It is worth while to set beside these things the unerring prediction of our Saviour, in which he reveals these very things, prophesying somewhat in this manner: “But woe to those who are with child and to those who give suck in those days. And pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on a sabbath; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.”
Gathering together the whole number of those slain, the writer says that a hundred and ten myriads perished by famine and the sword; that the rest, being seditious and given to robbery, were killed by one another after the capture; that of the youths, the tallest and those distinguished for bodily beauty, were reserved for the triumph; that of the remaining multitude, those over seventeen years of age were sent as prisoners to the works in Egypt, while still more were distributed to the provinces to perish in the theatres by sword and wild beasts; and that those under seventeen were led away captive and sold; and that of these alone the number reached nine myriads of men.
These things were done in this manner in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, in accordance with the prophetic predictions of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who by divine power had foreseen them as though already present, and had wept and lamented over them, according to the writing of the holy evangelists, who have set down his very words — at one time saying, as though addressing Jerusalem itself:
“If you had known, even you, in this your day, the things that belong to your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies shall cast up a rampart about you, and shall encompass you, and keep you in on every side, and shall dash you to the ground, and your children within you.”
And at another time, as concerning the people: “For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people; and they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations, until the times of the nations be fulfilled.” And again: “And when you see Jerusalem encompassed by armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.”
And whoever should compare the words of our Saviour with the rest of the writer's accounts concerning the whole war, how could he fail to be astonished, and to confess that the foreknowledge and prediction of our Saviour were truly divine and marvellously beyond nature?
Concerning, then, the things that befell the whole nation after the saving passion and after those cries in which the multitude of the Jews begged off the robber and murderer from death, but entreated that the Author of life should be taken away from among them, there is no need to add anything to the histories.
But it would be right to add still these things, which would set forth the loving-kindness of the all-good Providence, which for forty whole years after the daring deed against Christ deferred the destruction against them, during which time many of the apostles and disciples, and James himself, the first bishop there, who was called the brother of the Lord, were still alive in this life, and, making their abode in the very city of Jerusalem, remained there like a most secure bulwark to the place;
the divine watchfulness even then still showing forbearance, in case they might at any time, repenting of what they had done, be able to obtain pardon and salvation; and, in addition to such great forbearance, furnishing wondrous signs from God of the things that were about to befall them if they did not repent. These things also, deemed worthy of mention by the writer already indicated, it is best to set before those who come to this work.