came Vespasian； and ordered them all to stand in the stadium； and commanded them to kill the old men； together with the others that were useless； which were in number a thousand and two hundred。 Out of the young men he chose six thousand of the strongest； and sent them to Nero； to dig through the Isthmus； and sold the remainder for slaves； being thirty thousand and four hundred； besides such as he made a present of to Agrippa； for as to those that belonged to his kingdom； he gave him leave to do what he pleased with them； however； the king sold these also for slaves； but for the rest of the multitude； who were Trachonites； and Gaulanites； and of Hippos； and some of Gadara； the greatest part of them were seditious persons and fugitives； who were of such shameful characters； that they preferred war before peace。 These prisoners were taken on the eighth day of the month Gorpiaeus ＇Elul＇。
WAR BOOK 3 NOTES
（1） Take the confirmation of this in the words of Suetonius； here produced by Dr。 Hudson： 〃In the reign of Claudius；〃 says he； 〃Vespasian； for the sake of Narcissus； was sent as a lieutenant of a legion into Germany。 Thence he removed into Britain 〃 battles with the enemy。〃 In Vesp。 sect。 4。 We may also here note from Josephus； that Claudius the emperor； who triumphed for the conquest of Britain； was enabled so to do by Vespasian's conduct and bravery； and that he is here styled 〃the father of Vespasian。〃
（2） Spanheim and Reland both agree； that the two cities here esteemed greater than Antioch； the metropolis of Syria； were Rome and Alexandria； nor is there any occasion for doubt in so plain a case。
（3） This description of the exact symmetry and regularity of the Roman army； and of the Roman encampments； with the sounding their trumpets； etc。 and order of war； described in this and the next chapter； is so very like to the symmetry and regularity of the people of Israel in the wilderness； （see Description of the Temples； ch。 9。；） that one cannot well avoid the supposal； that the one was the ultimate pattern of the other； and that the tactics of the ancients were taken from the rules given by God to Moses。 And it is thought by some skillful in these matters； that these accounts of Josephus； as to the Roman camp and armor； and conduct in war； are preferable to those in the Roman authors themselves。
（4） I cannot but here observe an Eastern way of speaking； frequent among them； but not usual among us； where the word 〃only〃 or 〃alone〃 is not set down； but perhaps some way supplied in the pronunciation。 Thus Josephus here says； that those of Jotapata slew seven of the Romans as they were marching off； because the Romans' retreat was regular； their bodies were covered over with their armor； and the Jews fought at some distance； his meaning is clear； that these were the reasons why they slew only； or no more than seven。 I have met with many the like examples in the Scriptures； in Josephus； etc。； but did not note down the particular places。 This observation ought to be borne in mind upon many occasions。
（5） These public mourners； hired upon the supposed death of Josephus； and the real death of many more； illustrate some passages in the Bible； which suppose the same custom； as Matthew 11：17； where the reader may consult the notes of Grotius。
（6） Of this Cesarea Philippi （twice mentioned in our New Testament； Matthew 16：13； Mark 8；27） there are coins still extant； Spanheim here informs us。
（7） I do not know where to find the law of Moses here mentioned by Josephus； and afterwards by Eleazar； 13。 VII。 ch。 8。 sect。 7； and almost implied in B。 I。 ch。 13。 sect。 10； by Josephus's commendation of Phasaelus for doing so； I mean； whereby Jewish generals and people were obliged to kill themselves； rather than go into slavery under heathens。 I doubt this would have been no better than 〃self…murder；〃 and I believe it was rather some vain doctrine； or interpretation； of the rigid Pharisees； or Essens； or Herodiaus； than a just consequence from any law of God delivered by Moses。
（7） It may be worth our while to observe here； that near this lake of Gennesareth grapes and figs hang on the trees ten months of the year。 We may observe also； that in Cyril of Jerusalem； Cateehes。 18。 sect。 3； which was delivered not long before Easter； there were no fresh leaves of fig trees； nor bunches of fresh grapes in Judea； so that when St。 Mark says； ch。 11。 ver。 13； that our Savior； soon after the same time of the year； came and 〃found leaves〃 on a fig tree near Jerusalem； but 〃no figs； because the time of〃 new 〃figs〃 ripening 〃was not yet；〃 he says very true； nor were they therefore other than old leaves which our Savior saw； and old figs which he expected； and which even with us commonly hang on the trees all winter long。
