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Ed Note: The purpose of this page is to address the Second Temple's destruction, which took place during the First Jewish-Roman War. Without expounding on the details of the war itself, external resources offering a wealth of information are listed herein.
The First Jewish-Roman War, known also as "The Great Revolt," occurred in the Roman (1) province of Judea (2) between 66 - 73 AD. It was the first of three major rebellions taken up by the Jewish (3) citizens against the powerful and oppressive Roman Empire. The other two conflicts were the Kitos War (115–117 AD) and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–136 AD).
In 66 AD, vast political and religious differences sharply divided the Romans and the Jews. Conditions worsened when Roman Emperor (4) Nero (5) imposed heavy taxes upon his Jewish subjects, who responded with protests and attacks upon Roman citizens. Tensions were heightened when the Roman Governor, Gessius Florius, sent troops to remove seventeen talents from the treasury of the Second Temple (6), claiming the money was for unpaid taxes (a).
The end result was a long and costly war which devastated Jewish existence in the region, while also greatly diminishing many of their customs and traditions. The main dagger was the destruction of the Second Temple. It had been rebuilt in 516 BC by Israelites who had returned to the land of their ancestors. King Herod (7) oversaw a massive expansion circa 20 BC.
In 68 AD, Emperor Nero committed suicide, leaving behind a power vacuum within the Roman Empire. 69 AD is forever known as the Year of the Four Emperors, as four rulers sat upon the throne that year:
- Servius Sulpicius Galba (Galba)
- Marcus Salvius Otho (Otho)
- Aulus Vitellius (Vitellius)
- Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Vespasian) (8)
Once Vespasian was declared Emperor, he dispatched his son and future Emperor, Titus (9) Flavius Vespasianus, to finish off the Jewish rebellion. As Jerusalem (10) was a heavily fortified city encapsulated by three walls, Titus arrived with four legions of his soldiers (16,000-24,000) and began what was to be a 7 month siege.
Ultimately, the walls were breached by Roman forces. The Second Temple was completely decimated and Jerusalem was burned. When the fires subsided, Titus gave the order to destroy the remainder of the city, allegedly intending that no one would remember the name Jerusalem. For this achievement, Titus was awarded a triumph; the Arch of Titus (b) was erected in 81 AD by his brother, Domitian (11), posthumously commemorating his victory. Fast Bible fact: Domitian was the Roman Emperor who exiled the Apostle John (12) to the island of Patmos (13) in 95 AD.
Perhaps not coincidentally, the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD by the Romans occurred on the very same day of the Hebrew calendar (9th of Ab/Av) that the First Temple (14) was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC.
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If you're seeking additional information about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (15). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (16) (c) is the most rewarding and everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (17), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (18), Discipleship Encounters (19) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].
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FOOTNOTES:
(1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Rome
(2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Judah
(3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Israelites
(4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/emperors-of-rome
(5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Nero
(6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Temple-Second
(7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Herod
(8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/vespasian
(9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/titus-1
(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jerusalem
(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/domitian
(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/apostle-john
(13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Patmos
(14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Temple-First
(15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city
(16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor
(17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies
(18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education
(19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship
(20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Josephus
EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
(a) Cohen, Shaye J. D. "Roman Domination: The Jewish Revolt and the Destruction of the Second Temple." In Ancient Israel: From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple, edited by Hershel Shanks, 277.
(b) The Arch of Titus, Ancient History Enyclopedia, accessed February 21, 2020 https://www.ancient.eu/article/499/the-arch-of-titus-rome/
(c) How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020 https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html
READ ABOUT THE FIRST JEWISH-ROMAN WAR
+ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-great-revolt-66-70-ce
+ https://www.bible-history.com/nero/NEROThe_Jewish_Revolt.htm
+ https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/roman-jewish-wars/roman-jewish-wars-3/
+ The Wars of the Jews, Josephus (20), 75 AD http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2850
+ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jewish_War
