Statement

The picture of foolish rebels comes from Josephus, who wrote after the disaster and with sympathy for Rome. At the time there were grounds for optimism: Cestius Gallus, governor of Syria sent by Nero, was unexpectedly beaten; after Nero's death in 68, three emperors followed one another in a year until Vespasian seized power; the Jews greatly outnumbered the few Roman troops in the region, knew the land and held Jerusalem, with its three walls, and fortresses such as Masada.

References

1. p. 97

   supports · main text · ch. 4

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text

2. p. 98

   supports · main text · ch. 4

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text