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[141]
Now Vespasian was very desirous of demolishing Jotapata, for he had
gotten intelligence that the greatest part of the enemy had retired thither,
and that it was, on other accounts, a place of great security to them.
Accordingly, he sent both foot-men and horsemen to level the road, which
was mountainous and rocky, not without difficulty to be traveled over by
footmen, but absolutely impracticable for horsemen. Now these workmen accomplished
what they were about in four days' time, and opened a broad way for the
army. On the fifth day, which was the twenty-first of the month Artemisius,
(Jyar,) Josephus prevented him, and came from Tiberias, and went into Jotapata,
and raised the drooping spirits of the Jews. And a certain deserter told
this good news to Vespasian, that Josephus had removed himself thither,
which made him make haste to the city, as supposing that with taking that
he should take all Judea, in case he could but withal get Josephus under
his power. So he took this news to be of the vastest advantage to him,
and believed it to be brought about by the providence of God, that he who
appeared to be the most prudent man of all their enemies, had, of his own
accord, shut himself up in a place of sure custody. Accordingly, he sent
Placidus with a thousand horsemen, and Ebutius a decurion, a person that
was of eminency both in council and in action, to encompass the city round,
that Josephus might not escape away privately.
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