Destruction of Jerusalem
25
abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an imme-
diate attack. The besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were
on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces
without the least apparent reason. But God’s merciful providence was
directing events for the good of His own people. The promised sign
had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was
offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events were
so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of
the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from
Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army; and while both forces were
thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city.
At this time the country also had been cleared of enemies who might
[31]
have endeavored to intercept them. At the time of the siege, the Jews
were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and
thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape
unmolested. Without delay they fled to a place of safety—the city of
Pella, in the land of Perea, beyond Jordan.
The Jewish forces, pursuing after Cestius and his army, fell upon
their rear with such fierceness as to threaten them with total destruction.
It was with great difficulty that the Romans succeeded in making their
retreat. The Jews escaped almost without loss, and with their spoils
returned in triumph to Jerusalem. Yet this apparent success brought
them only evil. It inspired them with that spirit of stubborn resistance to
the Romans which speedily brought unutterable woe upon the doomed
city.
Terrible were the calamities that fell upon Jerusalem when the
siege was resumed by Titus. The city was invested at the time of
the Passover, when millions of Jews were assembled within its walls.
Their stores of provision, which if carefully preserved would have sup-
plied the inhabitants for years, had previously been destroyed through
the jealousy and revenge of the contending factions, and now all the
horrors of starvation were experienced. A measure of wheat was sold
for a talent. So fierce were the pangs of hunger that men would gnaw
the leather of their belts and sandals and the covering of their shields.
Great numbers of the people would steal out at night to gather wild
plants growing outside the city walls, though many were seized and
put to death with cruel torture, and often those who returned in safety
were robbed of what they had gleaned at so great peril. The most