Josephus recorded, in great detail, Jewish history, 1st century
Judaism. In a book called, "Wars
of the Jews", Josephus describes the destruction of Jerusalem as Jesus
prophesied in Matthew 24. In 70 Titus captured and completely destroyed Jerusalem with
great slaughter.
Josephus was a priest, a soldier, and a scholar. He was born Joseph Ben Mattathias in Jerusalem in 37 CE, a few years after the time of Jesus, during the time of the Roman occupation of the Jewish homeland. In his early twenties, he was sent to Rome to negotiate the release of several priests held hostage by Emperor Nero. When he returned home after completing his mission, he found the nation beginning a revolution against the Romans.
Despite his foreboding that the cause was hopeless, he was drafted into becoming commander of the revolutionary forces in Galilee, where he spent more time controlling internal factions than fighting the Roman army. When the city of Jotapata he was defending fell to the Roman general Vespasian, Josephus and his supporters hid in a cave and entered into a suicide pact, which Josephus oddly survived.
Taken prisoner by Vespasian, Josephus presented himself as a prophet. Noting that the war had been propelled by an ancient oracle that foretold a world ruler would arise from Judaea, Josephus asserted that this referred to Vespasian, who was destined to become Emperor of Rome. Intrigued, Vespasian spared his life. When this prophecy came true, and Vespasian became Emperor, he rewarded Josephus handsomely, freeing him from his chains and eventually adopting him into his family, the Flavians. Josephus thus became Flavius Josephus.
During the remainder of the war, Josephus assisted the Roman commander Titus, Vespasian's son, with understanding the Jewish nation and in negotiating with the revolutionaries. Called a traitor, he was unable to persuade the defenders of Jerusalem to surrender to the Roman siege, and instead became a witness to the destruction of the city and the Holy Temple.
Living at the Flavian court in Rome, Josephus undertook to write a history of the war he had witnessed. The work, while apparently factually correct, also served to flatter his patron and to warn other provinces against the folly of opposing the Romans. He first wrote in his native language of Aramaic, then with assistance, translated it into Greek (the most-used language of the Empire). It was published a few years after the end of the war, in about 78 CE. He was about 40 years old.
Josephus subsequently improved his language skills and undertook a massive work in Greek explaining the history of the Jews to the general non-Jewish audience. He emphasized that the Jewish culture and Bible were older than any other then existing, hence called his work the Jewish Antiquities. Approximately half the work is a rephrasing of the Hebrew Bible, while much of the rest draws on previous historians. This work was published in 93 or 94 CE, when he was about 56 years old.
Josephus wrote at least two smaller books, including his autobiography, in which he recounts his life from birth until the writing of the Antiquities. The year he died is unknown.
Ancient Rome was the superpower of its day. Yet, when the Romans
conquered the tiny province of Judea and quashed the First Jewish Revolt
in 70 C.E., it was actually a pretty big deal.
The spoils of war from Judea—the riches of the Temple treasury, the
golden vessels from the Temple, the seized personal treasures of Jewish
citizens and the sale of the Jewish captives themselves—provided
an enormous wealth for the emperor and the plundering army commanded by his
son Titus. Thus did the conquest of Judea fund the most recognizable
structure of imperial Rome.
The Temple treasures were stolen by the Romans, even the menorah
was stolen and taken back to Rome. By September 7, the city was once
again back in Roman hands. The Temple lay in ruins, almost all the
Temple walls were destroyed.
The Arch of Titus in Rome bears many inscriptions and engraved pictures.
Some include images of victorious Roman soldiers marching back to Rome
carrying the Temple Treasures.
Many Jews who were not exiled yet fled to Masada
and held out for three more years fighting against the Roman Empire, but
in the end they were defeated and the nation of Israel would be no
more.
Titus Flavius Vespasianus in the picture to the left led the siege that razed Jerusalem in 70 A.D., then went on to succeed his father Vespasian as Roman emperor. Titus was the eldest son of Vespasian, who ruled as emperor from 69-79. Titus spent his early career on military campaigns in Britain and Germany, but he became a Roman hero after he destroyed Jerusalem and put down the Jewish revolt.
The Jewish War began in 66 AD and culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. When under the proconsul Gessius Florus in the injustice, oppression and tyranny had reached a climax. The Jews were confident that God would come to their rescue and vindicate their cause. There is no doubt that this Zealot rebellion movement was filled with a theocratic ideal and fervent Messianic hope. By dissatisfaction turned into open rebellion.
Rome did not initiate the war against Jerusalem. Jerusalem was already under the authority and control of Rome. Headstrong men in Jerusalem who thought the (time was right to throw off the Roman yoke) kept irritating the and inciting them to rebel against Rome. They believed the (time had come for God to establish his earthly kingdom in Palestine) and thus the people quit paying their taxes and removed the connecting “cloisters” from between the Temple and the tower of Antonia where Roman soldiers were stationed. This would have been sufficient in itself to cause Rome to go against Jerusalem.
