Before Jerusalem Fell

252 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL
but, like people blown upintoaflalmeby their good fortune, carried
the war to remoter places .59
As Bruce sees it: “This initial success for the revolt discredited the
moderates and leaders of the peace-party in the public eye, and
encouraged the insurgents to organize the whole Jewish population
of Palestine for the war of liberation. “W Almost immediately the
Jews, though by no means united, “betook themselves to make preparations
for the war with the Remans.”6 1
After this humiliating misfortune for the governor, word was sent
to the emperor Nero to apprise him of the situation regarding “the
great distress” Cestius was m. “ 62 AS Josephus records it: “When Nero
was informed of the Remans’ ill success in Judea, a concealed consternation
and terror, as is usual in such cases, fell upon him.”63
Nero deliberated on the matter and then formally commissioned a
seasoned general, Vespasian, to make preparations to put down
what had become a revolt against Imperial Rome and the Pax
Roman.a.G4 “Vespasian received his commission from Nero, i.e., the
war was declared . . . , the first part of Feb., A.D. 67.”65 This was
the formal declaration of war by Rome against Israel. Shortly thereafter,
Vespasian entered northern Israel on his march to Jerusalem
going forth “conquering and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2). According to
Bruce, Vespasian “arrived the following spring [i.e., the spring of
A.D. 67] to take charge of operations.”m This marked the official
entry of Roman imperial forces into the campaign. Jerusalem and the
Temple finally fell and were utterly destroyed by Titus, Vespasian’s
son, in late summer, A.D. 70: “Titus began the siege of Jerusalem in
April, 70. The defenders held out desperately for five months, but
by the end of August the Temple area was occupied and the holy
house burned down, and by the end of September all resistance in
the city had come to an end.”67
59. Wars 3:2:1.
60. Bruce, Hi.rtoT, p. 381. See also Henderson, L#e and Pnmipate, pp. 370tY
61. War~ 2:22:1.
62. Wars 2:20:1.
63. Wars 3:1:1.
64. Wars 3:1:2-3.
65. Macdonald, Lz~ and Wrihg~ ofJohn, p. 212 n. 1. See also Schafi Hidov 1:395.
66. Bruce, Histou, p. 381.
67. Bruce, Hi.stoV, p. 382. See Josephus, Wars 7:1. Except for three renegade pockets
of resistance scattered about the Judean wilderness, the war was considered won by