Civil War Within Jerusalem

While Vespasian was methodically crushing resistance throughout Judea, Jerusalem was eating itself alive.

Three main factions were fighting for control of the city. John of Gischala held the Temple and its immediate surroundings. Simon bar Giora controlled the upper city and much of the lower city. Eleazar ben Simon held the inner court of the Temple. And these three groups fought each other as viciously as they would later fight the Romans. They burned each other's food supplies. They killed fellow Jews in their struggle for dominance. They tortured people suspected of hiding food or supporting rival factions.

Jerusalem had food stores that could have sustained the city for years. But in their internal power struggles, the factions destroyed them. They literally burned the food that could have kept them alive during a siege. It's almost impossible to comprehend that level of self-destructive madness.

The moderate voices—the people who might have negotiated with Rome, who might have found a peaceful way out—were silenced or killed. The Zealots murdered the high priest Ananus ben Ananus and other aristocrats who favored negotiation. They eliminated anyone who might have prevented the coming catastrophe.

Then, in AD 68-69, something unexpected happened: Rome itself descended into civil war.

Nero committed suicide in June of AD 68, and the empire spiraled into chaos. Four different men claimed the throne in rapid succession—the "Year of the Four Emperors." Vespasian suspended military operations in Judea while Rome sorted out who was actually in charge. Then, in July of AD 69, Vespasian's own troops proclaimed him emperor. He departed for Rome to secure his claim to the throne, leaving his son Titus to finish what he'd started in Judea.

The Jews had been given a reprieve. But they'd used that time to keep fighting each other. And now Titus was coming to finish the job.