it, I sent a message to the people of Tiberias, and advised them
to lay their arms aside, and to dismiss their men, that they
might go home. But, supposing that Jonathan, and those that were
with him, were already arrived at Jerusalem, they made
reproachful answers to me; yet was I not terrified thereby, but
contrived another stratagem against them, for I did not think it
agreeable with piety to kindle the fire of war against the
citizens. As I was desirous to draw those men away from Tiberias,
I chose out ten thousand of the best of my armed men, and divided
them into three bodies, and ordered them to go privately, and lie
still as an ambush, in the villages. I also led a thousand into
another village, which lay indeed in the mountains, as did the
others, but only four furlongs distant from Tiberias; and gave
orders, that when they saw my signal, they should come down
immediately, while I myself lay with my soldiers in the sight of
every body. Hereupon the people of Tiberias, at the sight of me,
came running out of the city perpetually, and abused me greatly.
Nay, their madness was come to that height, that they made a
decent bier for me, and, standing about it, they mourned over me
in the way of jest and sport; and I could not but be myself in a
pleasant humor upon the sight of this madness of theirs.

63. And now being desirous to catch Simon by a wile, and Joazar
with him, I sent a message to them, and desired them to come a
little way out of the city, and many of their friends to guard
them; for I said I would come down to them, and make a league
with them, and divide the government of Galilee with them.
Accordingly, Simon was deluded on account of his imprudence, and
out of the hopes of gain, and did not delay to come; but Joazar,
suspecting snares were laid for him, staid behind. So when Simon