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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 pretense of the want of extraordinary assistance；
while they might dispose the city to be my enemy。
55。 As for myself； although I knew of their design； yet did I
comply with what they proposed； lest the people of Tiberias
should have occasion to suppose that I was not careful of their
security。 I therefore went out； but； when I was at the place； I
found not the least footsteps of any enemy； so I returned as fast
as ever I could； and found the whole council assembled； and the
body of the people gotten together； and Jonathan and his
colleagues bringing vehement accusations against me； as one who
had no concern to ease them of the burdens of war； and as one
that lived luxuriously。 And as they were discoursing thus； they
produced four letters； as written to them from some people that
lived at the borders of Galilee； imploring that they would come
to their assistance； for that there was an army of Romans； both
horsemen and footmen； who would come and lay waste the country on
the third day； they desired them also to make haste； and not to
overlook them。 When the people of Tiberias heard this； they
thought they spake truth； and made a clamor against me； and said
I ought not to sit still； but to go away to the assistance of
their countrymen。 Hereupon I said （for I understood the meaning
of Jonathan and his colleagues） 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 fit 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 had 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 （23） 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 home； Jonathan and
his colleagues wrote to John to come to them in the morning； and
desiring him to come with as many soldiers as he possibly could；
for that they should then be able easily to get me into their
hands； and to do all they desired to do。 When John had received
this letter； he resolved to comply with it。 As for myself； on 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 breastplate； 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 engaged
in the duties of the day； and had betaken ourselves to our
prayers； Jesus got up； and inquired of me what was become of the
vessels that were taken out of the king's palace； when it was
burnt down ＇and＇ of that uncoined silver； and in whose possession
they now were？ This he said； in order to drive away time till
John should come。 I said that Capellus； and the ten principal men
of Tiberias； had them all； and I told him that they might ask
them whether I told a lie or not。 And when they said they had
them； he asked me； What is become of those twenty pieces of gold
which thou didst receive upon the sale of a certain weight of
uncoined money？ I replied； that I had given them to those
ambassadors of theirs； as a maintenance for them； when they were
sent by them to Jerusalem。 So Jonathan and his colleagues said
that I had not done well to pay the ambassadors out of the public
money。 And when the multitude were very angry at them for this；
for they perceived the wickednes of the men； I understood that a
tumult was going to arise； and being desirous to provoke the
people to a greater rage against the men； I said； 〃But if I have
not done well in paying our ambassadors out of the public stock；
leave off your anger at me； for I will repay the twenty pieces of
gold myself。〃
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 file 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。
59。 But as I was gone out a little way； I was just upon meeting
John； who was marching with his armed men。 So I was afraid of
him； and turned aside； and escaped by a narrow passage to the
lake； and seized on a ship； and embarked in it； and sailed over
to Tarichese。 So； beyond my expectation； I escaped this danger。
Whereupon I presently sent for the chief of the Galileans； and
told them after what manner； against all faith given； I had been
very near to destruction from Jonathan and his colleagues； and
the people of Tiberias。 Upon which the multitude of the Galileans
were very。 angry； and encouraged me to delay no longer to make
war upon them； but to permit them to go 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 the son of Gamaliel； and their friends；
that； without any public determination； they had sent to Galilee；
and had done their endeavors that I might be turned out of the
government。 The ambassadors said further； 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 th