one else. This loss to the
Romans was but light, there being no more than a few slain out of an
immense army; but still it appeared to be a prelude to the Jews' own
destruction, while men made public lamentation when they saw that such
occasions were afforded for a war as were incurable; that the city
was all over polluted with such abominations, from which it was but
reasonable to expect some vengeance, even though they should escape
revenge from the Romans; so that the city was filled with sadness, and
every one of the moderate men in it were under great disturbance,
as likely themselves to undergo punishment for the wickedness of the
seditious; for indeed it so happened that this murder was perpetrated on
the sabbath day, on which day the Jews have a respite from their works
on account of Divine worship.

CHAPTER 18.

The Calamities And Slaughters That Came Upon The Jews.

1. Now the people of Cesarea had slain the Jews that were among them
on the very same day and hour [when the soldiers were slain], which
one would think must have come to pass by the direction of Providence;
insomuch that in one hour's time above twenty thousand Jews were killed,
and all Cesarea was emptied of its Jewish inhabitants; for Florus caught
such as ran away, and sent them in bonds to the galleys. Upon which
stroke that the Jews received at Cesarea, the whole nation was greatly
enraged; so they divided themselves into several parties, and laid waste
the villages of the Syrians, and their neighboring cities, Philadelphia,
and Sebonitis, and Gerasa, and Pella, and Scythopolis, and after them
Gadara, and Hippos; and falling upon Gaulonitis, some cities they
destroyed there, and some they set on fire, and then went to Kedasa,
belonging to the Tyrians, and to Ptolemais, and to Gaba, and to Cesarea;
nor was either Sebaste [Samaria] or Askelon able to oppose the violence
with which they were attacked; and when they had burnt these to the
ground; they entirely demolished Anthedon and Gaza; many also of the
villages that were about every one of those cities were plundered, and
an immense slaughter was made of the men who were caught in them.

2. However, the Syrians were even with the Jews in the multitude of
the men whom they slew; for they killed those whom they caught in their
cities, and that not only out of the hatred they bare them, as formerly,
but to prevent the danger under which they were from them; so that the
disorders in