The Siege and Destruction

When Titus took command of the Judean campaign in AD 70, he had at his disposal one of the most formidable military forces ever assembled. Four full legions: the V Macedonica, XII Fulminata, XV Apollinaris, and X Fretensis. Each legion comprised about 5,000 to 6,000 heavy infantry, supported by auxiliary units of cavalry, archers, and light infantry drawn from throughout the empire. Total force: somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 men.

The Roman military machine was the most sophisticated in the ancient world. These weren't conscripts or militia—they were professional soldiers, extensively trained in formation fighting, siege warfare, and engineering. They could construct elaborate siege works—ramps, towers, battering rams—with remarkable speed and efficiency. Roman military doctrine emphasized systematic, methodical approaches to warfare. Don't take unnecessary risks. Apply overwhelming force at decisive points. Grind down the enemy's will to resist.

Titus's strategy for Jerusalem reflected this doctrine perfectly. He didn't attempt a direct assault on the heavily fortified city. Instead, he established a complete blockade, cutting off all supplies and escape routes. Then he systematically reduced Jerusalem's defenses, breaching one wall after another, constricting the defenders into smaller and smaller areas while starvation, disease, and demoralization did their work.

To be fair to the defenders, Jerusalem's defensive position was formidable. The city was protected by three concentric walls on its northern side, where the terrain was most vulnerable. The southern, eastern, and western sides were protected by steep valleys—the Kidron Valley to the east, the Hinnom Valley to the south and west—which made assault from those directions extremely difficult.

The outermost (third) wall, built by Herod Agrippa I in the 40s AD, enclosed the northern suburbs. The second wall protected the commercial district and the lower city. The first wall, the oldest and strongest, protected the upper city and the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount itself was essentially a fortress within the city, with massive retaining walls and limited access points.

The defenders had prepared for siege. They'd stockpiled weapons and, initially, substantial food supplies. The Temple treasury provided financial resources. The population included many experienced fighters—veterans of the earlier campaigns in Galilee, refugees from other conquered cities who had military experience. The factional leaders—John of Gischala, Simon bar Giora, and Eleazar ben Simon—were capable commanders who had proven themselves in previous engagements.

But Jerusalem's defenses were fatally compromised by internal divisions. The three main factions controlled different parts of the city and fought each other almost as fiercely as they fought the Romans. This internal conflict destroyed food supplies, killed experienced leaders, and prevented coordinated defensive strategies. When the Romans attacked, the defenders often had to fight on two fronts—against the Romans outside and against rival Jewish factions inside.