own advantage, and preferred peace above all things; for he was
thoroughly sensible that the Romans were not to be
conquered. He also foresaw that of necessity a war would
follow, and that unless the Jews made up matters with them very
dexterously, they would be destroyed; to say all in a word, if
Ananus had survived, they had certainly compounded matters; for
he was a shrewd man in speaking and persuading the people, and
had already gotten the mastery of those that opposed his designs,
or were for the war. And the Jews had then put abundance of
delays in the way of the Romans, if they had had such a general
as he was. Jesus was also joined with him; and although he was
inferior to him upon the
comparison, he was superior to the rest; and I cannot but think
that it was because God had doomed this city to
destruction, as a polluted city, and was resolved to purge his
sanctuary by fire, that he cut off these their great defenders
and well-wishers, while those that a little before had worn the
sacred garments, and had presided over the public worship; and
had been esteemed venerable by those that dwelt on the whole
habitable earth when they came into our city, were cast out
naked, and seen to be the food of dogs and wild beasts. And I
cannot but imagine that virtue itself groaned at these men's
case, and lamented that she was here so terribly
conquered by wickedness. And this at last was the end of Ananus
and Jesus.

3. Now after these were slain, the zealots and the multitude of
the Idumeans fell upon the people as upon a flock of
profane animals, and cut their throats; and for the ordinary
sort, they were destroyed in what place soever they caught them.