![]() Josephus was a former Pharisee and commander of Jewish nationalist forces in the Galilee. This historian and eyewitness was the first-century Jew Yosef ben Mattityahu, better known as Josephus Flavius. Unique also is the fact that no other ancient conflict has been preserved in so complete detail by an eyewitness. The Great War, or First Jewish Revolt, was unique in the history of the region, since the Jews were the only people in the ancient Near East to launch a revolution on such a scale against the Roman Empire. In April of AD 66, when the Roman governor confiscated seventeen talents from the Temple treasury, Jewish nationalists staged a revolt, seizing the Temple, stopping the daily sacrifices in tribute of the Roman emperor, and capturing the stronghold of Masada. Mounting Roman oppression, the siding of Roman authorities with the non-Jewish element in the Land, and repeated violations of the Temple’s sanctity, created the atmosphere for revolt. In AD 44, the death of the Jewish King Agrippa placed the whole of the country under direct Roman rule, removing one of the illusions of independence. However, once religious ideals tempted Jews to express themselves in nationalistic terms, Roman intervention was assured. From Rome’s perspective, its continued toleration of Jewish religion was an insufferable autonomy, yet a justifiable compromise needed to keep Jewish nationalism in check. Therefore, as the century came to a close, rising messianic expectation combined with nationalistic aspiration and conflicting political ambition among the Jewish religious sects. ![]() Nevertheless, while the Temple stood and a Jewish King ruled as symbols of the former independence, future independence remained a hope. Entering Jerusalem in 63 BC, the triumphant Roman General Pompey had even dared to enter the Holy Temple, initiating a period of defilement for the sacred structure under Roman rule, which intensified the loss of independence by the Jewish Nation. For over a century the Jewish People had suffered the humiliation of subjugation to Rome. ![]()
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