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so it is written in the Commentaries of Vespasian； the emperor；
as also how the inhabitants of Decapolis came clamoring to
Vespasian at Ptolemais； and desired that thou； who wast the
author ＇of that war＇； mightest be brought to punishment。 And thou
hadst certainly been punished at the command of Vespasian； had
not king Agrippa； who had power given him to have thee put to
death； at the earnest entreaty of his sister Bernice； changed the
punishment from death into a long imprisonment。 Thy political
administration of affairs afterward doth also clearly discover
both thy other behavior in life； and that thou wast the occasion
of thy country's revolt from the Romans； plain signs of which I
shall produce presently。 I have also a mind to say a few things
to the rest of the people of Tiberias on thy account； and to
demonstrate to those that light upon this history； that you bare
no good…will； neither to the Romans； nor to the king。 To be sure；
the greatest cities of Galilee； O Justus！ were Sepphoris； and thy
country Tiberias。 But Sepphoris； situated in the very midst of
Galilee； and having many villages about it； and able with ease to
have been bold and troublesome to the Romans； if they had so
pleased； yet did it resolve to continue faithful to those their
masters； and at the same time excluded me out of their city； and
prohibited all their citizens from joining with the Jews in the
war； and； that they might be out of danger from me； they； by a
wile； got leave of me to fortify their city with walls： they
also； of their own accord； admitted of a garrison of Roman
legions； sent them by Cestlus Gallus； who was then president of
Syria； and so had me in contempt； though I was then very
powerful； and all were greatly afraid of me； and at the same time
that the greatest of our cities； Jerusalem； was besieged； and
that temple of ours； which belonged to us all； was in danger of
falling under the enemy's power； they sent no assistance thither；
as not willing to have it thought they would bear arms against
the Romans。 But as for thy country； O Justus： situated upon the
lake of Gennesareth； and distance from Hippos thirty furlongs；
from Gadara sixty； and from Scythopolis； which was under the
king's jurisdiction； a hundred and twenty； when there was no
Jewish city near； it might easily have preserved its fidelity ＇to
the Romans；＇ if it had so pleased them to do； for the city and
its people had plenty of weapons。 But； as thou sayest； I was then
the author ＇of their revolts＇。 And pray； O Justus！ who was that
author afterwards？ For thou knowest that I was in the power of
the Romans before Jerusalem was besieged； and before the same
time Jotapata was taker by force； as well as many other
fortresses； and a great many of the Galileans fell in the war。 It
was therefore then a proper time； when you were certainly freed
from any fear on my account； to throw away your weapons； and to
demonstrate to the king and to the Romans； that it was not of
choice； but as forced by necessity； that you fell into the war
against them； but you staid till Vespasian came himself as far as
your walls； with his whole army； and then you did indeed lay
aside your weapons out of fear； and your city had for certain
been taken by force； unless Vespasian had complied with the
king's supplication for you； and had excused your madness。 It was
not I； therefore； who was the author of this； but your own
inclinations to war。 Do not you remember how often I got you
under my power； and yet put none of you to death？ Nay； you once
fell into a tumult one against another； and slew one hundred and
eighty…five of your citizens； not on account of your good…will to
the king and to the Romans； but on account of your own
wickedness； and this while I was besieged by the Romans in
Jotapata。 Nay； indeed； were there not reckoned up two thousand of
the people of Tiberias during the siege of Jerusalem； some of
whom were slain； and the rest caught and carried captives？ But
thou wilt pretend that thou didst not engage in the war； since
thou didst flee to the king。 Yes； indeed； thou didst flee to him；
but I say it was out of fear of me。 Thou sayest； indeed； that it
is I who am a wicked man。 But then； for what reason was it that
king Agrippa； who procured thee thy life when thou wast condemned
to die by Vespian； and who bestowed so much riches upon thee； did
twice afterward put thee in bonds； and as often obliged thee to
run away from thy country； and； when he had once ordered thee to
be put to death； he granted thee a pardon at the earnest desire
