据说著名犹太历史学家 Josephus有过以下的故事：在罗马人占领乔塔帕特后，39 个犹太人与Josephus及他的朋友躲到一个洞中，39个犹太人决定宁愿死也不要被敌人到，于是决定了一个自杀方式，41个人排成一个圆圈，由第1个人开始报数，每报数到第3人该人就必须自杀，然后再由下一个重新报数，直到所有人都自杀身亡为止。



然而Josephus 和他的朋友并不想遵从，Josephus要他的朋友先假装遵从，他将朋友与自己安排在第16个与第31个位置，于是逃过了这场死亡游戏。

-Well-known Jewish historian Josephus said to have had the following story: After the Roman occupation Qiaotapate, 39 Jews and Josephus and his friends hid in a hole, 39 Jews were the enemy decided to' d rather die than not to, decided a suicide, 41 people arranged in a circle, starting from the first one reported the number of individuals, each reported the number to 3 people who have to commit suicide, and then re-reported by the next number, until all committed suicide death date. However, Josephus and his friends did not want to comply, Josephus first pretended to follow his friend, he arranged for friends and his 16th with the first 31 positions, so escaped death in this game.