Svetlana, i do believe that some events described in the bible actually took place.. Probably not exactly as described, but you know.. same as movies that are "based on real events".
So, in reality, probably the high priests guided the troops to commit atrocities in the name of god

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу