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with him； sendeth greeting。 Upon the information that you are
come in health into Galilee； I rejoice； and this especially
because I can now resign the care of public affairs here into
your hands； and return into my native country； which is what I
have desired to do a great while； and I confess I ought not only
to come to you as far as Xaloth； but farther； and this without
your commands。 But I desire you to excuse me； because I cannot do
it now； since I watch the motions of Placidus； who hath a mind to
go up into Galilee； and this I do here at Chabolo。 Do you
therefore； on the receipt of this epistle； come hither to me。
Fare you well。〃
45。 When I had written thus； and given the letter to be carried
by the soldier； I sent along with him thirty of the Galileans of
the best characters； and gave them instructions to salute those
ambassadors； but to say nothing else to them。 I also gave orders
to as many of those armed men； whom I esteemed most faithful to
me； to go along with the others； every one with him whom he was
to guard； lest some conversation might pass between those whom I
sent and those who were with Jonathan。 So those men went ＇to
Jonathan＇。 But when Jonathan and his partners had failed in this
their first attempt； they sent me another letter； the contents
whereof were as follows： 〃Jonathan； and those with him； to
Josephus； send greeting。 We require thee to come to us to the
village Gabaroth； on the third day； without any armed men； that
we may hear what thou hast to lay to the charge of John ＇of
Gischala＇。〃 When they had written this letter； they saluted the
Galileans whom I sent； and came to Japha； which was the largest
village of all Galilee； and encompassed with very strong walls；
and had a great number of inhabitants in it。 There the multitude
of men； with their wives and children； met them； and exclaimed
loudly against them； and desired them to be gone； and not to envy
them the advantage of an excellent commander。 With these clamors
Jonathan and his partners were greatly provoked； although they
durst not show their anger openly； so they made them no answer；
but went to other villages。 But still the same clamors met them
from all the people； who said； 〃Nobody should persuade them to
have any other commander besides Josephus。〃 So Jonathan and his
partners went away from them without success； and came to
Sepphoris； the greatest city of all Galilee。 Now the men of that
city； who inclined to the Romans in their sentiments； met them
indeed； but neither praised nor reproached me and when they were
gone down from Sepphoris to Asochis； the people of that place
made a clamor against them； as those of Japha had done； whereupon
they were able to contain themselves no longer； but ordered the
armed men that were with them to beat those that made the clamor
with their clubs。 And when they came to Gabara； John met them
with three thousand armed men； but； as I understood by their
letter that they had resolved to fight against me； I arose from
Chabolo； with three thousand armed men also； but left in my camp
one of my fastest friends； and came to Jotapata； as desirous to
be near them； the distance being no more than forty furlongs。
Whence I wrote thus to them： 〃If you are very desirous that I
should come to you； you know there are two hundred and forty
cities and villages in Galilee； I will come to any of them which
you please； excepting Gaburn and Gischala； the one of which is
John's native city； and the other in confederacy and friendship
with him。〃
46。 When Jonathan and his partners had received this letter； they
wrote me no more answers； but called a council of their friends
together； and taking John into their consultation； they took
counsel together by what means they might attack me。 John's
opinion was； that they should write to all the cities and
villages that were in Galilee； for that there must be certainly
one or two persons in every one of them that were at variance
with me； and that they should be invited to come to oppose me as
an enemy。 He would also have them send this resolution of theirs
to the city of Jerusalem； that its citizens； upon the knowledge
of my being adjudged to be an enemy by the Galileans； might
themselves I also confirm that determination。 He said also； that
when this was done； even those Galileans who were well affected
to me； would desert me out of fear。 When John had given them this
counsel； what he had said was very agreeable to the rest of them。
I was also made acquainted with these affairs about the third
hour of the night； by the means of one Saccheus； who had belonged
to them； but now deserted them and came over to me； and told me
what they were about； so I perceived that no time was to be lost。
Accordingly； I gave command to Jacob； an armed man of my guard；
whom I esteemed faithful to me； to take two hundred men； and to
guard the passages that led from Gahara to Galilee； and to seize
upon the passengers； and send them to me； especially such as were
caught with letters about them： I also sent Jeremias himself； one
of my friends； with six hundred armed men； to the borders of
Galilee； in order to watch the roads that led from this country
to the city Jerusalem； and gave him charge to lay hold of such as
traveled with letters about them； to keep the men in bonds upon
the place； but to send me the letters。
47。 When I had laid these commands upon them； I gave them orders；
and bid them take their arms and bring three days' provision with
them； and be with me the next day。 I also parted those that were
about me into four parts； and ordained those of them that were
most faithful to me to be a guard to my body。 I also set over
them centurions； and commanded them to take care that not a
soldier which they did not know should mingle himself among them。
Now； on the fifth day following； when I was at Gabaroth； I found
the entire plain that was before the village full of armed men；
who were come out of Galilee to assist me： many others of the
multitude； also； out of the village； ran along with me。 But as
soon as I had taken my place； and began to speak to them； they
all made an acclamation； and called me the benefactor and savior
of the country。 And when I had made them my acknowledgments； and
thanked them ＇for their affection to me＇； I also advised them to
fight with nobody； （19） nor to spoil the country； but to pitch
their tents in the plain； and be content with their sustenance
they had brought with them； for I told them that I had a mind to
compose these troubles without shedding any blood。 Now it came to
pass； that on the very same day those who were sent by John with
letters； fell among the guards whom I had appointed to watch the
roads； so the men were themselves kept upon the place； as my
orders were； but I got the letters； which were full of reproaches
and lies； and I intended to fall upon these men； without saying a
word of these matters to any body。
48。 Now； as soon as Jonathan and his companions heard of my
coming； they took all their own friends； and John with them； and
retired to the house of Jesus； which indeed was a large castle；
and no way unlike a citadel； so they privately laid a band of
armed men therein； and shut all the other doors but one； which
they kept open； and they expected that I should come out of the
road to them； to salute them。 And indeed they had given orders to
the armed men； that when I came they should let nobody besides me
come in； but should exclude others； as supposing that； by this
means； they should easily get me under their power： but they were
deceived in their expectation； for I perceived what snares they
had laid for me。 Now； as soon as I was got off my journey； I took
up my lodgings over against them； and pretended to be asleep； so
Jonathan and his party； thinking that I was really asleep and at
rest； made haste to go down into the plain； to persuade the
people that I was an ill governor。 But the matter proved
otherwise； for； upon their appearance； there was a cry made by
the Galileans immediately； declaring their good opinion of me as
their governor； and they made a clamor against Jonathan and his
partners for coming to them when they had suffered no harm； and
as though they would overturn their happy settlement； and desired
them by all means to go back again； for that they would never be
persuaded to have any other to rule over them but myself。 When I
heard of this； I did not fear to go down into the midst of them；
I went； therefore； myself down presently to hear what Jonathan
and his companions said。 As soon as I appeared； there was
immediately an acclamation made to me by the whole multitude； and
a cry in my commendation by them； who confessed their thanks was
owing to me for my good government of them。
49。 When Jonathan and his companions heard this； they were in
fear of their own lives； and in danger lest they should be
assaulted by the Galileans on nay account； so they contrived how
they might run away。 But as they were not able to get off； for I
desired them to stay； they looked down with concern at my words
to them。 I ordered； therefore； the multitude to restrain entirely
their acclamations； and placed the most