twenty pieces of gold which thou didst
receive upon the sale of a certain weight of uncoined money? I replied,
that I had given them to those ambassadors of theirs, as a maintenance
for them, when they were sent by them to Jerusalem. So Jonathan and his
colleagues said that I had not done well to pay the ambassadors out of
the public money. And when the multitude were very angry at them for
this, for they perceived the wickedness of the men, I understood that a
tumult was going to arise; and being desirous to provoke the people to
a greater rage against the men, I said, "But if I have not done well in
paying our ambassadors out of the public stock, leave off your anger at
me, for I will repay the twenty pieces of gold myself."

58. When I had said this, Jonathan and his colleagues held their peace;
but the people were still more irritated against them, upon their openly
showing their unjust ill-will to me. When Jesus saw this change in file
people, he ordered them to depart, but desired the senate to stay; for
that they could not examine things of such a nature in a tumult: and
as the people were crying out that they would not leave me alone, there
came one and told Jesus and his friends privately, that John and his
armed men were at hand: whereupon Jonathan and his colleagues, being
able to contain themselves no longer, [and perhaps the providence of
God hereby procuring my deliverance, for had not this been so, I had
certainly been destroyed by John,] said, "O you people of Tiberias!
leave off this inquiry about the twenty pieces of gold; for Josephus
hath not deserved to die for them; but he hath deserved it by his desire
of tyrannizing, and by cheating the multitude of the Galileans with his
speeches, in order to gain the dominion over them." When he had said
this, they presently laid hands upon me, and endeavored to kill me: but
as soon as those that were with me saw what they did, they drew their
swords, and threatened to smite them, if they offered any violence to
me. The people also took up stones, and were about to throw them at
Jonathan; and so they snatched me from the violence of my enemies.

59. But as I was gone out a little way, I was just upon meeting John,
who was marching with his armed men. So I was afraid of him, and turned
aside, and escaped by a narrow passage to the lake, and seized on a
ship, and embarked in it, and sailed over to Tarichese. So, beyond my
expectation, I escaped this danger. Where