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the life of flavius josephus-第7部分

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also fortified; in the Lower Galilee; the cities Tarichee;
Tiberias; Sepphoris; and the villages; the cave of Arbela;
Bersobe; Selamin; Jotapata; Capharecho; and Sigo; and Japha; and
Mount Tabor。 (15) I also laid up a great quantity of corn in
these places; and arms withal; that might be for their security
afterward。

38。 But the hatred that John; the son of Levi; bore to me; grew
now more violent; while he could not bear my prosperity with
patience。 So he proposed to himself; by all means possible; to
make away with me; and built the walls of Gischala; which was the
place of his nativity。 He then sent his brother Simon; and
Jonathan; the son of Sisenna; and about a hundred armed men; to
Jerusalem; to Simon; the son of Gamaliel; (16) in order to
persuade him to induce the commonalty of Jerusalem to take from
me the government over the Galileans; and to give their suffrages
for conferring that authority upon him。 This Simon was of the
city of Jerusalem; and of a very noble family of the sect of the
Pharisees; which are supposed to excel others in the accurate
knowledge of the laws of their country。 He was a man of great
wisdom and reason; and capable of restoring public affairs by his
prudence; when they were in an ill posture。 He was also an old
friend and companion of John; but at that time he had a
difference with me。 When therefore he had received such an
exhortation; he persuaded the high priests; Ananus; and Jesus the
son of Gamala; and some others of the same seditious faction; to
cut me down; now I was growing so great; and not to overlook me
while I was aggrandizing myself to the height of glory; and he
said that it would be for the advantage of the Galileans; if I
were deprived of my government there。 Ananus also; and his
friends; desired them to make no delay about the matter; lest I
should get the knowledge of what was doing too soon; and should
come and make an assault upon the city with a great army。 This
was the counsel of Simon; but Artanus the high priest
demonstrated to them that this was not an easy thing to be done;
because many of the high priests and of the rulers of the people
bore witness that I had acted like an excellent general; and that
it was the work of ill men to accuse one against whom they had
nothing to say。

39。 When Simon heard Ananus say this; he desired that the
messengers would conceal the thing; and not let it come among
many; for that he would take care to have Josephus removed out of
Galilee very quickly。 So he called for John's brother; 'Simon;'
and charged him that they should send presents to Ananus and his
friends; for; as he said; they might probably by that means
persuade them to change their minds。 And indeed Simon did at
length thus compass what he aimed at; for Artanus; and those with
him; being corrupted by bribes; agreed to expel me out of
Galilee; without making the rest of the citizens acquainted with
what they were doing。 Accordingly; they resolved to send men of
distinction as to their families; and of distinction as to their
learning also。 Two of these were of the populace; Jonathan (17)
and Ananias; by sect Pharisees; while the third; Jozar; was of
the stock of the priests; and a Pharisee also; and Simon; the
last of them; was of the youngest of the high priests。 These had
it given them in charge; that; when they were come to the
multitude of the Galileans; they should ask them; what was the
reason of their love to me? and if they said that it was because
I was born at Jerusalem; that they should reply; that they four
were all born at the same place; and if they should say; it was
because I was well versed in their law; they should reply; that
neither were they unacquainted with the practices of their
country; but if; besides these; they should say; they loved me
because I was a priest; they should reply; that two of these were
priests also。

40。 Now; when they had given Jonathan and his companions these
instructions; they gave them forty thousand 'drachmae' out of the
public money: but when they heard that there was a certain
Galilean that then sojourned at Jerusalem; whose name was Jesus;
who had about him a band of six hundred armed men; they sent for
him; and gave him three months pay; and gave him orders to follow
Jonathan and his companions; and be obedient to them。 They also
gave money to three hundred men that were citizens of Jerusalem;
to maintain them all; and ordered them also to follow the
ambassadors; and when they had complied; and were gotten ready
for the march; Jonathan and his companions went out with them;
having along with them John's brother and a hundred armed men。
The charge that was given them by those that sent them was this:
That if I would voluntarily lay down my arms; they should send me
alive to the city of Jerusalem; but that; in case I opposed them;
they should kill me; and fear nothing; for that it was their
command for them so to do。 They also wrote to John to make all
ready for fighting me; and gave orders to the inhabitants of
Sepphoris; and Gabara; and Tiberins; to send auxiliaries to John。

