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[590]
However, John's want of money had hitherto restrained him in his
ambition after command, and in his attempts to advance himself. But when
he saw that Josephus was highly pleased with the activity of his temper,
he persuaded him, in the first place, to intrust him with the repairing
of the walls of his native city, [Gischala,] in which work he got a great
deal of money from the rich citizens. He after that contrived a very shrewd
trick, and pretending that the Jews who dwelt in Syria were obliged to
make use of oil that was made by others than those of their own nation,
he desired leave of Josephus to send oil to their borders; so he bought
four amphorae with such Tyrian money as was of the value of four Attic
drachmae, and sold every half-amphora at the same price. And as Galilee
was very fruitful in oil, and was peculiarly so at that time, by sending
away great quantities, and having the sole privilege so to do, he gathered
an immense sum of money together, which money he immediately used to the
disadvantage of him who gave him that privilege; and, as he supposed, that
if he could once overthrow Josephus, he should himself obtain the government
of Galilee; so he gave orders to the robbers that were under his command
to be more zealous in their thievish expeditions, that by the rise of many
that desired innovations in the country, he might either catch their general
in his snares, as he came to the country's assistance, and then kill him;
or if he should overlook the robbers, he might accuse him for his negligence
to the people of the country. He also spread abroad a report far and near
that Josephus was delivering up the administration of affairs to the Romans;
and many such plots did he lay, in order to ruin him.
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