time； even when the actors could have no way incurred their
hatred； since those writers lived a long time after them。 But as
to those that have no regard to truth； they may write as they
please； for in that they take delight： but as to ourselves； who
have made truth our direct aim； we shall briefly touch upon what
only belongs remotely to this undertaking； but shall relate what
hath happened to us Jews with great accuracy； and shall not
grudge our pains in giving an account both of the calamities we
have suffered； and of the crimes we have been guilty of。 I will
now therefore return to the relation of our own affairs。
4。 For in the first year of the reign of Nero； upon the death of
Azizus； king of Emesa； Soemus； his brother； succeeded in his
kingdom； and Aristobulus； the son of Herod； king of Chalcis； was
intrusted by Nero with the government of the Lesser Armenia。
Caesar also bestowed on Agrippa a certain part of Galilee；
Tiberias； and Tarichae； （18） and ordered them to submit to his
jurisdiction。 He gave him also Julias； a city of Perea； with
fourteen villages that lay about it。
5。 Now as for the affairs of the Jews； they grew worse and worse
continually； for the country was again filled with robbers and
impostors； who deluded the multitude。 Yet did Felix catch and put
to death many of those impostors every day； together with the
robbers。 He also caught Eleazar； the son of Dineas； who had
gotten together a company of robbers； and this he did by
treachery； for he gave him assurance that he should suffer no
harm； and thereby persuaded him to come to him； but when he came；
he bound him； and sent him to Rome。 Felix also bore an ill…will
to Jonathan； the high priest； because he frequently gave him
admonitions about governing the Jewish affairs better than he
did； lest he should himself have complaints made of him by the
multitude； since he it was who had desired Caesar to send him as
procurator of Judea。 So Felix contrived a method whereby he might
get rid of him； now he was become so continually troublesome to
him； for such continual admonitions are grievous to those who are
disposed to act unjustly。 Wherefore Felix persuaded one of
Jonathan's most faithful friends； a citizen of Jerusalem； whose
name was Doras； to bring the robbers upon Jonathan； in order to
kill him； and this he did by promising to give him a great deal
of money for so doing。 Doras complied with the proposal； and
contrived matters so； that the robbers might murder him after the
following manner： Certain of those robbers went up to the city；
as if they were going to worship God； while they had daggers
under their garments； and by thus mingling themselves among the
multitude they slew Jonathan （19） and as this murder was never
avenged； the robbers went up with the greatest security at the
festivals after this time； and having weapons concealed in like
manner as before； and mingling themselves among the multitude；
they slew certain of their own enemies； and were subservient to
other men for money； and slew others； not only in remote parts of
the city； but in the temple itself also； for they had the
boldness to murder men there； without thinking of the impiety of
which they were guilty。 And this seems to me to have been the
reason why God； out of his hatred of these men's wickedness；
rejected our city； and as for the temple； he no longer esteemed
it sufficiently pure for him to inhabit therein； but brought the
Romans upon us； and threw a fire upon the city to purge it； and
brought upon us； our wives； and children； slavery； as desirous to
make us wiser by our calamities。
6。 These works； that were done by the robbers； filled the city
with all sorts of impiety。 And now these impostors and deceivers
persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness； and
pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs；
that should be performed by the providence of God。 And many that
were prevailed on by them suffered the punishments of their
folly； for Felix brought them back； and then punished them。
Moreover； there came out of Egypt （20） about this time to
Jerusalem one that said he was a prophet； and advised the
multitude of the common people to go along with him to the Mount
of Olives； as it was called； which lay over against the city； and
at the distance of five furlongs。 He said further； that he would
show them from hence how； at his command； the walls of Jerusalem
would fall down； and he promised them that he would procure them
an entrance into the city through those walls； when they were
fallen down。 Now when Felix was informed of these things； he
ordered his soldiers to take their weapons； and came against them
with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem； and
attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him。 He also
slew four hundred of them； and took two hundred alive。 But the
Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight； but did not appear any
more。 And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war
with the Romans； and said they ought not to obey them at all； and
