[128]
So Caesar complied with their desires, and with what prudence dictated
to him also; for he esteemed it fit to punish single persons by real executions,
but that the punishment of great multitudes should proceed no further than
reproofs; so he was reconciled to the soldiers, but gave them a special
charge to act more wisely for the future; and he considered with himself
how he might be even with the Jews for their stratagem. And now when the
space between the Romans and the wall had been leveled, which was done
in four days, and as he was desirous to bring the baggage of the army,
with the rest of the multitude that followed him, safely to the camp, he
set the strongest part of his army over against that wall which lay on
the north quarter of the city, and over against the western part of it,
and made his army seven deep, with the foot-men placed before them, and
the horsemen behind them, each of the last in three ranks, whilst the archers
stood in the midst in seven ranks. And now as the Jews were prohibited,
by so great a body of men, from making sallies upon the Romans, both the
beasts that bare the burdens, and belonged to the three legions, and the
rest of the multitude, marched on without any fear. But as for Titus himself,
he was but about two furlongs distant from the wall, at that part of it
where was the corner 1
and over against that tower which was called Psephinus, at which tower
the compass of the wall belonging to the north bended, and extended itself
over against the west; but the other part of the army fortified itself
at the tower called Hippicus, and was distant, in like manner, by two furlongs
from the city. However, the tenth legion continued in its own place, upon
the Mount of Olives.
1 Perhaps, says Dr. Hudson, here was that gate, called the "Gate of the Corner," in 2 Chronicles 26:9. See ch. 4. sect. 2
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