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[545]
But now sedition and civil war prevailed, not only over Judea, but
in Italy also; for now Galba was slain in the midst of the Roman market-place;
then was Otho made emperor, and fought against Vitellius, who set up for
emperor also; for the legions in Germany had chosen him. But when he gave
battle to Valens and Cecinna, who were Vitellius's generals, at Betriacum,
in Gaul, Otho gained the advantage on the first day, but on the second
day Vitellius's soldiers had the victory; and after much slaughter Otho
slew himself, when he had heard of this defeat at Brixia, and after he
had managed the public affairs three months and two days. 1
Otho's army also came over to Vitellius's generals, and he came himself
down to Rome with his army. But in the mean time Vespasian removed from
Cesarea, on the fifth day of the month Deasius, [Sivan,] and marched against
those places of Judea which were not yet overthrown. So he went up to the
mountainous country, and took those two toparchies that were called the
Gophnitick and Acrabattene toparchies. After which he took Bethel and Ephraim,
two small cities; and when he had put garrisons into them, he rode as far
as Jerusalem, in which march he took many prisoners, and many captives;
but Cerealis, one of his commanders, took a body of horsemen and footmen,
and laid waste that part of Idumea which was called the Upper Idumea, and
attacked Caphethra, which pretended to be a small city, and took it at
the first onset, and burnt it down. He also attacked Caphatabira, and laid
siege to it, for it had a very strong wall; and when he expected to spend
a long time in that siege, those that were within opened their gates on
the sudden, and came to beg pardon, and surrendered themselves up to him.
When Cerealis had conquered them, he went to Hebron, another very ancient
city. I have told you already that this city is situated in a mountainous
country not far off Jerusalem; and when he had broken into the city by
force, what multitude and young men were left therein he slew, and burnt
down the city; so that as now all the places were taken, excepting Herodlum,
and Masada, and Macherus, which were in the possession of the robbers,
so Jerusalem was what the Romans at present aimed at.
1 Puetonius differs hardly three days from Josephus, and says Otho perished on the ninety-fifth day of his reign. In Anthon. See the note on ch. 11. sect. 4.
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