The Fall Of The Temple In 70 A.D.! Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

back across centuries
century after century
to the fall of Jerusalem
in 70AD Josephus says

claims that 1,100,000
Jews died most slain
were peaceful citizens
weak starving unarmed
butchered where caught

heaps of Jewish corpses
mounted higher higher
about God’s own altar
blood in streams flowed
down the Temple's steps

Roman supreme command
passion cruelly unleashed
detestation of Jews rage
overpowering battle lust
in legions now uncontrolled

legions spurred on by
craved fever gold lust
expectation of faith’s loot
observing now everything
around them made of gold

flames consumed
the chambers
that surrounded
the sanctuary
flame burning frenzy
roaring penetrated
the Holy of Holies
the inner sanctum

the Temple is ablaze iron attackers plunderer countless Jewish people
are caught slaughtered there is given no pity

for age sex rank priests laymen women children all alike were butchered every civil class pursued crushed in war’s iron grip

at siege's bile end faceless
masses are slaughtered
cred cried out for mercy
offered resistance makes
no difference to blood lust

far wind wide now streaming flames spread up hill’s height massive temple ablaze signal beacon pyre burning before God’s eye judgement given

shrieks falling victims heard through bite roar of vengeful flames lust war cries Roman legions sweep now en masse upwards exterminating with

thrusting killing red swords encircled now by fire swords rebels yell dismayed now at their late zealously defended
temples’ fate panic people cut

off above by fire flee into welcoming birth blades
of blood bathing legions hear cries on Temple Mount blended with fear multitudes

in siege city Jerusalem below as exhausted Jews tongue-tied as a result of hunger previously behold the Holy Temple aflame found strength to lament to wail

Temple Mount now everywhere enveloped in flames boils over upon its sacred base as blood more abundant bleeds from fresh slain as soldiers climb body heaps

to viciously chase down few last
Jewish pitiful fleeing fugitives on the 10th of Av (5th of August)
sentence very same day Babylon
burned First Temple in 586 B.C.

What became of Jews
sparred from death?
Thousands enslaved
were sent to suffer die
in vast mines of Egypt.

Thousands were dispersed
to arenas throughout
the entire evil Empire
to be viewed butchered
for public amusement.

The Temple's sacred relics
were taken to pagan Rome
where they were displayed
in celebration of this victory
the seven-branched candlestick
the golden table of the shew-bread
the golden trumpets were carried
through Rome’s streets in triumph.

What became of the key to the sanctuary?

According to temple legend a hand
appeared from heaven and took the key
from the hand of the priest who had
climbed to the top of the main tower!


Josephus recorded the Romans set fire to the temple on the 10th day of the 5th Jewish month. This is a lunar calendar and the correct date on our calendar is mathematically calculated correctly as Sunday, August 5, AD 70. Many other dates are incorrectly and confusingly posted. Josephus implied the day before the burning was a Saturday, the Jewish sabbath.
See also 'Forty Years Of Warning' and 'Temple And City Were Destroyed In 70 A.D.! '
Copyright © Terence George Craddock