A Tale of Defiance: The Epic Siege of Yodfat

After the success of the Jewish revolt and the temporary retreat of the Romans, the Great Sanhedrin gathered in Jerusalem to prepare for what lay ahead. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, President of Israel and grandson of Hillel the Elder, appointed Yosef ben Gurion and Chanan ben Chanan as commanders of the Jerusalem army. Their task was to strengthen the city walls and maintain order and discipline. Yosef ben Matityahu was appointed commander of Galilee, Yosef ben Shimon commander of Jericho, and various leaders were appointed with hopes of negotiating with the Romans. These leaders were not among the zealots, who believed in fighting to the death regardless of the consequences.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel sent the zealot Elazar ben Hanania to command the Edomite fortresses, distancing his influence from Jerusalem. Various zealots were dispatched to distant locations, and Elazar ben Shimon the Sicarii was removed from all positions. This was an attempt by Jerusalem's leadership to create a balance. In the absence of Roman governance, coins were minted in Jerusalem bearing the inscription "Shekel of Israel" and a pomegranate image, unlike the Roman custom of depicting human figures (this imprint appears on a modern Israeli shekel).

Yosef ben Matityahu was appointed commander of Galilee and immediately began fortifying the region. He fortified 17 cities, including Gamla, Yodfat, Tiberias, and Safed, and trained an army of 100,000 soldiers. He notes in his writings that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel disapproved of his appointment and sought his dismissal. An army of 2,500 soldiers was dispatched from Jerusalem to arrest and remove Yosef ben Matityahu from his position, but he skillfully convinced them it was all a misunderstanding, and they returned without incident. Yohanan of Gush Halav, Justus of Tiberias, and other northern zealots accused Yosef ben Matityahu of feigning allegiance to the revolt, ultimately intending to undermine it.

Meanwhile, Emperor Nero sent his general, Vespasian, to quell the revolt. Vespasian amassed around 60,000 fighters. By winter of the year 67, the Roman legions were within the Land of Israel, camped in gentile cities like Caesarea and Beit Shean, spending the winter there. They ascended Mount Carmel, a site sacred to pagans, where they offered sacrifices to their gods and prepared for battle.

With the arrival of spring, Vespasian launched an assault on Galilee and the Golan, city by city. The people of Sepphoris surrendered to the Romans, while those in Yodfat fortified themselves within the city. For 47 days, the Yodfat defenders bravely protected their city, pouring hot oil on the Roman soldiers approaching the walls. One hero, named Elazar ben Shamai, leapt onto the iron battering ram the Romans used to breach the wall, cut off its head, and returned with it into the city. The people of Yodfat were desperately thirsty but refused to surrender. Instead, they washed their clothes in the remaining water and hung them on the wall to show the Romans they would never capitulate. A city refugee surrendered to the Romans, revealing that the guards dozed at dawn. Vespasian took advantage of this and attacked at dawn. Thick fog aided him, and he captured Yodfat. Forty defenders hid in a cave, one of whom was the commander, Yosef ben Matityahu. Believing it was better to die than surrender, the defenders drew lots to determine who would kill whom. Yosef ben Matityahu managed to maneuver the situation so that his name was not drawn, remaining last, and along with another defender who he persuaded to join him, he fell to the Romans and became their servant from that moment.

From Yodfat, Vespasian turned to conquer Gamla. Gamla's defenders fought valiantly. Agrippa II, who was part of the Roman army, was injured by a sling stone. Vespasian himself narrowly escaped being crushed in the collapse of the city's homes, which fell like a house of cards. Ultimately, Gamla fell as well, and its inhabitants were massacred, as were all the other rebellious northern cities.

Vespasian gathered his forces and marched to besiege Jerusalem. It was the year 68 CE, 3828 in the Jewish calendar, 1956 years ago.