were burnt [Ant. XX. xi. 1 ; Wan, II. xvii. 6). Cestius Gallus, president of Syria, besieged Jerus, in consequence, and took the third wall on the N., but retreated in panic (]Vars, ii. xix. 1-9), and Vespasian was called to re-establish Rom. power in Palestine. The campaign w.as slow and system- atic, and not until all the country to the N. had been subdued, and Jericho and the plains of Joppa reconquered, did the Rom. army advance to tiie attack of Jerus., a task left to Titus in consequence of Vespasian's becoming emperor. The great siege in A.D. 70 was perhaps the most terrible ever undergone by the city, and the full account by Jos. illustrates the t0])0graphy of Jerus. at the time of its greatest extension and strength.
The great siege lasted 143 days, from the 14tli Abib, when the Romans encamped on Scoi>u3 (ir«r.s, V. xiii. 7) iintil the final conflagration on the 8th of Elul (Wars, VI. viii. 5). The dates of the principal events may be briefly given.
Day of
Month.
Day of
Siege.
Abib
(Pass Abib
14
over) 23
1
Zir
7
16
»t
12
20
(1 II
16
ai
24 29
II
Z9
37
Sivaa
1
38
It
8
40
M
7
44
t*
10
47
Tammux 1
«8
K
t
70 72
-
17
84
„
t2
89
„
24
»1
M
27
94
„
28
96
Ab
8
104
n
9
106
I*
ZO
11«
Elal
7
133
n
8
134
Chief EveDta.
Romans arrive, John seizes the Temple
{Wars, V. vii. 7-17). First day of actual siege {,War$, v,
vii. 2). Wall of Aqrnppa tiken. Feast of Pcdi-
calion of Temple {Wan, v. vii. 2). Second wall taken. Romans repulsed
{Wars, V. viii. 1). Second wall retaken (TTara, v. viii, 2). Banks raised against Antonia, after
three days* rest and review of troops
{Wars, V. ix. 2). Banks jijjainst Antonia, and others com- menced 12th Ziv against Ilippicus,
are completed {Wars, v. xi. 2). Bank at Antonia mined by the Jews
(H'ar«, V. xi. 3). Banks a^rainst upper cit/ destroyed by
Jews {Wars, v. xi. 6). A wall of circumvallation begun and
built in three days {Wars, v. xii. 2). New banks l)cgun against Antonia
occvipying 21 aays(irnr*, yi. L 1). Antonia attacked. Romans repulsed.
Tlie wall falls during the night
(Wars, VI. i. 3).
labii
Sabinus killed invading the Temple.
Antonia surprised by night (K'ar«, VI. i. 6, 7).
The dailv sacrifice fails {Taanith Iv. 4). Antonia demolished during the pre- cecjin^,' week. Banks raised against the inner Temple (H'rtr«, vi. ii. 1, 7).
The Jews set fire to the N. and W. cloisters {Wars, vi. i. 9).
The Romans Are part of cloisters (ITar*, VI. iii. 1).
The Jews destroy the W. cloister (H'arjf, VI. iii. i;.
Tlie Ttomans destroy the N. cloister (irar«, VI. iii. 2).
Engines batter the inner Temple wall for si.\ days. Two banks being com- pleted {\fars, VI. iv. D.
The gate Moked Is unflcrmined (Taa- nith iv. 9). The Rom. soldiers set fire to the Temple by night {Wars, VI. iv. 5). The city is jilundered, the lower city burnt, the family of Izates submits {Wars, vi. vi. 3, 4).
Banks raised against the upper city on X.W. and N.E. (Wars, vi. viii. 1).
Banks finished after IS day8(irar«, vi. viii. 4).
Final conflagration and conquest of the city ( H ars, vl viii. 6).
The first day of the eiege (23rd Abib) corre- sponded in A.D. 70 to the 9th April. That lunar months must be supposed is sho^\'n by Jos. {IVars, VI. viii. 1, 9). The final fall of Jerus. took place in the liottest part of the year, on 4th September. Thb terrible Bufferings of the besieged from famine, thirst, and disease were thus intensified by the
JEKUSALEM
JERUSALEM
589
Bcason. It is unneceasary to enter into detail as to these sufferint's, or as to the various factions whose contliets added to the general misery. The Iduniieans, introduced by one faction to support themselves, thought only of plunder; and con- certed action against the Romans was rendered difficult. The numbers of the besieged are stated by Tacitus at GUU.OUO {Hist. v. 13) ; the estimate of over a million by Jos. is incredible ( li^arSt n. xiv. 3, V. vi. 1, xiii. 7, VI. ix. 3). The ordinary popula- tion cannot have exceeded 30,O00 at most ; but in consequence of the Passover, and of tlie Idumx-ans being admitted, the city must have been densely crowded. The Jewish system perished in blood and tire, and the few survivors were made victims of the circus games at Ctesarea, or led captive to Rome, where, on the Arch of Titus, the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread, and the silver trumpets from the Temple (but not the ark, which never stood in the lemple after the time of Kebuch. ), are shovm as spoils of this great victory.