Destruction of Jerusalem
27
fight in any other place, no Roman should violate the sanctity of the
temple. Josephus himself, in a most eloquent appeal, entreated them to
surrender, to save themselves, their city, and their place of worship. But
his words were answered with bitter curses. Darts were hurled at him,
their last human mediator, as he stood pleading with them. The Jews
had rejected the entreaties of the Son of God, and now expostulation
and entreaty only made them more determined to resist to the last. In
vain were the efforts of Titus to save the temple; One greater than he
had declared that not one stone was to be left upon another.
The blind obstinacy of the Jewish leaders, and the detestable crimes
perpetrated within the besieged city, excited the horror and indignation
of the Romans, and Titus at last decided to take the temple by storm.
He determined, however, that if possible it should be saved from
destruction. But his commands were disregarded. After he had retired
to his tent at night, the Jews, sallying from the temple, attacked the
soldiers without. In the struggle, a firebrand was flung by a soldier
through an opening in the porch, and immediately the cedar-lined
chambers about the holy house were in a blaze. Titus rushed to the
place, followed by his generals and legionaries, and commanded the
soldiers to quench the flames. His words were unheeded. In their
fury the soldiers hurled blazing brands into the chambers adjoining the
temple, and then with their swords they slaughtered in great numbers
those who had found shelter there. Blood flowed down the temple
steps like water. Thousands upon thousands of Jews perished. Above
the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting: “Ichabod!”—the glory
is departed.
“Titus found it impossible to check the rage of the soldiery; he
entered with his officers, and surveyed the interior of the sacred edifice.
The splendor filled them with wonder; and as the flames had not yet
penetrated to the holy place, he made a last effort to save it, and
[34]
springing forth, again exhorted the soldiers to stay the progress of the
conflagration. The centurion Liberalis endeavored to force obedience
with his staff of office; but even respect for the emperor gave way to the
furious animosity against the Jews, to the fierce excitement of battle,
and to the insatiable hope of plunder. The soldiers saw everything
around them radiant with gold, which shone dazzlingly in the wild
light of the flames; they supposed that incalculable treasures were
laid up in the sanctuary. A soldier, unperceived, thrust a lighted torch