judges in every city to hear the lesser quarrels; for as to the greater causes, anc those wherein life and death were concerned, he enjoined they should be brought to him and the seventy elders.

6. Josephus also, when he had settled these rules for determining causes by the law with regard to the people's dealings one with another, betook himself to make provision for their safety, against external violence; and as he knew the Romans would fall upon Galilee, he built walls, in proper places, about Jotapata and Barsabee, and Salamis; and, besides these, about Caphareccho, and Japha, and Sigo, and what they call Mount Tabor, and Taricheæ, and Tiberias. More over, he built walls about the caves near the lake of Gennesar, which places lay in the Lower Galilee: the same he did to the places of Upper Galilee, as well to the rock called the Rock of the Achabari, and to Seph, and Jamneth, and Me10th; and in Gaulanitis he fortified Seleucia, and Sogane, and Galama; but as to those of Sepphoris, they were the only people to whom he gave leave to build their own walls, and this because he perceived they were rich and wealthy, and ready to go to war, without standing in need of any injunctions for that purpose The case was the same with Gischala, which had a wall built about it by John the son of Levi himself, but with the consent of Josephus: but for the building of the rest of the fortresses, he laboured together with all the other builders, and was present to give all the necessary orders for that purpose. He also got toge. ther an army out of Galilee of more than a hundred thousand young men, all of which he armed with the old weapons, which he had collected together and prepared for them.

7. And when he considered that the Roman power became invincible, chiefly by their readiness in obeying orders, and the constant exercise of their arms, he despaired of teaching these his men the use of their arms, which was to be obtained by experience; but observing that their readiness in obeying orders was owing to the multitude of their officers, he made his partitions in his army more after the Roman manner, and appointed a great many subalterns. He also distributed the soldiers into various classes, whom he put under captains of tens, and captains of hundreds, and then under captains of thousands; and, besides these, he had commanders of larger bodies of men. He also taught them to give the signals one to another, and to call and recall the soldiers by the trumpets; how to expand the wings of an army, and make them wheel about; and when one wing hath had success, to turn again and assist those that were hard set, and to join in the defence of what had most suffered. He also continually instructed them in what concerned the courage of the soul, and the hardiness of the body; and, above all he exercised them for war, by declaring to them distinctly the good order of the Romans, and that they were to fight with men who both by the strength of their bodies, and courage of their souls, had conquered in a manner the whole habit. able earth. He told them, that he should make trial of the good order they would observe in war, even before it came to any battle, in case they would abstain from the crimes they used to indulge themselves in, such as theft, and robbery, and rapine, and from defrauding their own countrymen, and never to esteem the harm done to those that were so near of kin to them to be any advantage to them. selves; for that wars are then managed the best when the warriors preserve a good conscience; but that such as are ill men in private life, will not only have those for enemies which attack them, but God himself also for their antagonist. 8. And thus did he continue to admonish them. Now he chose for the war such an army as was sufficient, that is, sixty thousand footmen, and two hundred and fifty horsemen :* and, besides these, on which he put the greatest trust, there were about four thousand five hundred mercenaries: he had also six hundred men as guards of his body. Now the cities easily maintained the rest of his army,

☛ I should think that an army of 60,000 footmen should require many more than 250 horsemen, and we find Josephus had more horsemen under his command than 250 in his future history. I suppose the number of the thousands is dropped in our present copies.

excepting the mercenaries; for every one of the cities enumerated above sent out half their men to the army, and retained the other half at home, in order to get provisions for them; insomuch that the one part went to the war, and the other part to their work, and so those that sent out their corn were paid for it by those that were in arms, by that security which they enjoyed from them.

CHAP. XXI.

Concerning John of Gischala. Josephus uses Stratagems against the Plots John laid against him, and recovers certain Cities which had revolted from him.

