noon
This Marcus seemed to know ; at least , he also strove to cut his way towards Caleb . Nearer and nearer they came , till at length they met and began to rain blows upon each other ; but not for long , for just then a charge of some Roman horsemen separated them . After this both parties retired to their lines , taking their wounded with them . Thus , with pauses , sometimes of two or three hours , the fight went on from morning to noon , and from noon to sunset . During the latter part of the time the Romans made no more attacks , but were contented with defending themselves while they awaited reinforcements from without the city , or perhaps the results of some counter-attack in another part . Thus the advantage rested , or seemed to rest , with the Jews , who held all the ruined houses and swept the open space with their arrows . Now it was that Nehushta 's fears were justified , for having a little leisure the Jews took a beam of wood and battered in the walled-up doorway of the tower .