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The mighty Roman empire, which ruled over vast stretches of the ancient world, engaged their legions' finest elite forces in Judea. No effort was spared in the struggle to regain the honor lost in the revolt which erupted in Jerusalem against the occupation of the caesars. The campaign had but one goal: the rebellion must be snuffed out.
The city was besieged for many long months. The population, continuing to battle but now slowly dying of hunger, still refused to surrender to the Roman conquerors. With their very last ounce of strength, the heroes of Judah fought to save the Temple. As the realization of the inevitable destruction loomed closer, the priests hid many of the sacred vessels in various locations throughout the Temple and Jerusalem.
Even in the last minutes of the war, the priests continued carrying out their sacred duties, in spite of the fact that the Temple courtyards flowed with the blood of the slain and fire roared at the entrances. The scope of the tragedy is recorded in the words of the sages:
"The day the Temple was destroyed was the ninth of Av. It was the conclusion of the Sabbath, and the end of the seven year cycle. It was during the turn of the priestly shift of Yehoiyriv.
The priests and levites stood on the platform and continued to sing... and did not cease until the enemy entered and subdued them." (Erchin 11:B)
"When the High Priest saw that the Holy Temple was in flames, he climbed up to the roof of the Sanctuary together with groups of the young priests. They held the keys to the Temple in their hands and spoke before the Holy One, blessed be He: "Master of the Universe! It appears that we were not worthy of being trusted officers for You - take back the keys to Your house!" and with that, they threw the keys upwards. The image of a hand appeared in the heavens and took them.
And when the priests and levites saw that the Holy Temple was indeed consumed with flames, they held the lyres and trumpets... and plunged into the fire." (Midrash Eicha Rabtai)/
The Talmud and Midrash present a detailed description of each stage of the destruction. Vivid images are also provided by Flavius Josephus, an eye-witness to both the destruction and to the victory parade in Rome.
The sages describe Titus' trek from Jerusalem back to Rome upon returning from the war: "Titus removed the veil (which separated between the holy and the holy of holies) and spread it out like a net. He gathered all the sacred Temple vessels together and placed them inside, and then embarked by ship for Rome, to boast and seek honor." (Gittin 56)
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