as slaves. Some were reserved to be sacrificed on their amphitheatres, as gladiators; to be slain in sham fights, for the sport of their conquerors. Others were distributed through the empire. All who survived, under the age of seventeen, were exposed for sale.
The triumphant general commanded what remained of the city, to be razed to its foundation, except three of the most stately towers, Mariamne, Hippocos, and Phasael. These should stand as monuments of the magnificence of the place, and of his victory. A small part of the wall of the city at the west, also, he commanded should be spared, as a rampart for his garrison. The other parts of the city he wished to have so effectually erased, as never to be recognized to have been inhabited. The Talmud and Maimonides relate that the foundations of the temple were so removed, that the site of it was ploughed by Terentus Rufus. Thus our Savior predicted, that "there should not
be left one stone upon another."
One awful occurrence is noted as transpiring during these scenes; that eleven thousand Jews, under the guard of one Fronto, a Roman general, were, owing to their own obstinacy, and to the scarcity of provisions, literally starved to death!
Josephus informs that eleven hundred thousand Jews perished in this siege of Jerusalem , that two hundred and thirty-seven thousand perished in that last war in other sieges and battles: besides multitudes who perished by famine and pestilence: making a total of at least fourteen hundred thousand. Some hundreds of thousands, in sullen despair, laid violent hands on themselves. About ninety-seven thousand were captured, and dispersed. Relative to the two great leaders of the Jewish factions, Simon and John, they were led to Rome, to grace the triumph of Titus; after which Simon was scourged, and executed as a
malefactor; and John was committed for life to a dungeon. Thus ended their violent factious contentions.
The Roman army, before they left Jerusalem, not only demolished the buildings there, but even dug up their foundations. How fatal was the divine judgment on this devoted city. Five months before, it was the wonder of the world; and contained, at the commencement of the
siege, more than a million and a half of Jews, natives and
