THE WARS OF THE JEWS
OR
THE HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
Book IV: Chapter 2
THE SURRENDER OF GISCHALA; WHILE
JOHN FLIES AWAY FROM IT TO JERUSALEM.
1. NOW no place of Galilee remained to be taken but
the small city of Gischala, whose multitude yet were
desirous of peace; for they were generally husbandmen,
and always applied themselves to cultivate the fruits
of the earth. However, there were a great number that
belonged to a band of robbers, that were already
corrupted, and had crept in among them, and some of
the governing part of the citizens were sick of the
same distemper. It was John, the son of a certain man
whose name was Levi, that drew them into this
rebellion, and encouraged them in it. He was a cunning
knave, and of a temper that could put on various
shapes; very rash in expecting great things, and very
sagacious in bringing about what he hoped for. It was
known to every body that he was fond of war, in order
to thrust himself into authority; and the seditious
part of the people of Gischala were under his
management, by whose means the populace, who seemed
ready to send ambassadors in order to a surrender,
waited for the coming of the Romans in battle-array.
Vespasian sent against them Titus, with a thousand
horsemen, but withdrew the tenth legion to Scythopolis,
while he returned to Cesarea with the two other
legions, that he might allow them to refresh
themselves after their long and hard campaign,
thinking withal that the plenty which was in those
cities would improve their bodies and their spirits,
against the difficulties they were to go through
afterwards; for he saw there would be occasion for
great pains about Jerusalem, which was not yet taken,
because it was the royal city, and the principal city
of the whole nation, and because those that had run
away from the war in other places got all together
thither. It was also naturally strong, and the walls
that were built round it made him not a little
concerned about it. Moreover, he esteemed the men that
were in it to be so courageous and bold, that even
without the consideration of the walls, it would be
hard to subdue them; for which reason he took care of
and exercised his soldiers beforehand for the work, as
they do wrestlers before they begin their undertaking.
2. Now Titus, as he rode ut to Gischala, found it
would be easy for him to take the city upon the first
onset; but knew withal, that if he took it by force,
the multitude would be destroyed by the soldiers
without mercy. (Now he was already satiated with the
shedding of blood, and pitied the major part, who
would then perish, without distinction, together with
the guilty.) So he was rather desirous the city might
be surrendered up to him on terms. Accordingly, when
he saw the wall full of those men that were of the
corrupted party, he said to them, - That he could not
but wonder what it was they depended on, when they
alone staid to fight the Romans, after every other
city was taken by them, especially when they have seen
cities much better fortified than theirs is overthrown
by a single attack upon them; while as many as have
intrusted themselves to the security of the Romans'
right hands, which he now offers to them, without
regarding their former insolence, do enjoy their own
possessions in safety; for that while they had hopes
of recovering their liberty, they might be pardoned;
but that their continuance still in their opposition,
when they saw that to be impossible, was inexcusable;
for that if they will not comply with such humane
offers, and right hands for security, they should have
experience of such a war as would spare nobody, and
should soon be made sensible that their wall would be
but a trifle, when battered by the Roman machines; in
depending on which they demonstrate themselves to be
the only Galileans that were no better than arrogant
slaves and captives.
3. Now none of the populace durst not only make a
reply, but durst not so much as get upon the wall, for
it was all taken up by the robbers, who were also the
guard at the gates, in order to prevent any of the
rest from going out, in order to propose terms of
submission, and from receiving any of the horsemen
into the city. But John returned Titus this answer:
That for himself he was content to hearken to his
proposals, and that he would either persuade or force
those that refused them. Yet he said that Titus ought
to have such regard to the Jewish law, as to grant
them leave to celebrate that day, which was the
seventh day of the week, on which it was unlawful not
only to remove their arms, but even to treat of peace
also; and that even the Romans were not ignorant how
the period of the seventh day was among them a
cessation from all labors; and that he who should
compel them to transgress the law about that day would
be equally guilty with those that were compelled to
transgress it: and that this delay could be of no
disadvantage to him; for why should any body think of
doing any thing in the night, unless it was to fly
away? which he might prevent by placing his camp round
about them; and that they should think it a great
point gained, if they might not be obliged to
transgress the laws of their country; and that it
would be a right thing for him, who designed to grant
them peace, without their expectation of such a favor,
to preserve the laws of those they saved inviolable.
