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 set me down, now I was grow. ing 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 Ananus the high priest demony.rated 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 genera and that it was the work of ill men to accuse one against whom they had nothing to say.

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 Tiberias, 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 d'cd. I informed my friends of these things, and that in three days' time I should leave the coun try, 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 consequences 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.

39. When Simon heard Arranus 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 Simou did at length thus compass what he aimed at, for Ananus, 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 dis- 42. But wonderful it was what a dream I saw tinction as to their families, and of distinction as that very night; for when I had betaken myself to their learning also. Two of these were of the to my bed, as grieved and disturbed at the news populace, Jonathan* and Ananias, by sect Phari- that had been written to me, it seemed to me. sees; while the third, Jozar, was of the stock of that a certain person stood by me,† and said, "O the priests, and a Pharisee also; and Simon, the Josephus! leave off to afflict thy soul, and put last of them, was of the youngest of the high away all fear; for what now grieves thee will priests. These had it given them in charge, render thee very considerable, and in all respects that, when they were come to the multitude of most happy; for thou shalt get over not only the Galileans, they should ask them what was these difficulties, but many others, with great the reason of their love to me? and if they said, success. However, be not cast down, but rethat it was because I was born at Jerusalem, that member that thou art to fight with the Romans." they should reply, that they four were all born at When I had seen this dream, I got up with an the same place; and if they should say, it was be-intention of going down to the plain. Now when cause 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.

peace.

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 40. Now, when they had given Jonathan and them. But when I did not comply with their enhis companions these instructions, they gave treaties, they compelled me to take an oath, that them forty thousand [drachmæ] out of the public I would stay with them: they also cast abunmoney: but when they heard that there was a dance of reproaches upon the people of Jerusa certain Galilean that then sojourned at Jerusalem, that they would not let their country enjoy lem, 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 chug 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 Jerusalem; but that in case I opposed them, they

*This Jonathan is also taken notice of in the Latin notes, as the same that is mentioned by the rabbins in Porta Mosis.

This I take to be the first of Josephus's remarkable

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 wo ild stay with them. And when I had given order that five thousand of them should come to me armed, and with provisions for their mainten ance, 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 the village of Chabolo, situated in the confines of Ptolemais, and ther kept my forces together, pretending to get ready or divine dreams, which were predictive of the great things that afterwards came to pass; of which see more in the note on Antiq. B. iii. ch. viii, sec. 9. The other in the War, B. iii. ch. viii. sec. 3, 9.

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 farther 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 he did not renove from the neighbourhood of Ptolemais.

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 44. About this time it was that Jonathan and with him thirty of the Galileans of the best chahis fellow-legates came. They were sent, as we racters, and gave them instructions to salute have said already, by Simon, and Ananus, the those ambassadors, but to say nothing else to high priest. And Jonathan contrived how he them. I also gave orders to as many of those might catch me by treachery; for he durst not armed men, whom I esteemed most faithful to make any attempt upon me openly. So he wrote me, to go along with the others, every one with me the following epistle: "Jonathan, and those him whom he was to guard, lest some conversa. that are with him, and are sent by the people of tion might pass between those whom I sent and Jerusalem, to Josephus, send greeting. We are those that were with Jonathan. So these men sent by the principal men of Jerusalem, who went [to Jonathan.] But when Jonathan and have heard that John of Gischala hath laid many his partners had failed in this their first attempt, snares for thee, to rebuke him, and to exhort him they sent me another letter, the contents whereto be subject to thee hereafter. We are also of were as follows: "Jonathan and those with desirous to consult with thee about our common him, to Josephus, send greeting. We require thee concerns, and what is fit to be done. We there- to come to us at the village of Gabaroth, on the fore desire thee to come to us quickly, and to third day, without any armed men, that we may bring only a few men with 'hee, for this village hear what thou hast to lay to the charge of John will not contain a great number of soldiers."- [of Gischala."] When they had written this letThus it was that they wrote, as expecting one of ter, they saluted the Galileans whom I sent, and these two things, either that I should come with- came to Japha, which was the largest village of out armed men, and then they should have me all Galilee, and encompassed with very strong wholly in their power; or, if I came with a great walls, and had a great number of inhabitants in number, they should judge me to be a public it. There the multitude of men with their wives enemy. Now it was a horseman who brought and children met them, and exclaimed loudly the letter, a man at other times bold, and one against them, and desired them to be gone, and that had served in the army, under the king. It not to envy them the advantage of an excellent was the second hour of the night that he came, commander. With these clamors Jonathan and when I was feasting with my friends, and the his partners were greatly provoked, although principal of the Galileans. This man, upon my they durst not show their anger openly: so they servant's telling me, that a certain horseman of made them no answer, but went to other villathe Jewish nation was come, was called in at ges. But still the same clamors met them from my command, but did not so much as salute me all the people, who said, "Nobody should perat all, but held out a letter, and said, "This letter suade them to have any other commander be is sent thee by those that are come from Jerusa-sides Josephus." So Jonathan and his partners lem. 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 afterward 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 open ed 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 drachmæ should be given the soldier for the charges of his journey; and when he took the money, and said 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 as, 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 antrusted 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 ere come in health into Galilee, I rejoice, and this especially, because I can now resign the

