ould keep their allegiance
to them. But he could not gain his purpose, although he did his
endeavors to the utmost; for the neighboring people of Gadara, Gabara,
and Sogana, with the Tyrians, got together a great army, and fell upon
Gischala, and took Gischala by force, and set it on fire; and when they
had entirely demolished it, they returned home. Upon which John was so
enraged, that he armed all his men, and joined battle with the people
forementioned; and rebuilt Gischala after a manner better than before,
and fortified it with walls for its future security.

11. But Gamala persevered in its allegiance to the Romans, for the
reason following:-- Philip, the son of Jacimus, who was their governor
under king Agrippa, had been unexpectedly preserved when the royal
palace at Jerusalem had been besieged; but, as he fled away, had fallen
into another danger, and that was, of being killed by Manahem, and the
robbers that were with him; but certain Babylonians, who were of his
kindred, and were then in Jerusalem, hindered the robbers from executing
their design. So Philip staid there four days, and fled away on the
fifth, having disguised himself with fictitious hair, that he might
not be discovered; and when he was come to one of the villages to him
belonging, but one that was situated at the borders of the citadel of
Gamala, he sent to some of those that were under him, and commanded them
to come to him. But God himself hindered that his intention, and this
for his own advantage also; for had it not so happened, he had certainly
perished. For a fever having seized upon him immediately, he wrote to
Agrippa and Bernice, and gave them to one of his freed-men to carry them
to Varus, who at this time was procurator of the kingdom, which the king
and his sister had intrusted him withal, while they were gone to Berytus
with an intention of meeting Gessius. When Varus had received these
letters of Philip, and had learned that he was preserved, he was very
uneasy at it, as supposing that he should appear useless to the king and
his sister, now Philip was come. He therefore produced the carrier of
the letters before the multitude, and accused him of forging the same;
and said that he spake falsely when he related that Philip was at
Jerusalem, fighting among the Jews against the Romans. So he slew him.
And when this freed-man of Philip did not return again, Philip was
doubtful what should be the occasion of his stay, and sent a secon