Thus did this man put a trick upon Titus, not so much
out of regard to the seventh day as to his own
preservation, for he was afraid lest he should be
quite deserted if the city should be taken, and had
his hopes of life in that night, and in his flight
therein. Now this was the work of God, who therefore
preserved this John, that he might bring on the
destruction of Jerusalem; as also it was his work that
Titus was prevailed with by this pretense for a delay,
and that he pitched his camp further off the city at
Cydessa. This Cydessa was a strong Mediterranean
village of the Tyrians, which always hated and made
war against the Jews; it had also a great number of
inhabitants, and was well fortified, which made it a
proper place for such as were enemies to the Jewish
nation.
4. Now, in the night time, when John saw that there
was no Roman guard about the city, he seized the
opportunity directly, and, taking with him not only
the armed men that where about him, but a considerable
number of those that had little to do, together with
their families, he fled to Jerusalem. And indeed,
though the man was making haste to get away, and was
tormented with fears of being a captive, or of losing
his life, yet did he prevail with himself to take out
of the city along with him a multitude of women and
children, as far as twenty furlongs; but there he left
them as he proceeded further on his journey, where
those that were left behind made sad lamentations; for
the farther every one of them was come from his own
people, the nearer they thought themselves to be to
their enemies. They also affrighted themselves with
this thought, that those who would carry them into
captivity were just at hand, and still turned
themselves back at the mere noise they made themselves
in this their hasty flight, as if those from whom they
fled were just upon them. Many also of them missed
their ways, and the earnestness of such as aimed to
outgo the rest threw down many of them. And indeed
there was a miserable destruction made of the women
and children; while some of them took courage to call
their husbands and kinsmen back, and to beseech them,
with the bitterest lamentations, to stay for them; but
John's exhortation, who cried out to them to save
themselves, and fly away, prevailed. He said also,
that if the Romans should seize upon those whom they
left behind, they would be revenged on them for it. So
this multitude that run thus away was dispersed
abroad, according as each of them was able to run, one
faster or slower than another.
5. Now on the next day Titus came to the wall, to
make the agreement; whereupon the people opened their
gates to him, and came out to him, with their children
and wives, and made acclamations of joy to him, as to
one that had been their benefactor, and had delivered
the city out of custody; they also informed him of
John's flight, and besought him to spare them, and to
come in, and bring the rest of those that were for
innovations to punishment. But Titus, not so much
regarding the supplications of the people, sent part
of his horsemen to pursue after John, but they could
not overtake him, for he was gotten to Jerusalem
before; they also slew six thousand of the women and
children who went out with him, but returned back, and
brought with them almost three thousand. However,
Titus was greatly displeased that he had not been able
to bring this John, who had deluded him, to
punishment; yet he had captives enough, as well as the
corrupted part of the city, to satisfy his anger, when
it missed of John. So he entered the city in the midst
of acclamations of joy; and when he had given orders
to the soldiers to pull down a small part of the wall,
as of a city taken in war, he repressed those that had
disturbed the city rather by threatenings than by
executions; for he thought that many would accuse
innocent persons, out of their own private animosities
and quarrels, if he should attempt to distinguish
those that were worthy of punishment from the rest;
and that it was better to let a guilty person alone in
his fears, that to destroy with him any one that did
not deserve it; for that probably such a one might be
taught prudence, by the fear of the punishment he had
deserved, and have a shame upon him for his former
offenses, when he had been forgiven; but that the
punishment of such as have been once put to death
could never be retrieved. However, he placed a
garrison in the city for its security, by which means
he should restrain those that were for innovations,
and should leave those that were peaceably disposed in
greater security. And thus was all Galilee taken, but
this not till after it had cost the Romans much pains
before it could be taken by them.
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