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When I had laid these commands upon them, I gave them orders,
and bid them take their arms and bring three days' provision with
them, and be with me the next day. I also parted those that were
about me into four parts, and ordained those of them that were
most faithful to me to be a guard to my body. I also set over
them centurions, and commanded them to take care that not a
soldier which they did not know should mingle himself among them.
Now, on the fifth day following, when I was at Gabaroth, I found
the entire plain that was before the village full of armed men,
who were come out of Galilee to assist me: many others of the
multitude, also, out of the village, ran along with me. But as
soon as I had taken my place, and began to speak to them, they
all made an acclamation, and called me the benefactor and savior
of the country. And when I had made them my acknowledgments, and
thanked them [for their affection to me], I also advised them to
fight with nobody, nor to spoil the country; but to pitch
their tents in the plain, and be content with their sustenance
they had brought with them; for I told them that I had a mind to
compose these troubles without shedding any blood. Now it came to
pass, that on the very same day those who were sent by John with
letters, fell among the guards whom I had appointed to watch the
roads; so the men were themselves kept upon the place, as my
orders were, but I got the letters, which were full of reproaches
and lies; and I intended to fall upon these men, without saying a
word of these matters to any body.
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