrelling one with another. So he grew bold upon the dependance he had on his friends, who were the people of Taricheæ, and about forty thousand in number; and spake more freely to the whole multitude: and reproached them greatly for their rashness and told them, that with this money he would build walls about Taricheæ ; and would put the other cities in a state of security also. For that they should not want money if they would but agree for whose benefit it was to be procured, and would not suffer themselves to be irritated against him who procured it for them. Hereupon the rest of the multitude, that had been deluded, retired: but yet so that they went away angry. And two thousand of them made an assault upon him in their armor. And as he was already gone to his own house, they stood without, and threatened him. On which occasion Josephus again used a second stratagem to escape them. For he got upon the top of his house, and with his right hand desired them to be silent, and said he could not tell what they would have: nor could he hear what they said for the confused noise. But he said he would comply with all their demands, in case they would but send some of their number in to him that might talk with him about it. And when the principal of them, with their leaders, heard this, they came into the house. He then drew them to the most retired part of the house, and shut the door of that hall where he put them and then had them whipped till every one of their inward parts appeared naked. In the mean time the multitude stood round the house; and supposed that he had a long discourse with those that were gone in, about what they claimed of him. He had then the doors set open immediately, and sent the men out all bloody. Which so terribly affrighted those that had before threatened him, that they threw away their arms, and ran away. But as for John his envy grew greater upon this escape of Josephus's; and he framed a new plot against him. He pretended to be sick; and by a letter desired that Josephus would give him leave to use the hot baths that were at Tiberias, for the recovery of his health. Hereupon Josephus, who hitherto suspected nothing of John's plots against him, wrote to the governors of the city, that they would provide a lodging and necessaries for John. Which favors when he had made use of, in two days' time he did what he came about. Some he corrupted with delusive frauds; and others with money; and so persuaded them to revolt from Josephus. Silas, however, who was appointed guardian of the city by Josephus, wrote to him immediately; and informed him of the plot against him. Which epistle, when Josephus had received, he marched with great diligence all night, and came early in the morning to Tiberias. At which time the rest of the multitude met him. But John, who suspected that his coming was not for his advantage, sent one of his friends, and pretended that he was sick; and that being confined to his bed he could not come to pay him his respects. But as soon as Josephus had gotten the people of Tiberias together in the Stadium, and tried to discourse with them about the letters that he had received, John privately sent some armed men, and gave them orders to slay him. But when the people saw that the armed men were about to draw their swords, they cried out. At which cry Josephus turned himself about: and when he saw that the swords were just at his throat, he marched away in great haste to the sea-shore; and left off that speech which he was going to make to the people, upon an elevation of six cubits high. He then seized on a ship which lay in the haven; and leaped into it, with two of his guards; and fled away into the midst of the lake. Now the soldiers he had with him took up their arms, and marched against the plotters. But Josephus was afraid lest a civil war should be raised by the envy of a few men, and bring the city to ruin. So he sent some of his party to tell them, that they should do no more than provide for their own safety; that they should not kill any body; nor accuse any for the occasion they had afforded of a disorder. Accordingly these men obeyed his orders, and were quiet. But the people of it in charge, that if he would voluntarily come away they should permit him to come and give an account of his conduct; but if he obstinately insisted upon continuing in his government, they should treat him as an enemy. Now Josephus's friends had sent him word that an army was coming against him: but they gave him no notice beforehand what the reason of their coming was that being only known among some secret councils of his enemies. And by this means it was that four cities revolted from him immediately; Sepphoris, Gamala, Gischala, and Tiberias. Yet did he recover these cities without war: and when he had routed those four commanders by stratagem; and had taken the most potent of their warriors, he sent them to Jerusalem. And the people of Galilee had great indignation at them, and were in a zealous disposition to slay, not only these forces, but those that sent them also, had not those forces prevented it by running away. Now John was detained afterward within the walls of Gischala, by the fear he was in of Josephus. But within a few days Tiberias revolted again: the people within it inviting of the neighbouring country, when they were informed of this plot, and of the plotter, got together is great multitudes to oppose John. But he prevented their attempt, and fled away to Gischala: while the Galileans came running out of their several cities to Josephus. And as they were now become many thousand of armed men, they cried