From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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Chapter 7<br />
Pompey Took <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>by</strong> Force<br />
1. At this treatment Pompey was very angry, and <strong>to</strong>ok Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus in<strong>to</strong><br />
cus<strong>to</strong>dy. And when he was come <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, he looked about where he might<br />
make his attack; for he saw <strong>the</strong> walls were so firm, that it would be hard <strong>to</strong><br />
overcome <strong>the</strong>m; and that <strong>the</strong> valley before <strong>the</strong> walls was terrible; and that <strong>the</strong><br />
temple, which was within that valley, was itself encompassed with a very<br />
strong wall, insomuch that if <strong>the</strong> city were taken, that temple would be a<br />
second place <strong>of</strong> refuge for <strong>the</strong> enemy <strong>to</strong> retire <strong>to</strong>.<br />
2. Now as be was long in deliberating about this matter, a sedition arose<br />
among <strong>the</strong> people within <strong>the</strong> city; Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus's party being willing <strong>to</strong> fight,<br />
and <strong>to</strong> set <strong>the</strong>ir king at liberty, while <strong>the</strong> party <strong>of</strong> Hyrcanus were for opening<br />
<strong>the</strong> gates <strong>to</strong> Pompey; and <strong>the</strong> dread people were in occasioned <strong>the</strong>se last <strong>to</strong> be<br />
a very numerous party, when <strong>the</strong>y looked upon <strong>the</strong> excellent order <strong>the</strong><br />
Roman soldiers were in. So Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus's party was worsted, and retired in<strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> temple, and cut <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> communication between <strong>the</strong> temple and <strong>the</strong> city,<br />
<strong>by</strong> breaking down <strong>the</strong> bridge that joined <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r, and prepared <strong>to</strong> make<br />
an opposition <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> utmost; but as <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs had received <strong>the</strong> Romans in<strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> city, and had delivered up <strong>the</strong> palace <strong>to</strong> him, Pompey sent Piso, one <strong>of</strong> his<br />
great <strong>of</strong>ficers, in<strong>to</strong> that palace with an army, who distributed a garrison about<br />
<strong>the</strong> city, because he could not persuade any one <strong>of</strong> those that had fled <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
temple <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> accommodation; he <strong>the</strong>n disposed all things that<br />
were round about <strong>the</strong>m so as might favor <strong>the</strong>ir attacks, as having Hyrcanus's<br />
party very ready <strong>to</strong> afford <strong>the</strong>m both counsel and assistance.<br />
3. But Pompey himself filled up <strong>the</strong> ditch that was oil <strong>the</strong> north side <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> temple, and <strong>the</strong> entire valley also, <strong>the</strong> army itself being obliged <strong>to</strong> carry<br />
<strong>the</strong> materials for that purpose. And indeed it was a hard thing <strong>to</strong> fill up that<br />
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