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the wars of the jews-第69章

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rom a ship when it was going to sink; Costobarus; therefore; and Saul; who were brethren; together with Philip; the son of Jacimus; who was the commander of king Agrippa's forces; ran away from the city; and went to Cestius。 But then how Antipas; who had been besieged with them in the king's palace; but would not fly away with them; was afterward slain by the seditious; we shall relate hereafter。 However; Cestius sent Saul and his friends; at their own desire; to Achaia; to Nero; to inform him of the great distress they were in; and to lay the blame of their kindling the war upon Florus; as hoping to alleviate his own danger; by provoking his indignation against Florus。

2。 In the mean time; the people of Damascus; when they were informed of the destruction of the Romans; set about the slaughter of those Jews that were among them; and as they had them already cooped up together in the place of public exercises; which they had done out of the suspicion they had of them; they thought they should meet with no difficulty in the attempt; yet did they distrust their own wives; which were almost all of them addicted to the Jewish religion; on which account it was that their greatest concern was; how they might conceal these things from them; so they came upon the Jews; and cut their throats; as being in a narrow place; in number ten thousand; and all of them unarmed; and this in one hour's time; without any body to disturb them。

3。 But as to those who had pursued after Cestius; when they were returned back to Jerusalem; they overbore some of those that favored the Romans by violence; and some them persuaded 'by en…treaties' to join with them; and got together in great numbers in the temple; and appointed a great many generals for the war。 Joseph also; the son of Gorion; (31) and Ananus the high priest; were chosen as governors of all affairs within the city; and with a particular charge to repair the walls of the city; for they did not ordain Eleazar the son of Simon to that office; although he had gotten into his possession the prey they had taken from the Romans; and the money they had taken from Cestius; together with a great part of the public treasures; because they saw he was of a tyrannical temper; and that his followers were; in their behavior; like guards about him。 However; the want they were in of Eleazar's money; and the subtle tricks used by him; brought all so about; that the people were circumvented; and submitted themselves to his authority in all public affairs。

4。 They also chose other generals for Idumea; Jesus; the son of Sapphias; one of the high priests; and Eleazar; the son of Ananias; the high priest; they also enjoined Niger; the then governor of Idumea; (32) who was of a family that belonged to Perea; beyond Jordan; and was thence called the Peraite; that he should be obedient to those fore…named commanders。 Nor did they neglect the care of other parts of the country; but Joseph the son of Simon was sent as general to Jericho; as was Manasseh to Perea; and John; the Esscue; to the toparchy of Thamna; Lydda was also added to his portion; and Joppa; and Emmaus。 But John; the son of Matthias; was made governor of the toparchies of Gophnitica and Acrabattene; as was Josephus; the son of Matthias; of both the Galilees。 Gamala also; which was the strongest city in those parts; was put under his command。

5。 So every one of the other commanders administered the affairs of his portion with that alacrity and prudence they were masters of; but as to Josephus; when he came into Galilee; his first care was to gain the good…will of the people of that country; as sensible that he should thereby have in general good success; although he should fail in other points。 And being conscious to himself that if he communicated part of his power to the great men; he should make them his fast friends; and that he should gain the same favor from the multitude; if he executed his commands by persons of their own country; and with whom they were well acquainted; he chose out seventy of the most prudent men; and those elders in age; and appointed them to be rulers of all Galilee; as he chose seven judges in every city to hear the lesser quarrels; for as to the greater causes; and those wherein life and death were concerned; he enjoined they should be brought to him and the seventy (33) elders。

6。 Josephus also; when he had settled these rules for determining causes by the law; with regard to the people's dealings one with another; betook himself to make provisions for their safety against external violence; and as he knew the Romans would fall upon Galilee; he built walls in proper places about Jotapata; and Bersabee; and Selamis; and besides these; about Caphareccho; and Japha; and Sigo; and what they call Mount Tabor; and Tarichee; and Tiberias。 Moreover; he built walls about the caves near the lake of Gennesar; which places lay in the Lower Galilee; the same he did to the places of Upper Galilee; as well as to the rock called the Rock of the Achabari; and to Seph; and Jamnith; and Meroth; and in Gaulonitis he fortified Seleucia; and Sogane; and Gamala; but as to those of Sepphoris; they were the only people to whom he gave leave to build their own walls; and this because he perceived they were rich and wealthy; and ready to go to war; without standing in need of any injunctions for that purpose。 The case was the same with Gischala; which had a wall built about it by John the son of Levi himself; but with the consent of Josephus; but for the building of the rest of the fortresses; he labored together with all the other builders; and was present to give all the necessary orders for that purpose。 He also got together an army out of Galilee; of more than a hundred thousand young men; all of which he armed with the old weapons which he had collected together and prepared for them。

7。 And when he had considered that the Roman power became invincible; chiefly by their readiness in obeying orders; and the constant exercise of their arms; he despaired of teaching these his men the use of their arms; which was to be obtained by experience; but observing that their readiness in obeying orders was owing to the multitude of their officers; he made his partitions in his army more after the Roman manner; and appointed a great many subalterns。 He also distributed the soldiers into various classes; whom he put under captains of tens; and captains of hundreds; and then under captains of thousands; and besides these; he had commanders of larger bodies of men。 He also taught them to give the signals one to another; and to call and recall the soldiers by the trumpets; how to expand the wings of an army; and make them wheel about; and when one wing hath had success; to turn again and assist those that were hard set; and to join in the defense of what had most suffered。 He also continually instructed them ill what concerned the courage of the soul; and the hardiness of the body; and; above all; he exercised them for war; by declaring to them distinctly the good order of the Romans; and that they were to fight with men who; both by the strength of their bodies and courage of their souls; had conquered in a manner the whole habitable earth。 He to
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