The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

same situation as [the one] that Josephus exploited with respect to the robbers: the
Galileans paid them fees in the guise of tribute for protection, by virtue of
which they protected Josephus’ position in Galilee.
It is quite probable that the Galileans generally found conditions tolerable by dint of
Josephus’ described procedure [in dealing] with the robbers. In the first instance, they were
freed from the tremendous pressure that weighed heavily on the land because of the activities
of the robbers, and for this reason we understand very well that they acclaimed Josephus
widely as “ benefactor and saviour of the land” (244; 259); they thank him for his skilful
leadership (251) and are convinced that they will suffer no misfortune as long as he is in the
land, whereas they would become easy prey for the robbers after his departure (206/7). On the
other hand it is understandable that some individuals felt that the tyranny of Josephus was too
high a price to pay for the security of Galilee; according to Josephus’ indication there were
evidently only one or two opponents in the individual towns and villages (237) and he
understandably remains silent about their motives. But we may well assume that these
[motives] essentially corresponded to John’s remarks in 302: it was, in fact, an absolutely
ignoble state of affairs that the Galileans themselves were paying the robbers the money that
established and sustained Josephus’ domination. And it is no less understandable that Josephus
was reviled as a tyrant (260; 302), because he openly relied upon the foreign troops of the
robbers; and only the delight in the resultant tranquility in the land may have prevented the
opposition from becoming stronger among the people. The antagonism of John of Gischala was
all the more acrimonious because he was aspiring to the same goals as Josephus, albeit by
different means.
At the same time, John of Gischala held the rights of seniority, if the expression may be
permitted here; because he is already active when Josephus arrives in Galilee, and he is
aspiring to the rulership for himself (νεωτέρων ὀρεγόμενος πραγμάτων καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς
ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων 70); in fact he also has a [112] not inconsiderable force of troops at his
disposal. Josephus reports [in] 371/72 that when they disbanded, 4000 men switched over to
him while only 1500 mercenaries from Tyre remained with John, along with his fellow
townsmen. Therefore John – just like Josephus – had an army that was composed of
mercenaries and townsmen, and one may indeed well surmise for John as well that the real
support of his rulership was based on mercenaries of whom he had 5500 at his disposal.
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