The Great Revolt (First Jewish War) (jan 1, 66 – jan 1, 70)

Description:

Riots in Jerusalem and tensions on the ground up into Galilee.

Tension arise from G. Florus' plundering the Temple? Josephus notes how rebels destroyed bonds and debt reciepts, perhaps preserving a social motivation concerning taxation and landed property behind the uprising.

Galilee revert to Roman control almost as soon as Vespasian arrived in 67. (Here Josephus surrenders to Vespasian at Jotapata/Yodefat and propheseys Vespasian's emperorship.) The countryside falls into Vsparian's hands esily, and rebels coalesce in Jerusalem. Vespasian leaves the problem of finishing up the job in the region to son Titus when he needs to return to Rome to claim throne. Sige of Jerusalem lasts from about March/April to July/August of 70. Utter destruction.

Jewish generals John of Gischala and Simon Bar-Giora (Jewish War 6.274-407)

Josephus records factional infighting between wings of zealots. This perhaps preserves the social fabric behind the uprising. But I think we can't be too sure, given Josephus' audience. The level of cohesion and cooperation between Jewish political factions is hard to gauge from Josephus' account. (Monty Python's Life of Brian cleverly captures the factional situation in Judaea at the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoIl7g8AAbM)

Added to timeline:

Date: