[132]
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."
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