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The Wars of
The Jews
Book V, Chapter VI, Section 3
(Entire)
Hailstones One
Hundred Pounds in Weight Thrown Upon City
Book 5, Chapter 6,
Section 3 (Entire)
(266) However, John
stayed behind, out of his fear of Simon, even while his own men were
earnest in making a sally upon their enemies without. (267) Yet did not
Simon lie still, for he lay near the place of the siege; he brought his
engines of war, and disposed of them at due distances upon the wall, both
those which they took from Cestius formerly, and those which they got when
they seized the garrison that lay in the tower Antonia. (268) But though
they had these engines in their possession, they had so little skill in
using them, that they were in great measure useless to them; but a few
there were who had been taught by deserters how to use them, which they
did use, though after an awkward manner. So they cast stones and arrows at
those that were making the banks; they also ran out upon them by
companies, and fought with them. (269) Now those that were at work covered
themselves with hurdles spread over their banks, and their engines were
opposed to them when they made their excursions. The engines, that
all the legions had ready prepared for them, were admirably contrived; but
still more extraordinary ones belonged to the tenth legion: those that
threw darts and those that threw stones were more forcible and larger than
the rest, by which they not only repelled the excursions of the Jews, but
drove those away that were upon the walls also. (270) Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of
a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave
was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way,
but by those that were beyond them for a great space. (271) As for the
Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white
color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it
made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness; (272)
accordingly the watchmen that sat upon the towers gave them notice when
the engine was let go, and the stone came from it, and cried out aloud, in
their own country language, "THE SON COMETH"
so those that were in its way stood off, and threw themselves down upon
the ground; by which means, and by their thus guarding themselves, the
stone fell down and did them no harm. (273) But the Romans contrived how
to prevent that by blacking the stone, who then could aim at them with
success, when the stone was not discerned beforehand, as it had been till
then; and so they destroyed many of them at one blow. (274) Yet did not
the Jews, under all this distress, permit the Romans to raise their banks
in quiet; but they shrewdly and boldly exerted themselves, and repelled
them both by night and by day.
Comments
What was the meaning of this signal
or blasphemous words the watchmen cried as he saw a stone coming from the
engine? "THE SON COMETH" It might be of interest here to mention Jesus
often threatened that he would come at the head of the Roman army for
their destruction (Matthew 26:62-65). In association with their
destruction Jesus made a clear declaration of himself by saying: "And
whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it
will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:44) "There can be little doubt if
that nation was indeed grinned into powder.
Footnotes
1. "The
missiles shot by the catapults, stone-throwers, and "quick-firers" flew
all over the temple, killing priests and worshipers at the very altar
itself. For despite war, the sacrifices went on..." (Josephus - The
Essential Writings, Paul L. Maier translator, p.329)
The Roman
ballista shot stones, up to 160 pounds in weight, at an angle of about 50
degrees over an average range of 300 to 500 yards. (p.299)
"All the Roman
engines were well built, but those belonging to the Tenth legion were most
powerful. Their stone -projectors hurled boulders weighing a talent
(75-85 pounds) a quarter mile, and the Jews set lookouts on the towers to
spot the fired stones which, being white, shone and whizzed as they flew.
When they saw the stone discharged, these watchmen would call out,'The
Son coming!' ("The stone" in Hebrew is ha-eben, which is easily corrupted
to ha-ben, "the son.") - at which those in the line of fire dropped down
to let the stone pass through harmlessly. When it occurred to the Romans
to blacken them, the stones were more effective, destroying many with a
single shot." (p.340)
Cannonball-shaped stones such as these, found in Jerusalem, were hurled by
the Roman catapults at the Jews, holed up in the Holy City. (The
Topical Josephus, Cleon L. Rogers Jr., p.180)
1. Rev 16:21.
"As with
the other plagues of Revelation, imagery is borrowed from the plagues that
were brought upon Egypt by Moses. (In the current case, the seventh
plague: Exodus 9:18-26). The plague of hailstones also calls up
associations with "the large stones from heaven" that God threw down upon
the Canaanites when the Land was being conquered under Joshua (Josh.
10:11); as Deborah sang, the very stars of heaven make war against the
enemies of God (Jud. 5:20)." -
The Days Of Vengeance,
Chilton, p. 417
"And the great
city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and
great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of
the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and
the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out
of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men
blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof
was exceeding great." (Revelation 16:19-21, KJV)
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