when any persons would not comply with them； they set fire to
their villages； and plundered them。
7。 And now it was that a great sedition arose between the Jews
that inhabited Cesarea； and the Syrians who dwelt there also；
concerning their equal right to the privileges belonging to
citizens； for the Jews claimed the pre…eminence； because Herod
their king was the builder of Cesarea； and because he was by
birth a Jew。 Now the Syrians did not deny what was alleged about
Herod； but they said that Cesarea was formerly called Strato's
Tower； and that then there was not one Jewish inhabitant。 When
the presidents of that country heard of these disorders； they
caught the authors of them on both sides； and tormented them with
stripes； and by that means put a stop to the disturbance for a
time。 But the Jewish citizens depending on their wealth； and on
that account despising the Syrians； reproached them again； and
hoped to provoke them by such reproaches。 However； the Syrians；
though they were inferior in wealth； yet valuing themselves
highly on this account； that the greatest part of the Roman
soldiers that were there were either of Cesarea or Sebaste； they
also for some time used reproachful language to the Jews also；
and thus it was； till at length they came to throwing stones at
one another； and several were wounded； and fell on both sides；
though still the Jews were the conquerors。 But when Felix saw
that this quarrel was become a kind of war； he came upon them on
the sudden； and desired the Jews to desist； and when they refused
so to do； he armed his soldiers； and sent them out upon them； and
slew many of them； and took more of them alive； and permitted his
soldiers to plunder some of the houses of the citizens； which
were full of riches。 Now those Jews that were more moderate； and
of principal dignity among them； were afraid of themselves； and
desired of Felix that he would sound a retreat to his soldiers；
and spare them for the future； and afford them room for
repentance for what they had done； and Felix was prevailed upon
to do so。
8。 About this time king Agrippa gave the high priesthood to
Ismael； who was the son of Fabi。 And now arose a sedition between
the high priests and the principal men of the multitude of
Jerusalem； each of which got them a company of the boldest sort
of men； and of those that loved innovations about them； and
became leaders to them； and when they struggled together； they
did it by casting reproachful words against one another； and by
throwing stones also。 And there was nobody to reprove them； but
these disorders were done after a licentious manner in the city；
as if it had no government over it。 And such was the impudence
（21） and boldness that had seized on the high priests； that they
had the hardiness to send their servants into the
threshing…floors； to take away those tithes that were due to the
priests； insomuch that it so fell out that the poorest sort of
the priests died for want。 To this degree did the violence of the
seditious prevail over all right and justice。
9。 Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by
Nero； the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up
to Rome to accuse Felix； and he had certainly been brought to
punishment； unless Nero had yielded to the importunate
solicitations of his brother Pallas； who was at that time had in
the greatest honor by him。 Two of the principal Syrians in
Cesarea persuaded Burrhus； who was Nero's tutor； and secretary
for his Greek epistles； by giving him a great sum of money； to
disannul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which
they hitherto enjoyed。 So Burrhus； by his solicitations； obtained
leave of the emperor that an epistle should be written to that
purpose。 This epistle became the occasion of the following
miseries that befell our nation； for when the Jews of Cesarea
were informed of the contents of this epistle to the Syrians；
they were more disorderly than before； till a war was kindled。
10。 Upon Festus's coming into Judea； it happened that Judea was
afflicted by the robbers； while all the villages were set on
fire； and plundered by them。 And then it was that the sicarii； as
they were called； who were robbers； grew numerous。 They made use
of small swords； not much different in length from the Persian
acinacae； but somewhat crooked； and like the Roman sicae； ＇or
sickles；＇ as they were called； and from these weapons these
robbers got their denomination； and with these weapons they slew
a great many； for they mingled themselves among the multitude at
their festivals； when they were come up in crowds from all parts
to the city to worship God； as we said before； and easily slew
those that they had a mind to slay。 They also came frequently
upon the villages belonging to their enemies； with their weapons；
and plundered them； and set them on fire。 So Festus sent forces；
both horsemen and footmen； to fall upon those that had been
seduced by a certain impostor； who promised them deliverance and
freedom from the miseries they were under； if they would but
follow him as far as the wilderness。 Accordingly；