d into his own bowels. This
young man was to be pitied, on account of the strength of his body and
the courage of his soul; but since he had assured foreigners of his
fidelity [against his own countrymen], he suffered deservedly.

5. Besides this murder at Scythopolis, the other cities rose up against
the Jews that were among them; those of Askelon slew two thousand five
hundred, and those of Ptolemais two thousand, and put not a few into
bonds; those of Tyre also put a great number to death, but kept a
greater number in prison; moreover, those of Hippos, and those of
Gadara, did the like while they put to death the boldest of the Jews,
but kept those of whom they were afraid in custody; as did the rest of
the cities of Syria, according as they every one either hated them or
were afraid of them; only the Antiochtans the Sidontans, and Apamians
spared those that dwelt with them, and would not endure either to kill
any of the Jews, or to put them in bonds. And perhaps they spared them,
because their own number was so great that they despised their
attempts. But I think the greatest part of this favor was owing to their
commiseration of those whom they saw to make no innovations. As for the
Gerasans, they did no harm to those that abode with them; and for those
who had a mind to go away, they conducted them as far as their borders
reached.

6. There was also a plot laid against the Jews in Agrippa's kingdom; for
he was himself gone to Cestius Gallus, to Antioch, but had left one
of his companions, whose name was Noarus, to take care of the public
affairs; which Noarus was of kin to king Sohemus. [26] Now there
came certain men seventy in number, out of Batanea, who were the most
considerable for their families and prudence of the rest of the people;
these desired to have an army put into their hands, that if any tumult
should happen, they might have about them a guard sufficient to restrain
such as might rise up against them. This Noarus sent out some of the
king's armed men by night, and slew all those [seventy] men; which bold
action he ventured upon without the consent of Agrippa, and was such
a lover of money, that he chose to be so wicked to his own countrymen,
though he brought ruin on the kingdom thereby; and thus cruelly did he
treat that nation, and this contrary to the laws also, until Agrippa
was informed of it, who did not indeed dare to put him to death, out
of regard to Sohemus; but still he put an end to hi