ne of his
commanders, took a body of horsemen and footmen, and laid waste
that part of Idumea which was called the Upper Idumea, and attacked
Caphethra, which pretended to be a small city, and took it at the first
onset, and burnt it down. He also attacked Caphatabira, and laid siege
to it, for it had a very strong wall; and when he expected to spend a
long time in that siege, those that were within opened their gates on
the sudden, and came to beg pardon, and surrendered themselves up to
him. When Cerealis had conquered them, he went to Hebron, another very
ancient city. I have told you already that this city is situated in a
mountainous country not far off Jerusalem; and when he had broken into
the city by force, what multitude and young men were left therein he
slew, and burnt down the city; so that as now all the places were
taken, excepting Herodlum, and Masada, and Macherus, which were in the
possession of the robbers, so Jerusalem was what the Romans at present
aimed at.

10. And now, as soon as Simon had set his wife free, and recovered her
from the zealots, he returned back to the remainders of Idumea, and
driving the nation all before him from all quarters, he compelled a
great number of them to retire to Jerusalem; he followed them himself
also to the city, and encompassed the wall all round again; and when he
lighted upon any laborers that were coming thither out of the country,
he slew them. Now this Simon, who was without the wall, was a greater
terror to the people than the Romans themselves, as were the zealots who
were within it more heavy upon them than both of the other; and during
this time did the mischievous contrivances and courage [of John] corrupt
the body of the Galileans; for these Galileans had advanced this John,
and made him very potent, who made them suitable requital from the
authority he had obtained by their means; for he permitted them to do
all things that any of them desired to do, while their inclination to
plunder was insatiable, as was their zeal in searching the houses of the
rich; and for the murdering of the men, and abusing of the women, it was
sport to them. They also devoured what spoils they had taken, together
with their blood, and indulged themselves in feminine wantonness,
without any disturbance, till they were satiated therewith; while they
decked their hair, and put on women's garments, and were besmeared over
with ointments; and that they might appear very comely, th