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.

in great anturity. 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 forena-alone excepting some of my domestics. So those med, as the progress of this discourse will show. And on this account, I suppose, it was that God,* who is never unacquainted with these that do as they ought to do, delivered me still out of the hands of these my enemies, and afterward 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 cala mities, 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 Tiberias by name, that they should provide a lodging for John, and for such as should come with him; and should procure what necessaries soever he should stand in need of. Now at this time my abode was in a city of Galilee, which is named Cana.

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 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 unexpect. edly, and came to Taricheæ.

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 17. But when John was come to the city of of its inhabitants, with their wives and chilTiberias, he persuaded the men to revolt from dren. Those that were Josephus's friends also, their fidelity to me, and to adhere to him; and and had escaped out of Tiberias, gave him the many of them gladly received that invitation of same advice. But I did not comply with them, his, as ever fond of innovations, and by nature thinking it a terrible thing to begin a civil war disposed to changes, and delighting in seditions: among them; for I thought, that this contention but they were chiefly Justus and his father Pis-ought not to proceed farther than words; nay, 1 tus, 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 ander another's jurisdiction. Upon the receipt of this letter of Silas, I took two hundred men along with me, and travelled 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 21. But now another great number of the Ga what I was now sensible he was doing. So he lileans came together again with their weapons, in great haste went to his lodging. But when I as knowing the man, how wicked and how sadly was in the open place of the city, having dismiss-perjured he was, and desired me to lead them ed 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,

* Our Josephus shows, both here and every where, that he was a most religious person, and one that had a deep sense of God and his providence upon his mind, and ascribed all his numerous and wonderful escapes

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.

against him, and promised me that they would
utterly destroy both him and Gischala. Here-
upon 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.
ever, I entreated them to restrain themselves,
and begged of them to give me leave to do what

How

and preservations, in times of danger, to God's bles sing him, and taking care of him, and this on account of his acts of piety, justice, humanity, and charity to the Jews his brethren.

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.

ever it was they wanted, according to their usat 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, 22. But the inhabitants of this city, having de- and over it Equiculus Modius; but the forces that termined to continue in their allegiance to the were sent were not enough to encompass the Romans, were afraid of my coming to them, and citadel quite round, but lay before it in the open tried, by putting me upon another action to divert places and besieged it. But when Ebutius the me, that they might be freed from the terror they decurion, who was entrusted with the govern were in. Accordingly they sent to Jesus, the ment of the great plain, heard that I was at Sicaptain of those robbers, who were in the con- monias. a village situated in the confines of Galifines of Ptolemais, and promised to give him a lee, and was distant from him sixty furlongs, he great deal of money, if he would come with those took a hundred horsemen that were with him by forces he had with him, which were in number night, and a certain number of footmen, about eight hundred, and fight with us. Accordingly two hundred, and brought the inhabitants of the he complied with what they desired, upon the city Gibea along with him as auxiliaries, and promises they had made him, and was desirous marched in the night, and came to the village to fall upon us when we were unprepared for where I abode. Upon this, I pitched my camp him, and knew nothing of his coming beforehand. over against him, which had a great number of So he sent to me, and desired that I would give forces in it; but Ebutius tried to draw us down him leave to come and salute me. When I had into the plain, as greatly depending on his horsegiven him that leave, which I did without the men; but we would not come down: for when I least knowledge of his treacherous intentions was satisfied of the advantage that his horse beforehand, he took his band of robbers, and would have if we came down into the plain, while made haste to come to me. Yet did not this his we were all footmen, I resolved to join battle with knavery succeed well at last; for, as he was the enemy where I was. Now Ebutius and his already nearly approaching, one of those with party made a courageous opposition for some him deserted him, and came to me, and told me time; but when he saw that his horse were usewhat he had undertaken to do. When I was less to him in that place, he retired back to the informed of this, I went into the market-place, city Gibea, having lost three of his men in the and pretended to know nothing of his treacherous fight. So I followed him directly with two thoupurpose. I took with me many Galileans that sand armed men; and when I was at the city Bewere armed, as also some of those of Tiberias: sara, that lay in the confines of Ptolemais, but and, when I had given orders that all the roads twenty furlongs from Gibea where Ebutius abode, should be carefully guarded, I charged the keep- I placed my armed men on the outside of the vil ers of the gates to give admittance to none but lage, and gave orders that they should guard the to Jesus, when he came with the principal of his passes with great care, that the enemy might not men, and to exclude the rest; and in case they disturb us, until we should have carried off the aimed to force themselves in, to use stripes [in corn, a great quantity of which lay there: it order to repel them.] Accordingly, those that belonged to Bernice the queen, and had been had received such a charge did as they were gathered together out of the neighboring vil bidden, and Jesus came in with a few others; lages into Besara; so I loaded my camels and and when I had ordered him to throw down his asses, a great number of which I had brought arms immediately, and told him, that if he fu- along with me, and sent the corn into Galilee. sed so to do, he was a dead man, he, veing When I had done this, I offered Ebutius battle, armed men standing all round about hira, was but when he would not accept of the offer, for terrified and compliea, and as for those of his he was terrified at our readiness and courage, followers that were excluded, when they were I altered my route, and marched towards Neoinformed that he was seized, they ran away. I politanus, because I had heard that the country then called Jesus to me by himself, and told him, about Tiberias was laid waste by him. This that "I was not a stranger to that treacherous Neopolitanus was captain of a troop of horse, design he had against me, nor was I ignorant by and had the custody of Scythopolis intrusted to whom he was sent for; that, however, I would his care by the enemy; and when I had hindered forgive what he had done already, if he would him from doing any further mischief to Tiberias, repent of it, and be faithful to me hereafter." I set myself to make provision for the affairs of And thus upon his promise to do all that I desi- Galilee." red, 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 Trachonitis, 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, 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 whatso