The conflict started up in Caesarea and above all in Jerusalem. In November of 66 Jewish Zealots had driven all Roman forces from Jerusalem and had actually slain more than 600 Roman troops. The Roman occupation forces, but also the high priest who tried to smother the rebellion, were no longer equal to the situation and were slaughtered.
The bull-necked emperor Nero gave two simple commands - destroy Jerusalem - level the temple. Nero picked the fifty seven year old commoner, Vespasian, who would be assisted by his energetic son Titus. The conquered nations comprising the Roman Empire watched with incredulity as the Jews, single-handed, fought the Roman Goliath. Josephus was given the task to command the Jewish forces.
The Jews were so close to winning the war that Rome was forced to use her full military weight against them to insure victory. The Romans knew the world was watching and knew that the stakes were high. If the Jews were to win their independence the whole empire would be in revolt.
The extreme Jewish patriots were not satisfied with the tame manner in which Josephus conducted his preparations; they had grounds to suspect that the aristocrat, who had formally belonged to the peace party, had not his heart in the undertaking. The bloody business of massacre and counter-massacre succeeded one another with unrelenting horror. Jews were killed in Caesarea, Scythopolis, Ascolon, Tyre, Alexandri. Josephus ends up turning collaborationist for the Romans.
Josephus tells us that when Cestius Gallus had earlier come with his army against Jerusalem, after some time he raised the siege. After he had left, many of the oldest of the Jews went out from Jerusalem as from a sinking ship. He says that a few years later, when Vespasian come with his troops against Jerusalem, a great multitude fled from Jerusalem to the mountains for security.
It is reasonable to suppose that some Christians were among these. When Jerusalem was surrounded, the Christians were to think of their safety, and seize the first opportunity for flight. Jesus had warned them when these things started happening to flee into the mountains
Luke 21:20-22 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
After the entire land had been subdued by Vespasian, the siege of Jerusalem itself was finally under-taken in the spring of 70 by his son Titus to end the war and destroy them. The Temple swam with the blood of more than 8000 Zealots. Suffice it to say, that the Jews, deceived by false prophets who promised them a temporal deliverer, persevered in their rebellion long after reasonable chance of success had disappeared; they were divided into hostile factions, who fought against each other in the streets of Jerusalem, while the walls of the city quivered under the battering engines of the common enemy.
The temple was leveled to the ground and utterly destroyed. Jesus had warned His followers "Verily, I say unto you, There shall not be left here (Temple) one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
After bitter fighting and frightful massacres, in September of 70, after a stubborn and desperate resistance, the city fell and the national existence of the Jews came to an end. The Holy City was taken and burned, and the Tenth Legion encamped in the ruined temple.
After the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, the Sadducees disappear - no temple meant no sacrifices, no place, therefore for a priestly class; total national humiliation.
6. Thus did John hope to
be too hard for his enemies by these engines constructed by his impiety; but
God himself demonstrated that his pains would prove of no use to him, by
bringing the Romans upon him, before he had reared any of his towers; for
Titus, when he had gotten together part of his forces about him, and had
ordered the rest to meet him at Jerusalem, marched out of Cesarea.
He had
with him those three legions that had accompanied his father when he laid
Judea waste, together with that twelfth legion which had been formerly beaten
with Cestius; which legion, as it was otherwise remarkable for its valor, so
did it march on now with greater alacrity to avenge themselves on the Jews,
as remembering what they had formerly suffered from them. Of these legions he
ordered the fifth to meet him, by going through Emmaus, and the tenth to go
up by Jericho; he also moved himself, together with the rest; besides whom,
marched those auxiliaries that came from the kings, being now more in number
than before, together with a considerable number that came to his assistance
from Syria.
Those also that had been selected out of these four legions, and
sent with Mucianus to Italy, had their places filled up out of these soldiers
that came out of Egypt with Titus; who were two thousand men, chosen out of
the armies at Alexandria. There followed him also three thousand drawn from
those that guarded the river Euphrates ; as also there came Tiberius
Alexander, who was a friend of his, most valuable, both for his good-will to
him, and for his prudence. He had formerly been governor of Alexandria, but
was now thought worthy to be general of the army [under Titus].
The reason of
this was, that he had been the first who encouraged Vespasian very lately to
accept this his new dominion, and joined himself to him with great fidelity,
when things were uncertain, and fortune had not yet declared for him. He also
followed Titus as a counselor, very useful to him in this war, both by his
age and skill in such affairs. Book
V, Chapter I, Section 6 (Entire)
1. Now, as Titus was upon
his march into the enemy's country, the auxiliaries that were sent by the
kings marched first, having all the other auxiliaries with them; after whom
followed those that were to prepare the roads and measure out the camp; then
came the commander's baggage, and after that the other soldiers, who were
completely armed to support them; then came Titus himself, having with him
another select body; and then came the pikemen; after whom came the horse
belonging to that legion.
