no small fear seized upon us when we saw the
people in arms, while we ourselves knew not what we should do, and were
not able to restrain the seditious. However, as the danger was directly
upon us, we pretended that we were of the same opinion with them, but
only advised them to be quiet for the present, and to let the enemy go
away, still hoping that Gessius [Florus] would not be long ere he
came, and that with great forces, and so put an end to these seditious
proceedings.

6. But, upon his coming and fighting, he was beaten, and a great many
of those that were with him fell. And this disgrace which Gessius [with
Cestius] received, became the calamity of our whole nation; for those
that were fond of the war were so far elevated with this success, that
they had hopes of finally conquering the Romans. Of which war another
occasion was ministered; which was this:-- Those that dwelt in the
neighboring cities of Syria seized upon such Jews as dwelt among them,
with their wives and children, and slew them, when they had not the
least occasion of complaint against them; for they did neither attempt
any innovation or revolt from the Romans, nor had they given any marks
of hatred or treacherous designs towards the Syrians. But what was done
by the inhabitants of Scythopolis was the most impious and most highly
criminal of all; [6] for when the Jews their enemies came upon them from
without, they forced the Jews that were among them to bear arms against
their own countrymen, which it is unlawful for us to do; [7] and when,
by their assistance, they had joined battle with those who attacked
them, and had beaten them, after that victory they forgot the assurances
they had given these their fellow citizens and confederates, and slew
them all, being in number many ten thousands [13,000]. The like miseries
were undergone by those Jews that were the inhabitants of Damascus. But
we have given a more accurate account of these things in the books of
the Jewish war. I only mention them now, because I would demonstrate to
my readers, that the Jews' war with the Romans was not voluntary, but
that, for the main, they were forced by necessity to enter into it.

7. So when Gessius had been beaten, as we have said already, the
principal men of Jerusalem, seeing that the robbers and innovators had
arms in great plenty, and fearing lest they, while they were unprovided
of arms, should be in subjection to their enemies, which also came to
be the