Original - The Preterist Archive

Forward,
42 NAOMI.
He marshalled his men, and led them forward from the breast*
works with so much impetuosity as entirely to check the
assailants ; and, directing his attack towards the young Jewish
leader, Javan recognised his old friend Eufus. The centurion
remembered him, and for his father's sake he forbore to press
his advantage. He would not take the son of Zadok prisoner,
or willingly injure him, though now an enemy and he allowed
;
him and his followers to escape unhurt to the walls. Javan did
not imitate his generous forbearance, but as he fled he turned
back and cast a javelin at his former friend with such strength
and fury as to shiver a portion of the armour in which he was
encased, and inflict a slight wound " in his side.
"
Ha ! cried Kufus, "my mercy was ill-bestowed. I see
that the same cruel and ungenerous spirit yet lives in that
young fanatic. .
my brave men, and teach him that
it was not because we feared him that we drew back." The
Romans swiftly obeyed the word of their commander, and overtook
the retreating party as they reached the foot of the wall.
The portal from whence they had sallied forth was closed ;
and
ere it could be opened by those within, a fierce struggle had
begun. Several of the combatants on either side fell dead, or
severely wounded ;
and Javan received a serious injury in his
fight arm, that left him defenceless, and exposed to the sword
of his antagonist. The Roman who had inflicted the wound
was about to strike at him with his short, double-edged blade,
and his fierce spirit would have been quenched for ever ;
but at
that moment a party of the garrison who had ascended the walls
hurled down a massive stone that struck the uplifted arm of
his assailant, and threw him with violence to the ground,
"The Lord strikes for his people!" shouted Javan; and
snatching up the sword which had fallen to the earth, he with
his left hand plunged
it to the heart of his foe. Then turning
away, he rushed through the now open door, leaving his party
to follow him as they could. Similar skirmishes were often
repeated, but they led to no important results ;
and Vespasian
determined at length to blockade the city, and endeavour to
reduce it
by famine, since all his assaults proved
He ineffectual.
therefore ordered his troops to remain quiet in their quarters,
and await the time when, reduced to starvation, the
garrison would either surrender, or fall a more easy conquest
to their renewed attacks.
The city contained a large supply of every necessary except
water ;
but there was no spring within the walls, and the small
quantity of rain-water that could be obtained was quite inade-