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 on a black garment； and hung my sword at my
neck； and went by such a different way to the hippodrome； wherein
I thought none of my adversaries would meet me； so I appeared
among them on the sudden； and fell down flat on the earth； and
bedewed the ground with my tears： then I seemed to them all an
object of compassion。 And when I perceived the change that was
made in the multitude； I tried to divide their opinions before
the armed men should return from my house； so I granted them that
I had been as wicked as they supposed me to be； but still I
entreated them to let me first inform them for what use I had
kept that money which arose from the plunder； and； that they
might then kill me if they pleased： and upon the multitude's
ordering me to speak； the armed men came upon me； and when they
saw me； they ran to kill me； but when the multitude bade them
hold their hands； they complied； and expected that as soon as I
should own to them that I kept the money for the king； it would
be looked on as a confession of my treason； and they should then
be allowed to kill me。
29。 When； therefore； silence was made by the whole multitude； I
spake thus to them： 〃O my countrymen！ I refuse not to die； if
justice so require。 However； I am desirous to tell you the truth
of this matter before I die； for as I know that this city of
yours ＇Tarichee＇ was a city of great hospitality； and filled with
abundance of such men as have left their own countries； and are
come hither to be partakers of your fortune； whatever it be； I
had a mind to build walls about it； out of this money； for which
you are so angry with me； while yet it was to be expended in
building your own walls。〃 Upon my saying this； the people of
Taricheae and the strangers cried out； that〃 they gave me thanks；
and desired me to be of good courage；〃 although the Galileans and
the people of Tiberias continued in their wrath against me；
insomuch that there arose a tumult among them； while some
threatened to kill me； and some bade me not to regard them； but
when I promised them that I would build them walls at Tiberias；
and at other cities that wanted them； they gave credit to what I
promised； and returned every one to his own home。 So I escaped
the forementioned danger； beyond all my hopes； and returned to my
own house； accompanied with my friends； and twenty armed men
also。
30。 However； these robbers and other authors of this tumult； who
were afraid； on their own account； lest I should punish them for
what they had done； took six hundred armed men； and came to the
house where I abode； in order to set it on fire。 When this their
insult was told me； I thought it indecent for me to run away； and
I resolved to expose myself to danger； and to act with some
boldness； so I gave order to shut the doors； and went up into an
upper room； and desired that they would send in some of their men
to receive the money ＇from the spoils＇ for I told them they would
then have no occasion to be angry with me； and when they had sent
in one of the boldest of them all； I had him whipped severely；
and I commanded that one of his hands should be cut off； and hung
about his neck； and in this case was he put out to those that
sent him。 At which procedure of mine they were greatly
affrighted； and in no small consternation； and were afraid that
they should themselves be served in like manner； if they staid
there； for they supposed that I had in the house more armed men
than they had themselves； so they ran away immediately； while I；
by the use of this stratagem； escaped this their second
treacherous design against me。
31。 But there were still some that irritated the multitude
against me； and said that those great men that belonged to the
king ought not to be suffered to live； if they would not change
their religion to the religion of those to whom they fled for
safety： they spake reproachfully of them also； and said that they
were wizards； and such as called in the Romans upon them。 So the
multitude was soon deluded by such plausible pretenses as were
agreeable to their own inclinations； and were prevailed on by
them。 But when I was informed of this； I instructed the multitude
again； that those who fled to them for refuge ought not to be
persecuted： I also laughed at the allegation about witchcraft；
（13） and told them that the Romans would not maintain so many ten
thousand soldiers； if they could overcome their enemies by
wizards。 Upon my saying this； the people assented for a while；
but they returned again afterwards； as irritated by some ill
people against the great men； nay； they once made an assault upon
the house in which they dwelt at Tarichess； in order to kill
them； which； when I was informed of； I was afraid lest so horrid
a crime should take effect； and nobody else would make that city
their refuge any more。 I therefore came myself； and some others
with me； to the house where these great men lived； and locked the
doors； and had a trench drawn from their house leading to the
lake； and sent for a ship； and embark