In Jerusalem the
factions tore each other. In Galilee let the Jewish leader Josephus,
under whom Caleb was fighting, do what he would, Vespasian and his
generals stormed city after city, massacring their inhabitants by
thousands and tens of thousands. In the coast towns and elsewhere
Syrians and Jews made war. The Jews assaulted Gadara and Gaulonitis,
Sebaste and Ascalon, Anthedon and Gaza, putting many to the sword.
Then came their own turn, for the Syrians and Greeks rose upon them and
slaughtered them without mercy. As yet, however, there had been no blood
shed in Tyre, though all knew that it must come. The Essenes, who
had been driven from their home by the Dead Sea and taken refuge in
Jerusalem, sent messengers to Miriam warning her to flee from Tyre,
where a massacre was being planned; warning her also not to come to
Jerusalem, which city they believed to be doomed, but to escape, if
possible over sea. Nor was this all, for her own people, the Christians,
besought her to fly for her life's sake with them to the city of Pella,
where they were gathering from Jerusalem and all Judaea. To both Miriam
answered that what her grandsire did, that she must do. If he fled,
she would fly; if he stayed at Tyre, she would stay; if he went to
Jerusalem, she would go; for he had been good to her and she had sworn
that while he lived she would not desert him.
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