Josephus's opinion is here well worth noting, that every one is to be permitted to worship God according to his own conscience, and is not to be compelled in matters of religion; as one may here observe, on the

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 nie; 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 per suade the inhabitants of Tiberias and of Sep phoris, (and for those of Gabara he suppose 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 toid 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,

contrary, that the rest of the Jews were still for oblig. ing all those who married Jews to be circumcised, and become Jews, and were ready to destroy all that would not submit to do so See sect. 31. and Luke ix. 54.

and for those of Tiberias, they did not indeed so tar 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:

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 26. There were some bold young men of the away to the house in which I lodged, as if he village Dabaritta, who observed that the wife of would kill me immediately, while I was wholly Ptolemy, the king's procurator, was to make a insensible of all till this disturbance happened progress over the great plain with a mighty at- and, by reason of the pains I had been taking, tendance, and with some horsemen that followed, was fallen fast asleep. But Simon, who was inas a guard to them, and this out of a country trusted with the care of my body, and was the that was subject to the king and queen, into the only person that stayed with me, and saw the jurisdiction of the Romans; and fell upon them violent incursion the citizens made upon me, he on the sudden, and obliged the wife of Ptolemy awaked me, and told me of the danger I was in to fly away, and plundered all the carriages. and desired me to let him kill me, that I might They also came to me to Taricheæ, with four die bravely and like a general, before my ene mules' loading of garments, and other furniture; mies came in, and forced me [to kill myself,] or and the weight of the silver they brought was kill me themselves. Thus did he discourse to not small, and there were five hundred pieces of me; but I committed the care of my life to God gold also. Now I had a mind to preserve these and made haste to go out to the multitude. Acspoils for Ptolemy, who was my countryman; cordingly I put on a black garment, and hung my and it is prohibited us by our laws even to spoil sword at my neck, and went by such a different our enemies: so I said to those that brought way to the hippodrome, wherein I thought none those spoils, that they ought to be kept in order of my adversaries would meet me; so I appeared to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with them, among them on the sudden, and fell down flat on when they came to be sold. But the young men the earth, and bedewed the ground with my took it very ill that they did not receive a part tears: then I seemed to them all an object of of these spoils for themselves, as they expected compassion. And when I perceived the change to have done; so they went among the villages, that was made in the multitude, I tried to divide in the neighborhood of Tiberias, and told the their opinions, before the armed men should repeople, that I was going to betray their country turn from my house: so I granted them that I had to the Romans, and that I used deceitful language been as wicked as they supposed me to be, but to them, when I said, that what had been thus still I entreated them to let me first inform them gotten by rapine should be kept for the rebuild- for what use I had kept that money which arose ing of the walls of the city of Jerusalem; although from the plunder, and that they might then kill I had resolved to restore these spoils again to me if they pleased; and upon the multitude's their former owner. And indeed they were here-ordering me to speak, the armed men came upon in not mistaken as to my intentions; for when I me, and when they saw me, they ran to kill me: nad gotten clear of them, I sent for two of the but when the multitude bid them hold their principal men, Dassion, and Janneus the son of hands, they complied, and expected that as soon Levi, persons that were among the chief friends as I should own to them that I kept the money of the king, and commanded them to take the fur- for the king, it would be looked on as a confesniture that had been plundered, and to send it to sion of my treason, and they should then be alhim; and I threatened that I would order them to lowed to kill me. be put to death by way of punishment, if they discovered this my command to any other person.

