Nogle interessante oplysninger om Flavious Josephus. Proceduren
er den samme som det der skete ved den infamøse Masada massakre i år 73.
Den katolske encyclopedia (længere nede) forj´klarer det lidt anderledes.
http://44.1911encyclopedia.org/J/JO/JOSEPHUS_FLAVIUS.htm
In. the spring of 67 the Jewish troops,~ whom Josephus had drilled so
sedulously, fled before the Roman forces of Vespasian and Titus. He sent to
Jerusalem for reinforcements, but none came. With the stragglers who
remained, he held a stronghold against the Romans by dint of his native
cunning, and finally, when the place was taken, persuaded forty men, who
shared his hiding-place, to kill one another in turn rather than commit
suicide. They agreed to cast lots, on the understanding that the second
should kill the first and so on. Josephus providentially drew the last lot
and prevailed upon his destined victim to live. Their companions were all
dead in accordance with the compact; but Josephus at any rate survived and
surrendered. Being led before Vespasian, he was inspired to prophesy that
Vespasian would become emperor. In consequence of the prophecy his life was
spared, but he was kept close prisoner for two years. When his prophecy was
fulfilled he was liberated, assumed the name of Flavius, the family name of
Vespasian, and accompanied his patron to Alexandria. There he took another
wife, as the Jewess allotted him by Vespasian after the fall of Caesarea had
forsaken him, and returned to attend Titus and to act as intermediary
between him and the Jews who still held Jerusalem. His efforts in this
capacity failed; but when the city was stormed (70) Titus granted him
whatever boon he might ask. So he secured the lives of some free men who had
been taken and (by the gift of Titus) certain sacred books. After this he
repaired to Rome and received one of the pensions, which Vespasian
(according to Suetonius) was the first to bestow upon Latin and Creek
writers. He was also made a Roman citizen and received an estate in Judaea.
Thenceforward he devoted himself to literary work under the patronage of
Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. As he mentions the death of Agrippa II. it
is, probable that he lived into the 2nd century; but the date of Agrippas
death has been challenged and, if his patron Epaphroditus may be identified
with Neros freedman, it is possible that Josephus may have been involved in
his fall and perished under Domitian in 95.
Fra katolik ency
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08522a.htm
He guided the diplomatic negotiations as well as the military enterprises
with prudence and astuteness. In the beginning the Jews were successful, but
later when the Roman General Vespasian advanced with the main army from
Antioch to Galilee, burning and murdering, the insurgents either fled or
sought shelter in their fortresses. For six weeks Josephus and the boldest
spirits among the insurgents defended themselves in the almost impregnable
fortress of Jotapata. In the summer of 67, the garrison being now exhausted
from lack of water and other necessaries, the Romans stormed the citadel;
most of the patriots were put to the sword, but Josephus escaped the
massacre by hiding in an inaccessible cistern, and emerged only after
receiving an assurance that his life would be spared. Brought before the
victorious general, he sought with great shrewness to ingratiate himself
with Vespasian, foretelling his elevation, as well as that of his son Titus,
to the imperial dignity. Vespasian, however, kept him as a prisoner, and it
was only in the year 69, after he had actually become emperor, that he
restored to Josephus his liberty.