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[149]
In the mean time, the rest of the Roman army had, in seven days'
time, overthrown [some] foundations of the tower of Antonia, and had made
a ready and broad way to the temple. Then did the legions come near the
first court, 1
and began to raise their banks. The one bank was over against the north-west
corner of the inner temple 2
another was at that northern edifice which was between the two gates; and
of the other two, one was at the western cloister of the outer court of
the temple; the other against its northern cloister. However, these works
were thus far advanced by the Romans, not without great pains and difficulty,
and particularly by being obliged to bring their materials from the distance
of a hundred furlongs. They had further difficulties also upon them; sometimes
by their over-great security they were in that they should overcome the
Jewish snares laid for them, and by that boldness of the Jews which their
despair of escaping had inspired them withal; for some of their horsemen,
when they went out to gather wood or hay, let their horses feed without
having their bridles on during the time of foraging; upon which horses
the Jews sallied out in whole bodies, and seized them. And when this was
continually done, and Caesar believed what the truth was, that the horses
were stolen more by the negligence of his own men than by the valor of
the Jews, he determined to use greater severity to oblige the rest to take
care of their horses; so he commanded that one of those soldiers who had
lost their horses should be capitally punished; whereby he so terrified
the rest, that they preserved their horses for the time to come; for they
did not any longer let them go from them to feed by themselves, but, as
if they had grown to them, they went always along with them when they wanted
necessaries. Thus did the Romans still continue to make war against the
temple, and to raise their banks against it.
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