Aftermath First Jewish–Roman War

1 aftermath

1.1 outcome of great revolt
1.2 further wars
1.3 rise of rabbis

aftermath
outcome of great revolt

an ancient roman coin. inscription reads ivdea capta. coins inscribed ivdaea capta (judea captured) issued throughout empire demonstrate futility of possible future rebellions. judea represented crying woman.



roman denarius depicting titus, circa 79. reverse commemorates triumph in judaean wars, representing jewish captive kneeling in front of trophy of arms.

despite massive upheaval brought revolt, jewish people remained impressively resilient. demolishing of temple, jerusalem, , farming lifestyle of economy , land of israel did not stop jews succeeding , excelling in judea. worked hard within system created romans , thrived.

after few generations of existing within roman systems, jewish desire independence did come head , resulted in bar kobha revolt in 132-135 ce. in jewish tradition, temple seen indestructible , physical manifestation of power of god , god’s connection jewish people. destruction, jews resorted traditional explanation had transgressed , being punished sins. religious reaction destruction evident through changes in halakhah (jewish law), midrashim, , 2 baruch, of mention agony of temple’s destruction.

the defeat of jewish revolt altered jewish demographics, many of jewish rebels scattered or sold slavery. josephus claims 1,100,000 people killed during siege. sizeable portion of these @ jewish hands , due illnesses brought hunger. pestilential destruction upon them, , afterward such famine, destroyed them more suddenly. on order of 97,000 captured , enslaved , many others fled areas around mediterranean.

the jewish encyclopedia article on hebrew alphabet states: not until revolts against nero , against hadrian did jews return use of old hebrew script on coins, did motives similar had governed them 2 or 3 centuries previously; both times, true, brief period.

titus reportedly refused accept wreath of victory, saying, there no merit in vanquishing people forsaken own god.

before vespasian s departure, pharisaic sage , rabbi yohanan ben zakkai obtained permission establish judaic school @ yavne. zakkai smuggled away jerusalem in coffin students. later school became major center of talmudic study (see mishnah). became crucial mark in development of rabbinic judaism, allow jews continue culture , religion without temple , in diaspora.

further wars

the great revolt of judea marked beginning of jewish–roman wars, radically changed eastern mediterranean , had crucial impact on development of roman empire , jews. despite defeat of great revolt, tensions continued build in region. parthian threat east, major jewish communities throughout eastern mediterranean revolted in 117 ce. revolt (known kitos war), while poorly-organized, extremely violent , took 2 years roman armies subdue. although final chapter of kitos war fought in judea, revolt considered part of jewish–roman wars. immense number of casualties during kitos war depopulated cyrenaica , cyprus , reduced jewish , greco-roman populations in region. final conflict in jewish–roman wars erupted in 132 ce in judea, led simon bar kokhba. although bar kokhba successful against roman forces , established short-lived state, eventual roman effort defeated bar kokhba s rebels. result complete genocide of jews, ban on judaism, , unprecedented renaming of province judea palaestina. although hadrian s death (in 137 ce) eased restrictions , persecution of jews, survivors of campaign not many. small jewish community of several thousand survived in galilee, smaller communities in other parts of mediterranean. turn of spared babylonian jewish community rise prominence, although rise of rabbinical judaism in galilee re-emerged rehabilitated jewish center flourish until 7th century.

rise of rabbis

the vocation of rabbi founded rabban gamaliel, pharisee, vocation s relationship pharisees debated. in case, scholars agree rabbis replaced high priest s role in jewish society after 70 ce.

the destruction of second temple in 70 ce marked turning point in jewish history. in absence of temple, synagogue became center of jewish life. when temple destroyed, judaism responded fixating on commandments of torah. synagogues replaced temple central meeting place, , rabbis replaced high priests jewish community leaders. because of rabbis dominance after 70 ce, era called rabbinic period. rabbis filled void of jewish leadership in aftermath of great revolt, , created new kind of judaism through literature , teachings.