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they would not leave off their ungrateful treatment of me； I
would punish them sufficiently。
23。 At this time it was that two great men； who were under the
jurisdiction of the king ＇Agrippa＇ came to me out of the region
of Trachonius； bringing their horses and their arms； and carrying
with them their money also； and when the Jews would force them to
be circumcised； if they would stay among them； I would not permit
them to have any force put upon them； （11） but said to them；
〃Every one ought to worship God according to his own
inclinations； and not to be constrained by force； and that these
men； who had fled to us for protection； ought not to be so
treated as to repent of their coming hither。〃 And when I had
pacified the multitude； I provided for the men that were come to
us whatsoever it was they wanted； according to their usual way of
living； and that in great plenty also。
24。 Now king Agrippa sent an army to make themselves masters of
the citadel of Gamala； and over it Equieulus Modius； but the
forces that were sent were not allow to encompass the citadel
quite round； but lay before it in the open places； and besieged
it。 But when Ebutius the decurion； who was intrusted with the
government of the great plain； heard that I was at Simonias； a
village situated in the confines of Galilee； and was distant from
him sixty furlongs； he took a hundred horsemen that were with him
by night； and a certain number of footmen； about two hundred； and
brought the inhabitants of the city Gibea along with him as
auxiliaries； and marched in the night； and came to the village
where I abode。 Upon this I pitched my camp over against him；
which had a great number of forces in it： but Ebutius tried to
draw us down into the plain； as greatly depending upon his
horsemen； but we would not come down； for when I was satisfied of
the advantage that his horse would have if we came down into the
plain； while we were all footmen； I resolved to join battle with
the enemy where I was。 Now Ebutius and his party made a
courageous opposition for some time； but when he saw that his
horse were useless to him in that place； he retired back to the
city Gibea； having lost three of his men in the fight。 So I
followed him directy with two thousand armed men； and when I was
at the city Besara； that lay in the confines of Ptolemais； but
twenty furlongs from Gibea； where Ebutius abode； I placed my
armed men on the outside of the village； and gave orders that
they should guard the passes with great care； that the enemy
might not disturb us until we should have carried off the corn； a
great quantity of which lay there： it belonged to Bernice the
queen； and had been gathered together out of the neighboring
villages into Besara； so I loaded my camels and asses； a great
number of which I had brought along with me； and sent the corn
into Galilee。 When I had done this； I offered Ebutius battle； but
when he would not accept of the offer； for he was terrified at
our readiness and courage； I altered my route； and marched
towards Neopolitanus； because I had heard that the country about
Tiberias was laid waste by him。 This Neopolitanus was captain of
a troop of horse； and had the custody of Scythopolis intrusted to
his care by the enemy； and when I had hindered him from doing any
further mischief to Tiberias； I set myself to make provision for
the affairs of Galilee。
25。 But when John； the son of Levi； who； as we before told you；
abode at Gischala； was informed how all things had succeeded to
my mind； and that I was much in favor with those that were under
me； as also that the enemy were greatly afraid of me； he was not
pleased with it； as thinking my prosperity tended to his ruin。 So
he took up a bitter envy and enmity against me； and hoping； that
if he could inflame those that were under me to hate me；。 he
should put an end to the prosperity I was in； he tried to
persuade the inhabitants of Tiberias and of Sepphoris； （and for
those of Gabara he supposed they would be also of the same mind
with the others；） which were the greatest cities of Galilee； to
revolt from their subjection to me； and to be of his party； and
told them that he would command them better than I did。 As for
the people of Sepphoris； who belonged to neither of us； because
they had chosen to be in subjection to the Romans； they did not
comply with his proposal； and for those of Tiberias； they did not
indeed so far comply as to make a revolt from under me； but they
agreed to be his friends； while the inhabitants of Gabara did go
over to John； and it was Simon that persuaded them so to do； one
who was both the principal man in the city； and a particular
friend and companion of John。 It is true； these did not openly
own the making a revolt； because they were in great fear of the
Galileans； and had frequent experience of the good…will they bore
to me； yet did they privately watch for a proper opportunity to
lay snares for me； and indeed I thereby came into the greatest
danger； on the occasion following。
26。 There were some bold young men of the village of Dabaritta；
who observed that the wife of Ptolemy； the king's procurator； was
to make a progress over the great plain with a mighty attendance；
and with some horsemen that followed as a guard to them； and this
out of a country that was subject to the king and queen； into the
jurisdiction of the Romans； and fell upon them on a sudden； and
obliged the wife of Ptolemy to fly away； and plundered all the
carriages。 They also came to me to Tarichese； with four mules'
loading of garments； and other furniture； and the weight of the
silver they brought was not small； and there were five hundred
pieces of gold also。 Now I had a mind to preserve these spoils
for Ptolemy； who was my countryman； and it is prohibited （12） by
our laws even to spoil our enemies； so I said to those that
brought these spoils； that they ought to be kept； in order to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with them when they came to be
sold。 But the young men took it very ill that they did not
receive a part of those spoils for themselves； as they expected
to have done； so they went among the villages in the neighborhood
of Tiberias； and told the people that I was going to betray their
country to the Romans； and that I used deceitful language to
them； when I said； that what had been thus gotten by rapine
should be kept for the rebuilding of the walls of the city of
Jerusalem； although I had resolved to restore these spoils again
to their former owner。 And indeed they were herein not mistaken
as to my intentions； for when I had gotten clear of them； I sent
for two of the principal men； Dassion； and Janneus the son of
Levi； persons that were among the chief friends of the king； and
commanded them to take the furniture that had been plundered； and
to send it to him； and I threatened that I would order them to be
put to death by way of punishment； if they discovered this my
command to any other person。
27。 Now； when all Galilee was filled with this rumor； that their
country was about to be betrayed by me to the Romans； and when
all men were exasperated against me； and ready to bring me to
punishment； the inhabitants of Tarichee did also themselves
suppose that what the young men said was true； and persuaded my
guards and armed men to leave me when I was asleep； and to come
presently to the hippodrome； in order there to take counsel
against me their commander。 And when they had prevailed with
them； and they were gotten together； they found there a great
company assembled already； who all joined in one clamor； to bring
the man who was so wicked to them as to betray them； to his due
punishment； and it was Jesus； the son of Sapphias； who
principally set them on。 He was ruler in Tiberias； a wicked man；
and naturally disposed to make disturbances in matters of
consequence； a seditious person he was indeed； and an innovator
beyond every body else。 He then took the laws of Moses into his
hands； and came into the midst of the people； and said；〃 O my
fellow citizens！ if you are not disposed to hate Josephus on your
own account； have regard； however； to these laws of your country；
which your commander…in…chief is going to betray； hate him
therefore on both these accounts； and bring the man who hath
acted thus insolently； to his deserved punishment。〃
28。 When he had said this； and the multitude had openly applauded
him for what he had said； he took some of the armed men； and made
haste away to the house in which I lodged； as if he would kill me
immediately； while I was wholly insensible of all till this
disturbance happened； and by reason of the pains I had been
taking； was fallen fast asleep。 But Simon； who was intrusted with
the care of my body； and was the only person that stayed with me；
and saw the violent incursion the citizens made upon me； awaked
me； and told me of the danger I was in； and desired me to let him
kill me； that I might die bravely and like a general； before my
enemies came in； and forced me ＇to kill myself＇； or killed me
themselves。 Thus did he discourse to me； but I committed the care
of my life to God； and made haste to go out to the multitude。
Accordingly； I put