dedication by Solomon; and of six hundred and thirty-nine years, from its being rebuilt in the days of Haggai, after the seventy years captivity. It is singular, that it should be reduced to ashes not only soon after the feast of the passover, which convened so many thousands of Jews to Jerusalem to meet the ruins of their city and nation; but that it should be consumed on the same month, on the same day of the month, on which the Babylonians had before destroyed it by fire.
Josephus records another striking event, which seemed a sign of the destruction of Jerusalem. He says: [addressing the Jews who survived this ruin] "The fountains flow copiously for Titus, which to you were dried up. For before he came, you know that both Siloam and all the springs without the city failed; so that water was brought by the amphora, [a vessel.] But now they are so abundant to your enemies, as to suffice for themselves and their cattle. This wonder you also formerly experienced, when the king of Babylon laid siege to your
city"
The priests of the temple, after the destruction of their sacred edifice, betook themselves—those who had thus far escaped the general slaughter—to the top of one of its broken walls, where they sat mourning and famishing. On the fifth day, necessity compelled them to descend, and humbly to ask pardon of the Roman general. But
Titus at this late period rejected their petition, saying; "As the temple, for the sake of which, I would have spared you, is destroyed: it is but fit the priests should perish also." All were put to death.
The obstinate leaders of the great Jewish factions, beholding now the desperateness of their cause, desired a conference with Titus. One would imagine they would at least now lay down their arms. Their desiring an interview with the triumphant Roman general, appeared as
though they would be glad to do this. But righteous heaven designed their still greater destruction. Titus, after all their mad rebellions, kindly offered to spare the residue of the Jews, if they would now submit. But strange to relate, they refused to comply. The noble general then, as must have been expected, was highly exasperated; and issued his general order that he would
