7. But Vespasian, in order to see the kingdom of Agrippa, while the king persuaded himself so
to do, (partly in order to his treating the general and his army in the best and most splendid manner his private affairs
would enable him to do, and partly that he might, by their means, correct such things as were amiss in his government,) he
removed from that Cesarea which was by the sea-side, and went to that which is called Cesarea Philippi
and there he refreshed his army for twenty days, and was himself feasted by king Agrippa, where he also returned public thanks
to God for the good success he had had in his undertakings. But as soon as he was informed that Tiberias was fond of innovations,
and that Tarichere had revolted, both which cities were parts of the kingdom of Agrippa, and was satisfied within himself
that the Jews were every where perverted [from their obedience to their governors], he thought it seasonable to make an expedition
against these cities, and that for the sake of Agrippa, and in order to bring his cities to reason. So he sent away his son
Titus to [the other] Cesarea, that he might bring the army that lay there to Seythopous, which is the largest city of Decapolis,
and in the neighborhood of Tiberias, whither he came, and where he waited for his son. He then came with three legions, and
pitched his camp thirty furlongs off Tiberias, at a certain station easily seen by the innovators; it is named Sennabris.
He also sent Valerian, a decurion, with fifty horsemen, to speak peaceably to those that were in the city, and to exhort them
to give him assurances of their fidelity; for he had heard that the people were desirous of peace, but were obliged by some
of the seditious part to join with them, and so were forced to fight for them. When Valerian had marched up to the place,
and was near the wall, he alighted off his horse, and made those that were with him to do the same, that they might not be
thought to come to skirmish with them; but before they could come to a discourse one with another, the most potent men among
the seditious made a sally upon them armed; their leader was one whose name was Jesus, the son of Shaphat, the principal head
of a band of robbers. Now Valerian, neither thinking it safe to fight contrary to the commands of the general, though he were
secure of a victory, and knowing that it was a very hazardous undertaking for a few to fight with many, for those that were
unprovided to fight those that were ready, and being on other accounts surprised at this unexpected onset of the Jews, he
ran away on foot, as did five of the rest in like manner, and left their horses behind them; which horses Jesus led away into
the city, and rejoiced as if they had taken them in battle, and not by treachery.
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