As the foremost of these scrambled on to the wall, the waiting Jews rushed at them and cut them down with savage shouts, while other Jews seizing the rungs of the ladder, thrust it from the coping to fall with its living load back into the ditch beneath.

Once there were great cries of joy, for two standard-bearers had come up the ladders carrying their ensigns with them.

The men were overpowered and the ensigns captured to be waved derisively at the Romans beneath, who answered the insult with sullen roars of rage.
So things went on till at length the legionaries, wearing of this desperate fighting, took another counsel.

Hitherto Titus had desired to preserve all the Temple, even to the outer courts and cloisters, but now he commanded that the gates, built of great beams of cedar and overlaid with silver plates, should be fired.

Through a storm of spears and arrows soldiers rushed up to them and thrust lighted brands into every joint and hinge.