From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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valley, <strong>by</strong> reason <strong>of</strong> its immense depth, especially as <strong>the</strong> Jews used all <strong>the</strong><br />
means possible <strong>to</strong> repel <strong>the</strong>m from <strong>the</strong>ir superior situation; nor had <strong>the</strong><br />
Romans succeeded in <strong>the</strong>ir endeavors, had not Pompey taken notice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
seventh days, on which <strong>the</strong> Jews abstain from all sorts <strong>of</strong> work on a religious<br />
account, and raised his bank, but restrained his soldiers from fighting on<br />
those days; for <strong>the</strong> Jews only acted defensively on sabbath days. But as soon<br />
as Pompey had filled up <strong>the</strong> valley, he erected high <strong>to</strong>wers upon <strong>the</strong> bank,<br />
and brought those engines which <strong>the</strong>y had fetched from Tyre near <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
wall, and tried <strong>to</strong> batter it down; and <strong>the</strong> slingers <strong>of</strong> s<strong>to</strong>nes beat <strong>of</strong>f those that<br />
s<strong>to</strong>od above <strong>the</strong>m, and drove <strong>the</strong>m away; but <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wers on this side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
city made very great resistance, and were indeed extraordinary both for<br />
largeness and magnificence.<br />
4. Now here it was that, upon <strong>the</strong> many hardships which <strong>the</strong> Romans<br />
underwent, Pompey could not but admire not only at <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r instances <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Jews' fortitude, but especially that <strong>the</strong>y did not at all intermit <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
religious services, even when <strong>the</strong>y were encompassed with darts on all sides;<br />
for, as if <strong>the</strong> city were in full peace, <strong>the</strong>ir daily sacrifices and purifications,<br />
and every branch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir religious worship, was still performed <strong>to</strong> God with<br />
<strong>the</strong> utmost exactness. Nor indeed when <strong>the</strong> temple was actually taken, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were every day slain about <strong>the</strong> altar, did <strong>the</strong>y leave <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> instances <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir Divine worship that were appointed <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir law; for it was in <strong>the</strong> third<br />
month <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> siege before <strong>the</strong> Romans could even with great difficulty<br />
overthrow one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wers, and get in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple. Now he that first <strong>of</strong> all<br />
ventured <strong>to</strong> get over <strong>the</strong> wall, was Faustus Cornelius <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Sylla; and<br />
next after him were two centurions, Furius and Fabius; and every one <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>se was followed <strong>by</strong> a cohort <strong>of</strong> his own, who encompassed <strong>the</strong> Jews on all<br />
sides, and slew <strong>the</strong>m, some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m as <strong>the</strong>y were running for shelter <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
temple, and o<strong>the</strong>rs as <strong>the</strong>y, for a while, fought in <strong>the</strong>ir own defense.<br />
5. And now did many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> priests, even when <strong>the</strong>y saw <strong>the</strong>ir enemies<br />
assailing <strong>the</strong>m with swords in <strong>the</strong>ir hands, without any disturbance, go on<br />
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