country to the
frontier of Idumea, and captured the towns Betaris and Caphartobas,
putting to the sword about ten thousand men. Then he marched back,
by Emmaus and Sichem, descended the hills and marched to Jericho;
where he was joined by Placidus, with the troops from Peraea.

The city had been deserted by its inhabitants, and the Roman army
rested here for some time until, just as Vespasian was about to
march upon Jerusalem, the news arrived of the death of Nero and,
unwilling to weaken his army by besieging the city--strong in
itself, and defended by a host--Vespasian withdrew to Caesarea and,
for another two years, Jerusalem had time for preparation, or
submission.

As Vespasian's march had, except when he was crossing the mountains
from Emmaus to Sichem, lain entirely in the plains, John had been
able to do but little. Half the force had been sent across the
Jordan, and its operations had greatly added to the difficulties
Placidus had met with in subduing Peraea The other companies had
closely followed the march of Vespasian, had made many attacks upon
parties dispatched to pillage the country and, after the Romans
marched north again, besieged and captured some of the small places
in which they had left garrisons.

They had united when the two Roman armies met at Jericho; and were
prepared to defend, desperately, the rugged mountain roads leading
thence to Jerusalem when, to their surprise, they saw the Roman
host moving away to the north again.

As soon as they ascertained that Vespasian had, for the present,
entirely abandoned the idea of attacking Jerusalem, and that his
troops had gone into permanent quarters, John held a council with
the other commanders. Some were in favor of remaining in arms, and
of constantly attacking the Roman garrisons. Others were for
scattering and returning to their homes--from which they had now
been absent three months--until the Romans again set themselves in
motion against Jerusalem. Opinions were about equally divided, and
John remained silent until all had spoken. Then he said:

"I think that we had better disperse. If we remained in arms, we
might gain some successes, we might surprise and slay some Roman
garrisons; but the others would speedily prepare themselves against
attack, by strengthening their walls and taking every precaution.
But, did we succeed in destroying the garrisons in every one of the
towns they have captured, of what benefit would it be? It would
r