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let it stand； but if thou hast not yet dedicated it； do not
trouble thyself further about it； but dismiss thy army； go back；
and take care of those affairs which I sent thee about at first；
for I have now no occasion for the erection of that statue。 This
I have granted as a favor to Agrippa； a man whom I honor so very
greatly； that I am not able to contradict what he would have； or
what he desired me to do for him。〃 And this was what Caius wrote
to Petronius； which was before he received his letter； informing
him that the Jews were very ready to revolt about the statue； and
that they seemed resolved to threaten war against the Romans； and
nothing else。 When therefore Caius was much displeased that any
attempt should be made against his government as he was a slave
to base and vicious actions on all occasions； and had no regard
to What was virtuous and honorable； and against whomsoever he
resolved to show his anger； and that for any cause whatsoever； he
suffered not himself to be restrained by any admonition； but
thought the indulging his anger to be a real pleasure； he wrote
thus to Petronius： 〃Seeing thou esteemest the presents made thee
by the Jews to be of greater value than my commands； and art
grown insolent enough to be subservient to their pleasure； I
charge thee to become thy own judge； and to consider what thou
art to do； now thou art under my displeasure； for I will make
thee an example to the present and to all future ages； that they。
may not dare to contradict the commands of their emperor。〃
9。 This was the epistle which Caius wrote to。 Petronius； but
Petronius did not receive it while Caius was alive； that ship
which carried it sailing so slow； that other letters came to
Petronius before this； by which he understood that Caius was
dead； for God would not forget the dangers Petronius had
undertaken on account of the Jews； and of his own honor。 But when
he had taken Caius away； out of his indignation of what he had so
insolently attempted in assuming to himself divine worship； both
Rome and all that dominion conspired with Petronius； especially
those that were of the senatorian order； to give Caius his due
reward； because he had been unmercifully severe to them； for he
died not long after he had written to Petronius that epistle
which threatened him with death。 But as for the occasion of his
death； and the nature of the plot against him； I shall relate
them in the progress of this narration。 Now that epistle which
informed Petronius of Caius's death came first； and a little
afterward came that which commanded him to kill himself with his
own hands。 Whereupon he rejoiced at this coincidence as to the
death of Caius； and admired God's providence； who； without the
least delay； and immediately； gave him a reward for the regard he
had to the temple； and the assistance he afforded the Jews for
avoiding the dangers they were in。 And by this means Petronius
escaped that danger of death； which he could not foresee。
CHAPTER 9。
What Befell The Jews That Were In Babylon On Occasion Of Asineus
And Anileus； Two Brethren；
1。 A Very sad calamity now befell the Jews that were in
Mesopotamia； and especially those that dwelt in Babylonia。
Inferior it was to none of the calamities which had gone before；
and came together with a great slaughter of them； and that
greater than any upon record before； concerning all which I shall
speak accurately； and shall explain the occasions whence these
miseries came upon them。 There was a city of Babylonia called
Neerda； not only a ver populous one； but one that had a good and
a large territory about it； and； besides its other advantages；
full of men also。 It was； besides； not easily to be assaulted by
enemies； from the river Euphrates encompassing it all round； and
from the wails that were built about it。 There was also the city
Nisibis； situate on the same current of the river。 For which
reason the Jews； depending on the natural strength of these
places； deposited in them that half shekel which every one； by
the custom of our country； offers unto God； as well as they did
other things devoted to him； for they made use of these cities as
a treasury； whence； at a proper time； they were transmitted to
Jerusalem； and many ten thousand men undertook the carriage of
those donations； out of fear of the ravages of the Parthians； to
whom the Babylonians were then subject。 Now there were two men；
Asineus and Anileus； of the city Neerda by birth； and brethren to
one another。 They were destitute of a father； and their mother
put them to learn the art of weaving curtains； it not being
esteemed ；disgrace among them for men to be weavers of cloth。 Now
he that taught them that art； and was set over them； complained
that they came too late to their work； and punished them with
stripes； but they took this just punishment as an affront； and
carried off all the weapons which were kept in that house； which
were not a few； and went into a certain place where was a
partition of the rivers； and was a place naturally very fit for
the feeding of cattle； and for preserving such fruits as were
usually laid up against winter。 The poorest sort of the young men
also resorted to them； whom they armed with the weapons they had
gotten； and became their captains； and nothing hindered them from
being their leaders into mischief； for as soon as they were
become invincible； and had built them a citadel； they sent to
such as fed cattle； and ordered them to pay them so much tribute
out of them as might be sufficient for their maintenance；
proposing also that they would be their friends； if they would
submit to them； and that they would defend them from all their
other enemies on every side； but that they would kill the cattle
of those that refused to obey them。 So they hearkened to their
proposals； （for they could do nothing else；） and sent them as
many sheep as were required of them； whereby their forces grew
greater； and they became lords over all they pleased； because
they marched suddenly； and did them a mischief； insomuch that
every body who had to do with them chose to pay them respect； and
they became formidable to such as came to assault them； till the
report about them came to the ears of the king of Parthia
himself。
2。 But when the governor of Babylonia understood this； and had a
mind to put a stop to them before they grew greater； and before
greater mischiefs should arise from them； he got together as
great an army as he could； both of Parthians and Babylonians； and
marched against them； thinking to attack them and destroy them
before any one should carry them the news that he had got an army
together。 He then encamped at a lake； and lay still； but on the
next day （it was the sabbath； which is among the Jews a day of
rest from all sorts of work） he supposed that the enemy would not
dare to fight him thereon； but that he would take them and carry
them away prisoners； without fighting。 He therefore proceeded
gradually； and thought to fall upon them on the sudden。 Now
Asineus was sitting with the rest； and their weapons lay by them；
upon which he said； 〃Sirs； I hear a neighing of horses； not of
such as are feedi