A.D. 70: Ang Pagkahulog ng Jerusalem

Description

Herodian Palestine [a.k.a. "Herodian Kingdom"] was a Roman Empire's client state. "Ten Caesars" reigned during the "Herodian Dynasty" period. It was the first deified Caesar, Julius, who positioned Antipater the Idumaean as governor for the Romans. During Antipater's period in office as procurator of Judaea, he appointed his son Herod the Great as governor of Jerusalem. Eventually, the Romans crowned Herod the Great with "the title 'King of the Jews' because of the Jewish population he ruled." One of Herod's sons, Aristobulus IV, ruled as prince of Jaudea for some time, but on charges of treason he lost his role as successor and was strangled in B.C. 7. When Herod the Great died, his other three sons [Archelaus, Philip I, and Antipas] inherited the kingdom but Augustus Caesar must first confirm it to them. When Antipas was removed from the throne by Caligula Caesar, Herod's grandson, Agrippa I, received his portion of the land. And, as time goes on, Agrippa II, the last of the Herodian line was added to this monarchy. When Judaea became an imperial province of Rome, procurators were appointed by the Caesars from AD 6 to AD 66. Moreover, these governors "maintained supervision over the country from their official residence at Caesarea." The reign of the Roman procurators with the Herods became highly troublesome for the Jews. Even though they have revolutionary leaders like John of Giscala and Simon Bar Giora, the Jews still preferred the imperial oppressor Caesar over their own brethren or the Edomites. The quotes from Josephus here will show you that the Zealots too were as detestable as the effigy of Caius Caesar that was placed inside the Temple. They had sinned fatally against God by perpetrating tyranny, deceit, and carnage in the name of their sect. Moreover, Josephus had confirmed through writing the great distress that came upon the land. And during the sacrilege of the Temple in A.D. 66 by the Zealots, he felt that Daniel's prophecy about their own damnation had come to its fulfillment.