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ventured to make a sally out of the place； and a terrible battle
ensued； wherein； though it is true the Romans beat their
adversaries； yet were not the Jews daunted in their resolutions；
even when they had the sight of that terrible slaughter that was
made of them； but they went round about； and got upon those
cloisters which encompassed the outer court of the temple； where
a great fight was still continued； and they cast stones at the
Romans； partly with their hands； and partly with slings； as being
much used to those exercises。 All the archers also in array did
the Romans a great deal of mischief； because they used their
hands dexterously from a place superior to the others； and
because the others were at an utter loss what to do； for when
they tried to shoot their arrows against the Jews upwards； these
arrows could not reach them； insomuch that the Jews were easily
too hard for their enemies。 And this sort of fight lasted a great
while； till at last the Romans； who were greatly distressed by
what was done； set fire to the cloisters so privately； that those
that were gotten upon them did not perceive it。 This fire （15）
being fed by a great deal of combustible matter； caught hold
immediately on the roof of the cloisters； so the wood； which was
full of pitch and wax； and whose gold was laid on it with wax；
yielded to the flame presently； and those vast works； which were
of the highest value and esteem； were destroyed utterly； while
those that were on the roof unexpectedly perished at the same
time； for as the roof tumbled down； some of these men tumbled
down with it； and others of them were killed by their enemies who
encompassed them。 There was a great number more； who； out of
despair of saving their lives； and out of astonishment at the
misery that surrounded them； did either cast themselves into the
fire； or threw themselves upon their swords； and so got out of
their misery。 But as to those that retired behind the same way by
which they ascended； and thereby escaped； they were all killed by
the Romans； as being unarmed men； and their courage failing them；
their wild fury being now not able to help them； because they
were destitute of armor； insomuch that of those that went up to
the top of the roof； not one escaped。 The Romans also rushed
through the fire； where it gave them room so to do； and seized on
that treasure where the sacred money was reposited； a great part
of which was stolen by the soldiers； and Sabinus got openly four
hundred talents。
3。 But this calamity of the Jews' friends； who fell in this
battle； grieved them； as did also this plundering of the money
dedicated to God in the temple。 Accordingly； that body of them
which continued best together； and was the most warlike；
encompassed the palace； and threatened to set fire to it； and
kill all that were in it。 Yet still they commanded them to go out
presently； and promised； that if they would do so； they would not
hurt them； nor Sabinus neither； at which time the greatest part
of the king's troops deserted to them； while Rufus and Gratus；
who had three thousand of the most warlike of Herod's army with
them； who were men of active bodies； went over to the Romans。
There was also a band of horsemen under the command of Ruffis；
which itself went over to the Romans also。 However； the Jews went
on with the siege； and dug mines under the palace walls； and
besought those that were gone over to the other side not to be
their hinderance； now they had such a proper opportunity for the
recovery of their country's ancient liberty； and for Sabinus；
truly he was desirous of going away with his soldiers； but was
not able to trust himself with the enemy； on account of what
mischief he had already done them； and he took this great
＇pretended＇ lenity of theirs for an argument why he should not
comply with them； and so； because he expected that Varus was
coming； he still bore the siege。
4。 Now at this time there were ten thousand other disorders in
Judea； which were like tumults； because a great number put
themselves into a warlike posture； either out of hopes of gain to
themselves； or out of enmity to the Jews。 In particular； two
thousand of Herod's old soldiers； who had been already disbanded；
got together in Judea itself； and fought against the king's
troops； although Achiabus； Herod's first cousin； opposed them；
but as he was driven out of the plains into the mountainous parts
by the military skill of those men； he kept himself in the
fastnesses that were there； and saved what he could。
5。 There was also Judas； （16） the son of that Ezekias who had
been head of the robbers； which Ezekias was a very strong man；
and had with great dificulty been caught by Herod。 This Judas；
having gotten together a multitude of men of a profligate
character about Sepphoris in Galilee； made an assault upon the
palace ＇there；＇ and seized upon all the weapons that were laid up
in it； and with them armed every one of those that were with him；
and carried away what money was left there； and he became
terrible to all men； by tearing and rending those that came near
him； and all this in order to raise himself； and out of an
ambitious desire of the royal dignity； and he hoped to obtain
that as the reward not of his virtuous skill in war； but of his
extravagance in doing injuries。
6。 There was also Simon； who had been a slave of Herod the king；
but in other respects a comely person； of a tall and robust body；
he was one that was much superior to others of his order； and had
had great things committed to his care。 This man was elevated at
the disorderly state of things； and was so bold as to put a
diadem on his head； while a certain number of the people stood by
him； and by them he was declared to be a king； and thought
himself more worthy of that dignity than any one else。 He burnt
down the royal palace at Jericho； and plundered what was left in
it。 He also set fire to many other of the king's houses in
several places of the country； and utterly destroyed them； and
permitted those that were with him to take what was left in them
for a prey； and he would have done greater things； unless care
had been taken to repress him immediately； for Gratus； when he
had joined himself to some Roman soldiers； took the forces he had
with him； and met Simon； and after a great and a long fight； no
small part of those that came from Perea； who were a disordered
body of men； and fought rather in a bold than in a skillful
manner； were destroyed； and although Simon had saved himself by
flying away through a certain valley； yet Gratus overtook him；
and cut off his head。 The royal palace also at Amathus； by the
river Jordan； was burnt down by a party of men that were got
together； as were those belonging to Simon。 And thus did a great
and wild fury spread itself over the nation； because they had no
king to keep the multitude in good order； and because those
foreigners who came to reduce the seditious to sobriety did； on
the contrary； set them more in a flame； because of the injuries
they offered them； and the avaricious management of their
affairs。
7。 But because Athronges； a person neither eminent by the digni