It so happened that the revolt at Jerusalem was revived,
and parted into three factions, one faction fighting against
the other. . . .
Eleazar,
the son of Simon, who caused the first separation of
the Zealots from the people and made them retire into the
temple, appeared very angry at John's
insolent attacks which he made every day upon the people,
for this man never left off murdering. But the truth was
that he could not bear to submit to a tyrant who had arisen
after him. So wishing to gain the entire power and dominion
for himself, he revolted against John, and took with him
Judas the son of Chelcias and Simon the son of Ezron who
were among the most powerful men. Also with him was Hezekiah
the son of Chobar, a person of eminence. Each of these was
followed by a great many of the Zealots, and they seized
the inner court of the temple and laid their arms upon the
holy gates and over the holy fronts of that court. Because
they had plenty of provisions, they were of good courage,
for there was an abundance of what was consecrated for sacred
use, and they had no compunctions about making use of it.
Yet they were afraid on account of their small number, and
when they had laid up their arms there, they did not stir
from the place they were in. While the various parties in
Jerusalem were distracted by their bitter infighting, Titus's
legions encircled the city.
Whereas beforehand the several parties in Jerusalem had
been dashing one against another perpetually, the war from
outside, which had now suddenly come upon them in a violent
manner, put a stop to their contentions one against another.
The rebels now saw with astonishment the Romans pitching
three different camps, so they began to think of an awkward
sort of alliance and said one to another, "What are we doing
here, and what do we mean when we allow three fortified
walls to be built to coop us in so that we will not be able
to breathe freely? The enemy is securely building a kind
of city in opposition to us while we sit still within our
own walls and become mere spectators of their actions, with
our hands idle and our armor laid by as if they were doing
something that was good for us. We are, it seems," so did
they cry out, "only courageous against ourselves, while
the Romans are likely to gain the city without bloodshed
because of our strife." Thus did they encourage one another
when they had gotten together. Instantly they took their
armor and ran out against the Tenth Legion, falling eagerly
and with a great cry upon the Romans who were fortifying
their camp.
These Romans were caught in different groups, organized
for their various tasks, and they had, therefore, mostly
laid aside their arms, for they thought the Jews would never
venture to make a sally upon them. And had they been disposed
to do so, they supposed that their dissension would distract
them. So the Romans were put into disorder unexpectedly.
Some left their work and immediately marched off, while
many ran to their arms but were struck and killed before
they could turn back upon the enemy.
