Vespasian had not followed up his success
at Jotapata by a march against Jerusalem. His army had suffered
very heavy losses in the siege; and the desperate valor which the
defenders of the town had shown had, doubtless, impressed upon his
mind the formidable nature of the task he had undertaken.

If a little mountain town had cost him so dearly, what would not be
the loss which would be entailed by the capture of a city like
Jerusalem, with its position of vast natural strength, its solid
and massive fortifications; and defended, as it would be, by the
whole strength of the Jewish nation, fighting with the fury of
religious fanaticism and despair! His army, strong as it was, would
doubtless capture the city, but at such a cost that it might be
crippled for further action; and Vespasian was keeping one eye upon
Rome, and wished to have his army complete, and in perfect order,
in readiness for anything that might occur there.

Therefore, after the fall of Jotapata he marched first to Caesarea
and, after a short halt there, passed north to Caesarea
Philippi--where the climate, cooled by the breezes from the
mountains, was pleasant and healthful--and here he gave the army
twenty days to rest, and recover from their wounds and fatigues. He
then marched south again to Scythopolis, or Bethsan, lying just
within the borders of Samaria, and not far from the Jordan. Here
Titus, with a detached force, joined him; and they prepared to
reduce the cities near the lake.

Simon had by this time returned home, accompanied by John and
Jonas. Simon tried to persuade his son to remain with his mother,
but John had entreated that he might accompany him.

"The war may last for a long time, father; and the land must be
tilled, else why should you yourself return home? We are in the
province of King Agrippa and, after what has befallen Jotapata and
Japha, it is not likely that the people of Hippos, or of other
towns, will venture to show disaffection--therefore there is no
reason why the Romans should carry fire and sword through Agrippa's
country, east of Jordan. It is well that my mother and Mary should
not return for, if evil days should come, they could not save
themselves by rapid flight; besides we risk but death, and death
were a thousand times better than slavery among the Romans. If we
find that they are approaching, and are wasting the land, we can
fly. The boats are close by; and we can take to the lake, and land
where we wil