Famine and Desertion

Josephus

The Jewish War 5.420–427

ca. 75

For all this emotional appeal by Josephus, the insurgents would not budge, and thought it far from safe to change their course. The people, though, took it as a spur to desertion. Some sold their entire property at rock-bottom prices, others just their most valuable treasures, and then, to evade any search by the terrorists, they would swallow the…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Even before Titus built a siege wall to encircle the city and prevent the movement of people and supplies, the famine within was starving the city’s population. If not for the rebel leaders John and Simon having burned the city’s food stores, the city would have been able to withstand a long siege. Josephus describes the “hell inside the city” even before the siege begins in earnest.

Read more

Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

You may also like

Josephus Rescued from the City

Meanwhile Josephus, still insistently going round outside the city to reiterate his appeals, was struck on the head by a stone and dropped senseless on the spot. The Jews made a dash for his body, and…
View Source

Titus Besieges Jerusalem

Titus now held a conference with his officers. The more bullish recommended bringing up the entire army and launching a full-scale assault on the wall: so…
View Source

The Fate of Those Who Escape

Of those now deserting some had no choice but to move quickly and jump down from the wall: others sallied out with stones in their hands as if to do battle, and then fled to the Romans. But desertion…
View Source

The Temple Falls

Titus, now realizing that his attempt to spare a foreign temple was only causing injury and death to his own men, gave orders for the gates to be fired. [ . . . ]…
View Source