20. for Herodes feared Yoḥanan, knowing that he was a righteous and set-apart man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed, yet heard him gladly.
21. And a suitable day came when Herodes on his birthday gave a feast for his great men, and the high officers, and the chief men of Galil.
22. And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, and pleased Herodes and those who sat with him, the sovereign said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you wish, and I shall give it to you.”
23. And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I shall give you, up to half of my reign.”
24. And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of Yoḥanan the Immerser!”
25. And coming in immediately with haste to the sovereign she asked, saying, “I wish that you give me at once the head of Yoḥanan the Immerser on a dish.”
26. And the sovereign, becoming deeply grieved, because of the oaths, and because of those who sat with him, did not wish to refuse her.
27. And the sovereign straightaway sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,
28. and brought his head on a dish, and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.
29. And when his taught ones heard of it, they came and took away his dead body and laid it in a tomb.
30. And the emissaries gathered to יהושע and reported to Him all, both what they had done and what they had taught.
31. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a little” – for there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32. And they went away to a lonely place in the boat by themselves.
33. But they saw them going, and many recognised Him and ran there on foot from all the cities, and came before them and came together to Him.
34. And having gone out, יהושע saw a large crowd and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. And He began to teach them many matters.
35. And as the hour grew late, His taught ones came to Him and said, “This is a lonely place, and now the hour is late.
36. “Send them away, so that they go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread, since they have no food to eat.”