against John, and utterly to destroy him, as well as Jonathan and his colleagues. However, I restrained them, though they were in such a rage, and desired them to tarry a while, till we should be informed what orders those ambassadors that were sent by them to the city of Jerusalem should bring thence; for I told them that it was best for them to act according to their determination; whereupon they were prevailed on. At which time also, John, when the snares he had laid did not take effect, returned back to Gischala.
60. NOW, IN a few days those ambassadors
whom he had sent came back again and informed
us that the people were greatly
provoked at Ananus, and Simon
Anger against
Ananas and
Simon.
the son of Gamaliel, and their
friends; that, without any public
determination, they had sent to
Galilee, and had done their endeavours that I might
be turned out of the government. The
ambassadors said farther, that the people were ready to
burn their houses. They also brought letters,
whereby the chief men of Jerusalem, at the
earnest petition of the people, confirmed me in the
government of Galilee, and enjoined Jonathan
and his colleagues to return home quickly.
When I had gotten these letters, I came to the
village Arbela, where I procured an assembly of
the Galileans to meet, and bid the ambassadors
declare to them the anger of the people of
Jerusalem at what had been done by Jonathan
and his colleagues, and how much they hated
their wicked doings, and how they had confirmed
me in the government of their country, as also
what related to the order they had in writing for
Jonathan and his colleagues to return home. So
I immediately sent them the letter, and bid him
that carried it to inquire, as well as he could, how
they intended to act [on this occasion].
61. NOW, WHEN they had received that
letter, and were thereby greatly disturbed, they
sent for John, and for the senators of Tiberias, and
for the principal men of the Gabarens, and proposed
to hold a council, and desired
them to consider what was to be
A council
concerning the
government.
done by them. However, the
governors of Tiberias were greatly
disposed to keep the government
to themselves; for they said it was not fit to
desert their city now it was committed to their
trust, and that otherwise I should not delay to
fall upon them; for they pretended falsely that
so I had threatened to do. Now John was not
only of their opinion, but advised them, that two
of them should go to accuse me before the
multitude [at Jerusalem] that I did not manage the
affairs of Galilee as I ought to do; and that they
would easily persuade the people, because of their
dignity, and because the whole multitude are
very mutable. When, therefore, it happened that
John had suggested the wisest advice to them, they
resolved that two of them, Jonathan and Ananias,
should go to the people of Jerusalem, and the
other two [Simon and Joazar] should be left
behind to tarry at Tiberias. They also took
along with them a hundred soldiers for their
guard.
62. HOWEVER, THE governors of Tiberias
took care to have their city secured with walls,
and commanded their inhabitants
to take their arms. They also
sent for a great many soldiers
Further
proceedings
at Tiberias.
from John, to assist them against
me, if there should be occasion for
them. Now John was at Gischala. Jonathan,
therefore, and those that were with him, when
they were departed from Tiberias, and as soon as
they were come to Dabaritta, a village that lay
in the utmost parts of Galilee, in the great plain,
they, about midnight, fell among the guards I
had set, who both commanded them to lay aside
their weapons, and kept them in bonds upon the
place, as I had charged them to do. This news
was written to me by Levi, who had the command
of that guard committed to him by me.
Hereupon I said nothing of it for two days; and,
pretending to know nothing about it, I sent a message
to the people of Tiberias, and advised them to
lay their arms aside, and to dismiss their men,
that they might go home; but supposing that
Jonathan and those that were with him were
already arrived at Jerusalem, they made
reproachful answers to me; yet was I not terrified
thereby, but contrived another stratagem against
them; for I did not think it agreeable with piety
to kindle the fire of war against the citizens. As
I was desirous to draw those men away from
Tiberias, I chose out ten thousand
of the best of my armed men, and
divided them into three bodies,
Josephus
sends soldiers.
and ordered them to go privately,
and lie still, as an ambush, in the villages. I also
led a thousand into another village, which lay
indeed in the mountains, as did the others, but
only four furlongs distant from Tiberias; and
gave orders, that when they saw my signal, they
should come down immediately, while I myself
lay with my soldiers in sight of every body.
Hereupon the people of Tiberias, at the sight of
me, came running out of the city perpetually,
and abused me greatly. Nay, their madness was
come to that height, that they made a decent bier
for me, and, standing about it, they mourned
over me in the way of jest and sport; and I could
not but be myself in a pleasant humour upon the
sight of this madness of theirs.
63. AND NOW, being desirous to catch
Simon by a wile, and Joazar with
him, I sent a message to them,
and desired them to come a little
A message
sent to Simon
and Joazar.
way out of the city, with many of
their friends to guard them; for I
said I would come down to them, and make a
league with them, and divide the government of
Galilee with them. Accordingly Simon was
deluded, on account of his imprudence, and out
of the hopes of gain, and did not delay to come;
but Joazar, suspecting snares were laid for him,
stayed behind. So when Simon was come out, and
his friends with him for his guard, I met him, and
saluted him with great civility, and professed that
I was obliged to him for his coming up to me;
but a little while afterwards I walked along with
him, as though I would say something to him by
himself; and when I had drawn him a good way
from his friends, I took him about the middle,