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 re solved 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 Ga lilee. I will come to any of them which you please, excepting Gabara 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 was at

rariance with me, and that they should be invit- | ed 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 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 helonged 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 Gabara 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 travelled with letters about them, to keep the men in bonds upon the place, but to send me the

letters.

open; and they expected that I should come nat 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 Jo. nathan 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 were owing to me for my good government of them.

47. When I had lain these commands upon them, I gave them orders, and bid them to take their arms and bring three days' provision with 49. When Jonathan and his companions heard them, and be with me the next day. I also part-this, they were in fear of their own lives, and in ed those that were about me into four parts, and danger lest they should be assaulted by the Gaordained those of them that were most faithful to lileans on my account; so they contrived how me to be a guard to my body. I also set over they might run away. But as they were not able them centurions, and commanded them to take to get off, for I desired them to stay, they looked care that not a soldier which they did not know down with concern at my words to them. I or should mingle himself among them. Now on the dered therefore the multitude to restrain entirefifth day following, when I was in Gabaroth, I ly their acclamations, and placed the most faithful found the entire plain that was before the village of my armed men upon the avenues, to be a full of armed men, who were come out of Gali- guard to us, lest Johr should unexpectedly fall lee to assist me; many others of the multitude upon us; and I encouraged the Galileans to take also, out of the village, ran along with me. But their weapons, lest they should be disturbed at as soon as I had taken my place, and began to their enemies, if any sudden assault should be speak to them they all made an acclamation, made upon them. And then, in the first place, I and called me the benefactor and saviour of the put Jonathan and his partners in mind of their country. And when I had made them my ac-[former] letter, and after what manner they had knowledgments, and thanked them, [for their af- written to me, and declared they were sent by fection to me,] I also advised them to fight* with the common consent of the people of Jerusalem, nobody, nor to spoil the country; but to pitch to make up the differences I had with John, and their tents in the plain, and be content with the how they had desired me to come to them; and sustenance they had brought with them; for I told as I spake thus, I publicly showed that letter them that I had a mind to compose these troubles they had written, till they could not at all deny without shedding any blood. Now it came to what they had done, the letter itself convicting pass, that on the very same day those who were them. I then said, "O Jonathan, and you that sent by John with letters, fell among the guards are sent with him as his colleagues, if I were to whom I had appointed to watch the roads; so be judged as to my behavior, compared with the men were themselves kept upon the place, that of John's, and had brought no more than as my orders were, but I got the letters, which two or three witnesses, good men and true, it is were full of reproaches and lies, and I intended plain you had been forced, upon the examination to fall upon these men without saying a word of of their characters beforehand, to discharge the these matters to any body. accusations: that therefore you may be informed that I have acted well in the affairs of Galilee, 1 think three witnesses too few to be brought by a man that hath done as he ought to do, so I give you all these for witnesses. Inquire of them how I have lived, and whether have not behaved myself with all decency, and after a vir tuous manner among them. And I further con

48. Now as soon as Jonathan and his compaaions 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

Josephus's directions to his soldiers here are much the same that John the Baptist gave, Luke iii. 14, "Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages." Whence Dr. Hudson con. Arms this conjecture, that Josephus, in some things, was, even now, a follower of John the Baptist; which is no way improbable. See the note on sec. 2.

