themselves; for they said it was not fit to desert their city, now it
was committed to their trust, and that otherwise I should not delay to
fall upon them; for they pretended falsely that so I had threatened to
do. Now John was not only of their opinion, but advised them, that two
of them should go to accuse me before the multitude [at Jerusalem], that
I do not manage the affairs of Galilee as I ought to do; and that they
would easily persuade the people, because of their dignity, and because
the whole multitude are very mutable. When, therefore, it appeared that
John had suggested the wisest advice to them, they resolved that two of
them, Jonathan and Ananias, should go to the people of Jerusalem, and
the other two [Simon and Joazar] should be left behind to tarry at
Tiberins. They also took along with them a hundred soldiers for their
guard.

62. However, the governors of Tiberias took care to have their city
secured with walls, and commanded their inhabitants to take their arms.
They also sent for a great many soldiers from John, to assist them
against me, if there should be occasion for them. Now John was at
Gischala. Jonathan, therefore, and those that were with him, when they
were departed from Tiberias, and as soon as they were come to Dabaritta,
a village that lay in the utmost parts of Galilee, in the great
plain, they, about midnight, fell among the guards I had set, who both
commanded them to lay aside their weapons, and kept them in bonds upon
the place, as I had charged them to do. This news was written to me by
Levi, who had the command of that guard committed to him by me. Hereupon
I said nothing of it for two days; and, pretending to know nothing about
it, I sent a message to the people of Tiberias, and advised them to lay
their arms aside, and to dismiss their men, that they might go home.
But, supposing that Jonathan, and those that were with him, were already
arrived at Jerusalem, they made reproachful answers to me; yet was I not
terrified thereby, but contrived another stratagem against them, for I
did not think it agreeable with piety to kindle the fire of war against
the citizens. As I was desirous to draw those men away from Tiberias,
I chose out ten thousand of the best of my armed men, and divided them
into three bodies, and ordered them to go privately, and lie still as
an ambush, in the villages. I also led a thousand into another village,
which lay indeed in the mountains, as did the others