ntended
one with another which of them should bring home the greatest prey. But
because the city had to struggle with three of the greatest misfortunes,
war, and tyranny, and sedition, it appeared, upon the comparison,
that the war was the least troublesome to the populace of them all.
Accordingly, they ran away from their own houses to foreigners, and
obtained that preservation from the Romans which they despaired to
obtain among their own people.

2. And now a fourth misfortune arose, in order to bring our nation to
destruction. There was a fortress of very great strength not far
from Jerusalem, which had been built by our ancient kings, both as
a repository for their effects in the hazards of war, and for the
preservation of their bodies at the same time. It was called Masada.
Those that were called Sicarii had taken possession of it formerly,
but at this time they overran the neighboring countries, aiming only
to procure to themselves necessaries; for the fear they were then in
prevented their further ravages. But when once they were informed
that the Roman army lay still, and that the Jews were divided between
sedition and tyranny, they boldly undertook greater matters; and at the
feast of unleavened bread, which the Jews celebrate in memory of their
deliverance from the Egyptian bondage, when they were sent back into
the country of their forefathers, they came down by night, without
being discovered by those that could have prevented them, and overran a
certain small city called Engaddi:--in which expedition they prevented
those citizens that could have stopped them, before they could arm
themselves, and fight them. They also dispersed them, and cast them
out of the city. As for such as could not run away, being women and
children, they slew of them above seven hundred. Afterward, when they
had carried every thing out of their houses, and had seized upon all
the fruits that were in a flourishing condition, they brought them into
Masada. And indeed these men laid all the villages that were about the
fortress waste, and made the whole country desolate; while there came to
them every day, from all parts, not a few men as corrupt as themselves.
At that time all the other regions of Judea that had hitherto been at
rest were in motion, by means of the robbers. Now as it is in a human
body, if the principal part be inflamed, all the members are subject to
the same distemper; so, by means of the sedition and disorder that