All these came before the engines; and after these
engines came the tribunes and the leaders of the cohorts, with their select
bodies; after these came the ensigns, with the eagle ; and before those
ensigns came the trumpeters belonging to them; next these came the main body
of the army in their ranks, every rank being six deep; the servants belonging
to every legion came after these; and before these last their baggage; the
mercenaries came last, and those that guarded them brought up the rear. Now
Titus, according to the Roman usage, went in the front of the army after a
decent manner, and marched through Samaria to Gophna, a city that had been
formerly taken by his father, and was then garrisoned by Roman soldiers; and
when he had lodged there one night, he marched on in the morning; and when he
had gone as far as a day's march, he pitched his camp at that valley which
the Jews, in their own tongue, call "the Valley of Thorns," near a
certain village called Gabaothsath, which signifies "the Hill of
Saul," being distant from Jerusalem about thirty furlongs. There it was
that he chose out six hundred select horsemen, and went to take a view of the
city, to observe what strength it was of, and how courageous the Jews were;
whether, when they saw him, and before they came to a direct battle, they
would be affrighted and submit; for he had been informed what was really
true, that the people who were fallen under the power of the seditious and
the robbers were greatly desirous of peace; but being too weak to rise up
against the rest, they lay still. Book
V, Chapter II, Section 1 (Entire)
Book
V, Chapter II, Section 2 (Entire)
2. Now, so long as he
rode along the straight road which led to the wall of the city, nobody
appeared out of the gates; but when he went out of that road, and declined
towards the tower Psephinus, and led the band of horsemen obliquely, an
immense number of the Jews leaped out suddenly at the towers called the
"Women's Towers," through that gate which was over against the
monuments of queen Helena, and intercepted his horse; and standing directly
opposite to those that still ran along the road, hindered them from joining
those that had declined out of it.
They intercepted Titus also, with a few
other. Now it was here impossible for him to go forward, because all the
places had trenches dug in them from the wall, to preserve the gardens round
about, and were full of gardens obliquely situated, and of many hedges; and
to return back to his own men, he saw it was also impossible, by reason of
the multitude of the enemies that lay between them; many of whom did not so
much as know that the king was in any danger, but supposed him still among
them. So he perceived that his preservation must be wholly owing to his own
courage, and turned his horse about, and cried out aloud to those that were
about him to follow him, and ran with violence into the midst of his enemies,
in order to force his way through them to his own men. And hence we may
principally learn, that both the success of wars, and the dangers that kings
are in, are under the providence of God; for while such a number of darts
were thrown at Titus, when he had neither his head-piece on, nor his
breastplate, (for, as I told you, he went out not to fight, but to view the
city,) none of them touched his body, but went aside without hurting him; as
if all of them missed him on purpose, and only made a noise as they passed by
him. So he diverted those perpetually with his sword that came on his side,
and overturned many of those that directly met him, and made his horse ride
over those that were overthrown.
The enemy indeed made a shout at the
boldness of Caesar, and exhorted one another to rush upon him. Yet did these
against whom he marched fly away, and go off from him in great numbers; while
those that were in the same danger with him kept up close to him, though they
were wounded both on their backs and on their sides; for they had each of
them but this one hope of escaping, if they could assist Titus in opening
himself a way, that he might not be encompassed round by his enemies before
he got away from them. Now there were two of those that were with him, but at
some distance; the one of which the enemy compassed round, and slew him with
their darts, and his horse also; but the other they slew as he leaped down
from his horse, and carried off his horse with them. But Titus escaped with
the rest, and came safe to the camp. So this success of the Jews' first
attack raised their minds, and gave them an ill-grounded hope; and this short
inclination of fortune, on their side, made them very courageous for the
future.
Book
V, Chapter II, Section 3 (Entire)
3. But now, as soon as
that legion that had been at Emmaus was joined to Caesar at night, he removed
thence, when it was day, and came to a place called Seopus; from whence the
city began already to be seen, and a plain view might be taken of the great temple.
Accordingly, this place, on the north quarter of the city, and joining
thereto, was a plain, and very properly named Scopus, [the prospect,] and was
no more than seven furlongs distant from it.
And here it was that Titus
ordered a camp to be fortified for two legions that were to be together; but
ordered another camp to be fortified, at three furlongs farther distance
behind them, for the fifth legion; for he thought that, by marching in the
night, they might be tired, and might deserve to be covered from the enemy,
and with less fear might fortify themselves; and as these were now beginning
to build, the tenth legion, who came through Jericho, was already come to the
place, where a certain party of armed men had formerly lain, to guard that
pass into the city, and had been taken before by Vespasian.
These legions had
orders to encamp at the distance of six furlongs from Jerusalem, at the mount
called the Mount of Olives which lies over against the city on the east side,
and is parted from it by a deep valley, interposed between them, which is
named Cedron.
