Chapter 3

Jesus foresaw the destruction of the city by the Romans in 70 AD, and burst into tears as He spoke with His disciples as they approached Jerusalem.

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”” Luke 19:41-44.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians and their king Nebuchadnezzar in 587/586 BC, and they destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Romans helped the Pharisees to defeat the Sadducees in a civil war in Jerusalem. The Roman general Pompey capitalized on the situation and annexed Israel into the Roman Empire.

Since the Romans occupation of Israel in 63 BC they infuriated the Jews by arbitrary imposition of taxes, and unwarranted interference in their religion. The breaking point came when Rome assumed the appointment of the High Priest, and decreed that the statue of emperor Caligula should be placed in every temple. The Jews revolted and defied the decree. The Great Revolt, also known as the First Jewish-Roman War, culminated in destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Roman forces.

The Romans led by General Titus succeeded in suppressing the revolt and destroying Jerusalem in 70 AD. Despite this, the Zealots valiantly and defiantly resisted Roman rule for approximately four years within the mountain stronghold of Masada. The Romans constructed several ramps and eventually breached the defenses, culminating in the defeat of the Zealots in 73 AD. True to their resolve, the Zealots honored their pledge, opting to take their own lives rather than face enslavement or execution at the hands of the Romans.

The historian Flavius Josephus was one of the few survivors of Masada. The Romans were surprised by the fierce and prolonged resistance of the Zealots. Josephus was captured, but the Romans were fascinated by his account of the fierce tenacity of the resistance. Rather than sentencing him to death, they brought him to Rome to write the extraordinary story of Masada.

“And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”” Luke 5:29-32.

With a deceptive agenda to falsely accuse Jesus of inciting rebellion, the Pharisees sent their agents to question Him.

“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”” Matthew 22:17-21.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, modern day Israel is approximately 8,522 square miles (22,072), while New Jersey is 8,723 square miles (22,591 square km), in area.