Persecution under Vespasian, Trajan, and Hadrian

1:45. For these do I weep (Lamentations 1:16). Vespasian loaded three ships with the nobles of Jerusalem in order to place them in the Roman houses of prostitution. They [the noblemen] stood up and said, “Was it not enough that we angered Him in His sanctuary, but that we shall also do so beyond the land [of Israel]?” They then asked the women with them, “Do you want this?” They [the women] responded, “No.” They [the men] said, “If [these women] do not desire [to be violated] in the natural manner [of sexual conduct], how much more so that we [men desire not to be violated]? Do you suppose, if we were to cast ourselves into the sea, we would enter the life of the world to come?” Immediately the Holy One illuminated their eyes with the following scriptural verse: The Lord said, “I shall bring [them] back from Bashan, I shall bring [them] back from the depths of the sea” (Psalm 68:23). I shall bring [them] back from Bashan [means that the Lord shall release them] from between the teeth of lions. I shall bring [them] back from the depths of the sea [is to be interpreted] according to its ordinary meaning.

The first group of men stood up and recited: If we had forgotten the name of our God, or extended our hands to a foreign God (Psalm 44:21), and they hurled themselves into the sea. The second group of men stood up and recited: For your sake, we are killed all day long (Psalm 44:23), and they hurled themselves into the sea. The third group of men stood up and recited: Would not God investigate this, for He knows what is hidden in the heart (Psalm 45:22), and they hurled themselves into the sea. Yet the holy spirit keeps crying out, saying, For these do I weep (Lamentations 1:16).

Hadrian—may his bones be ground—established three garrisons: one in Ḥammta, another in Kefar Lekitaya, and another in Beth El of Judaea. He said, “The one who escapes from this [garrison] will be captured in another, and the one who escapes from the other garrison will be captured in this one.” He dispatched criers, and they cried out, saying, “Wherever there are Jews, let them come forward, for the king wishes to give each one his pledge [concerning his safety].” In this way, the criers would make these announcements, and [the Roman authorities] would capture Jews. Thus it is written: Ephraim is like a dove, foolish and mindless (Hosea 7:11). As for those who inquired, the [criers] would answer, “Come and pray that you are not captured.” As for those alive who understood [they were being lured into their own capture], they did not come out [from hiding]. But as for those who did not understand [what was taking place], they all gathered at the valley of Beth Rimon. He [Hadrian] then said to his commanding officer, “Before I finish eating this slice of cake, and this chicken thigh, I will search for one of them but will find none [left alive].” Immediately his [Hadrian’s] legions surrounded [the Jews] and massacred them. And the blood [of the slaughtered] spilled into the sea and flowed as far as Cyprus River. And the holy spirit cried out, saying, For these things do I weep (Lamentations 1:16).

As for those [Jews] who remained in hiding, some were reduced to eating the flesh of those who had been killed. Each day, one of them would go out and bring back one of the dead, and they would eat. One day they declared, “Let one of us go out, and if he finds anything, let him bring it back so that we can eat.” The person who set out that day found his own father, who had been killed. He took the corpse, concealed it, and placed a visual mark over it. He came back and reported to the others, “I didn’t find anything.” They said, “Let another man go out, and if he finds anything, let him bring it back, and we will eat.” When the next man set out, he sought out the scent, dug, and discovered the body of the slain man. He brought back the corpse, and they ate it. When they finished eating, he asked the other, “From where did you bring back this corpse?” He answered, “From such and such a corner.” And the first man asked, “And what mark was placed over it?” He answered, “Such and such a mark.” He answered that he was his [the dead man’s] son, and he further said, “Woe to that man who has consumed the flesh of his own father.” This was in fulfillment of what the scripture says: Therefore, the fathers will consume their children in your midst, [and the children will consume their fathers] (Ezekiel 5:10).

