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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
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 do 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 appeared 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 Tiberins。 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 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； 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 the 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 humor 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 way out of the city； and 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； staid 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
afterward I walked along with him as though I would say something
to him by myself； and when I had drawn him a good way from his
friends； I took him about the middle； and gave him to my friends
that were with me； to carry him into a village； and； commanding
my armed men to come down； I with them made an assault upon
Tiberias。 Now； as the fight grew hot on both sides； and the
soldiers belonging to Tiberias were in a fair way to conquer me；
（for my armed men were already fled away；） I saw the posture of
my affairs； and encouraging those that were with me； I pursued
those of Tiberias； even when they were already conquerors； into
the city。 I also sent another band of soldiers into the city by
the lake； and gave them orders to set on fire the first house
they could seize upon。 When this was done； the people of
Tiberinas thought that their city was taken by force； and so
threw down their arms for fear； and implored； they； their wives；
and children； that I would spare their city。 So I was
over…persuaded by their entreaties； and restrained the soldiers
from the vehemency with which they pursued them； while I myself；
upon the coming on of the evening； returned back with my
soldiers； and went to refresh myself。 I also invited Simon to sup
with me； and comforted him on occasion of what had happened； and
I promised that I would send him safe and secure to Jerusalem；
and withal would give him provisions for his journey thither。
64。 But on the next day； I brought ten thousand armed men with
me； and came to Tiberias。 I then sent for the principal men of
the multitude into the public place； and enjoined them to tell me
who were the authors of the revolt； and when they told me who the
men were； I sent them bound to the city Jotapata。 But as to
Jonathan and Ananias； I freed them from their bonds； and gave
them provisions for their journey； together with Simon and
Joazar； and five hundred armed men who should guard them； and so
I sent them to Jerusalem。 The people of Tiberias also came to me
again； and desired that I would forgive them for what they had
done； and they said they would amend what they had done amiss
with regard to me； by their fidelity for the time to come； and
they besought me to preserve what spoils remained upon the
plunder of the city； for those that had lost them。 Accordingly； I
enjoined those that had got them； to bring them all before us；
and when they did not comply for a great while； and I saw one of
the soldiers that were about me with a garment on that was more
splendid than ordinary； I asked him whence he had it； and when he
replied that he had it out of the plunder of the city； I had him
punished with stripes； and I threatened all the rest to inflict a
severer punishment upon them； unless they produced before us
whatsoever they had plundered； and when a great many spoils were
brought together； I restored to every one of Tiberias what they
claimed to be their own。
65。 And now I am come to this part of my narration； I have a mind
to say a few things to Justus； who hath himself written a history
concerning these affairs； as also to others who profess to write
history； but have little regard to truth； and are not afraid；
either out of ill…will or good…will to some persons； to relate
falsehoods。 These men do like those who compose forged deeds and
conveyances； and because they are not brought to the like
punishment with them； they have no regard to truth。 When；
therefore； Justus undertook to write about these facts； and about
the Jewish war； that he might appear to have been an industrious
man； he falsified in what he related about me； and could not
speak truth even about his own country； whence it is that； being
belied by him； I am under a necessity to make my defense； and so
I shall say what I have concealed till now。 And let no one wonder
that I have not told the world these things a great while ago。
For although it be necessary for an historian to write the truth；
yet is such a one not bound severely to animadvert on the
wickedness of certain men； not out of any favor to them； but out
of an author's own moderation。 How then comes it to pass； O
Justus！ thou most sagacious of writers； （that I may address
myself to him as if he were here present；） for so thou boastest
of thyself； that I and the Galileans have been the authors of
that sedition which thy country engaged in； both against the
Romans and against the king ＇Agrippa； junior＇ For before ever I
was appointed governor of Galilee by the community of Jerusalem；
both thou and all the people of Tiberias had not only taken up
arms； but had made war with Decapolis of Syria。 Accordingly； thou
hadst ordered their villages to be burnt； and a domestic servant
of thine fell in the battle。 Nor is it I only who say this； but
so it is written in the Commentaries of Vespasian； the emperor；
as also how the inhabitants of Decapolis came