Before Jerusalem Fell
by Kenneth L. Gentry by Kenneth L. Gentry
The Contemporary Integtip of the Temple 171 Some maintain that the phrase “the great city” (Rev. 11 :8) indicates Rome. That the city is thus designated, however, should pose no hindrance to accepting the referent as indicating historic Jerusalem. Such an appellation should not excite wonder among those who are aware of either the covenantal-redemptive significance ofJerusalem, or its historical fame. Historically even pagan historians and writers speak of its mag- ‘ nificence. The Roman historian Tacitus prefaces his history of its destruction by Vespasian and Titus with words quite compatible with such a designation as in Revelation 11:8: “However, as I am about to describe the last days of a famous city, it seems proper for me to give some account of its origin. “2 5 Jerusalem housed a Temple that, according to Tacitus “was famous beyond all other works of men.”2G Another Roman historian, Pliny, said of Jerusalem that it was “by far the most famous city of the ancient Orient. “2 7 According to Josephus a certain Agatharchides spoke ofJerusalem thus: “There are a people called Jews, who dwell in a city the strongest of all other cities, which the inhabitants call Jerusalem. “2 8 Appian called it “the great city Jerusalem. > ’* g Truly, then, Jerusalem was “one of the most famous cities of the civilized world” at that time. 30 More important, however, is the covenantal significance ofJerusalem. The obvious role of Jerusalem in the history of the covenant should merit it such greatness.3 ’ The intense Jewish love of Jerusalem pictured it as of great stature among the famous cities of the nations. In the Fifti Book of the Sibylline Oracles, we have a Jewish oracle 25. Histories 5:2. 26. Fragments @the Historses 2. 27. Natural Histoy .5:1470. 28. Againd AjnoYI 1:197. 29. The SF”an Wars 50. 30. David Ben-Gurion, Z%e Jews m T&r Land, trans. Mordechai Nurock and Misha Louvish (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1966), p. 152. 31. Smith writes of the well-known tendency to call Jerusalem “Sion”: “Sion is become the full equivalent of Jerusalem [Zech. 1:114, 17; 8:3; Zeph. 3:16]. . .“ He then notes that “the name is as closely attached to the Lord as to His people. Sion is Sion of the Holy One of Israel [Isa. 50:14], His Holy Mount ~oel 2:1, 15], and dwelling place ~oel 3:17], the nation herself [Zeph. 3:14]; the pure and holy nucleus of the nation [Isa. 59:20]” (Smith, Jerusalem 1:149- 150). Clearly then, Jerusalem/Sion was of covenantd greatness to the Jew and to those who entered her covenantal stream of history.
172 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL written (apparently) from Egypt in the 90s. 32 In this oracle Jerusalem is spoken of thus: He seized the divinely built Temple and burned the citizens and peoples who went into it, men whom I rightly praised. For on his appearance the whole creation was shaken and kings perished, and those in whom sovereignty remained destroyed a great c-@ and righteous people. . . . 33 For murder and terrors are in store for all men because of th great ci~ and righteous people which is preserved throughout everything which Providence held in special place. . . . 34 But now a certain insignificant and impious king has gone up, cast it down, and left it in ruins with a great horde and illustrious men. He himself perished at immortal hands when he left the land, and no such sign has yet been pefiormed among men that others should think to sack a great ti@35 Josephus sadly extols Jerusalem’s lost glory after its destruction: This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among aJl mankind.3G And where is not that great ti~, the metropolis of the Jewish nation, which was fortified by so many walls round about, which had so many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many ten thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was believed to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished to the very foundations. 37 He also records John of Gischala’s retort to Titus’s call (through the captured Josephus) for the surrender of the city; John refused to surrender Jerusalem because “it was God’s own city.”38 Edersheim reminds us that “‘Ten measures of beauty,’ say the 32. Collins, “Sibylline Oracles,” OTP 1:390. 33. Sibylbu Orarles 5: 150-15+ OTP 1:396. Emphasis mine. 34. Sibyllim Orarles 5:225-227; OTP 1:398. Emphasis mine. 35. Sibyllitu Oracles 5:408-413; OTP 1:403. Emphasis mine. 36. The Wars of theJsws 7:1:1. 37. Wars 7:8:7. Emphasis mine. 38. Wars 6:2:1.
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172 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL<br />
written (apparently) from Egypt in the 90s. 32<br />
In this oracle <strong>Jerusalem</strong><br />
is spoken of thus:<br />
He seized the divinely built Temple and burned the citizens and<br />
peoples who went into it, men whom I rightly praised.<br />
For on his appearance the whole creation was shaken and kings<br />
perished, and those in whom sovereignty remained destroyed a great<br />
c-@ and righteous people. . . . 33<br />
For murder and terrors are in store for all men because of th great<br />
ci~ and righteous people which is preserved throughout everything<br />
which Providence held in special place. . . . 34<br />
But now a certain insignificant and impious king has gone up, cast it<br />
down, and left it in ruins with a great horde and illustrious men. He<br />
himself perished at immortal hands when he left the land, and no<br />
such sign has yet been pefiormed among men that others should think<br />
to sack a great ti@35<br />
Josephus sadly extols <strong>Jerusalem</strong>’s lost glory after its destruction:<br />
This was the end which <strong>Jerusalem</strong> came to by the madness of those<br />
that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and<br />
of mighty fame among aJl mankind.3G<br />
And where is not that great ti~, the metropolis of the Jewish nation,<br />
which was fortified by so many walls round about, which had so<br />
many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly<br />
contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many<br />
ten thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was<br />
believed to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished<br />
to the very foundations. 37<br />
He also records John of Gischala’s retort to Titus’s call (through the<br />
captured Josephus) for the surrender of the city; John refused to<br />
surrender <strong>Jerusalem</strong> because “it was God’s own city.”38<br />
Edersheim reminds us that “‘Ten measures of beauty,’ say the<br />
32. Collins, “Sibylline Oracles,” OTP 1:390.<br />
33. Sibylbu Orarles 5: 150-15+ OTP 1:396. Emphasis mine.<br />
34. Sibyllim Orarles 5:225-227; OTP 1:398. Emphasis mine.<br />
35. Sibyllitu Oracles 5:408-413; OTP 1:403. Emphasis mine.<br />
36. The Wars of theJsws 7:1:1.<br />
37. Wars 7:8:7. Emphasis mine.<br />
38. Wars 6:2:1.
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