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[632]
Now John was detained afterward within the walls of Gischala, by
the fear he was in of Josephus; but within a few days Tiberias revolted
again, the people within it inviting king Agrippa [to return to the exercise
of his authority there]. And when he did not come at the time appointed,
and when a few Roman horsemen appeared that day, they expelled Josephus
out of the city. Now this revolt of theirs was presently known at Taricheae;
and as Josephus had sent out all the soldiers that were with him to gather
corn, he knew not how either to march out alone against the revolters,
or to stay where he was, because he was afraid the king's soldiers might
prevent him if he tarried, and might get into the city; for he did not
intend to do any thing on the next day, because it was the sabbath day,
and would hinder his proceeding. So he contrived to circumvent the revolters
by a stratagem; and in the first place he ordered the gates of Taricheae
to be shut, that nobody might go out and inform [those of Tiberias], for
whom it was intended, what stratagem he was about; he then got together
all the ships that were upon the lake, which were found to be two hundred
and thirty, and in each of them he put no more than four mariners. So he
sailed to Tiberias with haste, and kept at such a distance from the city,
that it was not easy for the people to see the vessels, and ordered that
the empty vessels should float up and down there, while himself, who had
but seven of his guards with him, and those unarmed also, went so near
as to be seen; but when his adversaries, who were still reproaching him,
saw him from the walls, they were so astonished that they supposed all
the ships were full of armed men, and threw down their arms, and by signals
of intercession they besought him to spare the city.
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