phecies belonging to their own country; for there was a certain
ancient oracle of those men, that the city should then be taken and
the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should invade the
Jews, and their own hand should pollute the temple of God. Now while
these zealots did not [quite] disbelieve these predictions, they made
themselves the instruments of their accomplishment.

CHAPTER 7.

How John Tyrannized Over The Rest; And What Mischiefs The
Zealots Did At Masada. How Also Vespasian Took Gadara; And
What Actions Were Performed By Placidus.

1. By this time John was beginning to tyrannize, and thought it beneath
him to accept of barely the same honors that others had; and joining to
himself by degrees a party of the wickedest of them all, he broke
off from the rest of the faction. This was brought about by his still
disagreeing with the opinions of others, and giving out injunctions
of his own, in a very imperious manner; so that it was evident he was
setting up a monarchical power. Now some submitted to him out of their
fear of him, and others out of their good-will to him; for he was a
shrewd man to entice men to him, both by deluding them and putting
cheats upon them. Nay, many there were that thought they should be safer
themselves, if the causes of their past insolent actions should now be
reduced to one head, and not to a great many. His activity was so great,
and that both in action and in counsel, that he had not a few guards
about him; yet was there a great party of his antagonists that left him;
among whom envy at him weighed a great deal, while they thought it a
very heavy thing to be in subjection to one that was formerly their
equal. But the main reason that moved men against him was the dread of
monarchy, for they could not hope easily to put an end to his power,
if he had once obtained it; and yet they knew that he would have this
pretense always against them, that they had opposed him when he was
first advanced; while every one chose rather to suffer any thing
whatsoever in war, than that, when they had been in a voluntary slavery
for some time, they should afterward perish. So the sedition was divided
into two parts, and John reigned in opposition to his adversaries over
one of them: but for their leaders, they watched one another, nor
did they at all, or at least very little, meddle with arms in their
quarrels; but they fought earnestly against the people, and co