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[350]
Now as Josephus began to hesitate with himself about Nicanor's proposal,
the soldiery were so angry, that they ran hastily to set fire to the den;
but the tribune would not permit them so to do, as being very desirous
to take the man alive. And now, as Nicanor lay hard at Josephus to comply,
and he understood how the multitude of the enemies threatened him, he called
to mind the dreams which he had dreamed in the night time, whereby God
had signified to him beforehand both the future calamities of the Jews,
and the events that concerned the Roman emperors. Now Josephus was able
to give shrewd conjectures about the interpretation of such dreams as have
been ambiguously delivered by God. Moreover, he was not unacquainted with
the prophecies contained in the sacred books, as being a priest himself,
and of the posterity of priests: and just then was he in an ecstasy; and
setting before him the tremendous images of the dreams he had lately had,
he put up a secret prayer to God, and said, "Since it pleaseth thee,
who hast created the Jewish nation, to depress the same, and since all
their good fortune is gone over to the Romans, and since thou hast made
choice of this soul of mine to foretell what is to come to pass hereafter,
I willingly give them my hands, and am content to live. And I protest openly
that I do not go over to the Romans as a deserter of the Jews, but as a
minister from thee."
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