s, under the eyes of those that had supported them, and that their
wicked actions would be laid to the charge of the Idumeans, and would
be so laid to their charge till somebody obstructs their proceedings, or
separates himself from the same wicked action; that they therefore ought
to retire home, since the imputation of treason appears to be a Calumny,
and that there was no expectation of the coming of the Romans at this
time, and that the government of the city was secured by such walls as
cannot easily be thrown down; and, by avoiding any further fellowship
with these bad men, to make some excuse for themselves, as to what they
had been so far deluded, as to have been partners with them hitherto.

CHAPTER 6.

How The Zealots When They Were Freed From The Idumeans, Slew
A Great Many More Of The Citizens; And How Vespasian
Dissuaded The Romans When They Were Very Earnest To March
Against The Jews From Proceeding In The War At That Time.

1. The Idumeans complied with these persuasions; and, in the first
place, they set those that were in the prisons at liberty, being about
two thousand of the populace, who thereupon fled away immediately to
Simon, one whom we shall speak of presently. After which these Idumeans
retired from Jerusalem, and went home; which departure of theirs was
a great surprise to both parties; for the people, not knowing of their
repentance, pulled up their courage for a while, as eased of so many of
their enemies, while the zealots grew more insolent not as deserted by
their confederates, but as freed from such men as might hinder their
designs, and plat some stop to their wickedness. Accordingly, they
made no longer any delay, nor took any deliberation in their enormous
practices, but made use of the shortest methods for all their executions
and what they had once resolved upon, they put in practice sooner than
any one could imagine. But their thirst was chiefly after the blood
of valiant men, and men of good families; the one sort of which they
destroyed out of envy, the other out of fear; for they thought their
whole security lay in leaving no potent men alive; on which account they
slew Gorion, a person eminent in dignity, and on account of his family
also; he was also for democracy, and of as great boldness and freedom
of spirit as were any of the Jews whosoever; the principal thing that
ruined him, added to his other advantages, was his free speaking. Nor
did Niger of