father earnestly pressed me also in his letter to come to him,
for that he longed to see his son before he died. I informed my
friends of these things, and that in three days' time I should
leave the country, and go home. Upon hearing this, they were all
very sorry, and desired me, with tears in their eyes, not to
leave them to be destroyed; for so they thought they should be,
if I were deprived of the command over them: but as I did not
grant their request, but was taking care of my own safety, the
Galileans, out of their dread of the consequence of my departure,
that they should then be at the mercy of the robbers, sent
messengers over all Galilee to inform them of my resolution to
leave them. Whereupon, as soon as they heard it, they got
together in great numbers, from all parts, with their wives and
children; and this they did, as it appeared to me, not more out
of their affection to me, than out of their fear on their own
account; for while I staid with them, they supposed that they
should suffer no harm. So they all came into the great plain,
wherein I lived, the name of which was Asochis.

42. But wonderful it was what a dream I saw that very night; for
when I had betaken myself to my bed, as grieved and disturbed at
the news that had been written to me, it seemed to me, that a
certain person stood by me, (18) and said, "O Josephus! leave off
to afflict thy soul, and put away all fear; for what now grieves
thee will render thee very considerable, and in all respects most
happy; for thou shalt get over not only these difficulties, but
many others, with great success. However, be not cast down, but
remember that thou art to fight with the Romans." When I had seen
this dream, I got up with an intention of going down to the
plain. Now, when the whole multitude of the Galileans, among whom