Josephus was appointed to the command of Galilee, with particular charge of the strong city of Gamala.  He raised in that province in the north an army of more than a hundred thousand young men, whom he armed and exercised after the Roman manner; and he formed a council of seventy, and appointed seven judges in each city.  He sought to unite the people and to win their goodwill.  But great trouble arose from the treachery of his enemy, John of Gischala, who surpassed all men in craft and deceit.  He gathered a force of 4,000 robbers and wasted Galilee, while he inflamed the dissensions in the cities, and sent messengers to Jerusalem accusing Josephus of tyranny.  Tiberias and several cities revolted, but Josephus suppressed the risings, severely punishing many of the leaders.  John retired to the robbers at Masada, and took to plundering Idumsea.

IV.—­Vespasian and Josephus

Nero, on learning from the messengers the state of affairs, at first regarded the revolt lightly; but presently grew alarmed, and appointed to the command of the armies in Syria, and the task of subduing the Jews, Vespasian, who had pacified the West when it was disordered by the Germans, and had also recovered Britain for the Romans.  He came to Antioch in the early spring, and was there joined by Agrippa and all his forces.  He marched to Ptolemais, where he was met by his son Titus, who had, with expedition unusual in the winter season, sailed from Achaia to Alexandria.  So the Roman army now numbered 60,000 horsemen and footmen, besides large numbers of camp followers who were also accustomed to military service and could fight on occasion.

The war was now opened.  Josephus attempted no resistance in the open field, and the people had been directed to fly to the fortified cities.  The strongest of all these was Jotapata, and here Josephus commanded in person.  Being very desirous of demolishing it, Vespasian besieged it with his whole army.  It was defended with the greatest vigour, but was, after fierce conflicts, taken in the thirteenth year of the reign of Nero, on the first day of the month Panemus (July).  During this dreadful siege, and at the capture, 40,000 men fell.  The Romans sought in vain for the body of Josephus, their stubborn enemy.  He had leaped down the shaft of a dry well leading to a long cavern.  A woman betrayed the hiding-place, and Josephus was taken and brought before the conqueror, of whom he had demanded from his captors a private conference.  To Vespasian he announced that he and his son would speedily attain the imperial dignity.  Vespasian was conciliated by the speech of his prisoner, whom he treated with kindness; for though he did not release him from his bonds, he bestowed on him suits of clothes and other precious gifts.

Joppa, Tiberias, Taricheae, and Gamala were taken, both Romans and Jews perishing in the conflicts.  Soon afterwards, by the capture of Gischala, all Galilee was subdued, John of Gischala fleeing to Jerusalem.