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[595]
Now at the same time that certain young men of the village Dabaritta,
who kept guard in the Great Plain laid snares for Ptolemy, who was Agrippa's
and Bernice's steward, and took from him all that he had with him; among
which things there were a great many costly garments, and no small number
of silver cups, and six hundred pieces of gold; yet were they not able
to conceal what they had stolen, but brought it all to Josephus, to Tarichee.
Hereupon he blamed them for the violence they had offered to the king and
queen, and deposited what they brought to him with Eneas, the most potent
man of Taricheae, with an intention of sending the things back to the owners
at a proper time; which act of Josephus brought him into the greatest danger;
for those that had stolen the things had an indignation at him, both because
they gained no share of it for themselves, and because they perceived beforehand
what was Josephus's intention, and that he would freely deliver up what
had cost them so much pains to the king and queen. These ran away by night
to their several villages, and declared to all men that Josephus was going
to betray them: they also raised great disorders in all the neighboring
cities, insomuch that in the morning a hundred thousand armed men came
running together; which multitude was crowded together in the hippodrome
at Taricheae, and made a very peevish clamor against him; while some cried
out, that they should depose the traitor; and others, that they should
burn him. Now John irritated a great many, as did also one Jesus, the son
of Sapphias, who was then governor of Tiberias. Then it was that Josephus's
friends, and the guards of his body, were so affrighted at this violent
assault of the multitude, that they all fled away but four; and as he was
asleep, they awaked him, as the people were going to set fire to the house.
And although those four that remained with him persuaded him to run away,
he was neither surprised at his being himself deserted, nor at the great
multitude that came against him, but leaped out to them with his clothes
rent, and ashes sprinkled on his head, with his hands behind him, and his
sword hanging at his neck. At this sight his friends, especially those
of Tarichae, commiserated his condition; but those that came out of the
country, and those in their neighborhood, to whom his government seemed
burdensome, reproached him, and bid him produce the money which belonged
to them all immediately, and to confess the agreement he had made to betray
them; for they imagined, from the habit in which he appeared, that he would
deny nothing of what they suspected concerning him, and that it was in
order to obtain pardon that he had put himself entirely into so pitiable
a posture. But this humble appearance was only designed as preparatory
to a stratagem of his, who thereby contrived to set those that were so
angry at him at variance one with another about the things they were angry
at. However, he promised he would confess all: hereupon he was permitted
to speak, when he said," I did neither intend to send this money back
to Agrippa, nor to gain it myself; for I did never esteem one that was
your enemy to be my friend, nor did I look upon what would tend to your
disadvantage to be my advantage. But, O you people of Tariehete, I saw
that your city stood in more need than others of fortifications for your
security, and that it wanted money in order for the building it a wall.
I was also afraid lest the people of Tiberias and other cities should lay
a plot to seize upon these spoils, and therefore it was that I intended
to retain this money privately, that I might encompass you with a wall.
But if this does not please you, I will produce what was brought me, and
leave it to you to plunder it; but if I have conducted myself so well as
to please you, you may if you please punish your benefactor."
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