| Jerusalem's chief leaders support Josephus' rule in Galilee | ||||
60. Now in a few days, those ambassadors whom he had sent came back again and informed us, that the people were greatly provoked at Ananus and Simon the son of Gamaliel and their friends; that, without any public decision, they had sent to Galilee and had made all endeavours that I might be turned out of the government. The ambassadors said further, that the people were ready to burn their houses. They also brought letters, whereby the chief men of Jerusalem, at the earnest petition of the people, confirmed me in the government of Galilee and enjoined Jonathan and his colleagues to return home quickly. When I had gotten these letters, I came to the village Arbela, where I procured an assembly of the Galileans to meet and bid the ambassadors declare to them the anger of the people of Jerusalem at what had been done by Jonathan and his colleagues and how much they hated their wicked doings and how they had confirmed me in the government of their country, as also what related to the order they had in writing for Jonathan and his colleagues to return home. So I immediately sent them the letter and bid him that carried it to inquire, as well as he could, how they intended to act [on this occasion.] | ||||
61. Now, when they had received that letter and were thereby greatly disturbed, they sent for John and for the senators of Tiberias and for the principal men of the Gabarenes and proposed to hold a council and asked them to consider what was to be done. However, the governors of Tiberias were greatly disposed to keep the government to themselves; for they said it was not fit to desert their city, now it was committed to their trust and that otherwise I should not delay to fall upon them; for they pretended falsely that so I had threatened to do. Now John was not only of their opinion, but advised them, that two of them should go to accuse me before the multitude [at Jerusalem], that I do not manage the affairs of Galilee as I ought to do; and that they would easily persuade the people, because of their dignity and because the whole multitude are very mutable. When, therefore, it appeared that John had suggested the wisest advice to them, they resolved that two of them, Jonathan and Ananias, should go to the people of Jerusalem and the other two [Simon and Joazar] should be left behind to tarry at Tiberias. They also took along with them a hundred soldiers for their guard. | ||||