S8 Ep238: PREVIEW: This audio excerpt features an interview with Professor Barry Strauss regarding his book, which chronicles the Jewish rebellion against Roman authority during the first century. The discussion focuses on the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, led by T

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.5 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2025

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

PREVIEW: This audio excerpt features an interview with Professor Barry Strauss regarding his book, which chronicles the Jewish rebellion against Roman authority during the first century. The discussion focuses on the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, led by Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian. Although the Jewish resistance considered their capital an impregnable fortress due to its geographic defenses and abundant resources, the city remained vulnerable along its northern wall. Internal leadership struggles and incomplete fortifications ultimately hampered the rebels' ability to withstand the Roman military onslaught. This historical account highlights the intense defiance of the Judean people as they faced a concentrated effort by the Roman Empire to suppress their revolt. MORE LATER.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is John Batchel, a conversation with the author Barry Strauss, Professor Barry Strauss.
0:06.1	His new book, Jews v. Rome, the story of the rebellion of the Jews.
0:10.1	Most of the first and century, they were extremely defiant of the Roman power.
0:17.9	And the siege of Jerusalem in 69 to 70 AD, Rome faced a mighty city that had only one weakness, the northern wall,
0:29.3	and perhaps that there was no overall commander. Here Barry tells the story of Titus, who is the son of Vespasian, who went to Rome to become the emperor,
0:39.6	charged with besieging and defeating Jerusalem.
0:43.6	Much more of this tonight and next week.
0:47.6	Jews v. Rome. Barry Strauss.
0:49.4	Titus is his son, and Titus was at Vespasian side in the conquest of the Galilee and most of
0:59.4	Judea actually Vespasian conquers before going away.
1:04.4	And now in the year 70 he wants to carry out the mission, complete the mission.
1:09.5	The rebels who have not surrendered to Rome or not been killed or captured, have all fled to Jerusalem.
1:18.1	And why Jerusalem, in addition to it being the capital and the center of the revolt, the religious center of the country, it also is a very strong fortress, impregnable on three sides,
1:30.8	but at risk on the fourth side, on the north side. And even though the rebels have fortified
1:37.9	the north side, they haven't done as good a job as they might have done had they had world
1:43.6	enough and time. they felt but nonetheless
1:48.8	that they would be able to withstand any siege they had laid up supplies they had lots of food
1:56.3	and they had a natural spring a natural source of water and water is a big issue in the Middle East, as you know.
2:04.6	So they felt that they could withstand a Roman siege.
2:08.6	And it was not going to be an easy task.

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from John Batchelor, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of John Batchelor and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.