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had they any courage to revenge themselves； for there was added to the consternation they were in from the enemy； their being betrayed by their own friends； which quite broke their spirits； and at last they died； cursing not the Romans； but their own citizens； till they were all destroyed； being in number twelve thousand。 So Trajan gathered that the city was empty of people that could fight； and although there should a few of them be therein； he supposed that they would be too timorous to venture upon any opposition； so he reserved the taking of the city to the general。 Accordingly； he sent messengers to Vespasian； and desired him to send his son Titus to finish the victory he had gained。 Vespasian hereupon imagining there might be some pains still necessary； sent his son with an army of five hundred horsemen； and one thousand footmen。 So he came quickly to the city； and put his army in order； and set Trajan over the left wing； while he had the right himself； and led them to the siege： and when the soldiers brought ladders to be laid against the wall on every side； the Galileans opposed them from above for a while； but soon afterward they left the walls。 Then did Titus's men leap into the city； and seized upon it presently； but when those that were in it were gotten together； there was a fierce battle between them； for the men of power fell upon the Romans in the narrow streets； and the women threw whatsoever came next to hand at them； and sustained a fight with them for six hours' time； but when the fighting men were spent； the rest of the multitude had their throats cut； partly in the open air； and partly in their own houses； both young and old together。 So there were no males now remaining； besides infants； which； with the women； were carried as slaves into captivity； so that the number of the slain； both now in the city and at the former fight； was fifteen thousand； and the captives were two thousand one hundred and thirty。 This calamity befell the Galileans on the twenty…fifth day of the month Desius ＇Sivan。＇ 32。 Nor did the Samaritans escape their share of misfortunes at this time； for they assembled themselves together upon file mountain called Gerizzim； which is with them a holy mountain； and there they remained； which collection of theirs； as well as the courageous minds they showed； could not but threaten somewhat of war； nor were they rendered wiser by the miseries that had come upon their neighboring cities。 They also； notwithstanding the great success the Romans had； marched on in an unreasonable manner； depending on their own weakness； and were disposed for any tumult upon its first appearance。 Vespasian therefore thought it best to prevent their motions； and to cut off the foundation of their attempts。 For although all Samaria had ever garrisons settled among them； yet did the number of those that were come to Mount Gerizzim； and their conspiracy together； give ground for fear what they would be at； he therefore sent I thither Cerealis； the commander of the fifth legion； with six hundred horsemen； and three thousand footmen； who did not think it safe to go up to the mountain； and give them battle； because many of the enemy were on the higher part of the ground； so he encompassed all the lower part of the mountain with his army； and watched them all that day。 Now it happened that the Samaritans； who were now destitute of water； were inflamed with a violent heat； （for it was summer time； and the multitude had not provided themselves with necessaries；） insomuch that some of them died that very day with heat； while others of them preferred slavery before such a death as that was； and fled to the Romans； by whom Cerealis understood that those which still staid there were very much broken by their misfortunes。 So he went up to the mountain； and having placed his forces round about the enemy； he； in the first place； exhorted them to take the security of his right hand； and come to terms with him； and thereby save themselves； and assured them； that if they would lay down their arms； he would secure them from any harm； but when he could not prevail with them； he fell upon them and slew them all； being in number eleven thousand and six hundred。 This was done on the twenty…seventh day of the month Desius ＇Sivan＇。 And these were the calamities that befell the Samaritans at this time。
33。 But as the people of Jotapata still held out manfully； and bore up tinder their miseries beyond all that could be hoped for； on the forty…seventh day ＇of the siege＇ the banks cast up by the Romans were become higher than the wall； on which day a certain deserter went to Vespasian； and told him how few were left in the city； and how weak they were； and that they had been so worn out with perpetual watching； and as perpetual fighting； that they could not now oppose any force that came against them； and that they might he taken by stratagem； if any one would attack them； for that about the last watch of the night； when they thought they might have some rest from the hardships they were under； and when a morning sleep used to come upon them； as they were thoroughly weary； he said the watch used to fall asleep； accordingly his advice was； that they should make their attack at that hour。 But Vespasian had a suspicion about this deserter； as knowing how faithful the Jews were to one another； and how much they despised any punishments that could be inflicted on them； this last because one of the people of Jotapata had undergone all sorts of torments； and though they made him pass through a fiery trial of his enemies in his examination； yet would he inform them nothing of the affairs within the city； and as he was crucified； smiled at them。 However； the probability there was in the relation itself did partly confirm the truth of what the deserter told them； and they thought he might probably speak truth。 However； Vespasian thought they should be no great sufferers if the report was a sham； so he commanded them to keep the man in custody； and prepared the army for taking the city。
34。 According to which resolution they marched without noise； at the hour that had been told them； to the wall； and it was Titus himself that first got upon it； with one of his tribunes； Domitius Sabinus； and had a few of the fifteenth legion along with him。 So they cut the throats of the watch； and entered the city very quietly。 After these came Cerealis the tribune； and Placidus； and led on those that were tinder them。 Now when the citadel was taken； and the enemy were in the very midst of the city； and when it was already day； yet was not the taking of the city known by those that held it； for a great many of them were fast asleep； and a great mist； which then by chance fell upon the city； hindered those that got up from distinctly seeing the case they were in； till the whole Roman army was gotten in； and they were raised up only to find the miseries they were under； and as they were slaying； they perceived the city was taken。 And for the Romans； they so well remembered what they had suffered during the siege； that they spared none； nor pitied any； but drove the people down the precipice from the citadel； and slew them as they drove them down； at which time the diffi