Israel and the Palestinian Territories/History: Roman Rule

After 6 CE, Judaea was annexed by the Romans, although its self-governing institutions were initially kept. The governors of Judaea were initially called prefects and were under the authority of the Governor of Syria but the title was changed to Procurator later.

Under Pontius Pilate’s tenure as governor of Judaea, situation became severe in Judaea due to the rise of Messianic movements. Situation deteriorated under Caligula as an attempt was made to put a golden imperial statue in the Holy Temple, which was in breach of basic Jewish values.

Under the time of Claudius as emperor, Judaea was, for 3 years, restored as a kingdom for Agrippa, Herod’s grandson, who was a defender of Jewish interest and, unlike most other Herodians, behaved as a true Jewish king and was beloved by the Jewish people. After his death, Judaea reverted to the status of a Roman province.

The later years marked the complete deterioriation of the relationship between Jews and the Romans, and ultimately, in 66 CE, a revolt broke out.

The revolt was a result of rising messianic sentiments and frustration against Roman rule. The Zealots fought against Romans and tried to build a Jewish state. Romans responded to the revolt with a large army under the command of Titus Flavius Vespasianus(Vespasian), who crushed the resistance at Galilee and Transjordan and, after the assassination of Emperor Nero and the brief rule of 3 emperors, was proclaimed Emperor. In 70 CE, after a brave stand, Jerusalem fell to the Romans, and the city and the Temple were destroyed. In 73 CE, the last stand, Masada, fell to the Romans, and the fighters there committed suicide. Titus entered Rome in a great triumph, with the menorah of the Holy Temple being displayed in the procession.

The destruction of the Holy Temple caused mass confusion among Jews, as the Temple was the centre of the Jewish life, but gradually Rabbinical Judaism was able to survive from the destruction of the Holy Temple by adapting itself under the leadership of Yoẖanan ben Zakkai. Jewish life, scholarship and institutions gradually re-developed. Meanwhile, taxation on Jews were increased, while a Roman legion was permanently stationed on Judaea.

Two revolts broke out in Judaea after 70 CE, the first was the revolt of Quietus at the end of Trajan, which broke out among Jews across the Empire. Later, as Hadrian suppressed Jewish customs, the Bar Kochba revolt broke out. Following the revolt, large numbers of Jews were killed or enslaved, the core of Judaea was depopulated, the religion was suppressed and the province was renamed Syria Palaestina. Large numbers of Jews were forced into exile as a result of the suppression of the revolt.