out, that they were come against John, the common plotter against their interest and would at the same time burn him, and that city which had received him. Hereupon Josephus told them that he took their good will to him kindly: but still he restrained their fury, and intended to subdue his enemies by prudent conduct, rather than by staying them. So he excepted those of every city which had joined in this revolt with John, by name, who had readily been shewn him by those that come from every city; and caused public proclamation to be made, that he would seize upon the effects of those that did not forsake John within five days' time, and would burn both their houses, and their families with fire. Whereupon three thousand of John's party left him immediately who came to Josephus, and threw their arms down at his feet. John then be-king Agrippa to return to the exercise of his took himself, together with his two thousand Syrian runagates, from open attempts, to more secret ways of treachery. Accordingly he privately sent messengers to Jerusalem to accuse Josephus, as having too great power: and to let them know that he would soon come, as a tyrant to their metropolis, unless they prevented him. But this accusation the people were aware of beforehand and had no regard to it. However, sonie of the grandees, out of envy, and some of the rulers also, sent money to John privately; that he might be able to get together mercenary soldiers, in order to fight Josephus. They also made a decree of themselves, for recalling himed to circumvent the revolters by a stratagem, from his government. Yet did they not think that decree sufficient. So they sent withal two thousand five hundred armed men ; and four persons of the highest rank among them. Joazar, the son of Nomicus; Ananias, the son of Sadduk, and Simon and Judas, the sons of Jonathan; all very able men in speaking; that these persons might withdraw the good will of the people from Josephus. These had authority there. And when he did not come at the time appointed, and when a few Roman horsemen appeared that day, they expelled Josephus out of the city. Now this revolt of theirs was presently known at Taricheæ. And as Josephus had sent out all the soldiers that were with him to gather corn, he knew not how either to march out alone against the revolters, or to stay where he was: because he was afraid the king's soldiers might prevent him if he tarried, and might get into the city. For he did not intend to do any thing on the next day, because it was the sabbath and would hinder his proceeding. So he contriv And in the first place he ordered the gates of Tariches to be shut, that nobody might go out, and inform those of Tiberias, for whom it was intended, what stratagem he was about. He then got together all the ships that were upon the lake, which were found to be two hundred and thirty and in each of them he put no more than four mariners. So he sailed to Tiberias with haste, and kept at such a dis tance from the city, that it was not easy for the people to see the vessels: and ordered that the empty vessels should float up and down there; while himself, who had but seven of his guards with him, and those unarmed also, went so near as to be seen. But when his adversaries, who were still reproaching him, saw him from the walls, they were so astonished that they supposed all the ships were full of armed men, and threw down their arms; and by signals of intercession they besought him to spare the city. Upon this Josephus threatened them terribly; and reproached them, that when they were the first that took up arms against the Romans, they should spend their force beforehand in civil dissensions; and do what their enemies desired above all things; and that besides they should endeavour so hastily to seize upon him who took care of their safety; and had not been ashamed to shut the gates of their city against him that built their walls: that, however, he would admit of any intercessors that might make some excuse for them and with whom he would make such agreement as might be for the city's security. Hereupon ten of the most potent men of Tiberias came down to him presently. And when he had taken them into one of his vessels, he ordered them to be carried a great way off from the city. He then commanded that fifty others of their senate, such as were men of the greatest eminence, should come to him; that they also might give him some security on their behalf. After which, under new pretences, he called forth others, one after another, to make the league between them. He then gave order to the masters of those vessels which he had thus filled, to sail away immediately for Tariches; and to confine those men in the prison there. Till at length he took all their senate, consisting of six hundred persons; and about two thousand of the populace; and carried them away to Taricheæ. And when the rest of the people cried out, Such hard and cruel conditions, did victors, flushed with success, and armed with power, compel the vanquished to submit to. It appears hence how dearly many purchase a wretchedly protracted mortal existence. B. that it was one Clitus that was the chief au¬ thor of this revolt; they desired him to spend his anger upon him only. But Josephus, whose intentions it was to slay nobody, commanded one Levius, belonging to his guards, to go out of the vessel in order to cut off both Clitus's hands. Yet was Levius afraid to go out by himself alone, to such a large body of enemies, and refused. Now Clitus saw that Josephus was in a great passion in the ship, and ready to leap out of it, in order to execute the punishment