In the third Book of The Wars of the Jews, Chap. VIII. § 7, we are told that Josephus managed to save himself and a companion out of a total of 41 men, the majority of whom had resolved on self-extermination (to avoid falling into the hands of Vespasian) provided their leader died with them. The passage is very obscure, and in a sense self-contradictory, but it obviously suggests deliberate fraud of some kind on Josephus' part.

“And now,” said he, “since it is resolved among you that you will die, come on, let us commit our mutual deaths to determination by lot. He whom the lot falls to first, let him be killed by him that hath the second lot, and thus fortune shall make its progress through us all; nor shall any of us perish by his own right hand, for it would be unfair if, when the rest are gone, some-body should repent and save himself.” Whiston, Works of Flavius Josephus, IV. 39.

Bachet, in No. XXIII. of his Problèmes plaisants et délectables, makes a definite hypothesis as to the possible nature of the lot here spoken of; so that the problem, as we have it, is really his.

“Supposons qu'il ordonna que comptant de 3 en 3 on tuerait toujours le troisième, …. il faut que Josèphe se mît le trenteunième après celui par lequel on commençait a compter, au cas qu'il visât à demeurer en vie lui tout seul.