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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 10, 1984
PAGE 11
The only substantial and reliable historical source is the work
of Josephus, who was himself a leader of the
Jewish
revolt a
gainst Rome until he defected to the enemy and retired to Rome
where he wrote his monumental WARS OF THE JEWS and ANTIQUITIES OF
THE JEWS.
In spite of the prejudice which creeps into his account of the
war against Rome, he is still the only authoritative historian of
the period. If we were able to ask him the question the rabbis
discussed, "Why was the Temple destroyed?" he would give the
clear answer: "Because of the fanaticism of the Zealots."
By the time the Jewish revolt against Rome broke out in all ser
iousness, Roman power was invincible...• It needs little imagina
tion to recognize that, of all the nations, tiny Judea was the
least likely to be able to fight Rome with any hope of suc
cess••.. But the Jews had the Zealots. And that made a big dif
ference.
The Zealots were organized
by
Judah of Galilee
in
6 BCE when Rome
inc�rporated the Jewish state. Soon after, the Emperor Augustus
ordered a census for the purpose of taxation. While the High
Priest counselled submission so long as the religious life of the
people remained undisturbed, Judah urged resistance and led his
party of Zealots to reject the Roman demands and to harass them.
The Zealots proclaimed two clear principles: First, only God was
master of the Jews. Second, it was tantamount to rebellion a
gainst God's teaching to provide the Romans with any part of the
country's yield, since the land and its harvests were promised to
the Jews by God.
Judah of Galilee was probably executed by the Romans, but the
leadership continued in the control of his family. A son, Mena
hem, conquered the fort of Masada in the year 66, and a descend
ant, Eleazer ben Yair, led the desperate band of 1000 Jews in
their subsequent futile struggle against Rome after the destruc
tion of the Temple in the
year
70.
It is clear that Josephus does not sympathize with the Zeal
ots•••• So, in his opposition to them, Josephus frequently refers
to the Zealots of the Second Temple period as sicarii, dagger
men. This is a distinctly pejorative term, the equivalent of
"ruthless terrorists"•••• However, in spite of his dislike of the
Zealots, Josephus does acknowledge their extraordinary courage
and their acceptance of suffering for a cause which they consider
righteous. He even recognizes their passion for liberty "which
is almost unconquerable," and grants that their source of
strength is their conviction that God alone is their leader and
master.
But Josephus is also a realist.••• In blaming the Zealots for
their futile struggle, he also blames them, by clear implication,
for the chain of events which led to the destruction of the Tem
ple, the downfall of Jerusalem and the massive slaughter of the
Jews...•