Outbreak of the Revolt

King Agrippa II (r. 50–92 CE), the last of the Herodian line, tries to prevent the revolt in Judaea and is banished from the city. Nonetheless, rebellion erupts, as some of the main Jewish rebel factions seize Masada from the Romans, led by Menahem. Upon his return to Jerusalem, Menahem besieges the palace. The high priest Ananias and his brother Hezekiah are found murdered by terrorists in league with Menahem. This leads the party of Eleazar to rebel against Menahem. Eleazar and his men capture Menahem and torture him to death.

In the meantime, the priests in the Temple decide to stop offering sacrifices on behalf of Romans or the emperor in the Jerusalem Temple, a decision that signals rebellion once news of it reaches Rome. While the political leaders, chief priests, and Pharisees try to avert all-out war, the insurgents court it. According to Josephus, the political leaders—in an effort to absolve themselves of responsibility—send delegations to Agrippa II and to Florus, beseeching them to crush the revolt before it gets out of hand. A deeply ambivalent Agrippa II dispatches cavalry to support the people of Jerusalem. Florus, though, continuing his policy of fomenting war, does nothing.