Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains,.... See Gill on "Mt 24:16".And let them which are in the midst of it; either of Judea, as the preceding clause seems to direct the sense; or in Jerusalem, and which indeed was in the midst of Judea; and this sense is favoured by the Persic version, which renders it, "within the city"; let them go out of it, as the Christians did to Pella, Mount Libanus, and other places:and let not them that are in the countries; either foreign countries, or in towns and villages;enter thereinto: either into Judea, or into Jerusalem; contrary to this advice, they came from all countries to the feast of the passover at Jerusalem, and were there shut up by the siege and destroyed .
Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 7. c.