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[143]
But these were not satisfied with the bonds into which they had put
the men forementioned; nor did they think it safe for them to keep them
thus in custody long, since they were men very powerful, and had numerous
families of their own that were able to avenge them. Nay, they thought
the very people would perhaps be so moved at these unjust proceedings,
as to rise in a body against them; it was therefore resolved to have them
slain accordingly, they sent one John, who was the most bloody-minded of
them all, to do that execution: this man was also called "the son
of Dorcas," 1
in the language of our country. Ten more men went along with him into the
prison, with their swords drawn, and so they cut the throats of those that
were in custody there. The grand lying pretence these men made for so flagrant
an enormity was this, that these men had had conferences with the Romans
for a surrender of Jerusalem to them; and so they said they had slain only
such as were traitors to their common liberty. Upon the whole, they grew
the more insolent upon this bold prank of theirs, as though they had been
the benefactors and saviors of the city.
1 This name Dorcas in Greek, was Tabitha in Hebrew or Syriac, as Acts 9:36. Accordingly, some of the manuscripts set it down here Tabetha or Tabeta. Nor can the context in Josephus be made out by supposing the reading to have been this: "The son of Tabitha; which, in the language of our country, denotes Dorcas" [or a doe].
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