From Josephus, The Jewish War, Book IV, Chapter 2.1-Chapter 3.2

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Gischala, a small town of Galilee, now alone remained to be reduced. The inhabitants, indeed, were disposed to peace; being chiefly husbandmen, whose views had always been confined to their crops: but there had crept in among them a numerous party of brigands, by whom some even of the magistracy had been corrupted. These had been drawn into the insurrection, and encouraged in it, by John, the son of Levi, a man of intrigue, and capable of assuming any character, inclined to indulge vast expectations, and singularly adept in realizing his hopes. He was generally known to have his heart set on wat, with a view to the attainment of supreme power. Under him the malcontents of Gischala had ranged themselves, and through their means it occurred that the townsmen, who had already sent a deputation to treat of a surrender, were induced, in the attitude of defiance, to await the approach of the Romans. Against these Vespasian despatched Titus with a thousand horse, directing the tenth legion to proceed to Scythopolis, while he himself returned with the other two legions to Caesarea, to recruit them after their incessant toil; thinking that the abundant supplies in those cities would invigorate their bodies, and impart fresh alacrity for future conflicts. For he saw that no little labour was in reserve for him, under the walls of Jerusalem, as well because it was the royal city, and the capital of the nation, as from its being the point of conflux for all who fled from the seat of war. Its strength, natural and artificial, occasioned him no ordinary solicitude, more particularly as he conjectured that the high spirit and daring of its people would, even without the aid of fortifications, render their reduction difficult. He accordingly trained his soldiers, like wrestlers, for the combat.

 

Titus, on riding up to Gischala, ascertained that it might easily be carried by assault. But, sensible that should it be taken by storm the people would be consigned to general massacre by the troops—he was himself satiated with slaughter—and moved with compassion for the great body of the people, who would perish indiscriminately with the guilty, he wished the place rather to be surrendered by capitulation. Accordingly, when the ramparts were crowded with men, most of whom were of the corrupted party, he remarked to them, that “he could not but wonder what they relied on, that, after every other city had fallen, they should remain alone in arms against the Romans; especially when they saw much stronger towns overthrown at the first assault, and beheld in the secure enjoyment of their possessions, those who had trusted the proffered pledge of the Romans—that right hand which, uninfluenced by any vindictive feeling for their presumption, he now extended to them. The hope of liberty was pardonable; but perseverance in impossibilities inexcusable. Should they decline this humane proposal, and the pledge of good faith, they would experience his relentless arms, and would soon be made to know that their ramparts would be mere pastime for the Roman engines—those ramparts, reliance on which had placed them alone of the Galilaeans, in the light of arrogant captives.”  

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To this address, not only were none of the citizens permitted to reply, but not even were they allowed to ascend the wall; for it had been completely pre-occupied by the brigands: while guards had been posted at the gates, to prevent the egress of those who wished to go out on terms, or the admission of any of the cavalry into the town. John replied that ‘‘he was satisfied with these conditions, and would either persuade or coerce the recusants. Titus must, however, grant him that day, the seventh, in deference to the Jewish law, as on it they were forbidden alike to use arms, or to treat of peace. Even the Romans were not ignorant that the recurrence of the seventh day brought them a cessation from all labour: and he who compelled to its violation would be not less impious than those compelled. And to him this delay could cause no injury; for, what could anyone contemplate in a night beyond a mere escape; which he could guard against by encamping around the city? To them, the gain would be great, not to have transgressed their national usage: while to the individual who granted an unexpected peace, it would be seemly to preserve also their institutions to those thus saved.” By such language John imposed on Titus, for his own personal safety was more the object of his solicitude than the seventh day; and under the apprehension that, should the town be taken, he would immediately be deserted, he rested his hopes of life on darkness and flight. It was, however, the work of God, who thus preserved John for the destruction of Jerusalem, that Titus was not only prevailed upon by this pretext of delay, but induced to encamp farther from the-city, at Cydoessa. This is a strong inland village of the Tyrians, always at feud and variance with the Galileans, as having, in its numerous population and strength, resources for its quarrel with that nation.  