29. When therefore silence was made by the whole multitude, I spake thus to them: "O my 27. Now when all Galilee was filled with this ru- countrymen, I refuse not to die, if justice so remor, that their country was about to be betrayed quire. However, I am desirous to tell you the by me to the Romans, and when all men were truth of this matter before 1 die; for as I know exasperated against me, and ready to bring me that this city of yours [Tariches] was a city of to punishment, the inhabitants of Tariches did great hospitality, and filled with abundance of also themselves suppose that what the young such men as have left their own countries, and men said was true, and persuaded my guards and are come hither to be part kers of your fortune Armed men to leave me when I was asleep, and whatever it be, I had a mind to build walls to come presently to the hippodrome, in order about it, out of this money, for which you are so there to take counsel against me their com- angry with me, while yet it was to be expended mander. And when they had prevailed within building your own walls." Upon my saying 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

* How Josephus could say here that the Jewish laws forbade them to "spoil even their enemies," while yet a little before his time, our Saviour had mentioned it as, then a current maxim with them, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy," Mat. v. 43, is worth our inquiry. I take it that Josephus, having been now for many years an Ebionite Christian, had learned this interpretation of the law of Moses from Christ, whom he owned for the true Messiah,

this, the people of Taricher and the strangers cried out, that "they gave me thanks, and desi red me to be of good courage." Although the Galileans and the people of Tiberias continued in their wrath against me, it somuch that there arose a tumult among them, while some threat. ened to kill me, and some bid me not to regard

as it follows in the succeeding verses, which, though he might not read in St. Matthew's gospel, yet might he have read much the same exposition in their own Ebionite or Nazarine gospel itself, of which improvements made by Josephus, after he was become a Christian, we have already had several examples in this his life, sect. 3, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23; and shall have many more therein before its conclusion, as well as we have them elsewhere in all his later writings

them; but when I promised them that I would | pen, than in the country that as under my build them walls at Tiberias, and at other cities jurisdiction. However, they esped at length that wanted them, they gave credit to what I and king Agrippa forgave them their offences. promised, and returned every one to his own And this was the conclusion of what concerned home. So I escaped the forementioned danger, these men. beyond all my hopes, and returned to my own house, accompanied with my friends, and twenty armed men also.

30. However, those 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 some of their men in 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 men 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 stayed 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.

Here

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 desircus 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 Tariches were already built: I agreed to their proposal accordingly. And when I had made preparation for their entire building, I gave order to the architects to go to work; but on the third day, when I was gone to Tarichea, which was thirty furlongs distant from Tiberias, it so fell out, that some Roman horsemen were discover. ed 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. upon one came running to me and told me what their dispositions were, and that they nad resolved to revolt from me; upon hearing which news I was very much alarmed; for I had already sent away my armed men from Tarichea to their own homes, because the next day was our Sabbath; for I would not have the people of Taricheæ be 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 thar 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 of the next day, because our laws forbid us so to do, even though our necessity should be very great; and if I should permit the people of Tariches, 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 Taricheæ, 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 bid every one of them to seize upon a ship,t 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.

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 prétences 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 that fled to them for refuge ought not to be persecuted; I also laughed at the allegation about witchcraft, 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 afterward, as irritated by some ill people against the great men: nay, they once made an assault upon the house in which they dwelt at Tariche, 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 33. But now, when the people of Tiberias perconfines of Hippo3; I also paid them the va- ceived that there were no forces come from the lue of their horses, nor in such a flight couli Iking, and yet saw the whole lake full of ships, have their horses brought to them. I then dismissed them, and begged of them earnestly that they would courageously bear this distress which befelt them. I was also myself greatly displeased that I was compelled to expose tho that had Led to me to go again into an enemy' country; yet did I think it more eligible that tl ey should perish among the Romans, if it shou so hap*Here we may observe the valgar Jewis. notion of witchcraft, but that our Josephus was too w se to give any countenance to it.

fIn this section, as well as sect. 18, and sect 33, those small vessels that sailed on the sea of Galilee, are called by Josephus N15, and 11201, and Exaq, i. e. plainly,

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 een ships, so that we need not wonder at our Evangelista, who still call them ships, nor ought we to render them boats, as some do. Their number was in all 230, as we learn from our autho elsewhere: Of the War, B. u. chap. xxi. sect. 8.

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 nad 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, I assured them that I would entirely forgive them for the time to come, if they would send ten of the ring-false, (for it had been given out, that the Jews leaders 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 Tarichea, and ordered them to be kept in prison.