Religion also served as a cause to the Jewish revolt. It started years previous when the Roman emperor, Pompey entered Judea’s Holy Temple. This was forbidden to anyone who was not the Jewish High Priest. Following, Herod the Great replaced the Jewish Bible, the Torah, with the Roman law. This act was seen as a prodigious insult[4 page 23], resulting in Rome being severely hated by the Jews. Even though efficient in the way be helped Judea’s economy and rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, it did not help the stream of events that led to the Great Revolt of 66AD.
Roman procurator, Gessius Flourus, took the temple by force in A.D. 66. His military was too limited for the amount of disorder that Jerusalem held and due to lack of supplies, withdrew from the city. There are many theories why he attempted to take the temple. It could have been to state an appearance of power. But, most important theory during that time was it could have been because the high priest would not let any non-Jew enter the temple[4 pg 32].
In order for the Jewish leaders to adhere to their power, they appealed to the people though a series of rebellion[6 pg. 153]. Mobs and riots surrounded the city. There were many power struggles and conflicts between Roman rulers and Judea’s rebel leaders, and in October/November, Josephus came into power of Judea. Judea did not anticipate a long and tenacious war, and therefore they were not prepared for such an intense war. Josephus surrendered and joined the Roman army against his own people. Josephus committed treason, although was never charged for it, but also was an eyewitness to the event. He blamed Jewish and Greek differences between monotheism and polytheism as a reason for the revolt, along with Flours’ irrational trust in miracles, and many others.
Years of events including a Roman civil war and shift of power led to a halt in the war. It didn’t pick up until Roman ruler Vespasian was proclaimed emperor in 69AD. He gave his son, Titus, full command over this war in the East. Titus starved the Jewish people of four months until he turned the temple as a second place of refuge[4 pg. 24][ and 5]. Cutting the bridge to the temple halted communication to and from the temple. Once the temple was a fortress, it was burned down weeks later. The Jewish people, although hindered, still worshiped their daily sacrifices. Many civilians and priests were killed for approaching the alter. It was extremely difficult for the Jewish people to exercise their beliefs without their temple. Therefore some while their offerings took fire on the outside of the building, took fire to themselves as well[5 pg 236][6 page 231]. This destruction meant the end of political power for Judea, and ultimately the end of the war.
