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So I suspected nothing, and went away to Tarichese; yet did I withal
leave some to make inquiry in the city how matters went, and whether any
thing was said about me: I also set many persons all the way that led from
Tarichese to
Tiberias, that they might communicate from one to another,
if they learned any news from those that were left in the city. On the
next day, therefore, they all came into the Proseucha;
1
it was a large edifice, and capable of receiving a great number of people;
thither Jonathan went in, and though he durst not openly speak of a revolt,
yet did he say that their city stood in need of a better governor than
it then had. But Jesus, who was the ruler, made no scruple to speak out,
and said openly," O fellow citizens! it is better for you to be in
subjection to four than to one; and those such as are of high birth, and
not without reputation for their wisdom;" and pointed to Jonathan
and his colleagues. Upon his saying this, Justus came in and commended
him for what he had said, and persuaded some of the people to be of his
mind also. But the multitude were not pleased with what was said, and had
certainly gone into a tumult, unless the sixth hour, which was now come,
had dissolved the assembly, at which hour our laws require us to go to
dinner on sabbath days; so Jonathan and his colleagues put off their council
till the next day, and went off without success. When I was informed of
these affairs, I determined to go to the city of
Tiberias in the morning.
Accordingly, on the next day, about the first hour of the day, I came from
Tarichee, and found the multitude already assembled in the Proseucha; but
on what account they were gotten together, those that were assembled did
not know. But when Jonathan and his colleagues saw me there unexpectedly,
they were in disorder; after which they raised a report of their own contrivance,
that Roman horsemen were seen at a place called Union, in the borders of
Galilee, thirty furlongs distant from the city. Upon which report, Jonathan
and his colleagues cunningly exhorted me not to neglect this matter, nor
to suffer the land to be spoiled by the enemy. And this they said with
a design to remove me out of the city, under the pretense of the want of
extraordinary assistance, while they might dispose the city to be my enemy.