Footnote

a Titus held a decidedly winning hand here. Nonetheless, in two important respects, he did not get his way. He made offers for peaceful surrender, but the city leaders stubbornly, inexplicably, refused. And when the city walls were finally breached, he ordered that the temple be spared. Yet it was burned completely! Jesus’ prophecy had made it clear that Jerusalem would be devastated and that the temple would be completely demolished.—Mark 13:1, 2.