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When I had said this, Jonathan and his colleagues held their
peace; but the people were still more irritated against them,
upon their openly showing their unjust ill-will to me. When Jesus
saw this change in file people, he ordered them to depart, but
desired the senate to stay; for that they could not examine
things of such a nature in a tumult: and as the people were
crying out that they would not leave me alone, there came one and
told Jesus and his friends privately, that John and his armed men
were at hand: whereupon Jonathan and his colleagues, being able
to contain themselves no longer, (and perhaps the providence of
God hereby procuring my deliverance, for had not this been so, I
had certainly been destroyed by John,) said, "O you people of
Tiberias! leave off this inquiry about the twenty pieces of gold;
for Josephus hath not deserved to die for them; but he hath
deserved it by his desire of tyrannizing, and by cheating the
multitude of the Galileans with his speeches, in order to gain
the dominion over them." When he had said this, they presently
laid hands upon me, and endeavored to kill me: but as soon as
those that were with me saw what they did, they drew their
swords, and threatened to smite them, if they offered any
violence to me. The people also took up stones, and were about to
throw them at Jonathan; and so they snatched me from the violence
of my enemies.
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