41。 Now; as my father wrote me an account of this; (for Jesus the
son of Gamala; who was present in that council; a friend and
companion of mine; told him of it;) I was very much troubled; as
discovering thereby that my fellow citizens proved so ungrateful
to me; as; out of envy; to give order that I should be slain: my
father earnestly pressed me also in his letter to come to him;
for that he longed to see his son before he died。 I informed my
friends of these things; and that in three days' time I should
leave the country; and go home。 Upon hearing this; they were all
very sorry; and desired me; with tears in their eyes; not to
leave them to be destroyed; for so they thought they should be;
if I were deprived of the command over them: but as I did not
grant their request; but was taking care of my own safety; the
Galileans; out of their dread of the consequence of my departure;
that they should then be at the mercy of the robbers; sent
messengers over all Galilee to inform them of my resolution to
leave them。 Whereupon; as soon as they heard it; they got
together in great numbers; from all parts; with their wives and
children; and this they did; as it appeared to me; not more out
of their affection to me; than out of their fear on their own
account; for while I staid with them; they supposed that they
should suffer no harm。 So they all came into the great plain;
wherein I lived; the name of which was Asochis。

42。 But wonderful it was what a dream I saw that very night; for
when I had betaken myself to my bed; as grieved and disturbed at
the news that had been written to me; it seemed to me; that a
certain person stood by me; (18) and said; 〃O Josephus! leave off
to afflict thy soul; and put away all fear; for what now grieves
thee will render thee very considerable; and in all respects most
happy; for thou shalt get over not only these difficulties; but
many others; with great success。 However; be not cast down; but
remember that thou art to fight with the Romans。〃 When I had seen
this dream; I got up with an intention of going down to the
plain。 Now; when the whole multitude of the Galileans; among whom
were the women and children; saw me; they threw themselves down
upon their faces; and; with tears in their eyes; besought me not
to leave them exposed to their enemies; nor to go away and permit
their country to be injured by them。 But when I did not comply;
with their entreaties; they compelled me to take an oath; that I
would stay with them: they also cast abundance of reproaches upon
the people of Jerusalem; that they would not let their country
enjoy peace。

43。 When I heard this; and saw what sorrow the people were in; I
was moved with compassion to them; and thought it became me to
undergo the most manifest hazards for the sake of so great a
multitude; so I let them know I would stay with them。 And when I
had given order that five thousand off them should come to me
armed; and with provisions for their maintenance; I sent the rest
away to their own homes; and when those five thousand were come;
I took them; together with three thousand of the soldiers that
were with me before; and eighty horsemen; and marched to
thevillage of Chabolo; situated in the confines of Ptolimias; and
there kept my forces together; pretending to get ready to fight
with Placidus; who was come with two cohorts of footmen; and one
troop of horsemen; and was sent thither by Cestius Gallus to burn
those villages of Galilee that were near Ptolemais。 Upon whose
casting up a bank before the city Ptolemais; I also pitched my
camp at about the distance of sixty furlongs from that village。
And now we frequently brought out our forces as if we would
fight; but proceeded no further than skirmishes at a distance;
for when Placidus perceived that I was earnest to come to a
battle; he was afraid; and avoided it。 Yet did he not remove from
the neighborhood of Ptolemais。

44。 About this time it was that Jonathan and his fellow legates
came。 They were sent; as we have said already; by Simon; and
Ananus the high priest。 And Jonathan contrived how he might catch
me by treachery; for he durst not make any attempt upon me
openly。 So he wrote me the following epistle: 〃Jonathan and those
that are with him; and are sent by the people of Jerusalem; to
Josephus; send greeting。 We are sent by the principal men of
Jerusalem; who have heard that John of Gischala hath laid many
snares for thee; to rebuke him; and to exhort him to be subject
to thee hereafter。 We are also desirous to consult with thee
about our common concerns; and what is fit to be done。 We
therefore desire thee to come to us quickly; and to bring only a
few men with thee; for this village will not contain a great
number of soldiers。〃 Thus it was that they wrote; as expecting
one of these two things; either that I should come without armed
men; and then they should have me wholly in their power; or; if I
came with a great number; they should judge me to be a public
enemy。 Now it was a horseman who brought the letter; a man at
other times bold; and one that had served in the
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