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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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