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[541]
In the mean time, Josephus, as he was going round the city, had his
head wounded by a stone that was thrown at him; upon which he fell down
as giddy. Upon which fall of his the Jews made a sally, and he had been
hurried away into the city, if Caesar had not sent men to protect him immediately;
and as these men were fighting, Josephus was taken up, though he heard
little of what was done. So the seditious supposed they had now slain that
man whom they were the most desirous of killing, and made thereupon a great
noise, in way of rejoicing. This accident was told in the city, and the
multitude that remained became very disconsolate at the news, as being
persuaded that he was really dead, on whose account alone they could venture
to desert to the Romans. But when Josephus's mother heard in prison that
her son was dead, she said to those that watched about her, That she had
always been of opinion, since the siege of Jotapata, [that he would be
slain,] and she should never enjoy him alive any more. She also made great
lamentation privately to the maid-servants that were about her, and said,
That this was all the advantage she had of bringing so extraordinary a
person as this son into the world; that she should not be able even to
bury that son of hers, by whom she expected to have been buried herself.
However, this false report did not put his mother to pain, nor afford merriment
to the robbers, long; for Josephus soon recovered of his wound, and came
out, and cried out aloud, That it would not be long ere they should be
punished for this wound they had given him. He also made a fresh exhortation
to the people to come out upon the security that would be given them. This
sight of Josephus encouraged the people greatly, and brought a great consternation
upon the seditious.
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