visited the camps of
the other companies; and was everywhere received with acclamations.
He addressed each company in turn--not only urging them to show
bravery, for that every Jew had shown, who had fought against the
Romans--but pointing out that far more than this was required.
While they must be ready to give their lives, when need be; they
must be equally ready to shun the fight, to scatter and fly, when
their leaders gave the orders. It was not by bravery that they
could hope to overcome the Romans; but by harassing them night and
day, by attacking their camps, cutting off their convoys, and
giving them no rest. Above all, obedience was required.

"Look at the Roman soldiers," he said. "They have no wills of their
own. They advance, or retreat; they attack, when they know that
those who first attack must die; they support all hardships and
fatigues; they accomplish marvels, in the way of work; they give
themselves up, in fact, to obey the orders given them, never
questioning whether those orders are the best, but blindly obeying
them; and so it must be, here, if we are to fight the Romans with a
chance of success.

"The most useful man here--the man who will do best service to his
country--is not he who is strongest, or bravest, but he who is most
prompt in his obedience to orders. The true hero is he who gives up
his will and, if need be, his life, at the order of his leader. You
have chosen your own officers, and I have confirmed the choice that
you have made. It is for you, now, to give them your support and
assistance. There will be hardships, these must be borne without
complaint; there will be delays, these must be supported with
patience; there will be combats and dangers, these must be met with
confidence and courage--believing that God will give you success;
and that, although the issue of the strife is in his hands, each of
you should do his best, by his conduct and courage, to gain
success.

"We shall not act in one great body, for we could not find food, in
the villages, for so large a number. Moreover, to do so would be to
give the Romans an opportunity of massing their forces against us,
of surrounding and destroying us. On great occasions, and for a
great object, we may gather together and unite our forces. At other
times, although acting upon a general plan, and in concert with
each other, each company will work independently. So we shall elude
the Romans. When they strike at us, we shall be