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[614]
But as for John, his envy grew greater [upon this escape of Josephus],
and he framed a new plot against him; he pretended to be sick, and by a
letter desired that Josephus would give him leave to use the hot baths
that were at Tiberias, for the recovery of his health. Hereupon Josephus,
who hitherto suspected nothing of John's plots against him, wrote to the
governors of the city, that they would provide a lodging and necessaries
for John; which favors, when he had made use of, in two days' time he did
what he came about; some he corrupted with delusive frauds, and others
with money, and so persuaded them to revolt from Josephus. This Silas,
who was appointed guardian of the city by Josephus, wrote to him immediately,
and informed him of the plot against him; which epistle when Josephus had
received, he marched with great diligence all night, and came early in
the morning to Tiberias; at which time the rest of the multitude met him.
But John, who suspected that his coming was not for his advantage, sent
however one of his friends, and pretended that he was sick, and that being
confined to his bed, he could not come to pay him his respects. But as
soon as Josephus had got the people of Tiberias together in the stadium,
and tried to discourse with them about the letters that he had received,
John privately sent some armed men, and gave them orders to slay him. But
when the people saw that the armed men were about to draw their swords,
they cried out; at which cry Josephus turned himself about, and when he
saw that the swords were just at his throat, he marched away in great haste
to the sea-shore, and left off that speech which he was going to make to
the people, upon an elevation of six cubits high. He then seized on a ship
which lay in the haven, and leaped into it, with two of his guards, and
fled away into the midst of the lake.
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