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[135]
As to Josephus, his retiring to that city which he chose as the most
fit for his security, put it into great fear; for the people of Tiberias
did not imagine that he would have run away, unless he had entirely despaired
of the success of the war. And indeed, as to that point, they were not
mistaken about his opinion; for he saw whither the affairs of the Jews
would tend at last, and was sensible that they had but one way of escaping,
and that was by repentance. However, although he expected that the Romans
would forgive him, yet did he chose to die many times over, rather than
to betray his country, and to dishonor that supreme command of the army
which had been intrusted with him, or to live happily under those against
whom he was sent to fight. He determined, therefore, to give an exact account
of affairs to the principal men at Jerusalem by a letter, that he might
not, by too much aggrandizing the power of the enemy, make them too timorous;
nor, by relating that their power beneath the truth, might encourage them
to stand out when they were perhaps disposed to repentance. He also sent
them word, that if they thought of coming to terms, they must suddenly
write him an answer; or if they resolved upon war, they must send him an
army sufficient to fight the Romans. Accordingly, he wrote these things,
and sent messengers immediately to carry his letter to Jerusalem.
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