While these events were taking place in Jerusalem, Vespasian had subdued the whole country, with the exception of one or two fortresses.  But as he was setting about the siege of the capital, tidings arrived of the death of Nero, and the offensive was discontinued.  For almost two years (June 68 to April 70), with a short break, war was suspended.  When Vespasian at the end of this period became emperor, he entrusted to Titus the task of reducing Jerusalem.  There in the interval the internal struggle had been going on, even after the radicals had gained the mastery.  As a counterpoise to John of Giscala the citizens had received the guerilla captain Simon bar Giora into the city; the two were now at feud with each other, but were alike in their rapacity towards the citizens.  John occupied the temple, Simon the upper city Iying over against it on the west.  For a short time a third entered into competition with the two rivals, a certain Eleazar who had separated from John and established himself in the inner temple.  But just as Titus was beginning the siege (Easter, 70) John contrived to get rid of this interloper.

Titus attacked from the north.  After the lower city had fallen into his hands, he raised banks with a view to the storm of the temple and the upper city.  But the defenders, who were now united in a common cause, taught him by their vigorous resistance that his object was not to be so quickly gained.  He therefore determined to reduce them by famine, and for this end completely surrounded the city with a strong wall.  In the beginning of July he renewed the attack, which he directed in the first instance against the temple.  The tower of Antonia fell on the 5th, but the temple continued to beheld notwithstanding; until the I7th the daily sacrifice continued to be offered.  The Romans succeeded in gaining the outer court in August only.  To drive them out, the Jews in the night of August 10-11 made a sortie, but were compelled to retire, the enemy forcing their way behind them into the inner court.  A legionary flung a firebrand into an annexe of the temple, and soon the whole structure was in flames.  A terrible slaughter of the defenders ensued, but John with a determined band succeeded in cutting his way out, and by means of the bridge over the Tyropceon valley made his escape into the upper city.

No attack had as yet been directed against this quarter; but famine was working terrible ravages among the crowded population.  Those in command, however, refused to capitulate unless freedom to withdraw along with their wives and children were granted.  These terms being withheld, a storm, after the usual preparations on the part of the Romans, took place.  The resistance was feeble; the strong towers were hardly defended at all; Simon bar Giora and John of Giscala now thought only of their personal safety.  In the unprotected city the Roman soldiers spread fire and slaughter unchecked (September 7, 70).