This was done by the Romans under Titus, 70 A. D., Jesus, who foresaw what the consequences of Hebrew politics would be, wept when he took a last look at the city, before his passion. And well might he weep. The city at the time of the destruction, was overfilled with visitors who had come to celebrate a yearly festival. Suddenly the gates were closed and the multitudes were trapped. Food supplies were consumed. A difference of opinion between the dominant parties, concerning the defense, developed into a civil war. Pharisees, Sadducees and Zealots fought each other, with sword and fire. The Zealots took charge of the temple grounds and massacred the priests at the altars. When the food supplies were finished, famine added horrors to the situation. Cases of cannibalism were observed under heart-rendering circumstances, as when mothers were slaying their own children. When, finally, the Roman soldiers gained an entrance into the city, they strewed the streets with corpses. It is estimated that 1,100,000 perished in this insane conflict. When Titus was lauded for his victory, he disclaimed all honor for it. He was, he said, only an instrument of divine retribution.