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[443]
But Vespasian, in order to see the kingdom of Agrippa, while the
king persuaded himself so to do, (partly in order to his treating the general
and his army in the best and most splendid manner his private affairs would
enable him to do, and partly that he might, by their means, correct such
things as were amiss in his government,) he removed from that Cesarea which
was by the sea-side, and went to that which is called Cesarea Philippi
1 and
there he refreshed his army for twenty days, and was himself feasted by
king Agrippa, where he also returned public thanks to God for the good
success he had had in his undertakings. But as soon as he was informed
that Tiberias was fond of innovations, and that Tarichere had revolted,
both which cities were parts of the kingdom of Agrippa, and was satisfied
within himself that the Jews were every where perverted [from their obedience
to their governors], he thought it seasonable to make an expedition against
these cities, and that for the sake of Agrippa, and in order to bring his
cities to reason. So he sent away his son Titus to [the other] Cesarea,
that he might bring the army that lay there to Seythopous, which is the
largest city of Decapolis, and in the neighborhood of Tiberias, whither
he came, and where he waited for his son. He then came with three legions,
and pitched his camp thirty furlongs off Tiberias, at a certain station
easily seen by the innovators; it is named Sennabris. He also sent Valerian,
a decurion, with fifty horsemen, to speak peaceably to those that were
in the city, and to exhort them to give him assurances of their fidelity;
for he had heard that the people were desirous of peace, but were obliged
by some of the seditious part to join with them, and so were forced to
fight for them. When Valerian had marched up to the place, and was near
the wall, he alighted off his horse, and made those that were with him
to do the same, that they might not be thought to come to skirmish with
them; but before they could come to a discourse one with another, the most
potent men among the seditious made a sally upon them armed; their leader
was one whose name was Jesus, the son of Shaphat, the principal head of
a band of robbers. Now Valerian, neither thinking it safe to fight contrary
to the commands of the general, though he were secure of a victory, and
knowing that it was a very hazardous undertaking for a few to fight with
many, for those that were unprovided to fight those that were ready, and
being on other accounts surprised at this unexpected onset of the Jews,
he ran away on foot, as did five of the rest in like manner, and left their
horses behind them; which horses Jesus led away into the city, and rejoiced
as if they had taken them in battle, and not by treachery.
1 Of this Cesarea Philippi (twice mentioned in our New Testament, Matthew 16:13; Mark 8;27) there are coins still extant, Spanheim here informs us.
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