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[638]
Upon this Josephus threatened them terribly, and reproached them,
that when they were the first that took up arms against the Romans, they
should spend their force beforehand in civil dissensions, and do what their
enemies desired above all things; and that besides they should endeavor
so hastily to seize upon him, who took care of their safety, and had not
been ashamed to shut the gates of their city against him that built their
walls; that, however, he would admit of any intercessors from them that
might make some excuse for them, and with whom he would make such agreements
as might be for the city's security. Hereupon ten of the most potent men
of Tiberias came down to him presently; and when he had taken them into
one of his vessels, he ordered them to be carried a great way off from
the city. He then commanded that fifty others of their senate, such as
were men of the greatest eminence, should come to him, that they also might
give him some security on their behalf. After which, under one new pretense
or another, he called forth others, one after another, to make the leagues
between them. He then gave order to the masters of those vessels which
he had thus filled to sail away immediately for Taricheae, and to confine
those men in the prison there; till at length he took all their senate,
consisting of six hundred persons, and about two thousand of the populace,
and carried them away to Taricheae. 1
1 I cannot but think this stratagem of Josephus, which is related both here and in his Life, sect. 32, 33, to be one of the finest that ever was invented and executed by any warrior whatsoever.
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