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When I had said this, Jonathan and his colleagues held their peace;
but the people were still more irritated against them, upon their openly
showing their unjust ill-will to me. When Jesus saw this change in file
people, he ordered them to depart, but desired the senate to stay; for
that they could not examine things of such a nature in a tumult: and as
the people were crying out that they would not leave me alone, there came
one and told Jesus and his friends privately, that John and his armed men
were at hand: whereupon Jonathan and his colleagues, being able to contain
themselves no longer, (and perhaps the providence of God hereby procuring
my deliverance, for had not this been so, I had certainly been destroyed
by John,) said, "O you people of Tiberias! leave off this inquiry
about the twenty pieces of gold; for Josephus hath not deserved to die
for them; but he hath deserved it by his desire of tyrannizing, and by
cheating the multitude of the Galileans with his speeches, in order to
gain the dominion over them." When he had said this, they presently
laid hands upon me, and endeavored to kill me: but as soon as those that
were with me saw what they did, they drew their swords, and threatened
to smite them, if they offered any violence to me. The people also took
up stones, and were about to throw them at Jonathan; and so they snatched
me from the violence of my enemies.
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