（8） This is the most cruel and barbarous action that Vespasian ever did in this whole war； as he did it with great reluctance also。 It was done both after public assurance given of sparing the prisoners' lives； and when all knew and confessed that these prisoners were no way guilty of any sedition against the Romans。 Nor indeed did Titus now give his consent； so far as appears； nor ever act of himself so barbarously； nay； soon after this； Titus grew quite weary of shedding blood； and of punishing the innocent with the guilty； and gave the people of Gischala leave to keep the Jewish sabbath； B。 IV。 ch。 2。 sect。 3； 5； in the midst of their siege。 Nor was Vespasian disposed to do what he did； till his officers persuaded him； and that from two principal topics； viz。 that nothing could be unjust that was done against Jews； and that when both cannot be consistent； advantage must prevail over justice。 Admirable court doctrines these！
BOOK IV。 Containing The Interval Of About One Year。 From The Siege Of Gamala To The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem。 CHAPTER 1。 The Siege And Taking Of Gamala。 1。 Now all those Galileans who； after the taking of Jotapata； had revolted from the Romans； did； upon the conquest of
Taricheae； deliver themselves up to them again。 And the Romans received all the fortresses and the cities； excepting Gischala and those that had seized upon Mount Tabor； Gamala also； which is a city ever against Tarichem； but on the other side of the lake； conspired with them。 This city lay Upon the borders of Agrippa's kingdom； as also did Sogana and Scleucia。 And these were both parts of Gaulanitis； for Sogana was a part of that called the Upper Gaulanitis； as was Gamala of the Lower； while Selcucia was situated at the lake Semechouitis； which lake is thirty furlongs in breadth； and sixty in length； its marshes reach as far as the place Daphne； which in other respects is a delicious place； and hath such fountains as supply water to what is called Little Jordan； under the temple of the golden calf； （1） where it is sent into Great Jordan。 Now Agrippa had united Sogana and Seleucia by leagues to himself； at the very beginning of the revolt from the Romans； yet did not Gamala accede to them； but relied upon the difficulty of the place； which was greater than that of Jotapata； for it was situated upon a rough ridge of a high mountain； with a kind of neck in the middle： where it begins to ascend； it lengthens itself； and declines as much downward before as behind； insomuch that it is like a camel in figure； from whence it is so named； although the people of the country do not pronounce it accurately。 Both on the side and the face there are abrupt parts divided from the rest； and ending in vast deep valleys； yet are the parts behind； where they are joined to the mountain； somewhat easier of ascent than the other； but then the people belonging to the place have cut an oblique ditch there； and made that hard to be ascended also。 On its acclivity； which is straight； houses are built； and those very thick and close to one another。 The city also hangs so strangely； that it looks as if it would fall down upon itself； so sharp is it at the top。 It is exposed to the south； and its southern mount； which reaches to an immense height； was in the nature of a citadel to the city； and above that was a precipice； not walled about； but extending itself to an immense depth。 There was also a spring of water within the wall； at the utmost limits of the city。 2。 As this city was naturally hard to be taken； so had Josephus； by building a wall about it； made it still stronger； as also by ditches and mines under ground。 The people that were in it were made more bold by the nature of the place than the people of Jotapata had been； but it had much fewer fighting men in it； and they had such a confidence in the situation of the place； that they thought the enemy could not be too many for them； for the city had been filled with those that had fled to it for safety； on account of its strength； on which account they had been able to resist those whom Agrippa sent to besiege it for seven months together。 3。 But Vespasian removed from Emmaus； where he had last pitched his camp before the city Tiberias； （now Emmaus； if it be interpreted； may be rendered 〃a warm bath；〃 for therein is a spring of warm water； useful for healing；） and came to Gamala； yet was its situation such that he was not able to encompass it all round with soldiers to watch it； but where the places were practicable； he set men to watch it； and seized upon the mountain which was over it。 And as the legions； according to their usual custom； were fortifying their camp upon that mountain； he began to cast up banks at the bottom； at the part towards the east； where the highest tower of the whole city was； and where the fifteenth legion pitched their camp； while the fifth legion did duty over against the midst of the city； and whilst the tenth legion filled up the ditches and the valleys。 Now at this time it was that as king Agrippa was come nigh the walls； and was endeavoring to speak to those that were on the walls about a surrender； he was hit with a stone on his right elbow by one of the slingers； he was then immediately surrounded with his own men。 But the Romans were excited to set