Section 8 Summary and Analysis

Chapters 19 and 20, describe conditions of the horrible siege of Jerusalem that Titus waged despite Josephus' appeal for clear-thinking peace. Finally the Jews unwillingness to accept Roman mercy made Caesar disclaim responsibility. Chapter 19 The Horrors of the Siege notes Josephus' impassioned appeal to the partisans who retrenched their position and the common people who sold goods to leave. They swallowed gold coins to keep them from the bandits as they escaped to the countryside. The city was gripped by famine. Fat residents were assumed hoarding and their houses ransacked for food while skinny ones were already starved and seemed pointless to torture for food. Partisans took turns plundering the wealthy. The author, Josephus used hyperbole to claim "no other city has ever endured such horrors." Soldiers attacked five hundred or more daily that tried to escape. The Romans captured and crucified them...