New Testament History

The destruction of the Second Temple

A comet continued for an entire year before the First Jewish-Roman War (Josephus, B.J. 6.289). Chinese observations record two noteworthy comets: in July-September 65 AD (a comet called chang-hsing = “long-tailed star”) and in January-April 66 AD (Halley’s Comet).[1] The “entire year” that the comet continued is the period between the first and second comet, July 65 AD-April 66 AD. The war began in the month Artemisios (= Iyar) in Nero’s year 12 (13 October 65 AD/12 October 66 AD) and in Agrippa II’s year 17 (B.J. 2.284),[2] in April/May 66 AD, at which time the second comet disappeared.

A battle occurred on 8 Dios (= 8 Heshvan) in Nero’s year 12 (B.J. 2.555). B.J. 2 ends with lengthy preparations during the winter of 66/67 AD (B.J. 2.647-651) and with raids by Simon (B.J. 2.652-654). B.J. 3 starts with Nero sending Vespasian (B.J. 3.4). Josephus then mentions the months Artemisios (B.J. 3.142, = Iyar) and Daisios (B.J. 3.282, 315, = Sivan), followed by the capture of Jotapata on 1 Panemos (= 1 Tammuz) in Nero’s year 13 (B.J. 3.339). B.J. 3 ends on 8 Gorpiaios (= 8 Elul) 67 AD (B.J. 3.542).

B.J. 4 begins with the revolt at Gamala on 24 Gorpiaios (B.J. 4.83). The book contains Nero’s death (B.J. 4.491, on 9 or 11 June 68 AD),[3] Galba’s death (B.J. 4.499, on 15 January 69 AD),[4] Otho’s death (B.J. 4.548, on 16 or 17 April 69 AD),[5] Vespasian’s proclamation as emperor (B.J. 4.601, on 3 July 69 AD),[6] and Vitellius’s death (B.J. 4.652-654, on 20 December 69 AD).[7] Vespasian’s departure for Rome follows (B.J. 4.658). B.J. 4 ends with Titus and his troops travelling to Caesarea (B.J. 4.659-663).

The Roman army arrived in Jerusalem before Passover, which fell on 14 Xanthikos (B.J. 5.98). There were battles outside Jerusalem before Passover.[8] The Romans breached the first wall on 7 Artemisios (B.J. 5.302, = 7 Iyar) and the second wall on the fifth day after that (B.J. 5.331, i.e. on 12 Artemisios). There were new assaults during the following 4 days (B.J. 5.346). Titus thereafter interrupted the siege (B.J. 5.348). He paid the soldiers, which event took four days (B.J. 5.356). The siege works that were begun on 12 Artemisios were completed on 29 Artemisios (B.J. 5.466). The Romans then raised a wall around the city (B.J. 5.502). They built siege works, and attacked on 1 Panemos (B.J. 6.22, = 1 Tammuz). The Jews set fire to an area near the cloisters on 27 Panemos (B.J. 6.177). The Romans burnt down the northern cloister on 28 Panemos (B.J. 6.192). Titus ordered to set the Temple gate on fire on 8 Loos (B.J. 6.220, = 8 Av). He commanded to put out the fire on 9 Loos (B.J. 6.236). A soldier set a window leading to the Sanctuary on fire on 10 Loos (B.J. 6.250) = 10 Av = Sunday Julian 5 August 70 AD (Reingold and Dershowitz;[9] the New Moon occurred on Thursday 26 July at 01:11 UT)[10] = actual 2 August. The Temple and many of the surrounding buildings were burned. It was 86 years after the birth of the Holy Virgin on Sunday factual Julian 5 August 17 BC = actual 4 August. It was 16 years after her burial on Wednesday actual 4 August 54 AD.

The upper city was captured and the siege of Jerusalem was completed in Vespasian’s year 2 (B.J. 6.435, July 70 AD/July 71 AD), on 8 Gorpiaios (B.J. 6.435) = 8 Elul = Sunday 2 September 70 AD (Reingold and Dershowitz, and Parker and Dubberstein). It was 100 years (i.e. 4 Roman silver jubilees of 25 years) after the Battle of Actium on Tuesday factual Julian 2 September 31 BC.[11] The siege had been cruel.[12]