§1. Now as Josephus was thus engaged in the administration of the affairs of Galilee, there arose a treacherous person, a man of Gischala, the son of Levi whose name was John. His character was that of a very cunning and very knavish person, beyond the ordinary rate of the other men of eminence there, and for wicked practices he had not his fellow anywhere. Poor he was at first, and for a long time his wants were a hinderance to him in his wicked designs. He was a ready liar, and yet very sharp in gaining credit to his fictions: he thought it a point of virtue to delude people, and would delude even such as were the dearest to him. He was a hypocritical pretender to humanity, but where he had hopes of gain, he spared not the shedding of blood: his desires were ever carried to great things, and he encouraged his hopes from these mean wicked tricks which he was the author of. He had a peculiar knack at thieving; but in some time he got certain companions in his impudent practices: at first they were but few, but as he proceeded on his evil course they became still more and more numerous. He took care that none of his partners should be easily caught in their rogueries, but chose such out of the rest as had the strongest constitu tions of body, and the greatest courage of soul, together with great skill in mar. tial affairs; so he got together a band of four hundred men, who came principally out of the country of Tyre, and were vagabonds that had run away from its vil. lages: and by the means of these he laid waste all Galilee, and irritated a con. siderable number, who were in great expectation of a war then suddenly to arise among them.

2. However, John's want of money had hitherto restrained him in his ambition after command, and in his attempts to advance himself. But when he saw that Josephus was highly pleased with the activity of his temper, he persuaded him, in the first place, to intrust him with the repairing of the walls of his native city [Gischala,] in which work he got a great deal of money from the rich citizens. He after that contrived a very shrewd trick, and pretending that the Jews who dwelt in Syria were obliged to make use of oil that was made by others than those of their own nation, he desired leave of Josephus to send oil to their bor. ders: so he bought four amphora with such Tyrian money as was of the value of four Attic drachmæ, and sold every half amphora at the same price. And as Galilee was very fruitful in oil, and was peculiarly so at that time, by sending away great quantities, and having the sole privilege so to do, he gathered an im mense sum of money together, which money he immediately used to the disadvantage of him who gave him that privilege; and as he supposed, that if he could once overthrow Josephus, he should himself obtain the government of Galilee, so he gave order to the robbers that were under his command, to be more zealous in their thievish expeditions, that by the rise of many that desired innovations in the country, he might either catch their general in his snares, as he came to the country's assistance, and then kill him; or if he should overlook the robbers, he might accuse him for his negligence to the people of the country. He also spread abroad a report far and near, that Josephus was delivering up the administration of affairs to the Romans; and many such plots did he lay in order to ruin him

3. Now at the same time that certain young men of the village Dabaritta, who kept guard in the great plain, laid snares for Ptolemy, who was Agrippa's and Bernice's steward, and took from him all that he had with him, among which things there were a great many costly garments, and no small number of silver cups, and six hundred pieces of gold, yet were they not able to conceal what they had stolen, but brought it all to Josephus to Taricher. Hereupon he blamed them for the violence they had offered to the king and queen, and deposited what they brought to him with Eneas, the most potent man of Taricheæ, with an in tention of sending the things back to the owners at a proper time; which act of Josephus brought him into the greatest danger: for those that had stolen the things had an indignation at him, both because they gained no share of it for themselves, and because they perceived beforehand what was Josephus's inten. tion, and that he would freely deliver up what had cost them so much pains to the king and queen. These ran away by night to their several villages, and declared to all men that Josephus was going to betray them: they also raised great dis orders in all the neighbouring cities, insomuch that in the morning a hundred thousand armed men came running together, which multitude was crowded to. gether in the hippodrome at Tarichea, and made a very peevish clamour against him; while some cried out, that "they should depose the traitor," and others that "they should burn him." Now John irritated a great many, as did also one Jesus, the son of Sapphias, who was then governor of Tiberias. Then it was that Jos phus's friends and the guards of his body were so affrighted at this violent assault of the multitude, that they all fled away but four; and as he was asleep they awaked him, as the people were going to set fire to the house. And although those four that remained with him persuaded him to run away, he was neither surprised at his being himself deserted, nor at the great multitude that came against him, but leaped out to them with his clothes rent, and ashes sprinkled on his head, with his hands behind him, and his sword hanging at his neck. At this sight his friends, especially those of Taricheæ, commiserated his condition; but those that came out of the country, and those in their neighbourhood, to whom his government seemed burdensome, reproached lum, and bid him produce the money which belonged to them all immediately, and to confess the agreement he had made to betray them: for they imagined, from the habit in which he appeared, that he would deny nothing of what they suspected concerning him, and that it was in order to obtain pardon that he had put himself entirely in so pitiable a posure. But this humble appearance was only designed as preparatory to a strata. gem of his, who thereby contrived to set those that were so angry at him at variance one with another about the things they were angry at. However, he promised he would confess all: hereupon he was permitted to speak, when he said, "I did neither intend to send this money back to Agrippa, nor to gain it myself; for I did never esteem one that was your enemy to be my friend, nor did I look upon what would tend to your disadvantage to be my advantage. But, O you people of Taricheæ, I saw that your city stood in more need than others of fortifications for your security, and that it wanted money in order for the building it a wall. I was also afraid lest the people of Tiberias and other cities should lay a plot to seize upon these spoils; and, therefore, it was that I intended to retain this money privately, that I might encompass you with a wall. But if this does not please you, I wili produce what was brought me, and leave it to you to plun der it; but if I have conducted myself so well as to please you, you may, if you please, punish your benefactor."

