place with blood . If they would come forth and fight in any other place , no Roman should violate the sanctity of the temple . Josephus himself , in a most eloquent appeal , entreated them to surrender , to save themselves , their city , and their place of worship . But his words were answered with bitter curses . Darts were hurled at him , their last human mediator , as he stood pleading with them . The Jews had rejected the entreaties of the Son of God , and now expostulation and entreaty only made them more determined to resist to the last . In vain were the efforts of Titus to save the temple ; One greater than he had declared that not one stone was to be left upon another .
The blind obstinacy of the Jewish leaders , and the detestable crimes perpetrated within the besieged city , excited the horror and indignation of the Romans , and Titus at last decided to take the temple by storm . He determined , however , that if possible it should be saved from destruction . But his commands were disregarded . After he had retired to his tent at night , the Jews , sallying from the temple , attacked the soldiers without . In the struggle , a firebrand was flung by a soldier through an opening in the porch , and immediately the cedar-lined chambers about the holy house were in a blaze . Titus rushed to the place , followed by his generals and legionaries , and commanded the soldiers to quench the flames . His words were unheeded . In their fury the soldiers hurled blazing brands into the chambers adjoining the temple , and then with their swords they slaughtered in great numbers those who had found shelter there . Blood flowed down the temple steps like water . Thousands upon thousands of Jews perished . Above the sound of battle , voices were heard shouting : " Ichabod !" --the glory is departed .
" Titus found it impossible to check the rage of the soldiery ; he entered with his officers , and surveyed the interior of the sacred edifice . The splendour filled them with wonder ; and as the flames had not yet penetrated to the holy place , he made a last effort to save it , and springing forth , again exhorted the soldiers to stay the progress of the conflagration . The centurion Liberalis endeavoured to force obedience with his staff of office ; but even respect for the emperor gave way to the furious animosity against the Jews , to the fierce excitement of battle , and to the insatiable hope of plunder . The soldiers saw everything around them radiant with gold , which shone dazzlingly in the wild light of the flames ; they supposed that incalculable treasures were laid up in the sanctuary . A soldier , unperceived , thrust a lighted torch between the hinges of the door : the whole building was in flames in an instant . The blinding smoke and fire forced the officers to retreat , and the noble edifice was left to its fate .
" It was an appalling spectacle to the Roman--what was it to the Jew ? The whole summit of the hill which commanded the city , blazed like a volcano . One after another the buildings fell in , with a tremendous crash , and were swallowed up in the fiery abyss . The roofs of cedar were like sheets of flame ; the gilded pinnacles shone like spikes of red light ; the gate towers sent up tall columns of flame and smoke . The neighbouring hills were lighted up ; and dark groups of people were seen watching in horrible anxiety the progress of the destruction : the walls and heights of the
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