Jews Made the Roman Fire Attack Worse
John Updike in Rabbit at Rest has a Floridian Jew sneer that the proof that the Jews are God’s chosen people is in the fact that He gave them such pathetic enemies.
The Romans thought destruction of the Jews,
Jerusalem, and their shrine wasn’t wrong,
But just. Rome brought its battering rams and crews
Of rampart builders up against the throng
Of pilgrims and the city’s hardcore walls.
The trapped defenders were divided like
The later Communists. God’s factions’ brawls
Caused murders, so the pagan army’s strike
Attacked a weakness greater than the stone
Protection. Rome did not so much destroy
The Temple as the Jews found they were prone
To self-annihilation. They found joy
Assassinating fellow Jews until
The uncut Romans crushed in for the kill.