This city was on the border of the region of Media, and the dialect
used there was the Targum. Thence to the region of Golan is a journey
of fifty days. It is under the rule of Persia, to which it pays a
heavy tribute every fifteen years, and one golden talent in addition.
Moreover, this man David El-David was educated under the Prince of the
Chaldean captivity, in the care of the eminent Scholiarch, in the city
of Bagdad, who was preeminently wise in the Talmud and in all foreign
sciences, as well as in all books of divination, magic, and Chaldean
lore; This David El-David, out of the boldness and arrogance of his
heart, lifted his hand against the ruling powers, and collected those
Jews who dwelt in the neighbourhood of Mount Chophtan, seducing them to
follow him into battle against all the neighbouring peoples. He showed
them signs-of what value they knew not: there were men, indeed, who
supported him on account of his magic art and of certain things to be
done; others said that his great power came from the hand of God. Those
who flocked to him called him the Messiah, lauding and extolling him.
In another epoch of Persian history a certain Jew arose, calling himself
the Messiah, and prospered greatly.
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