The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of JerusalemJosephus, Flavius
Religion
The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Josephus, Flavius
Jews -- History
for otherwise they spared not so much as the infants, of which many were
flung down by them from the citadel. And thus was Gamala taken on the
three and twentieth day of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri,] whereas
the city had first revolted on the four and twentieth day of the month
Gorpieus [Elul].
CHAPTER 2.
The Surrender Of Gischala; While John Flies Away From It To
Jerusalem.
1. Now no place of Galilee remained to be taken but the small city of
Gischala, whose multitude yet were desirous of peace; for they were
generally husbandmen, and always applied themselves to cultivate the
fruits of the earth. However, there were a great number that belonged to
a band of robbers, that were already corrupted, and had crept in among
them, and some of the governing part of the citizens were sick of the
same distemper. It was John, the son of a certain man whose name was
Levi, that drew them into this rebellion, and encouraged them in it. He
was a cunning knave, and of a temper that could put on various shapes;
very rash in expecting great things, and very sagacious in bringing
about what he hoped for. It was known to every body that he was fond of
war, in order to thrust himself into authority; and the seditious part
of the people of Gischala were under his management, by whose means the
populace, who seemed ready to send ambassadors in order to surrender,
waited for the coming of the Romans in battle-array. Vespasian sent
against them Titus, with a thousand horsemen, but withdrew the tenth
legion to Scythopolis, while he returned to Cesarea with the two other
legions, that he might allow them to refresh themselves after their long
and hard campaign, thinking withal that the plenty which was in those
cities would improve their bodies and their spirits, against the
difficulties they were to go through afterwards; for he saw there would
be occasion for great pains about Jerusalem, which was not yet taken,
because it was the royal city, and the principal city of the whole
nation, and because those that had run away from the war in other places
got all together thither. It was also naturally strong, and the walls
that were built round it made him not a little concerned about it.
Moreover, he esteemed the men that were in it to be so courageous and
bold, that even without the consideration of the walls, it would be
hard to subdue them; for which reason he took care of and exercised his
soldiers beforehand for the work, as they do wrestlers before they begin
their undertaking.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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