Subsequent to the violence in the Galilee, Rome dispatches an expeditionary force, the Roman Twelfth Legion, as a show of force to quell the disturbances. A limited “police action.” The Jewish nationalist–religious rebel forces, trying to throw off the yoke of Rome, elect to up–the–ante themselves…
The Roman Expeditionary force is ambushed by Jewish rebel forces at Bet Horon pass (the precise locale of an earlier Maccabean victory approximately 200 years prior) outside of Jerusalem. The Roman Twelfth Legion (Legio XII Fulminata) is routed—6,000 elite Roman legionnaires are killed in pitched battle with the Jewish Forces. To add to the Roman humiliation, the Twelfth Legion’s battle standard (an eagle), has been lost (inviolably), to the Jewish insurgent forces.
The Jewish forces additionally seize dozens, if not hundreds, of artillery pieces and other armaments, to be used later in the defense of Jerusalem.
This triumph by the Zealot alliance will resound to the far reaches of the Roman Empire, but will prove one of the great “pyrrhic victories” (false/illusory victories) in the annals of humankind.
From the rebel perspective, the Jews had previously thrown off the yoke of the Syrian–Greek Empire 200 years prior, against all odds, and Rome has left the Jews no choice but to fight again for their freedom, dignity and honor.
An observer from the moon, surveying the vast power and tenacity of Imperial Rome, however, would say that the Jewish rebels were playing the ultimate doomed long shot.
But the same observer might have said the same when the Maccabees first took up arms against the Syrian–Greeks… or when Jewish leader Gideon, a thousand plus years earlier challenged Amalek… or when Prophetess Devorah challenged Canaan and prevailed… or when Moses challenged Pharaoh… and on and on with many notches–in–the–gun–belt of the Jewish nation.
Tenacious, tactically adept, highly motivated, with a legacy of victory, fighting on and for their homeland, and apparently perfectly willing to die for their freedom and honor, the Jewish rebel forces of Judea, empowered and emboldened by their belief in the God of Israel, would just as soon bring their enemies down with them.
With the Jews having played at the zenith of both the spiritual and temporal world on and off for 1,000 years, the Zealots of Judea were truly not interested in subjugation by pagan, idolatrous, licentious Rome. In isolation, the Bet Horon victory was glorious. But, in context, it brought the full wrath of a powerful, aggressive, wealthy, proud, marauding and, last but not least, slave–hungry empire down upon Judea. The rebels might be valiant and strong. But Rome was vastly stronger.
A tremor had gone throughout the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Having shown vulnerability, Rome would now need to send a counter–salvo back across the far reaches of the Empire.
Basically, an immovable object (Judean religious honor and freedom) had collided with the excesses of an irresistible force (Roman Empire dominion). But Rome knew a little about will and tenacity itself. And Rome maintained not only the will, but the resources and power–in–reserve, as well.
For the rebels, at stake was greater autonomy and protected religious honor. For Rome, at stake was their control of a key geographic nexus–point, which completed, as well, their encirclement of the Mediterranean. But beyond the immediate geographic stakes, now at stake was the Roman aura of invincibility across the entire Empire.
Rome now poised to move in force against the Judean rebels.
Now, to protect their very thrones, Roman Emperors had become increasingly averse to major military campaigns, inasmuch as they would prove to be no–win situations for any emperor who engaged in one:
• If the campaign were stymied, the emperor would lose face and lose standing, and possibly lose power.
• If the campaign were successful, the victorious general, an alpha male to begin with, presumably now infused with surging popularity, could potentially march his victorious and pumped–up legions back right through Rome’s gates, and potentially seize total power.
Only if an insurgency had threatened or humiliated the empire, would an emperor in the First Century unleash his Legions. And humiliation is precisely what the Judean insurgents had visited upon Rome.
Now, Rome had an appetite for slave labor, and an aversion to dependencies mowing–down its soldiers. Rebellions here–and–there provided “opportunity” as well. Therefore, for multiple reasons and considerations, some strategic, some tactical, some practical, Rome now had Judea in its gun sights.
Subsequently, over 20 percent of the entire Roman expeditionary army was mobilized for battle, and marched into Judea—one army from the north; one from the south—to crush the electrifying Jewish revolt.
As for Jerusalem itself, Jerusalem was an internationally recognized trophy city, and Rome, master of symbolism, was not oblivious to the magnitude of Jerusalem’s global projection and importance.