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At nightfall, John, seeing no Roman guard about the town, seized the opportunity, and accompanied not only by what soldiers were with him, but by many of the idler sort, attended by their families, fled towards Jerusalem. Goaded by the dread of captivity, and fear for his life, he managed to drag with him a crowd of women and children to the distance of twenty furlongs; but there, proceeding on his journey, he abandoned them; and dreadful were their wailings when thus forsaken, for, the farther they were from their friends, the nearer they fancied themselves to their foes.  Thinking that those who were about to make them prisoners were already at hand, they were agitated with alarms; and looked about at the sound of each other’s steps, as if their pursuers were upon them. Many, too, strayed into pathless wastes, and in the strife who should outstrip the other on the road, many were trodden to death. Piteous was the fate of the women and children; a few of whom summoned courage to call back their husbands and relations, imploring them with bitter cries to wait for them. But John's exhortations prevailed. ‘‘Save yourselves,” he called aloud, ‘‘and flee to some place of security, where we may avenge ourselves on the Ro- mans, if they plunder those we leave behind.” Accordingly, as strength or speed severally enabled them, the crowd of fugitives dispersed.  

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When day broke, Titus appeared before the wall to propose terms. The people threw open the gates, and approaching him with their children and wives, greeted him with acclamations as a benefactor, who had liberated their city from duress. They informed him, at the same time, of John’s flight, entreating him to spare them, to advance into the town, and punish the malcontents who remained. Titus, however, deeming the supplications of the people of secondary importance, despatched a squadron of cavalry in pursuit of John. But the chase proved fruitless; and he escaped in safety to Jerusalem. Of those who accompanied him, however, they slew about six thousand, and brought back, driving them before them, nearly three thousand women and children. Titus was exceedingly chagrined at not having visited John’s deceit with instant chastisement; but with prisoners in abundance, and the slain, to solace his disappointed resentment, he entered the city amidst universal acclaim; and having directed the troops to throw down, agreeably to the law of capture, a little of the wall, he repressed the disturbers of the public peace rather by threats than punishments. For he feared that, should he endeavour to discover those who merited chastisement, many from personal dislike, or private differences, would accuse the innocent; and he thought it better to leave the guilty in alarm and suspense, than to involve any who did not deserve his resentment, in their destruction. Such might, perhaps, learn wisdom from the dread of punishment, and respect the pardon of past delinquencies: whereas death once inflicted, was irremediable. He secured the town, however, by a garrison, as well to check the insurgents, as to encourage the peace- ably disposed. Thus, after occasioning the Romans countless toils, was the whole of Galilee subdued. 

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No sooner had John set foot within Jerusalem, than the whole population poured forth, crowding in thousands round the several fugitives, and eagerly inquiring what calamities had happened without. But though their respiration, still short and heated, indicated how compulsory had been their movements, they blustered under their disasters, stating that they had not fled from the Romans, but had come to contend with them on safer ground. ‘‘It would have been irrational and useless,” said they, “recklessly to expose ourselves to danger for Gischala, and such ill-fortified little towns. It behoves us rather to husband our arms and energies for the capital, and combine in its defence.”  When, however, they related the fall of Gischala, men generally considered their so-styled honourable withdrawal from it, as no better than a flight: and when the news arrived of the fate of the prisoners, the utmost consternation seized the people, who thence gathered assured presages of their own capture. John, meanwhile, who blushed not for his desertion of his friends, going his rounds, inclined them severally to warlike measures by exciting their hopes; setting forth in false colours the weakness of the Romans; extolling their own strength, and ridiculing the ignorance of the inexperienced: remarking, that even should the Romans take wings, they would never surmount the ramparts of Jerusalem. They had met with difficulties enough among the villages of Galilee, and had shattered their engines against the walls.  

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By these harangues a large body of the youth were seduced, and incited to hostilities. But of the prudent and aged, there was not one who did not mourn over the prospect of the future, as if the hour of the city’s dissolution had already arrived. Such was the confusion which now prevailed among the citizens; but prior to the insurrection in Jerusalem, disturbances had broken out in the country. For Titus had already proceeded from Gischala to Caesarea, and Vespasian from Caesarea to Jamnia and Azotus; and having reduced those towns, and thrown garrisons into them, returned, bringing a vast multitude who had surrendered under promise of protection. Tumult and civil war now agitated every city; and such as were allowed breathing time by the Romans, turned their hands against one another.