The wife of [the emperor] Trajan—may his bones be crushed—gave birth on the eve of the Ninth of Av. And all Israel were in mourning [for the Temple]. Thereafter, the baby died during Hanukkah. The people of Israel deliberated whether or not to light [Hanukkah lights]. They decided, “We shall light them, and whatever he desires to do to us, let it be done.” They lit [the Hanukkah candles], and they went and spoke evil words [about the people of Israel] to Trajan’s wife, “These Judeans! When you gave birth, they were mourning, and when the baby died, they lit lights.” She sent a letter to her husband, “Before you conquer the barbarians, come and conquer these Judeans who are rebelling against you.” So he [Trajan] got on a ship and planned on arriving in ten days, but [favorable] winds carried him there in five days. When he arrived, he found [the Judeans] engaged in this scripture: The Lord will raise up a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, soaring as swiftly as the eagle (Deuteronomy 28:49). Trajan said to them, “I am that eagle. I had planned to arrive in ten days, but the winds delivered me in five.” His legions then surrounded them [the Jews] and put them to the slaughter. He [Trajan] then said to the [surviving] women, “Heed my legions, and if you do not, I will do to you what I did to the men.” They [the women] said to him, “Do to the subordinates as you did with their superiors.” Immediately his legions surrounded them and put them to the slaughter. And the blood of these [the women] combined with the blood of those [the men]. And the blood spilled out and flowed as a river, reaching as far as Cyprus River. And the holy spirit cried out, declaring, For these do I weep (Lamentations 1:16). [ . . . ]

2:4. [ . . . ] Hadrian Caesar surrounded Beitar for three and a half years. R. Eleazar of Modiin was there at the time, busy with his sackcloth and fasting. And every single day he would pray, saying, “Lord of the universe, do not sit in judgment on this day.” At last, Hadrian thought it best to return [to Rome]. Then a certain Cuthean came and found him [Hadrian], saying to him, “My lord, so long as the hen wallows in the ashes, you will not be able to conquer her. Rather, wait for me, so that I may empower you to conquer her this very day.” At once [the Cuthean] entered the city by way of its underground sewer system. Thereupon he found R. Eleazar, who was standing and praying. He [the Cuthean] then acted as if he was whispering into the ear of R. Eleazar of Modiin. They went and informed Bar Koziba, “Your beloved R. Eleazar is seeking to hand over the city to Hadrian.” He sent word and had the Cuthean brought to him. He then asked him, “What did you say to [R. Eleazar]?” [The Cuthean] answered, “If I tell you, the king will kill a certain man [i.e., me], but if I do not tell you, you yourself will kill a certain man [i.e., me]. It is better instead that the certain man kill himself rather than allow the secrets of the kingdom to become known.” Ben Koziba really believed that [R. Eleazar] sought to hand over the city. Therefore, as soon as R. Eleazar had finished his prayers, [Bar Koziba] sent word that he be brought to him. He asked him, “What did that Cuthean say to you?” [R. Eleazar] answered, “I have no idea what was whispered in my ears. I didn’t hear him say anything at all, since I was standing in prayer, so I don’t know what he was saying.” Filled with anger, Ben Koziba kicked [R. Eleazar] once with his foot and killed him. The divine voice came forth and said: Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons his flock. A sword will come against his arm and right eye (Zechariah 11:17). [The divine voice further] said to him, “You have bound the arm of Israel and blinded its right eye. Therefore: His arm shall surely wither, and his right eye shall go utterly blind (Zechariah 11:17).” Thereupon, these iniquities caused Beitar to be captured, and Ben Koziba was killed. His head was brought to Hadrian. He asked, “Who killed this man?” A soldier said to him, “I killed this man.” He [Hadrian] said to him, “Go and bring back [the rest of this man] to me.” He went and brought back [the corpse], but he found a snake coiled around its neck. He [Hadrian] said to him [the soldier], “If his God had not killed this man, who could have [overpowered] him?” So he ascribed to him the scripture: Unless their Rock had sold them, [the Lord given them up] (Deuteronomy 32:30). [ . . . ]

5:5. Up to our necks we were pursued (Lamentations 5:5): Hadrian—may his bones be ground up—sent out an order and said, “[When] you come and see Judean hair on anyone, remove his head.” Everyone heard and cut their hair. He sent out another order and said, “[When] you come and see that the back of his neck is pale from his Judean hair, remove his head, in order to fulfill that which is written: Upon our necks we were pursued, we were exhausted but given no rest (Lamentations 5:5).” [ . . . ]

Translated by Aaron Samuels (1:45; 2:4) and Matthew Goldstone (5:5).