Eventually, Herod (Agrippa II of Acts 25:13) would hear the Jew's case. (This Herod was son to the previous Herod Agrippa I who had ruled Judea during the time of the procurators, but, being only seventeen at his father's death, he was not allowed to succeed him. Instead, he was called to Rome to be groomed in the emperor's palace, later to return as ruler over an increasing domain surrounding Judea. A procurator was appointed in his stead. Though with no official capacity over Judea, and in specific Jerusalem, yet having been schooled in the emperor's courts, his fame and influence was felt here as well. He had interceded for the Jews while in Rome on more than one occasion. Again, it must be remembered that although not by blood, these Herod rulers were Jew by circumcision and religion, assimilated from the Idumean, or Edomite people, and, therefore, were extremely sympathetic to them. So strong were his ties and influence with Rome, he would return there some years later to become praeter.) Returning to Jerusalem from a trip south to Alexandria, he was met by the outcry of the Jews. Seeing for himself their legitimate plight but impossible odds for retribution against Florus, he assembled them at a large gallery leading to the Temple, placed Bernice within view of the Hasamonaeans, and through a magnanimous speech, appealed to their reason by illustrating how powerful Rome was at that time. To rise up against Florus would be seen as an offense against Rome itself and would bring down upon them the swift finality of their great Jewish state. Better to endure for a season for the sake of the state this one barbaric ruler, and hope and pray for a successor to be more favorable, than suffer the loss of all through a war they could not win. Both he and Bernice were seen to be in tears at the end of his words, which should have had a soothing effect upon all, and to some, it did.

Herod suggested two things be done by them for war to be avoided: (1) rejoin the cloisters previously cut off by them from the Temple to the tower of Antonia, and (2) pay the forty talents of tribute to Rome that was in arrears. With Herod and Bernice's assistance, this the more noble and sensible did. However, it only served to enrage the resistant Zealot. Reason would not find audience in the minds of the younger who had already sacrificed theirs to passion. They would have none of this. They had already determined they would not pay tribute to Rome, nor would they submit to its procurator, Florus. The scales of injustices had already been irrevocably tipped. The violence and personal suffering had been too great -- the hand of Florus too severe! The Zealot would exact his revenge; and a holy war it would be. Their desire for revenge and hope for personal power would plunge the entire Jewish state into the oncoming path of an overwhelming Roman army. No Jew would be safe -- no place secure. Entire cities would fall. Zealots escaping to other regions would not be satisfied with their new found safety in anonymity, but soon would create flames of rebellion there that would quickly bring the extended claws of Rome to ferret Jews from every population and dispatch them with swift retribution. Thousands would be slaughtered.

Moreover, at this time, the final wedge between the Roman empire and the Jewish state would clearly be driven by one individual. With the devolution of Jewish affairs and Temple life falling into the hands of less reasonable individuals, and greed as common as their crimes, money became king. Even the highest level of their government and religion fell victim to its power. The high priest's office could now be bought for a sufficient price. Eleazar, a most arrogant young son of the current high priest, had been appointed governor of Temple affairs. It was he who would strike the final blow on the already existing wedge with Rome. She would take final offense upon the Jews' last act of seditious rejection. So enraged and arrogant was he at the Romans, and in particular, Florus, he ordered the rejection of all sacrifices brought to the Temple, except that of the Jews. Many priests and others would appeal on the basis of their age-old practices of accepting Gentile contributions and sacrifices, some of which were evident upon its very structures. Even the outer court was called the Court of the Gentiles. However, no amount of persuasion would suffice for this one who had obviously forfeited all reason. Seeing, then, that there was no possibility of reversing this isolationist and insurrectionist order, more noble and wiser Jews took their immediate leave of the city for fear of what they knew would be Rome's reaction in retaliation. And so, it would come, when this last and most offensible act would be learned. In an attempt to avert war, some of these noble Jews even petitioned Florus and Herod to swiftly suppress this arrogant Zealot group that put in immediate jeopardy the entire way of Jewish life, as Herod had predicted. Florus could not have been more delighted; Herod would agree; and so the wars began. Local skirmishes, at first, would widen the chasm between Rome and the Jews. But other factors would occur that would increase the level of Rome's determination to put an end once and for all to this damnable Jewish sedition, and eventually Rome would send its general with a force that could not be repelled. Judea would fall.

Before Jerusalem would fall, within its besieged walls a clear breach was seen among the people, with the Zealots controlling the Temple and lower part of the city, while their more moderate opponents controlled the upper section. Fighting between these two groups would continue, even while the Romans were attempting to breach the walls. At times, when the Roman attack escalated, a restraining effect would occur to both factions, only to resume shortly thereafter. The Zealots would murder anyone whom they suspected of softening in their stance against the Romans and might surrender the city. To them, it would be death for all! And so the factions continued. Hostility and violence was continual between these two groups, and in the final days and hours, atrocities beyond belief were witnessed. Hideous acts were performed within to retain control of their individual positions and without to hold the Romans at bay. The pages are not sufficient to enumerate the scope and godlessness of these final acts of a society gone insane. Suffice it to say, then, when the food supply ceased, the end could not come soon enough to cut short such horrors. Children were lifted upside down to dislodge ingested food by the adults for their own consumption. Wives took by force from the very mouths of their uncaring husbands the last remaining morsels found within their homes. In desperation, famine stricken mothers would boil and consume their infants (a scene reminiscent of its earlier fall to Babylon - Lam.2:19-22). And as predicted by Christ Himself, its Temple would finally be turned stone upon stone.