We here learn the practice of the Jews, in the days of Josephus, to inquire into the characters of witnesses, before they were admitted, and that their number ought

to be three, or two at the least, also exactly as in the law of Moses, and in the Apostolical Constitutions, B. ii. ch. xxxvii. See Horeh Covenant Revived. p. 97, 98

This appeal to the whole body of the Galileans by Josephus, and the testimony they gave him of integ rity in his conduct, as their governor, is very like that appeal and testimony in the case of the prophet Sam. uel, 1 Sam. xii. 1-5, and perhaps was done by Jose phus in imitation of him.

chea, and found the multitude already assembled, in the Proseucha; but on what account they had 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 pretence of the want of extraordinary assistance, while they might dispose the city to be my enemy.

resolved to comply with it. As for myself, o 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 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 en gaged in the duties of the day, and had betaken ourselves to our prayers, Jesus got up, and in55. As for myself, although I knew of their de- quired of me what was become of the vessels sign, yet did I comply with what they proposed, that were taken out of the king's palace, when it lest the people of Tiberias should have occasion was burnt down, [and] of that uncoined silver; to suppose, that I was not careful of their security. and in whose possession they now were? This I therefore went out; but when I was at the place, he said, in order to drive away time till John I found not the least footsteps of any enemy, so should come. I said that Capellus, and the ten I returned as fast as ever I could, and found the principal men of Tiberias, had them all; and I whole council assembled, and the body of the told him that he might ask them whether I told people gotten together, and Jonathan and his col-a lie or not. And when they said they had them, leagues bringing vehement accusations against he asked me, what is become of those twenty me, as one who had no concern to ease them of pieces of gold which thou didst receive upon the the burdens of war, and as one that lived luxu- sale of a certain weight of uncoined money? I riously. And as they were discoursing thus, they replied, that I had given them to those ambassa produced four letters as written to them, from dors of theirs, as a maintenance for them, when some people that lived at the borders of Galilee, they were sent by them to Jerusalem. So Jonaimploring that they would come to their assist- than and his colleagues said, that I had not done ance, for that there was an army of Romans, both well to pay the ambassadors out of the public horsemen and footmen, who would come and lay money. And when the multitude were very waste the country on the third day; they desired angry at them for this, for they perceived the them also to make haste, and not to overlook wickedness of the men, I understood that a tuthem When the people of Tiberias heard this, mult was going to arise; and being desirous to they thought they spake truth, and made a provoke the people to a greater rage against the clamour against me, and said, I ought not to sit men, I said, "But if I have not done well in paystill, but to go away to the assistance of their ing our ambassadors out of the public stock, leave countrymen. Hereupon I said, (for I understood off your anger at me, for I will repay the twenty the meaning of Jonathan and his colleagues,) pieces of gold myself." 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 åt 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 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 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 59. But, as I was gone out a little way, I was home, Jonathan and his colleagues wrote to John, just upon meeting John, who was marching with to come to them in the morning, and desiring his armed men. So I was afraid of him, and him to come with as many soldiers as he possi- turned aside, and escaped by a narrow passage bly could, for that they should then be able easily to the lake, and seized on a ship, and embarked to get me into their hands, and to do all they desir-in it, and sailed over to Taricheæ. So, beyond ed to do. When John had received this letter, he

* One may observe here, that this lay Pharisee Ananias, as we have seen he was, sect. 39, took upon him to

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 the 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.

my expectation, I escaped this danger. Where

appoint a fast at Tiberias, and was obeyed; though in deed it was not out of religion, but knavish policy