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distinction as to their families； and of distinction as to their
learning also。 Two of these were of the populace； Jonathan （17）
and Ananias； by sect Pharisees； while the third； Jozar； was of
the stock of the priests； and a Pharisee also； and Simon； the
last of them； was of the youngest of the high priests。 These had
it given them in charge； that； when they were come to the
multitude of the Galileans； they should ask them； what was the
reason of their love to me？ and if they said that it was because
I was born at Jerusalem； that they should reply； that they four
were all born at the same place； and if they should say； it was
because I was well versed in their law； they should reply； that
neither were they unacquainted with the practices of their
country； but if； besides these； they should say； they loved me
because I was a priest； they should reply； that two of these were
priests also。
40。 Now； when they had given Jonathan and his companions these
instructions； they gave them forty thousand ＇drachmae＇ out of the
public money： but when they heard that there was a certain
Galilean that then sojourned at Jerusalem； whose name was Jesus；
who had about him a band of six hundred armed men； they sent for
him； and gave him three months pay； and gave him orders to follow
Jonathan and his companions； and be obedient to them。 They also
gave money to three hundred men that were citizens of Jerusalem；
to maintain them all； and ordered them also to follow the
ambassadors； and when they had complied； and were gotten ready
for the march； Jonathan and his companions went out with them；
having along with them John's brother and a hundred armed men。
The charge that was given them by those that sent them was this：
That if I would voluntarily lay down my arms； they should send me
alive to the city of Jerusalem； but that； in case I opposed them；
they should kill me； and fear nothing； for that it was their
command for them so to do。 They also wrote to John to make all
ready for fighting me； and gave orders to the inhabitants of
Sepphoris； and Gabara； and Tiberins； to send auxiliaries to John。
41。 Now； as my father wrote me an account of this； （for Jesus the
son of Gamala； who was present in that council； a friend and
companion of mine； told him of it；） I was very much troubled； as
discovering thereby that my fellow citizens proved so ungrateful
to me； as； out of envy； to give order that I should be slain： my
father earnestly pressed me also in his letter to come to him；
for that he longed to see his son before he died。 I informed my
friends of these things； and that in three days' time I should
leave the country； and go home。 Upon hearing this； they were all
very sorry； and desired me； with tears in their eyes； not to
leave them to be destroyed； for so they thought they should be；
if I were deprived of the command over them： but as I did not
grant their request； but was taking care of my own safety； the
Galileans； out of their dread of the consequence of my departure；
that they should then be at the mercy of the robbers； sent
messengers over all Galilee to inform them of my resolution to
leave them。 Whereupon； as soon as they heard it； they got
together in great numbers； from all parts； with their wives and
children； and this they did； as it appeared to me； not more out
of their affection to me； than out of their fear on their own
account； for while I staid with them； they supposed that they
should suffer no harm。 So they all came into the great plain；
wherein I lived； the name of which was Asochis。
42。 But wonderful it was what a dream I saw that very night； for
when I had betaken myself to my bed； as grieved and disturbed at
the news that had been written to me； it seemed to me； that a
certain person stood by me； （18） and said； 〃O Josephus！ leave off
to afflict thy soul； and put away all fear； for what now grieves
thee will render thee very considerable； and in all respects most
happy； for thou shalt get over not only these difficulties； but
many others； with great success。 However； be not cast down； but
remember that thou art to fight with the Romans。〃 When I had seen
this dream； I got up with an intention of going down to the
plain。 Now； when the whole multitude of the Galileans； among whom
were the women and children； saw me； they threw themselves down
upon their faces； and； with tears in their eyes； besought me not
to leave them exposed to their enemies； nor to go away and permit
their country to be injured by them。 But when I did not comply；
with their entreaties； they compelled me to take an oath； that I
would stay with them： they also cast abundance of reproaches upon
the people of Jerusalem； that they would not let their country
enjoy peace。
43。 When I heard this； and saw what sorrow the people were in； I
was moved with compassion to them； and thought it became me to
undergo the most manifest hazards for the sake of so great a
multitude； so I let them know I would stay with them。 And when I
had given order that five thousand off them should come to me
armed； and with provisions for their maintenance； I sent the rest
away to their own homes； and when those five thousand were come；
I took them； together with three thousand of the soldiers that
were with me before； and eighty horsemen； and marched to
thevillage of Chabolo； situated in the confines of Ptolimias； and
there kept my forces together； pretending to get ready to fight
with Placidus； who was come with two cohorts of footmen； and one
troop of horsemen； and was sent thither by Cestius Gallus to burn
those villages of Galilee that were near Ptolemais。 Upon whose
casting up a bank before the city Ptolemais； I also pitched my
camp at about the distance of sixty furlongs from that village。
And now we frequently brought out our forces as if we would
fight； but proceeded no further than skirmishes at a distance；
for when Placidus perceived that I was earnest to come to a
battle； he was afraid； and avoided it。 Yet did he not remove from
the neighborhood of Ptolemais。
44。 About this time it was that Jonathan and his fellow legates
came。 They were sent； as we have said already； by Simon； and
Ananus the high priest。 And Jonathan contrived how he might catch
me by treachery； for he durst not make any attempt upon me
openly。 So he wrote me the following epistle： 〃Jonathan and those
that are with him； and are sent by the people of Jerusalem； to
Josephus； send greeting。 We are sent by the principal men of
Jerusalem； who have heard that John of Gischala hath laid many
snares for thee； to rebuke him； and to exhort him to be subject
to thee hereafter。 We are also desirous to consult with thee
about our common concerns； and what is fit to be done。 We
therefore desire thee to come to us quickly； and to bring only a
few men with thee； for this village will not contain a great
number of soldiers。〃 Thus it was that they wrote； as expecting
one of these two things； either that I should come without armed
men； and then they should have me wholly in their power； or； if I
came with a great number； they should judge me to be a public
enemy。 Now it was a horseman who brought the letter； a man at
other times bold； and one that had served in the army under the
king。 It was the second hour of the night that he came； when I
was feasting with my friends； and the principal of the Galileans。
This man； upon my servant's telling me that a certain horseman of
the Jewish nation was come； was called in at my command； but did
not so much as salute me at all； but held out a letter； and said；
〃This letter is sent thee by those that are come from Jerusalem；
do thou write an answer to it quickly； for I am obliged to return
to them very soon。 Now my guests could not but wonder at the
boldness of the soldier。 But I desired him to sit down and sup
with us； but when he refused so to do； I held the letter in my
hands as I received it； and fell a talking with my guests about
other matters。 But a few hours afterwards； I got up； and when I
had dismissed the rest to go to their beds； I bid only four of my
intimate friends to stay； and ordered my servant to get some wine
ready。 I also opened the letter so； that nobody could perceive
it； and understanding thereby presently the purport？of the
writing； I sealed it up again； and appeared as if I had not yet
read it； but only held it in my hands。 I ordered twenty drachmae
should be given the soldier for the charges of his journey； and
when he took the money； and said that he thanked me for it； I
perceived that he loved money； and that he was to be caught
chiefly by that means； and I said to him；〃 If thou wilt but drink
with us； thou shalt have a drachma for every glass thou
drinkest。〃 So he gladly embraced this proposal； and drank a great
deal of wine； in order to get the more money； and was so drunk；
that at last he could not keep the secrets he was intrusted with；
but discovered them without my putting questions to him； viz。
That a treacherous design was contrived against me； and that I
was doomed to die by those that sent him。 When I heard this； I
wrote back this answer： 〃Josephus to Jonathan； and those that are
with him； sendeth greeting。 Upon the i