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But when John, the son of Levi, who, as we before told you,
abode at Gischala, was informed how all things had succeeded to
my mind, and that I was much in favor with those that were under
me, as also that the enemy were greatly afraid of me, he was not
pleased with it, as thinking my prosperity tended to his ruin. So
he took up a bitter envy and enmity against me; and hoping, that
if he could inflame those that were under me to hate me,. he
should put an end to the prosperity I was in, he tried to
persuade the inhabitants of Tiberias and of Sepphoris, (and for
those of Gabara he supposed they would be also of the same mind
with the others,) which were the greatest cities of Galilee, to
revolt from their subjection to me, and to be of his party; and
told them that he would command them better than I did. As for
the people of Sepphoris, who belonged to neither of us, because
they had chosen to be in subjection to the Romans, they did not
comply with his proposal; and for those of Tiberias, they did not
indeed so far comply as to make a revolt from under me, but they
agreed to be his friends, while the inhabitants of Gabara did go
over to John; and it was Simon that persuaded them so to do, one
who was both the principal man in the city, and a particular
friend and companion of John. It is true, these did not openly
own the making a revolt, because they were in great fear of the
Galileans, and had frequent experience of the good-will they bore
to me; yet did they privately watch for a proper opportunity to
lay snares for me; and indeed I thereby came into the greatest
danger, on the occasion following.
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