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insolent； and took up arms； out of a confidence they had in the
strength of their walls； and because they saw me engaged in other
affairs also。 So they sent to Cestius Gallus； who was president
of Syria； and desired that he would either come quickly to them；
and take their city under his protection； or send them a
garrison。 Accordingly； Gallus promised them to come； but did not
send word when he would come： and when I had learned so much； I
took the soldiers that were with me； and made an assault upon the
people of Sepphoris； and took the city by force。 The Galileans
took this opportunity； as thinking they had now a proper time for
showing their hatred to them； since they bore ill…will to that
city also。 They then exerted themselves； as if they would destroy
them all utterly； with those that sojourned there also。 So they
ran upon them； and set their houses on fire； as finding them
without inhabitants； for the men； out of fear； ran together to
the citadel。 So the Galileans carried off every thing； and
omitted no kind of desolation which they could bring upon their
countrymen。 When I saw this； I was exceedingly troubled at it；
and commanded them to leave off； and put them in mind that it was
not agreeable to piety to do such things to their countrymen： but
since they neither would hearken to what I exhorted； nor to what
I commanded them to do； （for the hatred they bore to the people
there was too hard for my exhortations to them；） I bade those my
friends； who were most faithful to me； and were about me； to give
on reports； as if the Romans were falling upon the other part of
the city with a great army； and this I did； that； by such a
report being spread abroad； I might restrain the violence of the
Galileans； and preserve the city of Sepphoris。 And at length this
stratagem had its effect； for； upon hearing this report； they
were in fear for themselves； and so they left off plundering and
ran away； and this more especially； because they saw me； their
general； do the same also； for； that I might cause this report to
be believed； I pretended to be in fear as well as they。 Thus were
the inhabitants of Sepphoris unexpectedly preserved by this
contrivance of mine。
68。 Nay； indeed； Tiberias had like to have been plundered by the
Galileans also upon the following occasion： … The chief men of
the senate wrote to the king； and desired that he would come to
them； and take possession of their city。 The king promised to
come； and wrote a letter in answer to theirs； and gave it to one
of his bed…chamber； whose name was Crispus； and who was by birth
a Jew； to carry it to Tiberias。 When the Galileans knew that this
man carried such a letter； they caught him； and brought him to
me； but as soon as the whole multitude heard of it； they were
enraged； and betook themselves to their arms。 So a great many of
them together from all quarters the next day； and came to the
city Asochis； where I then lodged； and made heavy clamors； and
called the city of Tiberias a traitor to them； and a friend to
the king； and desired leave of me to go down and utterly destroy
it； for they bore the like ill…will to the people of Tiberias； as
they did to those of Sepphoris。
69。 When I heard this； I was in doubt what to do； and hesitated
by what means I might deliver Tiberias from the rage of the
Galileans； for I could not deny that those of Tiborias had
written to the king； and invited him to come to them； for his
letters to them； in answer thereto； would fully prove the truth
of that。 So I sat a long time musing with myself； and then said
to them； 〃I know well enough that the people of Tiberias have
offended； nor shall I forbid you to plunder the city。 However；
such things ought to be done with discretion； for they of
Tiberias have not been the only betrayers of our liberty； but
many of the most eminent patriots of the Galileans； as they
pretended to be； have done the same。 Tarry therefore till I shall
thoroughly find out those authors of our danger； and then you
shall have them all at once under your power； with all such as
you shall yourselves bring in also。〃 Upon my saying this； I
pacifie the multitude； and they left off their anger； and went
their ways； and I gave orders that he who brought the king's
letters should be put into bonds； but in a few days I pretended
that I was obliged； by a necessary affair of my own； to out of
the kingdom。 I then called Crispus privately； and ordered him to
make the soldier that kept him drunk； and to run away to the
king。 So when Tiberias was in danger of being utterly destroyed a
second time； it escaped the danger by my skillful management； and
the care that I had for its preservation。
70。 About this time it was that Justus； the son of Pistus；
without my knowledge； ran away to the king； the occasion of which
I will here relate。 Upon the beginning of the war between the
Jews and Romans； the people of Tiberias resolved to submit to the
king； and not to revolt from the Romans； while Justus tried to
persuade them to betake themselves to their arms； as being
himself desirous of innovations； and having hopes of obtaining
the government of Galilee； as well as of his own country
＇Tiberias＇ also。 Yet did he not obtain what he hoped for； because
the Galileans bore ill…will to those of Tiberias； and this on
account of their anger at what miseries they had suffered from
them before the war； thence it was that they would not endure
that Justus should be their governor。 I myself also； who had been
intrusted by the community of Jerusalem with the government of
Galilee； did frequently come to that degree of rage at Justus；
that I had almost resolved to kill him； as not able to bear his
mischievous disposition。 He was therefore much afraid of me； lest
at length my passion should come to extremity； so he went to the
king； as supposing that he would dwell better and more safely
with him。
71。 Now； when the people of Sepphoris had； in so surprising a
manner； escaped their first danger； they sent to Cestius Gallus；
and desired him to come to them immediately； and take possession
of their city； or else to send forces sufficient to repress all
their enemies' incursions upon them； and at the last they did
prevail with Gallus to send them a considerable army； both of
horse and foot； which came in the night time； and which they
admitted into the city。 But when the country round about it was
harassed by the Roman army； I took those soldiers that were about
me； and came to Garisme； where I cast up a bank； a good way off
the city Sepphoris； and when I was at twenty furlongs distance； I
came upon it by night； and made an assault upon its walls with my
forces； and when I had ordered a considerable number of my
soldiers to scale them with ladders； I became master of the
greatest part of the city。 But soon after； our unacquaintedness
with the places forced us to retire； after we had killed twelve
of the Roman footmen； and two horsemen； and a few of the people
of Sepphoris； with the loss of only a single man of our own。 And
when it afterwards came to a battle in the plain against the
horsemen； and we had undergone the dangers of it courageously for
a long time； we were beaten； for upon the Romans encompassing me
about； my soldiers were afraid； and fell back。 There fell in that
battle one of those that had been intrusted to guard my body； his
name was Justus； who at this time had the same post with the
king。 At the same time also there came forces； both horsemen and
footmen； from the king； and Sylla their commander； who was the
captain of his guard： this Sylla pitched his camp at five
furlongs' distance from Julias； and set a guard upon the roads；
both that which led to Cana； and that which led to the fortress
Gamala； that he might hinder their inhabitants from getting
provisions out of Galilee。
72。 As soon as I had gotten intelligence of this； I sent two
thousand armed men； and a captain over them； whose name was
Jeremiah； who raised a bank a furlong off Julias； near to the
river Jordan； and did no more than skirmish with the enemy； till
I took three thousand soldiers myself； and came to them。 But on
the next day； when I had laid an ambush in a certain valley； not
far from the banks； I provoked those that belonged to the king to
come to a battle； and gave orders to my own soldiers to turn
their backs upon them； until they should have drawn the enemy
away from their camp； and brought them out into the field； which
was done accordingly； for Sylla； supposing that our party did
really run away； was ready to pursue them； when our soldiers that
lay in ambush took them on their backs； and put them all into
great disorder。 I also immediately made a sudden turn with my own
forces； and met those of the king's party； and put them to
flight。 And I had performed great things that day； if a certain
fate had not been my hinderance； for the horse on which I rode；
and upon whose back I fought； fell into a quagmire； and threw me
on the ground； and I was bruised on my wrist； and carried into a
village named Cepharnome； or Capernaum。 When my soldiers heard of
this； they were afraid I had been worse hurt than I was； and so
they did not go on with