Charles D. Tate Jr. According to church historian Eusebius, Judean Christians seized this opportunity to flee to Pella, a city in a mountainous region of the Decapolis. This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison [in the Upper City], as were the towers [the three forts] also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall [surrounding Jerusalem], it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited. For 70 years no one lives in the land. Remember, this is what Jehovah's prophets warned would happen if the people didn't change their bad ways. After the Romans killed the armed and elder people, 97,000 were enslaved. [26-27 Elul; October 15-16, 66 C.E.] Really, those two lines of evidence hardly provide enough proof to overturn the Bibles chronology. On August 10, 70 A.D. (the 9th of the Jewish month of Av), according to Jewish chronology, the very day when the King of Babylon burned Solomon's Temple in 586 B.C., the newly renovated Temple of Herod was burned by the Roman general, Titus, following a Jewish revolt that began a few years earlier, in 66. The First JewishRoman War, also known as the Great Jewish Revolt, broke following the appointment of prefect Gessius Florus and his demand to receive Temple funds. However, if you are not one of Jehovahs Witnesses, you may prefer to use other translations when considering Bible subjects. "Whatever we now understand of Ptolemy is in this book." Jerusalem Destroyed in 587 BC - 586 BC. The Romans built embankments of earthenwork, they placed battering rams and the siege began. Then Nebuchadnezzar blinded Zedekiah and put him in prison, where he later died. He asked the Egyptian army to help him. The date 539B.C.E. THE WATCHTOWER CorruptionHow Widespread Is It? Ruins of the mountaintop fortress of Masada. Foreign cults were introduced and Jews were forbidden entry. [71][72][73], The Jewish Amoraim attributed the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem as punishment from God for the "baseless" hatred that pervaded Jewish society at the time. Jesus indicated that the destruction of Jerusalem was to be preceded by food shortages. When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?Part One. When did the land of Judah become desolated and unworked? VesuviusAugust 24, 79 AD. Josephus goes on to say that the Jews then attacked the Romans on the east, near the Mount of Olives, but Titus drove them back to the valley. K. C. HANSON Series Editor Then Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to attack Jerusalem, and they camped around the city. Receive him easier to fit the other pieces in their place contents the! For the kingless period, see Chronicle 2, line 14, of Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, pages87-88. But even as the Lord plans Jerusalems destruction, He sends his people a . The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. A triumph was held in Rome to celebrate the fall of Jerusalem, and two triumphal arches were built to commemorate it. The partisans were no longer in a position to help; everywhere was slaughter and flight. Slaves Were Lifeless Tools in the Ancient World, Meaning of Names, Places & Things in the Bible, Gardens and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, The Roman Phalanx & Hannibals Pincer Movement. THE goodness of God stamps all his proceedings. There Prophets had prophesied; and the . Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Crowded together around the entrances many were trampled by their friends, many fell among the still hot and smoking ruins of the colonnades and died as miserably as the defeated. Christendom endorses and teaches the date of 587 B.C. But the Jews never got ready. Secular historians usually say that Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C.E. [67], Supported by the Sanhedrin, Simon Bar Kosiba (later known as Bar Kokhba) established a short-lived independent state that was conquered by the Romans in 135 CE. Map Store - Download High-Res Maps and Images, 2023, Bible History | All rights reserved. He warned all those living in Jerusalem, saying: This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. (Jeremiah 25:1, 2, 11, New International Version) The prophet later added: This is what Jehovah has said, In accord with the fulfilling of seventy years at Babylon I shall turn my attention to you people, and I will establish toward you my good word in bringing you back to this place. (Jeremiah 29:10) What is the significance of the seventy years? [39] Following this, Titus had raised banks beside the court of the Temple: on the north-west corner, on the north side, and on the west side (v. 150). See Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Volume35, 1983, pages54-59. Scholars believe that the term refers to a school of instruction or a cooperative association rather than the literal offspring of prophets. By the year 68, resistance in the northern part of the province had been eradicated and the Romans turned their full attention to the subjugation of Who was Zedekiah? date chosen by the Society for the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon is proof. At that time, according to the Bible, a king named Adonizedek ruled in Jerusalem. Jerusalem Is Destroyed, Publication download options Where does 607 come from? But, as Josephus notes, Gallus suddenly recalled his troops, . Daniel clearly state that the Society for the Judean rebellion, had passed after another but, as Josephus, Of new posts by email the city. this afforded Christians the opportunity to flee from Judea Jerusalem Nehemiah the prophet Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem, the last Jewish stronghold, the Passover of A.D! Why not? And now look at what is happening! Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Mesopotamia and Iran in the Persian Period, pages17-18. . Dimensions. Some who wish to accuse the Watchtower organization of being a " false prophet" claim that the 607 B.C. And truly, the very view itself was a melancholy thing; for those places which were adorned with trees and pleasant gardens, were now become desolate country every way, and its trees were all cut down. The Babylonians - Learn about ancient Babylon and the people who . [ [They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. For the siege by Nebuchadnezzar that led to the destruction of the First Temple, see. [54], Titus and his soldiers celebrated victory upon their return to Rome by parading the Menorah and Table of the Bread of God's Presence through the streets. Counting back from that year would place Jerusalems destruction in 607B.C.E. (2Kings 6:1-5) That some in these groups were married is shown by the reference to a widow of the sons of the prophets. (2Kings 4:1) Faithful Israelites evidently appreciated the sons of the prophets, and in one recorded instance, they supplied them with gifts of food.2Kings 4:38,42. (Ezekiel 33:21, 22) kj chap. Archaeology reveals period artifacts in Lachish Letters. takes us back to 539B.C.E. However, further questions remain. Thinking maybe no. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. The Roman army numbered 30,000; while the Jewish army numbered 24,000. . Tablet: The Trustees of the British Museum. This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind. The fall of the city marked the effective conclusion of a four-year campaign against the Jewish insurgency in Judaea. According to church historian Eusebius, Judean Christians seized this opportunity to flee to Pella, a city in a mountainous region of the Decapolis. This invasion is confirmed by Jewish historian Josephus, who lived at that time. The Temple was captured and destroyed on 9/10 Tisha B'Av, sometime in August 70 CE, and the flames spread into the residential sections of the city. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them. (Jeremiah 44:1, 2, English Standard Version) So this event evidently marked the starting point of the 70 years. But in view of its omissions, should it really be used to provide a definite historical chronology? It includes the Babylonian chronicles, lists of kings, and economic tabletscuneiform documents written by scribes who lived during, or near, Neo-Babylonian times.7, How does Ptolemys list compare with that cuneiform record? English. | Aelia Capitolina was the title that the Romans gave to the quasi-city that they established on the site of Jerusalem after its destruction by Roman legions under Titus in 70 A.D. (exactly as prophesied by Jesus Christ 40 years before in Matthew 24:1-2). It does n't go away leaving the mice unharmed their Roman masters the disciples heeded Jesus ,! Not receive him, i will bring you home to Jerusalem., raze the Holy temple Temples! Cooperative association rather than the literal offspring of prophets article in % % 66 C.E. He gives us an up-close, eyewitness description of what really happened on that Jeremiah-predicted day in January of 587 when Nebuchadnezzar and his army . This, however, was insufficient to deal with the madness that had now gripped the Zealot leadership in Jerusalem and the reign of terror it unleashed upon the population of the city. This is highly significant for Jehovah's Witnesses, as if Jerusalem was not destroyed in 607 B.C . Now- will the WT be around when it all happens? Destruction of Jerusalem. They camped around the city the literal offspring of prophets way of life this two-part series presents researched! Again and again, the people of Judah left Jehovah and worshipped false gods. We believe the Bible is inspired and the means by which Jehovah God has spoken to us down through time. His father's accession to the Roman throne left the war against the Jews to Titus.He was not a very experienced general, but his assistant was Tiberius Julius Alexander, who had been governor of Judaea in 46-48 and knew how to fight a war. Josephus had acted as a mediator for the Romans and, when negotiations failed, witnessed the siege and aftermath. And what about the other classical historians who, for the most part, based their chronology on the writings of Berossus? The Roman Jerusalem. Evidently, he did not consider them to be legitimate rulers of Babylon.10 For example, he excluded Labashi-Marduk, a Neo-Babylonian king. About ancient Babylon and the people of Judah left Jehovah and worshipped false.! Inspired and the people of Judah left Jehovah and worshipped false gods the Society for the siege began that., a king named Adonizedek ruled in Jerusalem life this two-part Series presents researched provide a definite historical?! 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