all Syria were terrible, and every city was divided into
two armies, encamped one against another, and the preservation of the
one party was in the destruction of the other; so the day time was spent
in shedding of blood, and the night in fear, which was of the two the
more terrible; for when the Syrians thought they had ruined the Jews,
they had the Judaizers in suspicion also; and as each side did not care
to slay those whom they only suspected on the other, so did they
greatly fear them when they were mingled with the other, as if they were
certainly foreigners. Moreover, greediness of gain was a provocation to
kill the opposite party, even to such as had of old appeared very mild
and gentle towards them; for they without fear plundered the effects of
the slain, and carried off the spoils of those whom they slew to their
own houses, as if they had been gained in a set battle; and he was
esteemed a man of honor who got the greatest share, as having prevailed
over the greatest number of his enemies. It was then common to see
cities filled with dead bodies, still lying unburied, and those of old
men, mixed with infants, all dead, and scattered about together; women
also lay amongst them, without any covering for their nakedness: you
might then see the whole province full of inexpressible calamities,
while the dread of still more barbarous practices which were threatened
was every where greater than what had been already perpetrated.

3. And thus far the conflict had been between Jews and foreigners; but
when they made excursions to Scythopolis, they found Jew that acted as
enemies; for as they stood in battle-array with those of Scythopolis,
and preferred their own safety before their relation to us, they fought
against their own countrymen; nay, their alacrity was so very great,
that those of Scythopolis suspected them. These were afraid, therefore,
lest they should make an assault upon the city in the night time, and,
to their great misfortune, should thereby make an apology for themselves
to their own people for their revolt from them. So they commanded them,
that in case they would confirm their agreement and demonstrate their
fidelity to them, who were of a different nation, they should go out of
the city, with their families to a neighboring grove; and when they had
done as they were commanded, without suspecting any thing, the people of
Scythopolis lay still for the interval of two days, to tempt them to be
secure