4 Hereupon the people of Taricheæ loudly commended him, but those of Ti berias, 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 fell on quarrelling with one another. So he grew bold upon the dependence he had on bis friends, which were the people of Tarichea, and about forty thousand in "umber, 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 was to be procured, and would not suffer themselves to be irritated against him who procured it for them."

5. 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 armour; 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 to them," I cannot tell what you would have, nor can hear what you say, for the confused noise you make; but he said that 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 meantime, 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 be fore threatened him, that they threw away their arms and ran away.

6. But as for John, his envy grew greater [upon this escape of Josephus,] and he framed a new plot against him: he pretended to be sick, and by a letter de. sired that Josephus would give him leave to use the hot baths that were at Tibe rias 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 favours when he had made use of, in two days' time he did what he came about: some he co rupted with delusive frauds, and others with money, and so persuaded them to revolt from Josephus. This Silas, 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 tiine the rest of the multitude met him. But John, who suspected that his coming was not for his advantage, sent, however, 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 got 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 ery 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.

7. But now the soldiers he had with him took up their arms immediately, anu 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 the neighbouring country, when they were informed of this plot, and of the plotter, they got together in great multitudes to oppose John. But he prevented their attempt, and fled away to Gischala, his native city, while the Galileans came running out of their several cities to Josephus:

and as they were now become many ten thousands 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. Here upon 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 slaying them: so he excepted those of every city which had joined in this revolt with John by name, who had readily been showed him by those that came 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 betook 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. This accusa tion the people were aware of beforehand, but had no regard to it. However, some 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, and this for recalling him 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, and Ananias, the son of Sad. duk, as also Simon and Judas, the sons of Jonathan, all very able men in speak ing, that these persons might withdraw the good will of the people from Josephus. These had it in charge, that if he would voluntarily come away, they should per. mit him to [come and] give an account of his conduct; but if he obstinately in sisted 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 counsels of his enemies; and by this means it was that four cities revolted from him immediately, Sepphoris, and Gamala, Gischala, and Tiberias. Yet did he recover these cities without war; and when he had routed those four commanders by stratagems, 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 these forces prevented it by running

away.

8. 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 King Agrippa [to return to the exercise of his authority there.] And when he did not come at the time appointed, and when a few Roman horse. men 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 day, and would hinder his proceeding. So he contrived to circumvent the re volters by a stratagem; and, in the first place, he ordered the gates of Tarichea 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 distance from the city that it was not easy for the peo ple to see the vessels, and ordered that the empty vessels should float up and