offices of the religious community,
whereas the Pharisees courted the support of the masses by a policy of
hostility to Rome and religious intolerance. It is improbable that the
Pharisees actually sought to bring about a revolt but they kindled a fire
which they could not control and strengthened the development of a party
of direct action, the Zealots, who aimed to liberate Judaea from the Roman
force, trusting in the support of Jehovah. By 66 A. D. all Judaea was in a
ferment and it required but little incitement to produce a national
revolt.

*Massacres in Caesarea and Jerusalem, 66 A. D.* Such a provocation was
afforded by the decision of the Roman government that Jews were not
entitled to citizenship in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judaea, and by a
massacre of the Jews by the Greeks in a riot which followed. However, at
the same time in Jerusalem the Zealots had overpowered the Roman garrison
of one cohort, and massacred both the Romans and their Jewish supporters.
At the news, further massacres took place in the towns of Syria and Egypt,
the Jews suffering wherever they were in a minority but avenging their
countrymen where they got the upper hand. The Romans awoke to the
seriousness of the situation when the legate of Syria, Cestius Gallus, who
had marched on Jerusalem, was forced to beat an ignominious retreat.

*Vespasian in command, 67 A. D.* In 67 A. D. Vespasian was appointed to
the command of an army of 50,000 assembled for the reconquest of Judaea.
In this and the following year he reduced the open country and isolated
fortresses, and was ready to begin the blockade of Jerusalem, where the
majority of the Jews had fled for refuge. However, Vespasian's elevation
to the principate caused a suspension of hostilities for ten months,
during which factional strife raged fiercely within the city.

*Siege of Jerusalem, 70 A. D.* The conclusion of the war Vespasian
entrusted to his eldest son Titus, who at once began the siege of
Jerusalem (70 A. D.). The city had a double line of fortifications, and
within the inner wall were two natural citadels, the temple and the old
city of Mount Zion. The population, augmented by great numbers of
refugees, suffered terribly from hunger but resisted with the fury of
despair. The outer and inner walls were stormed, and then the Romans
forced their way into the temple which was destroyed by fire. Mount Zion
defied assault but was starved into submission. Jerusalem was destroy