[195]
When Simon heard Ananus say this, he desired that the messengers
would conceal the thing, and not let it come among many; for that he would
take care to have Josephus removed out of Galilee very quickly. So he called
for John's brother, [Simon,] and charged him that they should send presents
to Ananus and his friends; for, as he said, they might probably by that
means persuade them to change their minds. And indeed Simon did at length
thus compass what he aimed at; for Artanus, and those with him, being corrupted
by bribes, agreed to expel me out of Galilee, without making the rest of
the citizens acquainted with what they were doing. Accordingly, they resolved
to send men of distinction as to their families, and of distinction as
to their learning also. Two of these were of the populace, Jonathan 1
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.
1 This Jonathan is also taken notice of in the Latin notes, as the same that is mentioned by the rabbins in Porta Mosis.
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