[
577]
And thus did Simon get possession of Jerusalem, in the third year
of the war, in the month Xanthicus [Nisan]; whereupon John, with his multitude
of zealots, as being both prohibited from coming out of the temple, and
having lost their power in the city, (for Simon and his party had plundered
them of what they had,) were in despair of deliverance. Simon also made
an assault upon the temple, with the assistance of the people, while the
others stood upon the cloisters and the battlements, and defended themselves
from their assaults. However, a considerable number of Simon's party fell,
and many were carried off wounded; for the zealots threw their darts easily
from a superior place, and seldom failed of hitting their enemies; but
having the advantage of situation, and having withal erected four very
large towers aforehand, that their darts might come from higher places,
one at the north-east corner of the court, one above the Xystus, the third
at another corner over against the lower city, and the last was erected
above the top of the Pastophoria, where one of the priests stood of course,
and gave a signal beforehand, with a trumpet
1
at the beginning of every seventh day, in the evening twilight, as also
at the evening when that day was finished, as giving notice to the people
when they were to leave off work, and when they were to go to work again.
These men also set their engines to cast darts and stones withal, upon
those towers, with their archers and slingers. And now Simon made his assault
upon the temple more faintly, by reason that the greatest part of his men
grew weary of that work; yet did he not leave off his opposition, because
his army was superior to the others, although the darts which were thrown
by the engines were carried a great way, and slew many of those that fought
for him.