Tacitus and the Jews

The work Histories by the Roman historian Tacitus (Publius Cornelius Tacitus , ca. 56 – ca. 117) gives an invaluable insight into a period – especially Volume V - which includes the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem in 70 CE , thus ending the Great Jewish Revolt.

Tacitus himself did not much fancy the Jews, nor their leader Moyses (sic) who “gave them a novel form of worship, opposed to all that is practiced by other men.“ He thought the Jews rather lazy: “We are told that the rest of the seventh day was adopted, because this day brought with it a termination of their toils; after a while the charm of indolence beguiled them into giving up the seventh year also to inaction.“

Tacitus found their habits vaguely disgusting: “They sit apart at meals, they sleep apart, and though, as a nation, they are singularly prone to lust, they abstain from intercourse with foreign women" and finds it strange that "It is a crime among them to kill any newly-born infant." He accurately describes details of their worship, and of the Oneness of God.

Tacitus delineates the Jewish kingdom: "Eastward the country is bounded by Arabia; to the south lies Egypt; on the west are Phoenicia and the Mediterranean. Northward it commands an extensive prospect over Syria. The inhabitants are healthy and able to bear fatigue. Rain is uncommon, but the soil is fertile."

As for their capital "They have also towns. Jerusalem is the capital".

While Rome pursued her subjugation of all neighbouring peoples, "Our indignation was heightened by the circumstance that the Jews alone had not submitted."

Tacitus then goes on to describe the siege and ultimate conquest of Jerusalem.

"I have heard that the total number of the besieged, of every age and both sexes, amounted to six hundred thousand. All who were able bore arms, and a number, more than proportionate to the population, had the courage to do so. Men and women showed equal resolution, and life seemed more terrible than death, if they were to be forced to leave their country. Such was this city and nation."

So there you have it from an unsympathetic observer of almost 2000 years ago. Men and women showed equal resolution, and life seemed more terrible than death, if they were to be forced to leave their country. Such was this city and nation.

Can you read this without crying for the Israel of today, where the people may still have the strength of their forebears, but whose leaders are not worthy of the country they do not wish to defend?