himself. He begged, there fore, from the shore, that he would leave him one of his hands, which Josephus agreed to; upon condition that he would himself cut off the other hand. Accordingly he drew his sword, and with his right hand cut off his left. * So great was the fear he was in of Josephus. And thus he took the people of Tiberias prisoners; and recovered the city again † with empty ships, and seven of his guard. Moreover, a few days afterward he retook Gischala; which had revolted with the people of Sepphoris; and gave his soldiers leave to plunder it. Yet did he get all the plunder together, and restored it to the inhabitants: and the like he did to the inhabitants of Sepphoris, and Tiberias. For when he had subdued those cities, he had a mind, by letting them be plundered, to give them some good instruction; while at the same time he regained their good-will by restoring them their money again. what end he came to we shall relate * hereafter. But as for the † Acrabbene toparchy, Simon, the son of Gioras, got a great number of those that were fond of innovations together; and betook himself to ravage the country. Nor did he only harass the rich men's houses, but tormented their bodies, and ap mans, both repaired the walls, and made a great many warlike instruments. Insomuch that, in all parts of the city, darts, and all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the young men were engaged in exercises without any regularity; and all places were full of tumultuous doings. But the moderate sort were exceeding sad and a great many there were who, out of the pros-peared openly to affect tyranny in his governpect they had of the calamities that were com- ment. And when an army was sent against ing upon them, made great lamentations. him by Ananus, and the other rulers, he and There were also such omens observed as were his retired to the robbers that were at Masaunderstood to be forerunners of evils, by such da; and stayed there, and plundered the as loved peace but were by those that kin-country of Idumea with them; till both Anadled the war interpreted so as to suit their nus, and his other adversaries were slain; and own inclinations. And the very state of the until the rulers of that country were so afflictcity, even before the Romans came against it,ed with the multitude of those that were was that of a place doomed to destruction. However, Ananus's concern was to lay aside, for a while, the preparations for the war; and to persuade the seditious to consult their own interest; and to restrain the madness of those that had the name of zealots. But their violence was too hard for him. And * See Book IV. chap. 5. slain, and with the continual ravage of what they had, that they raised an army, and put garrisons into the villages, to secure them from those insults. And in this state were the affairs of Judea at that time. † Antiq. XII. 1. BOOK III. Containing an Interval of about One Year. FROM VESPASIAN'S COMING TO SUBDUE THE JEWS, TO THE TAKING OF GAMALA. CHAP. I. VESPASIAN IS SENT INTO SYRIA BY NERO; IN ORDER TO THEN Nero was informed of the Ro-bor of his own. mans' ill success in Judea, a conceal- So Nero esteemed these circumstances as ed consternation and terror, as is usual in such favorable omens: and saw that Vespasian's cases, fell upon him. Although he openly age gave him sure experience, and great looked very big, and was very angry; and skill; and that he had sons as hostages for his said, that what had happened was rather ow-fidelity to himself; and that the flourishing ing to the negligence of the commander, than to any valor of the enemy. And as he thought it fit for him, who bare the burden of the whole empire, to despise such misfortunes; he now pretended so to do: and to have a soul superior to all such sad accidents. Yet did the disturbance that was in his soul plainly appear by the solicitude he was in how to recover his affairs again. And as he was deliberating to whom he should commit the care of the East, now it was in so great a commotion; and who might be best able to punish the Jews for their rebellion, and might prevent the same distemper from seizing upon the neighbouring nations also; he found no one but Vespasian equal to the task and able to undergo the great burden of so mighty a war. Seeing he was grown an old man already in the camp; and from his youth had been exercised in warlike exploits. He was also a man that had long ago pacified the West, and made it subject to * Take the confirmation of this, in the words of Suetonius, here produced by Dr. Hudson. "In the reign of Claudius," says he, "Vespasian, for the sake of Narcissus, was sent as a lieutenant of a legion into Germany. Thence he removed into Britain: and fought thirty bat age they were in would make them fit instruments under their father's prudence. Perhaps also there was some interposition of Providence, which was paving the way for Vespasian's being himself emperor afterward. Upon the whole, he sent this man to take upon him the command of the armies that were in Syria. But this not without great encomiums and flattering compliments, such as necessity required, and such as might mollify him into compliance. So Vespasian sent his son Titus from Achaia, where he had been with Nero to Alexandria; to bring back with him from thence the fifth and the tenth legions: while himself, when he had passed over the Hellespont, came by land into Syria: where he gathered together the Roman forces; with a considerable number of auxiliaries from the kings in that neighbourhood. t t t of W the bor tho poo plet tles with the enemy." In Vesp. § 4. We may also |