John of Giscala

Johann (es) of Gischala (also John ben Levi or Yohanan ben Levi, * unknown; † after 70 probably in Rome) was a leader during the Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, leader of the Zealots, rival of Simon bar Giora and temporarily opponent Flavius ​​Josephus, derived from the all the details that we know about John.

John organized the resistance against the Romans in Gischala in Galilee, but managed to flee to Jerusalem AD 67 before taking the city. He outwitted while the Roman general Titus, the future emperor. Titus besieged Gischala with overpowering forces and demanded to avoid bloodshed, the peaceful surrender of the city. John agreed on behalf of the inhabitants of this requirement in principle, but asked about Titus, because of the Sabbath, on which the Jews, as well as negotiations were prohibited military action, to wait until the following day. Titus granted the requested postponement and retired in reliance on the promise to be several miles away to the northwest at Kydyssa ( Kadasa ) located camp. John used the absence of the Roman guards on the night of Sabbath to Sunday to leave with his followers and their families Gischala and flee to Jerusalem. ( De Bello Iudaico, Book IV. 2:1-5 )

In Jerusalem, John made ​​a pact with the first High Priest Hanan, but later switched over to the rival Zealot party and was leader of one of the warring insurgent groups that the Romans fought to the last. With the capture of the city by Titus in AD 70 he was taken tracked and captured by the Romans in his underground lair. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rome ( De Bello Iudaico, Book VI, chap. 9.4 ). After Titus triumph, there is no more news about John of Gischala.

Spectacle

  • Max Jungmann: Yochanan of Giscala: a spectacle, Berlin: Horodisch & Marx, 1928

Swell

  • Flavius ​​Josephus: De bello Iudaico. Greek / German. Provided ed. and with an introduction and annotated by Otto Michel and Otto Bauernfeind. 3 volumes, 1959-1969, Josephus ' Jewish War (Greek and English translation)
  • Flavius ​​Josephus: Out of my life ( " Vita "). JCB Mohr (Paul Siebeck ), Tübingen 2001. ISBN 3-16-147407-4.
Zealotry Shabbat
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