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[340]
AND now the Romans searched for Josephus, both out of the hatred
they bore him, and because their general was very desirous to have him
taken; for he reckoned that if he were once taken, the greatest part of
the war would be over. They then searched among the dead, and looked into
the most concealed recesses of the city; but as the city was first taken,
he was assisted by a certain supernatural providence; for he withdrew himself
from the enemy when he was in the midst of them, and leaped into a certain
deep pit, whereto there adjoined a large den at one side of it, which den
could not be seen by those that were above ground; and there he met with
forty persons of eminency that had concealed themselves, and with provisions
enough to satisfy them for not a few days. So in the day time he hid himself
from the enemy, who had seized upon all places, and in the night time he
got up out of the den and looked about for some way of escaping, and took
exact notice of the watch; but as all places were guarded every where on
his account, that there was no way of getting off unseen, he went down
again into the den. Thus he concealed himself two days; but on the third
day, when they had taken a woman who had been with them, he was discovered.
Whereupon Vespasian sent immediately and zealously two tribunes, Paulinus
and Gallicanus, and ordered them to give Josephus their right hands as
a security for his life, and to exhort him to come up.
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