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concerning you。〃 He also enjoined them to send seventy of their
principal men to make a defense for them as to the accusation
laid against them。 So when the twelve messengers came to their
countrymen at Ecbatana； and found that they had no designs of
innovation at all； they persuaded them to send the seventy men
also； who； not at all suspecting what would come； sent them
accordingly。 So these seventy went down to Caesarea； together
with the twelve ambassadors； where Varus met them with the king's
forces； and slew them all； together with the ＇twelve＇ （9）
ambassadors； and made an expedition against the Jews of Ecbatana。
But one there was of the seventy who escaped； and made haste to
inform the Jews of their coming； upon which they took their arms；
with their wives and children； and retired to the citadel at
Gamala； leaving their own villages full of all sorts of good
things； and having many ten thousands of cattle therein。 When
Philip was informed of these things； he also came to the citadel
of Gamala； and when he was come； the multitude cried aloud； and
desired him to resume the government； and to make an expedition
against Varus； and the Syrians of Cesarea； for it was reported
that they had slain the king。 But Philip restrained their zeal；
and put them in mind of the benefits the king had bestowed upon
them； and told them how powerful the Romans were； and said it was
not for their advantage to make war with them； and at length he
prevailed with them。 But now； when the king was acquainted with
Varus's design； which was to cut off the Jews of Caesarea； being
many ten thousands； with their wives and children； and all in one
day； he called to him Equiculus Modius； and sent him to be
Varus's successor； as we have elsewhere related。 But still Philip
kept possession of the citadel of Gamala； and of the country
adjoining to it； which thereby continued in their allegiance to
the Romans。
12。 Now； as soon as I was come into Galilee； and had learned this
state of things by the information of such as told me of them； I
wrote to the sanhedrim at Jerusalem about them； and required
their direction what I should do。 Their direction was； that I
should continue there； and that； if my fellow legates were
willing； I should join with them in the care of Galilee。 But
those my fellow legates； having gotten great riches from those
tithes which as priests were their dues； and were given to them；
determined to return to their own country。 Yet when I desired
them to stay so long； that we might first settle the public
affairs； they complied with me。 So I removed； together with them；
from the city of Sepphoris； and came to a certain village called
Bethmaus； four furlongs distant from Tiberius； and thence I sent
messengers to the senate of Tiberius； and desired that the
principal men of the city would come to me： and when they were
come； Justus himself being also with them； I told them that I was
sent to them by the people of Jerusalem as a legate； together
with these other priests； in order to persuade them to demolish
that house which Herod the tetrarch had built there； and which
had the figures of living creatures in it； although our laws have
forbidden us to make any such figures； and I desired that they
would give us leave so to do immediately。 But for a good while
Capellus and the principal men belonging to the city would not
give us leave； but were at length entirely overcome by us； and
were induced to be of our opinion。 So Jesus the son of Sapphias；
one of those whom we have already mentioned as the leader of a
seditious tumult of mariners and poor people； prevented us； and
took with him certain Galileans； and set the entire palace on
fire； and thought he should get a great deal of money thereby；
because he saw some of the roofs gilt with gold。 They also
plundered a great deal of the furniture； which was done without
our approbation； for after we had discoursed with Capellus and
the principal men of the city； we departed from Bethmaus； and
went into the Upper Galilee。 But Jesus and his party slew all the
Greeks that were inhabitants of Tiberias； and as many others as
were their enemies before the war began。
13。 When I understood this state of things； I was greatly
provoked； and went down to Tiberias； and took all the care I
could of the royal furniture； to recover all that could be
recovered from such as had plundered it。 They consisted of
candlesticks made of Corinthian brass； and of royal tables； and
of a great quantity of uncoined silver； and I resolved to
preserve whatsoever came to my hand for the king。 So I sent for
ten of the principal men of the senate； and for Capellus the son
of Antyllus； and committed the furniture to them； with this
charge； That they should part with it to nobody else but to
myself。 From thence I and my fellow legates went to Gichala； to
John； as desirous to know his intentions； and soon saw that he
was for innovations； and had a mind to the principality； for he
desired me to give him authority to carry off that corn which
belonged to Caesar； and lay in the villages of Upper Galilee； and
he pretended that he would expend what it came to in building the
walls of his own city。 But when I perceived what he endeavored
at； and what he had in his mind； I said I would not permit him so
to do； for that I thought either to keep it for the Romans or for
myself； now I was intrusted with the public affairs there by the
people of Jerusalem。 But； when he was not able to prevail with
me； he betook himself to my fellow legates； for they had no
sagacity in providing for futurity； and were very ready to take
bribes。 So he corrupted them with money to decree； That all that
corn which was within his province should be delivered to him；
while I； who was but one； was outvoted by two； and held my
tongue。 Then did John introduce another cunning contrivance of
his； for he said that those Jews who inhabited Cesarea Philippi；
and were shut up by the order of the king's deputy there； had
sent to him to desire him； that； since they had no oil that was
pure for their use； he would provide a sufficient quantity of
such oil for them； lest they should be forced to make use of oil
that came from the Greeks； and thereby transgress their own laws。
Now this was said by John； not out of his regard to religion； but
out of his most flagrant desire of gain； for he knew that two
sextaries were sold with them of Caesarea for one drachma； but
that at Gischala fourscore sextaxies were sold for four
sextaries。 So he gave order that all the oil which was there
should be carried away； as having my permission for so doing；
which yet I did not grant him voluntarily； but only out of fear
of the multitude； since； if I had forbidden him； I should have
been stoned by them。 When I had therefore permitted this to be
done by John； he gained vast sums of money by this his knavery。
14。 But when I had dismissed my fellow legates； and sent them
back to Jerusalem； I took care to have arms provided； and the
cities fortified。 And when I had sent for the most hardy among
the robbers； I saw that it was not in my power to take their arms
from them； but I persuaded the multitude to allow them money as
pay； and told them it was better for them to give them a little
willingly； rather than to ＇be forced to＇ overlook them when they
plundered their goods from them。 And when I had obliged them to
take an oath not to come into that country； unless they were
invited to come； or else when they had not their pay given them；
I dismissed them； and charged them neither to make an expedition
against the Romans； nor against those their neighbors that lay
round about them； for my first care was to keep Galilee in peace。
So I was willing to have the principal of the Galileans； in all
seventy； as hostages for their fidelity； but still under the
notion of friendship。 Accordingly； I made them my friends and
companions as I journeyed； and set them to judge causes； and with
their approbation it was that I gave my sentences； while I
endeavored not to mistake what justice required； and to keep my
hands clear of all bribery in those determinations。
15。 I was now about the thirtieth year of my age； in which time
of life it is a hard thing for any one to escape the calumnies of
the envious； although he restrain himself from fulfilling any
unlawful desires； especially where a person is in great
authority。 Yet did I preserve every woman free from injuries； and
as to what presents were offered me； I despised them； as not
standing in need of them。 Nor indeed would I take those tithes；
which were due to me as a priest； from those that brought them。
Yet do I confess； that I took part of the spoils of those Syrians
which inhabited the cities that adjoined to us； when I had
conquered them； and that I sent them to my kindred at Jerusalem；
although； when I twice took Sepphoris by force； and Tiberias four
times； and Gadara once； and when I had subdued and taken John；
who often laid treacherous snares for me； I did not punish ＇with
death＇ either him or any of the people forenamed； as the progress
of this discourse will show。 And on this account； I suppose； it
was that God； （10） who is n