of Bernice？ And when （after so many of thy wicked pranks） he made
thee his secretary； he caught thee falsifying his epistles； and
drove thee away from his sight。 But I shall not inquire
accurately into these matters of scandal against thee。 Yet cannot
I but wonder at thy impudence； when thou hast the assurance to
say； that thou hast better related these affairs ＇of the war＇
than have all the others that have written about them； whilst
thou didst not know what was done in Galilee； for thou wast then
at Berytus with the king； nor didst thou know how much the Romans
suffered at the siege of Jotapata； or what miseries they brought
upon us； nor couldst thou learn by inquiry what I did during that
siege myself； for all those that might afford such information
were quite destroyed in that siege。 But perhaps thou wilt say；
thou hast written of what was done against the people of
Jerusalem exactly。 But how should that be？ for neither wast thou
concerned in that war； nor hast thou read the commentaries of
Caesar； of which we have evident proof； because thou hast
contradicted those commentaries of Caesar in thy history。 But if
thou art so hardy as to affirm； that thou hast written that
history better than all the rest； why didst thou not publish thy
history while the emperors Vespasian and Titus； the generals in
that war； as well as king Agrippa and his family； who were men
very well skilled in the learning of the Greeks； were all alive？
for thou hast had it written these twenty years； and then
mightest thou have had the testimony of thy accuracy。 But now
when these men are no longer with us； and thou thinkest thou
canst not be contradicted； thou venturest to publish it。 But then
I was not in like manner afraid of my own writing； but I offered
my books to the emperors themselves； when the facts were almost
under men's eyes； for I was conscious to myself； that I had
observed the truth of the facts； and as I expected to have their
attestation to them； so I was not deceived in such expectation。
Moreover； I immediately presented my history to many other
persons； some of whom were concerned in the war； as was king
Agrippa and some of his kindred。 Now the emperor Titus was so
desirous that the knowledge of these affairs should be taken from
these books alone； that he subscribed his own hand to them； and
ordered that they should be published； and for king Agrippa； he
wrote me sixty…two letters； and attested to the truth of what I
had therein delivered； two of which letters I have here
subjoined； and thou mayst thereby know their contents： … 〃King
Agrippa to Josephus； however； when thou comest to me； I will
inform thee of a great many things which thou dost not know。〃 So
when this history was perfected； Agrippa； neither by way of
flattery； which was not agreeable to him； nor by way of irony； as
thou wilt say； （for he was entirely a stranger to such an evil
disposition of mind；） but he wrote this by way of attestation to
what was true； as all that read histories may do。 And so much
shall be said concerning Justus （24） which I am obliged to add by
way of digression。
66。 Now； when I had settled the affairs of Tiberias； and had
assembled my friends as a sanhedrim； I consulted what I should do
as to John。 Whereupon it appeared to be the opinion of all the
Galileans； that I should arm them all； and march against John；
and punish him as the author of all the disorders that had
happened。 Yet was not I pleased with their determination； as
purposing to compose these troubles without bloodshed。 Upon this
I exhorted them to use the utmost care to learn the names of all
that were under John； which when they had done； and I thereby was
apprized who the men were； I published an edict； wherein I
offered security and my right hand to such of John's party as had
a mind to repent； and I allowed twenty days' time to such as
would take this most advantageous course for themselves。 I also
threatened； that unless they threw down their arms； I would burn
their houses； and expose their goods to public sale。 When the men
heard of this； they were in no small disorder； and deserted John；
and to the number of four thousand threw down their arms； and
came to me。 So that no others staid with John but his own
citizens； and about fifteen hundred strangers that came from the
metropolis of Tyre； and when John saw that he had been outwitted
by my stratagem； he continued afterward in his own country； and
was in great fear of me。
67。 But about this time it was that the people of Sepphoris grew
insolent； and took up arms； out of a confidence they had in the
strength of their walls； and b