Section 7 Summary and Analysis

Chapters 17 and 18, describe the initial stages of the siege of Jerusalem that Titus waged while Vespasian became Emperor. The partisan groups in Jerusalem were more destructive than the Roman invaders outside the City. Chapter 17 The Siege of Jerusalem - First Stages describes Jerusalem when Vespasian became emperor and Titus besieged Jerusalem. Internal politics of the City broke apart into factions and John who was committed to his own one-man rule. With a few other influential men and Zealots John seized the Temple's inner court and positions over the Holy Gates. They had sufficient supplies of commodities to use if necessary but few in number. Furthermore he was in a strategically awkward place with Zealot enemies above and Simon, son of Gioras, below who attacked him from both sides. The City's plotters included Eleazar and his party who attacked John who plundered...