erformed to God with the utmost exactness. Nor
indeed when the temple was actually taken, and they were every day
slain about the altar, did they leave off the instances of their Divine
worship that were appointed by their law; for it was in the third
month of the siege before the Romans could even with great difficulty
overthrow one of the towers, and get into the temple. Now he that first
of all ventured to get over the wall, was Faustus Cornelius the son of
Sylla; and next after him were two centurions, Furius and Fabius; and
every one of these was followed by a cohort of his own, who encompassed
the Jews on all sides, and slew them, some of them as they were running
for shelter to the temple, and others as they, for a while, fought in
their own defense.

5. And now did many of the priests, even when they saw their enemies
assailing them with swords in their hands, without any disturbance, go
on with their Divine worship, and were slain while they were offering
their drink-offerings, and burning their incense, as preferring the
duties about their worship to God before their own preservation. The
greatest part of them were slain by their own countrymen, of the adverse
faction, and an innumerable multitude threw themselves down precipices;
nay, some there were who were so distracted among the insuperable
difficulties they were under, that they set fire to the buildings that
were near to the wall, and were burnt together with them. Now of the
Jews were slain twelve thousand; but of the Romans very few were slain,
but a greater number was wounded.

6. But there was nothing that affected the nation so much, in the
calamities they were then under, as that their holy place, which had
been hitherto seen by none, should be laid open to strangers; for
Pompey, and those that were about him, went into the temple itself [8]
whither it was not lawful for any to enter but the high priest, and
saw what was reposited therein, the candlestick with its lamps, and the
table, and the pouring vessels, and the censers, all made entirely
of gold, as also a great quantity of spices heaped together, with two
thousand talents of sacred money. Yet did not he touch that money, nor
any thing else that was there reposited; but he commanded the ministers
about the temple, the very next day after he had taken it, to cleanse
it, and to perform their accustomed sacrifices. Moreover, he made
Hyrcanus high priest, as one that not only in other respects